Christmas Elf

I can only show you one thing I'm working on because my mom reads this and the other items I've made are for her.

Now that I'm looking at the photo, I'm not sure I like it but I am out of animal print fabric so I would have to have trek to Joann's and I really don't want to do that. We may have to start over, folks!

Shake it like a Polaroid picture!

 We had our quilting guild Christmas swap this weekend. Such a change from last year, as I remember driving up on a Monday night, it was already freezing cold and I was horribly, horribly nauseous with morning sickness. This year it was 70 degrees or so and sunny! In October, we had been assigned swap partners and I was paired with the lovely Marta. She sent me a link to these Polaroid blocks and DONE! 

 She said she had been into berry colors, and the little hedgehog was as berry as I could get! I have very few adorable "photo" fabrics, so I was lucky to have snagged these from Randi when I did! 

I think the fox is my favorite, but no surprise, as I have been on a bit of a foxy kick lately.

*Also, these photos are terrible but I was in a hurry and it was late. No excuse, but still. EW!

Chevrons

 Another pair of baby leg warmers.  I'm all about the hot pink stripe at the top and the chevron design.

And we will be making a trip to Target this weekend for more! Someone stop me...or don't!

Block Swap

I thought I'd share a few blocks I've done for the Modern Quilt Guild, mostly because it's the ONLY crafting I've been doing and I finish them all really late as it is!


The block above is a Snail Trail block and the tutorial looked super easy at first but I had the hardest time wrapping my head around it. Luckily, the Flickr group was a huge help for me as I could see other blocks and get some idea of where to put each piece!

This was a wonky 9 patch and it was fun to put together but kind of tricky! Mostly because I have a hard time "wasting" fabric and true wonkiness is best achieved by not worrying about that kind of thing.

I should take some photos of the great blocks I am getting back from everyone else! If I keep at this until November, I will have 12 blocks to make into a quilt!

Go Anywhere Bag

A while ago, I bought the Go Anywhere bag pattern from Noodlehead and then I did what I do best. Nothing. I have gobs of Ikea home decor fabric that would be perfect for this bag, but nothing to go with it.

Right before Christmas, I was poking around my stash and found enough matching fabric to make the bag. My sister in law had just told me she needed a new one, so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and make it her present. I was going to use some navy print, until I remembered that she liked the hedgehog print from the Outfoxed line by Lizzy House.

I had a huge mistake when I put the handles on, so I had to pick out the stitching and fix that, but it was a pretty easy task and now I know how to put them on properly. Although I made the same bag for myself and twisted one but I don't mind.

This pattern is so easy to whip out, I've made three now and it takes about an hour or so to get it all finished. Plus, there are plenty of pockets, and that is the most important thing to have in a bag~

Hooty Hoot

Did I ever show off my little project for Chris's sister? She's not really a fan of owls, but I know she liked the fabric I used for the backing and I felt it needed to be an owl project as a whole.

To make him, I copied my owl and went from there. I used my machine to blanket stitch the eyes and wings on, a function I did not know my machine possessed until a few weeks ago!

Then I stuffed him full and sewed the bottom shut, although my owl was glued closed. Since I basically abhor hand-stitching, this seemed better than glue!

Christmas Goodies

Since the two people getting these do not read my blog, I am safe to post them here. At least, I don't think they read it!

The first thing I made was this robe for my nephew:

Jacob reluctantly posed for me. The thumbs up was all his idea. Grainy, computer lightened photo is all me... I used Dana from Made's pattern and it was super simple! I did not need 1 3/4 of fabric, either. I had about 1 1/4 of the terry cloth and a 1/2 yard of seer sucker for the bias tape. I wish I had a serger to keep all the seams neat, but the siz-zag stitch will have to do!

The next present is a pillowcase for a floor pillow/European pillow. My SIL loves them and I was going to get her the whole thing, but we went to Ikea together and she picked up a few pillows so I thought I'd make her the case instead. She has a thing for red and black, obviously. :)

The backing fabric came from my mom, she picked the red peacock fabric up on a vacation in Florida and I finally cut into it for this. Luckily, there is enough left for me to make something for myself.


I kept the selvedge edge because Patty Young did here. I've made this pillow before, with Michael Miller's Metro Circles and I love how quick and easy it comes together!

I still have two things to make before Sunday. A purse for another SIL and a Box Pouch for another SIL. But first I get to go have dinner with my co-worker at Main Street Grille and let her know that I'm going to have a baby! I'm a little nervous about it! Ce la vie. :)

To Market, to Market!

This weekend, I got some of my sewing mojo back and got all 11 Market bags finished. It took a couple of hours, and I got my mom and SIL to help me a bit. I'm always nervous when picking out fabrics for other people, so I really hope that they are well received!

I even had to pick out fabric from some guys, which is not always an easy thing to do.

Luckily, I had the four in the above photo already made, so I got to save myself a little bit of time!

I love the Hedgehogs, don't you?

Tea Time

The other day, I found a set of plain white dish towels at Ross. I have a strong aversion to microterry towels as I hate the way the fabric catches on my dry skin. So I loved these because they are all cotton!

But I bought them for the fact that I could spruce them up! And now, they are so cute and I am afraid to actually USE them. Because they might get dirty! Or stained!

Hopefully, I can find a couple more sets at Ross to make even more dish towels I can't use!

Check, Please!

I added a few more to my Etsy store today!

I could pop these out like crazy if I could just sit down and sew for a bit! I'm either too busy, too tired or just uninspired to make lately. I need to carve out some time to be creative and play with all my fabrics.

I might have to steal this one for myself, as I am in love with the Heirloom colorway in Amber. Someday, I'll show you the apron I made a month ago with the same fabric. SO CUTE!

Quilty Love

I've been a little busy quilting, it seems. Last December, my friend from college asked me to make her a tee-shirt quilt.

And so I took my dear, sweet time and finished it two weeks ago. After I had procrastinated for a couple of months, I had decided to give it to her for her birthday, in September. That way, she didn't have to pay me for it and I could relieve my guilt about not getting it done in a speedy manner.

Turns out, it may have been the easiest quilt I've ever done and I am mad at myself for being such a baby about it. I thought the jersey material of all the tee-shirts would make it impossible to quilt and it could not have been easier. As long as I didn't do a straight line across, there were no puckers, ripples, nada. EASY.

I made a couple of strip quilts as well. I know they are simple and easy but I love how I can just put them together in a day or two, as long as I have all the materials. I love the grey one below:

I can't seem to get away from the Tula Pink lines! I love them so.

Humperdink!

I got a little money for my birthday so I bought myself a new friend:

And if you think money can't buy you a friend, you would be wrong! Also, my exposure is waaaay off here.

Isn't he adorable?


I admit that I bought him because I want to make owls but I am terrible at taking things from my head and putting them on paper. Not that I plan to steal this idea and sell them, more for inspiration for gifts to Jayden. Because she's the only one who appreciates my stuffed animal presents.

Ready For Me To Stop With The Hair Yet?

I did remember to take some photos of my curls once I removed the headband!


It's a shame that I don't take it out until I'm ready for bed. So I prance around and admire my hair instead of sleeping. It's sick, really.


The only problem with my hair is that I have crazy messy hair on top, near my scalp, and lovely curls at the bottom. So I basically have crazy hair.

Like anyone is surprised by that.

Curls Part II

As promised:


Maybe I should have smiled.

However, isn't my hair awesome? It's like the princess hair style I longed for when I was a little girl.

Also, it means that I can shower and put my hair up without washing it and that has never really been an option for me. If I do not shower, my hair never looks good. It is frizzy, flat, wonky, and just plain messy.

But now I can put it up! Especially now that it's getting long again, I've found myself lifting it off my back to cool down a bit. Since we keep having 100 degree days!

What about you, did you try it yet? :)

Pink!

I forgot to tell you about the baby girl quilt I got to make this month. It seems I've only made things for boys so I was completely thrilled when my friend asked me to make a baby quilt for a girl.

I think I was probably supposed to go a little more subtle on the girliness but I can't help myself. If you tell me I can use pink, there isn't much stopping me. My favorite print is the one that looks like pink peppermints.


Actually, I like them all! The back is a print of purple butterflies on a white background, but I needed to add a little length to it because I needed 1 1/3 of a yard instead of a 1/4. So I sewed the remaining stripes together, cut them down and sewed them together again to make a sweet little surprise on the back of the quilt.

My next project is a pink themed quilt for ME! Well, after I make something for my mom's birthday. Which is only a week away!

Shop Notes

I whipped a few box pouches up a few weeks ago. I gave one to my mom for a cousin and it felt wrong to not have a few on hand!

Luckily, they are simple to make! Once I figured out how, that is. Since I don't have a serger, I added a little bias tape to clean up my exposed edges. Someday, I will have a serger though!

Like August? It's my birthday soon, after all!

Happy Monday! You can find the box pouches here!

Market Bags

It's that time of year again! The Farmer's Markets are BACK!

I was unaware that the Market in Canon was open last weekend but I'm planning to make up for that this weekend! I have plans for a new hand woven rug from the local lady for my bathroom. Her husband sorts the strips of jersey for her to make into these thick, plush rugs. My mom got me a pink and purple one last summer for my birthday and I love it!

So since the market is back, I thought I should have some new bags on hand. Plus, I finally sold my stash from last year!

I think the one with the mixer, bowls and eggs is my favorite!

I also have a yard of the brown burlap left, I think it's time I visit my favorite fab-rick shop! :)

Of course, all my bags are listed here!

Shop Notes

So, I'm finally getting around to posting my latest scrap buster project: Checkbook covers!

Zebra print, because I know people go crazy for that kind of thing!

Innocent Crush

Parisville!

Another Parisville but a bit more subdued.

They can all be found in my shop!