Published!

I never thought in my widest dreams that it would happen! But, it did! Someone took a liking to something that little ol' me created and they wanted to put it on the pages of a magazine! 

I was contacted by the kind people of Mollie Makes magazine out of the UK a few weeks ago and they asked if they could publish the tutorial for my Infinity Scarf. (It is the #3 search on Google for "Infinity Scarf tutorial", ya know!) The issue was doing a feature on tartan fabric and lucky for me, my scarf fit the needs and style of the magazine. I am so thrilled that they contacted me and even though I highly stressed about having to recreate the tutorial and all the photos in high resolution for printing purposes, it was well worth it! I could not be happier about this opportunity! A big thanks to all the people of Mollie Makes for "making" it happen! Dreams really do come true!

P.S. Be sure to check out Mollie Makes blog! It's right along the lines of spectacular! 

Pssssst! When I did this tutorial last year, I got a few emails from readers wanting to know where the plaid fabric was purchased. I got it at JoAnn's  and when I was there 2 weeks ago, I saw that they had it in again this year! Run and grab it before it sells out!

Loved your visit! Until next time...

DIY Rain Boot Liners - Tutorial

It's inevitable. It happens every year. There is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. It's called: Winter. Earlier this summer I bought a sturdy pair of rain *boots for a family camping trip that I have since fallen in love with! I just wanted them to be a little softer, warmer and more comfortable so I came up with the idea of making my own liners - instead of paying the costly price for the designer brand ones sold in high end department stores. Besides, I am not one for labels showing on my attire. I loathe them. I think these are a pretty good, if not better, substitute! 

Materials that you will need:
3/4 yard of fleece
decorative *fabric of your choice - at least 1/4 yard.

I used a plaid scarf to make mine!

I found a tutorial awhile back on Prudent Baby for a pair of slippers with a free pattern provided. I decided to use their template and instructions to make the bootie part of the liner. Click HERE for the pattern.

Next, I laid down my boot to measure how high and how wide I wanted the leg of the liner to be. I then cut two pieces that will fit appropriately inside of the boot. 

You should have the following pieces before you can begin to sew.

I followed the instructions from Prudent Baby and I sewed my foot pieces to the "horse shoe" looking piece. Start at the toe of your pieces and sew along one side. Then come back to the toe and sew along the other side. This will assure that your 2 pieces will line up correctly and you won't have issues when you get to the heel. Leave the back open - do not sew closed, yet. 

After sewing those 2 pieces together, you should have what is a makeshift looking slipper with the back still open.

(excuse the dry white legs!)

Next, I folded the leg part of the liner in half to find the center and then pinned it to the top of the bootie. Doing the same steps as before, start sewing from the center and then along each side so that it will match up in the back.

You should have something that looks like this when you are done! This is also a good point and opportunity to size things how you want them. Do you need to take in the leg, trim the height of the liner, take more in at the heel...etc?

Once you have custom fit your liner, you an sew up the back to close it. They should look like this.

Now measure you leg opening and cut your fabric to A) the measurement of the width of your opening PLUS an extra 1/4" for a seam allowance and B) twice as high as you want your fold to be. You will want to cut your fabric to be twice as high as your fold so that you can see the fabric detail on the inside of the boot as well!

Now, fold your decorative fabric in half lengthwise and widthwise and sew it closed to make a tube. If you want to close the bottom up, go ahead, but it is not necessary. I left mine open. 

Next, with your liner turned right side in, slide your inside out "tube" halfway down into it. 

Does that make sense? 

Now you can sew along the top of your fleece to attach your fabric. Then sew it again at the bottom of the decorative fabric to attach it to the wall of your liner so that it doesn't ride up while wearing it. 

You are done! Now splash around and show off your styling wellie's that are one of a kind!

Decorative fabric: $5.00 - taken from a scarf

fleece: $2.80

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total cost: $7.80

*Because inquiring minds want to know: Boots were purchased at a Farmers Feed and Supply store called Cal Ranch. Plaid fabric was a scarf I found at Forever 21 for $5.00.

Loved your visit! Until next time...

Your Ideas, My Projects!

There are a couple things that I am finding to be really great in my life: 1) That I can be gone for over a month, vacationing up a storm and not having to stress about what to create next for this blog...because it really doesn't matter. At all. The stress level is pretty much minimal when you don't "have" to blog, but instead "get" to blog. And 2) That I can always turn to people like you for some inspiration and ingenuity because sometimes, I just need a little shove in the creative department. Who doesn't?  

(Thanks for sticking around and not caring. I mean that in the most sincerest and flattered way possible!) 

That is when Pinterest comes in handy! Kind of. While Pinterest is by far the most inspiring site around, it only takes a few short minutes to be humbled and hit by the mighty realization that you may just not be the coolest crafter/dresser/decorator/chef around like you may have thought! I am always so amazed at how clever people are. Like, "HOLY CRAP" clever and "I WISH I HAD THOUGHT OF THAT" clever! I have found things that blow my mind, people who clearly think on a whole other level than I do, and projects to keep me busy until my hair turns gray. It's quite addicting and oh so thrilling! 

Do you care to join me on Pinterest? You can find me right HERE if you do.

I have been working on 2 projects this past week. One was found on Pinterest, and the other one I showed awhile back on this here very blog awhile back. I don't just show other people's projects for my health, ya know! I actually DO make them! 

The mini side ironing table was the brain child of Elizabeth at Oh Fransson

 and the sewing caddy was the brilliant idea of Joy over at How Joyful. 

Use a TV tray to make a mini ironing board to have next to you while sewing. This concept has changed my life! HINT: These TV trays can be found and are sold individually at Target for less than $10.00!!

Another HINT: If you don't already have a piece of scrap fabric for this project, when you go to buy some, simply buy a quilter's fat quarter. It fits it perfectly and usually costs less than $3! 

The sewing caddy can also be made from 2 fat quarters!

Pretty smart, eh?

 I sure do like all of you creative people! You keep my wheels spinning!

A Positively Splendid Kind of Day!

Guess where I am today? Besides being at Echo Lake here in Utah and waiting for my turn on the boat, I will be at Positively Splendid - the magic of cyber space allows me to be in two places at once! Hallelujah for that! The name of the blog is so very fitting because Positively Splendid is...well, pretty positively splendid! Making an appearance on Amy's (not "me", Amy) blog is pretty thrilling as I have been a fan for quite some time now! Aside from feeling totally cool about being a guest on her blog, I am also pretty excited about the DIY project I am featuring! I will be showing you how to whip up your very own curled paper ceiling pendant! Go check out today's tutorial and then scroll through all her grandiose posts from the past and get ready to be inspired! 

(I wonder if I could get any more exclamation points in this post?!!!??!!!!!!!!)

Free Circus Printable - Done!

A few years ago, I found a free printable for a Victorian carousel and have been smitten by it ever since! It honestly made my heart pitter patter with glee when I saw it! I posted about it here but didn't get much feedback on it. Maybe the photo that the website provided was less than appealing (much less!) or maybe my taste in whimsical decor is not so main stream? (I'm perfectly o.k. with the latter of the two.) Who knows...but I thought I would throw it out there again anyway, just in case you missed it or were turned off and/or misled by the crap photo. 

I finally got around to making one for not only myself but for my good friend Nicole who just had a baby boy! After making it, I fell even more in love with it because the detail and illustrations are too darling for words. What a great present it will be for baby Reyn's nursery and I can't wait to give it to them today! 

You can make one too by clicking on this pdf link and downloading it to your computer! 

http://www.vam.ac.uk/files/file_upload/45900_file.pdf

FYI: It also makes cool shadows on the wall! 

Loved your visit! Until next time...

Soap Box

Has anyone strolled the aisles of Target recently? If so, you may have noticed a certain pillow propped proudly on their shelves. A certain pillow that strangely enough, looks EXACTLY like the one I did a tutorial for on this here very blog...in November of 2009! I know, I know "quit flattering yourself, Amy", as some of you may be saying, "you are tiny and no one even knows who you are or that this blog even exists!" But in all actuality, this pillow has been featured on several blogs and design sites, both small and large, so the chances of a designer for Target spotting it and taking credit for it are actually quite high. What do you guys think...should I be flattered or should I be angry? I think at this point I am leaning toward the latter. Arrrrggh.

Take a looksies and see what you think!

Mine (and ALL mine!)

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stupid Target's version

I'm sorry, but the resemblance is a little too uncanny! 

Everyday Lounge Pant Tutorial

Yes, I am posting at 6:00 p.m. on a Wednesday. So what?

I bought these lounge pants from Target for $6.00. They are basic, available everywhere and a staple in most women's wardrobes. I love me some casual pants (that can't be proper English!), but all signs are pointing to the fact that if I wore these around town, I have completely given up on life. My husband likes to jokingly refer to sweats as "quitters" because he thinks that people who wear them out and about (i.e. dinner, movies or shopping) have totally surrendered in caring about themselves. Since I haven't thrown in the towel (nor do I ever plan to) on wanting to look presentable, I have, however, joined the ranks of wanting to be comfortable. There is a way to do both! 

I turned my Quitters - with a capital Q, into fashionable everyday pants. I'll be happy to say that these babies have made an appearance at Target, the grocery store, our road trip and yes, even dinner! They seem to be perfectly appropriate for every event in my life. Maybe that says a little something about me!?

I think these would also be good to wear for:

post maternity 

bike riding 

evening walks

the farmers market

a swimsuit cover up

thrift shopping

going to the park

going on picnic

you name it

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 I first started off by pinning them where I wanted them to be gathered at my leg. I did this while still wearing them, standing up really straight and looking into a mirror. I measured up from the hem and pinned the other leg at the same spot.

Next, I cut them off at the pins. Remember - you will have a 3"- 4" cuff on the bottom so take your final length into account before cutting!

I then measured up 4" (allowing for a 1/2" seam) from the bottom of the cut off leg piece and I cut them once again. This 4" piece will be used as your cuff for around your calf. Do this on both legs pieces.

I took my pants and sewed a base stitch 1/2 above my newly cut bottom edge. It doesn't have to look good because you will pull it through and remove it later.

I put the pants back on and started gathering the leg to get the right width for my calf. Tie off your thread strings once this is done so that your gather won't slip.

I opened my cuff piece by cutting the seam off and then I measured around the opening of the leg on the pants. I trimmed the length of the cuff to the measured size. I left my pants right side in and sewed the top of the cuff to the bottom of my pants so that right sides were together. Basically, just turn your cuff piece upside down backwards! 

Hint: start sewing from the hem on the inner of the leg

Once I got to the end, I just sewed up the side into the seam of the pants. 

I then took out the base stitch as it's not needed anymore

And that's it!

 I also added a little flair by using up the left over leg material that was cut off and make a cargo pocket. I also made a bias tape with some scrap fabric and made a new drawstring belt and topped the pocket with it as well.

Is this something you would wear around town? Do you think they are utilitarian as I do? Do you think I will wear them till they are worn thin, practically see-through and borderline indecent? 

You bet I will! 

Blog link ups are a great thing! See where I am this week! Click here!

Loved your visit! Until next time...