Friday, March 23, 2012

sew & tell 3.24 - a lunchbox placemat


 **The Linky is NOW working!  I've opened it up through late late Sunday night.  :) **

Hi friends!  Are you working on your spring cleaning projects?  I don't want you to be overwhelmed thinking you need an overhaul of your sewing space. Or a complete remodel.

The more I'm working on mine, I'm realizing it's more a matter of putting things away, purging (even big things like desks) and find a system of organizing that works. And making most of the space I have.  Notice I keep saying space, not studio or room. I know most of us sew at our kitchen tables or share our space with a home office! 

So set a goal, take a before picture, and keep working.  I'm planning a better all inclusive post soon.  But the sew & tell link up and prizes won't be up until after the 2nd week in April.  So you have a few weeks to work on it!

*****

I had a fun sewing date yesterday with my local friends.  I was able to cut and prep some bindings and some placemats for my kids.  Sisterlouwho had a great idea and asked me to make a smaller placemat for her lunch box! And this makes her excited to take her lunch! bonus!  I had her pick out some fabric from my scraps and I whipped this up last night in about 20 minutes.


lunchbox placemat
I'm not going to lie.  I think it's adorable and want to make my own! I can see why mug rugs are all the rage!

That's Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom fabric.  She picked out some flannel for the back (that didn't photograph well) and I used some strips of scrap cotton batting inside.  I just sprayed strips of batting leftover from trimming quilts and then trimmed it down where it overlapped so it wouldn't be bumpy.

I finished it off with a serged edge (like my dish drying mats) for a quick finish.  Maybe when my mom comes (yes, she's coming for a month to keep me company! woo hoo! Sew fest 2012!) I'll have her help me learn how to use bias tape, because I know it would look a little more finished.

lunch box placemat
Here it is folded up in her lunch box!  Mrlouwho joked that people were going to make fun of her.  I said they'll all be jealous! :)

This finished up at just about 11x14.  Totally portable.

What have you been up to this week?


Your turn to share ~ Show us what you've got finished!
Linky Rules.  Please follow along for a fun party!

1. Please write the post for sew & tell - or add a blurb mentioning sew & tell to a post written since the last sew & tell.  If you are linking to a post with your own tutorial, please make sure it was a finish from this week and that the completed project is shown first.
2. One linky per person. (please put multiple projects in one post.)
3. Link to your specific post.  (See here for permalink instructions - or email me.)
4. Link back here with a link or a button (HTML on my sidebar).
5. Be sure to visit and leave comments on other's posts!

Please put your (blog)name instead of your project name, it helps us get to know each other better!



15 crafty mcCrafters commented:

Kat said...

What an adorable idea! I made my sister a lunch bag for Christmas, never thought to add a coordinating placement. I know what I'll be doing this weekend :-)

Grandma G said...

What a great idea to make one for the lunch box! Yes, I think there'll be jealousy for sure! :

Lesly said...

Great idea to include a placemat in the lunch kit! And yours is so cute!

QuiltinMama said...

Sister's proud of Mom's talent and wants to show it off...too cute!

elizabeth said...

Love the lunch mat...I may have to see if my daughter wants one. She isn't a little girl, but she is my little girl, and she takes her lunch to school and work : ) I don't have a serger...are they hard to work with?

Sandra said...

Love the concept placemat concept! Might just have to make one of those for myself:)

allyn said...

super cute. you're so sanitary. i can't get the linky to work. i totally have something to show.

Jennie P. said...

I've been wanting to do this for a while too. Honestly, it's not just cute but it's more sanitary than a lot of tables are I'm sure. I hate sitting down to a dirty table, at least you know this is clean and is washable. Not just for the kiddos either, I wanted to make one for myself!

Heather said...

Aww.. that's just adorable, Amy, and so cute that she actually requested it. Makes you feel so appreciated when that happens. :)

Heather said...

Well, bummer. I was going to link up, but there's some kind of issue with the linkies, so I'll try again later! :)

Jenny said...

So stinkin' cute! You could sell those ;) miss you!

Artfulife said...

Amy they are so cute! I saw the other fabrics you bought for the placemats & the kids are going to love them :)

Elizabeth said...

What a cute little place mat! I love the fabric -- such a pretty color. And how fun that your mom is coming! Bias tape is easy peasy, especially if you the the double-fold. You just slide it over the edge, and sew it down. One side of the fold is slightly smaller than the other, so that's the side you sew on.

xo -E

Mary said...

Love the placemat idea. That is exactly what I need at work. I am going to make one (or a dozen) to go with my new yet to be made lunch bag.

Laura said...

I don't know, Amy. I might have to side with mrlouwho on this one :) That does look kind of prissy.

Just kidding! I think it is adorable. Want to help me make one for under my dish drying thing this summer?

xo