A few anouncements

Well I don't know if you have noticed the counters in my side bar but they are creeping up. A few days ago, the number of pageviews  went over 100000. WOW! And check it out: almost 500 readers! I'm psyched and this is the best of presents for my birthday, coming up this week. So stay tuned because I have a few special treats coming up to mark the occasion. 

And then this has been a crazy whirlwind of other great happenings:

* Artfully Caroline was on this week's program on Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom.

* The grosgrain ribbon flowers I made was featured on Tatertots and Jello.

* My ironing board redo also was picked out by Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts as one of her favorites of the week.

Featured by Allison on House of Hepworth  and by Malia @ Yesterday on Tuesday for the Layla handbag summer remix. The same bag was also voted  the April top pick @ To Sew with Love

   

Last but not least, the play tent I made for my nieces was a favorite at this past week's CSI challenge : Unique gifts and also one of Allison's favorites @ Stuff and Nonsense

Thank you everyone for reading my little blog and big thank you for all the features. It looks like I may be doing something right.

I'm pumped up !

Knock off is a knock out !

I'm quite blown away by the awesome feedback I received about the handbag knock off I finished last weeks.

  

I'm still trying to balance the new family dynamics and I didn't get a chance to respond to all those comments via email yet (got to save some time to craft too) but thank you everybody that took the time to write. 

THANK YOU!! 

You rock !

After the stressful past couple of weeks it feel wonderful to be back to crafting, blogging and it's such a great feeling to knock one out of the park! 44 comments and 3 features !! 

  

Thank you Michelle, Rebekah and Heather

 SOooo who wants a tutorial ? 

Updated Feb 20th

Some more features !?!

   

Tutorial - Satin ornaments

Last friday, this little tutorial was first revealed @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff but in case you missed it there it is again:

Supplies:

- Fabric scraps - I chose satin and organza because I regularly raid the Joann's remnants bins to make dress up clothes and I always have a selection at home.

- If you are using satin or organza some Fray check

- Ribbon or golden string - about 5" per ornament

- Stuffing material - like Fiberfil

- Tissue paper and pencil

- Pins

- Sewing needles and thread

- Pinking scissors

- Sewing machine (optional but preferred)

- PDF pattern - or your own shapes- (I tested a lot of different ones and these worked the best)

First trace the outline of the ornaments on tissue paper - Not only is it faster to trace on tissue paper than on fabric but for lightweight fabrics it helps prevent puckering/bunching while machine stitching.

Download the pdf HERE

Cutout the shapes and place on your fabric - Leave a 1/4 inch sewing allowance when positioning the shapes. The fabrics should be placed right side together.

I used 3 layers for these ornaments : 2 layers of satin and 1 layer of organza with sequins

Cut a piece of golden string or ribbon about 5" long and tie the ends as shown below. The knot will prevent the string from getting pulled out from the seam.

Pin the string in position, making sure you are between the "outside" layers if you are using more than 2 layers and that the knot will be inside once the stitching is done.

Stitch the outline with your sewing machine, leaving a small opening (3/4 inch) preferably on a straight segment.

Pull the tissue paper away

With the pinking scissors, cutout the shapes leaving a 1/4 inch allowance

Dab some FrayCheck on the opening if you are using satin

Carefully clip excess fabric in the "peaks" and make a notch in each "groove" to avoid bulk/puckering once you turn the items right side out. There is a great tutorial here.

Turn the ornaments right side out

Carefully stuff each item and sew the opening. Remember that overstuffing will make it harder to stitch

A few stitches to close the opening (this is actually the step that takes the longest)

and there you are:

It is so fast I made four dozens of those in a weekend to give away and use on my tree and around the house. I even personalized a couple

You can win some by entering my current giveaway until December 11th - see the link in my sidebar

 

Linking up to some of these parties

Tutorial - Tulle Christmas wreath

I've been keeping busy the past couple of days. Only one item on my list needs to be finished by noon Saturday to be shipped to my family in Europe: a play tent for my sweet nieces (ages two and three 1/2). In all that madness I managed to squeeze a few more projects:

an advent calendar 

and another (bigger) tulle wreath. 

This time I took pictures of all the steps so time for a tutorial :)

Supplies:
- 1 wire coat hanger
- Strip of batting or felt
- about 1 yard of tulle scraps - assorted colors
- 1/8 yard of satin scraps - assorted colors
- thread and needle
- buttons
- elastic band
- Small pieces of felt
- Hot glue

Unfold the coat hanger and shape it into a circle

Cut a long strip of batting about 2 inches wide and wrap it around the wire . Hot glue the end of the strip to the wire

I picked remnants of shinny tulle in peach white and gold

Cut the tulle in strips about 6 inches long by 2 wide

Knot the tulle on the covered wire

Mix and alternate colors until the whole circle is covered

Time for the flowers

Cut strips of satin strip about 11-12 inches long by 2 wide. Fold in half and zigzag/serge the edge. Gather the fabric with stitches about 1/4 inch long.

Pull the thread and form the flower, cut the satin leaves in coordinating fabric. I used the "singed flower" method to finish the edges.

For the finish you will need 1 button for the center a small circle of felt, 5 inches of elastic tied in a loop, some glue and another (ugly) button for each.

Stitch the button for the center and use the rest of the thread to secure the leaves. Place the elastic loop and hot glue the circle of felt on top of it and stitch the ugly button at the bottom.

This is how they turned out

Use the elastic loop and the button to tie the flowers to the wreath- This method makes it easy to reposition the flowers as much as you want. Add a big bow (or not)

Hang it and feel  the mood change instantly