Customized TeaTowels - Homemade Christmas Gifts

For the past few years our family has tried to do mostly homemade gifts. Its been awesome. This year it was a combination of homemade and 'your favourite things' (ie inexpensive things you love that you want everyone else to have)

Keeping gifts in the $10ish range made things much more creative and thoughtful. Some highlights include  bacon jam, franks red hot, minstrels and roses chocolates, norwex cloths, cookbook, natural soap, cosmetics bag, HP sauce, caramel popcorn, pens, crocheted dish cloths, painted initials for my daughters room door, and I am sure I am forgetting a few others...

I came up with a homemade idea before we decided to do the 'fav things' and so continued along with my idea following a online tutorial on spoonflower.com (a website where you can customize fabric).

Way back in september I asked my mom to handwrite a family recipe for me. She was a little confused since she knew I had a typed version but did so anyways without question. Then after scanning the recipe and creating a file to upload (took a little longer than I would have thought but in the end figured it out). Then I ordered my fabric and waited. I think it took about 6 weeks to arrive - this is the earliest I have ever started christmas projects!

Once the fabric arrived, I cut it up - 4 tea towels per yard of fabric. Folded the edges and sewed some straight seams. I also added a loop on the bag to hang from a hook.

This was super easy and everyone loved it. I think the total cost (with shipping) was around $7 each.

- Lauren

DIY Roman Blinds

Inspired by a friend who recently made roman blinds for her new cottage, I followed the same online blog tutorial and made some for my guest room.

They are alittle too narrow and probably hanging too far out (since I just hung them from the existing curtain rod). But they are much better than what used to be there and I didn't have to buy any new material. I figure I could just add some black trim to make them wider if necessary.

- Lauren

Simple Sewing

So a few months ago, I made my niece a baby sling for her doll. (A sling, very similar to one her mom has)
This was an extremely simple sewing project. I literally took a piece of fabric, folded it, and sewed the edges together to form a circular piece of fabric. The end result, was a really cute way for my niece to sling around her doll (I wouldn't trust my sewing to carry an actually baby in the sling, but a doll... absolutely!)

what a cutie!


- Leah

Can You Keep A Secret?

Here is a sneak peak of the sweater/jacket I made my mom for Christmas!

(since my mom doesn't own a computer, I'm trusting that she won't see this post before Christmas :)
so shhh don't tell )

My Mom is shorter than me, and more petite in her frame.. so this sweater will fit her perfectly...(you will see its a little too short on me).

I used the Vogue Pattern V8756.  This was the first time I have used a lining on a shirt.  It was definitely harder to make with the lining, but it made all of the seams polished and smooth.

Also, this colour is SO my mom!  I cannot wait to give it to her!

I love the feeling of giving a really great gift to someone you love! :)

 

Whats the gift you are most excited to give this year?

- Leah

Sew Chic

A few weeks ago I finished my very first dress. I was pretty impressed with myself... not too bad for my first big sewing project :)

I used Vogue pattern V8379, and here are the results...

- Leah