Reverse Applique Football T

It's football season y'all!

So today I lit a pumpkin spice candle, turned on the game, 

and whipped up this little t-shirt for Charlotte!

Y'all, I am so in love with reverse applique.

It's like regular applique but faster and easier and...reverse.

I'm gonna make one for my other two kiddos too! and maybe myself!

You know you want to try it out - keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

t-shirt

jersey knit material (or an old t-shirt you can cut up)

embroidery floss

needle

scissors

Step 1:

Trace your pattern onto the shirt.

I used cookie cutters, but you could also print something

out that you find online.  This will be the line that you sew along.

Step 2:

Place your colors of knit under your design.

You can either just pin it in place, or use a little

craft glue to baste it.

Step 3:

Sew along the design that you traced with embroidery floss.

You can just use a running stitch.

(be careful to only sew two layers, not the back of the shirt!)

Step 4:

Now carefully separate the top layer from the bottom layer
and make a small slit with your scissors in the top layer.
I highly recommend a pair of tiny applique scissors for this,
but you can use regular fabric scissors in a pinch.

Step 5:
Now slide your scissors in sideways and begin to cut away
the top layer of t-shirt, revealing the color beneath.
This is the most fun step!!

Step 6:
Turn the shirt inside out cut the excess around the edges -
this is most important if your t-shirt is white.

And you just repeat those steps for the football!
I love this heart-shaped one for the girls,
but I'll do a regular shaped one for Hunter's.
I think she liked it!

Happy Football Season!
Jessica

The Fighting Gator Quilt - my WIP...

Well, I've been really busy working on this quilt...but I couldn't show it to you because it was my Christmas gift to the Officer!  In case you didn't know, he went to UF for grad school and we are serious Gator fans.  I've been wanting to make him a Gator quilt for some time now, but I couldn't find any inspiration that I liked.  I don't really care for any of the Gator printed fabric...so I wasn't sure what to do.  Then, while my mom was visiting, she was telling me about a paper-piecing class she and my sister were going to take.   

That inspired me.  

To be able to piece anything that I could draw?!  

Wow, that seemed perfect.

  

Well, let me tell you - it wasn't perfect and it was a lot of work.  

Creating your own pattern for paper piecing can be rewarding, but it is not for the faint of heart.  I had to completely set aside my constant desire for instant gratification sewing, and realize I was in for the long haul.  

I looked at this pic for inspiration:

And here's my original drawing onto several sheets of graph paper I had taped together.

(I just snapped this pic on my phone)

I then had to lay tracing paper over this original, divide it into squares, and then draw each individual piece.  It took 375 pieces to produce the final gator (and he's only 19"x26").

It was worth it though because I'm really happy with the result.  

Here are some up close pics:

 

I appliqued the F onto his jersey.

What you see in this post is just the center panel of the quilt - here's a drawing of the concept for the entire quilt.

  

I still have some work to do :)

It was extra challenging to make this lil' guy because I didn't want the Officer to know what I was doing.  So that meant I had to work on it while he was at work...and I was home with the girls...not such an easy task. :)  But it was a labor of love, and it will certainly be a one-of-a-kind quilt.  

In case you're wondering, I'm not really planning on making any more of these - I'd have to charge $1000.00 to make it worth my while(totally not exaggerating).  Unless Coach Muschamp calls me up and orders one...I might make an exception.  Or Tim Tebow (are you reading this Timmy?).  

In another post I'll share some of my tips for paper piecing - I learned a lot, but am certainly no expert.  So tell me - have you ever paper-pieced anything?  How did it go?  I certainly ripped out many many pieces in order to get it right...

Hope you have a great day!

xoxo

jessica

p.s. Go Gators.

Graduation Party - Swamp Style

Here are the details from the graduation party I threw my hubby last Saturday.  As you probably know, it is SO tricky to do stuff for guys.  You can't make it to "cutesy".  Ryan was graduating from the University of Florida, whose mascot is the Gators, and whose stadium is called the Swamp.  

So I went with that. 

I made the dessert table swampy with large sticks and assorted dried mushrooms  in glass cylinders, "moss" - green Easter grass, lanterns, and green fabric. 

The hat bunting was strung across the front of the table.

I made green, brown, orange, and blue streamers to hang behind the table.

I also threw in some books here and there - to give it the academic look.  The cake was actually cupcakes in the shape of a gator - from the lovely Hello Cupcake book. 

I made brown icing and mossy green icing and filled my pastry bag half with green and half with brown.  That's how I achieved that variegated look - I thought it looked more authentic than bright green for a man party.  

I made the graduation hat pops - using orange and blue taffy for the tassels.  

I covered half the Oreos with blue melting candies and the other half in white and sprinkled orange sprinkles on them for texture.  I put them on books covered in faux bois paper.  

Finally for the favors I made a play on the drink Izze by asking "Is he finally a doctor?".  

It was really fun to put together - and of course would work for a Gator football party too.  

Go Gators! jessica

{DIY} Graduation Hat Bunting - with paint chips!

We're getting pretty excited, Ryan is graduating from grad school in 9 days!!! He's been in college now for 9 years...needless to say we are planning a huge bash.  Lots of things to celebrate!  So I am busy with party prep - including this little hat bunting made from paint chips!

(If the orange and blue offends you...just imagine it in your very own Alma Mater)

If you would like to make your own for that special graduate in your life here's what you will need:

Paint chips in the appropriate colors

ribbon

tape

scissors

hat template

Step 1:  Print and cut out the template.

Lay it on a paint chip and trace around.

Step 2:  Cut it out.  Continue this until you have the desired number of hats. (I had 15)

Step 3:  Next punch holes in each end of the hat - feed the ribbon through them until they are all strung together.

Then hang your little bunting!
(I'll have pics from the actual party too - it's in Florida
so obviously the bunting won't be hanging from my mantle...)

Have a great day!!

jessica

*Inspired Homemaking* - Graduation Party Ideas

Well, I've got graduation on the brain (3 weeks!) so today I have a roundup of links about graduation parties.  I tried to find stuff that would be good for guys or girls - most stuff is so girly it's hard to plan a party for a guy.  Anyway - enjoy!

Hello - are these not party genius?

Very cute cupcake toppers.

Your future is "bright" - great for a gift or a favor!

Check them out here.

This graduation lei is awesome - sure to be appreciated by any graduate (or the graduate's wife ;)

This would be so cute for me or Charlotte to wear to the event.

I love this necklace.  Gainesville will always have a special place in my heart.

I'm getting in the graduation mood!  Are any of you planning a graduation party this year?

xoxo

jessica