Oil Diffusers - One of a Kind - Set 1

I have started my creation of One of a Kind essential oil passive diffusers for this years market.  I have been on the hunt for unique vessels that I turned into special gifts for others or yourself. These will fit  nicely into a personal space such as an office, a sun room, a bedroom or bathroom.  Any place you want to chill out, breathe deep and relax.

Teal Posy 

This is a hand painted Germany bud vase with a felt flower.

Placing a couple of drops of your favorite pure essential oil on the yellow petals will provide scent in your personal space.

Essential oil scent will dissipate over time and the scent can be changed once the first one has completely gone.

With the Lady Bug diffuser I paired a beautiful olive green glass leaf dish with a lady bug diffuser.

I created the lady bug from red felt and black for the head.  These pieces were hand cut then the spots and wing markings were hand embroidered with black thread.

The drops of essential oil would be placed on the felt lady bug.

The glass container will protect your furniture from any stray drops of oil.

Last year I realized that I did not have diffusers geared to the masculine aesthetic.  After the few years we have been through everyone can benefit from a little bit of self care. 

Here I paired a glass cowboy boot shot glass with a felt denim diffuser.

I created a denim jean leg to place over the glass boot.  I hand stitched the denim with blue thread then embellished it with yellow star embroidery and yellow jean stitch lines.  

I added the star on the top to indicate where the couple of oil drops can be placed.  The glass will protect the surface.

The glass boot is a souvenir from the Big Valley Jamboree which is a country western music festival held in my province every year.

I will post more diffusers here as I complete them.

Fabric Coasters - Set 1

I've decided to make fabric coasters for sale.

I've chosen to use linen/cotton fabric.  Generally, the outer layers are linen and I have put cotton flannel in the center.

The outer layer is cut to 5 inches square and the flannel layer is cut at 4 inches square.

I sew the flannel to the front piece with a wide seam then sew the 2 outer layers together with a narrower seam leaving a space to turn them out.  

I trim the corners to remove fabric bulk in the corners. I turn them right side out.  Press them flat making sure that the opening slot is well pressed.

I sew a seam really close to the edge all the way around closing the slot at the same time.

This is 11 sets of 2.  I am halfway to where I wanted to be. I have several other colors to make up yet.

Really happy with this day's work.

I am also working on packaging and how I will display them for sale.

Small Gifts - Car Cup Holders Coasters - Bunch 2

I made another set of Car Cup Holder Coasters.

These are for the guys in the family.

The first is J for the car he drives. A grey felt "J" on black fleece with black cotton on the back with two tone grey black grosgrain ribbon tabs.

The set on the right features the ocean and sunset in felt on teal fleece with teal cotton on the back. Yellow grosgrain ribbon tabs. 

Left again are 3 leaves in yellow, green and orange felt on green felt with orange grosgrain tabs.

Bottom right features an acorn designed with felt on black felt with black cotton on the back and brown grosgrain tabs.

Bottom left is the evergreen tree with sun and hills with yellow denim cotton on back with black grosgrain ribbon tabs.

Sewing Project - A Bespoke Tote

I decided that I needed a bag to carry my purse, my small everyday bag and my camera which I pretty much carry every time I leave the house.  It needed to be much shallower than the one I currently use.  Just big enough to put these things in with a bit of extra.  The items would stay in place and be easy to access. In the bag I use now the purse and camera bag straps get all tangled, its deep so I can't see everything which does not work well. The inside is also black which does not help.

Despite wanting to keep the sewing area tidy I decided to tackle this project.   Originally, I thought I would create a lining which was sectioned to add more definition but I have decided not to go that route for now.  It took 2 days.

This is the bag at the front door filled and ready to go.

The fabric is light denim and a beautiful yellow and white pattern piece of 100% cotton fabric.  

The bag as a boxed bottom with large pockets on both ends.

The fabric cost me $5.00 at the thrift store.  The denim was a large pillow sham and the yellow has a baby dream tag but was flat and was about a yard of fabric.  

I did fill the bobbin a couple of times.  

It's quite floppy when not full but that is okay.

I wanted the straps to run the full length of the height of the bag to distribute the weight.  I see that I twisted the front strap but it will stay that way as it is very well attached.

The buttons indicate the front and is helpful for using the zipper.

I put 2 large patch pockets on the bag - both ends of the bag.

These are about 8" square and provide a quick place to put something I need to take with me.  They hold my travel mug of tea for sure.  

A nice hem at the top and the edges ironed over and then just sewn on to the denim.  They are quite flat.

They are large enough for a book, or cards that need to be mailed. 

I used white thread through out the project.  It is quite unnoticeable on the yellow and more so on the blue denim.

The bottom has the box ends sewn down on the inside of the bag.  This provides a bit of stiffness to the bottom but it may need a piece of corrugated cardboard or plastic to help it out. 

I brought the ends of the straps to the underside but not really enough to work well.  I just did not have enough denim to make them longer.  On hindsight I should have just brought them down to the bottom edge.

Live and learn they say.

This recessed zipper was a very good idea that my sister shared with me.  It allows you to add a zipper to any bag. You can check out the video tutorial by Crafty Gemini here.

I chose the yellow to be very visible.  Upon checking my stash of second hand zippers there was blue one that was long enough.   The zipper insert measures 23" tab to tab. 

The buttons are the same sunflower yellow which you find in the fabric.  

I chose 3 different ones and sewed them on with yellow thread.

They help to make sure I am coming from the right direction to open or close the zipper.

Yes, my decorative stitches are back now that the sewing machine has been serviced.

This is just a curvy stitch that is adjusted by the stitch length and the zigzag measurement.  This is quite tight and I like it a lot.

I used this to attached the recessed zipper insert to the bag.  It goes right around the bag so provides a decorative element at the same time.

Here's the inside of the bag filled with its purposed contents.

The purse, the every day bag and the camera bag.  You can check this post for the details on the small every day bag I made.  It is still perfect, a couple years on.

There is nothing like a bespoke item that fits the exact purpose you need.

I encourage you to get a perfect rather than settling for "it is just okay".

A Little Love for Mom

I made a book mark from some of the denim I cut off my jeans the other day.

I zigzagged about 1/4 in from the edge around the full rectangle with a tight stitch.  This will limit the unravelling that can take place.

I included a bit of lace at the top and a navy gros grain ribbon which can be used as a place marker as I stitched around.

I had to look up some embroidery stitches and find a needle and thread but eventually found all three.

I put 3 hearts in red along the length of the bookmark.   My stitching is not the greatest but it is the sentiment that I love her which is important.

Say I love you to those precious to you today.

It is ready to be mailed today.

Thank You Cards - Renovation

I have been making Thank You cards for those who contributed to the success of this renovation.

This is a Double Sided Paper Split using designer paper from Rusty Pickle - Run It Collection - Game Time.

The paper was cut to 4.00 x 5.50 inches then cut again at 3.5 inches. The smaller piece was turn over and taped back to make a single piece.

I wrapped a piece of dark brown grosgrain ribbon across the join and tape the ends to the back.

I then adhered the layer to the dark brown card front.

I printed the greetings in Early
Espresso on white card stock using the Canada Goose from the Stampin Up set Wetlands.  I trimmed it very close to the printed border.   It was designed to fit perfectly in the square on the label die cut.

I cut the label with the Stampin Up Window Frame thinlits from Early Espresso textured card stock. The greeting was adhered to the label then the label was adhered to the card front over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

The card on the right started with a dark brown card base as well.  It is a DSP split using designer paper from Authentique - Seasons Collection - Autumn Three. Love the hounds tooth pattern.

The label is the same as above and the car is from the SU Classic Dad set in Early Espresso.  The grosgrain ribbon is the same as above.

This card started with a deep teal card base.

I added a piece of designer paper by Karen Foster Design - My Grandpa - My Hero Collage paper collection. Love the bird houses and tools.

I cut a label as those above in a light blue card stock.  I added the Cardinal from the Stampin Up Cardinal Christmas set in black.  Trimmed close to the border.  Aligned with the square on the die cut label.

I added a turquoise ribbon wrapped around the designer paper layer ends taped to the back about 1/3 up from the bottom edge.

 The label was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

The card on the right started with a dark warm grey card base.  The designer paper from Graphics 45 - A Proper Gentleman Collection - Cultured Reserve.  Love the wonderful plaid pattern in warm colors.

I adhered 2 strips of the designer paper to either side of a warm dark blue piece of card stock.

I added a length of vanilla grosgrain ribbon which ends were taped to the back.  The warm blue layer was adhered to the card front.

The greeting was printed in grey on Vanilla card stock and punched with the Stampin Up Decorative Label punch.  I offset a green punchie to the back of the greeting.  It was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I chose a medium blue card base which was cut 11 x 4.25 and folded a 5.5 inches to create a top fold card.

To the red gingham piece of designer paper cut to a 3.75 inch square I adhered a denim flower, a yellow center held by a yellow flower brad.  I used a push pin to create the hole for the prongs.  I used double sided tape to adhere the green fabric leaf.  This layer was adhered to the card front.

I wrapped a length of white pearl thread around the card front and knotted it on the front.

I added a large circle greeting printed in the royal blue ink and punched with a 2 inch circle punch.  i was adhered over the thread with 3D foam tape.

All these cards have white quarter sheet inserts.

 Another DSP Split with blue and yellow designer paper with a stripe on the other side.

I added white grosgrain ribbon over the join.

Adhered to a pale aqua card.

I added a deep warm green greeting with a green label punchie adhered to the back off set.  Stampin Up Decorative Label punchies.  Adhered over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

Shirt Apron

I thought I would take up a suggestion from a friend to make a shirt apron.  This is an apron made from a man's shirt.  I was out yesterday to my favorite thrift store and I purchased a XXL men's denim shirt.  I brought it home and washed it and today I made an apron.

You will find many tutorials on line on how to make one of these.  We take advantage of many of the parts of the shirt.  We keep the collar, the side seams, pockets, and the bottom hem.  Basically, you cut off the sleeves and the back.  Trim the front to angle from the collar to under the former arm hole which is hemmed.  I used one of the sleeves to make the ties and the other to make the two large patch pockets.

I left several buttons open at the top to allow it to come over my head.  I have sown down the button strip from the 3rd button to the bottom edge to stabilize the front so it will act as a single piece.












I made sure that the stress points on the apron are reinforced to ensure a long life of protecting our clothes while cooking, crafting or creating.

On the right is the extra stitching in the corners of the patch pockets.

Here's the reinforcement on the attachment of the ties to the apron.  It helps a lot to have kept the double seam on the side which provides a strong point to support the back ties.

The ties are about 23" long which is plenty to just tie at the back but not enough to bring back to the front.

A great project!