May Giveaway Day

Okay - this week, I am mixing it up and not posting a tutorial, but spreading the news. Sew Mama Sew is hosting a May Giveaway day! How it works is, visit Sew Mama Sew's blog and check out all the blogs that are posting giveaways. I already found 2 and look forward to checking out some new blogs. Looks like there is some nice stuff out there that could be won! So, go check it out!

If I had more time, I would have participated. With baseball, work and traveling - I had no time. Next time though!

Tutorial Tuesday - Lil' Owls

I am coping Indie Fixx's Tutorial Tuesday from awhile back, but only because it is totally worth spreading it all around!

Alex from MOONSTICHES put together this really well done tutorial, which was inspired from a pattern she found in a book (info on the front page of the tutorial). Since Alex does not share the pattern from the book, you can buy the book (although it’s in Japanese) or come up with your own pattern and use Alex’s tutorial as an inspiration for your own owl. For more inspiration, visit the Owly Love Flickr Pool.

Click here to see the full tutorial that MOONSTITCHES put together to make these cute little owls. I am definitely adding these guys to my "must make" list!

Tutorial - Boxed Corner Bag

For the Book Lovers craft swap that I participated in, I made a reversible box bag. I started with using the instructions from Mamas Pocket Book Blog, but creating my own pattern. My pattern measured 18" (length) x 12" (height) with the small squares 2" x 2". I also used super duper heavy interfacing on BOTH the lining and the front of the bag. I really wanted this bag to keep it's shape. When I got to sewing the corners of this bag - I was confused by the instructions, so I found new instructions for the corners on Lazy Girl's Design Blog.

With these two tutorials, I created exactly the bag I wanted! I am currently creating a new bag using these two tutorials + one other... I will post links & pictures soon!

In other news, db and I are off to Calgary for the next wedding. This will be the second out of five we will be attending this year. db is not really wanting to go; he would rather stay and play baseball, but it is his dad that is getting married so he has no choice :)

I will be back from Calgary next Tuesday with a fun tutorial! Have a great long weekend everybody!

First Craft Swap

Happy mother's day! My mom is in Radium, BC for the weekend - I hope the weather was nice while she is there. I did send her a card - I hope it arrived before she left.

In other news, I received my package from my first craft swap!


I got a awesome crocheted bookmark:


A tote bag:


A journal to keep track of the books that I have read:


And all together with the two books:


I will post the items that I made my partner next week!

Surprise!

I run to the mail box everyday (I am waiting for a package of fabric to arrive) and today it was full of surprises! My sister made me a purse pattern! It is inspired by a purse that I saw on craftster. She also sent a card that I believe she hand made... and of course it is in my favourite colour right now - orange! Thanks sister! I did tell you not to waste your precision time on it though.l.. but you don't listen.



The other surprise I got was some books that I 'mooched' off of people from Book Mooch. If you don't know what 'Book Mooch' is - go check it out - it is great! I have now received 4 books from it and have sent some of the books I no longer want kicking around my computer/sewing room.

I am hoping to post some pictures of the sewing that I am doing this weekend, but db is playing in a baseball tournament - so I am not sure how much sewing I will actually get done.

Show & Tell

I had to take a picture of my crazy socks that I bought in London at the Marimekko store. I just love them!

Still working away at my sewing list...

Tuesday Tutorial - Freezer Paper Fun!!

When I was in London, my sister gave me a large roll of freezer paper because I had read various techniques of printing onto fabric using a home computer and printer.



As, I looked into more things to create using freezer paper, I came across this tutorial, which uses bleach to make a white stencil. I always want cool t-shirt, but never find any fun ones. I think this is my next project for myself - but instead of bleaching, I think I will use fabric paints. I am very sure this is not a new idea, but it is new to me and looks fun and easy to do! Think of the fun tea towels you could make... or the baby onesies... oh so many gift options!

There are all sorts of stencil ideas out there - I found this flickr group dedicated to printing with freezer paper stencils onto fabric: http://www.flickr.com/groups/fpstencils/

Also, I wanted to follow up on the pin cushion tutorial I posted a few weeks ago... I finally made mine! It's so pretty! The instructions that Oh Fransson gives are amazing - so easy to follow. And if you do decide to make a pin cushion for yourself, listen to her advice about filling the bean bag - I filled mine too much and had to take it apart and take some of the rice out!

It took me about 2 hours to complete - probably longer than necessary because I was watching movies at the same time :)

Twirl Skirt for Anna

On Tuesday, I posted that I wanted to make a twirl skirt for Anna using this tutorial created by House on Hill Road. Well, it's done! Well, almost done - I still need to fit the elastic around Anna's waist so it fits properly.

The tutorial was easy to follow. I am still a little unsure if the skirt will fit Anna - she is extremely small waisted and following the recommended sizing, it may bunch at the waist a little too much. Next time I make this skirt, I would ensure that the width of the fabric doesn't double the waist size. Anna's waist was 20" around, and the recommended sizing suggested I make the skirt 40" and it just may be too much fabric. But I won't know until she tries it on!

Here is my do to list for the rest of the week:
1. Skirt for Anna - Completed!
2. Towel for Michele - Completed!
3. Bag for Kat - need to buy some more materials
4. Bag for MLF - going to start cutting it out tonight
5. Towel for Johnny - need to buy some more materials
6. Towel for Angela - need to buy some bias binding material

Feff... lots of people are having little ones right now, as you can probably tell by my list. I am working hard to keep up with all the deliveries!