Category Archives: craft

easy Easter sewing projects

Here are a few last minute projects my crafty 13 year old daughter has her sights set on. With Easter just 2 days away, easy and quick is the name of the game.
She can taunt her Peep lovin’ brothers (and me) and leave their mouths watering with these inedible imitations. I somehow want to add sparkles to these guys, maybe a little glue and appropriately colored glitter would do the job?

Peeps plushies:

Full plush Peeps sewing pattern and tutorial from Dandelions and Lace here.

Sewn Carrots:

M has already dug into my fabric scraps and managed to sew up a few of these carrots this week using this tutorial from Claire’s Craft Room. She even found some of the exact same orange polka dot fabric in my extensive collection of scraps.

AND… I really want to make a Peep garland, seriously, with my obsessions with garlands (one on every window) and Peeps (even though they aren’t chocolate) why haven’t I made one already?

Peeps garland or bunting:

Find the full and very easy tutorial here from Dana Made It.

tiny tuesday

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Let’s talk about how tiny things are so much more awesome than anything else in the world. Why are tiny things so funny and cute? I’m not sure if it’s just me, and it’s definitely rubbing off on my kids now too. Together we ohh and ahh, squeal in silly voices at just about anything that is scaled down to a tiny size. It’s ridiculous and I don’t care. Tiny and detailed object are even better.
Here’s a sampling of my favorite tiny things at the moment:

This traveler mouse by Johana, available on Etsy, is absurdly tiny. Take a look at her other critters too- some wearing glasses, sweaters, carrying books…

Peace felt warrior necklace also on Etsy by catrabbitplush. The beauty is in the clever details and the size- about 6 cm by 6 cm.

Made by the talented Alice Mary Lynch, a commissioned piece titled ‘the firebird’ wears a skirt made from a traditional Russian vintage costume, red tulle petticoat, embroidered socks, plaited golden hair and vintage feather brooch with multi-coloured stones. Very impressive work.

I’ve been following Jess Quinn’s blog for awhile now, she also has an Etsy shop. I’m so inspired with her mad/rad art, sewing and creative skills. I wish I lived in England so I could attend one of the shows where she sells her dolls and be starstruck.

These little cacti are reason enough to learn how to crochet. Who wouldn’t want one of these as a gift!? The pattern is available at Little Things Blogged if you’d like to give it a try. I will be attempting to make these very soon.

I think it’s the somewhat mournful gaze- not to mention the accessories- that got me on this fat cat. I don’t have any details though, the website is all in Russian.

So, go ahead and adore all that’s tiny on this terrific tiny Tuesday!

tutorial: pom-pom bows from scraps of fabric

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I’ve been waiting for this idea for so long… finally a use for all those discarded quilting (or otherwise) strips of fabric- a reuseable pom-pom bow.
And it couldn’t be easier to make. Follow these easy steps:
If using strips of fabric, find something to wind the strips around. (you can also use small scraps instead of strips and just stack them up instead of wrapping) I used a roll of paper but any sort of bottle or small can will work. The more strips of fabric you use, the fuller the pom-pom will be. Alternate the ‘right’ side of the fabric facing in and out as you add strips.
You want a pretty fat stack by the time you’re finished wrapping layers. My pom-pom ended up being very full (from the layers you see above and below).
Slide the layers of fabric off roll and hold then in place in the middle, wherever you decide that will be. I made the middle right where my thumb was and where I started wrapping each layer.
Tie the middle off tightly with a small piece of fabric, string or medium gauge wire. Make it as tight as you can.
With sharp scissors, snip all of the loops, a few layers at a time.
Once all the loops have been snipped, your pom-pom should now look like this (above). At this point you can trim the longer outer layers to match the shorter inside layers or wait until the pom-pom has been shaped.
Hold the pom-pom on it’s side and with both hands (one on either side) begin to pull the layers out of the middle with equal force on either side.
Separate a bit in all areas and sides first, then go back and separate the individual fabric layers until you have a nice round shape. Loose pieces of fabric will fall out here and there, don’t worry, they’re the pieces that didn’t quite wrap with perfect length. Trim the lengths to even up the look of the pom-pom.
And there you are- a pom-pom bow made from junk, leftovers, stuff you were going to throw away.

For variety add ribbon, tulle, rick rack in with the layers or even glitter. You could make them in any size- decorate a room, a party, use them instead of bean bags, as an indoor soccer ball on rainy days… and the list goes on.
We had some spray glitter laying around from a previous project and a bit of sparkle really added to the charm (hard to see, very subtle but elegant).