Reversible Halloween Tote Bag

From my sewing room this week:  The Reversible Halloween Tote!

Made with Ali Foster's Reversible Tote pattern, of course!

I used to be afraid of bias tape, but every time I make one of these totes, I'm reminded that my fear is completely unfounded.  It gets easier each time.

Speaking of bias tape, I have found that Wal-Mart sells the basic colors at a much cheaper price than any big box fabric store.  In fact, if you are fortunate to have a Wal-Mart with a fabric department, I recommend getting many sewing basics such as interfacing, zippers, thread, snaps and velcro there.  Although their fabric selection leaves much to be desired, their prices on the basic necessities can't be beat.  While I don't frequent Wal-Mart too often, I will make a special trip just for sewing essentials!

For those of you in Central Florida, the Casselberry Wal-Mart on 436 is a great resource.

Where is your favorite place to buy fabric and sewing supplies?  Online or in store?  I'd love to hear in the comments.

Bread Bag Details

Since I guest posted on MoneySavingMom, I've had numerous questions (and a few orders!) about my bread bags.  So, I'll attempt to answer most of those questions here.  As always, leave any more questions in the comments and I'll get back to you!

Bread bags are really easy to make and are great for storing homemade (or store bought) bread.  I typically line bread bags with osnaburg, which is a soft material that is very breathable- somewhere between burlap and linen.  It can be found near the utility fabric section of any major fabric store.

I use the basic tutorial found here, which is the same pattern I use for reusable snack bags.  I adjust the width, height and depth to fit the loaf of bread, and leave plenty of excess on the length for tying the bag. 

Gussets in the bottom add dimension and depth, and make the loaf fit nicely into the bag.  There's a quick and easy gusset tutorial here.

I like to add an adjustable tie to the bag.  I used to sew this tie into the bag, but then a friend informed me that the bread would stay fresher if she could adjust the tie to seal out more air.  So I adapted.

Well, that's about all the tips I have for bread bags.  Let me know your questions in the comments and I'll do a follow up post if needed.  Happy bread baking!

Vintage Mirror and Lace Earring Holder

Remember the plastic canvas earring holders I made last April?   Well, I have apparently expanded my earring collection since then and needed to make room. 

My mother-in-law gave me this mirror, which had been hanging in her garage for a while.  It belonged to her mom's mom, which would have been my husband's Great Grandma Annie (the same person who gave me her sewing machine). 



So, I removed the mirror and the brackets in the back.

I spray painted it the same color as my necklace holder, since I planned to hang them on the same wall.  It's Colonial Red by Rustoleum.

I had a growing collection of vintage lace- from a variety of grandmothers and estate sales, and found four of my favorite pieces. 

I glued them into the back of the mirror frame with hot glue.

When the glue dried, I turned the mirror frame over and hung it on the wall in my bedroom.  And smiled really big. 

I still used my plastic canvas earring holder for post earrings, but this design is perfect for the hook type earrings.

I may just have to go buy more earrings tomorrow, so I can fill in a few gaps! 

Jewlery is just so pretty to display on a wall.... or on a person!

Camera Strap Coozie - With Ruffles!

This weekend I made something new!  A dear friend celebrated her birthday, and since she loves using her camera, I made this Ruffle Camera Strap Coozie.

Since we have the same camera, I was able to use my own camera strap to measure the length and width.  So convienent.  :)

I chose this fabric from Michael Miller - it's so bright and cheery I knew I couldn't go wrong.

What's a "Coozie" you ask?  It's just a tube that slips on to the camera strap.  It can easily be removed if your husband wants to take pictures you need to wash it.

It's such a fun way to dress up something that is used very often.



I'll be sharing a tutorial in the coming weeks. 

Shirred Bandana Dress

My darling two-year-old is in love with Dora, or "Dee-Do" as she calls her.  So, when I saw these bandanas at Hobby Lobby, I couldn't resist transforming them into a dress for her.  It was incredibly easy, and I'm happy to share the details with you.

You will need:

• Two Bandanas (mine measured 20" x 20", and were $1.99 each at Hobby Lobby)
• One roll Elastic thread (available at WalMarts that still sell fabric, or at fabric stores - $0.97 at WalMart)
• Regular thread to coordinate with the background of your bandana
• Ribbon for around the neck

Measuring the child:

• My daughter is 27 months old and weighs about 25 lbs.  She is 34 inches tall.  This dress would likely be too long and would require a hem on anyone shorter than 34". 
• Measure from under your child's armpits down their chest.  Note where you would like the shirring (the elastic thread) to stop.  My child measured 4".
• Plan to have enough ribbon to tie behind their neck, or you could make two traditional shoulder straps or a cross in the back- be creative!

Start with two bandanas.

Because bandanas are finished on all edges, you won't need to hem anything.  See?  Already easy. 

These bandanas were $1.99 each.

Next, remove any tags or price stickers from your bandanas.

Place bandanas RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER on your worktable.

Using regular thread to match the background of your bandans, sew down ONE side of the bandanas.  If you bandanas have a direction, make sure you are sewing a side seam and not the neck or hem of the dress.  Remember to only sew down ONE side.

Using elastic thread, hand wind your bobbin until full.  Depending on the size of your child, it may take several bobbins.  Wind a few in the beginning to save yourself time during the sewing process.

Wind loosely.  Do not pull the elastic tight.  Allow it to easily wrap around the bobbin.

Using the edge of your presserfoot as a guide, begin sewing.  You will be sewing down the long edge of the bandana (essentially sewing down one bandana, over the seam you made previously, and on to the second bandana).

The top of your machine is threaded with regular thread - whatever closely matches your bandana background.  Only the bobbin is threaded with elastic thread.

I sewed 13 rows total, which was four inches. 

Make sure to leave plenty of string at the end of each row.  Many tutorials say you need to tie your top and bobbin thread together at the end of the row - I have personally never done this and not had a problem.  However, if you cut your strings too short you would have it retract back into the stitch and that would be no good! 

It has also been my experience that different brands of elastic thread tend to shirr differently.  So, if you have a small amount on an old roll, I would NOT try to use that piece and then pair it with another brand.  Your dress may not look uniform. 

There is an excellent tutorial on shirring with elastic thread here.

So, now that your shirring is done, you will need to remove your elastic thread bobbin and replace it with the bobbin thread that matches your top thread. 

Pin the remaining side seam of your dress with right sides together and sew the second side seam.

After this seam is done, you may clip all the excess elastic thread and regular thread strings.

Now you have a beautiful strapless dress!

I chose to add a ribbon to tie in the back - halter style, but you can do whatever you want.  Traditional straps, criss cross in the back, anything really - do whatever works with the stash you have and the girl for which you are sewing.

Other variations:

• Use the tutorial here to make a matching pair of bloomers with a third bandana
• Add a ruffle to the bottom if you need more length
• Fit the straps loosely and pair with a long sleeved onesie or shirt for cooler weather

Back To School Snack Bags

My little boy is starting preschool tomorrow.  He's a late birthday, so although he'll be four in October, he is in the three year old class. 

He. Is. So. Excited.

He's slept with his lunchbox, asked every day if he can go to school, and packed his backpack.  I have a strong feeling that he'll run straight into his classroom and make instant friends.  And I'll cry the rest of the morning, I'm sure.  Shoot, I cried tonight while packing his lunch. 

So, it was somewhat therapeutic for me to sew him these Thomas the Train snack bags.  We went together to the fabric store and he picked out this fabric. 

Hopefully he will open his lunch tomorrow and see these snack bags, and remember his mother who loves him so much.  And then he'll eat his carrots.  Maybe. 

Resuable snack bags are now listed in my Etsy shop.

Custom Order Month

I've been really busy sewing a lot for various people, and although none of these projects are really new patterns or skills, I thought I'd share a round up of what I've been doing.

 I made twelve wristlets from Amy Butler prints for a show in California.  A lady contacted me through Etsy to special order these items.  There was a little fabric left over, so I made even more wristlets and they are now in my Etsy shop.

My friend Kari had her first baby - a boy! - and I wanted to send something to join in the celebration.  She lives in Senegal, West Africa. so I thought a nursing cover, changing pad and snack bag (which can also be used to hold pacifiers, breast pads, or anything else she doesn't want to get dirty) would be a nice gift.  Hope motherhoood is treating you well, Kari.

College friends David and Lauren are soon to welcome their second baby girl into the world, so I sent a Car Seat Canopy to help keep her cool and dry. 

Clay and Megan welcomed their fourth child this summer, and they requested a Car Seat Canopy as well.  Megan loved this owl fabric, and the orange lining gave it a great punch of color!

My cousin Erica hosted a giveaway on her blog, and I contributed this wet bag.  I made this from the same pattern as my reusable snack bags, but just larger and with a handle.  Wet bags are great for swimsuits, cloth diapers, potty training accidents and so much more.

 Another cousin, Paige, ordered these reusable snack bags from my etsy shop.  She wanted an assortment of patterns, so I put together this collection for her.

Amanda, who is the daughter-in-law of a friend at church, ordered an FSU baby gift set.  While I don't normally sew on anything except University of Florida or University of Alabama, I made an exception for Amanda.  (Just kidding, guys.  :)  My machine will sew all teams.)

So, that's where I've been the last few weeks.  There's a few more custom orders in the pipeline, and I have a few tutorials to share later this week.  Thanks for hanging in there!