Birthday Bunting Tutorial

I made a birthday bunting for the golfer on his big day. It's made of paper and fabric. Stuff that I already had around the house. Here are some instructions on how to do it:

Step 1. Make a pattern for your scrapbook paper flags. Using this will assure that your flags are all the same size. Mine was about 8 inches long and 8 inches across the top.

Step 2: Find some bias tape that will be long enough to accommodate the letters you will be using.

Step 3: Cut flags out of scrapbook paper.

Step 4: Using a circle cutter, cut a center circle for each flag. I used all different colors for mine.

Step 5: Glue the circles on your flags.

Step 6: Peel backing off of self-stick chipboard letter. I had some around. I bought them a couple of years ago at Target.

Step 7: Center the chipboard letter on the circle

Step 8: Sew flags in between the 2 layers of the bias tape. Make sure to leave an inch or 2 of extra fabric at each end to hang the bunting with.

Summertime sewing

In the desert the summertime is our indoor time. 110 degrees is NOT your friend, unless you have a sweet pool. We don't. Therefore, we create.

I decided to take on knit fabric and shirring. The verdict is. . . . I LOVE IT! Hello, what have I been waiting for? Get yourself a ballpoint needle for your machine and some shirring elastic and go to town! This cute little knit paisley fabric was on sale at Joanne. 1 yard made this oh-so-sweet little 3 tiered sundress for my little one. I already had the brown one from old navy, and it is one of my favorites, so I decided to re-create it in knit. It's so soft and flouncy!

This next one is re purposed from a baby doll top that I bought at Goodwill. I love that yellow fabric.

Step 1: unpick the seams at the straps to move the straps closer together.

Step 2: Move the straps in. Measure to make sure they are spaced evenly and pin in place. Then sew the straps to the shirt following the seam that was already there.

Step 3: I pinned the top of my shirt with a couple of pleats in it, so that it would match up with the width of the fabric in the back of the shirt.

Step 4: Cut off the sides of the shirt to fit the little person who will be wearing it. I cut mine just outside of the pin.

You should be able to do this with any similar cotton baby doll top. Mine was a small top and I re-fit it to a size 24 month dress. Just sew up the sides to finish it!

desk set complete

I found this little goody on Craigslist a couple of weeks ago. Let me tell ya, the old chair was grating on my very last nerve. It was comfy and free, don't get me wrong, but also very large and in charge in my small office.

This new one is just what I've been waiting and watching for. It's a bit scuffed up, but I don't mind because the desk is also a bit scuffed up.

Sadly, I do not have a photo of the old chair. I'll give you a little idea of the beauty that we had to give up. In your mind, just merge these two blue chairs. Ours was the lighter blue color, but the shape of the royal blue chair. It smelled and may have held traces of cheetos and baby puke. I'm sure you can see why we had to let it go.

Ahh, isn't this much better.

I also scored this little beauty at Goodwill a month or so ago. Perfect for my magazines and "desk clutter."

birthday suit

No, silly, not THAT kind of birthday suit. I'm talkin' about a little romper patterned after one that she wore last year at this time. It's her birthday at the end of July. You could make one too.

1. Start with a GIANT t-shirt. (Mine was in Men's clearance at good ole' Wally world) This is another gray one that I have a plan for.

2. Find a contrast fabric. (Mine was a little shirt that she wore last year. . too small now.)

3. Find an article of clothing to use as your pattern. I don't cut them up, soyou could borrow from a friend if you don't have anything that you like.

4. "Measure twice, cut once!" My mother always used to say
5. Don't be scared. After all, it was a 3 dollar shirt.
6. Cut it a little bigger if your pattern clothing no longer fits.
7. Use some creativity.
8. Straps and number are made using contrast fabric.
9. Print a number or letter that you like to use as a pattern


10. Sew carefully, knit is a little harder to seam-rip
11. Don't worry about raw edges. Knit doesn't fray.
12. If the pants have you perplexed, just go with a little romper skirt.
13. Put them on your cute little model, and take a few pictures.

happy sewing!

Monday, Monday

and now you're singing it too, right?

Ah Monday, Monday. . . so good to me

Monday morning, it was all I hoped it would be

My bowl filler was featured on V and Co. today. {I would say that my balls were featured, but it just doesn't sound so great. We wouldn't want to attract "that" kind of crowd, now would we.} Hop on over to Vanessa's blog for great patterns and stunning bright colors. . . just right for spring!

The girls wore their little spring skirts yesterday. You just can't go wrong with the Edith Twirl Skirt, right Connie? Plus, I had a great time guiding Hollie through her pattern. It was her first sewing project and you can see her cute skirt here.

It's all because of Jona's fabulous pattern and instructions, I tell ya. I know how to sew from a traditional pattern, but does that mean that I want to? . . . no. Step by step instructions with full-color pictures. . . I'll take that any day! You can find her blog here with links to her etsy site and her patterns.

And, here's a little bow that I made for Paige. Turned out cute!

Happy Monday everyone!

I'm linking up with Keeping it Simple for Motivate Me Monday

Bowl Filler

I finally pulled myself together and filled this big empty jar that has been sitting on my counter since Thanksgiving. I used a tutorial by Vanessa @ V and Co that I purchased off of her etsy site. You really should check out her work, it's so fabulous!

The two largest are made from Vanessa's pattern. The medium and little ones are covered with jute and rope that I had around the house. The medium green one is covered with a crochet chain of fuzzy green yarn.