Kiki Magazine’s Beach Towel Tote

August 15, 2012 by mymateriallife

Wow, that’s bright.  Here’s what it looks like on the opposite side … This is a towel that folds into a tote that I made with two IKEA towels and some embroidered ribbon purchased years ago according to these directions in the June/July 2012 edition of Kiki magazine.   Do you know Kiki magazine?  I’ve been meaning to tell you about it for a while now.  It’s a magazine for girls with an emphasis on fashion.  What makes it interesting […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Reading Material, Sewing • Tags: beach towel tote, ikea's textiles, kiki magazine

IKEA Dish Towel Aprons

July 27, 2012 by mymateriallife

  This is a little project I cooked up last summer when I found these dish towels at IKEA, but just now got around to sewing. That black checkered border dish towel (365+ Gunstig) got under my skin first, but the cups and pots towel (Glänta) apron is so ridiculously simple to make that we’ll start with it. Glänta Apron This is my sketch from last summer.  You simply fold the towel in half (mine is a little off-center for some additional […]

Categories: Sewing • Tags: dish towel aprons, glänta, gunstig, ikea dish towel aprons, ikea's textiles

Driveway Drinks Party

June 30, 2012 by mymateriallife

We had a little drinks party yesterday to welcome some school friends who just moved into the neighborhood.  Since our house is oriented perpendicular to the street we have an awfully long driveway; it’s fun to put that real estate to use for something other than cars now and then.  A driveway party is also nice because it means you don’t have to clean your house (well maybe the bathroom) or worry about what to do with people’s kids (let […]

Categories: Beverages, Celebrations, Other Holidays, Paper, Sewing • Tags: caspari, custom printed cocktail napkins, elderflower champagne cocktail, elderflower syrup, housewarming napkins, ikea, party bunting, rattan cocktail napkin holder

DIY Dish Mat

June 4, 2012 by mymateriallife

Now this is something I’ve been planning to do for ages, this dish mat.  I just dispensed with the yucky dish drain system I’ve used for years.  You know the one with the plastic mat and the coated wire rack.  That system had so many problems:  the coating on the rack was chipped, the mat would get covered with hard water deposits, and the water from the draining dishes would run under the mat and pretty much just stay there […]

Categories: Sewing • Tags: dish mat, ikea, rationell variera, trader joe's, viscose kitchen cloth

A Simple Flanged Pillow

June 2, 2012 by mymateriallife

If you’re looking for a first sewing project you really can’t go wrong with a flanged pillow.  Samantha and I made this one together. What makes the flanged pillow perfect for beginners is that it’s so straightforward to make, so forgiving, and so good-looking when finished that it will certainly inspire confidence and motivation to continue with sewing.  Samantha chose this fabric from my stash; it’s one of the newer IKEA designs that you can find on so many of […]

Categories: Furnishings, Kid Stuff, Sewing • Tags: beginning sewing, flanged pillow, ikea textiles

Sedgemoor Biscuits (Plus New IKEA Textiles!)

April 4, 2012 by mymateriallife

I found this recipe in the New York Times a few years ago and finally got around to it today.  Have you heard of these?  They come from England; I’ve also seen them referred to as Easter biscuits or Garibaldi biscuits.  They are really nice. Wonderful with coffee.  Apparently the tradition was to give them as gifts on Easter Sunday, tied with ribbon in bundles of three.  You can find the recipe I used here.  The two changes I made […]

Categories: Easter, Sewing, Sweets • Tags: easter biscuits, home sewn napkins, ikea textiles, sedgemoor biscuits

Papier-Mache Waste Can

March 13, 2012 by mymateriallife

    Look what I found at the Container Store yesterday.  I only went in to use the restroom, but then this fantastic can caught my eye and I just had to bring it home with me.  Isn’t it beautiful – that red interior! Whenever I use my sewing machine I eventually remember that I need a place for trash (thread clippings, seam clippings, etc.) and I usually end up using a paper bag.  This will be so much better. […]

Categories: Easter, Kid Stuff, Paper, Sewing • Tags: container store, papier-mache, papier-mache waste can

Bunk Bed Birthday

February 27, 2012 by mymateriallife

I get sentimental when Samantha’s birthday comes around; there are traditions I’ve created that I just have to follow – even if I’m the only one who appreciates them!  One important tradition is not to make things too easy.  This year, even though we got out of hosting a party at home, I made things more difficult by deciding we should make the birthday gift.  I couldn’t really find a doll bunk bed that I wanted to buy, so I […]

Categories: Celebrations, Kid Stuff, Sewing • Tags: 18" doll bunk bed, doll accessories, doll bunk bed plans

Two Hearts

February 14, 2012 by mymateriallife

I made the felt one for Samantha and she made the cardstock one for her dad and me.  They look sweet together, don’t they?  Samantha’s project comes from the Usborne book I referenced in this post.  Mine is the second felt heart I’ve made with the inspiration and instruction provided by this Living Crafts blog post. Click here if you’d like to see last year’s felt heart pouch.  I think I’m going to make S. a new felt heart each […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Other Holidays, Paper, Sewing • Tags: cut rose paper heart, felt heart, valentine's day