TIS THE SEASON CHRISTMAS PAGES

Greetings Blog Friends!

I recently attended our monthly scrapbooking class.  This month we made pages for all of those Christmas photos anxiously waiting for a home!  We made 5 layouts (10 pages in all) and used up most of the kit with very little scrappage left over.  

Paper packet and embellishments from Close to My Heart.

Page designs by Kristy Schoon, our consultant and my talented daughter.  Thanks, Kristy.

Till next time....

Starting the Year off Right, Projects Completed!

Greetings Blog Friends,

Remember last week's post...the projects piling up on my sewing table?  Well, I've been working on the pile and here are results:

1.  4th and final NAP pillow (I had fabrics and pillow forms left over from Christmas projects)

2.  Pair of Packer pillowcases 

3.  Bench pillow ( winter theme)

4.  Jelly Roll hearth rug. 

5.  Packer stocking cap repair (sew tassel back on for grandson)

6.  Jeans repair (restitch a weakening seam).  No photo, but this repair is DONE!

7.  Christmas stocking (I made this one for Denis for Christmas.  I left the top area of the stocking open, giving him the choice of putting his name there or filling in with "snowflakes".  He has decided to use the stocking as a decoration, so I filled in the open area with "snow".)

YAY!  Task list complete.  I'd say I should get an A+ on this effort!  On to the next project, but what is it?  Tune in next time to find out!  Till then...

Dressing the Fireplace for Winter

Hello Blog Friends!

Well, winter is finally here in Wisconsin!  Today was a snowy day, and what better to do than work on a sewing project?  Today's project was the final touch on a fireplace makeover for winter.  

Since we moved into our house in April, I have hated this cement hearth.  There was a wood burning fireplace in here before us (we have gas) and it is soiled and discolored.  Oh, I know I could clean it (and I will, eventually), but for now I have decided to just cover it up.  Ick:

The jelly roll rug was a perfect project for this!  I followed directions in the pattern Jelly-Roll Rug2 by RJ Designs.  For this winter hearth rug, I chose a jelly roll in the Woolies Flannel line by Maywood Studios.  Woolies fabric line is cotton flannels in prints that resemble woolen items.  It is perfect for cold and winter themed projects.  Rug size 20" x 40".  I used 31 of the 40 jelly roll strips in this project, because I made to fit the hearth. (I already have a plan to use the other 9 strips in another project.).  Here's the rug on the hearth:

I fronted the rug and hearth with another project that I finished earlier in the week.  Let It Snow is bench pillow size, 16" x 38" finished.  It features wool applique shapes (fused, then sewn down with buttonhole stitch) on blue toweling.  The back is a Fairy Frost print by Michael Miller.  Pattern by Shabby Fabrics.com.

I loved the winter greenery garland so much as part of our Christmas decorations (with colored lights) that I decided to use it with the winter theme decor.  I switched out the colored lights for white ones, and voila, the look is complete.

This room makes me happy!!

Till next time...

Question from reader re: Camper Sweet Camper

Responding to comment/question from reader ca regarding Camper Sweet Camper post( see original post here):

Q:  Why didn't you use a blanket stitch around the fused applique?

A:  My answer is simple.  In general, I do not care for blanket stitch to attach applique.  It just isn't aesthetically pleasing to me, especially when in a contrasting color.  I have, however used it in the past...it depends mostly on the project and the end result I want to achieve.  It also depends on how the item with the applique will be used.  As a matter of fact, I am currently working on one of the projects included in my recent post, Starting the year off Right.  See it here.  I am using the blanket stitch to attach the appliques, mostly because it is a decorative item that will not see much use...it's only job is to look pretty!  LOL   Another item on the Starting the year off Right list is the NAP pillow.  On this project, I used a tight zig zap on applique edges because this item (hopefully) will see some wear and laundering as it gets used.  See that original post here.  I hope this helps to answer your question.  Thank you for visiting my blog and for your interest!

Starting the Year Off Right!

Greetings Blog Friends!

Yipes!  Is there a sewing machine beneath that pile?

Well, I'm starting the year off with a bang.  Here is a list of the projects piling up on my sewing table:

1.  4th and final NAP pillow (I had fabrics and pillow forms left over from Christmas projects)
2.  Pair of Packer pillowcases (cut and ready to sew)
3.  Bench pillow ( winter theme, in process)
4.  Jelly Roll hearth rug.  (Fabrics and batting ready to go)
5.  Packer stocking cap repair (sew tassel back on for grandson)
6.  Jeans repair (restitch a weakening seam)
7.  Christmas stocking (I made this one for Denis for Christmas.  I left the top area of the stocking open, giving him the choice of putting his name there or filling in with "snowflakes".  He has decided to use the stocking as a decoration, so I will fill in the open area with "snow".)


These are all fun and/or quick projects....I just have to find the time to work on them!  I can't believe it, but we have a totally FREE weekend coming up.  I plan to spend some of it, whittling down that list!  How far will I get???  Tune in next post to find out!!

Till then....

CAMPER Sweet Camper Pillow

Greetings Blog Friends,

Here is another item made for a Christmas gift to some good friends of Denis and I.  They bought a brand new travel camping trailer last year.   Here is a cute pillow that I made for them.

This is truly a stash busting project.  All fabrics came from odds and ends, bits and pieces of my fabric stash.  Fat quarters, 2 1/2" strips, 5" charm squares...all sizes and shapes were searched for just the right fabrics.  

Pattern:  Camper Sweet Camper by Farmhouse Threads.  All pieces were fused on the background and stitched down with a small zig-zag stitch.  The words "Sweet Camper" were hand embroidered as well as the accent details on the doors, curtains and hitch.  Finished size: 18" pillow.

Till next week...

Christmas 2018 Gifts Revealed

Greetings Blog Friends!

Happy New Year to all!  The hustle and bustle of my 2 week Christmas celebration has finally drawn to and end.  There were many treasured times with family and friends.  Here is a recap of the gifts made and given this year:

Tote bag for niece Heather.  See the original post here.

Scrap catcher bag for niece Heather.  I've been making these pretty and useful scrap catcher bags for years.  They can be used for sewing or scrapping.  I use mine mainly at scrapbooking retreats.

Harry Potter pillowcases for daughter Kim.  Now she can dream in HP!

NAP pillows for brother-in-law Gordon and son-in-law Rick.  See the original post here.

Go Pack! Pillowcase for son-in-law Chris.

Minion Lunch Bag for daughter Kerri.  See original post here. 

A new felt and sequin stocking for Denis.

Zig Zag Flannel Quilt for granddaughter Hailey.

Ric Rac Paddywhack for granddaughter Bridget.

It was a great Christmas.  Time to make the list and start sewing for Christmas 2019!  After all, Christmas is only   days from today!  Next time....January projects for little 'ole me!

Lunch with Minions!

Greetings Blog Friends!

My daughter Kerri is crazy for minions.  Remember the quilt I made for her for Christmas 2017?  See the original post here.  She made mention last Christmas that she needed a new lunch bag.  And, being the gifter that take note of everything that is ever said, I made her one for Christmas this year.  It took some doing, however, because the fabrics I wanted are out of print, but through the wonderful medium of the internet, they were easily found and a Minion lunch bag was born.

Pattern:  Grab Some Grub 2.0 byannie.com

I made some design changes to the bag, but the form is the same.  Mesh fabric and hardware closure was purchased from annie.com.  The bag uses Soft and Stable stabilizer and will stand up on its own.  

This was a fun project to make.  I accessorized it with some lunch containers and also made a matching placemat out of left over fabrics.  

Kerri loved it!  Enjoy!