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Tea Towel Calendar

2013 is right around the corner! Do you have your new calendar? I bet several people on your gift list don’t either. That’s why I think these tea towel calendars from Spoonflower would make a great gift.

Have you heard of Spoonflower? It is a custom fabric printing company that allows you to upload your own fabric patterns to print. But, you can also browse other designers’ fabrics and purchase yardage too. A month ago I happened to be browsing their website when I stumbled across these award winning tea towel calendar designs. They were absolutely adorable and I knew they’d make great gifts for a few young nieces I know. I ordered a few fat quarters (one calendar fits on one fat quarter of fabric) and anxiously awaited their arrival. (If you want to make your own calendar, order ASAP as their guaranteed delivery date for the holidays is December 17th.)

The material comes with unfinished edges, so they need a little sewing magic, but it won’t take more than 15 minutes if you pre-cut everything and have your sewing machine pre-threaded. Read more

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Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial

Welcome back to another 15 Minute DIY Gift Ideas! We’re on Day 3 and the gifts just keep comin’!

Sometimes the perfect present isn’t actually the gift itself. It’s how the gift is packaged. These quick and easy drawstring bags can be made to any size you want and can be filled with sweets, coffee or simply used instead of gift wrap. Best of all, the bag can be used long after the gift has been opened (and consumed!) Read more

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Sewing a Dog Safety Reflective Bandana

I realized recently that I haven’t given any updates on our adoption of Pretty Handy Dog (aka Buddy.) I’m happy to say that Buddy has been with us for a year and a half now, and he has adjusted to living with us (crazy boys and all) just fine. After the first year, he began to truly show us his personality. He can be goofy and wrestle and run around like a maniac once in a while. But, normally, this is how he rolls:

He rolls into a tight ball and snores like a sailor! He’s also what you call a velcro dog and doesn’t let me out of his sight. We’ve heard from sitters that after I leave, Buddy will pace and cry by the door. When the sitter asks the kids if Buddy needs to go to out they answer, “No, he’s just crying because he wants Mommy.” Ahh, another Momma’s Boy ;-).

With the weather being in the 100’s here in NC, I’ve resorted to walking Buddy at night. Actually, I’m normally a night walker. On these nighttime excursions, I wear a reflector vest for myself, but I always worried that cars have a hard time seeing my mostly black dog. So, I thought it would be a good idea to make him his own dog safety clothing. A reflective bandana seemed like the perfect idea. Read more

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Dressing Up a Patio Table – A Lowe’s Creative Idea

Do you dream of sitting outside at a Parisian café sipping your caffé mocha and reading the paper? The sound of the birds twittering in the background and the screaming and whining sounds of your offspring are non-existent. And that’s when you come back to reality and realize that you aren’t in Paris and panic as you realize that quiet kids means they are up to no good!

I can day dream once in a while about this little café in Paris. But sometimes I need a little help with those fantasies. I decided to create my own little café spot on our back deck using the table and chairs we already had and then add a few items to boost the charm factor.

With a little help from Lowe’s, my patio table went from drab to fab within an afternoon. I created this little retreat for coffee, dining or Mommy’s time out chair. 😉

My Shopping List: Read more

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No Sew Patio Tablecloth with Umbrella Hole


This is one of the easiest tutorials I’ve every written. As a bonus, it is a no sew table cloth perfect for updating your outdoor table that has an umbrella.

While shopping at Target I stumbled across beautiful green link patterned table cloths. But, the sizes wouldn’t fit our square patio table. I was hanging my head in clear disappointment when I walked through the bath aisle and spotted the same pattern on a shower curtain! After using a shower curtain for a tablecloth on our screen porch, I knew this would be a great option for the patio table. I grabbed the shower curtain, did a fist pump, and sprinted to the register. As I neared the cashier, I wondered if I would finally beat the impossible game of “Can you buy less than $100 at Target?” (coming to a store near you.) Read more

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