Post-Christmas crafting and buying

I finally finished my felt garland, it was so fun and relaxing just to blanket stitch and watch Holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel. The garland instructions can be found on Anna Maria Horner's blog - thank you. Here is a close-up:

I also hit a the mall on the 26th of December. Mainly for returns with the family but

found some sales I couldn't pass. First a couple of Christopher Radko ornaments, definite splurge even at 50% off

I have been wanting this for several years and never get to Dillard's early enough. Imagine my delight to find two left at 3 p.m. on the 26th. Yes, it was 50% off, too. I used some money from a return and some Christmas money. We have had such fun playing with it, in fact, it is the only Christmas item still out.

Just check out the wording Santa's Fe, isn't that cute.
We just came home from a Christmas party with friends, such fun was had. My daughters enjoyed the evening, Christmas cheer and presents, yes, quite fun. Now to think about my 2007 sewing needs and wants. I do need some new clothing items.

Christmas Baking

Finally, I had time to do some holiday baking. A couple of weeks ago I made a few basic sweets but I was really wanting to try some new recipes from this book, Holiday Cookies. My husband and girls went out Christmas shopping, so my perfect opportunity had arrived. I made Crispy S'mores Bars (front of the plate) and Pecan Pie Bites (back of plate and by itself). I think I baked the crust on the S'more bars a bit too long but the Pecan Pie Bites look perfect. They do take quite a long time to make but I think it was worth it. The best part about the Pecan Pie Bites, I don't like this type of sweet, so no calories for me. I will be pigging out on my oldest daughter's fudge, that hopefully will be made on Friday.

Felt Ornament

This evening I made this ornament, thought it was appropriate for my college daughter. She pledged Chi Omega this fall and they have the owl as their symbol. I am going to write on the back the Greek letters and the year. I hope she thinks it is neat.

The instructions came from Anna Maria Horner's blog and they are great. Just take a look at all the inspiration. My current project is the felt garland. I am enjoying the hand stitching process while watching the Holiday movie marathon on ABC Family Channel tonight. My 12 year old twins are working on hook rug in the Christmas theme. Just a family crafting night, pretty perfect!

Another Stocking and My Tree

I finished the second stocking tonight. I am very pleased with the poinsetta design and my embroidery work was better on this one! Ready to try some of the felt garland and felt ornaments.

Here is my tree in the living room

I made the tree skirt years ago.

My New Space

Finally, after 4 months of working on this project, I have a new living room. I started in August gathering up items to sell or put away for future use. Then couch hunting, new window treatments, accessories (more to come), paint and then paint again. Here is the before, more of a country look with many, many knick-knacks:

That was the view from the front door. Here was the view from the hallway. Oh, I took pictures after I started going through my accessories, I didn't have them just sitting in piles like this!

Now, here is the new room, I love this room, it is beautiful, peaceful and just puts a smile on my face:

Here is from the front door:

I hired two sisters to do a faux finish on my walls, my first paint choice was just not right, looked pink during the daylight. Here is the treatment, hope you can see it, their work is so wonderful.
Finally, a softer picture, my flash didn't go off, but it is a pretty picture.
Plans for tomorrow night, put up the artificial tree in this room, it will go where the rocker is. One of my daughter's commented last night how much she loves this tree. The ornaments are all either glass or gold. The tree will go with this room much better now. Oh, we do have a real tree up in our family room, it is filled with all the handmade ornaments from friends, kids and myself. Such fun putting up that tree and reliving "Baby's 1st Christmas" and many other milestones.

Stockings

My girls decided their grandparents needed stockings. I was going to make some but found this at Joann's on Saturday for less than $2.00. I cut out a tree and added some blanket stitches and outline stitches (crude embroidery, btw, I am out-of -practice) to make it look like this:
I have a green one to start on sometime this week. I might do a poinsetta or a present or... any other ideas?

Cookie Time

I took a look at the calendar and noticed tonight and tomorrow night are the only free nights for cookie baking. The girls and I went to work. Peanut clusters, cinnamon roll-ups and Christmas cookies are made and in the freezer. My younger two were in charge of adding the food coloring to the icing. Well, they had a great time mixing the different colors on the back of the package. We have teal, blueberry, lavendar and a very light blue color. We do have the more traditional red, white and yellow. All of our Christmas trees are teal!!! The icing in the bowl is blueberry! We joked the cookies are Christmas shapes but the icing is Easter colors. We have the holidays covered.

On the Second Day of December I made a .....

purse for a good friend. I used some wool check I had leftover from a coat for me. Made the handles from corduroy and then embroidered the flowers on felted wool. I hot glued the flowers onto pin backs and my daughter arranged them on the purse. The wool doesn't have much body, even with a pretty stiff interfacing (2 layers). I think it will be fine.

Snow Day

A record, three posts in one day. I probably should have combined them but the posts have such varied themes. We received 10+ inches of snow, school canceled, no work. Now the sun is out and the snow was calling our names. Here are some pictures, I took advantage of the snow to snap some Christmas outdoor decorations, too.

Snow pile from clearing the driveway:

New Couch Finally - the end to the Couch Soap Opera

Remember this first Couch Soap Opera on October 23rd? Well, finally on November 29th, my replacement couch was delivered. And guess what, it is spot free. I had to call Ashley's to check on it and it had been delivered to the warehouse on November 14th, no one had called me for delivery. I think they were probably avoiding me after I expressed my feeling over the first one. Will I go back, no way.

My Santas

My aunt started this collection for me and tries to find a new white Santa every year for my present. I do love them.

Deck the Halls

I have been sewing but thought my Christmas decorations made better pictures. The picture shows my Christmas dishes and my newest collection . I really only like the blue and white ones, goes with my room! The Santa pictures on each side are from my cross-stitching days. They are really pretty, sometimes I wished I still liked to do that but then I think, no.

I have been sewing tops for my girls, 3 from Ottobre magazine. Then 3 tops for me and embroidered 4 towels in a Christmas theme for a friend. All but one item was in my blue theme for serger thread, now I have moved onto burgundy. I have a Simplicity knit top partially completed for myself. I really would like to make this McCall's 5007 in a pink tweed. I think it would be wonderful for the holidays. On my to-do list for this weekend. Most of my holiday sewing is complete, might make a purse for the piano teacher. Oh, click on the back to album link on the denim jacket and see all the different ways she has made this one.

I end my post with one more picture

Happy Thanksgiving

We have much to be thankful for every year but this year especially so. Thanks to God for all we have.

Wishing all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Fun Fabric

Just had to post a picture of this fun fabric. I bought it after Christmas last year at Joann's, I think it was 75% off. I had in mind, pj pants for college daughter and that is what I made tonight. I added fuschia ribbon trim to the legs and a ribbon bow at the waist. They are very cute for this Christmas Season but don't scream Holidays either. Also, made pj pants for high school girl and a top for me. I am on the light blue serger thread kick right now. I have one more top to cut and sew for me then onto another color. What might that be? I haven't decided yet, maybe cream or black!

Nightgowns

Another completed Christmas present. This is for my American Girl doll crazy, 8 year old niece. She wanted a nightgown for herself and for her doll(s). I thought about making a cotton and lace nightgown like this but I didn't have a good pattern for my niece and I really didn't want that style. I decided fun and bright, so I used this Ottobre 4/2005 pattern #18 nightgown. I added length but that is the only change I made to the pattern. For the American Girl doll, I used McCall's 3627 and used view C, the nightgown pattern. It had the basic lines of my Ottobre nightgown. The fabric is knit polka-dot and I love the finish gifts, I think my niece will too. Yes, heading off to update my Santa list again! The folded garment picture is the nightgown for niece and the doll, it was dark when I tried to get a decent picture.

More Christmas Presents Completed

Notebook covers for friends, teachers, and others. I made nine this weekend, one is missing. I have that one packaged to send my niece. I also made 4 fabric notecards. Heading to update my list, checking it twice like Santa!

Thank You

On this Veteran's Day, I want to say thank you, to all those who have served this country and all who are currently serving.

Some Pictures

Today I thought I would just post a few pictures from this summer. My college dd and I went out and about on a hot, hot July day. Did I mention it was hot? She took these pictures for black and white prints to hang in her apartment. I think they are beautiful. The barn is getting ready to be restored, not to original but it will be around for future generations.

Navy Blue Sewing

I seem to sew in theme colors, earlier in red, now in navy blue. Really it isn't a theme so much as I don't like switching thread cones on my serger! My top is
Kwik Sew 2694 and I have made it so many times. It really is a favorite. This time I made a few changes, my fabric is a navy rib knit, very little recovery. I took in 2" on the sides, still working on the right pattern size after some weight loss but some of the 2" is the fabric. I was short on fabric so, I thought, make it look like layers. Thus the white at the neck, at the sleeves and then the lace at the hem. I wore it to work and a couple people commented on my pretty shirt. Well, one was my hubby but still a compliment is a compliment!! Oh, I also added 1" to the bodice and 1" to the lower front. I really like where the bodice line now hits and the extra length is great.

Second navy sewing is a Bitty Baby outfit for my niece. I had this cut out early in the summer and just never got round to it. I am going to put in the mail for her tomorrow, she loves her dolls.

Third navy sewing isn't quite complete. I am making high school daughter a denim skirt, cute wrap around Burda with pleats. It is finish except for buttonholes and I ran out of thread, darn.

What color am I feeling next? I do have some gorgeous light blue fabric on my cutting table and above mentioned niece is getting an aunt made nightgown and doll nightgown for Christmas. One guess what color that fabric may be!!!

Built by Wendy

Finally, finished this top, it only needed buttonholes. Finished those tonight and now it is too cool around here for short sleeves. I will have a new blouse for spring. It is Simplicity 4112 and the fabric is a shirting from Joann's.

Oh, my Christmas present didn't last very long. I gave college girl her laptop bag when she came home this afternoon! She did love it. My younger daughters talked me into it.

First Christmas Present

Just finished my first present for this Christmas. Mark it on the calendar, it is just November 2nd and one present is completed!!! This is a Hi Tech Tote for college daughter, I used her sorority colors and embroidered her Greek letters. I am very pleased with it. I need to buy a tassel, as recommended by the pattern. I believe it needs the tassel to add the correct proportions between the zipper and the embroidery. I did put the embroidery in the spot recommended by the pattern. I think if you are going to omit the tassel, the embroidery should be moved up. I sure hope she likes it. I am planning on making Amy Butler's Weekender Bag from this fabric for her, too. Here's a couple of pictures. If you want more information on the Hi-Tech tote please see an earlier post on the tote for myself.





It has not been a great couple of weeks here at our house but all is much better now. God has answered many prayers, which we are very thankful. I am hoping to get back to some regular posts on my blog now.

My Couch Soap Opera

I contacted the store on Thursday after the couch was delivered (see Room Redo post) and told them my new cream couch was delivered with 13+ black-brown spots on it. Oh, please give us your name and number someone will contact you on Friday. Guess, what no call on Friday. I call them after 4 pm. We are so sorry mam, the technician will call you on Saturday or Monday. Can you guess? Yep, no call. I call again after 4 pm, get Mr. Smarty Pants, oh you are the lady with the 13 spots on her couch. How do you think they got there mam? I said, probably when the delivery man picked one end up on the truck and all the cushions fell face down on the delivery truck floor!!! He got a bit nicer but stammered and stuttered about coming out to look at it. We are very busy, just 2 of us here and I can't make it this week. Oh, well, that is fine but let's set up an appointment for next week, I get off at 2. So Halloween afternoon, Mr. Smarty Pants technician is coming out.

Wondering where I bought it? Ashely Home Stores it is the second couch I purchased there. We had no problems with the first couch, for college daughter. Just thought I would let others know and I will let you know how the soap opera ends. Here is the couch

New Bag for High School Girl

Daughter #2 wanted a new bag and looked through my Bag Boutique Book and picked out Louise Bag made from Amy Butler fabric. Also, one additional quilting cotton. I also made a tissue holder to match, fun and quick. Now look at the tissue holder in comparison to the purse, yes, the purse is tiny. I added the top border otherwise the bag is only 2-1/2" deep. Now it is about 4" deep. Still a cute bag for a date and the colors are great.

It was a great end to a great day. Our family went to a Chiefs game, pretty good drive for us, but too fun and they won!!! Yea, Chiefs!

Room Redesign

I have been working on changing my living room. My couch was a plaid and not good colors, lots of knick knacks everywhere in the room, busy valances and other things that pointed to "Mom, time to do something with this room!" Oh, teenagers, they keep you humble, but they were oh, so right. I will show complete before and after pictures when I am all done. At this pace, it might be a bit.

Last weekend my daughter #2 helped me paint the room, hubby hung the new curtain rods, and moved some furniture around. I was pleased with the color, until the new couch was delivered this afternoon. It is a beige fabric with more gray undertones, my walls looked like a good neutral until the couch was put in. Now they appear to have a pink undertone, I will wait for daylight to make my final decision.

Now let's get to the couch, it was delivered with no plastic around it or any covering, in the back of a furniture truck. I mentioned it was beige, right? I did pay for the fabric protection, that is a good thing. After it was put in place, the delivery guy notices a spot on the cushion and asks for a wet rag. Rubs the spot, doesn't look any different but tells me to clean it again after it dries. They leave, I move the end tables back, plug in the lamps and really look at my couch. We have counted at least 13 spots. I have called the furniture store, someone will be contacting me to look at it. They say it will be cleaned or replaced, you betcha!!! I have waited a long time for a new couch. With this, the room is again at a stand still.

I decided to make a couple of pillows for my new couch and to lower my blood pressure. Sewing is relaxing. I used this freebie pattern from Amy Butler's site - it is a great pattern. Fabric came from Wal-Mart and it is home dec fabric.

More Pictures of the Hi-Tech Bag

Detailed review of this pattern in the post below but blogger wasn't cooperative last night for more pictures. I am just adding the pictures here with a short descriptions.

Inside of bag - you can see the seam with the coordinated fabric binding and the other seam wiht the serged edge.

Bottom of the bag, inside view. This is a covered piece of Timtex, hand stitched so the bottom seams are hidden under the Timtex.


Inside view of the bag:

Holding my laptop:

One comment asks about the cost.... let's see do I really want to add it up- ha ha!!! Hubby doesn't read my blog so it is okay. No, I am just kidding, he wouldn't care.

Fabric - Just over 2 yards for all - so that would be $10 to $20 depending on type of fabric. Upholstery foam - I think I paid $20 for a piece and it will do 2 bags. Joann's doesn't cut this just sells it by the piece. Zippers, d-rings, heavyweight interfacing probably another $10 total. I guess I have $40 in this bag, I don't have any idea what a laptop bag costs but I know there isn't another one that looks like mine. Call that priceless?!?!!!