"M" is for Mahjong

Terry pouches for a mahjong party.

A custom order complete with an embroidered starfish and 'St. Barth's'.

And a surprise turquoise color on the inside:

A local party planner ordered these pouches, she will be adding a custom zipper pull.

Makes me wish I was going to St. Barth's with the pouches!

But I don't play mahjong and I have three little ones to care for.

Here's how I made the pouches:


1. Cut terry cloth pieces (10" x 14") and back with medium fusible interfacing.
(I use medium weight terry cloth towels.)

2. Embroider design (this was outsourced unless you have a really fancy machine).

Here are the terry pieces after I picked them up from the embroiderer:

3. Party planner Stacey wanted turquoise for the lining, I gave her these options:

And she settled on the dark solid.

4. Prepare the lining pieces.

Each pouch needs 2 - 10"w x 7"h plus one 9" zipper:

5. Sew in zipper using zipper foot.

Terry piece face up, zipper face down flush to edge, lining face down:

6. Repeat for other side.

Pull terry over, face up, zipper face down and other lining piece face down:

7. Top stitch lining down at zipper to keep lining from catching in zipper:

8. Sew side seams.

Put terry piece right sides together and lining right sides together.

Be sure to line up zipper ends for smooth operation.

(*Don't forget to add you tag into lining side seam.)

9. Miter the corners.

Open side seam of terry cloth at bottom of pouch and pinch to bottom fold, sew across making a triangle:

10. Snip mitered piece off:

And turn pouch right side out.

11. Press side seams open and press up bottom raw edge of lining all around 1/2":

I do all these steps assembly line style, much more efficient:

12. Top stitch bottom lining seam shut:

13. Press lining smooth, push down into pouch.

Press lining flat at zipper.

Press terry bottom gusset pleat:

Ready for your mahjong card and a roll of quarters.

Or your cell phone, lip gloss, money, keys, etc.

Thanks Stacey for a new version of the terry pouch.

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots & Jello

Sundae Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

Sister Sunday @ Sisters of the Wild West

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

DIY Fall Festival @ The DIY Showoff

Made by You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou

Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter

Nifty Thrifty @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Delightfully Inspiring @ Delightful Order

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

SAS @ Just a Girl

Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework
Textiles @ Freckled Laundry

"T" is for Toy Box #4

I built another toy box, this one is for Mackenzy:

Perfect for corralling all those toys.

And a beautiful piece of furniture too!

Here's how I made the toy box:

1. Build per Ana's plans here.

Sand and wood putty.

2. One coat primer.

Sand again.

3. Two coats semi-gloss white.

4. Prepare lettering, print out to size.

(I used Engravers MT font 250 point.)

Center and tape onto side of box.

5. Trace letters using ballpoint pen to leave indent in wood.

6. Here's the indent left behind:

7. Paint inside the indent:

8. Seal name with clear spray acrylic:

Ready.

A nice addition for a little girls room.

Just in time for the holidays.

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots & Jello

Sundae Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

Sister Sunday @ Sisters of the Wild West

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Showoff

Made by You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou

Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter

Nifty Thrifty @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Delightfully Inspiring @ Delightful Order

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

SAS @ Just a Girl

Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

All Things Furniture @ Perfectly Imperfect
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
POWW @ Primitive & Proper
inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework
Build(hers) Club @ Sawdust & Paperscraps

"M" is for Merry

Merry Christmas painted sign.

Is it too early?  Never.

Thanksgiving was yesterday so we're in the clear.

Here's how I made the sign:

1. Use reclaimed wood, this piece is tongue and groove paneling (7 1/4"h x 74"l).

Prime and paint two coats Behr Tile Red.

Print out letters to fit.

Lay out letters and trace using ballpoint pen:

2. Pressure of ballpoint pen will leave an indent in the wood:

3. Paint espresso brown on and inside the indent:

4. Then paint thin layer of black and highlight letters with off white:

5. Sand to distress with 120grit:

6. Stain with Minwax special walnut:

7. Seal with clear satin poly.

Add two sawtooth hangers on back.

This sign is a special order for Colleen, makes me want to get out my decorations!

Maybe not yet.

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots & Jello

Sundae Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

Sister Sunday @ Sisters of the Wild West

Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

DIY Fall Festival @ The DIY Showoff

Made by You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou

Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter

Nifty Thrifty @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Delightfully Inspiring @ Delightful Order

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Handmade Holiday @ Just a Girl

Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework