Tea Bag Wallets

     So cute and just in time for the Holidays! I love these tea bag wallets and use one myself. They're especially useful when its cold outside and all that you want is something to warm your bones and soul! Makes a great gift for that friend or colleague that loves tea, and you can fill it with their favorite kinds. 

New for January 2015. Get it on ETSY

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Textured Plaid with Red Tie-Dye Liner 

Blue Jean with Soft Flower Liner
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Honeycomb Design Snack Bags

     I love these super cute and chic reusable snack bags, which aren't just for kids anymore! This honeycomb design features a cotton outside and a grey nylon lining. The medium size holds a sandwich or larger quantities, and size small is perfect for the smaller snacks. 

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Cloth Napkins in a New, Fun Print

Washable cloth napkins in a fun, fruity design. Two-layers of the same fabric. 

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Every. Single. Day.

 

    A friend of mine shared this on FB the other day and I liked it so much I printed it out and hung it up. Sometimes it can be challenging to motivate yourself into doing something, like me for example with trying to get this sewing business up and running while still having another very busy job. However, if we can just vocalize what it is that we want and create an attainable plan it is possible. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO!

Gathered Clutches

     I'm finally catching back up to my normal life after a beautiful trip to Moab in October, and just in time for the holidays, too! I've been making and giving out these clutches to friends and family for quite some time now, and have enjoyed watching others put them to good use. It seems that each of my friends has their own use with them: holding tampons in a purse, pens and pencils in a backpack, toiletries when traveling, coupon holder and the list goes on and on! Small and simple, but still stylish with a cute gathered fabric front. Get one for a friend, but also treat yourself :) 

     Keep checking back for more fabrics: all of my items are unique and one-of-a-kind, so grab a design you love while it's still available!

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Bubble Dresses in Action!

     At the last minute I was able to book a trip back to my home state of Maine and attend my friends wedding, who also recruited me to sew  dresses for two little ladies in her wedding. As per State Park regulations the girls were not allowed to throw flower petals, so instead they blew bubbles! The dresses fit them perfectly, and they looked awfully cute if I don't say so myself :)

     It was a long project for me as it was something I haven't done before (sewing silk dresses based on measurements only), but I couldn't be happier with the outcome! Who knows, maybe I'll sew more dresses in the future...

Reusable Snack Bags Ready to Ship!

     I'm back from my vacations and ready to get more sewing items onto my Etsy shop! I've just listed some reusable snack bags, all lined with cotton. The cotton liner is best for drier snack objects (I will make more nylon lined bags in the future). 

Purchase Size Small
Purchase Size Medium

Tailoring for the Groom

Another project to add to the books: tailoring a jacket and vest for a groom. The sleeves needed to be shortened about an inch; a simple eye hook was requested so that the front of the jacket would stay closed when desired; and the vest needed to be taken in about an inch (too wide). Simple project consisting mainly of pressing and hand stitching. All stitching was done in a way so that it can be removed and the items returned to original size if desired. 

Dresses for the Bubbles, Pt. 2

  The dresses are complete! What a challenging, yet fun project this was. I haven't sewn bodices since I was learning to sew with my Grandmother guiding from behind many years ago. However, even though I spent a lot of extra time on each step 'just to be sure', I am absolutely satisfied with the outcome and can't wait to see the girls wear them! The scariest part is that the recipient's of the dresses live in Maine, so they have not yet tried them on and I had to sew based upon someone else's measurements only- eek! They're going to be just fine, though, I can feel it. I'll be sure to share pictures of the them on the wedding day at the end of September. 

The Project: Two dresses for girls ages 5 and 8 for a fall wedding in Maine. The bride chose a commercial dress sewing pattern yet wanted to incorporate the top part of one dress pattern for the skirt of another. She wanted the dresses to be twirly and fun, and bode well with the bridesmaids dresses that are Katharine Hepburn-esque. She chose a beautiful black silk fabric with coordinating black lining, red tulle with glittery spots for a petticoat (unlike the pattern, she would like the tulle to be a removable skirt versus just a ruffle hem). She also wanted the shiny, sheer red ribbon for a belt/mid-section decoration as well as the heart buttons.  

Red. Glitter. Everywhere!

Cloth Napkins

I finished another batch of cloth napkins this weekend and they are ready to ship! Washable and reusable, why wouldn't you invest in some and stop wasting your money (and creating more garbage on our planet) on paper products? Plus, they're super cute. I usually put two in my lunchbox so that I can use one as a placemat and avoid germ-ridden tabletops. 

Link to Pinterest Page

Mushroom Madness, Flannel
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Apple Brights, Flannel
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Red Delicious, Flannel
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Two-Layer, Cotton Poly Blend

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Dinosaur Tails!

   Dinosaur tails have been in high demand lately and everyone wants them right away! Well, here you go, bright and lively dinosaur tails that are guaranteed to be shipped within two days of ordering through my Etsy page. Get them while they last!

A. Corduroy Brights
Click here to go to Etsy Page

B. Jersey Brights
Etsy Page

C. Shiny Green with Black dots
Etsy Page

D. Shiny and Soft Reptile Print 
Etsy Page

D.

E. Shiny Gold and Blues

E.

F. *Special* Two tails with the first spike design- $2 off each!
Etsy Page

Limited amount of flannel napkin squares available, also ready to ship!
Etsy Page

Simple Pincushion Tutorial

  Create this simple pincushion in only a few short hours. I used stuffing to fill mine, but you can also use sawdust if you prefer the thinker, crunchy texture that it provides. This is a great project for a beginner or if you want more practice sewing curves and smaller points. Please note that this is my first tutorial here, so excuse the half-ass pictures and simpleness of the project. When sewing becomes my full-time job I will happily create many more tutorials for you!

Materials Needed:

- Fabric scraps in up to eight colors (about 2.5" x 5.5" each)

- Embroidery floss and large needle

- Stuffing

- Needle for topstitching seam

- Button to decorate the top (optional)

1. Make a Pattern:  I like to use paper bags, or like here a piece of paperboard to make my patterns. This pattern is small enough that I chose a  scrap piece of paperboard because I do not need to stick pins in it to hold the pattern down while cutting,  something that is possible when using paper bags. The bottom of the pattern which is to be placed on the folded edge of fabric is 2.5" wide. The height from the fold is 2.5", with a half inch being straight up, and then going inward for 2". The top point should be about 1/4" wide. Cut 8 of these in your desired fabrics. 

2. Begin to Sew by Pairs:  Line up two pieces, right sides together, and sew along the edge starting from the very top and ending at the very bottom with about 1/4" inseam (use this seam allowance throughout the project unless otherwise noted). If you feel the need you may choose to iron the seams towards the darker color, but due to the size and type of the project I did not feel it was necessary and decided to save some time by removing this extra step.

3. Sew Two Pairs:  Now that you have four pairs, place one of the pairs right sides together against another. Pin along the edge to help hold the fabrics in place. Start and end at the points where your sewing began and finished from your first seam. Do the same with the other two pairs. When finished you should have two half spheres. 

4. Pin Both Halves: As always place right sides together from each half sphere. Place pins around the edges to hold in place. 

5. Sew to Create the Sphere:  Starting at one of the points, sew around the edges to create the sphere. **Important: remember to leave an opening in one side to turn the fabric out and then put the stuffing in. I left about an inch opening in the middle of one piece by stopping, backstitching, lifting the presser foot and going about an inch forward, and then starting and backstitching again. 

Turn the fabric out and this is what you should now have: a sphere with one small opening for stuffing. I like to pull along each seam to make sure that each piece is together well and doesn't need to be re-sewn before I stuff it. 

6. Fill the Sphere with Stuffing and Topstitch Hole:  Make sure that you make it nice and firm since you will be pushing lots of pins into it. This is why some people prefer the sawdust because it adds more bulk and is less likely for the pins to push through the other side. Use a color thread to compliment your fabrics and then topstitch the hole shut by turning the seams in. 

7. Decorate with Embroidery Floss and a Button:  Squeeze the pincushion in at the center and starting from the bottom use the large needle to pull the embroidery floss through. Pull the floss down at each seam, and then back up through the center of the bottom. If preferred you can just tie off the embroidery floss here, or you can add a small button like I did that compliments the colors of your pincushion. 

Viola! Your pincushion is now complete and ready to use :)

**Please note that all of my tutorials are for personal use only. They are not to be sold or distributed unless permission is granted.**