Life changing sewing tip!

Okay, I know it's been forever since I've posted something new here. I guess I'm not doing so well with the 'now' resolution as far as blogging goes......but maybe not.


I've had these pictures for some time but can't find my finished project to show. I finally decided to quit waiting for that and go ahead and post this tip 'now'. See? See how I did that? I turned things so that it looks like I really am keeping my resolution. It's one of my lesser known but highly developed talents. LOL


Anyway, I've seen it other places on the internet (which is how I found out about it) but haven't really seen it in that many places.


And I swear, it's one of the best sewing tips I've ever happened across!


I started with this ribbon (about 3 inches wide)

 

 

Now set your stitch length to the longest possible and your tension to the tightest possible and just sew down your ribbon (or fabric). That's it! (I have a video but can't seem to get it to load....grrr!)

Anyway, you'll end up with this:

Amazing, isn't it?

I used this technique for the ruffle on the comforter for Kirsten. This makes gathering so easy that I don't mind doing it at all anymore.


Let me know if you try it and if you think it's as life changing as I do!

That covers it

Two of my daughters share a bedroom. Kirsten loves zebra print and has been wanting that in their bedroom for some time. Addison, on the other hand, doesn't want it at all. Since Kirsten always gives in on these things I decided it was time for her to have her way.

But, I did still take Addison into consideration and decided not to go hog wild with the zebra print.

Last year Dax's mom had given me a black comforter set (which doesn't match anything in my bedroom) but it was a good deal. Anyway, it's a king size comforter and the girls have twin size beds. Also, because they're loft beds I didn't want something that hung way down on the sides. I measured their beds and the comforter and cutting it in half would work perfectly.

So, I gathered yards and yards of zebra print fabric and stitched it to half of that king size comforter. I topped that with some wide, hot pink rick-rack.

And, I ended up with this:

I gave Kirsten a set of sheets in a matching zebra print and Addison got a set in hot pink with white polka dots. This way, they're both happy. Score!!

Now, I do have to mention that I way underestimated how much fabric it would take to put a ruffle around two twin comforters so I originally only ordered enough to make it around one. When my second order of fabric arrived, my girls (as usual) were being nosy so I had to hide the package from them. Guess what I still can't find. Sooooo, I only have one comforter completed and the other is on hold until I can find my magic hiding place. I should probably ask the girls to look.....it would likely only take minutes for them to find it. LOL

Santa's Little Helper

That was the theme of a pageant one of my daughters did in December.

She decided to dress as an elf.

Now, I don't know if you realize this or not, but elf shoes aren't that easy to find.

I looked at several places around town with no luck so decided to just make them myself. We had plenty of notice, but of course I put it off until the night before.  Although I had designed them more than once in my head.

I started with plain green felt and a rough outline of her foot.

I used a heavier, stiff, glittered felt for the tops of the shoes. Each shoe had one green side and one red side.

This is the shape that I cut out of each. I left the one side on the edge of the felt where it's straight because that's the part that I will sew to the green bottoms. I sewed a red piece and a green piece together at the back and the front all the way to the point of the curve.

Then I stitched that to the green shoe bottom. At this point it looks like the picture below.

That's all that I did on my sewing machine. I stitched the tops together by hand. I joined my red and green sides together in the middle and stitched all the way to the point in the curve. Then I attached a bell.

They were still a little loose so I attached some ribbon to the heel parts so she could tie them around her ankle. And i stuffed some pipe cleaners into the the part that sticks up just to help them hold the bells up.

I thought they turned out pretty good, and she got lots of compliments on them at the pageant.

And more cookies.....

Here's another of the cookie recipes that I made during my cookies for clients baking marathon. Huh, I like the sound of that. Maybe that's what I'll refer to it as from now on. lol

Anyway, these cookies are called Dishpan Cookies and I used this recipe to make them. There are several recipes out there (as I later found out) but this is the first one that I came across and it's the one I used.

They're called dishpan cookies because the recipe is so large that you need to use a dishpan to make them in. Now, I didn't use a dishpan but I did use a very large bowl.

I also accidentally made a batch without the baking soda or salt. But honestly, they still tasted great, they just didn't flatten out like the other cookies.

These taste good and have so many things in them that are considered good food that I was almost tempted to feed them to my kids for breakfast.

Well, the good ingredients and the lack of sleep working together. But, alas, I came to my senses and they got a decent breakfast.

Trust me, there were plenty of cookies left for them to eat that afternoon. And for the next week!

It's a New Year

Happy New Year!!!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I enjoyed the time with the family and have great expectations for the year ahead.

Instead of making a bunch of resolutions that I may or may not keep, but most often find myself completely overwhelmed with, I prefer to chose a word to guide me (and my efforts) throughout the year. For 2012 my word was 'better'. I did do better in many areas, but also found that I let some things slide and didn't do as well in those areas. Over all, though, I am happy with my efforts. It takes a lot of time and energy to raise four teenagers, work in our own business, and keep our household running. I feel like I'm accomplishing a lot just to be able to keep my sanity. LOL

So, in keeping with my theme word, this year I've chosen....

I'm terrible about pushing the things that I don't enjoy doing off until they absolutely HAVE to be done. This year I want to learn to just do them and get it over with. That way, when I play and craft it can be done without guilt. (I always feel guilty when I'm crafting and the sink is full of dishes or the floor is covered with muddy paw prints.)

I look forward to getting this bad habit under control and really think that it will bring an added sense of peace to my life. Not to mention all of those pesky tasks that will get taken care of sooner rather than later. I know that if I learn to just go ahead and do it, it will save me time in the long run. I'm certain that my procrastination makes for a bigger job to be done by the time I make myself do it.

I hope that you have a wonderful year and are able to make any changes that you desire and that it makes for a happier, better life for you.

Guess I was good

I must have been a good girl this year because Santa was good to me. Actually, he was VERY GOOD to me.

Just look at what he brought me!!

It also came with an embroidery attachment, and he brought a quilting foot too.

My wonderful husband went and picked it out, bought it, and wrapped it all on his own. Quite frankly, it's far nicer than anything I would have bought for myself even if he told me to go get whatever I wanted.

He may have just earned himself a lifetime of brownie points.

I'm terribly excited to sit down and really play with it. I've done a little bit of playing but with all the family that's been at our house through the holidays I haven't been able to do much. I am so far beyond excited about it!!

Chocolate Hazelnut Snickerdoodle Cookies

These cookies were as good as they sound and were a hit with everyone that tried them. I got the recipe here.

And I should mention that it's super easy. Start with a snickerdoodle cookie mix and add a chocolate hazelnut spread on top. That's two of my favorite things......easy and delicious!