My Basket Purse with Madras Plaid Patchwork Lining

 

All dressed up and no where to go! My creative juices are flowing and the fact that we can't really go out to eat or do anything doesn't seem to matter. I came up with a way to enhance this purse and I had to try it.

It was my first attempt at a drawstring closure (I used this great striped ribbon) and it worked out really well. I attached the edges of the madras plaid patchwork fabric to the top of the basket with FabricTac and I was on my way.

I love it! What do you think? I carried it to the car one day and my neighbor saw it and ordered one on the spot. I had to break it to her that I wasn't going to sell these, but I was really pleased that she instantly loved it. If you want to see what I can do, I do have my one-of-a-kind cigar box purses and Delight magazine bags available on Etsy. 

#makersgottamake #summerpurse #preppystyle #madrasplaid #summerstyle #basketpurse #basket #sewing #crafter #quarantine2020 

Living Necklace: Accessorizing with Air Plants

Have you ever seen a living necklace? I was a fan from the moment I saw it. Of course, it will require a gentle life and a little TLC, but it is a really great conversation piece. This beautiful air plant (Tillandsia) is glued into this simple vessel which hangs on a chic leather cord. Once a week you should soak the plant in lukewarm water (read more about caring for Tillandsia here).

This necklace by LiveTrends was a gift to invite garden writers to attend the Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE), a trade show for foliage and tropical plants, which is a  held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on January 16-18, 2019. Wouldn't I love that!

Garden writers and communicators from around the country (GardenComm) were at their national conference this summer when we received the living jewelry. The enthusiasm for this necklace (and buzz about the TPIE show) spread quickly and I saw happy attendees wearing their new accessory with pride throughout the day. 

Once I  returned home, I found the perfect spot with bright light for my air plant. She now hangs on my cookbook holder in my kitchen. Visually, this dangling air plant seamlessly blends my kitchen into Joanna Gaines' kitchen - doesn't it look like it is part of the cookbook cover? 

The idea that a necklace can be living aligns perfectly with my goal to highlight things that are beautiful and interesting. This is delight.

#TPIE #livingdesign #airplants #airplant #unusualjewelry #living #tropicalplants #fortlauderdale #beautifulandinteresting #livingnecklace #gardencomm #gwa #2019 #gardencommunicators

Packing: A Few Too Many Options

I'm packing for a trip back to Michigan and I thought you would get a kick out of this image: a row of 8 ribbon watches "packed and ready to go" in a Ziploc bag.

I have sold ribbon watches for years at art shows and on Etsy. Initially, I would take one watch face and swap the ribbon bands out as my outfits changed. I've have streamlined that process and declared that as the maker, I was eligible for as many watch faces as I wanted. 

Then I go to pack and I come up with funny pictures like this. When it comes to accessories, I am weak. At least they are not as bulky as shoes...

Marine Vinyl Clutch

This is my latest favorite purse design - a simple to construct marine vinyl clutch with clip on hardware.

What do I love about it?

1. It is light-weight and durable.  Wipes off easily.
2. This is a minimal sewing project (1 tab, 2 side seams, one reinforcement panel)
3. The clip on tab lets me hook my valuables to my belt loop when shopping at a Farmer's Market or Tag Sale
4. I happened to find this metal "bolt" embellishment (in the same shade of blue!) in the jewelry section of Michael's Craft.  The metal charm is too weird to be a necklace, but looks wonderful on a clutch
5. The whole purse cost less than $12-15 dollars to make

I don't have time to write up a tutorial right now, but if you look at this project it is very straightforward. Keep these things in mind:

• You only sew 4 sections with straight lines (sew the tab into thirds for strength, sew the left side of clutch, sew the right side of clutch - with dog leash threaded on tab, trap tab in seam, and sew a triangle of vinyl to reinforce flap and hide magnetic closure)
• Put the top half (it's flat with a little nub) of the magnetic closure into the point of the triangle of extra vinyl; bend sides to secure.  Then sew that flap to the underside of the clutch flap.  This hides the prongs of the closure on the inside of the flap and reinforces the strength of the flap.
• Magnet the other half of the closure to itself and close the flap on the clutch. Make a dent in the vinyl where the closure touches.  That is how you know the perfect place to attach the other half of the closure.
• Peel sticker backing off of a piece of adhesive Pres On board and stick it to the inside of the clutch to add stability and cover the prongs of the magnetic closure. 

You can buy a piece of marine vinyl (sold by the yard at Joann Fabrics) in many different solid colors. I have used blue, pink and orange.  Such a great material!

You will need:  

• A sewing machine
• A "jeans" sewing machine needle (stronger than a regular needle)
• One piece of marine vinyl that is 10.5 inches by 15 inches (clutch body)
• One triangle shape piece of marine vinyl that fits just inside the flap
• One piece of marine vinyl that is 3 inches by 2 inches (the tab)
• One Pres On mounting board - cut to size of 10 inches by 4 inches 
• A dog leash clasp
• A magnetic purse clasp
• A charm or adornment of some kind to sew to point of flap
• All purpose thread in the color of the vinyl

Look how much my marine vinyl clutch will hold!  A narrow wallet (I made mine from a map of Scotland from a pattern featured on Martha Stewart show), a phone (that's a Cath Kidston iPhone cover) and a lipstick.  When I'm out and about, I attach the keys (the ribbon key chain can be purchased at my Etsy store) to the clip on the purse!

Duck Tape Hair Accessories

Happiness is making your own duct tape hair accessories!  I am very crafty and love making things that girls will love with Duck Tape.  I've made totes, wallets, wristlets and hair bows out of duck tape and they always turn out well.

When I was thinking of the perfect craft to make with my cousins' 3 fourteen-year-old daughters, I knew that I wanted to use Duck Tape.  Remember the duck tape wristlets we made last year?

You see, every year over Easter vacation in Florida, I get to spend an evening crafting with the girls.  They are enthusiastic, eager to learn and highly complimentary. What's not to love?  I wish I could craft with them all the time, but they live on the other side of Michigan.  Luckily we all spend Easter vacation together in Florida and we make the most of our time together.

When I was considering what kind of accessory we should make together, I came across this headband with bow video (produced by the duck tape brand) on YouTube.  The instructions are simple and the results are darling.  My aunt (their grandmother) came along on my field trip to the craft store and bought "denim" Duck Tape (shown above), a roll of "argyle" Duck Tape, adhesive Velcro dots (to make the headband a perfect fit) and my favorite new craft item, non-stick scissors!  They cut through Duck Tape like a breeze and greatly increase the likelihood of happy crafters.  

Each of the girls made a perfect denim headband with a matching bow.  If only the 1920's could see them now.  They posed for group shots modeling their headbands and my heart swelled to twice its size.  They were so happy with the headbands and were so pleased with themselves.

Once they had mastered making a classic bow, they started making little bows with patterned Duck Tape and taping them onto bobby pins with a narrow strip of duck tape (below).  I can imagine these tween girls on the tennis court/track team/volleyball court wearing Duck Tape hair bows that match their team colors. I love it! 

The fun was just beginning when they realized that they could stack a smaller bow on top of a larger one.  They taped the two bows together and then attached them (with a band of duck tape!) to a pony tail holder.  It made the very popular "messy bun on top of head" hairstyle look a little more pulled together. So cute!  

The girls kept thanking me for teaching them how to make these Duck Tape hair accessories.  It was me who should be thanking them (and Duck Tape brand!), I've never had so much fun.

The Power of Cute

I love these new hair ties from Goody so much that I am blogging about them!  This set included four patterned hair ties and that is what I want to call your attention to.  It adds a little bit of style to your ponytail and having patterned hair ties is completely new in the world of hair accessories. 

The elastics have a swirl of color in complimentary tones.  When I wear my hair in a ponytail, I can't tell you how many people have commented on this simple, and inexpensive, item.  I tend to wear solid color t-shirts and khaki pants when I am running errands in the Summertime and having a pretty hair tie makes me feel good.

Never underestimate the power of cute.

Serging Scarves

I have been having a wonderful time serging scarves lately.  A serger (or overlock) is a special machine that makes a perfect finished edge.  On my new scarf above (love it!) you can see that I've serged one of the edges (gray) in what is called a "3 thread rolled edge."

Before I go on to serge the rest of it, I wanted you to see the color chart that comes on the edge of most  fabrics.  It shows an isolated list of the exact shades used in the print.  When I am choosing fabrics to make into scarves, I find it helpful to look at the color chart and say, "Do I have any t-shirts in these colors?"  If I do, adding this fabric as a scarf will make a whole new outfit.

12 Days of Valentine's Day: Make Up

Now THIS is the kind of thing I buy myself for Valentine's Day.  I simply couldn't resist a display of the new Physicians Formula Happy Booster Happy Glow Multi-Colored Face Powder and Bronzer, Translucent - 0.3 OZ  that I saw at the local drugstore.

Can you stand it?  A metallic pink compact (with a compartment to store the matching brush) full of heart-shaped shades of face powder.

It is called "Happy Booster" and touts the mood-boosting effect of some natural plant extracts.  As far as I'm concerned, it lives up to its promise of mood-boosting with the packaging and hearts alone.  On top of that, the powder has a light violet scent.  To me, it couldn't be more perfect.  Happy Day 4.

Day 4:  Put something pretty in your purse - a red pen, a pretty lipstick, this FABULOUS compact.  You'll feel like a Valentine every time you use it.

The Perfect Scarf Knot

I have a long-lasting gift to give you...instructions for the perfect scarf knot.  It looks sophisticated.  It looks complicated.  It is all you need on a solid-colored outfit to add "Umph."  It is a conversation piece all its own and I guarantee people will admire it and ask you how you did it.

The best part?  It starts with a basic knot (that many of us already rely on) that is popular in Europe.

Picture 1: Making the Classic Knot

Fold your scarf in half - you'll have one folded end and two loose tails.

Drape the scarf around your neck with the folded end (loop) on the left and the loose tails on the right.  Take your right hand and send both loose tails through the loop in the fold.  Adjust and allow to drape.

Now for the simple variation that creates this beautiful knot...

Picture 2: Weaving
Notice that when you look "above where the tails were fed through the loop", there are two sides to the loop.  You are going to weave over and under these sides.  Pull one of the loose tails back out of the loop and instead weave it under the first side (up by your neck) and over the second side.  You're done.

Knots are notoriously hard to explain in words.  Look at Picture 2 and see that the two tails coming down from the shoulder on the right are taking opposite "over/under" paths to drape.  Seeing that should help you recognize what you are doing.

It sounds daunting, but I promise this is an easy path to cuteness.

Gone to Seed: Botanical Interests Seed Packets turned Cute Accessory

I am ruled by the garden. I keep going out onto the patio to check on the roses (healthy and leafing, but essentially green sticks with potential). The peonies are nothing but 6 inch high tufts. I imagine bouquets, but I only have dirt. The weather is too dicey to plant annuals yet, so I did the only thing I could think of to soothe the gardener in me. I planted seeds.

I have always loved the packaging of Botanical Interests and now that I have planted the seeds in pots on my patio, I am going to try to make a business card case out of the empty packets. Seriously. If it works, I promise to show you.


Either way, I am sure to have columbine, Icelandic poppies and nasturtiums brightening my bouquets by July. Hooray!

*It worked! The cases are just darling and they are a wonderful conversation piece every time I pull one out of my purse.

Mad For Plaid

I wanted to show you a one-of-a-kind scarf that I made for Fall.

There is no pattern, really. I simply bought 8 different plaid suiting fabrics (1/4 yard each) at JoAnn Fabrics and cut them into strips and sections. I sewed the various pieces together to make two patchwork sections, each 6 inches wide and 48 inches long.

I pinned "the wrong sides" of the patchwork sections together and serged around the perimeter to create a double-sided scarf.

Can you tell that I am truly mad for plaid right now?

Cider Mill here I come!

Flip Flop Management

Are you a flip flip enthusiast? There are so many pretty styles and colors (and so many cute ways to embellish them), how could you not be? I just came across a way to actually manage your flip flop collection in your closet. 

The Container Store has a unique "Flip Flop & Sandal Holder" available here. A pretty grosgrain ribbon and special clips makes it work. Love it!

Palm Beach Style

The style of The Palm Beaches is having an effect on me! I saw this lemon-print fabric (when I was on a shopping expedition with my niece) and just had to make myself a purse.

A roomy little number that can hold everything a girl needs for a jaunt about town or a day at the beach. It works as well with white pants and a simple blouse, as it does with a breezy beach cover-up. I also made a matching eyeglass case (for giant sunglasses) and a yellow keyring. I designed it with elastic, so I can wear it like a bracelet - a girl's gotta keep tabs on the key to the ocean gate, right?

Ahhh...when life gives you lemons, make something cute!