Nap Mats

So I was in El Paso dropping off some more clothes to "The Pink Cottage", when a woman came in requesting a nap mat.  She had looked at all the children's boutiques in town with no success.  The owner turned to me with a custom order for 3 nap mats- which I HAVE NEVER MADE BEFORE!  I wasn't in complete fear due to the fact I remembered seeing a tutorial on it through craftster here.  I used it as my starting point.

She has a great tutorial.  I used the dimensions and it really helped me understand how I might put one together.  The customer had a similar one and wanted it like her old one.  Instead of using a removable foam pad I used extra loft batting and doubled it.  I sewed it into the mat.  I also used fleece for the blanket and put a binding around it.  To finish off the blanket I embroidered the name of the little girl on it.   If I make any more I would make the strap a little different.

I would recommend this tutorial.  The first mat took me about 3 hours but i cut that time in half by the third mat.

Help!

So I want to shirr a few outfits and I have 2 sewing machines but neither quite do the job.  I have a singer futura- it doesn't put much gather at all- i looked at prudent baby's tute on it and it helped a little but still did not quite work right.  I have a bernina record 830 and it gathers beautifully but there is no elasticity in the garment once I am done.

If you have any tips for me to try- i would love to hear them.

Very Frustrated,

Meal Plan Monday is BACK!!

With school back in session, I need to get back to my schedules.  So here is what I have planned this week.
Monday:  Cowboy Casserole A.K.A. tatertot casserole
Tuesday:  Green Chile Burritos - which is this recipe but I am using beef rather than ham
Wednesday: Grilled Pork Chops, rice, squash- stocked up on Pork chops last week when it was buy one get one free.
Thursday:  Hamburger Noodle bake- taste of home sept. 2010
Friday- Strambolli
Sat- Rellenos- this recipe
I thought I would try these from taste of home:

Crisscross Apple Crowns

this is how I will make them to meet our tastes:

1 2/3 C chopped peeled tart apples

1/3 C chopped Pecans

1/4 C sugar 1/4 C splenda mixed and divided

2T flour

2cinnamon, divided

dash of salt1pkg lg. refrigerated flaky biscuits

2 t butter, melt

In a large micro-safe bowl, combine apples, pecans, 3 T sugar mix, flour, 3/4 t cinnamon and salt.  Micro 2-3  min or until almost tender.  Flatten each biscuit into 5 in. circle.  Combine remaining sugar mix and cinnamon;sprinkle a routeaspoonful of sugar mixture over each.Top each with 1/4 C apple mix.  Brig up edges to close and pinch edges to seal.

Place seam down in ungreased muffin cups. Brush tops with butter; sprinkle with remaining sugar mix.  with a sharp knife cut an X in the top of each.

Bake at 350 for 18-22 min.  cool for 5 min. before removing from pan to wire rack.

Hope ya'll have a wonderful week!

Sunday Show- Off

I have been so busy sewing this summer.  I was at Jo-Anns this afternoon and while waiting to have my fabric cut, I was adding up my average sewing hours in a week.  I could not believe it but it is close to 40 hours.  My etsy shop is small now so that I can make items for The Pink Cottage in El Paso.  I also need to start preparing for the Fair on the Square in Huntsville, and an Open House in El Paso. Then there is the occasional custom orders from around town.  However, with the summer at an end and my husband going back to work, my sewing hours will be cut.

With all that sewing, I make so many clothes.  It is neat to think about all the little girls and boys wearing my creations all over the United States and for most they are special occasions like birthdays, family reunions, vacations, and holidays. 

Here are some of the items I made this past week:

If you want to keep up with what I am making, the best place is probably is on my facebook page.  That is where I am posting my new items for now.  Also become a fan for a chance to win a pillowcase dress and matching bow of your choice.  The 500th fan and the friend that suggested the 500th fan will win a set each.

Another Reason to LOVE Jo-Anns

This weekend Jo- Ann's is giving a 20% discount to teachers.  I could not pass this up so I took my husband and his school I.D and check stub and rushed on over.  I had my 40% off coupon to use too.  When I checked out I found out we needed to sign up to get the teacher rewards card which will give me 15% off my total purchase EVERY TIME!! How awesome is that! So if this can apply to you don't miss out on the savings.

"On the Cuff"

So I was working on a new outfit today and decided to add a cuff to a pair of pants.  I wanted to share how I did it.  I think it turned out great and adds flare to boring pants. 

Here is how I made them.

I took the pattern and cut a small amount of the brown zebra print to fit the bottom of the pattern.  If you want to flip it up on the bottom you will want to add an inch to an inch and half at the bottom depending in how much of a cuff you want.

Go ahead and get the pants made just not hemmed at the bottom. I took the cuff part and stitched th inside seam with right sides together.

 

Then turn up 1/4 " or so and press.

Then pin with wrong sides together and line the seams up.

Then stitch at hem.

Then I stitched up the seam, opposite side, front center and back.  I did this to keep it in place.

That's it.  Now here is the question for you.  I showed my husband my creation and he did not feel it was boy enough. He helps me quite a bit with my sewing creations.  He lets me know if it is too much, not enough and someone to bounce ideas off of.  I think this is cute for a little baby boy.  He says it should be for a girl.  what do you think??

Birthday Shirt

The babies turn 3 in September so I am trying to get a jump on some of the preparations.  I wanted to make the kids an outfit for our theme which is "Cowboys & Cowgirls".  I found this post from Cheri at I am Momma - Hear me Roar.  I never forgot it.  I just haven't had time to make one so here it is to make a perfict birthday shirt for my son.  THANKS CHERI!!

Here was my process.  You can also check Cheri's instructions and see her beautiful shirts too.

I bought this super cute fabri from Karamat

This fabric is from I wanna be a cowboy collection by Riley Blake.  I love designer fabric but never have the money to spend on it.  Tammy from Karamat has good prices for desinger fabric and I decided to splurge a little for thier birthdays.  I made three of these shirts with one fat quarter.

Lay your polo out and trace the shape out on heat bond.

I used a plate to help with the yoke part of it.  Once you have traced the back and front yokes, iron it  on the wrong side of fabric.  Then cut out the yokes, place on shirt and do any trimming to make it fit best.  Peel backing off and iron down.

Next I sewed a straight stitch around the yoke.  I like the frayed edges so this worked perfectly. 

My  shirt looked sloppy at the shoulders so I used Cheri's suggestion to cover this and it gives it a nice finished look.  I used some brown swiss dot fabric ironed into a little tube and stitched it at the shoulders.

Then I put on my son who was thrilled with his BIRTHDAY SHIRT. 

SOO CUTE!!

Help my Friend

Hi all, hope you are having a wonderful week.  I wanted to share a friend with you.  This is Jenna. 

"We are very excited to announce that we are in the early stages of adopting a baby! We have been so blessed with 2 beautiful and healthy boys, and we really feel God leading us to give a safe and happy home to a child who otherwise would not have one. The Lord has put the country of Ethiopia on our hearts, where they currently have around 5 million orphans. We have a long and challenging journey ahead of us and pray that you will support us in any way you can. Please keep our family, including the child that we are waiting for, in your prayers"

She is working hard to raise money to adopt a baby girl from Ethiopia.  She created this blog to devote to raising money.  She has auctions going on there for some fun items. Be sure to stop by  to win some of these goodies.

You know I am a sucker for yellow so I am going to have to bid on the yellow cards;)  I will be donating an Minnie Mouse outfit and doing a short tutorial to go with it so look for that and be sure to bid on it.  Every little bit helps this family.  Thanks!

Vintage Curtain Dress

I actually made this dress this past spring for a friend's daughter.  She found a curtain she wanted to me to make a dress with.  I decided to pair this sheer vintage curtain with a light blue cotton.

I layered this sheer curtain on top of the blue fabric.  I used the complete width of the fabric for the skirt of the dress.  I hemmed the blue layer and then stitched the two pieces together. 

 I stitched a zig zag stitch over fishing line for easy gathering.  I pinned the skirt in the chest band.  The chest band was1.5 in.  larger than chest measurement.  I got this measurement from Dana from MADE. 

I cut the fabric 8 in x chest measurement +1.5 in.  sewn together to make a tube and then ironed in half with ends ironed under as well (shown above). 

Next I pinned the skirt in the chest band and gathered by pulling the fishing line.  I pinned some more and then stitched in place.

Now it is time for the straps. 

My straps are probably about 18in.  long.  I made tubes and turned right side out, pressed and top stitched. Then I pinned to the chest band.

sew on and wear!

I AM HAVING A FAN GIVEAWAY: Help me reach 500 fans. Just suggest this page to your friends the 500th fan as well as the friend that suggested the 500th fan will get the pillowcase dress OF THEIR CHOICE and a matching bow EACH

Here is the link to my fan page: Fancy Pants by Jamee