knitcole

Doe a Deer...

Recently I posted the following picture on Instagram with the caption "Yes I taped a picture of a deer to my sliding glass door. Why you ask...I'm working on a project."

Well I finally finished my little secret project and it turned out fantastically! Since we moved into our condo last October our bedroom wall has been missing one little feature...

That lovely frame from Ikea has sat empty for nine months now. Just waiting for something amazing to be put inside of it. I've always had an idea for the frame but finally decided it was time to execute on it. (Sorry all the photos aren't that great, they are from my iPhone.)

1. I traced the image of the deer onto black fabric using a white color pencil.
2. When I finished tracing this is what it looked like.
3. I doubled the fabric and applied Heat 'n Bond to one side and cut the deer out twice because I wanted to make sure it was very opaque. I peeled the paper backing off the second deer and then ironed both pieces together.
4. Time for background fabric choices. Choice #1
5. Choice #2
6. Choice #3
7. Using the cardboard from the frame I cut out a piece of fabric,
8. and a piece of batting.
9. After affixing the head to the fabric using more Heat 'n Bond I wrapped the fabric around the batting and cardboard and put it in the frame. Pulling the fabric tightly I taped it to the back using some moving tape. (I know it doesn't look pretty but it works.)

I am absolutely thrilled with how this turned out. Mr. Coleman really likes it too, he told me it's a shame that it's in the bedroom since we don't spend as much time in there.

I'm actually thinking these might be something fun to make and sell, what do you think?

Nicole

 

 

A penny for your thoughts.

I've been sewing away this week since I am work free for for a couple of days. I've been working on aprons, quilts, bouquets, coin purses and a couple of other projects.It's been a lot of fun and I'm so excited to keep it going and to actually move forward with some business dreams.

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A couple of months ago I bought some African wax print cotton and I had no idea what I was going to do with it but I just had to have it. When I bought this amazing wallet from the great Whodini, (you should go buy one too! Jay is amazing and his wallets are LEGIT,) I had to downsize from my massive girl wallet which means I had a bunch of cards and things that I wanted to carry around but didn't necessarily need in my wallet. This is when I figured out what to do with my wax prints.

Considering I'm not very good with zippers this came out much better than I thought. I pretty much made the pattern and had to figure out how to do the lining without sewing it all together but I definitely think that I will make more of these. Maybe not so small, this one has a 4" zipper which means it's pretty tiny but my cards fit in it just perfectly! Now I can carry around my punch cards without having to overload my wallet!

Nicole

 

Where have you been?

Perhaps you have been asking that very question about me...well...I've been crafting away like a crazy person! On top of being under the weather for the past three or four days I have been diligently trying to get everything ready to open my Etsy store. I'm almost ready, just one more day or two and it should be up and running!

Here's a sneak peek of some of the things to sell.

Aprons - I'm going to be selling aprons and here is my favorite so far. 

Beanies and Booties - For the little babes in your life.

Bouquets - I'm not quite sure how this one is going to work yet but I'm definitely going to try to give them a whirl!
 
Nicole

Bouquet Tutorial posted by @RocknRollBride!

Kat of Rock N' Roll Bride posted a bouquet tutorial by little ol' me on her website yesterday! It was one of the most wonderful opportunities I have had yet. Although it took a lot of work to deliver such a detailed tutorial I definitely think it was worth the hard work!

You can see the tutorial here. Go check it out, leave a comment, reblog it then make your own fabulous bouquet!

If you like what you see but you aren't crafty then let me know! Bouquets will be available soon in my Etsy store but you can always email me at nicole@knitcole.com if you are interested in your own custom made bouquet!

Nicole

Aprons, not just for your grandma anymore!

You might remember my post on the aprons I made for Christmas...well I was inspired by how much fun I had creating all of those and I decided that I was determined to make my own pattern for a half apron. I got lucky and got it right on the first try! Can you say SUCCESS?

Since this first half apron creation I have been perfecting my little pattern and I will have some sweet aprons to show you soon! For now, here is this lovely little apron on my friend Nicole who was the recipient of it at our annual Christmas party, (which didn't happen until the end of January!) She LOVED the apron and stole it from someone else, (it was a white elephant gift exchange,) to end up with it for good! I think it was meant for her, Nicole loves to cook and even makes amazing gluten free energy bars.

So here's Nicole modeling her new apron and her amazing sugar free blueberry cobbler! By the way, isn't Nicole just gorgeous! Love this lady!

Side note, this isn't a gratuitious photo of Nicole's backside, I just had to show you all how Nicole tied a perfect bow on the apron as only she could!

Nicole

I think handmade gifts are just perfect!

It's true, I really like getting handmade presents whatever the occasion so perhaps this is why every year for Christmas I rack my brain trying to figure out what I am going to make for a good chunk of people I give gifts to. This year I managed to crank out seven handmade gifts! Sometimes I wonder why I stress myself out over it but I find it really rewarding to see the smile on the face of someone who received something I made with my own two hands and loves it.

Well, now that Christmas is long since over I can finally share the photos of the gifts I made. I utilized my sewing class to make four aprons for four of my lovely friends. Without further ado, here they are.

First, a fun floral print with polka dots. This really was the first apron I made, or I've ever made, and I think it came out quite well.

Next up a red French Eiffel tower print with zebra print embellishments.Oh la la!

Next up, that same zebra print with an awesome chartreuse print that has little drinks all over it.

And last but not least, this beautiful Alexander Hamilton print with red Eiffel tower pockets.

I was so thrilled with how all of these turned out! I am so extremely happy that I took my sewing class. It has opened up a whole new world for me. I also managed to make another laptop cover, (the same pattern as Mr. Coleman's seen here,) and another fabric roll up, (seen here.) I even found time to crochet my friend Joaquin a sweet new beanie!

All in all they all went pretty smoothly. I mean the aprons weren't the easiest to make but they were a lot of fun. The laptop case had it's challenges because working with sewing edges with the foam...it's kind of hard but again, it was enjoyable. The fabric roll up...almost didn't happen. I had so much slippage with the oil cloth that I almost gave up but I didn't and it turned out to be a much appreciated gift. (It also made me think that I need a new sewing machine, preferably a mechanical Pfaff with IDT so that whole slippage thing isn't an issue.)

Did you manage to make any homemade gifts for Christmas?

Nicole

 

 

Still sewing strong!

I have been slowly getting back into the swing of things and sewing. I resumed my sewing class, (that's one of the amazing things about an online class, you complete the projects at your own pace!) Here is my latest, a pencil pouch.

The purpose of this lesson was to teach how to install a zipper. It was much easier than I thought and I just love this fabric with the flowers that remind me of paisley. Paisley is my favorite print so I'm partial to it. I've been really loving black, white and red together a lot lately and the inside of the pouch is perfect in that exact color trio.

Until next time.

Nicole

Baby Bib and Potholder - Updated

***Oops! I guess this posted before I got the pictures included! This is what happens when you don't pay attention when posting to your blog! My apologies. Pictures are posted now!***

In preparation for moving I am actually crafting very little right now. My sewing machine and notions are all packed up and my crocheting is limited because of how much packing and getting ready moving has required of me...add to all of that the weddings and showers, etc, etc, well...you get the picture.

I made this sweet baby bib and potholder a couple of weeks ago before it all got so crazy. The bib is a gift (for someone who I hope is not reading this right now,) and I included her favorite color, red, and her favorite animal print, zebra, to complete this cute but more modern baby bib. I am really happy with how it came out. I can't wait to make a couple more for the other babies on my baby to-do list, which includes at least one boy and one girl.

I love this potholder. Being as I don't know what the heck I am going to do in the kitchen in the new place, especially since I believe there is light PINK tile in there, I decided to just make a potholder out of a material I liked that would somewhat match the decor in the dining area. Since this isn't really a potholder but more of a table protector pot holder thingy (I think they call them hotpads,) I figured the red and blacks would be nice. There is a plan to paint a wall red so it would match perfectly!

Both the potholder and the bib are from my sewing class. I modified the potholder by adding the binding tape because it just felt unfinished to me without it. I'm really impressed with how much my sewing has improved in a short amount of time. I'm really excited to get all moved and get my machine out again.

Until next time!

Nicole

She's Crafty: Tote bag

I made a tote bag!

I guess it's the stereotypical sewing project. Everyone learns to make a tote bag but even so I love how it turned out!

I hope that you're enjoying my sewing project posts because I am loving sharing them with all of you!

Nicole

She's Crafty: Gift Bag

Here's my next sewing project! I made a sweet little gift bag in my class.

I love the fun and whimsy from the fabrics. Those umbrellas just make me smile! It was the perfect bag to give to my friend April at her bridal shower filled with sexy little things for her wedding night!

Until next time!

Nicole