FQBH: More Inspiration

I'm sorry for the lack of posts this week regarding the blog hop! I had some fun stuff planned, but I've been so sick and spent the last week+ on the couch or in bed... and well, it didn't happen. So is life. (the apology is that I hope I didn't let anyone down with kind of a bummer last week... otherwise, blogging is awesome, but life comes first.) Otherwise I've still had so much fun this month!! I hope you have too!


This month has gone by at lightning speed it seems and I can't believe that tomorrow is already the last day to link up your projects!!

As I was planning this blog hop, and since then, I've seen so many other projects and patterns, that although they might not have been inspired by friendship bracelets, I think they definitely have some good similarities to them! I wanted to share some of these with you in case you might need a little more inspiration to get you started! :)

Source: craftsy.com via Diane on Pinterest

How about this?! Actual friendship bracelets in a quilt. :) Kristy found this one and shared it with me.

You can find this pattern on Craftsy here, by Not Your Run of The Mill

I really love this bracelet design. It would make a fun Valentine's table runner. 

Source: craftsy.com via Diane on Pinterest

This project is one I found on Craftsy here, by Cadmancreations
This could be a fun one to paper piece.

I saw Katie of Swim, Bike, Quilt working on this one a while ago and LOVE it!

HST's are So versatile! How great!!
This pattern is called Helix by The Tulip Patch and you can find it on Craftsy here.
Doesn't this look so much like a Friendship Bracelet design?!

How about these Cashmere Cuffs from The Purl Bee? They look so soft!

Source: purlbee.com via Diane on Pinterest

I love the simple colors and simple design. A great idea for a low-value quilt.
You can find the blog post here.

Ok, with one more day left, maybe this will help give you the extra push you need to finish up your projects, or start one! ;) (p.s. the odds are looking PRETTY good for winnings something right now...  so get to work!! lol.) ;)

if you're new to the blog hop, you can find all the details here. Link up your projects here. Link up your 80's photos here (this linky closes on Sunday night.)

All prizes will be announced on Monday!

 

blogging intermission...

do you know that I took over 100 photos for my paper pieced tutorial. over 100 JUST for the piecing instructions. I hope you like detail, because it will be detailed, but hopefully not to boring and repetitive. Just informative. :) and for everyone who likes a lot of photos. :)

anyway, I was checking out a new flickr contacts favorites and found this!

Source: kirstyneale.typepad.com via Diane on Pinterest

it's pretty awesome. :)

Made It: Fabric Basket (+ Tutorial conversion)

I really love these cute baskets from vligtig (she's from the netherlands), but all the measurements are in cm. I decided that since I want to make one and am going to convert all the measurements anyway, I might as well post them to share for anyone else who wants to try them out. You'll still have to go to her blog for the instructions, but I'll put any changes here. :)

I think this will be the perfect thing to put all of my sewing scraps in until I have enough to sort. I really don't want to put scraps away every time I get one or two, so now I'll be able to get a good collection and just do a bunch at once, but still have some kind of order to my craft area. :) Looks like it's already time to sort my scraps.

Here we go:
seams are 3/8"

1. you need three fabrics (two for the outside (A &B), one for the inside (C))
1. Fabric A, 2 - 8 1/4" by 2 1/4"
2. Fabric B, 8 1/4" by 7 1/2"
3. Fabric C, 8 1/4" by 10 1/2"
4. Iron on Interfacing, 8 1/4" by 10 1/2"
5. two ribbons (or fabric for handles), each 2 1/4" long
2. making the bottom (step 5): line should be 3"

instead of ribbon I made two straps out of fabric. I cut them 1" wide and about 4" long. I folded it in half, then folded the edges into the middle and sewed along each edge. I've had bad experiences with ribbon breaking and ripping, so I thought this would be a longer lasting solution.

Can I just say that seeing the numbers 22 by 20, even though they are cm, made me think these were going to be really big. It turned out a LOT smaller than I was expecting, but I really like it. :) Plus... it was SO FAST! Always a bonus. ;)

I'm kind of on a role with using gray with all of my "sewing room" accessories. (I don't really have a sewing room. Really it's a corner in our bedroom.) This will match perfectly with my new pincushion, plus another project I'm just about done with. :) Love it!

Fab Finds: Quilting stuff

I am really getting into quilting lately. Or at least I have found a new love of watching everyone else do it! I've been finding a lot of great designs and patterns, and don't even get me started on the colors and fabric choices... Anyway, I have too many projects I'd love to do, and there are so many great inspirations out there that I can't not let them get lost in my bookmarks. :)

I'll start with this one over at MamaCJT.

and can I just say that Carol has some crazy amazing quilts! WOW! That's about all that I can say. I love it! It's like walking through a candy store. Everything looks so delicious!

The 'original' idea is over at Love Laugh Quilt, which her's looks a bit different, but is also a fun variation.

Then there is this one from That Girl That Quilt. LOVE it!

 I am really am intrigued by this pattern, and I really love her choice of colors and patterns! I think I would feel so beautiful lying under this quilt. :) lol.

Oh, and can I say that I love her "No Obligation Quilting!!" I read her reason why today and I agree completely! She shared that though she loves to quilt, there are other things in life that are more important, like family, and that those things come first. So although she loves it, and does it, she's not getting into the competition or upkeep of coming up with something new every week, or making something better than so-and-so. I love it! And frankly, that is what happens with my blog too... I kind of come and go,  but that's because life happens. The end. But I still love being able to share the things I do have time for, and anyway, you should hop over and read her story. :)



Next there are these two blocks that I LOVE LOVE! Rachel made them over at Stitched in Color. Did I mention that I am really enjoying her blog?!

This grey one is from another new blog I just found you know what I love? She just redid her sewing room, and I could easily spend all day in there. :) Doesn't this look inviting?!

I guess that's about it for now. Thanks for blog hopping with me! :)

Links:

checkerboard: http://mamacjt.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-stuff.html

LLQ checkerboard: http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2011/02/another-d4p.html

Joy of Essex: http://www.thatgirlthatquilt.com/2010/09/joy-of-essex-linen.html

The two blocks: http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2011/03/piecing-for-good.html

You know what I love?: http://whatarajaneloves.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-new-sewing-space.html

Fab Finds: Boys Clothes

I went to trade out Jackson's clothes the other day and was surprised to find that we don't have any 18 month to 2 year clothes. Luckily he's small so he's doing ok in his 12 months clothes, but some of them are definitely getting small/short (mostly his pants).

Well I LOVE all the tutorials over at Made! Dana does such a wonderful job at making up patters for really cute clothes... and all you need are older clothes. ;)

Here are my three top favs that I want to make for Jackson (maybe I'll get them done before he's too big. :)

Front flat pocket tutorial. I LOVE these pockets!

These are seriously some awesome pants! I want some for me!!! :)

Maybe after I have this baby and lose a couple pounds. ;)

Super easy, super cute shirts!

The 90-minute-tshirt.

Links:

Flat pocket tutorial: http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-flat-front-pants-pockets.html

Boys pants: http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-and-pattern-kid-pants.html

Shirts: http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-90-minute-shirt.html

Fab Finds: Bags

I am in need of a new bag, and have been for a while. I really like the Amy Butler Birdie Sling, but there is something about it that's kind of weird and maybe too big for a purse? I don't know. Some pictures are super cute, and some look weird. Anyway...

I've also found a few others that I like, but aren't big enough (tall enough) so if I decide to make one of these, I'll have to adjust it just a little bit. :)

There's the Buttercup pattern by Made By Rae. I've seen this bag all over blogland, and for a good reason. It's really cute!

There is also this bag that I really like that Melissa Esplin did.

Here's a super cute wallet too. Now that I have my new phone that I keep all of my calendar stuff on, I can't decide if I still want to lug my day planner around. I love it, but the only thing I think I would use if for now is for notes. I might need more pockets than what's in this clutch, but I'm sure that'd be easy to add too.

I also really need a little pouch to carry all of the stuff that I always want in my purse. Like gum, hand sanitizer, my tissues, lotion, etc. I have a different bag that I take to church, and sometimes I only need a smaller bag to take with me, and I hate sorting through my purse trying to make sure I have everything. I really like this style that I found at i have to say... but she hasn't done a pattern for it.

This one is really cute, but not quite what I'm looking for, though it might work for something else. :) Of course it's by noodle-head, except at A Lemon Squeezy Home. I guess these two sites are becoming two of my favorites. ;)

I did find this pattern though, and this is the style that I want, so yippy! :) It always makes me happy when I find just what I'm looking for. :)

And on my search, I also found this really cute tea wallet. :) I just like it. :)

Links: 

Birdy Sling: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Butler-Birdie-Midwest-Pattern/dp/B001AYXH4Q?ie=UTF8&tag=fromblankpage-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969

Buttercup Bag: http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern.html

Green bag: http://melissaesplin.com/home/2008/02/tote-and-tute/

Wallet: http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/04/gathered-clutch-tutorial.html

Makeup bag: http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2010/10/purse-week-guest-tutorial-noodlehead.html

Front zipper pouch: http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/2010/11/sometimes-my-projects-end-up-in-the-trash.html

My new found purse pouch: http://javajem.blogspot.com/2008/02/wristlet-tutorial.html

Tea Wallet: http://handmadetherapy.blogspot.com/2011/02/tea-wallet-tutorial.html

Fab Finds: Stuff for Boys

In my last blogging adventure I've found quite a few different things. For one, a few different purses (which I really need a new one) AND some super fun stuff for boys. :) Let the sharing begin:

BOYS WALLET:
I found this one over at noodle-head. LOVE IT! :)

Then there is this super cute travel car mat! I've seen a few different versions of this, but I really love this. I also LOVE that it has pockets to store the cars in! Genius! :) You can buy this over at Handmade Therapy's etsy shop. :)

Links:

Boys wallet: http://www.noodle-head.com/2011/03/celebrate-boy-tutorial-basic-boys.html

Car Mat: http://www.etsy.com/listing/69107003/take-along-billy-car-rollup-and-play-mat?ref=em

Made It: Sometimes "someday" is closer than you think, plus a quick DIY thimble

I have been on a role. I posted some projects last week of some things I want to make someday. Well, I've already made two of them, plus another project I've been wanting to do for a while now.


First project checked off:
Stuffed Animal Net: I found the tutorial over at A Lemon Squeezy Home and it looked so easy I whipped one right up! And it really was easy. I didn't have the color of bias tape that I wanted to use, so I made my own with scraps of fabric I had lying around. It kind of made it a little... not as perfect, plus I think I stretched the fabric a little more than I ought to have while sewing it, but it looks good and I love having it! My boys seem to like it too! :)

Next project:
A needle book. I keep losing my embroidery needles in my pin cushion, and thus have been wanting one of these for a long time. My MIL gave me this cute book for Christmas,  Sew, So Cute!  and it had a pattern for one of these in it. I didn't make it quite as cute or ornamental as in the book, but using the basic instructions, came up with my own design. Super quick = a wonderful project! I put two layers of felt in it, which I think is silly now that I'm done since I can only find two of my needles. But I know I have more needles somewhere... Maybe one day I'll find them and get them put away in their new home. :)

 

And finally:
Hunter hasn't been napping as often lately and the other day was super bored so we decided to make these awesome Monster Pillows (found at Ruffles and Stuff). I let him use the scissors a little bit, and pick out the colors, but mostly he just wanted to play with the paper. I still need to sew it closed, and just printing the features out at normal size is too small, so I need to go back and enlarge them so they are more proportionate, but otherwise it's a super quick and fun project and I think the boys will have a lot of fun with it! Even though they're small. :)

On the note of the needle book, I wanted to share a quick project that I made up and LOVE! It is my new favorite Thimble! That's right, super easy and super lame, but let me tell you, it is way better, and way more comfortable, than those awful metal thimbles that don't fit on your fingers.

 Ugly, but sometimes beauty doesn't matter. The lady at the quilt store told me once that wool actually helps to add moisture back into your skin, unlike cotton. So the first step, get a scrap of wool. :) For protection I used some thick vinyl or fake leather or something. I don't even know exactly what it is. Anyway get two scraps of something thick that a needle won't go through. I sewed two layers together just for added protection. I folded that wool and figured out where I needed my pads to be and sewed them onto the wool. Then with the wool folded in half, sew the sides wide enough apart that your finger will fit in it.  And voila! You now have a ghetto an awesome, and comfortable new thimble! :)


Wow! It's so nice to get things done and out of the way. :) Now I'm working on finishing items for my shop that I started ages ago but never got around to finishing. I love tackling this big pile of unfinished business. ;) Of course that means that Mabel's quilt is on hold, but after burning myself with the iron, I don't feel like ironing right now, so I don't mind. :)

Jacks also wanted to say hi! :)

Links:

Stuffed Animal Net: http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2011/02/stuffed-animal-net-tutorial.html

Monster Pillow: http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2011/02/celebrating-boys_28.html

Fab Finds: Sewing Projects

Some days, while blog hopping and project browsing, I end up with a million tabs open of things that I want to make... someday. :) Today is one of those days. Instead of just hiding them away in my bookmarks, I thought I'd share:

First I'll start with some fun projects and quilts from Oh Fransson!

I love this quilt made with Scrappy Hedgerow Blocks

This Charm Squares Baby Quilt would be a fast and easy way to use up some of my fabric and charm packs. So cute!

Here's the link to the pdf tutorial: http://www.sewmamasew.com/store/media/blog/SMSCharmSquaresBabyQuilt.pdf




Over at i have to say... She did a tutorial on HST blocks and has a whole slew of ideas on how to piece them together! She made this cute doll quilt, and I would love to do this for a baby blanket! :)

Over at Ruffles and Stuff she made these FANTASTIC Monster Pillows!

They really are big too! Bigger than a little boys head. How fun!! and easy.

They're made of felt, so the faces stay on super easy. There is also a pocket in the back to hold all of the pieces. Love it!

Love this cute dress I found at Little Big Girl Studio. And what an awesome cause!!

And this awesome Sleepover Pillowcase Tutorial at A Lemon Squeezy! LOVE it! :) 

My boys don't use pillows yet, so I have a while until I need to make these up, but I still love them! :) Maybe I should make some for Neil and I.

And then I found this Stuffed Animal Net Tutorial there too. We definitely need one of these!

Links:
Scrappy Hedgerow Blocks: http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2009/06/how-to-make-scrappy-hedgerow-blocks.html   

Charm Squares Baby Quilt http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2010/03/charm-squares-baby-quilt-redux.html

HST block ideas: http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/2011/03/my-entry-1.html

Monster Pillows: http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2011/02/celebrating-boys_28.html

Cute Girl Dress: http://littlebiggirlstudio.blogspot.com/2011/02/dress-girl-around-world-sew-long.html

Sleepover Pillowcase: http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2011/01/sleepover-pillowcase-tutorial.html

Stuffed Animal Net Tutorial: http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2011/02/stuffed-animal-net-tutorial.html