Hello Monday

Hello all you Monday peeps! Hope today is bright and cheery for you. I've been snuggling a teething baby who is comfort nursing like crazy all morning which has been lovely so far. His first tooth is coming in, just barely peeking up in those pink little gums of his, so we will see how lovely nursing is once it fully comes in {he's a biter!}

Ok so my weeks inspirations are sewing spaces. When we decided to try for a baby we knew that meant giving up our office/sewing room to a nursery. At first I was all for it and once baby came, sewing wasn't on the top of my list of to do's. But now that he is older and I have more time to sew and am getting back into it all, I really miss my sewing room! Right now it is on a small wall in our main living space on a tiny {but amazing} Singer sewing table as well as strewn about our dinning table and is cluttered beyond all belief because our entire home has no storage space! Sad me right now. I'm trying to find a way to make it all work and I am hoping I can do that keeping my sewing table where it is right now, but I'm finding that it is quite difficult. I have some options: keep it there and work with the space, move it into the garage {which we would have to make room for me in there}, or put it in my closet in our bedroom. I like the third option the best because it's practical and I won't freeze {or sweat during summer months} my hiney off! So lately I've been trying to find some inspirations to help fix this issue of mine and get me excited about sewing again.

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I think this would be a great fit for me because I can close everything up {I would still keep my closet doors on} and have plenty of room for storage and whatnot. Plus, my honey is moving his office into our bedroom {with the promise to not be a clutter fiend} so we can spend time together while working.

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I love the cutting table. I have one in the garage, which is great, but it's freezing and it's in an inconvenient spot. I know that most of my sewing storage will need to be out there, so I also have to work on making a space that works for me and is easy to get to.

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I currently have a space like this. If I decide to keep it where it is now, I will definitely pull from this and use vertical wall space {we have vaulted ceilings!}

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I just love how there are so many elements, but it doesn't look cluttered at all. I think it is because of the white space; it keeps it open, airy, and light, which makes you able to put different objects, colors, elements with out it being dark and cluttered.

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Needing a long table space for my serger and machine. Plus I like to have things on my 'desk' so I'll need all the space I can get.

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I love the vintage everything! I also love the organization of the fabric and the jars to store things in. Im very visual so when things are packed up in bins and shut away, my inspiration gets shut away too. Plus that machine is to die for! And I actually have one of those with its original table too!

What are your weeks inspirations? 

Pixie Candy's Projects Review + A Giveaway

I had the opportunity to review a kid's sewing DVD from Kids Sewing and Katrina Marie Design's called Pixie Candy's Projects - a level 1 sewing tutorial for kids. First off, I received this DVD in a super cute, hot pink, bubble mailer lickety split. I know that doesn't really factor into the whole review of the DVD, but still - hot pink bubble mailer? So cute! Since this was a 'kids sewing' DVD, I actually had Bry watch the DVD with me and she did all of the sewing herself. For her own review on the DVD, head on over to her blog Bry's Stories.

We put the DVD in and watched the whole thing before she started sewing to make sure we would be able to follow along. It was cute! I loved the little 'pixie' music that played through out the tutorials and how everything was pink. The color scheme went well with the Pixie Candy theme. It was definitely appealing to my daughter. There was even a section where Katrina {the maker of these DVD's} had a demonstration of one of the items with a little girl so you could see the whole process through kids eyes. In the DVD you have five projects to make - a pillow, a hair bow headband, a purse, a neck pillow, and an apron. Very simple and very appropriate projects for kids.

Once we watched the DVD we got our fabric out to start. Katrina did a very good job at directing you through the steps. She used simple words that kids could understand and did simple steps. Bry was able to follow along quite well and get her projects done. The tutorials weren't too long so Bry didn't have a chance to get bored like some kids might if each step took too long. Katrina broke each tutorial up into great sections that gave it a real organized sense and made it easy to follow. Even though there are five projects to complete, it cost us hardly anything at all in materials, too. Which was a real deal breaker for me. I find that if your child is testing the waters with something - whether it be sports, sewing, music - you don't really want to invest a lot of money if it doesn't work out. And though Bry has learned how to sew and knows how to make things, it's not something she sits down to do every day so I didn't want to invest too much in fabric. We got through the DVD and she completed all her projects perfectly. They really turned out so cute! 

Pillow

Purse

Neck pillow

Apron

{Cute ribbon, huh?!}

Hair bow headband

There were a few things we changed in going along...

The neck pillow called for 3/4 yard batting for the inside. We just used fiber-fill since we have boxes of it from a futon mattress we tore up.
Also, the purse called for batting which we skipped, It would be nice to have had structure in the purse with the batting, but we decided against using it. We also made the ribbon strap longer so Bry could use it as a cross-body bag.

Both of those things didn't change the structure of the tutorial, though.

Bry had a lot of fun sewing the projects and loves that she has five whole things to look at and be proud of... and use! And all of her friends are like 'what? you made that?? I wanna make that too!' So I think we are going to have a sewing day with a few of her friends so they can make them too! I would definitely recommend this DVD {and the whole series!} to anyone who's child is wanting to learn to sew, or wants to add more projects to their list. It's fun for moms too!

I just have to say that Katrina is the sweetest person ever. She is so adorable and I think it is great what she is doing - putting together easy tutorials for kids to follow so they can create something for themselves {or maybe for a friend or family member} and be proud.

Giveaway time!!!

Katrina is so awesome and sweet that she is giving away a copy of Pixie Candy's Projects to one lucky winner! Simply enter to win on the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will run from January 16 until January 25. For full terms and conditions, please see Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kids Sewing and Katrina Marie Designs. All opinions and experiences are 100% mine.

Kindle Fire Sleeve Tutorial

Last Christmas I got a Kindle Fire from my honey. I was so excited I got on Amazon, set up my account, and in about one hour spent the $50 credit I had from my boss for Christmas. In the mass of what I had purchased I got myself a nifty little cover for it in a really cool orange color. It was perfect and I loved it… for like a couple months. Then I wanted something that represented myself and I wanted to make it myself.

But then I had baby and got busy sewing and opening my Etsy shop Oliver’s Treasure Chest and I forgot.

I was looking in my ‘future projects’ binder when I came across the scribble – Kindle Fire Sleeve – and since I was bored and had some free time, I made one!

After I posted it, I got 4 custom orders! Plus an iPad sleeve order. I had no idea sleeves would be this popular. So I thought I would share with you how to make one for yourself!

Materials:

-fabric {i used melody miller – duh}

-fleece {i used organic bamboo fleece}

-elastic

-button

Procedure:

Cut your fabric and fleece into 9×12″ pieces. Make sure that if your fabric is directional that you cut the length {12″} with the pattern.

Cut your elastic 4″.

Put fabric and fleece right sides together.

Fold the elastic into a loop and tape {or pin} in between the fabrics 3″ in from the end of your layered fabrics {doesn’t matter which end} along the top.

Pin and straight stitch across the top.

Unfold your fabric

Then fold in half so it measure 6×18″

Pin around the three raw edges, making sure to leave about a 3″ opening on the fleece side to pull your fabric through. I put the pins where the opening is in a different direction so I knew where to start and stop.

Sew around leaving that opening.

Trim edges and pull fabric through.

Fold edges in at opening about 1/4″ and stitch closed.

Tuck fleece into fabric to make the sleeve.

Top stitch around the top about 1/2″ for a more finished look.

Slip Kindle inside and fold elastic over to measure where the button will go. Take a marking pen or pencil and mark it.

Hand sew button on.

Slip Kindle in sleeve and enjoy!

People will be asking all over where you got your sleeve at, trust me!

If you have an iPad, adjust measurements accordingly. {The width should be double + seam allowance. Length would just be + seam allowance.}

{W.I.P} Work In Progress Wednesday

 Welcome to the first week of Work In Progress Wednesdays! Each Wednesday I will share with you the progress of a project I am working on whether it be our bedroom, a sewing project, or a DIY project; you'll get to see the process! 

This week I am sharing with you what I am working on for myself; a tote. Lately {especially with the Stitch Market} I haven't really sewn much for myself and after finding some amazing Japanese fabric on Etsy, I decided it was about time I do. 

I had a hard time selecting fabric for the interior, but I finally found the perfect one

I have an amazing collection of bags, but I wanted something unique and a sewing project that was going to challenge me. I've made totes before; mostly in a reusable grocery bag form, which is a simple construction - outer fabric, lining, boxed bottom, handles. With this tote for myself I wanted to add more elements to it so that it would not only challenge me, but set it apart from anything I own and anything that is out there. Im adding leather handles, including a cross-body one {I hope}; zippered interior pocket; and a 'cinch' for the outside. I'm also using fusible interfacing, which is something that I have never worked with before! Here is my inspiration bag...

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 I plan to use leather lacing cord in a dark brown or mustard to cinch it. Ahhhh, just talking about it right now is getting me even more excited!

Ok, so now for the progress part... I currently have the entire main part of the bag constructed and finished! I love how stiff the bag is with the interfacing... definitely want something durable and something that will keep it's shape.

All that is left is getting the lace cording and attaching handles. 

I also am working on a few chevron mug hugs with a backing of the same fabric as the interior of my bag. All I need to do is add the buttons and they're good to go. Two of them will be going towards prizes for some giveaways and another is going into the shop.

Do you have any works in progress? Leave me a link {or a description} in the comment form below! I'd love to see what you're all up to!

Did you know I'm having a Blog Design Reveal + Giveaway? Head over for your chance to win some amazing prizes from eight amazing sponsors! There's still time to enter! {Ends January 5th}. 

Preparation

On November 1st I placed my Etsy shop, Oliver's Treasure Chest, on vacation to prepare for the Holiday Stitch Market. {Which is tomorrow!!} I wanted to make sure I had plenty of stock to get me started and just before the market I would finish the rest. I took November off from everything except blogging to focus on the month of Thanks and get some things organized around the house. But Sunday I pulled up the chair in front of my machine and I haven't stopped until about 3 hours ago. Well, I did sleep and most days I showered, but I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at my machine, blogged from the machine, checked my daughter's homework from the machine - I even fell asleep at my machine! {I am not even kidding.} And the past 3 hours have been spent packaging and pricing everything and running to the print shop to get my business cards not once, but twice. Can you believe it? The print shop messed up my business cards! And even the third time around I'm not even happy with them. I'm super bummed and pretty stressed out. Grrrr. Silly print shop. And by print shop, I mean Staples and well, lets face it; they can't even handle printing 10 copies of my PTA minutes properly, but they were the only ones who could do my business cards last minute... ugh I'm going off on a tangent, sorry. 

So this post is actually about all the things I have neglected in preparation for the Stitch market.

My house. I haven't cleaned it since Saturday.

The laundry. Ummm, pajama party anyone? I need clean clothes....

My hygiene. Ok, so yes I have showered, but not till maybe 7 pm.

My daily Bible study. Sigh. 

Getting the PTA minutes together... next week is the PTA meeting. SHOOT!

Being a wifey. I've been so glued to my machine that I barely have stopped to say I love you or give a kiss.

My kids. Not entirely though! I did pick up my daughter from school yesterday and today the baby and I hung out a lot. But usually I'm like super mom balancing PTA, dishes, laundry, cleaning, blogging, homework checking, nursing, more laundry, cooking, baking, playing, tummy time...

Not so much the past few days. 

I am so glad that I am finished and that everything is together and ready to go for the show. I miss my kids! I miss my man! I miss the Word! I miss... laundry. It has been a little overwhelming and I may have gone a little overboard with my inventory and I am definitely taking an entire week off from sewing, but I am pretty excited about the Stitch Market. Plus, I get to hang out with my kids while I'm there so I'm pretty stoked about that. 

So, I've learned a lot in the preparation for the market and feel like I will be better prepared for the next market in the spring.