Pretty Little Pouches

Over the weekend I found this pouch tutorial from Noodlehead. (Here's the link)  The very same blog where I found the cargo bag pattern.  Awesome.  This is her Open Wide Zippered Pouch.

I love that these pouches have the extra long zipper and the cute little zipper tag!  The extra wide opening makes accessing what you are looking for that much easier to find on the bottom.  (Let's be honest that's always were you find it. )

The pattern makes three different pouch sizes.  I decided to use up the canvas I had left from my failed corn hole bags.  I only had enough fabric left to make the small and medium size pouches.  I even had the right size zippers on hand!  Amazing!  That almost never happens. Sadly I am feeling the need to make the largest size, which means buying more fabric.

 

Not only are these pouches cute and practical they also nest!  Now when your not using them, they can store each other.  Nice and neat and out of the way!  I know mine will be put to good use!  What are you going to do with yours?

Christmas finish {in July?}

This is the year!  I can feel it.  Every year I think to myself, "This year I will get Christmas done early."  And yet every year I am working on projects right up to Christmas Eve. Well, I say, NO MORE!  I declare that this is the year I will have all my Christmas projects done by Thanksgiving!

HA! HA! HA!  Good One!  Almost had myself believing it!

Doesn't matter how much I plan, how much I get done,  I will always, always find something to try to make and squeeze in at the last minute.  However, I have gotten one project out of the way.  My Brother and his wife brought a beautiful baby girl into the world this March.  This will be her first Christmas.  She will totally need a stocking for all her goodies.

Last year I made these stockings for my brother's family.  The new little one could not be left out of the matching family stockings.  I started piecing these hexies in June and just yesterday finished up the Embroidery for the name.

While I made each stocking similar, they are each a little different.  Different trim around the cuff, different Christmas decoration on the cuff and a different backing.  My own little touch to personalize them a little.

With this stocking I had this reindeer fabric from last season and I thought it would be the perfect thing for a wee little one.

I even fussy cut out a reindeer hexie for the front.  How Cute is that?!

Mudroom {Part 2}

A few months ago I started my Mudroom makeover with a new coat of paint for the bench and the cubbies and a few new shoe bins. If you missed it you can read about it here.

Since then I have been slowly working on part two of the makeover.  A breadboard wall with coat hooks.  This is the blank wall pre-makeover.

And here is our post-makeover wall.

It is now all up and painted! There are hooks for all of our bags, coats, purses, etc. and I love it!  I could not be happier with the results.  Now on to the next step, cushions and valance.

t-shirt up-cycle.

Emma has been wanting to do a little up-cycling lately.  Last year we had purchased a desk for her room for $15 and she proudly cleaned, sanded, and painted it until it was just as she wanted.  Now she has the bug again.  This year I decided we would do a little wardrobe up cycling.

We dug into her t-shirts and came up with 4 she was ok with cutting up.

I cannot believe how incredibly easy these were.  I think the most it took was 15 minutes to complete a t-shirt remodel.  The best part... She loves them!

I searched the internet for ideas and tutorials; there are literally hundreds of ideas floating out there.

These are the blogs I took the directions from :

http://www.crafterhoursblog.com/2011/08/tee-to-tank-tutorial-by-jen-from.html

http://buntefreunde.blogspot.de/2012/06/tutorial-t-shirt-cutting-weaving-braidi.html

http://www.beadandcord.com/clipper/uyen/clothes-refashion-8717/26236.html

http://wobisobi.blogspot.com/2012/07/no-sew-one-shoulder-shirt-diy.html

http://wobisobi.blogspot.com/2012/06/racer-back-tee-diy-2-braided-back.html

Thanks to all these creative bloggers for giving us such a new spin on our t-shirts!

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to :

Lindsay Kutrybala who said....

Cute bag!! I think my knitting projects would end up fighting my groceries for it! Thanks for the giveaway. :)

She is the winner of the AMB tote bag!  

Can't a Girl Just Hammer

Both my machines are finally, finally  repaired.  Hopefully this means many more hours of sewing.  Since they are both back in working order I found it appropriate that I start sewing!  The first thing I wanted to do was finish those Cargo Duffels I started back in May.  I am using Noodlehead's Cargo Duffel pattern.  You can find it here. I sewed up the last one and finished off the interior binding in record time.  Sadly, it was then I realized that I had no snaps left.  sigh.

Eventually, I did pick up the snaps.  I sat down in the hot, humid, sticky garage to install the snaps.  I have these Dritz brand snaps.

This package comes with all the essential snap installing hardware.  Which is Awesome.  After having marked the placement of the snaps, I set out working on punching the holes needed in the fabric.  This kit even comes with a little punch for making the perfect size hole.  How nice is that? With hammer in one hand and punch in the other I set out to make some holes.

Not 4 hits with the hammer later, my oldest son comes out into the garage and says, "Why are you making all of that noise?"
"I'm installing snaps."
"With a hammer?" he asked.
Looking at the hammer I have to admit is does sound a bit crazy but I simply say, "yes."
He shrugs and goes inside.

Once all the holes are punched, I switched out my punch for the other little "doodads" that are required to install the snaps.  (I assure you the directions on the back of the package are much clearer than I am.)

After I have the first snap installed the garage door opens (again) and my second son says, "What are you doing?"
Again, "I'm installing snaps."
"What are you installing snaps on?" he asks.
"These cargo bags."
'Okay." he says and then leaves.

I finish the snaps on the first bag and start on the second.  These snaps take practically no time to install which is a good thing.  The bad thing is that the temperature in South Carolina has been nearly 100 degrees.  The humidity has surly been 100%.  The temperature in the garage is at least that hot and of course, there is NO breeze. By now I have sweat pouring into my eyes and down my back and I just want to get back into the air conditioning.

I start the second bag and no sooner than I get the first snap installed, my husband steps into the garage.
UGH!
"What are you working on?" he asks.
"I am just trying to finish these flipping' bags!  Why does everyone keep asking me? It's a billion degrees in this garage and I am hot, sweaty and irritable!  Can't I just bang something once in a while!  Does everyone need to ask me Why!"
and he left.  (smart man)

Good news Bags are finished and all are alive.
:)


Remember to stop by this post and leave a comment for a chance to win this AMB duffel!  Only 2 more days until a winner is chosen!

Cornhole Bags

You didn't think I would make a Cornhole game and Not make handmade corn hole bags, now did you?  Of course not.

Yes, I made corn hole bags and I will show you just how it did it.

You will need approximately 1/4 yard of HEAVY weight Duck Cloth that is 60" wide in two colors.  If your Duck cloth is only 42 inches wide you will need 1/3 of a yard.

(Let me emphasize HEAVY weight. I made the first ones, these cute bags in the photos here, out of mid-weight duck cloth.  It took all of 10 throws before the seams ripped and corn flew everywhere.  Great if you are a squirrel or a bird.  Not so good for playing the game.  After reinforcing the seams countless times.  The fabric actually started to shred.  Not good.  Not good at all.)

Cut 8 -- 7"X7" squares out of each of the two colors.

Matching right sides of 2 same color pieces together. pin.  And sew around bag leaving a 4 inch opening on one side for turning and inserting the feed corn. Then Sew a second time, right next to the stitches you just sewed.  If you have a serger, or access to a serger you could easily serge around the edges.  Once you have sewed twice around the bag.  Clip corners and turn right side out through opening.

Use a knitting needle or the eraser end of a pencil to help turn corners.  Once bags are turned.  Fill with desired corn.  I turned this over to my DH and Daughter because they are more, anal  technical about the process.  There are certain weights, measurements for the "official" corn hole bags. This however does not interest me one iota. I sew.  That's what I do.  I am sure you can find the exact weight with googles help.

Once they are filled pin opening closed.  I found using 2 pins to secure the opening closed worked great.  Then I used 2 additional pins, running horizontal to hold the corn in place for sewing.  Sewing Machines do not like sewing over feed corn.  Trust me. Don't even go there.

Sew opening closed with a top stitch.  For the first set of bags I stitched the openings closed the first time with one seam.  Then reinforced the seams with 2 additional seams around the entire outside edge.  The second set the canvas was thick enough that this step was unnecessary. 

That's all there is, you are Ready to Play

A New Challenge {& a giveaway}

Have you seen my quilts page recently?  How about my projects page.  If you have you have probably noticed a few changes.  I ran across a blog post last week that inspired me to change up my pages.  I thought a complete overhaul of the  blog would be a great idea.  After a week of learning HTML and CSS code, I am happy I got as far as I did.  A big challenge.  I am also working on a new website design, but don't hold your breath you won't see that until next year.

If you do get a chance to hop over to my projects page, you will see My South Carolina Block for the 

American Made Brand 50 states tour.  The links are updated and posted here check them out for the first time or get caught up where you left off before Summer.

The American Made Brand people are sponsoring a new Challenge and it is one we can all enter.  The Farm to Fabric Challenge is open through August 15th.  You can go here: http://americanmadebrand.com/farm-to-fabric-challenge/  to get all the details. I have my design all sketched out, sadly I cannot share it with you yet.  :(

Edited- July15 2014 Drawing for the tote bag will be July 18th!

I have also got a little Giveaway for you.

This cute AMB tote, comes without the veggies, but at 13 x 15”, is perfect for visiting farmer’s markets, toting a sewing project, knitting projects, embroidery project or pretty much anything you can think of.  The logo is printed on both sides and, of course, the bag is also made in the US of A.  

If you would like to win this tote just leave me a comment below.  Happy Quilting!

DIY Outdoor Fun

Those of you who know me, know I am not afraid to tackle any project.  I love trying out new ideas in the sewing room as much as I do in the garage or the yard.  Last summer the kids and I got a bee in our bonnet and decided to build some outdoor lawn games.  This isn't the first wood building project we have tackled together.  Now that the kids are older and stronger, especially my boys, I am amazed at how quickly things get done.  Well, almost.

We put together our ladder ball ladder within one day.  After a few coats of paint, chosen and painted by my daughter. (I know the pink and purple probably gave that away, didn't it).  We were ready to play.  It has been great fun for the entire family, and a wonderful thing to have when company is here.

Last summer we also put together a Cornhole set.  We built it and put one coat of primer on it and it has sat in the garage ever since.  I am not sure why we stalled out on it, but this year with my husbands, ah..encouragement, we finally finished it up.

Once again E and I were in charge of painting and designing the finished product.  We went with Scarlet,  Gray and White for a certain University.  Using contact paper to design the Block O and to trim out around the hole was a great tip provided by the Internet.

The directions for both I pulled of the Internet.  There are numerous patterns on the Internet for ladder ball.  The most common is the PVC type.  Since our original ladder ball set was PVC and the boys managed to mangle that within the course of one summer, we went the wood route. The Ladder ball game directions we used can be found here at This Old House.

The Cornhole we used directions can be found here at DIY network and here at This Old House.  It is a great way to get the kids away from the electronics and involved in something that we can all do together. Happy Gaming.

Embroidered Flowers

I picked up this Hand Embroidery kid sometime 2 years ago.  I had planned on finishing it for my Sister's wedding.  With all that was going on I never did.  I have been working on it slowly off and on for at least a year.

With both my sewing machines having technical issues recently, doing things by hand has been the way to go.   I finished up these flowers on our summer vacation.

(As I am sure you can tell from this fabulously blurry picture, the directions called for chain stitched flowers and vine stitch stems and leaves.)

  Now I just have to wait for someone to get married!  Perhaps by then I will have decided if it would look best as a pillow, the center of a quilt or perhaps a wall hanging as it was intended.