Very Easy, Very Fast, Very Cute Shirt

Good Morning Bloggy Friends...

As per popular request, here are the instructions on how to make that cute shirt that I made for my daughter's birthday.

No worries.  It was about the easiest shirt I've ever made.  Cute too, I thought....

Any way, here we gooooo:

I just started out with a purchased T-shirt from a local retailer {who shall remain name-less....}

I cut off the shirt {which happens to be size 10-12 kids} straight across 4 inches under the arm-pit {for lack of a better term....}

Then I started adding strips....

Strip 1: (2) 3 x 16

Strip 2:  (2) 3 x 20

Strip 3: (2) 5 x 20

Strip 4: (2) 7 x 24

The seams are just to the edge of the foot.

Isn't the umbrella fabric to die for...?????

And I am also digging my "new" old fridge....

One of my most prized possessions....

Not that material possessions are very important.... of course...

My daughter has been very creative.  She put this fish on a clip-board so she could haul it with her wherever we went and she could work on it...

Isn't it fun!

And I finally figured out that the drum that was laying back behind the chicken coop made a nice side table for my bench...

Love the color. 

Fall flowers are the best.  September is one of my favorite times of the year.  The weather is mild  The flowers are blooming...

smells of harvest in the air....

and that's my story for today...

A Monday in September

Sewing with Burlap Potato Sacks

Aloha!!!  Friends!!!

Sewing with potato pockets is such FUN!!! You can feel good about recycling and being GREEN!!!

But..... unfortunately, like everything worth while, it does pose some challenges.....

The school of trial and error has taught me that because potato sack jute fibers are woven loosely, {especially compared to the burlap fabric that comes on rolls at the fabric stores} it is somewhat more delicate. Potato sack burlap fabric just does not hold up quite as well, as say.... leather.......

However, sewing with potato sacks is still worth the effort! The end result is SO FUN!!!! You will get TONS of compliments!

So have no fear, a solution is near!

A document is available that tells you all the tips and tricks YOU need to know to have your very cute sewing project stand up to every day wear and tear,and look great for a LOOOOOOOOONG time!!!!!!

The name of the PDF file is

Potato Sack Preparation Tricks and Tips

It is available for FREE to anyone 

Just follow this link to my official website, and download the file at the bottom of the post....

Happy Burlap Sewing!

Crystelle

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Make a Selvage Bag Instructions

¡Hola! ¿Cómo es usted? 

The Aerika Selvage Edge Bag is a REAL HIT!!!!

How do you like it...??? 

Wanna make your own Selvage Edge Purse...????

YOU TOTALLY CAN DO IT!!!

It is easy and FUN fun FUN!!!!

Here we go:

Some simple instructions on how to make your own selvage bag....

Isn't it so fun to make something out of something we would normally discard? I think so!

• Save your selvage edges {or just cut them off the collection of fabrics you already have}
  

• Cut 1/2 inch into the print of the fabric. {some people do more, I like to be consistent and do 1/2 inch each time}

• Cut your purse pattern pieces out of white cotton
• {use the FREE Aerika Pattern, available from CrystelleBoutique....!!!!,or your own favorite pattern}

• Draw parallel lines on the cotton to keep you going straight as you go along

•  Place one strip of selvage edge on at a time, and sew it in place

• Be sure to overlap the unfinished edge of the previous selvage edge with the finished edge of the current one

Not bad, is it?
You can SO do this!!!!

• I really love the way it turns out. See another view right here

• This is a very green, reused, recycled, re-purposed {all that good stuff..... :) } project for you and your friends and kids to do
• I used the free Aerika Purse Pattern {a Crystelle Boutique original creation} to make this selvage edge bag....

The Poppie Flower is WAY cute too!!!!  Instructions on how to make it are right here


Have fun cutting and sewing!
:) Crystelle

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How to Make your Own Easy Needle Threader

I am so excited about this:
A friend of mine gave me a home-made needle threader this weekend. It works great, and is SOOOOOOOO easy to make!



You could make one right now from items you have laying around...!
Take some fish-line



Tie it in a loop.



Put a ribbon on it (or piece of yarn), so you won't loose it!



DONE!!!!

Isn't it way awesome...?????

(sorry, the pictures are not fabulous, but I was trying to show you what it looked like. Hope it makes sense....!!! :)
Crystelle

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How to Make a Potato Sack Covered Bulletin Board

Directions to make a potato sack covered bulletin board such as this one are simple and easy to follow. Just follow THIS LINK to download a free PDF document with the detailed instructions.

This is a great way to show your love for things rural and rustic.
Not to mention how great is it to recycle an old frame!

Another option to MAKING a potato sack bulletin board is to WIN ONE!!!!!
Go to THIS LINK to do so!
It's a FUN project, and it will llok GREAT in YOUR home!
Enjoy! :-)
Crystelle

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Sewing Tips

These tips came from Sew to Speak.

They are worth a good laugh!


Oh how times have changed!!! LOL!
:-) Crystelle

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How to Make Burlap or Fabric Poppies

 

Aren't these poppies adorable?

And they are a breeze to make too!

To learn how, please visit here for a free PDF file with easy instructions.

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How to Make Fabric Leaves

The fabric leaves that were featured in the Spring 2010 edition of Haute Handbags really add a lot to any design. Above they are shown with burlap poppies, below with burlap roses.

They are not hard to make. Feel free to make some to add to your favorite handbag.

A free PDF file is available right here to explain how.

Happy Sewing!
Crystelle

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How to Fold a Burlap Rose

Hi there fellow burlap lovers!!!
It was so fun when the Ronda Handbag was featured in the spring 2010 edition of Haute Handbags Magazine....!!!!  I was so honored!  Now, as promised:  here are the instructions that were promised in the article:  A a fabulous folded burlap rose made of a strip of burlap.

They are sooooo fun and quite easy to make.....!!!

Melissa Handbag with Burlap Roses

View this short video to see how.

Have a happy burlap folding, rose making~ kinda day!!!

:)  Crystelle

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for the FREE Aerika purse pattern, click here...!!!