Team T-Shirt Pillow Tutorial

hello, friends! i know it's been a while....nearly 2 months, in fact. i'm sorry for that. things get a little crazy around here during the holidays along with the Craft & Hobby trade show that immediately follows.  but i'm getting reacquainted with my pre-holiday schedule and hope to bring more to this internet space of mine soon.

in the meantime....it's a good time to show your team spirit!  i challenge you to spruce up your husband's (or son's) man cave or just make some fun conversation pieces for that Superbowl Party you're planning this weekend. i happen to think these would also be quite popular with the college crowd to add a little fun to their dorm room decor.

anywho. these pillows are made with upcycled team t-shirts and whip up super quick. and guess what?  i have a tutorial to show you exactly how to get from start to finish over Fiskars.com: Team T-Shirt Pillow Tutorial
 
not a sports fan?  no worries. you can use any t-shirt, it doesn't have to be sports themed! 

this is especially perfect for those shirts you fall in love with on the clearance rack or at the thrift store, but inevitably aren't your size. :)  buy it anyway and turn it into a pillow!

t-shirt pillows are especially perfect for decorating a child's playroom or bedroom since they are easily washable.

happy creating & be sure to show me your finished pillows!

Fiskars: Pantone Inspired Scalloped Table Runner Tutorial

as y'all know, i'm a Fiskars Crafting Expert, and as a benefit of my job, i receive Fiskars tools.  but long before i became a Crafting Expert, i purchased what quickly became my favorite border punch--the Threading Water Border Punch.  i fell head over heals with that thing using it any chance i could get.

what can i say? i was smitten with the scalloped edge.  i *adore* scallops---the dainty curved kinda...NOT the stinky fish kinda!  me no likey fishy, lol.

anywho. i recently spent some time, in short little bursts, hovered over my sewing maching in an attempt to pull off an idea i've had in my head for some time.  the idea?  to create a scalloped border running down two sides of a center strip for a table runner.

and by golly.......it worked and i have a tutorial to prove it!

there's a super easy technique that makes this seemingly tedious project very simple and very do-able. all you need to complete this trendy scalloped table runner is a few simple quilting tools, fabric, and a long weekend making friends with your sewing machine---oh, and an ironing board!

to make it even more fun, i pulled my color scheme for this project from Pantone's Fall 2012 Color Report!

click on over to the Fiskars website for the complete tutorial: Scalloped Table Runner by Tania Willis

FISKARS: Jellyfish Costume Tutorial

we all love to watch children embark on little imaginative adventures during creative play, yes?  since my girls were just itty bitty i've enjoyed scouring thrift stores and clearance racks after the holidays to bulk up their dress-up bin.  we currently have an entire closet devoted to dress-up clothes---i really should cull through it and hand down the outgrown ones to younger nieces....and nephews too, because we have plenty of spiderman and mario brothers. LOL.  (spidergirl keeps reminding me that she no longer likes spiderman *sigh*. i suppose that means i need a new nickname.)

anywho.  my girls are getting older now and the store-bought costumes are just a little two cutsie for them these days.  now's when mama's sewing skills will be put to good use with some handmade costumes.  i'll take that! 

i've been waiting for these days when what i make is cooler than anything they can find in the stores!

so, what was the first costume to tackle?  why, a jellyfish, of course!  ashlyn and i saw a little girl dressed as a jellyfish several years ago now and we haven't forgotten about it since.  so, this year, i was determined to mark another 'things to make someday' item off my list. you have one of those lists too, don't you?

i'll tell you what, the hardest part of this costume was finding a suitable umbrella in the middle of summer.  not such an easy task here in ohio.  the funnest part was shopping for the material!  we ended up getting a glittered/beaded organza fabric to drape/stitch over the umbrella.  i wish you could see how delicate and beautiful it is.  my pictures don't do it justice at all.

this is one of those costumes that is sure to turn heads whether you’re using it for trick or treating, a costume party or just something playful to add to the dress-up bin. if you have a basic knowledge of how to work a sewing machine, you should do just fine with this project.  but, what i love most about it, is how easy it is to put away for storage until next time you need it.  since the base is an umbrella, it collapses quite easily.

i created a step-by step tutorial of this costume for Fiskars.  see the complete project here: Jellyfish Costume Tutorial.

if you give it a try, promise to show me your end result? as always, you may email me with any questions along the way.  :)

i can't wait to watch the magic unfold on trick or treat night as her jellyfish dances gracefully through her imaginary sea as she floats door to door greeting friends and neighbors. 

Fiskars: Make Your Own Puppet Theatre Tutorial

what child doesn't like to stuff their hand into a puppet and let their imagination run wild with a storyline from fantasy land behind a puppet theatre curtains? very few, i'd guess.

puppets are a great way for a child to stretch their imagination on those days that can't be spent outdoors. and what do you need when you play with puppets? why, a puppet theatre, of course!

i'm sure you've seen some of the prices on those things........wowza! it's definitely one of those things that you can make yourself and customize to your needs for a major fraction of the cost of a ready-made. and it's really easy too!

click on over to the Fiskars website: Puppet Theatre Curtain where i walk you through step by step on how to make one of your own.

and if you aren't able to sew one with a machine, you can always substitute the iron-on hem tape in place of stitching the seams! no excuses now----go make one for your kiddos and be prepared to sit back and watch hours and hours of puppet shows unfold.

TUTORIAL: Make Your Own Monogram Pillows

as you've noticed by my lack of posting, i've been a bit busy! part of that busy always involves time in the studio, of course. :)

i'm excited to share a tutorial, along with a few variations, for making your own monogram pillows. i've been crushing on the popular number and ampersand pillows for at least a year now but dang are those things expensive.

so instead, i decided to make my own and show you how in the process!


you can find the instructions over on the Fiskars site by clicking: Monogram Pillows by Tania Willis

and in case you missed it, the instructions for the Yo-Yo pillow (shown in the photos above) can be found there too: Yo-Yo Pillow by Tania Willis

both would make excellent Christmas gifts!

speaking of Christmas gifts.....you don't want to miss these other projects by some of my favorite designers:
Miniature Embroidery Hoops by Emma Jeffrey
Four Scarves by Emma Jeffrey
Holiday Gifts for Teachers by Lisa Storms
Creative Gift Wrap by Lisa Storms
Handmade Christmas Gifts by Emma Jeffrey
DIY Gift Spa by Katrina Simeck
Holiday Gift Toppers by Laurie Cinotto

ENJOY!

FISKARS: Ruffled Canvas Totes

i'm excited to share with you another project i created for Fiskars. i'm so loving working with their amazing tools and having the opportunity to create some projects that have been on my "want to create" list for a long while.

and i'm especially loving making friends with my sewing machine again! oh, how i've missed it.

my latest sewing adventure? these ruffled canvas totes....

i'm officially addicted to making them and you can be too! the full project instructions are available on the Fiskars website: Ruffled Canvas Totes.

they are super fun and make and even more fun to give as gifts! we've already given this rosette, single ruffle tote to the nurse at emma's allergist who we see every week for her allergy shots. she looooved it.

i get asked often how i learned to do all this creative crafty stuff and i always say "i don't know, i just know how." LOL.

i've been sewing since i was 19 on an old hand-me-down machine. it helps that my personality type is one where i'm always willing to take on a challenge and learn as i go, honing my skill along the way.

so, the truth is, i'm self-taught through trial and error and also years of hovering over my grammy's shoulder watching her put her foot to the pedal to make the magic happen. i've made quilts, and clothes, and wall hangings, and formal dresses in years past, but my machine has been lonely for a while sitting in the corner.

but not any more.

i've got lots more fabric projects up my sleeve. :) having an attitude of "i can do that!" has been such a blessing and i'm so thankful for it.

so, i'm wondering how many of my readers sew...do you?

FISKARS: Yo-Yo Pillow

this is a project that i've had in my head waiting to come out for a super long time, but i've never made the time to do it. but, i'm SO excited i finally got to do it with the help of some amazing Fiskars tools. and now, i get to share it with you! :)

if you've been a blog reader for some time, or in any of my Embellishments: Beautifully Handmade classes, you know how incredibly obsessed i am with making yo-yos.

they are so easy to whip up, super pretty. and they give me a good excuse to do some more shopping at the fabric store. heee.

so that pretty pile of fabric circles, quickly turned to these...

and 25 of those got handpicked and placed like this....then, stitched down and turned into this pillow...

which is hands-down my most favorite thing i've ever made, EVER!

come find out how to make your very own Yo-Yo Pillow, step-by-step-by-step. it's my most recently featured project over at Fiskars!

it's a completely FREE tutorial...........what'cha waitin' for!?!

50% off in my ETSY.

i'll get my act together and be back to regular posting soon.

but, these have been sitting in the shop for far too long so i just reduced them 50% off the original listed price.

mini ETSY update!

you might remember these from a few weeks ago. well, i photographed them and had them all ready to put on ETSY, then, i misplaced them.

but, now they are found.........and in the shop!

along with some cards too. :)

felt, fabric & fibers, oh my!

just some links to some pretty tutorials that have been on my radar for a while. i can't wait to try some of them once my deadlines are over.

Flower Garland via Jennifer Johner

Faux-cheted Yard Flowers via Homespun with Heart

Shirred Shirt Dress via Ruffles and Stuff

Peony Hair Clips via Ruffles and Stuff

Fabric Ruffle Tee via Dear Lizzy

Pretty Petals Tee via Dear Lizzy

Fabric Scrap Flowers via Rebecca Sower

Fabric Envelopes via Dear Lizzy


Layered Ruffle Skirt via Ruffles and Stuff

Felt & Ribbon Flowers via Ribbons and Crafts

any fun tutorials catching your eye lately that i might be interested in? please link me to them. they don't have to be fabric related.

etsy update + a GIVEAWAY!

a little peek of what i've just loaded in the shop!

not long ago, i decided to start selling some of my handmade goods in an online shop all my own called beautifully Handmade. you can read this post for why i came to the decision to open shop, but long story short....it's all for raising money to help pay the medical bills after insurance that we accumulate having two chronically ill kiddos.

i've put together a little giveaway of some of these handmade goodies because you're all such awesome readers! i appreciate each and every one of you who take time out to visit this little space of mine. so, thank you.

you know the drill. leave your name in the comments and if you feel like sharing, tell me what memorial weekend traditions you have. but just a "pick me" is cool too.

good luck! i hope you win! (and if not, you know where to find more where that came from....right here!) i'll pick a winner Sunday morning.

warning: this post uses the word s-t-u-p-i-d. *gasp*

double warning: this post is a little on the rambling side. i've been feeling introverted and just not quite sure what to say about life lately. then i decided to just be honest.....it's what i do best. pain sucks.

it was monday, i blinked, and now it's thursday. can someone tell me how *that* happened? it's much the same feeling i have on occassion when i realize i have two school-age girls and i think to myself...weren't they just born yesterday? seems that way. but then again, it doesn't. such a strange phenomenon.

time is just flying on by. seemingly faster and faster than ever before. like i'm in some time accelaration machine that's terribly malfunctioned. hello, time? are you listening to me? slooooooooow down. please? thank you.

ironically, monday night and tuesday i would have paid high-dollar to jump into a time machine. i was so bored that banging my head against the wall sounded more fun than sitting and doing nothing. i refrained. because, by golly if my body is failing me, i can't have my brain failing too. there's precious material in there, i have to protect. i kid, i kid.

i'm sure you've caught on by now, that i'm not so good at sitting-and-doing-nothing. nope. not so much. i'm more of a cram-10-times-more-than-you-can-feasibly-accomplish-in-one day-into-one-hour kinda person. yep. overachiever extraordinaire. that's me.

but. you knew there was a but didn't you? there always is...

but, my pain level.........it had me sitting and doing nothing---except complaining about how bored i was. and crying a little bit about how uncomfortable it feels. not to mention getting frustrated and irritated at myself for carrying a laundry basket up the stairs the night before because i still like to think that i don't have limitations.

stupid. stupid. stupid.

*sigh* when will i learn????

i often wonder what God is trying to teach me through this unexpected detour that has become more of a change of direction than a little detour.

my skull is a little thick to learn the whole "be still" concept. being still makes me feel lazy.

last week in counseling my counselor was asking me what are my coping mechanisms to deal with the chronic pain i'm in. i think i stared at her like a deer gazing into high-beam headlines before i realized that she was asking a serious question and not just a hypothetical one.

uhhhhh........i stammered for an answer.

i busy myself with something and push through the pain. then, i said....i'm good at forgetting. it's true, i am. my short-term memory is choppy at best. a good indicator that i'm having a severe level of pain day----my memory. it's laughable at times. i've asked doug the same question through IM 3 or 4 times in less than 5 hours and each time forget that i've already asked it.

i also cope by busying myself. because if i'm focused on something else, the pain doesn't have a stronghold on my thoughts. if i sit and "be still" then all i think about is all the stuff i could be doing, but can't. i get SO frustrated with my limitations. then the frustration leads to anger. anger because i don't want to be this way.

anger because i don't cope well.

i'm not real sure i have any one tried and true way to cope other than finding a way to be creative. it's hard to stay angry & frustrated when you're inspired.

i've tried to sit down an scrap this week, but instead i sit and stare. i often read blogs to escape. or browse tumblr and reblog everything to my own account that's visually appealing. lately i've been inspired by fabric. so i thought it was time to play with a little fabric and dig my hands into the button bowl.


i made so many that now my fingers are sore from all the hand-stitching. ha. aren't they pretty!? fabric just makes me happy. the girls are now planning who gets which flower turned into a barrette for their hair. :)

so now, *some* of the frustrations are gone...unfortunately, the pain is not. :(

PS...i haven't forgotten about the giveaways. there are two, maybe three....and the first one will be tomorrow! see you back here then!

oh, the possibilites....

there's nothing quite like a free new stack of fabric waiting to be brought to life with a snip here and a stitch there.

i have some plans for this fabric, but i'm also on the look out for a 'new-to-me' project.

these are 5" x 45" cuts. anyone have any links to projects using "scraps" of fabrics---that don't involve making a quilt, LOL?

my other plans include:

these....

gobs and gobs of these.....


and these....

then i'll put them all in my etsy shop! :)

what crafty projects are you working on this weekend?