Dress Up Clothes Patterns

Looking for a great gift for this holiday season?  How about dress up clothes for toddlers/preschoolers.  I even donated several to the preschool classroom.

You can make 2 for under $8.00.  Talk about a great and affordable gift.  Plus, what little kid doesn't like dinos and dragons?  We also have bears, puppies, cows, and more.  Here.

New Pattern Preview

First, sorry about the lack of blog posts recently but with our girls going back to school and the never ending responsibilities of being on the board of our coop preschools it has been a rough start to the new school year.  Plus, we have been so busy working on getting our Granola Tree products into specialty markets that there just hasn't been much time for fun crafting.  But, we did take a little break out this Halloween to work on developing our newest pattern, a circle skirt.  I should have this pattern posted in our shop in the next week or so.  These skirts are so simple to sew and only take about 20 minutes each.  The best part about this pattern is that it uses the super wide waistband elastic which really saves time as you do not need to sew an elastic channel.  Also, it add to the comfort of the skirt which is really important if you have a sensative kid like mine.  These skirts are done in a holiday print but would be cute in solids, wild safari prints or just about any other combination you might fancy.  If you are feeling really lave you could make a no hem option with jersy or maybe glam it up with that confetti dot fabric. 

Teacup Piggy Project

This year all Kamille wanted for Christmas were 2 teacup pigs, which she was calling purse pigs.  So, I tracked them down and they were actually pretty affordable - $12.99 for the pig and it's plastic teacup.  I wanted them to be a gift from the man in red, so I needed them to have a bit more pop than just presenting naked pigs under the tree. 

Last year we did a post on upcycled dog toys.  One of the items was from a blogger who took an old suitcase and turned it into a small dog bed.  I don't have a small dog, but I still had that project in my mind because it was so cute.  So, I decided to take this old rummage sale find - a hairdryer case - $2.00 and turn it into a little bed for the piggies. 

 This project wasn't hard and had a lot of give because all of the trim covers up an little mistakes you may make.  However, it took several hours.  First, I used hot glue to put a layer of fleece on the outside of the case, top and bottom.  I wanted it to look upholstered.  Once I had the fleece on there, I trimmed away the excess.  Next, I added the fabric with more hot glue.  It is a slow process to smooth out the fabric and get it looking just right.  Use HIGH temp glue for the best results.  I then trimmed away the extra fabric.  Then I used ribbons to form a decorative band around the edges and to cover the fabric.  I also glued some trim onto the handle strap to jazz it up. 
 

 After that, I used the same ribbon trim to make some "hinges" that would hold the case open.  I added the self-sticking hooks to hold extra clothes (which are mia somewhere in Kamille's room right now) and accessories.  Finally, I filled the bottom with stuffing and then glued in the leopard fabric to make the bed.  I left enough room that she can close the case with both pigs inside and carry it around or store it.   

  I also made some outfits for the pigs.  They sell outfits that retail for about $10.00 - which is crazy.  Plus, the outfits have arms and legs.  No 3-year-old is getting the arms and legs of one of these little pigs through the sleeves of some tiny outfit.  I based my pattern on a dog coat.  It velcros under the neck and tummy.

 The final item I made was this little purse that holds both of the pigs. 

Featured on Very Berry Handmade

This morning a very special thanks goes out to Very Berry Handmade for featuring our Doctor Kit Pattern in her spotlight on Folksy Patterns.  If you don't know already, Folksy is our newest venue for selling our patterns.  It's pretty much a UK version of Etsy.

If you haven't seen this pattern before, I would like to tell you a couple of things about it.  First it is so easy to sew.  There are lots of pieces, which gives a big impact when you look at it, but it is truly a beginner pattern.  Each piece is incredibly easy to put together.  Secondly, this pattern really is a must have if you have toddlers/preschoolers to gift to.  They LOVE this pattern.  Belle, Maggie, and Kamille will actually spend hours playing with this Doctor Kit. I added some great elements you don't get in the cheap plastic kits, like bandages, splints for broken arms, a face mask, nurse's hat, and blood pressure cuff. 

PRICE COMPARISON

On Amazon, the plastic kits range from $14.95 to $39.99 (For Melissa and Doug).  They are full of small pieces that really aren't for toddlers (plus they get lost).   I bought a plastic kit for Kamille last Christmas and the stethoscope was broken by the end of the day.  Most of the pieces a lost or thrown away.  For the same $15.00 you could as the plastic and cardboard kit, you could make the pattern kit with LOADS of extra pieces.  You could probably make 2 kits for the same price.  (And I only say that b/c the pattern is $6.00). 

Green Organic Health & Beauty Recipes

If you haven't looked up our post on green cleaning products, you should.  It was by far the most popular post we ever did.  So, I was inspired today to put together a green, organic health and beauty post.

Shampoo

Love to Know has loads of organic shampoo recipes for all hair types.  Here is one of their great recipes:

• 2 cups strong, hot chamomile tea
• 3 tablespoons grated castile soap
• 1 tablespoon glycerin
• 5 drops of essential oil of choice

Place the grated soap in a bowl. Pour the hot tea over it and let stand a few minutes. Whisk in the glycerin and the essential oil. Pour into a bottle and keep in a cool, dark place.
Place the flowers in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Let stand for 15 minutes, and then strain into the other bowl. Clean the first bowl. Combine the soap and hot infusion in it. Let stand until the soap softens -- a few minutes. Beat in the glycerin and food coloring until well blended. Pour the mixture into the bottle. Keep in a cool dark place.

• For brunettes a tea of rosemary or sage can be used.
• For redheads a tea of calendula will bring out the highlights and shine.
• For gray hair a rinse made of betony will take any yellow out.

Conditioner

Making your own conditioner is a bit harder.  You really have 2 main options, eggs (which are cheap) or yogurt.  I would rather die than stick a raw egg on my hair, but that's just me.  So, you can make an organic yogurt conditioner by combining yogurt with essential oils. 

Another option is to combine ¼ cup olive oil,¼ cup vegetable oil, ½ cup water, 2 tbsp honey and boil on stove. Immediately remove from heat and allow to cool. Transfer into a spray bottle. Spray on wet hair and wrap hair in towel for 15 minutes. Remove towel and rinse. Store conditioner in a cool place between uses.

If you want to get more complicated, you can use this great recipe to make your own traditional style conditioner.  Plus, easyaromatherapyrecipes tells you exactly what types of herbs and oils to use based on your hair type to make this recipe custom for your needs. 

Basic Natural Hair Conditioner Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons (30ml) Carrier Oil (i.e. olive oil) for your hair type
• 1 tablespoon (3-4g) Emulsifying Wax
• 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) Vitamin E (or 2 capsules)
• 1/2 cup (125ml) distilled Water or Herbal Infusion
• 5 drops Grapefruit Seed extract
• Essential Oil Blend for your hair type

Directions

1. Stir together the oil and emulsifying wax in the top part of a double boiler, warming slowly over a low heat until the wax is melted. Remove from heat and pour in the Vitamin E.
2. In a separate pot on the stove or in the microwave, gently warm the water or herbal infusion just until lukewarm.
3. Slowly pour the water into the oil, stirring constantly with a wire whisk until the mixture is thick and smooth.
4. Stir in the essential oils and the grapefruit seed extract. Pour the natural hair conditioner into a clean, sterilized 8oz (250ml) dark glass or PET plastic bottle and allow it to cool before putting the lid on.
5. Shake the bottle occasionally as the conditioner cools to prevent the ingredients from separating. Store in a cool, dark place.

A whole lb of emulsifying wax is only $6.50.  So, making your own organic conditioner is a huge money savings. 

This would make a great Christmas gift to give sisters or moms.  You can even make up your own custom labels. 

Shower Puff

Joy 2 Sew created a great tutorial on this crocheted shower puff. 

You may also want to check out this post from Salihan Crafts to see how to reuse your old netting shower puffs. 

Skin Care

Sugar Scrub - this stuff is great for moisturising skin and exfoliating. 

The basic formula is:

1/2 cup sugar and enough cold-pressed oil (olive, wheat germ, peanut, corn, or sunflower) to dampen the mixture

Healing Scrub
Basic formula + aloe vera, vitamin E oil, or vitamin c crystals, essential oils for aroma


Holiday Spice Scrub

1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, oil to moisten (try a nut oil), cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg


Coffee Lover Scrub

Basic formula + 1/4 finely ground coffee - plus this one will wake you up!

For all of the sugar scrubs, you want to store them in an airtight plastic or glass container.

Moisturizer

There are lots of great moisturiser recipes out there.  Ezines has a great article with some super simple moisturizer recipes.   

Super Simple Moisturizer
With only 2 necessary ingredients, this one is a breeze. Mix 1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel (directly from plant) and 2 tablespoons organic vegetable glycerin. This amount is for use over the entire body. Use immediately because aloe vera gel begins to lose potency immediately. For added effects, you can add 3 or 4 drops of your favorite essential oil or you can add 1/2 teaspoon of active royal jelly for anti aging effects. Active royal jelly must be kept refrigerated to remain active and can be found in refrigerated sections of health food stores.



Make-up Remover

2 tbps aloe vera + 1 tbsp jojoba or olive oil

2 cups non-fat dry milk + 1 cup oatmeal - grind this into a powder in the food processor or coffee mill.  Save in a glass jar.  To remove makeup, mix in water to form a paste.  This mix not only removes makeup, but is an acne fighter as well. 

Also, I saw a girl on etsy selling organic cotton non-disposable make-up remover pads.  Basically, she crocheted little circles to use over and over again.  How simple and fun of a gift for someone.   So, you can click here to get the directions for crocheting your own circles to make permanent make-up removers. 

Organic Nail Polish

If you mix a fine powdered henna with water to form a thin paste (not runny) you can use it to make your nails light pink.  Apply with a brush being careful not to hit your skin.  Let it dry and then rinse away with warm water.  It will not chip, but just fade away after several days.

Natural Nail Polish Remover

Vinegar + Lemon Juice = a natural nail polish remover.  It takes longer to remove the polish, but it will break down the polish and you will be able to wipe it off.  You can soak your nails in the mix or apply to a cotton ball.

Homemade Lip Balm

• Small Glass jars with lids (or containers of choice)
• 4 Teaspoons Jojoba Oil
• Beeswax
• Essential Oil of Choice (For Fragrance)
• Cheese Grater
• Piping Bag

The Recipe

1. The first step is to grate the beeswax, take the cheese grater and the beeswax and grate until you have approximately three teaspoons.
2. Heat the jojoba oil and the beeswax together until melted. Stir occasionally until it has reached the desired consistency.
3. Remove from heat, still stirring so all of the ingredients combine as they should.
4. Add a drop of essential oil(s) of choice.
5. While the mixture is still warm, pour mixture into piping bag so you will be able to evenly and cleanly distribute the lip balm mixture into the containers.
6. Evenly pipe the mixture into containers and let sit for an hour so the lip balm will set evenly.
7. After your homemade lip balm is set and no longer has the jelly consistency you may attach the lid, and enjoy your homemade creation.
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Toothpaste

Feb 17th, 2009

by TheOrganicSister.

I’ve made adjustments to my homemade toothpaste recipe. We had used the old recipe for awhile, then switched back to Tom’s of Maine until I finally got off my butt and experimented with new measurements and flavors. There seems to be a short adjustment period with stinky breath when making the switch; I haven’t quite figured out why. Anyone know?

Here’s the new recipe I’ve settled on for now; “parts” equals teaspoons for me:
4 parts baking soda (Or was it six? Dang!)
2 parts hydrogen peroxide
2 parts water
1 part aloe vera
1 part vanilla extract
I’m storing it in a small jar that used to hold yeast, cuz how else can those tiny jars be reused? And yes, I really am using vanilla extract. The peppermint flavor from the last toothpaste recipe was a bit blech for me. In all honesty, I don’t taste much vanilla at all. I might increase it next time. Or I might skip it all together. I only wanted to use it up so I can start using my homemade vanilla extract!


Another option is:

 

Homemade toothpaste3 tbs baking soda (bi-carb soda)
1/2 tsp salt
approx. 1 tbs water
20-30 drops peppermint extract or peppermint essential oil

* Mix the bi carb soda and salt thoroughly, then add the water a little at a time to form a paste. Add the peppermint extract and combine well. Store in an airtight container.

Click here to see more of this great blog.

 

Also, please do not leave comments about your personal feelings about using baking soda or peroxide on your teeth.  People should discuss the recipes with their dentists. 

PS - If you are wondering what Castile Soap is, it's soap that is made from 100% or nearly 100% olive oil. 

Homemade Herbal Shampoo

A Play Little Kitchen Makeover

I took a little break from sewing this weekend to redo my daughter's play kitchen.  Previously, she had a plastic princess kitchen.  It went into the garage to be played with in the yard next summer.  Totally useless is how I would describe it.  The door fell off every time she opened it.  For the first few days, the novelty of the singing stove was great, but after that there just wasn't enough to do.  It was ultimately a waste of $100.00.  So, my mom found this little wooden kitchen set for $15 at a thrift store. 

It was white and getting pretty beat up.  I decided to give it a restyle with some paint.  I had a gallon of blue and a gallon of pink in the basement.  I started with that.  Then, I used cheap craft paint to create a simple design.  It's not my best paint job.  I could only find foam paint brushes.  I just don't know where all of my good brushes went off to.  Anyway, I really covered up how warped the doors were with this busy paint scheme.  I made the polka dots with the brush handle.    I finished it off with some marine varnish.  I want to wash it without the paint coming off.  I actually let Kamille roll on most of the pink with a mini roller.  She was thrilled.  I think that she still has paint in her hair, but she was so excited to get to use the paint roller like a "big mamma".  I still need to put the handles back on, but it's about 95% finished.

Great Recycled Cabinet Redo

This is a really inspiring project made from 2 cabinets purchased from a salvage yard.  Click here for the full play kitchen project.

You really could use any old cabinets to make up a little play kitchen.  Even a couple of those built it yourself closet organizers would work so well with a little paint and some wooden shapes and knobs. 

 Here is another really cute idea for a DIY kitchen with what you have.  This would be a great kitchen for a really little toddler or for outdoors.  You could bring it into the garage in the winter. 

This is from www.ohdeedoh.com/.../020910-mia-play-kitchen.jpg

Wood Working Plans 

I also found these great plans, available for $9.00 to make your own set. 

Family Fun had another great idea for a play kitchen that uses a laminated shelf and 2 shoe racks. 

Click here for the free tutorial and play kitchen plans.

Felt Food

Don't forget to go green and safe and make some great felt food for the kitchen. 

A Sewing Alphabet - A if for Applique - Tutorials, Tips, and Tricks

A is Applique - Tutorial and Ideas Round -up

I just thought that I would share this funny story about my daughter.  Every night we go through the alphabet and come up with a word for each letter - A for Apple, etc.  Last night she wanted me to do the entire alphabet in sewing terms.

That's how much time I've been spending in the studio.   Even my 3-year-old is obsessed with sewing now.  So, I thought that I would make a weekly feature of going through the alphabet and bringing you great products, tips and tricks for each letter. 

This is a great step-by-step tutorial from SewMammaSew's blog:

Click for the free applique tutorial.

This is an adorable blog, full of great ideas and inspiring products.  SewLikeMyMom - she's just a mom with two adorable kids and lots of fun ideas for projects.  There are some really great things that you will want for your portraits. 

She gives a step-by-step for creating appliques with fusible web. 

Click here for her etsy shop.

Now, here is my tutorial for simple appliques.  I know that everyone loves fusible web, but it isn't always the thing I want to use on projects.  Plus, it's actually a little expensive.  I learned this technique from Mrs. Lamb - a wonderful quilting instructor who used it on a baby quilt for my niece, Maggie Rose.

You need cotton that you want to applique and TULLE. 

For small appliques it is easier to use the spooled tulle because it's easier to control.  For larger projects you might need tulle by the yard. 

You will layer the tulle over your fabric.  If you are using a specific design, you should pin it down or trace it onto the 2 layers of fabric. 

 It's hard to see but there is a layer of tulle on this cotton.

With both layers, cut out your shape.  For the tutorial, I just did a heart to show that you can use this technique on rounded shapes.

Sew around the entire shape.  For a rounded shape you want to clip around the perimeter so that it will turn smoothly.

On the tulle side, you need to clip a small hole.  You use this hole to turn the piece.

Now you have a piece that is turned.  You need to press it to get a crisp, perfect edge.  Start with the iron on the lowest setting and before it really even starts to heat up, press the edges down.  The tulle can melt, so you want a barely hot iron when you start.  Once the edges are pressed down, flip the piece over, turn up the iron and really press the whole piece.

 

Now you have a lightweight applique that you can straight stitch down onto the piece.  This is great for stretch fabric, like onesies, t-shirts, etc. that stretch when you try to use a satin stitch.  It is also nice for lightweight and delicate fabrics that might rip or fray from a satin stitch. 

Here are some great tutorials from Cut Out and Keep!

See Cute Doggy Applique Teeshirt Recon and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep


See How To Applique and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep


See Cute Felt Appliques and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

Happy Sewing!