Owlbow Patches and an Outfit Post

This past fall I noticed elbow patches were coming back in style.  Urban Outfitters has a cute yellow sweater with yellow patches, and ModCloth has a casual grey cardigan with faux leather elbow patches.  Then around Valentine's Day I noticed these heart elbow patches going around the internet, and they got me thinking ...  I want some elbow patches! 

BUT I wanted something different from what I was seeing out there.  I had this little idea in my head so I googled it "owl elbow patches", and the first hit I got was The DIY Mommy's elbow patches for a little boy's cardigan.  Cute, but not exactly what I was looking for.  Then I dug a little deeper into the interwubs, and found Bugs and Fishes' stuffed Felt Owl.  Though I didn't want to make a stuffed owl, I loved the way she designed her owl.  She has a great printout template, but I made my own instead.  I changed the nose up a little, but otherwise I kept him the same.  

I love how they turned out!  You can definitely tell my embroidery skills improved with the second owlbow patch.  Ha!  To see my beginnings you can click here.  I had a little trouble getting the first one in the right spot.  Which I didn't realize until I was just about finished stitching him in place.  On the second one I had a little trouble with bunching, but this didn't require me to remove as many stitches.  Aren't they cute?

What I'm Wearing:

*necklace from American Eagle (one of my favorite lady pal's gave this to me!)

*top sweater (with elbow patches) from Boscov's (it's a local department store, I bought the sweater for work.  The flower is covering up my work's logo)

*bottom sweater and dress from H and M (and you can't see, but I have a tank top on from them as well)

*slip is vintage

*I have two pairs of stockings on, and I'm not sure where either of them are from.

*boots from Bed Bath and Beyond (crazy, huh?)

*white flower pin is from Claire's, it also doubles as a hair clip.  I love it when I own something that has dual purposes!   

Happy DIYing, chris!

Spring has Sprung!

Aaron and I went for a walk today.  We couldn't pass up another one of these beautiful days without spending some time in the sunshine together.  It was a pretty short walk though, because I kept stopping to take pictures.  

This is what the woods around us looks like.  It's beautiful even in the winter.  I love the big rocks everywhere.  When we lived out in California (where the hubby's from), I missed these forests everyday. 

Aaron posed while I worked on the camera settings for him to take some pics of me.  Aaron has the opposite problem with pant buying from me.  His pants and long sleeved shirts tend to be too short.  He's a tall dude at six foot four.  

He took this photo.  Spring has sprung!  

I love to take close up pics of rocks.  I could fill a computer with just images of rocks.  

We parked right next to this horse farm.  I used to live two doors down from this place from thirteen to seventeen.  

So many flowers out right now!  I'm okay that our winter was light this year, because it was ridiculous the year before.    

I also worked on my owl patch today.  I had to remove the elbow patch from the one arm and reattach it, because I had let it slide off place while sewing it.  I'm kind of glad I did though cause I decided to add another layer of the body felt for some extra strength.  The placement seems to be much better now too.  I think starting on the bottom instead of the top helped too.  Well I want to get back to sewing those guys on.  I'll catch ya'll later, happy DIYing, chris!

Christmas Stocking

We have a new family member this year, little Annabel (my niece) was born November first.  Thus we need a stocking for her!  Instead of going the easy route (and buying one), I decided to make her a stocking.  I've never tried this before so I learned a lot along the way, but the end result is lovely.  

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• 2 different types of fabric (about 2 ft. square)
• Batting (about 2 ft. square)
• White faux fur material ( about 2 ft. long, 4 in. length)
• Ribbon (4 in)
• Scissors
• Marker
• Needle & thread
• Straight pins

Directions:

      Fold your fabric in half, and use an old stocking as a template.  Place the heel of the stocking against the fold in the fabric, and begin tracing.  After tracing the stocking cut out both pieces of fabric.  Now flatten out one of the pieces you've just cut out and use it to trace out the batting.  Once you've cut out the batting, you can cut the white fur for the top cuff, and the ribbon for hanging the stocking. 

     Now you'll want to layer all your pieces together.  First you'll start with the fur trim, fur facing down, then the ribbon folded in half in the center.  Then the fabric for the interior of the stocking with the front facing down.  Then the batting, and then the outside fabric facing up.  You'll want to pin the whole stocking together now.  Make sure at this point that you've layered everything correctly, remembering that you will be turning it right side out after sewing.  

      Now you can start sewing, begin going across the top with the stocking open flat.  Once you've finished the top you will fold the stocking in half and re-pin it together.  Now sew the whole stocking together, making sure to go thru all the layers as you go.  Once you are done turn it right side out.  

      Congratulations, you just made your first Christmas stocking!

Check back tomorrow, we'll be adding a little more glitz to this stocking.  Until then, happy DIYing!