REform/REfashion Friday - Gift #3 Fabric Bracelet

This week's REform/REfashion Friday is also another homemade gift. This was one of the gifts given to my daughter's friend - see this post. I'm not even sure why I thought to make a fabric bracelet but I'm glad I did. There are quite a few versions out there but here is the tutorial I used from PoppyChic. I am so in love with these little puppies and will be making more.

I added another "Made for ____" tag

I used this beaded candle embellishment that I snagged off a clearance table somewhere. When I purchased it --oh about 6 years ago - I thought I could use the beads or even refashion it to some fun bangles to wear. I snipped it with wire cutters and created a loop to fasten it using needle nose pliers, which created a bangle. From there I followed the tutorial. I used fray check on the edges of my fabric because I didn't want it to fray too badly and I add a little bling. I found a sheet of rhinestones from Walmart recently for a $1.50. The little girl likes cheetah prints so I thought this fabric was right on point. I've been picking up buttons here and there and I really like the flower button I used here. What a super easy and super fast project. It only took a few minutes to complete once the fray check dried. A matching headband would have been perfect - next time!



Other fabric bracelet tutorials:
JCHandmade
MollyChicken
Sew Fantastic
Craftiness Is Note Optional
Ruffles and Stuff

A Project a Week

I was on cafemom this week and I was inspired by someone that took on "a project a week" for the 2009 year. I think this is a great goal and should help me get some easy things done that I want to accomplish.
WARNING TO SELF: I have to be careful not to neglect the harder projects that require more time. I have so many things that need to be done but I keep procrastinating. Okay so let's define what constitutes a project - well anything sewing, crocheting, knitting (just learned how), scrapbooking (as if I do this), crafting, or DIY related. Oh I'm so excited. Let's get cracking. I'll check in again during the week. Cheers.

Mittens Complete

Now that the weather is pretty chilly here in GA, the kids' school requested that all children have hat and gloves. My daughter has a pair but I thought it would be good just to leave a pair at school in her cubby. So I found an easy pattern on Lion Brand and whipped these up (already had the yarn they specified). They look okay (I did an average job) but they are definitely functional. They came home on Day 1 full of wood chips - so all is well. My son keeps asking "Where mine, Mommy". He has 2 pair of store bought gloves so he's good. He is modeling the gloves because my daughter was "too busy". If I make these again I will use wool or a blend. I am trying to phase out the majority of my synthetic yarns and replace with yarns from natural fibers. That's a whole "nother" post.

Good Things

Okay why are there only 19 more days left in this year? What happened here? This year has flown by so fast.
Let me get to the point of the post. I was returning from the grocery store on Tuesday when I saw that a neighbor had put several boxes of magazines out for recycling. There were tons of old Martha Stewart magazines (pre-2002), I love Martha so I had to turn around to check out the stash. I actually had a subscription in 98 thru 99. I nabbed 2 MS Baby magazines and a few MS Living magazines. Of course I went back later in the day to grab a few more but they were to donate to my daughter's pre-K class. Good thing I got them on Tuesday because it rained all Wednesday and Thursday.
Check out these beaded ornaments I already made from the December 97/January 98 issue.


They actually just published this project on the M.S. website.

I had what I needed on hand except for the 20 gauge wire, I had some 24 gauge. It is not as heavy as the 20 gauge but I didn't have to do a craft store run so it is all good. The tricky part is getting the beads on the wire. I think these are so cute and super easy! Martha you get a gold star for this project. I love my C. I think I will resize the S, it is a little big. This one will be given to a child so I decided to use the multi-colored beads. I've been negligent on the craft posting so I promise to pick it up.

Pottery Barn Kids

I just got my pottery barn kids (pbk) early winter 2008 catalogue and my daughter and I eagerly flipped through the pages. Of course she pointed to all the things she wanted and said, "Mommy we need to buy that", but then there was a pause followed by, "Does that cost a lot of moneys?" She is starting to understand that things cost money at the ripe old age of 4. My response was,"Yes dear". She continued to point to beautiful brightly colored things with the same question and was given the same response each time. Then she breathes heavily and says,
" I wish I could find something in here that doesn't cost so many moneys".
I just chuckled and said to myself, me too! Well now the craftster in me started to rev up and I said hmm... I think I can make some of this stuff or at least something similar. I have so many projects already lined up for the first quarter of this year that this quest may need to wait until the second quarter. However, be on the lookout for a post down the road on my knock off pbk items or something that is pbk inspired.