Make This a CRAFTY Blizzard

Its winter and there is not much to do so why not get some crafty stuff done. The blizzard is supposed to hit any day now so its time to finish that project that you've been dreading going back to OR try something new....like one -or all- of these 12 FREE purse patterns.  Penelope tote by Melissa Esplin Twenty minute totes at The Purl Bee Roomy pleated handbag at Warehouse...

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Project Review: City Satchel - Sew What! Bags

Today's Project Review is the City Satchel  found in Sew What! Bags, page 120. I'll admit, I was a bit intimidated by this project but I found it was very easy despite the skill level being Daredevil. The fabrics I used are white Kona cotton for the lining and black cotton for the gusset. The main fabric I found at IKEA in the as-is section for 90 cents. Its a heavy...

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50% off Jewelry Sale!

I've decided to stop selling jewelry in my CrankHeartPony Shop. Well, I'm still debating,  to be honest, but I think if I empty it all out, that will help me make a definite decision. So if you are interested in any goods from my Jewelry section, feel free to use the 50% off coupon code "JEWELS50". But ONLY in the Jewelry Section! :) Enjoy!...

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Project Review - Online Edition: Bias Tape Bag @ Prudent Baby

Yes, it is a fact that I hate bias tape. Maybe even fear it - for it has jacked up so many potentially great projects for me. But in reality, who am I kidding - it's all me! I jack them up...usually in my anger over how much the bias tape aggravates me. So, I've decided its time to conquer this devil and fear no more! I've always wanted to make a bias tape bag and I'll no...

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Project Review: Online Edition

I've decided, with all the great tutorials out there on the interwebz, I should try tackling a few of them. So I will. First up: Bias Tape bag at Prudent Baby. In this one, I'm hoping to overcome my hatred of bias ta...

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Best Tools for Cleaning Vintage

For all the years I've been buying vintage, there has been one thing plaguing me; how to get it clean, where its good-as-new looking. For many years, it just took the right cleaners and a good amount of elbow grease. Now we have something magical. Magical, indeed. Magic erasers are excellent for cleaning vinyl furniture. Nothing will work better. Nothing! Its great on fiberglass,...

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Project Review: Piped Pillow

Project Review: Piped Pillow - S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop, Page 190. Let me first say that this book is a complete step-by-step beginners guide as it states in its subtitle. The book starts with sewing tips & tricks for certain fabrics, patterns, materials, supplies - everything. It has some great resources for the sewing novice and intermediate seamstresses. ...

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Organizing Chaos

 For the whole time I've been sewing (about 4 years), all the patterns I've bought, downloaded, created - have all ended up in my "Patterns" binders. At this point in time, it was just a chaotic mess of papers and cut-outs. Forget about finding anything. It was somewhat in order, but the worst part was lugging it around, having papers spill out, then patterns get mixed...

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Project Review: Oven Mitt & Hot Pads

Project Review: Oven Mitt & Hot Pads - One Yard Wonders, page 62. Alright! Another one from One Yard Wonders! You know what I love about this book besides its multitude of great projects? The fabric choices! Honestly, if the fabric choices are lame or ugly, I'd never buy the book, I don't care HOW cool the patterns are! I may be shallow, but fabrics inspire me. :) Anyway,...

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Project Review: Ironing Board Cover

First project review down, who knows how many to go - I haven't counted but I will be doing a few from each book. This time around I did the Tabletop Ironing Board Cover from One-Yard Wonders, page 54. I sorely needed to make one for my sad, scuzzy looking ironing board that has sticky residue from my absent-minded ironing of fusible interfacing onto it on more than one occasion.Gross,...

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New to the CrankHeartPony Shop

Lots of new items added and more to come! L new EtsyNameSpace.Mini(5105091, 'shop','thumbnail',5,5).renderIframe(...

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Books: Pattern Reviews

I have a love for 2 things; Sewing and Books. My favorite thing is when they come together to create my ultimate favorite thing; a sewing book full of fun patterns. I have numerous crafty sewing books and not all are put to as good of use as I intended when I got them. So here comes the challenge: I will pick one pattern - or maybe a few - from all the books I have yet to...

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Happy 2011!

I hope all had a safe and happy Holiday & New Years. Traditionally, we go bowling with my family on New Years Eve but this time Levi was cutting 4 teeth and was a feverish little mess. Poor kid. We spent NYE at home with friends and playing GTA4. I'm terrible at it because I have a hard time finagling all them controls. I'll take on anyone and win on old school Nintendo,...

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