Handmade Spotlight - Warm & Fuzzy

'Warm & Fuzzy' by ewenmeprintables

Who doesn't love a nice pair of fuzzy slippers or socks on a cool fall evening.

All of items can be found on etsy... simply click the photo for more details.

tangonovemberb... $9.00	aykelila $52.00
carameldiezel $20.00	pawfelts $50.00
handmadebabylo... $15.99	TheHappyFeet $22.00
betterhandmade $31.00	Mamachee $5.50
RGsocks $30.00	LittleLemonCre... $12.00
Zarina2009 $50.00	MEandREEKIE $20.00
KupAndSaucer $24.00	smmak2 $10.00
AlohaBlu $22.00	galinesa $24.00

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Tuesday Tutorial ---Applique Tote

Todays's tutorial is for an easy appliqued tote.    I made this tote for a friend and decided to do a tutorial for the blog.   Hope you enjoy making it.   It is a nice size to take shopping with you and would also make a nice gift.

Easy Appliqued Tote Bag

Finished size is 13 in. tall,   11 1/2 in. wide and 6 in. wide on the side

Supplies needed:

1 yard of main fabric   (I used duck cloth but denim would be nice,  too)
1 yard of quilted muslin for lining
Fabric for appliqué
Light weight fusible webbing

Cut the tote body, 18 inches wide by 32 ½ inches long. Use this piece as a pattern to cut the lining fabric.

Cut two pieces of the main fabric for the straps, 2 ½ inches wide x 36 inches long or length desired.

Fold the straps over and stitch down the long seam in a ¼ inch seam.

Turn right side out.    I use my 10 inch long hemostat tool I got off ebay for this.    There are also special tube turners to do this.   You can also attach a large pin to one end and thread the strap through this way.

Press the straps.   Topstitch the straps by stitching down both sides and two lines evenly down the middle of the straps.

And optionally,  you can press the sides in ¼ inch and then fold the strap over and pin together.   Sew the folded seams together.   Sew down the other side.   Then sew down the middle of the strap.

Trace a 9 inch circle on the paper side of the fusible webbing.   A dinner plate makes a good template.   But anything 9 inches round will do.  Cut the circle out, leaving a small seam allowance around your pencil line.

With your applique fabric wrong side up,   place the fusible web over the area you want to use for the applique.   You should be able to see enough of an outline of the picture on the fabric to determine where to press the circle over.    You could also set this on a light box if you have one.

Press the webbing to the fabric.   

Cut the circle out on the pencil line.    Remove the paper backing.

 Fold the fabric in half with the right side of the fabric to the outside.    Center the applique on the fabric,   4 1/2 inches in from the sides and 3 inches down from the top.    Press the applique to the fabric using the iron setting recommended by the fusible web maker.

Once the applique is ironed to the fabric you are going to sew around the outside edge.   I used a machine blanket stitch but you can use whatever stitch you like.

Now fold the fabric in half again with right sides together.    Sew down the sides in a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Now you are going to box the sides.    Pull the sides out to form a triangle.   The seam will be in the middle.

Measure down 3 inches from the peak.   Draw a line across.   This will be your stitching line.   Sew across this line.   

Repeat for the other side of the tote.     Some people like to trim this close to the seam line.    If you want to do that,  cut the excess off 1/2 inch from the seam line.   Overcast this seam for strength.    I usually leave them alone as I feel it adds body to the bottom of the bag and there is less stress to the seamline.

Turn the tote right side out. 

  We are going to sew the straps on now.   Measure in 4 inches from the sides and pin the strap to the top of the tote.   Make sure your strap doesn't get twisted as you bring it up to the other side. 

  Stitch across the strap ends in a 1/4 inch seam.    Repeat for the other side of the tote.


LINING:

Fold the fabric in half  with right sides together.    Sew down the sides in a 1/4 inch seam allowance,  leaving a 5 inch opening on one side for turning..

Now you are going to box the sides the same way you did for the outer tote,   Sew across this line.   

  Repeat for the other side of the lining.

Place the outer tote inside the lining,  right sides will be together.    Match up the seam lines and pin together around the top edge.

Stitch all around the top edge in a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Pull the tote out of the side opening.    Fold the open seam edges in 1/4 inch and pin.   Sew this seam closed by hand or machine.

Place the lining down inside the tote.    Smooth the top edge so that it is even and pin.    Topstitch along the edge  and you are done.

Copyright 2010 - Bette Shaw

Fall Cleaning - Don't Get Overwhelmed

It's definitely fall, cooler temperatures, brilliantly colored leaves are all around us.

With the change in seasons comes the daunting task for some of us... FALL HOUSE CLEANING. I am one of those who feels overwhelmed when I look around certain areas of my home, I hope you aren't, but just in case, here are some helpful tips I found to help us out.

OrganizedHome.com has a Fall Cleaning Chore Checklist They have lists for both indoor and outdoor fall chores.

MrsCleanUSA.com also has a nice list of tasks that can get us ready for winter. The jobs are broken down with tips for each one.

I found this neat outline on how to clean your home in 5 days. Great ideas can be found here and nothing seems too overwhelming.

Lastly, I stumbled upon Fly Lady. I think just about everyone has heard of Fly Lady. The Baby Steps outline is really good and gets you well on your way to a clean home in only 31 days.

I know some of these ideas will help me, hopefully, you won't need them, but I know I sure do.

Enjoy your day!
Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.blogspot.com

Blog Party Sunday -----Show Us Your Shop Listings

welcome to our blog party today. Here we are in the Christmas selling season again. Do you have your shop filled with wonderful things for the lover of handmade art? Just add your links below to show us what you are selling this season.

You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops.

The rules are simple:

1. Follow our blog

2. Handmade items only.

3. You may list up to 3 items.

4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops, post about it on your blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.

Just click on the Add Your Link button below and add your items.

And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg" /></a>

Welcome To My Studio --- The Paper Boutique

Today I have a video tour of a craft room set up for paper crafting.   The video is from http://paperboutique.blogspot.com/








Hope you enjoyed the tour.
Bette
www.byyourhands.com