DIY iPad cover with inside pocket

Here is a little something I made over the past week...

But first, let me make sure that we are all on the same page: this is My Great Challenge where I try desperately to create stuff and organize my life. I have no pretense to claim myself as a seamstress and this post is proof. I can sew on a straight line, most of the time, I have made curtains and drapes, but my skills as it turns out when it comes to sewing are very limited to say the least. And that is alright with me, plain and simple, this is SEWING FOR THE REST OF US, the Needle Challenged and the ones who like to fool around with a Fat Quarter here and there. Those like me will appreciate the initiative and effort ( I hope). And for those of you who can actually sew, here are a few things I need to say:

1. I admire and envy you.

2. I wish I had the time to take classes and really learn to make my own clothes.

3. Feel free to pass this around the web as hilarious examples of below standard stitchery.

So here it is...My iPad cover. I quilted it and made it as a wrap around, it is attached with Velcro.

Side view where you can see the iPad tucked in and protected
by the padding.

I made some decorative flowers out of felt, did not have the right
combination of colors, but tried to match the overall
look of the cover fabric.

On the inside, I made a pocket where I tuck in a piece of felt to clean
the screen out. There is enough room for a small memo pad as well.

Here is the inside, where the iPad is held in place.

A close up of detail work.

Here are the supplies:

I used 4 Fat Quarters part of the same collection. These were a gift from my Mother- in- Law (so is the iPad - how spoiled am I? Very spoiled!) at a time I was really involved with quilting (which I plan on doing more of - Do stand by for more ridiculous attempts at pressing that Singer foot pedal!)

I also had some felt and buttons. I have never worked with felt and thought it would be a good addition.

First I ironed then cut the fabric to size...In this case I measured 21 x 11.5 (I later trimmed to fit).

I then added two layers of quilt batting (wanting to make sure the iPad would be well protected).

I then Quilted the layers together - I had to remember to release some of the tension on the thread as well as the length of stitches otherwise it was tugging and the thread would break.

Once I had my shell ready, I made small fabric bands (2 in. wide - double sided) to hold the iPad in place. I am showing them to you in the contrasting fabric so you can actually see them against the lining.

I placed two on top (one for each corner) in diagonal - note that one will be a tad longer (1/4 in.) than the other, to allow the iPad to slide in.

At the bottom, I use the band as a pocket and rounded the corners for a snug fit.

This is how I stitched the corner tabs.

Once all three where sewn into place, I had Scott hold the entire cover to see whether the iPad was truly secured in the pocket and held by the two tabs...Awesome fit!

I knew I would need to hide the edges of the tabs, so I create a strip of contrasting fabric to cover the extra fabric off the center of the cover (the sides would later be covered by the binding).

Now I wish I had done a better job on that strip of fabric, for instance, I could have folded the edges and stitched right along, rather than leaving the zigzags in plain sight. Live and learn! Here it is once it covers the upper tabs.

Next I made a pocket for the other side of the lining.

It fits large envelopes...

The binding was the hardest to do and I am not ashamed to say I ended up doing it three times over! First it was crooked, then I realized I was better off using a lighter thread to avoid making all the flaws more apparent, then I realized the corners where also crooked and loose...Anyway, it took a while and this is really not the best example of binding you will ever see, but I tried and that's all that matters for now.

So to bind the entire piece together I made this bias tape (I think that's what it is called) out of fabric.
First I cut long bands 2 in. wide.

Once the bands were cut, I had to assemble them in a chain, to make one long strip of fabric. To do that I placed the one at the bottom right side up and the one on top, right side down (kissing right on right). I stitched right across in a diagonal.

Cut off the excess fabric...

 And flipped it over - here they are, perfectly joined.

With the iron, I pressed the edges together towards the center to make the folds...

Then folded the ribbon in half and pressed again with the iron to crease the fold.

Here I am binding the cover with the bias tape I just made.

Here is a corner, they always look best in their before stage!

Since I had messed up the corners, I chose to hide my obvious lack of skills by adding felt flowers on top!

This is what it looks like when the two corners are covered...

Originally I was going to use a large button as an enclosure but realized that it could actually damage the screen if pressure was applied to the cover...So I opted for the dreaded Velcro instead! And that was another challenge for me, not so much for placement, but how to sew it in place without ruining previous work...Guess how many times I had to redo the task? (Let's just say it was three too many!)
Well, this is not the greatest picture, but you can see how I placed the Velcro inside the flap and on top of the cover to allow for a flap over closure.

I made additional felt flowers for the front cover and voila! Here it is again:

Through this ordeal I have learned a few things:

1. Patience is Queen
2. Speed is King (as in slow...slower...very slow)
3. I have regained a bit of self esteem because I did see a project to its completion. It may not be perfect, but it is unique, there are not two like this one, and ...
4. This project made me want to do more...Motivation comes from practice I guess!

This was a feel good project. If you can sew a straight line, you can do this, trust me, it does require patience but in the end, I have a quilted iPad cover like no one else!

Let me know what you think.

Sophia, NJ.

Repurpose an old Vanity Dresser into a fab Patio Serving Buffet.

I am S-H-A-M-E-L-E-S-S! I would pick up your old stuff off the street and figure out a way to repurpose it into something useful, beautiful or both! That's what creative minds (or maniacs) do!

This time around, I found this on the sidewalk on Monster Day...

Obviously it's a vanity, this one by Stanley furniture, not sure about the age, though I suspect it to be late 70's beginning 80's but It does not really matter because as soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what to do with it!

The story goes that last year, while going to NYC for a training, I spent some time in my old neighborhoods and favorite spots.

Of course, I had to make a stop by ABC Carpet and Home and check out all the beautiful things I could never afford (just for motivational purposes, you know) and came across a new designer (forgot his name) who was using the Union Jack as a pattern he would paint on antique French and British furniture - The stuff would go as high as $8000 per dresser and I have been drooling with envy ever since...One of them would look something like this:

Gasp!!

I really wanted one, but also knew my street find was the wrong furniture design for it.

However, brain cells worked overtime and I figured out something I thought might even be more useful than yet another dresser: a serving buffet for the deck!

So, forget the mirror, that can go somewhere else in the house (I am thinking guest room). Painted and lacquered to withstand the elements, the buffet could stay on the deck for Spring, Summer and perhaps until Labor Day before being stored to the garage.

Being that I am French, I thought it would be somewhat uninspired to paint a Union Jack on the top!

So this is what I came up with:

I started by sanding the surface, just enough to get rid of a few bumps here and there. Notice that I removed the railing and patched the holes with wood putty.

I already had all the colors needed (red, white and blue, from the boys bedroom) and all I did was purchase the lacquer or some kind of exterior clear gloss paint (one pint at $8.99).

I started by painting it white because originally I wanted to distress the piece by sanding the edges and have the white show under the colored paint.

Here I am painting the drawers...

I then painted the body in Blue and the top in Red.

While coat two or three were drying, I pulled out some leftover scrapbooking paper and mirror printed letters I later cut with scissors...

The goal was to apply a decoupage of paper letters assembled into one of my favorite quotes by Napoleon!

Here I am applying the letter with my spray glue - while sipping coffee,  this truky was not a stressful job!

"Impossible n'est pas Francais!" ("Impossible" is NOT French!) - How appropriate is that? I think it fits me pretty well!

Unfortunately, I did not have the room to add the name Napoleon under the quote...Oh well, it will make for another conversation piece anyway.

Here is a close-up of the letter decoupage before a few coats of lacquer...

So the distressing with the white paint at the bottom did not work and who cares (I forgot that the blue paint was oil base and when I scratched the surface with the steel wool it was actually spreading it rather than removing it...oops). I am assuming it will distress on its own and the white will eventually show up naturally. Until then, I have a ton of ideas popping here and there as to what to do on the top for decoration.

Keep in mind the house will be painted Prussian Blue before the end of the year (I hope) so this, as an ensemble, will look much better!

I now have a serving buffet for summer BBQs and kids parties. I am taking my time browsing Home Goods and T-J Maxx until I find just the right French looking garden ornaments and other planters to begin decorating with shade plants and other knickknacks.

Here is it being put to good use at Edward's B'Day party in April 2012:

And here is the before and after:

Tell me what you think!

Sophia, NJ.