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Archive for August, 2009

Furoshiki

Furoshiki  is a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used for gift wrapping.  I am totally taken with this method for wrapping gifts.  It is not only beautiful but also eco friendly.

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My sister-in-law loves wrapping gifts so for her birthday I ordered an advance copy of the book, Wrapagami: The Art of Fabric Gift Wraps. I packaged the order slip like this with a Furoshiki cloth I made for her.

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The book arrived and it is fabulous.

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I think it is the best book I have seen on the subject.  The pictures are beautiful and the instructions and illustrations are easy to follow and understand!

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There are so many styles I want to try!

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Tips for making your own Furoshiki cloth

  • The fabric cloths are usually square.  A standard size is 28" X 28". You will need a larger cloth for some techniques.
  • Hem the edges of the fabric or simply cut with pinking shears to save time and keep the edges from un-raveling. I used the technique for making square corner cloth napkins to finish off my wrap.
  • If you don't want to make your own cloth Jenn Playford has a line of cloths called Furochic.

How to use your Furoshiki Cloth

Download a handy Illustrated Furoshiki Guide from the Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan.

See Jenn, the author of Wrapagami, explain how to use Furoshiki.

Furochic Bouquet Wrap

Furochic Double Book Wrap

Furochic Handbag Wrap

Furochic Cushion Wrap

Furochic Basic Wrap

Furochic Double Bottle Wrap

Furochic Box Wrap

Furochic Kangaroo Wrap

The book is a must! Happy wrapping!

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Crochet Mosaics

Just a heavy piece of cardboard, some scraps of yard, a crochet hook and glue provided some fun today!

I crocheted some chains in different lengths (actually the girls told me what color and how long).  If they were older it would have been fun to have them crochet their own chains.

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They put glue on the cardboard.

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Then they expertly arranged the crochet chains on the glue.

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Ta Da!

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I think this activity would be great for older (Kate and Bella are 4 1/2) children  too! It would be easier for older children to fill in the whole space and it would also provide a fun way for them to practice crochet skills.

How to make a pencil bag out of juice bags

In case you missed this last year here is a simple pencil bag tutorial from the Skip to my Lou Archives. If you don't drink juice try this lined zippered pouch to send your kids back to school with something special. Don't forget to add a  message (maybe an inspirational quote, words of encouragement or a secret love note) to the inside lining of your fabric pouch!

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I made this juice bag pencil pouch for my son's first day of school. He really wanted the Kool-Aid Sport juice bags (because they look Cool) but the store was out and this is what we had.

You need 4 juice bags and an 8 inch zipper for this little pencil case. If you need a larger pencil bag try 3 bags lined up vertically.

Cut a slit in the bottom of each empty juice bag and rinse. Allow bags to dry.

Lay two bags end to end, one on top of the other. They should measure 9 1/2 inches in total length. Stitch through the bags at the bottom of the top bag. I found a heavy duty needle (like for denim) helpful. I was also using a heavy duty thread. Repeat for other size.

Stitch one side of the zipper to the top of the bags ---right sides together.

Notice carefully where to stop stitching. Do not stitch to edge.

Stitch the other side of bag to the zipper, again right sides together.

Lay zipper and bags flat and top stitch down each side of zipper.

Bring bags together wrong sides together. Fold zipper ends down on each side.

Starting at top side stitch down the side, across the bottom and up the other side.

I trimmed off just a little on each side to make it even.

There you go, a recycled pencil bag!

Homemade Wedding Gift Ideas

Rachel of One Pretty Thing is here today sharing some fabulous ideas for handmade wedding gifts! If you are looking for the perfect gift, Rachel has found some ideas for you!

Handmade Picks For Wedding Gifts
By Rachel Klein of One Pretty Thing

August. In my neck of the woods that means one thing every weekend. Weddings! As I like to give handmade at as many events as I can, I thought I'd share some fun DIY projects that make great wedding gifts. Even if I'm buying off the registry or contributing to a group gift, I like to add a little something handmade. Buying the glasses the couple registered for? Add handmade coasters for a thoughtful package that the new couple will treasure.

Give the gift of housewares with an assortment of handmade textile gifts.

*Gift a set of these patchwork dishtowels from Film in the Fridge.
*Give the gift of fresh air with Derek and Lauren's double sided picnic blanket on Design Sponge.
*Martha's patchwork tablecloth and napkins can be made to match any decor or holiday.
*A set of The Purl Bee's oilcloth grocery bags gets the new couple off on an eco-friendly foot.
*Lady Havatine's rick rack cocktail napkins go perfectly with all types of glass wear and bar accessories.

Help the newlywed's decorate their new home with a thoughtful, handmade accent sign.

*Try this painted wooden letter sign from A Thousand Words.
*Jannypie's lettered sign works well for words and symbols.
*Maya's twinkle board on Design Sponge would be fun for the couple who loves to entertain.
*Cathe Holden's reverse painted sign on Living Locurto is perfect for commemorating a wedding date.
*Right At Home's vintage style sign would look great in a kitchen or dining room.

Holiday items also make wonderful gifts for the newly married. Why not start their collection of handmade family heirlooms with a gift from the heart? Just be sure the couple celebrates that holiday you're crafting for!

*Turn a photo of their home into My Sweet Savannah's beautiful home of the holidays sign.
*Sew an heirloom quilted tree skirt with Tallgrass Prairie Studio on Sew, Mama, Sew!
*The Purl Bee's advent calendar is so much fun for playful newlyweds.
*Whip up a pair of cozy sweater stockings from Martha.
*Count down to a first Christmas with Oh Fransson's advent calendar on Sew, Mama, Sew!

Wrapping the gift is half the fun. I like to take my cue from the wedding venue and wedding colors indicated on the invitation when deciding how to wrap my gift. If you're hesitant to gift handmade at a wedding, start with a DIY gift wrap project. It's an easy way to add a thoughtful touch to any gift.

*For a winter wedding, wrap the gift in a wedding color and add Martha's handmade monogram ornament.
*Beach wedding? I like to create a sea glass heart on a white box, then write the couple's initials in it.
*For a fall wedding, I like to wrap the entire package in yarn a la Inspired Kara.
*For a glitzy glam wedding, nothing beats Gift Decorating's platinum wedding ribbon and bead wrapping.
*And my all-time favorite DIY wedding gift wrap? The exploding tissue top. Cut out the tissue paper squares in the wedding colors and get gluing! New York Magazine has the details.

The key to gifting handmade is planning, planning, planning. For a wedding, start planning as soon as you receive the save-the-date. This will give you ample time to decide on a project, purchase materials and finish your project. There's nothing more stressful than 11th hour sewing as you're driving to your destination. And if you have any concerns about giving a handmade gift, I find it easiest to go to a family member of the couple, let them know what I have in mind and getting their input. Often I'll come away with the couple's favorite color combo or the tip that they just painted their living room green-great things to know when you're making something for their new home. Happy wedding crafting!

Free Printable Lunch Box Notes

Skip on over to AlphaMom where I have some free printable lunch box notes waiting for you to help you get ready for back to school!

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There are even some you can customize!

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© 2009 Skip To My Lou