My Neighbor Totoro + Vans = the perfect gift for Maura!

So yesterday was Maura's 14th birthday.  Though we already took her to King Richard's Faire and I made her this dress and gave her spending money for her birthday, that was a few months ago and I wanted to give her something inexpensive to open on her birthday.

I found these plain gray Vans on sale for 15.00!  She's wanted some embellished sneakers for awhile and was upset that the Yo Gabba Gabba Vans didn't come in adult size.  So I let her choose what she wanted on them and she of course picked My Neighbor Totoro!!

Love these guys, you wish they lived in your woods:

The cat bus, I had no yellow/brown paint so I left him monotone:

I love the soot sprites on the toes:

Materials used: Sharpie fine point marker and Tulip Soft fabric paint. 

Back to working on Travis' gift now:

Have a great weekend!

Some new hats

With the cooler weather now here, I whipped up a few hats today!

Maura requested a (what else?) Totoro hat...shocking I know!  When looking for ideas, I found this great example that inspired me on Craftster.  She thinks it's the best hat she's ever had!

Liam's skate hat I made from a thrifted sweatshirt.  I used the graphic on the shirt as a patch on the front and back.  I found good directions on making this recycled hat on the Creative Maven blog, instructions here.

 Linking here:

freezer paper stenciling - I heart you

When I don't have much time, freezer paper stenciling is such a great quick craft fix.  (I learned it here: freezer paper stenciling tutorial) It also saves me money! I've been sewing more for my family this year than ever and I love it when I make things that I would normally buy for the kids. Like this Totoro shirt! Maura's been wanting one for awhile and on ebay they're like $17 + shipping . Here I've made one for about $3. This is made with one of those cheap Jersey's T-shirts that are on sale everywhere.   The greatest thing about this method of stenciling is how well they wash (using tulip soft fabric paint)!  I'm so glad to have found something that works on shirts that can stand up to repeated washings.

Don't you love Totoro?!

Right now I am also working on a skirt from the book Sew Serendipity.  I am making the skirt on the cover.  I totally did not need another sewing book, but this one I couldn't resist!!  It comes with full-sized patterns to save me time.  I'll show off the skirt when it's finished.