artsy-crafty babe

yet ANOTHER fabric flower tutorial

I've had a few emails asking how I made the flower for my market bag, so I thought I'd share.  I'm sure there's already something like this out there (really, there are a gazillion fabric flower tutorials), but I'm too lazy to look for it! I didn't follow a tutorial when making mine, I just put together what made sense to me.  If you'd like to make one of your own, here's how I did it:

1. Cut a strip of fabric 2" wide.  I used a width of quilting fabric, so my strip was 2" x 44".

2. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise while making a running stitch along the raw edge of the fold, essentially making a tube.

3. Once you've run the needle and thread through the entire length of the fabric, pull your thread to gather the tube.  I gathered mine to about 22".

4. Cut a circle of felt 2.5" -3" in diameter.  I like to use a color close to the color of fabric that I'm using, but that isn't all that important.

5.Starting at the outside of the circle, start spiraling your ruffle around the felt circle while tacking it down with needle and thread. You could use hot glue on this step if you'd like, but I'm a hand stitch kind of girl. 

Keep circling...

and circling until you've used up all your fabric. You might want to play with placement before you start sewing the fabric to the circle.  As you can see,  I probably should have started my second row a little closer to the first one. Be sure that each row covers the raw edge/stitches of the row before it.

When you get to the end, turn your edge under a bit then tack to the center.

6. Finish off with a button of your choice.

Here's my back - not pretty, but not that bad.

From here you can sew your flower onto a bag, attach a pinback, glue it to a headband, or whatever your heart desires!

 

giveaway :: Creativity for Kids Fashion Headbands

Lucky for you, I have a giveaway today!  A week or so ago the girls and I received Creativity for Kids Fashion Headbands to play around with.  As soon as it arrived, the girls wanted to tear into it.  I was able to hold them off for a little while, but I eventually had to give it. 

I’m happy to report that it was a hit!  Both girls were able to do their own thing pretty much unassisted, which is a treat for Mama (of course I had to get in on the action to make a headband or two). 

Ava had fun gluing on rhinestones and flowers while Lily got a little more adventurous with the ribbons.  We pretty much stuck to what came with the kit, which was more than enough, but this project easily lends itself to adding your own touches if you’d like.

Here’s the nitty gritty for you...

Product Overview: Create 10 awesome accessories with this ultimate headband set. The Fashion Headbands craft kit includes a rainbow array of satin headbands, rhinestone, flowers, feathers a butterfly, yards of ribbon and more! This is a great craft for play days and small group activities 

Age Range: 5 – 95 

What comes in the kit?

• 10 Colorful Satin Headbands
• Sparkling Butterfly
• Elastic Felt Pieces
• 2 Fabric Flowers
• Assorted Ribbons
• Craft Glue
• Craft Thread
• Colorful Feathers
• Assorted Colorful Rhinestones
• Instructions and Ideas

Visit all the Creativity For Kids links!

Product Page 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Blog

 

If you’d like to win one of 2 kits I have to give away, just comment below.  I'll leave comments open through this weekend,  then I'll announce a winner on Monday July 4. Good luck!

some more bags

 

I guess I can say that it was another good weekend, production wise.   Yes, 2 more bags were made!  Seriously, I had given up on making any sewing progress these days, but I'm surprising myself.  Maybe I should take advantage of this new found sewing mojo and start a quilt ;-)

This time around I made a Pretty in Pleats and a Market Bag.  I know I said that I was going to make an Erica Bag, but I got sidetracked.  Once I got the idea to make a Market Bag out of that green fabric with a big flower brooch, I had to make it now, but I'll get to that in a bit.

 

For my latest version of Pretty in Pleats, I was feeling the yellow.  To break up all that yellow I decided to add a band of gray.  Doing so is very simple, just cut your pattern piece where you want to make a band, add a seam allowance to each piece (I used 1/4"), then sew it together.  You should end up with a top piece the same size as the original, as long as you were exact with your seam allowances.

Again I went with a covered button.  Love those!  I also used canvas as interfacing.  The canvas I use is plain old canvas/duck cloth you can find at any fabric store.  Nothing fancy.

Okay, now on to the Market Bag.  I LOVE this bag.  Yes, it is super huge, but I think I'm going to use this one.  I always bring a a big bag to work with me that carries the junk I don't want in my purse - my planner, some magazines, maybe a project I'm working on, my lunch.  This bag just might be that bag.

When I designed this pattern I had sheets in mind.  All my prototypes were made from sheets.  I included fabric requirements for regular 44" fabric if that was what you wanted to use, but I had never used that.  I don't know what took me so long!

I made this bag completely reversible.  Isn't that lining perfect for that floral?  It's been in my stash for a while, but I didn't know what I'd use it for.  This proves that if you wait long enough the perfect fabric will come along.

And now I'm kind of hooked on making these flowers.  Don't be surprised if you see more flowers on upcoming bags!  Next up - Erica Bag and Ava Rose tote - I'm on a roll, I tell ya!!

yellow and green

 

Isn't it funny how you can get stuck on certain colors?  And when you look for them you find them everywhere?  My happy little zinnias are finally blooming.  I think the yellow are my favorite.

And my sunflowers are so close.  I planted these just for Alex, who requested them.

I suppose this whole yellow and green kick started with the fabrics I chose for the my next bag.  I'm making a market tote out of quilting cottons instead of my usual sheet stash.  My market tote has been getting some use with my visits to the farmer's market on Saturday mornings.  I thought it was time for a new, fancier one.

Finally, here I am in my yellow and green get up from today.  Hello belly, you sure are making your presence known these days!  I know I look enormous now, but this ain't nothing!!

Happy weekend, friends!  I hope you have a great one :)

 

tips

While I was working on my bags this past weekend, it occurred to me that you might find it helpful to see how I use my patterns.  Most of most of my patterns have half pieces (I try my best to fit them on one 8.5 x 11 page, or at least break them up in logical places).  If you're not a fan of placing pattern pieces on a fold, then you can print two pattern pieces and tape them together.  With bags, I find it easier to make a whole piece so that I can easier control the placement of the fabric design.  It drives me nuts when something is off center!  

 

When you do this, one of your pieces will be upside down, which means that you won't be able to see the markings on the right side.  To fix this, just trace over the pattern markings (pleats, darts) with a sharpie on both printed pieces.  The ink will bleed through to the other side, making the marks visible on both sides of the pattern. 

 

When marking darts on my fabric, I generally do all my pieces at once.  I stack up all my pieces, lay my pattern on top, and pin it in a few places to secure it.  I stick a straight pin at the point of the dart them mark each point on all the layers with a plain old pencil.  For the legs of the dart, I fold back the pattern a bit to mark those points. 

That's it for now. It's nothing earth shattering, but it may make your bag making process a little bit easier.

two

Hold on to your horses, are you ready? (drum-roll please.........)  this weekend I made not 1 but 2 bags!  Woohoo!!  And they're cute, if I do say so myself.  I'm not sure what got into me, but I was in the mood to sew.  Well, that chunk of time in a an empty quiet house had something to do with it.  Yes, there was a time when I'd make 2 bags in an afternoon, but I'm pretty sure those days are behind me for now.  Two in a weekend is good enough :) 

One of my goals this summer to make new samples of all my patterns for a fresh look.  I'm just plain tired of looking at the same old pictures!  I'm starting with the oldest, working up to the newest.  This weekend I tackled the Lily Beth and the Short & Sassy.  I had forgotten how fun the Short & Sassy bag is.  After being on a big bag kick for years, it was nice to make a smaller bag.  Lily was in love with it, in fact she wanted it for herself.  She said it was just her size. 

The ruffle was added for a little fun, along with the covered button.  I love ruffles and covered buttons! Apparently I was feeling hot pink because both bags are drenched in it.  I love all the fabrics I used, but I especially love that pink and orange print on the Lily Beth. Both the fabrics on that bag are by Jennifer Paganelli. 

After my success using muslin as interfacing on my applique bags, I decided to try something different on these - I used canvas as the interfacing.  Oh my goodness, I love it!

It's no secret that I'm not all that fond of interfacing in general and I absolutely hate fusible interfacing, so I'm always on the lookout for other alternatives.  I think using canvas for is a perfect solution for me.  No, it isn't the cheapest method out there, but so far I'm happy with how the bag feels - sturdy and durable without feeling stiff.  I'm going to play with this idea a little more before I become a total convert, but I'm on the way there. 

Okay, now here's a little bit of crazy...I must have a really bad memory, or big lack of self-confidence because I impressed myself with these patterns.  I know that sounds strange considering that I made these patterns, but I went into this project expecting these patterns to not be so good. They were my first, made 3+ years ago, and I've learned a lot since then.  

Much to my surprise, these first patterns were well made!  It's funny how we can skew things in our minds.  

I'm glad I decided to revisit these first patterns because they've given me the boost to finish up the two new patterns I have in the works!  Now that I'm in the bag making mood, expect more in the near future.  Up next, Pretty in Pleats and the Erica Bag!!

 

almost normal

The other day the strangest thing happened...I felt almost normal.  Well, I don't really know what normal is, but I felt somewhat like my old normal.  

After supper was eaten I still had some energy, so I pulled out some fabrics along with Miss Kitty to make something.  I was feeling almost giddy about it! 

Things were moving right along then BAM - I was tired.  Just like that.  I had to lay down with my feet up because I could not go any longer, totally useless for the rest of the night. 

Oh well, I gave it a valiant effort.  My fabrics went back into the basket, ready for next time. Maybe another night.

seven

There goes another one, getting older on me!  Today Alex turns 7.  Wow.  

Just as you requested, we had pizza for supper and a chocolate filled birthday cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream.  All Alex! 

This past year you've started to enjoy playing sports - soccer, basketball, and baseball. Not once did you ask to quit.   (I'm sure your dad is relieved about this!)  The best part about it is your attitude. You love to be out there playing with your team, no matter how you do or if you're winning or losing.  I love that! 

You've also started telling jokes.  That joke book of yours sure gets a workout.  The term 'class clown' may or may not have been mentioned at one of your parent - teacher conferences :-)  You are a big goof, that's for sure.  But please, take it easy on sneaking up to scare people. Not everybody (especially your pregnant mama) enjoys that!  

As the middle child and the only boy, I know you sometimes get the short end of the stick. Lily gets to do everything first and Ava is the cute little one that everyone goes gaga over. And you're constantly surrounded by girl stuff - sorry about that.  I'm sure you think it's no fun now, but your future wife will appreciate the lessons you're learning (I hope).

Happy Birthday Alex!  You're one special dude - I love you!!

 

 

lazy sunday

I love a lazy Sunday, don't you?  After my morning coffee I decided that today would be lazy. By week's end and after all the weekend activities, I'm usually beat, but rarely have the luxury of spending time being just lazy. 

While still nursing my cold (darn thing is still hanging on!), I knew that taking it slow was necessary.  I was supposed to take it slow yesterday, but with the house to myself while Matt & the kids were away at a birthday party, I decided to tackle my messy bedroom.  It was a lot of work, but so worth it!  I slayed more dust bunnies than I care to mention.  My room is now clean, rearranged, and de-cluttered.  It felt good sleeping on those clean sheets last night.

Oh yeah, back to my lazy Sunday...with the day ahead of me this morning, I entertained the idea of doing some sewing, but that seemed like too much effort.  I decided to enjoy my clean bedroom a bit more, so I pulled out my beads.  Stringing beads while lounging on the bed watching the Karate Kid movie marathon is pretty lazy.

And then it started to rain.  Not just a little drizzle, but a thunder and lightening downpour. Could it get any more perfect?  Only if the laundry magically puts itself away and my children turn into quiet little angels :)  The day isn't over and I've still got a bit more Sunday lazying to do, so if you'll excuse me, I hear my sewing supplies calling...  

on my mind

Hello Friday!  You sure got here quickly this week - no complaining for me!!  Because this week has been a blur, I feel the need to just do a random brain dump:

• having a cold sucks, especially when you're pregnant, can't breathe and it is almost 100 degrees outside
• banana splits make me happy
• i'm feeling the urge to make myself some new necklaces, either really long to be looped around multiple times or somewhat short - all made from light weight beads. my usual chunky necklaces feel like they're strangling me right now.
• i can't believe that i'm at the half way point in this pregnancy
• i'm already starting to go into nesting mode.  fitting one more body into our already too small space has been heavy on my mind.  sure, we could move to a bigger house, but i don't think that's practical in this economy and i don't want to.  i most certainly don't want a bigger mortgage!  we're going to make this work.  kids sharing spaces never hurt anybody.
• i've decided to give up my sewing studio.  when i thought about it, i realized that it's really just a storage area for all my stuff while the kids spend more time there.  it's only fair that i move my stuff out to make that more their space with their toys and such.  plus, (here comes the selfish part) their spending time up there gives me some peace and quiet :)
• i need to do some MAJOR purging of crafting/sewing supplies.  it isn't going to be fun.
• i'm taking an on-line watercolor class right now.  we're only at exploring materials and i'm already intimidated.  well, playing with the materials is fun, but i have no idea where i'll go next
• my tomatoes are taking forever to ripen.  i thought for sure that i'd have red tomatoes when i got back from vacation, but nope.  just a ton of green ones.
• i'm still amazed that I can actually grow food.  the whole process fascinates me
• i feel guilty telling my kids to clean up their room when my own is a complete mess right now
• ava keeps taking pictures on my phone when she's supposed to be playing games.  little stinker
• i'll have a 7 yr old next week.  the boy is the caboose of our family birthday train.  he couldn't be more excited!  i  guess i should start thinking about gifts and birthday cake, yet again.
• we have a ball game, a birthday party and a bridal shower to attend this weekend.  i don't think i'm going to make it all.  and that's fine by me
• when i was a kid i used to *love* pickle scratch-n-sniff stickers. and the pizza scented ones.  huh?  where did that come from?  oh well.

Okay, I think that just about does it.  TGIF - have a great weekend, friends!  Try to stay cool if it's steamy hot where you are.  I'll be sipping LOTS of lemonade while enjoying my cool a/c (trying to get over this stupid cold!).