easy and casual napkin/place settings for thanksgiving {or whenever!!}

i saw this idea on the katie brown workshop on the create channel.  she did a no sew version.  however, the iron on sticky stuff is more expensive than the thread i already had, so i sewed mine.  it's easy either way.  these seriously took me 5 minutes each, maybe less!!  also, you could use any sturdy material other than denim with equal cuteness, i just happened to have quite a few pair of denim jeans that were in the goodwill pile.  i did not measure how big this denim napkin/place setting was, it's not my way.  i just made sure it was big enough for my knife.  this is how i threw these together:  cut some denim into a square, and sew the edges (seam allowance for how big you want your fray to be).  next, cut a small rectangle for the pocket that holds the silverware.  mine is roughly 3" x4".  sew it onto your denim square. make sure you sew it so the knife doesn't come above the top of the napkin.  you're done!!  you could put them in the dryer for a few minutes to get the frayed look.

i put my napkin/place setting rolled up inside of a mason jar for the following reasons:
i pictured myself hosting thanksgiving (which i'm not) and i thought of doing it buffet style.  how easy would it be for your guests if their drinkware, napkin and utensils were all right there in one place, maybe even with name tags? how easy and thoughtful!! and you won't be worried about wiping your kids thanksgiving faces with a denim napkin!!  i love drinking out of goblets on thanksgiving and such holidays, but i have to face it: i'm really just a casual girl.  a thanksgiving with denim napkins and mason jars full of cider (or pumpkin juice *wink*) would be oh so comforting. don't you think?

pleated scarf!!!

i made this fantabulous scarf earlier in the year.  once again, i had everything i needed.  it was super easy, but  a little bit time consuming. it's sooooo warm and it doesn't make me itchy scratchy. here is the link to the site where i followed the tutorial.  for my scarf i used a leftover navy blue flat jersey sheet that we never put on our oldest sons bed.  i absolutely love the way it turned out!! head on over there and check it out!!  i need to give it a tumble in the dryer. . . it looks a little flat. (it's been in our winter wardrobe box) anyway, tending to this munchkin takes some time away from crafts and cleaning (oh no!! not that!!) but i love it. . . maybe it's time to have another one of my own. . . enjoy the scarf and try one of your own!!!
                                                       cherisse

p.s. coming up from me on tuesday is a fun and casual way to make your own napkins plus utensils at thanksgiving dinner!!!

scarf!!

i was going to save this for november, but since we are only a couple days away and since i've already worn it quite a few times...it's time to share!!  i saw the inspiration scarf on pinterest.  when i took a closer look, i realized the scarf was crocheted, which is fine, i know how to crochet.  but, i didn't have the right sized hook or the yarn or the money to buy those things, even though they are relatively cheap.  i was soooo sad.  but upon further contemplation, a second realization came to light:  i don't like yarn around my neck, it's itchy. but i do like jersey...which i have plenty of!! i just needed a little bit of quilt batting, not a lot, but just enough to keep me warm, and i could make my own version of this cute scarf!!  thanks to my hoarding all things crafty tendencies, i found everything i needed in one of my many fabric/craft boxes!!  i got to work!

this is the original scarf that i love!!

and here's how i made my version of this scarf:

i grabbed a piece of jersey fabric that was lyin' around.  it was 23" long, 9" wide on one end and 7" wide on the other end. (the bigger end is where the button holes go) i found a piece of leftover quilt batting that was just slightly smaller.  ok, so i did two scarves.  one is blue and one is gray.  the blue one i did with unfinished edges, meaning i sewed the scarf wrong sides together.  i like the way the jersey rolls up around the edges.  the gray one is the opposite, sewn right sides together then turned right side out.  i like the gray one better.  it goes with everything. 

then i pinned my fabric and batting together.  sewed it up good with two rows of stitches.

now it's time for the button holes.  i have a very random assortment of buttons collected by my grandmother (?) possibly my mother and a dead lady that was having a garage sale.  i chose 3 that were similar but not the same and marked their sizes onto my scarf.  i marked top, bottom, and sides so i would know where to do my button holes.

next, i cut open my button holes and slid the buttons through a few times to make sure they fit snugly.

then, i wrapped the scarf around my neck and marked through the button holes with a pen, where my buttons would be sewn. (no picture, sorry)  i sewed on the buttons and there i was, with a new scarf!

and there you have it.  i'm not very good at explaining things...so leave a comment if you need me to clarify anything!!
p.s. i only have 1 more book to go in the soul screamers series...i seriously like.  super fast read, intense and i believe there are two more that haven't come out yet...yes i have a reading addiction.
                                                                            cherisse

Fall Wreath

For the past month I have been working on this wreath I saw on etsy. The wreath on etsy was WAY to expensive so I thought I could make it. One wired wreath, 2 yards of orange burlap, more hot glue than I have ever used in my life, a little ribbon, and one month later, my wreath is F I N A L L Y done.

I am IN LOVE

 

If you have the time and want to know how this beautiful wreath is done, here is what you need........

Here is what you'll do.............

I love this as a fall wreath! But you can do it in whatever color you would like. I think it would also be cute in other fabrics. We'll see if I want to take this road again with a different fabric................ ;)

Melissa