Lamp Makeover

I have several projects in the works, but never seem to finish one before I start another! So here's one I actually finished today and I love how it turned out. We have 2 lamps we bought at Ikea a couple years ago and they simply needed a face lift.

So I googled "Ikea Lamp Makeover" which lead me to this project at www.apartmenttherapy.com

http://tinyurl.com/n2vyjj

I actually do like how her lamp is round, but I figured my square lamp would work. So with a roll of parchment paper for $3.79, I headed to town. I think I used about half the roll for one lamp, and I'm planning on redoing the second one too for 2 completely new bedside lamps!

As you can see in the two pictures below, some of the sides turned out more uniform than others, but I like the variation and the flirty, ruffly look! Cute! I'm really into the ruffles craze these days.



One thing I would do differently next time (isn't this always the case?) is to cover the lamp shade completely with a flat layer of parchment paper all the way around the shade before adding the petals. This would disguise any chance of peeking through the petals. And although this one lamp took at least 3 hours, it was worth saving the money on a new lamp! I did a little each night as I watched Fox News :) Now if anyone has ideas how to refinish the base, I'm open! I could simply spraypaint, but any other creative thoughts?

Burp cloths

My sister in-law (Leisel) made me some of these burp cloths when I had Abram. I thought they were great and have duplicated them several times for baby gifts.
They are very easy to make. I chose coordinating flannel fabric for the outside and used a white fleece for the inside (this makes them a little heavier and more absorbent). I then sewed the flannel wrong sides together with the fleece sandwiched in the middle with a 5/8 in. seam around the outside.

Then just make snips all around the outside and your finished!

Puzzle ball

I have made a few of these puzzle balls for gifts, but this last one I made for my little niece Louisa who just turned 1. For fabric I just used coordinating corduroy fabrics and used the pattern from the book "Last minute Patchwork + quilted gifts" by Joelle Hoverson.

Check Book covers

Several months ago I bought the book "Simple Sewing" by Lotta Jansdotter and have just loved it. I have sewn several projects from this book and they have turned out pretty good. So overall I was happy with these check book covers that I finished.
I used a heavy home decorator fabric for the outside and used interfacing on the interior fabric. On the outside I crocheted a flower with a #9 crochet hook- find the pattern here . Also- I skipped adding the elastic in the book. I just didn't think it needed it. It still seemed a little flimsy/thin- so you definitely still need to put your checkbook in the cheapy plastic cover first and it gives it the stability it needs. After I made a few like this-
I thought maybe if I made a few out of oil cloth they'd be more sturdy. So this is what I came up with-
I know the fabric is a little 70's here, I had bought it awhile back here for making reusable grocery bags and I wanted to utilize only fabric I have on hand (since I have an entire closet full). For the flower on the front I used the pattern here and attached the flower to the oilcloth with one side of a decorative snap (it took me awhile to push the snap through the flower and into the oilcloth). The oilcloth checkbook covers are more heavy duty and you don't need the plastic cover for stability.

Pin Cushions

A couple of years ago my sister Kelsi made me an awesome pincushion for my birthday. I absolutely loved it and made 6 more for gifts. At first I felt like I would never be able to give away 6 pincushions, but it didn't take me long to unload them so I decided to make a few more. I used the pattern from the book "Last minute Patchwork + quilted gifts" by Joelle Hoverson. My only additional tip would be to use pine bedding (yes what you put in the hamster cage) for the stuffing instead of cotton batting. It gives it more of a "pincushion feel" then the cotton batting. Also, the easiest way to stuff these cushions is to use a funnel.

savannah made a purse- by savvy

Two day's ago I made a purse. I used a cotton scarf and i just sewed around 3 sides and then used the handles. My mom bought the handle at a grage sale and i just got some fabrike and sewed it
Note by Mom-
Savannah came up with this project and sewed this project 99% by herself (She even threaded the machine on her own and came and got me to check it). After she had sewn it she came to me and asked me to help her with making some handles- I wasn't feeling very well, so I found her some handles in my closet and she did the rest. It didn't take her very long since the scarf already had finished edges. Congrats to you Savvy!