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The Sewing Machine Hideaway ~ Free Pattern & Tutorial

I promised you a fun and practical tutorial, and I think this one checks off both of those boxes perfectly! In our new house, my studio is off to the left as soon as you walk in the front door. I would love to put in French doors so that I can close it off, but for now, I have to keep it neat and clean … at least while I’m not sewing or when we’re expecting company. Having a pretty cover for my machine helps a ton! When I can squeeze in the time, I’m planning to make one for my serger, too. Continue reading

Quick Quilted Coasters ~ A Tutorial

When Cubby and Tinkerbell came to stay with us in January, we had end tables in our livingroom that were sort of tall and narrow. They had nice varnished tops that didn’t need coasters. They weren’t very safe, though, with an almost two-year-old who climbs everything, and sometimes you just have to pick your battles. Soooo … we replaced those end tables with a couple of vintage, thrifted tables that are wider and lower and sturdy enough to be used as climbers. They’re beautiful tables that have stood the test of time, but a cold, sweaty water glass could doom their finish quite quickly. In the beginning, we threw washcloths and dish towels on the tables … until I couldn’t stand it any longer and found time to sew up a stack of coasters! Continue reading

The Night before School Starts Pencil Case ~ A Tutorial

School starts back here in our neighborhood next Monday, and our kids begin their homeschool co-op classes on Tuesday. Doesn’t it feel like the summer just flew by?My list of things to do, prepare and purchase feels like it’s miles long, and I bet yours does, too! I love the idea of sending my little ones into class with something one-of-a-kind and handmade, but with so little time left, it has to be something quick! Continue reading

Mini Polaroid-Inspired Magnets ~ A Tutorial

Valentine’s Day is only a week away! These cute little mini Polaroid-inspired magnets are a great personalized gift, and they’re really simple to make. I made two sets as Christmas gifts this year – one for my mom and one for my mother-in-law, and they were well-received by both!
I’m including two different templates – one with fun Valentine’s Day sayings and one plain one that you can leave as is or add your own little love notes!
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The Simple Quilted Blanket ~ A Tutorial

Ready for another simple handmade home project? One of the things on my to-do list in preparing for our foster family homestudy was getting beds ready. Foster families rarely know what age children are going to be coming into their home, so having beds and bedding in every size from crib to toddler to twin is a necessity! Add to that, the fact that you’ll need bedding sets for boys and for girls, and the cost for comforters or quilts can really add up. (Experienced foster parents will tell you, too, that you quickly become a master at rearranging every bedroom in the house in a few hours!)

I had a terrible time when I started my hunt for toddler bedding. Cute, quality, non-character toddler bedding is really hard to find at a reasonable cost. So, I went to work making a couple of simple quilted blankets using measurements to fit a toddler bed, and I snapped some pictures along the way to write up a tutorial for you!
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Looped Fabric Christmas Tree~A Tutorial

Have you ever run across something in a store, picked it up and turned it over and thought that you could surely make it yourself? I know most of you are crafty people, so it probably happens to you often, right? This project was the result of one of those moments for me! The tree that I saw in the store was made with burlap, and while I realize that many of you probably love burlap, I’m just not a big fan. I figured I could make it work with cotton quilting fabric, though, so I headed home where I knew I had a giant styrofoam cone in the garage. (I think I actually had plans to turn it into a tree of some sort a few years ago.) I went right to work, and I adore the result enough that I thought I would share it with you!

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Fabric-Wrapped Decor Balls~A Tutorial

These fabric-wrapped balls are super-easy to make, and they work beautifully as Christmas tree ornaments or as everyday decor! There are a number of tutorials out there already, but I tried a few, and I just wasn’t thrilled with the results. I wanted the fabric to sit flush up against the ball without having to glue the entire strip down. The trick? Cut your fabric on the bias! When you cut on the bias, you get just enough stretch to allow the fabric to fit around the curve on the ball, and you only have to glue the ends down. Ready for the quick tutorial?

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Lego Travel Bag~A Tutorial


My second Handmade Holiday idea for 2014 is this Lego on-the-go Travel Bag! This tutorial originally appeared on Today’s Creative Blog in July of 2013 as part of their Celebrate Summer Series, but it’s a great gift idea, too … says the mom who has stepped on a billion and one Legos in the middle of the night. It’s a good thing to give those little things their own special storage space!

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Game Day Dip

GF Brownies

Granola Cookies