Monday, November 28, 2011

The disadvantage of Using the Floor as a Work Area

I thought I would share my newest adventure in sew.

I haven't had a cat in quite some time. So I didn't think about laying the pattern piece on the floor to cut them out.

Apparently she LOVES crinkly noises. So this type of paper is her FAVORITE! I had to push her away several times. She left a couple of small holes, but they were in empty spaces.

I think now I have to make her something that has crinkly plastic in it so she will play with that instead. But she would much rather sit on whatever I'm doing instead I bet.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Ghosts, Monsters and er, Clouds?



These guys are screaming for new homes!
I know I would rather have a Drooly Ghoulie haunt my home then a real ghost.
Today is the last day for the Thanksgiving weekend prices, hurry now!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Gloomy Fall Days

The days have been kinda gloomy and blah lately. But of course when I decided the night before that I was going to post this, it was gloomy.
But today is very sunny and so bright that I had to turn my monitor away just to see it.


I bought some brightly colored felt the other day. I really love how the colors pop with they are together.
Usually when it's cold and dark and just plain blah out, I always break out the bright happy colors. I do that at work a lot. Someone will ask, "Why is there a brightly colored ice cream cone on this cake? It's November." And I'm like, "SO? Wouldn't you eat it?" The other person, "Yeah, you're right, I would."

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Monday, November 14, 2011

Warning: Mason Jar Pin Cushion Tutorial


And by warning, I mean I've never done a tutorial before. I've always been afraid that I'm not very good at them.
This one is simple enough that I think that I can handle it. Please feel free to ask questions if something doesn't make sense or have other questions.
With this I ask that you wish me luck and maybe if this one is good as it sounds in my head, I'll make more.
I made this cute little mason jar pin cushion in under an hour.

Materials:
thick paper
scissors
fabric
mason jar with a two part lid
hot glue gun
hot glue sticks
ribbons
fiber fill



 1. Trace the flat inner circle of the lid. You can use a dressmakers pencil or marker.
Cut a 1/4 inch away from the inside of the circle (make it smaller) so it doesn't touch the sides of the lid.
(I had to eyeball it because I haven't had a compass since high school)
Then glue that paper to the bottom side of the flat lid. I used paper to help keep the fabric secured to the lid. Hot glue doesn't stay stuck to metal well.

 2.  Mark your fabric with the actual lid size and then a 1 inch larger circle around it. You can use a dressmakers pencil/chalk or marker. Cut your fabric 1 inch larger then the flat lid. Then cut notches all around the circle almost to the original size of the lid (I traced the lid on the fabric too for this). Don't cut the notches too close to the actual size of the lid, you will have fiber fill to bulk up the fabric.
The notches are for easy folding.

 3. Take a nice big fluffy hand full of fiber fill. Make sure you have a full tight ball that feels almost too big for your hand. You don't want it too small or you will not have a tall enough mount to hold the needles.

4. Place the fiber fill in between the top part of the flat circle lid and the wrong side of the fabric. Have the fabric facing wrong side up, then the fill with the bottom side up lid on top (like a sandwich, a very dry and tough sandwich).

 5. (This is the tricky part, but not too difficult) Start to hot glue one notch while holding the cotton fill sandwich steady. Glue one notch at a time, starting with one then the opposite notch to help keep the fill in.

 *IMPORTANT*
Hot glue is well…HOT! Please be careful.

Pull snug but not too tight. Remember to have a tall enough mount on the top.
Continue to glue down the rest of the notches.

 6. After all it said that done, you can flip it right side up and add the ring and screw it back on the jar. Super easy.


 If you want more poof to the top, just make adjustment s to the fabric size and the amount fiber fill.

I added ribbon to the lid to dress it up a little.

Again, I hope this tutorial makes sense and easy to follow.