Fun with Scraps

I have been using a lot of really fun fabric lately which has left me with scraps that I just have to use for something.  So last night I sat down and did some experimenting.  I cut out bits of fabric and sewed them together in a strip of patchwork, then added some leftover elastic and some fabric rosettes (made from some larger scraps) and ended up with a pretty darn cute little headband.  I am not sure just how little yet as I added the last bits to it just now - after I put my daughter to bed - so I have not been able to try it on her, it may end up as a gift for a baby with a smaller head...

sewed the scraps together

 pressed and trimmed the seams

 fold in half (right sides of fabric together) and run a seam down the length (leaving enough room for the elastic later)

I pinned through the bottom seam then folded it in on itself and sent the safety pin up the length in order to turn it right side out, this was the most tedious part and next time I will make the tube of fabric wider (start with wider pieces of fabric so there is still room for seam allowance) in order to make this step a bit easier

 finally turned right side out

once right side out I put the safety pin in the the end of the elastic and worked it through the tube of fabric then sewed through both sides of fabric and the elastic at both ends to secure it inside.  I then treated both ends with fray check and let dry

sewed the ends together then used hot glue to cover the joint with a small piece of felt so that it wouldn't scratch when it is worn and used the hot glue to add the rosettes

finished  

My Super Fun and Funky purse

I needed a purse.  I was tired of switching my wallet, keys, phone, chapstick, etc. from the diaper bag to the black purse to the brown purse, and so on.  I wanted something I could carry with the diaper bag when I have my daughter with me and on it's own when I don't need the diaper bag.  It needed to hold my large wallet (it holds my checkbook), at a few other essentials mentioned already and it needed to be cute.  I finally found a pattern that looked like it would be just the ticket, and it was.  I learned some new skills along the way and found that the most difficult part to sew was the optional flower because it is just a bit tedious to cut out 24 individual petal pieces then sew, turn and gather them all together.  It turned out well enough for me and I really do love it.  I have found that a lot of other people love it as well and so will soon be posting some pre-made purses in my Etsy Shop so keep a look out.

Interior/Reverse Fabric

front with flower pin

back

Main Fabric and reverse handles - Amy Butler - Lotus Line/ sage lacework
Interior Fabric and outer handles - Amy Butler  - Lotus Line/ tangerine full moon polka dot
Large Flower Petals - Sandi Henderson - Farmers Market/ Citrus
Inner Petals - vintage salvaged upholstery fabric I bought in Charlotte several years ago
Fabric covered button -

Crab Cakes

I had a delicious dinner.

 the bun is flopped over not actually because I am a talented food photographer, but because I had already taken a bite - yum

only three left by the time I got a picture

Ingredients:

1 pound (16oz) crabmeat

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (I increased to 3/4 cup)

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

2 T minced chives (didn't have any so I skipped these)

1 T Dijon mustard

1 T lemon juice

1 t celery seed (didn't have any so I skipped this also)

1 t onion powder (I substituted onion flakes because I didn't have powder)

1/4 t freshly ground black pepper (forgot to add the pepper)

4 dashes hot sauce (didn't add because I am planning to serve the leftover cakes to my kids tomorrow and I knew my husband would add a ton of spicy sauce of some kind to his anyhow)

1 T extra virgin olive oil

2 t unsalted butter

Prep:

Mix all ingredients except olive oil and butter in a large bowl and form into 6 patties

Heat oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet until the butter stops foaming.  Cook the patties until golden brown, about 4 min on each side.

As you can see by the notes on the recipe, I was a bit distracted while making these as I was also trying to get the kids fed at the same time so I made some substitutions, some omissions and I forgot the pepper; and they still turned out great!  I served them on toasted wheat rolls and added a few more squeezes of lemon juice and some baby lettuce to mine while my husband added plenty of hot chipotle bbq sauce and baby spinach to his two and we were both very happy with the results.

Original recipe here.

I need to consolidate my creativity...

In wanting to post about what I am currently creating I took to my different craft areas around the house and started snapping photos
I found that I have far to many craft areas, I'm spread out all over the house and sometimes in the middle of one project I'll realize I need something I was using for another project that's two levels down or two levels up from where I am currently working... not always convenient.
I need to consolidate my creativity. . . 


(for more on a few of the individual projects, click the links found in the wording under some of the pictures)

Tray of crochet and embroidery floss that is actually also for crochet - sitting on the back of the couch in the living room to keep it out of reach from little hands
I am experimenting with embroidery floss to make more delicate things like earrings, we'll see how it goes

bags and basket of yarn, for crochet - sitting on the piano in the living room, again, because of little, curious hands
These are all my hat and flower supplies that I most often work on sitting in the living room (on the couch, not actually at the piano) while my kids play

Craft area in the basement with cardmaking and hairclip making remnants
this area has the shelving and storage bins, and I keep larger items like my Cricut cutter down here, but sometimes it's just plain cold in the basement, and I don't like being cold

sewing area in my room with dress to be mended and ring stacker to be completed
we have a small sitting area in our bedroom that fits my sewing machine nicely and keeps me on the same level as the kids while they nap which is usually my sewing time - the pillowcase dress I made for this past Easter has a spot or two where the bias tape is coming away from the main fabric that need to be fixed and the ring stacker was supposed to be my now 16month old daughter's 1st birthday present, though I have finished another ring since this picture and just have one left so I'm almost there

flower clips

some for purses some for fun

These are to go with the amazing purse that I will soon be listing in my Etsy shop and to use as accessories for whatever you like.  They are such a fun and bold size that the options for spicing things up are many

Bag of amazing fabric I had packed up to take for friends to make their purse choices
Though I haven't listed the purses yet, I have made one for myself and I use it all the time which has prompted several friends to commission custom purses from me - so excited to get started on them

The sweetest little seamstress there is...
really, what more can you say about this one, isn't she sweet? She loves to take the tape measure and wear it around her neck while she's "helping" me