Snail Mail with No Shell?

I found this great site LetterFu where you can print out templates for letters that when folded properly you don't need an envelope, and no tape or glue needed…so cool no envelope and  save the tree, The stamp hold the letter together.  I did a valentine one, I think I am going to have the kid send these to all the grandparents this year. You could use a blank one and have the kids draw on the outside… I also see stamping possibilities with the blank template.

Check Letterfu out.

DIY The Easiest $3.00 Dress

So I went in to JoAnn fabric looking for the usually think I forgot. I walked bu there clearance area and saw the this fabric. The fabric was the little girls fabric that is pre elasticised a one seam dress with top and bottom hems done. It is a great item for the non sewer to make a dress for a kid, they also have adult versions. The Fabric was recently moved from $12 a yard to $3. So I decided to give it a try my little girl is going through a dress phase so play dresses are a win win. I bought a yard of 2 different fabrics.

The first fabric I picked up was an over the top hot pink cotton fabric with a rainbow graded chiffon over lay on top. I purchased a yard but only really need 27".
To sew it I sew the top part of "the gathers" on both layers. I then though it was best not to sew both layers together, (if I did it would pull fun and not move on her). So then I French Seamed the chiffon. This is how chiffon should always be sewn.
Then I sewed the inner later. I added a ribbon at center front to hold the dress up. Then I glued with a no sew a large stone to the front make a pool and push the stone into it, so it comes over the edge of the stone, allowing the glue to dry 24 hours. I used the extra fabric to make a Doll dress. My daughter calls it her Hanna Montana Dress.

The next fabric I bought was this cute cotton fairy dress fabric. I will be honest a little too pastel for me but I knew she would love it. This dress had no layers of fabric and was a straight seam right up the back and Ta Da you have a dress!
But of course I used the extra fabric and made sleeves. I cut a tulip leaf shape with a straignt top. I folded the top down, so I could tunnel the elastic in it I cut a 4" piece of elastic. Pulled the elastic in the tunnel secured at both ends and attached it to the dress. I added the daisy buttons to hided the stitches. Then I made a sash for the waste but a ribbon would have done nicely. I used the extra fabric, the top part not used for sleeves and made a doll dress

I reached the Top of My Textile Mountain..

I have been sewing since I was seven and knitting shortly there after. I have felted and woven fabric, …But my Achilles heal of textile crafts has always been crochet. About 10 years ago I have taken lessons the older lady @ Michaels and she told me you are a knitter. “You work too tight, I have had 13 years that have learned faster than you”. Depress I left feeling like a failure. Fast forward 6 years… friend tried to show me to crochet I made a lopsided granny square…I put it down and never picked up. Truly fed up with the lack of progress… I chalked up to the fact I will never get crochet and it is the one textile craft I will never learn. Hopeless I gave up my quest to conquer crochet.
But about 2 months ago, the preteen Knit group I teach at the church, started making a blanket for the Pastor at our church who was having a baby. The 4 girls started knitting squares, for several of the girls they never finished a project. The girls all finished there squares, so I had to hold up on my end and put the square together for a blanket, The dreaded crochet.
I went to a good friend I knit with Knitting Zeal. She showed me how to crochet all the edges and attached them together. Then another friend showed me how to add a lace border. I was thrilled it was fun and quickly. The blanket turned out lovely my edging was a great touch to the girls wonderful work. The blanket is sure to be treasured by the baby and his family for years to come.

This past week I fingered out how to crochet flowers which are the perfect touch to a sweater I am making for my DD. In the next few weeks I am starting a completely crochet blanket. I have conquered crochet and I love it!!! YAY.