Daydreaming: Gorgeous spaces

Craft Room Inspiration

If you are aware of the changes that the Noodles & Milk family is going through, you can imagine that our home is changing too. This weekend is the big switcharoo. My spacious and quiet sewing room is becoming a nursery.

Sewing supplies have been re-organized and downsized and are being re-located to a much smaller common area in our home. Since this space will not have a door on it that I can just shut and hide away the clutter, I have been looking into pretty craft spaces for inspiration. Many of these spaces are out of our price range to follow exactly, but they offer wonderful ides and something to dream about for the future.

I love the turquoise table here. It brings such a fun splash of color.

This is Heather Bailey's sewing room. There are no words for its beauty. The antiques are a wonderful touch.

I love seeing everything placed neatly where they belong.

Love the shelving and the colors.

Love the lime and red and a great use of a small space.

Pottery Barn. Enough said.

Love the pink table and the shelving.

Container Store. Again, enough said. Oh, and this is a closet. Yeah, awesome.

This space is just so clean looking. Love the pop of color from the stripe rug.

Love the use of this antique cabinet.

Aren't these spaces inspiring? Do you have any craft room organization favorites?

Happy Sewing (and organizing),

Sabrina

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak at a new pattern that is in the drafting stage this week. Hoping to get it finished and in testing for next week.

Any guesses?

Happy Sewing,
Sabrina

Re-cover your ugly throw-pillows: A simple tutorial

Everyone has throw pillows around the house that are not aesthetically pleasing. We live with them and always think in the back of our minds about getting new ones but never get around to it. Well, this tutorial can help you get this project off your to-do list.


Re-covering your old throw pillows is a super fast, super simple project that can give you instant gratification and a better looking room in under an hour.

Materials:

-pillows or inserts that need to be recovered
-fabric- cotton, home décor weight, minky, chenille, silk or whatever works with your home
-thread
-pins
-scissors
-rotary cutter and mat (optional)
-serger (optional)
-decorative trims (optional)

Measuring:

You need to cut one front piece of fabric and 2 back pieces. Details on finding their measurements is below.

1. Measure the pillow that you want to re-cover. (In my example, I am working with a 20”x20” pillow)

2. For the front piece of fabric, Add ½” inch to each side of your measurement. (My example is a 21”x21” measurement for the front piece)

3. For the 2 back pieces, one side will measure the same as found in #2 and the other edge you will take the above measurement and divide by 2 and add 2 ½”. For my example, the measurements for my back pieces are 21”x13”. (21”/2= 10.5+2.5=13”)

Construction:

1. Cut fabric according to measurement. Make sure that you have cut 1 front piece and 2 back pieces for each pillow you want to re-cover.

2. Take the 2 back pieces and lay them right side down so that the measurement A side is at the top and bottom and the B sides are touching. *Make sure that if you are using directional prints that they are running the same way on each piece.

3. Fold the inner B side (as shown in diagram) back ½” then again ½” to cover the raw edge. Pin in place and repeat with other piece of back fabric. Sew pinned edges in place.

4. Take front piece of fabric and lay it right-side up. Align 2 back pieces on top, right-sides together so that the raw edges are aligned and the 2 finished edges overlap on the interior of the case. Pin all the way around the 4 raw edges.

5. Serge or sew and zig-zag finish a ½” seam around all 4 edges of the pillow.

6. A trick to create crisp pillow corners: Working with one corner at a time, starting at a corner edge, fold the top edge back along the seam line. Holding it in place, sew a small vertical stitch on the side seam line. This should be just enough to hold the fold in place. Repeat for all 4 corners. (This step is optional)

7. Turn case right-side out and press. Make sure that the corners are popped completely out. Insert your throw pillow and voila! Now you can admire your work and mark this task off your mental to-so list!

Happy Sewing,

Sabrina

Testing...

This cutie is heading into the testing phase and should be listed in the shop within the next 2 weeks!

If you are interested in being a pattern tester, please email me at noodlesandmilk@gmail.com

Happy Sewing,

Sabrina

Giveaway- Bits or Bobbins

Etsy has lots of "teams" that you can be apart of. They vary on location, craft type and many other things. Since I live in DFW, I am a member of Etsy Fort Worth. They have a great little blog that you can keep up with. On it there is a giveaway that is featured today.

The shop featured is Bits or Bobbins (cute name huh?). The shop reminds me a little of the old N&M. Cute baby gifts. Anyways, the giveaway is for a $15 gift certificate to their shop to buy anything you want! Isn't that great?

Look at this precious goldfish onesie. If I win the giveaway, I am totally getting this for our new baby boy coming soon.

Look at this cute ruffle bib. I know a lot of cute baby girls who would love to add this to their wardrobe.

You can enter the giveawy HERE .

Happy Sewing,

Sabrina

PS- If you hopped on over from FB, don't forget to become a follower or add N&M to your reader.

What inspires you?

Finding inspiration for new designs has never been too hard for me. I love color, pattern, ruffles and all things baby and children. One huge inspiration for me is ridiculously over-priced boutique clothing. I see the designs, and while they are cute, they are not in my mind worth $75+. I see them and think that not only could I make something more functional, but cuter and cheaper.

Another big inspiration for me has always been fabric. I love all the possibilities of color and pattern combinations. They are absolutely endless. Even if 10 designers use the same sewing pattern to create a line of dresses, they will all likely use different fabrics and therefore the dresses will all be completely unique. Many people stick with one designer line and use different coordinating fabrics from within a particular line. I, personally, like to mix designers. I think it adds even more whimsy to an outfit when patterns are completely contrasted.

My biggest inspiration is my daughter. She is absolutely precious and all girl. She loves to dress-up, giggle, play dolls and anything that sparkles. I could design clothing for her all day long (and some days I do). Most of my clothing patterns are designed with her in mind. Our family is growing and we are adding a baby boy later this summer. You never know, maybe he will inspire me to design clothing patterns for boys!

What inspires you?

Happy Sewing,

Sabrina

Sneak Peak

This is a sneak peak for the latest pattern that I am working on. Any ideas?

Happy Sewing,
Sabrina

Changing gears

Change is in the air for Noodles & Milk.

I have absolutely adored making custom creations for my etsy shop. It has been a wonderful (almost) 2 years working with amazing customers and creating gifts for new babies all over the world. The changes in the shop are definitely bittersweet.

I am sad to lose the opportunity to serve so many of my loyal customers. I am sad to lose the opportunity to make new mommies smile with my creations. I have to keep reminding myself that there is a time for change, and for Noodles & Milk, that time is now.

In January I found out that I was expecting my second child. After months of trying this was a very welcome surprise. My thoughts quickly moved from tiny baby things to the shop. I barely had time to fill orders as it was with my toddler. How was I ever to accomplish anything with an infant AND a toddler?

I immediately thought of writing patterns. I have purchased many patterns in my day and I have a friend who has written some of her own with much success. I asked questions, got advice and took a stab at it. Turns out, I really enjoy writing patterns! It is so exciting to create an idea in my head and watch it take shape as I work out the kinks.

So, while patterns are still quite new in the shop, this appears to be the direction that Noodles & Milk is going to take for the time being. Pattern designing allows me to take on one project at a time. I can pour hours of work into it and once the work is done, it is done. This is allowing me to do a lot of creating now, before the baby comes, and hopefully be able to take several months off while still selling previously created patterns. Once the sleep deprivation stage wears off, I will be back at the table drafting new designs.

I can't promise that custom orders will be gone forever, because I do love that part of the business. But for now, patterns it is. That being said, I will try my hardest to make this a sewing and inspiration blog. I would love feedback & followers.

A little business talk:
- Fan Noodles & Milk on FB for updates
-If you are a sewer interested in testing patterns for me before they are released for sale. Leave me a comment with your email address and I will add you to my contact list
-If you have an etsy or artfire or any other handmade sewing shop and would like to be featured or advertise, please email me: noodlesandmilk@gmail.com


Here is the latest pattern in the testing phase!

Happy Sewing,
Sabrina