Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

...Easter's on it's way. Don't ya just love how a song gets stuck in your head?



I am working on an outfit for a friend of mine's son. It will be a long-all with this smocked insert. I will also be making a short sleeved shirt to go with it.

She picked out the Smocking Plate (Regatta by Ellen McCarn) and the fabric. I am very pleased with how the sail boats turned out. I think this would be a great outfit to wear all summer long. Her son can wear it in cooler weather with a light sweater or jacket. [You know how seldom Easter is actually warm.]

You can check out more on boy's clothes here... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Book Review - Cherries in Winter

I received a free copy of the book Cherries in Winter from Random House to read and review. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. I didn't know anything about it and it sounded o.k., but not really good. I read it anyway (I like to read). I was pleasantly surprised. It took me just a little while to get into the book, but I really felt drawn in by Suzan Colon.

The book had recipes intermingled in the story, which I think is an interesting concept, (and they were pertinent to the story - which I absolutely loved). I haven't had the chance to try any of them yet, but I plan to (some of them sounded delicious).

The book is not a fictional book, it is about Suzan and her family and how they survived the recession, depression, and any economical struggles that the nation and their family faced. It was not depressing, but encouraging. If you are looking for a book that offers hope in hard times, this is a book for you.

Pearls of Wisdom

O.k. There aren't any real pearls here (just beads that look like pearls). Alright, there isn't any wisdom here either.

But there is this great necklace that I made. [Inspiration found here.]

I saw the necklace and tried to make it. I was very pleased with how it turned out. I can't wait to make more of them with different colors of satin ribbon (I can make it to go with anything).




[Note: I tried something different to take the picture of the necklace on myself. Some of you may already be doing it, but I just thought of it and it worked. I faced the lens of the camera and I also faced the mirror. I could see the screen of my camera in the mirror to see how it looked before I took it. Always before I did it by trial and error and cropping. This way was much easier.]

Freezer Paper Stenciling

Freezer Paper Stenciling is showing up all over the blogosphere. There are tutorials everywhere. I have been dying to try it. So, I just did it. (Got the idea for the monogrammed napkins here, can't remember where I got the tutorial.)

I tried to monogram cloth napkins as a wedding gift. I did a set of 4 napkins and then tied with a coordinating ribbon. [Sorry about the picture. On the way to deliver the gift, I realized that I had not taken a picture and did so on my lap in the vehicle - don't worry I wasn't driving, DH was.]

I love the tone-on-tone look, so I chose white napkins and an off-white paint (color: linen). I think this is especially important since this is for a Bride-To-Be and I don't know the colors of her new kitchen (white should go with anything).

I used regular acrylic paint (with no fabric medium). I couldn't find fabric paint in the color I wanted and I couldn't find the fabric medium to add to the acrylic paint. I washed one napkin after painting, drying and heat setting with iron and it still looked as good as the others (couldn't tell them apart).

Apple Tawashi

Sorry that I have been MIA just a little bit. I haven't had time to both blog and craft so I had to pick. So I picked crafting...WAIT!!!! Don't get offended just yet, I love to blog and I love my readers, but if I don't craft, I don't have anything to blog about.

I found these neat little tawashi's. Tawashi is the Japanese term for scrubber. There are all kinds of tawashi's. This is one that's crocheted (I think generally they use acrylic yarn with this, I used cotton yarn - it's softer, but next time I will use acrylic - I think it will scrub better). There are lot's of tawashi patterns out there. I found these at Lion Brand Yarn.

They were very quick and easy to work up. I was very pleased with them. I've made 2 batches already (kept the first one, never looks as good while I try to work through a 'new to me' pattern and figure out how things flow, and I gave the 2nd set away). I plan on making more. They are so quick and easy and I think very cute.

I love the leaf. It has a little curl (dimension) to it (it is not flat). Adds character to it. Very pleased with the pattern. Lion Brand has not disappointed me yet. Every time I've used one of their free patterns it turns out really well.

NOTE: I tied the yarn every time that I switched colors. You are technically not supposed to, but since I am going to be scrubbing dishes (maybe even vigorously), I really wanted these to last and not fall apart or come unraveled.

Look at These

I luuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvv stationery. I always have (ever since I was a little girl), but I really, really love personalized stationery. That is my absolute favorite!!!!

I have been meaning to show this to you for awhile now, but I kept forgetting to take pictures of it (I've had it tucked away safely in it's own special spot). I want to use it, but then again I don't want it gone...so the people that I use it for have to be VERY special.

Katy, over at Creative Escapes, made these for me. She's got lots of great ideas (especially if you are a stamper, but even if you are not) so go check her out (and tell her I said 'Hi' while you are there).



Don't you think the matching envelopes are just adorable????????

Bias Tape

Wow! I was just thinking about doing a tutorial on how to make your own bias tape, when I read Sabra's tutorial (from Sew A Straight Line) on the same thing. So, if you are interested in learning how to make your own bias tape (very useful if you sew much at all), you can check it out here.

Also, if you have never visited her blog before, check it out. I really like it. It has quite a bit of sewing (all sorts of tips and tricks to make things easier) and lots of other things too.

Since Sabra did the bias tape tutorial, I will do a post really soon about several ways to use it.

Boutique Style Burp Cloth Tutorial

My friend Amanda at How Far We've Come wanted to know if I was going to do a tutorial on the Sock Monkeys that I did to go along with these burp cloths (see here). Well, I didn't think about it and didn't take pictures, but you can get directions here or a tutorial here.


Here is the stencil that I used for the initials that I monogrammed on the burp cloths (part of my scrapbook stuff - you can use regular stencils, you can print a font off of your computer or whatever you want to use for your monogram).


I made a pattern, by tracing the letters that I wanted to use on brown kraft paper (have I mentioned that I LOVE brown kraft paper?).


Then I cut them out and I pinned them onto the fabric that I was going to use for the initials (Sock Monkey Knit print) and cut the initials out of fabric. (Sorry, I forgot to get a picture of that). [Speaking of pictures, I finally got me a new camera - not exactly what I wanted, not in the budget, but it was on sale and I am pleased with it.]


I measured the fabric that I wanted to use as trim on the burp cloth to be a little larger than the burp cloth (this is great for scraps too).


I then ironed down all 4 edges (toward the backside of the fabric), making sure to make it the exact width of the cloth diaper. This will give it a nice finished edge and will keep it from fraying. (You can make it as high/tall as you want. I didn't make it too tall because I was going to applique the initial above the trim.)


I then pinned it on the cloth diaper. Cloth diapers are not exactly square, so it will not fit exactly on the back, but get it as close as you can.


Here is the front side all pinned. Now you sew it around the edges. You can use matching thread to blend in or you can use a different colored thread as an accent. (Forgot to get a picture after it was sewn.) I am so forgetful. (I have a hard time with tutorials because when I start a project I just keep going on to the next step, then the next, and well you get the idea. I forget to take pictures.)


Now take the initial that you cut out of fabric and iron it on to Wonder Under (I used Heat 'N Bond because that is what I already had). Follow the Wonder Under directions. I ironed it onto the wrong side of the fabric, I placed a piece of scrap tissue paper to the right side of the fabric (to keep my iron from getting sticky/gooey from the Heat 'N Bond) - it just peels right off.


Now iron according to directions.


Cut the letter out, right next to the edge of the fabric (cuts the excess Heat 'N Bond off). Then the tissue paper comes right off.


Next you peel the back of the Heat 'N Bond off.


Now iron it onto your cloth diaper, centered just above your fabric border.


I then appliqued the initial on. Used a very close zig-zag stitch, just around the border. NOTE: It works best if you drop your feed-dogs (check sewing machine manual on how to do this.)





I used the Sock Monkey fabric because I liked it and bought it and didn't know what to do with it. You can use any fabric/fabric combination that you like. You can also add rick-rack and other trims to dress it up. Just remember that these are for babies and stay away from buttons and other choking hazards.

Fabric Covered Button Ring

I found this neat tutorial at Smashed Peas and Carrots about how to make a Fabric Covered Button Ring. Check it out here. I'm going to have to make one (or more) of these to got with my 'Washer Necklace,' I could have a matching set!!!!!!!!!