Monday, December 31, 2012

2013 Here we come!

Boy, New Year's Eve has changed a LOT for me over the years.
I used to be quite the party animal.
Dancing the night away with friends and family.
But these days with small children in the family
the late night Pictionary, Cranium, dancing and laughing
will have to wait until the babies are a bit older.
No one wants to wake them up 
just to put them into their car seats 
on a cold winter night.
So this year the hubs and I 
will quietly spend the evening 
enjoying each other's company 
with him playing his new "old school" Zelda
and me stitching my new chart I received for Christmas.
We'll welcome the New Year with a hug and kiss
and then off to bed for a good night's sleep.
(That is IF we even make it to midnight...ha!)

I wish you all a blessed and healthy, 
Happy New Year!

I just wanted to share a couple of projects 
that I couldn't show you until now.
Here are two ornaments that I stitched for friends.
I used chenille around the heart 
and it's the first time I've done that.
I really love the look!


I also made these two little clutch bags
from a pattern found in
"Bags - the Modern Classics" by Sue Kim.
I highly recommend this book
if you like purses and bags.
Full sized patterns are included
and the instructions are easy to follow.

I used Minnie Mouse fabric for the lining
because the recipients are Minnie fans :)


I used some vintage buttons from my Mom's
vast stash of awesome old buttons.


And last but not least,
I wanted to share my tree top Angel with you.
I stitched her over 30 years ago 
and she is still watching over our tree each year.


One of the things I love most about hand crafted
items is that they will be here long after I am gone.
Kinda nice to think that she will still be smiling
and watching over my loved ones for years to come :)



Tuesday, December 25, 2012

My Heart is Full :)


Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
I hope you are all enjoying time with your family and loved ones.



I finished the dolls for the girls at 2:30 yesterday
and we exchange gifts at 6:00pm.
Talk about last minute.....

You can find the pattern at OhSewDollin.etsy.com

The girls loved their new dollies
and the doll beds I made them :) 



The boys were big fans of the Super Hero masks 
they received from us.
This is my new favorite photo!
It will be printed into an 8 x 10 somewhere in my living room.
Isn't it the best???? 


And these are my wonderful children :)


I have soooo many great photos from last night.
Too many to share here.
It was hands down the best Christmas Eve so far.
Lots of laughter and even dancing!!!
The only down side was that my nephew has pneumonia
and my sister-in-law stayed at home to be with him.
Otherwise it would have been perfection.




Friday, December 21, 2012

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

"The Christmas Story" Nativity from For the Love of Cross Stitch Magazine  July 2002 and  Sept 2002
Yipppie!!!!
I finished the Nativity that I was working on for my daughter!
She's coming by this morning 
and I'm going to give it to her so she can display it right away.
I made a few changes to the pattern colors.
I used metallic gold thread
 for the halo and stars on baby Jesus.
I also used a smaller stitch count evenweave
to make the pieces turn out smaller.
I bought the little wooden stable
on a trip to Hobby Lobby when I went
there with my friend Cherise.



I didn't think about it at the time, 
but the stable has a peaked roof,
so I had to make the bottom of the angel
come to a peak as well 
so that she can stay up there without falling off.
All the characters are stuffed with batting
and then walnut shells at the bottom
to keep them from tipping over.

And yesterday I found this lovely box
at Joann's on sale. (60% off baby!)
And it's the perfect size to hold 
all the pieces of the Nativity!

Look at that!
Perfect :)
I love it when a plan comes together!

Ok....time to get back to work.
4 more projects to finish before Christmas Eve......

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Ho Ho HO!


I should be working on dolls for my granddaughters.
But I find myself taking it easy today.
Not sure why.
I did manage to finish up the Lizzie Kate
cross stitch into a pillow for myself.
Shocker I know.....

AND I finished up a little zipper bag
for a lovely client that is stopping by today to pick it up.


Yesterday I added one more apron to my shop.
This one just feels like sunshine to me.
Even with the gray fabric.
It's just a happy apron :)


I've got lots of new ideas for my Etsy shop for the coming year.
I also have a BIG giveaway planned for January
so make sure you check back to see what's going on!
It could be YOU who wins :)


Sunday, December 16, 2012

Busy...busy...busy....


Just a few more fun aprons listing in my shop today :)
This pink and gray one just makes me happy
and those are totally NOT my colors.



This one makes me want a cup of coffee....
nuf said.



Now this one is more my color palette.
I do love me some red :)


Friday, December 14, 2012

Berry Sweet


I didn't realize it until I posted my photos for this blog post,
but apparently I'm working in a "berry" theme today :)
I made this fun strawberry apron this morning
with bright pink polka dots.
I've used this fabric before,
but always matched it with red polka dots.
(shocker.....I know)
I have to say that it's really fun
and bright with the pink.
Who knew?


I also made this set of 6 coasters for a custom order.
My lovely customer stopped by my home yesterday
and picked out the raspberry fabric 
and asked me to add some red.
They look so cozy, don't they?


Thursday, December 13, 2012

So Hard to Say Goodbye........


There are fabrics in my stash that are so hard
to say "Goodbye" to.
These 2 aprons fall into that category......
I came across this adorable print
by Michael Miller.
It is out of print and I was super happy 
to find it.
I made an apron for my daughter last year 
and now I've used what was left.


I mean seriously...
how cute is the Cake Queen???????


Then there is my Robert Kaufman Metro Kitchen Chickens.
They just make me happy......
I'm down to my last yard or so in my stash.
But at this point I realize that I'm bordering
on becoming a hoarder.
I don't want to end up on that cable TV program
buried under piles of fabric,
so I have to part with some of my treasures.


Can you tell that I love me some
Ginormous rick rack????


I hope who ever buys these
loves them as much as I do :)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

It's going to be a blustery day :)

Today's forecast is rainy and cold.
LOVE IT!!!
And what makes it even better is that I don't have
anywhere to go today.
I'm super excited!
Rain outside,
and lots of sewing!
Woo Hoo!!!


Yesterday I received an email from a lovely woman
that attended the DIY boutique on Sunday night.
She asked it I could make 3 business card wallets.
2 in purple and 1 in blue.
She said I could choose the fabrics 
because she trusts my taste.
Gotta love clients like that :)
So here they are, ready for pick-up.
Fun little projects.


I also managed to finish up another full apron for my shop.


I love these little owls!


When I bought the fabric I didn't even notice
that some of the owls have a glass of wine.
How hilarious is that???
Baking, coffee pots, tea kettles,
kitchenaid mixers, rolling pins,
AND WINE?
Sure...why not :)

Makes me love this fabric even more!


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Purple?


I'm not usually a fan of purple....
or blue either for that matter.
But this fabric jumped out at me
on my last shopping trip.
I am a fan of paisley however, 
so maybe that had something to do with it?
Anywhoooo......
since I sold all of my full aprons
I knew I needed to get busy and sew a few new ones.
This one is in my Etsy shop right now
and I'm working on another one.
Hopefully I'll get a few listed
in time for the last minute shoppers :)



Monday, December 10, 2012

*Whew* I made it........


I'm such a "last minute" girl.
I'm just really glad I managed to get these Sandy blocks done
and in today's mail before the deadline.
I've never used black as a border before
and I have to say...it's pretty stinkin awesome!
We were told to use black or a dark color
to make the blocks "pop".
I wish I could see this quilt when it's finished,
but I don't think I will.

Well....now that my project is done
I can get back to sewing some new aprons for my shop.
I picked up some fun fabrics this morning
at M & L (it the last day of their sale)
and it's time to get to cuttin!


Saturday, December 8, 2012

Friday Night With Friends

Tonight I decided to join the "Friday Night With Friends"
Since I am sewing or stitching every Friday night anyways
I thought it would be fun to play along.
I worked on the 12 blocks I am making for 
the Sandy Quilt Block Drive.
Leave it to me to wait until the last minute.....sheesh.
Anywhoooo.....
I have the 12 blocks done except for the final
2" strips around the outside.
It's late and I'm tired
so I'll finish them tomorrow or Monday.
for these blocks.
I realize that I'm not very good at "random".
I used scraps and tried my very best to 
make these blocks super scrappy,
but I just have a super hard time 
trying not to be all match-y match-y.
Either way, I am hoping that whoever
ends up with this quilt,
that they will feel the love and prayers
that are going into it.
I can't imagine how hard it is to lose
your home and everything in it.