One of the most fun parts of planning a retreat is putting together a gift bag that will delight your attendees! I am a huge believer that everything you put into a retreat gift/swag bag should be a useful, delightful extension of your goals and aligned with your event values. It can feel overwhelm
Discover the art of freeform crochet with 25 inspiring ideas! Unleash your creativity and learn how to craft unique fibre masterpieces.
How to Make a Reversible Drawstring Bag. DIY Pattern & Tutorial
The Fat-Quarter Bag is a fast and fun project. It goes together so quickly you’ll want to make one for everyone on your gift list. Free DIY Tutorial
These 11 simple tips will make your Sundays easier and help kids behave in church so you can worship God with a full heart!
Looking for a trendy and practical accessory? In this step-by-step tutorial, we'll show you how to create your very own hobo bag-style lightweight fabric
Origami bento bags are great way to gift some home baking. This linen bento bag tutorial will outline the steps needed to make one.
The Boho Sling Bag – plain or fancy. A sewing project for everyone – regardless of their sewing pedigree or experience! The Boho Sling Bag seems to be fairly popular among those that c…
FUN IDEAS FOR SUMMER Summer is here and there are nothing short of some amazing and fun ideas out there, we have compiled some of our favorite ideas to help you kick off summer the right way. Directions and source...Read more
Paper Bag Dramatics: A fun activity for Team Building and Developing Community. Here's an idea that can be used just about anywhere at any time. It encourages groups to solve problems, think creatively, and work as a team.
Reuse, repurpose and refashion your old worn out blue jeans with this bumper list of over 25 amazing diy ideas for old jeans.
Hey everyone! I decided to take a walk down memory lane today and revisit an old pattern of mine :D I released my Kitty Purse pattern back in October of 2014. It really took off as a popular patter…
Kick off the new year with a new organization tactic for your dirty laundry. Samarra Khaja (SammyK on Spoonflower) visits the blog to share a creative project that makes sorting […]
Learn how to make reusable drawstring produce bags with the overlocker and coverstitch machine with this quick tutorial.
Make your own flannel rice pack with this rice warmer bag tutorial. Easy to make, even for beginners. These make great Christmas gifts and are perfect to use year round for sore muscles.
photography by Trisha Zemp I’m attending 2 conferences this week and I needed some last minute notebooks for my note taking so my stellar intern, Trisha Zemp, came up with this genius notebook idea from a brown paper bag that will take you 5 minutes. You probably already have everything you need to do […]
A simple tutorial to make fruit & vegetable stamped flour sack tea towels. Create thoughtful, useful handmade gifts with this family-friendly craft project!
Mesh Market Bag Free Crochet Patterns
On the first day of DIY Christmas, skip the bird-in-tree and get a little crafty with this homemade hand warmer.
So the weather is starting to get cold and it’s time to bring out the hot packs in my house! I have several hot packs in various shapes and sizes for warming me up or soothing sore muscles over the winter. I also love to gift hot/cold packs. It is just something everyone can use! […]
Did you know that you can dye fabric by pounding flowers? This unique flower tote bag makes a perfect gift - and kids will love making it!
Cosmetic Pouch Sewing Pattern & Tutorial I love a makeup bag that stands up while I grab stuff out of it. That flat bottom design makes...
Crafts, DIYs, food, green living, backyard sustainability
DIY Reversible Japanese Knot Bag Free Sewing Patterns
Sew microwaveable heat packs from colorful fabric. What a cute and cozy gift! To make them you need the following supplies: Supplies for Microwavable Heating Pads 7-1/2″ x 40-1/2″ rectangle of cotton 7-1/2″ x 40-1/2″ rectangle of flannel thread measuring tape iron and ironing board scissors straight pins 9
My kids have a little nook where they play games and watch tv. I have stuck a little futon in there...but there is no other room for any other kind of furniture! So I decided
Japanese artist Eiko Ishizawa believes that every product has the potential to be both fun and functional–even when it comes to your average sleeping bag.
DIY Baby Pillowcase Sleeping Bag Nap Mat Tutorials: Sew Pattern inspired by zCush Baby Nap Mat
DIY Fabric Beanbag Free Sewing Patterns for Kids
DIY Fabric Reusable Microwave Popcorn Bag Free Sewing Pattern
It's getting colder {where I live, anyway}, and there's nothing better than coming home and snuggling up on the couch with a blanket and warming up your toes! My tutorial today isn't necessarily a new idea, but it's an idea that I'd love to share anyway. These rice bag warmers make for great gifts to friends and neighbors for the holidays. Plus, these work great for when you're sick and need a heat or ice pack, too! I also used them a lot when my daughter was a colicky, gassy newborn. It seemed to help a lot. Supplies: Fabric - Cotton, fleece, or flannel fabrics work best White rice {NOT instant rice} Sewing machine, pins, etc. Scented oils (optional) To start out, cut fabric 14" x 11" {adjust size for different sized bags}. Fold fabric in half, right-sides together so it measures 7"x11". Sew along the longest edge so you make a sleeve or tube. Flip sleeve right-side out. Tuck one of the edges in and pin. Top-stitch closed using a 1/4" seam allowance. Fill bag with rice. I used about 2 1/2 - 3 cups. Don't overfill the bag, otherwise it won't conform to your body and will be difficult to sew closed. If you are using scented oils, add a drop or two in your rice and mix well before adding the rice to the bag. Tuck edges and pin other end and top-stitch closed. Now your rice bag warmer is complete! As you can see in the picture above, I also decided to make some pocket-sized warmers! These fit perfectly in your hands and pockets for early mornings out or if you are going to be spending time in the cold and want to keep your fingers warm. Just heat before you leave and you're good to go! I used a couple of scraps that measured about 6 1/2" x 2 1/2". Fold the strip in half, right sides together so it measures 3 1/4" x 2 1/2". Sew along the edges, starting at the fold, leaving an inch or so gap. Flip the bag right-side out. Carefully fill the bag using a funnel with about an 1/8 cup of rice. Fold the gap closed and top-stitch closed. ...and ta-da! A tiny, adorable, comfy, pocket-sized hand warmer! Heat bags in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warm. Don't overcook or make too hot or you could burn the rice {and you thought burnt popcorn was bad...}, or worse, burn yourself or your child. No bueno. If you'd like to make and give some bags away as a gift, I've created a printable tag for you to attach to your rice bag warmer. I found this poem here. Just click on one of the images below, right click, "Save As", and print! I tried to make one wintery colors, traditional Christmas colors and the other can be used any time of year! Some things you should know before downloading: *Artsy-Fartsy Mama printables are for PERSONAL USE ONLY. *You may NOT modify, re-sell, redistribute, or claim the design as your own. *Please do not remove the watermark. *If you post this on the internet, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to my blog. Hope you enjoy and have a WARM winter!!
Stars 'n Stripes 'n Scraps Quilt (queen size--just finished Sun 3/13/16) Answering the question--what to do with all those lovely fabric scraps? I'm still pecking away at my fabric scrap piles, building as many scrappy queen size quilts as I can by May, then I'll switch to building purses, baby quilts, table runners, and pot holders. I am full speed in my commitment to reduce 3 big bins of scraps, mostly 2.5" strips. I have a fourth bin full of 1.5" strips - and here's what those 1.5" strips made in the past: a decorative pocket for a soft luggage, this travel bag is 22 x 22. and I make other soft luggage out of upholstery material--oh yeah, got a big bin full of upholstery material scraps. Here are a couple pics of the soft luggage the small cotton fabric scraps I build these . . . little padded pouches with metal swivel clasp to carry cell phone or eye glasses. and rope baskets that are cool seriously, it takes a full day to make one of these. I wrap fabric strips around 1/4" cotton clothesline rope to create a disc (bottom of the basket), then I start nudging the disc upwards with my left hand to build the wall while I stitch. A zig zag stitch holds firmly. Ok, ok back to photos of current quilt Stars 'n Stripes 'n Scraps . . . my signature free hand edge to edge quilting "Feather Bouquet" I confess, even after doing the last three quilts--I made only a dent in the scrap piles. Ah, oh well. I'll keep sewing 'n sewing. I'm sure I mentioned one more scrap pile of 1" wide or less strips and short lengths?? I give them to my friend Jerry who uses all the colorful bits in beautiful rag rugs he looms. They are gorgeous! Here's the half way point of long arm quilting process. Lots of color loading quilt (floating quilt) After removing the quilt from the frame, I cut away excess batting and backing, square the quilt, sew 400+ inches of fabric binding, install the binding, then sit for 5-6 hours turning the binding and hand stitch. It's not complicated work. Its time consuming, but relaxing. I'll drop in more photos later. Right now, I'm going to take a nap. Talk to you later.
