Handmade Napkins

I have been getting back into the sewing groove lately.  This past week my mom was visiting and we made a few sets of handmade napkins.  They turned out fantastically and were easy to make.

 

 

We got some beautiful fabric from SAS Fabrics in Tucson.  This place is amazing!  Huge cardboard boxes filled to the brim with fabric remnants for a quarter of what you would pay normally.  It isn't for everybody, but I LOVE it.  It is like digging for treasure.

 

I LOVE the beautiful pink and blue together.

 

We learned how to do mitered corners for this project.  Super simple but they make all the difference.  Tutorial to come soon!

 

I made this set for my girlfriend whose birthday was two months ago.  (Oops...)  Better late than never though, right?

 

 

Herringbone Quilt

I love the chevron trend that has been so popular this year and I found this adorable quilt and it inspired me to make one for my niece for her birthday.  

I used this tutorial and inspiration from both blogs to create this little cuddly quilt.

I love the pale purple and flower fabrics mixed together.  I used mostly fabrics from the Top Drawer line, I love how soft and thick they are.

I hand stamped the label with stamps and fabric ink and hand sewed it on the back.

I love how it turned out and can't wait for her to get it.  Happy 2nd birthday Linden!

Bias Tape Bag Pattern and Tutorial

I love sewing.  I like to sew little toys, bags, small quilts, table runners, you name it.  When I came across this super cute and easy bag at Prudent Baby, I had to try it.

Here's what you will need:  bias tape, 1/4 yard of 2 coordinating fabrics. (that's it!)

I made mine with grey store bought bias tape, but you can make your own if you like, and 2 fabrics I have been saving for something special.

You can see the basic shape and body of the bag, I made the original size.  It would be a great lunch bag, date purse, or knitting project bag.  I think it would make an awesome shopping bag if it was about 2 times as big and a bit deeper.  Get the pattern and tutorial here.

Big Thanks to Prudent Baby for the awesome tutorial and pattern!  I can't wait to make more.  

Sewing on Sunday

I slept in today, on my day off, and enjoyed the cozy quietness of my apartment.  I let my husband sleep a few extra hours and here I am blogging away.  Here is a quick look at my week instagram style.

I made a cute little upcycled pillow for my craft room.  This fits perfectly behind my back on my sewing chair.  Thank you lovely sweater for lending yourself to such a useful pillow.  I added some fabric flowers that I made last week to one corner to spice it up a bit.

I am taking down my Christmas decorations today too.  These are the stockings I made and the little pennant banner that hung above them.  I can't wait to add a few more handmade pieces next year.  On the list: tree skirt, wreath, and tree topper.  WHOA!           

My husband gave me a charm pack with these amazing batiks in it for Christmas.  I started laying out an idea for a simple quilt.  I added a few more things, and started sewing this week.  Thanks HUBS.  You rock!

Handmade Gifts for the Holidays!

Wow!  I have been gone from my blog for some time and it has been an amazing month.  My family came to visit for the holidays and it was a whirlwind.  Lots of eating, sightseeing, and enjoying time together.  I spent the last two months sewing and crafting for the holidays and I think it paid off.  I baked, shopped, sewed, cleaned, and organized for 2 solid weeks at the beginning of December.

Here is what I have been up to:::

Eucalyptus Sugar Scrubs for my girlfriends.  Tutorial to come!

Chocolate dipped pretzels to ship out to family and friends.

A patchwork hot and cold bag with a matching tissue holder for my sister-in-law.

Go Huskers!  A Nebraska ornament for my father-in-law.

Another cute tissue pouch for my mother-in-law.

This little pouch is for my niece, it is for these zhu-zhu toys that she loves, and a snack...

Foot warmers for the family in cold weather.

A slouchy beret for my brother and a tissue pouch for his girlfriend.

Feet warmers all around!

I had a blast making everything and I hope everyone enjoyed receiving their presents!  I had a fantastic holiday and can't wait to see what the new year brings.

Christmas Stocking

I love stockings!  My husband and I just moved into a new apartment and I thought to myself... "What would spice up our place and really give me a Holiday feel without getting all GREEN and RED?"  Here is my answer. (His is coming, I only had time to make one today.  :)  Mine was the tester.)

I started with two fabrics.  One of them, the yellowy pink floral, is from about 5 years ago.  I feel great about using it because I have been hoarding it for way too long!  I finally found the perfect project and it is inspiring me to work my way through my stash.

My husband drew me a pattern piece for the stocking.  Mine was a little wonky, so I chose his piece instead.  Thanks Cody!

Then I pieced together the two fabrics, the stocking is about 8 inches wide at the top.  So I just cut 8 inch wide varying sizes of fabric.

My favorite part is the toe!

I quilted the front to some batting and lined it with a plain white fabric.  I like the alternating colors and fabrics.  They are kind of clashing/matching.  I used a light cream ribbon vintage bias tape that I got in a sewing box last month for the finish on the top and the loop.  It tied it all together, and  I love the finished product.

Here it is hanging in my craft room on my bulletin board (which I made with a SUPER discount frame from Michael's, some Ikea cardboard from our furniture packaging and scrapbook paper.  Sweet!) It totally steals the show!  What do you think?

Fabric Holiday Placemats

This past weekend, I made fabric placemats for my mother-in-law's birthday.  I used a black and white polka dot fabric on one side and a red holiday fabric on the other.  They turned out really nice.

I really like the holiday fabric because it isn't too loud and HOLIDAY'ISH.

The black and white polka dots look great on the other side.

Four large placemats.

Oh, and a patchwork trivet to match.

I quilted it in a large diamond pattern in white thread.  I think they would look great on any table and I hope she likes them!

For a tutorial, click here.

Ruffle Cake

I love ruffle cakes and I have been wanting to make one forever!  My mother in law's birthday was a few weeks ago and she is coming to visit, so I thought, PERFECT TIME FOR A RUFFLE CAKE!

I piped ruffles and stripes.

I piped a flower on top like the flower cupcakes I made a few days ago.

I made bright yellow cupcakes to go with it.  So cute!

MMMMM... 

I love layer cakes!

I filled it with homemade strawberry cream cheese filling.  Oh my.

I love this combination.

Flower Cupcakes

Yesterday I made these flower cupcakes to take to my husband's nurses.  He is in the hospital for a routine check up, and I have been spending a lot of time there hanging out with him.  I know this is bad, but when I realized there were people there that would eat my baked goods, I was like, "Finally!"    My husband is not a sweets person and it is usually just me that eats all the desserts!

I love the pink and purple colors.  Not very fall-like, but that's ok.  I am having a hard time getting into the seasons and the colors and decor.

The little pearly balls on the top really make the cupcake, don't you think??

I got a new carrier too, it holds cupcakes with higher frosting, which is awesome!

Tutorial for these cupcakes to come!

Handmade Pillow Covers

My couch is awesome, but it came with super ugly matching pillows.  I have been wanting to make covers for them since I first saw them, and today was the day!

The first pillow cover finished.  I hand stamped the center fabric with a handmade stamp from The Mayberry Sparrow on etsy, and an "Oh Happy Day" stamp from Michael's.

Envelope fold back {p.s. I LOVE THIS FABRIC}

Awesome stamps.  So pretty!  The polka dot fabric is from last months quilt show that I went to. 

I covered all 3 pillows tonight.  WHEW!  Yeay!  I love them.  They brighten up the room and make the couch look comfy.  {Hope the hubby likes em}

I think I spent $7 total on these puppies.  What a deal.  2 yards of clearance fabric from Home Fabrics in Tucson, a fat quarter of the polka dot fabric, and some plain cream cotton from JoAnn's.  (not counting the stamps and fabric stamp pad of course.)

Flanked by the quilt I made for my husband on the left and a vintage fabric quilt that I got at a craft fair in Hawaii, they look awesome!  I think that about does it for the living room.  Next victim room please.