How to make your own fabric coasters

    Having fabric coasters at your table can be one way to express your creativity. They are easy to make, look great, and are also washable. You can use them on both sides (something unusual for coasters) and store them in the same drawer with your dishcloths.
    You can impress your guests with these sustainable coasters and start a conversation about sewing!
All you need is some squares of fabric, a very thin quilting filling that you can buy at a fabric store, and a sewing machine.
    I started with different color fabric squares in  5" x 5" sizes. They were pre-cut, but if you have a few fabrics that you love, or you want to follow your kitchen's color scheme, make your own squares. You can find some “fat quarters” at the fabric store which are already grouped by the predominant colors.
    The filling is 1/16" thick, which I purchased by yard. Here are some of my fabrics: light, natural, greens.

    You need to cut the filling the same size as the fabric squares, at 5"
    You will place the 2 fabrics facing each other on the right side, and position the filling on top. Sew the 3 edges of the square and 3/4 of the 4th edge all around at 1/4"seam allowance. My picture has one side open, but I had to close 3/4 of it later, for better-looking product.

Trim the corners, and flip the coaster on the right side. Press it flat.
Close the opening by pressing the seam allowances in and sew it by hand with a small blind stitch. Press.
Sew the coaster on the right side, by making 2 X's in the middle, and then going around the edges at 1/4". You can also make the "X" and the 3 sides in one step, then you add the last step at the end, running over the ends to secure it.
You are going to have a 4.5" square coasters. Here is one of my 4, viewed from both sides:

Happy sewing! Send us some pictures with your finished product, and we will post them here!

It's Recital Time

It’s that time of the year again.  Dance schools all over the country are preparing for their annual spring performance.  It’s a busy time for me and my family as well.  My daughter, artistic director of Priceless Performers Dance and Theatre Arts Co., is busy getting dances completed.  My grandkids have been practicing for days now all around the house.  The show’s  theme this year is Broadway Bound and promises to be  very entertaining. 

 I thought I would share some famous dance quotes with you.

“If you stumble, make it part of the dance.” ~Author Unknown

“Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another.” ~Author Unknown

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” ~Martha Graham

“It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.”  ~Shanna LaFleur

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.”  ~Author Unknown

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storms to pass.  It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” ~Vivian Green

  

Vintage background is courtesy of http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/.
 

 “Dance like no one is watching.” ~ William W. Purkey

 

 

“Never miss a chance to dance.” ~Author Unknown

“Some dance to remember, some dance to forget.” ~lyrics from Hotel California by the Eagles

If you know some good dance quotes, feel free to share.

Thanks for stopping by...

Until next time...
 

 

 

 

Free Wrapping Paper

Thanks to the Graphics Fairy I was able to create my own wrapping paper.  It's easy to do and you can too.  These were printed on 11 x 17 tabloid paper.  I added ribbon (thanks to my daughter who has been busy making hairbows!) and  Voilà  you have a beautiful gift to share with someone special. 

 

I want to share my pdfs with you.  All you have to do is print!

 

 

Happy Wrapping!!!

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Until next time...

 

 

 





 



REMEMBERING MOM

This is the time of the year that our minds and hearts remember the moms in our lives.  When I first started my etsy store, I began by making greeting cards.  Since then I have moved on to calendars and prints.  Even though I no longer sell greeting cards, I thought I would share some cards that I have designed with you.  Feel free to print your own.  They are sized 10 x 6.5 (or 5 x 6.5 when folded) and can easily be printed on letter size paper.  You can find envelopes at Joanns, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby to fit.  I recommend using matte photo paper to print them on but cardstock will do.   Once printed, just cut along the light gray line using a xacto knife and metal ruler.  Use the back of the xacto to score the card down the middle and fold - Voila!

Here's a fun one all you moms out there will appreciate!

Graphics are courtesy of of http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/.

Here are some of my prints that I am currently selling on etsy.  I call them Any Day Art becasue shouldn't we remember our moms everyday?

 

Vintage background courtesy of of http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for stopping by...

Until next time...

Kitchen Art

Kitchens are the heart of the home and every kitchen should reflect the style and personality of its users.  Does your kitchen reflect your personality?  One way to bring personality to your kitchen is through art.  Kitchen art is like any other kind of art.  It should reflect your character and your style.  Is your style modern/contemporary or traditional/country?  Would you classify your style as formal or casual?  Remember the goal of design is to make a space your own.  I recently added some great kitchen art to my etsy store that I wanted to share with you.

Do you like the antique look?  Here are some antique keys on a light vintage paper background. Background graphics courtesy of my favorite source for vintage graphics, http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/.

 

 

Maybe kitchen utensils are more to your liking...

 

 

For more of a contemporary look, I used a colorful chevron background.

 

 

Here's some artwork for all the wine lovers out there... 



 

Maybe you prefer coffee...

 



 

Until next time...

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

 

 

Ready to make a summer bag?

This is a very versatile, reversible slouch bag that you can use when shopping, traveling, or at the beach. You can make it yourself since you need only basic sewing skills.

 I purchased these two beautiful  modern print fabrics at IKEA, planning to use one for the bag and the other for a skirt. Turned out that I decided to use both fabrics for the bag and make it reversible. One side has the fabric with black background and the other side white background, making it easy to match your outfit and mood.
You need one yard from each fabric.

It measures 31 1/2”( from strap to bottom) and is 21" wide at bottom. I made a pocket 11”x5” but never use it. If you decide to make the bag with lining you can sew the pocket on lining first.

This is the bag's picture one the dark side.

This is the picture of the bag on the white side.

If you would like to purchase the pattern, or even the bag, please go to my etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129047098/hobo-bag-pattern-sling-bag-patter