Sew Sweet to Eat!!

Click here to visit the Bearfoot Baker's Photostream!

YUMMO!

I love to sew! I love to bake! 

BUT WHO DOESN'T LOVE TO EAT COOKIES!

Sometime in the future I might attempt making cookies as amazing as these…

but for now I'm content just looking

check out these spectacular 3-D Sewing Machine Cookies!

Baking might be easier for SOME… sewing is easier for ME!

Here is a fun FABRIC fortune cookie tutorial to try if flour is not your forte!

Click here for Lady Harvatine's Fortune Cookie Tutorial

OR

click the image below to buy these handmade felt beauties by Sew Cute Sweets at Etsy today!

1 Dozen Felt Fortune Cookies by Sew Cute Sweets

Happy baking or sewing or shopping
and above all else…
Happy Friday!

Dress the Part

Sometimes finding vintage togs to fit modern bodies is next to impossible. Most of the clothes I've found from the early 20th century that are in good wearable condition are too small for me to wear. Not a problem that's new to me, at 6 feet tall I am an expert at finding clothes that DON'T fit.

But today, with the internet and reproduction patterns, this is slightly less of a challenge.

First up: Reproduction Patterns

Authentic 1940's Pattern

Reproduction of 1940's Pattern

My Great Uncle James Watt loved antiques. I always loved going to his house, it was chock full of antique furniture and collectibles. (That may have influenced my current love for all things early- mid twentieth century.) One thing that Uncle Jim said that has always stuck with me is this, "Don't buy antique furniture for practical living - stick with reproductions." He felt that antiques had their place as display pieces, or as art. But modern living is just too rough and tumble for delicate antiques. I believe the same goes for antique clothing.  Authentic period clothes can be amazing and beautiful. Some are even durable for modern use. But most, are best kept as study pieces for display and to aid in learning historical sewing techniques and reproduction pattern making. 

For clothes that will last and will not break your heart if they get damaged from use, stick to reproductions. And to be sure that you are getting both the quality of workmanship and fine materials I present to you the option of reproduction patterns!

Authentic historic patterns can be an amazing find, but keep in mind that terminology and sewing techniques have changed quite a bit over the last several decades.

Butterick B5152

Vogue V1043

Click on any image to find the resource to find that pattern.

Tomorrow we will look for finished authentic and reproduction clothing.

Cheater Quilts at Spoonflower

This week's fabric contest at Spoonflower is the cheater quilt! A cheater quilt is a printed image on a single piece of fabric that looks like a pieced quilt once it is stitched around the pattern.

I have always wanted to make a double wedding ring quilt but have been too intimidated by the all the curves and small pieces, so I've made the next best thing. My very own 1930's inspired double wedding ring cheater quilt! All the fabric designs used in the quilt are my own interpretation of classic 1930's patterns and colours.

Some highly impressive designs have been submitted for the contest. I encourage everyone to go to Spoonflower and vote for their favourites! The winning designer will receive $100 to be spent at Spoonflower.com!

My Latest Obsession

I don't have a craft today. I know, I know. It's crafty Wednesday, but we will have to play crafts later. I have something to show and tell you about that has me more excited about creativity than anything has in a long while!

Creative Types had better brace themselves.

I found a site called Spoonflower. Spoonflower is a fabric printing shop. A real fabric printing shop. I'm talking yards and bolts and fat quarters, oh my! The price of the fabric is not cheap, but it's less expensive than designer fabric (read: Lily Pulitzer) and the cool thing is that it IS designer fabric - YOUR DESIGNS!

You can sign up for a free account and start uploading your images. You can have fabric of a drawing, painting, photographs, graphic design… anything! Imagine an apron made with your child's drawings! Imagine that painting of a sunflower that would make the cutest pattern on a dress! Don't even get me started on Christmas gift possibilities!

Your image must be 150 dpi (dots per inch) whether your scanning or creating digitally and all uploads must be less than 30 MB. Prices start at $5 for an 8 x 8 swatch, so if you want some unique one of a kind quilt squares, just upload an 8 x 8 image at 150 dpi and, Ta-da! (sigh) It's so exciting!

And others can order your fabric too, and you will get a 10% designer comission. Your designs always remain your personal property and you may remove your "fabric" from the site at anytime and they will not reprint it unless you re-post the image.

I already have 5 fabrics posted and am eagerly awaiting their arrival in the mail! (eek!)

Here's what has kept me from my regular crafting - plus, it is easier for me to create digital graphics while nursing my baby than attempt other creative endeavors. Each week they have a contest for $100 store credit, and YOU KNOW I've been working on entries since I found this site!

This week's theme is puppet patterns. The deadline was Tuesday so you can't enter it, but you can vote! (this past week's contest , some very cool cocktail fabrics, may still be accepting votes but the puppet patterns should be up soon!)

Here's my entry for this week's contest!

Grab a vine and swing by www.spoonflower.com to learn more and to vote!

Custom Couture Paci-Clip

Here is a fun project to do at home. You don't even need a sewing machine!

Today we are making Custom Couture Pacifier Clips. This would make a great gift for the New Mom or baby in your life.

Here is what you'll need:

Letter Beads

Key Ring

Ribbon

Suspender Clip

Thread

Needle

Snaps or Velcro

1 - 1 1/2 inch Covered Button Kit

Fabric Scraps

For MAM pacifiers and ones with a button rather than a handle: O-Ring, size #17, 7/8" internal diameter - found in the plumbing section of your local hardware store.

Choose a phrase or wording for your Paci-Clip and thread the letters onto the key ring.

Then thread the ribbon through the key ring and suspender clip.

Fold over the ribbon end and sew it to the back of the ribbon.

Sew velcro or snaps to the opposite end of the ribbon.

For a "button" pacifier, add your rubber o-ring, and secure by closing snaps or velcro.

Attach Pacifier to end, either with the o-ring or by securing the velcro/ snap edge around the pacifier handle. (The O-ring will snap right on and remain secure!)

Create your covered button by following the directions on the back of its packaging.

Sew your covered button to the ribbon top, covering over your previous stitches.

TA-DA! How cute is that?

Enjoy!

Readers, I will be giving away this "Frog Dude" Paci-Clip plus a girly pink Paci-Clip to one of my blog readers! Simply comment either at this blog or at my Facebook page for your chance to win! The winners will be selected using a random number generator on Monday morning.