Happy Together: May 2009

5.31.2009

Ruffle Necklace Tutorial

I am sure you all have seen necklaces like this before. This was my "official" inspiration.

I have and always wanted to make myself one, but just got around to it. It took me about ten minutes to make, since I had all the supplies on hand. I think it's super cute. I like it with "fancier" fabrics, but I'm sure even a pretty cotton fabric would look amazing and more casual.

Materials:
-Piece of fabric that is 20" by 3" (to look like grey one; the white one I did was an experiment and a hard type of material to ruffle. That one was only 12" by 4" and I trimmed it.) But as always, experiment and put your own creativity into it!
-Necklace chain (I just used what I had in my jewelry box)
-Safety pin
-Option: Tool to heat seal fabric if needed

1. Take your piece of fabric and fold it in half with the wrong side facing.

2. Leave a long strand of thread at the beginning (DO NOT BACK STITCH!) and run it through your sewing machine with a large stitch. Leave another long strand of thread at the end (DO NOT BACK STITCH!). Also, make sure the casing (the side where the necklace will run through) is big enough for the chain you are using.

3. Pull the long thread on the back (that came from the bobbin part of the sewing machine) to create a ruffle. I pulled the threads until it measured 6 inches. Once at desired length, tie a knot on each end with the threads.

4. Put a safety pin on the end of the chain and pull through fabric casing.

*I also hot sealed the fabrics I used because they fray very easily. So that is an option to consider as well.*

*If you make one, I would love to see it! Add it to the Flickr group*

5.30.2009

An Itty Bitty

Well, I decided I won't have time to do the tutorial until tomorrow, so here is a little bitty baby that I made. We have some old friends stopping by on their way home from Orlando, and they have a little girl. This is going to be for her.

Front

Back

5.29.2009

I did it!!!!

I finished just in the knick of time. This is the purse I made for Jenny's Crafter Challenge.

I tell you what, I had so many problems trying to get it through it was crazy! And it took forever to make because my lovely little one has been a bit clingy this week, to say the least. Have a great Friday night and I'll probably pop in tomorrow with a new quick tutorial.

5.27.2009

Simple and Quick Updo How To

I was asked how I have done my hair as pictured in previous posts, so here is a quick how to. So you know, this takes me about five minutes to do now. It's my almost everyday hair style for many reasons (doesn't take long, looks better than just pulled back, it's soooo hot right now I am not wearing my hair down!!!)

You will need: Hair gel and bobby pins (lots of them)

1. Start with wet hair. Flip hair over and scrunch with gel. This will help keep the hold, give it some volume, and for those with wavy/curly hair, it will help tame it.
2. Make a side part and grab a section of hair in the front to clip to the side. This will be used to create the front swoop bang look.

3. Visualize the hair on the crown of your head in four columns. You are going to twist and make four "buns" with them. I started with a 1/4 section on top. Take it, twist it, place on top of head like a bun and pin in place.

4. Do the same for three more, one on top and two on sides.

5. Take the front part that you had pulled away and twist it back. Pin it in place in front and make a bun with the leftover (I just integrate it into what was already done).

6. For the rest of your hair: Just grab sections of hair, twist, and pin down in a bun.

It looks cute with a headband too.

Variation 1: In the necklace tutorial, I just did the front swoop thing and then pinned it all back in one bun.
Variation 2: Do the front swoop thing, then take half top of hair to make bun and take the bottom half of hair to make a smaller bun right underneath of it.

5.22.2009

Ribbon and Pearl Necklace Tutorial

I save the few magazines that I ever buy just to have around when I feel like sitting on the couch with one. I was recently browsing through an Elle magazine (Oct. 2008) and saw this picture.

It is a pearl and grosgrain ribbon necklace by Lanvin for $1,320. I immediately thought of how I could make something similiar. Here is a quick tutorial on how to make a look alike for yourself (for a lot less!).

Materials:
-10 feet of 7/8" grosgrain ribbon (I couldn't find any in the right size, so I used organza ribbon)
-4 large pearl beads (again, sorry I used what I had so I only used three)
-Glue (I used fabric glue, but a tacky glue would be good as well)
-Large Crochet Hook
-Yarn Needle
-Candle, lighter, or wood burner

1. Cut the ribbon into two pieces. One equally 7 feet and the other 3 feet

2. Take the 7 ft. piece and begin to crochet a chain about 1 foot in on one end. Crochet the chain until there is about a foot of ribbon left. End with a slip stitch.

3. Thread the 3 ft. piece of ribbon on a yarn needle and randomly run and loop it through/around the crocheted piece. Make sure the ends left on side side are about the same length.

4. Knot the two pieces on the left side together right above where the crochet ends. Do the same for the right side.

5. Heat seal ribbon ends with candle/lighter/wood burner. (cut them first if you would like them even too. I chose to leave mine like they were).

6. Glue on pearl beads. (I tried sewing, but they were too heavy for it to work on the organza ribbon).

7. Once dry, it's ready to wear. Just simply tie it on, take a picture, and add it to the Happy Together Flickr group so we can see what you made.

What's going on with my blog?

Hi everyone. Please bear with me as I am slowly working on this blog. Tip Junkie shared some excellent tutorials for things to do to your blog, and I am adding some of them. If you are interested in spicing up your blog, check it out.

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Happy Together is a life style blog where I share my adventures in creating whether it is through sewing, crocheting, photography, cooking, or other mediums, and other various life activities. My goal is to share and inspire others to live creatively no matter what stage of life they are in.

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About Me

Hi :) My name is Jessica Fediw and welcome to my blog. Here is a little bit about myself. I am currently a stay at home mom to one daughter, who is three and have another on the way. My husband is in the Coast Guard and we were college sweethearts. Because of his job, we are currently living in Pace, FL for him to do flight school. We both grew up in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia surrounded by family and friends, so this is a big venture for us. We are using the time to explore places we have never been before.

I am in my mid twenties and am still trying to figure out what to do with myself, most of the time. I love God and have had a relationship with him through Jesus since I was a little girl. I also love to craft (if you can't tell ;). I sew and crochet mainly, but I love to try other thing too. My grandmother and mom taught me the basics when I was little, but I didn't really get into it until I was about to graduate from college (GO ODU!!!!). At that point, I basically began to reteach myself and I am still learning how to do things better all the time.

I started this blog to be my creative outlet. I want to share what I am doing with hopes of inspiring others. My goal is to eventually make things to sell on a regular basis and design patterns to sell. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and check out my blog. I am really glad to have joined the crafting blog community and look forward to continuing in it. Have a blessed day!

Find out more about me from these interviews:
@ Luvinthemommyhood (7/28/09)
@The Sewing Business Blog (7/31/09)

Where the military has taken us:
-Jacksonville, FL
-Pace, FL

You can email me at jessicafediw@yahoo.com