Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Happily How-To

I just LOVE sewing and crafts so on my day off I decided to make Trey and I some stockings... They are really simple to make and easy to get super creative with! So here is my "how to" on a classic stocking!


First- Gather up all of your materials! I chose leopard and red for my stocking and the vintage black & white and green for Trey's! A good pair of sewing scissors, ribbon and fabric bonding glue will also be needed. The tulip bedazzler is optional. I used a sewing machine but this would be easy to hand sew as well!
Next lay out a stocking that you already have and trace it onto your fabric. Double up your fabric before you cut to save you from having to trace & cut out twice! 
Now this is what you should have when you finish cutting.  Next get your accent fabric ready and cut out two rectangles slightly wider than the width of your stocking.


This is what you should have. Next cut your ribbon and glue onto the fabric. Make sure you wrap it around to the other side... This will make since once you sew it! Next sew back top of the accent rectangle to the back top of the stocking and fold the flap down. Repeat on the opposite side.


Next decide what you want on the front of your stocking, whether you cut out your initial with fabric and sew it, use an applique, or print off a monogram on transfer paper (which is what I did!) I downloaded a font that I liked from DaFonts.com and created a transfer. Once you decorate your front face the right sides of the stocking at each other and sew your stocking together inside out. Once you finish flip the stocking back out the correct way and TADA!


Here is my stocking!


and here is Trey's!




Hope you try it out! :) 


With Love,
Happily Hays

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Giving Back

I have always had a huge heart. That is why I think it is awesome that there are trendy fashionable gifts that are either conscientious to our environment or help out those in need. Why not add something to your Christmas list that will not only benefit you, but benefit something or someone else as well. These are either things I already own and love or things that are on my own list that support a great cause!

We all know about Toms shoes. I just love the glittery ones! They also donate a pair of shoes to someone in need for every pair purchased. LOVE IT!




I had to throw in something design related. This lamp is by Stray Dog Designs, the line was inspired by just that, a stray dog and for every purchase a donation is made to one of the following!


  1. Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti -- www.cnphaiti.org
    "Saving lives by empowering families and communities to address the problems of poverty, illness, and lack of services."
    Mission: Raise a healthy generation of Haitian children - bringing them back from malnutrition to life and full health -- that will, in turn, raise Haiti from poverty.
    Programs: community based health and nutrition education; inpatient healthcare; clean drinking water; micro credit programs; mobile health care clinic.
  2. Casita Linda -- www.casitalinda.org
    "Building hope, one house at a time."
    Mission: Provide simple, decent housing to the most disadvantaged people in Mexico who live in shacks.
    Programs: provide materials and labor to build simple, sanitary, dignified homes with electricity and running water for those with resources too limited to apply for government housing programs, or even Habitat for Humanity.
  3. Sociedad Protectora de Animales -- www.spasanmiguel.org
    "Hope, health, and homes for cats and dogs in need."
    Mission: Provide for the well being of abandoned and homeless dogs and cats in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and environs.
    Programs: provide shelter, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, vaccinations; facilitate adoptions in Mexico and the US; provide low cost health care for pets owned by people of modest means.





Here is one that benefits our environment! I just LOVE this handbag by Matt & Nat, I own one that was made from 28 recycled plastic bottles... NEAT!

MATT & NAT PRODUCTS HAVE NEVER USED ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS. THAT SAID, THE BRAND IS MORE THAN JUST VEGAN. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT. EACH PRODUCT CONTAINS AT LEAST ONE RECYCLED ELEMENT AND ON AVERAGE 21 PLASTIC BOTTLES ARE RECYCLED TO MAKE LININGS FOR OUR BAGS. MATT & NAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PIONEER IN ECO-FASHION.


John Hardy jewelry is not only fabulous but their Bamboo line also gives back. When a purchase from this collection bamboo seedlings are planted. This particular bracelet plants 6! How awesome!




I am a huge fan of Tory Burch. She has her own foundation and a line that goes along with it. If you purchase something from it 100% of the proceeds will provide economic opportunity to women and their families in the United States.



Gift_banner_leaderboard_600

Problem

Under the Taliban, education was prohibited for girls. Now, the hard-won right of simply attending school in Afghanistan for girls is becoming more and more difficult. Experts estimate that every day in Afghanistan a girls' school is destroyed or a teacher is murdered. Attacks have closed schools in several entire districts in Afghanistan -- nearly one-third of all districts have no schools.

The Gift

We cannot allow the destruction of women and girls' education to continue, with education so crucial to long-term empowerment. The Feminist Majority Foundation is working to keep Afghan girls' schools open, as well as to reopen those schools that have been closed. We must do all we can to ensure that the rights of Afghan women and girls do not slip away again.
Your donation of $60 will pay the salary of a teacher in Afghanistan for one month. Without teachers, who are being targeted by extremists in Afghanistan, the right for girls to go to school is meaningless.




I hope this year when you are deciding on the the stuff you want for Christmas you think about all of the others in the US and in the World that are less fortunate. Why not choose a gift that will satisfy you and help others!




Happily Hays <3

Wednesday, December 8, 2010


to my blog! :)

I am new to this whole world of blogging but I thought I would give it a shot. 

A bit about me..
I grew up in Grand Prairie, TX with my wonderful family. I went off to Baylor and met my future husband Trey. I transferred to the Art Institute of Dallas where I received a degree in Interior Design. In June I married the love of my life Trey and we are now living in Dallas with our 2 dogs Kingston and Blue. I am working for a hospitality design firm while my husband works as a research analyst. This year has been one of many ups and downs and my posts will be of things that have gotten me through along the way.

Enjoy!