Little Red Riding Hood Cape Costume

Earlier this year I had bought this lovely red fabric for several different projects and ended up with some large chunks of random scraps. 

Setting it all aside, I knew inspiration would eventually hit me.

And it did. 

Maybe it all happened at the same time, I don't remember. But there was a poem about a wolf, a cute DIY wolf hoodie for boys on Pinterest, my own obsession with turquoise, living around the corner from Grandma's house, and just planning this year's sewing projects, including Halloween, it was just meant to be. 

The Red Cape.

My mother-in-law had an easy pattern for a cape, but I made it much shorter so the length would just cover my shoulders.

I mentioned scraps. The back piece is made up of 5 scraps first sewn together, then I put the pattern piece on top and cut.

Very easy to make and if I were making this for a little girl I might have added some ribbon edging, and a floral lining.

With little kids, I didn't get any selfies but luckily a friend of mine took this photo of me in costume:

And here's the kiddos after a long night of playing and trick or treating:

Happy Halloween!

Thanks for stopping by!

xx 

Christmas Decorations Box: Tree Ornaments!

This month, I am adding a set of five Christmas tree ornaments to my decorations box.

Originally, I wanted to stamp white snowflakes on the tea stained muslin with my toddler but that just turned out to be a big mess! Using paints or glueing something on would be fun. I love having a blank canvas to be freely creative with.

I have to admit, these were done in haste, the kids have been sick with croup cough, one night spent in ER for a few hours, last week I wanted to actually start and finish a book before returning it to the library (it has been 4 years since I read one) so I am VERY inconsistent right now. But at least I stop by once in a while and visit my own blog! ;)

These would also make a lovely handmade gift for someone.

Materials used for Tree Ornaments set:

Hemp string

Tea stained muslin

Ribbon

Thread

Stuffing

More lovely ideas for making your own Christmas tree decorations...

From this blog. I love the mixture of nature and words.

Found these here being used as gift tags but I think they'd be so cute on a tree!

Aren't these adorable? Found on Pinterest.

Also found on Pinterest, RED, STRIPES, BELLS on stockings! I'm dying of the cuteness!

From one of my favourite blogs, applesauce ornaments! This is definitely on our Christmas activities list for this year! I LOVE cinnamon! This brilliant girl adds glitter to hers!

Thanks for stopping by! x

Christmas Decorations Box: Burlap Wallhanging

Hello!

Remember my Valentine's Burlap Wallhanging from last week? Here is my Christmas version and it is going into my Christmas decorations box for this month! Yay!

You will notice I made a number of mistakes along the way. I view this project as a symbol of my life. I think I know what I'm doing, I think I am making the right choices, only to kick myself later realising I was rushing. I need to slow down, meditate on life and not always try n rush the clock!

Here is what I did:

Measured and cut how big I wanted the fabric face to be. The Valentine's one is 6inx6in, this one is 8inx8in. Then I marked the halfway points with a pencil.

**MISTAKE!!! Should have used fabric pencil or chalk!

Next, using cream thread on my cream fabric, I matched up the points giving me 4 perfect squares to work with. Change cream threads to green.

Just a quick note, we moved from England to Ohio just two months ago, so this sewing machine is still new to me. My lovely mother in law gave it to me and I LOVE the embroidery features on it!! Using one of my favourite options for the border, I sewed around and through giving me 4 smaller squares.

In the top left hand corner I wanted the word JOY and had used my pencil:

**MISTAKE!!! I should have waited until after I finished my border! Oooops. Live and learn I say! I slowly used the handwheel to do the letters and then hand stitched on the button.

Change threads again! Green to cream.
Using zig zag, I finished the edges and then I threw it in the washing machine hoping the pencil would come out! Another note to self- get a fabric pencil!

The fun part is deciding what goes in the squares! I used what scraps I have (lots of Christmas fabric scraps) cutting out shapes and wanting also to add texture I decided to stamp on a snowflake with some green paint.

After I cut off all those loose threads, I layered the green plaid fabric behind the face, and using a straight stitch sewed those two together.

Change threads again from cream to green and using zigzag, I sewed the green onto the burlap. Changed threads again from green to cream and zig zagged the burlap edges.

To hang it, I used ribbon and sewed it to the edges. I thought I could just hang it on two widely separated nails or hooks, but you see how it's not flat?

There are more options on how to display. When my mom makes wallhangings, she uses these little rings:

One can also fold the top (and maybe bottom too) of the fabric to sew a tunnel and put a stick through, the top with a string, that will keep it flat when it hangs.

Like this:

(yes I was at Joann's!)

Another idea? Put it in a picture frame without the glass! Which I am seriously considering because it sounds the easiest! ;)

Although this project is left a tad incomplete, I am declaring it finished! Please tell me I'm not the only one who does that. I kind of just want to move on to the next thing because there is still so much I want to do and otherwise get done! :)

Thanks for stopping by! x

(PS I REALLY NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR HOW YELLOW SOME OF THESE PHOTOS TURNED OUT. IT WAS A GLOOMY, SUNLESS DAY AND MY INDOOR LIGHT MAKES EVERYTHING YELLOW- SORRY!)

Valentine's Burlap Wallhanging

Happy -almost- Valentine's Day!

This was actually the first decoration I made. Note to self- don't use stretchy knit! 

In the picture I cut off the corner where it snagged so you don't see my mistake ;)

Will be posting a step by step Christmas version of this soon!

Thanks for stopping by! x

Embroidery Hoop with Hearts

Got five minutes?

This is another super simple quick item to make.

Embroidery hoops are a great frame which means I can swap out the face from time to time! This matches my Three Hearts Shelf Pillow.

What I used:

What I did:

1. Cut my circle & my hearts
2. Sewed the crochet lace onto the cream fabric
3. Then glued the hearts on top one at a time.

After it dried, I just put on the embroidery hoop and hung it on the wall!

Easy peasy!

Thanks for stopping by! x

Red Flower Paper Collage: a re-post

Last year I had posted about this collage but because this month is all about love & hearts & the colour red, I wanted to re-post it. Also, I loved it that much and am wishing I had brought it with me from England! Have you ever moved and regretted a few things you didn't pack? At least I know it's safe at my mom's house in a big plastic box. I should make another one.... but until I do, here it is again!

This is the link to the original post.

Thanks for stopping by! x

Three Hearts Shelf Pillow

More hearts for Valentine's Day!

I had some random stuff laying around on my sewing table, and inspiration hit me! I have not known what to do with this crochet lace since I got it and I am happy what it's become.

I made the face first. Sewing the crochet lace first, then glued on the hearts.

The ruffles took some time. Well, I say that because I only sew when Axel naps and Ethan is entertained on my iPhone! hahaha First I pinned it around to see how much I would need. I had to sew a few pieces together to get the right length. Then I had to re-pin.

I wanted one seam on the outside instead of sewing it inside out. Just experimenting!

Now it's sitting on our hutch! Even the husband liked it :)

Thanks for stopping by! x

Valentine's Day Decor- Red Hearts Bunting

Valentine's day is coming and I confess, I have NEVER decorated for this day of romance. 

This year I am leaving everything up for the entire month of February! Why not, right? ;)

I've made a few things, today I am posting my red hearts burlap bunting. (Yes more burlap!) Zig zag edges and glued on red hearts.

Small.

Simple.

Love.

Thanks for stopping by! x

My Christmas Decorations Box

Every Christmas has been significantly different since my husband and I got married. We had our wedding on the 19th of 2007 and a lovely full house Christmas at mom's. 

Our second Christmas, we had our own place and the husband had gotten me a sewing machine! The very next day I fell extremely sick. We found out a week and half later I was pregnant!

Our third Christmas was another lovely full house with the new baby!

(Uncle Ben with baby Ethan)

Christmas number four was spent mainly sick in bed with another pregnancy.

Christmas number five we flew across the ocean and spent Christmas with my husband's family.

This past Christmas we just moved across the ocean, but I did manage to quickly make Axel a Christmas stocking! I was determined to sew one, not buy one!

Christmas of 2013 will finally be a bit more as I had always imagined to be. A house full of homemade decorations. This year I am really planning for Christmas!

To pace myself, I have decided to make ONE thing each month. When December rolls around, everything will be ready and I can focus on baking, cooking, sledding, and having fun with the kids. Christmas crafts that month will be for them.... well this is one of my goals and as most goals it may be subject to change ;)

This month's Christmas item to go into The Box is:

A burlap bunting!

I love burlap. And buntings. Perfect!

I always use plain construction paper for my shape/pattern.

I had cut out these hearts for something else but decided to use them for this.

Five is a good number. Little time, little patience, yep five is good :)

I have been using this glue for a no-sew approach to adding the hearts to all of my recent projects. I think I need to get a bigger bottle soon! lol

My original idea was very different. Just burlap and I would use a snowflake stamp and white paint to decorate it.

Have you ever started something with one idea in mind and then changed it?

Christmas tends to last through January at our house (yes our tree is still up!) and I'll be making this lovely drink today:

Recipe:

1liter cranberry juice

1liter orange juice

1liter pineapple juice

Soooo good! Enjoy! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

A Quiet Book

Three years ago I started a quiet book for my first baby boy. I got two pages done and stopped.

Something really hit me not too long- a determination to make and FINISH a quiet book for our big flight over the Atlantic with our two boys.

I really should have prioritised better what I did those last weeks before we moved but I think I was also a bit of an emotional wreck! To top it off my sewing machine decided to be unkind and left me hand sewing a lot. I mean HOURS. I was supposed to be done almost a week before we left but I kid you not, I ended up having to give it to my mom to finish the edges by hand and it got done TWO hours before our shuttle bus was due to arrive! Thanks mom! You're the best! Love you!

What's nicest about making your own is that its tailored to what your kids like. Each page has a story.

When Ethan saw the spider page he said, "spider poop!" and busted up laughing! What an imagination he has! Yes I know those spiders have only 6 legs and not 8 but I thought they looked friendlier with only 6.

For the flight, Ethan loved the present with the plane.

And Axel has been enjoying it too. Definitely worth the work!

Thanks for stopping by! x