sincerely yours, dena

Biggest annoyance while during sewing? Threading the bobbin. So when I when I do one, I load the baby up as full as she can go. If I have leftovers (which I normally do) I store the bobbin underneath the thread on my thread rack. That way I know exactly what bobbin goes with what thread.

These are really easy to make. I went to Target and bought a bag of cloth diapers. At my local fabric store, Mariner’s Compass, they sell little mini scraps for $2.99. Just a quick straight sew after turning the sides under and a little embrodiery of the baby’s last name initial and you got a cute burpie rag that is ready for spit up.

I’ve found a new home in cyberspace where the neighbors are super friendly and creatifiic! Country Living Magazine’s website allows you to register within their forums, ask questions and get inspired. Need convincing… just check out Little Girls’ D-Ring Ribbon Belt Apron by Sommer Designs

Current forums include:

• Antiques & Collectibles
• Decorating
• Home Improvements
• Women Entrepreneurs
• Crafts & Simple Projects
• Gardening
• Outdoor Living
• Recipes & Entertaining

Such a simple idea that takes no time to execute but is perfect for my nephew who is such a “little man.” I have extra bibs laying around because… i have no excuse, i like to have extra gift items just around in case of a crafting emergency.

Just to be clear, I stole this idea from Uncommon Goods (picture below) but why pay $20 plus shipping and handling if you can do it for $1.50 and in 20 mins?

Here’s how:
1.) Cut a tie shape out of cardboard making sure it fits the bib you plan to use.
2.) Trace the tie shape on a piece of fabric using a washable fabric marker
3.) Pin the fabric cutout to the bib and sew using a wide close together stitch.

Vintage print baby necktie bibs from Uncommon Goods

Every year when I make the Jimmy Buffet T-Shirts the girls always look frumpie in normal unfitted Ts. This year I found this book: Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt and got inspired.

Making the shirts was so easy and they turned out wicked cute! Each shirt fit each girls style and shape.

Every year my parrothead in-laws throw a huge rage in honor of Jimmy Buffet and every year I make a T-shirt for our caravan of friends who join us. The annual Maine get together had a theme this year “License To Chill.” I copied the Maine drivers license from the google images and modified them using Adobe Photoshop. I started by enlarging the license so it would fit nicely on a T-shirt. Then I changed the information on the licenses to be party appropriate. I made everyone 21 for the day! I then printed them out on T-shirt printer paper and transferred the design with a hot iron.

We looked pretty cool and my husband even got stopped at the gas station and was asked where she could get one.

Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back, I’m bringing cross stitch back. I nearly fell of my chair laughing when I saw the genious of what you can do with a little bit of humor, some floss and embrodiery hoop. I can’t wait to complete my “Don’t Make Me Cut You” cross stitch and frame it to hang in my office.

Warning… the following links takes you to the world of profanity… click with caution.

subversive cross stitch
How to instructions
DIY cross stitch generator

What better way to impress your dinner guests than to have monogramed cloth napkins. What better way to lend a helping hand to mother nature too! You’ll save trees and add a touch of class to your tabletop - even if the menu consists of frozen pizza and salad from a bag.

A few notes: If you buy a pillow case (like I did) beware of the reversible. That’s why my pillowcase has 2 different fabrics. Also, I never am able to follow a sewing pattern exactly, this one is no different. So wing it if you need to.

1. Trim 1/4 inch off the closed end and cut the case in half on the diagonal.
2. Turn the fabric of each of the four diagnal cut edges over by 1/4 inch, twice, pin and hem.
3. Place one pillowcase half inside the other, linning up bottom edges, pin and sew at front where fabrics overlap. Repeat on other side.
4. Turn fabric inside out and hem case’s cut bottom. Trim with pinking shears.
5. Turn case right side out, tie top ends into a knot.

Taken from Martha Stewart Living, June 2007

Some ‘mom’s to be’ hate baby shower games, who can blame them? Here’s an alternative game activity that everyone loves: decorate baby onezies for the little one.

Here’s a picture of the one I made.

You can attach ribbon using liquid sewing which can be found at any craft store.

Things you’ll need:

• Assorted ribbon
• Iron on letters of different colors and shapes
• liquid sewing
• iron
• white onezies of different sizes
• Iron on transfers (print out ahead of time on a ink jet printer)