DIY Placemats- Easy Beginner Sewing Project

I have been wanting to make something like table place mat this for a long time.

(Say Yes to Hoboken)

I got some fabric a few weeks ago thinking I was going to make a new tote with it, but decided to make a few place mats with it instead. They looked pretty easy, and I was excited to finally have place mats. Well, I made the place mats, and then began working on the freezer paper stencil place settings (the plate, and utensils you see on the place mat above). I finished a plate in the middle of one of my pace mats, and hated how it came out. I couldn't bring myself to do the rest of them. So for now, I am leaving my place mats how they are. I may try to sew fabric cut outs on to my place mats next time I make a batch.

Materials to make 4 placemats
2 yards of fabric- this can be two yards of the same fabric, or 2 different coordinating fabrics
sewing machine
coordinating thread
iron
(I didn't use interfacing, but I will next time I make place mats. I recommend using interfacing.)

Pre wash and iron your fabric.
Cut out (4) 12.5" x 19" rectangles in each fabric (you should have 8 rectangles total)

Place 2 right sides together and pin all the way around.

Sew using a 1/2" seam allowance leaving a 3 inch gap for turning.
Clip the corners, and trim any excess from the sides.

Turn fabric right side out, and press.
Top stitch all the way around using a 1/8" or as close as you can get it, closing the opening. & you're done!

  This project is so easy, and you'll be so proud when you can tell your dinner guests you made the place mats. It's a great project for beginner seamstresses. 

I would love for you to send pictures of your completed place mats! HootandBumble@gmail.com

Coconut Blueberries & Cream Recipe

I love to play around in the kitchen and create new recipes, or change around an existing one. A while back I had pinned a recipe for whipped cream made from coconut milk. I found some at the grocery store, brought it home, and followed the recipe (I used confectioners sugar in mine). It was so yummy! But then I was like "well, I have this yummy whipped cream, but what do I do with it now?" I didn't have any deserts around the house, BUT I had some fresh blueberries. So the light bulb went off, and I rinsed the blueberries, and mixed them in, put them in a cute little dish I got in Charlottesville, and Jackson and I had a really yummy afternoon desert. & the best part- it was healthy! 

To make, follow the instructions for the whipped cream in the link above. Then mix in one pint of fresh blueberries. This would also work with other berries, or almost any other fruit! Top with mini chocolate chips for garnish. Enjoy!

New + Improved Zipper Bags!

I've been hard at work creating more amazing Hoot & Bumble products for you. I am so excited to share with you my latest works. These new zipper bags are better than ever & I know you are going to love them!

This whole Hoot & Bumble journey has been a learning experience for me. From day 1, I have worked hard to bring you quality products, and I am always searching for ways to make them better. I hope the pride I take in my work shows. 

I have played around with different ways to create each piece I make, and it has been so fun to watch my products evolve into what they are today.

My newest secret? Interfacing! I have started using a thicker interfacing that is much sturdier than the previous interfacing I was using. This new interfacing gives my bags more shape, allows them to stand freely on their own, and I love how they look and feel like much better quality! I am also boxing the bottom of the bags, and I love how it looks. Who knew a few small changes would make a world of difference?!

I have two new sizes of zipper bags to choose from in a variety of amazing fabrics. 

My large zipper bags are approx. { 8"x 6 1/2"x 2" (at the bottom)} in size, and make a great make up bag. They are small enough to fit in my Hoot & Bumble tote bag, but large enough to hold all of my make up, and some toiletries. But that's not all they can be used for; use them around the house to organize things like coupons, wires, medicines, hair accessories, etc, carry in your diaper bag for those small baby items, or even throw one in your purse as a catch all for all those random things that don't have a home. The fun prints and bright colors look amazing, and with so many styles to choose from, who can resist?!

My small zipper bags are just lovely. They are approx. { 8"x 4"x 2" (at the bottom)}, and are the perfect size to throw in your purse for some extra organization. They make fabulous pencil/pen holders, or they can hold your feminine products. I have two in my tote- one for my feminine products, and one for my lip gloss, mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow. I'm seriously addicted.

As always we still carry our most popular item- wristlets! I will have a few new styles to choose from, in my new and improved version of the zip bags soon.

I have also reviewed my prices, and I am able to lower some prices on certain items. You'll notice that the older bags are lower priced than the new products. This is to make room for the new and improved items.

Here's the link to the Hoot & Bumble Online Shop ;)

You better snag a bag now before they sell out! 

{Better you Challenge}

Last weeks challenge was to get organized. Just in time for school to start :) I do this every year to help keep me on track. Then I have less temptation to slack off. Since I am a nanny, summers are usually my busiest time of year because I have all 4 kids home with me every day. So, I always welcome fall, when my schedule slows down a bit. 

This year, I am welcoming fall with open arms. This year I am only doing after school care for the family I work for, so I am home with Jackson most of every day. I am excited to get to do things with him all day, and have time to focus on Hoot & Bumble, and my school work. 

So, I sat down yesterday, and wrote out our rough, flexible schedule for the fall. I listed everything we need/want to get done, and wrote out a schedule. I set certain days of the week for library day, and other classes he may participate in. 

I also went out and bought a bunch of school supplies that we will need for what I have planned in Mommy School this year. 

I feel like everything is in order for a smooth year. I am so excited to be starting a fresh year. I really do love this time of year, even though I am sad to see summer go.

How did you get organized to get ready for fall?

I recently read an article about the nuclear radioactive junk that is being dumped into the waters from Fukushima. It is traveling as far as Alaska, and harming wild life. People are cautioning against eating anything that comes from those waters. I have been thinking a lot about the earth since I read that, thus where this weeks challenge comes from. This weeks Challenge is to do something for the earth. Even if it's just picking up trash, or planting a few flowers. Please do anything to make our earth a better place. We need to leave a clean earth for our children, and grandchildren. Don't leave our messes for them to clean up. 

For those interested, the link to the article I read first is no longer working, but here is a similar article: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/radioactive-ground-water-fukushima-nears-sea-20044298 

Please let me know if you participated in last weeks challenge, and come back to share how you helped the earth for next weeks Better You Challenge!

Mommy School

In honor of the kids going back to school, and everyone getting back on a normal schedule, I am going to start Jackson on my own {home school} preschool curriculum. I really wanted to send him to preschool this year. He is so ready for school, and to be away from me for a few hours a week. I could use the time to work on Hoot & Bumble stuff, and get school work done too. But since I didn't know where I was going to be working, I couldn't sign him up. As a result, I missed the cut off for preschool registration. This means Jackson gets the pleasure of spending another year home with me :)

Each day I am going to aim to do some kind of learning activity with him. We are big on learning through play around here, but I also like to throw in a few traditional style activities once in a while. 

Each week, I am going to show you at least one of the activities we are doing around here in what I am calling Mommy School. As always we will continue to go on outings, have frequent play dates, and do crafts often. Most of the activities I show you will be geared towards older toddlers and young preschoolers because Jackson is 3 years old. But many of them will be able to be adjusted for the age and development of your child.

1st day of Mommy School is today. Jackson has the best teacher ever! I'm excited and can't wait to show you what we are up to! I hope you will use my ideas to work with your own children. Please share your ideas, too!

It's going to be a great school year!

Check back next week to see how our first week went!

Winner of the Giveaway + Blog Announcement

This week was such a busy week for our family. 

Kyle worked 56 hours, and Jackson and I didn't see him all week. I worked long hours too. Weeks like this are hard on our family. It was also the last week of summer for the kids before they go back to school so we tried out best to cram in all of those last minute fun activities. 

So long story short, I slacked off with writing blog posts all week since I wasn't able to plan ahead and schedule my posts like I try to do each week. It's hard to want to come home and write when you worked 10 hour days and didn't get home until 9 pm. You can expect a full week of great posts from me next week. Since the kids are back to school on Monday, I am working less hours from now on. I'm so happy that everything is working out, and that we stressed about my cut in hours for nothing. I'm also super happy that I still get to be with our son all day, and now I get to be home with him even more. Thank God. He really does always have a plan. 

I am super excited to announce the winner of my first giveaway! I am so happy with the participation from this giveaway and will definitely be doing them more in the future. Thank you to all that took the time to enter, and share this blog! Rafflecopter.com was so east to use to set up and run the giveaway, and it kept all the details organized for me.

Finally, the winner of the Message in a Bottle Necklace, & a small zipper bag is Christina Zeigler Kirby! Congrats! Christina, you can contact me at HootandBumble@gmail.com or message me on Facebook to claim your prize!

Have a great week everyone! Don't forget to work on the Better You Challenge and update us on Tuesday of your progress!

Hoot & Bumble's 1st Giveaway!

*Winner of the giveaway is Christina Zeigler Kirby! Christina, please contact me to claim your prizes!*

The title of this post says it all. I have waited so long to do a giveaway because I wanted it to be a good one. I am excited to share Hoot & Bumble products with you, and can't wait to choose a winner! 

An item I am adding to the Hoot & Bumble online shop in a few days is one of our newest designs: The Message in a Bottle Necklace! How fun?!

One lucky fan is going to win one of these simply gorgeous accessories + another new item, a small zipper bag.

The necklaces are so feminine and precious, and will look great with any outfit! I wore mine out for a date night with my favorite man this past weekend. My favorite part about the message in a bottle necklace? The message, of course! I am giving you the option of choosing the paper for inside the necklace, and the message on the piece of paper {or I can surprise you, and choose a secret message for you}.

Each necklace is on 28 inches of chain, and has a magnetic clasp for easy wear.

I chose a pretty blue polka dot paper for my personal necklace, and the message I chose rolled up inside the paper says "never give up", something I've been telling myself a lot lately. 

Another great feature of this necklace is you have a great selection of paper patterns for inside the bottle. At checkout all you have to do is choose your paper, and let me know what message you would like inside your bottle.  

Hoot & Bumble's new small zipper bags are perfect for keeping all of your smaller items organized. I use one for pens and other small school supplies, and another one for all of my lady things. This bag is a brand new Hoot & Bumble style and they are not even listed yet! More on these amazing bags in an upcoming post!

Follow the prompts below to enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway