Hi everyone, how was your Monday? I always try to spread out my obligations, commitments, and things that I absolutely want to do (I will sqeeze in the last one any way I can). That way I won't get stressed out... Well, at least I tried. I know I am going to be very busy this week too. Oh well.

I want to share my latest unexpected finds. On my ususal trip to Wal-mart, my curiousity got the better of me and I had to peek in the fabric section. I usually don't buy fabrics there, but I was talking to myself "you never know... just in case."


Well, well, well, Look what they had there. I found these really cute 100% cotton fabrics for 1ドル.50 a yard!!

The flower print one is like gauze, I would love to make a summer dress for Rachel.
This is why, when I feel like I need to go somewhere, I can't say no to myself. I have run in to some pretty nice things in the past. I wish you could see me grinning big.:)

If you guys felt like not much is going on at Tea Rose Home in the last few posts, hold that thought... I am working on a tutorial for the next post AND... I am doing a blog swap with someone this Friday!! I can say no more... you just have to come back and see who is going to be visiting Tea Rose Home. I have to log off before I accidently type the person's name... I am super excited!

Have a nice week blogging friends, see you at the next post!

These are the Roses my husband and kids gave me on the Valentine's day. I cut the stem little by little and enjoyed the flowers for a long time. I even enjoyed the petals too... I don't have a green thumb, but I love having flowers around the house.

It's very therapeutic...

After a few days of warm weather, all of a sudden it started snowing like crazy yesterday. Hmm... Times like this, the kids get sick easily. During these transitional stages, we need to dress flexiblely. Part of me will miss the winter season, but I know I am ready for the warm weather.


Rachel is in her favorite dress and the scarf that I made (looks crocheted, but it is actually a fabric. I just crocheted the edge.)

Right now, I have so many sewing and craft ideas I want to do in my head. It is just not happening at this moment, but I will share some of it this coming week with you all. Meanwhile, I wish you all well and have a nice weekend!

I blame it on Disney... She posted a tutorial on how to transform granny slippers into an out-of-this-world cutest room-shoes. She made me realize that I needed room shoes...

Well, I have been looking for the best deal for a while and I found it the other day. They were 2 for 6ドル at Big Lot. 3ドル a pair! You can't beat that.



I went through my trimming drawer and found some candidates for this project. I came up with two diffrent designs, so I will show you what I did.

{Black Slipers}

1. I cut off the ribbon on the slippers to give me a clean slate. Then I started from the middle and hand sewed already gathered lace. I Kept going until I arrived at the desired size.



2. I sewed on some beads.


3. Done!



{White Slippers}


1. Treat the end of the lace with fray check. Fold the end, then place it in the middle of the slipper. Start sewing from the bottom and go up, then fold the lace slightly angled upward to the side, sew.


2. Repeat the process. Remember to widen each row.


3. Sew the beads. I sew the beads separately. I mean, each time when I sew a bead, I tie a knot and start a new one. That way, I don't have to worry about breaking the thread between each bead when I wear it and the fabric stretches.


4. Ta-da!



They are both very simple and easy to do, and I love the results! Wearing my new slippers, I might dance while I clean the house tomorrow.

Near the beginning of last year, I pieced this quilt using a charm pack from Moda. In between my other projects, I hand quilted this throughout the year. I hardly ever sit and quilt at home anymore. When I am home I have other things I need to do, and besides, if I have anytime left, I do something that requires cutting and sewing by machine.

I usually have some kind of project with me all the time, so when I find a little bit of time here and there, I can make some progress. I quilted this at my sons' martial arts studio, while waiting in the carpool lane at my sons' school, and other places. (If you see someone with a gigantic quilt in public and she looks little out of place, that could be me...)

It is finally done!! This quilt is called: "Snow Ball Quilt", I am so glad that I finished it before another Spring came.

The blocks for this quilt were so easy to do, I would love to make one in a different color theme... but I have many other quilt tops that need to be quilted, I don't think it is a good idea to start a new one just yet. I guess I should baste a quilt top to take along with me.

Hi everyone! How was your week? Mine was very busy as usual, in a good way though; but I can't wait to slow down a little and spend some more time with my family.

I posted the winner for the Christa's Apron on the sponsors' page. So before you start reading this post head over there to see if you are the lucky winner!

Two weeks ago, I was invited to be a guest blogger for Ucreate. I came up with a tutorial to make a reversable hand bag (Two for One! I love things that are versatile and have more flexibility!). I am going to post the tutorial on my blog today. It is all straight cut, if you have rotary cutting tools, you can finish cutting all the necessary parts in the blink of an eye. If you don't, you can measure it out directly on the fabric and cut by hand.

Sew using 1/4" seam allowance, unless directed otherwise.


You will need:

Fabric 1 (your main fabric) 1/2 a yard.
Fabric 2 (inside fabric) 1 yard. (Includes extra for bias tape)

Canvas (this will go between the fabric 1 and 2 to give body to the bag) (1/2 yard)
matching thread

How to make:

1. Cut all the necessary parts.


From fabric 1 you will cut out: 2- 9 1/2"T x 14"W peices for the bag, 2- 1 1/2"W X 20"L pieces for the handles.

From fabric 2: same as fabric 1, plus 5 1/2"T X 7"W for the pocket. For the bias, if you are not familiar with making it, check here.

From canvas you will cut out: 2- 9 1/2"T X 14"W for the bag, 2- 3/4" x 19"L pieces for the handles.

2. Make the pocket.
a. Use a zig-zag stitch around the edges of the fabric to prevent fraying.
b. Fold the corners, then fold 1/4"of the sides and the bottom. This way the corner is mitered and doesn't get too thick and is easier to sew.
c. Fold the top edge twice, sew 1/8" from the folded edge.


3. Sew the finished pocket onto fabric 2. Fold the bag fabric and the pocket in half and match up the folded line(so, the pocket is in the middle, and measure 2 1/2" from the top. Line the pocket with the 2 1/2" line pin. Then stitch the pocket to the bag. I sew a line on the pocket 2 3/4" from the right to devide the pocket.


4. Lay down fabric 2, measure and mark to make pleats. The mesurments are like this:


Lay canvas on top of fabric 1, and do the same.

5. Using big hand stitches, sew the pleats to hold them in place. Do the same to the rest of the other pieces too.



6. Put the right sides together of fabric 2 and pin. Sew around the edge. Do the same to fabric 1 that has the canvas attahced.


7. To square the bottom of the side, bring the seam together (The sure the seam lines up.) Fold and then as in the picture draw a 3" line and sew on top of the line. Then cut off the fabric 1/4" away from the line.


8. Repeat the same process with fabric 1.


9. Turn fabric 2 inside-out. Insert into the the bag made out of fabric 1. The pin the bias tabe all around the edges of the top. Sew around the folded line.


10. Fold the bias tape around to the inside of the bag. Cover the raw egdes, pin and sew. You can use a slip stitch too.


11. Make the handle.
a. Lay fabric 1 and 2 right sides together. Sew around the edges leaving a 16" opening centered on one side.


b. Snip the corners.


c. Turn the handle inside out and fold the open edges about a 1/4" inside and iron. This process will make it easier for later. Slip in the canvas strip. For the corners use a sharp object to push them in place and flatten.


d. Pin the opening and sew 1/8" from the edge all around the handle stip.


12. Attach handles to the bag appoximately 2" from the side.


Now you have 2 beautiful handbags!



If you want a magnet closure, you can with this bag too. You just add the magnet before step 9. A little tip, to pick out fabrics to make this bag, quilt shops carry all sorts of pretty fabrics, also check out Jo Anne's home decorating fabric setion. When you combine larger patterns with smaller patterns you can recreate a similar look to this bag.

I found a purplish-plum color t-shirt at the sales rack in Target the other day, it was 2ドル. I went through my fabric stash, and picked this fabric to make a tunic dress. Well, I wanted to make a dress, but the fabric I had wasn't a whole lot. I thought she could wear this with tights or with pants.

I worked on this tutorial over that last few weeks while I worked on other projects. I thought I took more pictures to explain things better, but I didn't. If there are some areas that you have a hard time understanding, I am sorry. If you need to see how to made the ruffles, please go here, to see the instructions. That might help a little.

{You will need}


One T-shirt

Fabric(if you have 3/4 yd, you should have enough to make this)

Matching Thread(Because the t-shirt and the fabric are such contrasting colors, I had to use two diffrent color threads. If you don't want to do that, I advise you to pick a top and fabric that are somewhat similar.)

{How To}

~The Top~

1. From the fabric cut a 2 1/2" Wide X 44" Long strip. Cut it to three equal pieces and fold the strips right sides together in half and sew using 1/4" seam allowance.

2. Turn the strips inside out. Fold the strips so that the seam will come to the one side and press with an iron. Also, fold in both ends and press.


3. Using the largest setting on your sewing machine, make a ruffle. Sew the ruffle onto the middle of the T-shirt.


4. Repeat the process and add more rulles on both sides(Mine are 1 1/2" a part).


5. Cut 2 1/2" off from bottom of the T-shirt.(or more, if you would prefer a higher waist)


6. From the T-shirt strips, cut two 3/4" X 12 1/2" strips. (Save the rest if you want to make a hair accessory later).


7. Make ruffles and sew them on between the fabric ruffles.



~Skirt~

1. Cut one 5" by the wideth of the fabric strip, cut in half to make it into two pieces. (These will be the top portion of the skirt). Then, cut two pieces of 6" X 36" strips. (These will be the bottom portion of the skirt).

Do zig-zag or use a serger to finish both sides of the strips. With the right sides together, sew both sides and make a big loop.

2. Start with bottom skirt, with the largest setting, sew two lines all around. Pull both threads to gather the fabric. Spread the gather evenly for better results. Gather the fabric to fit the width of the top skirt.



3. Attach the top and the bottom skirt. Pin them together first, and make sure the side seams match up, then sew. After you have attached them, turn the fabric inside out and press the seam. Using 1/8" seam sew on the right side of the fabric.



4. Repeat the process for the top edge of the skirt, then attach it to the shirt. Since I still haven't practiced using my serger (shame on me!), I ironed 1/2" wide strips of interfacing on the wrong side of the t-shirt to prevent it from getting wavy.


~Finish~

After sewing the top and the skirt, turn the dress inside out and sew right side of the t-shirt usign 1/8" seam.


For the hem, I just did a narrow hem since I did't have that much fabric to work with. To do a narrow hem, fold the raw edge 1/4" twice then sew. It is a rather casual look, but I thought it would be ok.

I used leftover pieces and made a matching headband. It is all done, all you need to do is to let your loved one enjoy it.




That's what I did...