finally!

The sun decided to shine just in time for the 4th, and the Beach Robe finally made its first beach appearance!

Have a great weekend!

summer projects in full swing

Summer has just begun, and so has my list of projects that have been started and, in most cases, completed. 
1. new 4th of July bag in the making (and since completed) - tutorial found here
2. two vintage Pyrex bowls - $.50/each (not a project, but totally made my day!)
3. sewing room clean out
4. rock painting
5. red wagon overhaul "before" ("after" pictures to come)

not pictured:
6. 4th of July skirt in the making
7. apple chips - made in the dehydrator
8. miniature rafts made from sticks and yarn
9. baking soda and vinegar volcanoes
10. PVC pipe water toy
11. apple pie in a jar
12. OJ & vanilla yogurt popcicles
13. finished 19 fort kits 
14. 6 hours of painting at one of my favorite thrift shops
15. to be continued...

Hope your summer is off to a great start as well!

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flag tutorial

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays.  Full of family, friends, food, fun, fireworks, and of course FLAGS!  So, in anticipation for this years celebration, I am sharing a tutorial for a fun and festive flag garland!

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Materials:

• denim (old jeans work great!)
• red ticking fabric
• twine ($1 at Home Depot)
• white embroidery floss
• embroidery needle
• mesh lingerie bags (pack of 2 at the dollar store)
• hot glue gun (optional)

Cut:

• denim into 1.5" X 1" rectangles
• ticking into 3" X 2" rectangles
  

To achieve the soft fringe around the edges, place your pieces into mesh lingerie bags, run them under water until they are soaking wet, ring out the excess water, and then toss them in the dryer.  It is important to dry the bags separately in case the denim bleeds (I learned this the hard way).  Check the bags occasionally to make sure the pieces are not all clumped together.  Remove when dry.

To get the fringe just right, pull off the loose strings.

Grab you embroidery floss, and cut a piece that is about 24" long.  Peel two strands out of the cluster.  Thread the embroidery needle, and tie a knot at the end.

  (click the picture to view larger image)

Start from the back and poke the needle through the top center of the denim. Follow steps 1-6 to create the star.  When finished, make a knot on the back of the flag, and cut your thread. 

 

Iron out all the creases - they can be stubborn sometimes, and I usually find myself dousing them with the spray bottle to achieve the desired flatness.

Once you have a stack of flags ready, it is time to attach them to the twine.

(click the picture to view larger image)

Tie a loop at the end of the twine.  Lay the flags out in a line to determine the length of twine needed. I spaced the flags about 2" apart.  Before cutting the twine, be sure to leave enough extra to tie a loop at the other end.

Then, using two more strands of embroidery floss, thread the needle, tie a knot.   Sew loops AROUND the twine, catching the ticking in each stitch.  Be careful not to sew through the twine, that way you can adjust the flag placement later, if needed.

Alternative: use a hot glue gun to attach the top edge of the flag to the twin.  Be sure to place them exactly where you want them, because there is no adjusting after the glue is dry!
Repeat with the rest of the flags, and you are done!

Let 'em fly!

variation: rusted wire instead of twine, and french knots to crate the circles.