infant seat canopy cover

For the last week I have felt very under the weather. Today I finally feel like myself again! It is so refreshing to spend time sewing rather than lay on the couch feeling miserable! I was reminded by a friend this morning that I was supposed to do a tutorial for the infant seat canopy so that was the first thing I accomplished this morning. I wish posting about it was the last thing I had to do today but I have to get started on packing for our upcoming trip to Brooklyn. Oh well, at least I am being productive. It's a nice change!

This tutorial is for an infant seat and while they are all the same basic design, sizes vary by brand so please measure your seat carefully before starting this project to ensure a proper fit!

You will need:
-one yard of material for the exterior of the canopy
-one yard of material for the interior.
-sew on Velcro
-thread

-optional- two large buttons for the straps or make fabric bows for an embellishment

Cut the exterior and interior fabric into 33"x41.5" rectangles. With the excess material cut two 8"x2.5" strips of both fabrics for a total of four strips of fabric.

Fold the rectangles in half and half again so all the corners are lined up. I have both the interior and exterior fabrics stacked so there is a total of eight layers. Using a bowl or a plate as a guide remove the corner from the rectangles.

I didn't even mark it, just used the rotary cutter against the bowl.

Pin rectangles, right sides together. Sew all the way around leaving an 8" opening on one end.

Turn the canopy right side out and press.

Close to the edge, top stitch all the way around the canopy (This also closes up 8" opening).

I used white thread on top and yellow in the bobbin.

To make the straps: with right sides together, sew three sides of the 8"x2.5" strips leaving one short end open. Trim corners. Turn right side out and press.

Fold in raw edges of the open end. Sew all the way around the strap.

Ready to sew on the Velcro.

Cut a piece of Velcro (1.75"). Sew Velcro pieces to opposite sides and ends of the straps.

Finished straps. Now you can sew on your buttons or bows if you choose.

Find placement for straps. Mine are 12" in from the sides and 17" down from the top. I recommend putting your canopy on the seat to find the proper placement.

Sew the straps on. 1.5"x 2" square and an X in the middle for re-enforcement.

Done!

I love these big yellow buttons!

Ready for a baby!

This tutorial is for personal use only please. The canopy probably takes about two hours to make. If you make one I would love to see it!

The fabric is Airplanes on Blue by M'Liss sold at Hancock Fabric but seems to be discontinued.

end of year teacher gifts

Yesterday was Sutton's last day of preschool for the year. I am excited for the freedom from a schedule that summer brings but I am a little sad too because the end of school also means I won't be thrifting and running errands with ease.

At the end of each school year one of the mothers organizes a group gift for each teacher (there are two). I decided this year to do my own thing. In the May 2010 Martha Stewart Living there is a Mother's Day craft where you iron-on flowers to a store bought tote bag. I thought it would be perfect for the teachers. I made the tote bags myself and instead of iron-on I used Martha's template to make a freezer paper stencil. Sutton even helped paint the flowers. Find the templates here and here.

I finished the purple flower bag yesterday and the blue bag this morning just in time to make it to the 'farewell to school' picnic! This project was super easy and cost about $5/per bag. I even have material leftover.

I am going to make one for Liam's teacher too but he has a couple more weeks of school. How much do you want to bet that I will be finishing it up the night before the last day of school? Ah, procrastination!

thonet chairs

I haven't painted the hutch yet but I have already bought more items to paint! I found six vintage (1943) Thonet style chairs at the same antique store I mocked in this post. I still feel that antique stores are over priced but you can get lucky every now and then. And boy did I get lucky this time! I got the chairs for $25 each for a total of $150 (marked down from $240 so they wouldn't go any cheaper, I did ask though!). I don't usually spend that kind of money but I fell in love with the chairs and they are all in great condition.

Here are some inspiration photos via google (sorry I don't remember the sources):




I am painting my chairs yellow. I finished one a few minutes ago:

I love it! My sister-in-law and brother-in-law painted their dining room chairs (see them here). They are smart though, instead of using spray paint they used an air compressor paint sprayer. I might beg him to let me borrow it. I could save so much time and money!

Update: I just talked to Michael. He likes the chair but he thinks I have a yellow obsession and wants to have an intervention! :) He suggests we have a rainbow assortment of chairs. I am open to the idea but I am afraid that it would look too crazy. Thoughts??

boston

Thank you for your well-wishes. I LOVED Boston! I had been there once before, way back in 1996, but only for a few hours. Michael and I had so much fun. We were there for a dear friends wedding and were able to spend time with lots of friends from our Brooklyn days. It was like a mini-reunion. Saturday was the one full day we had for sightseeing but it was pouring rain and very cold so were weren't able to do some of the things that we wanted to do like the freedom trail. We did get to wander around Harvard (gorgeous!) and Quincy Market (hasn't changed in 14 years!). We ate loads of delicious food and spent hours talking and laughing with friends. We missed the kids just enough to motivate us to come home. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the weekend.

we're off!

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Today my husband and I are flying to Boston... sans kids!! I am so excited! We haven't had a weekend away in over three years. In fact, I have never been left Ezra, now 18 months, overnight before. A special thanks to my generous sister-in-law for caring for our kids while we are away. See you in a couple of days. Have a great weekend friends!