Happy New Year!

I know I am a day early, but I want to stop in to say Happy New Year! I appreciate everyone who continues to support my small handmade Etsy shop, as well as this blog. If you read my last post, I have made the decision to close my Etsy shop and am no longer offering new burlap bags or pillows. While it was a hard decision to make, I know it is the right one for now.

So where does that leave us? I'll continue to update this blog with new projects or books I have been reading from time to time. I have all remaining burlap bags and pillows at reduced prices in the Lina and Vi Etsy shop. You can shop now, and the item will ship within 1-3 days. Large cosmetic/flat bottom bags are now $10, pouch bundles are $10, and the Geometric Clutch is $14. I put a lot of time and effort to design and create these burlap bags, and now I am waiting for them to find the right home. If you are local in the metro Detroit area, you can use the code LOCAL during checkout to skip shipping and schedule a pickup. It's a great time to grab some new bags to help you organize your cosmetics, toiletries, or other small items with feeling of revival that comes with the new year! The Lina and Vi Etsy shop will remain open until all items are sold.

Things were quiet around here in December as I spent most of the month working, hosting and attending parties, and sewing gifts for family and friends. Like it is for so many of us, the month went by quickly with all of the events and errands to do. We had a great, low key Christmas here in our household, and now we are gearing up for a fresh start with 2019.

I enjoy making goals and plans, so I have been working on what I want to focus my time on in the new year. For me, my goals are all around improving my health and becoming a better person overall. I know that is pretty generic, but I have a few concrete things I am planning to help me focus on improving. To kickoff the new year, I'll be attending the Made for More encore presentation tomorrow evening to receive some words of encouragement from Rachel Hollis. I'm super excited to start the new year off in a positive mindset.

I hope you have a great new year's eve and day!

Thanks for stopping by,

Erica

Etsy Shop Closing

Hello again! I come bearing some news today, which you can tell from the title of this post. I have decided to close the Lina and Vi Etsy shop at the end of this month. While it is a bittersweet decision in many ways, it is the right decision for me at this time in my life. The last 4.5 years of running a small online business has taught me so much, and there is still so much that I need to learn. For now, though, it is time for me to take a pause.

This has been a transformative year for me personally as you probably already know with the birth of my daughter in 2017. Having a child puts a lot into perspective, and one thing that I have realized is that my time is at a premium now. The additional workload of running Lina and Vi wasn't producing the same amount of satisfaction as it was in the past years. The 2018 year for my business has been the slowest yet, and I can tell that my own motivation to keep it going has diminished. I no longer have the commitment level and free time I once did to experiment with new products, take photos, and continue to build an online community to help drive my online sales. It was hard to recognize, but I finally realized that the joy I once had in creating for the shop was hidden far beneath the frustrations I would have with myself for not giving this handmade business the time it needed this year to continue to be successful. It was a lose-lose for me, as I was holding myself to an expectation I could never achieve right now with everything that is on my plate. Running your own business, including dreaming up your own products, requires a lot of hustling which most of us don't realize until we do it.  For now, I want to step out of online sales, and focus on other interests, like reading, exercising, etc to help me grow in new areas.

I plan to continue to sew. Creating and crafting bring me so much happiness. I am a person who thrives on producing something, and if it is tangible in my hands, even better. Lina and Vi fulfilled that need for so long. I believe that we choose, or we are put into situations where we are presented with, certain paths that we need at that specific time of our life. Kind of that "everything happens for a reason" viewpoint. I started Lina and Vi in 2013 when my personal life was in transition as well, and I believe I focused on growing this initiative because that is what I needed at the time and having this small business was truly a source of pride and positivity for me during those years, some of which were particularly tough.

So I am going to leave this post saying that this won't be the end. I am sure I will start something new, but I'm not sure if it will burlap, bags, or sewing. I'm not sure yet when that will be, but I am keeping the door open. In the meantime, I will share posts here of things I have been creating to share with the general crafting and DIY community.

The Lina and Vi Etsy shop will be open until the end of December. I am hoping to sell everything still remaining in the shop before then and if not, it will be available at the Birchwood Boutique in Plymouth until sold. Thank you for continuing to support this small business and me. I hope that you continue to shop on Etsy and support the handmade community!

Erica

DIY Toddler Kitchen Apron

Hello friends! I hope you had a good Thanksgiving holiday for those of you in the U.S. We spent our day with family and the rest of the weekend mostly at home playing with our little one as she continues to get more and more independent. I also did a good portion of my Christmas shopping, and I'm excited to be sewing a number of gifts this year for family and friends. Today I am sharing my recent DIY - a handmade toddler kitchen apron.

My husband is using his carpentry talent to make our daughter a small, wooden kitchenette for playtime so I decided to sew her a small toddler apron so that she can use it to pretend play (eventually when she is older) or in our actual kitchen when she is ready to start helping us cook and bake.  I found this pin on Pinterest with a link to a blog for a simple and easy toddler apron. If you are looking to make one as well, I recommend that pattern. It requires only two sheets of paper to assemble, and the blog post includes step by step instructions with photos if you need clarification on how to sew the apron.

I found some well-aged (maybe even vintage? not sure) cotton fabric with a print of hanging pots, which is perfect for a kitchen-based sewing project. I think this fabric came from my grandma's fabric stash, and I kept it waiting for a good project to come along. I backed the apron in simple white cotton. You will notice this pattern is for a reversible apron, but given the front pocket that is only on one side, I think we will just use the one side with the print. I handmade the ties following the pattern but you could easily make ties from a lightweight belting. I would have done so, but I didn't have any on hand. You need two D rings form the adjustable neck tie, but you could also substitute velcro or even just modify the pattern to have a simple back of the neck tie.



The only modification I made to the pattern was to create two pockets from the one larger pocket. The pocket felt too big and fell open, so I sewed a simple straight stitch slightly off-center to form one large pocket and one small pocket. With a toddler, I am not sure what I am going to find in those pockets as she gets older. She has mastered stuffing colorful little craft puffs down our floor vent, which is to the delight of my husband who has to fish them out of the vent if we forget to close it!

I would classify this DIY toddler apron as an easy sewing project, perfect for beginners looking for something a bit more challenging to sew than a pillowcase. I am a fan of handmade gifts, whether they are made by me or by someone else. I hope that you are considering making or buying handmade this holiday season!

P.S. The Lina and Vi sales end tonight! Stop by our Etsy shop to receive 20% off plus free shipping.

Enjoy!
Erica

Holiday Gift Guide for Creative Makers 2018

With the holidays coming up, it's time to start thinking about what to get for those special people in your life. I'm here today to share a few ideas for those creative-types you know. Most of these are gifts that I would actually really love to receive, so I am sharing for anyone who may be looking for something unique for a person who likes to craft, sew, make, and problem-solve. None of these suggestions are sponsored - they are truly ideas that caught my own eye. Here we go!

1. The Crafter's Box

The first on the list is this fun subscription box called The Crafter's Box. Each month they feature an artisan who focuses on one type of handmade skill. The project is something that is trending in the moment, either the materials, design, or color scheme. Each box contains both the instructional training materials and the physical materials needed to make the project with options to buy up if you want a larger size. These are pretty amazing in that they have all of the tools to help you make the project so no running to the store or shopping online for an elusive tool to help finish up a project. This is fun for someone who likes to learn new crafting techniques and may get bored with one type of project or craft.

2. Sewing Project Box (Sprout Patterns or Closet Case Patterns)

Similar to The Crafter's Box, a gift for those who love to sew but are looking for some inspiration is a sewing pattern project set. You can find these through a number of different sellers, but the two I want to focus on today are Sprout Patterns and Closet Case Patterns. Sprout Patterns is an extension of Spoonflower and offers makers the option to buy a pattern already printed on fabric so you just need to cut and go. But in addition to that, they offer projects where you can pick your pattern, the size, and the fabric, and they will send you everything pre-packaged including any notions you need to complete the item. Unfortunately, it appears that Sprout is going to be sunset at the end of the year, so these projects will only be available for the next few weeks. Another alternative is to look for independent designers who have an online shop where they offer their own sewing patterns packaged with the necessary fabric and notions. One of my personal favorites is Closet Case Patterns. I've been eyeing their Cone Mills Stretch Denim kit where you can make your own pair of jeans without needing to purchase the hardware and do the research on the blend of denim fabric needed for your design.

3. Silhouette Cameo Gift Card

If you have a Silhouette Cameo lover in your circle, you will know that there are a number of accessories available for the Cameo and an entire marketplace of designs in their Silhouette Studio store. A gift card is perfect for someone who is looking to expand their Cameo tools or even buy new designs for their library. Like the suggestions above, the store offers a number of projects, such as design sets for birthday parties, baby showers, and holidays. I really like the flexibility in a Silhouette gift card as it allows a crafter to buy more images or even try new materials or kits they haven't tried yet before.

4. Local Crafting Workshop

This last one is one of my favorites. I really enjoy gifts that are experiences, and one type of gift I know I would really like to receive is a ticket to a local workshop class where I can learn one type of skill through completion of a project from start to finish under the guidance of a local artisan who is knowledgeable in the field. There are so many options for this, but it requires more research than the traditional non-experience type of gift. For metro Detroiters, here is a list of a few event spaces and local artisans who offer classes in the area. Check their schedules to see if they events coming up that someone in your life might enjoy!

Thistle & Bess (Ann Arbor)
University Flower Shop (Ann Arbor)
Worthwhile Paper (Ypsilanti, local artisan)
Pastel (Plymouth)
Signal Return (Detroit)
The Striped Petal (local artisan)
The Barn (Northville)

I hope you found a few new ideas in this holiday gift guide that will help you think of new, unique ideas for the creative-types in your life!

Thanks for stopping by!
Erica

Ann Arbor Burlap Lumbar Pillow

Hello friends! This past week I whipped up a brand new Ann Arbor burlap lumbar pillow. It has been a while since I had sewn one as these tend to be more popular during the holiday gift giving season. This lovely pillow is a gift for one of my work pals who just bought a new home in Ann Arbor! I'm super excited for her, and I thought it would be fun to gift her this handmade pillow. I know she loves Ann Arbor, and with the pillow being a neutral color scheme, it should fit with any color palette she has in her new home. I offer these year-round in the Lina and Vi Etsy shop, so stop by the shop to see more details!





In other news, I'm gearing up for our next local holiday pop-up shop coming up this Sunday Nov. 18th in Northville, MI. It is at a local residence with a couple of other small businesses who will be ready to help with holiday gifting. I can't believe that Thanksgiving is already next week, and before we know it, it will be core holiday shopping season. If you are local and looking for a fun, quick outing where you can support some local ladies, check out the event posted on our Facebook page.

I am running a number of sales over Thanksgiving weekend, so be sure to check out our Etsy page to see discounted items plus other deals! Etsy is really amping up their platform with a number of platform wide sales events for their shoppers. Also, small business Saturday is coming up next weekend, so keep on supporting your local shops and boutiques that help grow your community. It is a win-win for everyone in my book!

I hope you are having a great week! I'm preparing a new blog post with holiday gift ideas for the creative-types in your life. I'm excited to share a few new ideas to consider (and that I personally really want!!).

Erica

Happy Halloween!

I'm stopping by today to say Happy Halloween to those of us out celebrating today! As I have gotten older, I have celebrated this holiday less and less, but now with a young one, I think I will be celebrating more and more each year. It is fun to get dressed up, even though I only sported a witch's hat headband. I can see some DIY sewing for Halloween costumes in my future! This year we had an astronaut costume that was party of a baby gift we received. With a little DIY jetpack made from spray-painted pop bottles, the costume was semi-homemade and a hit!

Thank you to those who came by this past weekend to our local Holiday Boutique in Novi. It was a fun few hours, and I was able to knock out a bit of holiday shopping of my own! If you weren't able to make it or aren't local, you can always shop Beautycounter online here and Lina and Vi on Etsy here. Beautycounter has a lot of beautiful gifts ets for the holidays, so if you are looking for a gift for someone special who may be interested in more natural bath, body, and beauty products, spend some time on their site to see what is available this season.

I'll be gearing up the next few weeks for our next Holiday Boutique in Northville coming up on November 18th. More details to come soon. Have a great week!

Erica

New in the shop: Coffee Sack Burlap Zipper Case with Denim Detail

October has been busy. I know that I say that about pretty much every month, but this one is only half over and I'm wondering already where the time is going! Our little lady Adeline is turning 14 months old this month, and she is on the run, literally. She went from learning to crawl, to cautiously walking, to now running in a matter of three months. Her development day to day is incredible right now. She is keeping us busy as she prefers to walk everywhere herself now, and she loves to climb... everything she can! Just ask her what a doggie says, and she will respond in a low whisper - woof, woof. Even when she is behaving less than ideal, it makes me smile to hear this even in the most stressful moments.

Earlier in the month, my husband and I took a short trip for our anniversary. We visited Cape Cod with a short day trip to Martha's Vineyard, and it was childless and pretty relaxing. I like to vacation, but I am not a long vacationer. I like my routine so I enjoy being out of it for a few days but then I am eager to get back into "production" mode. It is the achiever in me, I can't help it. Overall, the trip was a success and we both would recommend taking a visit to the east coast if you can to eat seafood, enjoy the landscape, and just relax a bit.





Since we got back, I have been working late into the evenings to sew up three new large burlap zipper cases for the Lina and Vi Etsy shop. Today I am showcasing this beautiful denim and burlap zipper case that features a red and green graphic burlap industrial print paired with my all time favorite lining - a floral Rifle Paper Company print silky rayon in a cool color scheme. I opted for the neutral-colored gray faux suede bottom for the bag's exterior. Super functional but yet incredibly unique. These bags are very versatile, so they are great gifts alone or stuffed with a bunch of small items.

You can find this handmade bag ready to ship here.

Thanks for stopping by,
Erica

October Pop Up Shop: Lina and Vi + Beautycounter

I'm back today to share a fun update with my local readers about a holiday pop-up shop coming up on Sunday October 28th in Novi. I'll be partnering with a friend and local Beautycounter representative to showcase our items for anyone interested in getting an early start on their holiday shopping lists this season. This pop-up event will be at private residence so if you are interested in going, please send us a message on our Facebook page to get the full details! The event will run from 11am - 1pm.

I'm super excited to be participating in the first pop-up of the season. I will be sharing more updates on new items in the Lina and Vi shop later this week. With the holiday shopping season coming up, I have been spending a lot of time sewing up new bundles of burlap zipper pouches so they are gift-ready for the special person in your life who loves receiving handmade items.

Can't make this holiday pop up shop? We will have one more coming for our local customers in late November so stay tuned for details on that soon. And if you are not local but want to still show your support, you can shop Beautycounter online here and in the Lina and Vi Etsy shop here anytime!

Hope you are having a great start to your week!

Erica

Two New Upcycled Coffee Burlap Zipper Pouch Bundles

I have been full steam ahead preparing new burlap zipper pouch bundles for the upcoming holiday season. I'm super excited for the new items I'll have available in the coming weeks, but more importantly, I am incredibly thankful for being able to spend time sewing. I recently finished two new burlap flat zipper pouch sets, and I am here to share more of the details behind these new designs. Let's jump in!

The first burlap zipper pouch set features a 4" x 6" flat zipper pouch with a solid teal lining and a larger 9" x 10" zipper pouch with a black and white arrow print lining. Both zipper pouches feature bold, black industrial-like text on the burlap panels, a nod to the origins of the original jute coffee sack. A heavy duty metal zipper secures the larger flat pouch, and both pouches have a brown faux suede zipper pull for style and functionality. This set is a great way to get two matching pouches in two different sizes to help you organize items big and small.

The second burlap zipper pouch bundle also features one of our popular 4" x 6" flat zipper pouches paired with a larger 8" x 11" flat zipper pouch. These two compliment each other quite well. The small pouch is lined with a brown leopard print fabric whereas the larger is lined with a solid cream canvas. You will see a theme of calm and color among these zipper pouch bundles, with the burlap tying the two together again.











These two burlap zipper pouch bundles are completely handmade by me in Plymouth, Michigan and are available for purchase now in the Lina and Vi Etsy shop. Stay tuned for more updates on what I am sewing in my studio these next few weeks by liking the Lina and Vi Facebook page - only two more 'Likes' until we hit two hundred!

As always, thank you for reading this and supporting my small handmade business.

Erica

DIY Wooden Dollhouse Bookshelf

It's been a while since I shared some of the projects from around my house, and I am finally getting around to posting about this fun DIY dollhouse bookshelf in my daughter's room. I saw a similar dollhouse shelf on another blog, but it was manufactured by a big box retailer and for a pretty high price. With my husband's woodworking skills and tools, he took my vision and made it into reality. I am thrilled with how it turned out so let me walk through some of the details of it with you.

I opted for a more traditional dollhouse frame, with three levels for books. The bottom of the dollhouse is trimmed with moulding. The sides each have two windows in fun shapes with shoe moulding trim. My husband is very detailed oriented (like me), and he loves to add embellishments with his woodworking projects, especially if it gives him the opportunity to try a new technique or skill. So, he opted to add the scalloped awning on the room that you see trim the top roofline. Once that was done, he painted it white and anchored it to the wall so it would be safe for a child who may pull on it.

                      

                

I really love this dollhouse bookshelf for a couple of reasons. It's pretty versatile - it is functional as a bookshelf like you see here, but when my daughter is old enough, we can take the books off and use it for play. I like that it is not just an ordinary bookshelf. It is whimsical and fits perfectly in a child's room to evoke imagination and playfulness. Lastly, it is special because my husband made it with his hands for our daughter. I hope she will appreciate that as she gets older, and it can remind her to be creative in her daily life.

If you are interested in seeing a full tour of my daughter's nursery, you can check it out here. As with all of the projects I share on the blog, sewing or not, I hope this inspires you to think outside the box and take a leap to create something with your own hands and skills.

Thanks for stopping by!

Erica

DIY Mama Silhouette Cameo T-Shirt: J.Crew Inspiration

I had been eyeing this fun J.Crew "Mama" t-shirt after seeing another mom blogger wearing it a few months ago. I didn't know where to buy it until a few weeks ago when I saw it linked up to J.Crew, and when I clicked through to purchase it, they didn't have my size left. I thought it would fun to try to recreate this "Mama" J.Crew prinkshop t-shirt on my own using my Silhouette Cameo.

I used the extra glitter heat transfer vinyl I had on hand for the letters. I used a basic font in the Silhouette Studio software that I thought most closely matched the font used on the J.Crew version of the shirt. Once I had the text cut out, I purchased a plain, scoop neck t-shirt from my local Target and went to ironing the vinyl onto the front of the shirt.

                                                 

I love how this "knock-off" turned out. It's a great color for the fall season, and it was a fraction of the cost. I'm continually amazed at how easy it is to create something that is personalized to my liking using the Cameo. It is a fun machine to have, and I keep finding new ways to use it.

I hope this inspires you to make something for yourself, a friend, or family member!

Thanks for reading!
Erica

New Burlap Zipper Pouches + September Updates

I have been busy behind the scenes working away at several new sets of burlap zipper pouches for the Lina and Vi Etsy shop! I'm very excited to offer a new bundle set featuring one larger zipper pouch measuring 8" x  9" paired with a small 4" x 6" pouch. You will start seeing more bundles in our shop as we gear up for the holiday season ahead. Our small burlap pouch sets have been very popular, so I'm getting excited to offer more variations in sizes so that you can find matching sets for you or as a gift at a discounted price than buying them as singles. It's also a lot of fun for me to mix and match the designs!





This month, like many, seems to be flying by for me. What originally started as a pretty light month in terms of commitments and plans, it has filled up with lots of fun things for us! The season is changing here in Michigan, and I'm hoping to be able to spend as much time outside as possible before the cold sets in. I am not looking forward to those days, but the silver lining is that I'm hoping that I'll be spending my time inside in front of my sewing machine more. Looking ahead, I'll be taking a small weekend trip in October to celebrate my anniversary, plus we have birthdays and our first holiday of a stream of holidays coming up. It will be busy, but I am trying to focus on the good parts of being busy which is celebrating happy moments.

I recently discovered chatter around the book Girl, Wash Your Face. While I haven't read it yet as I'm waiting for it to become available at the local library, I have listened to a number of podcasts that Rachel Hollis shares on my way into work. I really like her conversation style, and many of her topics hit home for me. I have definitely become more into self-help topics in the last few years, and her podcast, as well as her book, speak to this area, especially for women and moms too.  Since I don't have formal schooling any longer, I like to pick up a self-help book every now and then to learn how to improve. We can all be better people, and if it means leading a more positive and happy life, I am game. Have you read the book? What do you think? Leave me a comment! You can find her Let's Rise podcast here.

Hope you have a great weekend!
Erica

Favorite Five Michigan-based Etsy Shops

It's been over four years since I opened the Lina and Vi shop on Etsy, but I have been shopping as a customer on the site several years before that. Etsy is a great place to find a variety of handmade items and unique gifts, and it is amazing to see how many talents people have around the world.

Keeping with the gratitude theme this month, I am sharing five Michigan-based Etsy shop that I really admire with you today. Most of these shops are run solely by women, and not only are their products beautiful, but their photos, graphics, and branding are top notch. It takes more than just great products to sell online, and these Michigan makers have definitely raised the bar.

1. Worthwhile Paper - Based out of Ypsilanti, this shop features beautiful screen printed posters, notecards, journals, cards, and more. The designs are fresh, modern, and quirky. They also sell at local craft fairs like DIYpsi.

2. Little Flower Soap Co - This bath and body shop features handmade body care items based out of Chelsea. Their gift boxes are incredible, even themed based on the event. Their shop has beautiful photos that make you want to smell and touch their items immediately. I really admire how they have branded their shop with such a gorgeous, cohesive design.

3. Thursday Afternoon Co - I came across this shop earlier this year when searching for handmade headbands for my daughter, and I was super excited when I saw the fun, eclectic designs made by this fellow Michigan mom. Based out of Clare, this shop features handmade bows, headbands, burp clothes, and other baby staples. I love the color palette she chooses for her items as well as her beautiful shop logo.

4. Burst Into Bloom Shop - This handmade waxed canvas bag shop is incredible. Although I could consider this shop a competitor in a way, I can not exclude it from my top five favorite list. Based out of Grand Ledge, I saw this shop at the DIYpsi fair a year or so ago. They hand-make backpacks, wallets, and zipper pouches with fun, printed waxed canvas fabric.

5.  Bugaboo Blocks - This sweet baby block shop is based out of Novi and is run by a friend of mine. Her handmade blocks can be personalized, which make great gifts for new babies and baby showers. My daughter has two sets of her handmade blocks that were designed to match the color scheme of her nursery.

I'm sure there are many more Michigan-based Etsy shops that I could have included on this list, many of which I haven't yet discovered. I hope this list gives you a few new ideas for any upcoming gifts you may need to purchase or even a gift for yourself! Helping to support the handmade community is something that I have grown to love over the last couple of years, and I hope you will support them too.

Thanks for stopping by,
Erica

September Giveaway!

September is my birthday month, so I'm celebrating with a giveaway on the Lina and Vi Facebook page! I hand made this fun, burlap Thankful door hanger pillow that is perfect for the upcoming Fall season.

I am thankful to everyone who has supported me this past year, and those who continue to support the handmade community as a whole. This past year has been a big one for me personally, and while it was not always easy, I am proud of how I have grown. Sewing and making things will always be my passion, and I am incredibly grateful to those who have stuck with me during this transitional year.

The Facebook giveaway closes on Saturday 11:59pm ET. It is open to continental US only. Go enter for your chance to win new Fall decor for your home!

Thanks for reading,

Erica

DIY Burlap Wedding Center Pieces

Hello again! During the past month, I have been sewing a bunch of burlap table centerpieces for a dear friend who will be getting married this coming weekend. I wish I had some photos to share, but I don't. However, this project was pretty simple and only required a couple of steps that I can talk you through today.

My friend's wedding is in late summer / early fall time of year. So, to match the changing season, she opted to go with fall textures. Her wedding reception will be held in a room that has a lot of wood detail, so a rustic theme for her wedding decor will blend well with the ambiance that comes with the room itself. She asked me to sew a number of burlap placemats to set under her table centerpieces, which will be square wooden boxes filled with greenery and flowers.

These burlap table placemats were simple to make. Here's how you can make something similar:

Materials:
1-2 yards of burlap
scissors
sewing machine with needle
thread (your color choice)
pins
iron
flat ribbon (optional)
measuring tape

Instructions:
1. The first thing I did was cut the burlap into 16" squares and circles. I did a variety of shapes for my friend upon her request. Obviously cutting burlap into circles is more challenging, and it requires that you will need to serge or zigzag the edge of the fabric to keep it from fraying. I also recommend printing out a circle on the computer first and making a pattern that you can trace onto your burlap or with your scissors to make cutting a circle easier.

2. Next, I ironed the burlap if it wasn't completely flat. I always iron my burlap using a high setting with steam, otherwise it does not stay for me. Burlap is wiry and has very large threads that need high heat to maintain shape.

3. After the burlap is cut and ironed, it is now time to sew. For the first pass, I sewed the raw edge of every square and circle using a wide zigzag stitch. All of the edges of these burlap placemats were kept raw. If you choose to hem the raw edge, you can do that as well, but I recommend ironing your hem and pinning before sewing the hem.

4. Once the raw edge is lightly finished with a zigzag stitch (or a serger if you have one), then you can cut your ribbon to a 16.5" - 17" length using your scissors. I used a lace ribbon that measured 1.5" in width. If you can find ribbon without elastic, I would recommend that over elastic ribbon. I used elastic ribbon for some burlap placemats, and it was more challenging to keep the ribbon straight on the burlap when sewing.

5.Once you have cut your ribbon, pin it onto your burlap placement. For both the squares and circle burlap placemats, I placed the ribbon in the center from one raw edge to the opposite. You can do a diagonal or off-center based on the look you are going for with your design. Tuck under .25" to .5" inches on each end to the backside of the burlap placemat. That will give you a finished look for the ribbon. Sew the perimeter of the ribbon onto the burlap, or if you are using a thin ribbon, sew one straight stitch down the center of the ribbon.

That's it! If you know your burlap placemats will be heavily used and often getting wet or dirty, such as under plates on a dinner table each day, you can always Scotch Guard the burlap first to make it more water repellent.

This was a fun project to make! With fall ahead of us, I hope this inspires you to find new DIY projects to help bring the warmth of this season into your home, burlap or not.

Enjoy!
Erica

DIY Glitter Onesie and Zipper Pouch

I can't believe that a month has gone by since I last gave an update here on the blog. July was... a month. I spent the second half of the month traveling, so things were a little bit quiet around here for a reason. I took a short trip to France for my job, and then our little family headed up to my in-laws cottage in northern Michigan. I'm glad to be back home, even though it was great to be able to step out of the daily routine for a couple of weeks. August is nearly half over, and with several birthdays coming up, I have a couple of short DIYs today to show you what I have been working on!

My daughter's first birthday is in a week. Time does really fly - especially with children, it seems. We are having family over to our home to celebrate, and I've been spending my nights preparing the decorations using my Silhouette Cameo as much as possible. One project that I loved making was her first birthday "One" glitter onesie with a unicorn on it. This was my first time using glitter heat transfer vinyl, and it turned out amazing. I used a cursive font to cut the 'One' text, and I purchased a unicorn image from the Silhouette Store, which I  printed onto t-shirt transfer paper. I then ironed them both on a plain white onesie. It was a fairly simple project but it looks like it took more time than it did! Her party is a mix of cupcakes and unicorns, so I will be reusing that unicorn image on her banner and other party decor items.

Keeping with the birthday theme, one of my nieces will be turning six in a few weeks. She is at an age where she is starting to be interested in "girly" things like Lip Smackers, nail polish, and accessories. I used some extra ivory cotton canvas to sew a small zipper pouch and paired it with a blue floral rayon fabric for the interior lining. I had this rayon print fabric in my stash for a few months, almost hoarding it because I don't have much and I really wanted to use it on something special. To finish the zipper pouch, I again used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out her name and three hearts in gold glitter heat transfer vinyl. I think she will love it, especially because it is stuffed with a couple of goodies!

A bit of sewing and a lot of my Silhouette Cameo has been the theme in August. I'm running a sale in our Etsy shop this month - all zipper pouches and burlap bags are 10% now through August 27th! I know many of you are heading back to school or have kids heading back to school soon, so this is a small way to celebrate the close of a great summer. Shop now here!

Thanks for stopping by!
Erica

DIY Fourth of July Rustic Mantel Sign

After a busy week with the Fourth of July holiday, I'm back to share what I have been up to these past few weeks along with photos of my latest DIY project! The heat is on here in Michigan, and this week we celebrated the Fourth with temps in the nineties and plenty of sun. I don't have any decorations for this holiday, and since we hosted a BBQ this year for family, I spent some time figuring out what I could make with the materials I had around the house with the help of my Silhouette Cameo.

I created this rustic style "Let Freedom Ring" sign using a piece of remnant wood my husband had in his workshop, some extra contact paper, and basic paint. The sign is about two feet long and a couple of inches tall and thick, making it a quick project for an hour one afternoon. I decided on a traditional font and cut out the phrase onto contact paper which I then stuck to the block of wood, after putting a base layer of red paint.  My husband spray-painted the enter wood block white using extra spray paint we had on hand. After it dried, I peeled off the stencil, leaving the red letters on a white background. I finished it by painting very light and imperfect strokes of blue paint, finishing off the American color scheme.



I like how it turned out, and it is small enough that I can find somewhere to store it for the remaining 11 months of the year. If you follow Lina and Vi on Facebook, you may know that this wasn't the only DIY I attempted this past week for the holiday.  I made my daughter a Fourth of July themed onesie using printable iron-on paper and a free Silhouette Studio image I found on a blog. It was super simple to make, and she was looking cute on Wednesday! Stop by the Facebook page to see pictures of how it turned out, and what you can make with some imagination!

I love projects that use materials that I have on hand, but I am finding now more than ever that I need projects that will be relatively quick. With a baby ready to be on the move, my time and attention is focused on her most of the day. You may see me share more DIY projects that are doable in 1-2 hours, which are perfect for a typical afternoon nap for a toddler.

I still love creating things, and while I may not be at my sewing machine as much as I used to be, I find myself still managing small projects that allow me to still be creative, just in different ways.

I hope that this DIY inspires you to create something this next week. Enjoy!

New! Geometric Burlap Fold-over Bag

This past few weeks have been filled with some sewing, some sun, lots of baby laughs, and some celebrations. I shared on the Lina and Vi Facebook page a few weeks ago that I have finished my first scrap quilt! More details coming on that process. I made one quilt in the past using old t-shirts, but this was my first more traditional quilt that included quilting batting as well as the actual quilting process.

Once that project was over, I decided to break into one of the latest fabrics I picked up from Pink Castle Fabrics in Ann Arbor to make a new burlap clutch bag! This handmade zipper bag features a fresh geometric design that is colorful, quirky, and lots of fun against the bold burlap. I'm loving how this bag turned out with the fold-over top, metal zipper, and detachable wrist strap.  These kinds of burlap wristlets are a lot of fun to make. I'm excited to have it available in the Lina and Vi Etsy shop ready to ship!

Speaking of Etsy, Lina and Vi is taking part of their 13th birthday sale by offering 10% all of the handmade burlap zipper pouches and zipper cases! This is a great way to get a couple of zipper pouches at a reduced price, especially one of the two or three zipper pouch bundle packs.  Stop over at the shop here to see the sale.

My family celebrated Memorial Day and Father's Day during the last few weeks. A happy first Father's Day to my husband who has taken becoming a new father in stride this past year. We love you! I think we have officially kicked off the start of summer here in Michigan. I think the warmer weather is here to stay, and I honestly cannot be happier! I've had Adeline in her little baby bathing suit outside to play with water, and she has the best time. This past winter was especially hard, and I am happy to see it go.

Speaking of celebrations, my husband and I headed to Chicago for a short weekend trip to celebrate a wedding. It was nice to get away. We only had a couple of hours to really explore, so rather than heading into downtown and spending more time and money than we wanted to finding a park, we walked around the Wicker Park / Ukrainian Village area. I loved the little shops, and we stopped over at Antique Taco for a great mid-afternoon meal. Good vibes all around.  We are so lucky that Chicago is so close.

I'm excited to start a new sewing project in the next few weeks, plus the summer craft fair season is coming up and I'll be making my rounds to some of the local fairs this year to see what everyone is making!

Have a good one and thanks for stopping by!
Erica

Three Reasons to Repurpose

As a maker, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to find the right balance between design, time, and materials. Repurposing is something that Lina and Vi is rooted in, since all of the burlap is upcycled from coffee bean burlap sacks. It's no surprise that I'm always thinking about ways to use the materials and time I have to create something that is new, beautiful, and unique. So today I am sharing my top three reasons for repurposing. Even if you are not a crafter, sewer, maker, or whatever the trend is calling it right now, thinking about how we can repurpose what we have in hand can help us be more creative and find solutions in a new way.

1. Save Money

This is a big one for me as I am pretty passionate about waste... wasting time, wasting money, and wasting the things we already own. Repurposing helps me find a new use for something, even if it's not always an exact fit. Sometimes we can be flexible and apply a tool or item in a new way and have the same outcome. I have a fond memory when I first went to live out on my own of attempting to make cookies and realizing I needed a rolling pin. I pulled out a tall drinking glass, turned it sideways, and improvised. Problem solved, money saved, and one less item in the kitchen with rare use. Sometimes it is not an exact fit but we can see past the limitations and focus on our main priority for what we need.

2. Stretch Creativity

Repurposing an object or finding a way to build on top of it to create something else helps me become more creative. By having to think about something in a new way, I have to come up with multiple ideas and see that thing in a different perspective beyond just what it is today. There is a reason that giving a team a set number of objects to build something new using only those materials is a common team building problem solving activity. When we repurpose something, even if it is just switching up decor in a room and moving it around in a new way, we force ourselves to stretch our creativity muscles. We build those muscles so they become stronger over time.

3. Build the Only One

There is a desire to have something unique to only us, and repurposing allows us to make something that truly is one of a kind. When I repurpose burlap into new zipper pouches or paint on the burlap to make a decorative burlap pillow, I am creating something that not only is handmade but is also difficult, if not impossible, to reproduce entirely. The challenge here is that we have to accept the flaws that come with a one of a kind repurposed item. Upcycling something means that you aren't starting from scratch but you are building upon what is already there and making it into some new form. That form didn't exist until you repurposed it, so there is definitely gratification in knowing that we came up with a new design that really is the single only one there is.

Those are my top three reasons for repurposing burlap. I hope you find some parallels in your life with how you choose to reuse, recycle, and repurpose things to help make your day more creative while saving some money and taking pride in a totally unique design.

Thanks for stopping by!
Erica

Three New Burlap Zipper Cases!

Hi friends! I hope you had a great couple of weeks! May is half-way through, and we have been busy over here. We celebrated Mother's day this past Sunday, and it was a nice day with family. I hope you were able to enjoy your day whether you are a mom or not.

This past week I finished sewing three new burlap zipper cases. They feature a pretty neutral color palette overall, with a few pops of color here and there. The burlap coffee sack designs are big and bold on these zipper bags so I wanted to balance it out with basics. One of the burlap zipper cases features a dark denim bottom. This is the first design I've made with denim, and the burlap against the denim is something that I am really loving.

You can find these three burlap zipper bags in the Lina and Vi Etsy shop here.

Aside from these three bags, I have been busy shipping out orders these past few weeks. The last burlap bag has sold to a local customer, and I hope they love it as much as I do! As I mentioned back in November, I won't be creating new burlap purses for the time being and just focusing on zipper pouches and burlap pillows. I'm not sure what the next few months will bring but with summer ahead, I know that I will be spending more time with our little family outside and sewing when I can.

I hope you are having a great week!
Erica

New Burlap Zipper Pouches!

I don't know where April has gone, but here we are on the 24th, and it is already Tuesday. This week is flying by, and I'm here to share a few updates with you on what has been going on around in my world and in the shop.

This past weekend I created five new burlap 4" x 6" zipper pouches using a mix of patterned and solid interior fabric. They are fun, colorful, and ready to ship! There are singles, sets of two, and sets of three available now. You can find these in our Burlap Zipper Pouch sections of the Lina and Vi Etsy shop. Great gift idea for a mom in your life who needs a little something for Mother's Day!

Speaking of Mother's Day, this one will be my official first. To be honest, May is a very busy month for our family. It is probably the craziest of all of the months, even December. We have multiple birthdays, Mother's Day, communion parties, holidays, doctor's appointments, conferences, and usually someone is traveling for work. It's pretty intense, so I'm not thinking that we will be doing much for Mother's Day but maybe I will get in a little sewing time!

Last week, I wrapped up a custom order for a local customer in AA looking for a small version of our flat bottom zipper cases. I shortened and slimmed the width of the large zipper cases to create something personal that this customer needed. I really liked this size, so I'm considering starting to offer a smaller, flat bottom burlap zipper case in the shop. What do you think? I think there is always a use for zipper cases, big and small. They keep things organized and neat so everything is in one place and easy to find.

I have been reading the book Daring Greatly for a little over a week now, and I'm pretty mesmerized by the research and discussion. The book examines vulnerability, and the premise is that if we learned to be more vulnerable, we would become more fulfilled, creative, authentic, and whole. I really enjoyed the discussion around gender differences with vulnerability, and right now I am in the middle of the section on the most common ways we react to avoid vulnerability. I enjoy self help type books. I always enjoyed school - I guess I learn the best in a traditional classroom setting and in independent study. So if I can read and feel like I'm learning something new that I can apply in life, it catches my attention.

That's all I have for tonight - thanks for dropping by!
Erica