Monday, November 15, 2010

Pin-cushion button-jars.


SUPPLIES:
Cleaned baby food jars
Buttons
Fabric
Hot glue gun
Ribbon
Batting
Pins

DIRECTIONS:
Cut a circle larger than your lid. Hand sew around the edge of the circle. Put a ball of batting in the center of circle and cinch fabric closed over batting. Add more or less batting to fit wide enough on lid. Glue to lid and at the edge of lid.
With fabric or ribbon, cover lid and bottom or fabric ball. Attach with glue gun.
Add embellishments as desired to hide seam of ribbons and fabrics.
Add buttons and pins.

Paper garland

This is my mobile version, but I didn't have a finished garland/ decoration picture to add. Variation on the mobile- I layered a few pieces of paper then fanned out after hanging.

SUPPLIES:
Card stock paper
Thread
Sewing Machine * I always use a needle that's had plenty of use on that I won't feel bad not ever sewing on fabric with it again. Be sure to clean your machine after. I don't know how bad it might ware on the machine, but it does seem a little dusty afterwards, so just take care of it.

DIRECTIONS:
Cut squares- any size and with variances. (or cut any other shape). Plan out a pattern for the different colors and sizes. Feed through sewing machine one after another across the diagonals with each piece touching at the corners.
Now try really hard to imagine this hanging until I can get a picture of it. *Sorry!* But I promise you'll like the look. I plan to make more for the holidays.


Medallion Banners

SUPPLIES:
Card stock/ scrap booking paper
Hot glue and gun
Printed letters (I printed my own)
Ribbon, yarn, rope or anything else from hanging

DIRECTIONS:
Cut 2"x12" strips of paper. Create accordion folds.
Attach 2 pieces together at both ends.
Press down and hold paper into a pinwheel shape. Glue in center and hold until cooled. I did press red paper onto glue on top then flip over the medallion and glue the center on the back to reinforce. If you want to hang these in a room and not with the backs against the wall, make sure you use double-sided paper and put something in the center on both sides.
With red circle already on the pinwheel, attach lettered circles.
Evenly space medallions onto string. Viola.


Mmmm Coconut-lime.

I was completely sold by the coconut and lime possibilities of this banana bread recipe. It was great, but the lime glaze on top left me longing for more. Maybe next time I'll add a little zest into the batter or just soak the muffins in the glaze. Still though, a very lovely treat.

I'm finding myself cooking (not necessarily dinner) and trying new recipes now that I'm at home. I've started a "to be made by scratch" list of things I've never made 100% on my own. For example, I've never made any sort of bread until my parents gave me an awesome bread maker last Christmas. Sadly, that list had things such as cinnamon rolls and brownies. Who's never made those from scratch? Me, that's who.

BLOG REPURPOSING

If you notice the change in this blog, than I'm a little surprised. I didn't think anyone looked at my art blog- which is now my project blog. What kind of projects you ask. ALL projects. Hence the title. Sewing. Crafting. Cooking....

I take on the "jack of all trades, master of none" title. At times I'm proud of my ability to grasp new ideas and adapt my skills from one thing to another. Yet, I often wish so badly that I had a niche, a one true purpose in life that was every so clear and perfect. But I don't. Is that due to my impatience and how quickly I get bored, or is that a good thing, that I am attracted to so many lovely things in life that I want to experience a little bit of everything. You decide. For now though, enjoy seeing what new projects I take on.

Monday, October 4, 2010

RUFFLE WAIST Skirt

This skirts is a simple rectangle-cut fabric that is hemmed and cinched at the waste with a riffle on the top. It's really as simple as that. There are a lot of tutorials out there with measurement instructions, like the one found here.

I didn't make any special measurements, just compared it to one of Bug's existing skirts to estimate the allowance for the seems, hems and waistband. Instead of the elastic right at the top of the waist, I put in a seem to lower the elastic and create the ruffle.















IMPROVEMENTS for next time: The hem is too thick and heavy for how little her skirts is, therefor it feels a little stiff. Allow a little extra space for the elastic between seems. Make the skirts a little smaller, but it she will grow into it!


For fun while trying it on, a little party or sundress option. I might try this skirt again but with a bib/bodice attachment.