One of my first tries. Made as a gift for a friend. Wish I had more practice before giving one as a gift, but it's the thought that counts.
Trying to find a solution to the bulky workbooks we carry to our Bible study, I made this bag as a mock-up using upholstery fabrics. It will go to a friend of the family who was a true friend to my mom during a recent surgery.
Finished size: 14" x 11"
As the title suggests - a birthday gift for a friend. Found these pretty purple-ish charcoal gray corduroy pants at the thriftstore. You can't really see them, but there are side pockets that are handy for cell phone and keys. My friend loves the bag!
I replaced the boring button that came with these pants with a pretty "pewter" one. It really added the necessary charm to the simple look of this bag.
My sewing machine was on the fritz so the stitching is a little off, but I made this fabric card to include my "Congrats" in the "baby gift" package.
Materials Used: Cotton & flannel scraps, butterfly cutout from leftover blanket fabric, watercolor paper (for backing)
Presentation is everything. Found these wood initials at Wmart and painted them to add as "name tags" for the baby gifts.
This was a stitch and "botch." Started as a baby gift; became my toddler's blanket. I didn't prewash the fabric and when I finally did wash the blanket, the fabrics shrunk differently and pulled the applique stripes so that they frayed out of the zigzag stitch.
A friend of mine started her residency today (yay, Dr. W!). She's been wanting a tote to haul things back and forth in and brought me this fabric. I have been wanting to add "bottoms" to my totes for a more polished look and so I tried it for the first time on this bag. I really like how it turned out. I like the look of a topstitched bottom, so instead of piecing two fabrics together, I just topstitched the second piece over the first. It also gives the bottom a little more shape and weight.
This is just a little better pic of the fabric combination. I was excited that pieces in my "stash" worked so well together! The pink paisley bits are from a clearance sale at Walmart.
In a prior life these were corduroy pants and a pillowcase. Reconstructing can be a pain sometimes but the creative process and the finished product make it worthwhile.
I'm not sure why I put the pocket on the inside front instead of inside back - just a sewing goof, I guess.
Mom loves Mary Engelbreit, so I used it as a lining. I made pockets out of pieces from a quilt I had made Dad.
My mom has been lugging home paperwork in a grocery sack. It was time to make an Anxiety Tote for mom. I used a pretty gold-colored velvet-like upholstery fabric for the outside, and a Mary Engelbreit fabric for the lining (and applique). To give it a little more interest, I added pleats.
Love this fabric! I bought it at Joann's half off - and also covered the seat in vinyl to withstand toddler and outdoor wear and tear.
When I found this children's wicker rocker the paint was green and chipped, and it had no seat. With a little paint and fabric it became the cutest thing on my porch!
I made this from a thrifted pillowcase using a technique called "shirring."
Found this project in a Better Homes & Gardens Magazine. It was one of the projects with fewest (and cheapest) "ingredients."
Eggs were made with embroidery floss and starch (and a balloon to create shape). I like adding a stray strand of color from another egg, like the purple in this green egg.
I love vintage flour sacks - something about the faded advertising. I used a bed sheet for the lining. This purse is worn and "comfy" somehow.
Saw this print on a pair of capris at the thrift store and HAD to turn it into something. A friend flew to visit me all the way from NY and she loved the fabric as much as I did. I thought the least I could do for all her trouble to come see me was make something for her.
I made this monochromatic blanket a year ago for a friend's baby girl. Its in mostly pale yellow/natural colored tones - pale yellow ticking, tone on tone floral, and toile scenes. I also used a few patches of pink.
I don't really know a thing about appliques or embroidery. But I had a hoop and some thread so I gave it a "twirl."
These things were so easy to make I made four! (one isn't pictured). One hint when using the tutorial I found (under "How to Make"): be sure to stitch the middle of the ribbon once threaded through the casing.
This was my first anxiety tote, made in Nov/December along with a host of other projects (christmas wreath, caramel corn for neighbors, etc). It was a gift for a friend with a baby. She uses it for any visit lasting longer than an hour. I love the fabric.
Bought these small bowls at IKEA for $1 each, the brushes for $3 and a tube of paint for about $1. Used a "dot" pattern inspired by a Martha magazine.
Idea: find inexpensive white porcelain serving dishes (Ikea had a set for $5) and paint. Next time you take a dish to a potluck, use the dish and leave as a hostess gift.
I made this "fluffy" blanket as a gift for a friend with a baby girl. The high-loft batting was difficult to work with, but will be great as a floor blanket when Baby starts crawling.
The finished size is about 16" x 20" and only cost me about $7 in materials. Gotta love Walmart.
Made this for an expecting mom whose husband will be deployed. Used the Wee One's daddy's old army uniform for the applique.