celebrate CREATIVITY in all its forms

Hats Off To The (little) Chef

I may have mentioned before that I'm not a fantastic cook.  My husband and kids would likely second that, but at least I'm earnest. 

While I'm still learning and practicing my cooking skills, I've also been trying to get my kids more involved in preparing meals and experimenting in the kitchen along with me.

With that in mind, it occurred to me that attire could possibly inspire.

 

In an effort to encourage Cameron's burgeoning interest in cooking and baking, I made her this cute chef's hat.  I've almost finished one for Jordy too.

I thought looking the part would give the kids a pinch and a dash more inspiration when they're having fun in the kitchen.

A chef's hat is a super simple project and while there are any number of ways to make one, I'll walk you through my easy technique.

You'll need @3/4-yard of fabric, velcro and optional fusible interfacing.  First step is to make the following fabric cuts;  a 20 inch X 7 inch rectangle for the hat band and a 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch strip for facing. 

Also cut a fabric circle with a 22-inch diameter. 

Mark a 5-inch line from the edge of the fabric circle.  Cut the line as shown in the photo below.

Please pardon the uncustomary wordiness in some of these instructions.  I departed from my usual brevity to make sure I cover every step as clearly as possible.

 

Grab the 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch fabric strip which will serve as a mini binding to be placed around the slit that was just cut in the fabric circle.  Turn the strip by 1/4-inch and iron. 

Note: Some of the colors look a shade different from photo to photo due to inconsistent lighting conditions in-house.  All pieces shown are cut from the same fabric selection.

 

Pin the 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch facing strip along the entire slit, pin in place and then stitch using a 1/2 seam allowance. 

After attaching the facing strip to the slit, turn the finished edge toward unfinished side, iron and then top stitch to secure.

 

To make the hat band, first adhere fusible interfacing (or baste stitch another cut of matching 20 inch X 7 inch fabric) to the wrong side of this band. 

Heavier canvas-like fabric may not need interfacing but if you're using a lightweight fabric the extra stiffness gives the band a bit more support.

After applying the interfacing, turn one long edge over about 1/4-inch and iron.  Top-stitch the edge. 

The gathering process is one of my least favorite aspects of any project because all too often my threads break and I have to start over. 

Because of the large distance of required gathering on this project, be extra careful pulling your gathered threads. 

You may also want to consider stitching a series of gathered sets around the fabric circle to minimize the possibility of thread breaks. 

After gathering, pin the hat band (right sides together) to the hat.  Line up the each end with @1/2 clearance on each end.  Slide the gathers and ease to fit, pinning as you go.

You can adjust the size of the hat by simply changing the length of the band.

Stitch the band to the hat.  Fold the band in half toward the outside (rights sides together) and stitch each end from top to bottom using 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Then turn the band inside-out and fold in half toward the inside (wrong sides together) of the hat and iron.

Remember that slit I cut earlier?  Here's a closeup look at the finished slit as it relates to the hat band. 

I think this technique makes a nice and clean finished edge that not only makes the hat more adjustable, but also gives it a more professional appearance.

Finally, add some velcro to each end of the hat band.  Some velcro brands have adhesive on the back but I think it's better to actually stitch the velcro to the hat for a more secure hold. 

Learn from my mistake tip:  Do not stitch through velcro with adhesive-backing.  The adhesive will immediately gum up any needle and if you're using a sewing machine, the needle could carry adhesive down into the machine's internal parts which could cause serious damage to your machine.  If you're going to stitch the velcro on, use a brand without an adhesive-backing.

When you stitch the velcro, do not stitch through the entire band. Stitch the velcro to the inside of the band before securing the open edge of the band to the inside.  That way, the velcro stitching is not visible from the outside of the hat.  Once the velcro is attached, slipstitch the inside edge of the band to the hat to secure.

Meanwhile, no chef's hat would be complete without an apron.  A nice coordinated-looking ensemble is created by using some of the same hat fabric for the apron ties and waistband.

I used fabric designer Amy Butler's Domestic Goddess pattern for this apron which is as easy to make as it is beautiful. 

 

I always think it's nice to personalize homemade projects when possible.  A little embroidery on the bodice goes a long way to make this garment that much more special for Cameron. 

This Amy Butler apron is definitely one of my favorite designs and I've used it several times to create a nice collection. 

Even though the same pattern was used multiple times, I think each apron still has its own personality thanks to the varied fabrics.

This Domestic Goddess pattern has simple, easy-to-understand instructions and the result is quick, elegant and oh-so feminine. 

Trust me, you won't be able to resist creating your own assortment.

Getting back to Cameron's ensemble, I think her hat and apron set looks just as adorable from the back as it does the front.  I love this linen-lookalike fabric which is so crisp when ironed.

Since this particular fabric is more on the lightweight side, I used some heavy-duty starch on the chef hat to give it more poof.

I must admit that after I finished this ensemble, I initially thought it was almost too pretty for Cameron to actually use in the kitchen.  

I thought it might be a bit painful to see food ingredients and fingerprints all over the front. 

However, since I did make this apron/hat set for Cameron to wear as she practices her culinary skills my reluctance was fleeting.  I think it will be fine.  Besides, everything here is completely washable and easy enough to duplicate if necessary. 

Still, I may try to steer her away from recipes that contain grape juice or tomato sauce.

Want to guarantee a smile on a loved ones face?  Try making a chef's hat and matching apron as a gift and you won't have any problem getting a smile as big as the great outdoors.

I think you can see Cameron is quite ready to whip up something in the kitchen right now.   

      

I look forward to the day when this budding young chef will be able to teach me a few things in the kitchen. 

Until then, hat's off to the (little) chef.

   

Apronology

Who doesn't love a beautiful apron?  Modern aprons do more than just keep your clothes clean.  These days, aprons often reflect the personality of the person who made them as well as the person who wears the garment. 

As you read this tribute to aprons, stay tuned to the end of this post for more on this pretty yellow apron in the photo below as well as a special introduction to the lady wearing it.

       

Since we're talking about aprons, let me start by telling you about a fantastic new publication that may get you thinking about aprons in a way you never have before.

The magazine is called Apronology.   The editors define Apronology as the "study of the art of the apron".  This premier issue by Stampington and Company is loaded with dozens  of  "aprons with attitude" and a ton of amazing ideas to spark your own creativity.  

      

My multi-tiered, sheer, pink cocktail apron in the photo below is featured in this issue, in one of the Spotlight articles. 

I have some fun plans in the works centering around this apron design so this definitely won't be the last time you see this pretty garment.  

          

It's really great to see my creative efforts recognized in print this way.  The magazine editors gave my apron a nice double page spread that includes my thoughts on being an "apronologist" as well as a short essay I wrote.

Take a second look at any original aprons you may have in your closet because Apronology editors are now considering submissions for their 2010 Apronology issue.  The deadline for submissions is September 15, 2009.

One of the things I love about aprons is how wonderfully varied and versatile they can be. I know this floral apron in the photo below may look more like a skirt but it really is an apron.  

Actually, I made this apron for me but my daughter quickly swiped it for herself.  I figured since she helped cut it out and sew it , she could have it.  It's too long for her now, but she'll grow into it.   

       

Of course, you don't always have to make an apron from scratch.  A little embroidery can go a long way when applied to a ready-to-wear apron.  I bought these plain canvas aprons and spiced them up with embroidered images and personalization for teacher gifts.

You can never go wrong with personalization and these aprons were a big hit.

Here is another take on embellishing a store-bought apron with beautiful embroidery. 

This embroidery technique is called Cutwork and involves stitching out an outline of the image and then cutting out portions of the fabric within the image before resuming the embroidery process.

          

Here's a closer look at the cutwork detail on this apron.  As you can see, there are areas within the butterfly designs which are cut out for a really nice see-through effect. 

I'll share some more pretty cutwork embroidery projects later in an upcoming post.

   

Often, the fabric you use helps make the apron that much more spectacular.  I made this bibbed apron a while back out of fabric from designer Amy Butler's Belle collection.  I just can't get enough of Amy Butler's vibrant and coordinated fabrics.

My friend Beena, modeled this apron for me a while back.  Her adorable baby girl is now two years old.

            

Of course, so-called apronologists come in all ages.  Enter my 10-year old daughter again.  She really enjoys whipping up aprons (and other items) on my old Singer sewing machine that my parents bought me when I was about her age. 

I've been working with Cameron on learning to read sewing patterns but she often prefers to design and sew her own unique ideas.  

          

Cameron is always happy to show off her handiwork too and I think her apron is quite imaginative.  Check out that scalloped bottom. 

Like mother like daughter when it comes to scallops (my scallops are typically on quilt edges). 

         

Cameron is a quick study and while I still supervise her use of the sewing machine, she's getting better and better at flying solo. 

She's also very focused and conscientious about every project she takes on.  Good qualities to have.

(Noteworthy:  Cameron is also quite the budding photographer.  She snapped the photo of me in the orange sweater that is located in the left sidebar on this blog's homepage.)

        

Aprons do seem to be all the rage lately and they all have such flair and whimsy.  There are plenty of apron books and patterns available with a project to fit just about any taste. 

I think the simplicity of most apron patterns makes them very accessible to sewers of every skill level.  If you're a beginner sewer, an apron would be a great first project to build confidence.  

Meantime,  here are a few more photos of the apron you saw at the very top of this post.  I embroidered this apron as a personalized gift for my mom, Elaine. 

She enjoys being called Nana Banana and I think this banana-yellow apron suits her perfectly.  

 

I wanted you to meet Nana Banana, because this is who I inherited my creative instincts from.  As far back as I can remember my mom has always encouraged me and my siblings to sew, paint (sometimes on the walls) scrapbook, make our own gifts and holiday ornaments and use our hands in creative ways.

I'm so pleased my mom can see for herself how I put all those early lessons to good use, not only through this blog and other outlets but also with my efforts to foster the same love of creativity in my own children. 

      

By the way, for Nana Banana's apron I added a border of embroidered strawberries for additional color.  I love this splash of red.

Now, this gives me a taste for real strawberries (dipped in chocolate, of course).

        

I think one of the things that makes aprons so wonderful is that they are not only functional but also fun to wear. 

Aprons can add a delightful element to a day's activities and aprons also happen to look fabulous on anyone who wears one.  

        

I'd like to give a special thanks to my mom for agreeing to model her apron for me so I could use it in this post.  

Of course, I'm even more thrilled to finally have a chance to introduce all of you to the special person who set me on my early path to creativity. 

Thanks Nana Banana-for everything!

Pick a Pear (and eat an apple)

This isn't the kind of pear you can actually sink your teeth into but it's still a yummy-looking piece of fruit. 

You can never go wrong with a great pincushion like this.

       

The pretty pear reminds me of a fun fruit by fabric designer Heather Bailey whose little pear pincushions look adorable at about 5-inches tall.  Textile artist Lucinda Ganderton also features a similar irresistible, tiny pear pincushion in one of her popular books.

I thought a bigger version would be fun to make and even more fun to use, so I created a super duper one.  My jumbo pear is close to 14-inches tall and 9-inches wide.  You definitely won't lose this in your sewing area.

      

I included these photos of average-sized apples just to give you a visual perspective of just how large this pear pincushion turned out. 

I could take a bite out of one of these delicious looking apples right now.

    

Of course, the leaves on this jumbo pear deserve equally over-sized leaves which are made out of felt.  While the pear body holds loads of loose straight pins, these large leaves are perfect for storing needles. 

The leaf veins are a simple embroidery backstitch.  While I do a lot of machine embroidery, I'd love to improve my hand embroidery skills for other smaller projects, so this was good practice.

I recently learned how to make a beautiful embroidered French Knot and tried to use some of the pretty stitches on this project.  However, I ended up having to cut the little knots off the felt because on this particular project the French Knot stitch with its dotted appearance, looked more like some sort of leaf infestation on the felt.  

I'll have to save my newly-discovered French Knot stitches for another day and another project.  In the meantime, this backstitch works fine.

      

Meanwhile, I really fancy the look of this old, weathered picnic table in my parents' backyard which I used for this outdoor photo shoot.  I love the faded wood and its rustic texture. 

Looking at this wonderfully-worn table, reminds me of days growing up here in the country and climbing trees, many of which are still standing today. 

How lucky is that, to be able to grow up with an opportunity to climb trees?  Those are good memories.

My mom loved this pear project too and she sat outside and kept my company as I snapped these photos.  While I clicked away, we chit-chatted about a little bit of everything; kids, politics and various crafts projects.  What a great way to spend a fall day. 

I can't wait to sit this jumbo pear in my sewing space and fill it with all my wayward pins and needles. 

I think a jumbo pear pincushion like this would also make the most delicious holiday gift for that special friend or loved one who sews.  With dimensions like this, just think of all the pins this plush fruit could potentially hold.  

Of course if you make one to give as a gift, you must also pick a pear for yourself.  After that, perhaps... eat an apple. 

  

Hangin' Around

I've long admired those pretty padded clothes hangers that I often see while flipping through various magazines.  After studying one recently it occurred to me that this would be a great project to try myself.

That brings me to today's project and this easy padded floral hanger.

    

I think any fabric would work with this easy design but I decided to go with a floral decorator fabric.  I actually bought this fabric for another project and I had quite a bit left over.  

I hate to throw away fabric remnants and this is a perfect way to use up fabric pieces that are too small to do anything else with.  You'll only need about 1/4-yard of fabric for one hanger.   

Grab some coordinating ribbon to adorn the finished hanger.  You can find ribbon by the spool at most fabric stores.  I love the dainty look of these roses on a string.  Each rose has a tiny pearl center.  Perfect for this project

     

You'll need some cotton fiberfill along with a few wooden coat hangers.  Many wooden hangers come with the pants bar across the bottom.  This bar is easily removed with a good tug.  Be sure to also remove the tiny nails that the bar is attached to.

Measure the distance between the end of the coat hanger and the center.  Add about 1/4-inch to that measurement and cut with a 3-inch width.  Label this piece A.

Create piece B by cutting another piece of fabric about 8 1/4-inch longer than piece A.  Piece B will also have a 3-inch width.

Round the corners of piece A and B identically.  I used the large opening of a regular sized paper cup as corner-rounder guide.

The longer fabric piece (B) will need to be gathered all the way around.  To gather, select your largest stitch width (also called a basting stitch) on your sewing machine and stitch 1/4-inch all the way around fabric piece.  Make sure you leave several inches of tail thread on the end.

Next, stitch an identical row all the way around about 1/4-inch to the left of your original stitching.  This will give you two parallel rows of basting stitch.

Gently pull the top two tail threads that hang off the raw edge of the fabric and gently slide the fabric forward to create the gathers.

The thicker the fabric the more care you need to take with the gathering.  There's nothing worse than getting halfway through your gathering process and having the pull threads break on you.

It's a good idea to gather from both sides of your fabric piece and have them meet in the center to reduce the risk of pesky thread breaks. 

The photo below shows piece B after it's been gathered. 

Pin piece B to piece A matching both at the bottom raw edge.  Then ease the gathering so that both pieces fit together with right sides together.  Pin and then stitch all the way around with a 5/8 standard seam allowance.

Turn inside out and this will give you the first fabric sleeve for the hanger.  Duplicate steps for the second fabric sleeve.

Slightly stuff both sleeves with some cotton fiberfill and then insert the ends of the wooden hanger into each one.  Do not over-stuff at this point because you still need to insert your wooden hanger.  You can use a knitting needle to help get the stuffing into the farthest end.

Gently insert the end of the wooden hanger into the sleeve.  Make sure you slide the wood under the cotton so the cotton fills out the gathered top portion of the sleeve. 

The photo below shows what the project should look like at this point.

Bring the open ends of pieces A and B together at the center of the wood hanger.  Slightly overlap one open end over the other and slip stitch them together.

You can hide the slip-stitching by wrapping ribbon around the hanger several times before topping it off with a bow.

        

This is another really simple but elegant project to make.  As you can see, even a first-time effort can turn out nicely.  Imagine how pretty three of these covered hangers would look sitting in a tissue paper-filled gift box.   

Wouldn't a trio of fabric covered hangers make a great gift?  The fact that you made them yourself, would make the offering even more special. 

Now this is the kind of hangin' around that really pays off.

The Messenger Bag

Lately, I've been drawn into tackling handbags.  It's funny because I'm not much of a handbag carrier.  I just enjoy trying my hand at making them.  I've discovered so many wonderful patterns recently, that it's tough to keep up with all the ones that I feel I just "have" to make.

My latest project is a Messenger bag.  I love this bag because I was able to personalize it a bit by incorporating a few of my own ideas into what I think is a really beautiful bag. I hope you'll agree.   

I think the most striking thing about this project is the wonderful embroidery on the flap.  Hmm, and that's precisely why a certain little girl in my house claimed this bag for herself as soon as it was finished.  Now I have to figure out how to get it back.

While I work on that plan, allow me to walk you through the easy steps to create this great bag.

First of all, I found a great fabric called polysuede.  It actually looks like suede but as the name suggests, it's a polyester blend but it still has that suede look.  It's a bit softer and a much lighter fabric to work with than 100% suede. 

For the lining, I used a wonderful cotton with a paisley pattern that also contained the same taupe coloring as the main fabric.  I found both of these fabrics at Hobby Lobby craft store.  I love how these two textures look together.

If you add any embroidery to this project you'll have to apply that first before any actual construction on the bag begins.

If you're going to add embroidery to your flap, I suggest you cut the fabric about 1/4-inch larger than the pattern all the way around.  This will accomodate any shrinkage that will likely occur during the embroidery process.  You can always trim the flap down to size once the embroidery is completed.

In the photo below, you can see the slight puckering around the rose design.  That's the slight shrinkage I was talking about and it's often created when stitching out very large designs.  When using really large embroidery the fabric tends draws inward a bit as the embroidery is stitched out. 

The additional 1/4-inch of fabric all the way around, should be just enough to make up for this shrinkage.

The rose embroidery designs I used for this project are from an embroidery collection called Roses for Mary by Jenny Haskins .  Haskins is well known in embroidery circles for her complex and elegant designs and projects.  Her website also has quite a few beautiful free embroidery designs for downloading too. 

If you have an opportunity to pick up her corresponding Roses for Mary quilt book, you'll be amazed at how she weaves these beautiful embroidered roses and buds from her collection into a spectacular quilt.  It's total eye candy.

The lucious picture on the cover prompted me to buy this book along with the embroidery disk at first sight.  I have yet to tackle this incredible quilt project but perhaps one day I'll get around to it.

If you're interested in seeing more of Jenny Haskins' fabulous designs, she publishes a fabulous quarterly Austrailian magazine called Creative Expressions and it's available at numerous locations including Barnes and Noble book stores and Joann's Fabrics to name a few. 

The cover photo below is from the latest issue.  Isn't that heart pillow just beautiful?  It's so delicate.  Trust me, there are loads of delicious projects in this issue.  I generally buy the magazine just to drool over the extraordinary and intricate embroidery.

Getting back to the messenger bag project, each embroidery pattern has a matching vellum template which depicts the design and can be easily printed out.  This template will help you place the design exactly where you want it on the fabric. 

It's actually fun to plan out a big project like this with multiple embroidery designs.  Just play around with the vellum sheets turning them sideways and upside down to see what overall design best suits your eye.

If you are using multiple designs, you definitely need to plan out how all the designs will be arranged on your fabric.  For example, in some cases you may want a particular design to overlap another.  If that's the case, it makes a big difference in which pattern you stitch out first. 

Advance planning will help ensure a more satisfactory arrangement of the ultimate design.

Because of the various overlaps in design in this project, I had to jump around to various areas of the fabric to stitch out each design.  As long as you clearly mark your fabric, it's pretty easy to keep track of all the different design assignments.

The benefit of using polysuede is that it's wonderfully washable.  Just remember to always use a water soluable marker when marking your fabric.

Here's a look at the unsewn flap with the finished embroidery.  I ended up arranging six different rose designs to complete this final large rose pattern. 

If you look closely you'll see that I did end up with a few gaps in the branches.  That's the kind of detail I hope to perfect the more I practice my design placements and positioning.  Despite this flaw in my stitched-out design layout, I'm still pleased with this first-time effort.

Gently wash the markings from the fabric and let hang dry completely.  Be careful not to over-wring the fabric to prevent damaging the embroidery.  After fabric is dry, iron flat and resume construction of the bag.

There are a number of messenger bag patterns on the market these days.  I selected this super easy $4-dollar pattern from See and Sew,  which also includes a cute little backpack project.  I'll try that second bag another time and share that later in an upcoming post.

Hands down this was one of the easiest bags ever to construct.  It's just a breeze to put together.  After sewing just three main pieces together the project looks box-like and you're almost done already.

You can't see them in this photo, but the straps for this bag are already sewn into the sides of the bag.  Remember to add strength and reinforcement to the straps by stitching their seam multiple times.

Most of the pieces require fusible interfacing to add stiffness and that's the white material you see on the outside of the project in the photo below.

The original pattern instructions called for two small pockets to be sewn onto the lining.  I decided to modify that.  I cut two pieces of lining fabric measuring about 7-inches X 10-inches. 

With right sides together stitch all the way around leaving a small opening in the seam to turn inside out.

After turning, press the resulting rectangle with a good steam iron.  Then stitch across the top edge about 1/8-inch.  Fold this stitched top down about 1/2-inch.  Stitch again across the top of this folded down piece about 1/8-inch. 

This creates a nice finished edge and mini flap for the top of your multi-pocket.

Determine the pocket placement on the right side of the lining.  Stitch the rectangular pocket to the lining down both sides and across the bottom, leaving the entire top edge of the rectangle open. 

Once this rectangle is secure, double stitch down the center of the rectangle to create individual pockets.  I did this to two separate areas of the rectangle to form three pockets.

The orginal pattern did not call for it, but I also decided to include a stiffer base for the bag using some mesh canvas. 

You can find this mesh canvas at most sewing stores.  It's pretty easy to work with and comes in various sheet sizes.

I created a small pocket on the bottom of the lining by stitching a matching fabric strip directly onto the wrong side of the seams already in the bottom of the lining.

After cutting mesh canvas down to the desired size, simply slip it into the pocket.  This will be completely concealed once the bag is turned inside out because the mesh will be sandwiched between the wrong side of the lining and the wrong side of the bag.

It really does give the bottom of the bag some much-needed extra support.

The large front flap of the bag is already basted across the back of one right side of the bag at this point.  The lining uses the same pattern pieces as the bag itself so it's basically a duplicate of the bag.  After adding the mesh base, simply pin the lining to the bag portion with right sides together. 

Stitch all the way around to attach lining.  Remember to leave an opening large enough to turn inside out.

Gently turn the bag inside out bringing all the pieces to the bag through the opening in the lining attachment.  With only a few pattern pieces to deal with, this Messenger bag takes shape very quickly.

Press the top edge where the bag and lining meet with a good steam iron and then topstitch all the way around about 1/8-inch.  This not only closes up the last opening, it also gives the edge a nice finishing touch.

Here's a look at the inside multi-pockets in the photo below.  I like the idea of having lots of little compartments for various storage and you can see this was a very simple effect to create.

I loved working on this project because I was able to incorporate quite a few personal additional touches that were not part of the original pattern.  It's given me lots of ideas about how to create my own unique bag pattern.   

While I added machine embroidery to the flap, you could also apply hand embroidery for an equally stunning look.  I think just about any embellishment would be a nice touch.  Imagine how much fun applique would look on this too.  There are loads of possibilities.

So that's my first messenger bag, but I assure you it's certainly not my last.  I'm already working on several others for gifts and I'll share those later in an upcoming post.

Velma Loves Zinnias-REPOST

I'm still not sure what happened to my original February 28, 2008 post entitled Velma Loves Zinnias.  It disappeared completely from my system Thursday night along with all the dozens of wonderful and thoughtful comments about this project.

I think this mystery raises blog-backup, access-protection as well as accidental blogger error issues that I will investigate further.

Anyway, I'm re-posting this entry because I want everyone to still have the project information if they decide to try to make this handbag themselves.

I'd also like to add that there is no way I would have been able to easily re-create the original text in this post without the kind and generous help of Sara.   She sent me a copy of the Velma Loves Zinnia post that was in her bloglines file and she spent the time to walk me through a few other helpful tips too.  Thanks Sara, you're a lifesaver!

Now, on to Velma Loves Zinnias-again.

I'm definitely ready to think about warmer days and my latest sewing project certainly fits the bill. 

Considering that we've had more than 24-inches of snow here in the last 4 weeks (not including drifts) this little bag with it's pretty greens makes me think of a warm Spring day and that's exactly what I need.

Velma is the name of the pattern for this cute little bag.  This is another design by the fabulous Amy Butler.  The bag has instructions for a long strap like the one I made and also a short strap that is featured on the pattern cover photo.

I opted for the long strap for this one, but I plan to try the short strap on my next one.  Yes, considering how easy this bag was to make, I will be making several more as gifts. 

The gorgeous fabric is also from Amy Butler.  It's from her LOTUS collection.  I loved this green polka-dot print so much that I bought an extra 2-yards.  At this point I'm not sure what else I'll make with it, but you know I'll think of something.  Stay tuned.

This was one of the easiest and fastest sewing projects I've ever made.  It took me less than a day to complete.  The directions were quite thorough with clear-cut instructions for every step. 

It's always fun to see a project taking shape.  This is what the bag looks like just before I added the lining.  Almost done now.

The inside pocket is a perfect spot to add a little extra touch.  Before attaching the pocket to the back of the lining I machine embroidered my initials onto the fabric.  I love this kind of personalized detail.

The inside pocket measures 5 1/2 X 2 3/4-inches when finished, so there isn't a ton of room for your stash.  However, it is perfect for small items like business cards, perhaps some makeup or a little pink IPOD.

Here's a wider view of the inside of the bag.  The creases on either side of the bag were achieved by simply steam ironing the folds into the fabric. 

Don't you just love this combination of fabrics?  It just makes me smile.

While you could add any embellishment to the front of the finished bag, I decided to borrow some more inspiration from another Amy Butler pattern to make the pretty flower broach in the photo below.

The layered flower was inspired by Amy Butler's Zinnia pillow which can be found in her Midwest Mod pillow pattern.  Can you tell I'm a big Amy Butler fan?

In addition to the Zinnia pattern, the Midwest Mod pattern package contains two other fun pillow designs. 

I'm actually in the process of making two of these Zinnia pillows which I'll share later in an upcoming post.

To make the flower, I reduced the original pattern size.  Each petal requires two fabric pieces as well as a cut of interfacing.  Just stitch around the petal shape and then turn inside out.

Once the petal is turned inside-out, fold the petal in half and stitch a small 1/8-inch seam from the bottom of the petal to about 1/2 inch to achieve a nice little crease in the petal. 

Once you complete all your petals, simply arrange the large petals in a circle and hand stitch them together.  There are two sizes of petals used to create the Zinnia.   

First, the large petals are stitched together securely.  Then the smaller petals are placed in front and hand-stitched directly onto the larger petals.

Top off the flower with a self covering button.  Of course you could also use a large button of choice but I just love the look of covered buttons.  They're also really easy to construct.

Just for fun I thought it would be great to see how a different embellishment would look on the outside flap.  This demonstrates just how versatile this little bag can be when you can switch up these kinds of details.   

I bought this broach years ago and I generally wear it on the lapel of a green wool coat.  Well, now that winter is winding down a bit, it's nice to see this costume jewelry put to other use. 

Here are a couple of other views of the bag with the Zinnia flower.  I think the bag is adorable from any angle including the side and the back as you can see in the photos below.

Don't forget you can always click any picture within this post for a larger view of the image.

 

I should also mention that I entered this bag in the Amy Butler Sew Inspiring Contest  sponsored by Craftzine which is the on-line extention of Craft magazine.  Wish me luck because the competition will be tough.  There were so many beautiful and inspiring bags entered.   

If you're interested in seeing the other wonderfully creative projects entered for this contest you can see them all on Flickr if you click here.

Meanwhile, when it comes to beautiful fabric and patterns, I can't say enough about Amy Butler designs which are always a visual and creative feast for the eyes. 

The Velma bag and the Zinnia pillows are very easy and just wonderful projects all the way around.

It's no wonder that Velma loves Zinnias. 

A Bird in the Hand

You've heard the old saying, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, right?  Well, if that's the case how much are half a dozen birds in a tree worth?  I think they're worth plenty, if you're looking for a fun project to help spice up your holiday decorations this year.

Start with your contrasting fabrics for the bird body and belly. This is another great project that puts all those great fabric scraps in your stash to very good use.  I made all of these birds out of old fat quarters and leftover fabric from various other finished projects.

My favorite fabric in all of this stash is the musical note pattern.  I just love the tone on tone musical notes.  It has such an old world, vintage look.  This same musical note fabric figures prominantly in another wonderful Log Cabin quilt that I made not long ago.  I'll share that quilt later in a different post.

Anyway, these little birds were equally easy to create in a snap.  The pattern only calls for three pieces-two for the bird body and one piece for the bird belly.   

This is also another example of how far a stack of scraps can take you.  A very small amount of fabric will produce a pretty decent size flock.

First, you'll need to create a little fabric strip for the loop out of coordinating fabric.  Then the bottom portion of the bird body is attached to the pointy, oval-shaped bird belly.  This step got a little tricky for me, because at first it seemed like the bird belly piece was too long to fit on the body from point to point.  You just have to work with the two pieces to ease them together so they eventually fit.  It will take quite a few pins.

Attach the second bird body at the bottom, leaving an opening for the stuffing.  Before sewing the top bird bodies together, slip your loop into the seam and slipstitch closed.  Leave a small opening in the bottom of the bird body for stuffing. 

These little bird ornaments are super simple to make and technically, since they don't have any wings-you'll never have to worry about these feathered friends flying away.  They'll stay right in your tree, exactly where you place them.

I drew upon one of the great patterns in the book called Last-Minute patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.  This is the same book that had that really cute pincushion pattern that I shared here a few months ago.  Remember those? 

In fact, these cute birds on the cover are what prompted me to buy the book in the first place.  They're a lot of fun to make and take almost no time at all.  I'd say each bird took about thirty minutes to complete.   

I made these little birds for my kids to use to decorate their Christmas tree.   A few years ago, I decided to allow my kids to have their own miniature tree so they could decorate it to their heart's content and put any and all the decorations they wanted to put on it.

While my kids are decorating their tree, I get to dive into my own larger family tree with a special "back to nature" theme, complete with a range of unusual and delightful decorations that I've collected over the years.

This is such a great time of year and I love the sights, colors and especially the decorations of the holiday season.  It's so much fun to browse various blogs to see how people decorate their homes and trees.  Everything is always so delightfully festive.   

By the way, I'll post some pictures of my own "back to nature" Christmas tree next week.  I wouldn't call it a "traditional" approach to tree trimming but I think you will really like it. 

I also feature some feathered friends of a different variety as well as some items you might not typically expect to see on a Christmas tree.  Hope you check back to see it.

Until then, Happy holidays!

From the Heart

As I post this entry, Christmas is less than two months away.  Translation?  We should all get going on those handmade holiday items. While I admit I'm way behind in my efforts to meet the approaching deadline, I can say I've at least begun putting a dent in my long to-do list.

I've decided to try to keep things really simple this year and my little scented hearts in the photo below are a great start.

Of course the first thing you need is fabric. I love the look of linen for this particular project, because it's easy to work with and the embroidery looks nice against the linen texture. After you decide on your embroidery design, you'll need to cut two equal size fabric pieces for each pillow. 

If you take a look at the pictures below you can see the how the design looks as it's stitched out by my embroidery machine. I started with this open-centered floral heart pattern and then added a monogram.  People love monogrammed gifts and I think it makes the offering much more personal when you add this special detail.

By the way, if you're thinking about talking to Santa about upgrading your sewing machine this holiday season, might I suggest you consider an embroidery machine which will give you the best of both worlds. You can sew when you feel like it and when you're ready to do some embroidery, just attach the embroidery arm which comes with the machine. There are loads of models on the market to fit every need and budget.

The embroidery machine screen in the photo above, shows you all the information you need to help guide you through the embroidery process. Inside the grid you can see what your finished design will look like. The smaller box to the right shows you what stitch your machine is currently working on in the overall design.  At a glance you can see the dimensions of your stitched pattern, how many minutes the project will take to stitch out and how many thread color changes are suggested.

The pretty little finished design in the photo below is a simple example of how embroidery can turn ordinary items into extraordinary ones. 

Don't get me wrong, you can always complete this project with hand embroidery and get a finished product that is just as beautiful.  I just like to point out the advantages of an embroidery machine because my machine has been so instrumental in my crafting efforts and has really helped me enhance my gift giving.  Not to mention, I'm not very good at embroidering by hand anyway.

 

OK, getting back to this heart pillow project, once you have stitched out all your squares give it a good hit with the steam iron just to make sure everything is free of wrinkles before moving on to the next step. Adding just a spritz of spray starch at this point will also help give the fabric some extra crispness.

Trace a heart shape onto a piece of paper to make a template. Make sure the template you create is large enough to accomodate your embroidered design and fabric size. Before cutting out your heart shape, also make sure the embroidery pattern is positioned in the center of your heart template. 

Positioning is key here because you want the embroidery pattern to end up in the dead center of your finished pillow. Take your time and double check your heart shape placement before you actually put scissors to fabric.  Don't forget to slide your second plain linen square behind the embroidered square so you can cut out two identical hearts at the same time.

The picture above shows you what the heart shapes look like once you've finished cutting. Notice the embroidery is distributed evenly throughout the entire heart shape. This is why that initial template positioning is so critical before you cut the fabric.

Place the plain linen cut-out heart on top of the embroidered heart (right sides together) and pin all the way around.  At the center point of the heart, fold your ribbon in half and insert it between the two pieces of fabric with the two raw ends of the ribbon pointing upward and beyond the seam. The picture above shows the correct ribbon placement before sewing. 

Stitch 1/4-inch seam all the way around the heart, leaving a 1/2-inch opening for stuffing. At this point you can add a handful of lavendar or favorite pouporri to your stuffing to give the project a nice scent. Then close the opening with a slipstitch. 

Adding a matching bow helps finish off the heart pillow nicely.

 

I think these dainty little hearts can easily work with any decor. They can be beautifully displayed just about anywhere you like, including on the end of a drapery tie-back, a dresser drawer knob or simply hung from a door handle. These would also look adorable in a nursery-boy or girl.

Each pillow took me less than an hour to complete and that includes machine embroidery time. I think if you're looking for a super simple and elegant handmade item for loved ones this holiday season this project is picture perfect. 

Also, when you say this gift comes from the heart, you'll definitely mean it-in more ways than one.

Scrap Happy and Fabulous Fat Quarters

Everyone who loves fat quarters raise your hand. I'm raising both of mine on that one. Fat quarters are indeed fabulous. To my friends and visitors who aren't into sewing (yet), a fat quarter is a measurement of fabric that generally runs about 22 inches X 18 inches which is a nice "fat" square to work with.

You'll typically find fat quarters folded in neat little squares like the ones lined up in the picture below.  These fat quarters are from the Freshcut line by fabric designer Heather Bailey. They're so delicious looking, I almost want to eat them. OK, not really, but if you're a fabric addict like me, then you know what I mean.

I've actually had a longtime fabric addiction and love to browse through quilt and fabric shoppes just to see what's new. The great thing about fat quarters is that they provide you with a decent amount of fabric to work with, without having to buy a whole yard. It's also a great way to sample an entire fabric line without having to pay a bundle for all that extra yardage. There are loads of wonderful quilt and sewing books available that are specifically devoted to fat quarter projects.

I've already cut out the project pieces from these fat quarters for a new quilt I'm working on. However, since that project is still in the works, I thought it would be fun to share an example of the big value that can be found in scraps. That's right SCRAPS.

Take a look at the fun pincushion below that was made out of fabric scraps that might otherwise have been thrown away.

When I cut fabric I love, sometimes it's pretty hard to throw away the scraps. You probably know the feeling. Scrapbookers go through the same thing too with patterned paper scraps. After cutting out your main project, you often end up with scraps (like the fabric strips below) that are just too small for anything major and too big to simply toss into the trash basket. 

To make the pincushion, eight small folded triangular pieces were cut out of the scraps and sewn together, alternating the fabrics as you go. It took only minutes to sew all the required elements together to get the pincushion shape.  A small opening was left in one seam for the stuffing.  Don't overstuff, but once the pincushion is firm, close the seam with a slipstitch.  Use a dollmakers needle to carry the embroidery floss through the top center and out the bottom center of the pincushion and wrap the coordinating floss around each seam.

Voila! Talk about fast. Each pincushion took about 30-40 minutes to complete start to finish.  If you're going to make multiples, I suggest you do all your sewing first, assembly-line style.  You can stuff, slipstitch the opening and do the embriodery floss wrapping later, perhaps while watching TV or waiting for your kids to get out of an extra-curricular activity.

You only need a minimum of supplies including fabric scraps, embroidery floss and soft stuffing. The original pattern doesn't call for self-covered buttons but I added them for a cute center. 

This pincushion project comes from the book Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. I love the little stuffed birds sitting on top of the stack of fat quarters on the book cover. You can count on seeing those in a future post of mine for sure. Anyway, the book is filled with beautiful, color pictures and easy to understand patterns for super quick projects. Also Joelle's Purlsoho website and Purl bee blog are fantastic sewing resources that are loaded with lots of useful information and tips.   

While I'm still working on the quilt project that provided these scraps, the photo below is a sneak peak of my 15" X 15" quilt blocks from these Freshcut fat quarters.

It may be a while before I actually complete this quilt but you can look for this finished project later, in a different post.

I think it's great when you're able to start out with one project in mind like a quilt, and end up getting several more out of the deal like these pincushions.  My mom has already asked for a couple of them.  Hmm, don't you think these would make cute holiday stocking stuffers?

So, remember the next time you get ready to toss that big pile of fabric scraps, you may want to take a second look at what you're pitching. You never know if your next wonderful little project may be hiding in the pile somewhere, just waiting to be discovered.

Sew Simple

I know a lot of people who tell me they could never learn to sew. What I hear most often goes something like.. "oh, I could never do that" or "it looks too hard" and then there's the " you have to have natural talent to sew nicely". To that I respectfully say... nonsense!

If you've never tried sewing, trust me it's easier than you may think. You just have to take the first few baby steps and you'll be on your way.

I love aprons and while they are great project for any skill level, aprons are perfect for a beginner project. I think the most important thing when starting out is not to tackle too complicated a pattern which could end up frustrating you and your efforts, and in the end have you abandoning the hobby altogether. Build up your confidence with something simple like an apron and then move on to something bigger.  There are so many wonderful fabrics, fun and easy patterns as well as helpful tools to help you get started. You can also take advantage of some beginner classes at your local fabric shoppe.

It's never too late to start and actually as you can see in the photos below, it's never too early to learn to sew either. I'm now teaching my daughter Cameron how to sew, just like my Mom taught me when I was growing up.

I love that Cameron has already taken a fancy to it too, and she's always eager to learn more.  She helped to cut out this apron and really enjoyed her success. She had some trouble at first with the oversized scissors. I wish I could find a really good pair of sewing shears designed for children.

I've been teaching Cameron how to read the pattern markings which can be confusing for a beginner, but she's sticking right with it. She's a quick learner and already pretty good at pinning and cutting out the fabric. That's great for me, because cutting out the pattern is my least favorite part of the sewing process. It's wonderful having a little helper!

My parents bought me my first sewing machine when I was not much older than my own daughter now. I remember at the time the salesperson thought it was such an advanced machine for a girl so young but my parents sprung for it anyway. While, I have now upgraded to a much nicer machine, I still have that early Singer Stylist 534, which in some circles may be considered an antique of sorts. The machine is actually in remarkable shape after all these decades, and I'm thrilled about that. Especially since this is the machine Cameron is now learning on.  This is also the machine I use for the majority of my scrapbooking stitching projects.

Important note: When using a sewing machine for scrapbooking and paper crafts, be careful not to sew over any type of adhesive. If glues and tape remnants are caught on your needle, the needle will carry it down into your mechanical elements, gumming up your machine and potentially causing major damage.

The apron below is made out of a fabric called pique. It's a wonderful cotton blend with a fun indented texture. I actually made this apron for myself, but I think my cute little model may claim this one for herself... even though it's too large for her.

Now that I think about it, considering Cameron's enthusiastic assistance on this project... I may just let her have this apron after all.  She can always grow into it.

This project was made from Simplicity pattern #3949.  There are a several apron styles in the package, including a bibbed apron which I made several months ago.