Grocery Bag Dispenser!

This project turned out great - and it didn't take a lot of time or materials to make since save for the batting, everything from fabric to elastic was from my stash! I got to try my hand at quilting and have decided that I need a stippling foot before trying that mess again (unless I'm quilting in straight lines). But the best part? Now, I've got this great little way to store my plastic grocery bags. (So much better than the previous overflowing basket at the bottom of the pantry...)

What's that? You need a plastic bag? Why, I just happen to have one right here...

Thanks Moda Bake Shop for a great tutorial!

This Ain't Yo Momma's Playhouse...

Welcome to my girls' new playhouse - won't you come on in?!

Sorry for the lighting - I finished it this evening and couldn't wait to take pictures!! Maybe tomorrow I can get some with better lighting and with the girls.

Okay, details. I used this tutorial from Sew Much Ado on how to measure for the sides and "roof". After that, I sketched my ideas for each panel and went to work! The green body fabric is chino curtain material from Walmart (it saved time not having to sew a hem). The rest of the fabric and felt was from my stash, except for the vinyl - oh, the vinyl. We'll talk more about that in a bit.

For the front panel, I cut out a door and sewed pink binding for the doorframe. Then I added a felt mailbox and light and a fabric applique bush.

The back panel is a fabric applique tree with fabric/felt birdies that can be velcroed to the tree when the girls are playing.

One side window panel has a round cut-out window with pink binding and is flanked by fabric applique and felt topiaries.

The other side panel has a vinyl window with a fabric applique windowbox and hand-sewn felt flowers. Now, the vinyl. Hmmm, where do I begin? First of all, I have never sewn with vinyl, so that should have been my first clue. Secondly, I didn't research sewing with vinyl (as I normally would have any other day...)! Let's just say that many ripped seams and curse words later, the window is done, with ribbon on the outside covering the awful sewing job hiding underneath. Thank goodness for fabric glue.

I absolutely love how it turned out, and I think the girls will enjoy it. I may still modify it some by adding some more details on the outside (maybe some bird nests for the tree?), a name plate above the door, and maybe add a fabric door that can be rolled to open and close. We'll see.

I used my new serger on the interior seams, and I think I'm in love. Is there much better than an overlocking seam? I think not!

So...

Curtains: $16.00

Vinyl: $7.00

Stash fabric: Free (essentially)

Making an adorable playhouse (and learning how not to sew vinyl): Priceless!

Finally - a Twirly Skirt for Mom!

I finally got around to getting the right size elastic for my circle skirt and I finished it off so I could wear it today... and I totally dig it.


Pretty, right? I used Amy Butler fabrics from the Midwest Modern 2 line. The skirt is Orange Dahlia in ivory/poppies and the waistband (which you can't see :() is blush/martini. After making some of the girls' skirts from Walmart fabric, it was nice working with great material. There is such a huge difference in the way it feels and the way it comes together!

The pattern was easy to follow and this skirt was cut and pieced together in an afternoon. Love it! I can already tell there will be more of these poppin' up in my closet... And just for my girls, I had to test out the Twirl Factor...

I think it meets the standard, don't you?!

Oh... I almost forgot! Dh surprised me with an early birthday present today - a serger! Now - off to figure out how to use it!

My Girl Likes the Twirl

Big Sis loves wearing skirts... but not just any skirt. It has to twirl. Seriously - I have tons of cute skirts she won't wear because they're not "twirly enough". Luckily, I discovered the Girly Skirt Pattern from Pink Fig Patterns. Now that I've made several of these, I can whip them up pretty quick.

I made this one this weekend for K, and she loves it. The twirl, the wild colors - they're very her. Not too shabby for Wal-Mart fabric!

Now to make one for Lil Sis!!