Southampton Rosette Tunic Apron

My latest creation is this light canvas tunic apron, bespeckled with rosettes. It's perfect for picking berries and apples.... or just trying to keep your clothes free from spit-up, crumbs, cooking grease and laundry detergent drips. And with the linen pockets, you'll always know where your pen/kleenex/cell phone/lip gloss is located.

I've long been in search of just the right tunic apron. Remember this one? Only this time I used a real pattern. Vintage McCall's M5551.

In my attempt to get a fresh, anthro-inspired, outdoor pic of the new apron, you can clearly see that the only item difficult to see is the apron itself. Booo. At least I missed the rain by 20 minutes. Instead, I'll just tell you about the chocolate brown linen dress that I thrifted for $5 and the apple basket for $3.Here's a little close-up of the sweet print. It reminds me of Jane, so I've named it the Southampton Tunic Apron. They probably pick berries in Southampton, right?

This is headed to my shop soon, along with the tote and some other goodies in the works.

To view a variety of inspiring creations, please visit:

Poppies Embellishment Tutorial

Recently, I thrifted this simple gray top with satin trim, for $2.75. It called out to be improved upon.

It seems that everywhere you look this season, you'll see flower embellished tops like this and this. Since I wanted to hide the slightly uneven empire waist seam, here's my version...

It's easy to make your own poppies. Start with any fabric that includes synthetic fibers (such as polyester). I used a sheer formal wear fabric in grey.

Cut out a circle. It doesn't have to be perfect, in fact, they look better if they're not perfectly round.

Cut out more in various sizes. I use 6-7 per flower.

Safely light a tea light (or something with a low controlled flame). Hold your fabric edge near the flame and rotate. The heat melts the synthetic fibers to seal the edges and curl your petals. Tip: keep the fabric moving to prevent over-synging. This may take practice on a few circles to get comfortable.

Lay your petals together to start forming your flower. Stitch beads, sequins or buttons to the center to hold all your petals in place. Apply everywhere! They can be stitched in place or glued, depending on your application. (Keep in mind that hot glue will also melt the synthetic fabric.)

Make a little or a lot!

Lace Doily Reversable Tote - The Elinor Tote

Being a fan of all things floral and lace, I set out to make a new feminine tote. Since sewing time is guaranteed once a week during my sewing class, I took advantage and completed my bag.A sneek peek inside at the lining...

and it is fully reversible as well. It's constructed from white canvas, a vintage beige doily and a floral pillowcase.

During class, I did not have my camera with me, so there's no tutorial here. But I did find an excellent tutorial for you here, that is very nearly the exact tote that I made.

Since I know that there are more to come, I've named this one the Elinor Tote. I figured that if Jane Austen, or any of her characters, carried a tote, it might just look like this one.

This new tote is the perfect bag for carrying around my Mother's Day gifts - a stunning copy of Pride and Prejudice (available here) and this card from my daughter (transcribed by my Dear H).

Sniff sniff. I hope that you had a lovely Mother's Day too.

(I linked to Tea Rose Home. Please check out their other great posts!)

Personalized Washer Necklace

Last week, I made this washer necklace for a friend, for Mother's Day.

After a quick trip to the hardward store, where I found multiple sizes of washers, I picked up the necklace clasps and rat tail satin cord at my local craft store. I already owned the metal letter stamps and a hammer.

Then, I set to work on the concrete. Eleven washers later, I was happy with how it turned out. (Never attempt making these necklaces with a curious toddler at your side!)

There are about 10 more necklaces that I want to make, but I'm not sure the city of Seattle has enough washers for all of my mistakes! But, I think they're just too cute not to try, try again.

Footstool Re-do

It's only been 2 years in the making, but I finally recovered this footstool. It was nearly purchased at a yard sale, until the woman just gave it to me. Love it! The tapestry fabric never really fit our decor...

and I guess this cowhide underneath the tapestry didn't fit her decor. It wasn't going to work for me either, but I did find some apple green fabric, on sale, that suits our living room perfectly. Staple gun + new fabric = Happiness. Even Dear H gave it a thumbs up!

Also, I recently thrifted these books because, well, I'm pretty sure that I've needed them many times and just didn't know it. Plus, they'll come in handy for the sewing class that I started tonight. They're both very thick, but at $2 a piece I couldn't pass them up. Now if I could only learn everything in the books just by owning them...

Toddler Shirt Refashion: Add Spring Roses!

We all need a basic white t-shirt... but what happens when you already have one? Add roses of course! This one is for my daughter, but I definitely see one heading to my closet too.

I took a couple of thrifted sheets (pink and white), cut imperfect concentric circles and fray checked 'em. Then I scrunched them a bit and stitched them together. Finally, I added pearls.

Girlie perfection!

Anthropologie Inspired Chair Re-do

From brass and gold to gray and yellow glory!

This chair belonged to my mother. She had it back in the 70's, when brass and gold velveteen were magical. At least I thought so as a kid. Mom gave me the chair because I couldn't bear for her to throw it out.

My original goal was a sunny yellow spray painted chair with a gray and white reupholstered seat cushion. First, I primed the chair gray. Then, I stopped and stared. It was perfect.

After some searching, I found the yellow and white polka dot linen fabric at this etsy shop.
Next, I pulled together some yellow piping with thrifted bias tape and string.

Insert string and stitch.

Then, I pinned the dickens out of the two pieces of fabric with the piping sandwiched in between.

With a little help from my staple gun, the chair is complete. It reminded me of...

this bed from Anthropologie.

The chair is going into our master bedroom, which has been a gray-and-yellow work in progress since January. This was my first attempt at reupholstery (start small!) and sewing piping. I couldn't be happier with the results!

Forest Friends Mobile

Since my daughter and baby son share a room, I decided on a forest theme for their room. All the walls are white (we're in a rental) the furniture is white, but there are green and brown accents with deer, polka dots and some stripes.

Henry needed to look at something more interesting. So, about a month ago, I started working on these felt forest friends. Five minutes here and ten minutes there... it's finally complete.

First, I freehand cut out some woodsy shapes (two of each). Then I started stitching. I left a small opening to stuff with felt scraps before I stitched these mini-pillows closed.

Next, I assembled the rest of the mobile supplies: a thrifted embroidery hoop, some ribbon and a D-ring from an unused belt.

Finally, I stitched the small ribbon to the tops of the creatures and tied them to the hoop. The brown polka-dotted ribbon was wrapped around the hoop to cover the bare wood. I cut three strips of ribbon to hang the mobile, folded the top ends over the D-ring and stitched in place.

Henry smiled. So did I :)

Tuna Can Pin Cushion

Finally, I had the perfect excuse to make a tuna can pin cushion... I needed a hostess gift. It's simple, yet adorable. Here's what you'll need to make one:

an empty tuna can, a felt strip (or paper or ribbon), a circle of fabric at least twice the diameter of your can, stuffing (such as polyfil or fabric scraps), scissors, glue, a needle and thread.

First, adhere your felt, paper or ribbon to the outside of your can. Fold over the top edge of the can for a clean look. Let dry.

Next, sew a long running stitch around the edge of your circle of fabric. This will be your gather.

Stuff your circle. Gather tightly and stitch a knot to hold the cushion's shape.

Run a bead of glue around the inside rim of your can. Place your cushion in the can. Let dry.

Embellish with ribbon, buttons, ric rac, etc. Or not.

Sometimes beans or rice are added to the bottom of the can for weight, but since I did not have a tall cushion, it wasn't necessary.

Easy and totally customizable. You're done!

Gray Linen Shirt To Pillow

This is my new gray linen/cotton blend pillow accessorized with a yellow wool felt flower. It started out as a .55 cent thrifted shirt...

I already had a pillow form measuring 18 inches. So, I cut out my shirt...

with a 1/2" seam allowance on each side. Next, I sewed my seam, then zig-zagged for durability.

I cut out 7 circles in varying diameters - averaging 3.5 inches across. (Idea from here.)

Next, I pinched the felt together and stitched the bottom of my "scrunch".

I repeated for each circle, then placed all my scrunched circles together and stitched those together to form my flower.

Lastly, I safety-pinned the flower to my pillow (easily removed for washing).

The best part is actually the back of the pillow, which could be the front too. It's easily unbuttoned to remove the pillow case for washing!

The whole project cost me less than $1 for new materials. Love it!

Plaid and Lace Ruffle Scarf

For months I had a vision of this scarf, but no time to make it. Then, a month ago, I made it but had no time to post it. Time's up!

Using homespun cotton, I cut two sections of navy plaid in 19"x 36 1/2" rectangles. I then sewed them together, using a french seam to seal any frays, creating a 19"x 72" rectangle.

Next, I hemmed the edges.

Then I sewed a long running stitch down the middle (without backstitching to secure it) and pulled one thread to create my ruffle. I wanted the length of my scarf to be 36", so it's got a lot of ruffle.

Next up was applying my vintage thrifted lace. I used a multi-stitch zig zag to attach the lace, to the center gather, with nearly invisible stitches. One seam down the middle and two more - one along each edge. *Note: I used scalloped lace which requires you to line it up evenly on both sides before stitching. It would be much quicker to use a straight trim.

Final product... a ruffley, lacey scarf. So far, it's been very versatile. I can see changing up the colors a bit and wearing this right into the spring.

My Outfit

So I snapped this pic as I was walking down the hallway tonight (thus the poor quality.) It's a shot of my new khaki green thrifted coat. The price was a steal, at half off, for $3.50. It's lined and in brand new condition. I was already wearing an army green colored sweater, then the khaki jacket... so I decided to quickly (seriously, like 3 minutes) make a matching cowl/neck wrap from here. (These would make great gifts!) Did I mention that I love green?

This is the second pair of jeans I've worn today. Unlike my daughter who changes her clothes, on average, 7 times a day, I try to wear only one outfit.

But a colicky baby can have other ideas. After burping him, my low back felt damp. Somehow, my baby managed to spit up on the back of my jeans - under my sweater, which was dry. Maybe we shouldn't have named him Henry, but Houdini.

Slipper Bootie Tutorial

We were searching for slippers for my daughter (a toddler). But, post-Christmas there are tumbleweeds in the slipper aisles. Nada. So, I used what I have to make her comfy, cozy slipper booties. Here's how:

First, I gathered my supplies - a thrifted vinyl tablecloth for the sole, fleece for sole padding, scrap fleece (from this project) for the bootie, thread, elastic, scissors, paper and a pen and any embellishments I wanted to add, such as ribbons or buttons.

My next step, which was actually a challenge, was to trace my jumping/dancing/kicking toddler's feet.

Adding my seam allowance (about 1/2",) I then cut out the soles from the vinyl tablecloth and two layers of fleece for each foot. I baste stitched them together. The sole is now three layers thick.

Remember, none of this has to be exact because fleece (and bows) cover a multitude of sins ;) I roughly cut out two profile bootie shapes for each foot.

Next, I sewed the right sides together of the top of the foot and from the heel to the ankle of the bootie. (Confused? Just leave the sole open and the foot opening at the top open.)

Pin the upper of your slipper to the sole, right sides together.

Now, trim any excess fabric. This is what your inside-out slipper should look like.

Next, turn the slipper right-side out.

This next step I forgot to photograph, but I took a narrow strip of elastic, 1" less than my daughter's ankle circumference, and sewed it to the inside of the ankle part of the slipper. This helps to keep it on. I just pinned the elastic in a few places and let it gather naturally as I secured it with a zig-zag stitch for stretch. Be careful not to sew the slipper shut. Not that *I did* the first time or anything.

I tied a couple of bows and stitched them onto the fronts for custom appeal. (Pics were taken before I sealed the fray on the ribbon.)

Remember, it's ok to not have it exact. The first time I sewed the top portion of the foot, my slippers had noses. Um, not what I wanted to see. So, I just stitched it again in a smooth sloping line. Better!

They passed the test because my daughter slept in them the first night. She loves 'em! That's all that matters to me. But, I'm also glad they no longer have noses.