cute your camera strap

i decided my camera strap needed to be cuter. so i found some ribbon and sewed it on! the hardest part was getting richie to agree to the cuteness since he uses the camera as well. i found so many cute ribbons i could use- does anyone else want their camera strap to look a little cuter? let me know and i will do it for you!

match those corners up (gt no. 7)

have you ever been working on a quilt and had a hard time getting corners to match up? this is actually one of the reasons my very first quilt is hidden in a cedar chest. those pesky corners! i decided matching corners was something only seasoned quilters could produce. that was until i learned this simple technique. so i was talking to a friend last night who is starting her first quilt and i woke up this morning thinking of how much i love this technique and i so wish i had known it when i started quilting. oh yes, and if you are reading this and you think it might be beneficial to a quilt you are making... feel free to return the favor by, say, sharing a certain enchilada recipe or something? just an idea.

matching corners:

here's an example using a 4-patch, but this method works with any corners that may need to line up. if you are making rows of squares, you can just press every other seam in opposite directions then follow the same instructions.

first lay out what you are piecing

place squares right sides together and stitch.
press the seams of each set in opposite directions.

lay the two sets right sides together and you will feel the two seams lock into place like a puzzle.

i pin the seams just for backup.

sew the sets together- removing the pin just before you sew over it. now for the fun part. hold your square while it is still closed and you can pop the seam where it overlaps what you just sewed.

now press your seams- one half of the seam will press one direction and the other half in the opposite direction.

because you popped the seam previously, it will press nice and flat and you will have a little 4-patch in the center of wrong side of your square. that's how you know you did it right.

turn it over and enjoy your perfectly matched corners.

now that's a good thing.

happy headbands

make your heads happy with these fun and easy headbands!

all you need is a headband, glue gun, and fabric scraps.

First, find a headband to cover. You can find plastic headbands at craft stores or look around your house... there might be a headband needing a makeover.

Next you will cut fabric strips. A good key is to cut the strips the same width as the top of the headband or 1/8th inch less. This will make it easy to wrap.

Start wrapping by covering both ends of the headband. Cut a short piece of fabric for one end, and the other end can be covered using the piece of fabric you plan to wrap with.

Make sure you fold the edges of the fabric into the headband and secure with glue. It doesn't matter if it doesn't look perfect- this will all get covered again with fabric.

On the end of the headband with the longer piece of fabric begin wrapping up the headband. You may have to force it to go the way you want- just cover any wrinkles with another layer of fabric.
Continue to wrap the entire headband.
I like to put a drop of glue on the inside of the band each time I go around.

Finish off the headband the way you started and secure with glue on the inside. Feel fee to embellish with more fabric, felt flowers, or whatever you like!

toddler, table for two

how to make a toddler table:

paint the top

paint the chairs

then the legs

then slowly...

dot it like crazy

and before you know it, your toddler table for two will be ready for snacks, coloring, playdough, and all sorts of great fun.