I've been on an organization kick because my sister is coming to visit and my apartment was a nightmare of fabric, patterns, tables and general chaos.

I have been coveting those craft tables at Pottery Barn for quite some time and I just can't justify spending the money on one. They are $949+ shipping at PB. However, it occurred to me that I could make my own! Here is the PB Table, which is 55" wide x 38" deep x 37" high:

I recycled a table top I've had for awhile now and originally cost me about $50 used. I added 2 Ikea Expedit bookshelves and ended up with a reasonable craft table - $80 for the 2 shelves plus my used table top. I will have to stain the top to match the bases but that's no big deal and I'm in no real hurry to do that. I can live with the retro Memphis color scheme for awhile. I'm possibly going to replace the table top with a custom piece of wood (this will still be cheap as I will buy wood and have a friend cut it to size).  The Expedit shelves are $39 each and are 31 1/8" x 31 1/8" x 15 3/8" deep.

This is my do it yourself craft table - I will take a better picture of it once I stain the table top. My table is 72 x 36 with a height of 31". If you sew and craft, the bigger dimension is much better! The 31" height is a little low but not bad. I may actually build it up a couple of inches which will be easy to do, but for now, i'm fine with it the way it is.

Ikea also makes the insert cloth baskets which keep everything tidy - they hold a ton of stuff. You can capture your random sewing clutter (projects of the moment, patterns of the moment, etc.) into one of these nifty basket thingies and shove it into the section of the shelf. The shelf is also the perfect height for sewing machines & sergers (well, my Berninas anyway).

Here is a nifty knockoff that looks very much like the PB one.

Today's Christmas planning went fairly well. This little mitten tags are suitable for package decoration, making a garland by attaching them to a pretty velvet ribbon, or using them as place setting decor.

Unlike Julie in Julie and Julia, I am not able to make something every day. Last night, I surfed the web and found things I like to inspire me. I have vowed NOT to buy fabric as I need to save money for real life, big girl things; however, I have this delicious piece of Echino fabric - 2 whole yards - looking up at me from its place on the shelf. hmmmmmm....I do think I may make something for myself! I want a structured summer dress..maybe this pattern?

or, maybe this pattern?

I had a fun sewing day to day cooking up these cute Kwiksew dresses for an 11 year old and an 8 year old. One dress is Heather Ross Unicorn fabric with an Echino Peacock trim; and the other is a really great Robert Kaufman sort of thick shot cotton with the Unicorn fabric trim. I love the hand of the Kaufman thicker cotton so much that I'm going back to stock up on it. the color is pretty too, although my camera is making the Heather Ross fabric look neon.

I love this little pattern, it's easy but it looks special. The fabric helps of course - all of them are more expensive but it makes a positive difference.

I bump into tutorials that I like on my meanderings around the web, so I'm going to start collecting them on this post which I will update from time to time as I find great things.

Bobble Scarf/Shawl (this is really cute!)

Sunglasses case (you could easily modify this for a phone or iPod)

Tomato-esque Pincushion (much cuter)

Fabric beaded bracelets

Cute Reversible Napkin Tutorial

Pillow Case with French Seams Tutorial

Starry Forrest Christmas Tree Skirt, Part 1 (this is a pdf)

Starry Forrest Christmas Tree Skirt, Part 2 (this is a pdf)

Installing an Invisible Zipper (one caveat, I do mine differently & use a special foot but this is good!)