Jane of all Trades

May Day Fabric Flower Pails

2013-05-01T16:20:00.001-04:00

It's the first day of May - May Day! Did you ever leave little bouquets of flowers on May Day? I have fond memories of picking violets, wrapping them in paper doilies and delivering them to favorite teachers.

These fabric pails are my grown-up version of that.

They are lined with duck cloth to stand up tall...

...and have grommet-reinforced holes with cotton cording to make the perfect hanging handle.

These are cute for flowers, but could also hold pencils, candies, potted plants, anything! And, they are quick and easy to make, so you could make up a bunch for gift bags, or brightening up the house.

Check back for the tutorial soon, and happy May Day!

Mini tent

2013-04-30T13:45:00.003-04:00

First off, I know I hinted at a giveaway (25 days ago!?). I guess I underestimated how busy things get this time of year (see HERE). The giveaway IS coming!

Secondly, this project is not on my long list of things-to-be-completed.

But...I saw it last night from Kid Giddy via Tip Junkie (via Sew Mama Sew) and had to try it.

A great stash buster project! I had this left-over IKEA fabric and found matching lime green duct tape for the poles.

The perfect size for stuffies and outdoor play, especially now that spring has finally sprung!

P.S. Do you think the rabbit to the right of little A is scoping out the tent? Does he have an envious glint in his eye, or is it my imagination? Perhaps the pika should watch his back?

Winner, winner...

2013-04-05T13:42:00.000-04:00

Thank you to all who entered this week's Girls' Night Out Clutch Giveaway! I loved reading all your comments - especially the fabric ideas! Even if you don't win, you can still get a copy of the pattern HERE for a very reasonable price!

And now....drumroll, please...

The winner of the clutch of her choice is....Ellee, who said "The retro glam one is my favorite!". Ellee, you'll need to send me your mailing address.

The winner of her very own pattern is...Cathy, who said "I really like the black and silver....but the silver and purple is beautiful.....too hard to choose!! I need the pattern so I can make a collection!!" Cathy, you'll need to send me your email address.

Congratulations, ladies, and thank you to all who entered. Tune in next week for another fun giveaway!!

Good things are coming...

2013-04-05T08:43:00.000-04:00

Remember this little guy?

Here he is, soaking up the warm sunshine (finally!). I think spring is finally making its way to New England!

Other good things coming are another giveaway next week (hmmm...what could it be?), and this week's Girls' Night Out Clutch Giveaway winners. Just 3 1/2 more hours to post your comment for a chance to win Ruby's pattern, or your choice of clutch!

Here's a sneak peek of next week's giveaway!

Spring?

2013-04-02T08:17:00.003-04:00

It is April 2nd, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and it is snowing!

Three more days to enter the Girls' Night Out Clutch Giveaway!

Girls' Night Out Clutch: Rocker

2013-03-29T06:45:00.000-04:00

For my final clutch this week (see the others HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE), I chose this black fabric with silver running through it. By label, it is a "brocade" fabric. By look, though, it says rocker to me (especially when paired with black jeans, heels, a tank and chunky silver jewelry).

I didn't add piping to this one because I think the fabric speaks enough on its own.

And the red snap and black sateen lining add their two cents while not overpowering the main fabric.

I can't wait for my friends' bachelorette party where this clutch will be making its debut in high style!

Now that you've seen Ruby's clutch sewn up in five different styles, which one is your favorite? Hop over to my giveway page for your chance to win a copy of Ruby's pattern, or your pick of one of my clutches!

Girls' Night Out Clutch: Retro Glam

2013-03-28T14:12:00.000-04:00

The clutch spree continues today with a retro glam approach. It's so hard to pick a favorite, but there's something about this one... (my others are HERE, HERE, and HERE).

I imagine my grandmother having a clutch like this, circa 1950's.

I lined it with a green sateen fabric. I love the way the gold fabric reflects the lining color a bit.

And the pops of color - red, turquoise, purple, green and yellow - make this such a versatile fabric choice.

I'll show you my final take on Ruby's clutch tomorrow, and will have a special giveaway for you!

If you're local to Western Mass...

2013-03-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

Girls' Night Out Clutch: Glitzy

2013-03-27T11:39:00.000-04:00

For today's clutch (see my other ones HERE and HERE, I need some advice. I found this fabric that, if you look closely, has flecks of metallic running through it.

I sewed it up with the purple piping, thinking it would draw out the purple tones in the fabric.

It does make for a stark contrast, but...

...would gold have been better? I think it looks more glitzy (read: '70's disco) with the gold, but not sure if the piping takes away from the subtle gold in the fabric.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. I'll count it as one entry into Friday's giveaway!

Girls' Night Out Clutch: Repurposed and Preppy

2013-03-26T11:25:00.000-04:00

For today's clutch (see yesterday's HERE), I finally cut into an old skirt sitting in my repurpose pile. I had just enough fabric from it to cut the pattern pieces.

Here's the before:

...and the after.

I think I'll get a lot more use out of it as a clutch. Now, if only summer would arrive! Doesn't this seem like the perfect "going out for drinks by the ocean" bag?

Stay tuned for more ideas for fabric combinations and Friday's giveaway!

Girls' Night Out Clutch from Zaaberry: five different ways and a GIVEAWAY!

2013-03-25T10:36:00.000-04:00

My friend Ruby over at Zaaberry has a new pattern: the Girls' Night Out Clutch. It's a quick, fun, fairly easy-to-sew pattern, and the options are endless! She explains how to add piping, insert a magnetic snap, and accommodate for different weight fabrics.

It's a bit addictive, and I've made four so far (with an idea for a fifth later this week). This one was a clearance fabric from Joann's. I love the nod to the ombre effect.

I didn't have any piping I liked with the fabric, but this mini pompom trim seemed to be just the pop the clutch needed. It adds a bit of whimsy to the bag for a very playful look.

I'll be back each day this week to share a different clutch made with Ruby's pattern. And...I'll be giving away one free pattern and one free clutch on Friday, so stay tuned...!

Of course, if you don't want to wait for the giveaway, you can always hop over HERE and buy the pattern.

Urban Haute Apron from Modern Vintage Designs

2013-03-07T17:18:00.002-05:00

Just popping in to share this project from last month!

It's the Urban Haute Apron from Modern Vintage Designs.

My mom and the girls have a special thing with matroyshkas, so I knew this fabric was perfect for a birthday apron.

I love the bit of gathering in this apron and the waistband. Feminine without being over the top.
And...I'm getting some use out of my dressform. She's my model for the apron!

Waiting for Spring: Bird Seed Wreath

2013-03-01T16:28:00.000-05:00

For Christmas, my mom treated us all to various bird feeders. We had so much fun watching all the birds (and squirrels) at the wreath that we decided to make a new one after they devoured the first.

We found this recipe here and had fun picking out birdseed. Can you see the pistachios and dried fruit in it? It almost looks good enough for people to eat!

After a good amount of drying time, it was ready to hang. Once the birds discovered it, it was gone in just a few days (the squirrel does help speed the process along). Time to make a new one for all those spring birds I'm starting to hear.

Hope you are starting to get a taste of spring!

Demystified...

2013-02-25T15:54:00.000-05:00

We New Englanders have been living in the dark. A curious, at times envious, crafting dark. A Hobby Lobby dark. Up until this weekend, that is, when our first Hobby Lobby (at least in Massachusetts) opened!

So many crafty blogs casually mention this store and we have been left to wonder what we are missing. Wonder no longer, my friends! I was able to snap a few photos with my phone (not many, though - seems they were triple-staffed for the grand opening!) to satisfy your curiosity.

While the fabric selection was small, there were so many cute prints and colors. These were the home dec chevrons!

Tons of things to decorate your home, too! While I have been on a major decluttering spree and do NOT want these things in my home collecting dust, they are still fun to look at. Do you want faux birdcages? glass bottles? metal Ford signs for your garage? mini-London phone booths? They have it all, and lots more! It's almost too much!

In the end, I think I showed pretty good restraint. 3 yards quilting cotton and 1 yard striped knit. Not bad for feeling like a kid in a candy shop!

Sending some sunshine

2013-02-23T15:06:00.000-05:00

2 weeks ago we had this...

Then, we went to this...

Just wanted to send some sunshine to those expecting MORE snow tonight!

Kiss Lock Clutch

2013-02-22T19:02:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of taking a sewing class at Stitch Lounge in Greenfield, MA.

If you are any bit local to the area, I highly recommend a trip into Jenna's lovely store. (For those not local, her etsy shop has the sweetest fabrics!)

During the class, we learned to make kiss lock clutches. Jenna's pattern is perfect for using up small fabric pieces, including these treasured black and yellow florals from Moda.

Unfortunately, I couldn't make my piece of Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks work for the bigger clutch. Luckily, Jenna had a fat quarter of this pink floral, which ended up matching my lining pretty well.

It was great to be a sewing student, rather than teacher, for a night, and spend some time in somebody else's sewing space. I think I see more of these clutches in my future!

Hoping you find something new and fun to create!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2013-02-14T06:55:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope your day is sweet!

(recipe link here)

Spread the love

2013-02-12T17:12:00.000-05:00

I think Valentine's Day is as much a day to celebrate your special sweetie as it is to celebrate your other loved ones: kids, parents, friends, and relatives.

The girls and I sewed up a few Valentine felt garlands for the grandparents, and honorary grandparents (special aunts and uncles).

I love how simple this project is, and how much Valenteine cheer can be spread with it.

Rolled up, slipped into a clear plastic bag, labeled with a simple tag, and ready to deliver!

Hope you are finding some holiday inspiration this week!

Digging out and digging in

2013-02-09T15:43:00.003-05:00

In case you were wondering, we got enough snow from Nemo to tunnel through!
Hope you are enjoying some sunshine, wherever you are!

Valentine Wreath

2013-02-05T10:36:00.000-05:00

My favorite crafty project is the one that is quick, useful, and uses up materials already in my stash. Enter this wreath. I stumbled upon it somewhere in the blogosphere and thought it would be a cute addition to our other Valentine decorations.

I modified it a bit to make it smaller, and use materials on hand (see here for how to make the yarn wreath base). Originally, I used the same charcoal gray yarn to make the argyle stripes, but it looked too chunky (see the wreath on the left in the top photo?). I like the lighter pink stripes much better - looks more authentic argyle.

The hearts were cut from 2" squares, and the wreath is 9" in diameter. They fit perfectly on either side of our dining room windows to perk up the space a bit with some Valentine spunk.

Wishing you some satisfying (and free) crafting!

Pleated Clutch from Charm Stitch

2013-01-27T20:42:00.000-05:00

Every year, my high school friends and I do a holiday gift exchange. Over the years, it has turned into more of a gift-card exchange. Being a sewist, I always like to make a little something to make the gift more personal.

I found this tutorial from Charm Stitch and thought it would be perfect for my always-fashionable friend. I didn't create my own design on the fabric as they suggest, but I did fuse batting to the lining fabric, and add the handle and flower pin...

...and a black metal zipper.

I love the pops of yellow against the simple black and white. (I was tempted to use hot pink, but figured this was a bit more classic/conservative. I think she would have gone for pink, though, raised in the '80's on Cyndi Lauper and Madonna!)

Just the right size for a coffee gift card.

This is the first flower I made for it, but didn't think there was enough contrast. Also, I'm much happier with the finished edge on the final flower vs. the frayed edge on this one.

It was fun to sew something new, and the pattern was well-written. Thank you to Charm Stitch for sharing!

Fleece Cuffs Tutorial

2013-01-24T15:54:00.001-05:00

I found a cute mitten and hat set for little A a while back. But...the mitten cuff doesn't cover much of her wrist, which is especially problematic in the snow and these cold New England days.

I realized it would be pretty easy to sew a longer cuff and attach it, but hadn't gotten around to it. Then, today, we saw something similar to what I had in mind, and I wouldn't have to sew it to the mitten (score!). For the $12.99 price, and the very simple design, I knew I would be making up a few pairs when we got home.

The thumb hole holds the cuff in place, and the cuff is long enough to go over her sleeve. Problem solved!

Think you want to make some too? This is a VERY simple sewing project - even the most beginner can do it!

You'll need two pieces of fleece. For the kids' size, I did 6" x 6", but you could alter to make longer. Just make sure you cut the width measurement along the stretchy grain of the fleece.

Next, finish the ends (the stretchy sides). Really, you don't have to with fleece, but I always prefer the look.
If you don't have a serger, read on - I'll show you how with a regular machine, too!

Fold cuffs right sides together and sew the long edge (length).

Make a scant 1/2" snip on the fold 1/2" down from top edge.

Turn right side out. That's it! You can wear these under gloves or mittens, or simply as fingerless mittens. On the website of the brand we saw at the store, they make the point that kids can tuck in sleeves with these cuffs, put their coats on and STILL zip up independently! Genius!

If you are serger-less, here's what you can do:

Zig zag top and bottom edges. Set your machine to zig zag and turn the handwheel until the needle is on the far right of the stitch. Place your fabric under the presser foot up against the needle. Now, when you sew, the zig zag will encase the raw edge of the fabric.

Right sides together, simply sew the long edge with a 1/4" seam. No need to finish. Snip the hole and turn.

These are my size, so the measurements are 7" wide and 8" long. I cut the hole about an inch down from the top and about an inch wide.

The very best part about these fleece cuffs? Little ones still have access to their thumbs!

Stay warm!

On our walk....

2013-01-15T18:39:00.000-05:00

Jane of All Trades is expanding!

2013-01-12T08:54:00.000-05:00

Somebody is turning 6 soon!

My very-crafty-in-every-way aunt gave her a sewing machine.

Not one to be left behind, the little one set herself up at MY machine the next day.

Pretty good form for a 3 year old!

So, I predict I will be completing less projects of my own and becoming more of a consultant (and fabric cutter, b/c those scissors are still way too sharp for those cute fingers!).

Teeny tiny snack sacks tutorial

2013-01-10T16:42:00.000-05:00

I will warn you: these are a little addictive to make (maybe because I keep using food-related fabric?).
If you are up for the temptation, you will need:

one 10.5" x 3.5" piece of ripstop nylon (or liner of your choice)
one 10.5" x 3.5" piece of cotton fabric
one 2" piece of velcro (poky and soft sides)

Sew the soft velcro in the center of one end of the nylon, positioned 3/4" down from edge.

Fuse wrong side of fabric to wrong side of nylon.
**If using a directional print, turn it upside down and keep velcro at top.**

Here it is fused with velcro on the inside.

Round top corners.

Finish opposite short end (serge or zigzag or bias tape, as in this tutorial). Sew poky velcro 1" down from finished edge and centered on the fabric.

Fold bottom edge up 3.5". Finger press fold. If you have a craft label, sew on now.

Starting at the bottom corner, serge (or otherwise finish) around the snack sack, ending at the other bottom corner. Fray check ends of stitching.

Pack some cookies and enjoy your new teeny tiny snack sack!