Leaf Potholder Gift {Quilted}

I may have giggled when I had to look up my own Pattern to check if I was remembering something right.  Hubby needed something to send with a bottle of wine as a thank you for someone allowing to stay at their house instead of a hotel this past week.  These potholders are so quick and a lifesaver!!

I'm actually contemplating making some as gifts this year for Christmas.  We shall see!

Nothing Special

Sorry......

I don't have anything special to show or anything profound to say today. 

I whipped up a gift card holder late Wednesday night.  No particular reason other than the fact that I was tired of them cluttering up my wallet.  

Yes, I know, I should just be using them. 

The problem? 

I just haven't been in vicinity of these particular establishments recently. 

And I think it will be pretty handy come Christmas time.  There usually are a lot of gift cards to wrangle up. 

If that doesn't seem to be the case, I might just stick store loyalty cards in it.  

Or maybe when I am sending someone a gift card, I just might whip one up for them and tuck their card in it?

But I will leave you with this little nugget:

"Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.”

...Sand Between Your Toes

A good friend called me up two weeks ago.  

She was wondering if I could embroider monograms on some beach towels.

  

Not just these four.......fifteen of them!

 

My machine ate this one.  So my solution was to make an applique to fix the oops!

I am sharing this because the towels are special gifts.  Her daughter and friends are off to a beach house after their Senior Prom tonight.  What a great gift idea!

  I wish I had come up with the idea.

So next time you know someone is headed to the beach for a special occasion.  Consider having some beach towels personalized just for them!

Edited to add:  And, by the way, as I was embroidering them, I prayed that they had a safe time!

Time, Talent, and Treasure

     The three words we hear from our pastor on the subject of Stewardship.  Many have the misconception that the churches have their hand out for your money (treasure).  But the fact of the matter is that they need our time and talents.

As a mother of three boys that are attending parochial school, I use this same philosophy towards my efforts for school.  Of course, we pay tuition, but I try to spend some time and put my sewing and crafting skills to work also!

So what is this colorful mess?  This year's contribution to our school auction.  Admittedly, I decided to help my friend who wanted some help for PURELY selfish reasons.

I wanted one something ALL for myself!   This is my oldest son's last year at our school.  He is graduating from 8th grade.  As much as he would love to stay, our school include the high school grades.   My girlfriend and I really wanted to make our 8th grade project special.  It is the last chance we can get something made/designed especially by our child.  Each student chose a charm and a paper.  They also were tasked to write a paragraph either thanking their parents, describing what their experience at the school meant to them, or something spiritual.  They then asked them to pick one word to be placed in the bezel.

We wanted to just make pendants.

But then realized, unfortunately, that some of our students have lost their mothers.  Yes, one left us way too soon just a few months ago.  So then we thought of other uses for the bezels.  

We came up with these:

 

We thought...

• key chain
• Christmas ornament
• rear view mirror decoration

Frankly, anything you can think of, right?

So I probably will forget to hand in my receipts from the large purchase of supplies, so there is my treasure.  Oh yeah, I have to buy mine too!  As for time...many hours, thankfully shared with a good friend.  Trying to get 75 students to cooperate wasn't as easy as it sounds.  Let alone making sure we used the right paper and charm for the right kid!  And talent?  Not mine, just bringing my knowledge to the table for this one!

  As you can see above, I already put Josh's in a shadowbox, but I hear that the moms are already planning to wear theirs at the graduation ceremony.  I better get the glue dots off the back of mine so I can wear mine too!

  I PROMISE I will post the tutorial on how to make these sooner than later!  And I have a funny story that proves that motherhood does cause brain damage (as Bill Cosby would put it!).

 But in the meantime....aren't they pretty all laid out?

Brand New Heart

"Only God can take the pieces of a Life that's come apart and patch it all together to make a brand new Heart."

Quote and design from: Love and Friendship Quilted Pillows

I really wanted to do at least one project for a new sew-a-long blog challenge.  It involves my favorite group of ladies "Crafty Sewing Mamas"  Do you just love that name?!?!?  Anyway, today is the second week of the blog challenge.  I missed out on the first week because I have had my hands full.  And honestly, don't think I will be able to participate every week.  I am hoping that I can at least make a dent in the list this year!

This week's project:  A pair of pjs or something for Valentine's.  I decided that I wanted to do something that not only was Valentine's, but also related to our blog love-fest "What Love Really Means".  I hunted through my MANY books and found this foundation pieced pillow design.  I instantly knew that it would be perfect.  I needed a pillow cover for the Valentine's holidays for my studio, wanted to do a bit of piecing and quilting (it has been a while) and I thought the quote was so fitting for our goal this month!

I just LOVE when a saying or a quote fits my mood and I can use it as inspiration for my projects! 

My life was in pieces...and God has patched it together.  I think He is doing a pretty good job!

 

I have never attempted foundation piecing, so this was quite a joy to do! 

 Keep your eyes open for a tutorial (shooting for tomorrow)!!!

TUTORIAL HERE!!!!!!

And as always........totally made with scrap fabrics I had.  The background fabric is an single loney napkin I had hanging out in my stash.  You know that always makes me happy to use up items from my hoarded supplies!!!!

Baby Bunting

"A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on."

-Carl Sandburg

First off, excuse this horrible photo!!   I have had sick kids and now a sick husband for over a week and a half.  I had to take these at night...not my favorite time of the day to take pictures.

This past weekend, however, I was bound and determined to concentrate on Button's arrival.  

I have been forcing myself to realize that we might actually have a healthy, hollering baby in our arms next week.  It is a tough thing to imagine!

  Because we don't know if Button is a boy or a girl, I really wanted to make a few special onsies for the first few weeks before we hopefully do some major gender specific bedding and clothing shopping!

So I did a Valentine's lollipop, a green/yellow rattle applique, and a sweet lamb!  JJ feels the V-day onsie is a bit girly, so it may not ever be used.

And speaking of GIRLY stuff.  I just couldn't help myself...matching hats........

A fabric flower daisy with a silver button center!  I love the yellow and green combo!

One rolled fabric rose with a leather button center.  One rolled ribbon rose with a pearl button center.  And a ribbon pom-pom on the side.  The buttons are from my "special stash"!

An Oragami Folded Fabric Flower with a felt heart button and a small pink button.  This one might go back to the worktable though....I think it needs a few more petals for a bit more volume...and a little more red fabric wouldn't hurt.

Now the REAL question is........

If Button isn't a girl, what lucky little baby girl will get these?!

Never be afraid....

"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic."
— Dave Barry

This project is all about firsts! 

Fourteen years ago, I bought patterns to sew my firstborn child outfits.  I bought enough fabric for two to three sleepers.  Hubby's grandmother gifted me her "snap" tool. 

I even packed my sewing machine on a plane to California and we then hauled it all the way to Texas in our little Ford Escort to Officer Basic Camp where I had to spend 11 weeks before getting stationed in Virginia.

I cut the fabric out with the patterns, started sewing it, and then.........nothing.  I never thought to make a baby outfit ever again.

So this week has been about firsts!  This is my first baby item to ever be made by me! Okay...the first baby item that was completed other than a quilt or a blanket!

The other first?  The button fabric/embroidery applique!  I designed it all by myself using my embroidery software.  I am so excited it to try my hand at some more elaborate designs now.

But can I tell you something that I think is funny?

Hubby had no idea that the applique was a button.  I started getting nervous.  I asked the boys what they thought.

All three said in unison, "Ah mom, you made a bib with a huge button!  That is awesome for the baby!".

So phew....no worries!

and yes...all from scrap fabric I had.  I am seriously making a dent in my fabric stash!

Butterfly Kisses

Jamie's Quilt. 

 When she was born, we were enthralled with the perfection of her feet.   We could not keep our hands off of them.   We used her quilt for some of her NILMDTS photos.  She looked just precious on that quilt.  A few months later, I told hubby that I was going to embroider her name and her footprints on her quilt.  I was nervous, but he thought it was a good idea. 

 I chose brown to go with the quilt, but now wish I had gone with either a bolder larger font or a different color.  The background is so busy. 

But honestly...it doesn't matter....I love it.

So this leads to my charity:

 

I have finally perfected the digitizing and embroidery process.

Any baby loss momma that has a blanket or quilt that they would like to have their baby's name and footprints or handprints on....please contact me.

Yes....the footprints are the EXACT size of her actual footprints that were done at the hospital.  All I need is a scanned copy of your baby's or babies' footprints/handprints and the measurement (length and width) so that I can digitize them for my embroidery machine.

 
This is all free of charge.  I have already received a bit of funding to get this off the ground!

If you are currently carrying a baby with a very poor or fatal diagnosis and would like your baby's name on their blanket for their birth day, I can also help you out.  I have done a few already....and one of them actually defied his odds!  He is quite the healthy infant.  Boy, were those doctors wrong!

 If you are interested please fill out this FORM HERE or contact me on my FB page!

Emergency!

Emergency, you say? Yes, it is!  Every school nurse has to tote along her mints, water, bandaids, and tissues!

I finally finished the clinic's emergency bag.  I am happy with the fact that it is all recycled materials.

It was print from the old clinic window treatment.  The red from a valance we used to have in our garage (see the tabs?) and the denim leftover from when I did the boys' room 8 years ago!

A double applique!  So much fun.  The school plaid for the cross and the red heart from that leftover red fabric!

It was a lot of fun to make.  It has 8 pockets on the outside and 6 on the inside.  What more could a nurse need?

  I just wish I had made my outside pockets just a little shorter and the handles just a little longer.

But, hey!  Not every project that I do has to be perfect!

Hello 2011!! Hopes...not goals!

The New Year brings resolutions....but I have never liked that.

The New Year brings goals....I have always liked them, but don't like the feeling when I don't meet them.

So I am going to call these, my hopes!

• Internet hopes:  I hope that I get my website whipped into shape quickly....preferably before the arrival of Baby Button.  I hope that I can use the Internet to connect with more crafter/sewers so I can improve my blog and website. 

• Grief hopes:  I hope that all the mommas that are lost and confused when faced with a poor or fatal prognosis, find the great group of women I have "met" on my online support group.  I hope they find this blog and see that their lives can "go on"...but with a new meaning. 

• Sewing:  I am hoping that I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!!!  I hope that I can make customers happy, balance my own family's sewing needs, and still find a bit of time to do some charity work!  I hope that my repertoire really does expand to more than housewares and quilting.  Kid/baby clothing...here I come! 

• Baby Button:  I hope he/she arrives safe and sound.  It is all that matters.  After that...I hope that I can rein in my worries and be "normal" mom instead of crazy anxiety ridden mom!  And I hope Button keeps inspiring me to make unique things for others!

• Embroidery:  I hope I keep learning more about embroidery and my own machine.  Maybe a more commercial machine in the future....but that might have to be a hope for 2012 or 2013!!

• Quilting:  I hope I finish the pieced quilt top I already have.   I hope I make more!!  I hope to have a quilt for my own home for each season to use/and or display in our family room.  I hope that I get a Quilting longarm machine.  My machine just does not accommodate large quilts as well as I like.  I hope we find room for it!  I also hope that I can try my hand at a t-shirt quilt.  Then I can do so for others.  I also hope that I finish a certain family's memory quilt.  Their dear father's shirts and items are safely tucked in a bin in my closet.  No...I don't hope, I WILL get this done by the end of the year!

• Crafting:  I hope I remember to take photos all year of the different things I have done this year so I can share them with my blogging/online craft friends!  I hope I get all of the Christmas ideas that I never got to are all done before it arrives again next year!

• Scrapbooking:  I hope I finish my 2010 Family Album.  That would make 2 whole years complete (out of the 14 we have been married *insert grimace face*).  I hope I can also complete 2009 and stay on track for 2012!  Other albums I'd like to finish?  Christmas album, CTT mama pages, Josh's School Album, Disney Trips Album, update the other two school albums....and attack at least one of the two little guys' baby books.

• Family: Last on this list...but certainly not least.  I hope that I can meet every (or at least most) needs they have.  I hope that I always remember to put them first, even if I do have a long list of Hopes.  But, I think I already know that because I am calling them hopes...not goals. 

So here's to hoping!!!!!!

Impatiently Waiting

I am waiting....

• Waiting for my friend to show me a possible logo idea.

• Waiting for my ultrasound that is tomorrow to make sure Baby Button is truly okay in there.

• Waiting for my christmas present (I bought this with all of my birthday and Christmas gift money...and hubby pitched in some of his "take" too!)

It is the Westminster Big Shot Pro Shape Cutting Machine.  It is by Sizzix.  I chose this over the Accuquilt GO! and Studio for a few reasons. 

1.  I already have a substantial investiment in my sizzix dies already!
2. There is a 5 yr warranty vs 1 year warranty on the Accuquilts.
3.  It is wide.....13 inches wide!
4.  With a bit of shimming you can use Accuquilt die cuts on it (according to other bloggers)
5. According to research, the Sizzix dies are cheaper
6. You can order a custom die........HOW COOL IS THAT!!!

• I am also waiting for these three dies that I ordered with my new machine:

 This is the Daisy die cut....Love how I can use it!

This is the sunflower/poinsettia die cut.  LOVE IT!




And last, but not least...........

Yup!  A Butterfly.  Hubby talked me into this one with a lot of arm twisting (note the sarcasm!)

And if anyone knows me.......while I wait.........I shop for instant gratification.  DOWNLOADS!

I bought some new fonts from Five Star Fonts.  I love their unique applique fonts...like this:

Do you like?  Good...because I bought it!  HOW FUN IS THIS!!

And Embroidery Fonts like this:

Do you see the embroidered dots inside the large fonts?  The dots, fill, and outline can all be different colors.

Boggles the mind!  Or at least mine....

And, yes, I had to have it!!

And while I was perusing...I was found a bunch of FREE downloads like these:

 

VERY FUN!!

I also picked up a few free fonts and actually paid for some cute new fonts!

So I guess waiting isn't always a bad thing???

Merry Christmas

I am posting this a day late, but I have to show everyone!

  I finished Jamie's Christmas Stocking on Christmas EVE!!! 

 I debated making her a stocking, because it will hang empty every year....but I have put a lot of love in each family member's stocking that I thought why not?  When I asked the rest of the family last year, they didn't even blink...of course you are making her a stocking, they said!

All of the boys' stockings had Santa on it, and for some reason, when I chose my design, I had a snowman.  I had chosen it because it had a "quilted" look to it, so when I realized the boys had santas, and I was a girl and had a snowman....I had to find a snowman design for Jamie!

I have to tell you, I was adding the beads on Christmas Eve afternoon and JJ came down and saw that it was almost complete.  He exclaimed, "Mommy!  You have her stocking finished just in time for Santa to see it!!" How sweet is that!

I actually finished sewing the fleece to the back today so it actually did not get hung in time for Santa's arrival.

 But that is okay, he already saw it!

 I can now start thinking about Button's stocking.   I bought a stocking holder for Button this year since I bought a new one for Jamie.  

 Except, now I have to wait for him/her to arrive before I chose a Santa or a Snowman design. 

Any bets?

A Very Special Gift

Daddy did it again!  He always amazes me with his thoughtfulness.  We don't generally exchange a bunch of gifts.  We usually agree to spend something on the house.  Once in a while there is a small gift under the tree.  I usually put together a picture gift of some sort (framed photo or photo album). 

This year, the boys really wanted to get Dad a gift with me that he had his eye on (the Dremel Trio).  I didn't really expect anything under the tree because we are busy "updating" different things in the house to get ready for Button's arrival.

Instead, there were two tiny boxes for me!  A necklace charm and bracelet from James Avery!

Aren't they beautiful?

  Butterflies to remember my Jamie and they even have my favorite flowers......daisies!!!!

Happy Winter

I love to crosstitch, but whenever I finish a project, I wonder what I am going to do with it.

One day, I was wandering Hobby Lobby and saw a pillow that was embellished like the one I made with buttons and random stitches. 

It caught my eye because it was, of course, made with scraps of different fabric.  I clicked a picture so I wouldn't forget and kept it for later.

I decided to make another throw cover.  Storing pillows are a pain and it is much easier to just recover the same pillow!  I made the cover like a sham so it is easy to take off after the season is over.

I pieced the scraps of cotton, felt, and upholstery fabric and then stitched the crosstitch project right on top with an embroidery stitch on the sewing machine.  I frayed the remaining edges of the Aida cloth (linen colored).   Added buttons tied on with twine, and then added a row of crooked crosstitch stitches with yarn (on the right side).

Happy Winter!!!!

Kris Kringle

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!

  -Hamilton Wright Mabie

 I forgot how fun Secret Santa's were until we were invited to join our "Kris Kringle" exchange at work.   I don't usually feel like I am good at this.  Inveritably, I wrap a gift thinking it is pretty good...until I my Secret Santa gives me an awesome one.  Then I feel bad for the recipient of mine.   This year I feel pretty good about my gifts.  This year, we were limited to the amounts, so that made me feel a "little" better.   The first gift had to be a religious item. I found a really awesome necklace with a cool cross and bible saying.  The next was snacks!  My reciepient's request was sweet/chocolatey.  I decided to go out and buy some candies.  When I realized I was going to fall into my old ways and just stick the candy in a bag...I halted all insane action.  I found this great INEXPENSIVE jar at Target and decided to fill it up with the chocolate.  I then wrapped ribbon around the top  (using double-sided tape on the inside to prevent sliding and twisting).  Added the Reindeer pez dispenser (isn't he cute!).   I then simply printed out a label by finding a great clipart on Microsoft Word.  Added double sided tape to the back.

Not too bad, is it?  I was thinking this would be great as a gift for co-workers, neighbors, the local drycleaner...whoever might like a bit of Christmas cheer that doesn't break the bank!!!

My Angel's Ornaments

 I am sure I don't need to explain why Christmas was difficult last year.

I actually wanted to scrub the whole holidays, but I couldn't because of the other three gorgeous darlings we have.  They don't deserve to have the rest of their lifes drenched in darkness.

The boys have been so supportive since the moment we told them that Jamie was "sick" even before she was born.  They had as much hope as we did.

I can honestly say that I was there when all three of my boys first had their hearts broken.  It was the day they had to say goodbye to their little sister.

Last year, we found this cute angel ornament.  It isn't fabulous, but it seemed the best way for us to be able to have her precious feet forever on our tree.  We were so in love with the perfection of her tiny feet!

This year, we wanted to get another ornament.

How precious is the saying "A sister loves you at all times"!!

This Christmas we hung her ornaments on a silk tree in our "angel" room. 

Really, it is just a formal living room that we have dubbed the "Library".  It is where we have our formal living room furniture, bookcases, and a secretary desk. 

We renamed it so that it became a more approachable room for us to use.  There is someone in it everyday.

Why our "angel" room?  I have the ashes of our puppies that have left  us and I have a few sweet angel statues in there.

So I hope to have her tree in there next year!

We are in transition of purchasing new trees and have decided to wait until next year to get a special tree just for all of her ornaments.

I have some old pearl and pink colored ball ornaments I plan to use.  And of course, I found some more beautiful pearl and green ornaments.

I can't wait to do a whole tree just for her!!

Scrappy Quilt Wreath



 Finally finished a Christmas project!  This does not take long and can be done sitting in front of a fire, or if you are like me, in front of the TV watching a great movie!

I know this fabric looks a bit "old"...because it is!  Normally I would not do a minty colored green, but this wreath was made with only things I already had sitting around my studio.  The green scraps are actually from my first quilt (remember...the one in my Climbing post?).

BTW...while I was working on it, my hubby started cracking up.  He said that some day I am going to be sending hideous gifts to my grand kids someday just like his grandma.  I had to laugh, because I agree, the fabric is a bit "dated"....but I love that I finally used up this old fabric taking up space in my fabric stash!!!

TUTORIAL

Supplies:

Sewing Machine (only for a small portion)

Scissors or Rotary Cutter

Straight Ruler (love my Omnigrids!!)

Hand Needle

Materials:

Corsage Pins (pkge of 144ct)

Styrofoam wreath

1 strip of wired ribbon (about 12inches long)

10 strips of "red" fabric (2inches x 12inches)

125 (approx) strips of 3 different "green" fabrics (2 inches x12 inches)

135 strips of batting (1 inch x 10-11inches)

1 square of scrap green fabric to cut a 4 inch circle.

Thread (any color because you won't see it)

Directions

 Step One:

Cut your strips.

Sandwich the quilt batting in between the folded

piece of fabric.

After doing a few, I found folding the corner down to start made a better roll!

Keep rolling until you have an end like this:

Then like the beginning, fold the corner of the end like

this:

Then thread your hand needle to secure your roll.

First, I came through the roll from right to left.  I did two stitches to get this cinched look.

Next, I sewed from top to bottom.  Two stitches will do the trick!

When you have it nicely cinched...tie off!

Cut excess thread, flip over, and push corsage pin through. 

Step Two:

Start attaching all your rolls to your wreath.  I actually reccommend a more rounded  one.  I only used this squared off one because I already had it in my stash!

Try to do clumps of three of the same fabric to get a nice verigated color look. Don't forget to put three berry clumps with your red fabric rolls intermittently! 

Use one corsage pin per green roll.  Use three pins for each berry roll to make them a bit different.

Step Three:

After all your rolls are done, you are in the final stretch!

Next, wrap your ribbon around the wreath and pin in your last berry roll.

Then you will need to make two leaves (see tutorial below!)

Flower/Leaf Tutorial

Cut out your ONE 4 inch circle and then cut in half.

If you were making a flower, you would use 8 circles!

Fold the half circles in half, right side in.  Sew the resulting straight edge.

When finished, turn it inside out and you will have a cone!

Then fold your cone in half again.  Make sure the seam is in the middle so it will be hidden!

Weave your hand needle to make a stitch every 1/4 inch.

Then cinch your fabric.

Do not cut your thread, repeat step to add the next leaf.

NOTE:  If making a flower, you would do this with 8 more "leafs" to make a flower.  Also add a button!

(I might do a complete separate tutorial to explain that a bit more later!)

Add your two leafs underneath your berry.  I decided to leave my seam side up so that it would like a leaf vein!!!

And my finished project is looking pretty darn cute above the quilt I did 14 years ago.  I can't believe it!!!  NO more mint green fabric in my scrap stash.  More room for newer fabrics!!!