Rag Blanket Project!!!

I am not really sure what got into me last weekend but after making some flannel receiving blankets for my sister in law, I was looking at some blogs and websites to get some other ideas and came across some really cute and simple quilting projects, rag blankets!!! OK, I have NEVER quilted or anything even close before but I thought, "hey, if I can make mittens, I should be able to sew this thing together!!!" The patterns I saw also used flannel but I wanted to use a soft cotton so that it wouldn't pill up the way flannel tends to do after several washings.

The best part of this project . . . . picking out the fabric!!!!!! Missy introduced me to a super cute little store, Hannah Johnson Fabrics, that carries all sorts of shabby chic patterns!! (best to keep the checkbook in the car! And shhhh . ... I do plan to visit there again VERY soon!) You wouldn't believe how incredibly soft and satiny these cotton fabrics are, and so, so cute!!! THANK YOU JANET !!!!


To make this blanket is pretty easy. It does take some time though, so make sure you have set aside a few nights for this one. After checking out a few patterns online, I cut 7" squares out of fabric and 5.5" squares out of thin batting.


Then I sewed an "x" through each square, pretty much just to keep the batting in place.
















Once you figure out how many squares you need, just decide if you want a pattern or would just rather make a "hodge podge" design of random squares. I referenced two different blankets online to make this pattern. It helped me to lay it all out and make a chart of which fabrics went in each space, that way, the next step was super easy.




You have to sew the squares together in strips first.




















Then start sewing the strips together line by line to make your blanket, keeping all the seam allowances on one side of the blanket.



Almost done, but this is the worst part. Once all the squares are sewn together, and you run around the outside of the blanket to make a 1/2" seam, you need to make cuts in all the seams, about 1/4" apart, making sure NOT to cut into the stitching. I wouldn't recommend trying to do this all in a single night if you are making a bigger blanket, or your fingers may fall off!




Last step! When the snipping is done, you get to wash the blanket which frays and softens the edges of the cut seams. Make sure you check the dryer often during this step to remove all the extra material that may clog up the lint trap. One of the online tutorials I read even said to use a industrial machine at a laundromat if necessary.

But now its done!!! WhooHOO!! And I read that the more it gets washed, the softer it will get!! I love it!!! It goes so well in my living room, accompanied in this picture by my favorite pillow . .. a purchase from one of the best little re-purpose shops - Snowman Hill !!!!

Its the Most Wonderful Time . . .

I absolutely love holiday decorating although I never seem to make enough time to do it. I love how these old outdoor things turned out after my putzing with them for a bit this last weekend.

I found a pair of Carter's infant mittens to put on these old skis and think the rusty old pulley on the sled is wicked cute with the little star cut out!!!! I think this was a steal at $2 from some backwoods antique vendor!!! I still need to do something cute with the snowshoes . . . any ideas????

This big star was a junked-and-left-by-the-side-of-the-road find that my SIL Jess came across!!! I still need to antique it a bit more with some stain!!

Carter helped me all day and even started dancing to the Christmas music I was playing!! He very carefully put all the ornaments on the tree, but wouldn't let me help him, the little stubborn stinker!

I LOVE these old blocks too!!! I found them this year at the Cranberry Festival!!

I can't wait to do MORE decorating this next weekend!!!!!

Vintage Checker Magnets!!

I am so in love with these! We found two small bags of vintage, old, and very well used, checkers at a huge antique store this last summer. I knew as soon as I saw them what I would do with them . . . a little hot glue and a round magnet and POOF . . . the cutest little fridge toys around! Perfect for holding up all of Carter's school work!!!!

Recycled * Reused * Repurposed - Holiday Style!

Holiday Gifts Galore is a show my we (me and my SILs) were in this past weekend! It was a total blast! Besides having only 3 hours of sleep the night before due to last minute finishing touches :). We had so many beautifully refurbished items that I can honestly say, we had the most attractive booth there!!!

We put several pair of my BelleCruz Mittens scattered throughout the sale items to give a warm and cozy feel. The rest of them I displayed in old dresser drawers. I can't believe how well these RECYCLED sweater mittens have been selling!!! I was even sewing there at the show to try to keep up!! They are so beautiful and each pair are unique, lined fully in remnant polar fleece. Definitely a vintage but stylish must-have up here in the cold country!

Missy brought so many different things, all of which were hand made! We had Mittens, Old Window Memo Boards, Wreathes, Monogram Blocks, Candles, Gift Tag Holders and Cards, Tote Bags and Pillows made from repurposed coffee bean bags, misc vintage items stuffed with real pine boughs and decorated for the holidays!!! We are definitely doing this again next year!!!!

Carter's Cute Ocean Room!!!

I found some really cute things to spruce up Carter's room at the Cranberry Festival last weekend! I got an old wood waterski that I turned into wall hooks for Carter to hang up his backpack or jacket on. I hung it low enough for him to reach it so he thinks it is "awesome!". ;) He makes me laugh!

I got these metal turtles a few years ago at Pier One and thought they were absolutely adorable. They were the only things I really had decorating his ocean room except the bedspread, drapes and a fish tank illusion hanging on his wall. That is why I was so excited to find the other things you see in these pictures . . . life preserver, beach sign, Hang Ten vintage metal sign . . .

Oh, and I cant forget the crab trap and old fishing poles. My SIL Jess gave me the poles for Carter's room which was really special since they belonged to her grandfather. I thought when I picked up the trap at the Cranberry Festival that it was just a crafty look-alike but I was actually stopped by someone who asked me about it since he said that he and his wife had just taken a trip to Apalachicola Bay and had seen similar ones!! So cool!!!

I just love how it turned out and Carter is so excited about his new room!!

CRAN-FEST - WARRENS, WI

Ok, to say we had fun at this festival this past weekend would be an understatement!! It was huge, the lines were long, the DAYS were long, the food was greasy, we got lost OVER and OVER again, but we loved EVERY minute of it!! Ok, well not every minute, some of the vendors were crabby and we got rained on a bit at the end of the morning on Sunday, but all-in-all, one of the most successful and fabulously fun junking excursions I have ever been on!!!

Look at these pics!! The one of the crowd was taken mid-way down one of the MANY paths we could have chosen. I think this one was Main Street. One of the volunteers down there that helped us bring things back to our car told us that expected over 125K people to travel in from all over for this festival! The picture of my SIL's van is only the second night we were there!! We had another full day of shopping AFTER this was taken!!! Sorry, for the quality of the pic . . . I was laughing so hard that it looks kinda blurry. Suprisingly though, we really didn't spend that much money. Most of what was purchased was at flea markets or antique dealors. The big item in the center is a large buffett that I purchased for $20 and the cool black, wroght iron scolly thing off to the right of the picture is actually a set of 3 auditorium chairs, all wood and metal, that Missy STOLE for $15!!!! Can you believe it!!!! SO MUCH FUN!!!

First Day of School!!!!!

I can't even believe that Carter is old enough already to go to Pre-School!! He had his first day and although he is typically pretty shy about new experiences, he was so excited!! He has been talking about going to school all summer and now it is finally here!

Look at the shoes! (in his excitement, he put on Daddy's sandals) ha ha And YES, the mohawk is natural!! Believe it or not, his temples are really blonde and that strip down the center is dark and thick!! LOL Studly!

He didn't even notice when we left him, but his teacher did say that as soon as he figured it out, he was a little apprehensive, but still pretty outgoing so that is a good sign! He even met a new friend right away and they built . . . of course . . . a racetrack!!!