"B" is for Baby Shower

Sew: monogrammed seersucker pouches

Party favors for a boy baby shower.

Light blue seersucker on the exterior with navy lining and monograms:

For more seersucker versions see these:

Or these light pink versions:

Or these too:

Here's how I made the pouches:

1. Supplies:

1 - light blue seersucker fabric @ 10" x 14"

1 - med. fusible interfacing @ 10" x 14"

2 -Kona nightfall navy fabric @ 10" x 7"

1 - 9" white zipper

navy letters

5/8" navy grosgrain ribbon

2. Fuse interfacing to wrong side of seersucker.

3. Pin letter centered on one half, zigzag stitch in place.

4. Place zipper face down on one end then one piece of lining, stitch:

5. Repeat for other side with other lining piece.

Top stitch lining down on interior to prevent from getting caught in zipper:

6. Right sides together sew side seams and miter corners:

7. Clip miters off to alleviate bulk:

8. Turn right side out, press raw edge of lining in 1/2" and straight stitch closed:

9. Push lining down into pouch and press smooth.

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

DIY Fall Festival @ The DIY Showoff

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Pretty Things Thursday @ Scissors & Spatulas

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

SAS @ Just a Girl

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework

Textiles @ Freckled Laundry
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming

"C" is for Chevron

Sew: monogrammed chevron beach tote bag

Easy to make and personalize your own beach tote:

Inspired by this beach tote from Pottery Barn teen:

image from pbteen.com

I made my own version with navy chevron fabric and added a fuschia monogram:

This version is lined with drop cloth canvas:

It's deep and big, measuring 20"w x 16"h x 7.5"deep:

Here's how I made the monogrammed chevron beach tote:

1. Supplies:

1 - chevron exterior fabric @ 41" x 21"

1 - fusible interfacing @ 41" x 21" (iron to wrong side of chevron)

1 - drop cloth lining fabric @ 38" x 21"

2 - chevron fabric strips @ 3" x 21"

5/8" thick poly rope @ 40"

fabric letters (click here to see how I make the fabric letters)

2. Pin letters in place about 4" down from top edge:

3. Zig zag stitch in place:

4. Sew 3" chevron strips to drop cloth lining piece at both short ends:

(1/2" SA)

5. Fold exterior chevron piece in half, right sides together and sew side seams 1/2"SA:

(Press seams open.)

6. To make the mitered corners press the side seam flat against the folded base making a triangle:

Mark at 7.5" wide.

7. Sew mitered corner then clip excess bulk:

8. Repeat steps 5 - 8 for drop cloth lining piece.

Be sure to line up chevron seam when sewing side seams together:

9. Turn drop cloth lining right side out and stuff into exterior bag piece (right sides together):

Cut 2 - 20" pieces of rope.

10. Pin rope handles in between lining and exterior chevron, 6" from side seams leaving at least 1" hanging out then pin remaining top seam all around:

11.  Sew top shut with 1/2"SA leaving at least a 6" gap open preferably near the back and NOT over any of the rope sections:

12. Turn bag right side out through the opening in the top seam:

13. Push drop cloth lining down into bag and press top seam smooth, pin in place to ready for top stitching:

14. Top stitch 5 rows.  This adds extra strength to the rope handle and creates a decorative finish:

Ready for the beach or pool.

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

DIY Fall Festival @ The DIY Showoff

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Pretty Things Thursday @ Scissors & Spatulas

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

SAS @ Just a Girl

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework

Textiles @ Freckled Laundry
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming

"F" is for Fourth of July

Build: kids adirondack chairs

Three kid size adirondack chairs with handpainted stars:

Chair plans courtesy of Ana White, for a similar version use these.

So sturdy even Mommy fits in these chairs:

The perfect backyard accessory, even if the kids don't sit in them very long.

Thank you Ana for making great plans for more backyard fun!

Click here for the sewing plans for the girls dresses.

Here's how I finished the kids adirondack chairs:

1. Build the chairs as per Ana's plans.

Build the back piece then use a jigsaw to make curve:

2. When adding the seat slats use a scrap piece of wood for consistent spacing:

3. Sand, prime then two coats Rustoleum white lacquer:

4. Print out a 1.75" star.

Center star on chair back, trace outline with a ballpoint pen:

5. Using Americana patio paint and DecoArt Traditions round #3 brush:

6. Paint on and inside the indent left behind by the pen:

I did three coats.

7. Seal star with clear spray poly gloss:

I'm linking up to:

Whatcha Got Weekend @ Lolly Jane

SAS @ Funky Junk

Sister Sunday @ Sisters of the Wild West

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

DIY Fall Festival @ The DIY Showoff

Nifty Thrifty @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z

Good Life @ A Beach Cottage

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

SAS @ Just a Girl

Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage

Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic

inspiration board @ Carolyns Homework
All Things Furniture @ Perfectly Imperfect
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
POWW @ Primitive & Proper
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table & Dreaming