Inspiration Board

Another project that was started awhile back for me and recently finished: My Inspiration Board for my sewing room.

I bought this framed magnetic board from my local Roberts Craft store that measures 54" long by 30" high (on the outside edge). They are normally $60, but I used a 50% off coupon and only paid $30.

All I did was paint it black--EASY!

Then I had to get my sweet husband to hang it up for me--HARD!

After months of being propped up against my wall, my sweet husband finally hung it up!

Here it is on my sewing room wall!

I really, REALLY like it!

I am a visual person, so anytime I can see my ideas or inspirations I am a happy girl!

My favorite thing on the board would have to be these awesome magnets Leslie introduced me to. They are from a place called Amazing Magnets. Seriously, they are so cool!

The ones I bought are super tiny! You hardly notice them on the board, which is the main reason I love them. But, boy are they strong! But if you don't like tiny, they sell lots of different shapes and sizes!

Cake Decorating Contest

Some friends of ours from church are having a friendly little fondant cake decorating contest with some of their friends locally and around the country. If you want to see the cakes, and some are pretty amazing, then click on Get Your Cake On. You can cast your vote too for the one you like best. The voting ends next Friday night at midnight. You may just be inspired too to try some fondant yourself.

Print your own

I just printed my Happy Halloween sign. You can to...or happy birthday, or your name, or whatever you want because this link has the whole alphabet. Sweet.

Ruffled Scarf

Leslie and I were talking about scarves today as she found a rather expensive one she likes at Anthropologie. We are trying to find a pattern close to that one she likes.

Last Winter or Spring I made this scarf from a pattern I got at one of my local Yarn shops. I tried it out for fun to see how it would look and to see how hard it would be. It wasn't that tough and definitely didn't take very long. I am mostly posting this so that Leslie can see how it turned out and see if it might be what she'd like in place of her Anthropologie scarf.

A similar pattern to the one I used can be found HERE. Currently I can't find the pattern I used for it. I'll have to look a little harder and then when I find it I'll post it.

More Black Apple dolls

Leslie's Lovely Apron

Remember when I gasped (literally) upon seeing this picture of Leslie lovely ruffled apron?! Well, that was because upon first glance I actually thought it was one apron, not 4! Oops! But the affect was what I was loving~the whole Americana patriotic look to it.

So, after voicing all this to Leslie, she was kind enough to give me her left over scraps from those pretty aprons. Here is what I came up with:

I am a simple girl after all and love all things Americana!

You can purchase one of these pretties for yourself or your daughter at Leslie's etsy shop. Yes, she makes a little girl version that is absolutely the cutest! My 6 year old, Miss K, was quite envious of the pink one when Leslie used her to model the apron for a photo shoot.

National Sewing Month

I was at the fabric store today and there was a poster on the window saying that September is National Sewing Month. There is also a website dedicated to that event. I didn't look at it too much, but considering I am the Sew Girl of this group I should probably put my plug in for sewing.

Here is a quick little message from the National Sewing Organization and I agree wholeheartedly:

"September is a time to celebrate our passion with National Sewing Month, but we know the creative, therapeutic and calming effects of sewing are joys that we can celebrate throughout the entire year."

"Happy sewing!"

So hopefully you can be inspired to try a little (or not so little) sewing project and feel good about your accomplishment.

Very Cherry Pillowcase Dresses

Now that my kids are back in school, I am finally getting around to my summer projects. Sad, but true...

I had bought this cheery cherry print fabric clear back in the spring in anticipation of a summer party Leslie and I had in mind. But when my cherry tree froze our party didn't happen...and there sat my fabric!

In the meantime my friend, Stephanie, went on vacation with her family to Orlando and posted this picture with her girls wearing their cute Minnie Mouse inspired dresses. (I am sure they were a hit in Minnie-land! Notice how Miss E's purse matches her dress perfectly!)

Stephanie's cute dresses inspired me to try out the pattern for my own girls. Stephanie shared her source with me, and Susan (the source) was kind enough to let me link back to her tutorial so I could share it with you! I tell you, the blog world is full of fabulous women who make beautiful things. So, thanks ladies!

Here are my girls' cherry version! I am quite happy with how they turned out. Susan's tutorial was easy to follow, and the dress was easy to make. Of course, now that I've made it once, I'll probably make a bunch more next summer.

The great thing about these dresses is that the little girls won't outgrow them very easily. When they are too short to wear as a dress, they are really cute as a top, also. In all I made 3 matching dresses, one for each of my girls and a baby-size one for Cousin L who lives close by.

Variations: If you are the least bit leery about making your own bias tape, you can buy matching double fold bias tape instead, and Stephanie used grosgrain ribbon for her ties. For the contrasting band I cut the dresses 2" shorter for each of the girls and then cut a band of fabric 6" wide for the older girls' and 5" for L's small size. I folded the fabric in half and then sewed it on the bottom after sewing up the side seems of the dress.

About Us

We are three sisters with very diversified tastes, but our goal remains the same -- to make our families and our lives beautiful one project at a time.

Our mom taught us all to sew while we were still in elementary school. She was good to let us create and sew whatever we pleased. At first that meant sewing around the raw edges of cut fabric, then trying our hand at elastic waisted shorts/skirts, and finally sewing our own dresses and clothes. Over the years we've sewn through miles and miles of fabric, making everything from prom/wedding dresses to baby clothes, quilts to curtains, and custom bedding to swimsuits. It's safe to say we'll sew anything! Our lives are ever changing as we (and our children) grow, so our blog is ever changing as well. We blog about the things we are doing and loving at the moment.

You can contact us with questions or comments at emilylovesbaskets@msn.com.

Basic Knitted Washcloth

Our sister Shauna is the "Queen of Washcloths" in our family. I'm not sure she could count how many she has actually made. I think that for the past couple of years she has made a washcloth for each of the girls attending their Church girls camp. And, of course, no two are alike in color. That way everyone knows exactly which washcloth is theirs. She has given all of us sets of colored washcloths. New babies get their own pretty washcloth in some cute color. She really does nice work. So on her behalf I am going to submit a post.


Here is one basic pattern (of many out there) for a Knitted Washcloth. Shauna uses this one the most because she has it memorized and doesn't have to think too much as she is making them.

Size 8 knitting needles
Yarn--100% cotton yarn from Peaches 'n Creme or Sugar 'n Cream.

Cast on 35 stitches

Knit next 4 (or 5) rows

Start pattern--
Row 1: K3, Purl til last 3 stitches, K3
Row 2: K entire row
Repeat those 2 rows 11 times

Then knit 6 rows

Repeat pattern--
Row 1: K3, Purl til last 3 stitches, K3
Row 2: K entire row
Repeat those 2 rows 11 times
Knit 5 rows

Bind off and tie in loose ends. Finished size ends up being roughly 9 inches square. So adjust accordingly if you want a larger washcloth.

Thanks, Shauna, we all love the washcloths.


Here is another site I found that has a bunch of free patterns for knitted washcloths. Knitting Pattern Central is also a great place to find ANY kind of pattern you want. The link I posted is for their dishcloth section--loads and loads of styles to download for free.

Lowes "Creative Ideas" Magazine

I've been getting this FREE magazine from Lowes for about a year now and am really liking all the home improvement/gardening project ideas inside. This month I am especially excited about their do-it-yourself outdoor fire pit, something I am currently wishing for in my own backyard. (They also have free magazines for Outdoor Living and Woodworking if you're interested.) You can view (or subscribe to) any of their current issues of all three magazines when you go their home page and scroll to the bottom. There is a PDF section that says "Read Current Issues" where you can click on one of the three magazines.

Happy Home Improvement Dreaming to You, too!

Black Apple Dolls

Here is my favorite version of all the dolls I made. I made four total, but I don't want to post the other ones. They are going to be gifts. I have a few more in the works too so I'll post all of them later.

My review of this doll pattern:
It's the best! I highly recommend it to anyone. So easy and quick (my favorite kind of project). This is a great way to use up your scrap fabric which I think is a huge bonus. I only had to purchase the felt.





I just can't get over her pearl earrings. My favorite part!




I like this one too.
I'm a big fan of the striped legs. One of the other dolls I made has it too (red and white). Looks like tights.

*****And I will be painting faces as soon as I purchase fabric paint.

Dress opinion...the rest of the story

Now I have to tell you the rest of the story concerning my dress opinion post. I actually had already made a dress out of that funky black/green print fabric when I posted it. However, I was not happy with how it turned out. I thought I would love the pattern, but once I had it finished it did not look the way I had hoped for myself. Instead of helping camoflauge some problem areas, I felt it worsened them. Therefore, I sent out my pleas for some differing opinions.

Well, I was completely ready to make another dress pattern, go buy more fabric and start completely over. However, when I went back to Wal-Mart that piece was GONE!!!! I had even seen some other color combos of that same type fabric and they were gone too. So even though I was going to be brave and do a dress, I now have to salvage my old dress and settle for only a skirt.

I'll be fine with it and just use that second dress pattern with some other fabric down the road. I think I want to make it in that black and white combo on the pattern envelope. I really do like it. I'll add a black top to my new skirt and it should be a great little outfit. The top I am going to try is either Butterick 6085 view D or Simplicity 4487 view C or F. I found some nice black rayon type fabric that should look really good.

So thanks to everyone for your opinion. I'll post pics when I actually finish the top. A couple more days for us and the kids are back to school. Hallelujah!! Maybe I can finish up somethings that I thought I could have already completed by now.

I'm making one

I've seen these dolls mentioned on several blogs before and I just love them. But I'm way too cheap to pay $40+ for one. Imagine how happy I was when I came across the pattern online. Sweet!! I'm not into doll making, but these are too cute and so modern that I must give it a try. L is getting one very soon. The creator was kind enough to share her pattern. Thank you, thank you!

Want to make one too? See instructions here

Wouldn't it be cute to make the doll's dress out of fabric from one of Baby L's outfits?

Dress Opinion needed

O.K. here is the deal--I am sick of most of the dresses in my closet. I want to make some new stuff but I need someone else's opinion besides my children and my hubby.

I found this awesome knit fabric at Wal-Mart--$1/yd. and you could wad it up on the floor, leave it there for a couple days and then put it on without a wrinkle anywhere. Gotta love that! I'm just not sure what to do with it. I'm afraid that it might be too much for an entire dress for a woman who isn't 25 anymore.
Here is the pattern I was thinking of using with the fabric--along with a solid black piece.
McCall's 4510
I like the Black and white version view C--possibly with the sleeves from the purple dress view E.


So tell me what you think. My other option would be to just make a somewhat flared skirt, elastic waist, and pair it with a black top.

A little mention....

Last night my friend, Abby, told me she was browsing one of her favorite blogs and saw my bird mobile mentioned. Cool! I did some browsing around myself and it looks like it will be one of my new favorites. Great inspiration.

See post here

{note to self: stop cutting corners on the photos posted on creative chicks blog. People actually look here. People besides my sisters and I}

Raspberry Jam and Homemade Bread

One of the easiest things to home preserve is jam--any flavor just about. All I do is follow the recipe included in the SureGel or Ball Fruit Jell Pectin boxes. They have recipes for both freezer jam, jellies, and cooked jams included. I prefer the freezer jam just because I have the storage for it and it takes a little less time. This is my raspberry jam that I made from the raspberries I grew in my garden. If you have never had homemade raspberry jam you are missing out. And I guarantee that you will never buy store bought raspberry jam again once you do try it. This is the only jam that my kids will eat. And if you have homemade bread (which I am making this morning) to spread it on it is like heaven!

I have been accused of not sharing a secret ingredient or tip about how to make this bread, but I promise I am not holding anything back. I've tried to put down as many of the little tricks or tweaks that I do so that you can have a successful outcome.

Here is the bread recipe that I most often use:

White Wheat Bread— from Toastmaster (bread machine)
1 ½ c. warm water
2 Tbs. oil
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. salt
4 Tbs. sugar
2 Tbs. dry milk
3 c. bread flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
2 tsp. active dry yeast

Mix all together. Let raise 1 hr. Divide into loaf pans, cover, and let raise another 45 min. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Tips--
**This is a bread machine recipe, however, I do not like how the bread turns out baked in the bread machine. So if I were to make it using my bread machine I would put it on the dough setting, and once that is complete divide the loaves and put in loaf pans, cover and let raise for the 45 minutes and then bake it in the oven.

**If you have a mixer like a KitchenAid or other brand, I mix all together except for the flours in the bowl. Let the yeast activate for 10 minutes or so and then mix in the flours. I have a bread setting on my mixer that "kneads" it for about 3 minutes before I let it raise the first time.

**I usually grease my bowl with shortening before adding the bread dough. Then I put it in a warmed oven (start to preheat your oven, but turn it off after 1 minute or less of preheating) covered with a towel to let it raise.

**I double recipe this to make 3 LARGE loaves for my family. The 7 of us can consume one loaf at one meal really easy.

**If you have stoneware loaf pans, use them. I like how it cooks better than other loaf pans.

Photo Board

This was a really easy project for me! It took about 30 mintues to do!  I just took an art canvas, layered with with alittle batting and fabric.  I used a staple gun to hold everything into place.  

My canvas was about 12x18, so I just purchased a "fat quarter" of fabric so I didn't have any left over.  I got three different types of ribbon (1 yard each, should have got more so I had more options on where to place each color).

Total Cost : Around $20.00

Little Girl's Eyelet Slip Extender

We were given some clothes from a friend of ours and M. found a skirt in the stash that she wanted, of course. However, it was a tad too short for her comfort zone. So we used Emily's eyelet slip extender idea and transformed that skirt for her so that she can now wear it comfortably.

Our slip is not separate, but I sewed it right into the waistband. I happened to use some eyelet lace curtains that had been given to me that I wasn't going to use as curtains and then just used that fabric to make the slip. I needed to adjust the elastic waist anyway and so that is why I did this way. She is happy with how it turned out and now she can enjoy this cute embroidered skirt for the remainder of the summer.

The Birds

Got a little sidetracked from my PA needlepoint and started working on a Bird Mobile to replace this Ikea one (see below) in my baby's room. It's been on my "to-do" list for a while and I'm so happy to have it completed.

OLD MOBILE.....





NEW MOBILE....



I thought this would be such an easy project. And although I love it, it was a total nightmare. The birds are easy enough to sew. It's the balancing of the mobile that is a problem. Ridiculous!! I resorted to some unconventional methods and was frustrated most of the time. So take on this project knowing you need patience.


added some extras to this corner of her room also






My variations:
1. Used a sewing machine instead of hand sewing the birds. I'm not sure why the tutorial suggests hand sewing. Although lovely it's totally unecessary and very time consuming
2. Used double sided tape to seal ends of tails. Did not like how sewing machine topstitch looked and.....got lazy/impatient! Seems to be holding up just fine though.
3. Used clear jewelry thread to hang. (Others have used yarn, ribbon, heavy thread)



a view of thread I used to hang


and baby was more interested in step stool used to hang mobile.






and the corner of her room