this just in. well sort of.

hey you can now catch my on my brand-sparkling-new blog:

yodelingjane.blogspot.com

i decided to consolidate my personal and crafty blogs. i would love to have you join me!

gifted magazine.

this magazine is just what i need to get inspired for the holiday season. so beautiful and you can thumb through the pages online and for FREEEEEEE (said in an adam sandler "bedtime stories" voice. my kids never get over that one.)

my new favorite blog.

oh i am so inspired by one charming party.

i would love to have her plan a party for one of my girls. they would go nuts over this american girl pioneer party.

or this wizard of oz soiree.

oh my!

little girl pilgrim bonnet.

so i know i have very much neglected this blog over the past several months. sorry blog. whoever is leaving obscene comments in chinese should be ashamed of themselves. however, i think you will survive.

like i have said before, it hasn't been that all the craftiness in my life has stopped. i have been very crafty actually. but it is a hard thing to do a craft blog post. taking pictures every step of the way. loading them onto the computer, THEN uploading to blogger. then looking at the html and trying to figure out what picture goes with what dialogue. now you see why. there is probably a better way. and i am totally clueless as to what way that is. my hats off to all those who do this every day.

so once again, i promise i will do better.

i love thanksgiving. it is an incredibly meaningful and neglected holiday. i think that it is overtaking halloween on my favorite holidays list (i know, blasphemous!)

this year for thanksgiving, i volunteered to decorate the kids table. i have found so many fantastic ideas, i just had to try them out. i will link them all, i promise.

one thing i was totally smitten with was the turkey and pilgrim hat headbands at pottery barn kids. but i DID NOT want to pay the $10 per headband (unless i was totally desperate.) so i resolved that i would make them.



then i stumbled onto this pattern for a paper bonnet and pilgrim hat on marthastewart.com. i loved it. and wanted to replicate them in fabric, so they could be used year after year.

i basically followed the instructions for the bonnet, except sewing instead of gluing. i used an ivory colored felt (on the bolt) that you can pick up at any fabric store.


first cut the felt to 12 inches by 18 inches. cut two slits about 4 inches into the fabric, at 6 and 12 inches.


make a 1 inch fold at the top of your fabric for the cuff.


sandwich a 6 inch piece of ribbon in the fold. pin and sew (1/4 inch seam allowance), making sure to backstitch at each end.


fold the center piece of felt up to get it out of the way to sew the back of the bonnet.


fold the bonnet in half, right sides together. make sure the center piece is out of the way. pin and sew together. i gave a bigger seam allowance, about an inch to tighten up the back of the bonnet.


trim excess fabric and turn right side out.


the last step i added, was to tack the center piece to the back of the bonnet. i just sewed a quick straight stitch, but you could easily sew a few stitches by hand to prevent it from flying up.





sorry about the poor photos and ragged looking child. these were taken in the middl of a play date, and one could not be bothered by mom's silly endeavors.

other kids table ideas:

paper bag turkey and corn cob place cards

finger puppet favors (i started doing this one, a little too labor intensive for me, but still so cute!)

i will be back with the pilgrim hat headbands. i need to adjust the sizes a bit for a two-year-old and 10-month-old.

reversible chalkboard placemats.

i just discovered a product at joann's called blackboard fabric. it is quite awesome in my opinon as the possibilities are endless.



i also have recently fallen in love with another product, iron on vinyl. you basically can make your own oilcloth, with whatever fabric you choose.

the pattern is simple really.



the blackboard fabric at joann's is 28 inches wide. i chose to maximize my fabric usage and cut my placemats 14 inches by 17 inches.



next you need to prepare the blackboard fabric for use. simply rub a piece of chalk up/down and side to side across the fabric. (all these instructions are on a paper that comes with the blackboard fabric.)



wipe excess chalk off. and set aside.



cut out your reverse side fabric to the same dimensions as the blackboard fabric. follow the manufacturer's directions on the packaging to adhere vinyl to the fabric. this really is an easy process. in my experience, i think it is easier to adhere than fusible interfacing.



then simply sew the two pieces of fabric, wrong sides together. i left a 1/2 inch border around the edge. i would use some fabric glue to temporarily adhere them together first. both fabrics slide easily while sewing. trim threads, use pinking shears to even out edges and leave a decorative touch. these would make great gifts, especially for kids if you sewed a ribbon into the side seam so it could be rolled up and tied. i'll have to try that next.

guesting.

today i am over at the polka dot chair blog. i've shared some ideas for making your own hat for the kentucky derby. sadly i am going to miss watching the run for the roses this year. did i tell you about the crazy race i am in this weekend? i feel prepared, but i always get so nervous before new races. i am hoping that training at altitude will really help me.

melissa will be sharing some great ideas this week to get ya'll fired up for the most exciting two minutes in sports on saturday!

fin.

i finished up the girls' love pouches (despite a nasty sinus infection and staying up until 1 am). melissa did a great job creating this pattern and i love the way they turned out. watch her shop for more great things to come.