I’ve got three new clutches on Etsy as of today. Check ’em out in my shop!
I can whip out these bags pretty quickly now. If you live in the Portland area and want to learn, I’d LOVE to show you. It can get lonely sewing by yourself all the time :)
Why are kids always the most fun to make stuff for!? You can choose whimsical fabric and make everything shaped like an animal. I love it. Here’s the latest addition to my ever-growing “random things I make for kids” list, and they are available on Etsy, here.
This is a microwaveable bedtime beanie. It’s filled with jasmine rice, flax seed and lavender oil. It’s the same concept as the baby belly bags, but this is geared towards older kiddos. It’s the perfect beanie to use when your little guy or gal isn’t feel so great, isn’t sleeping well, or just feels like snuggling with something. I can just hear my nephew now, “I want my whale Mommy…” in that cute whiny voice he has when he’s sleepy.
Besides making more whales, I’ll be adding an elephant to the list of beanie creations. Any other ideas from you all? It needs to be a simple shape with a recognizable silhouette.
Like promised, the scrabble tile charm necklace is now available in my Etsy shop! 
Happy shopping!
How cute is this? Really cute. I know. 
Guess what? If you don’t wanna make one for yourself, you can buy one from my Etsy shop starting next week. Any letter you’d like. Maybe even a couple of letters.
Wouldn’t this be a cool gift for a bride to be? Or for an expecting mommy with her lovely baby-to-be’s initials? You know it would.
You should!
A new blog name! “Homespun Haley” is a much better fit for the overall identity that this blog has taken on. Also, my Etsy shop is now called Homespun Haley! Yeah!! The new link is working now: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HomespunHaley Eventually I’d like to change my URL to homespunhaley.com, or at least homespunhaley.wordpress.com, but that is proving to be tricky. Looks like it’s possible but at the expense of content. I need to look into it further. So for now, the URL remains, homespunhaley.wordpress.com. But I need to figure something out soon…that way I can change fonts, etc. I’m getting sick of this Arial. 
I like the definition of homespun – “simple and unpretentious, to be woven at home.” It reminds me of going back to the basics. Simply using resources wisely and remembering to enjoy what I have available to me. Using my imagination to fuel my creativity. I’d like to think I would never come off as pretentious. I want to share my excitement and experience with all of you simply to share it. In hopes that you would be inspired or get a good laugh at my expense. Either is fine with me. I want my creativity to produce things which others and I can enjoy and not things that will possess us. Someday we will leave these things behind. So do I really want you thinking that scrabble coasters were the most important things in my life? No way! It’s simply one way I express what is important to me…being “homespun”.
There are few new or soon-to-be new little ones out there in my world right now. I decided to make something simple for these little guys and gals. A small rice heating bag. I’ve been reading about how swaddling your baby with one of these warm bags on their belly can help them rest easier and comfort upset stomachs.
Such a great little gift to give! They are simple to make and very lightweight. Meaning I can ship them inexpensively to wherever. If you don’t feel like making one, you can always pick one up from my shop. So here’s how:
Step one: Two 6″x6″ cotton squares.
Step two: With right sides facing, sew three and 1/2 edges closed. Leaving a hole just big enough to turn right side out and fill with rice.
Step three: Fill with rice! (I mixed my rice with 2 drops of lavender oil for a soothing aroma)
Step four: Stitch closed!
There you have it!
I find it helpful when giving these as a gift to add a tag with instructions, “Place rice bag in the microwave for 30 seconds (if on high heat). Shake rice around to distribute heat. Place on baby’s tummy and swaddle. Heat lasts for one hour. Relieves gas and provides comfort.”
Okay! It’s time for the very first ever Haley-Giveaway. This Rosy Red Pin could be accompanying you on your next night out in no time.
Here’s my dilemma I need help with: I need a name. I mean yeah, I’ve got a name…you know, Haley. But in my Etsy shop, on the things I sell, for my booth, I need a “shop” name. Something to put on my business cards, etc. It’s like my brain has exploded and I can’t think of anything beyond, “Haley made this.” It’s really pathetic! You all have some of the most creative minds…just waiting to help me.
All you have to do is comment on this post and your name will be entered in a drawing to win my Rosy Red Pin. Add your thoughts or comments. You don’t need to come up with some brilliant idea…I just need some brainstorming buddies. Someone else’s idea sound awesome? I don’t mind if my name is in it…I just need something. Can’t you see yourself wearing this pin? I know you can…
Feel free to leave your comments all through the weekend! On Monday, the winner will be announced!
Welcome, the Cozy Valentine Clutch. Hopefully the meaning behind its name is evident. (the hearts + girly fabric + Valentines day being tomorrow).
Wanna know how to make this mini clutch? Ironically this tutorial has 14 steps. It was meant to be.
Special notes: This clutch is approximately 4″ tall x 6″ wide and 2″ deep. If you would like to make a bigger clutch, simply increase all the dimensions by a couple of inches.
Materials: One button, 4 inch elastic cord, cardstock 4″x8″, fusible interfacing 8″x15″, liner fabric 8″x15″, Outer body fabric 11″x8″ and flap fabric 4″x8″. Like all sewing projects, you will need an iron, ruler, marker/pen, scissors and/or rotary cutter.
Step one Right sides facing, place your flap fabric and body fabric together along the 8″ edge. Sew together with 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press seam open.
Step two Iron the fusible interfacing onto your liner fabric.
Step three To create a templet for your curved flap, fold a piece of 4″x8″ cardstock in half. Cut a curve from one corner to another. Tweak until you get the shape you like.
Step four Place the template onto your flap fabric and trace. Cut out the shape.
Step five Lay your fabric on top of the interfacing sandwich. Trace the same curve and cut out.
Step six Place the liner fabric and outer fabric together, right side in. Pin.
Step seven Fold your 4 inch elastic cord in half. Place this directly in the center of your curved flap, in between the liner and outer fabric. Make sure the loop is on the inside of the sandwich (you’ll be turning this inside out.)
Step eight Sew sides and curve together – 4 inch seam allowance. (Not the bottom edge)
Step nine Turn right side out and press. (Can you spot my mistake? I had to go back and fix it. Not the end of the world, what is sewn can be un-sewn.)
Step ten Fold bottom edges in about 1/2 inch, iron and stitch. This seam will be visable. You may want to change your thread color at this point.
Step eleven Fold the fabric, right side in, and stitch edges closed.
Step twelve Box the corners. While the clutch is inside out, grab the corner and flatten with the side seam flat instead of creased. Be sure to smooth out the inner fabric with your finger. You don’t want it bunching. Use a ruler to mark where the corner is 2 inches apart. Draw a line. Do this on both corners.
Step thirteen Sew along the line and turn inside out.
Step fourteen Pick a button and pop it on there!
I love little bags. I really love sewing them. I spent the majority of yesterday doing just that. There is a great tutorial for this boxy pouch which I found via another blogger. I had seen it on Pinterest, but had to try it out for myself. It’s amazing how simple it was! You should give it a go.
I also decided to make a little cozy clutch. I call it “cozy” because it’s made with fluffy interfacing. I happened to have some. When I run out I’ll go get some medium weight interfacing, for a finished product that’s a bit stiffer. I’ll start working on a tutorial for you.
In the mean time, I also pumped out a few produce bags. I love these simple draw string bags. I take them to the grocery store and use them for everything from oranges to bulk rice. Here is a simple step-by-step tutorial I created for this handy bag. This is a project that would be great for beginners who feel more comfortable following instructions as opposed to just “seeing what happens”, which tends to be my method Trust me, it doesn’t always end in my favor.
Materials needed: 30 inches of strong twine or string, piece of fabric (I chose linen for this tutorial, but often use cotton) measuring 18″x12″, coordinating thread. Like most sewing projects have a ruler, scissors and iron at the ready.
Special notes: The bag created from an 18″x12″ piece of fabric will produce an 8″x10 1/2″ bag. Which is pictured above. You can adjust the size however you wish. No need to spend 15 minutes squaring things either. The beauty of these sacks is that they get used up, washed and tossed around, so don’t stress making it perfect. I used a tight zigzag stitch through out the project for added strength. Sometimes I put upwards of ten oranges in a sack and this stitch helps hold things together.
Step 1 Fold the length of your fabric (the 18″ length) in about 1 inch and iron flat. Sew the hem down, creating a “tube”. This is the tube that will eventually house your drawstring.
Step 2 Fold in half, right sides facing in. Fold the bottom edges up about 1 inch. Iron and stitch.
Step 3 Fold side (open edge) in about 1/2 an inch, iron and stitch starting just after the “tube”. Careful not to stitch the tube closed.
Step 4 Turn right side out. Thread your twine through the tube. I like to tie the sting to a safety pin and feed the pin through the tube. Knot the twine and viola! You’ve got yourself a produce bag!
If you are feeling really creative, you can mix and match patterns to create some adorable bags. Here are some others that I have created.
Have fun!
I’ve done it. I’ve stepped into the world of Etsy.com. While it’s a beautiful world, full of wonderful things, it’s a little intimidating. Though I must say, no one can do stuffed animals like I do stuffed animals. I’ll be making more and adding these to the inventory soon. I’m also going to add some more flowers. Actually, lots more to come as I slowly make things for my imaginary booth this next May.
Here’s a link to Haley’s Etsy Shop! I don’t even have a name for it yet. I think right now it’s called haleylynnkrueger. Hahaa, that’s because you get ONE chance to pick a shop name. There is no changing it later. Any ideas?
What you don’t know is that I’ve added birds nest necklaces/earrings to the list of randomness that I make. You might have seen these already, it’s been pinterested to death. There is a reason why. They are adorable. I heard about them through my friend Megan, she made them for Christmas presents. They are really fun to make. Here is the tutorial I used. For all of you who don’t want to make you’re own, I will make them for you.
Homespun Haley. 