Archives for February 2013

3-Day Weekend

February 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

What’s better than a 3-day weekend and 2 gallons of paint!! Well, I am sure there are better things (I am thinking of a few right now and they all involve fabric). I am just excited to paint my entry way after months of looking at paint samples.

I went with Sherwin-Williams Perfect Greige. Right now if you go to their website there is a 25% of total purchase coupon!! I feel like the color might be a cop-out and not super creative and different. I have a lot going on in my house and I need the walls to be more of a backdrop. We’ll see!! Now I’m off to spackle!

Filed Under: paint

New Throw Pillow

February 15, 2013 by 5 Comments

I sewed up a new throw pillow today! I bought a remnant of grey wool on sale was dying to use it. The print fabrics are cotton. I added some crochet lace and then put the wool on the sides and the back. It makes it feel cozy! I love having a new throw pillow in the house!!

Filed Under: pillow, projects, sewing

Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14, 2013 by 1 Comment

Its been a crazy month. February is starting to feel like the new December! Of course I left making the children’s valentine’s to the night before at 10pm. Lucky Ginger Snap Crafts posted this idea and it was quick and easy!

Here are mine. I could not find any crazy straws with loop-de-loos – only squiggles. We added a Hawaiian Punch on the go pouch and tied them all together. We only had to make 60 of these!!

I found this cute printable from Lizzie Jane Baby and sized it down to use as a tag for my daughter’s Valentines.

My daughter made the quilted valentine keychains for her friends. She fussy cut images of birds and fish and owls! She is the cutest 13 year old ever 🙂

I tied up all my valentine keychains and hopefully I can get them delivered today.

Filed Under: crafts, gift, gifts, projects, Valentine's Day

Chevron Mini Quilt

February 13, 2013 by 3 Comments

I pieced this mini quilt in the summer. I needed the safety pins that were basting it together so I decided to finish it!! I love it. It’s bright and happy.

It’s made from half square triangles (HST). Half the squares are white and the other half are color. I love HSTs because you can arrange them in so many fun patterns.

Filed Under: projects, quilt

Beginning Quilt Project – Table Runner

February 13, 2013 by 2 Comments

My friend is learning to sew and she wanted to learn how to piece a small quilt. I found this free pattern for a table runner – it’s a great beginner project!

We were inspired by Valentine’s Day and choose fabrics that were pink, red, and white. She came over and I helped her cut and taught her all about the basics of quilting. She did great! Here is the finished project! (we ran out of time so I quilted it for her….that will be the next lesson!)

Filed Under: projects, quilt, Valentine's Day

Quilted Heart Keychains

February 11, 2013 by 8 Comments

Every Valentine’s Day I like to make a little item to give my friends. And so the Quilted Heart Key chain idea was born 🙂 I love this project because it is a total scrap buster!! Here is how you can make one:

Supplies:

Scraps of 2 fabrics

Scraps of cotton batting

Fusible web

Twill tape or ribbon

Small jump ring or key chain

Larger jump ring or zipper pull
Click HERE for the heart pattern

Step 1
Cut your main heart fabric into 2 squares about 4″ each. Also cut your batting that size – this measurement can be very rough.

Step 2

Layer your items like you would a quilt. Top piece right side facing out, batting, and back facing opposite.

Pin your heart to the top of this layering.

Step 3

Sew around the heart following the pattern.

Step 4
Trim close to your sewn edge.

Step 5

Cut 2″ of twill tape and loop it through your small split ring. Sew the edges down toward the center of the heart. This will be covered when you add the next fabric heart.

Step 6
Trace your smaller heart onto your fusible web (trace 2). Iron it to the wrong side of the fabric.

Cut the hearts out on the line and iron them to both sides of the heart trying to center them the best you can.

Step 7

Top stitch around the center heart. I stitched around it twice. I like when the stitches kind of follow each other and are not perfect – kind of sketchy like.

Then add your larger split ring or zipper pull. Done!

Filed Under: gift, gifts, sewing, tutorial, tutorials, Valentine's Day

Red & Pink Love Baby Quilt

February 9, 2013 by 4 Comments

My sister-in-law is here visiting and we are sewing up a storm. Her friend is having a baby this month and we thought a a Valentine’s inspired quilt would be perfect. We choose pinks, reds, and whites but nothing with “hearts” or obvious Valentine’s motifs.

We were both fighting over it by the time it was quilted! I don’t know if it will make it to her friend! The binding isn’t finished yet. My sis was leaving today and going to hand stitch it in the car. I was sad to see her and the quilt go!

Filed Under: gift, quilt

Blankets for Moroccan Orphanage

February 8, 2013 by 1 Comment

Today my friend came over and we sewed flannel blankets for an orphanage on Morocco. She is organizing a charity event for her elementary school. The children will be able to use a needle and yarn and put ties in the blankets we prepared. It is such a fast, easy way to make blankets – and they are cute and feel homemade.

We used 1 yard of flannel for the top and 1 yard of flannel for the bottom. Layer the two pieces RST and place on batting. Sew around like you would a pillow leaving a small opening. Turn and topstitch. Now it is secure and the kids can add “ties” as the quilting.

Filed Under: quilt, sewing

My Red Kitchen Has Got To Go!!

February 8, 2013 by 8 Comments

Welcome to the Jedi Craft Girl blog! I am entering this post in the Creating with the Stars contest from East Coast Creative. It’s such an exciting contest and there are so many amazing applicants!!

I have lived in my Southern California tract home built in 1989 for the past 9 years. When we moved in I painted my kitchen red – Tomato Red to be exact. Lots of things change in nearly a decade and the kitchen had to go. Unfortunately, living in California is not cheap and neither are renovations. It was left to me, my paint brush, and thrifty mind to fix this place up.

This is the after. Ahhhhhh… just a sigh of happiness when I look at this photo!

It’s amazing how big the kitchen feels now just by changing the colors.

I removed all the cupboard doors, sanded, primed, and painted and painted and painted white. Then I sanded and distressed the doors and frames so some of the red would show through.

For the pantry doors, I applied paintable textured wallpaper to the insets and painted them red then aqua. A light sanding and you can see how the red shows through the detail of the wallpaper – love it!!! (Click Here for the full details of that project)

I found this kitchen table on Craig’s List for $25. Whoo Hoo! It was honey oak. I did a chalk paint treatment in white (click here for those details). The chairs were given to me by a friend. Four cans of spray paint in four different colors = HAPPY!!

Next up, a rolling cart I found on the side of the road. I wheeled it home a half mile while on a walk. Several coats of paint, distress, electric sander to the top and some custom mixed stain and now I have the perfect place for my Pyrex collection!

I love my big kitchen window. I found this vintage looking fabric and sewed a pleated curtain with red pom-pom trim. I nail-gunned it to a board then to the ceiling. It gives it the perfect airy look. I hung the custom hook board above and now I can display my vintage Strawberry mugs.

Sometimes I think my kitchen is too cheerful and colorful – like there should be a birthday party going on everyday in there! But then I think – “What could be better!!”

Filed Under: DIY, kitchen, paint, projects, thrifty

Busy day of Sewing!

February 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

My sister-in-law is here and we are sewing up a storm! We are making baby quilts for gifts. Yesterday we got 3 tops sewn! Look at my dining room!!! Two sewing machines and fabric everywhere!