Sew busy

My computer had to visit the Dell repair center so I have been without it for a bit (then on vacation!). While it was away I had time to play with my new machine.

I made a cross-body bag for myself and a pouch for our new dvd player. I did my first zipper on a bias pouch (idea from the purl bee). I also made my own baby legwarms (shown with babylegs) which fit my toddlers chubby thighs :)...

I have a new chore plan for 2010 that has me doing a weekly chore and a monthly chore each day. We will see how it goes :)

Recent Projects

The pillow is for my grandma in memory of my grandpa. He took lots of trips to China and brought back dolls just like this one.

I made the blocks with my MOPS group. Now if only I could figure out where to find more...the boy loves them.

The owl is my terrible version of this.

I also made a yet to be photographed bag that I am quite proud of...

Holiday gifts

Each year I whip something up in the kitchen for my local cousins and neighbors. This year it is chocolate dipped apricots. These tags really spiffied them up.

I used rolled a third in coconut and a third in salted nuts...mmm.

Scones

I made these Cranberry Orange Scones yesterday and they are delightful!! The dough was a bit sticky, like all of the comments say, but otherwise they are amazing (and pretty easy). Use fresh cranberries, like the recipe says, not Craisins like some commenters. Fresh (or frozen) gives it such a great flavor and texture that Craisins can't. I made a double batch to give some as gifts with Starbucks gift cards and have some to eat. Now I am looking for another great cranberry recipe since I have about 2 cups left. Hmmm...

More crafts

I have been doing somethings other than crafting: windows, floors, dusting, a bit of Christmas cheer... but crafting is the most fun. I decided to give this tutorial a try. Some thoughts:
No one has that many pristine target bags around...hmmm
Really it isn't worth it...they are super cute but too labor intensive

I made my "cloth" using Target christmas bags with Albertson's bags in the middle. The "cloth" took forever to make.

After making this shopping tote I wondered why the seams are on the outside... so when my husband requested a lunch bag I put them on the inside.

It is big enough to hold a square ziploc storage container flat in the bottom and a few more lunch goodies. It velcos when you roll it over just like the one he had in Jr. High.

I am done with that "cloth"idea. For me:

I also made this scarf and it was a breeze. Instead of a rectangle I made mine a trapezoid...rhombus...whatever...it had points

I am a bad pom pom maker

That is all.

Ready for Christmas

5 stocking for my siblings & siblings in-law... My embroidery needs help...

I made this into a sachet for a friend (dirty word blurred).

I am about 80% done with my Christmas shopping and 95% done with the items I needed to make - yeah!!

Since he likes it so much

Everytime I sew something for my son he has a great reaction. Either a "cool" or a "sank you" and it warms my heart and makes me want to do more. I decided to give this tutorial a try. I skipped the bias tape (since I need to practice and just tucked, ironed and sewed the handles. It turned out nicely... We will see what he thinks when he wakes up :)

To go with his bean bags

I made a game pad. One side is tic-tac-toe andthe other is a bullseye. He thought it was a mini-blankey...it was pretty cute to try to watch him lay on it.

Another sewing project

I put together some quick beanbags for my little one today (well, I cut the fabric yesterday). There is 1 Elmo, 1 Cookie Monster, 1 Big Bird (he has no idea who that is) and 3 Curious George. They made for great Sunday afternoon fun.

Here is a better shot of my finished tags:

I was going to make a tutorial...

Last week I decided to make some labels for my son's toys. I wanted words on one side and pictures on the other. I had this great idea in my head. Honestly if I were to do it all again I would do it quite differently, but they really did turn out nicely.

They were A LOT of work: 3 nights on the embroidery (I am slooow), 1 night cutting, 1 night folding, ironing and pinning, 2 nights with the stupid vinyl and a final night sewing (I love clear thread), taking and printing pictures and putting them in their place. It all became worth it when I said to my son "Look what mommy made you" and he said "cool" (he is 17 months).

A place for everything

I decided that I needed a place to better store my craft supplies and the vintage secretary in my bedroom seemed perfect. The only problem was that it was serving as a desk (shocker!). So I needed something else to be a desk. The chalkboard cabinet in my kitchen was perfect except that it stored kids crafts and kitchen odds and ends. So I needed a new place to store those...

Anyway, it was a big undertaking and I am far from done but here is the kitchen "desk".

The kid craft stuff is neatly stored away in a cabinet in the family room and the craft supply desk is coming along nicely.

Thanksgiving cards

Last week my son and I made some Thanks giving cards for his grandparents and great-grandparents. We stamped his hand then he colored while I assembled the card. Next he applied stickers and I put on the eyes.

We threw in a few recent pictures and a message and sent them on their way. I am sure his relatives will enjoy these "hand" made treasures.

Shoes

I have been sick with the flu and then catching up on some cleaining and other neglected chores. I thought I would share my new shows though. They make me smile.

I am cranking these out...

...almost as fast as my friends are cranking out babies :).

Trying my hand at embroidery

Well, I gave it a try on this curtain I made to hide the vino...not sure it is my thing (or I need a better tutorial).

Tools

I worked on a Christmas project tonight (since it is a gift - no pics) - again with the sewing machine...I think I am having an affair with Ken(more) :). We have been on again off again for about 4 years but the past few weeks I have been seeing him almost nightly. Here he is:

My husband found him on the side of the road in Seattle and he required a $100 tune up but he gets me by. I have often dreamed of trading him in for a newer model, drawn by decorative stitches and tensioners that actually work. Maybe someday. As you can see he is set up at the kitchen table. I sometimes use him on the antique secretary but that only works for quick projects. While I am talking about my tools, here is the rest of the gang:

I have 3 pairs of scissors, indulgent, I know.

The nice pair, in the black sheath, were a Christmas gift a few years back. They are still super sharp and pretty amazing. The black handle are pinking shears that belonged to my great-grandmother. They have a dull portion towards the handle, but I can avoid it. Finally my nippers were a gift from my mil. These are so much better then the string cutter on Ken(more).

An old self healing blue mat and Sears yardstick (that my mom gave my Grandma in the 70s then my grandma gave me) are how I measure...hence the problems.


I also have my grandfather's ruler (he passed away in May) which is nice for small projects (like cutting a baby blanket every inch). It measures 6" and a pinch and is very handy - just like Bud Carter (who happened to be just about 6').


My final tool is a wonderful husband (no picture - sorry) who never complains about hauling Ken(more) in and out of the kitchen or about my fabric $pending or how I spend my evenings.

Sometimes I feel like I am working with some pretty old stuff, but then I remember the prairie women sewing clothes and quilts by hand and I think I am pretty lucky. Projects may take me a bit longer, but that just means they have more love in them.

My first big blanket

Last week I started work on a picnic blanket following this tutorial. All of the top fabrics are from my stash. I had intended a different layout but got mixed up and it would have take a lot of seam ripping to fix it, so I left it. (I was near tears that night.)

I had to purchase the backing fabric and batting. In the pictures you can't see but the white and red fabrics have small yellow flowers and since I couldn't match the red, green or blue, I went with it.

I followed the tutorial except that I added a ribbon to tie up the blanket, it is sewn into one of the seams. This was my hubby's idea.

On another note, I made this small blanket from this tutorial to go with my other flannel blanket. All of the ribbon was stuff I had on hand!! I tried to use one of the decorative stitches on my ancient machine and it didn't go to well, but it will hold tight. :) I think I will be doing more of these, it was super easy!!