A Dose of the Delightful

Sneak Peek: Fabric Picks for DIY Drawstring Bags

Tonight, one of my closest friends Sera and I will be attempting to make the drawstring bag I mentioned in my post about National Sewing Month.

I picked these three fabrics I found at Purl Soho and some bright yellow cord. We're also going to try to make them waterproof using a trick I read about - check back tomorrow to see how we did!

Easy Sewing DIY: From Tea Towel to Printed Tote

In anticipation of the launch of their collection The Curiosity Shoppe at Target, the store's founders Lauren Smith & Derek Fagerstrom created this fun craft!

It's a great project for National Sewing Month, especially for those just getting their feet wet. I love the idea of using products like tea towels, napkins, and pillowcases as fabric for small projects - in fact, I always make sure to check out both of those things at Target when I'm there. While home in Jacksonville for Labor Day weekend, I scored 4 lattice print napkins that will become pillows for about $5! 

Here's what you need & the how to:

• Tea towel from the Curiosity Shoppe at Target (or other fabric scrap of similar size)
• 1.5 yards of cotton webbing
• Scissors
• Pins
• Thread
• Sewing machine (although you could also sew by hand!)

Steps:

1. Fold tea towel in half, right sides together (non-printed side facing out)

 

2. Using a half-inch seam allowance (this means the width of the seam should measure 1/2 inch), stitch up the sides of the towel, back-stitching at the beginning and end of each seam. Turn bag right side out.

 

3. Cut the webbing in half. Each half will be a strap for the bag.

4. Pin the ends of each strap 1" down from the top of the bag and 3" in from the sides, making sure they're not twisted.

5. Attach the ends of each strap by stitching a square around the edges of the 1” tail of webbing, removing the pins as you go.

 

6. Carry your cute new tote!

September is National Sewing Month!

Did you know that this month is National Sewing Month? I could myself a newbie in this arena, but really, really can't wait to get busy trying some new projects. 

On my to do list:

• Creating throw & lumbar pillows with piping & invisible zippers
• Finishing a set of pajamas I'm making out of old sheets (how Sound of Music of me!) and this free Colette bloomers pattern
• Creating some fun drawstring bags using this free pattern from Purl Bee - I'd add a waterproof lining.
• Trying out at least one of Colette's fall clothing patterns once they're available (coming in the next few weeks!)

This month, I'm really going to make an effort to get at least three of these things done. I plan to share the results here - wish me luck and stay tuned!

Do you have sewing aspirations for this month? 

DIY Gone Awry! Spray-Painting Shoes

This is a post about a DIY d'oh! Sometimes, projects just don't go the way you want them to, no matter how hard you try to make them work. 

In the spirit of making it clear that everything in my life most certainly is not pretty and shiny (you should see the state of my bedroom most of the time!), I wanted to share one of my recent projects, why it didn't work, and what I learned from it.

Mistakes and imperfections are an essential part of a full life, and they teach us so much more than when things go as planned. 

I definitely understand the need to make blogs a visually pleasing, enjoyable place for readers - but I want to make sure I'm not contributing to the idea that life doesn't (or shouldn't) get messy!

This spring, I was inspired by an abundance of pastel colored loafers. Think these:

 

 I gathered my materials: some cheap suede red loafers I found on Etsy, spray paint, and painters' tape. I carefully sprayed on both primer and my mint spray paint until the shoes looked like this:

 

Looks pretty good, right? I couldn't wait to put them on! I did, and here's what happened:

Womp wooomp. Cracks everywhere! All those layers of paint simply weren't going to work with a shoe that had so much flexibility.

Here's what I learned:

• Definitely use a very, very cheap pair of shoes - I did, and I'm so glad I wasn't out much money when these didn't work.
• If you're going to spray paint an entire shoe, a super soft suede is tricky. I think if the suede had been less plush, but still offered some texture, the shoes wouldn't have required so many layers of paint.
• The lighter the color of the original shoe, the better. Having to paint over a bright red required lots of layers for full coverage.
• Spray painting entire shoes should be limited to ones that don't require lots of shoe flexibility. For example, I think very high heels or strappy sandals could work, because when you walk, the shoe's upper doesn't crease/fold.
• The ideal scenario for using paint on shoes would be to add an accent to a small part of the shoe that won't be subject to wear and tear, like the heel or toe of a flat, a la these metallic beauties

Live and learn! Have you guys tried any DIYs lately that didn't quite go as planned?

Anyone tried creating fun accents on shoes using paint?

Giveaway from Kaufmann Mercantile! The Perfect Sewing Kit from Merchant & Mills

There's something indescribable about the way that hand sewing satisfies. It's quiet; it's methodic; it can be creative; it's imperfect and leaves the imprint of craftsmanship of a real, live human being.

That's why I'm so excited to announce that Kaufmann Mercantile is generously giving away this sewing kit full of Merchant & Mills goodies (worth $75) to a lucky reader. This beautifully-designed kit contains all the tools needed to start sewing your own projects by hand or to put the finishing touches on larger projects created using a machine.

If you haven't checked out Kaufmann Mercantile yet, you should do so immediately! The online shop features a very carefully curated selection of high quality, everyday items that are designed to last - not to be disposed of. 

Scroll down for details on how to enter the giveaway!

HOW TO WIN:

You must: Choose two of the below (one action for Kaufmann Mercantile and one action for A Dose of the Delightful), then comment on what you did

Get one extra entry for each additional action (yay)! I'll choose a winner via random.org next Friday, March 16th. 

• Follow A Dose of the Delightful on Twitter 
• Follow A Dose of the Delightful on Pinterest
• +1 A Dose of the Delightful on Google (there's a handy button on the top right of the homepage!)
• Follow Kaufmann Mercantile on Twitter
• Like Kaufmann Mercantile on Facebook
• Follow Kaufmann Mercantile on Pinterest
• Comment on how you'd use the kit or why you want to win

 Now that we've gotten the details out of the way...more eye candy!

These sewing goodies reminded of a recent profile of designer & dollmaker Jess Brown, featured in the February issue of Martha Stewart Living. Read about Jess after the jump>>

It's Back! The Return of Domino Magazine

It wasn't long ago that I was singing the praises of the new wave of shelter & lifestyle mags like Lonny, Anthology, Rue, and Matchbook for finally starting the healing process after the loss of Domino in 2009.

Well, guess what? Domino's back, baby! That's right - your eyes aren't deceiving you. A special Quick Fixes edition of the book will launch on April 17th ($10.99) and will include both new and popular old content. A second issue is already in the works for next fall.

Susan Portnoy, VP of communications & digital strategy at Conde Nast, says

(quote via LA Times)

Will you be running out to newsstands to snap up your copy? I know I will! 

Anthology Mag Issue 6!

Here's a sneak peek video as well as some pages from the issue - I can't wait to pick this up at my nearest Anthropologie (side note: Anthropologie is DANGEROUSLY close to my office):

 

Editor-in-chief Anh Minh Le writes that she and co-founder Meg Mateo Ilasco created the magazine "out of a fundamental desire to make things." This issue is right up my crafty alley: it celebrates the beauty & meaning of a handmade lifestyle. 

In keeping with the issue's subject matter, Le and Ilasco enlisted the crazy good skills of artist Chloé Fleury for the cover. She creates whimsical, cozy little universes using fabric, thread, cardboard, paper cutouts and glue. Chloé says: 

Read more about her work on her website.

If you're not a subscriber, check here for stockists.

DIY Peanut Butter Update: Sweetened With Maple Syrup

When I posted my DIY peanut butter recipe, I mentioned that I had plans to try a version sweetened with maple syrup instead of honey. I finally did, and the results are in: I like it even better than the original! It's subtly sweet, and not at all too mapley. I also decided to cut back on the coconut oil this time since you can definitely taste the coconut. Instead, I used a mixture of coconut and safflower oils. If you're not familiar with safflower oil, get familiar! It's an incredibly healthy oil and has no noticeable fragrance or taste - making it a perfect substitute for canola oil.

Here's a modified version of the recipe:

3 cups unsalted roasted peanuts
1 tbsp coconut oil 
1 tbsp safflower oil
Sea salt to taste
Maple syrup to taste

You'll also need a food processor. Process peanuts one cup at a time; add coconut & safflower oil as you go.

This really is incredibly easy to do once you've done it - it takes literally 5 minutes, and the reward is some of the best-tasting peanut butter ever (at least that I've had). It's so good I'm definitely guilty of getting out a spoon and going to town - another reason I'm glad it's so easy to make more!