Happy 8th Birthday T-Man!

In honor of my nephew's 8th birthday, I made him a quilt with his favorite things...

Sponge Bob

Transformers

Star Wars

The back is a little jumbled, but I know he's going to like it! I used pretty much every single bit of all of these fabrics that I had. I have previously made him a Star Wars pillowcase.

It measures 68x45 and I made up the pattern.

HE LOVED IT!

Recent Projects

I've made a list of things that I'd like to make. It's long. Son #2 is getting more mobile and sleeping less during the day. I love getting to know his personality more, but I love him even more when he sleeps during #1's nap! That's the only time I really get anything done.

Sandra's blog recently had an auction to raise money for their adoption. I made this cute tank top for 4th of July. My mom asked where I got the star from and was amazed when I told her I had made it. I looked up "wonky star" on swagbucks and just traced the one I liked off the computer. It was hard to part with, but I think I'm going to make myself one too!

I have also completed another thing on my list, but I can't post it for a few days. My fabric stash is mostly shrinking these days, which makes me happy!

I just finished my 8th quilt. You can see all of them in my right sidebar. I also have #2's quilt top done and 1 that I'm *slowly* working on binding. I just found out that machine binding looks alright and is amazingly fast--30 minutes versus about 8 hours by hand! Good thing to know! Until later...

Help Fund Adoptions

My best friend's blog auction is this weekend. They are adopting a boy from Ethiopia and need tons of funds! Check out their blog this Friday to see what is up for bids. I have decided to donate a 4th of July tie strap tank top that I made. Be sure to go over and bid on the awesome items!

My husband and I talked about adopting when we were dating. It is something that we are looking forward to doing. I have some friends who have adopted and some that are in the process of adopting.

This morning, I saw that Wendy's is giving $.50 toward the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) for each Frosty that is sold on Father's Day Weekend. They are also giving $.50 to DTFA for each Frosty card that is sent. Go here to create and send a card. It's super easy!

38 Bucks

I recently went to a craft show in my mom's neighborhood and saw the cutest shirt with a bow as the strap for the tank top. So cute! But, I didn't think it was $38 cute!! I KNEW that I could make it...and since we had just bought a tank top at the dollar store, I had the perfect opportunity to try without spending much. The lady sold it for $38 and I made this for about $2.

Here is how I did it:

1. Take out your (ugly) tank top, fabric, felt, button, sewing machine, thread, needle and seam ripper.


2. Measure the strap width. Mine was a little fat at almost 3".


3. Double this amount and add a little for making seams for the bow. I cut my fabric at 7".


4. Cut out the cross for the center and back it with some type of fusible webbing. (My husband drew this cross.)

5. Iron the straps with right sides together so they are easier to sew. Center and iron the cross on the shirt.


6. Sew the straps down the open side and one of the ends. Flip the straps inside out.


7. Rip the seam out of the tank top.


8. Pin and then sew the strap onto the tank top with right sides together. I did about a 1/2" seam and then did a zig zag closer to the edge for reinforcement.


9. Zig zag stitch around the cross making sure that you're only sewing through the front of the shirt!


10. Tie a bow and try it on!


11. Trace a flower and cut out 2 with pieces of felt. I used this flower pattern.


12. Sew these 2 flowers on with a button. I also stitched down my inside flower at each petal so it will lay flat when washed.
EDIT: Next time I will put a snap on the back and on the shirt so the flower can be removed before washing and drying.


13. Ta-da!! You're done! Enjoy your new tank top with a bow strap!

I am linked up.