Projects
So I've been working on some projects lately. Mostly ideas either directly from blogs, or inspired by blogs. My favourite is my Canada Day decorations that I modified from fourth of July decorations, but I don't have those with me and I forgot to take a picture, so you'll have to wait on those. But as far as the other things I have them here.
The first thing I made was this super cute bag that I found on Heather Moxley's blog: http://familymoxley.blogspot.com/2011/06/these-bags.html, she actually got the idea from another blog, but the link is on there. The bag is super cute and super easy, both my girls (17 and 11 and almost never sewn before) were able to make one in under an hour each, maybe even less time. I love the idea of using them for toys, although in my house I think they will be used for makeup.
So these adorable bags sparked my imagination, and from them I made this bag, same thing just bigger and with a handle. Again, absolutely love the bag, and it made up really fast and easy. I just added the handle by sewing a tube, turning it and double stitching down both sides, then sewing it between the layers. Just make sure that you do it between the right sides of the fabric, otherwise you end up with the seam on the outside of the bag instead of the inside, and like me, you have to pull it apart and redo it. Oops.
After making those, my brain was still going all night, and I decided I needed to make these bags (there are two of them, but they have the same outer fabric, if you look close you can see that they are different sizes and have different buttons-the also have different linings, but I only took a picture of one of the linings). As you can see, my model was a little uncomfortable modelling a bag! Adding the flap on these bags required a bit more work, it's not challenging, but when you are layering everything together, it's a bit tricky to make sure it all comes out where you want it to, I had to keep checking over and over to make sure I got it right. But I absolutely love how they turned out. I'm hoping to make a couple with blue baby cord next - these are made with pink baby cord. I'm taking them to my family reunion to auction off, we'll see how they go. I'm pretty excited about it! The really fun thing about these bags is that it's all a matter of choosing your zipper. Pick out your zipper first and then make your bag size according to your zipper choice. It makes it very versitile, and because it doesn't use much fabric, it's great for scraps!
The next project that I've been working on are these fun word blocks. The idea basically came from my own head, although I've seen several things like them in various places. But I didn't have any kind of instructions, I basically just guessed as I went along, and I love how they turned out.
My Dad is a cabinet maker, so I have lots of access to scrap wood, though I'm sure you could use a 2x4 or something else. But I just went to my Dad's shop and looked through his scraps until I found what I was looking for. I picked a variety of sizes and cut some down, but most of them we just cut off the bad stuff (cracks, painted ends, etc). Then I sanded them on the disc sander and took them home and painted them. I did have to buy the paint, 'cause I don't have anything even close to neutral colours in my collection (I like colourful walls). But I just went to our local hardware store and picked up a couple of mistints. One can cost my $5 and the other $6. When the paint had dried I cut out the words that I wanted on my cricut and used mod podge to adhere them. I also made one that has my last name on it, as well as one that says Canada (in red letters) to go with my other Canada Day project (pictures to come). After they were completely dry, I took them back to my Dad's shop and applied a light coat of stain. I used a paper towel and wiped it on then wiped it off until I had the look that I wanted. It probably would have been easier with a gel stain, but I just used a regular wood stain - whatever my Dad had handy. I also used a little more stain right around the edges, and applied it kinda like you would ink on a photo for scrapbooking. I can't get over how great they turned out! These are also going to the family reunion, so hopefully my aunts and cousins like them as much as I do!
The first thing I made was this super cute bag that I found on Heather Moxley's blog: http://familymoxley.blogspot.com/2011/06/these-bags.html, she actually got the idea from another blog, but the link is on there. The bag is super cute and super easy, both my girls (17 and 11 and almost never sewn before) were able to make one in under an hour each, maybe even less time. I love the idea of using them for toys, although in my house I think they will be used for makeup. 
So these adorable bags sparked my imagination, and from them I made this bag, same thing just bigger and with a handle. Again, absolutely love the bag, and it made up really fast and easy. I just added the handle by sewing a tube, turning it and double stitching down both sides, then sewing it between the layers. Just make sure that you do it between the right sides of the fabric, otherwise you end up with the seam on the outside of the bag instead of the inside, and like me, you have to pull it apart and redo it. Oops.
After making those, my brain was still going all night, and I decided I needed to make these bags (there are two of them, but they have the same outer fabric, if you look close you can see that they are different sizes and have different buttons-the also have different linings, but I only took a picture of one of the linings). As you can see, my model was a little uncomfortable modelling a bag! Adding the flap on these bags required a bit more work, it's not challenging, but when you are layering everything together, it's a bit tricky to make sure it all comes out where you want it to, I had to keep checking over and over to make sure I got it right. But I absolutely love how they turned out. I'm hoping to make a couple with blue baby cord next - these are made with pink baby cord. I'm taking them to my family reunion to auction off, we'll see how they go. I'm pretty excited about it! The really fun thing about these bags is that it's all a matter of choosing your zipper. Pick out your zipper first and then make your bag size according to your zipper choice. It makes it very versitile, and because it doesn't use much fabric, it's great for scraps!
My Dad is a cabinet maker, so I have lots of access to scrap wood, though I'm sure you could use a 2x4 or something else. But I just went to my Dad's shop and looked through his scraps until I found what I was looking for. I picked a variety of sizes and cut some down, but most of them we just cut off the bad stuff (cracks, painted ends, etc). Then I sanded them on the disc sander and took them home and painted them. I did have to buy the paint, 'cause I don't have anything even close to neutral colours in my collection (I like colourful walls). But I just went to our local hardware store and picked up a couple of mistints. One can cost my $5 and the other $6. When the paint had dried I cut out the words that I wanted on my cricut and used mod podge to adhere them. I also made one that has my last name on it, as well as one that says Canada (in red letters) to go with my other Canada Day project (pictures to come). After they were completely dry, I took them back to my Dad's shop and applied a light coat of stain. I used a paper towel and wiped it on then wiped it off until I had the look that I wanted. It probably would have been easier with a gel stain, but I just used a regular wood stain - whatever my Dad had handy. I also used a little more stain right around the edges, and applied it kinda like you would ink on a photo for scrapbooking. I can't get over how great they turned out! These are also going to the family reunion, so hopefully my aunts and cousins like them as much as I do!
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