Happy Birthday Amanda!

For my dear friend Amanda's 30th Birthday I wanted to make somethign special - and so this called for my first zipper project!!

Using this tutorial I made the following clutch purse. I added in the handle myself because it seemed more practical. I know if you buy the pattern it includes these instructions but I am all about the free tutorial!

I'm very proud of this little purse, and I do believe I'll be making more in the future now that I've figure it out :)

MORE Baby Blankets

I swear I have been working on some other projects....but they are secret for a couple more days ...so in the meantime I'll post some more baby blankets. These two are variations on the others you've seen me do with the silky edging.

This elephant/numbers one was made using this tutorial - an easy yet lovely home made gift. I fell absolutely in love with these 2 fabrics when I saw it in the store and knew it would be just perfect for my friend who had a baby girl last week. This present hasn't been delivered but I am hoping that with a one week old and a 16 month old, my friend will be too busy to check out the blog!


You may remember this fabric below from when Becky & I were sewing together. I really loved the bright colours for a little boy and a childhood friend of mine has a 7 month old who she said loves the tags. Seemed like the perfect thing to make for him.

I especially love my new tags, ironed on to a ribbon just like a real tag!



T-shirt Necklaces

I have been meaning to do this craft for a while, and finally got organized to do it this week. I saw an article in Whole Living Magazine about a year ago and think this is a fun way to recycle a t-shirt. Using this tutorial I made the following necklaces. 

These are all going to various people as part of my "Pay it Forward 2011" crafting effort (which I hope to post about once all the crafts are completed).  I must confess, I love the purple one and may keep it for myself!

A few logistics for those of you who want to try this craft out - The tutorial is very easy to follow so you will get all the info you need on the link I've given. But, I wanted to mention that a rotary cutter is not necessary - I have a rotary cutter and yet found scissors easier to use. This is a forgiving craft, and if you do not cut straight lines, it won't matter in the end. Also, if you're purchasing t-shirts at a second hand store (that's what I did) for this craft, I'd suggest looking for shirts that do not have a seam on the sides - they may be a bit harder to find but if you do search them out, it will make it even easier to make this necklace. However, if you get a t-shirt with seams (or want to use an old t-shirt of your own that has seams) just make sure the seams get gathered together as Martha mentions in her video, can you can hide them with the piece of shirt you use to hold the whole necklace together.

Happy Crafting! 

More Baby Blankets

On December 29, 2010 I was blessed with another nephew - a perfect little boy named Cale weighing 7lbs 10oz. In anticipation of Cale's arrival I had used up leftovers (and bought some new matching fabric) and made these two blankets. Hoppefully Cale is having many cuddly moments in his blanket already and the purple one is in the mail to Ottawa right now for my friend Agata's new baby Elizabeth along with yesterday's crayon holder.

New labels!

Any avid followers may remember I was very excited to get labels to iron onto what I make - posted about on a Wordless Wednesday.

While those labels were okay...I didn't feel they were as fun and exciting as I like to think I am. One day over the holidays I saw my niece had a very fun name tag attached to her back pack, and my sister in law told me about Mabel's Labels. I went to their site and when I saw the star and happy face symbol it was love at first site. I ordered them right away and am thrilled to be sewing them on my baby blankets :)



Crayon Holder

I had made one of these before but not blogged about it. Just a quick craft, only took me about 30 minutes to complete tonight!

This one is being sent to my friend Agata in Ottawa, who just had a baby but also has a 5 year old. I thought if the baby was getting a new blanket, big sister deserved a pressie too!