Bag for Purse Week!

This week is purse week over at Lemon Squeezy Home!  I’ve been working on this purse since August off and on, and I finally put the finishing touches on yesterday.  I’m glad this contest came up so I could get my purse done!  I did the same style as I usually do, but the front pocket is nearly as big as the bag.  I also designed the strap so that it’s adjustable, and left an extra loop at an end for a key holder.  Embellished with ribbon strip sewed on and a bow to finish off the look!  Hope you like it as much as I do!

Inside, you can see the key loop, my purse organizer, just regular pocket (brown one), and the zippered pocket.

Guess what?!  It’s Friday!  Enjoy your weekend, I definitely will!

Tutorial: Gathered Pencil Roll

My mom teaches some of the children at my church, and she has needed something to keep pencils in.  I came up with this, and gave it to her for mother’s day.

So, it looks like a crayon roll, and you’ve seen millions of those on blog land.  What’s so special about this one?  I’ll show you!

The back has a gathered look, like this clutch!!!  Perfect for a “big person,” pencil roll.  I made a clutch (which I’ll show in an upcoming post), along with this roll.  You can make your own!  Here’s how: (the fabric is layered, so all three pieces on the left measure 8’’ X 9’’)
Cut fabric:
2 pieces 8’’ X 9’’ (one for pocket, and one for “lining”)
1 piece 13’’ X 9’’
1 piece 4’’ X 9’’ (for strip across back)1 piece fusible interfacing 8’’ X 9’’
1 piece of ribbon (I used 7/8’’ grosgrain, 23 inches long---I would recommend using longer---especially if being used by a kid!)

First, take your 4’’ X 9’’ strip, fold RIGHT sides together, sew into a tube with 1/2’’ seam.  Then turn right side out, and set aside.
Second, take your 13’’ X 9’’ piece.  On the 9’’ sides, measure and mark at 3.5 inches and 4.5 inches.  Do this at both ends of the fabric.  Then set your sewing machine to the longest stitch length in order to gather.  Sew a line at 3.5 inches, and 4.5 inches.  DO NOT BACKSTICH! :)  Then pull one string on each seam to gather your fabric till it measures 9 inches.
Third, turn on your iron!

Fourth, take your 4 X 9’’ strip and fold it so the seam is in the middle.  Press it this way.  The picture above can help you!

Fifth, attach your fusible interfacing to the WRONG side of your gathered 13 X 9 piece.  Then set the 4 X9 strip on top of the gathered piece where your stitches are.  Set your sewing machine to a smaller stitch! Sew the strip to the gathered piece, like the picture shows.

Take the 8’’ X 9’’ piece you’ll use for the pocket.  Fold it in half, so you’ll have a rectangle measuring 9 inches X 4 inches.  Set it on top of the piece intended for the “lining.”  If you folded it right, the edges will match up.  Pin the pocket to your lining.  Then, starting at 1/2 inch, mark on each inch.  You’ll have eight    1- inch spaces to hold 8 pencils, and 1/2 inch clearance on each side. (If you look closely, you can see my marks in the picture below)
On each mark, sew a line from the rough edge of the fabric (bottom), to the folded edge of your pocket (top).  Make sure you backstitch at each end of each pocket!
Ninth,  take both panels and put RIGHT sides together.  Sew around the whole thing, leaving about a 4 inch gap for turning.  Turn the material so it’s right side out, then stitch up the hole and topstitch around the whole thing.  During the top stitching, you can slip in your ribbon piece for tying the roll shut.  I attached it afterwards, but it would fit nicely in this step.

A few things I learned:  When adding your ribbon, keep it as close to the edges as possible so you don’t sew a pocket shut!  I almost did (oops!)
This roll will fit pens and mechanical pencils nicely, but if you have brand new regular pencils, you will need to make the panels a bit taller.  I underestimated when thinking about seam allowances.
You’re finished!  Enjoy!  If I left something out, please let me know!
Linked to these parties!

Hair Bow Mania!

      One of my friends is having a baby girl in a few weeks.  When I asked her what she would like/need for the baby, she said she LOVES the hairbows out there, and anything else cutesy and girly.  That surprised me, because she's not the most "girly-girl" I've known!  So hair bows it is.

     I've found some great tutorials for hair bows and fabric flowers (I think I have at least 20 bookmarked!)  I ended up attempting a few, but once I tried the Hair Bow Tutorial from  Savvy n Sassy, I was hooked!  These are SOOO easy, and only took me a few minutes to put together.  I love that you use thread to make the middle of the bow rather than wire or ribbon from other tutorials.

While looking for supplies, I happened upon a fabulous find!  You know those headbands that have the little loop you can slip different clips in for babies?  I found some…at Walmart of all places!  I looked EVERYWHERE.  They’re made by Goody.  Here’s a look.  They may be a tad big for a teensy baby, but I’m positive she’ll grow into them!

 

They were $5.00 for a package of 3 headbands.

Here’s a bow on the headband, to show the effect (although we can’t show it on the baby because she’s not here yet!)  The rest of the bows are pictured below!

 

(That green is the color of the title of the post…don’t know what my camera and computer are thinking!)

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Quick Crafting Fix

Hi there!  School's not quite finished, but I've been needing quick crafting fixes every now and then.  Here's a couple of the things I've made and wear a lot.  They're becoming my new favorites!

Tutorial for this type of necklace found here at My Blonde Ambitions.  It calls for a clasp for your neck, but I simply tied it at a length that I could fit over my head.  Saving clasps for another necklace!

I changed this $7.99 TJ Maxx shirt...

into this springy Ruffly Shirt!

Tutorial found here at Ruffles and Stuff

I'm working on a few things in my spare time for mother's day and will be posting them soon!

TUTORIAL: "Knot" Your Average Necklace

Hello there!  Since I made the Washer Necklace, I've had more inspiration of necklaces with ribbon.  Here's a ribbon necklace with wooden beads, with knots to add color.  I had wanted a pink and brown necklace for a couple years, and finally found the perfect combination.

To make your own, you'll need:

Beads (They can be whatever you want, I used left over wooden ones from this project)

Scissors

Wire (I used 24 gauge from Lowe's)

60 inches Ribbon (give or take a few inches is fabulous!)

lighter

OPTIONAL:  Bead Design Board

 First, take the ends of your ribbon and cut it to taper from skinny to fat, as shown.  Use a lighter to seal the edges so they don't fray on you.

Now we need to make a needle big enough for your ribbon to fit through.  Cut a piece of wire (I didn't even measure it, but I'm guessing about 5-6 inches long).  Take one end to make a loop large enough to fit your ribbon through.  Twist the ends so the loop is attached to the long piece. (See picture to minimize confusion).

Thread your ribbon through your "needle."

 Arrange your beads however you'd like.  

(I used a bead design board to show how on the tutorial, but RARELY use it.  The nice thing about them is that they help you know how long your necklace is before you start stringing.)  

 Now you'll start stringing, starting with the bead(s) in the very MIDDLE.  Make sure you get the middle of the necklace at the middle of your ribbon. (I didn't do this, and had to make a few minor adjustments at the end).

When you'd like, tie a knot to keep the beads from sliding.  I mainly did this for a splash of pink, but it serves many purposes.  You can do it wherever you'd like!  I did one in some places, and three in other places.

Keep stringing and tying knots until you reach the end of one side.  Then thread your ribbon on the other side and follow your pattern on the finished side.

Once your finished, try it on and see how you like it.  I ended up taking several beads off because I wanted more ribbon showing.  Just play with it and get it to be the way you'd like!

There ya have it, your own knotted ribbon necklace!

Let me know if you have any questions, and for sure send me a link if you try it yourself!

I'm linking up with

somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/

Hardware Stores...and Necklaces?!?

On Saturday, I was really bored.  I was blog hopping, and found this idea.  I thought...hmm..."Super cute, and cheap!"  I was off to the hardware store instantly!

My finished project looks like this:

 

Now I have some more ideas up my sleeve involving ribbon!  

I can't wait to have time to make something new!

Here's a tutorial for the necklaces from Blue Cricket Design.  The directions were a bit confusing.  I had to think really hard and ask my husband for help before I figured out the technique.  Once you get it though, you fly through it!  It took me a very short time to finish once I got going.  I may find the time to make up my own tutorial.  Let me know if anybody's interested.