About 3 years ago, on a fall Saturday afternoon, I was heading to the grocery store to get some football food. On my way out of the neighborhood I saw a yard sale sign. It was almost 1:00, surely they had closed up or if they hadn’t they probably didn’t have anything left worth stopping for. I needed to get to the store because it was almost kickoff time, but I couldn’t control my hands and I found myself turning on the street with the sale. I pulled up to the house and saw a lady putting lids on about 20 huge bins. I yelled up at her (because I’m classy) and asked if she had anything left. She said and I quote, “All I have are all these bins full of fabric”!!! I was out of my car and up her driveway before I realized I probably hadn’t put my car in park! I couldn’t believe it, I’m OBSESSED with fabric and I had just hit the mother of all yard sales. A designer getting rid of fabric. God was smiling down on me that day.
Renee and I talked while I went though all her fabric, and it turned out we had a lot in common. We exchanged numbers and have helped each other out on numerous occasions though out the past few years. Guess who happened to call last week with another load of fabric to go though!?!?!?! Renee!!
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| I know the pictures are upside down. My computer hates me. I haven’t done much sewing lately and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. After seeing all that fabric in her garage I ran home and blew the dust off my machine. Since my visit with Renee last Thursday I have been on my machine a total of almost 16 hours. I haven’t showered and my kids haven’t eaten but at least I’m sewing again. Here is one of the sewing projects that I have been working on! |
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| Grab an owl pattern or make your own. |
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| Trace the pattern on the wrong side of the fabric. |
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| Sew rights sides together leaving a hole at the bottom large enough to turn inside out. |
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| Turn owl inside out and press. |
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| Time to stuff! It’s really expensive to buy stuffing at a real store, so I always grab stuffing at yard sales and thrift stores even if I don’t know what I am going to do with it. This bag cost two quarters. |
My name is Angela Statzer and I love to incorporate just about anything into my artwork. Ranging from recycled materials, vintage items, wood, jewelry, other people’s junk, buttons and fabric, my style is fun and diverse. You can find me smiling at any yard sale, thrift store or flea market. I am a momma to two amazing kids and wife to one hot husband. 
So Cute!!!!!!
So creative with such fun fabric!
Thanks for sharing ! Adorable, totally! You are super creative! And look at all that sewing you got done!
AH-dorable! So glad you're sewing again even if everything else has bit the dust, haha!
I am NUTS over these and NUTS over that green and white fabric. I know a Reevie who needs an owlie for Christmas!
I'm smitten…of course;)
shel – you know I do!
Love 'em!
I just found your blog and you have me hooked with your owls. SO cute. No, cute isn't good enough. Adorably-cute. There. That's better.
I made my version of your owl today but mine doesn't look as cute?!?! What did you do with the edges to make them look round or more like a pillow edge?
Loved your owls so much my daughter and I whipped some up yesterday! Thanks much!!
http://eskimomomma.blogspot.com/2011/11/prophetic-arts-crafts.html
Really adorable owls! Makes me want to head to the sewing machine instead of going to work!!! Thanks for sharing! Going to pin!
Hi! Your owls are ADORABLE!!! Do you sell them? I’d love one for my door display for second grade!
Thanks!
Karen
Hi Karen!!
Thanks so much for your sweet comment! Made my morning! Yes I do sell my owls! You can visit my etsy shop at http://www.buttonbirddesigns.etsy.com or click on the shop tab in the header of my blog. THanks so much and let me know if you have any questions!
lots of love
Angela
Cute! What did you use to make the edges look frayed?
Hey Alison!
Thanks! What edges are you speaking of!?!? I am confused! haven’t had all my coffee yet but still confused!hahaha
xoxoxo
Angela
Love love love these owls, you did an excellent job. As a new sewer I’m looking for fun projects and this is perfect. My questions is the same as above, how did you get the edges to look so cute? For example, the green ones especially have this ruffly, soft, frayed-looking edge as opposed to the straight seam edge. How did you do that? Is it from the material on the back of the owl that did it or was there a technique? It may be that you are using old quilts and that produced the effect. We’d love to know! Thanks.
Hi Krisit!
So glad you like the owls! Thanks! I was so confused about what people were talking about the edges! Now ! realize it is the fabric ! use on the back! It is this stuff kinda fuzzy fabric and it gives the edges that look! Thanks for helping me figure it out!
Lots of love
Angela
I love these. I am going to have to hit garage sales and my sisters scrap tubs. Yay! I will soon have my own owl family. thanks. Judy
Thanks Judy!
I love making the owls, my favorite thing! Hope you find some good stuff at the yard sales!
lots of love
Angela
You are hilarious girl! You remind me of my favorite funny author Jen Lancaster, who I love,love! My grand kids will love these. It’s great finding fabric at garage sales with tons of fabric, it’s like I’ve hit the mother lode. Thanks for the owls idea.
Love these pillows. So simple yet SO cute!! I was looking for pillows to make for my daughter’s 8th birthday “Night Owl” sleepover, and these fit the bill. I was even more excited when I remembered I have a huge amount of chenille fabric just waiting to be used for something. (Coincidentally, it’s from a huge bag of free fabric someone gave me — I love yard sales, etc too!)
ohhhhh Awesome Karin!!! Please send me a photo of the owls when you finish. Also if you are looking for someone to share the huge amount of chenille fabric you have I’m your girl!!!
xoxox
Angela
It doesn’t look like you stitched them inside out because you can see the stitching. Is it just me? I love the frayed look too. Did you you use plain fabric for the back? Some kind of fleece? Love, love, love them!
Hi Kathy!
I stitched them inside out and then top stitched them again when I turned them right side out. I used a fuzzy soft fabric on the back so they looked a little frayed! So glad you like them!
xoxo
Angela
So cute! I am making my pattern now! Cannot wait to get started! Fun project for the grand kids.
Thanks Nancy!
Hope you enjoy it!
xoxox
Angela
Thanks so much for referring to my little ole owls!!!! Love yours!
xoxox
Angela