Makeup Brush Holder-Wrap-Roll

I was scrambling for a gift for my little sisters 14th birthday. I wanted to get her something practical but flashy. Something you might find on a vintage Hollywood vanity. Something to remind her of me everyday.

I was thinking a holder for her makeup brushes. Something simple that could be spiced up. I decided to sit down and make her one.

I figured I could use scraps from the numerous nursing covers that I have made. But I really wanted to use orange fabric and knew I hadn't made an orange nursing cover . . . EVER. So I thought perhaps I would have a chance to run to the fabric store and pick up a little something pretty. But as the days went on and my schedule refused to release me even for a moment I decided to go with what I had and I think it turned out pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself.

I procrastinated until the day before her birthday party and finally decided to get to work. First I pulled out my own holder or perhaps I will call it a wrap hmmm I'll think about that. . .

 

 Then I scrounged around my scraps and notions to find a few fun items for ideas. I chose a zebra print for the inside because I feel that it fits Banany's inner spirit. However the subdued feminine subtle floral green made total sense for the outside. A fiery red ribbon and perhaps sparkly buttons hmmm maybe green ribbon . . . as Emy would say "We'll see"

 Next I measured my roll (I researched it and that's what "they" are calling it)

 Both sides you know.

 Then a little math to add seam allowance.

 Measure the pocketoes, (it's spainglish try to keep up)

 and the little flap that keeps your brushes from falling out.

Then I cut out my fabric.

 

 Lay it out, just to be sure I cut everything right.

Now it's time to start on the pocket and flap. Turn the fabric right sides facing and stitch up the sides. No need to go across the long open side, it will be in the seam anyway. And why do extra work that doesn't matter?

Trim your corners to reduce bulk

Iron the seams flat

Still ironing

Ironed fabric makes me giddy.

I like my seams to be nice and tight so I came up with this idea to place a knife in the seam to hold the fabric at its limit while ironing the seam.  I don't know if I came up with it but I didn't know it existed before this day.

Iron it.

All ironed out and lookin' good.

Measure for the pockets

I find that drawing them in is the easiest way to get a straight stitch. Perhaps those of you who are more advanced can do it with a few notch marks but not this novice.

Stitch your pockets

I like the green thread as an accent, just a touch of citrus.

 All pocket seams sewn. Be sure to do a little reverse stitching on the top and bottom of these since they will get a lot of wear.

  

Position the flap

Lay the inner and outer fabrics wrong sides facing.

 I trimmed the corners but I'm not so sure that was a good move. I ended up with a little fraying when I was done so that's up to you.

 Make your first fold and iron

 And your second

 Now place the ribbon where it belongs, if you are choosing to use a ribbon.

 Stitch around and call me happy.

 Testing it out with my brushes. Auntie Gus-Gus, or should I be calling her Sister Gus-Gus in this case, bought her new brushes.

 Also could be used for crochet hooks.

 I had a bit of a dilemma as to how to close it. at first I wanted to use the sparkly button and wrap the ribbon around it but I couldn't get that to stay closed and if I had been thinking I might have just made it a button closure but then I would have missed out on the pop of red on the outside and I think it really needed it. So I ended up doubling the ribbon in the seam and wrapping it around the folded roll. It works nicely but I think I want to play with that a little next time I make one.

Here are a few finished product shots, still with my brushes.

I enjoyed making this and I completed it during the girls nap time. So it is an easy, quick project for a rainy day . . . or to blaze through only hours before you have to leave for a party.

Not that I condone that sort of procrastination.

However, that seems to be my way of giving gifts to this sister I remember the year I started crocheting I tried to make her a coin purse the day before her party. She got a crochet bookmark.

Eh it's from the heart.

And So That's What She Did. . .

Happy 13th Birthday. . . Again

I apologize in advance for the blurry pictures I am not a huge fan of our camera at times.

Friday was a nice hot day and this is how my girls spent it. . .

 Saturday morning it was still looking great out as Daddy and Em surveyed the yard.
You would never guess that this man's brain is really scheming at this very moment. . .

 Sunday however brought quite a surprise for me. . .

 See a combination of surprise, terror, and confusion.
So here's the story.
A long time ago . . .
While the fire was burning low the Scout Master said Johnny tell us a story and this is the story he told. . .

No, that's not it that's a bad joke from my childhood. . . Speaking of my childhood. (this is the real story)

I wrote a book when I was in the 9th grade about. . . me (surprise a teenager thinking about herself). This book was unearthed recently and passed around my family.One of the chapters (yes I said chapters) was about my 13th birthday.

I thought about copying that chapter here but it is a little long and silly so here it is in a nutshell:

My birthday came.

Nothing happened.

I thought aaah perhaps they are planning a surprise party I will wait and act surprised.

Nothing happened.

I cried.

I still turned 13.

As this book was being passed around, the people who love me decided to fix this scar on my otherwise delightful childhood(can you say guilty conscience) and throw me a redo surprise 13th birthday party. . . in June. The date happened to be my half birthday and I am 26 13 years older than the first time I turned 13. Pretty nifty huh?!

Here are the lovely decorations my family put up while I was sitting in church trying to get my children to sleep. . . why is it that at their age I try to get them to sleep through church but as adults that sort of thing is frowned upon?

 My crafty sister made Cake-Pops. They were deliciously rich and I loved them.

 Jess, the hostess of my flashback, she brought games from when we were kids. . .

 Emy found them delightful.

 Mmmm Everyone eating up. We had hot dogs, complete with tofurkey dogs since I grew up vegetarian. Acutally we ate Big Franks but Dave didn't know that. Pasta salad and  watermelon. . . mmm Definetly not December dishes. I see an advantage to a summer birthday perhaps this will have to become my new birthday. . .

Aunt Chelsea playing with Eloise

 Party horn fights. . . "keep your arms down!!"

 Dad got a pretty good shot in. . . "I said keep your arms down!"

 I got nail polish and lip gloss! Perfect for 13.

 And a hand monogrammed hankie. Old school because I love it.

 Here is my I-am-going-to-read-this-wonderful-mushy-card-from-my-hubby-and-not-cry,-again,-in-front-of-everyone, face.

 The girls also LOVED the cake pops

Dave even painted my toenails. . . he truly lives up to the meaning of his name.
As a side note: please the next time someone takes a picture of me, let me know so I can avoid having facial expressions like this.

 And just when I thought the surprises were over. . .my Grandma and Grandpa showed up.

 They live up North and we don't see them too much but they happened to be passing through.

 A little board game action.

 What party would be complete if it didn't end with dancing. Emy wouldn't let Grandpa leave without dancing with her first. And since she was getting ready for bed . . . she's in her panties. . . hehehe

This picture isn't blurry they just move that fast ;)

I didn't know he had a peg leg?!

Yep Grandpa's still got the moves. . .

What a perfect way to turn 13 .. . again.

~And So That's What She Did.



Emyisms

Word Definitions According to Emy- (you might want to write these down to reference later)

Nervous- Means you are dancing funny

Bear- When you don't like something and you go for a walk and see some grapes and pick them and eat them.

"Mommy, you're funny as playing hide n' seek." I take this as high praise coming from her.

Emy's Breakfast Prayer:

". . . Thank you for me to be fine, thank you for Elly to be fine, thank you for mommy to be fine, thank you for daddy to be fine, thank you for Lulu to be fine, thank you for Aunt D, really pray for Aunt D. . .Really love Jesus to come into our hearts and be fine, and thank you for the gospel. . . "

Found this in my children say and do journal:

April 11, 2011

Funny how Emy can be so sweet with her sister one minute and thoughtless the next. Today she ran to her sister the minute Elly started crying, knowing that my hands were full and I couldn't get there right away. Emy was right there to comfort her. The next minute Emy ran up behind her sister and smacked her in the back of the head with both hands. You never know what you are going to get with that girl. . .

Emy's nightmare:

"Daddy came home, a truck was on daddy's side, (of the driveway) so daddy went back to work."

While Daddy was taking Emy out of the shower Emy informed him that she fell, hit her head on the water and died, and that it hurt her bum.

After I threw away Emy's beloved rubber chicken her Uncle M. gave her:

"Mommy, Uncle M. gave me that and I was so happy and you took it away and now I'm so sad."

May 16, 2011

Dave stopped Emy from hitting her sister with a thick piece of cardboard today.

When he took her into her room and asked her why she wanted to hit her sister with a board, she replied:

"Well,*sigh* I decided that Elly was a huge tree and I needed to chop her down."

Has someone been sneaking out of bed and watching ax-men from the hallway?

You can't make this stuff up folks. . .well unless you are 2 1/2 years old apparently.

~And So That's What She Did. . .