A Water Bottle Tote

This little beauty is made from the bottoms of my daughters old, and full of knee holes jeans. She now has a nice pair of play shorts AND a bottle tote for those long summer bike rides that will fill her days in the weeks to come.

This is a very kid friendly sewing project, and start to finish only takes about 20-30 minutes. Apologies in advance as to the quality of these photos for they were taken with my phone while I sewed in bed. I only have two excuses for this.
a) I was lazy   and    b) I was pretty lazy


First, you need the bottom of those jeans, that are now a cool pair of shorts. The pants I used were a size 8, super skinny. They had a touch of spandex.

Next, roll up the cut end twice to make a cuff, or at least enough to roll over the hole if there was one in the knee like mine. Cut a strip of strong ribbon about 34 inches long (this length fit my 11year old, skinny daughter perfectly, but you may need more or less depending on who will be using it). Line up one end of the ribbon to the top edge of your rolled cuff. Make sure it is as dead center as you can make it.

Next, sew it into place using a basic stitch, being careful to sew just the cuff and ribbon together and not to the pant leg itself. Neatness doesn't matter here as the stitches will not be seen.

 Repeat for both sides, being sure the ribbons line up in the middle on each side.

At some point you may acquire company. You will persevere none the less.

 Next you will roll the cuff up once more. Now that sewing job you did is on the inside of the cuff.

Make a finishing stitch to this side, being sure to sew the cuff to the pant leg. I chose some nice wide x's. Repeat on the other side.

Now your top is done. It's time to finish with the bottom.

Line up a water bottle to your tote and roll up the bottom of the leg so that it becomes the same length as the bottle. At least three rolls up is suggested. If your pant leg is too long, cut off some of the bottom before rolling it up so that your cuff won't be too bulky.

 Next, you will unroll the cuff once. This is so you can follow the same method that you used for the top and fold up the cuff once you have stitched the ribbon on.

There may be a better method for this, but seeing as I sort of came up with this project on the fly and didn't think it out very much, you will have to live with my processes.
I took one end of the ribbon and tucked it inside the seam.

Next, I opened up the bottom of the leg all the way and pulled the ribbon along the opening to measure the circumference (i say measure, but i did nothing of the sort).

Then tuck the last end inside the seam and mark this final length on the ribbon. Make your cut. I had about a 9 inch strip of ribbon once I was done. If your legs are bigger round, you will most assuredly come up with a different length for this bottom piece.

Complete the bottom using the exact process as you did with the top cuff.

Folding up here. Finished with the same wide x stitch as used before.

 Here he is, all finished, resting happy on the bed.

And, with water bottle tucked inside.

A new use for an old knife block

My husband purchased me a nice new knife set for my birthday (yes, he's a keeper).
My old knife set had been reduced to just two usable knives, that I now store in our knife drawer, and left me with a wooden block that I hated to see dumped in the trash. So, I came up with this school supply caddy! Perfect for my little area at the homeschool table.
Repurposing is f-u-n!

Step 1. Give the block a light sanding all over. Wash well and let the block dry completely.

Setp 2. Pick your color palate (I later decided not to use the orange).

Step 3. Give your block 2 nice even coats of paint, letting the paint dry before applying the second coat. I used standard acrylic paint. Be sure to use long strokes from top to bottom. Try to avoid a quick up/down motion as this will leave unsightly brush marks on your finished product. The wood grain was just barely visible with two coats; if you'd like more of a wood grain look, try one coat, or if you want no visible grain, try three.

Optional Step 4. Let paint dry overnight. Add stripes or other embellishments. I chose a few vertical stripes. Be sure to use painters tape to help guide the stripes, other tapes will remove your old paint job when removed. Let dry overnight.

Now you can add you desired items. The top part held scissors and rulers perfectly, along with a bone folding tool (which I use to make folds and creases on all those lap books). The bottom part is holding some binder clips and I made a little paper clip dangler with the paper clips themselves and stuck it inside one of the slots. Along the side I attached a Post-it Flag Pad with a Command strip. I also found a Post-it dispenser and attached this to the front with the adhesive strips provided.


Now I have a nice little buddy to keep all my other supplies at the ready. I imagine this would work splendidly with other slender supplies and artists tools. The possibilities are endless!

A Recycled Wool Sweater Diaper Cover

I found the idea here.

It went together rather quickly (a little over an hour, but I also had to re-teach myself how to make a chain using a crocket hook. thank goodness for youtube). I made the indicated "large" size, which was 2o inches for each side and left 4 inches in the leg openings. The leg openings were a bit snug for my hefty legged 1 1/2 year old, but worked! I loved this and am looking for any other shrunken wool sweaters I might be able to procure from our local thrift store....I want to make lots more!

This sweater had a rather wide waist and extra long cuffs, which I think worked well for the over all look. I can imagine that each sweater used could make dramatically different covers in size and appearance.

I made this to use as an actual cloth diaper cover, as the wool is naturally leak resistant (once lanolized and all that jazz), but really this would be adorable as just some bottoms to wear any old day, over any ole diaper.

Thrifting on a Saturday

You might ask yourself how this mid 50s tin plate depicts myself and Sir Cohen in the midst of our favorite pastime. I wondered the same. But there we be. It now has a content home above my kitchen sink window.

And this plate, also. I tend to thrift in color schemes, though I don't realize it till I am home and placing things. I just LOVED the flower detail in this pie plate, especially the 'barely there' lacy brown buds in the background.



It met nicely with a simple reed placemat in the center of our dining table.

Also found among the dusty thrift shelves was a very loved copy of the South Pacific soundtrack on vinyl, Emile and Nellie wrapped in a passionate embrace on the cover. And, yes, the children giggled as I twirled little Harry around the room cooing about some enchanted evening...

A gift for Brother

Could not resist these bread slice shaped coasters I found at a thrift store. I cut out some photos of my children and affixed them inside. Voila! Picture frames for my brother. Hope you all had a very joyful Christmas. It was simply magical here in the south...

an easy sew nursing cover

my days of late have been spent doing the bare minimum. just survival around here at this point.

school is down to basics.

meals are made as easy as possible (or not homemade at all for that matter).

we are down to days until baby arrives. hours if i really obsessed over such things (and i do).

i have been doing little things with my hands to keep me occupied. knitting a few hats, hemming and mending. my frazzled brain could not handle much more.

but i did manage to make my last project today. a nursing cover. i mulled and fought and battled over a previous design. finally, this morning, i chucked the old and just whipped out an easy one instead. i like the bright bold peonies, the easy tie straps at the top and the reversible orange side when i don't feel so flowery.

this whips together in under an hour, which is right up my alley for any project.

now i'm just awaiting a little body to hold and cuddle and nurse under my new cover.

my next post will undoubtedly be pictures of the new baby. see you soon!

giving away inspiration

there is a local group here that meets up twice a month called Moms 4 Moms. you get the idea of what it's about. this group was integral to my early motherhood survival. i try to show up now and then to make appearances, catch up with old friends, meet new moms, and hug everyone. and especially now that we are slowing down our school schedule in preparation for the baby, i wanted to come and show my support and let people dote on my glowing belly.

one of my favorite parts of this day is browsing the give away tables. people simply drop off what they don't want and it is just like Christmas to a gal like me. i never go away empty handed. i have gotten cloth diapers, clothes, toys, shoes, martha stewart mags....you name it. today was no different.

i got the flowered plates and wooden platters shown above. i can see these flower plates filled with splendid leafy salads and dainty sandwiches, and the large platters will suit any fresh baked bread loaf just right.

these fabrics choices started out as just me, merrily grabbing what i liked from a big box. but once i got home, i immediately saw how they all rhymed with each other. the earthy tones will do just nicely as a quilt project for ashton and me this fall. leftovers made into pillows, skirts, and such. amazing what the brain juices permeate when given a little visual aide.

i L-O-V-E jewelry making. it produces almost instant gratification and you don't need any special talents to pull off something great. this bag of beads has left my finger tips all tingly. big chunky bead bracelets, hair clips, earrings....yes, yes, and YES. the ribbon will make perfect embellishments to aprons or skirt bottoms.

be looking for completed projects soon! i have already started my Christmas gift planning, and seeing as though we are, once again, money strapped, everything will be hand made. i will try to post some Christmas projects from the past in upcoming posts.

have a happy day!

little pincushions

these happy little guys i made today.

i am taking on the task of teaching my daughter sewing this upcoming school year. so, i made these two as example pincushions for her first project.

aaaaaaaand, i selfishly needed another pincushion. mine was in said disrepair.

both of these were made from clothing that i absconded into material use.

the ruffle down the middle of the smaller one was removed from the hem of a toddler dress that was also the main source of fabric.

the fatter one is made from a vintage maternity top.

you can whip these out quickly if you machine sew them, as i did. but my daughter will begin by hand sewing.

little fingers, tingly fingers

a bird to carry with me at all times.







felt and fabric on canvas

these things i make.

embroidery floss makes my fingers tingle.

take flight little bird.

a duo of gentle turtles, made from clay and tiny fingers.

a backdrop of rainbowed carpeting is all the imagination needs to let these little guys come to life and roam unnamed lands.

old things

i like old things. i guess i could say "vintage" as opposed to old, but i always thought that word sounded too sophisticated for me. but, "vintage" does have such a nice beautiful tune to it. i'll use it anyway, just to bemuse myself. that was off subject....

i like old things. most styles of dresses or fabrics, 40's to early 60's era suit me just fine. i like old books. they smell musty and make me sniffle, but quite nice. i like old people. wrinkles and wisdom. i have always wanted to be older. even now, i turn 30 this year, and i anticipate it. i've wanted to be 30 since i was 20. perhaps my sentiment may change when the 4-0 comes, but not right now. i eagerly await gray hair, wrinkles, and the old sage things that i am sure i will be saying. like, "get yer hair cut".

but most specifically i collect something old. vintage aprons. i turn into a squealing little wide eyed school girl when i land upon one. usually i don't have the money to get it, and i have to piously place it back under a pile of applique bed sheets at an antique store. but i have managed to amass a little treasure trove of dainty, food speckled old beauties.

collections are intriguing to me. why do people collect things? it's like we are a bunch of hoarders. my son collects rocks. every place we go, he will pick up the most unassuming rock and place it in his drawer (and he has a special big drawer now, chocked full of them). and, by golly, he remembers each and every place he got the rock. i've quizzed him several times. he is spot on.

but, why? what is it about rocks? i speculate it was because he always did like to hold and carry things around with him in his hands. i guess he feels naked without something in them. he would travel home with a rock in his hand, and then, i suppose he just didn't want to get rid of it. but why do other people collect things? why do i collect the aprons? is it just simply a "like" factor? do we just "like" these things, so now we hoard them in boxes, or on shelves, on walls, or in closets?

i have no idea. i just know that i LOVE my collection.

last night, at my book club meeting, my friend Leia, who is a vintage Etsy seller, gave me a huge box full of vintage aprons (for free, mind you!). i think i about passed out. literally. those you see in the above picture are what she gave me. i was proverbially happy. and still am.

obviously....i just wrote a stinkin' blog about 'em.

you think, perhaps in some other time, i would have collected something else? like, say, if i were me, in the year 2130...what would i collect? still the aprons, still the style? or, perhaps something cooler would have come along to collect. perhaps "vintage" auxiliary cable cords, or those dreamcatchers i saw at an Indian Festival one year made of Mariah Carey CD's.....
now THAT would be cool.