Ready for a Tutorials? Bow Tutorial #1: How to line an Alligator Clip

Okay, well let me start off my warning you about my fingernails & my left middle finger...

I'm a nail biter, gross, right? Always have been... actually ONLY times I've ever succeeded in stopping was for: my wedding in 2001, the pregnancy w/"Miss C" in 2006/2007, & "Lil J's" pregnancy in 2008. My left middle finger was injured in an accident when I was a child & required surgical intervention, thus it's noticeably shorter... well, it's barely noticeable thanks to Dr Matthews the hand surgeon... That's it, I'm a nail biter with a shorter left middle finger, lol ;-)

Here we go...

To line an alligator clip you'll need:

• 3/8" width ribbon, preferably grosgrain
  
• alligator clip(s), you choose the type
• any size/type glue gun
  
• glue gun sticks to fit your size glue gun
  
• 25watt wood burner/soldering iron *use EXTREME caution, VERY HOT*
• burn proof surface, like a GLASS cutting board

• Next you're ready for your preheated glue gun and your wood burning/soldering iron tool. I place everything on an old glass cutting board, be sure whatever surface you use is *FIRE SAFE*.

• Also I have problems with the cords getting in my way, I use these fleurdelis to help me "contain" the cord madness ;-)

• Use *EXTREME CAUTION* when using this iron. Heats up to around 750 degrees Fahrenheit. (I found my iron at walmart in the tools section, cost was around $9.00, came with metal stand for safety. I've actually removed the screw on tip (when iron was NOT HOT) and just use iron.)

• Use the iron to JUST heat seal the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying, before you start any gluing ;-)

• ....to be continued....

DESTASH DETOX SALE

Thank you Lord for answered prayers! :-) WOOHOO!!!!
One GREAT opportunity has come out of all the "cabin fever" we've been having in North Texas the past two weeks... I've been able to FOCUS on taking pictures of all my overstock and get it all posted in the "MEGA HUGE... BIGGEST MOST GIGANTIC FACEBOOK SALE EVER"...
well biggest Facebook sale I've ever had, lol.

The above picture is just from one day last week's post office drop off! ;-)

Isn't this silver hat great for a little girl's dress up? It's one size fits all... sooooo, you Mom's you can even wear this cute lil' sparkly hat in the carpool line and turn some heads. LOL. If we can't laugh at ourselves, then who can, right?!

Of Course... "Miss C" has a hat of her own as well ;-) She was looking particularly "hippy chic" that day.

If you haven't already discovered my facebook sale, then you REALLY need to rush on over and have a look.

SALE PHOTO ALBUM IS HERE: MY FACEBOOK PAGE
RULES ON HOW TO PURCHASE FROM ALBUM: HERE

I have supplies & overstock designs left over from 13 craft shows last year!! Some of it I'm having a REALLY hard time parting with, but hope that it'll all find good homes soon! ;-)

Below is just a SMALL sampling of what the album has to offer! ;-)

50% PROCEEDS OF SALES GO TO LLS

****50% PROCEEDS OF SALES OF THIS HAT IN JANUARY & FEBRUARY WILL GO TO LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY****

LARGE Initial Monogram Fleece Floppy Grosgrain Ribbon Hat

Sizes:
TODDLER: 2-4 years @ 20.75"-21.25” head circumference
BIG KID: 4-8 years @ 21.5"-22” head circumference

Fleece Colors: Khaki, Light Blue, Steel Blue, Dark Purple, Light Pink, Hot Pink, Charcoal Grey, Green Camo, & Brown/Cream Giraffe Print

2.25" & 3" Ribbon Color Selection: Your choice! ;-) This hat uses primarily JUST 2.25" and 3"wide ribbon for the spikes

GO HERE TO PURCHASE:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66244025/large-initial-monogrammed-fleece-hat

Amanda's Designs of the Week: Appliques and Fleece Hats

Just thought I'd do a little show and tell... this week i was feeling particularly CREATIVE :-)

Here comes peter cottontail... hopping down the bunny trail... isn't he adorable??!
Peter Towel $8.50

Modern Cross (above) - Chandelier Fabric w/Purple $8.50


Modern cross + Pray Sets $16/set (2 towels)

Miss Robot Applique Tshirt - $20

Assorted one-of-a-kind fleece monogrammed hats $25/each



These were just my favorites... I've actually sewn more stuff. Which is insane considering I've had "Lil' J" home all week sick with possibly the rota-virus, very COLD weather with VERY stir crazy and cranky kids. Oh - and did I mention that I registered myself for my 1st post-college class since 2002?! Yikes... more details on that when I'm ready to share ;-)

Have a Great week!

Freebies for Bloggers!

Grab the code for this button on my left sidebar below :-)


Do you blog on blogger and have a blog? I'd be honored if you'd ad my blog button to your blog :-) Post here with a link to your blog, I'll check it out and you'll get a freebie once it's been up for at least 7 days! Easy Peezy!

Sewing Tutorial #1: Repurpose, Refashion, Upcycle

The idea and concepts of "Repurpose, Refashion, & Upcycle" are all becoming much more prevalent in today's modern trends in the sewing world.

Thanks to YEARS of encouragement from my mother, yes thank you Mom, even though I resisted for MANY years, I now am really inspired to sew and learn and try new concepts related to sewing.

Two of my sewing main interests right now are:
1.) machine applique design (not brave enough for hand applique)
2.) refashioning old t-shirts into new designs for children.

Below is a jumble of pictures I'll be organizing into a sewing tutorial... This past October I actually sat down and felt inspired to try making a toddler "play" dress from old tshirts... this was one of my first things I've sewn since I was probably 13 years old... so try to keep the laughter to a minimum, this is basic, but I had to start somewhere ;-)

It's Carnival Time! Mardi Gras Appliques and Ribbons

Down in New Orleans
Where the blues was born
It takes a cool cat
To blow a horn
On LaSalle and Rampart Street
The combo's there with a mambo beat


The Mardi Gras, mambo, mambo, mambo
Party Gras, pambo, mambo, mambo
Mardi Gras, mambo-ooh
Down in New Orleans

Can you tell I have Purple, Gold and Green on my mind lately? :-)

If all goes well and "Lil' J" takes a nap then I'm planning to sew a sample of the Mardi Gras truck design (in picture above) on a white kitchen towel today... excited to stitch out this design :-)

***SAMPLE DESIGN: MARDI TRUCK UPDATE 1/18/2011***
"Lil J" did nap, but woke up SUPER cranky & w/blood in his right ear, so I had to "pause" this design on my machine while I ran around the house "like a chicken with her head cutoff", then dropped off "Miss C" at my dear sweet friend Amy's house so "Miss C" could play w/her BFF... and rushed off to the pediatrician 30 miles away after 5pm?! It was a madhouse. We survived. It's another ear infection(s). I predict bilaterl tube set #2 will be very soon in "Lil J's" future! *boo*Here's the sample design...
Also for hair-bows I have in-stock all the grosgrain ribbons shown in above picture, in addition to solid yellow and solid dark purple in 7/8", 1.5", & 2.25"widths.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!