Checkbook Cover for Momma

My mom requested a checkbook cover for Christmas…last year.  So, being the amazing daughter that I am I decided to make one for her six months later; anything for my Momma!  Oh, and I was at her house when I decided to fulfill her wish for a handmade checkbook cover.  That means I was separated from my fabric supply (not all of it).  I did have my beloved Bernina on hand (as I don’t leave home without it) and some scraps of material from various other projects I had thought about ahead of time.  I found these two scraps that I had used together in another project.  She had asked for something bright, and I felt that this fit the order. 

It has two pockets; one for a checkbook and one for a check register or receipts or whatever.  She was pleased with the way it came out (or at least she told me she was), but I would do things differently.  These are the ideas for future checkbook covers:

1.  I think it needs a heavier stabilizer.  It wasn’t as stiff as I would have liked.

2.  I want to add some sort of latch (magnetic snap, button and loop, Velcro).

3.  I would like to put a pen holder in the crease.  That’s always handy for a checkbook cover.

My first custom made...

A childhood friend of mine has recently been blessed with a new nephew.  Upon viewing some of my projects, she asked me if I would be willing to create an owl hat for a boy.  She gave me specific colors. I searched high and low (but really I just made one stop) and finally found the perfect colors.  As requested the colors are brown, blue and green.  This is what I came up with.  The original owl hat has a scalloped edge, but that’s pretty girly.  I thought earflaps suited a boy much better.  I also wanted to add some ties just in case it needed to be secured.  And let’s just face it; ties are baby masculine and cute.  So with no further ado here is the boy version of the owl hat…

Frugal Me





I think I love it



I’m moving into a new apartment all by myself, which means I get to decorate just for me with no considerations required.  But…I am on an itty bitty budget.  I have decided to make as many things as possible for decorating.  Here is the very first thing I have come up with.



It’s an M in a frame (for lack of a better name for this project).  It was super easy! I just picked out a frame at Hobby Lobby and measured a piece of fabric to fit.  Then I cut out an M (because that’s my initial) and a decorative little bird.  A little wonder-under made it super easy to piece together.  Then pop it in a frame. The whole project to less than an hour and I used fabric I had on hand.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!  ( And I think it turned out pretty darn cute).







The details



Everyone needs a turtle friend

As I have mentioned before, I prefer to have a person inspire project, but inspiration is inspiration.  This time it just happened to come from my complete adoration for this print (and maybe a little frugality).  Here’s how it happened…

So I made these placemats for two out of this REALLY cute print.  I had maybe a quarter of a yard left over.  And it was in a funky skinny rectangle.  It wasn’t even enough to make another placemat; too skinny.  But really who has dinner for three very often?  It was too skinny to make any real practical thing, I thought.  What can you do with that?  Well this is what. 

I went through my collection of patterns and tried out a couple of things that I thought might work.  Rosette? No.  Napkins? No.  Headband? Maybe, but no.  Then I came upon this pattern for this precious little turtle friend.  And guess what…The pieces fit PERFECTLY.  I whipped him up and here he is.

Table for Two

A table settng suggestion.

Originally I bought this fabric to make a dress for my sister as she is always complaining that I never make her anything, but I changed my mind.  It has been sitting there beckoning to be used, and I don’t have her measurements so what could I do?  I admit it.  I shamelessly gave in and decided to make placemats out of it.  I made two with matching coasters.  In hindsight, I don’t really think this print is very fitting for her anyway. 

 I have no regrets.

Here's one in action.

How cute is this print?!

Blue the hippo cushion

So I mentioned my cousin Brittany was getting married in and earlier post.  Well she’s all hitched.  Thinking ahead, I decided to go ahead and make a baby gift for her.  She’s not pregnant…yet.  This is what I came up with.  He’s a blue and white plaid hippo cushion called Blue.  Upon showing it to Brittany she said, “Can you monogram a name on it when we do have a baby?”  No, Brittany you cannot monogram a stuffed animal after it is completed.  So…this little snuggle friend is up for grabs at my etsy store, and Blue Jr. is awaiting a baby with a name so he can be monogrammed. 

Happy Birthday Cathleen




This is my beauuutful model, but not Cathleen

 

Sam asked me to “make something for Cathleen.” I figured everyone loves a good picnic and she’d seen the ones I made (and posted about previously), and seemed to really like them. Hence, I thought that might be a good idea for her. I really like this pattern. It is pretty simple, requires little fabric and is very practical. Again, hers has a pocket for utensils and a napkin ring. She also has a set of four. I am thinking of making something to go along with them. Maybe a wine bag??? We’ll see.



Notice the utensil pocket and napkin ring.

A baby gift

My mom requested that I make a baby gift for a co-worker of hers who is having his first child.  My general rule of thumb is that I must be inspired in order to create.  I know this sounds super artsy-fartsy, but the fact of the matter is that everything I make is made with someone in mind even if the final product never ends up with the person that inspired me.  Therefore, it took a moment to gather the inspiration for this piece.  But I got it!

Second rule of thumb:  I can do custom work, but if I am making a gift for you (mom) at no cost I get to pick.  This includes colors and style.  My mom was very cooperative with this piece.  This is what I came up with.  It is a newborn’s swing jacket with a yellow flower “brooch.”  My mom loved it.  I also crocheted a simple headband to go with it, but I haven’t found the perfect flower to attach to it yet.  I am looking for a yellow flower possibly a silk daisy.  Who knows?  Pictures to come when it is completed!

Welcome baby Carothers!  A cocheted swing jacket for your arrival.

 

This is the flower, and a more detailed view of the stitching.

Head funnies

These little hats were really made for no apparent reason.  This year Jack Frost granted us teachers here in the south an abundance of snow days.  Yeah, yeah it’s super exciting at first, but then you get bored and find yourself still in school in June.  I decided to use the cold for creative inspiration.  This is what I came up with.  The penguin is doing the snow dance.  The owl was inspired by Sam’s cousin who simply loves owls. 

It was a trio, but I forgot to photograph the other before I gave him to baby Ward.  The missing piece was sock monkey hat.

This Owl hat was inspired by Sam's cousin. 

And this little guy was inspired by the SNOW DAYS!  He's doing the snow dance.

Check out my Etsy store where these little lovies can be purchased!

A picnic at the Barnes'

I am so fortunate to have a close knit family.  Growing up in a small southern with all of my family members being residents of the same town made it inevitable that we would be so close.  Sunday dinners were a weekly occurrence in which all family members were expected to attend.  For those that may be unfamiliar with southern terminology, “Sunday dinner” refers to lunch on Sundays after church.  Sunday dinner lasts for hours.  Here is where some of my fondest memories originated and cousins became siblings.

Now that we have grown up, I find that I have less time in these precious moments; primarily because I live four hours away.  Fortunately for me, this summer I have an abundance of opportunities for more time together.  This summer our family will have not one, not two, but three weddings. I have decided to use the talents my grandmother (Mamaw) passed down to me to hand-make the gifts that I will be presenting the brides and grooms with this summer.

This is the first creation.  It is for my cousin Brittany.  Brittany was not only a friend, relative, neighbor, but she was also my self-appointed big sister/protector.  She certainly holds a special place in my heart.  She is marrying the ever-so-fortunate Turner.  For them I sewed up this set of picnic napkins.  There is a set of four; each one has a napkin ring and a utensils pocket.  Congratulations Brittany and Turner.  Happy picnicking!