A Dreamcatcher Mobile

A couple of weeks ago I bought the latest number of one of my favourite magazines, and I read about this contest. Participants are suppoused to create a baby mobile to enter. I thought it was pretty interesting and decided to try myself, too. The greatest thing about it, is that all the mobiles sent for the contest, will be donated to a child Institution. I actually wanted to participate with more than one, not to have more chances to win but to donate more than just one. 

So, I wanted to make my mobile but was kind of running out of ideas. I tried to search for some inspiration online and ended up on a youtube video teaching how to make a native american inspired dreamcatcher. I thought that was very interesting and that I could do something nice out of it. 

I totally re-created what I saw and learnt from that video. I used the same technique, but I used complete different colours for the dreamcatcher. It turned out like this:

Then I had to decide how to turn a dreamcatcher into a nice baby mobile. And after some thinking I came with up with an idea for my project. At the edges of every stick I added a heart. Half of them were made of fabric and stuffed, and the other half were made of fabric decorated felt. 

I loved it so much... and so did baby G. She wanted and would have played with with if I had allowed her to. I used her mobile support to take my pictures, it actually would wonderful in her room, actually the polka dot fabric was used in her blanket, pillow and curtains, and for a moment I thought I could keep this mobile and make another one for the contest. But nope, this is the one I'll send. I have until October 10th to do so, but I want to send it as soon as possible. It's already packaged!

Wish me luck, though I'll feel equally happy if I don't win. 

Simple refashion

Can I even call it a refashion? I did not spend more than 10 minutes to do it. I had a pair of pants that I didn't wear at all. They were too short legged for my taste. 

A while ago I had thought about turning them into  skinnies and were them in Winter with boots, but it's Summer now, and what I need mostly are Summer clothes, so the skinnies idea had to be put apart and I grabbed my scissors instead. 

All I had to do was cut! Exactly... simple as that. So, I marked how much fabric I wanted to cut off and did it. 

I got myself a new pair of shorts, which I have been wearing madly lately. 

Have you heard of BlogBooker?

Haven't you? Well, BlogBooker is one of the greatest online tools in my opinion. It converts your blog into PDF in just a few seconds. So, if for some reason you're afraid you can lose all your content, be sure to keep your blog as a PDF archive. I do! I have two blogs, this one and one in my own language, where i mostly blog about my kid and family life. From time to time I use this tool, and I just did it, for both my blogs. 

Tutorial: How to turn sleeves into Pants

This is so simple and so useful! I really wanted to make this tutorial before, I've been making a few of these lately, and people seemed to like them a lot. Really: they are a 10 (if so) minute project. If you have a baby/toodler at home, you know how useful they turn. So, I've put a tutorial together, just in case anyone is interested. 

You only need two sleeves from any shirt you used for anything else. And you'll used the existing seams on it, so making a new pair of pants will be a piece of cake. They make great pajama pants too. 

1. Use a pair of pants that fit your child to draft the pattern (or shorts like I did). 

2. Cut the excess fabric (leave seam alloweances). 

3. Turn legs inside out. 

4. Insert one in the other (right sides together). 

5.Match the seams and pin. 

6. Image of how it looks before...

7. ...you sew it on your machine. I didn't baste, but if you want a better finish then you must do it. And then press your seams. 

8. My waist band wasn't straight, so ...

9. ... after sewing both legs together, I folded the pants and cut it straight, making sure there was still enough fabric left. 

10. Fold once on the waist to insert an elastic (size depending on the elastic you'll use) and pin it. 

11. Sew it, leave an opening to insert the elastic. 

12. Again I didn't baste, but you can/should do it. 

13. Insert the elastic. 

14. Sew the edges of your elastic once it is in place. 

15. Close the opening you had left by sewing it. 

16. And you're done. 

I really hope this was useful. 

What I've done in June

Yes, back in June I had a cousin's weeding. Why didn't I mention that before? I don't know, I guess I just forgot, there are always so much to blog about in my mind, but in the end, most of it, goes undone. 

Anyway, as I was sayign June 30th more precisely I had my cousin's wedding and for this event I had 4 dresses to sew. My own - the first I thought about. My daughter's - of course, when I thought about making my own, it made total sense to make her one that would match mine. I also thought about making a tie to daddy, that would match too, but after all I bought it... I had too much to do already. So, my sister's and of course, a matching one for my niece. 

This event took place one day after G.'s first birthday, so it was a very busy month for me, I had a lot to do, as I told you here. 

Here they are, my 50´s inspired dress ( I used a Burda's pattern) and my baby's matching dress.  Dad didn't have his tie on anymore but it was the same blue colour as our dresses. 

I took off the original ribbon on the hat and glued this one with little hearts on it. much better. 

front of the dress for my niece, she looked absolutely beautiful. 

and the back of course. 

my sister is the one in orange. and that's the dress I made her.
By the way, we were laughing because my cousin (brother of the bride's) didn't even know how to shoot the photo, and the one between me and my sister, she's really funny and said something about it that we just couldn't help but laughing). 

So, what's your favourite?!

One shirt: two new pieces

After realising I needed to get myself some new summer clothes, I immediately started looking in my bins what could I eventually turn into something usuful, instead of having it there, occupying my precious space. I made the stripped black and white skirt out of the top as I showed you here, and then I tried to imagine other new clothes out of those standing there. 

I started a dress refashion, but then it was left undone for so reason. Instead of finishing the dress, I turned into a brown granny shirt - as I called it the minute I saw it. I liked the fabric, and kept it just because. 

A few days ago, I found a waist band my sister had cut off from a pair of pants a while ago, and had given to me to make something-I-didn't-and-can't-even-remeber-what-it-was. 

So, I thought that waist band colour did in fact match the ugly brown shirt and, yes-yes I turned them both into a new skirt for myself. I had to sew the waist band in order to fit my oh so damn small waist... 

 ... and then I just sewed the two  pieces together. Oh I had made a straight cut on the shirt, right under the arm holes, so I got a rectangle left. Serge it and that's it. A new skirt done.

But, I was left with two entirely sleeves. What would I do? That's an easy one, right? A  new pair of pants for my princess. Those turned out a little short for her, but who cares? This is walk-around-the-house clothes anyway. 

On top of the photo, I am wearing it with a tank top and using the waist band on the waist. 

On the rest of the photos, I wear the skirt as if it was a dress. I have a tank top on, and the waist band is right under the breast, then I used a brown belt on the waist and kinda made a dress too. 

Can you see my cat looking just like me on the second photo? hehe

My unperfect patchwork

It feels like I've been creating more than I have been blogging. Phewwww... I don't even know when was the last time I actually crafted more than I blogged, or just read other blogs. YES, I know I still spend too much time online, BUT I have been creating too, and that makes me feel a little happier. 

And now I'm just getting so in the mood for starting my Christmas crafts. I even made the list of people I have to make gifts for. Didn't write nothing (what should I make to each of them) but the people list yet, but that's a start. 

But, more than presents, I have been wanting to make stuff for the house. I want to make my first quilt for Christmas. Something small and simple of course. So, last monday I have started practising my patchwork. I made this:

detail

It's not perfect, can you see?! That's why I have to practise harder. I didn't follow any pattern or instructions, it was just something that came as I went. I like it, but I was kinda lost, didn't really know what to do with it. I had a few ideas but none seemed right for me. Today I have decided, and I am working on it already. As soon as it is finished, of course I will come and share. 

The greatest thing though, is that the exact same day, and even though very late, I have finished my Tilda Santa Claus. It was supposed to be made last Christmas, but I got stuck in the middle of its creation and was there, left on a lonely corner waiting for me to put my hands on it. I didn't have the opportunity to take some pictures of it, but as soon as I do, you know, I'll share too. I'm just thrilled I have finished a past started project... I guess taht's my sort of challenge this month. I have been doing that without aiming for it.