DIY t-shirt bags

I pinned this a while ago and absolutely LOVED the idea of it.  Not just for produce either(which was what the Pin labeled these as), I think it's such a cute bag, period.  So I made some.  Guess what?  I looooove them.  I want to make more.  I actually considered going and buying some t-shirts in colors I liked just for these bags.  I didn't do that though, I realized that would be a little crazy.

 Take an old t shirt, flip it inside out and cut out this shape(kind of like a 'U'), as big or little as you'd like.  Go from the bottom up, that way if you want to keep the hem that's around the waist of the shirt you can.  Some I kept on, some I cut off.  Next, stitch around the three sides to make your bag shape.  Next step is your holes.  I traced mine with pen first.  Make sure you do your handle first, then a few inches down start your holes.  I staggered the slits too by the way!

Now it's time to snip, snip, snip.  Snip all your slits!

 When you're done snipping stretch your bag out so the holes form.  I washed mine after I was done so they would curl just a bit and also to get all of the fabric crumbs off.  

 Here I am modeling a bag of bananas, HA!

 Another larger one, this one is more of a tote size.

All of the colors and sizes I made.  I love the ones that happen to have some t-shirt logo still on them, gives it some extra coolness.

DIY Pressing Table

I found this idea on Pinterest (go figure!) and knew I had to do it.

I got my very first sewing machine last year for my birthday (thanks Mom!) and this came shortly after.  I hated having to lug my big ol' ironing board out to iron every single piece of material or hem.  Let me also add that my ironing board squeaks.  Not just a little mouse squeak, a LOUD, annoying metal against metal squeak.  It's actually more of a shrill.  So when I'm trying to get sewing done when Max naps I try to avoid this extremely piercing noise at all costs.  I'd love to give you a tutorial, but it's already made, so I'll give the best directions I can.  I bought the cheapest t.v. table I could find at Walmart, then I got 2 yards of cotton fabric(I didn't need this much, but loved the fabric so I got extra).  I also picked up some batting that could take high heat.  It's so easy to make!  Turn your t.v. table upside down and place your fabric and batting under the table.  Cut fabric leaving 4 or so inches of fabric and about 2.5-3 inches of the batting.  Then just take a staple gun and tack up your fabric on the underside of the table.

  You might need a small hammer to pound the staples the entire way in.  I went down the sides first, making sure to keep the fabric tight, then did the corners by folding & tucking the fabric in. 

 Now enjoy your handy dandy pressing table.  

Don't mind the junk - this is our office, sewing, clothes overflow room!

Another perk, it stores so easily!

 As you can see, I didn't trim the extra fabric from mine because it didn't bother me and typically I don't see it/notice it.  But you could trim yours off for a neater look!

Happy Pressing(hehe),

Linds

OH, and look what we are busy doing these days --

 Do you remember these things?!  It's a GeoSafari - SO old school.  We found it in Josh's parent's basement over the weekend and swiped it up.  We've been playing every night since.  Yes, we're dorks.. :)

AND look at that - I'm winning(but we've only done the U.S., so I shouldn't be bragging quite yet, ha!)

The Pinterest Tutorial, by request!

I've had so many requests about Pinterest.  How does it work?  How do you do it?  I'm going to tell you, and then you're going to thank me.  You're welcome(in advance!)

First you need to sign up, and then you'll be put on a short waiting list.  Once you've been "accepted", you can begin.  First you want to make/rename all of your boards(example: food, home decor, crafts, style, quote, etc..).  Now you can start pinning.  This is the fun part, this is the addictive part.  So enjoy, and get ready to spend some time in front of the computer!  

Not only can you pin from the Pinterest website, but you can pin anything from the web as long as it has a picture.  You need to install the "Pin It" button on your browser in order to pin from the web.  Say you get an email from Food Network with a tasty looking recipe in it, you can just "pin" the recipe's photo into your food board.  See?  It's easy peasy!!  If you pin from the Pinterest website you can just repin someone else's pin onto your own board.  You can also like and comment on pins.  That would be self explanatory, I hope.  :)  

So with all that said -- once you start doing it, you'll understand what this all means.  Pinterest is basically just your virtual pinboard.  When you're reading a magazine how many times to you flip down a corner, promising to come back to that recipe/craft/house project and do it in the future?  I do it all the time, then I throw away the magazine.  This is your solution.  You can pin all those great little things onto your boards, never to be forgotten.  

Happy Pinning!!!

xo, Linds

Oh yeah -- you can find your friends too and follow them.  Wanna follow me?  Find me, Lindsay Yurovich.