Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye something...

charming.

Clockwise, starting top left:

City Lamp

Design your own Clutch

Vintage Handkerchief

3-D Letters

Set of 9 Pictures

Lemon Quartz Earrings

Have a wonderful weekend!

Receiving Blanket Tutorial

I've been busy juggling Bears, Boats and Brontosauruses the last couple of days. Sounds like a handful, yes? Not so much when they are caught on these fabrics...

One of my favorite things to make for a new baby is my version of a receiving blanket. I started making these when I was due with my own little ones. I found that the receiving blankets that were available in the stores were too small. There have been advances in nearly every aspects of our lives since I gave birth to my babies. You would have thought someone would have put a little effort into improving a flimsy receiving blanket, but apparently that wasn't at the top of the list. Most receiving blankets available in stores today are about 30"x30", which is really too skimpy to wrap around a newborn. Plus, they are made from cheap, lightweight flannel and are a single thickness. Here's the solution -- a quick tutorial on how to make a soft, double-sided, 41"x41" receiving blanket for a little one in your life.

Receiving Blanket

Materials needed:

1 1/4 yards flannel

1 1/4 yards cotton fabric (or flannel)

5 yards (2 pkgs.) Jumbo Rick Rack

embroidery floss

thread

Instructions:

Making your fabric into a perfect square: 

1.) Trim any manufacturers lettering from the selvage (finished edge) of your flannel fabric.

2.) To cut your fabric into a perfect square without much measuring, trim one unfinished edge straight by using a rotary cutter. Then fold the fabric on the bias (diagonally) so that the just trimmed edge meets a selvaged edge, like this...

3.) There will be a little extra fabric on one side. (This should be the unfinished edge of your fabric that hasn't been trimmed.) Use the edge of the top fabric as a guide to trim off the extra fabric underneath. When you're done trimming that edge you will have made a perfect square!

4.) Use the edge of a plate to draw a line to round the corners of your fabric and trim your fabric on that line.

5.) When finished with Steps 1 - 4 you will have a perfect square with rounded corners...

Applying the Rick Rack:

6.) Sew the Rick Rack onto the top of your flannel fabric by placing the rick rack just inside the edge of the fabric and sewing about 1/8" from the edge.

Finishing the edges:

7.) Now we'll make it into a double-sided (soft flannel on one side -- cotton on the other) blankie... Cut any manufacturer's lettering off the selvages of the cotton fabric.

8.)Place the flannel fabric on top of the 1 1/4 yard of cotton fabric -- right sides together. Pin the edges. Trim edges of your cotton fabric closer to the edges of the flannel fabric.

 

9.)  Sew the flannel and cotton fabrics together by lining up your presser foot along the flannel edge and sewing. Approximately 1/3" seam allowance. (This seam will be "inside" the line of thread where you tacked the rick rack.) Leave a 4 inch gap along this seam to pull the fabrics right-side-out.

10.) Pull fabric right side out. Press edges of fabric and slip stitch the 4" gap shut.

11.) To secure the top fabric to the bottom fabric: Start by evenly measuring out 9 points and putting a pin in each spot, like the illustration below.

12.) Then use a double strand of embroider floss to tie the fabrics together.

13. That's it! You've got a beautiful, well-made receiving blanket for an adorable little munchkin in your life! 

I'd like to say these blankets are more economical than the store bought varieties, but generally speaking that just isn't true. Mine cost a little less than $20 for the materials for one receiving blanket. (You could make them with less expensive fabric, which would help them cost less.) I can tell you, however, that these blankets last forever! We still have several that I made for my own children that are in great condition. They are used when our grandbabies come for a visit. ;o)

Often I buy fabric online, but these fabrics were purchased at a Hancock Fabric Store in our hometown. They have a great supply of heavier-weight printed flannel. Love those funky looking flannel dinos!

Link Parties:
Strut Your Stuff Baby Ideas @ Somewhat Simple
Mad Skills Mondays @ Support Blog for Moms of Boys
For the Kids Friday @ Sun Scholars
Show & Tell Saturday @ Be Different Act Normal
Friday Fun Finds @ kojo designs
Friday Flair Party @ Whipperberry
All Things Domestic @ Crazy Domestic
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Free for All Friday @ Sassy Sites
Fantabulous Friday @ Mommas Kinda Crafty

Makeovers...

The value of a good makeover -- either in a room, on a face, or to a blog -- cannot be overestimated!

Hopefully you noticed that my blog has been treated to a complete renovation. Krystal, over at Sassy Sanctuary, is the woman responsible for the overhaul! I think she did a fabulous job. A little over a week ago I contacted her to see if she might be able to treat my blog to a little TLC. She started a couple of days ago, and I've loved what she's accomplished. Working with mwaaaa can be a bit overwhelming at times. I can be rather particular, so I truly appreciated her patient, kind manner. She worked closely with me giving me great suggestions and options, but leaving all the decisions up to me. Loved the process and love the results! Head on over to {Blog Design by Sassy Sanctuary} and check out some of her past creations!

Thankful Thoughts & a Huge Relief Effort...

Many years ago a wise man was speaking on the subject of charity when he said, "Don't institutionalize your giving." He was referring to the fact that many of us rely upon regular, scheduled donations on our part to specific organizations. We might contribute yearly or monthly to these good causes, which helps us feel as if we are "doing our part" to relieve suffering throughout our communities and the world. At times we might rely too heavily upon organizations to help those in need, thus distancing ourselves from the suffering and pain experienced by those in distress. Although helpful in many ways, it is an isolating way to serve. His thoughts stirred my soul, and I've never forgotten those words. He helped me to realize when a need arises to stretch beyond my normal limits and seek opportunities to serve and give in more unique, personal and less-convenient ways.

We've all seen the devastation that has befallen those in Japan these last few days. A huge relief effort is being undertaken by many organizations to help those suffering from the destruction brought on by the earthquake and tsunami earlier this week. I'd like to do my part. For one week (through March 22nd) I will donate all of my proceeds from the sale of any item in my Etsy Shop to relief efforts in Japan. One hundred percent of the proceeds from my Etsy sales will be donated to an organization {LDS Philanthropies) where 100% of your donation will go toward humanitarian efforts in Japan. You can be assured that your money will be put to good use, and you'll receive a little something in return from my Etsy shop for your generosity.

 Go here to browse my Etsy aisles!

Linked to:
"Help Japan" @ Hopeful Threads

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...
daylight savings time.
{more sunshine}

Clockwise, starting top left:
Buttercup Giant Spring Bunny
Luscious Lemon Cupcake
Felted Poppy Brooch
Lemon Yellow Jazz Shoes
Sailor Tote
Bunting Banner

Wishing you a sunny weekend!

Baby Boy Burpies...

We have a baby boy joining our family this summer, so I thought I would get busy and make some essentials. I love this pattern for a baby burp cloth. I made some of these a couple of months ago and the young mother said it is her favorite burpie for her new little one.

Here's the tutorial for these Baby Burpies {the easy way} that I created a couple of months ago to show you how to produce this easy project! Made from cloth diapers, they are absorbent, they wash well, and the fabric wrinkles less than most cotton fabrics...

Did you recognize the contrasting fabrics I used? Well, if you frequent the baby isle in Target they might look familiar. I was planning on making some burpies so I was at Target picking up a dozen cloth diapers, when I passed some receiving blankets. I'd never buy these items to use as receiving blankets because I consider them too small for the task, but the cute fabric caught my eye, and I decided to purchase the blankets to use as the contrasting fabric on these burpies. The cost of the fabric was about $2.30 a yard which is fabulous. I also liked the soft texture of the flannel and how the fabrics coordinated but not in a "matchy-matchy" way! I cut twenty 6"x21" pieces out of the contrasting fabric -- five out of each fabric -- to make a total of 20 burp cloths! 

Cost breakdown:

$17 for 12 pre-folded diapers = $1.41 per diaper

$8 for 4 receiving blankets = $.40 strip per burp cloth

$1.50 (50% off) Ric-rac @ Hobby Lobby (see below) = $.75 per burp cloth

thread

That's a total of $2.50 per burpie!

A couple of these burpies combined with a few other items would make a fabulous baby shower gift!

Linked to:
Friday Fun Finds @ kojo designs
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
All Things Domestic @ Crazy Domestic
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Catch-as-Catch-Can @ My rePurposed Life
SAS @ Just a Girl

Second Pillow...

Last week I introduced a new pillow design when I showed you this creation...

A day later I whipped up another pillow. This time I used the strips of fabric in a horizontal manner...

The first pillow was a 16" square. This pillow's finished measurements are 13.5"x 17".

Go here to find out how to apply a quilting technique to get this pieced-together affect. It's an easy process!

I'm really happy with how these two pillows turned out. They give a fun pop of color to the room and the pieced-together quality in them looks tailored and crisp!

Have a great day!

Linked to:

20 Below @ Christina's Adventures
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies and Jellybeans
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Anything Related @ All Thingz Related

Sunflowers...

I love sunflowers. Every year my garden sports a variety or two. Like our morning glories, they are hardly ever planted. They volunteer from seeds dropped the previous fall and nestle themselves next to my fence for a splash of color. I absolutely love their bright, sunny faces.

I decided it was high time to create one of these favorite flowers in fabric form. I began by purchasing some fabric in different shades using a sunflower as my inspiration...

I also bought some brown wooden beads that one "might" construe as sunflower seeds...

I used my full, luscious pattern that I created a couple of years ago to created my sunflower, but I only used the three larger petals from the pattern. I cut about five of each of those pattern pieces -- alternating colors from the three "yellow" fabrics that I purchased.

 {To order the original pattern AND this one, 
just go to my Etsy shop!}

Then I cut about six rounds in descending sizes of the two brown fabrics that I bought to make the middle of the flower...

All the fabric edges were singed and the layers of petals were stacked together and tacked in place with a needle and thread...

Then I sewed on the small wooden beads to add a few "sunflower seeds."

I cannot fully describe how much pleasure this little flower gives me! 

Hope you find pleasure in making one too.

{Remember: To "order" this pattern and the original pattern , go to my Etsy!}

Linked to:

VIP @ Designer Garden
Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
All Things Domestic @ Crazy Domestic
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
20 Below @ Christina's Adventures
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
All Things Inspired @ All Things Heart & Home
Show & Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
Ten Bucks Tuesday @ Young Nester
Upcycled Awesome @ T-Shirt Diaries
Anything Related @ All Thingz Related
I Made it without my Hubby @ Shanty 2 Chic
Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog
Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings
Made with Love @  Sew Chatty
Meet-Up Monday @ The House Creative

Thankful Thoughts...

What inspired me this week?

It was one of those March days 
when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  

when it is summer in the light, 
and winter in the shade.

~Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens must have been thinking about March in Colorado when he wrote those lines.  Colorado is full of weather-related contradictions in the spring. They say if you don't like the weather in the Rocky Mountains just wait five minutes and it will change. That is never as true as it is in March. Last week I caught a glimpse of sun-filled days to come, and it was inspiring. It gave me the promise of crystal blue skies, puffy white clouds, green grass and budding trees. Inspiration manifested in organic form!

What moved me this week?

I had an epiphany this week that I'd like to share. The last few days I've been studying some chapters in the New Testament - Matthew 6 and 7 - commonly referred to as The Sermon on the Mount. Last week in my studies of earlier chapters in Matthew, I began to understand something I had never before realized --  that The Sermon on the Mount did not introduce quiet philosophical platitudes, but stark, attention-grabbing principles not previously known or understood among His people. As Jesus taught this sermon he proposed life-changing standards that if applied in the lives of his followers would alter their characters and draw them closer to God. 

This week as I studied chapters 6 and 7 I realized that Christ introduced another new principle: "It's not enough to do the right thing, but the Lord requires us to do the right thing for the right reason." (I'm sure that can be said more eloquently, but that's my simplified version.) Jesus gave examples of what it "looked like" to do good things for the right reasons and the wrong reasons. As I read the chapter I began to question and analyze my motivation for performing acts of service and kindness. It lead to some interesting self-examination. Unfortunately, sometimes I came up wanting. This realization moved me to want to improve and do better -- especially when I came to this promise at the end of chapter 7.

24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock:

25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not:for it was founded upon a rock.  

The promise states that if I implement the principles taught in The Sermon on the Mount, I will be strengthened so I can more easily withstand the trials, difficulties and heartaches of life, and in the end I will be found well-grounded in my faith in Jesus Christ. I am moved by that promise and assurance, which impels me to want to do better.

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...

a blush of pink.

Clockwise, starting top left:
Innocent Pink Mineral Lipstick
Fine Art Flower Print
Pink Veil Mineral Makeup
Hand Painted Yarn
Child's Piglet T-Shirt
Magnetic Board

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

New Pillow Design...

These last several weeks paint has been my medium of choice as I've worked on projects in the bathroom we are refinishing. I'm at a standstill in that project while I wait for the flooring to arrive, so the last few days I've been able to sew a few projects that I've had percolating in the back of my mind. I love making pillows. They are such a fun, simple way to add color and change to a room. I've needed a little pick-me-up in my family room, so I decided to create and add a couple of new pillows...

I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's start at the beginning. About a month ago I created an iPad Case...

I used a technique for the iPad Case from a fabulous tutorial I found on the blog Sew Mama Sew. I loved how that case turned out, so I decided to use that same piecing technique on a couple of pillows for my family room. Here's the first of two of those pillows...

My family room has lots of color -- bright orange, rusty red, moss green, golden hues, a pinch of turquoise and a lot of dark chocolate brown in the form of two leather sofas. You're probably wondering how all those colors could go together. It's easy when you have this 5'x8' rug nestled between the sofas...

I found some coordinating fabrics in my stash and went to work sewing alternating strips of colorful fabric and muslin. I then used my rotary cutter to cut across the sewn strips to produce a colorful band of fabric! 

Those bands of fabric were framed with a soft white flannel and more muslin. I love how the white flannel plays against the earthy muslin and bright colors of the cotton fabrics. Delicious!

I finished off the back of the pillows with more muslin and a zipper...

(Side note: If you've never been to Colorado, you've missed out on the bluest of blue skies. It's 60 degrees today. Gorgeous! The only thing missing is green leaves. Those will arrive in the next couple of months.)

Love this perky pillow and its counterpart that I'll be posting about next week...

Hope you're having a sun-filled day!

Linked to:

Meet Up Monday @ The House Creative
Show & Tell Saturday @ Be Different Act Normal
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
SAS @ Just a Girl
Friday Flair Party @ WhipperBerry
Friday Fun Finds @ kojo designs
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
All Things Domestic Party @ Crazy Domestic
Living Life Crafty @ Sassy Sites!