Quick finish

One of my favorite people is moving. :( Granted it is only ten minutes away, but still, when she has been 5 houses down from me and won't be anymore, it's really sad for me. We both taught the teenage girls at church and she is so much fun. A few weeks ago she casually asked me if I would make her a sock monkey because she had always wanted one, but her mom wouldn't go for it. I had the arms and tail added to a body, but no face or ears, or clothes. When she finalized on her house, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do for her. I finished the ears, mouth, and eyes, and it took a little bit to decide what to do for the clothes.

But then, I came up with this. I loved it so much, it was hard for me to give it away. Definitely one of my favorites. The icing on the cake was when I gave it to her, she actually CRIED. Oh my! I cried a little bit and it really helped me know that she loved it.

And I'm linking up to Finish it up Friday, over at Crazy Mom Quilts and the weekend link party at Family Ever After

For a Boy. Finally

Just before Christmas, one of my sweet sisters-in-law hooked me up with one of her dear friends, Mindy. Mindy is expecting a little boy in a few weeks and needed a carseat cover for her little guy. She wanted something boyish and outdoors-y. This is what I came up with, and this is what she said when she got it:

"We love it! Thanks so much for your work and for sharing your talent!!! Very well done!"

The brown strip down the middle is actually velcroed close so it splits up the middle. It's the first one I have ever done for a boy, and the first I've ever seen with a moose. Usually they are John Deere fabric. The handle flaps are velcroed also and the centers are a light blue. The moose is cut out with the LPF and is made from the SEI iron-on sheets.

I'm a Sew-vivor

Hey there ladies and any men that might be reading this. I am participating in a super exciting and super fun competition over at Family Ever After called Sew-vivor. A sewing competition like the reality show Survivor. It is an international competition and you can earn immunity, and people get voted off and everything. I know I have posted about my Phantom of the Opera -ish dress from Halloween 2010, but I have not ever gone into detail about the inspiration and process that helped me create my dress.

I started with this pattern by Simplicity,

Dress C was the specific pattern I used.

I found this pattern at Simplicity.com I knew my need for modest dress would keep me from ever wearing this one below which is very close to the Andrew Lloyd Webber movie. Plus, this one was only available online which means I would have to pay the $10.15 + shipping. I got the other pattern at Hobby Lobby for 99 cents!

As I started to go along, slowly, the ideas were coming to me. Some of it, I just made up as I went along. The first change I made was I shortened the sleeves by about 6" and added an elastic. I wanted to add the white ruffle around the collar for just a little extra "cover-up". I took about

2 1/2 feet of white fabric and gathered it.

The front. I added the short v-shaped band at the waist to make my waist appear longer.

The original pattern called for a zipper, but I really wanted to do a loop-up look. I love it on wedding dresses, and thought this helped make it look fancier. This I totally made up as I went along.
As you can see in the picture above, there is no bustle. That's because I made it magnetic. Easy for attachment and removal. I used 4 pairs of super strong neodymium magnets (magnet strength of somewhere around 9 or 10) for the bustle. That way, I could wear the dress again, but wouldn't necessarily have to have the bustle. The bustle I just made up. I had researched all the history of costume books I could find at the library and online.

I just love it, and I am so excited for the competition.

Green Flower tutorial

Flower #2 from our first girl's night.

(Sorry some of the pictures are bad. It is a bad lighting in my craft room, and this ribbon

is very shiny)

You will need:

2" circle

24- 2"L x7/8" W ribbon pieces

hot glue

fun, blingy button

alligator clip

Let's get started. I cut a 2" circle from some thick sewable interfacing. It's flexible enough to not look extremely stiff, and it's more able to get watered down than paper.

Next, I cut 24 2" strips from 7/8" ribbon

Fold the ribbon in half bringing the ends together. Try not to pinch the edge of it. You'll want it to keep it's rounded edge.

Hot glue it about 1/8" from the end.

then start adding more strips, continuing with the folding method from above. Overlap every-so-slightly

And continue all the way around the outer edge of the circle

When you begin the next row, move in just a little bit to help create dimension.

Continue adding strips, bringing each row in just a little bit from the one before.

When you have used all your strips, add your fun button to the center with the hot glue

Hot glue your alligator clip to the back of the circle in the center

And there you have it. Quick and simple. And so cute. This one went to my niece Ashley.

Single Cut of Ribbon Flower tutorial

Are you ready to find out how to make this little beauty?

You will need:

1 1/2" ribbon

1 needle

coordinating thread

a button or brad that is at least 1/2" wide

hot glue gun

alligator clip

First start out with 12 inches of 1 1/2" ribbon.

Next, take a needle and thread in a matching color to the ribbon. and start at one end of the ribbon.

Do large (basting) stitch through the entire end.

pull tight.

Next, move on to the side doing the same kind of basting stitch.

Pull tight, but do not gather the remaining straight end.

until it looks like a scrunchie. Pull it tight so that it will gather under your button (or brad)

without being able to see the gathered edge.

Fold the other (ungathered) end over about 1/4"

lay it over the gathered end and attach it so that it looks like one continuous circle.

Glue around the outer edge of your button (or brad) and attach the ribbon to it.

Let it cool and then attach the alligator clip. Let the glue cool before you try it

out in your hair so that it isn't permanently stuck.

The picture is pretty bad, but I love this flower. And it is so simple.