I've had so much fun this week playing with this sweet fabric designed by Melissa Mora of Melly Sews fame. It's Melissa's first full fabric collection manufactured by Riley Blake and it's absolutely dreamy. She sent me 1/2 yard each some of the Rose and Leaves prints. It was plenty! I was able to make a complete ensemble using my Evelyn Apron Skirt pattern plus I made a mini drawstring backpack, and a pocket for a store bought t-shirt to customize it.
I wanted to add a little trim and after trying some options I decided on the black and white pleated ribbon just for fun.
I'm in love with this outfit and so impressed by the quality of the fabric.
Here's that little pocket! It just takes a couple of scraps and now the t-shirt is part of the outfit.
This fabric feels as good as it looks. I'd love to do a baby's nursery in these prints. They are so sweet.
This collection is hitting the stores this week so look around for it. I still have a few scraps left so I'm off to create some more gorgeous stuff with it!
Here is a quick video I recently posted on my YouTube channel. I timed myself (but made it without the cute ribbon tab) and it took me 3 minutes and 21 seconds from start to finish to sew one of these (I had my supplies cut and ready). I've already had a newbie from Instagram try it and she was so proud of herself. That is why I share this stuff! To unravel the mystery of zippers. Not really. There is no mystery. You just need to start.
The supplies are so basic. Just make sure you have a long (nylon, not metal) zipper and it will be quick and easy.
Let me know if you try it. And feel free to make a bunch. They are great gifts and might be good to sell if you're looking for a craft booth idea.
Let me know if you try it! If you post it on instagram be sure to tag me #jonagiammalva because I want to see it! Have a wonderful day!
So.....what's up? I've been busy. Busy with kids. Busy with marriage. Busy with sewing. And busy with teaching (sewing!). What are you busy doing?
I've been quiet on my blog I know. When I started in 2007, blogging was such a great way to share and it felt personal and friendly and fun. I think social media has sucked up all the oxygen (and the friendliness and fun) in the internet and kind of made me want my privacy again. So maybe it will feel good to hang out here again, instead of over there.
I've been working on a lot of fun new projects and re-working some old ones. I've got some great new ideas for a new direction and I'd sure love some input and encouragement from people who love to sew (or people who want to love to sew but need some help getting started, raise your hand if that's you!).
So here's a little ongoing project I've been working on....my husband's slightly moth eaten Pendleton shirt. He probably bought it when we lived in Portland but in Arizona it didn't get much wear and he was ready to throw it in the "out" pile. Not so quick there buddy!
He totally blew our Valentine's Day tradition of ignoring Valentine's Day and showed up with a gift. Argh, dude. So I scrambled up a plan and cut a sleeve off of that old shirt and bought him a bouquet of his favorite pilot pens. Add a zipper, lining, and faux leather tassel and I actually knocked his socks off. Whew!
Then he ordered a Hobonichi Planner for work and asked for a cover. Nailed it! He loves it and his coworkers are jealous so he's happy. And I still have bunch of his plaid shirt left!
I have a lot more to share and some fun things going on here. And I'm sending out my first newsletter soon so be sure to join my mailing list!
I found this quaint, but plain, 2 piece hutch at a local antique store a few months ago. It was marked down to 50 dollars and I knew I could do something cute with it. And I did!
I was inspired by this gorgeous dresser on Perfectly Beautiful Things blog. I used Benjamin Moore's Orchid Pink color but the paint is Behr glossy. The trim is Craftsmart Bright Gold paint from Michaels. Did I mention I'm in love with this hutch?
When painting it I found I achieved the best results by laying it on the tarp so any dribbles would slide toward the back. I took my time and ended up using 4 thin-ish coats of paint. If I noticed any big dribbles I waited for them to dry and carefully "shaved" them off with a razor. For the delicate gold detail on top I used a small art brush so I could get into the crevices without being sloppy (I used a wider art brush for the feet). The whole process ended up taking about 3 days (and watching the whole latest season of Call The Midwife).
I just used a cheap dollar store sponge brush (comes in a large set for a buck!) to paint the handles, hinges, etc. This took a lot of coats but it dried so quickly I would just dab on a fresh coat about every 1/2 hour.
I really love the fancy, whimsical look of all the gold trim.
Part way through painting I realized I was not going to have enough pink paint if I kept going so I scrounged through my paint collection and grabbed this bright green for the inside color. I like it a lot more than I thought I would and it's a fun surprise when the doors open.
Such a sweet place to keep all of my little goodies. And decent storage for office supplies too since it's right next to my desk, which has no drawers.
A little money and a little time, and now I've got a beautiful keepsake treasure to enjoy for years to come!
Hello! Sorry for the terribly long absence! I've been very very busy with something new and amazing and here is one small portion I can share right now. But first, an updated picture of me (remember when I started growing out my grey hair?). I'm still here!
I've missed you all and will be back with lots of fun stories about my new adventure. But be sure to watch this, leave a comment if you want, and download the full pdf pattern (link under video) if you want to try this project.
This one's been a long time coming but I really wanted to share how we were able to take some short Billy Bookcases from IKEA and create another bank of built in shelves, like we did in our family room here. A mantle on top really finished out this living room and the shelves give it some much needed character and storage. We love IKEA hacks (another one here, and here) and this one did not disappoint. We did a non-IKEA built in here that's worth checking out too if you're thinking of adding to your home.
In my dream home I'd have a fireplace in the middle but I was happy to settle for a place to sit and watch tv in comfort. We started by clamping all of the Billy Bookcases together (these are the 41 3/4 tall version). Then Joey attached them to each other at the sides with screws deep enough to go through to the other side without poking out. At this point we could slide the whole unit to make sure it was centered on the wall.
Then we started trimming it out with 4" trim board (the same kind we used in the family room project).
Here's another view.
While the trim board is pretty it also provided a gap between the top of the shelves and the eventual mantle board. We used that gap to install an outlet facing down so we could plug in our electronics as well as 2 outlets facing upward so I can plug things into the mantle top (lamps, Christmas lights, etc).
This is the downward facing outlet.
Here's what it looked like going in.
And here it is finished.
Then we attached 2x4s to the wall directly across from the top of the trim pieces. We screwed these into the studs. I forgot to take a picture at this stage so this rendering will hopefully get the idea across.
Joey installed the mantle outlets by using extension cords stripped and attached to the new outlets (and plugged into the wall behind the shelves). The mantle is an inexpensive length of melamine shelving. There is a "seam" in the middle but it's very discrete. Again, if this were my dream house I would've insisted on a top notch wooden mantle but I'm completely happy with this one and it looks better than I had expected (not cheap looking at all, whew).
I really love having these outlets but if I had it to do over I would've had them installed on the sides, up near the top, so they wouldn't be as visible.
Almost there and so much better!
Here's how we trimmed out the sides of the mantle. I had some white paint matched to the melamine and shelves and, once this was painted, the little flaws were covered up.
We used quarter round trim at the point where the top of the mantle meets the wall. This picture was taken before I caulked and cleaned up the paint, but it still looks good. I also painted all of the trim pieces in a nice gloss to make it look clean and new.
Joey notched out the back corners of the center shelves to make room for the speaker cords and tv/dvd player cords. He drilled a small hole through the side here to allow room for the cord to come over to the next shelf.
We trimmed out the bottom using the same trim as the top. Easy peasy. More details on this process over at our previous built in (including how we covered the seams where the shelves met next to each other).
This was the fun part. I finally got to pull some pretty stuff from storage and fill it with meaningful items that make me happy every day.
This is now a beautiful room to walk into. It's the first thing visitors see and that makes me happy.
Such a happy improvement!
Here you can get a peek at the boxes Joey made to hide the lamp cords. I've filled them with pinecones from our vacation at the Grand Canyon so they are practical, pretty, and meaningful to me.
We spent under 400.00 for the whole project and it looks like a million bucks! I hope this has been a helpful explanation. Don't be afraid to tackle something like this. It's a fairly uncomplicated and inexpensive way to add oodles of character and happiness to your home.
I'm so thrilled to finally have something quick and useful to make with my scraps! I bought some Pellon 72 stabilizer to try on some projects and really didn't like the way it made the fabric look rumply. Fortunately it was only a yard so I set it aside but kept it in the back of my mind. Then this bookmark idea hit me and the Pellon 72 is the perfect medium for this project so now I'm very happy with it. It's an incredibly quick project and cute as can be so it's great for little gifts and you can even make tiny versions to go with my Petite Planner Cover tutorial.
Here's all you need to make a #fabtasticbookmark:
2 pieces of fabric 9" x 1.5",
one piece of Pellon 72 (also 9" x 1.5"),
one narrow ribbon about 10" long,
and 1 metal eyelet (optional)
Iron your fabrics to each side of the Pellon with the right sides of the fabric facing outward (see the pictures below for the version without eyelets since the process is a little different).
Here's how it will look on both sides.
If you're making one without the eyelet, fold your ribbon and tuck the folded edge into the top between the fabric and the pellon (make sure it's more than 1/4" inch down so your top stitch will sew through the ribbon).
Press in place with your iron.
Now stitch all the way around your bookmark (both versions) 1/4" from the edge.
Use your rotary cutter to trim the edges so they are clean and even.
Install your eyelet and thread your ribbon through. My favorite tool for that is my new Crop-a-dile but there are oodles of tools for this and you may already have something else that works for you.
Here are examples of the two different versions.
Make oodles of them! Use them yourself or give them as gifts! Stuff stockings with them or tuck them in a birthday card! Just do it.
Let me know if you make some and be sure to share pictures on Instagram using the hashtag #fabtasticbookmark. Keep on sewing!
This week I sewed my very first welt zipper pocket and it turned out perfectly! I was so satisfied with my results and I give credit to two great video tutorials. This one by Professor Pincushion, and this one by Gertie. Watch them both if you want to give it a try and between the two of them you'll have enough information to make solid pockets that look fantastic on the first try.
I wanted a pocket in this darling planner/organizer cover. I've been making oodles of these (for my etsy shop) and I wanted to step it up to make it a little smarter.
The outcome was nice and straight. There are a couple of imperfections but they are so small that I'm the only one who knows where they are. And I'm fine with that.
My pocket is about 4 inches deep and will hold a great amount of goodies including my phone if I want to use this organizer as an impromptu handbag.
It's got it all and I learned a new skill I had avoided for a long time. So if you're looking for a new sewing skill to learn I highly recommend tackling the welt zipper pocket. You'll be glad you did. Do it!
I'm busting through my fabric stash like crazy making these petite planner covers. They're quick and easy to make and, at only 5 inches tall, you can pop one in your purse or pocket to write down any notes or lists while you're out and about. These are going to be perfect stocking stuffers this Christmas and I'm keeping some on hand for those times I need a quick little gift for somebody. You just need a few small pieces of fabric, some heavy dec weight stabilizer and small pieces of elastic. Give it a try! Use #petiteplannercover as your hashtag if you post any pictures on instagram.
Here's my cute little stack so far. It's going to get a lot taller at the rate I'm going this week.
Here are the inserts I'm using. They come in a 3 pack at Walmart. They are 4.5 inches tall and 3.25" wide (.25" thick). They only cost 88 cents for the pack of three. That's right...88 cents!! You can find them in the office supply section (not the journal section). You can get the golf pencils at any office supply place but I got mine at Express Pencils LLC and I think they're darling.
Here is the supply list and I've included 2 versions of the outer fabric. You can use one continuous piece or 2 smaller pieces. If you have a small special piece of fabric you want to use then the version with the 2 smaller pieces is perfect for this. I love using BariJ's Joie De Vivre Alphabet Panel for these covers (you can see the letter "P" below). Before cutting your fabric take a good look at it and see if the pattern you like is going to be on the book front. It pays to do a little "fussy cutting" to get the right design where you want it.
Below is the fabric supply list. You will also need an Elmer's type of glue stick (I prefer the purple stuff that dries clear), and a poking/turning tool for turning nice sharp corners.
For the version with 2 outer fabric pieces you'll need to sew your front and back pieces together with the raw ends of the elastic loop tucked in the center. See below.
For the version with one piece you'll need to pin your raw elastic ends at the precise center of your piece and then fold the fabric in half, enclosing the elastic ends. Stitch 1/4" from the edge of the fabric fold (enclosing the elastic ends in the seam). See below.
Now you have your outer fabric ready. Grab your stabilizer and glue stick and swipe glue around the edges. Try to keep the glue on the very outer edges of the stabilizer. I recommend the Pellon 70 stabilizer even though it's non-fusible (actually because it's non-fusible). I've tried the fusible version (Pellon 72) and it made the fabric look very rumply when I was done no matter how hard I tried to iron it. As an added bonus the Pellon 70 is less expensive (and always have your coupons ready!).
Once you've got the glue around the edges (work quickly because this glue dries fast), and your fabric placed on top, iron around the edges quickly to set your glue.
Now fold your short piece of 1/2" pencil loop elastic in half and pin in place 1.5" from the top on the side of fabric that will be the back of your planner cover. Your raw ends should be even with the raw edge of your fabric (the fold of the elastic is facing in towards the center seam).
Now grab your pocket pieces and fold them both in half and press. Be sure your fabric design is facing in the right direction if you have a directional print on your fabric.
Now place your pocket pieces directly on top of the outer fabric with the folded edges facing the center seam. Glue in place (glue just around the edges and heat set with your iron once your pockets are in place). Your elastic pencil loop is now sandwiched between the pocket and the outer fabric (at the red clamp in my picture below). The side of the pockets facing down on the outer fabric will be what you see when your cover is finished so make sure it's the part of the design you like most.
Next place the lining fabric directly on top of your outer fabric/elastic/pocket sandwich. Make sure the right side faces the pockets and the shortened end of the lining is over the pocket that does not have the pencil loop under it. Glue around the 3 edges (both long edges and the edge with the elastic loop) and heat set with your iron (but do not glue the shorter end!).
Now you are ready to sew it all together! Place your project on your sewing surface with the stabilizer facing up. It's easier to get a clean, accurate seam when you sew on the stabilizer side. Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance and stitch each side, back stitching where the seams intersect and then stitching off the end. I used my 1/4" foot for this and it makes my stitches nice and accurate. Stitch all the way around.
When you are done stitching trim your fabric/stabilizer corners making sure you don't cut through the stitched corner.
Put your hand through the opening and grab your elastic pencil loop at the end to start pulling your project right side out.
Poke the corners out as much as you can with your fingertips.
To get nice sharp corners use your pointed turning tool to gently push the rest of the corner out. My favorite poking tool is this wooden dowel I sharpened in my pencil sharpener.
Now iron your project but leave the open end opened.
Now swipe a good amount of glue under the lining. Pull the lining tight toward the open end and smooth it in place with your hand.
Heat set it with your iron.
Turn your remaining pocket to the inside of your planner cover, poke the corners out, and press. Now your pocket covers the raw end of your lining so nobody will know.
Top stitch around the outer edge pivoting at the corners (start and finish on the side with the pencil loop so it's not visible at the front of your cover). Top stitch just 1/8" from the edge. If your stitch is any further from the edge you may have trouble fitting your notebook flaps into the pocket.
Here's what it should look like.
Tuck your notebook covers into the pockets and slide a pencil (or tiny pen) into the loop. Isn't this cute?!
Make a pile of them!
Make a row of them!
Give it a try and let me know how it turns out. Use #petiteplannercover as your hashtag if you post any pictures on instagram. Be sure to ask me any questions in the comments! Have a great week and keep on sewing!
