happy holidays to me!

I've decided to splurge with the recent sales from my etsy shop, and buy myself a few things that I've had my eye on for a little while. 

Here is a list of my new favorite things. 

1) Fiber from BrazenStitchery

 Stacey is a great internet friend. She has a funny facebook feed, and she seems really genuine with her comments. I've bought lots from her over the years, and this was my most recent purchase. She had a sale-which-included-chocolate and that was what sent me over the edge. This is my new fiber - it's called Spree for You and Me, and I can't wait to spin it up. 

pretty fiber!

2) A chain from SueRunyonDesigns

I have a lot of pendants, but no cute chains. I have one of those ball chains that makes me look like my ol' rocker high school days but I wanted something more dainty. This was perfect. 

very dainty necklace

3) a BNTO jar adapter from Cuppow

THIS IS SO COOL! I love jars and using jars for everything, and I can't wait to use my jar to hold chips and guacamole. 

YESS! BNTO mason jar!

4)  a vegan shirt from ellumstudios

This is hilarious. I saw this shirt a few months ago and promised I'd buy it for myself for my 1 year veganversary. I got the pink one.

pink vegan shirt

5) a purple princess candle from CRAFTEDtoaT

I wanted this the moment I saw it on instagram! I knew it would be perfect as a holiday gift for someone in mind that won't know until she opens it. Plus, Teresa is amazing! Look at all her candle bedazzling!

GORGEOUS CANDLE!

6) namaste bracelet from BlueStoneRiver

I love this. I love the bead, and the OM bead, and the stone beads. I got the word Namaste with dark blue beads. 

namaste

7) Sam the gingham hippo from the hippo ladies. 

This one doesn't have a website - sorry! They're just local crafter-grandmas that make hippos. I saw Sam today at the craft fair and I had to have him! Thankfully, they were willing to trade for some of my pomegranate jam. So Sam got to come home with me!

morris the dog and sam the gingham hippo are best friends

 That's it! I'm spoiled rotten!

Tracy

making throw pillows from old pillows - a photo tutorial.

I had this crazy thought today that I could cut an old pillow in half, sew up the ends, put a pillowcase on it, and it would be a throw pillow.

It's a good thing we had some really old, beat up pillows to practice with.

So that's exactly what I did.

ooh I made a pillow! and you can too!

It's pretty easy - just cut your pillow in half... 

cut the pillow!

stuff the stuffing in, and sew up the side - this is the part that requires the most fanegaling. It's okay if your stuffing is really packed in, because it'll relax again once you're done sewing it.   

sewing up the side

And make a pillowcase - I made an envelope style pillowcase. Just measure your pillow (mine was 13x17), add 1in to either side and cut one piece of fabric that size (14x18 for me) and cut another piece the same height but longer width (I cut mine 14x24, which is the width of the fabric). 

Cut the longer piece in half. On the long side, fold over a half inch, and then do it again. This makes the hem. Sew the hem, and do the same to the other half. 

sew the hem

Put the right sides together, with the two hems overlapping in the middle of the pillowcase. Sew around the edges. 

sewing sewing sewing

Flip the pillowcase right side out, and put on your pillow! Repeat with the second half of the pillow, and enjoy. 

it's beginning to look a lot like the holidays. 

Have fun with your new pillows!

-Tracy