Friday, January 14, 2011
girly shoe tags: a tutorial
As a practice I'm sure they'll talk about in therapy later, I often buy my girls the same shoes because when I find some that fit one well, they usually fit the other one well, and let's face it, I like to just get it done. And goodness knows if I happen to buy different pairs according to what I think each will like, one inevitably likes her sister's shoes better and it all ends in tears.
However, when you buy two pairs of the same you have a different problem - whose shoes are whose? I am not up for grubbing inside the shoe to search for the size tag. So I made some quick layered felt flowers with leaves in their favorite colors and sewed them on so that their latest casual shoes can be identified with a quick glance.
It's a quick and easy project and I thank myself for it every time they get dressed. You could also use an alphabet bead instead of a button for each girl's initial. If your shoes lack the obliging fabric or webbing inserts, you could always opt to sew them around the strap or add a clip. If you would like to make some girly shoe tags like these, here's the simple pattern PDF to download:
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
another anthro-mutation pillow and yes, I have a thing for birds and leaves
When my BFF and I hit the Anthro in New Orleans a while back I got this great Angela Adams dishtowel. I can't imagine using dishtowels I buy there for drying dishes or mopping up milk. That just seems insane, so it was bought with future pillows in mind.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcuegaEv7Vl2E0CzMMOf4-j1cX6Rpi4Izcrn0Zm_UFr3fRtwpgkA5G0KIxBaug8pkj8KEC1eH9IlzXlIsdTx2VfZOL_RZ9poXqpAHvuUupQ_zWEs6Ektwk-rllSpS9rYf1WHI9m1eCQm5/s400/IMG_0924.jpg)
I cut the dishtowel in half and used one half of it to make the front of the pillow. It needed some applique leaves on a stem for a punch of color. Then it needed some embroidery on the bird to balance some of the new color. I was just going to back it with some contrasting fabric and stuff it, but then I realized:
- I was not in the mood to stuff anything. I really don't enjoy it.
- I had a pile of perfectly good square pillows just sitting there
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpES1XsSJMMx-1HrlWfUOPzLlg0XLTpmF7hlEemskoDYsqpXLGs4Z-M9RFDHiA-qZAuPGpcgPo5vBhljdKusu672PIkLsG4-9EZLPsGVDS6ZwScKNDF10YBCP0Hn-drHgLrrx0Lu3ew29b/s400/IMG_0929.jpg)
Then I backed it with denim that was overlapped in the middle just like I did to the napkin pillow here, so it is a removable cover. I stuffed in the square pillow, tacked it shut and added a button for looks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pgdru-Q48EA_ppfmJuELO1-K1tVsZhrNLN9cK0gYLXi5u85tdG2PkVSAwWFn6xrY4dJ3dblCIoa2mvaPRCmCmEXs3bxVdpa3KF_YrD51t_2VM9jmzLLbN8J5FDami5T3il3qKBdinHi0/s400/IMG_0931.jpg)
Now I need to do something with the other half of the dish towel and cute leftover ball trim. I keep everything. You should see my ridiculous pile of scraps. It is really hard for me to throw away fabric. I did an epic cleanout of my craft loft yesterday and I made myself donate a bunch of thrifted fabric and clothing that has been sitting up here for ages. My husband saw the large pile I was carrying out and murmured "Thank you, Lord, for answered prayers" and wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. My craft loft is also his office.
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