I'm itching to sew...

And I've got a 3-day weekend. Size 5.

This is how we gather

1 boys Barbapapa shirt from H&M Berlin plus 1 bottom hem of orange t-shirt from thrift store.

Pin the two sides of the orange panel to the seams of the blue shirt. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. Find the middle and pin. (I don't like pulling a thread to gather knits).

Stitch. Instant dress for a Barbapapa fan.

Fab challenge with Call of the Small

Before my little blog break, I saw some cool earrings on Fab.com and thought they would make the perfect accessory in a scene. Being too cheap to buy a whole pair just for myself, I asked the amazing mini designer behind Call of the Small if she would go halvsies with me and do a challenge. I don't think we set any rules: just use the earring in a scene. Here's my result.

I assumed she would do something much cooler with the earring than hang it on the wall as art so I took the safe route by doing just that. I made the frame myself (a first!) with dollhouse moulding. I used seed beads to shadow it away from the backing paper. The fireplace is actually a vintage Fisher Price couch that I turned upside-down and sideways. I printed out the brick paper and stuck it in.

The rug was actually my first idea. I don't know if it's cheating but it came to me shortly after I bought the earrings. I had the pattern printed from one of the artist's other designs before the package even arrived.

I used the roombox I designed (have I talked about that yet?) to stage the scene. My favorite part is the coral. I found the orange faux coral at Michaels and hot glued it into a bottle lid.

I bought the abstract expressionist stamps at the Post Office months ago specifically to use in scenes and finally Rothko made it.

Time: I must confess that I have been working on this scene all week! I've been playing with it bit by bit when I could get in a minute.

The goods: sparkly chairs are Petite Princess; coffee table is a glass tealight holder with a piece of paper glued on; dishes are re-ment, Ocara, Playmobil, and random eBay finds; orange chair is Reac; side table is a vintage Fisher Price chair, possibly a booster seat (?); the credenza is a dollar store table that I chopped the legs off, sanded, and washed with orange paint to be the right color and size; record player and other stuff is Tomy. I totally forget who made the earrings but hopefully Call of the Small will post a credit.

This was really fun for me. Thanks so much to Christine of Call of the Small for taking me up on this challenge. I can't wait to go see what she's done!

Handmade Wardrobe Mini Find

My mom bought a huge box of mostly trashed dollhouse furniture at a flea market a few weeks ago. Everything is pretty beat up and really old; I'm thinking 1930s but I haven't done much research yet. Among the rubble was this gem. It's a handmade wardrobe by Verna Ulrich from 1981.

Check out the leather hinges. Such fine detail!

I have the third drawer. The front has come off and I'll reattach it.

I'd like to replace the missing bunch of grapes with another if you have any idea of where to find something like it.

If anyone knows anything about this artist, I would love to know. A quick google search did not turn up any information. This is very well crafted and was obviously made with care. I feel lucky to have this piece in my collection. I wonder why it was with all that other stuff. The best word to describe it all is "primitive." I'll be photographing it soon.

Dresses to go

I'll be taking a bit of a blog break for Summer. Here are some dresses I made using the Sienna pattern from Lil Blue Boo and The Warhol Dress from Dana of made. The Salvation Army had a $1 a bag sale and I came home with 16 shirts!

Both of these patterns are super easy. I like changing it up a bit.

With the Warhol dress I made, I slashed the pattern across the top to fit the shirt I wanted to use. I don't think that was a good decision. I'm going to sew some vertical ribbons up the right side to even it out. I also added inches to the arm hole after trying it on the kid pinned. That was a mistake because it's huge. I'm not going to rip it out because it will fit next year. I doubled it over a did a quick hand tack that I'll pick out once she grows.

Enjoy the rest of July!

1001 Peeps Winner!

I am pleased to announce that Amber of One Shabby Chick has won the 1001 Peeps blue fat quarter giveaway. Yay!

Thanks so much to everyone who commented. I now have some amazing ideas for campfire treats. I'm also really happy at how much people like this bag. I love mixing prints and I think it's great that Lizzy House has designed amazing fabric lines that work so well together. The ducks with the peeps -- spot on.

When making this bag I realized that this tutorial could easily be used to make storage bins with just a tweak or two (and no zipper!). I'll work on that and get back to you in a few weeks. I gotta buy some more panties for the plastic. Have a great weekend!

Hello Campers!

Welcome to 1001 Peeps Summer Camp! Today we are making the Peeping Peeps zippered tote.

But first, leave me a comment with your favorite campfire treat and you'll be entered in a contest to win a mini fat quarter pack like the one I used to make this bag. Comments closed! Thanks to all who commented.

Here's what you need:
Lizzy House fabric
fusible interfacing (I prefer Wonder Under)
decor weight fabric (I used a solid from Ikea) 
clear vinyl (I used the packaging from toddler panties)

1 zipper at least 11 inches
28" of 1" wide grosgrain ribbon (for two 14" long handles)

office paper
1 tiny bulldog clip

thread and assorted sewing supplies

Let's make a pattern!
ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES ARE 1/4" AND ARE INCLUDED IN THESE MEASUREMENTS*. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ADD THEM.

bottom = 1 sheet of 8.5" X 11" office paper
top = cut 1 sheet in half lengthwise for 4.25" X 11" (fold like a hotdog bun and cut)
back = cut 1.5" off the long edge for 7" tall X 11" wide

sides = cut off the short edge for 7" tall X 8.5" wide
front side panels = 4.5" tall X 2.25" wide
front top and bottom panel = 1.75" tall X 11" wide

window = 4.5" tall X 7.5" wide

Prepare your sturdy pieces:
I generally cut my decor weight lining fabric about 1" larger on all sides, my interfacing 1/4" larger on all sides, and then my outer fabric 1/2" larger on all sides.
Iron your interfacing to your outer fabric. Let cool and peel off the paper backing. Iron your decor weight fabric to the outer fabric then pin pattern and trim to size.

bottom = cut 1 fabric, 1 interfacing, 1 liner
sides = cut 2 fabric, 2 interfacing, 2 liners (1 for each side)
back = cut 1 fabric, 1 interfacing, 1 liner

top = cut 4
front side panels = cut 4
front top and bottom panel = cut 4

Ok campers, let's do this!

1. Start with the front panel center piece. Make a fabric/plastic/fabric sandwich as shown. Put the fabric RST and slide the vinyl in to meet the edge. Clip together with the bulldog clip because you can't pin the plastic.
Stitch 1/4" away from the edge and repeat for the other side. Unfold your side pieces and finger press. Don't get an iron near the vinyl.

2. Add your top panel. Make a fabric/center piece/fabric sandwich just like above. Put the fabric RST lining up the edges. You'll have 4 layers of fabric on the edges and the added piece of vinyl in the center. Stitch and repeat for the bottom. Unfold your top and bottom pieces and topstitch as shown. This will secure the panel. Set this aside for later.

3. Let's move to the top piece. Like your panels, you are going to make a fabric/zipper/fabric sandwich. Put the fabric RST and place the zipper between the layers lining up at the edge. Stitch 1/4" away from the edge of the zipper, unfold and topstitch.  Repeat with the other side.  Set this aside for later.

*Note: At this point you can switch to larger seam allowances if you are more comfortable with that. Just be consistent from now on.

4. Get that front panel out. Attach the sides to the front and back panels RST making a big inside out loop as shown. Now you're getting somewhere!

5. Attach the bottom piece to your "loop" starting with the front panel. Line your edges up. You may have to use a seam ripper to clip a few stitches from your side panel seam allowances. DON'T stitch into your seam allowance or you'll have rounded corners and puckers instead of square ones. Stitch one side at a time, lining up each edge as you go.

6. Now you have the main portion of the bag finished. Take a minute to trim all of your seam allowances with your pinking shears or serge the edges so everything will stay nice.

7. Pin your ribbon handles to the inside of the bag. The ribbons should hang down into the RS of the fabric. These are placed 2" from the edge.

8. Stitch the front panel to the top piece RST, doublestitching over the ribbons for added strength. Repeat for the back panel.

9. Stitch one side closed, doublestitching over the zipper tape for strength. Then unzip as much as you need so that your hand will fit through the hole. Stitch the other side, again doublestitching over the zipper tape.

10. Reach your hand down into the bag and unzip all the way. Turn your bag inside out and pat yourself on the back, camper! You did it. Poke your fingers in all of the corners to tidy up.

Here's the whole troupe:
June 24: Alexia Abegg
July 1: Lemon Cadet
July 8: The Fat Quarterly!
July 15: Quilt Asylum.
July 22:  MrsMcPorkchop
July 29: Flax and Twine
August 5: Heather alamode
August 12:  Make Something
August 19: Whipstitch
August 26: Happy Zombie