Ironing board cover

It was time for a new ironing board cover. . . well, actually way PAST time! Wouldn't you agree?

I decided to try and use up some of my scraps once again. Do these fabrics look familiar? I used some of them on my scrappy skirt. And I'm still using the scraps!

Piece some small squares/rectangles together to make an oblong shape slightly bigger than the old ironing board cover. Place the old cover on top of the new piece and cut out the shape more exact but still slightly bigger (the actual board shape not just the rectangle).
Serge the edges.
Using the old string, fold the serged edge over the string and sew making a casing for the string. You eliminate the step of threading the string through this way.
Yes, I did throw away the old cover. I don't think I'll be trying to reuse any of that fabric!
Put the new cover on and pull the string tight. Ahh. . . much better!

Objects!

I don't think I have mentioned on here yet that I am selling some of my creations at Objects in Eureka! Go check them out! Also, feel free to contact me anytime if you would like something you see on my blog (or elsewhere for that matter). Anything I make I am willing to remake for you:) I love trying new things so if there is something out there (on pinterest or anywhere) and you aren't interested in trying yourself, let me give it a try! Recently I made the following items for people who contacted me or to sell at Objects in Eureka. . . sweater dresses, shower curtain, lampshades, slippers for toddler girls, hats, burlap ties for toddler boys, and bibs.

A while ago I refurbished this lamp. Here it is straight from Etcetera shop.

And this is how I sold it at Objects. Go check the store out. It has all kinds of unique gifts!

Nativity puppets

Home with 4 kids for over Christmas break and what to do? I was searching online for Christmas crafts and found these cute nativity puppets. http://thesecretisgratitude.blogspot.com/2010/12/homemade-nativity-puppets-from-felt.html We made a run to Hobby Lobby and purchased the felt. Then got to snipping and gluing and drawing and made our own nativity set. The boys have had fun and got to put on a puppet show for the Grimm Christmas. We hope to share it with the Adams' too:) Here is the cast . . .

I drew the scenes and the boys helped color. I'm definitely no artist (as you can tell from the pics) so I think I'll stick to sewing:)


I'm picturing embellishing this a bit each year. This year I used a rhyming nativity story found on the blog mentioned above. I narrated the story while the boys held up the puppets. Someday they'll be able to have their own speaking parts and we can add the girls in too! I think they'll be so fun to pull out year after year.

Jeanskirt from jeans

Last week at Goodwill I bought a pair of jeans to make into a jeanskirt. Of course, I saw the idea on Pinterest :) Here are the results. . . (take note of the super fun slippers I just got in the mail today. They had to make the blog too!)

Cars pajamas

A dear friend asked me to make some pajamas for her granddaughter who loves the movie "Cars". She wasn't able to find any girly "Cars" pajamas, and when I mentioned buying fabric and making some she took me up on it! She bought the fabric (enough for me to make shorts and pants) and coordinating shirts and put me to the task. I was excited to have a new project and got to work right away. So here is the shorts outfit.

Shorts are complete with ruffles at the bottom :) Oh yes, don't forget to add ruffles to anything and everything you can!
I added a small piece of ribbon so she will know which is the back. I think it would be so fun to get my own labels someday, but we are still at the wish stage for now :)
And here is the pants outfit.
Complete with ribbon around the ankles.
And at the waist. I still made these elastic waist and just attached the ribbon on the outside to spruce the pants up.
Then I cut a car out of the leftover fabric, ironed it onto the shirt with fusible webbing, and stitched around it.
There you have it! "Cars" pajamas for girls!

Another project for my boys!

Mike's mom had a tradition of buying them a toy, a book, and a clothing item for Christmas. I love this idea and want to continue it with my kids. I love buying my kids pajamas but this results in WAY too many pj's around here:) I didn't think my boys would get too excited about just another shirt or pants. So, I decided on new winter hats (the girls will get headband ear warmers). AND, I wanted to make them :) I had plenty of the fleece camo left from the boys' pajama pants, so this was the result! The long strip is a scarf. Doesn't get any easier than that!

When I sew for the girls I can embellish with flowers or ribbons or ruffles. I couldn't just make a plain hat for the boys, so I stitched their initial to spruce it up!

Sweater Earwarmers

Mike and I went to Chicago last Saturday. Two fashions that stuck out to me the most: boots and knitted ear warmers with flowers. I can't make the boots, but the ear warmers I was definitely trying! But shhh... these are for my girls for Christmas :)

Want to make your own?

First get the measurement around the head of whomever you are making this for. My girls' head measured 20 inches. Then, grab an old sweater and start cutting! I used the sleeve of the sweater.
Cut the cuff and shoulder off the sweater.
Then I cut out the shape on the right. I made it 20 inches long and then about 4 inches in the middle and 1 1/2 inches on the ends. Next, sew a zigzag stitch all along the edges. As you stitch keep a little tension on the sweater (pull just very slightly). This helps make it ruffle like the piece on the left.
At this point, try it on and see where you want to put your button and buttonhole.
Embellish with the flower of your choice! I used this online tutorial for my flower: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QfRHCkpsNk
I can't wait to try these on my girls! But, I guess I will be waiting until Christmas!