More Denim and Zippers

My latest project inspiration actually came from this zipper.  I found it at SAS and loved the heavy industrial nature of the zipper.  I actually scored 3 of them for $0.25 each.  I also got to help my sister fix some denim overalls for a neighbor and there was a lot of material left over.  I asked if I could use some of it and she graciously said yes.  The brown corduroy was some I already had in my stash.  I wanted to use all the zipper and not cut it.  Plus I knew even my industrial straight stitch sewing machine wouldn't make it over those teeth.  So I decided to make a large cross-body hobo bag.  As you can tell I'm still loving the frayed denim look, plus a little chevron, and you can't go wrong. So here's how I made the bag.

First I made the pattern out of freezer paper and cut 2 pieces of the denim, and 2 pieces of the corduroy.

Next I cut the chevron.
It's actually one piece of denim folded in 4th's and cut at a slant.
Open it up and Voila!  A perfect Chevron.
Pin the strips in place and stitch down.

I wanted an inner pocket in the bag so I added one with another zipper I picked up at SAS.

I cut the rectangle to be just larger than the length of the zipper and marked the fabric where the ends of the zipper  were. Put one of the rectangles on top of the inside piece of corduroy and pin in place.

Sew a rectangle like shown to be just larger than the size of the zipper.  Clip the inside of the sewn rectangle like shown.

Flip one of the pieces inside the other one to create the window, press flat, and top stitch the zipper inside the window.  I thought I took a picture of that step. Sorry 'bout that.  Then take the extra rectangle and sew around the edges to the inside piece already attached to the purse body.

Now for the other side.  I just wanted some big pockets, at least big enough to fit my iPhone, pluse some other treasures like pens and chapstick.  I cut a piece to fit the inside body of the purse, hemmed the top edge and pinned where I wanted the pocket lines to be.  If you look close you can tell I put a little breathing room in each pocket, not sewn down tight and flat.

Now assemble the purse leaving the raw edges exposed.

I just put the inside corduroy with the outside denim and sewed them together 

with a long strip for the bottom of the bag.

Here's a close up of the edges.

Add the handle and zipper and it's done.

I clipped the edges then washed it twice.

Cute  Done,  & Upcycled.

Jeans and Windows - A free tote pattern

It's nearly Mother's Day and I was pondering what to make for my Mom and Mom-in-law.  

After spending way too much time on Pinterest, this tote came to mind.  

It's really a hybrid of two different pins. 

 The first one is this Cathedral Window tutorial from A Passionate Quilter. 

I do love quilting and can forsee some projects in my near future, 

but then I saw this project over at The Busy Bees.  

It's a upcycled tote bag made with squares.  

I'm really liking the frayed denim look.  

Plus I scored a few pairs of huge men's jeans at Dollar Days at the thrift store.  

So really two totes cost me about $3.  

The window fabric was in my stash.  

It's so cute.  

I think I may add them to my etsy site soon.  

So let's get cutting and sewing.

Since I'm making 2 bags, it took 3 pairs of jeans total.

My circles are 8 inches in diameter.  I used a plastic lid to help make the template out of tracing paper.

Each tote uses 19 circles.  

Then I cut out my fabric squares for the windows.  

They are 5 inches square.

Next mark the wrong side of the circles for your stitching line.  

I ended up using a Sharpie because 

my quilting pen is blue and I could barely see it.  

Use whatever marking pen works for you.  

I measured in 1 1/2 inches and drew the square as shown.

Before putting the tote together, 

clip the edges of each circle about 1/4 inch in from the edge 

and about 1/4 inch apart as you work around the circle.  

It is possible to clip after construction, but before is much MUCH easier. 

My first bag I didn't do that, but I definitely will for the 2nd one.

Now to start assembling the circles.

Working in rows, sew the circles together, sewing along the stitch lines you drew.

Open up the seam allowance and press.

After you have a two rows made, put right sides together and seam the rows together as shown.

Press seam allowances open.

Next insert the squares of fabric in the pattern you choose.

Pin the flaps in place to secure.

For the tote, you will need 

2 rows of 4 circles, 

1 row of 3 circles (for the bottom of the tote) 

and another 2 rows of 4 circles like shown.

Pin all the flaps in place except the outer edge.

You will need them for the final construction.

Stitch the flaps in place like shown.

Sorry I don't have pics of the final assembly.  

I just folded up the front and back panels, and sewed up the side and bottom corner seam, then folded the flaps out and top stitched the windows in place.

The handle is simply the inseam cut to about 1 1/2 inches, then backed with a strip of fabric used in the tote.

Attach the handles to the front and back of the tote.

Brush with a stiff brush, or just toss in the washing machine.  Mine got washed twice before I was happy with the fray.  

Reshape, and done!

A pretty tote just in time for Mother's Day!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Blueberry Banana Muffins, Strata, and Potatoes

Once again Sunday rolled around and it was time to make Breakfast.
I'm loving muffins right now and when I found these, I was hooked.

They are packed with
whole grain-y fruit-y goodness. 
And I made enough to tuck into my kids lunches for the next few days.

Yum.

I doubled the recipe, ... you know, big family, and I want extras for later.

But here goes.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Banana Muffins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl combine the following:
1/3 cup honey or sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

Cream together until light and creamy.

Then add:
4 ripe bananas mashed
1 tsp vanilla extract.

Mix to incorporate Bananas.

Add:

2 cups whole grain flour

 (mine is a combo of hard white wheat and buckwheat)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Stir until smooth.

Gently fold in 1/2 cup blueberries.

(I used frozen blueberries that I partially thawed in water then drained.)

Spoon the batter into prepared muffin tins.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Let cool sightly and enjoy!

 I paired the muffins with spinach eggs and country style potatoes.  They are super quick and easy to make.

For the Spinach strata, I chopped and sauteed 1/2 an onion in a pan with about 1 Tbsp olive oil.
Meanwhile wisk together about 6-8 eggs depending on the size of your family.
Pour in about 1/3 cup milk.  I used Almond Milk.
Pour egg mixture over onions. 
Wash and chop 2-3 cups of of spinach and sprinkle over egg mixture.
Sprinkle about 1/4 cup grated cheese over the top.  Just enough to add flavor, but not make it too heavy/fatty/etc.
Season to taste.  I use my favorite savory seasoning blend.

Cover and let cook over medium low heat for about 5 minutes.
Check the center for done-ness.
If it's still runny, it's not done yet.
When done, let cool slightly then cut like a pie and serve.

Meanwhile I was doing potatoes too.  They went in the oven after the muffins baked.

I cubed 6-7 potatoes.  The amount is up to you depending on how many you're feeding.

Place potato cubes in a microwave safe bowl, add about 1/4 cup water, cover and cook on high for 5 minutes.

Remove, stir and put back to cook for another 5 minutes.

Prepare a baking sheet with cooking spray.

When the microwave is done, turn potatoes out onto baking sheet and spread out.

Drizzle about 2 Tbsp olive oil over potatoes and sprinkle with your favorite seasonings.

Turn oven on to broil and put potatoes in for 5 minutes.

Remove from oven, stir slightly and return to broil for another 5 minutes.

Done.

 Here's the muffins again.

Now for my plate.
Whole Grain Blueberry Banana Muffins.
Spinach Egg Strata.
Country Style Potatoes.
Yummy.
Healthy.

Dig in!

A Simple Ombre Dress Refashion

I think I'm a shop-a-holic.  

The problem is that I'm super cheap/frugal/savy shopper.  

On my latest trip to Dollar Days at the thrift store, I came home with way too many projects for myself.  

I just kept walking the isles thinking to myself, "I could do this with that, plus it's only $1."  

Over and over again til I could barely see over the top of my cart.  

It seemed like all the other shoppers were staring at me trying to manuver my behemoth cart around the store.  

I finally forced myself to quit looking and leave the store.  

And I'm not allowed to go back until all the projects I accrued for myself are done.  

Thankfully that will take some time.

I've been kind of curious about this whole Ombre thing.  

I've scoured Pinterest for different projects and wanted to try my hand at it.  

I really like how the dress turned out.  

It was a super easy refashion.  

Just a little dye, and rework the sleeves.  

I do need to make a few new darts in the dress as it is a little big.  

Again, super easy.  

It was so comfortable, I think I will be on the hunt for more.  

Well, when I'm allowed to go shopping again, that is. ;)  

I do still have some fabric I bought at SAS a wile ago.  

I think it will become a version of this dress.

Let me show you what I did to refasion it. 

First, I mixed up the dye according to the manufacturers instructions, only using 1/2 the dye in the package.  I added the other half later.

Next I got the bottom part of the dress wet and wrung it out.

Next I dipped the dress in along with some jeans I thought I'd try dying.  Put the fabric in as far as the highest level of color you want.

Let sit about 15 minutes.  

Then add the rest of the dye, stir to mix well, and pull out the fabric to the next level you want dyed.  

Let sit for another 15 minutes or so.  

I think I got side tracked and left it in longer.  

No worries.  

It all turned out OK.  

After you're done with the dying, rinse and wring out the fabric. 

Hang to dry.  

I hung mine up in the garage on a ladder over a bucket to catch any drips.  

Sorry no pics.  The garage is a disaster.

After drying, wash and dry like normal separately in the washing machine.  

Press.  

Done.

I did change the sleeves.  

I didn't like the cuffs so I cut them off, added a simple rolled hem, and used elastic thread to gather up the top of the sleeve like shown.

 Here's a closeup of the dye on the skirt.
It's a little patchy, but I don't mind.
It's still pretty.

Finally the dress is done and ready to go out.

 A simple Ombre Dress Refasion.

Easy.

Pretty.

A Gloria High-Low Refash

 

I picked up this Gloria Vanderbuilt Dress at the thrift store for $1 on my latest trip.  

I liked the subtle print and drape to the fabric. 

Originally I thought it would be a cute high-low dress and there would be enough left to from cutting the high part to make sleeves and a casing for ties just below the bustline, but alas there wasn't.  

I do still want to make a dress like that, it just won't be today.  

So it ended up a just a simple high-low skirt.  

Still summery and cute.  

Super easy to do.

The dress is simple and plain.  

Ok. 

Just not really what I'm looking for.

So let's start chopping.

First I cut off the hemline.  

Remember the ties for the bustline?  

They were still an option in my head at this time.

Next I laid out the dress folding it so that the side seams meet in the middle and the fold line is in the front and back.  Next figure out how high the 'high' part will be and mark it with a pin.

Then just cut a wedge out sloping down from the high point to the bottom edge.

Here's what it looks like from the front.  Trim the cut line if necessary to make an even edge.

At this point I realized my original plan was not to be, so I chopped the dress off at the bustline.

Then just add an elastic waistband. I double top stitched it this time.  It just looks more professional.

Then I serged and hemmed the bottom edge.  Serging or zig-zag-ing the bottom edge will help the hem to be more easy to work with and fold nicely.

Here's the finished high-low skirt.  Easy Peasy.

Fun, flirty, and summery.

You'll notice I'm not wearing shoes.  For some odd reason, I don't have any to match this skirt.

Darn it.  I'll have to go shoe shopping.

I know you can tell I'm so distraught about it.

I've been eyeing these over at 6pm.  What do you think?  Yes? or No?