An apple, my pretty?

Sometimes when I'm working on a project that takes up quite a bit of my time, it's nice to stop and focus my attention on another quick little project. The instant gratification helps re-energize me for the bigger project.
This little apple tree pin was just the quick fix I needed. First of all, I must mention Elsa's felt pins, because I never would have thought of making the apple tree pin had I not viewed her works of art. Her Garden pin is by far my most favorite one.

What is it about roots that are so fascinating to me? They seem to come up from the earth to take a little peek and then down they go, plunging into the deep, dark, earthly, abyss. And metaphorically it's true to say that there is so much more to a tree, person, or situation than meets the eye. I often need to remind myself of this before I go jumping to conclusions.

I guess I just answered my question =)

Jamie

A vintage find O'mine

Alas! My new vintage dress (oxymoron... yes?) has arrived. Recently, I discovered, and subsequently stalked, an etsy store called Old Age. Mmmmm... such happiness there (love this mini). Now when it comes to vintage/antique shopping, I have concluded that I don't have the vintage eye. My brother on the other hand, has the vintage eye of an eagle. Approximately 75% of his shopping is done at the DAV and he looks like he shops at some chic LA men's boutique. He's always able to find amazing sailor hats, old jackets, and classic shoes. He looks great in them!
But not me. When I shop at vintage stores I get so overwhelmed with all of the other stuff that I often over look the good stuff. Plus, within 5 minutes of being surrounded by vintage inventory my allergies flare up like a Tasmanian devil! I begin sneezing, my throat starts to itch, and my EYES - oh do my eyes start to water. Maybe that's the real reason why I don't have the vintage eye... they're too watery to see the good stuff.
Anyways, I gave up antiquing on the weekends long ago. Which brings me to my extreme happiness with finding Old Age and my 1960's mini dress. I didn't have to weed through a bunch of inventory while sneezing and crying.

I must confess that when I had put the dress on, I kind of felt like saluting and saying...

"Welcome aboard and thank you for flying with us." It's got a little of that 60's flight attendant vibe going on =)

I like it.

As for the belt, I made it with brown velvet ribbon. Here's a better view of it...

The belt snaps together. I took pics of the process and when I get a chance I'll write up a tutorial on how to make a velvet belt along with all of the belt buckle options. In the mean time here's a list of my favorite etsy vintage shops...
Old Age
High Street Market
Vintage Jane
Penorus
Timeless Vixen

Enjoy your flight!

Jamie

How to turn a dress into a scarf/shawl

My little dress turned scarf project turned out alright. Basically, I cut off the skirt portion of this dress...


and made a scarf out of it. I added running stitches to one side of the scarf (the plain black side) for balance, because the trim design was heavy to one side. I also added the little bobble clusters to each side, but it's not as noticeable as it is in the Nani Iro scarf. However, it does add weight to the ends of the scarf which I very much like. That's pretty much all there is to it.

Here's a front view of it as a shawl...

The cameo pin is from Elsa Mora's etsy shop. Such sweetness.
And here is the back view...

So if you happen to have a dress with fancy trim and you haven't worn it for some time now, you now have a new option!

How to turn a dress into a scarf/shawl

1. Cut out the skirt portion of the dress. Make sure to cut out more than the desired width of the scarf/shawl. For example, I cut 25" up from the hem, because I wanted the finished width of the scarf/shawl to be around 20".
2. Rip out the side seams.
3. Cut 2 rectangles out of the 2 skirt pieces. I cut each rectangle at 20" in width and approximately 30" in length.
4. Finish the short ends of one side of each rectangle piece.
5. With right sides together and matching finished short ends, sew the 2 rectangle pieces together along the finished short ends. You should now have one long rectangle piece of fabric.
6. Finish all raw edges of fabric.
7. Add running stitches to the fabric where your eyes want to see them.
8. Add the bobble cluster. (see scarf/shawl tutorial for instructions on bobble cluster).

That's it!
Have fun bringing new life to dead dresses.

Jamie

The second life of a dress

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

You. Me. 10,000 monkeys. Daaancing.

No, but close. Look at the trim.


That there trim has the potential of becoming a really cute scarf. The dress is a hand-me-down from my sister and it doesn't fit me quite right. I'm not sure if I will add bobbles or cut it as wide as the previous scarf I made. Nevertheless, I do know its next life is going to be a scarf.

On another note, if you happen to be in the Fabric Shopper area, be sure to check out the Honey Girl Dress/Top pattern giveaway. The giveaway includes a Honey Girl pattern along with 3 yards of fabric from my shop Phat Fabric. I love giveaways! Don't you?

Good luck!

Jamie

MC Hammer Vader

I had to share this video. After my kids viewed it, they put on their Star Wars costumes and have been rehearsing the song and dance number every since.

MC Hammer Vader Busts a Move - Watch more Funny Videos

Simple Fabric Scarf/Shawl Tutorial

Here's my Anthro inspired scarf/shawl. Actually it's the cluster of balls at each end of the scarf that's really inspired by Anthro. The running stitches on the scarf are from me, but who are we kidding? It's all about the ball cluster that really makes the scarf =).

So here's the cool thing about the scarf, it can be worn as a shawl too...

I know. I really got into this shoot. I changed clothes and dawned a hat for the shawl look. I don't get out much ;)

Here's the back view with the running stitches...

(and she's back in the original outfit)

I didn't line this scarf/shawl, because I wanted a light weight feel to it. However, come winter, I'm anxious to double up on the fabric and try some reversible ones. And as I said before, these will be great Christmas gifts - fast, simple, and handmade. Perfect!

If you're interested, below is a tutorial on how to make this scarf/shawl.
Enjoy!

Materials
~ Fabric: 2 yards of a cotton gauze or loose weave/knit fabric (I used Nani Iro Pocho Yellow, which is a cotton double gauze fabric)
~ Cotton Perle or Embroidery Floss: I used a light gray color
~ Pom Pom balls: At least 1 bag of the small size. Had I had another bag, I would have added a few more balls.

Cutting
Fabric: Cut the 2 yards of fabric in half lengthwise (along the already existing fold in the fabric). Note: the 2 yards should not be cut in half making it 2 separate 1 yard cuts. Instead, you should have 2 separate 2 yard cuts of fabric that are approximately 22" in width. You will only need one of the 2 yard pieces for the scarf.

Lets begin...
1) Finish the raw edges of the fabric. I used a rolled hem stitch with my serger. If you do not have a serger, you can simply fold under the edges (wrong side to wrong side) a 1/4" and fold a 1/4" again. Stitch along the fold line.
2) With the Cotton Perle or Embroider floss, hand stitch a couple of rows of running stitches along the length of the fabric. I stitched between the rows of polka dots. Try not to be a perfectionist. Go with what makes your eyes feel good. The "imperfections" make the scarf unique and beautifully handmade... like us humans =)

3) Before you knot off the end of each running stitch, gently gather the fabric by pulling on the floss and sliding the fabric. Gather the fabric just a little bit. You want to create a little movement in the fabric.
4) Knot the ends of the floss.
5) Place a pom pom under the fabric (wrong side of fabric). I placed mine approximately 6" up from the end of the scarf and in the center.

6) Cover the ball with the fabric and pinch or twist the bottom. You want to be able to see where the bottom of the ball is.

7) With the floss, tie a circle (do not knot it) and place it around the ball.

8) Tighten up the tie and knot it at the base of the ball.
9) Repeat steps 5 - 8 for the rest of the fabric balls and arrange them in a cluster. Make sure you save half of the pom poms for the other side of the scarf.

Helpful hint: If there is too big of a space between 2 balls, simply tie them together with some floss.

Ta Daaaa

Finito!

Jamie

My wannabe Anthro scarf

Ooo-weee! I can't wait to show you my Anthro inspired scarf. Here's a peek, but it looks much better on. Plus, it's wide enough to be a light weight shawl. I just finished making it today, so tomorrow I hope to have my husband take some pics of me in it. I'll share it along with a tutorial on how to make it. Super easy and a great handmade Christmas gift.

Jamie

Miniatures and links

I have just discovered Tilt Shift (I would link to the blog that led me to Tilt Shift, but I forgot who it was... Dang!) and have spent far too much time turning most of my Hawaii pics into miniatures. If you haven't already visited the site, I recommend you make sure you have an hour or so to spend on it. Basically, you upload a photo and Tilt shift makes it look like a miniature. Even people look like miniatures. Just like Godzilla attacking Tokyo. Here is the original photo...

Hooray for simple pleasures!

I have a couple of links I've been meaning to share. The first being a new etsy shop. My friend Mare is an artist in every sense of the word. Whatever craft she embarks upon, whether it be painting, knitting, felting, or jewelry making, she does it with skill and poetic creativity. Her shop is called Anything But Ordinary which sums it up in a nut shell. Here's the link.

The Future Craft Collective is both convicting and inspiring.

I am a new fan of these 2 blogs (Blueprints and Cold Antler Farm) via whip up.

Monday night I made Ree Drummond's Cowboy Nachos. Super good, but man did our tummies pay for it the next morning. We're not use to such hardy cowboy food.

I really want to buy...
a Library Kit ...
an Ice Cream maker...
the book The Private Life of Tasha Tudor.

Cheers,

Jamie

Paula Prass fabric and 2 Giveaways!

I'm very excited to have added textile designer Paula Prass to the Phat Fabric family. Her Summer Soiree collection is pure summer bliss. Bright happy colors mixed with summer floral motifs. Such happiness!

I'm also excited to share with you 2 giveaways! Over at The Crafty Crow you will find a giveaway for 3 Pretty Ditty Apron patterns (link). And The Fabric Shopper is having a giveaway for a Pretty Ditty Apron Pattern plus 3 yards of Michael Miller fabric or Alexander Henry fabric from Phat Fabric (link). So be sure to head on over to these blogs and enter to win. I'm already a huge fan of both blogs as The Fabric Shopper keeps me updated with the latest in fabric news and The Crafty Crow keeps me from being a boring mom =)

Speaking of The Fabric Shopper, Melanie made a Pretty Ditty Apron and posted a review about the pattern (link). As you can imagine I was so relieved and excited to read that she found the pattern easy to follow. It's good to know that all those hours spent learning illustrator and nit picking over the illustrations paid off ;) ... And speaking of illustration, I am already working on a project that I am not yet allowed to talk about.... I'm bad aren't I? More to come on that. In the mean time, check out the giveaways and happy creating!

Jamie

Aloha!

Or I should say Aloooooo-Ha! We are back from the land of milk and honey AND sunburns. Hawaii... does it get any better than that!? Beautiful beaches, radiant flowers, friendly people, and slow driving. As for the whole relaxing bit... well did I mention that this was our first family vacation? ... Yaaaa, relaxing isn't what comes to mind when traveling with 3 kids, one being a napper, different time zone, red eye flight, ear infection with fever for 3 days, migraine (me), and did I mention 3 kids? With three kids, my husband and I at times felt more like Julie McCoy from the Love Boat, than relaxing vacationers. But seriously, I can't complain. Despite all of those factors, we still had a blast. Relaxing- no - fun - absolutely yes!
I especially loved hanging out with some friends of ours whom we hadn't seen in 9 years, and I would have to say this was the highlight of the trip for me. As I've mentioned before, my husband and I lived in Hawaii quite some time ago, and as beautiful as Hawaii is, the people are even more beautiful. It was as though we had never left our friends. They are the most natural, real, and warm people I have ever met. Friendships I will cherish forever.

Rather than going on and on about Hawaii and risk feeling like I'm on Survivor and just got back from a challenge reward (where I don't necessarily want to go on about how awesome the reward was for fear of being voted off), I'll just highlight some of the moments. But, I also can't pretend it was awful because we all know it wasn't.

• The plane ride over had a lot of turbulence. When we were descending into Honolulu we hit an air pocket that made everyone scream on the plane... including me. My kids, however, thought it was like a roller coaster ride and lifted up there hands and yelled "aaaaaaah" with smiles on there faces. They were clueless that death indeed could happen. I'm no longer a fan of flying.
  
• I ate a lot. I should say I ate a lot of Lampert's ice cream where they tell you they inject extra fat into their ice cream to make it taste even better. Where most ice cream stores try to say their ice cream is healthy, Lamperts doesn't and I like that =)
• My kids love to body board.
• I have a decent tan now.
• Love the luau!
• There was a Doctor on staff in the hotel, so we didn't have to go to the hospital to get an antibiotics prescription for my little guys ear infection.
• Spent 4th of July with friends on Kailua beach.
• Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.
• I sound Swedish when I try to speak pigeon "yaaaaah braaaa." =0
• The beaches are even more beautiful than I remember.

Here are some pics from the vacation...

Hawaii Kai

Hanauma Bay

Kailua Beach on the 4th of July.

My happy feet!

Cheers,

Jamie