MARBLED NECKLACE DIY

With Christmas around the corner, why not forgo the mad shopping dash by making family and friends personalized homemade gifts?  One of the presents I’ve decided to make this year is this pretty faux marbled necklace.  These necklaces require only a few supplies and you can make several simultaneously.  For the full tutorial (in English and Spanish) hop on over to Marta’s blog, 2ndfunniestthing. 

HIS AND HERS LAPTOP SLEEVES

These laptop sleeves would make the perfect gift for your techie friend or family member this Christmas. These sleeves can be sewn in under an hour and are easy enough for the beginner sewer.

PLEASE NOTE: these designs are solely for domestic use and cannot be used commercially or sold. 

WOMEN'S LAPTOP SLEEVE

Supplies:

2 pieces of felt in contrasting colours – 18” x 26”

1 piece of white felt 3” x 14”

18” x 26” fusible webbing  

¾” x 6” Velcro

White and grey thread

Method:

1) Measure the width of the laptop.  Cut 2 pieces of felt approximately 2 inches wider than the laptop and 26” long.

2) Cut 1 piece of fusible webbing to the same size.

3) Cut 3 strips of white felt 1” wide at varying lengths. 

4) Cut each strip in half at an angle.

5) Pin white strips to the front of the sleeve and sew in place.

6) Pin Velcro 4” from opposite edge and sew in place.

7) Pin and sew second strip of Velcro approximately 1” from edge of lining felt. (Note: distance will vary depending on laptop. Fold felt over laptop to mark placement of second strip correctly.)

8) Sandwich the fusible webbing between the 2 layers of felt and fuse according to packaging instructions.  The two strips of Velcro should be at opposite ends of rectangle.

9) Sew edges of felt.

10) With wrong sides together, fold felt approximately 1” shorter than the height of laptop.

11) Sew a 3/8” seam along folded edges. 

MEN'S LAPTOP SLEEVE

Supplies:

2 pieces of felt  - 18” x 26”

1 piece fusible webbing - 18” x 26”

¾” x 18” elastic

Grey thread

Method:

1) Measure the width of the laptop.  Cut 2 pieces of felt approximately 2 inches wider than the laptop and 26” long.

2) Cut 1 piece of fusible webbing to the same size.

3) Sandwich the fusible webbing between the 2 layers of felt and fuse according to package instructions.

4) Sew edges of felt.

5) Cut a piece of elastic to the same length as the width of the sleeve + 1” for seam allowance.

6) With wrong sides together, fold felt approximately 1” shorter than the height of laptop.

7) Sandwich edges of elastic between felt.

8) Sew 3/8” seam along folded edges.  

Have fun creating your own Christmas gifts this season. Nicole 

DOT WALL HOOKS DIY

My husband, Jeremy, was obsessed with Muuto Dots coat hooks but just couldn’t bring himself to part with the dollars necessary to purchase them.  So, when he decided we needed coat hooks in preparation for the one day it might rain in San Diego, he quickly disappeared.  He came back an hour later with a big smile on his face and a pocket full of drawer pulls.  He was ready to DIY his own wall hooks.

Supplies:

Oak drawer pulls in various sizes (screws included)

Screwdriver

Wire cutter/ hacksaw

Drill 

1] Screw wood screws into drawer pulls. 

2] Cut the heads off screws. You can skip this part by using double-sided screws. 

3] Drill pilot holes in wall. 

4] Screw cut end into wall and you're done!

These wall hooks are not as large as Muuto’s, but are perfect for a small space.  They would also look great painted in fun colours.  Now I just need him to make a few more for my office. 

THE FELTED FOX GOES TO NORWAY: Felt Fox Pillow DIY

Jeremy recently traveled to Norway to visit his family.  We usually try to make the trip together during the summer, but given my work schedule this year I couldn’t take the time off.  I love these family pilgrimages - staying on the organic apple farm, picking wild berries, swimming in the lake and watching the midnight sun.  Visits also always include pulling out family photographs, apple cider and wonderful homemade cakes!  His family members are among the most welcoming and loving people I have ever met. 

Though I couldn’t visit Norway this year, I wanted to send along a few small gifts for cousin Tone’s adorable little girls.  As a wildlife biologist, I am always looking for ways to bring nature into my designs (if I had my way our home would be filled with animal figurines, wildlife-themed tea towels, duvet covers, and much more!). Having spent much of my early career working with leopard populations in South Africa, I have a particularly soft spot for predators. 

On previous visits to Norway, Jeremy and I had seen beautiful red foxes on the family farm.  Although still widely regarded as pests and persecuted for their pelts, red fox populations in Scandinavia suffered their most drastic decline in the 1970’s and 80’s, due to the spread of mange.  Thankfully, populations have now largely recovered, and I was delighted to see these beautiful creatures frolicking in the apple orchards.  They are amazing to watch: graceful, fast and usually very shy.  As I wanted to share a bit of my passion for wildlife with Tone’s little girls, I decided to make felted fox pillows.  Hopefully, the girls will grow to admire the breathtaking nature that surrounds them—especially the foxes—as much as I do.

To make your own felted fox, you will need:

My free pattern 

Inkjet printer

Freezer paper

X-acto knife

Cutting mat/board

White felt 15” x 22”

Non-toxic fabric paint in grey and red

2 Paintbrushes

Iron

Sewing machine (the pillow is also small enough to be hand sewn)

Sewing needle

Thread in white and grey

Polyester fiberfill (small bag)

NOTE: this pattern is for domestic use only and cannot be used commercially or sold. 

Step 1:

Print pattern directly on to 2 sheets of A4 sized freezer paper. Make sure to print the pattern on the matt side.  Place a cutting board underneath the freezer paper and cut out solid black lines.

Step 2:

Place freezer paper shiny side down on to the felt and using a dry iron, adhere freezer paper to felt.

Step 3:

Using small paintbrushes, paint over stencil. I used grey fabric paint to outline the body and red to fill in hearts. 

Step 4:

Once the fabric paint has dried, cut the felt along dotted line and remove freezer paper. Use the front piece as a template to cut back of fox pillow. 

Step 5:

With right sides facing, sew a ½ “ seam, leaving an opening at the base of pillow wide enough to fit you hand through. 

Step 6:

Trim excess felt around ears and tail.  This will allow the pillow to curve more easily.  Turn pillow right side out.

 

Step 7:

Use grey thread to add a few running stiches along face and tail of fox pillow.

Step 8:

Stuff pillow and sew base. 

Your felted fox pillow is now ready to put a smile on a little face. 

For those who are interested in experiencing the Norwegian countryside, the stabbur (first image of Norway) has been converted into a rental cottage. Visit grenske.no for more information.

If you have any questions/comments or would like to send photos of your finished foxes, please leave a note in the comments section or send me an email.  I’d love to hear from you, Nicole.

HEXAGONAL TRIVETS DIY

Who knew I would love power tools?  For years my dad worked as a carpenter.  I never thought to ask him how to build things since I figured he would always be there if I ever needed a cabinet or shelves.  So, after relocating to San Diego I found myself in trouble: my dad was in Cape Town, my husband hated home improvement and we had a house that needed a lot of upgrades.  I needed to find someone handy with a saw.  The solution (after much deliberation) was for me to take a carpentry class.  When I enrolled last spring I could have never guessed how much I would love it.  Now, my husband and I have dreamed up so many projects that I’ll need years to finish them all!

These plywood hexagons were originally cut for a project at the hubster’s office (more on that later).  They had been lying in a corner for a few weeks—like many of my projects seem to do—while I contemplated the next step.  With a friend having recently purchased a house, I knew I’d have to come up with a good house-warming gift.  I hit on the idea of using some of the hexagons to make trivets.  I think they are hip, pretty and fun, just like their soon-to-be owner. 

NOTE: These instructions are for making plywood hexagons.  If you have never used a saw (and you don’t want to lose any fingers!), try making the trivets out of cork.  All you’ll need is a utility knife.  

What you’ll need:

¼” or ½” Plywood (at least 10” x 10” for each trivet)

Pencil

Compass

Ruler

Table saw

Miter saw

Sealant (linseed oil or beeswax)

Optional:

Acrylic paint

Painter’s tape

Paintbrushes

Plastic containers

Step 1:  

Draw a hexagon on the plywood. 

The easiest way I found to do this was to use a compass.  Set the compass to a radius of 5” (or larger for a bigger trivet) and draw a circle.  Don’t change the angle of the compass.  Mark a beginning point (A) along the circle. Place the point of the compass on A and mark a second point (B) 5 inches away from A along the circle.  Make sure that a line drawn between point A and point B is parallel to the edge of the plywood.  Continue moving the compass point to the new mark along the circle in order to mark all 6 points of the hexagon.  Once you have all the points marked, connect the dots to create the hexagon. 

Step 2:

Use the table saw to rip (cut with the grain) the wood along the top and bottom of the hexagon.

Step3:

Crosscut the plywood with the miter saw along the outer edge of the hexagon.  

Step 4:

Set the miter saw to 30 degrees and cut the remaining sides of the hexagon.

TIP:  Use the first hexagon as a template to draw the rest.  That way they will all be the same size. 

Step 5:

If you like the natural look, seal the trivet with linseed oil/beeswax to prevent staining. 

To add some colour and designs to the trivet, use acrylic paint and tape before sealing.

Happy crafting!  Nicole