Re-Vamped Lunch Bag

My daughter has decided she no longer likes Hello Kitty and requested a new lunch bag. Oh boy! After close examination, I found that I could easily remove the Hello Kitty and simply make some modifications instead of going out to buy a new bag!

Here's what I did:

I Used my seam ripper to remove the Kitty

Sayonara, Kitty!

Found some scrap fabric in just the right pattern and color....lucky me!!!

Buttons that match the same flower pattern as the bag too! WOW!






And wouldn't you know, while making this, my daughter grabs the Kitty and says "yea!...now I can play with it"! WHAT? My reply..."I thought you didn't LIKE Hello Kitty anymore!" to which she states..."only at school!" Hmmm O well! She LOVES the "New" bag, and I had fun changing it for her! I also enjoyed finding a new use for scraps!

What kind of new uses have you found for your scraps?
Ever Re-vamped something? Do share...!

Craft Show News

Just recently I received a message in my Etsy shop from an event recruiter regarding an upcoming craft show. She loved my shop (WOW, so flattered!) and asked if I would participate in her Avant Garde Art & Craft Show this summer!

The show currently runs four times per year in a neighboring city and they'll be bringing it to my local town for the first time. There will be at least 125 vendors selling their handmade works of art.

What a thrill to be invited to such an event! I've sent the paperwork in and am looking forward to the show on August 19th! I have lots of time to work on new inventory for my table. It's going to be so much fun!

I'm also aiming for a more professional look for my business. I'd like to have a banner-type sign, business cards, and such.

Know of any good places for this stuff?? (much obliged for your input)

Chair Cover Critique

Awhile ago I made a chair cover for my daughter. I thought it turned out charming, so I posted it as a custom order in my Etsy shop.

No one has inquired yet, but it has been receiving views almost daily.

I thought I'd turn to you, as readers and cool "craftsters" to help me figure out what to do better with this.

Please take a moment to check out my listing while considering the following:
Entwined's Custom Order Chair Cover

No orders could be because...

~People don't like making custom orders
~The style is "off"
~The price is too high

Should I...

~Make more?
~Include pictures of available fabrics?
~Lower the price?

Any other suggestions?

I deeply appreciate your input on this!!!! Thank you!

Bookshelf Peek of the Week #7

On my most recent trip to the library I dug up a nice big stack of sewing books to review. A very fascinating one to highlight this week is "Sewing with Oilcloth", by Kelly McCants.

I have seen a few things made with this specialty fabric. Things like make-up bags, pencil pouches, and lunch totes.



My eyes opened to a whole new world of possibilities within the pages of this book!

Not only does the author use oilcloth, but laminated cottons and chalk cloth. Chalk cloth? Never even heard of it before! Now I want to use it! Imagine a table runner you can write on and erase over and over. Fun! This stuff is just that...fun and fresh!

The author provides 20 patterns to get you on your way to loving this new fabric! Chapters are filled with tools and tips; patterns for the house (storage bins, seat cushions, party banners); patterns for YOU (that trusty make-up bag!, a wallet, those new and trendy snack bags...GO GREEN!); and patterns for kids (baby bibs, art smock, apron).

Some cool things you'll find with oilcloth are: the brilliance of color, the ease of cleaning it, and its durability.

For more about oilcloth and author, Kelly McCants, check out her blogs Oilcloth Addict and Modern June!

Party Updates and Such...

What sickness will do to put you behind!! I was off the grid for awhile due to a very rude and terrible cold. I have learned I cannot take cold medicines! They put me out and make me awfully dizzy. I will say that because of it, I did a little "research" and found lots of wonderful cold remedies in the infamous world of Etsy! Of course! I mean, what don't they have??? It's pretty awesome. I created a treasury from my finds...


I made it to the Valentine Party just before my cold took it's turn. The party went very well. The kids thoroughly enjoyed all the games. Yay!

Kindergartener's are just so wonderful and easy to please! They're full of enthusiasm, energy, and seem to carry a natural appreciation for anything that is presented to them.

We played 5 games, and here they are:

Healthy Heart...I made heart bean bags after finding the idea on "Make and Takes"craft blog.

The kids had to toss the hearts onto the healthy foods






Jumping Hearts

Guess What You Are? Using clues from classmates they had to guess the picture or word on the heart that was taped to their foreheads

Heart Hopping...I had written actions on paper hearts for the kids to do while going from the starting line, then, on the way back they put a stuffed Valentine monkey between their knees and hopped back to the beginning line

Finally, Place the Nose on Ms. Valentine

After all the games (and there was a craft provided by another mom, but I didn't get pictures because I was setting up the games!) the kids enjoyed sitting down at their very festive tables for a special snack.

A bit tired out....

I did not end up making the crocheted hearts for everyone. O well! Who knew?

This year most of my game ideas came from a site I found called "Kid Activities". This is an incredible resource for classroom parties, crafts for kids, lesson plans, and really anything under the sun you want to do with your kids! There are some great ideas for fun things to do in the snow (umm...if we ever get any this winter, maybe we'll do some)! Check this site out....but I do warn you, you may be stuck on there for hours!

I'll get back to my Bookshelf Peeks later in the week...stay tuned...


Care to share YOUR room party ideas or sites you find helpful?? I do enjoy your comments...

Design Inspired

The idea of creating my own designs has been floating around my brain for a little while now. It surfaced again, BIG TIME, when my 8 year old son came home after the 100th day of school. They do it up and celebrate with lots of fun games and activities at school.

He came off the bus carrying an activity mat, a crown, a pencil, and was wearing a special sticker on his shirt. When I got a closer look, I nearly jumped out of my skin at the realization of my first real design inspiration! The colorful characters in this theme are just calling to me to bring them to life!! This is it! I am ready to take it on!

I found the stuff on a teachers website called "Really Good Stuff"

I am SO anxious to get started. I have a few other projects to finish up first, but as soon as I start creating one of these little alien creatures, I will be posting!

Bookshelf Peek of the Week #7

This week, I bring your attention to, "Tiny Yarn Animals Amigurumi Friends to Make and Enjoy", by Tamie Snow.

In this book, the author begins with a few basics to get you started and then gets right down to it with her very charming collection of 20 critters to create.

Very basic (cheap) yarn is suggested for these Ami's because "it's durable, washable, and holds its shape beautifully." I like Tamie's method for stuffing in small amounts at a time. She says "A pinch of fluff in every stuff." Cute!

The style of critters in this book are pretty easy to make. A few of them have some very lively embroidered faces with the most beautiful eyelashes, which I find a fun challenge to create.

My favorites are the hippo, turtle, lemur, and the lamb. I made the lemur and sold it at a craft show. Yay! I started the lamb, but am ashamed to say I ran out of the special yarn I was using and haven't returned to it. It's such a precious design too! (one day...)

I highly recommend adding this to your stash of Ami books!

You may also enjoy the website Tamie created called Roxycraft.com. Check it out!

**What Ami's do you have in progress right now?**

Valentine Party

It's time to start planning my daughter's kindergarten room party for Valentine's Day. Now I have a great excuse for crocheting a bunch of hearts! I enjoy making these parties festive and memorable.

As the room parent, I typically prepare four to five games to play. The kids gather in groups of four to six and rotate to each game station for about five minutes at a time.

One of the games calls for tossing bean bags, so I will be sewing a few bean bag hearts. Woohoo!

About seven years ago, when my first child began kindergarten, I found an adorable pattern from a Family Fun magazine for seasonal slip covers. I modified the size so they could fit on the wee little classroom chairs. I think I'm going to pull those out again for this party. They just add so much to the festivities. We are really going to be heart crazy!

I wonder how ridiculous it would be if I made a stuffed crochet heart for each child with their name on it? We'll see....

What are YOUR crafty Valentine plans?