I just moved to Frederick (Whittier) and I don't know anyone yet.  I sew, embroider, paint, knit and crochet a bit.  (Although I have a 4 month old and a 4 year old, so it's been a while.)  But I would love to meet other crafty people in the area.

That is so funny!  I was going to post the same thing.  I read about the one at Timmel fabrics, but was too late.  There is a contest that just started at Pattern Review:  http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/sewingclasses/board.pl

I would love to join the contest but the problem lies in that I was going to re-construct a few items.  Most would be vastly altered with details that take as much time as a garment from scratch.  But I love the idea of making a coordinating wardrobe.

I searched to see if anyone else had made one yet and found no definite answer. 

Hefty makes the cutest plastic utensils for kids.  I decided to make a bracelet out of one.  I tried the boiling and the melting at 350 degrees in the oven but it never melted all the way to cuff shape.  Wanting to wear it that night, I grabbed the dremel and drilled holes at both ends, knowing I could figure something out.  Two jump rings and a keychain later, I had a sturdy, though inefficient bracelet.  I need assistance to put it on.  Does anyone have any better ideas?




I love it, even if my husband made "it's not Easter," comments!  I think they would make cool pendants as well, but they're about 6 inches long.  Too much, ya think?

PS. I think these are supposed to be disposable, but there is no recycle code to be found!  Do your part and find ways to reuse them too! 

http://whipup.net/2006/11/29/tutorialsilhouette-necklace/

Here's a tutorial I bookmarked a while ago.  I says to use acrylic sheets.  I think it would be like plexiglass.  Do a google search for colored acrylic sheets and see what you find.  Let us know if you're successful!  I'm interested in seeing how it turns out.

I'm amazed at how accurate your snail's spiral is - did you outline first and then stitch over or just sort of go for it?  Turned out great, especially with the fabric.

I drew on it with a washable fabric marker and then sewed really really slow, turning the shirt as I went.  I'm a bit surprised at it too.   

Thanks everyone for the nice comments!

My three year old son needs some new clothes.  So I made him a snail shirt (he's super afraid of slugs, snails are cuter though.)

The eyes and mouth are embroidered on.  The outline, shell details and antennae were done with the machine set for a button hole stitch.  Super easy but super fun. 

Have you seen the Dick and Jane fabric by Michael Miller?  SO cute!  There's also a cute line of fabric by American Jane by Moda fabrics.  If you sew, you could make the bedding or the curtains.  Or even just a pillow. 

I absolutely love "International You Day", the acoustic version by Joey Cape and Tony Sly.  It makes me cry all the time, even without my husband being gone. 

Thanks everyone.  The quilt is asymmetrical so the other part not shown is just brown. 

Diannab, I say paint the walls either a nice tan color or yellow.  Yellow is always nice because it looks like the sun is shining.  I would leave the cabinets white unless you really hate them being white.   They look nice and cottage-y.

Arabella, yes the corner with the plant is what I meant.  But maybe angling the couch slightly and moving the chair in front of the door would make enough room to accommodate the larger couch. 

Arabella, I agree with stifflersmom.  Moving the chair to the corner would add some more space.  Plus if the new couch has similar dimensions to the chair, its going to be more crowded once it arrives.  Your living room is very pretty.  It seems like a relaxing place to be.

Here's my progress so far.  I'm at a point where I can go no further.  We need a new couch, but I'm still undecided what to buy. 

I rearranged the furniture and re-did my bookshelf.  I made new pillows as well.  Check out my blog for way too much info on them.  The painting is by me.  Its of my son.  The lampshades are covered in fabric that I dyed and stenciled.  The table was decoupaged a few years ago.  Its not holding up well with a 3 year old who picks at it though, so it will be replaced soon.  I had planned on painting or upholstering it, but its kind of wobbly. 


Another pillow.  Based on the Amy Butler pillow in her book.  I hate my entertainment center but it too has to wait.  Sometimes I really hate being overseas.


Another new pillow.  I made the quilt as well.  Its based on a Denyse Schmidt quilt.  The mirror is covered in seashells.  I'm missing a picture on the right side.  I couldn't find a plate hanger at the store.  I have a little mirror that will be hung there. 
I love being surrounded by stuff that I have made.
I'm going to go ahead and start on the next month's room(s)-dining room and kitchen.  My dad is coming to visit so I'm not sure how much time I will have in late February and March.  I'm going to finish stuff in my dining room and kitchen.  I plan on repainting my canisters, making potholders, and covering my son's table in oilcloth so far.  There's always a ton of small stuff too.