Pocket Tee

Although our season has not gone the way we hoped, I'm still a fan! 

Here's my super cute Hogs pocket tee my momma made at Rustle & Bah! :)

Tablet Tripod

Sometimes I just want to sit my iPad up, but the fold-up-rubbery cover just doesn't want to hold it! So this little pillow is now one of my favorite items and I use it all the time! I use it when I need to read recipes, plan lessons, post grades, Skype, scroll Chive, and whenever my arm gets tired while I lay on my side - I know I'm not the only one who does this (ha).

I kept forgetting to take pictures along the way (I was too excited to get it done) so I'll do my best on this tutorial!

Time: 45 minutes

Materials Needed:

Scrap of fabric

Needle

Thread

Disappearing ink pen

Fiberfill

Batting

Scissors

Sewing Machine

Box of rice

Funnel  

*I made mine to fit my iPad mini. If you have a 

different tablet you can make it bigger or smaller.

Directions:

Step 1: Cut a piece of fabric that is 14in x 9in

Step 2: Fold right sides together hamburger style. 

Sew along two sides - one long edge and one short edge.

Step 3: Turn right side out and pull on sewn corner to lay over the flat 

piece so that where you see the seam is a square. Then pull the top corner 

up so there is a flat bottom (how it looks in the picture), and pin up the 

bottom corner. Use a needle and thread to hand stitch it to seam like shown above.

Step 4: Draw a line where you are happy with the pod height using 

a disappearing ink pen. I left about 4 inches to work with for the iPad to rest. 

Leave about an inch open on the seam so you can fill it with rice. 

Step 5: (Sorry for the sideways pictures) Take your funnel and place 

it into the hole you left open. I used a piece of paper because I couldn't 

find my funnel - so use whatever you can. Take your box of rice 

and get to pourin'! You could use fiberfill here, but it won't be as 

sturdy and it will be hard to keep the shape that you want. Rice is cheap and 

definitely does the job. I filled mine to where there was an inch empty at the top.

Step 6: After the rice, finish sewing the line so that you have about 4 inches 

open to work with. It's tricky to finish the line, so to do so tip your pod

 upside down so all of the rice goes to the top, take you fingers and pinch 

near the hole so the rice doesn't come back through, place under your needle

 (while still pinching) and finish your seam.

Step 7: Place a piece of batting between the two layers and sew two 

quilted lines using your previous seem as a guide. 

Step 8: Sew the final seam with the edges either folded under or

 into the middle. Fill the small pouch with fiberfill and close up!

Wishing you good luck!

So Dreamy

No offense, West Elm, but this just wasn't cutting it nor quite my style.

 Please, people, tell me you agree.

 

Anyway, Hobby Lobby was obviously feeling my vibe...

Here is some lovely home interior fab that is totally.."fab!"

Of course, I took my momma with me to make some final 

decisions and we decided on this beauty.

Then went to FM Fabrics in Springfield, MO, to get fabric to coordinate.

After about 2 hours, here is my new bed that I'm totally in love with!

- Head board is being borrowed from a friend that I literally hung a scrap of black silky fabric (I leaned the board up and stuck it behind the two top corners so it just falls)

- Two 24x24 pillows with a green home dec. fabric with green piping (FM Fabrics)

- Black body pillow case from Target (super soft)

- Two shams from HobLob fab.

- Two deco pillows with fabric from FM Fabrics

- Tan blanket from TJ MAXX as a "comforter"

- Blue blanket from Pier One

Want to know my quick pillow secret? All of them are slip covers!

Take your piece of fabric, set your pillow to cover  on one end on the fabric.
Fold over from the middle to cover the pillow
Cut to fit leaving the fold (1 extra on top, left and right sides, 4 inches on bottom)

Sew your 2 sides together with right sides together.

Turn right side out, slip in pillow
Choose back side and fold up extra fab like a gift you are wrapping. 
Quick stitch shut! (Hand stitch with loops!)

Boom. So easy.

By the way, nothing makes me happier than a made bed :)

DIY Lingerie Bag

As I knew my month of September would consist of traveling to Little Rock 4 times and possibly St. Louis...I knew I need some knew bags. I have luggage and some large totes - but I needed a weekend bag and, you know, stuff. Off to the mall I went! I bought (splurged) the Vera Bradley Grand Traveler in Plum Crazy. One of my best purchases. It holds SO much!

Isn't she pretty? :)

 Then I made a DIY shoe bag to coordinate.

And a DIY Lingerie Bag. 

The inspiration was found on Pinterest, of course, that was so cute! 

It was from Victoria's Secret but no longer available..it can be seen here.

The pink bra and panty outlines were made from an iron on sheet from HobLob. It comes in 10x8 sheet in the patch section. I just drew them on, cut them out, and ironed them on!

The outside is white silk, and the inside is a light pink suiting material (found at JoAnn). 

Simple and fun!

Classroom Fun

I figured I'd share a little more that is in my classroom. It's still coming together, it will just take a couple of years to accumulate. Here is my start though..

Burlap and bunting,

  

curtain rods made for $5 each using a wooden dowel (3/4 in) 

and two drawer pulls from HobLob, 

(Use a drill bit on the ends and screw the pulls in!)

a big paper mache hot air balloon for fun,

 

and a stool cover I saw here!

Mine was fitted but there was too much extra fabric under the seat. So I used 

upholstery nails and nailed the excess fab to the underside! (Shhh!)

Minnay Minnay

I made the decision to by an iPad, but not the big guy...I bought a mini!

It took me took me a while to decide which iPad - the 2 or the mini. When I had first heard of an iPad Mini, I thought, well that's dumb. All I could think of was an iPhone 5 size. I talked to a friend who had one and she said she loved hers - but I just didn't get it. She has little hands and talked about how she could hold it with one hand so easily. Weird. So, I ventured to Best Buy and thought ohhhhhh - I like it. After another week of in-decisiveness, I brought one home! I will say that I am super happy with my decision! 

I made a sleeve and this time with my tag included. :)

I used my laptop sleeve tutorial on this little guy!

Spring it on, again!

Here is my Spring bulletin board. :)

Easy and fun!

Letter Tutorial:

Tissue Flowers:

All I did here was fold a bunch of pieces back and forth and cut the edges either round or oval or whatever. Then took one piece at a time, gathered it like above, and stapled each piece to my board in a circle - creating one flower.




Make sure you see my Spring desk by clicking the picture below!

 

Patch me if you can

Time for patches!

Super easy - super fun :)

Materials:

- Tank (Mine are Hanes from Wal-Mart for $5)

- Piece of paper in the shape wanted

- Scrap of fabric for patch

- Matching thread

- Scrap of iron on fusion

- Scrap of stabilizer

- Sewing machine

Directions:

Step 1: 

Find a tank and choose the shape you want for your patch. 

(The less small curves the better)

Step 2: 

Cut out your shape on a piece of paper. 

I just printed the Arkansas out at the size that I wanted.

Step 3:

Take your patch fabric and iron on fusion. This will make it a tad bit stiffer.

Step 4:

Pin the paper to your fabric and use it as as stencil to cut around.

Step 5:

On a left over piece of fabric play with your stitch length using a zig-zag stitch. This will be for around your shape. You will want it pretty tight but not too tight. On the left you can see beside the 0.3 that the stitches are really really tight. At the bottom you can see the 0.5 where the stitches are looser, which is too loose. On the right you see the 0.4 where it's not too tight and not too loose. You will have to play with your machine to see what length you want. The width I used was 2.5cm and length 0.4cm.

Step 6:

Take your shape and pin onto stabilizer. This will make it really "patchy" because it stiffens it more, but don't worry, it dissolves when you wash it. Using the stitch you found from step 5, stitch the fabric onto the stabilizer keeping the center of the foot on the edge of your fabric. If you have a lot of curves, you will have to pick up your foot and turn in tiny increments at a time. It can be tricky but do-able.

Step 7:

Now that the stabilizer is sewn on, carefully rip off the excess by holding onto the stitches and gently pulling the stabilizer away. Trim with scissors if needed.

Step 8:

Pin your patch to wherever you want it on your shirt. 

I recommend trying it on to make sure you like the placement.

Step 9:

Sew it on to your shirt using a straight stitch and sewing right along the inside of the zig-zag stitch.

Step 10:

Wear! :)

[Shurt]

Knit circle shirt - easiest top ever! So simple.

I used a knit that I love from Hobby Lobby (you might recognize 

the fabric as I made an infinity scarf in the lighter blue last month).

Materials:

1 yd knit fabric (or something stretchy)

Sewing machine

Fitted t-shirt (for measurements)

 Directions:

 Fold your fabric in half so it is wider than it is tall. If you are using stripes like me, make sure when you fold it over the lines match up. Next cut, pin, and sew! If you're like me, then a picture is easier to understand. So take a look at picture below:

You're going to cut along the dotted lines. Make sure you do not cut the fold though - except for the neckline. I did a v-cut in the front and barely a dip in the back. I hemmed them for a more finished look (optional). I also hemmed the bottom of my shirt, which includes only between the lines sewn (again, optional). Easiest shirt ever! Have fun!

DIY Laptop Sleeve: Tutorial

Here is a laptop sleeve tutorial. It's simple and can be done in about an hour!

Materials:

1/2 yard exterior fabric (flower fabric from Hobby Lobby)

1/2 yard for lining (I used faux gray suede - super soft)

Scrap of fabric for flap

Batting

1 Button

Sewing Machine

Needle and thread (for button)

First, measure your laptop. 

Mine is a 15" Macbook Pro so it ended up being 14.5" W x 10" H x 1" D

You will need to allow for seam allowance. I added 2.5 inches extra because I used double batting. Total equals = 17" W x 12.5" H

Step 1: Cut

Two rectangles of exterior fabric measuring 17" W x 12.5" H (or insert your numbers here)

One rectangle of scrap fabric for flap. You can make it the height you want, keeping the same width as everything else. So mine was 17" W x 7' H.

Two rectangles for lining:

One needs to be the same as the exterior, so 17" W x 12.5" H.

The other needs to be the same width, but you have to add the height of the flap and exterior piece together. So it will be 17" W x 19.5" H (12.5" + 7")

Four rectangles of batting that are the same as the exterior size = 17"W X12.5"H

You will have a total of 9 pieces of fabric/batting.

*It's better to have too much extra than not enough fabric!

Step 2: Overlap

Here you will pin the flap onto the WRONG side of your bigger lining piece. Make sure to line up the edge of flap to the edge of interior fabric. Hem all sides, then you will sew all sides. (See next step for alternative front flap hem) The lining that is still visible is the same size as the exterior pieces. So the back will be the exterior, then the flap will fold over to the front.

Step 3: Hem the Flap

OPTIONAL: Here I decided to hem the edge in the pattern of the chevron instead of just straight across. To do this cut the chevron so there is one strip (off-white for this fabric) extra that you can hem. You will need to cut only the extra strip at each point up to the next strip (yellow). Then just fold it up so the strip you want to see is visible. Press then stitch. 

I did two lines just for fun :)

Step 4: 3 Pieces together

This step you will need to add one exterior piece to the piece with the flap. First, press the top edge (that will go long the flap). Then place the rectangle so the exterior and lining fabrics are wrong sides together, and sew only along the top edge where it barely overlaps the flap. 

Step 5: Batting

Lift the exterior fabric up and place two pieces of batting in between the exterior and lining. Make sure to place it all the way up so it is against the seam by the flap.

Step 6: Layer

Layer all of your pieces together! Here you will place your largest piece (with the flap) lining right side down, with the batting on top, then the exterior piece that is already sewn together. Then place the other exterior piece on top right side down, two pieces of batting, then interior piece wrong side down. It will look like this:

Step 7: Pin and sew!

You will need to pin all three outsides together. It is super thick so make sure you get all the pieces lined up and pinned well. Stick your laptop in to make sure it fits and to see how much you can take it in. I could take in just under an inch on each side since I used extra at the beginning.* Sew along the edge. Cut off the extra fabric from the seam. Mine ended up being super snug (which was just what I wanted). When you are done, turn it right side out.

*I had to sew this a couple times before I got every layer all the way around since it was so thick. I just scooted in a tad more each time to get everything. Make sure to check to see how your laptop fits before you make it too tight. 

Step 8: Button

Measure and mark where you want the button hole on the flap. My machine has a button hole foot so I just up it in the machine and it did it by itself (after I read all the instructions and did a test on a scrap of fabric). After that, place your laptop into the sleeve then fold over the flap. See where the button hole lines up and mark where the button will be. Sew on your button.

Now you have a super cute laptop sleeve! :)