Netherlands teaser

We're going to take a slight digression from the usual content.  I'm traveling this week so I'm going to share some of my travels instead.  I'm visiting the city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands.  It's about 2 hours southeast of Amsterdam via train.  I'm too tired from the traveling to craft a full post, so I'm just going to give you a teaser picture with more to follow later.

My first impressions are captured well in this photo - neat architecture, lots of pedestrians and bikes (it's late so I could take a picture without getting run over), and wet/raw weather.

Christmas Decor

I'm slowly letting go of Thanksgiving and getting into the mode of Christmas.  Here's our fireplace mantle decor for the year.  Still looking for ideas and motivation for other decor!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope that you are all spending time with good family and friends for thanksgiving.

Which dress to try?

I was looking through Zappos today and saw these two dresses that I loved, but certainly wouldn't want to pay full price for.  I haven't made any clothing yet, but I'd like to give it a try.  Which one do you think I should try?

Tahari by ASL

Christin Michaels Eveyln

Thanksgiving Table

It's coming together...  Ending up buying the tablecloth, making the square table cover, and making the napkins of course!  I'm so excited for Thanksgiving!  Are you?  Share your favorite thanksgiving tradition with me - I'm hoping to start a new one this year as we host for the first time.

Circle Earbud Pouch

Check out this super cute circle earbud pouch tutorial made by Erin Erickson at Dog Under My Desk.

http://erinerickson.com/2011/11/circle-zip-earbud-pouch-tutorial/

I keep my key ring rather sparse since I hate having extra things dangling in the way, but you could use this to hold your earbuds in place in a backpack or other location so it doesn't get lost at the bottom of the pile.  I can certainly relate to finding my earbuds in a tangled mess at the bottom of my purse.  I'm going to have to think of someone who would use this so I can try making one!

Leaves

I'm loving the many blog posts I am seeing about using Mod Podge to preserve leaves like shown below.

http://gingerbreadsnowflakes.com/node/96

I'm thinking it would be even more fun to make some fabric leaves that match the napkins and table runner for my thanksgiving day table setting.  Working out the details...

Tri-Fold Napkins

Thanksgiving is on the way, and I have many projects in the pipeline!  I'm hosting Thanksgiving for the family this year for the first time.  With that comes the following projects:

• New leaves for our dining room table (husband's project)
• New tablecloth that fits the enlarged table
• New table runner for enlarged table
• Large amount of napkins that match the decor of the tablecloth and runner

Up first is the napkins...  I decided to make tri-fold napkins out of regular cotton cloth.  Since the cloth was so thin I decided it needed to be doubled up.   Here's the final result.  Cute huh?

A pair with a potholder I made (more on that later)

The Step-by-Step guide:

You'll need:

• Measuring tape
• Cutting instrument
• Fabric (1/2 yard can make about 2)
• Stitch Witchery or other fusible tape
• Iron

Cut two pieces of fabric to 14 1/2" x 19" (or whatever size suits your needs)

Pin together with "right" sides facing one another

I placed two pins about 3 inches apart on the edge to designate my opening.  This is where you do not want to sew.  You will use this hole in future steps to turn the napkin ride side out.

Head to the sewing machine...  (Or don't... ask me if you want the non-stitch version!)

Start sewing right after one of the white pins designating the hole.  Don't forget your backstitch and leave a 1/4" seam allowance.

Remember to pick up the foot in the corners and turn your fabric 90 degrees, making a nice clean corner.

Once you've made it all the way around the napkin to the other white pin to designate the hole, backstitch and cut the threads.  Head to the ironing board.

I usually press open my seams, but you don't necessarily have to if you have patience in really making sure those edges don't get pressed wrong once you flip it inside out.  To press open the seams, just fold over the 1/4" seam allowance and press down on each side.

Then you get to turn it inside out!

Stick your arm in that hole and pull the fabric through.  Doesn't look much like a napkin huh?  Or maybe it does look like a napkin my dad used to ball up after it was used...

 Use a pencil or some other instrument to make sure the corners get totally pushed out.  This is important or it will never lay quite right!

Now press all the edges.  I highly recommend you put your iron on a non-steam setting for this so your fingers can get quite close to hold the seams open without scalding yourself.  Yes - this is from experience!

Now doesn't it look nice?  Yes - you might be thinking - but what about that gaping hole in my napkin!  Ok, fine, we'll take care of that.

Find the hole and make sure you have the napkin pressed so the edges are folded in the same as where it was sewn.  Take a piece of fusible tape (I use Stitch Witchery) and place it into the hole so that it is just beyond the edges.

Once you have it placed right, just close the fabric and iron over it.  All closed up!

To give the napkins a bit of a stiffer feel I used some starch.  Spray on, iron.

Then folded it up, ironing where needed, and it's all done!

Enjoy!