Project Monday - or Tuesday :)

Okay, so here is the exciting news!  I am going to attempt to not only have a project of the month, and encourage "AS SEEN IN...," but, brace yourself,  I am going to attempt a new project each Monday and call it PROJECT MONDAY!  Sound familiar?  I hope so.

Okay, today I wanted to show you a few pictures of some make-up bags I actually made my teenager daughters last Christmas.  They had to have been a hit because honestly, they use no other make-up bags.  What is so convenient is that they fit everything.   Seriously, if you are a teenager, like mine, you are always getting ready at someone else's house.  Sound familiar?  These make-up bags not only hold your most important make-up; but, they also fit a flat iron, brushes, combs, as well as anything else that you just have to have.  They are so easy to take on the go.  Okay, just look... aren't they sooo COOL!
Following, I will import the directions.  Now I have started using Scribd.  Because you are a teen you probably already know about this, but if not, I will explain.  Scribd is awesome because on the three buttons on the Scribd  imported page, you can either enlarge the directions, you can download the directions, or you can print the directions.  I love it.   (Please excuse the poor print quality.  I would highly recommend downloading or in fact, enlarging the directions.)  This bag is easy to make - from beginning to end just over an hour.  I need to reference here Sew News, issue December 2008/January 2009.  This is where I got this pattern; and, if I haven't mentioned before, I just love sewing magazines because they have such great projects with very descriptive directions.

So good luck.  Please e-mail me with any questions, or better yet, come into Sally's Fabrics.

 







Sallys Beauty Bag on the Go

Circle Lamp - DIRECTIONS!

Lamp Picture


What you need:

Depending on what size shade you would like to cover, select a solid fabric for the base. ( I bought my lamp at a thrift store for $3.00, spray painted the base and used the existing shade )  Measure the circumference of the shade and the width, then cut your fabric with a ½” extra on each side. 
*I chose five different complimentary color fat quarters.  This gave me plenty of fabric to cut four different size circles from.  I did 2 ½”, 2”, 1 ½” and 1” circles and cut around 10 of each size.  It really all depends on the size lamp shade you use. 
*An Olfa Circle Cutter or 4 circle templates cut out of durable paper in different sizes.
*An Olfa Self Healing Mat – available at Sally’s Fabrics
*Complimentary colored thread for the zig zag
*Any lightweight bonding adhesive – you can use a fusible bonding material or a spray adhesive to hold the circles in place of pinning them.
*A hot glue gun

Process:

1.     The Olfa Circle Cutter is a blessing.  I folded over the fabric and was able to cut a few circles at a time to reduce time.  I also used my own half circle templates that I cut out of cardboard.  I placed the templates on the fold and cut around the shape to make my circles.  I could also cut multiples of these by layering my pieces and cutting a few at a time.
2.     Once you have all your circles cut, arrange them on your workspace and lay out your base fabric.  I did a practice run with my circles to see what arrangement I liked best.  I began by laying my largest circles down first and then layering the different sizes until the base fabric doesn’t show through anywhere. 
3.     After I had a plan I began spraying my pieces, starting with the largest ones, and arranged them how I liked them.  Once you have all your circles in place make sure there are some overlapping on one end.  This will insure your joining seam will be invisible when done.
4.     Start your zig zag on the end that does not have the circles overlapping.  Complete your row, cut your thread and begin your next row 1/8” from the previous row.  Continue this process until you have covered your piece and all circles are secure. 
5.     put your fabric over your lampshade and pin tightly.  Slide the tube off the lampshade and join the seam using the same technique so the zig zag blends in. 
6.     Place your tube back over your shade and warm up your hot glue gun.
7.     At this point all you have to do is roll over the ends as if hemming a skirt then gluing them down.  Put your shade on, your light bulb in and plug it in!  Voila – Have Fun!!!



AS SEEN IN.....

So...have you ever passed through a store at the mall or online and thought "I wish I could make that?" or how about this?  I LOVE THAT... but, I don't have enough money to buy it .

Well at Sew Teen Generation we will do all we can to, to provide demonstrations that will stretch your mind.  Hopefully, in time, you will want to transform items you already have at home, items that you no longer use, or perhaps items that you want to make just just a little more YOU!  So, lets begin with our first item in our

AS SEEN IN.... collection.

This is a lamp, which was featured in Anthropolgie.  I love that store! But  hence, many of the items there are a little too expensive for my budget.  At Sally's Fabrics, one of our employees saw this lamp featured on the Anthropolgie website for a whopping $108.00 and thought "yes, I can make that."  So here it is and yes, instructions will be forthcoming.  But until then  here are a few pictures:


Up close picture, to show zig zag stitching

First project - Peace T-shirt !!YAY!!

Hey guys!  Okay, now that I FINALLY have this blog up and running - I thought I'd start with a very simple T-shirt.  All of the materials that you will need to complete this project are as follows:

1. A plain t-shirt - I got mine from Target - round neck
2. 1/3 yard of coordinating fabric
3.  Thread


Okay, this project is very easy.  **Free "peace" pattern at Sally's Fabrics :) 
Cut out the pattern pieces keeping all parts, the four triangles, and the peace circle.  (This t-shirt can actually be made two different ways - see "note" below.)  As shown, you will use the two small triangles and the two larger triangles of your pattern.  You will need to save the shape of the peace sign to use as a guide.  At this point you will use the four triangles - place them on your fabric, pin, and proceed to cut them out.

Now, fold your peace "guide" in half to find the center of your pattern.  Next, place the outer circle (your guide) approximately 1 1/2- 2 inches below the neckline of your t-shirt being very careful to place the guide in the exact center of your t-shirt.  (I folded my t-shirt in half to find the center.)  Now, using a kids glue stick, apply glue to the four FABRIC triangle pieces of your peace sign, and glue them to your t-shirt, using your paper peace circle as your guide as to where the fabric triangles belong.  What is awesome about this process is that when you wash your shirt the glue will dissolve and disappear; but, in the meantime the glue will hold your fabric pieces in place so that you can sew the triangle pieces in place without using any pins.  This method also helps the fabric triangles to stay in place without producing any annoying bubbles in your project.

Lastly, sew the triangles in place, making sure that you stitch very close to the outer edges.  As you wash your t-shirt the outer edges of your peace sign will fray, giving that unfinished frayed look that is so in style right now.

Now you are done!  That's it... very easy.

**Note:  This project can be done another way.  Instead of using the triangle pieces as your pattern pieces, use the actual peace circle and upside down fork symbol with the circle as your pattern piece.  Pin pattern piece to fabric, cut out, apply to t-shirt with kids glue stick, and stitch edges.  I've done it this way as well; and, it looks soo cool!  When stitching, remember that you need to stitch the inner and outer edges of your peace circle as well as the inner and outer fork sections of your peace symbol... and then your done.

Good luck!