This year has ended, and I thought it would be good to catalog all the tutorials I’ve posted in the last 12 months.

KIDS CLOTHING

I had wished to release more this year, but the pregnancy zapped any other patterns from happening.  Maybe this spring!

I love saving money, which is my main motivator for sewing, so I wanted to switch things up from what I usually make and share a simple way to customize belts.
I love belts, and I’ve been wanting to have a few colorful ones in the mix, but not wanting to spend $10+ for a belt that isn’t going to be worn often.
It’s a simple accessory but can add a lot to an outfit and so today I’ll show you how I made a bright orange belt for my son.

For $1.50 this belt was easy, quick and simple to sew.

Supplies: thrifted belt, vinyl strip, snap pliers, needle & thread

Instructions:

I started off with a $0.50 ordinary belt from the thrift store. 
You can buy belt hardware in the notions of crafts stores, but a thrifted belt will always be cheaper.
Cut off the old belt to get your hardware.

At this point I also sewed decorative top-stitching down the length of the belt in a zig-zag pattern from one side of the belt to the other.
Then I sewed another zig-zag opposite to create diamond shapes down the length of the belt. 
One one end, you’ll cut a small hole about 1” from the end to attach the hardware through.

Insert buckle with the right side of the belt up.

Wrap the end of the belt down around hardware and sew across on the back side to secure.
Take a scrap 5”x1” and fold the sides in to make thirds. 
Sew down the edges with 1/8” seam allowance to make the belt loop.

Sew the bottom of the loop face up to the back of the belt.
Wrap the loop around and adjust the length depending on your belt and how tight you want the loop.
Due to the awkward position of the second loop side, I hand sewed it in place.

To finish the end of the belt, I tucked the raw edges back into the tube of the belt and sewed across the end for a square finish.
To create belt holes, I punched them 1” apart with snap pliers.

You’re done!
You could experiment with different materials, layer thin clear vinyl over fabric, or make lots of vibrant colored belts!

I just wanted to share something awesome and handmade my kids got for Christmas.

My mom has been knocking out tons of cool things with her scroll saw lately,

like the nativity puzzle and doll house windows.

But for each family with grand kids this year, we got an amazing wood animal puzzle.

The puzzle is designed by Enzo Mari, an Italian artist and furniture designer.

His official Animali puzzles can be purchased here.

He also has a really cool ocean animal puzzle he designed--Pesci Animal Puzzle.

*maybe next year mom??

So my mom made her own knock off puzzles for our family.  

She couldn't find nice wood 2" thick so she had to glue and clamp pieces of 1" thick together.

The animals are really simple designs, but creative shapes as well.

Here are my favorites: hippo, polar bear, fox and pig.

The puzzle pieces fit together in really creative ways and are perfectly cut to fit tightly.
Luckily for us, my mom burned the outline in the bottom of the frame so we could figure out how to put them together.
She also "signed" the puzzles with the year which makes them even more sentimental.

The best part is stacking them in vertical puzzles.

I think I've been playing with it as much as the kids!

It's meant for the kids, but I plan to leave it on the coffee table year round.
It's a cool, unique, artistic puzzle that appeals to both kids and adults.