Plain-Jane Sweater Make-Over

I don't usually feel wistful about the days before children. I love getting to spend time with them each day. I love watching them grow up. I love teaching them about cooking and reading and sharing. But I do sometimes miss the care-free feeling I had before my life of responsibility. Especially when it comes to money and clothes. Or money for clothes, to be more specific. I used to shop. I used to be a pretty cute dresser. I actually used to buy things at Anthropologie at full price! *Sigh*

Whenever my mom comes to visit, she always has a suitcase full of goodies for everyone. This time, she brought me the remains of a coral-colored sweater. It originally had a cute faux shirt underneath that was too low-cut for her taste, so she bought two, snipped and pinned, and gave me the extras. I was instructed to "make it look like something from Anthropologie." Did I achieve my goal? I think it looks pretty cute!

Materials:

• 1 sweater
• coordinating fabric--I had probably 1/8 of a yard and that worked just fine; I have lots left over
• thread to coordinate with your sweater and fabric
• needle
• sewing machine (optional)
• enough buttons to replace the ones on the sweater, if you choose to replace them
  

Instructions:

• Wash, dry, and iron your fabric. Wash, dry, and iron your sweater too if it isn't already clean.

• Using your fabric and 1 button, follow the directions for making a frayed flower from Maize in Montana. Do not attach a pin back to your flower. It will be attached directly to the sweater.

• Cut out a small piece of fabric, 1 x 1/2", and fold it in half so that it is now a small square. Position your frayed flower where you want it on your sweater, and place your fabric square in the same spot on the inside of the sweater. This will help your flower be more stable.
  
  
  
  Thread your needle and tie a knot on one end. Starting inside the sweater, sew your flower on. Make sure you are sewing all 3 layers--the flower, the sweater, and the little square--together, and make sure your stitches aren't showing on the front of the flower. You can stop whenever you feel like your flower is stable enough. Finish off your stitches with a knot and trim your thread.

• Snip any buttons that you want to replace off your sweater. Sew on the new buttons. It should be pretty obvious where the old buttons were, but if not, check your button positions with the coordinating button holes before attaching them.

• To figure out how big you want your cuff ruffles to be, measure the opening on your sleeve and double it, then add 2 more inches. That is your length measurement. However wide you want the ruffles to be (mine are 2 inches), add 2 more inches. That is your width measurement. If you are like me and think it might look cool to have the open end frayed, you only need to add 1 inch. We'll see in a few weeks how good an idea that is! Here's an example of ruffle measurements: my sleeve opening is 9" total. 9 x 2 = 18 and 18 + 2 = 20. I need to cut two strips of fabric that are 20" long. I want ruffles that are 2 " wide. 2 + 1 (raw edge) = 3. My strips need to be 3" wide. If I wanted a hemmed edge, they would need to be 4" wide.

• Hem as many of the edges of your fabric strips as you want by folding over the raw edge 1/2", pressing it with an iron, folding it over another 1/2", and pressing it again. Sew the fold to create a nice hem.
• Gather each strip by following the same steps as you used to make the frayed flower. Stop after you pull the thread to bunch up the fabric.
• An easy way to make sure your ruffle is evenly bunched AND the right length is to pin both ends the finished distance apart on the couch or ironing board and then spread out the gathers evenly. This way, neither end is moving; you're just pushing the ruffles back and forth over the same few inches. You want your finished ruffle to be the same length as your entire sleeve opening.

• When you have your ruffles spaced out and the correct length, press the fabric gently with an iron to help it hold its shape.

• Carefully pin the ruffle onto the opening of your sleeve. I lined up the seam on my ruffle hem with the seam on my sleeve cuff and pinned it there, all the way around the sleeve opening.

• Sew the ruffle onto the sleeve. If you are lucky you have a sewing machine that will let you do this. If you don't have a machine, or if you can't figure out how to make the sleeve fit on your machine, just sew it on by hand. It won't take very long! Once the ruffle is sewn on, you can remove the thread you used to gather it.
  

• Gather, press, pin, and sew the other ruffle onto your sweater.

Tote-ally Crazy!

I've really gotten swept up in the tote craze this summer. I can't even tell you how many blog posts I've read on customizing tote bags. But I've loved every single one of them! We've had a couple of birthday parties to go to this summer, and that means we've had a couple of birthday presents to think up, and THAT means we've had a couple of tote bags to prettify.
The first birthday party was for a 4-year-old. Being the mom of a few little ones who have plenty of toys already, I didn't want to get this little princess another toy. So we found a cute, hot pink mini tote bag at the craft store, painted on a sunny yellow "j", and filled it with art supplies.

The second birthday party was for a 29-year-old. I wanted to get her something cool and useful, so a grocery-sized tote seemed like the perfect fit. I had a hard time deciding what to put on it. I thought putting the birthday girl's initial seemed a little junior high-ish (although I love a good monogram), and I didn't want to put a peace sign or the earth or the recycling triangle. And then it hit me...a raven!

My husband asked my why I put a raven on Annie's bag. Duh, it's because I thought it would look cool, which I think it does! I googled "raven clip art", looked at the images, and found exactly what I had in mind. You can find it by clicking here. Incidentally, I filled this one with italian sodas, biscotti, herbed flatbread crackers, and a bouquet of flowers.

To make both bags, I used the directions for freezer paper stencils posted on Inchmark here. On both bags I applied 2 coats of paint, letting the first dry before adding the second.

Wedding Photos

Why am I posting photos from my wedding, which was almost 5 years ago, on my crafting blog? Because I want to win a contest, the prize from which is a beautiful print from an artist whose work I've admired for over a year now. And because I loved my wedding, so looking back on it is always fun! Without further ado...

All pictures by Ellie Patrick Photography

PS--These pictures were taken with film! No Photoshopping or anything; just lovely photos!

Alphabet Wall Art

This project has been in the works for so long now. I first got the idea from my friend Meghann sometime last year, then put it off over and over and over again. When I finally got around to getting the materials, the craft store was out of what I needed, so I bought my second choice materials, which kind of took the wind out of my sails! But now, after many months of procrastination, it is finished. I chose to spell out my children's names, but you could do letters of the alphabet, a different word that goes with the theme in their bedroom, or even numbers. It is such a quick and easy project, and there's nothing like instant gratification when it comes to home decor!

The materials will differ slightly based on what you have available to you. The important thing to remember when gathering materials is that your letters, paper, and frames all have to coordinate size-wise. It won't do you any good to buy enormous letters if the only frames you can find are 5x7"! I am lucky enough to have a fantastic craft store (Ben Franklin Crafts) nearby that carries 12" square frames in the color I wanted--white--for only $6 each. So I bought fairly big letters that were also already painted white (Thank You Walmart!) and scrapbooking paper that was 12" square. I also chose to use the same size frame and letter for each panel and only varied the pattern on the paper, but it would probably look cute and whimsical to use different-sized frames and letters.

Materials:

• 1 inexpensive picture frame per panel
• 1 wooden letter per panel
  
• paint, optional (only if your frames and letters are not already the color you want)
• 1 piece of scrapbooking paper per panel
• double-stick tape
• glue (I used Tacky Glue)
  
• measuring tape or ruler, optional
  
• pencil
  

Instructions:

1. If your picture frames and/or letters are not the right color, paint them and allow them to dry completely. When I finally bought my materials, the craft store didn't have enough white frames, so I bought some that were black and spray painted them. It took many coats, but they look pretty good.
2. If your paper is not already the appropriate size for the frames, carefully cut it to the right size. The cardboard insert from a picture frame makes a great template.
   
3. Remove backing, cardboard, and glass from 1 ready-to-go picture frame. You can find some other use for the glass, but keep the backing and the cardboard.
4. Apply double-stick tape to the back of 1 piece of paper. I put 1 piece of tape on each edge, and then made a big X in the middle, so I used 6 pieces of tape on the back of each piece of paper. Place the paper right-side up on top of the cardboard insert from the frame and gently press them together. Make sure there are no wrinkles or bubbles. Put the cardboard/paper sandwich back in the picture frame and replace the backing. You should now have a lovely framed piece of patterned paper!
5. Figure out where your letter is going to go on the paper and very lightly mark the top or bottom edge with the pencil. I just eyeballed it, but you could always measure.
   
6. Carefully apply glue to the back of 1 wooden letter. You do not want glue oozing out when you stick the letter onto the paper, so apply enough to make the letter stick, but no more. Place the letter glue-side down onto the paper in the marked spot and gently press down. Allow to dry completely.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for the remaining letters.
8. Hang on wall!

Festival Season!

There are so many wonderful things about summer: barbecues, swimming, long days, memorable vacations. One of the things we like best about summer is the festival season. We're excited to be participating in a festival this weekend in Lowell, OR. The Blackberry Jam Festival has crafts, entertainment, and, of course, blackberries! It also has a Max and Ellie booth this year! If you're in the area, stop by and see us on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, July 24th-26th.

Upcycled Library Tote Tutorial

Our lack of crafty posts would suggest that we have been idle of late. Nothing could be further from the truth, but we do have a hard time finishing projects. There are several half-written posts to go along with half-finished projects that are just sitting around waiting for their day in the sun. This cute and functional Upcycled Library Tote has been on my mind for months. About a year ago, we finally got to the stage where it seemed like a good idea to go to the library once a week or so. But trying to carry a stack of books out of the library while pushing a cheap stroller and holding hands with a toddler just doesn't work. We needed a book bag. Now there are lots of bags for sale out there, and there are cheap totes at the craft store, but being a crafty mama, I wanted to make a bag. And that is why, 9 months later, we are just now getting this thing made (I did finally buy myself a purse on Etsy because my common sense told me that if I waited until I made one, I would never, ever have a purse.)

Pillowcases are a great starting place for a tote bag because half of the sewing has already been done for you! I had a cute pillowcase from our linen closet in mind for this project, but when I finally dragged it out, I found that it had 3 huge rips across the back. The adorable striped pillowcase I ended up using came from Goodwill (brand new) and was only $2.50. I think that's probably even cheaper than a canvas tote from the craft store! 1 cute pillowcase + 1 hour of uninterrupted sewing = 1 super cute, super sturdy, super multi-purpose tote bag!

**A quick note about the pillowcase: The hemmed end (the open end you stuff your pillow into) will be cut off to form the handles. Most pillowcases have very generous hems; make sure the one you choose for this project has a hem of at least 3 inches.**

Upcycled Library Tote

Materials:

• 1 clean pillowcase
• thread
• scissors
• pins
• sewing machine
• rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat ( completely optional)
• turning tool (pencil, knitting needle, etc.)
  

Steps:

• Lay the pillowcase out flat on your work surface and/or cutting mat. Using your rotary cutter or scissors, cut the hemmed end (the open one) off. You'll want to cut as close to the stitching as possible without running into it. Set this long loop of fabric aside; it will be used to make your handles.

• Trim the rest of the pillowcase so that it measures roughly 27 inches x 15 inches. DON'T CUT FABRIC FROM ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE PILLOWCASE! If you need to trim the length, just cut more off from the side you already trimmed when cutting off the hem, and if you need to trim the width, make sure you only cut one side. When finished, you should have two open sides and two closed sides.
• Fold the fabric in half to make a 13.5 x 15 inch rectangle. Sew the two raw-edged sides shut with a 1/4-inch stitch. You should now have an inside-out bag with three closed sides and one open side.

• With the bag inside-out, and using both hands, pull the center point of the opening on each side of the bag away from each other. Before you do this, the bag will lay flat on the table with the seams running down the left and right sides of the bag. After you do this, the bag will have a strange, triangular shape, and the left and right seams will now be on top of each other right down the middle. Press the new shape with your hands to make it lie flat.

• There are now two triangular points on your bag and they lie right on top of each other. On each point, measure 2 inches from the tip and sew a short, straight line across the triangle. Make sure you sew each triangle separately; you do not want to sew them together! These new stitches should run parallel to the top of the bag. It probably seems like you aren't doing anything important, but when you turn your bag right-side out, it is now gusseted instead of being a big, flat envelope. Set the bag aside.

• Pick up the hem you cut off in the first step. It is currently a big loop of fabric; we need to change that. Turn the loop inside out and lay it flat on your cutting surface. You should have a seam running down one of the short sides. Cut that seam off. Cut the remaining fabric in half so that you have two short, fat pieces (as opposed to two long, thin pieces).

• Fold each piece in half the long way and press it, making sure that the hem stitching is visible.
• Using a 1/4-inch seam allowance, sew one short side and the long, open side of each handle. Turn the handles right-side out using your turning tool.
• The raw edges of the short, open end of each handle need to be tucked inside the handle. Press. Topstitch all four sides of each handle.

• The handles will be attached to the inside of the bag. The outer edge of each handle should be about 2 1/2 inches from the side, and they should extend down about 1 inch from the top of the bag. Pin handles into place. Before you sew the handles on, make sure they match up; make adjustments to the placement as needed.
• Sewing on the outside of the bag, sew one continuous line about 1/8 inch from the edge all the way around the opening of the bag. Make sure you catch your handles. Sew another continuous line 1/2 inch from the opening, again, go all the way around the bag.

• Trim all threads!