Christen Phillips

  • De-Stress with Quilt Inspired Adult Coloring Pages

    I’ve been running around here like a mad woman these past few weeks and instead of just falling to the floor and having a good cry (my usual go-to) or eating a whole pint of ice cream while wearing my pajamas and listening to Adele (also valid)… I channeled my craziness into something that has been proven to reduce stress… Adult coloring pages.

    That’s right. You totally read that correctly. Like a grown woman, I got out my markers and pencils and crayons and I sat cross-legged on my floor and I colored.

    I know that my 8-Year-old self would be so proud of me because that is exactly what she thought I would be doing every single night as a grown up. Staying up way past my bedtime and no one telling me to stop coloring. I dreamed big y’all, let me tell ya…

    There is something soothing about filling in the shapes and keeping everything in the lines (or not, if that is your thing…)

    I can make the picture exactly how I want it… and none of the markers tell me “no” and then do whatever they want to do. (unlike a few little people in my life recently….*ahem*)

    I started creating my own coloring book pages based off of inspirations from the fabric in my sewing room and I couldn’t stop! My passion for quilting kept me drawing more and more.

    I loved every single second of it and looked forward to this nightly routine after my kids went to bed. There may have been a little glass of wine too?

    It started out as little doodles here and there on the corners of the papers on my desk. Soon, I had created a collection of 25 adult coloring pages that lived and breathed quilty fabric inspiration! Oh, it was so lovely!

    Coloring is a great way to relax, unwind, and de-stress! Adult coloring pages are super popular! Remember what it's like to be a kid and finish a beautiful picture... and then go hang it up on your own refrigerator because, wow. YOU DID AWESOME on it!

    Seriously, why do we tend to stop coloring whenever we switch to legal pads for our mile-long to-do lists?!

    If you’re curious, yes… I absolutely have my own stash of “mommy’s markers” that my kids are not allowed to color with. I buy them their own separate markers.

    Doodling is fun… Us busy girls need more FUN in our lives to break up all the boring “have to-do’s” every day!

    Studies have shown that just a few minutes of coloring is enough to bring your stress levels down.

    “According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a mental health profession in which the process of making and creating artwork is used to “explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem.” So basically, it’s similar to good old therapy… Yet art therapy is not only about learning and improving yourself — it’s a means of personal expression, too.”

    CNN.com

    What you need is a little “me time” to focus your thoughts on something that doesn’t make your stress levels rise. It doesn’t have to take all afternoon…

    Whenever you feel your brain in a fog and can’t seem to focus or you’re too stressed out to eat or take care of yoursef…. block off 10 minutes in your calendar and grab some colors… It could even be colored ink pens on your desk (these are my favorite pens!) Don’t think about anything else during that time. Just color.

    Coloring is a great way to relax, unwind, and de-stress! Adult coloring pages are super popular! Remember what it's like to be a kid and finish a beautiful picture... and then go hang it up on your own refrigerator because, wow. YOU DID AWESOME on it!

    (also, read this post for 5 things busy quilters should focus on) It has some really helpful information to keep your sanity in check too 😉

    I promise you’ll thank me for it… even if it takes a little practice on your part to really focus on coloring and not let your other thoughts invade your 10 minutes. Try it out and let me know what you think, won’t you? I would love to hear from you.

    Do you want to know another benefit of Adult Coloring Pages?

    I also didn’t come anywhere close to making the huge giant mess that would potentially cause me even more stress in my life. — Yeah, hi quilting. I Love ya… you know I do! But boy can we make some messes together!

    I’m sharing the pages that I created with you! You can download them in my shop! Click here to see the Quilty Inspired Adult Coloring Pages.

    Coloring is a great way to relax, unwind, and de-stress! Adult coloring pages are super popular! Remember what it's like to be a kid and finish a beautiful picture... and then go hang it up on your own refrigerator because, wow. YOU DID AWESOME on it!
    These are your standard sewing skills that every quilter should know. How many on this list can you say that you know really well? - Personally, I'm going to use this list to practice my skills from!
    Check Out 8 Sewing Skills Every Quilter Should know!
  • How much does it cost to get my sewing machine serviced?

    Whether you just purchased a brand new sewing machine or you’ve had yours for a while, eventually the question is bound to come up… “How much does it cost to get my sewing machine serviced?” and “Do I need it? How often should I go?”

    The recommended answer is that you should take your machine in about once a year to have it serviced. However, my experience is that you can go a little longer to stretch those services out a little bit more.

    With good in between care done by YOU, using some of the tips I’ve outlined below… you can stretch it into about every 2 years as long as everything is running smoothly.

    Obviously if you notice something is off or there is a weird noise that you didn’t notice before… PLEASE take your machine to have a good once-over by a professional shop.

    A lot of quilter and sew-ists like to think of it as a luxury spa day for their machines! ooh-la-la!

    Taking your sewing machine in to be services is like treating it to a special spa day! - But what are the costs? How often do you have to do it? All your questions answered and when you should worry!

    How much does it cost to get my sewing machine serviced?

    A sewing machine tune-up costs can vary according to each shop, but general cost ranges are in the $75 to $100 Range. These charges will not include the cost of any broken or replacement parts.

    Computerized embroidery machines may cost as much as $100 for basic repairs.

    Before you put away your wallet and decide to just start saving up for your next sewing machine… we’re going to go over exactly what a sewing machine service entails, why your machine needs it (no, its not a hoax) and if you can save the money and perform the service yourself… AND a few little things you can do throughout the year to stretch your money a little further!

    Why Service a sewing machine?

    There are many many many moving parts to a sewing machine.
    If it moves, it needs lubrication to avoid wear and tear.

    As a sewing machine is used, the lubrication eventually dries out. Once it has dried out, moving parts don’t work as well. The well being of the sewing machine starts to wear out faster than if it was maintained on a regular basis.

    Most new sewing machines are making the move toward higher-tech machinery. Your machine may have a computer circuit board and wires inside as well. Sewing machine technicians are specially trained to maintain and service computerized sewing machines. Unless you know exactly what you are doing, it isn’t recommended to ‘go inside’ and do anything yourself. A circuit board can easily fry at the hands of a well-meaning but clueless soul.

    A yearly service will prevent any heavily worn areas to be caught before they cause a worse problem down the road.

    Most machines do not need major replacement of parts when preventative maintenance is scheduled.

    Case in point: You machine should be serviced to keep it running smoothly for a long long time.

    Just like our bodies, teeth and car receive yearly check-ups, make sure your sewing machine receives equal treatment!

    What is done during a sewing machine service?

    The short answer? A WHOLE LOT!

    A full service isn’t just a quick in and out. Technicians will have a long checklist of items to carefully go over as they take a look at your machine.

    Here is an example of the checklist performed during a routine service:

    • Remove all covers to get to all major components.
    • Clean out all lint, dust, and old old oil.
    • Remove stray threads from the take-up lever and the hand wheel.
    • Check top tension disks and remove lint build up from low-quality threads.
    • Check timing belt/motor belt for belt tightness. Look for any excess wear spots.
    • For older machines: check motor brushes and make sure the motor is turning freely.
    • Check all shafts for any play or wobble.
    • The wear of all barrings.
    • Check the mechanism that drives the feed dogs for any play.
    • Double Check all gears that drive the machine.
    • Check the mechanism that drives the hook in the bobbin case area.
    • Check for any excess play between the hook and the hook driver.
    • Tighten any gears that are getting loose or wobbly.
    • Check bobbin winder.
    • Check feed dog height. A slight change in height could affect the way fabric is pulled through the machine.
    • Check feed dog alignment checking to make sure the feed dogs are straight and not rubbing on the stitch plate.
    • Oil every moving part of the machine.
    • Check that the needle is centering in the needle plate both from side to side and from front to back. The slightest bit off in any of the four directions can cause extra needle breakage when sewing extra wide stitches or heavy fabrics.
    • Check needle and hook timing.
    • Check that the presser foot sits straight on the feed dogs and is at the proper height.
    • Time the feed dog movement to the machine needle.
    • Calibrate bobbin case tension.
    • Check and clean bobbin case of any excess build up of lint.
    • Check foot control’s electronic contacts, cord, cord end and look for any cuts in the cord.
    • Test Sew Out – Once all areas of the machine have been completely checked, oiled and adjusted, the tech will do a test sew. Ideally, they are looking for a smooth running sound, balanced tension, even needle swing, centered needle position, proper feed dog movement/balance of stitches that stitch forward and reverse.
    • They will also insert a new Universal size 80/12 needle.
    Taking your sewing machine in to be services is like treating it to a special spa day! - But what are the costs? How often do you have to do it? All your questions answered and when you should worry!

    What to bring with a machine for service? 

    This list is pretty simple and straight forward. You’ll want to bring:

    • Your sewing machine
    • Foot Pedal Control
    • Power cord
    • Standard zig-zag presser foot (not a 1/4 inch foot)
    • Correct bobbin
    • If bringing an embroidery machine, also include an embroidery hoop and the embroidery foot.

    You shouldn’t only take care of your machine once a year, however… careful care should be considered every single time you sew.

    I take my machines once every 2 years. Another quilter may tell you a different amount of time. You just have to find the comfortable medium between how your machine is acting and what your wallet can handle.

    This super easy tutorial will tell you everything you need to know to give your sewing machine a quick clean and tell yo how often you should clean your sewing machine too! - Hint, you have most everything you need in your bathroom!

    Can I perform a Sewing Machine Service myself to save money?

    There are a lot of videos on YouTube that instructs you how to service your own machine. I recommend giving them a good look before you just open up your machine and taking things apart…

    Personally, I very much suggest doing as much of the maintenance yourself on your machine as possible. This can stretch the time in between your services and make sure that things are running smoothly in between. You can read more about cleaning your machine in this post.

    If you use your sewing machine to sew (duh…)… you MUST clean it!

    Fabrics are linty, some threads are linty and that all leads to moving parts moving not so freely. Uncleaned machines lead directly to skipped stitches, uneven stitches, and broken threads right in the middle of a seam.

    It is an awful mess to be in when you’re nearing the end of a project and have to stop!

    You can see a full tutorial on a Quick 10-Minute Sewing Machine Cleaning in this post!

    This super easy tutorial will tell you everything you need to know to give your sewing machine a quick clean and tell yo how often you should clean your sewing machine too! - Hint, you have most everything you need in your bathroom!

    You might think that a little sewing here or there won’t leave much of a mess inside your machine, but you would be completely wrong!

    Soft minky fabric is the worst for causing all kinds of lint buildup after just a few minutes of sewing.

    After each project that you sew, take a few minutes to open up your machine and empty out the lint and any thread fuzz. You’ll thank me later 😉

    Where should I take my machine to have it serviced??

    The best thing to do is to call around and find a place that does not have to ship/take your machine off-sit to be serviced.

    Most vacuum and sewing machine stores will have technicians on site to work on your machine.

    If a shop sends your machine off to be serviced, you will be looking at a longer turn around time.

    You can also call your local small business quilting shop and see where they recommend or where they take their own machines. Big box stores will not be able to send you anywhere.

    What questions should I ask when I drop off my sewing machine?

    Make sure that the terms are very clear when you drop off your machine.

    • How long should I expect to be without my machine?
    • Do you do the service on site?
    • What is the cost of a tune-up?
    • If my machine is in need of repairs, will someone contact me BEFORE ordering parts? – The last thing you want is a surprise bill at the end of your service for parts you didn’t know were in need of repairs!
    • Do you offer any type of discount if I bring in multiple machines at one time?

    Whew! I know that was a lot to digest but hopefully, you’ve learned a thing or two and I have completely answered your question, “How much does it cost to get my sewing machine serviced?”… and then some because I’m totally about providing the extra information that you need to know!

    How much does it cost to have your machine serviced where you live?

  • Link Party of Quick Sewing Projects!

    We all could use more of these fun projects in our arsenal of future projects, right? Like, I know there aren’t already enough hours in the day to finish what I want to sew… but yes, I still need more ideas so I can have options. Options for more quick sewing projects to suit my every mood!

    Have you noticed how I’ve really been focusing on using up my scraps lately? I think I’ve been super productive! It has forced me to really look at just how useful even the tiny scraps of fabric can be used over and over in different ways.

    Here are 13 Quick Sewing Projects you can add to your collection of Amazing skills!

    These Quick Sewing Projects are going to rock your world! There are tons of ideas and ways to use up your scrap fabric as well as give you quick satisfaction and maximum gratification! I LOVE sewing!

    Patchwork Coasters

    These patchwork coasters from Swoodsonsays are super cute and such a fun scrap fabric buster. She even used an old suede jacket from a thrift store find as the backing! Absolutely genius!

    She uses a simple HST (half square triangle) to make these come together really quick. You can use this idea as a starting point and come up with your own block patterns.

    These would make precious gift sets for a housewarming present!

    Pretty Little Tissue Holder

    As a crafty momma who loves all things handmade, I HAD to make up several of these years ago when I first saw them on Pinterest. (follow me!)

    They have held up really well and allow me to use my favorite fabrics (or leftover scraps!) and keep them close to me where I see them often.

    The Gingerbread House gives a superior tutorial with nice photos so you can know exactly what you should be doing at every single step!

    Check out this tutorial here.

    Easy Zipper Pouch

    This sews up so fast that you can easily make several of them in an afternoon and knock off half of your gift list! I used them for teachers gift at the beginning of the year and filled them with goodies! Check out the tutorial here.

    DIY TLC Teacher Kit - This Zipper Box tote comes together in less than an hour! Fill it with goodies and take care of your teachers #teachergift #ZipperBoxtote #easygift

    The Pillow Pocket

    Seriously such a favorite gift for every single kid that I’ve made one for (and there have been A LOT who have received this gift…)

    But don’t count this as just a kids gift! College students and all grownups alike enjoy a comfy pillow that holds all their favorite lazy day essentials!

    It comes together fast. Sew Simple Home gives a FREE step by step tutorial on her site. Check it out here.

    Taggie Blanket

    Don’t act like you haven’t made at LEAST one of these cute little taggie blankets for a baby gift! They’re so quick and much more coveted than anything you can buy in the stores! Just make sure you back-stitch over the ribbon sections to ensure a strong and lasting hold!

    Amber Oliver gives an awesome tutorial on just how to make the perfect one! Click here to see her tutorial.

    Fancy KeyFobs

    I love making these up for graduating high schoolers about to embark on their college years! Check out just how easy and fun these are to make (and use up your scraps too!

    DIY Easy Key fob project sews up super fast and is perfect for teens, pre-teens and happy people of all skill levels! These are such a fun DIY gift... AND an amazing scrap stash buster!

    Child’s Apron

    Emilie over at Finding Zest shares how to quickly pull this super cute apron together! See her tutorial here.

    Throw Pillow Covers

    Ever just look around at your house and feel… blah? Like you just need a little change? Throw pillow covers are your solution! Change them out seasonally or just because you feel like it 🙂

    Jessica Welling Interiors will show you a quick and easy way to DIY your own throw pillow covers. Check out her tutorial here.

    Quilted Table Runner

    This is another easy way to add a little color and change up your house for the seasons! Check out the tutorial here.

    This Quick Quilted Table Runner is something I whipped up for a quick hostess gift, but it has so many endless possibilties I will be making several more for holiday family gatherings. These make great handmade gifts!

    Catch-All Fabric Bin

    These are an awesome use of fat quarter fabrics! Check out the tutorial here.

    This cute fabric bin can be made in an hour and can be used all over the house! No extreme sewing skills required... its so easy!

    Fabric Catch-All Fabric Tray

    Did someone ask for ANOTHER use for pretty scrap fabrics?!

    These fabric trays are a wonderful addition to your home. I like to use them a lot in my sewing room because I’m always needing a way to corral little tiny things I’m working on whether is it little bobbins or a thread catcher etc.

    Clover & Violet shares just how easy it is to make your own fabric tray! See the step by step here.

    Cute Pencil Pouch

    This one is also from Clover & Violet. I love love love how cute this pouch turns out! Check out the tutorial here.

    DIY Hair Scrunchie

    Yes, these were like… all the rage in the 80’s and as a collective whole, humanity kind of left them there for a while but ponytail headaches are real and cute scrunchies are making a comeback again. (yay girls!)

    now you can make your own to coordinate with your favorite outfits and be stylish and handmade wherever you go!

    Swoodsonsays has a super easy tutorial for you here.

    Vacation Laundry Bag

    This has been one of my most popular blog posts… It sews up in less than 15 minutes and you’re ready to set off on a magical vacation! Click here to see the details of how quickly it comes together!

    This darling vacation Laundry bag will take no more than 15 minutes of your time and will be a Sanity saver on your trips!

    Whew! That should be enough to keep you busy for a little bit!

    I hope you enjoyed my list of quick sewing projects! Leave em a comment and let me know which is on the top of your list to try out!

    Happy Sewing,! — Christen

  • Every Busy Quilter Should Focus On These 5 Things

    You’re a busy quilter, I’m a busy quilter… How often does this conversation play out between you and um… any other person that crosses your path??

    “Hey! How are you?”
    “Good! But OMG, I’ve been so BUSY!”

    I don’t see that adjective, “busy” changing anytime soon, do you? I’m also a super busy mom of 2 kids, a wife, and a business owner… Things can get a little crazy hectic here every once in a while (aka every single day).

    So while I have lots of quilting I WANT to work on and usually like 4 (or 400) projects that need finishing… I still have all the regular house stuff and human stuff to do to. Laundry, dishes, shopping, etc It is exhausting and it can feel like there are NOT enough hours in the day.

    So how do you keep your sanity without setting your quilting aside for later?

    When life gets rough and I want to curl up in a corner with my *good chocolate* (from the stash that my kids don’t know about)… I know its time to focus on the productivity hacks that bring me back to feeling more like Wonder Woman as opposed to Crazy Girl.

    And today, I’m going to share them with you!

    So you can go from feeling like this:

    via GIPHY

    To feeling more like this:

    Do you know what I mean by just those 2 images? Tell me fellow, busy quilter, that you get me! Please, oh please!

    Wonder Woman feeling says “Yes, I can handle this” It is that little kick in the pants that says “I got this”.

    I love that. I want to be HER

    The 5 things you should be focusing on as a busy quilter

    1. Be honest with yourself – Are you taking on more than ONE human possibly can (or should) handle?

    This can go for over-scheduling your calendar, too heavy of a load from work or even the number of quilts you’ve committed to making (I joke, that there is no such thing but yes… if it is stressing you out, there most certainly IS such a thing!)

    It is perfectly OK to admit that you’re not a super-human hybrid machine. — Even though I like to believe I totally am some days.

    It is best to be honest with yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

    If your workload is something you wouldn’t expect your best friend to take on, perhaps you shouldn’t take it on your shoulders either.

    Every Busy Quilter should focus on these 5 things to really up their quilting game! Work on these small changes for a BIG impact!

    2. Schedule your quilting time in your calendar

    This works 2 ways… either you look up at the clock and realize you’ve been hunched over this quilt for 4 hours and suddenly it is now dark outside and WAY past your bedtime. Oh yeah, and you didn’t get a single other thing done today. Oops.

    -OR- You feel like your schedule is so busy that there isn’t a single moment in the day to even think about quilting (*insert crying here*)

    Those days are tough, honey. I hear you here.

    Schedule your downtime and your quilting time like you do any other event in your calendar! and then, the hard part, stick to it. Set alarms, get a friend to call you – do what you gotta do!

    This will ensure that you get the quilting time that makes you feel like you’re making the desired progress on your quilts.

    Putting quilting as an appointment in my calendar is seriously the only way I really get to quilt in productive chunks of time vs. tiny 10-minute increments.

    Expert tip: Putting on a TV show or a movie is a great way to keep track of time while you’re working on your quilt. Hours can go by so fast when you’re really focused.

    Nesting your seams is a VITAL tool in quilting. It will help you get that finished and polished look on your quilt and cut out those rookie mistakes where your corners shift and seams don't line up. This is an easy trick that any quilter can use! Try it out on your next quilt. You won't be sorry!
    Learn more about what it means to “nest your seams” and get those seams to meet perfectly in your piecing. This is a HUGE step in improving wonky piecing.

    3. Always look for the next project that will grow your skills

    I’ll admit that I’m not the best at being disciplined enough to finish what I’m currently working on before I start a brand new project.

    Even though I really do try to keep my projects to a reasonable number…

    I’ve seen other quilter’s project lists and studios filled with WIPs or UFOs. Work in progress or Unfinished objects I know I’m not the only impatient one! – Want to know more quilting slang? check out this post WHAT IS THE QUILTER’S CODE? )

    Still, if you’re going to be quilting, you might as well make sure that you’re constantly growing your skills and trying new things!

    You can read more about continuing to challenge yourself in quilting. Why you should step out of your comfort zone.

    4. Organize What You Have – Including Current Projects

    Ever missed a deadline you had? Or had to double up your sewing efforts to finish a quilt on time? Or miscalculated and had to give a quilt late? (*Guilty*, yep, yep, and yep!)

    I got frustrated mostly by my own miscalculations. Then, I decided I needed a way to write everything down in a way that kept me organized and made it impossible for me to forget any key parts, dates etc.

    Download this FREE quilt planner and get organized so that you can create more! 6 pages of everything you need. nothing you don't!

    What actually happened was I created a handy way to log every single quilt that I made over the period of a year… and wow. Not to pat myself on the back but yes… I totally was patting myself on the back.

    It pays to take a look at the larger picture instead of hyper focusing on just one quilt at a time 🙂

    You can read more about the FREE 6 Page Planner here or you can simply tell me where to send the FREE download by filling out the little form below! Totally FREE 🙂 My gift of sanity to you, busy quilter!

    5. Take Care Of Yourself

    (Honestly, I thought about putting this one at the top of my list.) How many times do we tell someone to “take care” but never really give it much more thought than that?

    This is my momma-self coming out to give you a little love, ok?

    — I promise I’ll keep it short and sweet! —

    If an apple tree doesn’t get what it really needs nutrient wise, it still gets to be a tree. It can still make it through another season or so, but it doesn’t produce good fruit.

    Do you understand where I’m coming from? The tree doesn’t get to do what it was made to do when it was planted…

    ….BUT YOU, my sweet beautiful busy quilter, you are so much more complex than an apple tree!

    • You need to be loved.
    • I want you to laugh so hard you can’t catch your breath.
    • You need to spend time on the phone with an old friend to reminisce silly old memories.
    • Please consider establishing a self-care routine that you do everyday for YOURSELF because it makes you feel good.
    • You need a decent bedtime and perhaps a nap every now and then,
    • You need to find a good song. Then, turn it up so loud you can’t even hear yourself sing badly to it.
    • Insert whatever geeky/silly dance moves you want to add in too!
    • You need to pull out your quilts that haven’t had a good cuddle in a while. Curl up with a book or a movie. You can study your past quilts and see how your skills are improving!
    • And you should eat a vegetable every day – there, I said it.

    Take care of YOU… because inside you is greatness and the world needs more of it!

    Want to up your quilting game? Focusing on these 5 things is going to make sure that you stay amazing!

    Keep being a busy quilter. Keep focusing on these 5 things continue being an amazing quilter that has a good head on your shoulders!

    For more ideas on fitting quilting into your busy life, check out my most popular FREE download below!

    Happy Quilting!

    –Christen

  • Scrap Fabric Projects: Easy DIY Key fobs

    I shared a fun DIY project last week that was so successful and I had such great feedback that I decided to share another fun and easy DIY project this week again! And this one is a scrap fabric buster! – All those pretty little leftover bits can get repurposed into these lovely little easy DIY Key fobs!

    We quilters LOVE fabric… one might even happily accept the accusation of a “fabric hoarder” and not even bother trying to deny it… (And by ‘one’, I mean me… we’re talking about me.)

    I love fabric. Isn’t it beautiful to just keep it and stack it up all nice and pretty and display it like beautiful fine art… I just can’t help it! You can take a tour my sewing room and see my space here

    I have this area where I keep all my scrap fabrics, but I also have a separate little area where I keep my tiny scrap fabric bits. (organization is not entirely insanity)

    These itty bitty bits are all pieces of fabric that I just couldn’t part with but do not necessarily have enough fabric to do something really big and grand with.

    I have hopes of finding their perfect project use someday… so I only save the best scraps and tuck them away until an idea like the one I’m going to share with you comes along…

    How to make your own scrap fabric DIY Easy Keyfobs

    These are so so easy and so useful! They make super cute homemade gifts and are completely custom for the gift recipient.

    First things first – Dig through your scraps

    I looked for long and skinny strips. At least 3″ wide x 10″ long.

    You an also sew several smaller pieces together and create a patchwork effect to your keyfob if you desire.

    I also hit up my ribbon and sparkly things stash to add just a little touch of extra pizzazz to my creations.

    Whats that? You don’t have a huge selection of craft ribbons? That’s ok… get together with your sewing friends and do a trim and ribbon exchange! See if anyone has anything they’d like to donate or offer to make them a key fob in exchange!

    You’ll also need the keyfob hardware and a pair of pliers or something that you can squeeze the hardware shut with.

    Next, measure your hardware

    I used this exact brand of keybob hardware. While I imagine that they are mostly similar no matter what brand you buy, you should measure your exact piece to make sure the finished product fits as you want it to.

    Mine measure exactly at 1.25″ wide.

    Then, cut your fabrics

    I added 1/8″ seam allowance for each side and cut my fabric:

    1.5″ wide by 7″ long (do this for 2 different fabrics)

    Why would I do 1/8″ instead of 1/4″ seam allowance?? – Simple trial and error. I did the 1/4″ seam allowance first and found it to be too bulky in the finished product. Just preference, but you can try it out for yourself and let me know what you think!

    Get ready to sew

    Lay your fabrics right sides together and sew 1/8″ down both sides. do not sew over either of the ends of your fabrics.

    Turn the piece right sides out

    This can be a little tricky. But once you practice a few times, you’ll be a pro at it.

    I use this little device that is specifically for turning your seams out. it has a really fancy name and everything… it’s called a loop turner. haha We sewists really are creative folks… just maybe not in the tool naming department?

    PRESS flat

    Sorry, I didn’t ask if you wanted to drag out your iron. You just have to, ok? and don’t whine about it either. No one likes whine unless there is cheese with it (get it? whine? … wine?… cheese and wine?? ok maybe that one is better out loud…)

    Pressing is essential in this step to get everything where it should be and where you can confidently proceed to the next step…. which is….

    Secure both sides by stitching again

    don’t worry about the ends, they’ll be tucked inside the hardware so you don’t need to do anything with them. just sew down each side at an even 1/8″.

    If you want to break out some of your fancy sparkly thread or decorative stitches to add some extra flair, go for it! You be you and add some of your own sparkle!

    Decorate! Add even more sparkle and flair to it!

    All those little bits of pretty ribbons? this is the perfect place to use them! you only need a bit… so add it in and make it beautiful!

    Fold in half with raw ends together

    There is an actual tool that is made to clamp your key fob hardware together. I ordered it, but the hardware got to my house first and being the impatient person that I am, had to try it out anyway 🙂

    My brain said that the regular set of needle nose pliers would work just fine.

    I was a little afraid of scratching the shiny hardware or leaving dents with the teeth on the pliers so I just padded them down with a little scrap of quilt batting.

    Place the raw edges inside your own hardware and secure it

    I worked slowly, keeping an eye that my fabric wasn’t shifting out of place and worked on either end of the open clasp until it was securely shut.

    Voila 🙂 … now go many another one!

    While using standard pliers is a totally cheaper and do-able method… I suggest using the pliers that are meant for squeezing the key fob hardware shut because it creates a more even force to shut the jaws around your fabric. it was much easier my second time around.

    Experiment

    Now that you have the basics of a DIY easy key fobs project… play with it some more!

    Use those decorative stitches, even if it is just playing with your zig-zag stitch. play with fabrics on the interior and exterior.

    Play with ribbons and trims and sparkle, oh my!

    You can embroider and embellish to your hearts content and then give to your favorite people so they can carry it with them everywhere!

    Who are you going to make one for first? Let me know in the comments!

    Happy Sewing!

  • DIY Fabric Bookmarks – What to do and what NOT to do

    I made something fun yesterday. *Spoiler alert* It’s not a quilt! (gasp, I know) and I just had to share it with you because it is so simple and so quick that you just HAVE to block off your schedule. There I said it. Forget your adulting responsibilities or whatever you have and make these DIY fabric bookmarks tonight! … no really, you’re going to love them!

    I went into this cute little boutique shop the other day – you know the one… where everything is handmade by amazing artisans and you instantly desperately wish you could afford to take it all home with you? Yeah… I was smitten by some earrings that spoke down to my very soul I tell you… But the price tag and I did not see eye to eye. Cest la vie.

    At the register, they had these cute little fabric bookmarks for the corners of your books. I immediately wanted to buy them all… but the DIY-er inside me got the best of me and I said: “I can make that, and make it cuter too.”

    DIY Fabric Bookmarks

    Scrap Fabric to the rescuuuuuuuueeeeee!

    Side note: My family needs bookmarks. Like, thousands of them… We love to read. I don’t know why none of us can just read one book at a time. It is one of the great mysteries in life.

    First, I went and I found all the tiny of my most favorite scraps that I stashed away for a “one day I’ll use this” project. (This was my favorite part! finding uses for pretty fabric that would have otherwise just stayed in my drawer forever)

    Just look at the pretty fabrics!

    Step by step – How I did it

    I started with little 2.5″ squares of random (but oh so cute!) scrap fabric.

    I thought perhaps it would be precious to make the bookmark look quilted… (I’m a quilter to my very core, you know) but it didn’t prove to be my best idea as it was a little too thick between the book pages and made the corners harder to square.

    So ignore the batting squares in the photos… that is just when I THOUGHT I knew what I was doing 😉

    To make the angled piece:

    For the angled piece, I folded the 2.5″ square (wrong sides together) along the diagonal and pressed with my iron. Easy peasy.

    There is no need to sew it as the next few steps will keep everything in place in the finished product.

    How to layer your fabric pieces:

    Layer your fabric pieces in this order…

    1. Fabric 1, Right Side up.
    2. Angled/corner fabric
    3. Fabric 2, Right side down.

    All sides should match up evenly.

    Get ready to sew!

    Up until this part, everything was grand! Here is where things were a little unclear and I had to make it up as I went.

    Let’s first go over what didn’t work and then I will share with you what ended up being the winning process!

    What not to do…

    I tried stitching at 1/4″ from the edges of the square because I LOVE my 1/4″ sewing foot (read more about it here) and I found that the corners were too bulky when I turned the piece right side out.

    I couldn’t get the nice crisp square corners that I was looking for… See below how round the sides ended up being?

    Another mistake: I did not leave a large enough hole to turn the piece right side out the first go-around. This made things a little more difficult than they needed to be. (I’m totally stubborn so still made it work)

    What DID work…

    I tried sewing 1/8″ from the edges and it was juuuuuust right 🙂 Perfect solution to those bulky corners!

    FYI: You can purchase my Straight Seam Guide with easy to read measurements in my shop!

    I also left a little larger section un-sewn so I could turn the piece right side out a little easier too…. this really made things less cumbersome.

    To get those nice square corners, I pulled out one of my favorite weird sewing tools… a Chinese take-out chopstick! Unused on my general tsos, of course. These work great for shaping the corners.

    It really helps to push it up into those corners and move the fabric around to where you want it to go.

    Next, I pressed the piece to get those corners and seams even more crisp, because I knew that after the next step… there was no going back!

    We still have to deal with the open side that was used to turn our DIY fabric bookmark right side out.

    You can deal with this one of 2 ways.

    1. Get out your needle and thread and ladder stitch it closed by hand… or
    2. Tuck the ends in, press it and make sure you catch the raw edges in when you sew! (duh, I chose this one because… obviously faster, right?)

    Last step! How to finish the edges:

    What didn’t work…

    The first thing that I tried was a zig-zag stitch because I love that look… Yeah yeah, it looks terrible. I know. I’m not that great at it because I have terrible patience in letting it do its thing and it usually ends up looking like a mess.

    So even though I like that look, I decided that THIS was not the project for it if my focus was quick and easy…

    What DID work…

    Next I tried a smaller zig-zag and kept my needle about 1/8″ in from the edge to make sure I caught the unfinished edges of the opening.

    I really liked this one – but the corners are a little awkward for me on the zig-zag stitch.

    I feel that unless I perfect that… it is always going to look a little more “amateur” DIY-er and not polished professional sew-ist, like I was going for… but It did the job just fine and even added a little decorative look to the bookmark.

    Simple really is sometimes the best solution!

    Lastly, I just stuck it through with the plain old boring standard straight stitch. (Like I should have done in the first place)

    I made several more after I finished this one and I have squares cut for dozens more (yes, I told you we’re crazy people over here!)

    You could seriously have yourself a HUGE stash of these in just a few hours one afternoon.

    My most favorite part about these is how many people I know who would LOVE these… I’m thinking just about everyone will get one of these for Christmas or a birthday or… arbor day perhaps? …I don’t know!

    I could see these being a peppy addition to guild swaps, cooking classes, book clubs, Kid’s gifts, classroom party gifts etc…

    These DIY fabric Bookmarks are just FUN and the fabric possibilities are endless to customize!

    These DIY Fabric Bookmarks were such a fun project to play with.

    I went through a few different ideas trying to find the best way to make them with the least amount of time. I feel like I came up with the real deal… with all the kinks worked out.

    My wish is for you and your loved ones and lucky friend enjoy them. Let me know what you think in the comments!