First I made the customized curtains for the porch. Using the same material I covered some foam cushions with the same material. They snap off the foam for easy cleaning. I also put in the custom made pillows from my first post. In addition to all the sewing projects I made custom fit storage benches out of wood to wrap around the porch. The covers of the benches are on hinges that lift up so that things can be stored within them. A jute rug and some sailing accessories finished off the New England style porch makeover!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Front Porch
Now that my mommy has finally seen my porch in person I can post it online! When I first bought my house the front porch was not well kept. It was dirty, had cheap plastic furniture in it and wasn't the best first impression to give on a house. I thought that it was such a nice feature for a house that it deserved a total make over.

First I made the customized curtains for the porch. Using the same material I covered some foam cushions with the same material. They snap off the foam for easy cleaning. I also put in the custom made pillows from my first post. In addition to all the sewing projects I made custom fit storage benches out of wood to wrap around the porch. The covers of the benches are on hinges that lift up so that things can be stored within them. A jute rug and some sailing accessories finished off the New England style porch makeover!
First I made the customized curtains for the porch. Using the same material I covered some foam cushions with the same material. They snap off the foam for easy cleaning. I also put in the custom made pillows from my first post. In addition to all the sewing projects I made custom fit storage benches out of wood to wrap around the porch. The covers of the benches are on hinges that lift up so that things can be stored within them. A jute rug and some sailing accessories finished off the New England style porch makeover!
Pink Cupcake Grocery Bag
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ren Faire Costumes
Also in that photo is the white puffy shirt and vest I made for Jason.

Next is the Robin Hood outfit I made for another friend in college. I simply made the tunic. The hat was something he picked up at a Ren Faire in upstate NY.

Finally is a photo of my friend Steph and her Jester costume that I made for her to go to the ren faire. It was inspired by her hat and made of some awesome velvet material. Got to love her pose!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Blue Apple Grocery Bag
Red Apples Grocery Bag
Blue Cupcakes Grocery Bag
Brown Pears Grocery Bag
Brown Cherries Grocery Bag
After getting some ideas from ladies at work I went with a suggestion from my friends E and W to make tote bags, but what would I do with that may tote bags? Use them to carry my groceries with style of course! I've been making grocery bags for the last few weeks, but haven't been taking pictures, so here come a bunch of posts!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wedding Shoe Bling
So on Sunday, she picked me up with shoes and a sample of her bridesmaid dress color in hand and we went to the craft store and got rhinestones to give her shoes a little sparkle and sophistication.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Making a Tote is not Rocket Science
I found this really great Rocket Science material online and a pattern for a tote bag and decided to make a tote for my bottles of tea. There were coordinating materials in the line, so I bought two -one with blue and white spacey words like Rocket Scientist and Space Cadet and the other with blue and black rocket ships. For the lining of the tote I bought a navy blue plastic table cloth so if my drinks spill or sweat, the tote will be safe. I got navy webbing for the handles and a navy star button to add a little spacey flare to the outside pocket.
This was also my first attempt at making bias tape and I was really pleased with the result. It was a really great pattern!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Edible Birthday Bouquet
My husband and I always have trouble finding gifts for his parents. This past weekend we had his mother over for her birthday. Since it was a little last minute and they are on a no carb diet, a cake seemed a little inappropriate. I saw the adds for edible creations and looked into them - a little overpriced for what they are!
I bought some flower shaped cookie cutters, a melon baller and a crinkle cutter and shaped my own fruit to make her an edible bouquet. I know she likes blueberries, but I wasn't sure on her preference of the other fruit so I got all different types - strawberries, pineapples, grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew, and apples. I got the flower pot at Michael's on sale and it looked really cute!
It seems that the apples, strawberries and blueberries went first, so next time I may have to try a "berry bouquet" and perhaps dip some of the berries in chocolate. Mmmmmm.
Patriotic Table Runner
My last table runner was just about the length of the table so I doubled this on so when I upgrade my table it'll still fit.
Since the fabric can't really be seen in the picture I've posted a close up detail.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Nancy Drew Dress

I'd wanted to make the dress, but could never find the right material until recently. I found something quite similar and used a Vogue pattern to make my own custom Nancy Drew inspired dress. I have no idea what I will wear it for, but I made it anyway!
Lightening McQueen Bucket
My nephew's 3rd birthday is coming up and I wouldn't be a good aunt if I didn't make something just for him!
He's really into the movie Cars, so I got him aa bunch of Cars themed gifts that he can play outside with. I customized a bucket for him with Lightening McQueen on one side and his name on the other. Hope he likes his presents!
Everyday Table Runner
Tissue Box
The tissue box matches both so perfectly - here it is sitting on the blanket which is on the sofa. I made the swirls too match the sofa and some checkered boxes to break up all the swirls.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Finishing My Grandmother's Tote Bag
My aunt knows how crafty I am and how I got a lot of my craftiness from spending time with my grandmother when I was little. She taught me needle point, plastic canvas and knitting. She made so many items and my family all has some of her crafts.
While I was visiting in DC, I went to my aunt's for dinner and she pulled out a box of my grandmother's crafts for me to pick a few since she knew how much I treasured them. One of the items I saw was a cute plastic canvas tote bag. It was not lined and has plastic canvas handles, so it was a little impractical for work, but I used it anyway because I loved it. Even a few men at work commented on how they liked my "briefcase".
When the canvas handles finally broke two weeks ago I finally decided it was time to upgrade the bag with my own touches. I found some satin material I had lying around and made a lining for the bag. I added a zippered pocket and little pouches that are custom fit to my cell phone, blackberry and keys. I also added cute leather handles that are more durable. It breathed new life into an older tote!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Blazer
Now I have one more coat to wear to work!
Customized Wine Bottle

"Jealous" was not quite her type, she asked if I could change it to "Royal". The results are to the left.
*sigh*
The things I do for my mother... ; )
Monday, January 5, 2009
Seashells
My friend B invited me to join her one summer for some colored pencil instruction from an artist friend of hers that is a master in that media. I very much enjoy colored pencil and the company so I was thrilled to go! One evening we picked seashells as our subject. I like the way mine came out so I framed them and they are now sitting on a shelf in my bathroom on the wall perpendicular to the Adirondack chair colored pencil drawing.
Tissue Box
We have hard wood floors throughout our house and while looking through the website at Bed Bath and Beyond I found an area rug that I simply loved. We have chocolate brown leather couches so the rugs went perfectly. We painted the walls in the living room peanut butter to go with the area rugs as well.
Mouse Tray
The tray has an area for a mousepad, a groove to fit a pen and a flat area to take notes for his game and rest his microphone.
I made a cutout in the wood the exact shape of the mousepad so that the mousepad would not move. I staind the wood the same color as the side table next to him as well. I also upholstered the bottom of the tray in order to make it sit level on the arm of the couch.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Cirque du Soliel Dress

The dress is about knee length and has a very flowy skirt. It comes up to a waist band of material. From the top of the waist band, I attached two 3-foot long, 8-inch wide pieces of material to cover my chest. It can be worn two ways - just tied around my neck as seen in these pictures or criscrossed
around the front and then tied around my neck. The ends that hang from my neck look kind of like a matching scarf.
Actually, I've recently seen a similar take on this dress in Frederick's of Hollywood, but I had the idea first - 5 years earlier! I'm such a trendsetter! Since Cirque du Soliel, I've worn the dress on several other occasions - like my honeymoon.
Limoncello
During my last visit I she offered my some "Lemon Jello" for dessert. She's a fantastic cook, so I was ready and willing to give it a try.
Apparently I misheard and she introduced me to Limoncello. It's simply wonderful! She had an old family recipe that she had been too busy to try, and knowing my crafty betty-homemaker personality she entrusted it to me to give it a try.
Since my aunt provided me with the recipe, I thought it only right to provide her with some of my results. I didn't really have any nice bottles, so we resued some of out empty liquor bottles until we acquired a few. For my aunt, I took an old Godiva White Chocolate bottle (they don't come in white anymore...see how often I drink the stuff?) and peeled off the stickers. I painted "Nikki's Limoncello" on the front and "2008" on the back. She and her family loved it during my stay with her at Christmas.
Now That Christmas is Over...
I put the 4"x6" painting in a 8"x10" frame and gave it a yellow mat that matches the light yellow in the painting and presented it to my mother for Christmas. I had gotten her goodies from my travels to the asian pacific (Hawaii, Guam, Japan) so it seemed only fitting to add to the
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