My First (and last ?) Photo Emulsion Silk Screen Using Sunlight

Until now, I have only done freezer paper stencils with fabric paints, and let me be the first to tell you that cutting out intricate details is a royal pain.  Photo emsulsion screen printing is like making a stencil right on the screen, no cutting required.  Or like making a negative on the screen, for those of us who remember 35mm film :)  My first attempt didn't go so well, but I'm close to figuring it out.  If you're interested in screen printing, make sure to read at the end of this post where I share some other screen printing options to consider.

Sew Your Own Reusable Drawstring Bags for Bulk Bins (or Gift Bags)

I made these drawstring bags for my mom to use for bulk bin items like nuts and grains. Since she gave me the idea to make these a while back, I knew it would be a sweet Valentines Day gift that she would appreciate! Since I'm using a cotton print, and not a specialty food-safe plastic or see-through netting deal, these also make cute gift bags.  Plus they're washable and all natural fibers (if you're making reusable bags then you probably care about these things)!