embellish me.

ok, so its been a while since i've last posted, but in my defense, i have been planning a wedding. whilst planning, i have forgone my normal hobby of clothes shopping, as the researching a florist and DJ have taken up my hobby time. instead of new clothes, i have chosen to embellish that which i already own. taking a skill i once honed as a child, i made a tight, small scrunchie and then pulled a knotted ribbon through the center. i fastened a safety pin to the back and voila! an embellishment to add flavor to any old jean jacket, cardigan or even a plain head band!

madras discounters.

i love madras plaid...shorts, bags, hats, belts, you name it, i love it! soo, i made my own. i got two plaid fabrics that coordinated well and quilted away. then i used the hand made fabric to sew up a bag. i use it for the beach, for work, whatever. so cute, so cheap!

this day God gives me.

recently a friend of mine had a baby girl. she came into the world with a bit of a fight but is now strong, has a full set of lungs and is a blessing to her family! i made her a wall hanging with the following song on it, which we sang in church on the day she was born.

this day God gives me strength in high heaven,
sun and moon shining, flame in my hearth,
flashing of lightening, wind in its swiftness,
depths of the ocean, firmness of earth.

this day God gives me strength as my guardian,
might to uphold me, wisdom as guide.
your eyes are watchful, your ears are listening
your lips are speaking, friend at my side.

God's way is my way, God's shield is 'round me,
God's host defends me, saving from ill.
angels in heaven drive from me always
all that would harm me, stand by me still.

catch my drip.

since making the change purses, i'm feelingmore confident on my sewing machine. so i thought i'd try my hand at another sewing project. this time i made a set of 6 coasters. i love coasters because they are functional art. i have a few sets in my own house and i am the only person that lives here. I don't often use them to catch my drips, but rather to accesorize a room with color or holiday cheer.

spare change.

with the economy taking a dive, we could all use a little help in making our dollar go the extra mile. as i prepared to host an upcoming christmas party i wanted to give a little something cute and creative to my guests but i don't have a lot to spend. i am by no means a seamstress, but for a few days i became a sewing machine to create a variety of carrying cases for that spare change they've got lying around. by making them myself, i was able to save some extra dough to put into the baking!

sunday morning find.

on weekend mornings i love to wake up, make a pot of coffee and cinnamon rolls to eat in bed while reading my latest issue of real simple magazine. this morning i found a fabby idea for winter home decor. here's my spin on the idea which for the wreath, ribbon and letter, cost only $5.50. (the silver letter alone in real simple's version was $18.) not only is it festive, but thrifty and matches my home. a sure wreath to keep up all season long.

going postal.

while its not even thanksgiving yet, christmas is coming...

one of my favorite things to do every year at work is to design the christmas card. this year we are going postal with a 4x10 graphical postcard.

head banger.

i am always on the search for the perfect fitting headband. some are too tight, some leave big gaps, and others just give me a headache. i crafted together a headband just my size with a .50 cent plastic headband found in the bridal section of a craft store, a 5 inch wide piece of fabric and hot glue. by leaving the ties loose a the end, i can tie it so it fits around my head, but because its fixed to the plastic headpiece it doesn't slide around my head like a normal fabric head tie. its working for now...

knock it off.

i went to chicago this past weekend & found the scarf on the top left in a higher priced store for $98. i really like it, but i don't have $98 to spend on just 1 scarf. instead, i bought a $12 scarf (bottom left), found some elastic thread, & sewed it so that the fabric would pucker. voila- a knock off! my first one turned out ok, but i'd like to try it again on a solid color & at the cheaper price, i can have about 8! (or i can have 1 scarf, 2 pairs of jeans and a snack wrap.)

recycle this.

if you're like me, you get your magazine subscription in the mail, read it cover to cover, and instead of putting it in the recycle bin or tossing it upon completion, you keep it. mine are piled up in volumes in baskets, on bookshelves, behind chairs and on my nightstand. for some reason i have a hard time parting with them...but finally i found a reason to reuse after reading!

often i find on my magazine pages brightly colored photos and vibrant graphic patterns, really small works of art crammed into $3.50 worth of enjoyment. i've decided to cut those designs out and craft them into my own note to mail.