The LostSock Life: D.I.Y.

I love Billy Button flowers!!!

But they can be very costly to buy fresh and I found them costly to buy faux as well! This girl is cheap... I mean creatively thirifty, so if I can't afford it...

I MAKE IT!!!

These were my flowers in the wedding boquet. I have all sorts, but this time I just wAnted the Billy buttons.

So I pulled out my supplies.

Yarn (yellow, whites, holds), scissors. Grapevine wire, fork, and vase.

Using your fingers, fork, or anything that has a slit in middle

Wrap Yarn around about 30 times

(the more times, the fuller the Pom)

Tie a short piece sound the middle of the bundle. Tie tightly more than once.

Use the wire to tie in with the small piece.

Fold over wire to keep flower in place.

You can also use two yarns at once doing less rounds around the fork to have a multi colored Pom.

After center is tied tight, cut the outside loops of each petal to make into may multiple strands instead of 1 long piece of yarn.

If puff is not round, trim ends of yarns to add the round form.

Put Billy buttons in a vase and you are done!!!

Hey, are you dreading LONG CAR RIDES with your kids this Summer Vacations?

Do they tend to be a "pain in the NECK?"

Well, make a neck pillow for your kids to encourage car napping.

Ok, I got this idea the day of my oldest daughter's dance recital.

The location of this grand event was an hour away.

She had been using her Pillow Pal dog that she has had since she was born on the long ride there.

She wanted to bring it in to the recital as well since we would be there for an extended period of time.

Well, of course... it was left behind and we did not notice it till we were almost home.

I refused to turn around and told her we would find another way to get it back or I could just buy her a new on or even better... MAKE HER ONE!

Everyone loves stuff made from their mommy, right?

I think I was more excited about this than she was and my mind just went on a creative adventure the rest of the drive home while she cried in the back seat the remainder of the ride

I am pretty sure the tears of hers were fake, she can be a little ... who am I kidding, A LOT dramatic.

Gotta love her.

Well, we ended up getting it back from the dance teacher who found it and figured it was one of her dancers.

Thank you Koni. But, I still really wanted to make one... or two... and maybe one for my husband..

and ME TOO!

NOTE: FYI, I am not a professional sewer and do not know terms of sewing. I also do not use a sewing machine. I have one, it is just that I do not have a sewing maid or mommy to come along and fix it when the sewing machine gets all in a hissy and makes me aggravated. SO, I would rather sew by hand. Okay?

I started off by taking a cheap pillow form we had laying around the house and traced it to the back side of the fabric I wanted. I then cut it our leaving about 1/2 inch around for the extra so it would not fray.

I then traced the pattern from piece 1 to another piece of fabric that was silky.

My daughter loves silky fabric so I thought it would be fitting.

You do not have to use apposing print or texture at all on yours. I just felt like mixing it up a little.

I cut out the patter with pinking sheers just to be a little safer and avoid excess fraying.

I then used safety pins... well, cause they are safe.

The entire time I had little feet and fingers helping me, dancing around me, and siting on my stuff.

So. I like the safety pins better. THey are safer for me too.

I then did a running stitch (I do know that term, Yay!) from the inside cure and stopped before I got to it again about 4 inches apart.

Leave this un-sewn gap for stuffing...

THen turn the pillow form right side out for stuffing...

I use polyfil. Make sure to follow instructions and use small pieces and pull them apart some before you stuff. THis keeps if fluffier and you use less.