Balloon Valentines - Valentine You Make My Heart Pop

These were the easiest Valentines I've made in a long time.  We filled the balloons with candy and stickers.  There is a tutorial for using the top of a water bottle to fill balloons.  www.thegunnysack.com.  Everything we bought was too big to fit through the mouth of the bottle so I just held the neck of the balloon open while my dd stuffed in the treats.

28 Valentines cost about $5.00 - $2.00 for the balloons, $2.00 for treats, $1.00 for the curling ribbon.  For the free printable tag, visit my craftsy shop.
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/paper-crafts/valentines-day-balloon-tags/131087

Free Sewing Pattern & Tutorial

Check out this free sewing pattern on craftsy for these serger spool covers.  Keep your thread dust free.  

While you are over there check out her craftsy shop.  She has a really cute twirl skirt pattern.

Free Snack Bag Sewing Pattern for Easter

Head on over to my craftsy shop to download your free copy of this adorable carrot snack and treat bag sewing pattern.  You can make 2 bags with 1 orange and 1 green fat quarter and some satin ribbon.  The bags stitch up in under 20 minutes.  The downloadable pattern and tutorial have step-by-step, full color photos, instructions, and the printable pattern pieces.  I even teach you my super technique for fray proof seams without a serger or other special equipment.  In fact this is a basic pattern, easy enough for a beginner and can be sewn on the simplest machine.  Please share on pinterest or your blog with a link back!

Source: Free Carrot Snack & Treat Bag for Easter via GreenPatterns on Craftsy

Check out my craftsy shop to find this great pattern for free this February 2014

So, if you  have never checked it out, you should.  Craftsy is my new favorite website for finding all things crafty.  The patterns are available for instant download.  I've scored lots of free patterns and downloaded more than a few great patterns from other designers.  My favorite so far was a LaLaLoopsy pattern I downloaded for my daughter's b-day.  It was so simple to whip up.  I could have made a pattern similar myself, but sometimes its more fun to sew from a pattern someone else created.  

I'm giving this pattern away this month in my Craftsy shop.  The pattern is for the simple to sew plush wings.  My daughter just loved playing with these soft wings.  Bonus - they don't rip or snag like the fairy wings and there are no poky wires to cut little fingers.   

Source: Little Ladybug Dress Up Outfit Pattern via GreenPatterns on Craftsy

American Girl Doll Sewing Patterns and Tutorials.

I've been busily working on my new line of sewing patterns for American Girl Dolls.  I think they turned out pretty cute.    

Next stop, my new purse pattern line.  I've had the fabric stashed away for over a year.  I've just been waiting for the time to make them.  It should be a fun February.

Serger Thread on Sewing Machine

 Sewing Hack

I love to use serger thread for many of my projects.  Let's face it, serger thread is cheap.  The giant spool is $2.00.  You can put it on you standard sewing machine with one simple trick.  Slide the serger thread over a small spool.  You can see below that I have a used standard thread spool on the machine.  I put the serger spool on it.   Works like a top.

I am aware that serger thread isn't that strong.  I only use this hack when I'm making doll clothes or kids clothing for the most part.  Things that are not going to see that much wear and tear.  When I make heirloom quality items I use normal spools of thread.

However, when you are whipping up a skirt for a class party or making a couple of little outfits for your kid's doll there is no need to waste your best thread on those projects.



I also have a 2nd sewing machine where the thread holder is horizontal.  I use the above Thread Nanny Single Cone feeder on that machine.  Totally worth $12 if you ask me.  It was a gift from my lovely sister.  I didn't even know they existed until I unwrapped it on my birthday - Along with a orgnaizer and some thread keepers.  I guess someone didn't like my previous organizational method of throwing all my thread into a basket and then complaining every time because all the thread ends were tangled up.  ;)

Soft Doll Sewing Pattern

Source: The Beavertons Soft Doll Sewing Pattern via WeeWorldPatterns on Craftsy

It's been a while since I've had a chance to post.  My health food business is booming so I've put sewing on the back burner more than I would like to lately.  But, now that I have a little lull, I am finally back to working on my newest line of patterns, Wee World Patterns.  They are like giant, plush Weebles.  I first made a barnyard inspired set for my niece as bowling pins.  Now, I'm making a whole world of the little critters.  Check them out on Craftsy if you get a chance.