Quilted and Embroidered Cloth Face Masks and Friday Favorites Linky Party 537

I needed to test if my sewing and embroidery machine was actually fixed the third time it came back from the repair shop (yes, really. You read that right. Three times to replace a part I suggested might need replacing in Round 2.) I grabbed some scrap fabric and set up a complicated machine embroidery design to put my machine through its paces. Thrilled that it worked, I played can I machine embroider that weird fabric? and messed around with various sewing machine feet, stitches, and settings. I had some pieces I rather liked so I made them into cloth face masks, playing with a few different styles and techniques for funsies. It felt good to play.

Save this this post to your Pinterest boards for later! Share it with your friends!

My favorite is the embroidered deer. The embroidery came out beautifully but I wasn't thinking ahead and used a thick piece of stabilizer which is hard to breathe through - oops! I cut the majority of the stabilizer from around the deer to make a breathable mask. If I were to do it again, I would chose a lighter or water soluble embroidery stabilizer. Live and learn!

1950’s Wrap Sundress

A good long while ago, I fell in love with the 1950’s vintage wrap sundress sewing pattern Simplicity 8085 (you can read about it in detail here.) I bought a super cute cotton cherry print fabric with the intent to make a dress for myself. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convince.)

 Two years later I still  had a sweet vintage sewing  pattern reprint and super cute cotton cherry print fabric  in its shopping bag in my sewing room.  *sigh*

I need a dress for a wedding reception (hopefully? maybe? We’ll see how group events play out when the time comes) later this summer for a wedding my husband and I attended on Zoom. That’s all the incentive I need to finally sew my 1950’s wrap sundress. I made a few tweaks to the pattern because as my husband observed long ago, I always hack a sewing pattern in one way or another. 

Save this fun retro dress to your Pinterest boards for later! Share it with your friends!

How to Sew a 1950’s Inspired Wrap Sundress

Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 536

Time to link up your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!

Let's Party!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter FB | G+ Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Lauren at All About That Mommy Life - Pin | Inst

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week's favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week's linky party!

Three Dollar Patio Vegetable Garden Tour and Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 535

Gardening in a condominium can be a challenge given the Home Owners Association rules and compact space. Add a pandemic that doesn't allow for a lazy afternoon wandering my favorite garden center for whatever catches my eye and the challenge levels up a bit more. 

I was happy to find that plants in five of the ten pots I planted last year came back because most of my  perennial herbs (minus my chocolate mint) are decimated by winter weather. The rest of the planters I filled by sprouting vegetables scraps which lead to this year's nickname - Our Garbage Garden. 

 

Save this small space vegetable and herb garden idea to your Pinterest Boards for later! 

Share it with your friends!

In the photo above we have golden oregano in the front, followed by chocolate mint, winter savory, cabbage and romaine lettuce sprouts. I've never grown romaine lettuce before. It is supposed to look like that? The other romaine lettuce I planted is much lower to the ground.

Victory Rolls and Friday Favorites Week 534

One of the things I have not attempted during quarantine and social distancing is cutting my own hair because I know from past experience that I need to leave that for the pros. Lucky for me, I wanted a change and thought I'd grow my hair out a bit before this whole mess started. So instead of attempting a quarantine haircut, I'm learning how to roll my bangs into Victory Rolls! Here's the latest attempt.

It's not perfect but it's getting there

I showed you my project. Now you show me yours!

How to Make an Insulated Growler Caddy

My husband and I have a couple of glass growlers for those times we want to bring home a local craft beer from a brewpub that doesn’t put it in cans or bottles. We only tend to use them when there is a BBQ or party where a group of friends will be there to help us drink a little under 2 liters of beer (an open growler goes flat more quickly than a 2 liter of pop) over the course of a long afternoon into the evening with a bonfire. In other words, not very often.

No to mention in Ohio to go growlers have to be made of glass, which are hard to keep cold and carry if you are also juggling pot luck food as you walk from your car to the party spot. There are a lot of wood growler caddies out there but I really want something insulated. That way I can also use the growler as a water jug to refill our sports bottles  from the car when we are out and about.

When I can’t buy, I DIY! I dove into my fabric stash, grabbed some leftover corsetry fabric,  and sewed an insulated growler caddy. If you are looking for a handmade gift idea for men, based on my husband's reaction, this is a good one.  He liked the idea so much that he encouraged me to make a second insulated tote bag for the other growler.

Let’s sew!

Save this post to your Pinterest boards for later! Share it with your friends!

How to Make an Insulated Beer Growler Tote