Tutorial Tuesday: Super Easy Denim Shoulders

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been fabric stash busting. One of the bins I started to look through was my denim stash bin. 

I have soooooo much denim! From scraps to full pants handed down from my husband, my son, our cousin who hands them down to our son, etc. Believe you me,  am not complaining because I LOVE denim, but alas, I needed to start making some stuff with it. 

First up, denim shoulder pads. I love a strong shoulder, especially since I don't have them. Mine slope down so I love pads, puff sleeves, anything that will accentuate them. 

Here's a super easy tutorial that will do just that. 

I used an actual shoulder pad I took out from a dress as my pattern. I laid it down on two pieces of denim scraps, right sides facing each other. You need to do this twice.

I sewed around the edges starting in the middle of the semi circle and leaving an opening so you can turn it later. 

Turn and topstitch

That's it. I sewed them on a tank top aligning the edge of the denim pad to the edge of the tank top strap. 

 It does add some interest to a regular black tank.  

Don't you think? 

Stay tuned for my next post where I show you my jumpsuit made from boys pants!

Tutorial: Make a Cuff from a Sandal

As promised, here is a simple tutorial that will teach you step by step, how to make a cuff from an old sandal (or a new one, if you prefer) . I took the pictures during the course of three or four days in various stages, that is why you'll see different backgrounds, sorry about that!  

1. So, here are my sandals, pretty beat up. I wore them for two straight summers all the time! They've been through sprinklers, dirt, sand, concrete, you name it! They were only $10.00 which probably explains why they broke after 2 summers!

2. Turn them around and there’s a hole in the sole. This made it easier to cut them.

3. So I cut all around the sandle.

4. This is what I’m left with.

5. I fit it around my wrist to see what it looks like.

6. It’s a little too long so I cut a bit. Yours can be whatever length you like.

7. I cut the point off too.

.

8. I try on again. I like it.

9. Now I have to even out these strips

10. Much better

11.Now I take out my soft piece of leather and measure. I will be putting snap closures on these pieces. I need four pieces the same width as the length of the cuff.

12. These are the bottom pieces, Good side facing down

13. Now put the top pieces on top of the other two, good side facing you, to see how they measure up. The strips will be sewn, sandwiched in, between the two pieces.

14. Okay, now take the top pieces off and start with one side. Sew the strips onto the bottom of the leather piece, the one with the good side facing down. Note: I have a singer factory machine and I use a number 16 needle to sew this. I am not sure how it would go with another type of machine. Please make sure your machine is able to sew leather.) Then do the other side.

15. Now put the top piece, with the good side facing you, on top of the strips (remember, we are sandwiching the strips in between these leather pieces and then sewing). Start sewing as close to the edge of the leather strips as possible (NOTE: I used brown thread because I had it in my machine already and I thought the subtle color contrast would look nice. I also decided to add rows of stitching for a quilted effect. I liked the way it came out. Now do the other side

16. This is how it looked. A bit uneven so I had to cut around to make it an even rectangle.

17. Now to add snaps. I bought these snaps in bulk from DesireMeNow, check out her shop! The tool I bought separately.

18. The package will give you instructions on how to apply the snaps so I won't bore you. One thing I will tell you is that it is easier to apply the snaps if you make a hole before applying the snap. You can buy a leather whole punch but I just used an ice pick. Works
just as well.

 Here it is front and back.

And now on my wrist.

A couple of shots worn with an outfit. I love it! You can still wear it in the fall with 3/4 length sleeves.  It's a little superheroish. But hey, with all I do, I can be considered a superhero mom. I wouldn't wear two at the same time though. Don't want to be mistaken for Wonder Woman!

So get out those old sandals and start working! Leave a comment and let me know what you think of this tutorial. I always welcome feedback. 

An unexpected accessory



Dan and I riding the train




On my recent vacation to the Jersey Shore, I stopped by a cute little carnival that I knew my little Dan would love, sensory seeker that he is! Little did I know that I would be offered this unexpected accessory, a bracelet, which indicated to the attendants at the rides that I was traveling with a special neeeds child.

Daniel is now 5 and I guess this is the magic age , at least for him, where it has become apparent to the world that Dan is different. He doesn't necessarily look like a special needs child, except that he is tall for his age and still does not talk, insists on throwing himself on the floor, makes sing songy noises, and occasionally sticks his hand in his butt and smells it! lol. Okay, perhaps he does look like a special needs child!  If you know my story, I don't necesarily scream to the world that Dan has autism. I don't want it to define us but lately, it seems, he has been screaming it for me.   

Daniel absolutely enjoyed the carousel ride so I decided to get on line again to give it another go. The attendant on the carousel, a sweet older gentleman that reminded me of my father in law, discreetly asked "can I ask you a question?" I could tell he was treading very carefully, "is your child special needs?" I don't know what was coming next. Were we getting kicked off the ride? Had Dan's noises bothered the other carousel riders? I have to admit, I was getting a little defensive. I said "yes he is, why do you ask?" "Because he could ride for free!" He said. Wow! That was awesome! Those rides are freakin' expensive so I was overjoyed. With the tickets I had bought I would probably only be able to ride one other ride but now we were able to go on two or three more, woot hoot! This is one instance where I didn't mind Dan standing out. lol.

So I went to the customer service booth and got my cute little orange paper bracelet that said to the world that yes, Dan is different, we were indeed special and we deserve a little slack. I wish the world were more like this sweet little carnival.

I told my mother in law the story. I mentioned earlier in this post, that the man that had asked the question looked like my father in law, Auggie who is now deceased.  I knew she was going to say it, "Auggie was always very compassionate, I wonder if that was him, through that man, watching out for Dan." Maybe it was.