DIY Back Warmer Pillow

Scroll down for english, please. 

A ideia de hoje é uma versão um pouco maior das almofadas térmicas que fiz há uns anos para o meu pai e o meu sogro e que vos mostrei no último post. A ideia para esta surgiu quando a minha mãe andou muito mal das costas e me disse que usava as almofadinhas do meu pai para lhe dar algum alívio. 

Today's idea is just a slightly bigger version of the warming pillows I made for my father and father in law many years ago, and have shared in my last post. The idea came to me when my mom hurt her back really bad and told me she was using my father's little pillows to get some relief. 

Assim que com a ideia das anteriores, fiz-lhe uma semelhante mas tamanho XL para que pudesse usar na zona lombar. Assim em vez de colocar as pequenas que não chegavam a cobrir toda a zona, passou a usar esta que tinha o tamanho ideal. 

So, just like the previous ones, I made her a XL sized piloow so she could use on her lower back. Like this she didn't need the smallest ones which didn't cover all the hurt area, and could use this one istead with the right size. 

Tal como com as anteriores, fiz a almofada em algodão e depois fiz-lhe a forra para que a pudesse lavar sempre que necessário. A almofada em si, não se pode molhar devido ao seu conteúdo, como é óbvio, que consiste em arroz, alfazema (flores) e óleo essencial (eu usei gerânio porque adoro, mas fica ao vosso critério, mas se usarem um com propriedades anti-inflamatórias e/ou calmantes tanto melhor). 

Again, I made her the pillow with cotton fabric and also the cover, so she could take it off to wash as many times as needed. The pillow itself can't be wet because of its content, obviously, since it is filled with rice, lavander (flowers) and an essencial oil (I used the geranium because I love it, but you can use another one, of course using one with anti-inflamatory properties and /or calming ones the better). 

Este tipo de almofada pode usar-se quente ou frio. No primeiro caso, aquece-se entre 30 a 60 segundos no microondas. No caso do frio (para reduzir inchaços por exemplo), colocar dentro de um saco plástico hermético e congelar. 

This type of pillow can be used warm or cold. In the first case, hit it for about 30 to 60 seconds on the microwave. In the case of using cold (to decrease swelling for example), put it inside an hermetic plastic bag and freeze. 

Constant: Change Series |a little late|

This post should be up last week, and for thatI apologise the hosters of this Series: Jenya over While She Was Sleeping and Renee over Nearest The Pin. Remember my last post where I mentioned the first time I failed a test? Well, this was my first time failing a series deadline and I feel as awful. I know, I should change something about it. I am not blogging for profit or anything, just plain pleasure and fun and as some of you told me, I shouldn't be so hard on myself... but I am. 

The name of this series couldn't be more appropriate though. Constant: Change! Things are always changing around us, people are changing, everything is and should always be changing. I had to change my initial project half way through because, everything that could go wrong with the first one: did!

When I thought about what kind of change  I could craft/sew about I kept jumping into one thing or another in my mind. Sometimes I find it hard to make this little choices. I always think there's something better to do; but, I finally made my mind. The latest big change around here was the birth of my son (can you believe he's almost 5 months already?!), so it'd make total sense to sew for him. I had this idea in my mind to make him a family fabric book, and that was the first thing I started. But things went wrong. I just couldn't get the images transfered into the fabric (our family member photos). I got frustrated, after hand stitching the cover of the book "My Family". But I ain't no quitter (most of the times though), and another idea started to form. I started another panel, where I hand stitched out family members in felt. 

One thing didn't match the other, and I got stuck for a while again. I had to do some brainstroming to get somewhere with it. The light came when I remembered how much I wanted to make new cushions for our living room. Not long ago, I have been talking about how much I'd like to change the deco from our living room for much lighter and brighter colours. A great mix of colours if possible. 

And so, my two don't-know-what-to-do-with-them-now, handstitched panels became two little cushions to embellish our living room. It needs a few more, I know it. but it is a start. It is the push to remind me to CHANGE what I want to change and start it. Even if I have to make it a bit at a time. 

My daughter really liked the one with the family members. She has actually proclaimed this one as her own. I can keep the other one, she told me, but this was hers. Her eyes were shining when she held it, and she could tell it was us. The only thing she pointed out was that "mom, that's not S. My little brother has more hair than this one mom!". 

All the rest were okay I guess. She said "that's me" as she pointed the little girl in the panel, and then laughted. I was so happy she recognised us as a family in my work. That was fun and worth it all. Can you see the details of the colour of our eyes? We got a bit of everything going on: dad has brown eyes, G. has green eyes, I got blue eyes and the baby apparently has blue eyes too. 

I confess, just like her, I am not so happy about the second one. But I just had to do something with it after all the time I spent stitching those letters, right?!

This project was a real constant change of plans. But I am so happy to be part of this series, because I really found myself thinking and rethinking a lot of my priorities and definately, I need to focus just a little bit more on my family. 

Did you miss anyone from the tour? Make sure to visit their blogs because there have been great things created. 

Oh, and by the way, I filled the cushions with scraps of fabrics I have used before. And I had little hands helping me in this job. Isn't that adorable? You know when you can't part from those little pieces of unuseful fabric, and it is using part of your storage bins in vain, you can always keep them this way. Yes, you don't get to see them, but you know they are there! lol

Refashion Month |Threading My Way|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 

Hi, House of Estela readers. I'm Pam from Threading My Way. I really enjoyed being a part of Refashion Month, both earlier this year and in July last year, so I am thrilled Magda is hosting another series this month, even though her hands are full.

I've been sewing for many years and love to share my projects with others. It's only in recent years, though, that I've begun to see old clothes in a new light. Pre-loved clothes, as I prefer to call them now, can so easily be given a longer life by refashioning them into something new. 

As a former school teacher, it will come as no surprise, that I also like to write sewing tutorials. I began my blog in 2011 and, bit by bit, I am learning some behind the scenes aspects of blogging - things that work for me.

When I began blogging, I didn't realise what I was getting into. I was totally unaware there was a whole new world, full of warm and welcoming people who sew. People like Magda - creative, inspiring and generous. I have so much enjoyed becoming a part of this community and not a day goes past when I'm not on my computer, reading blogs, learning new things and just generally being motivated and inspired to sew.

To showcase the work of others, I host ongoing link parties, where you can add your own sewing projects.

Apart from my family, my other passion is gardening. It's a toss up each day as to which activity will receive the most of my attention.

Enough about me. This time I've chosen to make a cushion for Refashion Month. I'm not sure if making a cushion can be called a refashion. Perhaps it's an upcycle. Whatever you call it, my jeans pocket cushion began life as a pair of jeans and a dress. Head on over and I'll show you how to make one for yourself.

... Pam

Butterfly Pillow

A couple of weeks ago, parents were asked to take a small pillow to daycare. I believe it was for story telling time. I had lots of small pillows around my living room, so I thought about making a cover for one of them. 

I used the heart shaped fabric from my stash... yes... you've been seeing a few projects out of the same fabric, I hope you won't get bored of it... as I was saying, I really want to get rid of this but I still have a piece of it! I wanted to identify it with G. somehow. I thought about adding  her name with the apliqué technique... but her name is quite long and I was feeling lazy and in a hurry to finish this and take it to daycare (because i forgot I had to for a few days and I was on top of the deadline). 

My daughter's class is called "little animals" and each of the kids has choosen an animal to identify their stuff. My daughter picked the butterfly... how cute?! Adding a butterfly to the pillow would be great, right? What to use then? Fabric? I needed something quick remember?! So no! No to fabric, I used felt... I searched in my felt stash and I had the perfect colours! I didn't make a pattern or so ever. I just cut and hoped for the best, then pinned everything together and stitched.

I really liked it and her teacher was really surprised with it. She loved it and told me they were considering adding the kid's animals to the pillows. "Well, you'll save your work with this one, is done for you" I said, and she smiled. 

They are now preparing Carnival costumes and I have sewn something for that too... also I've been working on a home project... soon I'll be sharing all these. 

Sewing Challenges (& Sort of Wrap up)

New exciting things are on the way...

Operation Project $0 is on. Check it out HERE. I guest posted for the series too... YEY! Missed it? Go here!

Season 8 of Project Run & Play kicks off tomorrow! So excited to see what everyone come up with. The themes for the 4 weeks of challenge are: Pattern Remix - Candy - Plaid - and - Signature look. I have already done my Pattern Remix outfit, and will be blogging about it in just a few days. I'm still not sure about the second week, but I will join the other two for sure. 

Maratón Telaria - this is sort of a spanish version of PR&P, and I am in to sew along with. There are also 4 weeks, and the themes for this are: Retro - Knits - Bed Time- and - our choice. Starts next month, so I'm excited for this too. 

I might or might not join this one if I can get to sew it mixed up with another of the challenges. This is a challenge hosted by the Spanish blog La Pantigana. And we're supposed to use a really horrible fabric that we might have in our stash, and make something good out of it. Sounds fun and it's a great insentive to use that fabric that we always put back because it isn't just good enough. 

Click on picture!

Another fun series to follow - did you realise I'll be guest posting for this series too?!

Besides, I have a lot to do. My list is big, but I love it! I love to feel challenged, I love that I feel like I belong somewhere... In a near future I am: 

- Testing a pattern

- Reviewing another pattern

- Being part of a Pattern tour

- Doing a guest post for a bloggy friend

- Realising my first FREE pattern

And guess what? I am even considering a winter edition for a Refashion Month series. Is anyone in for this? 

Mmmm... It's been a while since I last blogged about my challenges. I am excited about the next couple of months. It's going to be pretty crazy around here, well, it has actually started already, but it's going to get extra busy since I can't turn down a good challenge. 

It's been a sewing challenging year. It did calm down for Summer though, but I needed to feel motivated and came up with the self Pinterest challenge. AH! I made that post and then never talked about it. The truth is that I didn't keep up with the weekly pin done. Buhhhh!!! But in my defense I have to say that I crossed most of those pins out of my to do list. 

Ever since, I did make the piñata cake, by the end of July for my niece's 6th birthday party. She loved it and everyone thought it was a great birthday cake. I didn't follow any tutorial, I made a cake (two actually) with a recipe I had from a magazine and then decorated as wished. And here's how it turned out.

I did make a pair of Harem shorts for my daughter and most recently I made a pair for my little niece M. Before those two, I made another pair but that was considered a failure and although I've been planning to still blog about it, I haven't done it yet. 

I didn't do the lollipops, I wanted to make them as party favours on my daughter's birthday (late June), but I didn't, so I don't think I will do that anymore. I did print the pattern for the potty training pants, but when I realised my baby was potty trained and those weren't needed anymore. It only took me a month for the whole process. 

And I didn't do the mat exactly, like the one on the pin I showed you, but I did the little pillows and we've used them on tree trunks. It looked so cute. Those were also for my daughter's 2nd birthday. The theme was ladybugs, I have mentioned that when I showed you her outfit for the party. 

That's it for now, but I might be up for something else!!! ;)

The Sew Off week 2 < A new Entry... >

NOTE: Heavy post!!!

So, here I am, second week of the The Sew Off competition. And this time around, the theme is Home Decor. When I first read the news that I did make it to the 12 contestants I sort of panic. When I made it to the 9 contestants I really did panic!

What was I suppoused to do now?! 

I was comfortable with the children's look because I was already sewing along Sew-vivor and PR&P. I never thought I could make it to the competition. Although I did audition for The Sew Off, I just thought I wouldn't make it anyway and was going to enjoy a light sew along... but, I made it, and suddenly I realised I would have to do bigger and better than I had previously believed I would. I have to do the best I can, for me and for the judges who picked me! 

So, back to my first idea - I tend to get lost, sorry - I decided it was about time to make my G. a brand new playhouse in which we could hide all her toys that usually makes our floor so messy. I was sure I didn't want to make something just like what I had been seeing around. I wanted to make something special to us, and on a imnsonia night, it clicked me!

As you may, or may not know, we live in Portugal, more precisely in the Algarve, the most southern region of the country. Right above us, there is one of the most beautiful and richers regions, the Alentejo, which I adore. As a tourism student, one of my projects was to write and present on a school trip the entire region of Alentejo, all its typical stuff and so on. Ever since, I still remember every single thing I talked about, and one of the most interesting ones for me is their typical houses. That's how I planned to make my playhouse like...

But my playhouse project died the moment I saw Amy's from Nap Time Crafters. Although I follow her blog for years, only recently I found out her playhouse, and I knew any other I would make would just look tiny and basic compared to hers. I did not give up on the entire idea of the playhouse, I just couldn't make it in one week. So, not done now, but certainly a to do project for the future.

I knew I had made it through another week last Monday, and let me tell you that, back then, I wasn't still pretty sure of what to do. I don't usually sew decorative stuff, or very seldomly I do. The only thing I could think was:

- I will never beat my baby's nursery project! or the mini sofa...

- There's no way I can do better than that... 

- Can I cheat and say I did that now?!

- Perhaps I can make a coordinate something to go with it?!

- Crap, that took me months to get done... and I only have a few days. 

Pfff... I was totally lost and hopeless about this week's theme. Honestly I still am. BUT, I had to get something done. I HAD to try my best, and I had to get whatever it was going to be, done ready.

I thought and thought and thought... and went through some magazines, searching for inspiration. It hit me when I saw a technique ("Catedral de Windsor" - free translation: "Windsor's Cathedral"... please correct me if I am wrong, because I'm not really familiar with it). I saw it in a magazine I had bought a few years ago, and that's from where I addapted my nursery pattern. There it was, I would try that.

I had to open my doorway to take this picture... since I have no angle at all for good pictures/or nice light for photos. 

Again, I have to say I am not a pro with the patchwork and similars, nor do I have specific items to sew it with. As I mentioned in a previous post, I don't even own a rottary cutter... That bad! But, I decided I should expand myself and try something new and different for this challenge. And I did it!!!

My very first try with this technique results are here:

So... I centered my attention in my entry after all. I bought this cube shelf about a year or so ago, and I meant to sew some fabric baskets ever since. Another project I never crossed from the list until now.

Here's how it looked before:

a total mess, I know.

I knew I wanted a place for all the mail we get and also a place for G.'s shoes. Next to the shelf there's a cabinet for our shoes, but it's full... and since she has so many little shoes, it would be nice to have a place on the entry to store them too.

there's a on work patchwork piece here too, but just because I didn't want it to look so empty!

My first idea for this project was to make four baskets and two pillow covers, but I ended up with only half of the first idea. I knew I wouldn't make it all in time. And when having to choose from 6 badly finished pieces and 3 well finished pieces, I went with the second choice.

I picked my project colours after the ones used on the picture that's hanging on the entry's wall. And always trying to adjust it to my already existing stash. I am pleased with what I got.

For the baskets I used diaper card boxes, covered in white paper sheets because the fabric from which I sewed the baskets was linen and would show the image below. In the front of each basket I added the words MAIL for one, and SHOES for the other with the same yellow I used on the pillow cover. I interface the letters, which were cut on free hand; and, I sewed them to the linen with a straight stitch carefully.

For the lining, I used a very sentimental fabric for me. It's white with little yellow/brownish polka dots. It used to be a sheet from when I was a child. I still remember when my mom bought it together with another one full of little pink hearts. One for me, one for my sister.

If you need to make your own baskets, again Amy's got a great tutorial on her blog. That's not how I made mine, but it's a good one if you need it.

For the pillow cover, I used 5 different fabrics and tried my best to coordinate!!! Again, remember it was my first attempt at this new technique and after I sew all the squares together I only had to unpick 3 of them when it was time to press seams and I realised 3 weren't even sewn together... arghhh... I hate unpicking, but it was a necessary mean.

back 

And this is it. Sorry that this was such a long post.

Now again... if you liked what you've seen, go HERE and vote for me!!!