Crocheted Dishcloths/ Washcloths

My oldest has been learning to crochet over the past year. I'm so thrilled she's taken a liking to it. I told her if she made some dishcloths/washcloths I'd list them in the store and if they sold she could keep the money.
When I told her this her eyes lit up and I could almost hear the little "ch-ching" in the background.
I think she does a great job!


I learned from my mom and grandma so teaching her is like I'm passing on the legacy.
Yet another thing that makes me smile!

Front Page Etsy - AGAIN!

I woke up to another surprise front page Etsy listing!
What a surprise! A person could get used to this!!

Nursing Cover - Diaper & Wipe Tote - Changing Pad - Custom Order

I just finished a custom order. It was a Nursing Cover, Diaper and Wipe Tote with the works (ie. extra pockets in the flap and inside) and Changing Pad.

I have to say I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Here's the pocket on the opening pouch. A zipper is a must in this spot.

There's a strap for carrying or hooking onto stroller or baby carrier.

Pockets inside include; a cel-phone pocket, two lip-gloss/pen pockets and a pocket with elastic at the opening good for pacifiers or whatever.

I'm very pleased with the changing pad (I love polka-dots and stripes).

Finally the nursing cover has boning at the neck to make it easier to see your babe and there's a small pocket on the backside lower corner to hold nursing pads or pacifier.

I love making these baby sets.
Mostly because I love my Diaper and Wipe Tote (it's so handy) and I know if other parents try it out they'll never go back to a regular old diaper bag.

Etsy Front Page

I was featured on the front page of Etsy today!!!!!
What a surprise!
What a thrill!

Check it out on my sidebar.
That's my Plastic Bag Holder there in the left of the thumb-nails.
So Cool! I think that just made my week!

Riley Blake Designs and Michael Miller Fabric ---

The fabric store I love to go to was having 20% off every thing in the store yesterday!!!!
Good times for me!
I've been completely in love with Riley Blake fabric lately.
So, I picked up the above fabrics -- just because I like them and I have a custom order using them. I'm so excited. I think it'll be really cute.
I'll post pictures when I'm done

I'm also feelin' groovy about Michael Miller Fabrics! Picked this one up too -- just because. I'm sure I'll find a home for it soon. There are a ton of free quilt patterns on the Michael Miller web site. If I was an extream quilter I'm sure I'd be in heaven......but seeing as I still haven't completely completed the two quilts I wanted to have done by last Christmas I think I'll hold off on starting any of those projects. Check out the web-site though. Pretty cool.

Look for stuff in the shop out of these fabrics soon!

Looking for kids craft project inspiration?

Have you tried looking at your local library in their arts and crafts section? Or, how about a used book store? OR.......

Have you looked at your parents house? In their old books?

I love books! I seriously get a little high from going to the library and coming home with all of the treasure you could possibly imagine within the pages of those books!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Luckily my kids feel the same way.............Look at what one of my little guys found at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I think it belonged to my oldest brother --- his name's in it anyway.

Check out the price!!!! Wish we had 60's prices now, wouldn't that be nice?

AND!!! check out the helpful crafting hints. I had to learn the hard way about paper mache.

So my little guy (he's not that little) was inspired by this

And G&G-S were up to the challenge so they helped him make a viking shield!!!

Awesome isn't it!!!? Thanks Mom and Dad for helping my guy he loves it.

There never really was any question where I got my love to create and now they're helping to pass it on to my kids.

OH-LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

Now---go find yourself a vintage crafting book and see what you can come up with!

Bernina

It's been a long time since I last posted. Lets just say I've taught my kids to share too well------and they shared their cold with me!!!! Over the past week I've been sniffling, sneezing, feavering, and coughing up a lung or two. We here over at our house have dubbed ourselves the

'Cough-n-Hackle Choir'

*****************************

Now on to sewing stuff.

It's time you knew................I'm a Bernina Gall!...........always have been!!!
I've sewed a little on other machines but I learned on a Bernina and I LOVE my Bernina!!!!!
While surfing around on other blogs I found this web site by Bernina with fun project ideas and patterns!!! How cool is that?

www.sewingrepublic.com

************
A problem a lot of beginning sewers have that can really scare them away from sewing is thread tension!!! Knowing your machine and reading the manual can help a lot as well as having your machine in top notch condition (take it in and have it serviced! Just like you would your car - only by a sewing machine mechanic).

........AND......
This video I found on sewing republic could help too.

http://www.sewingrepublic.com/sewingHelp.html#/tutorials/tension
Good Luck and Happy Sewing!!!!
Let me know what you think!!!

Fabric Covered Button Tutorial

I have no idea why - but I've been a little intimidated by fabric covered buttons. How do they work? Why do they work? Will they take a long time to do? Why not just use a regular button?

So I never tried it out. Just too many questions. --- (The lady that invented them even used to live by me and she had them all over her house. She was trying to get them in stores. I bet she's really rich by now.)
Anyway - I got this really cute pattern for a posey and it called for a fabric covered button. I knew it was time I finally broke down and tried it out. And guess what? It wasn't as bad as I thought. Sure it took me 45 minutes. I told you I have a really big learning curve - but guess what else? The next one took me less than 5 minutes because I figured out what I was doing wrong.

So---- I thought I'd share----- that way your first one will take you only 5 minutes!!!! YIPEEEE!!!

1) Buy Buttons to be Covered. I suggest getting the ones that come in the kit because the tools are totally worth it!!! Look for them to be on sale or use a coupon because I think they're a little pricey.

2) Read the instructions on the back and look at the diagrams and say, "HUH???" then repeat!!!


3) Trace the pattern from the back of the packaging onto a piece of paper (I used freezer paper) and cut out. That way you won't have to mutilate your really helpful instructions.

4) Place pattern on desired fabric with the straight side on the fold and cut around your half circle pattern but not on the strait side so when you're done you have a full circle.

Got it? --- Any questions so far?

5) Now, look at your circle -- it's not perfect -- but guess what? doesn't matter! No one will ever know! As long as it's close to being the same size as your pattern you're fine.

6) Place your fabric on the little white rubber thing with the printed side of your fabric facing DOWN!!!

7)Place top metal part of your button on top of the material with the teeth (pointy things) up.

8) Place blue plunger on top of button and push very hard. (look at the force I'm exerting on that poor little finger of mine - pay no attention to the ill manicured nail -- too much to do to worry about a manicure right?)

9) Once it's down you can start folding the material down and pushing it onto the teeth of the button. After most of it's down use your blue plunger to push on it and make sure all of the material is secure.

Good Job! You're a natural!

Lookin' Good!

10) Now the tricky part!!! You need to push the button back onto the main part of the button. This will hold your fabric in place. The illustrations on the back of the box mixed me up here and I pushed and pushed for a very long time then I flipped the back over and tried again and it popped right on. --- When you push the back of you're button on there should be letters stamped on it - the letters should be readable, not backward, if they are you have it the right way. If you don't have letters look at the pictures here and you can figure it out.


11) Use your blue stopper to make sure the back is on securely.

12) Pull back on the edges of the white rubber thing and pop your button out.

Now wasn't that easy?! and quick?! Look at you're cute button! You did it! I knew you could do it!

Maybe I'm the last person/seamstress/crafter to try this but if not I hope you found this helpful. And, you can make your own flower with cute fabric covered button in the center.......



.....perfect for your patchwork skirt (made from Moda precut charm pack fabric if you don't want to cut your own) I'm going to show you how to make soon.

And if you haven't heard of Moda Bake Shop click here to check it out. They have some fun, free projects and patterns for their fabric.

plastic bag holders are a hit!

Who knew these plastic bag holders would be a hit?
I knew I liked mine.
I designed and made it over 11 years ago and I'm still using it. So I thought I'd put a couple in the shop. ...... that's what's been selling. Makes me happy.
I made one today with some Amy Butler fabric. I love how it turned out.

Etsy How-To: Fuse Plastic Bags!

What a great idea this is!!!!
My mind is spinning with all the possibilities.
Can't wait to try it out.
I'll be sure to post when I do.

Watermelon ----- Mmmmm---Gooood!

There's something you need to know about me. I LOVE fruit!!!!!! If I could I would live on fresh fruit. If you ever want to give me a gift just bring me a nice fresh fruit salad and I'll love you forever. I'm very loyal that way.

My family is probably sick of watermelon already this summer because I can't get enough. But, I have to gorge myself now just so I can make it through the winter months when the watermelon just isn't as good and it's way too expensive.

I've been buying seedless watermelon because, lets face it, it is so much easier to eat. Yesterday, however, the grocery store I went to was OUT of seedless...........what?.......how could that be?.......so......I.....bought........a SEEDEd melon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my it was SOOOOO GOOOOOD! The juiciness and sweetness was beyond compare. I just wanted to put my face right into the melon and eat until I passed out.

Wish I was this cute doing that.

Oh watermelon I love you!!!!

I love you when you're square.

I love you with a face.


I even love you carved as flowers with a weird twig sticking out.


Bring on the melon! Bring on the summer fun!

Watermelon Cooler
By, Paula Deen
1 1/2 pounds (4 cups) sliced seedless watermelon, rind removed
1 cup Lemon Sorbet
1 lemon, zested
1 1/2 cups cold water
Watermelon wedges and mint, for garnish
Directions
In a food processor, blend watermelon, sorbet, and lemon zest until very smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water; cover and refrigerate until very cold. Serve over ice and garnish with watermelon wedges and mint.