So…here’s the tutorial.

Cut a pattern (here’s that gridded paper I love so much…in a peppermint stripe) that is a 11.25″ x 7.5″ rectangle.

Pin it to your fabric with one of the short ends on the fold.

Cut your fabric, open up the rectangle (should be 22.5″ x 7.5″) and finish your edges.

Now, with your wrong sides together, fold each of the short ends over 1″ and press.

Stitch near the the finished edge to create the casing for your drawstring.

Next, fold your bag in half–right sides together–with your casings matching up at the top. Stitch 1/8″ up the sides, stopping and reinforcing your seam just below the casings.

For my drawstring, I used 3/8″ grosgrain ribbon that I had on hand and cut two 19″ lengths. Insert a safety pin in one end and use the pin to feed the ribbon through one side of the casing. Repeat for the other side.

Knot the ends of your ribbons together on each side of the bag and, voila! You’re done!

What a lovely little package!

When we were at the Apple store buying my iPad, they had a decent selection of protective cases available, but if you guys know me by now, you know that I had to at least try to make my own before I gave in and bought one.  I quickly went through Plan A and Plan B before I was successful.  So, with you I share my Plan C.

It’s a very simple, quick project to put together.

It’s not so much a case as it is a sleeve.

It fits so snugly that there is no need for any type of closure.  Your iPad won’t be going anywhere.

It’s perfect to throw in your purse for protection against keys, lipsticks, Hot Wheels,  fruity snacks, and melted chocolate.  Please tell me your purse is like mine.  Please?

It’s made using a sturdy home decor fabric on the outside and a fantastically soft flannel on the inside.

It’s cushioned with a nice layer of foam so you don’t have to fret over every bump and booboo.

So, let’s get started.  You’ll need:

Paper to draw out your pattern (I use old wrapping paper with the 1″ grid on the back)

Exterior fabric (I used one from Amy Butler’s August Fields home decor line)

Interior fabric (I’m pampering my iPad with an Amy Butler flannel from her Love line)

Foam for cushion (I used automotive headliner that I got for 50 cents in Hancock’s bargain bin)

Sewing basics (scissors, thread, pins, serger, sewing machine

1.  Cut your pattern piece for your exterior & interior fabrics.  It will be 10.5″ x 8.5″.

2.  Cut your pattern piece for your foam.  It will be 9.5″ x 7.5″.

3.  Using your pattern pieces, cut 2 each of your exterior fabric, interior fabric and foam.

4.  Take one exterior piece and one interior piece and place them wrong sides together.  Serge one of your short ends without cutting the fabric.  Repeat with remaining 2 pieces.

5.  Open up your seam and place a piece of foam inside, leaving 1/4″ between top edge of foam and your seam, and 1/2″ space around the rest of the foam.

6.  Now close your “sandwich” keeping your seam flat and edges even.  Pin through all 3 layers.

7.  Serge 1/4″ around remaining 3 sides.

Repeat with your other exterior/interior/foam.  You should now have 2 “sandwiches”.

8.  Now we’re going to double-decker this thing.  Pin your two “sandwiches” together with your interior sides facing each other.

9.  Serge 1/8″ around 3 sides, leaving one short end open.  Then go back with your regular sewing machine and sew a seam just inside your serged seam to reinforce your sleeve.

You’re done!  Now, this is a tight squeeze, isn’t it?  I decided to make it that way because, A) makes the tutorial simpler and B) less junk to mess with when I want to get the iPad out of my purse.  However, if you want yours less tight you could expand the width of this case a half inch or so and throw a Velcro or button strap on it.

Let me know if you have any questions!

See, there’s a particular day each month *ahem* that makes me yearn for a good, heavy heating pad, but by the time my body reminds me that I want it….well, I’m just too crabby to sew.   This month, though, I’m prepared.

Gorgeous, right?  If only you could feel, smell and pet it.  It turns out that Amy Butler’s super-luxurious flannel + rice + lavender essential oils = heaven.  In case you were wondering.

I didn’t have the details for the heating pad worked out in my mind, but I find if I just start cutting fabric….it just all works out.  Usually.  This was one of those fortunate times and I’m thrilled that it only took my one shot to achieve the sectioned heating pad glory I was after.  I was nervous that I would fail at achieving the sectioned design that I was picturing in my mind, but I came up with a little trick that makes it super easy.

Ready to begin?  You know you want one!  I knocked this one out in under an hour while still in my pajamas this morning.

Cut two 19″ x 8″ rectangles of high quality flannel.  I bought 1/2 yard of this one and it’s enough to make 2 heating pads.

Serge (without cutting fabric) one of the short ends of each piece.  (I don’t like raw edges.)

Pin your pieces right sides together.

Serge 1/4″ along the two long sides and the other short end.  This short end will be the “bottom” of our project for tutorial purposes.

Then, on your open end (top) start sewing approximately 1″ from the side with a 1/4″ seam allowance.  Continue around the fabric until you return to the top edge and stop when you’re about 1″ into it again.  That makes very little sense, so here’s a pic:

Now you’re nice and reinforced.  We want this thing to be sturdy and never leak so much as a grain of rice!

Cut diagonally across all 4 corners without cutting into your seam.

Turn it right side out, make your corners nice and square, press it and topstitch along the edge.

Starting at the seamline at the bottom of your project, mark the pad into six 3″ sections using a chalk pencil.  My lines didn’t show up very clearly in the pictures, but you get the idea.

I think.

Put 4 1/2 cups of uncooked rice (or flax seed or whatever filler you prefer.  I like the weight of the rice. ) in a large zip baggie and throw in some of your favorite essential oils.  Shake!  Shake!  Shake!

Now, take 3/4 cup of your rice/oil mix and dump it into your heating pad.

My concern was how to contain the rice long enough to sew the barrier seam.  Hmmmmm…..A-HA!  A temporary barrier!  I pinned the rice back about 1/2″ away from my marked line leaving just enough room for the presser foot to pass by.

The problem with that was that it was a tad difficult doing it with the pad lying flat on the table (or my bed as you see in my pics. )  So…..I hung it from my ironing board using my iron to weight it down.  Work with gravity, baby.

Stitch it up and repeat for all 6 sections.

After filling your final section, sew your barrier seam near the top edge and then the folds in and zigzag the very edge.

That’s the toughest part…and it’s not even so tough.  And…you’re done!

You’re final product will measure 18″ x 7″ which is ideal for abdominal cramps, sore lower back or tense neck.

It rolls up nicely to tuck into a bedside drawer.

And I’m pretty sure that my next project will be a cute little drawstring bag in a coordinating fabric.  Perfect for storage and for gift-giving. I’ll keep you posted on that project. EDIT: Drawstring Bag Tutorial has been added!

Stick it in the microwave for around 2 minutes.  Of course, this time varies from one microwave to the next.  Just be very careful not to overheat (it will stink and can hurt ‘cha!).

Also….you can store it in your freezer for cold therapy on an injure knee, back, etc…

So…there you have it.  Now get busy!

At the bottom of each post, you’ll find this:

Simply click that, then open or save it.  Print and stash for crafty days!

I’ll include some links to my more popular tutorials for you guys to bookmark and save as PDFs.

Owl Party Favor Tutorial

Hair Clip Tutorial

Felt Board Tutorial

Halter Top Tutorial

And while I’m in halter-top-making mode, I thought I’d share some fabric combos from Fabric.com that are so cute and fun!

I love these two from Michael Miller’s Lagoon collection.

These prints from Alicia Place Frost are just gorgeous!

Who can resist Heather Bailey’s Pop Garden collection?

This fun set is from Michael Miller’s Gray Citron & Black collection and I just love it!

You can never go wrong with Amy Butler.  These two are from her August Fields collection.  Beautiful!

So, I hope the PDF feature makes crafting a bit easier for you!  Be sure to let me know if there is anything I can do to make things on The Green Wife easier for you guys to use and enjoy.

And I want to know:

Who has started on their spring sewing?  What fabrics are you loving for this season?  I would love to see some links!

This tutorial is for you mommies out there with a super-independent little one on your hands.  A little one that insists on doing everything by him- or herself, but just doesn’t realize the limitations that their age and size might bring.  Limitations such as not being able to reach the bathroom light switch during their mad dash to the potty while they’re saying to you, “No, Mommy!  I don’t need help!  I can do it all myself!”

Because Elliott is the epitome of Little Miss Independence, I had to come up with a way for her to reach the switch without moving her stool across the room in back in those 2.5 seconds she allows herself to make it to the bathroom.

Now, there are mass-produced versions of these light switch extensions available.  They work, but they are just not cute.  We just can’t have that, can we??

I decided to attempt making one from scratch.  I didn’t want to use wood because I’m a worrywart and I’d lose sleep at night thinking it was going to catch on fire.  Metal would be scary, too.  So…I bought a sheet of thin, flexible Plexiglas at Hobby Lobby.  I’ve never worked with the stuff before, so I’m sure there are better ways of dealing with it than what I did.  However, I got the end result I wanted and Elliott is very pleased with it…so no worries. (If you want to share helpful Plexiglas hints with your fellow readers and me, please leave a comment!  I would love to learn more about working with it.)

So…let’s get started.

You’ll need:

• A sheet of Plexiglas ($1.99 at Hobby Lobby)
• Mean scissors
• Craft knife/blade
• Sandpaper
• Marker
• Paintbrush
• Mod Podge or similar glue
• Pretty paper or fabric
• Embellishments

First, print out this template.

Then, place the template on a flat surface and lay your Plexiglass on top of it.  When you bring it home from the store, it will have a protective film on it. Leave it in place for now.

With a marker, trace the template onto your Plexi.

Carefully cut out your design.  (This is where I could use tips on using Plexiglass.  The stuff was cracking all around the edges.  Any suggestions on how to cut it and end up with nice clean edges?)  To cut out the inner circle, I used a craft knife to cut a slit through the center.  I had to cut from the top, then flip the Plexi over and go over it again.  Once it was sliced all the way through, I poked my scissors through and finished cutting out the circle.  Please, please use caution not to cut yourself.

Now remove the protective film.

Use sandpaper to smooth your edges and help round out the circles.  They don’t have to be perfect because they will be covered, but take the sharpest edges off.

Now, tear or cut strips of pretty paper or fabric.

Paint Mod Podge onto your Plexi a bit at a time and apply the paper/fabric until the entire thing is covered.

Wrapping the paper around makes for safe, smooth edges.

Apply stickers or any other embellishments, then give the entire surface a nice, full coat of Mod Podge.

Here is Elliott’s new freedom…er….extension.

She absolutely loves it!

Please be very careful in making and using this light switch extension.  It is not a toy and children should be supervised when they are using their light switch extension.  In case of breakage or damage that exposes bare Plexiglas, please dispose of the extension immediately to avoid injury.  Okay, thank you and goodbye.

Growing up, one of my very favorite things for my mother to cook with dinner was fried eggplant.  It wasn’t something we ate often, so I was always thrilled when I spotted a beautiful eggplant sitting in the fridge after a trip to the grocery store.  To me, it’s the coolest looking produce in the market.  The shape, the color, the size…love it.

It’s has lots to offer nutritionally, as well.  Did you know:

• Eggplant is low in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol?
• Eggplant is high in dietary fiber, folate, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, magnesium, phosphorus and copper?

It’s good for you.  But I’m going to change that.  Because I grew up country-fried and it’s what I do.

So…

Grab a skillet and put enough oil in it to cover the bottom.  Heat the oil over medium-high heat.

Select a beautiful eggplant and lop of the ends like this:

Then cut it in half.

Slice it into 1/4″ slices.

Coat each slice in a flour, salt & pepper mixture.

Dip in milk.  Or evaporated milk.  Or buttermilk.

And dip in flour again.

When your oil is hot and ready to go, lay your slices in there.  Cook each side until they reach a deep golden brown or whatever level of doneness that appeals to you.

Drain them on a plate covered with a paper towel.

And the special ingredient??

Sugar.

Lightly sprinkle them with sugar while they’re still hot.  Trust me.  It’s worth it.

The whole family loves them and while it may not be the healthiest way to serve eggplant, it’s a way to get them in kids’ tummies. Yummy comfort food.

I’m curious, though….how do you prepare eggplant?

Anyhow, with permission from Creative Little Daisy I created a video demonstration of her brilliant DIY bias tape method. I use this method almost daily lately and I wanted to make sure that everyone else can use and love it like I do! So….drumroll……here it is!

(Bonus points if you can tell me how many times I almost start cracking up!)

On my sewing table, my ironing board and my craft cabinets, you’ll find stacks of fabric, ribbon, wood, pretty papers, Mod Podge….all remnants or promises of a wonderful project.  Will I ever make them all happen?  Nah.  But I thoroughly enjoy the ones that do become reality.

For instance:

I decided after I made Elliott’s halter dress the other day out of Michael Miller’s Pod Posey border fabric (freaking love it.  best fabric ever.), that I needed to make my step-daughter Mazzy a matching top.

Mazzy was absolutely thrilled with it and the girls had so much fun dressing alike!  They are just wonderful together.

Now….

Aside from making a bazillion more halter tops and dresses from my tutorial, I’ve got this big monster to tackle soon:

My great-grandmother pieced this quilt top many years ago.  It’s full of awesome vintage fabrics that just scream, “Abbie!  Love me!”   They’re silks, they’re gawdy, they’re stretch knits, double knits and they’re everything I would have worn had I just been a couple of generations older.  And they must be incorporated into my Bohemian Bedroom Makeover I’m working on….but that’s another project.

Nanny gave the quilt top to my mother once upon a time and asked that it be finished one day.  Well….it’s time.  I’m just itching to get started on it!  It’s going to need a border around it to size it up and I can’t decide on a color.  Orange?  Green?  Mustard?  I don’t know.  And shall I back it with flannel?  Will I hand-quilt, machine-quilt or tie it?  Lots of decisions to be made, but my wonderful, amazing Nanny would be so thrilled that it’s finally getting the love it deserves!  I’ll keep you posted!

Elliott is a tiny little thing.  She just turned 2, but can still fit in some 18 month stuff.  The size that I made for this halter top is plenty roomy, so if you want to copy the measurements exactly, it’s about 24 months to 2T.

So.  This is what we’re making (and pardon the photo quality, please.  Daylight was gone by the time I finished ).  It is finished in bias tape that ties behind the neck and the back has elastic for a really cute little fit.

This could easily be lengthened a bit to make a precious little sundress.  I plan to make one in the next few days and will post pictures of it here when it’s done.

The pattern piece for the front of the top is this shape:

When you cut your fabric, you’ll want it folded with the straight side of the pattern piece pinned along the fabric fold.

Across the bottom is 7.5″ (unfolds to 15″).

Across the bustline is 5.5″ (unfolds to 11″).

Across the neckline is 3″ (unfolds to 6″).

From top to bottom: 12″.

Keep in mind that these measurements fit a toddler who is 34″ tall and 25lbs.  Adjust to fit your child or email me with any questions.

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S0, since I have received a ton of emails for help with adjusting measurements, I thought I would add this little bit.  I hope that it is helpful!  Please let me know if the directions are not clear enough.  Thank you.

And now….back to our regularly scheduled programming:

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The back pattern piece is a simple rectangle.  In this case, 15″ x 10 1/4″.

Rather than using solid color, boring bias tape from the fabric store, I decided I wanted to make my own.  I found a really wonderful tutorial that makes the process very quick and easy.  I’m now a big fan of this blogger and her bias-tape brilliance!  I was thrilled at how my tape turned out!

**I have now added a video demonstrating this bias tape method!**

For this top I made 4 pieces:

1-  6″ piece (neckline)

1- 36″ piece (straps)

2- 29″ pieces (hem)

Now…getting started….

Grab your back halter fabric (the plain rectangle) and fold down one of the long edges 1/4″.  Press.  Fold again approximately 1″ and press.  Then sew along your fold to create your elastic casing.  These steps will look something like this:

Next, cute a piece of elastic that will fit your child.  You can measure across her back from armpit to armpit to get an idea.  Ours was approximately 10″.

Anchor one end of your elastic with a straight pin at one end of your casing.  Attach a safety pin to the other end of your elastic and use the pin to feed the elastic through the casing.

Secure both ends of the elastic by stitching vertically 1/4″ from the edges of the fabric.

Put the back halter piece aside.

Sandwich the top (neckline) edge of the front halter piece within a 6″ length of bias tape.  Stitch along the open edge of the bias tape, being sure to catch the underneath layer in your seam.  In my picture you will notice 2 lines of stitching.  Oops!  I let the underside of the bias tape get away from me and had to sew it again. 

You’ll use the same basic idea to attach the straps.  Start at the bottom of each underarm curve and attach your bias tape.  Sew down the entire length of the bias tape to close it and form the strap pieces.

Pin your front and back together at the side seams and sew 1/2″ seams.

You’re almost done!

Starting at one of the side seams, sew the bias tape along the hem of the top.  As you near the end, stop sewing and trim your bias tape to the proper length, leaving just a bit to overlap the beginning edge.

And you’re done!

Elliott modeled the top for me when it was done tonight.  She was just a little too excited about it, though, and couldn’t stop running around.  Forgive her for the quality of the pictures, please!

Now…please don’t hesitate to email and let me know if I need to be clearer on any details or provide more pictures.  If I’ve left anything out…well, I’m sure you all now how hard it is to keep a train of thought with a toddler running around!  Just let me know and I’ll be glad to help!

Have fun!

Oh!  And I have two requests:

1) If you make one, I would love it if you sent in a picture for me to post!

2) If you want to use this tutorial and sell what you make, that’s great!  Go for it because I love WAHMs!  Just please link back to me.

Today I got to watch my brother’s sweet new thing–a new son–on webcam. He’s absolutely beautiful and I am in love with my new nephew. I can’t wait to meet the little guy in person! Today is his one week birthday already! Happy birthday to him! I’m dying to share a picture but I didn’t ask for permission, so I’m just going to leave you guys hanging on that one! Just get a mental picture of a beautiful baby boy that’s just chilled out and sweet…with his sweet new feet poking out of the blanket. That’s him.

EDIT: My brother read this and said I could post his sweet little thing! Yay! So here he is: Liam Reece

The other sweet new thing on my mind today is a set of ribbon I bought. While it’s not as sweet as my darling little nephew, it is pretty darn sweet. So sweet that I ran home and immediately made a set of clips and put them on the products page for ya. I think they’re sweet new things!

Oh…don’t forget to sign up for the clip giveaway by noon Friday!