Vintage Fabric Designer Coffee Sleeves

I can see this becoming the newest fashion trend...Designer coffee sleeves! What a fun way to dress up your morning latte and its eco-friendly.
You know me, I'm always looking for ways to use up those small pieces of vintage fabric that I can't bare to part with. (first bookmarks, then snap wallets, and now coffee cuffs).

I started noticing that my favorite coffee places weren't readily offering the cardboard sleeves anymore, you had to ask for them. And of course, I usually didn't remember until I was half-way down the street, or if I did, I felt a bit guilty (filling up the landfills and all). So I thought it was about time I made myself a reusable one.

They're a pretty easy project if you want to make one yourself, but I've also made a few extra for sale available on the website and on Etsy.
I know that some schools are already through for the year, but if you're looking for a teacher's gift, one of these along with a Starbucks gift card would be a nice idea. :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

My First Attempt at Skirts and a Big Thank You!

I have been wanting to try my hand at sewing a skirt for some time, now. My wardrobe consists almost entirely of sweatpants, t-shirts, and skirts. I love the vintage-y prints and fun silhouettes of the skirts from Anthropologie, but can't afford to splurge on them too often. For my first skirt, I thought it best to use a pattern. So, I found a Simplicity 4236 which has a full-circle, half-circle, and a straight skirt pattern. Of course, I had to complicate matters by wanting to use a directional print...Altering the pattern was a must. I made the half circle pattern a little less full, so it would fit on a single width of 44"W fabric. (It doesn't really look much different in fullness than the picture on the pattern, though). And I also wanted a contrasting band at the bottom, so that was added as well.I used a combination of Heather Bailey fabrics for one and Amy Butler fabrics for the other. These are really just practice for the skirt I ultimately want to make using the awesome pink and red Art Nouveau print by Anna Marie Horner. I also have some vintage border prints that are just BEGGING to be made into skirts. I still have to hem the peachy one and add the hook and eye, but all in all, I think it went together pretty well. (The zipper wasn't near as difficult as I was imaging it to be.)

I also want to send a big THANK YOU to sweet Jerusalem of My Little Life. She held a giveaway on her blog recently and I was the winner! Yea!
I received a beautiful Cath Kidston Home Project Journal. Exactly what I need to organized all of the projects I want to get done on this house of mine! And she also included a number of extra goodies...a catalog, stamped gift tags, music sheets, and lovely polka dot ribbon.
Be sure to stop by her lovely website and her fun blog to see all of her creative pursuits.
Thank you again, Jerusalem!

Spring Cleaning

I'm making a clean sweep, literally and figuratively.
A fresh coat of light spring green paint on the living room walls (pictures of that later) inspired the frenzy of activity. Mostly it was thankless work...you know, the stuff nobody notices, like washing curtains or cleaning baseboard moldings and doors...but, it still made me feel good.
(If you really need someone to notice and acknowledge that kind of work, a great trick I learned from a decidedly "non-Martha", is to always use a lemon scented cleaner and put a higher watt bulb in your fixtures. The room looks and smells cleaner even if you didn't do any actual cleaning. LOL)
I also began organizing and pitching clutter. This process, though, lead me to discover that I am the queen of unfinished projects. I wish to abdicate my throne.




I found a pile of fabrics in varying stages of doneness. I think these were going to be totes and make up bags.

And a broken hinged frame with an old scrap of fabric. This poor thing arrived in the mail in pieces (more rantings about the frustrations of buying on ebay later) I was so aggrevated, that I just stuck it in the back of the closet.

However, its the perfect shade of green for my dining room. I already have plans for this one. :)

I have my work cut out for me this week. But I have a bright, lemon-y fresh sewing room to work in.