Simple Pleasures

I have been thinking lately about simple things that just make my heart happy. Silly little things that seem insignificant to most people but give you so much joy! Today I was thinking about how much I love getting out wrinkles and pressing open seams on my new ironing board cover!

But just look all cute it is! But I do like that I can’t see the metal pattern of my ironing board burned into my cover any more… :o)

My First Skirt

This month we decided to sew for Sister Day. All of my sisters sew their own clothes and I was beginning to feel a little lame… Although my one and only attempt at sewing something to wear (an apron does NOT count) ended with tears and strips of a would-be dress in the trash can, I still decided to take the challenge and make a skirt. Besides, they all assured me that it was easy.

I packed up my Pfaff, some thread, pins, scissors, a seam ripper (was pretty sure I’d need it),  and my fabric and headed to my mom’s for a new sewing adventure!

Actually it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I almost quit as soon as I heard the words “it has a zipper”, but I persevered! It helped to have such a sweet sewing helper though!

Elsie was so cute laying on the dining room table while we sewed!

I almost finished the whole thing before leaving but I had to do the hem at home…

My sister puts lace on her hems. Not only is it pretty but doesn’t require any annoying and tedious turning! :o)

I also went to IKEA with my youngest sister for dinner and shopping and picked up 5 new skirt hangers while I was there! Who knows? I may make 5 new skirts to go on them…

It turned out better than I imagined! Especially since I totally forgot to try it on until it was done! Oops!

     I’ve already got all the fabric for my next skirt and have scoped out my stash for some potentials…

Mini Chinese Take Out

The idea of serving my Seaweed Snack Mix in a take out box just kept pestering me. Then I remembered the itsy bitsy take out boxes I made one year for our annual family Christmas tree ornaments… Just the ticket! They give you just a bit of snack mix or anything else you’d like to throw in one. These fun little boxes are also an  ideal box for favors at a party or for tiny gift boxes!

You could decorate them anyway you want to match any theme your little heart desires. Have fun with this one! The possibilities are almost endless: use different stamps, patterned papers, stickers, three-dimensional embellishments…

1. Click HERE to download the pdf. pattern and print it up on any 8.5”x 11” cardstock.

 2. Cut out the box on the solid lines.

3. Using a micro hole punch to punch out the holes for the handle. Then take an exacto knife to cut the slit for the tab.

4. Fold on all the dotted lines. Be sure to fold them in so that the lines are on the inside of your box.

5. Stamp or decorate the sides of your box.  Decorate the sides without the tabs. The other sides will be covered up by the flaps.

The ladybug gives it a totally different look!

6. Cut an 8” piece of floral wire for your handle.  Bend the sides so that it has a 2” top. Use pliers to bend the ends up about 1/2'”.

7. Fold up box so that the holes line up for your handle.

8. Insert handles into both holes so that wire is on the inside of the flaps. Carefully pinch the “hook” a bit to secure the handles.

 

Storybook Quilt

I fell in love with this fabric the minute I saw it at Cool Cottons! So I bought it and made a quilt for my new little niece Elsie. I picked an simple pattern, tweaked it a little and am pretty pleased with the results… Not bad for a day’s work! :o)

    Since I spent a few days of Spring Break at my parents’, I got to use my mom’s fancy digital iron! I kinda wondered if it would iron my fabric by itself… LOL

Laying it all out

All pieced together!

After the shower I commandeered it in order to sew on the binding and finish the quilt.

  The following Saturday Elsie made her appearance at 6 pounds 2 oz and 18 inches!

She looks pretty cute on her new quilt!

Skirt Fabric???

Why does the fabric that I LOVE have to be very spendy organic cotton??? I never visit Center Diamond in Cannon Beach without going home with a fabric (or a few fabrics) that I love and I wasn’t about to let this be the first. And it had owls!!! So I just bought a bit of it along with a coordinating print…

My thought is to use it for my Sister Day project next month. Amy and Theresa are going to attempt to teach me to make a skirt. I was given one of these so-called “really easy to make” skirts for Christmas. I wore it to church on Sunday and I’m not convinced it is as easy as they claim… But I am confident that they can do it, even if I can not!

Now I just have to decide what to use for the bulk of the skirt fabric… I’m thinking a nice gray???

Clothespin Bunnies

I made these little bunnies about 12 years ago. I dug them back out of the box and made place markers for all the kids to use for Easter dinner… They are fun and simple to make and, apparently, hold up well for years! :o)

First paint a wooden clothespin with white paint.

Then draw faces and feet with a fine-tipped black pen.

Glue on bows and white puff balls for tails.

Then make a base out of a piece of cardstock. I used green and cut them into shapes using cookie cutters.

Glue bunnies onto the base with a hot glue gun.

Hoppy Easter!   

Peeps Wreath

I don’t remember which blog had this cute idea but it’s a pretty simple one.

Just wrap a foam wreath in brown ribbon, glue on Peeps and tie on a ribbon hanger…

The boys weren’t too happy about wasting all those sugary, yummy Peeps! I let them eat the leftovers but that just wasn’t good enough. They are constantly threatening to lick it when they walk by…

The only downside is that I don’t think this one will make it until next year…