goody-goody

Winding down..

We spent the past week in secluded bliss in the Sierras. This is the view from where I sat on the beach at the lake most days. No phone, no computer. Just books, puzzles, beads, swimming and floating. Lots of floating. It was wonderful.

I was so happy to come home to my own copy of Megan Smith's Sewing 2010 Calendar in the mailbox! You can find my projects in February (Matyroska tooth pillow), March (bow-tie hair clips & robot pocket pillow), May (easy business card case), November (fat quarter purses), and December (patchwork eye pillow). You can find these projects on my sidebar, too, but this calendar is chock full of wonderful ideas from all over the web. Megan did such a great job compiling them. I'm already starting a mental list for gift giving this year. The most exciting part is that a pic of my bow tie clips made it on the cover of the box! Woo-hoo! (Bottom right..I know, you might have to squint a little...)

Bitty Bug Pincushion

Looking for a quick fix? This pincushion is the perfect answer for Mother's Day or when you need to make a little somethingsomething to give to a crafty friend. It's so super easy you'll squeal! (And not in a "Eek, it's a bug and it's flying at my face" kind of way).

Get it:

• 2 circles of linen or plain fabric for tummy and back. I used a jar lid about 3" in diameter as a template

• 2 circles of print fabric for wings, same size

• 1 darker circle of linen or plain fabric, slightly smaller

• 2 antennae--I used jute twine cut into two 3" pieces, knotted on one end

• Optional ribbon loop (ribbon about 5" long) for hanging or attaching to scissors

Do it!:

• Get your pieces cut and laid out. Fold calico pieces in half and place, fold side towards middle on one of the plain pieces. Fold dark circle in half and place perpendicular to wings, fold side middle, as well. I know, it sounds kooky in writing--just look at the picture!

• Iron pieces flat. Pin to keep in place, if needed. Place antenna on top of darker folded circle, knotted ends towards the middle. I left a lot of the length hanging off--easier to cut it off later than to have them too short and pop out.

 

• Fold ribbon in half. Place loop inwards and cut ends on the side. I put mine off to the side a bit, so it doesn't look like he's pooping. I know, I think about these things way too much.

• Place other linen circle on top and pin all around, making sure you've got all your pieces where they will be sewn in nice and snug. Nothing's worse than having to go back, turn it again and sew a seam that didn't catch the first time. I back-tacked over the antennae and ribbon loop to make them extra secure.

• Sew all around edge, like a fabric Moon Pie leaving a thumb-sized hole for turning. Trim off excess twine or fabric, turn and stuff. If you'd like a little heft to your bug, add a few of those glass gardening pebbles to weigh it down. Stitch closed. Add french knots for eyes. Voila!

These would also make a fun gift for a child--sew a "hatch" of three or four without the ribbon loops and put them in a small floral drawstring bag. Or fill them with lavender for a sweet-smelling sachet.  If you decide to make some, be sure to post some pics to the goody-goody Flickr group. I'd love to see what you come up with.

thanks for stopping by!

*btw, pincushion design and pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only. Please do not sell items made from this tute. Thanks!

Pint-Sized Pocket Pillows

Whew! Finished just in time for the weekend! These little guys (and girls) are about 5" tall--the perfect size for little hands..and possibly Easter baskets? The pockets can accomodate all kinds of small and wonderful treasures--a lost tooth, a little love note or a tiny treat. I like customizing the patterns with bits of color on the clothes or changing the hair a bit. I'm not too fussy an embroiderer--if one foot ends up bigger than the other, eh, no biggie.

Get it:

Download Boygirlpillows

• small scraps of linen or other plain fabric
• embroidery thread, needle
• patterned fabric for back, pocket
• polyfil or wool stuffing

Do it:

• Print out pdf, transfer to plain fabric by taping to a window or tracing, using a light box, or an iron-on tranfer pen. I use a disappearing ink pen and a light box.

• Stitch your design. I use simple backstitching with two threads for the body and three for the colored accents. Tie off your ends well, cause you'll be yanking, turning and stuffing those kiddos.

 

 

• Once you've finished embroidering, dissolve ink pen with water and iron flat. Place stitching face down on fabric (right side up), pin, and cut out an eggplant-ish shape. As an added bonus, you get to see the seedy backside of my embroidery. Oooh. Naughty. Fold over the other patterned fabric and tuck (fold edge up) in between the other two layers. This is your pocket. Cut around the pocket to match the other shape.

 

• Pin all layers together and stitch all around, leaving .25 or .5 inch seam allowance. I tend to use a .5 just to be sure I get all those layers sewn in there and prevent the linen from fraying and popping out. I leave my opening on the side, to avoid involving the pocket. Turn, iron, stuff and stitch closed. Give 'em a squeeze. Just because.

Thanks for your patience on this one. And for the nice comments. You guys are wonderful cheerleaders! Happy weekend,

xo

Lauren

Feline frisky?

 

If your kitties are tired of batting around boring old cat toys...then spice up their life with some catnip sushi ones. I've got the pattern over at Pimp Stitch right now. They're super easy to make and are perfect for stocking stuffers. What? You don't give your pets stocking stuffers? Did I just give myself away as a crazy pet person?

Eek! It's a mouse..ornament

 

Hello. I've got another ornament pattern + tutorial over at the Pimp Stitch blog. These sweet little mice won't steal your cheese--they're content to chillax on your tree or entertain your kitty.

Thank you for your continued kindness and comments. I'm buckling up for a long, bumpy ride. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

New tutorial :: House Ornaments

Little houses..on the hillside..little boxes full of tick-tacky. Oh wait, these aren't ticky-tacky. They're adorable. I've been watching too much Weeds. Check out the instructions and free printable pattern over at the Pimp Stitch blog. Looking to invest in some real estate? Enlarge the pattern to make all kinds of sizes--a whole city of your very own. Without a single sub-prime mortgage.

TGMO!

tgif quickie :: Patchwork Eye Pillow

Seeking your own spa day? Looking to make a super easy, personal but not TOO personal gift? This project is sure to please. You'll be closing your eyes and saying "Om" in no time.

Get it:

• Four patterns of fabric (something not too rough..we're not exfoliating here!) cut into the following sizes: two 4x5", two 4.5x4", two 3x4" and two 1.5x4" rectangles.
• Sewing machine--this could be done by hand, but the stitching needs to be super tight to keep all the goodness inside
• lavender, flaxseed or rice, essential oils (if you're not a lavender fan)

Do it:

 

• Divvy up your rectangles into two sets. Line 'em up in a pleasing order. Right sides together, sew pieces with a .25" seam allowance. Once you have all your friends sewn together into a nice strip, do it again with the other set of pieces. Yay. Front and back. Iron flat.

 

• Pin your strips right sides together. Square it up if necessary. I'm a crooked cutter, myself.

• Sew all around the edge, leaving a 1.5" hole for turning and filling.
• Trim seams, turn and iron. Poke out your corners with a chopstick.
• I like to topstitch my pillows around the outer edge--for two reasons: it looks cuter and more "done" and gives you another seam for strength. 'Cause cleaning up a pool of lavender and flaxseed isn't relaxing. Topstitch all around except for your hole.

• Use a small plastic funnel to fill your pillow (I bought a whole set of sizes at the dollar store) or make one from heavyweight paper. I usually mix my filling as 50/50 lavender and flaxseed. If you're using rice, you can add a few drops of essential oil and mix it in. Fill it to desired heft. I like mine to be nice and full but still a bit floppy. Stitch opening closed on machine or by hand.

Ta-da! Put it in the freezer to chill your peeps or microwave to soothe what's aching. Do you like my model? It's rough work being a four year-old.

Crayon tutorial & Purse winner!

Hey there! The three-day weekend we just had was not long enough. No sir. But I did manage to squeeze out a tutorial for crayon tinting embroidery projects on the Pimp Stitch blog. While you're there, be sure to check out Amy's new patterns. Mmm..lattes. Finally, (drumroll please!) the winner of the little mustard purse is Erin K! If you're Erin, please e-mail me your snail mail and I'll get your purse on it's way.

tgif quickie almost here!

I am so excited to have a guest blogger doing today's quickie! The uber-talented Missy Ballance of Mohair Circus and fellow Pimp Stitcher will be posting a tutorial for her adorable spool dolls later today. You don't want to miss this one! Wouldn't this couple make a cute wedding cake topper? So check back and keep hittin' refresh on your bloglines..and thanks, Missy, for sharing this with us!

tgif quickie :: robot goody/tooth pillow

And, now, one for the boys. Or girls that like robots, too. Tuck in a tooth and beeept! boop! boink! kaaachink! out comes a special prize. Also good for gift cards, little love notes and special bits dear to little hearts. With the cost of shipping these days, I may just be sending along little dolls with gift cards for upcoming birthdays. It's cute, handmade and they get to go shop for themselves. Everyone wins!

 

Get it:

• Four patterns of fabric cut in the following sizes:
• 4  2" squares (arms)
• 2  2.75 x 3" rectangles (head)
• 2  4" squares (body)
• 1  4x5 rectangle (pocket)
• scrap of felt or linen for face
• stuffing
• embroidery thread for mouth

Do it:

• Sew face on one side of head piece. Zigzag works great for linen, but felt can be sewn in a straight stitch or even by hand. Center head pieces on body pieces, right sides together and sew.

• Sew arms together on three sides, right sides facing each other. Turn, press and stuff lightly.
• Iron pocket in half, making it 2.5" tall, 4" wide. Pin on body piece that has face.
• Pin on arms, raw ends matching onto sides of the body (arms are pointing in) about 1/2" down on body piece. They will overlap with the pocket a bit, that's okay.

• Finish your robot sandwich by placing back body piece, face down on top. pin all around. Remove unnecessary pins (don't want them stuck in your pillow...ouch). Sew all around edge, leaving a hole for turning. Remember the hole needs to be big enough to get the arms through. Check before you turn and stuff to make sure you have everything sewn in there all tidy. There's nothing more frustrating that turning and getting halfway stuffed before realizing you have a popped seam. argh.

• Stuff and stitch opening closed. Add buttons for eyes and embroider mouth, going in under the face to hide the knot. Beep! Boop! You're done! Speaking of robots, we went and saw Wall-E yesterday. Turned me off of Jamba Juice forever.

Have a great weekend!