Hey readers and crafters….have you explored as much as you possibly can with your glue gun and are now ready to move on to the ultimate “craftyness?”
Come learn to sew!!!
I have a class scheduled for Tuesday night August 10th & 17th…I’ve got 2 lovely ladies who would love to have 3 more of you join in. So come on and join us!!!
I’m already pretty cheap, but I’ll give you an additional $5 discount if you mention my blog…just email me!
3 Real-Life Sewers!
Posted in Sewing Lessons | 1 Comment »
Hey pals – I’ve just returned from almost 2 weeks of vacationing – oh my how fabulous it was (I’ll post photos soon)…and I’m thinking about how much I’ve missed posting and talking about all things DIY! I’d love to hear what YOU”VE been up to!
For me – our family spent many days in cabins far away from internet and television. The only thing there was to do was eat or do crafts! Owen and Ellie spent hours and hours creating all kinds of mysterious things that were just gorgeous! I even managed to get a few dresses made and such. I’ll try to post those photos whenever I can find my camera uploader thingie.
For now – I thought I’d make mention of a little sale…yes SALE!!!
For my blog and Facebook readers, I’m running a sale on every item in my shop that is READY MADE! (not necessary labeled “ready to ship” but ready made meaning that I’ve already made it so it’s inventory just sitting around in my closet begging me to wear it myself but I just can’t!) So here are photos of what’s up for grabs:
Seafoam Maxi Dress - Size 6ish - Sale Price: $50
Navy Blue Squiggles Strapless Dress - Size S/M - SALE PRICE: $50
Pink Twirly Skirt - size S/M - SALE PRICE: $45
White Eyelet Strapless Dress (AWESOME WITH COWBOY BOOTS!) - Size S/M - SALE PRICE: $50
You can leave a comment here, message me on facebook or contact me through an Etsy convo!
******Also, I’m working on more tutorials so let me know if there’s a project you’d like to know how to make….if I pick your project, you’ll win the item that I make!*****
good night friends!
Posted in DIY | 1 Comment »
While I’m on the subject of showing off other people’s DIY successes – here is one for the record books….
These are 100% cupcakes – they ONLY LOOK LIKE hamburgers! Aren’t they impressive???
Huge snaps to you Tim and Claire Gillen!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged DIY, food | 1 Comment »
Today, I’m just enjoying my new IN FOCUS banner/header so much, that I thought i’d send a little shoutout to the wonderful Etsy shop that created it for me… Pixel Stix Graphics.
I love their slogan, “Sweet Graphics, no calories”…darling!
I originally purchased a banner/avatar combo for my new fabric and pattern shop, aptly named So Sew Something. I came across this shop after searching “banner sale” and instantly fell in love with her work! For $5 (yes, you read correctly, $5!) I got 2 banners and 3 avatars – so I can swap out whenever I’m having a sale or am away on vacation.
Then, after trying to my best to get the sizing to work for my blog header – but could never get rid of the blur, I contacted dear Val and for a tiny little cost, she reworked and resized the header/banner AND font. She truly worked tirelessly for me until I was totally happy. And I AM TOTALLY HAPPY!!!
If you’re opening a shop or blog – or even just reworking an existing one – do yourself a favor and check out Pixelstixgraphics.etsy.com!
Posted in DIY | 2 Comments »
This post will be short, sweet and completely functional!
I was able to finish up 3 piles of fabric that I’ve been moving from corner to corner of my sewing space. Yay!!! Here they are…I’m running a free shipping sale until the end of the month to participate in Etsy’s Christmas in July festivities!
White Eyelet Strapless Dress - size S/M - $74 - fully lined
Pink Twirly Skirt with green/yellow/pink leaves - Size 4 to 10 - $59
Red polka Dot strapless dress with coordinating sash - Size S/M - $68
sash doubles as a summer scarf!
Oh, and I just about have my banner all finished – ready to get rid of that blurr!!!
Posted in DIY | 1 Comment »
Okay, so I got word this morning that I was not chosen as a Showcase Designer for Austin Fashion Week.
Yes, I’m bummed.
I’m not defeated, but I am bummed.
So….what does a scorned dressmaker do???
She makes dresses!
I thought I would share my sorrow with you … today it comes in the form of 2 strapless numbers…a dress and a tunic. Each is One of A kind (know around Etslyland as OOAK) and will be up for sale sometime today in my shop. I’ll give FREE SHIPPING on either of these to my blog readers!!!
The main fabric is from a street market in UGANDA!
The fabric is a beautiful almost terra cotta red with a slight orange outline around the decals.
I hope y’all are doing great!!!
I’ll be back soon with another tutorial….I promise!
Posted in DIY | 4 Comments »
Most of us!
By now, you’ve probably already said to yourself…”Self, I wish I had gotten off the couch and made a key chain last night!”
Well, I’m not trying to make you feel worthless, but I do think it’s appropriate to share photos from our excellent adventure last night! In case you hadn’t heard, yesterday was Etsy.com’s 5th birthday. We celebrated in style at my house by having a DIY extravaganze…. handmade food (soooo yummy!), handmade items, all created by women wearing mostly handmade goods!!! I think the photos will speak for themselves….definitely let me know if you’d like to be included in our next great DIY adventure!
The "Covered Buttons" table
The "Felt Applique" table
Me & Lacey working the "Scrabble Tiles" station
Megan working the Scrabble tiles!!!
Catherine: the lucky (and PROUD) winner of a Pabst Blue Ribbon toothbrush set AND a Meetup pin!
My kids walked in on a PARTY!!! What could be better for a 3 and 4 year old?
Faith: celebrating her win (and her PRIZE) for best handmade food!
Tif, Me & Faith. If DIY'ing doesn't work out for us, we're taking our show on THE ROAD!
Deanna showing off her darling little felt Owl!
My lovely new Ugandan friend showing off her Silhouette.
This was a memory for those of us in attendance. Not my classiest memory, but a memory no less!
The San Antonio Ladies!
Thanks for making these jenny rose!
The Banners/Bunting table
Naturally, there was a DANCE OFF competition to settle the "best all around" competition
Can a silk flower ever be TOO big??
closing out the night: Jenny Rose and Faith with a stolen camera!
This really was a spectacular evening.
At one point, I looked around my house and realized that I had no idea who most of the people inside were. How fabulous is that!?! There’s something about the art and process of simply making something that really does draw a community together. hmmmm. So many options!!!
Posted in Craft Nights, DIY, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Oh my goodness…last night’s Etsy Craft Party was just the epitome of FUN!!! I expected to have a good time…but OH MY STINKING GOSH, it was a BLAST!!
I’m going to try to post photos and do a recap later on today or this evening. In the meantime, I thought I’d direct you over to my dear friend’s blog: www.adoredaustin.com – she has just posted a very fun video that includes some of the highlights…it doesn’t show the “Dance-Off” that took place at the end, but other than that, she got a good shot of everything!
http://www.adoredaustin.com/2010/06/recap-etsy-craft-night.html
Be sure to check back later for more photos!!!
Posted in Craft Nights, DIY | Leave a Comment »
This week I had a friend mention on Facebook that I should “start a blog with tutorials” in the content. Blog – check. Tutorials – not yet. THEN, I received an email from a friend asking to remind her how to make fabric napkins. Well, it doesn’t take me long to get a hint, people!
So, thanks to Hannah and Lacey, here is a quick tutorial on How to Make EASY Fabric Napkins! (**There are lots of ways to make fabric napkins, I have chosen what I think is the easiest way for the first tutorial. Stay tuned for more tutorials on how to embellish and/or create napkins differently!)
STEP 1: DECIDE HOW BIG YOU WANT YOUR NAPKINS & HOW MANY NAPKINS YOU’LL BE MAKING. THEN CUT OUT SQUARES.
For standard sizing, read here. Otherwise, I think you can just pick whatever size you want and/or whatever size fits within the amount of fabric that you have. I chose fabric that I have a ton of scraps for, so I was limited to a cutting size of 9 X 9. After the seam is made, my napkins will be 8.5″ X 8.5″ because I’ll be using a 1/4″ seam all the way around.
For these napkins, you will need 2 squares for each napkin. I wanted to make 8 napkins, so I cut 16 squares each measuring 9 X 9.
Cut twice as many squares.
STEP 2: LAYER SQUARES (right sides together)
For each napkin, take 2 squares and lay them on top of each other with the printed sides facing each other in the center.
Layer squares - right sides together.
STEP 3: SEW ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SQUARE – LEAVING A SMALL OPENING
Using a 1/4″ seam allowance, sew all the way around the square, except leave a small opening in the center of one side. You will use this hole to turn the napkin right-side-out, so it needs to be large enough to pull the fabric through. Also, the sides will not always line up perfectly, this is OKAY! Just be sure to keep your seam allowance narrow, and be sure to sew through both layers of fabric with each stitch.
Sew around but leave an opening.
STEP 4: CLIP CORNERS & PULL FABRIC RIGHT-SIDE-OUT
Clip away the excess fabric at the corners, being careful to not clip any thread/seams. Take one side and push it through the hole. Then, using your fingers, just pull the rest of the fabric through. The corners will be puffy, so you’ll need to take the tip of a pair of scissors to push out the corners.
clip corners - very important!!!
Turn right-side-out.
Push out corners - also very important!
STEP 5: PRESS SQUARES
Say it with me – “if you don’t have time to iron, you don’t have time to sew!” The step is very important if you’d like your napkins to look at all pretty! With your iron on the hottest setting your fabric can handle, press each side nice and flat – making sure to tuck in the seam allowance where the hole is.
Press all sides - ignore my aging ironing board cover!
Press the seams of the open section too.
STEP 6: STITCH ALL THE WAY AROUND – CLIP YOUR THREADS – HAVE A DINNER PARTY!
Making sure to stitch close enough to sew the open section closed, stitch all the way around the square, pivoting at the corners. I chose to use a zigzag stitch (just because it’s my newest addiction) but you can use any old stitch you like. Be sure to clip the loose threads when you’re finished….and that’s it!
Stitch all the way around.
You're done!!! Way to go!!!
This method is the same exact method used to make a simple pillow – except with napkins, of course, you won’t fill up the inside with foam or fiberfill. Otherwise, it’s the same thing!
Time: 30 minutes to make 8 napkins.
Cost: $0 .. that’s ZERO!!! I used all scraps, how exciting! Use what you’ve got!!! There is no rule that all the napkins have to be the same size. If there are any people out there who would measure a napkin while seated at your table, I hope they never get invited to my house!!!
I hope you’ll make some very soon and send my photos of your work!
Coming soon…..
TISSUE POUCH TUTORIAL!
i LOVE these!
Posted in DIY, TUTORIALS | Tagged fabric, free, napkins, tutorial | 2 Comments »
I have been in a book collecting mode lately, so I thought I’d share with y’all some of the purchases I’ve made lately. These are all books that I’m hoping to explore cover to cover this summer…..keeping my fingers crossed!
1. Design It Yourself Clothing by Cal Patch
First of all, how can you turn down a book by an author named Cal Patch? What an awesome name!!! Second, I’ve read a lot of pattern-making books over the years, and this is the very first one that has actually gotten me excited AND hopeful! I usually give up somewhere around chapter 2, but this book has actually become a bathtub book for me! Hilarious, I know, but I do read this book for relaxation in the bathtub…that has to tell you something!
The book is designed to take you from a simple skirt all the way to a tailored pair of pants – all from scratch using your personal measurements. So, I’m hoping this summer to embark on atleast a couple of Cal’s projects. Feel free to join me!
2. Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol
I have read this book cover to cover at Barnes & Noble atleast 3 times…so I finally decided to purchase it. of course, ever since I bought it, I’ve not opened it up once! If I could write a sewing book, it would be very similar to this one in that it would be full of “tricks” and “tips” for sewing faster and easier but still with fabulous results. I love Amy’s use of fabric paints and extra details. I really want to make everything in this book this summer, but I’ll settle for 5 things.
3. The Stylish Dress Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori – a book and patterns written in Japanese
I was lucky enough to happen upon the blog entitled VERY PURPLE PERSON thanks to my dear friend Erin Tyrell who is the queen of artsy blogging! I realized after browsing around verypurpleperson’s blog, that I had found my Japanese twin/counterpart. I really think she just might wear dresses more than I do! Anyway, she raves and raves about a 3-part book series entitled The Stylish Dress Book. Since I love everything she creates, I knew I had to have atleast the first one in the series (actually, I wrote the blogger asking which of the 3 to get and she directed me to #1 – I’d do anything she suggested!) This book is written almost entirely in Japanese – so you’ll need to have ample sewing knowledge to be able to complete the projects; however, if this is you, you’ll LOVE it. The photos are so fresh… and Japanese style is 2nd to none, I love it. Thank you Erin for turning me onto verypurpleperson and thus The Stylish Dress Book and Japanese style.
Okay, I’m off to write out my summer plans….let’s see if I can stick to them!
Posted in DIY | 2 Comments »
Hi folks and felines...I'm Robie Kaye Dodson....I'm a wife, mother of two, obsessed sewer, mediocre cook, lover of coffee, marathon runner, and newly compelled DIY'er. Here, you'll find all the latest crafts I'm crafting and classes I'm teaching....please join in the fun with me!
