Friday Find: Terracycle Inc.

The summer is always a time to keep hydrated, and I bought some Capri Sun juice pouches for a day trip we took a week ago or so. My 1 1/2 year old doesn't do so great with juice boxes, they become fountains of juice in the car, which really isn't fun to clean up, thus the idea of trying the pouches.
Not only were they successful, and a big hit with the kids, but I noticed something interesting on the box. Thank goodness that companies are aware of their impact, as far as how their products are disposed of after us. They had an advertisement for a website where they sell products made from Capri Sun pouches, Terracycle. They make small bags, bookbags, lunch bags, folders, and even pencil pouch type things, very cute.

Not only can you buy these goodies, but you can have your kids set up a collection for these pouches at their school and earn $.02 per pouch! How cool is that?!?! I actually can't wait for my 6 1/2 year old to start 1st grade so I can help her set one up at her school, if they don't already have one going.

So, check out the site Terracycle.net!!

What's The Deal with Oil Cloth?

I came across a very cute tutorial over at The Purl Bee on how to make an oil cloth bag. I thought it was adorable, and, of course, now want to make one or a different bag out of oil cloth simply because of how cute their fabric was.

Since I didn't think I knew what oil cloth was, I decided to see what I could find...

Wikipedia defines Oilcloth as such: Oilcloth was, traditionally, heavy cotton or linen cloth with a linseed oil coating: it was semi-water-proof. The most familiar use was for brightly printed kitchen tablecloths. Dull colored oilcloth was used for bedrolls, sou'westers, and tents. By the late 1950's, oilcloth became a synonym for vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) bonded to a flanneled cloth.
Currently, oil cloth is Vinyl fabric backed with a polyester/cotton mesh. It's waterproof, and great for tons of stuff like: tablecloths, bags, book covers, and placemats. It also can easily be cleaned with a sponge and warm soapy water. This fabric is very sturdy and durable.

Lots of online fabric stores carry it, and can be found for around $7.00 a yard! The pictures above are swatches I found at Denver Fabrics. I have never bought from this store, but they have lots of stuff!

Now that I have looked at tons of oil cloth, I did know what it was, just not what it was called. Oh, now the possibilities are endless!!!

Ugly Office Chair Anyone?

Who doesn't have one of these ugly office chairs?? I know I do, I am sitting in it right now actually...Want to turn it into this??

Well, check out the Craft Rookie and see how it's done!! I need to do this, my chair is so ugly :(

Feelin' Good

Since having Miss Lily, in the beginning of June, I feel like I wasn't making anything! This week, I decided, it was time to get back into sewing like I was before she came or close to it :).

I feel great about my first week "back". I made 3 medium wetbags, and have 2 large ones that only need the zippers sewn on. I machine quilted the butterfly quilt I started a while back, finally figured out just what I want to do with the blessing gown, and started making some seat belt covers like I saw over at Make It and Love It (she's awesome). Not only that, but I have a few ideas that I am working on: a tutorial, an upgrade, and new goodies for the shop!

Not too bad considering I still managed to get most of the laundry done and somewhat cleaned the house, behind a family of 6. Thanks for listening into my "yay me" moment

Friday Find: MindysEmbroidery

Wow, I can't believe it's Friday already. It has been a bit of a crazy week for me.... However, here is another fantastic Friday Find!

I decided to go with another crafter this week, MindysEmbroidery. She does some of the cutest things with her embroidery talents! I have ordered a few patches from her and absolutely love them!

Here are a few things she has in her shop:

I have the "Do Not Feed Monster" one, and it's so cute, I can't decide what to even put it on to do it justice!

What to do now...

I was very excited about tackling the task of "girlifying" the blessing gown I had made for my sons. I went and bought the fabric, and some trimmings, and now I completely DON'T like how the new fabric looks draped over the gown.

I wanted to have a sheer fabric, and now I think I want it to have the same draping as the satin I made the gown out of. It looks almost trashy to me to put the two together.

Should I actually return the initial fabric? Or do I add even more to my fabric stash, of which each piece of fabric in it will be made into something, someday?

It feels almost sacrilegious to me to return fabric, no seriously.

I now know, for sure, to take the article with me to purchase additions. Lesson learned.

Friday Find: AnnleeDesigns

I have decided to do something new, and I call it my Friday Finds. Each week I will post either a super cool website or an artist/crafter that I am dying to buy something from.

This week's Friday Find is: Annlee Designs. I found her Etsy shop a little while ago, and I am ashamed that I haven't bought one of her GORGEOUS creations. I call myself a knitter, but holy cow this woman is talented!

Just look at a few things she has for sale, my favorite is the first photo, the mini-vest.

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I know what I want to do this weekend!!!

HOly cOW!! I got one of those regular update type emails from BurdaStyle.com and this was one of the links in the email. (the link goes right to the project, but feel free to look around!)

I have wanted a dress form since I really started sewing a lot back in high school. However, due to the cost of one, and I was always worried I wouldn't be able to adjust it to fit me just right. But, MAN this thing would be absolutely perfect!!
Maybe my dear husband will help me to make one, he'll probably like to especially since I've been pretty off limits since having the baby ;)

Fun New Sites

So, I recently stumbled onto a few new websites...

Ravelry is fun, I read about a chick that wants to knit a life-sized giraffe, and another woman knitted with 1000 strands of yarn, it's on you-tube and all. This woman used logs, smallish ones, but LOGS to knit this thing. Awesome insanity!!!

I was directed to a fellow blogger and her sites/inputs cuteness! Check out Seriously, so blessed!

Month-Long Giveaways!!

A fellow blogger over at Life More Simply is doing a month-long "Cloth Diaper Extravaganza"!

She is doing tons of giveaways, is reviewing tons of goodies, and has lots and lots of info!!!

Blessing Gown Revamp

I have a blessing gown that I made for my son. Yes, I know, a boy in a "dress"?! My husband felt the same way, and yes it was somewhat of a battle. I did win this one though, maybe it's because I'm the one that sews in the household :)

It was rather plain, just white satin with some minor trim, nothing ruffly. I used the McCalls pattern 3063. I didn't want the sleeves puffy, so I altered my pattern to give me a longer straight sleeve.











But, now that Miss Lily is here, I need to spruce it up a bit. I went to the fabric store and picked up some lacey sheer fabric with a scalloped edge and some ruffly trims. I am very excited about how it will turn out! Here is a photo of my loot:

So Sorry

I know I haven't posted any crafty posts lately, and I am sorry. Life has been a little busy since Miss Lily was born, and she's about 4 1/2 weeks old now. My goodness how time flies!!

I have been slowly working on a few things, so hopefully within the next week or so I can get a couple posts up :)

Thanks