Semi-Homemade Minky Blankets

Last year I made several minky blankets for babies.  The first one was for my niece.  This blanket actually was not semi-homemade but SO easy.  I bought about 1 1/4 yards minky fabric and 1 1/4 yards of a cute pink cotton fabric.  I wanted it to be a little larger than your average baby blanket so I used the full 1 1/4 yards, cleaning up the cut edges so that they were straight. 

Pin the fabric right sides together, surge or zigzag around the perimeter, pulling out the pins as you go and leaving a small opening.  Pull the fabric inside out through opening.

 

 

Tuck the openings raw edges under to match the rest of the sewn edges and pin shut.  Sew again using sewing machine single stitch around perimeter again about 1/4 or 1/2 inch from edge.  And you are done.  That is about as easy as it gets.

The next blankets I made in a hurry I was invited to a baby shower for a friend having twins, and  didn't want to spend the time and money buying the minky so I ran to Ross to pick up some inexpensive baby blankets $4.99--which is a steal for minky and the blanket binding. Her nursery colors are blue and green.  I found two matching bright blue blankets, ran to hobby lobby next to pick up some green fabric and thread and went to work.

 

First I unpicked the blanket binding from the Ross blanket.

 

 

Next I cut my fabric to the same size as the minky blanket and pinned them to gether this time wrondg sides together, because the binding covers the raw edges.  Here you can stitch or surge  the fabric and blanket together for a stronger hold.

 

 

Next wrap the binding back around the blanket as before and pinning in place on one side.

 

 

Next flip the blanket over and pin again.  The goal is to make sure that the binding does not move and is fitted evenly to both sides.

 

 

Next topstitch carefully along the same lines as the binding was sewn on before. I ending up using blue thread and not the green pictured, I am not the best at sewing straight and my lines did not show up as much using the matching thread.

 

 

Then I folded the blanket and put it back on its original hanger, and it is now gorgeous and one of a kind, well in this case,  two of a kind.

 

Happy Sewing!

 

 

 

A New Attitude

I came into blogging with a desire to share my projects and to help others. If my only readers are my sweet sisters, that was okay with me. But as soon as I started blogging and reading TOO many other fabulous blogs and scanning pinterest and comparing myself to others I started to doubt myself. I started trying to determine which post was "blog worthy" and which wasn't and half my projects were never posted. 

It has been a few months since my last post, and I am okay with that. I am not here to have a million sponsors and followers or make a gazillion dollars, (although that would be nice.) I am not here to spend every second of my life on the internet and ignoring everything else.  No, my goal is to help others. To encourage one person to try something they didn't think they could. Because if I can do it, ANYONE can. And I sincerely mean that. I am just a normal stay at home mom of four children, who loves to be creative and cook on a budget. That's it. 

And so with a new and improved attitude, I will be posting several transformations from the last little while that haven't made it to my blog. I also will be sharing some of my frames that I have been making for our local boutiques. I love making frames because they allow me to be daring, creative --I am kind of a wimp--and colorful on a small scale. No two are exactly alike ever. Sometimes its the structure of the frame, or the colors, or the way they distress is different. I love the variety--and how each frame takes on its own unique beauty. 

Thank you to my sweet mom and sisters who always encourage me and to my husband who always fills in the gaps when I need help!

 

My Frames

 

It all started with my desire to create a photo focal point on my wall. I love huge chunky frames so I talked my husband into building --12, yes 12 frames for me, poor guy all with 6 inch trim all the way around. Then I started painting.  I wanted all of them to be pretty neutral but also coordinate with each other and this is how they turned out. 

I had so many compliments that  I convinced my husband to cut more frames. The fall boutiques were coming up so I decided, after gentle pushes from my mom, sister, and SIL, (and with my DH's resigned acceptance) to apply for my favorite boutique - Oh Sweet Sadie. And we got in! That gave us a little over a month to make 50 frames plus a display booth.  I am not sure what I was thinking--it was SO CRAZY!  Between school starting, taking care of home and family and making that many frames was SO stressful.  Plus the thought that I wouldn't sell even one frame was hanging over my head every day as I painted, and repainted, until every frame was just how I wanted it.  What a learning experience!!   I stayed up all night and then got my kids ready for school in the morning and then painted some more. 

Finally it was time for the boutique to begin.  We set up our booth and then from across the room another vendor, Mandy--my first customer--came to us and said that she saw our frames from across the room and wanted to buy at least two of them.  My thoughts were "WOW, Really?"  Especially since the frame she wanted to buy, I had finished only an hour before.  And the rest is history, we have sold more than 40 frames since and are gearing up for the next Oh Sweet Sadie Boutique on November 14th. 

Our Booth:

 

We also make 18X18 pillow covers in awesome trendy fabrics!  I have always wanted to start my own business doing something I enjoy!  Now I get to paint and shop for fabric, and I couldn't be happier!  I am so glad I took the leap of faith and stress to do it.    Thanks for reading!