Samples and computer woes

Well...I have been so excited to be back to blogging, but my desktop isnt quite cooperating! We are going to wipe it clean and reinstall the programs and then maybe it will go back to normal, for some reason it is having issues thanks to a new windows update...grrr. I have some projects with photos to share, but I can't find my camera cord since the move and the laptop won't take my memory card to upload pics...so stay tuned.

In other news...I am ordering these swatches as possibilies to recovering my fun pink chair and ottoman and for living room curtains and throw pillows. What do ya think? I think they chevron might be a little too modern for what I want...but it might make a fun accent.

I'm lovin' this too but it seems quite pricey:

Fabric Flowers-Part 1 Rosettes

 I decided that I wanted to make some hair accessories out of fabric so I went in my fabric stash and grabbed my glue gun and went to town!
First off: Fabric Rosettes...my favorite. (I know...another rosette post) I made some at Halloween and used them as a brooch. So cute. I knew I needed something with gray and yellow to accessorize with some new shirts I bought. But I will tell ya...I am NOT a big hair accessory kind of gal. I like accessories, I just don't want a big giant flower on top of my head...sorry...its just not me. So keeping that in mind I knew I wanted to keep the rosettes thin and skinny so they weren't too high off my head. I already posted a rosette tutorial but I am going to post my process of making these skinny rosettes too. Keep in mind that I had to be a little neater to make sure the glue didn't glob through to front of the rosettes where it would be visible.
First off I cut a piece of felt for the base.

Then I cut my fabric strip. Usually I tear a strip of fabric because I like the look, however, I decided to cut strips 1 1/2" wide to keep it skinny and not as tall.

 Fold rosette strip in half.

Tie knot in one end to create the starting center "bud".

 Then put a small amount of hot glue on the center of the felt and place the knot with end wrapped kind of under on the hot glue to secure it as a start. Then start wrapping and twisted the folded fabric around the bud to created your rosette.

 Make sure you don't use too much glue so it doesn't seem through to the front. Keep wrapping and twisting as you go.

Once you have your rosette finished, wrap the leftover tail piece underneath the rosette and glue it down and trim it. (I trimmed the small end while I was wrapping and twisting and gluing over top of it.

And there you have it. Super easy, fast and not fat! LOL, now want to see the finished product? I just used a cheap plastic headband. (I refuse to use ones that hurt my head or the bands that just slide off...so these plastic ones are the best for comfort for me!)  I cut a piece of light yellow tulle and squeezed it in the middle in the shape of a bowtie and glued in on to the headband only on the scrunched part. (Are you following this? I am so not good at explaining...I guess I need to get vlogging!)

Then I glued my gray and yellow rosettes on top.

What do you think? Too bad no one is around to take a picture of this on my head so you can see it in all its cute but "subtle not standing high off my head" action. This was so fun and easy that I went a little rosette crazy. I made another one of these headbands but with black rosettes and fishnetting? type stuff...it was pretty but I haven't taken a pic of it yet. And how about these little beauties? I just used some bobby pins with flat circle plates on top that I found at hobby lobby. Perfectly adorable. I fear that if I didn't live in a house overun with boys than everything in my house might be covered with rosettes! LOL, but seriously they are so easy and could be so cute added to wreaths, pillows, frames, bags, shirts...you name it!

I am linking this to the parties listed on the left sidebar of my blog! Come join in the fun!

Halloween, DIY Brooch

It's almost time for Halloween. I decided to use my leftover fabric from my Halloween banner to make a Halloween Brooch. Here are my supplies, fabric, glue gun, felt, and clasp pin to glue onto the back (not sure what those are called). I photographed some buttons as well as I planned on added them as embellishments, but after I got my rosettes done I liked them the way they were. This brooch would be super cute and versatile. I pinned in on a black cardigan for today but it would be cute on a white or colored t-shirt as well.

Rip fabric into strips. Mine were less than 1 inch wide, give or take.

Fold fabric strip in half, tie knot at end of folded fabric, cut out circles the size of your desired rosettes out of felt backing and add a dab of glue to the center of felt to glue on folded knot. I tuck the edge of the strip under the knot when I glue it down. I think the knot creates a nice "center" to the rosette.

At this point, you will just take hold of your folded fabric strip and twist it around and tack it to the felt with small dabs of glue. Play around with it, practice if you need to to get your desired "look".

Keep wrapping fabric until you get to the edge of the felt circle and then wrap under until you can't see any more felt.

At this point I just wrap the strip under the flower and glue it down under the bottom. Trim off excess fabric.

I cut out some more felt looks like mickey mouse :) and glued my rosettes to the felt as backing and then to each other (be careful so the glue doesn't smudge through, I just added a little in between to get them to be more stable). Then I glued on the 'clasp pin' and let it cool.

 

That's it! Add it on to your favorite cardigan, headband, hat, or handbag and you'll be showing your "festive" side in style!

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Banners- A Halloween tutorial

I really love banners and have a lovely Halloween banner to share with you today complete with tutorial. I have really been wanting to do a sewing project. I really like sewing, even though I am not great at it. I think if I was a perfectionist I would be an excellent sewer, however with my lack of caring to keep my seams nice and tight it proves to be a disadvantage! I decided to make a Halloween Pennant Banner.

 Here's is a tutorial of how to make this super cute banner!

Here are my supplies. I just went Hobby Lobby and bought some fabric I liked and this cording.

I cut them into strips and had enough for 2 pennants of each kind of fabric (4 pieces of each so I could do front and back). I did mine 6.25 inches across the top, and down the pennant was 11".

 

I then put each pennant with ride sides facing and sewed up each edge on the long sides leaving the top open. I just went along the seam and didn't really stick to 1/4" seam allowance. (Once again my lack of perfectionism strikes again!)

After sewing them up long sides, I flipped them right side out. Use a pen or dowel to help get the end through.

After I did this I ironed them all flat so they would hold their shape and I organized in order of how I was going to sew them to the cording to hold them in place.

On a few of them, I went back and did a zig zag stitch just for added cuteness. It didn't really show up though. I should have used different color threads, but I was too lazy to thread my bobbin so I just went to work sewing them on.

I just added them along as I went down the cording and would double over the edges of where they met to make sure it was sturdy. That was it, now I have a cute fabric banner that will last me for years to come! I can't wait until I have a cute mantle to display it on someday. It will be so cute to display over the table at my Halloween Party this year.

Want updates and spoilers on projects and ideas?  Come like me on facebook , twitter, and Google + to keep up on whats up next!

Fun Halloween Fabric

I decided to go shopping for some fun Halloween Fabric. I decided that this year I would continue with the tradition of having our "Halloween Party". Last year, it was just us. This year I think we will invite another family over. I want to make a pennant or banner to display during October and also to hang above our "Spooky Food" table for our party. Hopefully I will get it done this weekend while I am still excited to do it! I think it will make a cute addtion to the decor. Cute fabric pieces huh? I am always looking for fun Halloween crafts! I want to get this book Halloween Tricks and Treats (Better Homes & Gardens Crafts). I think it would be right up my alley.