a happy home

To say I’ve enjoyed this break is an understatement, but I’m looking forward to hanging out with my favorite firsties again on Monday. This break has been productive and restful and I’m grateful. 
I got quite a few books for Christmas (books are the way to my heart) and of those, 2 of them are about creating a beautiful home.
One of them is The Nesting Place (so good and inspiring) and the other is Happy Handmade Home by Elsie and Emma (so creative and fun)


Our guest room has been clean a handful times because it unfortunately becomes the catchall place to hide things when cleaning other parts of the house. I cleaned it this week though! While doing so, I found my granddad’s old boots which don’t fit, but are too sentimental to give away. I decided to put flowers in them.  Who knew fake flowers were SO EXPENSIVE?!? I did not and ended up returning what I didn’t use because they were so pricey.

I’m super pleased with the turn out.  Every time I round the corner, I smile.  What projects have you been working out? Do you have anything fun planned for January?

week 52: 5 minute sweater pillow tutorial

 

Hello! Its your old friend Emilee WHO HASN’T BLOGGED SINCE SEPTEMBER. (gasp and I’m sorry) I have still been crafting, just haven’t done a good job documenting it here on the ol’ blog.

Man, we started out this year well.  A project a week...this blog has never seen so much action! But then summer came and life happened and this poor blog got put on the back burner once again.

I think in the new year, my goal will be to blog once a month at least, if not once every 2 weeks and to create much smaller goals that are attainable, rather than bigger goals that are left incomplete.  I also created lots of handmade gifts this year, but did a poor job of following up with a blog about them. I will try to do better about that in 2015.

First, you will need:

• a sweater
• a pillow
• a sewing machine
• coordinating thread

 

Next, lay sweater on top of pillow to determine where to cut.  I cut off both arms and part of the neckline. I didn’t have to sew the sides because they were already done!  I inverted the sweater and sewed up the arm holes and top where I cut with a quarter-inch inseam. I trimmed the corners to be diagonals. (Makes them lay flat!)

Then, I flipped sweater back and placed on pillow. I sewed up the bottom and I was done!  It was really thick to sew at the end, so I worked slowly. But seriously, after 5 minutes I had a super cute sheep pillow that I gifted to my mom!

Viola! Super cute and fun!

I had to document my christmas card trees before I took them down. Christmas cards make me happy!

Some other things I’ve been up to:

I made a mixer cover for Shea’s Nana and I just love this fabric.

I also made Shea a ninja turtle pillow with fleece (major score at Jo-anns)

He was thrilled.

I also wrapped one of Shea’s gifts in a bag I hand-sewed when I was 12. Consider it the beginning of something grand!

I gave my snowman from craft night away at our family gift exchange, so I had to make another for myself! I love how the earmuffs turned out! 

Planning to do a project a day this next week and blog about them throughout the month of January!  We shall see!  Wishing you a blessed new year!

 

ruffled key chain

What week are we on again?  (I've really been slacking on the 52 week project)  I figured it was time I update since I haven't since July. (Insert shocked emoticon here) Of course, August is like Christmastime for me with school starting.  

Seeing as we are a week and a half into school, this girl was ready to have some time with her sewing machine.  This quick project did the trick.  I will be doing some tweaking to the pattern I followed when I make more, but this is the tutorial I followed in case you want to make your own! 

It was super fun to make and took less than hour.  Just enough time to satisfy the craving to make something! 

School is back full swing, which I'm loving, but you always forget how much work it is in the beginning teaching procedures and routines on top of curriculum.  I want a nap EVERYDAY.  Lol. Planning to join the gym again and then hopefully, I will have the energy to sew too. :) 

2 days till the weekend.... but who's counting?