So Little Time

Wednesday is here again. 

I hope every is having a wonderful week!

Lately, I've had a few unfinished projects I'm trying to catch up on. 
There seems to be too many projects and so little time to finish them. 

It could also be that I'm pinning too many projects instead of actually working on them. Oops. 

Here is a look at a few finished projects and links to go with them!

1. Another Zipper Bag--This originally was going in my Etsy shop. However, I changed my mind and decided the owls would suit my niece better. :-) 

2. Has anyone tried the Maybelline Contour Compact? I have the Light/Medium and I love it. Just a bit of color leaves you with a lovely, sunkissed glow. 

3. The quilt on the bottom is my long running project. I've had the quilt batting for over a year. The fabric I used was actually two queen size sheets. This tutorial was so helpful with my machine binding. 
I was so happy to have it finally finished!

 

Terra Cotta Pots

With Spring finally here, that means it'll soon be time for flowers. As I drive to work I see many of them starting to spring up all around. This also means that once again, I'll try my hand a flowers. 

 Flowers in pots that is. 

 I love the idea of having a porch that's covered with blossoming flower pots. It seems to make things much more bright and cheerful. Almost like they're welcoming you as make your way inside. 

In all honesty though. I don't have a green thumb. I have a black one. They look great for a few weeks, but then it happens. They're either watered too much or not enough. However, I have yet to give up. Every spring I try it again, thinking it'll be different than the last year. We'll see how this year goes. 

In the meantime, I've been making a cute flower pot. It's a twine-wrapped terra cotta pot. 

 Check out House by Hoff for great instructions on making this type of planter. 

 And yes, those are fake succulents. Perhaps this is what I'll have to stick with if the real deal doesn't work out for me. 

Wish me luck!

 Jessica

 

Sweater Weather

For those of us in the south, I'm really hoping the season for sweaters is coming to an end. However, I believe that's just wishful thinking on my part. Officially, the first day of spring is only a few weeks away, but I know we'll still have sweater days to come over the next couple months. 

In the meantime, as you prepare and/or hope for warmer weather, do you have any old sweaters you're ready to part ways with? Wool or cashmere sweaters of at least 80% to be precise. Maybe you've picked some up from Goodwill or your local thrift store? 

That's what I did a few years ago after seeing a project in this issue of Make it Yourself by Better Homes and Gardens. 

The project was a felted sweater quilt. 

Should you decide to make your own, there are plenty of tutorials to find online. Just type "sweater quilt DIY" into your Pinterest search. You will have no want for instructions there. Or you can also buy the 2012 back issue of Make it Yourself and have your own set of instructions to look at.

This is my sweater quilting adventure with a few tips along the way.

After gathering your sweaters, be sure to wash them in hot water and dry them. This will cause the fabric to felt, which is why you want a high percentage of wool or cashmere. Read more in depth about it here. Once this is done you can now cut your sweaters into squares. The size is your choice. I chose to do 10" squares. Also remember to get creative with your sweaters. Patterned sweaters are always a fun idea!

 

Now comes the fun part. Lay out your squares into the arrangement you want for your quilt. Then start sewing those squares together in rows. You can do this part several different ways. The instructions I used called for a seam stabilizer to be used. I've seen others line two squares up and use a zig-zag stitch to connect the two. Maybe check out other instructions and see what method you prefer to use. The stabilizer worked for me, but was somewhat tedious trying to pull off later. If you choose this, be careful not to rip your stitches in the process when tearing it off. 

Once your first set of rows are sewn together, sew up the rest to connect it all together!

Next, I got ready for the backing by safety pinning the sweaters front to the backing. The instructions I used didn't call for a backing but I chose to put one on, just so it would look more finished on the back. Use your own creativity with that. You might like the more rustic or undone look, depending on the color and fabric patterns you chose. Also, I chose a flannel fabric for the back. Just so it would be soft and cozy when you're curled up with your quilt.

If you choose to do a backing, be sure to cut it a few inches bigger all around than the front of the quilt. This way you'll have room in case there are in mishaps in measuring or cutting. Once the backing is sewn all around, it's time for the final step. The binding. I chose to use a cotton fabric with a pattern to match my squares. If you have any questions about the binding or a how to try this place for instructions. If you do better with a video, check this out.

And finally done!!

Here you can see the binding fabric I chose from Hobby Lobby. I love the pattern.

Not a quilt person? There are many craft ideas out there involving sweaters.

 If you're a Pinterest kind of gal--who isn't?--check out other fun uses for sweaters. 

Even if you chose to do the quilt, you'll still want to check it out because there's going to be lots of leftovers! 

My favorite idea? 

Using the sleeves as leg warmers or boot socks. Fun! 

Maybe sweater weather isn't so bad...

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

Etsy Shop

It seems I am always having ideas about something. Lately it's been ideas about crafting and Etsy.

I enjoy crafting and sewing, but you can only give so many of your creations away before you run out of people and you're left with a whole lot of stuff. 

 --Can I just say Pinterest is no help whatsoever there. I am continuously drawn to the Craft/DIY section, wanting to try out something new.--

For the past several months I have considered the idea of starting up my own shop on Etsy. 

In the shop I want to offer things I've made myself--completely from scratch--and things I have refashioned from thrift stores and such.

The plan is by starting up an Etsy shop it will help me be able to continue my crafting, while at the same time finding another home for the new creation.

I started it up a few weeks ago, so it's still very fresh. It is also slow going at the moment trying to get things listed. However, I have managed to list half a dozen items. 

Here are a few thing you can find in the shop. To see more you can check it out here.

Thanks for stopping!
Jessica

Book Clutch

Who here loves books? I know I sure do! 

One of my favorite scents (besides coffee) is the smell of books. New. Old. It doesn't really matter. There's just something about it that makes me smile. Maybe it's the smell that reminds you that inside those pages you'll find adventure, romance, or mystery. 

I will say this. I love to read but I when I buy a book from the thrift store, I don't always get it with that in mind. Sometimes it's because it's just plain pretty. In this case, I bought it with something else in mind. A book clutch.To the book lover/crafter. This one's for you.

DIY Book Clutch

Thanks to Caught on a Whim

 And this was my finished project.

Isn't It Time???

I'm sure everyone has given up on me by now. I knew I had not updated in a while, but I didn't realize it had been since Easter! My mom always told me that the older I got the faster time goes by. I am learning that's true! I will have to say the time between Easter and now has not been too eventful, which sometimes can be a good thing. I have however been staying busy with a few projects...sewing projects to be exact.

 Here are a few projects I have been making. I started out with this book. http://www.amazon.com/Stitch-Learning-Sew-Project-Time/dp/1440211612 It has a lot of neat projects, especially for beginners! You begin making something small, such as napkins and picnic place mats, and by the end of the book you are making skirts and shirts! I would recommend this to anyone beginning to sew!

This can be used for many other things than just a picnic mat. :)

These are two panels of curtains I made for the bathroom in salon that I work in. I love the fabric!

 

There are other things I have made, but those will have to be posted another day! Hopefully I won't wait so long next time to post.... :-) 

P.S. The fabric was purchased from my local fabric shop. Check it out here. She even offers free shipping in the U.S.!

Fabrics N Quilts

Clementine Patterns

When I was younger, my mom taught me how to do embroidery. I was not wonderful at it, but I tried. I eventually burnt out on the sewing. Now that I am older, I am beginning to appreciate sewing and embroidered work more. I even made some embroidered gifts this year for Christmas! (I will post pictures later.)

Now to the point of my post...speaking of embroidery...I found this really neat Etsy shop that sales embroidery patterns. It is a mother-daughter team. The patterns are creative and beautiful!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ClementinePatterns

Check out her blog also if you get a chance...the pictures she takes are wonderful!
http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/


Also (off topic), just wanted to say I hope everyone is having a great Christmas season!