Category Archives: Crafts and Crafting

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Free patterns for a locker caddy and notebook cover

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Enchant your kids with a whimsy locker caddy to hold their “stuff” or a whimsy notebook cover with a large pocket on the cover.  You can easily sew both of these using the free patterns on the Today’s Creative Home Arts website.

Think how fun it will be for kids to have this completely useful locker caddy hanging in their locker.  I designed it with various size pockets to hold their school supplies and other treasures.  Plus, think how neat and organized their lockers will be – oh well, one can only hope!

The locker caddy and notebook cover are more projects that I designed  using the “It’s A Dog’s Life” fabric collection I designed for Quilting Treasures.  I love sewing with these fabrics and seeing the projects come to life with personality plus! Of course, you might say I’m a little prejudiced toward the fabrics, but they still make me smile.

Using this free pattern for a notebook cover, you can cover a drab notebook.  The large pocket on the front will hold those little extra items that might be needed for class.  Again, another little step to keep them organized

I hope that you enjoy these patterns.  I would love to see a picture of your project made with them, along with the smile of the lucky recipient!

Happy Sewing!

Phyllis

 

 

 

 

 


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Therapeutic benefits of crafting – Craft for Health

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I’ve always known that crafting reduces stress.  As I work on a quilt, sewing, needlework or other craft project, I can always feel the stress just float away  But did you know that crafting is therapeutic for all types of health conditions?

In a new blog, Craft for Health , crafters and artists write about the therapeutic effects of crafting on their health issues or traumatic events in their lives.  You can read my guest blog on how crafting helps me with Restless Leg Syndrome.

Craft for Health was founded by Kathy Peterson and Barb Dehn  RN, NP.  Kathy says, on her inspiration for creating this blog, “I always heard people telling me how much they enjoyed crafting and used it as therapy.  I also saw a void in the market.  So I approached Barb Dehn, a long time friend and business colleague about combining forces together (craft expertise with medical expertise) and we launched CFH. Together we are promoting health and wellness through crafting. Whether it’s quilting, scrap booking or using a hot glue gun, crafting can help everyone create hand made health.”

Kathy has a long career as a design expert, author and TV host and spokesperson and is currently co-hosting Lifetime TV’s The Balancing Act.  Barb is a TV health expert (ABC, CNN, NBC) and spokesperson, visits with patients and publishes health brochures.

I invite you to read my post as well as all the other inspirational and sometimes heartbreaking posts.

May you have a happy and healthy day!

Phyllis


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Guest Blog on ThinkCrafts.com

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I was invited to write a guest blog on ThinkCrafts.com by Create for Less.  I enjoyed writing about crafting and how it inspired and influenced a creative career for me.  I learned crafts early, taught by my mother and aunt.  As I see all the emphasis on various retro periods, I think of the crafts I was doing during each period.

ThinkCrafts.com is hosted by a craft expert and professional of many years, Maria Nerius and is a fabulous site for anyone who loves art, crafts, creative design and working with their hands.

I invite you to read my post and would love to receive comments from you.

Phyllis

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Live chats still available.

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If you missed my live chat on the Fiber Arts/Mixed Media forum, you can still read the chat.  I duscuss Art Marketing and Licensing and had a lot of quesitons asked from attendees all around the world.  In addition, if you have any questions, you can ask them on the Fiber Arts/Mixed Media forum and I will answer to the best of my ability.

Also if you missed my interview on BlogTalkRadio, Inspired at Home with Tiffany Windsor, you can also listen to it.  I am interviewed on trendspotting – how to find trends and using trends in crafting, designing and decor.

I would love to hear what you have so say, so please post any comment or questions that you may have.

Phyllis

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Invitation to join me Sunday night for a live chat!

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I am very fortunate to have two events Sunday night (May 24).  At 4:00 p.m. EST, I am going to be the guest for the live chat on the Fiber Arts/Mixed Media Forum with Susan Sorrell.  My topic will be Art Marketing and Licensing.

At 7:15 p.m. EST, I will be on Inspired at Home with Tiffany Windsor on BlogTalkRadio. My topic will be Trending and using trends in designing, home decor, and crafts.

I would love to have you join me as you will be able to ask questions.  If you are unable to join in, you can still listen to to the interviews later by visiting the above links.

I had some wonderful pictures that I took at Quilt Market.  However, something happened to my disk with the photos and all the files were corrupted with strange file names.  I have been unable to open them to post the pictures.  What a bummer!  If any of you know how this could have happened, please let me know.

Quilt Market was wonderful, upbeat and exciting!  I will write more about it in the next couple of days and hopefully, I can get some pictures that my friends took to show you.

I hope to visit with you tomorrow night!

Phyllis

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Scrapbook with fabric – Meow Meow!

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Sandy Laipply, the editor of the Paper Crafts Site of the online magazine Bellaonline used Meow Meow cat fabrics from Quilting Treasures to make 2 adorable greeting cards.  The photo is the inside one of the cards – a birthday card..  Sandy furnishes instructions for making both cards on the website so be sure to check it out.

Bellaonline is an online magazine for women and covers a huge variety of topics.

Some additional information about Sandy – her son, Judson Laipply, is the YouTube mega, mega hit, Evolution of Dance and Evolution of Dance 2.

Thanks a bunch, Sandy, for making such cute cards using Meow Meow!

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Sewing and quilt designs made with fat quarters

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I was fortunate to have 3 designs published in a new book, Sew Special Fat Quarter Gifts published by House of White Birches.  As the title suggests, all projects in the book were made with fat quarters (fabric cuts that a fat 1/4 yard).

My projects were varied in style, an apron, decorative towels and a Christmas quilted table runner.

The apron is made in a patchwork style with black and white fabrics. I just love how popular aprons are and all the different styles.

I designed the decorative hand towels using embellishments of beads, rick rack, and applique.

The quilted Christmas table runner is decorated with appliqued poinsettias and bead trim.

Have a great day!

Phyllis

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Winners of Meow, Meow cat fabrics

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Last night I drew the names for the winners of cuts of the Meow Meow cat fabrics from Quilting Treasures and congratulations go to the winners below.  They also have quilt blogs so click on their name to see their blogs.

The winners from commenting on my on Quilting Gallery guest blog –

Rick Najdzion and Jeanne (Genie) Medaugh

And the winner from signing up for my newsletter:

Teresa Sealy

A big thanks to all of you who commented and signed up for my newsletter.  Your comments were delightful and I wish all of you could have won!

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Sew a makeup bag or jewelry roll

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I recently received the March issue of Sewing Savvy magazine.  I was delighted to see the article featuring the Blooming Flowers Jewelry Roll and Makeup Bag that I designed and wanted to share it with you.

These are easy to make and feature embellishment with beads and applique.  I also provided instructions to adjust the sizes of the bags.  This issue is filled with wonderful sewing projects.

Have a delightful day!

Phyllis

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Find tips for anything you need – Tipnuts.com

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I love this site.  On Tipnuts.com you can find tips on everything you need on this one site – recipes, cleaning, instructions, patterns……… This site has links for cooking, DIY and craft, sewing, quilting, household tips, etc.  Its a great site to put in your favorites, or do like I did and sign up to receive their latest tips, projects and creative ideas.

Hummm, I just watched a video on this site that tells how to make dusting easier.  I hate dusting so I’m going to try some of these tips as they will save the time I spend on doing something I dislike.  Now, I just have to pencil in some dusting time on my calendar.

And I want to thank Tipnuts.com for posting a link to my free apron pattern here on my blog.

I know you will love Tipnuts.com as much as I do.

Phyllis