Winner of Aggie Ray Pattern

I’m a little behind with announcing a winner of this giveaway, but we were camping this weekend and I’ve been offline! And when I got home, our laundry exploded all over the place. You know how it is.

I used random.org to generate a number and the winning comment is #174!
AnonymousMay 25, 2012 12:39 AM
Aggie wrislet/clutch purse:)
andri_chama(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDelete
True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:174Powered by RANDOM.ORG

I’ll email the winner! Thanks for entering and reading my blog.

Shirring and Troubleshooting

Shirring is when you use elastic thread as the bobbin’s thread.

I love the look of a shirred garment. Just love it. And after seeing this tutorial for a shirred bottom too-big shirt, I knew the perfect shirt in my closet that needed this alteration.

And I achieved the desired alteration to my shirt. However, I had many terrible problems.

I tried and tried to shirr with my elastic thread. I cried at one point because of all the problems I had on my quest to create a shirred bottom.

Tutorial: Upcycled Striped Bow Tank

I have been wanting some new summer tops. However, the chance to get anywhere to shop has evaded me for several weeks. 

So I raided my [small, yet growing] stash of thrift-store finds.   

I refashioned a striped shirt (it was a long sleeved girls’ size XL). I got it for $1. I took scraps from another t-shirt and made it into this! 

I really love how it is longer, almost tunic-length. I love the vertical stripes at the bottom. I also love that the neckline isn't too low. Which is a problem I have experienced with tank tops sold in various stores.

I love my new $1 shirt.

Wall Art Upgrade

I felt like the "Things that Go" wall art in my boys' bathroom was missing something. 

It looked a little bit stark to me. 

So I added a little flag banner to it.

Undergarment Alteration

Want to learn how to replace the strap on your bra to look like a tank top strap?

Recipe: No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

A friend shared this recipe after she brought a batch to MOPS. 

They are so good yet quick 

and easy to make! 

(But not healthy to eat! Beware!)

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Despite cooking every day, I tend to think I'm not all that good at it. In reality, I just don't love to cook. I do love to bake. And to eat. 

PDF Pattern Giveaway from AggieRay

We have a PDF Sewing Pattern Giveaway from Linda of Aggie Ray! 

Linda makes beautiful handbags and also sells patterns to make your own handbag!

Check out the lovely bags you could make with one of her patterns:

The Mara Bag: 

The Silhouette Handbag:

Aggie Ray has two shops: Etsy and Goodsie. 

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment saying which is your favorite pattern from 

either of the Aggie Ray shops! 

Be sure and enter by May 25th at 5 pm and please include your email address in the comment. 

You can leave it in the form your name (at) yahoo (dot) com if you're afraid of ended up on a spam list.

One comment per person. I'll announce a winner on May 27thth. 

Baby’s Room: Finishing Touches

My little guys still live in totally white-walled rooms.  I haven’t even considered painting. Just seems like too big of a decision to pick a paint color. And too big of a job to move all the furniture, mask, and paint. Especially since we just moved in last August. 

So I keep making their rooms cuter by adding touches to the walls. I made the hat rack above by taking a piece of white moulding, spray painting it, and adding some hooks. Actually, my husband added the hooks when he hung it.

What I Wore: Vintage Skirt II

Winner of the "Cut it Out" Frames Giveaway

Thanks for entering the "Cut it Out, Already" Giveaway!
If you didn't win, you can order one of their super fun frames from their website.

I used random.org to choose a comment as the winner.

Make Your Own Butter

Want to make your own butter? It’s easy!

We started getting milk at our local dairy. And actually, we buy raw milk. Unpasteurized, non-homogenized. There are lots of health reasons for doing this, but I won’t get into them now. (In some states, raw milk is illegal. Which is sad. Lots of health benefits can be obtained by drinking raw milk.)

Whatever the case, if you want to make butter, you’ve got to find a source for non-homogenized milk. The stuff from the store won’t have the cream. Alternatively, you could buy heavy cream and make butter. 2 cups of cream yields about 1/2 cup of butter, plus some buttermilk.

Five Children's Books We Love

I love to read to my boys. We love most of the classics, but here are a few that are maybe less known in case you're tired of The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Goodnight Moon.

For reference, my oldest is nearly three and my youngest is about 10 months. 

We just got this one for Easter and it is hysterical.

Pinterest-Inspired DIY Sandbox Lid

My dad loves to make things. Two years ago, he made a (really heavy) sandbox for my almost one-year old. We covered it with a tarp after every use. A few weeks ago, while browsing Pinterest, I came across a sandbox cover idea. I emailed it to him. 

Well, my dad made the new cover with benches for the boys! We now have a great cover that folds into seats. 

The Stretch Stitch: A Tiny Explanation

There are lots of projects where I've said to use something called a "stretch stitch". 

This type of stitch is necessary to use when sewing with a knit fabric at a point where it needs to stretch, like a waistband of a skirt. 

Below, the stretch stitch is #1:

“Cut It Out” Frames Giveaway--Closed

This giveaway is now closed.
_______

Cut it Out frames is sponsoring our latest giveaway! I thought maybe some of my readers would be interested in winning a Cut it Out frame. 

Gifts for Men: Bike or Car Storage Bag with French Seams

My brother’s birthday was last weekend. I wanted to make him something special and was sort of at a loss. I decided to make a car tote. He can attach it to one of the headrests in his car. I don’t know what he can put into it…maybe cans of tennis balls? His lunch? Anything he doesn’t want to roll all around the back of the car, I guess.

Covered Photo Albums

 

This weekend, I made a few photo album covers! I used some scraps of fabric I've had sitting around to cover 4" x 6" albums purchased from the dollar store.

Stuffy Nose Remedy for Babies and Children

This is more of a "Mommy Post" than a "Crafty Post". So if you don't have kids, you may want to skip it. I'm going to talk about runny noses. 

You can tell when your kiddos are sick. It is something about the ways their eyes look.

This is a picture of my oldest when he had his first cold.  

(I am sparing you the picture of snot running down his face. You're welcome.)

Spring Bucket Hats for my Boys

I pinned a bucket hat tutorial a few months ago for a spring project for my boys. 

The bucket hat brim can be turned up....