More Googly Eyes

This is another googly eyed monster made for my little sister. This is a slug-like monster inspired by the singing slugs from Flushed Away. His name is Bob and his wide, toothy grin is great for singing with. This little guy is the nicest of the monsters and will be your friend forever!This is decorative pillow I made the other day that I am very proud of! I love little cute owl-y things and I had a lot of fun finding complimenting fabric and carefully cutting and sewing them onto the pillow case. I also decided to use my googly eyes on this guy too. :)))

Making the pillow inspired me to make this stuffed animal into the shape of an owl also. At first, he was just a fat little crayon sketch made on a scrap of paper, but after making the pillow I decided to make him into reality. Before putting the wings or eyes on, I was very afraid he would be ugly, he was just an awfully wide stretch of old t-shirt with devil's horns. But, I didn't have to worry, because as soon as I put on his googly eye he was my own, totally and insanely cute little owl-y thingy!
Here are my latest creations relaxin' together on the couch. I love how they look all together! <3

Another Googly Eyed Monster

Here's another addition to my googly eyed monster collection, Snowball. (until I find him a better name) He's a seemingly harmless monster who sleeps in the summer and emerges in the winter. He's so cute and fluffy that people are automatically drawn to him, cooing and aweing. However, they better watch out for his huge, alluring, googly eyes, they stare into your soul!

This cunning, fearless and stubborn little guy was a Christmas present for Kitty... fitting, huh?

Homecoming Dresses

They're finally done!!!!! We had a little more than a month to make these dresses before the dance one Oct 4th. Ms. Kari was nice enough to come and help us even though we were totally not ready for making a whole dress. With only the fabric we got on sale about a year ago in the states, a zipper, matching thread and a sewing machine as old as I am, we got to work!
We started with ideas, we drew what we wanted and got a rough idea of what we were in for. Then we went to a wonderful secret fabric shop that Kari knew of and got patterns that closely resembled our ideas. Laurens was exactly what she wanted but I had to alter mine a lot to get the ruching on the bodice and the two tiered skirt.
Of course, we were busy with guitar and violin lessons and part time schooling and homeschooling. We barely made it on time. We didn't get to go to the homecoming game because we were still making alterations. (But that's okay because later I heard we lost. Can you believe we lost our homecoming game???) These dresses are our blood, sweat and tears (with Lauren around, that's literally true! jk)

Traveling Gear

I made this handy backpack and water bottle holder out of an old t-shirt. They were perfect for sightseeing in Prague!

The water bottle holdre may seem a little, well...useless. But I must say, it was much better than walking around for hours holding the bottle by its cap! I was thinking that since they so cute and handy that I might try selling them sometimes. But, people couldn't order more than two matching ones since they're made from shirt sleeves :)

Wallet Tutorial

Savings Wallet

I’m making this for my saving money but I’m sure that it can be used as a regular wallet if you want.

You need:
1/4 yard Solid Fabric
1/4 yard Complimenting Patterned Fabric
1/8 yard Contrasting Fabric
Medium to Heavy Weight Double-Sided Fusible Web (you might want to get a lot while you’re at it because it comes in very handy!)
Velcro or Snap (if you use a snap you’ll need the tool also)
Matching and Contrasting Thread
Fabric Glue (optional)

Make the pattern:
I used a plain sheet of paper from my printer as a pattern piece
Fold the bottom of the paper up about 3 inches
Fold the top down over the bottom flap about ½ from the bottom edge
Open the paper back up and fold in all the edges about ½ for seam allowance (this will help to lessen your trips to the ironing board)
If you want pockets, decide how many, what shape and what size (you can use the measurements for the pocket I made below if you like)
Draw them on your pattern

Cut the pieces:
Open the paper all the way and use it to cut one rectangle out of your patterned fabric, one out of your solid fabric and one out of the fusible web
With the contrasting fabric cut out your pocket and the flap, with a ½ inch seam allowance. (on the flap add about an inch to the length if you’re using your own pattern not mine)
For my pocket I cut two rectangles, one 4in by 3in and the other 4in by 2 1/4in.
Now, iron all of the pieces flat
And, using your pattern as a guide, iron down all the creases and seam allowances in both large rectangles and the pocket pieces

Cut embellishments:
If you want some decoration on your wallet, like flowers leaves, circles, swirls or anything else, then be sure to draw it on you pattern to see how it looks
Measure and make a stencil of your design if you need to
In center creased rectangle of the fabric for the outside of the wallet (the solid fabric), carefully cut out your design.
Cut and pin a rectangle of contrasting fabric to the backside of the solid fabric, completely covering the cut-out
Now comes the most difficult part; sew along the edge of the cut-out (for beginners with the sewing machine, I suggest making and embellish with no round edges)
Trim any excess of contrasting fabric around the sewn edge

Sew on pockets (instructions for my measurements):
On the flap piece of your pocket, sew down all seam allowances (along two sides and the top edge) then sew (or glue) on the velcro
On the main pocket piece, fold in the two sides and hem along the top edge
Lay the large solid rectangle face down and fold up the bottom edge along the crease
Layer the pocket flap with the main pocket on top (all its seam allowances should be tucked inward) where ever you want it on that flap
You’ll have to keep pinning and un-pinning both pieces and move them around to get them in just the right place
Sew the pocket down along the side and bottom edges

Front side:
Back side:
Sew on velcro:
To sew (or glue) the velcro in the right place, layer the two rectangles right sides out
Fold it up so it looks like it will when it’s finished
Sew (or glue) one or two pieces of velcro to the top of the patterned fabric and one or two pieces on the bottom of the flap of the solid fabric

Sew the rectangles together:
Lay the two rectangles on top of one another and make sure they’re the same size; trim if necessary (that really helps keep the finished edges straight)
Layer the pieces like this: Fusible web, solid piece facing up, patterned piece facing down
With the seam allowances un-tucked, sew along the edges uses the creases as a guide
Remember to leave about a 3 inch gap.
Now, turn the wallet right side out and very carefully iron flat (also it’s a good time to iron the pocket flap down also)

Finish the wallet:
Fold the bottom edge up (this is the pocket for the money so make some last minute adjustments and make sure its tall and short enough. Also make sure the velcro matches up)
Then, sew along the very edges of the wallet (careful while closing up the gap make sure the side stays straight)
Now, fold the top flap down and iron it all to get the fusible web to stick.
Yay! You’re done!

T-Shirt Tote

NO, its not a bag to tote around your t-shirts :) Its a bag made out of a t-shirt! I took one of my dad's old KISS shirts (with his permission of course), cut two rectangles and two straps out of it, sewed it together, and thats it! Yay!

Reversible Wrap Skirt

One of my favorite magazines is Craft. It has so many wonderful ideas, its very free and whimsical and full of great projects. I loved this skirt, mostly because it's reversible (thats two skirts in one!) so I decided to make one. My craft store has a very poor selection of fabric and I was not too excited about the ones I picked but I still think it turned out very nice!

Ruffled Skirt and Leg Warmers

My next project is made from this long black skirt. Every girl needs a long sensible skirt like this, but lets face it...it's not the most exciting thing.

I liked the idea of making a pleated skirt but as you might have noticed I'm not really a frilly type of girl. So, I added a little something to make it more sporty :)

So, I cut four long four inch wide strips from along the bottom. I hemmed up the left over skirt and sewed together a pair of strips to make two very long ones. Then I pleated one strip along the hem of the skirt and the other above the first one.

To pleat all you do is so on the strip with straight stitch and ever (The second pleated strip is optional but makes the skirt a little flirtier) You can also hem up all the strips before you put them on the skirt but I like the look of the rough edge.

Now for embellishments! Who doesn't love them? I took the car off of one of my dad's old t-shirts and just glued it on (with special fabric glue) You can also stitch it on if you don't have any glue but I couldn't on this one because its raised up.

Now, you all know the motto "waste not" so I used the t-shirt to make leg warmers and glued the word "mustang" on one of them.

Making leg warmers are really easy. Just measure your leg from just below the knee to the ground and add one inch, then measure around just below your knee and add one inch (my measurements were 17 and 12) Cut out the rectangle with those measurements from the front and back of the t-shirt. Fold each rectangle in half and use straight stitch to sew together the loose sides.

Fold the top down a tiny bit over 1 inch and use zig zag stitch along the bottom. (use whip stitch if your hand sewing) Then turn the tube inside out and cut two slits near each other. Cut one inch wide strips about 20-25 inches long from the same t-shirt or another of contrasting color. Thread the shirt strips through one hole and out the other.

And that's all! I'm really happy with my new hand made clothes. Now, I think I can safely call myself a seamstress!

Ruche Wonder

At our local thrift store I found a bunch of clothes that I absolutely loved but also absolutely could never where in public. I'm planning on making them into something else and I'll show each :)

Here's the first one:
This was my favorite! It was one of those things that you pick up on an impulse and hold onto it. I loved the feel of the fabric and the square neck line. I knew it would fit me like a bag, but I just had to get it.

I decided that it would be really cute to ruche it. So, I drew a line on the inside of the shirt where I wanted the ruching to go, then I cut a piece of 1/8 inch wide elastic as long as I want the circumference of the finished shirt to be. Here's how to ruche, turn the piece inside out, draw a straight line with chalk or soap where you want the elastic to go. Pin the elastic down on one end then put it on the sewing machine. Set it on zig zag stitch about medium wide, then pull the elastic while you sew. It's a little difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it you'll find yourself ruching everything!

And thats it, its really easy, and the comments people give afterwards are so wonderful to hear! "Let me just say, you look fabulous!" "You made that!?!"

Monster Plushie Tutorial

Here's how to make a cute little monster for yourself!


First you draw and cut out a pattern for your monster. On this on I used a picture Peanut drew. Its fun to close your eyes and draw scribbles and loops then try to make something out of it, but anything you do make sure its wide and bold and a little larger than you'd like the monster to be.

These are some things I came up with yesterday while I was drawing with my eyes closed. Who knows, when I'm bored I may make one of them!

Lay your pattern on the cloth and cut two pieces. This monster is going to have hair all the way around it like Peanut drew so I basted (held it down in place with large stitches) some rick rack about a fourth of an inch from the edge.
Then I laid the other piece face down and backstitched along the stitches I made for the rick rack (You don't have to use any rick rack if you'd like to have a hairless monster)
Remember to leave a hole about 3 inches long while stitching the skin together. After your done turn the monster's skin right side out and stuff him. And add any extra stuff, on her picture, Peanut drew a spider that I thought was so cute I had to put one on. Extra stuff are always cute!
Lastly, cute out eyes, mouth and nose from felt (on this one I used a button for the nose) Maybe you could do sharp pointy teeth, or a small smile or a wide smirk, or no mouth at all. You can have big googly eyes or small beady ones, only one eye or maybe six!

You can also cover your monster's nakedness by making a shirt. You can wrap a piece of scrap fabric around him and measure where you should sew. Then fold it in half inside-out and sew. Then make arm holes (if your monster has arms)

I've also seen it done with socks. Its easier since you don't have to sew, just cut holes for the neck and arms, but I've never done it because I haven't found the right size socks that I can just cut up. My monsters are fairly small so I think I'd need baby socks. For larger monsters you can use your own socks (if you'd like to cut them up...)

Would you like your monster to have hair? Here's how:





Put thread, the same color as the yarn you want to use for the hair, and poke it through the front of the head as close to the top as you can get. Then put the tip of the yarn onto the needle but don't pull it all the way though.

Figure out how long you want the hair then bend the yarn at that point and poke the needle through the yarn leaving a tiny loop on the needle. Do that four or five times then put the needle through the back of the scalp to the front. The little loops of yarn should be in a group on top of the head.

Thread the needle through the front of the scalp to the back and repeat making little loops until you have a head full of beautiful hair.

You can do a little hair, or a lot. Use fuzzy yarn for a completely different look. Make it short or long...or make it short in the front and long in the back and make a monster mullet!!

After your done be sure to give your monster a name (something crazy that you'd never name your kid is best like Sebastian or Napoleon or Winifred) Then give him a personality and a hobby (you don't want a bored monster, that's just inviting trouble!) Make him a house to haunt, sew him a little monster quilt, give him a Myspace and voila, your done!

Monster Friends

Here are my little monster plushies!! The green one's my favorite, his name is Sebastian the the yellow one is Ludwig and the blue one is Mozart. (I was gonna name him Wolfgang but he looks too much like a cat to have a name like that!)

Even though they are all named after composers, Sebastian is the only one who plays an instrument. He plays piano but pretty poorly, he bangs and drums on it and makes the most gruesome noises come out of it (as any monster should!)

He's very manipulative. One look into his googly eyes will send anyone into an obedient trance! They do anything he asks willingly because of his cuteness!

Usually monsters don't care too much about cute or pretty things, but Mozart has an eye for paintings. She has many in her collection and all of them are of battles or other violent things (sorry, that's just how monsters are, horrible I know...)

She's the shy one though, so shy in fact that if one person looks her in the eyes she'll run away and hide! She's also very suspicious and scared of everything, and ever since she was a baby, she almost always had a scared look on her face. Now, let this be a lesson to all little children, her face is stuck in the "scared" position forever. But, she doesn't mind because she uses that face often.

Ludwig is the most mysterious one and nobody knows very much about him. He mostly likes to hang out under beds or in closets. I wonder what he's doing under there?

The only thing I know of his past is that he was a sailor at one point. I know because of all the bad words he uses and the anchor tattoo on his back!


He hates getting his picture taken, so I had to sneak behind him while he was reading Harry Potter!




Well, there you go! My little monster friends say goodbye and they wish you unhappy days! (That's the monster way, apparently, to them unhappy days are good!)

My First Quilt

Here is my first quilt! I'm so excited to finally finish it! I started it last winter with some scrap fabric they were selling at our tiny little craft store. Then, all summer I neglected it until we got back from MS and I picked it back up again. I had already finished all the squares, all I had to do was put the back on. You're probably wondering why it took me so dang long, I should have gotten done last winter instead of letting it sit until summer. But, you see, its completely hand sewn! I could have used a sewing machine but I didn't think it'd be as special, plus I love to hand sew! I love it much better than the sewing machine! Well, I hope you like it! (Now, the craft store has ordered fabric with brighter, hipper colors so I'm kinda disappointed...but I still love it!)

I Recycle!

When I was 11 or 12 I begged my mom to get me these pants, my neighbor said they were cool so I had to get a pair! That was when I was starting to care about my appearance! Anyway, now they are way too short and too tight in the legs so I decided to try a project from the Sew Subversive book. I'm making a hip belt! Never heard of it? Neither have I, but it looked cool in the book!
I'm gonna cut the legs off as low as possible then hem it up with a ribbon. (Its an ultra mini skirt that I would never where in public on its own, so I where it over jeans and its a hip belt!) The ribbon and buttons were my own ideas! We have a bucket full of all sorts of buttons though most are not very colorful thats way we haven't used them all yet! But I found a bunch that would go perfect and tried different assortments, one of the first was a Navy look. It didn't feel right though, because my dad is in the Air Force and my uncle is in the Army. So I tried to find another look but I couldn't find anything better! So...I decided to go nautical anyway. Hey, my great grandpa was in the Navy so there!
After I cut off the legs and sewed the ribbons and buttons on, I had to find a shirt to go with it. The only thing that I owned that looked alright was a white cami. But, my arms were cold of course so, just for a laugh, I pulled the pant legs over my arms, which were still connected by a little piece of fabric. To my surprise it looked good! Remember, waste not! So here it is pinned on the cami, all I have to do is sew it. Ta Da! You won't find anything like this on anyone else! I recycled my old pants to create an outfit completely my own!