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12 Days of {handmade} Christmas Tutorials:: Day 3 Angel Pasta Ornaments

November 4, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 14 Comments

This is day 3 of 12 Days of {handmade} Christmas tutorials. Bookmark the landing page for the whole 12 Days series and check daily for updates! Welcome Mary Beth, a mama, wife and teacher who blogs at the Broken Bohemian!

I’m the daughter of a veteran. A veteran preschool teacher, that is. She is one. crafty. lady. She also happens to be fearless when it comes to just going for it on crafty things. I, however, avoid being crafty because I am afraid of failure, too cheap to spend money and just generally lazy. But! My daughters, without knowing it, laid the craft smack down on me a few weeks ago. It went like this:

Girls: Mom, you’re Lali’s daughter, right?
Me: Yes, I sure am.
Girls: Mama, how come Lali is so crafty, and you’re her daughter, but you’re not crafty at all? Why don’t you ever do crafts with us like she does?
Me: *crickets*

So, I’m rolling up my sleeves and channeling my inner Martha and we’re having us an old fashioned, handmade Christmas holiday over here at Grace Cottage. We gave these angel ornaments as teacher gifts, tied to a little package of White Chocolate Nut Candy.

Here’s what you need:

Pasta: Rigatoni, Elbows and Bowties
Couscous (or tiny bird seed)
Glue gun AND craft glue
little wooden balls, 3/4 inch
thick metallic thread
metallic spray paint (I used Krylon ‘Champagne’)
small bowl
newspaper

Spread newspaper over your workspace. Use a hot glue gun to glue the ball to the top of the rigatoni. Then, hot glue two elbow noodles on the sides for arms. Pour 1/3 cup couscous in the small bowl. Cover the head with craft glue (in a hair pattern) and dip in the couscous to cover the glue. Let set on newspaper until the craft glue has mostly dried.

Next, cut a small length of thread (about 2 inches). Squirt a generous dot of hot glue on the angel’s back and press the ends of the thread in it, then press a bowtie on top. You want to place the bowtie up near the neck so she will hang upright.

The thread makes a ‘halo’ for the angel (sort of) but also gives you a spot to put a hook to hang the ornament.

Pull off any loose strings of hot glue. All that’s left to do is hit it with some spray paint! Be sure to spray from all angles, so you can get all the nooks and crannies.

Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

If you have little hands that want to ‘help’, you can have them sort through the pasta and remove cracked or broken pasta. They can also lay out little ‘sets’ of pasta for each angel in groups (one body, two arms, one bowtie) or hand you the wooden balls to glue on. They also really enjoy dipping the heads in the couscous!

12 Days of Christmas Tutorials::Day 2 French Press Cozy

November 3, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 6 Comments

This is day 1 of 12 Days of {handmade} Christmas tutorials. Bookmark the landing page for the whole 12 Days of {handmade} Christmas series and check daily for updates!

Hello Life in Grace readers! I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share my little french press cozy tutorial with you all today. My name is Kate, and I blog at Oh Write. I’ve been married for almost 10 years to the best man I could imagine God creating for me. Brett and I share our lives with our children Maren (4) and Truett (1). I spend most of my time being a wife and mother. In all the spare moments (ha!) I enjoy baking, reading, crafting, and spending time with friends.

I prefer my coffee made in a French press, but I don’t like how the coffee is cooled by the time I’m ready for a second cup. This little cozy helps to maintain the heat of the coffee while dressing up the French press itself. Let’s get started, shall we?

You will need:

2 elastic hairbands, 2 buttons, ribbon or other embellishments, fabric, flannel, silver heat-safe fabric, terry or other backing, needle and thread, sewing machine, and scissors. A straight-edge and rotary cutter will make the cutting much easier, but you could improvise if you don’t have those.

Begin by measuring your French press. Mine is a standard 8-cup Bodum press. I cut my fabric to 6 in. by 14.5 in. You could adjust the size of the fabric to fit your press. Cut pieces from the fabric, flannel, heat-proof fabric and terry.

Next, layer the front fabric (right-side-up) on top of the flannel and heat-proof fabric.

Now pin your ribbon to all three layers. Make sure to leave allowances for seams. (I use a generous 1/4 in. seam) I prefer the look of 2 ribbons. You could leave the ribbon off altogether, or use rick-rack, ruffles, or anything you’d like!

Next, you will sew down the edges of the ribbon on both sides. This will also secure the first 3 layers of the cozy together, which will make the rest of the assembly go smoothly.

Once the ribbon is secured, it’s time to attach the elastic bands. Keep in mind, the loop facing to the right in this picture is the part you will see. Be sure your loops are positioned so they will button through the handle of your press. (See how the cozy fastens onto the French press in the last picture.)

I sew over the elastic several times by back stitching. You want the elastic to be good and secure.

Now trim the string and snip the outer loops. Don’t cut too closely to the stitching, just enough to get rid of most of the excess. It should look like this:

Pin the terry to the other layers, right-sides-together.

It’s helpful to see the little tails of the elastic. You’ll back-stitch over those several times again, and this will help you ‘find’ them in order to do so. Sew around the cozy using generous 1/4 in. seams, leaving a 3 in. opening for turning.

Turn the cozy back to right-side-out. Be sure to carefully poke out the corners so they look nice and crisp. You could pin the opening together, but I usually just run the iron over it before sewing around the cozy.

Carefully sew around the edges, being sure to sew the opening closed.

This is what the almost-finished cozy will look like:

And, the front:

Line up the elastics and mark where your buttons need to go.

Using your trusty needle and thread, attach the buttons.

All ready for some coffee to warm!

Ahhh…nice and cozy!

Another version…

And…the one I kept for myself!

Happy sewing…and Merry Christmas!

12 Days of {handmade} Christmas ::Day 1 Large Zippered Make-up Bag

November 1, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 51 Comments

Welcome to 12 Days of Handmade Christmas!

zipperedmakeupbag

There’s no rest for the weary. I just finished my 31 days to a heart of hospitality and here we go again! But I have some awesome projects lined up for you to help us all embrace a more meaningful, less commercialized Christmas. This is day 1 of 12 Days of {handmade} Christmas tutorials. Bookmark the landing page for the whole 12 Days of {handmade} Christmas series and check daily for updates! I’m so excited that my adorable friend, Camera Jan, blogger at Just Imagine Heaven, and homeschooling MOTHER OF 6! is gonna start the series for us. Here’s how it happened. She and Heather both brought these AH-mazing large zippered make-up bags on our trip to Texas. I instantly coveted them and made her promise to do a tutorial so I could make a few for Christmas presents and of course, one to keep for myself! I have some perfect fabric for this occasion and can’t wait to find a little time to sneak up to the sewing room. And make sure you check out the great projects from 2010! Welcome dearie! Thank you for being so willing to share your hard work and creativity with us! Mwahhhhh:))))

My sweet friend, Edie (Long live Texas!) has asked me to do a little tutorial for my super versatile cosmetic bag. With Christmas just around the corner y’all better get started on these ASAP. They will make wonderful gifts!

Often times I have things in my head that I would love to make, but then I’m stuck without a pattern. I’ve been thinking of making an EXTRA large cosmetic case for awhile now. They’re fabulous for travel or even just to carry things in a diaper bag or even to keep in a glove box. You never know when it might come in handy. With a few friends’ birthdays coming I figured it would be the perfect time to get moving on this project. I began browsing Pinterest with no success, so after a little trial and error I came up with this pattern.

I have a friend that loves buntings, so when I saw this fabric I couldn’t passs it up. That fabric, on top, will be used for the outside of your bag. The bottom, green fabric, will be on the inside.

What makes this bag unique is that I’ve lined it with vinyl, so it’s easy to wipe clean or you can use it for wet things and the outside won’t get wet..

31woFGpfw-L._SY450_ For the vinyl I just used this iron on stuff. Thermoweb Heat’n Bond Iron-On Vinyl -17″X5 Yards Gloss
It’s pretty dreamy and easy to use. Now I just want to iron this vinyl to everything because I have 6 kids and it would make cleaning a lot easier.
I love it!Here’s where things may get a little tricky, so hopefully I don’t lose you and I don’t confuse myself. First, you will want to iron heavyweight interfacing to the wrong side of your bunting fabric. It will give your bag more stability. (This step is not pictured.) Next, lay your outer fabric right side up and your zipper face down on top of it.

Then take your lining fabric and lay it face down on top of the zipper, which is also face down. Then you are going to sew along the edge of the zipper. This is where a zipper foot really comes in handy.

After you’ve sewn these pieces together, open it up and this is what it looks like.

Iron your fabric along the zipper, but be careful not to get the hot iron on the vinyl. That could be detrimental to the project.

Now repeat the above steps with the other fabric pieces and other side of the zipper.

This is what it looks like when both sides have been sewn. If you turn the bag over you will have the green pieces laying right side out. Got it?

Carefully edge stich along the zipper on both sides, making sure the vinyl undernath is not part of the edge stitiching.

Open the zipper halfway. Don’t forget this step or you’ll be sorry later.

Now lay your bag so that the right sides of all fabric pieces are facing inward. It should be green on green and bunting on bunting. Pin the edges together. Then sew along the outside edge with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Be sure to leave about a 2 inch opening at the bottom center of the green fabric. That is where you will be turning the bag inside out.

Clip all four corners.

Here’s another tricky part. This is how we make the bag stand on its own. At the corners of the bag, on all for sides, match the side seam with the bottom seam. It should form a triangle.

Smash it down and sew along the edge with a 2 inch seam allowance.

You are going to do this on all four sides.

Then trim the edges. It’s always hard for me to cut these corners off, but it’s got to be done. If they aren’t cut off things will be a little puffy later. And, we definitely don’t want that.

Remember that opening you left at the bottom of the bag? Now it’s time to utilize it. We’re going to turn this bag inside out now!

I like to stick one of the farthest corners through the hole first and then work the rest of the bag through the hole.

There! Everything is now right side out.

Now we need to sew up that opening at the bottom of the bag. You can sew this by hand for a more polished finish or you can do it the lazy way, like me, by using the sewing machine.

Once that is finished you can tuck the inside back into the bag and you’re finished!

See? Pretty easy peasy, right? Now go and make a hundred more and give them to your friends for Christmas!

Materials:

1-12 inch zipper
2-14×10 inch pieces of heavyweight fusible interfacing
2-14×10 inch pieces of outer fabric
2-14×10 inch pieces of inner fabric
2-14×10 inch pieces iron on vinyl

Directions:

Fuse interfacing to outer fabric pieces and iron vinyl to inner fabric pieces.
Lay outer fabric right side up. Place zipper face down on top of outer fabric. Place inner fabric wrong side up on top of zipper. Sew along the edge of the zipper with a zipper foot.
Repeat on step 2 on other side of zipper.
Iron outer fabric along the zipper. Then edge stitch along the zipper, careful not to sew the green fabric.
Turn bag inside out, so right sides of outer fabric are facing each other and right sides of inner fabric are facing each other. Unzip zipper halfway.
Pin edges and sew along the outside of the bag with 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving a 2 inch opening at the bottom center of the inner fabric for turning, later. Trim all 4 corners.
Match side seams with bottom seam creating a triangle. Sew the triangle with a 2 inch seam allowance. Trim the excess seam allowance.
Turn bag inside out through opening at the bottom of the bag. Sew opening closed.
Tuck inside of bag into bag. Finished!

Do you want an idea how ginormous this bag really is? That’s my 4 year old, holding the bag, filled to the gills with awesomeness.

When I travel, I don’t travel light when it comes to toiletries and cosmetics. I want to have as much of of things with me as a I can. You never know when you might need for different occasions. It’s best to be prepared. (On a side note, the pink Beauty Blender is awesome. Get one. Once you have one you’ll wonder how you lived without one for so long.)

Yes! It all fits into the cosmetic bag. It also zips. Now you’ll notice that it isn’t completely full. There’s room for more. Perhaps I’ll add a toothbrush and some toothpaste since it seems I forgot to add them to the photo.

Now you’re thinking, “Toiletries and cosmetics. Big deal.” Right? How about 6 swimming suits? That’s right.

This bag is great for wet bathing suits. I fit all 6 of my children’s swim wear into that bag. It’s perfect if you’re at a hotel or somewhere that makes it difficult to store wet items.

Elizabeth can hardly contain the excitement over the versatility of this ginormous bag! Now you really need to make a few for yourself and your friends.

On laundry and color

November 1, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 227 Comments

When Blogher asked me participate in Tide’s ‘Style that Pops’ campaign, I couldn’t sign up fast enough. I clothe myself like I decorate my house; in layers, with color, with things that inspire! AND, I’ve used Tide for 20 years and although I’ve changed brands for short periods of time, I always come back to Tide. I was so curious to try the†Tide Pods on my favorite colorful clothes. I hate having beautiful pieces that come out of the laundry dingy. I’m crushing on pinks and purples right now so I’m in the market for an outfit that looks like this chair and pillow! †

It’s so much more fun to wash pretty, colorful clothes, don’t you agree? YES, yes it is! And it’s also true that what you wear has some sort of psychological effect on your mood. Although I still love the tried and true neutrals, adding color to your wardrobe has a big payoff. And even though I stay home every day, homeschooling my girls, doing laundry, making food and cleaning, I still get dressed in things that inspire me. I don’t ‘save’ the good stuff for special occasions. Otherwise, I’d never wear it. I slip on an apron and let Tide worry about the mess! I can tell you for sure that it was more fun to make Stevie’s birthday pie in a pretty, colorful shirt. After a whole day of working hard at home, it was a mess. I washed it this morning using one of the Tide Pods and it’s sparkling again. I love the smell of the ‘Spring Meadow’ variety. I’ve got a strong smeller so I judge a laundry detergent by its smell factor and I worried that these small little pacs wouldn’t pack a punch in scent—– but they do.

I consider myself a connoisseur of laundry. I’ve done a lot of laundry in my life. I do a lot of laundry now. And I have to tell you that I LOVE these Tide Pods. You just throw a pac in the wash, without the mess of the liquid and without any extra steps. I think you’ll like them too. And don’t forget to wear the good stuff. Even at home. You’ll feel better, look better, and when it’s time to do laundry, your clothes will be (almost) fun to wash. Pop in. Stand out.

My colorful brights look great hanging on the rack to dry. And even look cuter by this cutie! † Now, doing the boys’ laundry, that’s another (boring) story!

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, answer the following question: What is your favorite outfit to stand out in?

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No duplicate comments.

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d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to respond; otherwise, a new winner will be selected.

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This sweepstakes runs from 11/1 – 11/25.

Be sure to visit the†Tide Pods brand page on BlogHer.com†where you can read other bloggersí reviews and find more chances to win!

12 Days of {Handmade} Christmas Tutorials 2012

October 31, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 7 Comments

Day 1 Large Zippered Make-Up Bag

Day 2 French Press Cozy

Day 3 Angel Pasta Ornament

Day 4 Anthropologie inspired candle

Day 5 Book Page Christmas Tree

Day 6 Embellished 3 Tiered Stand

Day 7 DIY Kindle Cover Tutorial

Day 8 Crocheted Headband/Earwarmer

Day 9 DIY Felt Scarf

Day 10 Advent Calendar/Jesse Tree ideas

Day 11 Casserole Carrier

Day 12 Hello Darlin’ Stenciled Pillow

Day 13 Free Printable

31 Days to Hospitality::Day 29 Below my Feet

October 31, 2012 by Edie Wadsworth 15 Comments

This is day 29 in a 31 day series on hospitality. Start from the beginning here.
Well, it’s been a good run. I’m glad I took this journey with you. And the timing of my trip to Sanibel Island tomorrow couldn’t be better. I’ll be reading Plato on the beach. My life is nothing, if not a study in contrasts. I’m hunting down margin and nailing him to sandy ground.

This song by Mumford and Sons is my series in a nutshell. Listen to it more than once. Feel his passion. Let the lyrics dip deep.

{The truth is gnawing at him too.}

Let us sit for a while here. Let us confess that for all our sweat, our ‘blood runs weak.”

And then we plead together, “Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn.”

Hospitality is our soul offering to others.

Hospitality is that margin of ourselves that we set aside so that love can happen.

Hospitality is the best of ourselves, broken and spilled out and lavished on our neighbor.

We live to serve.

Keep the earth below my feet,
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn.

******************

I have 4-5 good posts left but I’ve run out of days. I have 1-2 posts on table setting, the post on the well-appointed hostess, several recipes that we didn’t get to and a post on difficult guests. I’ve been discussing this with my people and we’ve decided to turn this series into a printable pdf/ebooklet.!!!! The work has already begun. The new ‘days’ will be added and the content will be maximized for printing. We hope to finish before Christmas. I’m so excited about this!!!! But it will be a lot of work so bear with me. I’ve added a few more pins to the Hospitality Board at Pinterest so feel free to peruse it. Also, don’t forget to add links to your recipes to the comments on this post-–some of those will be used in the booklet!

Also, the 12 Days of Christmas is supposed to start tomorrow but I have a prior posting commitment that totally slipped my mind (please forgive me) and the first tutorial (WHICH IS AWESOME) will be posted early the next day. Get your glue guns and your sewing machines ready!

Also, our online book club begins Plato’s Republic tomorrow and the post for Antigone, along with an introduction to Plato will be added later today! To join, just buy the book, start reading and check the forum and my blog occasionally for updates.