Repurposed T-shirt

Thanks to Pinterest I now have a way to actually wear all of those mission trip and retreat t-shirts I have accumulated over the past 7 years in youth ministry. Here is the blog link with the tutorial.

It took me 15 minutes start to finish, I have a stack of shirts that I am gonna do this to- I am not a boxy t-shirt wearer.

Sewing in Ethiopia

I ran across this picture and had to post it. I thought of Christy and Shasta two of my high school friends who adopted children from Ethiopia.

You can sponsor a child in Ethiopia through Compassion and World Vision.

Handmade Giveaway and a few Africa links!!

My high middle school friend Shasta has a new sewing blog called The Lovely Nest. Today is her first giveaway! You should really go check it out.
Especially if you are one of the many people I know who has a heart for Africa.
She is giving away an appliqued t-shirt!
Go check out The Lovely Nest and enter to win!

Africa is close to Shasta's heart.
Shasta and her husband adopted a son from Ethiopia last year.

Africa is close to my heart.
It began when our family began supporting 2 boys from Kenya through Compassion 8 years ago, then Steve visited on a mission/humanitarian trip in December of 2006.
Our dear friend Courtland has been in South Africa and on to Tanzania soon
and of course Rob who is doing more for the people of Djibouti than we'll ever know.
So enter to win, check out the etsy shop and help support the people of Africa through the abundance we as Americans are blessed to have.

Our Handmade Holidays

Here are links to a few of the Span Clan's Handmade Holidays 2009.

Corner Bookmarks

Rice Heat Therapy Bags

Mouse Pad

Summer Wallet

Since I am new to sewing these should all be fairly easy projects for any beginner to do.

The one thing I have learned is that the right tools and good tools will help out a bunch and minimize the frustration, if any.

Blogs I Read

Anna Marie Horner
Chubby*Hobby
the lovely nest
Sew Mama Sew
Tallgrass Prairie Studio


Japanese fabric

Cute, cute, cute

These are too irresistible to just let stay on paper.
Now what to do...
what to do?

Every Girls Needs a Good Apron

Here's a good spot for free apron patterns. I didn't find the pattern I wanted but since I have a bunch of old jeans I think I'll give a jean apron a try.

The apron I use the most is an old one from my grandmother and what I like best about it is that it covers my entire shirt. I'm not much of a cook but I love to bake and I usually make a mess of myself. Looks like I'll have to make my own pattern from my current apron.

Happy sewing!

More Links for Myself

Why I like redwork.

I just discovered redwork last month. I'd seen it before but it wasn't until stumbling cross a redwork website that I realized this is my niche.

First, it's one color. There's no deciding what color to use, it's easy, red!

Second, it's simple for me. I cna do it and hold a conversation or watch/listen to tv or radio.

I can take it everywhere, it can be done on napkins and pillow cases that are already in my house.

Needle and Motion
Chesnut Junction
Quilt Bus
Good Info