What you need:

• an odd number of raw, unpainted letters (material isn’t so important, they can be wood, cardboard etc)
• craft paint (multiple colors or variations of one)
• sponge brush
• drop cloth or magazines, newspapers etc
• hanging materials

Whatever your letter may be, start with raw, unpainted pieces

a couple of magazines and a sponge brush is all you need

Whether you are working with a palette or free painting the piece while holding it you are going to need somewhere to set it down.  You don’t need anything fancy for this part, I use old magazines and just open them up for a larger area.  You can use newspaper, open paper grocery bags; when I do a large painting I use an old shower curtain liner.  Use your imagination, just make sure you won’t mind whatever you choose being covered in paint.

attach your hanging hardware to the backside

Unless the letters you chose came with hanging hardware you are going to need to attach your own.  I found a picture hanging kit in our tool closet and started to attach the hanging bar with teeth.  The tiny nails were IMPOSSIBLE to nail in on our family room carpet (it was pretty late at night when I did this project and I didn’t want to anger our downstairs neighbor) So I improvised and just used the thumbtacks to attach the tooth bars.  Each letter is so light that the thumbtacks were more than secure and incredibly easy to apply.

make sure every piece has numerous coats to cover raw surface

I like to arrange the letters on the floor in the pattern I want to see on the wall so I’m not flying blind.  But my two year old desperately wanted to help so by the time the O’s were up on the wall they ended up looking like I wanted a bunch of O’s in the shape of an O on the wall.  Not what I was going for but I have yet to change it so it isn’t THAT bad.

find your hanging space on your wall

fill your empty wall space

In the end, the empty space is filled, I can breathe easier without all that potential staring me in the face everyday.  I really like the final project even though, like everything I do, I want to make some changes and improvements before I am completely happy.  One of these days I will take them down and vary the metallic finish a bit as well as change the design on the wall.  But overall I am representing my pride in being an Overgard…and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that!

What you’ll need:

scrap fabric, any texture as long as its not so nubby that a glass will tip

needle and thread/sewing machine

interfacing (I used heavy weight for a firm coaster)

fabric paint (if you choose to add words etc)

scissors

This is a very simple project.  First, decide how many coasters you want and cut twice as many squares of fabric (I wanted five coasters so I cut ten squares) Cut as many matching squares of interfacing.  By the time you are done cutting you should have twenty pieces of fabric cut to desired size (mine were 4.5″ square)

4.5" fabric squares

Once you have everything cut out place your interfacing with each corresponding piece of scrap fabric; each piece of colored fabric should be backed by a piece of interfacing.  If you have fusible interfacing iron it now to attach the pieces.

Assuming your scraps are fused to interfacing, separate all your pieces into sets (mine separated into yellow with yellow, green with green etc.) Place each pair right sides together (in the case of the brown coaster, the brown sides would be touching and the white interfacing sides would be facing out) Now sew with 1/4″ seam allowance.  Leave two inches open on one side to pull right sides through.

Interfacing should be facing out

inside seams with 2" opening and topstitched finished coaster

When the interior seams are done clip the corners and turn inside out.  You can iron at this point for crisp edges or go ahead to the top stitching step.

Once the color side is facing out turn the raw edges (where you pulled the fabric through) turn the edges in and topstitch closed.  Continue the topstitch on all edges.

Finished top stitching on coasters

Now, you can stop here OR you can get a little fabric paint and add a little somethin somethin to your coasters.  I chose the latter.

Not a lot of instruction here, plop a little fabric paint on a scrap piece of paper, take a fine tipped brush and paint!

get ready to paint

I decided to leave instructions for use...

FInished set of coasters

Now, go get a drink and set it on your awesome new coaster.

Temporary wall mural using contact paper.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• contact paper. I wanted a matte gray paper but couldn’t find it so I settled on a faux black leather. (Make sure it’s thin, adhesive paper – NOT squishy drawer liner contact paper)
• scissors
• level / yardstick
• your inspiration; mine was a lyric from an Ingrid Michaelson song that is beautiful and oh so true.

Let’s get going.

Step one, cut a long, thin strip of contact paper and stick it to the wall you want to use.  If it stays adhered to the wall (no peeling or bubbling) then you are in good shape and you can proceed.  The first paper I tried was too thin and wasn’t sticky enough and peeled from the wall within minutes.

Step Two, trace your letters or design on the wrong side of the contact paper.  MAKE SURE YOU WRITE THE LETTERS/DESIGN SO THEY ARE THE MIRROR IMAGE OF WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE ON THE WALL.  Otherwise you will need a mirror to read your message or see your design.  Be aware of the size, I wanted the words to make an impact and I had a huge space to work with.  Plan accordingly.

Trace the mirror image of letters on wrong side of contact paper

Step Three, cut out the letters.  (Not much to this step.)

carefully cut out letters

Step Four, prepare your wall with the level and the yardstick.  There are probably other ways to tackle this step but I work with what I have in front of me and what I had in front of me were: yardstick, short level, scrap contact paper.  Why get out more tools if you can improvise?  First, use the level to make sure that the yardstick is…level.  Tape the yardstick to the wall using the extra strips of contact paper.  Boom.  You can start applying your letters and they will be straight and even. Move the yardstick as you go, leveling each time.

Tape your leveled yardstick to the wall with excess contact paper

Step Five, step back and admire your work.  I told you this one was easy.  When you get tired of the temporary mural peel it off the wall and start all over again with something new and different.

step back and assess your work - is everything straight? Yes? You're done!

I used a closet door as my guide

TIP: if you use metallic contact paper be VERY CAREFUL when cutting and peeling.  Metallics show every flaw and bump…not very attractive.  Be aware of your textures and finishes before you get too far into the process.

Get one for school, get one for work, get one for your next shopping trip…get one to hold those diapers.  It is the perfect bag for everyone, I promise.  I haven’t heard a bad word yet!

Pink, rose and coffee brown in a kaleidoscope pattern draw all eyes to this bag.  One exterior end pocket for phone, keys etc. Deep brown interior with a three pocket panel trimmed in pink.  $55

Striped Latte Bag

Interior Striped Latte Bag

Stripes in cool tones are casual and easy to wear.  One exterior end pocket for necessities.  Lining is a warm cafe latte color with a three pocket panel trimmed in crisp, clean white. $55

Damask Bag

Interior of Damask Bag

Classic black and white damask is punched up with a touch of graphite.   A pop of pink lining brightens up the bag with a three pocket panel trimmed in white with black stitching.  $50

]]> http://www.katieochicago.com/more-non-diaper-bags/feed/ 0 http://www.katieochicago.com/project-easy-pillowcase/ http://www.katieochicago.com/project-easy-pillowcase/#comments Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:44:02 +0000 Katie http://www.katieochicago.com/?p=1081 Addie has been telling us that she wants a pillow…and what Addie wants, she gets (as long as its something I can make!) She was smart and told us while we were at the fabric store so it was easy to get everything we needed.  We let her pick her own fabric that she wanted to sleep on and it wasn’t a big surprise when she bypassed the tropical prints for the character aisle!

Addie's chose her buddies Dora and Ariel for her pillowcases

What you’ll need:

• pillow
• enough fabric to wrap around the width of the pillow with a few inches extra on the length. I started with half a yard of each print
• thread, needle, thimble
• magnetic snap (I only do this because I made the cases for Addie and I didn’t want the pillow sliding out)

First off, measure the width of the pillow, from seam to seam.  Cut your fabric to that length +1″ (plus one inch) this leaves half inch seam allowance.  Don’t worry about the length of the fabric, leave it LONG (I like an additional 7 inches on the length of the pillow) and you can roll it down to the correct length later.

use a flexible measuring tape to get the correct measurments

Sew the side seams from top to bottom with the 1/2″ seam allowance, right sides together.  Once the side seams are done, keeping the right sides together, start folding the top in a french hem technique to finish the edge.  For a child’s pillow like Addie’s I each fold was about 2″. For a bigger pillowcase make the folds longer, closer to 4″ or 5″.

start folding the hem. fold a couple of inches, press, and repeat the fold

keep folding until it JUST closes at the end of the pillow

Once you have the length that suits you, top stitch the folded hem.  Add any decorative touches that you want on your pillowcase now because otherwise you’re done, easy as that!  I added hidden magnetic snaps into the fold of Addie’s pillowcases because I didn’t want any extra fabric flapping around or the pillow sliding out of the case.  I also added a purple ribbon to the hem of the Little Mermaid pillow.  I could say that it was just for decorative appeal but it was to cover the snap holes after I put them on the wrong side of the fold. Oops. A stitched on grosgrain ribbon hid those holes and added a little more color!

The finished product.

Addie pretending to sleep (and snore) on her new pillowcase

Have fun, if you’re making this for a child let them in on it! Let them decide who, or what, will be on their pillowcase and it will be even MORE special.

Have fun, let me know how you do!

Answer: Flowers!

Rolled Fabric Flowers

These are so fun, and really easy.  When you are putting these together don’t worry about perfection or exact measurements, you don’t even need to have a measuring tool at all.

Let’s get rolling…

You’ll need:

what you'll need

• long scraps of fabric, patterned or solid colors (my scraps were about 30″ long and I cut them to 3.5″ wide)
• scissors
• thread, needle and thimble
• felt
• hot glue gun or fabric glue
• pin backing, headband, magnet (whatever you want to adhere your flower to)

That’s it. Seriously.

First, Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and pin.  Sew a running stitch (what I call the in and out stitch, but is also known as basting) Along the entire length of the fabric.

running stitch along long raw edge

As you sew, the fabric will gather on the thread:

the fabric will gather on the thread and start to curl

To make a more open flower, more of a blossom (see the purple flower) for a tighter rose-like flower don’t pull the fabric tightly on the thread.

When you get to the end of the length of fabric leave the thread and needle attached.  Start to roll the fabric in on itself, sewing through the base of the roll until it is too thick to sew through. When it is too thick start to sew the outer layers to the inner layers and they will be secured.

on a roll - start the center of the flower

sew through the roll to secure

sew outer layers to inner layers

When you have reached the end of the fabric you can do a couple of different things: one, tuck the raw edges of the fabric in on itself and sew the end closed or two, the technique I prefer, fold the raw edge down and sew into the base of the flower.

side view of raw edge before fold

fold raw edge down and sew into base

When you have knotted and cut off your thread you are essentially done with the flower.  If you are going to put it somewhere permanent the you can go ahead and glue it or sew it to your chosen place.  If you want to turn it into a pin or have a clean “bottom” (not see the crazy stitches) then use the felt technique used in the flower pin project.

Boom. You’re done. I am going to make a ton of these and make a belt. I think…maybe a headband. It would look very cool to cover the front of a pillow with multicolored rolled flowers. Ahhhh, there are a million ways to use them – what will YOU do with yours?

I want you to see my workspace as it has been for months now:

Breeding ground for creativity? Nope.

Sometimes the reality of inspiration is not nearly as pretty as our imaginations want it to be.  I used to store all of my supplies behind our family room couch; fabric was packed into a large storage bin and everything else could be found in random plastic shopping bags.  Ideal? Absolutely not.  I had so many ideas that never came to fruition because I just didn’t feel like digging for supplies, searching for the right fabric and then putting it all away when I was done.  So I bought some shelves and some boxes and organized all of my materials.  Although it forced a big crack in the dam of creativity it was still tough to LOVE working on a project.  I needed to see my inspiration. I needed the clutter to disappear. I needed beauty right there in front of me as I pushed fabric through the machine.

Here is my workstation now:

Creativity Corner

My small corner of creativity may not look out over a garden and I may not hear the waves on the beach, but it is clean and organized. The things that inspire me are pinned on my bulletin board and when I feel like I just can’t sew another stitch I look up and see that great t-shirt or the awesome flower arrangement and I HAVE to keep creating.

The dam has broken.  Want to have YOUR inspiration in your face everyday urging you to keep going? Let’s make some foam core bulletin boards.

What you need:

• A frame (or many, depending on your space) I have numerous frames around our home – regular picture frame with backing included as well as canvas frames, which have no backing.
• Enough foam core to fill your chosen frames (foam core looks like two pieces of poster board on either side of a layer of styrofoam. You can get it at craft stores like Michaels and Joann fabrics as well as office supply stores)
• Enough fabric to cover foam core (you will only need about two and a half inches extra on all sides so it can wrap around the board)
• Strong tape, hot glue or short staples
• Scissors
• Exacto knife / utility knife

Here is the assortment of frames I knew I wanted to transform into bulletin boards:

frame selection

One 24″ x 36″, one 14″ x 18″ and two 8″ x 10″ frames.  First, I removed the backing, poster and glass from the large frame so it was ready to be assembled.

Step one: measure foam core to the size of the frame insert and mark the entire line.  Use the exacto/utility knife to score the top layer of foam core then keep cutting deeper until you have gotten through all layers.

slice along the edge of a ruler if you don't trust free hand

Step two: Stretch your fabric out on your work surface (mine always happens to be the floor) Once stretched put the cut foam core piece on top of the fabric, centered.  Working from top then bottom, left side then right side, secure the fabric to the foam core.  I used packing tape because it was the first sticky thing I saw in my supply closet.  You can use duct tape, hot glue, flat thumb tacks or short staples (long staples will poke through to the front of the foam core)

use enough tape to keep fabric from pulling loose in front

Step three: Once the fabric is secure pop the foam core into the frame of our choice. If you can’t use the backing provided or you are using canvas frames you can tape the foam core to the frame or use canvas clips.

foam core is light, these tiny clips will keep it secure

Continue the process with the rest of your frames and then hang them up! Once you have them placed find some attractive push pins and spread your inspiration all over your finished project.  Believe me, you will be pleased with the results, I AM!

finished foam core bulletin boards

Here is the skylight that brightens up her beautiful room and wakes her up long before mommy and daddy are ready to be awake.

I don’t know if this project will be exactly what you need…unless you live in a hundred year old furniture factory that has been converted into lofts and your skylight is surrounded by thick, wood beams. But if you get anything out of this, just realize that there is always a solution to your problem – and it’s usually a pretty easy solution too.

I knew that I needed to fashion a shade, or cover for the sunlight but didn’t (and couldn’t) make it permanent.  So I bought a yard of thick, navy blue felt and four purse making grommets.  I already had a container full of screw hooks so I pulled four of those as well.

First: measure the area you need to cover. Then measure the fabric to fit. Cut.

I used two layers of felt to make sure the sunlight doesn’t sneak in for an extra early wake up call. Top stitch layers together and backstitch around corners where grommets will go.

Follow the instructions and apply the grommets to the corners of the fabric.  I use metal grommets that require a tiny screwdriver to secure.  Make sure you examine the grommets before you take them home and make sure you have the correct tools.

Simple as that. Now grab your ladder and your screw hooks and screw them into the corners of the (in my case) skylight casing.

Repeat on all four corners. Then, easy as pie, hook the fabric onto the screw hooks.

And now all you have to do is sleep in.

What is your problem you need solved?

Let’s figure it out together! Contact me with your issue and we’ll find a way to fix it. I’m well rested now..I can help!

I did not make this pattern myself, I found it on an awesome blog called IndieTutes where I find tons of inspiration.  Check it out here for a detailed description and how-to of the “Toddler Backpack”

Want to see my progress? Here are some pics…

Top front and bottom front pattern pieces topstitched and arranged over back pattern piece for proper placement. The pattern instructions call to put the backpack together with interfaced side as the wrong side. I cut an extra piece of each pattern so the interior of the backpack is purple and does not just show the interfacing.

Side loop pattern piece pinned to front panels

Stitching the side pieces to the front pieces…make sure you go slowly and adjust the fabric as you go, fabric backed by interfacing doesn’t cooperate so easily!

The pattern doesn’t call for the straps to be backed by interfacing but I backed both pieces with interfacing to make the a little stiffer…I find they stay on squirmy toddler shoulders more easily.

Here is my happy daughter with her finished backpack before she begged me to put a face on her backpack.

I like to let Addie have a hand in our projects, she’s starting to love making things with Mama!

We cut out white ovals for eyes, black circles for pupils and a red crescent for his mouth. Simple hand stitching around the edges secured the features.This backpack has not left her back for DAYS.  She only takes it off to sleep.

Have fun with this project! As she gets a little older I will make her another, bigger, version with a zipper so she can bring her preschool papers home.  Maybe she won’t expect the next one to talk!

• want to be free from the diaper bag
• need a bag that can hold more than your average clutch
• are going to school and don’t want to carry a plain old backpack
• just want a personalized, beautiful bag that fits their needs

Do any of those people sound like you? Then order a non-diaper bag!

I’m coming out with new styles all the time, book club bags (whether you are in a book club or not) pool bags lined with terry cloth…and there are more to come.

So get in line, many have been ordered and many more will be made, but you had better place your order now!

Here are some samples of bags that have been made for other customers:

Large size, interior pocket panel with multiple pockets

Close up of gather pleats

Interior Pockets

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"The Skipper" Non-Diaper Bag

Front grommets and decorative rope

Front grommet detail, two exterior pockets in contrasting fabric

Interior Pocket Panel "The Skipper" Non-Diaper Bag

My Mama's Mother's Day Gift

Interior Pockets of "The Cindy"

Front Pocket "The Cindy"

"The MoMo" Book Club Tote

"The Meghan"

Magnetic Snap closure "The Meghan"

Interior 3 Pocket Panel "The Meghan"