How to applique a "Zzz" pillowcase

I love crafting "funny" and this is really funny. I also had so much fun posing Jane Doe Amineko for the shot just like in the book All Sewn Up that the tutorial is featured in.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to use a contrasting fabric like the directions in All Sewn Up specified or use some trim. After a little test driving I went with the black bias tape.
I pinned it on a pillowcase I had already made a while back so I simply took one of my smaller cutting mats and slipped it into the pillow so I could pin the ribbon in place without fear of pinning the front to the back.

A few laps through the sewing machine and I had a silly "Zzz" pillowcase!

If you like sewing adorable things I bet you will love:
All Sewn Up
by
Chloe Owens

More about the book from the publisher Cico Books:

"By replacing pens and pencils with needle and thread, and paint with fabric appliqué, Chloe Owens has applied artistic principles to sewing and created these unique projects showing her true passion for handcrafted things.

Packed full of 35 crafty ideas, Chloe uses a wide variety of techniques from embellishment and adornment to freehand embroidery that are forward thinking but still inspired by vintage style. Start by making something fun for a lunch with friends in Cooking Up A Storm. There are pretty placemats, table decorations, and even an apron for the hostess. In Cuddly Companions you will find a giraffe, lion, and bonkers bobtail bunnies to sew, each one decorated with pretty stitches. Gifts comes next, with tote bags and quilts that friends will love to receive. If you adore long lie-ins then Rest Your Weary Head has pillows with appliqué and embellishments, plus a Holly Golightly inspired eyemask. Finally, Room Decorations has wall murals and hangings to add a splash of color to your home. Every project comes with step-bystep instructions and adorable artworks, making everything so simple to stitch. There is also a handy

techniques section and templates to help you along the way. So what are you waiting for? Grab a needle and thread and get down to some seriously creative crafting."

Cool vodka packaging and crafty links

I love fun packaging. This is Firestarter Vodka that looks like a fire extinguisher is awesome. I also think that it is a riot that they have to put on the label, "This is not a fire extinguisher"

More things that might make you smile:

The Card Album Blog
Learn how to make a "Keep Calm and Cut On" recycled art card.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there tutorials on how to make tube rivets, recycled envelope stamped mail art, use an ironing board to adjust drape, info on Crafted at The Port of Los Angeles and a recipe for peanut butter bread.

RockPapeInk.com
Fumi Watanabe is inspired by her messy desk.

About Family Crafts
Play along with the new Make-It-Over craft challenge. This challenge is all about making crafts using Easter Peeps candy.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you a re-post of a fun magnetic Easter or Mother's Day project!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi makes some pop up cards using some beloved vintage imagery!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows off a new work in progress, a beautiful ripple shawl using self-striping yarn.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
One of The Artful Crafter's readers has developed a new, improved recipe for homemade polymer clay. Be sure to check out Eva’s recipe, as well as the darling "gingerbread" house she made with it.

Mixed Media Artist

What's a girl to do when she can't draw but she wants to include a drawing in her quilt?

Leather and Lace cuff

At an event I was at recently I spotted the lace part of this cuff peeking out from under the cuffs of the dress shirt this guy was sporting. I asked him how it was attached and he showed me the cool leather cuff part. Love it!

More crafty links I love:
Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a Double Giveaway filled with books and Westcott cutting tools, transparency versus opaque technique from Suzi Blu's new book, a wild scissor holder made from a doll head and a healthy shepherd's pie recipe.

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever thought about joining in with the "Take A Stitch Tuesday" challenge?

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to sew a scrap fabric and recycled tank top dress.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Looking for spring and Easter craft projects? The Artful Crafter has something for everyone!

Aileen's Musings
It's citrus season here in California and Aileen has turned into the Bubba Gump of Lemons! Check out the easy recipe she found for making lemon marmalade and download her free printable label.

How to make a scrap fabric and recycled tank dress

Maybe it's the time change or the super fun and inspiring book The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook but I just had to make some new(ish) clothes for the upcoming summer weather.
Here is my first dress. The dress section in The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook was where I took my inspiration for this upcycled outfit. Included in the book are "design wall" sections and pages of inspiration that other designers created. The design wall included swatches of eyelet and lace and the dress page included a lot of layered hems.
How I made my recycled tank top dress.

First I put the tank top on and then simply start holding up the scraps of fabric I pulled from the stash. I then start trimming them and pinning them (with little safety pins as I will need to take the top off and on a lot).

I should note here the scrap of eyelet in the bottom right of the photo didn't "make the cut" as it was stiffer than the other fabrics and I wanted this hem to have a soft drapey feel. I really did like the fabric but it will have to go into another project.

Then I simply stitched the scraps onto the bottom edge of the tank top.

There was a small imperfection on the tank so I cut a diamond shape out of one of the lace fabrics and top stitched it onto the tank aligning it with one of the points of the bottom added fabrics.

Oh I should note the straps of this tank were a bit long and they weren't adjustable so I detached them at the back , crossed them and then restitched them back on. Easy alteration!

And if I do say so myself looks pretty darn cute on. The dress form did it's best to model it ;)

So whether you like making spiffy new cloths with patterns (included with this book) or going it on your own with lots of inspiration I bet you will love:
The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook

More about the book from the publisher Potter Craft:
" If you’ve ever made your own clothes, you know how empowering it can be. That awesome skirt in a fabric you adore. The blouse that fits perfectly. The one-of-a-kind dress you just knew would look cuter with a few extra details at the neck and hem. All made by you. Creating fashionable, custom-fitted clothing is often much easier than you think, and in their first book, BurdaStyle—the largest community of aspiring fashion designers and style-savvy sewers—will show you how. Packed with easy-to-follow tutorials, five adaptable sewing patterns for a skirt, blouse, dress, coat, and bag, and fifteen step-by-step sewing projects, this book gives you the basic building blocks to begin sewing and the tools you need to move beyond the basics to designing and customizing your own wardrobe. If you’ve never threaded a needle before, you’ll find essential information on setting up a studio, using your sewing machine and other tools, working with patterns, and getting the perfect fit. For experienced sewers, the book offer tips and tricks for mastering techniques, as well as tons of design inspiration from seventy-eight BurdaStyle members from all over the world. With its unique blend of fashion, creativity, and expert know-how, The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook is the ultimate guide to sewing with style."

Set Decorator's Joke

If you happen to be a set decorator you will get this joke. If not you will probably just think this is bizarre.

Either way that's the photo of the day.

About Family Crafts
The current craft challenge might make you crave chocolate! Do you have a craft to share that is made using a Nesquik container?

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers you an Easter cocktail idea, a gift idea, and a freebie recipe card all wrapped up into one colorful DIY project!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has discovered some super duper soft yarn for baby afghans.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Come join the Card Party at The Artful Crafter and create cards for people with cancer.

Mixed Media Artist
Have you had the opportunity to experiment with rubbing plates, aka texture plates?

RockPaperInk.com
The Storyteller: The Glamorous Life of a Designer: How about we meet at 5G 93?

How to make a recycled leather St. Patrick's Day shamrock cuff

Shamrocks rock!
And making rockin' cuffs with recycled leather rocks!

It was so easy with the heart die and Sizzix die cutter.
I simply ran a scrap of green leather through the die cutter 3 times to get 3 hearts and free hand cut a stem. I laid out the hearts and stem on a another scrap of leather and crazy top stitched it.
Then I trimmed the scrap to fit on my wrist and sewed Velcro on the ends.
That's all there was to it!

Star sighting-The gracious Fred Willard at the SDSA Awards Luncheon

I had the pleasure of working with Fred Willard on a great project called Lilly's Light back when I worked as a Set Decorator so it was fun to see him again at the SDSA Awards Luncheon along with my good friend John (who I also had the pleasure of working with on the same show but now owns and runs Cleared Art Services.)

Now onto Crafty Links to kick off National Craft Month!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a bit of fashion and jewelry inspiration, spool and thread unconventional ideas, info on the upcoming Makerie event and Stitch & Craft Show along with how to make and eat stuffed artichokes.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi shows you how to apply tissue papers to new wood shapes by Claudine Hellmuth.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen invites you to check out 3 pages of freebie projects and techniques to inspire you and help you get your craft on!

Crafty Princess Diaries
It's big, super big, and knitters will want to know what the deal is with this new knitting book.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Make custom envelopes the quick and easy way with the Crafter's Companion Ultimate (CCU) crafting tool.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi shares a few more ideas for manipulating fabric and shows off her textured quilt top...now it's time for embellishments!