Book Cover with Magnetic Closure

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

The addition of magnetic clasps provide a neat and clean way to put a closure on purses and accessories. After being unable to locate my magnetic clasps for a project that I was working on, I came up with the idea of using regular old craft magnets instead. They take a little bit of forethought to use in a project, but they work well. They're very economical too!

Two things to note: Take care to ensure that your magnets aren't opposing when placed into your project or your closure will not work. Another is to remember that thin fabrics work well around the closure areas. Too many thick layers of fabric will provide you with a very weak closure. Because there are layers of fabric between the magnets, you will not get as strong of a hold as direct magnet contact would give you.

To begin, I give each magnet a coat of clear acrylic spray to protect the fabric from the black coloring in the magnets. I have found that most magnets do not shed it's color, but some do. I say that it's better to be safe than sorry.


For this book cover, I am using a hexie flower as a closure. I placed the magnet into the center of the wrong side of the flower and placed another hexie over the magnet to secure it.


The hexie is then hand sewn in place before being covered by another hexie flower.


After determining where the second magnet should be placed in the book cover (determine this by where the hexie flower closure will be), place the magnet onto the wrong side of the lining. Cover the magnet with a small piece of fabric and sew it in place. I've used a zipper foot to get close to the magnet. Neatness isn't too much of an issue in this step as the magnet will be hidden in the lining and will not be visible on the outside of the book cover.


I have used my bone folder to point out where the magnet is. As you can see, it is barely visible as I have used matching thread in securing the magnet to the lining.


This photo shows the bone folder pointing to the location of the magnet on the book cover front. As you can see, it is barely visible. Also visible is the underside of the hexie flower with the magnet in it's center.


The completed note book cover with a magnetic hexie flower closure.


I hope you've enjoyed seeing my improvised version of a magnetic clasp closure.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your wonderful comments and emails. I continue to be overwhelmed with your kindness and generosity. More than I deserve, really.

Have a fabulous day!

Aloha!

Pink Poinsettia

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

There is a cat that lives at our house. A very big and lovable cat. One of his favorite pastimes is to sit in front of the screen door and watch bugs and lizards go by. He is a very spunky and eager kitty who loves to pounce on the screen and often creates tears in it. Suffice to say, the screen often needs replacing.


This has left me with quite a collection of remnant fiberglass window screen.


I decided to use the pieces of screen to make poinsettia Christmas tree ornaments. (What can I say, I am already dreaming of the holidays). I cut petal-shaped pieces from the screen and painted it with acrylic paint. I also added dabs of pink glitter paint for a little glitz. (Please note that the petals can also be painted with spray paint which would be faster and less messy).


With needle and thread, I took running stitches along the base of seven petals, tied them into rounds, sewed two petal rounds together, and topped it with seed beads, sequence, and buttons. I think that this would make a nice Christmas tree topper if made larger and with the addition of a few more petal layers.


Christmas is in the air. I can feel it already and it has nothing to do with the air-con that I have on full blast. *wink* Or the steamy hot mug of apple cider sitting at my desk. If you're anything like me, you're heavily immersing yourself in thoughts of cooler days and evenings. Even if it means you're relying on your air-con to put you in the mood. Whatever works, right? And this really works for me.

Hope you're having a good day!

Aloha!

Ruffled Christmas Tree

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

Hi everyone! I'm back! Rested, refreshed, and ready to get back to the business of creating once again.

If you've been following my blog, you know how much I rely on cardboard circle templates. I keep a plastic bag filled with as many different sizes as possible. I really don't know what I would do without them.

This project relies heavily on circle templates. You can create your circles using a circle cutting system, a compass, or from items around your house . The kitchen is a great place to look...plates, bowls, and plastic lids all make wonderful templates. Better yet, if you have a circle cutting system meant for cutting fabric, use it instead and skip the cardboard templates altogether.


You will start out with 8 circles:
Cut the following sizes from fabric.
8-1/2", 8", 7-1/2", 7", 6-1/2", 6", 5-1/2", 5"
Keeping the circles in descending order will lessen the confusion.

Here is where it gets a bit tricky so we'll take it step by step.

Starting with the 8-1/2" circle: Remove a 4-1/2" circle from it's center. (You will be using some of the center circles for this project, so cut each one out carefully.)
Set the 8-1/2" circle aside. Take the 4-1/2" circle and remove a 2-1/2" circle from it's center. Set the 4-1/2" circle aside. Take the 2-1/2" circle and remove a 1-1/2" circle from it's center. Set the 2-1/2" circle aside and discard the 1-1/2" circle. (When I say discard, I really mean set aside for future project use).

For the 8" circle, remove a 4-1/4" circle from it's center. Set the 8" circle aside and discard the 4-1/4" circle.

For the 7-1/2: circle, remove a 4" circle from it's center. Set the 7-1/2" circle aside. Take the 4" circle and remove a 2-1/4" circle from it's center. Set the 4" circle aside and discard the 2-1/4" circle.

For the 7" circle, remove a 3-3/4" circle from the center. Set the 7" circle aside and discard the 3-3/4" circle.

For the 6-1/2" circle, remove a 3-1/2" circle from it's center. Set the 3-1/2" circle aside. Take the 3-1/2" circle and remove a 2" circle from it's center. Set the 3-1/2" circle aside. Take the 2" circle and remove a 1-1/4" circle from it's center. Set the 2" circle aside and discard the 1-1/4" circle.

For the 6" circle, remove a 3-1/4" circle from it's center. Set the 6" circle aside and discard the 3-1/4" circle.

For the 5-1/2 circle, remove a 3" circle from it's center. Set aside the 5-1/2" circle. Take the 3" circle and remove a 1-3/4" circle from it's center. Set the 3" circle aside. Discard the 1-3/4" circle.

For the 5" circle, remove a 2-3/4" circle from it's center. Set the 5" circle aside. Discard the 2-3/4" circle.

Whew, are you still with me??? Remember, this is simple if you take it one step at a time. I tried my best to utilize most of the center pieces so that there would be minimal fabric waste for this project.

You will end up with 14 donut-shaped pieces in the following sizes:
8-1/2", 8", 7-1/2", 7", 6-1/2", 6", 5-1/2", 5", 4-1/2", 4", 3-1/2", 3", 2-1/2",and 2"


With a scalloped edge scissor, cut around the outside edge of each circle.


For the base and trunk of the tree, you will need an empty thread spool and a drinking straw. Take a small piece of fabric and glue this around the spool of thread. Glue the drinking straw into the center of the spool of the thread.


Take a running stitch around the center straight edge of the 8-1/2" circle.


Place the gathered circle onto the straw, gather tightly, knot off, and slide it down to the base of the tree.


Continue adding gathered circles in descending order.


Use a little bit of glue to hold the top piece in place. Clip straw if needed. Glue a decorative button to the tree top.


A view from the top. Scrumptious, ruffly goodness.


I hope you enjoyed this project. Now go on and create a forest of ruffled Christmas trees to call your own!

Have a fabulous day everyone!

Aloha!

A Simple Drawstring Beach Bag

A very basic drawstring beach bag.


A towel is sewn into the bottom hem of the lining of the beach bag.


When beach time is over, fold the long ends of the towel to the center.


Roll and then tuck the towel into the bag, inverting the bag so that the towel and the pocket is now on the inside. The large interior zippered pocket is the same size as the length and width of the bag and is meant to hold suntan lotion and valuables. This is especially helpful if one should fall asleep while sunbathing. If someone tries to take your bag, they will have to take you along with it! When you get home from the beach, toss the bag/towel combo into the wash. Couldn't be easier!


Have a fabulous day!

Aloha!

'Sweet Summertime' Drink Coaster

I am sure that we have all received promotional CD's in the mail from companies trying to entice us into subscribing to some fabulous program or to a great internet service. It has always felt so wasteful to me to just toss them into the trash.

This sweet summertime coaster has a CD center and 2 rounds of flannel to absorb excess moisture.


This would also make a wonderful candle mat or a doily to sit beneath a pretty flower arrangement.


I prefer to use it as a coaster while having my morning cup of tea.


A couple of days ago I received a wonderful surprise in the mail from Sandra. She sent me the sweetest embroidered and scented sachets along with some chocolate. She lives in Portugal and both items come from her homeland. The chocolate was especially divine. My son came to me twice to tell me how delicious it was. Sandra, thank you again for your kindness.


Have a wonderful day.

Aloha!

'Blossoms at Sunset' Reversible Pincushion

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

To create this reversible pincushion, you will need 3 coordinating pieces of fabric cut to the following sizes:

*Two 6" x 6" pieces of fabric which will be used for the body of the pincushion, one for the top and the other piece for the bottom.

*One 21" x 2" piece for the decorative band

You will also need the following embellishments:

*21" piece of medium rick rack

*2 buttons

*8 to 12" of embroidery floss


For the decorative band:
With right side facing up, place rick rack onto the 21" edge of the decorative band, slightly less than 1/2" from raw edge as indicated by the ruler. Pin in place.

**Please note that if your rick rack should be larger or smaller, you will need to adjust this measurement so that the rick rack will be centered on the decorative band after sewing.


Machine stitch rick rack into place.


Pin right sides together along the 21" edge. Sew together using a 1/4" seam.


Trim the seam to 1/8" and turn it right side out. Iron flat. Cut the decorative band into 4 equal pieces.


Place one of the 6" x 6" pieces onto a flat surface, right side facing up. Mark the center at the outside edge with a pin. Repeat on all sides.


Pin the 4 pieces of decorative band to the 6" square, each one meeting at the center mark.


With sewing machine, baste the ends of the decorative band 1/8" in from the raw edge. Trim the ends of the decorative band to meet the raw edges of the 6" x 6" piece.


This is a close-up of the basting. This will hold the small pieces in place and keep them from shifting.


Place both 6" pieces right sides together.


Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along all 4 sides, leaving a 1-1/4" opening for turning. Clip corners and turn right side out.


Add the pincushion stuffing of your choice. Sew the opening closed using a ladder stitch. Tuft the center using embroidery thread, and add decorative buttons to both sides of the pincushion.


Now for the reversible part of this pincushion...Put your fingers through the decorative bands and pull it to the opposite side. This will give a fresh new look to your pincushion.

There you have it. Two pincushions in one!


Enjoy!

Aloha!

A Good Distraction

I realize that my postings have been few and far between, but with Vegas knocking at my door, I needed to start doing more trip planning and a little less creating. A quick jaunt to Vegas will be a good distraction and one that thankfully doesn't require enormous amounts of preparation.

I've come up with what I hope to be several entertaining shows. So far, we have tickets to Ka at the MGM Grand, Penn & Teller at the Rio, and Carrot Top at the Luxor. I've seen Carrot Top before and his show is pretty edgy and funny and something that I know my son will especially enjoy. I have a couple more shows in mind, but I think we're going to wait until we get there to purchase the tickets. There's always Tickets4Tonight for cheap, last minute show tickets. I'm just afraid that after three shows, we'll have had enough and opt to do something else instead. I'm also looking forward to having dinner at Hugo's Cellar at the Four Queens in Downtown. I've been there before and the atmosphere is just lovely and very old school Vegas. Can't wait!

If you have any suggestions for fun things to see or do in Vegas (other than the standard touristy stuff), I would love to know.

Take care, everyone!

Aloha!