deena neimat :: i design stuff

I recently discovered the adorable patterns by Sandi Henderson... and made cyra the single ruffle pant. And yes, I'm happy to say i finally dusted off my new serger that my darling husband surprised me with.
I came home from a trip six months ago and returned to this amazing serger on my sewing table..
he even tied a bow around it.. how sweet is that?
so now that I can actually thread it and I'm not so terrified of the blades.. i'm totally into serging, plus i have the sweetest husband ever, life is good.

Posted by deena at 08:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I started making cyra an apron out of scrap fabrics I had laying around.. I made up the pattern as I went along so it may take her a couple years to grow into it.. but I think it turned out pretty sweet.

Posted by deena at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So I finally finished a few pillows sold on etsy. I've made a couple changes to how I make them.
They now have and invisible zipper to which makes for easy cleaning.. and they are more "green" because you can stuff them with scrap fabric.. or old clothing.. how sweet is that?

Now that they are less costly to ship! check my etsy shop for the updated listings!

here they are unstuffed

Posted by deena at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

so mr. kobei is more like another person in our household than a dog, he even thinks so. being a "person," he insists on claiming the couch as his own. And lets just say with an 18 month old.. I'm tired of arguing with a dog that is a little bit bigger than I.

so I thought I'd do something nice for the big guy... and now he has a fancy new bed. It took me awhile to make it.. but I'm pleased. I used Amy Butler's August Fields Fresh Start Forest for the main fabric.

did i happen to mention, he still prefers the couch?

Posted by deena at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

i made these slippers during naptime today.. the tutorial is great.. I'm not one to pay attention to all the steps. ( i like to just look at the pictures:) ) but if you're going try this one.. it is alot easier if you read all the directions.. bye for now.. my feet have something comfy to slip on.

Posted by deena at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Last spring on an attempt to have a picnic.. the handles of our basket broke... maybe I packed too much food :)
So I repaired it by cutting 5" wide of fabric bias strips and made a long handle, which I sewed together and onto the wicker basket.. it was really simple and a nice revival to a very once sad picnic basket.
I used heather bailey's pop garden fabric.

Posted by deena at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I'd planned on recovering our bench cushion for some time now... I just had to figure out how to do the "fancy" cording on the edges.. lesson learned? you really do need to cut fabric strips (for cording) on a bias to avoid odd pulling.. oh well you can't tell right?

I used fabric designed by Ann Marie Horner and guess who I met as I was paying? Ann Marie! it was so neat to meet her. Anyway.. here is how it turned out!

Posted by deena at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

here are a couple "quick" projects that use scraps you probably have in your stash.. looking for some instant reward? these each took 30 mins.

this bead necklace is a quick project that would make a great gift... I used a piece of Marc Jacobs silk. I found the wooden beads at michaels in the woodwork section.

Here is another..
pincushion a girl can never have too many pincushions!

Posted by deena at 07:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I made these booties awhile back.. and just finished another project from "For Sweet Baby"

how cute is he?

Posted by deena at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

cyra had her first real Halloween! and our first piece of candy.. she went as little red riding hood.. and if Kobei would have cooperated, we would have had a big bad wolf too.

on my way to grandma's house

Posted by deena at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I looked for a birthday banner.. but was disappointed when I saw what was out there.. so I put this one together.. and here is how I did it in case you want to try.

download pattern here

1. cut out 2 shapes per letter.. you can use any type of fabric.. I used cotton quilting fabrics. You can also use this for holiday banners.. if I was going to make a "happy halloween" banner... I'd probably use fabric with that theme.. you get the idea.

2. for each letter.. sew the pieces together.. on the curved edge.. leaving the strait edge open. do this over and over until you have enough for your banner.

3. turn each right side out and press with an iron. next.. you'll want to stitch each closed.. I used a decorative stitch with silver thread.. then i cut the edges with pincker shears (zig zag scissors)

4. then I did two button holes on each letter.. doing this will allow you to use this over and over.. change the letters around to spell other things and so on.

5. for the actual letters... I used a pattern from Martha.. download it here.
I used felt for the letters.

6. glue your letters on w/ fabric glue.. and string onto a ribbon of your choice

.. and you are done!.. i'd love to see photos if you use this pattern... email me if you have any questions!

Posted by deena at 01:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

so i finally picked up one of the japanese craft books i have For Sweet Baby (isbn4-07-246385-X) it has adorable projects that are pretty easy to understand.. and i made the booties on the front cover..

here is how they turned out..

and here is where they ended up... i think if i make some minor adjustments to the pattern.. they may, just may.. stay on..

Posted by deena at 06:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)