DIY Car Seat Cover for 2014 Toyota Sienna

DIY Car seat cover for my minivan :)

It took me five seat covers to somewhat perfected of how to make one...but I did it and it cost me my time and just fabric that I purchased years ago. My covers will be different colors, but it does that job...too protect the seat from unforeseen mess that my kids will make. Well, I guess it was expected if you have kids. 

Fried Rice with snow peas

Ingredients:
- 2 blocks of firm tofu
- 1/2 lb. of fresh shrimp
- 1/2 lb of snow peas
- 2 cups of cold rice
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/4 cup of dried anchovy (optional)
- 1 tsp of minced fresh garlic
- Canola oil
- Salt and pepper for taste
How to:
- Wash and cut the firm tofu into cubes and then fry it in canola oil (maybe 11/2 tbsp of oil) until the tofu is golden brown. (Sprinkle salt and pepper on the tofu for taste) remove tofu and set aside.
- Wash and remove the ends of the snow peas.
- Remove the shrimp skin or shells what ever you call it then set aside.
- Chop onion and minced the garlic.
- Use the same frying pan where you cook the tofu. Stir fry the snow peas with the minced garlic. When the peas is half cooked add the shrimp and salt and pepper continue to stirring for a minute then remove the peas and shrimp from the pan and set aside.
- The same frying pan add a 1/2 tbsp of oil and then add the onion then the cold rice. Keep stirring the rice until it heat up or for 5 minutes. Then add all the ingredients and stir it for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy!

Car Seat Makeover

I have three kids. 

Two girls and a boy. 

My boy used this car seat since he was three years old. 

Then he had two sisters.

 The sisters always get the hand-me-down items :-) from his brother. But they don't like it because it is not pink or purple. So, they don't like it. 

 I bought 1 pink car seat, 1 blue for my boy, and the old grayish color ( I didn't take the picture before I added something to it, but it is similar to this first picture taken from the amazon.com). 

Couple months ago, my youngest daughter started to sit in her big sissy's car seat (pink). Sometimes, they fight over it and always the little ones win. Big sister always sad because she had to sit on the boyish chair. So, I promised her that I will make her a purple seat cover ( not knowing how to make it. I figured that I will tear apart the old seat cover and make a pattern out of it, but it has a lot of work. I can't do it). So, I made the flower, butterfly, and heart applique and sewed on to the existing seat cover. And patched work on the bottom. 

 Before

After

Now, youngest sister likes this one hahaha. Big sister do not want her have this back. Yup! Big sissy stand on her ground!

DIY: Easy Home Made Scrub (Uniform) Tutorial

I been looking for a cheaper scrubs online for my MA program. I found a couple of plain color scrubs that are on sale at Amazon. But I'd like to have one that is printed. For me, more than $5 is expensive. So, I decided to make one. It was easy.

Material that you need:

1. Make your own pattern ( use your lose t-shirt to make a pattern. Make sure you leave 1/2 " or 3/4" for seam allowance. Take a piece of paper [ mine is the drawing paper of my kids] and lay your t-shirt flat on the paper. Then trace around the perimeter of your shirt and then add the seam allowance. Make sure you make the back piece too. 

2. 1 1/2 yards of fabric ( you can use coordinating fabric for the pocket if you want).

3. Cut 9 x 8 " for pocket

4. Coordinating threads

5. pattern weights or pins

6. scissors or cutter

7. bias tape (optional)

8. sewing machine :-) obviously

Okay let's make your own scrub:

1. Lay your own pattern on the fabric, put the pattern weights to prevent the pattern fro sliding around.

2. Cut the fabric. The front piece and the back piece on fold.
3. Cut 9 x 8 " for pocket

I made mine double fabric so that it will look thicker and I did not need to serge the seams.

4. Attach the pocket to the front piece. Remember to fold all around the pocket 1/2" and sew it first. 

5. Then sew the shoulder, arms, and sides. 

6. Attach the bias tape on the neck line. I did not put bias tape on mine because I made the lining inside.

7. Sew the hem the bottom part 3/4" seam allowance and arm circle.

AND your done!

DIY School Backpack for Kids Tutorial

Materials that you need:
Make your own Pattern pieces
    * front and back piece 12" X 11" ( seam allowance included)
    * pocket piece  8" X 7"
    * zipper piece and zipper 20" or etc. (mine was sports zipper)
    * nylon webbing for backpack straps or make your own straps 2- 22" x 6"
    * handle piece 16" x 31/2" cut 2
    * side piece all around measure from the end of the zipper to the other end of the zipper
    * bias tape 3 to 4 yards (optional)
    * sewing machine
    * coordinating fabric ( what ever you what, but the outdoor fabric is better)
    * scissor, pins and thread flat iron and ironing board

Lets do it:

1. Make your own pattern and cut(very easy you can change the  measurements if you like)
2. Lay the pattern on your fabric. Use pins (as shown to prevent the paper pattern from moving) the cut. Once you cut all you pattern piece
3. Serge or zigzag the edges or wait until you put them all together and use bias tape 
4. make the handle fold the fabric in half. Then fold 1/4" on both side and sew
5. prepare the pocket. but fold a 1/4 inch all around the pocket piece and then  press it so that it will lay flat. 
6. center the pocket on the right side of the front piece. Sew.

7. attach the handle on both front and back piece.

8. Prepare the zipper. This one a little confusing for me. You have to kinda play it a little bit before you sew it together. Put both right side together and sew. Once you finished sewing the zipper onto the fabric turn it over and then sew it again. Here is a great tutorial video of how to install a zipper.

9. Then attach the zipper to the front piece and the all around side piece using pins as shown. I sewed the zipper in placed first leaving an 1" on both ends. Sew.

This is what it looks like after you sew the zipper and the side piece.

10. Then attach the back piece. Make sure you open the zipper so that you can turn it over.
11. U can use a bias tape to sealed all the edges inside of the back pack or serge/ zigzag them.

Then that's it! You have you child a nice home made backpack. They will love it believe me!

If you have any questions please leave me a message. I am not a good teacher when it comes to a project tutorial. I would gladly help you if you decided to make one.

Happy Sewing!

DIY: Rectangular Fabric backpack

Hello , hello, hello I am back and excited because I finished a children s school backpack today. I love it and I will make another one for my self too. I made my own  measurements but I use the  full tutorial from this website http://www.petitapetitandfamily.com/2013/08/diy-rectangular-backpack.html#comment-form. I love her backpack. I wish I have patient to make such a great back pack. 

Fabic Children's backpack

Boy's Patriotic Shirt

I made my very first boy's shirt. It took me awhile to figure out how to attached the collar. I was following the instructions that came with the pattern but it seems too hard for me to follow. I guess ESL is my problem hahaha. But I came up with the idea to find an old boy's shirt and just take a look at how it put together and it took me 2 minutes to figured out to put the collar together. I read the instruction and trying to follow it it took me maybe 3 hours :(.

aw this shirt cost me $1...my time is priceless!

I used butterick 3475 size 5 for pattern.

Patriotic shirt

My boy wearing the new mommy made shirt!