Three Brother-in-Law Shirts

What I learned about making men's shirts... they are a LOT of work! I've made a few in the past and I've always wondered about making a bunch for the next trunk show or to sell since folks always comment on those I've made for my husband and good friend DH. Making 4 at once (3 brothers-in-law plus aforementioned good friend!) opened my eyes and you know what? I'm not making these to sell, nu-uh! Friends and family only. I really like them and the groovy retro shirting fabric I found (thanks to Habitual, see blog list on right) is exactly what I envision when making men's shirts. But when I was sewing them, I managed to sew the Japanese top #21 in between collars, plackets, pockets and snaps in what seemed like 10 seconds, compared to the hours the men's shirts took up! The snaps alone seemed to take a half hour each shirt - although I did get a bit faster after the first one. Cowboy shirt snaps, by the way, are from Cowgirl Snaps if you need some, and you just might as they are the coolest fastener and the colours are incredible! I'm looking around trying to figure out what else needs cool snaps! The pink shirt, for youngest brother, was my first cowboy style and it was fun - I tried it on and it makes a really nice women's shirt too if I do say so myself! Hmm... maybe I should make one for me... on the other hand, I could have 4 Japanese Top #21 in the time it would take...!

Another Japanese Top

This is my second Top #21. This time I took out the gathers across the bust for a cleaner look. This fabric was such a cute floral print, luckily I have more. Now that the presents have been given, I can start posting a bit more of what I was up to leading up to Christmas - since I was obviously not blogging! This was a gift for my good friend Lara - who spoiled me rotten, as usual with many one of a kind creations from her studio. She also gave me a stack of old dress patterns from the Sally Ann - what a great friend! Hopefully I'll post photos of them - there were some gems - including a cat suit that Lara needs in orange stretch terry!

The Zippy

How about that winter light for a December afternoon at 2pm? Fairly dark around here as we approach the shortest day of the year. Our house doesn't get any sun now but I think by the end of January it hits the south windows of my upstairs sewing room - down stairs is still in the dark for a week after that.
More Zippies! This time with ants, hedgehogs, bikes, frogs and cut-away houses or rooms in red, black and white. I make these with Japanese cottons from Japan (thank you karaku!) and the linings are hand sewn in. A handy swivel hook allows you to connect keys and money in one spot. I've four more to make for the Christmas season and then I'm out of swivel hooks - which means I've made 20 of these things already! How did that happen?!

Village Frock by Sugar City

These dresses were fun and a real challenge to make. I thought I read on a blog some where that a woman sewed one in an hour! Not the case for me! The fabric is a cotton/linen blend and the texture of the gathers was amazing after a tumble in the dryer - no ironing required! The Sugar City blog is here and there is a link to her shop and patterns.

The making of the Littlest Onesies

Here are a few new littlest onesie designs for this year (more elephants!). I use American Apparel onesies, made in the USA with long sleeves. I find the short sleeved onesies often get covered up as undershirts and babies never get to show off their smart shirts! If you use cloth diapers, the snap crotch design also helps keep everything where it should be! I tried brown onesies last year and they were a hit so they're back again this year along with basic whites.

A Parade of Elephants!

Here are a few more sleepy elephants, new for the Littlest. Left to right, one from IKEA, one from Brunei, one from New York (state!) and one from Texas! I originally posted about them here and have cut out many more but they haven't managed to get sewn together yet... they're on the list!

Baby Scallop Blankets

Let the Christmas Craft Season begin! Here are the only 3 baby quilts that will be available this year at the Littlest and, if they're still around afterwards, you'll find them at the 12 Days of Christmas. They are a lot of work and a bit slow for my need for speed! But ooo they are lovely and very gratifying to make... (or maybe I mean once they're made!). The pattern is from the book Bend the Rules Sewing, which is a great book for any level of seamstress from beginner to seasoned veteran - as long as you don't mind bending the rules once in a while! Hmm... is this starting to sound like a recommendation for that sewer on your Christmas shopping list?

Tea Towels

Just trying to use up my scraps again! Those birds were a favourite print that I found at a shop in Victoria, sadly it is long out of print.
My mom has a Christmas idea involving tea towels and this lead me to search for funny words or sayings to embroider on tea towels. Here are a few favourites:
Restaurant Menu
Grocery List
"Make yourself at home - do my dishes!"
"Just dry the bloody dishes!"
"i am preparing dinner just as fast as I can dial!"

New Ironing Board Cover

The trouble with lovely fabric is figuring out what to do with it so that you can enjoy it daily. Some fabrics just don't suit clothing and bags are always a great way to enjoy fabric but how many bags does one really need?! Lucky for me, my ironing board cover was looking very tired and Karyn had a really nice tutorial for making your own cover. This fabric is a heavy cotton canvas from IKEA which is working out really well as a cover. It stays in place and I'll wager that it will last longer than a quilt cotton. And as for enjoying this daily? Well, let's just say there's lots of sewing and ironing going on around here - Christmas is coming!! Hello Mr. Fox!

Ticker Tape Quilt

I needed another project like a hole in the head (especially since the Christmas season is just about upon us!) but I couldn't resist this Ticker Tape Quilt by AmandaJean. I've been wanting to do a mini quilt project and this was perfect. Something about the random squares and not having to applique really appealed to me! The edges of each square are left to fray which I wonder about but so far it is extremely cute. I keep threatening (myself) to use up all my scraps before buying any new fabric but I haven't been very good at sticking to this plan. This project won't get through my scraps very quickly either but it sure was fun to play with. Mr. Fox seems to approve too. October was Scrap Buster month at one of my favourite blogs and shops Sew Mama Sew where they listed 5 or more project ideas a day to use up your scraps. The Ticker Tape Quilt was my favourite.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

A late night post - most have you are stuffed with treats by now and having crazy dreams because of it! We had a big dump of snow Friday night which made for a blue sky, powdery, wintery October 31st. A little cow is out there trudging down the street as I type! We had our 5 minutes of Halloween around here - that was the length of time I was able to get Finn to wear his vampire cape and mask, which only happened because I used the age old mother's solution, THE BRIBE. It has been a challenging Halloween, to say the least. First off, I beat the rush and bought a nice big pumpkin at the grocery store (no patches up here - although someone did grow pumpkins in their greenhouse with success!), it had a proper stem for a handle, it was terrific! Until it froze... and went to mush... So, all week I checked all 5 grocery stores, yes that's 5 total, and no pumpkins. One glimmer of hope was a shipment of pumpkins was due Thursday at the Super A, so back we went and hooray - one tall, skinny pumpkin with a great little handle came home with us!

Pamplamoose Music

Just stumbled across this musical duo - awesome...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xycnv87N_BU&feature=channel

The Zippy

Japanese cotton prints are some of the cutest small scale prints around.  Here we have some matroyshka dolls, ballet sheep and pandas, fat puppies, and musical dogs and sheep.  Still to come are apple trees, farm animals, multi-colour polka dots, and blue trees with little fences.  I wanted to make something small, and useful, that would show off these cute prints. I often find that if I'm just going out for a quick trip to the grocery store/coffee shop/thrift store ;0) all I need are keys and a card or some cash so, introducing The Zippy - when you just need to Zip out! There's a zipper, for starters, a loop of cotton twill tape to hold the quick-release key holder to the side and it's lined, with polka dots and a georgianna label inside. So far the coffee shop patrons are loving them. Guess I better make some more - thanks guys!

Delayed Until Next Spring?

I was so impressed at how quickly this project of stripping, sanding and spray painting was going - and then it snowed! I can't spray paint inside so I was watching the thermometer every day and when it hit 10 degrees I'd scurry out with my spray paint and do another coat. Well, I'm probably one coat away from finishing and that thermometer doesn't look like it's going to pull through for me. So unless I build a plastic tent in the basement (which sounds like too much work) my fun old red chairs will have to wait til spring. Sigh.

Rhubarb Jams

I think I've jammed about 12 pounds of rhubarb this week! It's jobs like this that I'm glad for a big kitchen, most of the time I'm thinking my counter top is too big and just collects junk as a result. On that topic however, I'm on a bit of a counter top kick - an effort to be able to see my counter tops all day - the second something lands on the counter it's quickly assessed and put where it's supposed to go. Back to the jam though! I've made some Ginger Rhubarb Jam and some Tangy Orange Rhubarb Jam. Making jam reminds me of my Grandma Ward and the first time I made peach jam in her kitchen. I don't think it turned out right though, I think I always get the length of boiling wrong. Similarly with this batch, I tried the jelly test but I'm never sure, is the dab of jam wrinkling on top as it cools on a frozen plate or not? I think I should invest in a candy thermometer to save me the worry! Alas, rhubarb seems to be very forgiving and these batches taste dee-lish - at least to me and my 3 year old - hubby doesn't like rhubarb, and that's another story!

Baby Quilt Block

Here is my contribution to a group quilt for a friend's new baby, due next month. The theme was baby animals and the organizers provided the background square. I have a thing for elephants for some reason (probably because my husband does a really good elephant noise and action for our little guy, and has done since he was brand new!). So, I picked an elephant. I'm wishing I pulled the red embroidery floss out from behind the elephant so it wouldn't show through like it does, but it's not too bad, shows more in the photo than in real life I think! Maybe I'll just go and pull it out right now...! Done!

Fresh Batch for the Chocolate Claim

Fresh Batch for the Chocolate Claim, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

I had a really productive evening this week (Forest was 'rebalancing' his investments?!) while I managed to crank out 7 new belts, 6 hankies and 2 more pot handle holders.

Oh Snap! Happy Birthday Forest.

Oh Snap!, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

LOVE this shirting fabric that I found via one of my often viewed blogs - Habitual. Very retro and I took a chance and did snaps for buttons. Snaps are often risky, you have to be prepared to scrap the whole shirt if you miss-snap one of them - luckily I've only done that on a baby romper, not a men's shirt! Hopefully the brother in laws don't read my blog because this may end up under the tree in 3 different colours this year! Thank you Habitual for the tip!

Pi Pillow

Don't look too closely, this is my first attempt at the Pi Pillow from the Stitch magazine, spring issue. It was lots of fun (I have LOTS of scraps saved from favourite fabrics) and hopefully the first of many Pi Pillows.

Old Lamp, New Shade!

While back east visiting my family this summer, I found my old bedroom lamp in the storeroom, the pink felt shade with pom pom trim long gone I guess. So here it is, version 2, for my son, with Heather Ross dogs and, I couldn't resist, pom pom trim (or as they're known around here, dingo-balls). I've since found another milk glass base (hooray!) at the Sally Ann and will make another one soon. This was my first project that required spray adhesive (my friend Tara's secret weapon!) which was an adventure in itself. I managed to spray my entire left hand - anyone know how to get that stuff off?!
Now if only I had a photo of the original shade crafted by my mom!

Elephant Pattern circa 1975

Elephant Pattern circa 1975, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

I "relieved" my mom of this 1975 craft magazine a few years ago (perhaps 30 years after she bought it?!) and I finally made this elephant - but without all the embroidery! He's a nice shape. I'm looking for projects to use up my scraps with. These guys, and yes, I plan on making a herd, a parade and a memory of them, will be made from market bag scraps, which are heavy weight cotton canvas or cotton/linen blends. This pink elephant is a really nice IKEA print - they have the nicest cottons there...

Isn't blogging great - not until I looked at this photo did I see the error I made - can you spot it? My ears are upside down! But I think I prefer them that way anyway!

My brother and I at the Family Picnic.

My brother and I and my egg beater skirt!, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

Lovely day on the Bay of Quinte, Adolphustown, Ontario.

Mini Watermelons

Mini Watermelons, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

We had Moms and children over a couple Thursdays ago and I made watermelons! It was pretty funny, although, the longer the jello sits in the lime rinds, the limey-er they get! They just look like summer time to me. From How About Orange.

More new belts

More new belts, originally uploaded by Georgi Pearson.

I'm having lots of fun this summer making belts - and they're going like hot cakes out of my little shop at the Chocolate Claim!

A New Dress

I was inspired to buy this Jennifer Paganelli fabric and make this dress by a blog out there that I can no longer find (still looking!). A woman was writing about choosing between 2 dresses to wear to a wedding and the blue one was a floral print, reminiscent of wall paper or upholstery fabric and it looked great! I'm pretty happy with this one, a New Look 6799 that was the closest style I could find in town (we have a limited selection of patterns around here...). The fabric is called Loopy Vintage Floral - and it is! If I make it again I think I will modify the neck line to a regular sleeveless style. It's a bit 50's and looks great with a cardigan (Grannie-it-up in the words of my husband...!). A bittersweet use of vintage buttons - at the back, I'll never see them!

Happy Father's Day Weekend

My Dad and his pal Case drove 5600 km to visit us this past week. We've had a great visit and put another 2000km on the odometer since they've been here in the Yukon - good thing they like to drive! They're off back down the highway towards home tomorrow morning early. We're so glad they made this BIG trip to see us!

A Whole Lotta Hat

I've made a few of these lovely hats from Simple Sewing - with a modification or two. This one is really nice - orange Kaffe Fassett fabric called paperweight, brown cotton/linen interior, and reversible to boot. This book is a great one for simple sewing project ideas - or just to browse and be inspired once in a while.
And while it is impressive that I seem to be talking on the phone AND taking a picture of myself, I think I'm just listening to messages...!

First Knitting Post - what?!

How can this be my first knitting post? I knit all the time! Ahhh... I know why, because every knitting project I've done is usually late or "just in time" and gets sent out the door before I remember to take a picture! For example, these little fishies were wrapped and then unwrapped and then re-wrapped for precisely that reason - the photo shoot. This sweater is from a Zoe Mellor book that I found in our library (which has a great selection of knitting books, long winters you know...) and then my mom bought us each a copy. Mom went on to knit a zillion sweaters from it (I'll have to ask her for the official count but my guy alone has a rooster, a tiger and a puppy dog!). I used the rooster sweater pattern and mixed it with the butterfly border and then found the fish motif in another library book to come up with this 3-in-1 sweater. It's in a merino style cotton from Knit Picks and I'm wondering how it will hold up. To be honest it was very fluffy while knitting, I'm wondering if there will be anything left of it but the fish (which were knit in a different, lovelier cotton from local Knit Now shop) after a few washes. I like the idea of a cotton sweater and it is incredibly silky soft but time will tell how to holds up... I have visions of it getting wider and shorter, while the intended wearer, my super duper cute niece River just gets taller and slimmer! This could be a "buy local" lesson, I'll let you know.

Vintage Sundress

Here is a dress from a pattern my mom used for me (I assume!) in the 70's. It's Simplicity 7047 (see below). Fun and quick in Kaffe Fassett daisy print. I made the overalls for my guy when he was one but the colours I chose just weren't right and overalls in cotton are just not cozy enough for our climate up here unfortunately! In fact I had a box of one year old shorts and t-shirts and cute onesie suits that he never got to wear due to the cool temps. Some days we wonder why we live here, when we look at all that green grass, cherry blossoms and flowers you southerners are enjoying... But most days we wonder why you aren't all living up here instead!! Luckily, I know a little girl or 2 down south that will have no trouble wearing this little cotton dress... I just have to get going on something for her big sister next!

Spring Trunk Show

It was a beautiful sunny day and we had a lovely turn out. Thanks to everyone for their hard work - see you at the next one! Check here for more photos.

Q&A's with Spring Trunk Show Participant Emily Woodruffe

The Spring Trunk Sale happens on Sunday, April 26th, from 10 to 4pm at the Chocolate Claim. Local artists and designers will show up with a trunk full of handmade, creative works you will love. This is part six of a six part series of interviews from the Trunk Sale vendors.

Describe your medium – what will you show up with in your trunk?
My medium is stoneware pottery. Functional works with a playful twist.

What do you enjoy about pottery?
I enjoy the meditative nature of throwing on the wheel, and as much as I hate to admit it, the symmetry of it all. I also enjoy the surprises of opening the kiln to see what has worked, and not so fondly...what hasn't.

Do you have a favorite tool, tip or skill that’s made things work better for you?
Right now my favorite tools are some old rusty nails and nuts and bolts to make impressions in the clay.

What do you listen to while making?
I usually listen to CBC. For no other reason than my hands are too dirty to think about changing CD's or anything!

What are your favourite colours right now?
My favorite colors right now are earthy greens, metallic greys and turquoises.

What’s your website address?
No website as of yet...

Do you have a favourite blog or website?
www.etsy.com

Where else and when else can we find your work?
You can sometimes find some of my work at the Arts Underground on main street. Otherwise my home studio is the best bet. Best to call first.

Q&A's with Spring Trunk Show Participant Lara Melnik

The Spring Trunk Sale happens on Sunday, April 26th, from 10 to 4pm at the Chocolate Claim. Local artists and designers will show up with a trunk full of handmade, creative works you will love. This is part five of a six part series of interviews from the Trunk Sale vendors. (Lara is such a good friend, I just have to add that it's so nice to see her smiling face on my blog! See you soon Lare!).

Describe your medium – what will you show up with in your trunk?
Polymer Clay; small works of art and jewellery.

What do you enjoy about your work?
Blending blocks of clay into intricate patterns of flowers, shapes, bugs and words. It’s like magic and I never get tired of it.

Do you have a favorite tool, tip or skill that’s made things work better for you?
I use a hand-cranked pasta machine to blend the clay – that makes things better for me. I love my stylus tools – essentially a set of pokey sticks with balls on the end.

What do you listen to while making?
CBC or CKRW (the Captain) sometimes my iPod.

What are your favourite colours right now?
The rainbow.

What’s your website address?
www.laramelnik.com

Do you have a favourite blog or website?
http://polymerclaydaily.com/

Where else and when else can we find your work?
Jewellery at the Chocolate Claim during their business hours, year round. Arts Underground on main street for art work and some jewellery. Bean North Café on the hotsprings road for jewellery.

The Spring Trunk Show, Sunday April 26th, 10 - 4pm

Q&A's with Spring Trunk Show Participant Tara Kolla-Hale

The Spring Trunk Sale happens on Sunday, April 26th, from 10 to 4pm at the Chocolate Claim. Local artists and designers will show up with a trunk full of handmade, creative works you will love. This is part four of a series of interviews from the Trunk Sale vendors.

Describe your medium – what will you show up with in your trunk?
pretty much anything that can be sewn or glued! I enjoy using felts, vintage fabrics and ephemera to create my pieces.

What do you enjoy about your folk art?
For me, it is almost more the thought processes thinking up each piece, and then when I realize that I can actually make it, what an awesome feeling!

Do you have a favorite tool, tip or skill that’s made things work better for you?
Spray glue, spray glue, spray glue! I wish I had found this stuff out years before! Also my mom's ancient Singer, fab tension.

What do you listen to while making?
Usually CBC, but if that gets too depressing then This american life.

What are your favourite colours right now?
Well since the other girls have already taken my two fave colour combos ( grrr) then I would have to say hot pink and grey will always be a classic combo.

What’s your website/etsy/flickr address?
flickr.com/photos/wishfactory and www.etsy.com/wishfactory.

Do you have a favourite blog or website?
Well of course georgiannacraft.blogspot.com I also love flickr and etsy to see other peoples creative ideas.

Where else and when else can we find your work?
Right now, I am also selling some pieces at the Greenhouse at Cliffside.
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Q&A's with Spring Trunk Show Participant Tara Dias

The Spring Trunk Sale happens on Sunday, April 26th, from 10 to 4pm at the Chocolate Claim. Local artists and designers will show up with a trunk full of handmade, creative works you will love. This is part three of a series of interviews from the Trunk Sale vendors.

Describe your medium – what will you show up with in your trunk?
My main medium is paper so in my trunk there will be a variety of paper goodies. Notebooks, journals, mini-albums, cut paper illustrations, etc...

What do you enjoy about paper crafting?
I like how versitile paper can be. And I love all the textures, colours and prints.

Do you have a favorite tool, tip or skill that’s made things work better for you?
Exacto-knives and good lighting.

What do you listen to while making?
Usually my 3 kids playing and my husband watching sports.

What are your favourite colours right now?
My fav colours right now are red and aqua as a pair.

What’s your website/etsy/flickr address?
darling.typepad.com and I have a group on facebook.

Do you have a favourite blog or website?
lmnop.com.au
ohdeedoh.com
www.etsy.com

Where else and when else can we find your work?
Right now, you can find my work on my website and I am trying do more craft shows throughout the year.

Q&A's with Spring Trunk Show Participant Michelle Easton

The Spring Trunk Sale happens on Sunday, April 26th, from 10 to 4pm at the Chocolate Claim. Local artists and designers will show up with a trunk full of handmade, creative works you will love. This is part two of a series of interviews from the Trunk Sale vendors.

Describe your medium – what will you show up with in your trunk?
Everyday Photographic Images on mailable cards, square mini cards, bookmarks and matted 5x7 images.

What do you enjoy about photography?
The creative process and challenge of trying to get what is in my head out on paper. Sometimes it's just about being able to capture, forever, a certain way something looked and felt.

Do you have a favorite tool, tip or skill that’s made things work better for you?
A tripod. Without mine nothing turns out exactly right.

What do you listen to while making?
My mind is buzzing with the process (both while shooting and processing)... I wouldn't notice music even if I put it on.

What are your favourite colours right now?
Vintage, washed out colours.

What’s your website/etsy/flickr address:
www.flickr.com/photos/crayonjazz

Q&A’s with Spring Trunk Show Participant Georgi Pearson (er, that's me!)

The Spring Trunk Sale happens on Sunday, April 26th, from 10 to 4pm at the Chocolate Claim. Local artists and designers will show up with a trunk full of handmade, creative works you will love. This is part one of a series of interviews from the Trunk Sale vendors.

Describe your medium – what will you show up with in your trunk?
I sew lots of stuff – bags, totes, purses, aprons, baby clothes and accessories, skirts and I’ve done a few wedding dresses – no bridezillas though! My trunk will have a variety of cotton and linen sewn goods, including belts, wrap skirts, wristlets, small clasp purses, hankies (remember those?) and possibly some up-cycled women’s p.j. pants made from vintage sheets – time permitting!

What do you enjoy about sewing?
Seeing the final product. In fact, I’m very guilty of sewing along like a maniac without checking my work, only to discover I’ve sewn something upside down or backwards. I also really enjoying giving what I make away – I have really appreciative friends and family.

Do you have a favorite tip or skill that’s made things work better for you?
I have a few tools that are handy – a pair of tailor’s scissors on an elastic around my neck at all times, a ruler along the front edge of my sewing table for quick and easy measuring, a 20 pound roll of 36” tracing paper for pattern making…

What do you listen to while making?
Unfortunately the hum of my industrial sewing machine is fairly good at drowning out Jian Ghomeshi. so often I listen to myself thinking - and cursing once in a while.

What are your favourite colours right now?
Brown and aqua.

Where else and when else can we find your work?
At Christmas time I’m easiest to find at the Littlest Art and Craft Fair and the Fireweed Community Market Society Christmas Sale. I have some canvas buckets at Knit Now on 3rd Avenue and sell out of my home downtown. The Spring Trunk Sale is a great non-Christmas opportunity to offer my sewn goods to the public.

Favourite blog/website: makesomething.ca

Skirts for the Spring Trunk Show, April 26th at the Chocolate Claim

For a better view see here.

Anna's Belt

My sister in law (that's fun to say, she's my first and only sister!) came back from holidays in Winnipeg last year with the cutest fabric belt. I've finally managed to find D-rings and try making some of my own Anna Belts. They're really nice, another great way to wear fun fabric patterns - a quest I'm always on. I just made one for our good friend DH for his birthday with faux bois fabric (I'll have to get a photo!). I'm making a bunch for the Spring Trunk Show which will now be on April 26th at the Chocolate Claim from 10am to 4pm - hope you can come!
I'll try to paraphrase how I made these - I did experiment with different widths until I got it right. Another thing to be aware of, if you're buying D-rings online (i.e. sight unseen), just wait 'til they arrive before cutting fabric! Different companies measure D-rings differently, some from the outside of the ring, and some from the inside. So here is my first mini-tutorial:
1. Fabric: Measure the inside of the D-ring, multiply this by 2 and add 1/2 an inch. That is the width of your strip of fabric when using 1/4 inch seam allowance, the length could be 45 to 48 inches, your choice. My D-ring was 1 3/4 inches, my fabric strip therefore was 4 inches.
2. Interfacing: Cut a piece of fusible interfacing - use the fusible fleece interfacing, a fairly stiff/thick interfacing that irons on. The width of mine was 1 and 5/8 inches; roughly an 1/8 inch narrower than the finished belt width. Cut it the same length as the belt fabric.
3. Ironing: Iron the fabric in half, lengthwise, wrong sides together. Open this fold and press a 1/2" hem at one end. Align the fusible interfacing, fusible side down along the crease lines at the end and along the length. Fold over the fabric, making a sandwich and press. Open up and press the long edge hem over the non-fusible side of the interfacing, should be a healthy 1/4 inch. Flip belt over and press the other long edge over the whole belt, then open up the belt and tuck the hem in and press one more time. (ok, sorry, I really should have some photos shouldn't I?!).
4. Sew across the hemmed edges starting at the belt end, turn and go down the long edge. Choose a matching thread colour if possible. The other end of the belt is raw edges.
5. Sew topstitching lines down the length of the belt 1/2 inch in from the edges or at whichever intervals you choose, I suppose you could even sew abstract wiggle lines up and down the belt... I'll have to try that!
6. Serge (or zig zag) the raw end of the belt, turn under 1/4 inch, thread D-rings and sew in D-rings, maybe with a 3/4 or 1 inch over lap of belt fabric. I try to sew as close to the D-rings as possible and then a second seam along the tab end so it doesn't stick up too much.
Finished!
Disclaimer - those width measurements may or may not work for you, I'm not a precision sewer like most quilter sewers out there are! And now that you've waded your way through that, here is a good tutorial for a similar belt.

Bend the Rules Sewing Swap

I joined another swap! For this one I had to make a Charming Handbag from the Bend the Rules Sewing book. I included some home made bias tape, made using a super fun bias tape maker. I hate sewing bias tape but making it sure is fun! I also included a little jewelry pouch with one of Lara's sticky beads inside. My swap bag is headed to Gabriola Island, BC. I'm not sure who is making me one but they have to be in the mail by March 31st. I was uncharacteristically ahead of the game and mailed mine on Monday! A phenomenon of the internet and craft books nowadays is that people that buy the books create Groups on Flickr where we post photos of our projects, for example the Bend the Rules Sewing group here. This is a great way to see how the projects turn out and to get ispired to make them. People also swap tips and hints for the patterns.
I've made these little Charming Handbags before, here, here, and here.

Birthday Shirt

 

Happy Birthday to our little man. Time sure flies! This was a last minute idea (like most of my birthday present ideas seem to be, last minute and late!). This font is great fun, it's called Joint by Pizza Dude. We had a lovely birthday brunch, more girls than boys and no cake at the birthday boy's request.

Thanks Mom

I am one of those lucky children of the seventies whose Mom saved LOTS of things. Some I don't even remember and secretly think that she hid these toys away so we wouldn't wreck them! Like this snow mobile for example. I don't really remember it but judging by the wear, it must have been my brother's and he probably loved it and I probably wasn't much interested. The blue and yellow doll house with the ringing door bell however, now that I remember! The snowmobile was accompanied by the "Snow" book by Roy McKie and P.D. Eastman, 1962. It is from the Cat in the Hat beginner reader series. My mom was a primary school teacher until my brother and I came along and I now realize why we had all these great books! This Snow book has been very popular since Mom sent it and inspired my little guy to stick his tongue out to taste snowflakes. So for all you folks celebrating Spring - we're trying to make the best of our snow, since it will be here for at least another month - Happy First Day of Spring!

Birthday Bunting

Our little guy turns 3 this Sunday and we're having a brunch party! No cake (his request!) but we do have treats for each friend to take home. Instead of a loot bag I usually (ok, this is only the second party we've had, I know!) make something. Last year it was a Kidlet wall pocket from jcasa jcasa. Poor Finn didn't even end up with one (I mis-counted!). They are great - especially for door knobs to put pj's or toys or books in, er... or so I've heard...! This year it's a little strip of bunting flags as seen on here on Sew Mama Sew. I'm always looking for fun ways to decorate Finn's room and this seemed like a good idea. It can also be used to decorate a play room, a tent or a fort - or the garden, if spring ever comes!
Here are last year's Kidlet's - just because I really loved the photo!