Please move with me! I'll make it worth your while!

I have new followers! I am so excited, however, if you read on to a few posts ago, you'll see I'm moving.It's like making great friends in your neighborhood, and then finding out you're husband got a new job. In a different city. The difference is, I can take each of you with me!
Please come over to mama's hustlin'

I've already moved my posts over, and set up. It's really quite cute! And I have an awesome tutorial for later today.
To make the deal even sweeter, I'm doing a giveaway! And you followers who started here on blueberry-kisses, get two entries. Head over to see the details.

Pretty Please?

Mama's Hustlin'

Allright- Here we go! Head on over to my new place of bloggy-residence. Enter to win a tote bag!

Mama's Hustlin'

Thanks!

-S

Here's the Deal...a Giveaway!!!

I announced earlier today that I'm making a big move. I'll be absent for the weekend, but am planning something fun! Enter to win this tote bag! Don't worry- if you don't win you can learn how to make one in the post below! : ) Watch for me on monday to announce the big move. Hope you'll come on over with me!

I'm going to give away this Tote Bag!

Here are the Rules:

1. Must be a follower to enter. Enter by commenting on the first post of my new blog on monday 5/24. (I'll give you the address on monday)
2. If you are a follower before I make the big move, you can enter twice!!!
3. Followers who join after the move get one entry.
4. I will open up shop at the new blog address on monday 5/24.
5. Give-away closes at midnight 5/28.
6. I will use random.org to pick a winner.
7. Good Luck (open to US residents only)!!!

Big Change Coming Up!

Okay, this is something I've been putting off for awhile, but now that I'm in the swing of blogging, and would like to make it more of a focus, I need to address it.

Are you ready?

There. Is. Another. Blueberry Kisses.

I know.
And she has an etsy shop.
And she has a blog. Two actually. Registered to shopblueberrykisses (my other name!!!)
So, I've decided this name is not big enough for the both of us.
I will be keeping this name for my etsy shop. (I have business cards and tags already printed!)
But my DIY blog will be moving.

I'm unpacking the furniture this weekend, and should have an open house next week.

I'm thinking a give-away to entice you brand-new followers to move over with me.
How about a tote bag?

-S

btw, you'll love the new title!

Tutorial: Reversible Tote Bag

This is by far the most popular item I sell in my etsy shop, or locally. It's functional, practical, cute, machine-washable, reversible, totally lovable! I call it the "Momma Tote". When I got back into sewing about a year and a half ago, I started in with bags made out of home-decor weight fabric. There is a local store near me that sells it for 3 bucks a yard!!! 3 bucks! Crazy! It is sturdy enough to hold a good shape with-out interfacing. Most big box craft stores carry it, (just not for the crazy price of 3/yard!)

Choose two corresponding fabrics, we will call them outer and inner. Cut 2 rectangles 16"x18" of each outer and inner. Cut 1 rectangle 8"x12" of outer and inner. These will be pockets. Cut one 4"x 44" length of outer and inner. This will be your strap.

Fold each pocket in half right sides together, and sew around three sides, leaving a spot for turning. Clip corners, turn and press.

Turned and pressed pockets.

Top stich along one shorter edge of pockets (merely decorative), and attach 3 sides to one side each of outer and inner. Be sure to stitch back and forth a few times along the top where it attaches, this area will see a lot of pressure.

Sew outer together, right sides facing. Repeat for inner. I used a 5/8" seam allowance.

Sew strap along one edge, with right sides together. Open up and press seam to one side. Press one side up by 1/2".

Press remaining side in 1/2" to meet other side.

Press the entire strap very well. Sew each side with a 1/4" top stitch.

Strap

Miter corners. Do this by popping open the bag with one hand, pressing the bottom flat. I measured 3.5" from side to side and marked. Sew back and forth along this line several times. I serged the edges after sewing. You can also just trim.

Serged edges.

At this point my assistant got a little fussy. I let her help. She's very demanding.

Turn outer bag right side out, and stuff into the inner bag, right sides together. Pin strap into place, with the right sides together. The strap will be inside the bag "chimichanga". That is where it belongs. Have faith. It will all come out the right way.

Stitch around the entire bag with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a gap for turning.

Pull the whole bag out through the opening (I love this part!)

Stuff the inner bag back inside the outer bag.

Press and top stich 1/4" away from top edge. Congrats! Take it to the beach! Or the pool, if you live where I live...

Enjoy- Feel free to comment with any questions! -S

Play Nice

Birthday present number one:

meet birthday present number two:

Play Nice

Having fun together? I'm certainly enjoying this threesome. : ) -S

Tutorial: Ruffle Butt Bloomers

Problem #1: We cloth diaper at our house. Most of the time, anyways. I love those little dress and bloomer sets sold at warehouse stores, or even Target. However, I'm finding that those tiny bloomers don't accomodate Ruby's fluffy tushy.

Problem #2: We have beautiful granite tile counter tops. With a very rough edge. All of my shirts look like this. I refuse to spend more than 5 dollars on a shirt. I have seriously worn this shirt twice. Seriously.

Solution: Women's t-shirt to baby bloomers! With an awesome short-cut!

First, I cut out the holey part. (giggle, giggle) Cut across the top where you would like the top of the bloomers to be. Mine is about 7 inches from the bottom. I also pressed the top down about an inch. I always use spray starch when sewing knits. It make them a lot less slippery, bendy, and generally unruly.

Next I cut across the top in successive strips (omitting the pocket). I ended up with four 1" strips (picture shows two 2" strips, before I cut them in half.) Switch to a ball-point needle. Your regular needle will wreck knits. Trust me. A four pack is like 2.59. You will thank me.

I ruffled the strips with my sewing machine tension set to way loose, and thread length super long. (I love doing this!!)

I tacked down 3 of the strips on each side (not sure yet if I would use the fourth strip). I then stretched the ruffles to fit, while sewing them right across the gathering stitch with a zig-zag stitch)

Turn them back inside out, and sew the crotch together. DO NOT sew all the way down to the sleeve hem. You will use this little casing to thread the elastic through.

I used 1/4 in braided elastic in both the waistband, and the leg casing. Thread through, sewing the elastic securely together, then sewing the leg casings shut. Do the same with the waistband, finishing the opening where you inserted the elastic. Don't worry if it's not perfect, your baby won't care!

Enjoy the day. You could totally personalize these, with an applique of your choice. They took me about an hour, but I had all three kids at home today. And one had strep. Ugh. If I could've muscled through, I would say these are a 45 minute project. Even ommiting the ruffles would seriously shave down on the construction time. You could use some really cool shirts to give these some extra flair!

PS, I used the last ruffle to make this super cute flower headband! It took me less than 5 minutes!

Mail Organizer? Male Organizer!

So- my hubs is very organized. As in "balances his checkbook everyday" organized. Who does that? I don't even have a check-book register. I definitely fall in that "artistic, creative, unorganized" type. Some call it sloppy. It drives the husband crazy. I mean it is the single most troublesome thing in our relationship. Most people fight about money, or lovin'. Not us, man. My husband is a happy man if he can open our linen closet and not be pummeled with an avalanche of towels. So Noodleheads post for today could really be put to use at our house. I actually think I have most of these supplies on hand (is that weird?) And our mail and miscellanous papers totally accumulate all over the kitchen. I think I'll make the labels say "Mail" and "File". And I just got a half yard set of Wonderland's Momo to play with. My kitchen does have reds and greens, so I think it'll work.

I'll keep you posted! (No pun intended! )
-S

Hiring a decorator. Ummm, no.....

Hmmm, maybe you noticed the "Spice up Your Kitchen" button I posted. Recently I've been a little unsatisfied with our house. Not our house- our household decor. If you can call baby dolls and laundry decor. I really don't feel as if this house reflects who we are. Not that we really have visitors anyways, but isn't a house supposed to be your sanctuary? Our living room is just so brown. I'm finally motivated to take my crafting skills and put them to use. I recently bought this Krylon paint in several colors. Fun!

source

I am excited to try to spruce up the old abode, and when I saw this over at Noodleheads, I thought "Why Not?!" Let's go!
How about you? Does some area of your life need revamped? What are you waiting for?
Get going! Have fun!

-S

Birthday week, and the sniffles

A little cold and some beautiful weather has cut into my PC time. The girls and I have enjoyed being outside all morning! One thing about living in the desert - our summers are like winters everywhere else- you can't go out. We are trying to soak up as much of the spring sunshine as we can!

We had a great time at the park for C's 3rd birthday! I made these cupcake toppers with my Cricut.

Next time I would make the 3's a little bigger and bolder, but they were surprisingly easy, and cute!

Avery loving the water park!

Me and the chubby bunny

The birthday girl! Happy Birthday sweet 

(and spicy!) Carolina! Here's hoping 3 is easier than 2...

Mother's Day gift to myself

I ordered this at Amazon for my mom for Mothers Day, and to get Free Super Saver Shipping I added the new Anna Maria Horner book Handmade Beginnings.

I have her other book, Seams to Me ,and have made a few of the projects inside. I am just smitten with her adorable family! How does tha lady find time for all this with 6 children!? Her projects are functional, beautiful, and seem easy to sew. I can't wait to try my hand at a few of the patterns inside. I just bought a 3 half-yard set of her Little Folks voile, and am excited to try a top for myself.

I never thought I would like sewing for myself, but it's very rewarding! Not to mention completely customizable, done on your time-frame, etc. Any ideas for this lovely set of fabrics? Have to keep in mind that it is 100 million degrees here all summer long. Ugh.

Blog Schmog

So at dinner last night with my husband and in-laws I was explaining the blog. You know, journaling my adventures, etc. How shocked and amazed I am to have actual "followers" (don't drink the kool-aid...)
And my husband threatened to start commenting on the blog also. So if somebody starts saying things like "House sure could use a good mopping" or "Can you sew me some arm-pit pads?" or "This laundry isn't folding itself", you can rest assured that it's my hubs just keeping me in line. I'll try to keep him in check if he starts crashing the party!

Oh yes, and Welcome to the followers~!

-S

Wha-What? Finalist!?!

Okay, so I get this message that my top has made it into the STW2010 finalist pool for tomorrow!!!

Vote for me! Yeah, vote for me! Mine is the sweet yellow one. Yellow doesn't look good on blondes, but luckily my hair was cut off in this photo. Did I just say that?
Hmmm, do I look like I'm about to fight crime in this pic. Because I am. Oh yeah.

Cinco de Birthday

Dear Mom,

Thank you for having me on such a fabulous party day! I guess I have no-one to blame but myself (and maybe the hubs)- that I have been pregnant or barely post-partum on all but 2 of them since I have turned 21. Not this year. Hee, hee, hee. Although the down-side is now I have 3 kids under 5 who won't understand when I'm out of commission. Alas...

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Oh yeah, will someone make me this cake. Because it's totally rad.

And I got a cricut for my birthday- watch for lots of cricut-ty things in the weeks to come.

-Shannon