I'm inspired!

So late last night I was looking around a few of my favorite crafty blogs and came across something as simple as cloth napkins, and got inspired by Chez Beeper Bebe and her cloth napkins here. If I could make 50 myself I would not need to worry about washing them every day, and it would cut down our paper towel/ napkin waste and usage. Plus they are SUPER cute.

So now I am on a mission. Time to go through my fabric stash . I would like to make 9 sets with 6 napkins in each set. Lets see what I shall come up with today.

pencil bag time.

So it figures my camera died, right as I start this blog. So for now I will have to use my cell phone camera.

My niece wanted me to make her a pencil bag for school. Next thing you know both my girls want one also. I did not have a chance to snap a picture before she took off with it, but I do have Crimson's. She is really proud of her French heritage so she wanted something French on it and flames. She picked out all the colors and fabric and here is what we got.


I love how this turned out its sooo her. Ok so here is a tutorial on how to make a basic zippered bag.
I'm still embroidering Bea's so hopefully I will have that done in the next few days.

Wristlet Key Fob Tutorial

Bear with me, this is my first tutorial and blog post.

I don't remember where I saw these first but I knew I had to have one. So I looked and looked at different tutorials and different ways to make them. I didn't really like any out there, so I came up with my own way.

What you will need:

-Basic sewing supplies (machine, thread, ect)
-Scrap fabric any size as long as its at the least 12"x 3"
-a bit of heavy weight(iron on ) interfacing ( craft strength is fine)
- Fob hardware. I found mine on Ebay. I looked all over the craft stores in my area and I had no
luck finding what I was looking for. On Ebay they cost about .50 cents each and look like this.



First step-

You will need to make a template that is 11 x 2.1/2 inches. I just used an old cereal box to make mine.



Trace on to your interfacing and cut out.



I just happened to luck out and have this clear ruler that is slightly bigger then the finished fob, so I can see where I want to cut my fabric. You can also just fold the interfacing in half and that's the size of your finished fob.



Cut out your fabric, slightly bigger then your interfacing.


Iron on interfacing, and fold in like this....


Fold and iron like this.


(Forgot to finish taking pictures, was so excited to give it to my aunt, so here is the stand in)

Now sew the open edge closed, if you want you could be done. But I like to add a little something extra. Like ribbon, rick rack, or you could embroider on it ...... you get the picture. If you are going to add anything now would be the time.

I liked how the tiny rick rack looked on this so I went with it.


Now I don't have a picture for this part because I need to add this step in next time I make one. Its VERY VERY important that you sew this together at the bottom before the hardware goes on. I have not done that and thanks to my Mom's friend Joyce she was saying how her hardware kept slipping off and I really needed to sew it together. That way the little teeth on the hardware have something to hang on to... DUH!!!! why didn't I think of that before. Mine on my key chain is starting to pull away it makes so much sense to do it that way.

So add your hardware. These are really simple to use, just slip it on over your sewn up line and squeeze together with some needle nose pliers. I like to put a tea towel around the metal so that the pliers don't dent the metal too bad.



Now just put your keys on and slip it on your wrist and you are done.