Creating for the Holidays in mySewnet

Embroidered gifts are fun anytime but I find the especially fun at the Holidays.  Here is an idea for a mug rug, ornament, gift tag, table runner or really anything you want to put embroidery on.

I have created a how-to video for this item.  I embroidered it on bamboo, no raveling and I love the texture.  The square frame is the last to stitch out, so after the running stitches, stop the embroidery.  Once the machine is stopped, remove the hoop and cover the outlined area with felt, I use tape to hold it in place.  It is a special tape I buy at my local Pfaff dealer, Satin Stitches and it is easy to remove.  Once the felt is taped on, put the hoop back on and start stitching.  After it is completed, I used my rotary cutter to trim up the design.  I leave the bamboo at this and then cut the felt close to the line.

Hope you enjoy.  Disclaimer - I am a mySewnet ambassador and do receive compensation and product for these posts.

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday America!!

Have a wonderful day and enjoy all the food, fun, family and fireworks.

picture from The Barn Artist

Thanks to all who have served our country and kept us safe.  Let Freedom Ring.


I will be spending part of the morning in my garden and a few other activities.  This will be the lowest-key 4th of July for us in history but will be celebrating with family in a couple of weeks.

My Little Dinosaur

After several years of not making costumes, I am back in the costume making business.  A dinosaur for my little guy and I am bias but I think he is the cutest little dinosaur.

I used Simplicity 1767 for the base of the costume, it was in his size.

Simplicity.com

This pattern is just a sleeper with a shorter zipper.  It went together quickly and all I changed was added more elastic to the hood.

These were all cute costumes in this Simplicity 1767 pattern but little guy's mom wanted him to be a dinosaur.  So I used Simplicity 1765, this one was in the larger size range but worked perfectly for the details.

Simplicity.com

I shortened the tail, added spikes to the back of the costume and to the hood and it was really starting to look like a super cute dinosaur.  I just wondered how I was going to attach the tail.  Well, little guy's dad said, you can't attach it, he won't be able to sit in his carseat.  Oh, yes, that is right, so the tail is attached with 3 snaps.

The tail is heavy and does weigh down the bottom of the costume but it still is so cute.

His parents took him to five houses and he performed for everyone.  In fact, he loved crawling in his costume.  Oh, yes, one more addition, I used the breast plate (or whatever you might call it) from the larger pattern for the front.  I am so happy I used this detail, it really adds to the costume.

Now a dinosaur has to be able to walk on the back legs and this little guy can do it ......with some help from his mom

You can see in the above picture, I didn't quite make the tail proportional, it hangs a bit low.  Good thing you only have to be a dinosaur for a couple hours so a low hanging tail isn't too much of a bother!


One thing I know for sure, this cute little face makes this Nana's heart melt.

Hope you had a very Happy Halloween!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  This year I have so much to be thankful for:

• Health is top of the list, my family is healthy and strong
• my husband, daughters, son-in-laws, parents and extended family
• new job and opportunities
• a grandbaby on the way
• friends, at home and many I friendships I have made through the sewing and blogging community
• sewing - a hobby I love
• and the list goes on and on

As I celebrate this Thanksgiving with family, food, fellowship and laughter, I want to remember all my blessings.

Here is a picture of my most precious blessings:

Paige, Kaitlyn, Meredith and Erin in November 1996

I learned how to smock after the twins were born, this jumper pattern was one of my favorites and I made it several times for them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a great day with family and friends.  We are getting ready to hit the road for a 5 hour drive for our Thanksgiving celebration.

We are taking these cute little treats which Kailtyn made last night

Aren't those darling pilgram hats?  We are putting in the way back so I don't eat them all on the way.

Happy Thanksgving

Fourth of July Cake

Kaitlyn used this cake tutorial to make this



You can see more of the flag design in this picture

Isn't that the coolest cake?  Kaitlyn had so much fun making it and everyone at our family picnic thought is was fabulous.

Our day was spent:

Swimming

hubby napping





Talking - my parents and brother.  My parents just celebrated their 50th anniversary a couple of weeks ago

fireworks, taken on itouch

A great day for celebrating!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

I Finished the Last Present for 2010

Two weekends ago, Paige (dd#1) helped me cook the twins' birthday dinner.  She was dressed so nicely, so I gave her Kaitlyn's apron to wear.  She thought it was great and that is all it took for me.  I made her one for Christmas.

My only change was to self-line the pockets.  The main fabric of this apron is one of my favorite prints in the quilt shop right now.

So my Christmas sewing is complete, hurray!

Sharing on

PIllows for Presents

My girls have a wonderful couples (another grandma and grandpa of sorts), who we celebrate Christmas with one evening.  I try to think of a few things to make for her.  Pillows are the first gift I have made so far.  She loves dark jewel tones and I used the pillow pattern purchased from Oh Fransson titled Chopped Vegetables.  I really like how she uses a zipper on the back in place of an envelope back.

Here are the pillows:

Christmas Tree Skirt

Erin needed a tree skirt for the Christmas tree in her college apartment.  She loves bright colors and most of the ornaments on the tree are bright red and aqua. So when I found these colors in a Christmas fabric line, I snatched up 2 yards.  I started it this morning at 5:45 a.m. before work and finished it up this afternoon after work. 

Here is a close-up of the fabric and the colors.

I just cut out the red fabric in a circle pattern, this link has information on how to cut it out steps 4 and 5.  I used a gallon paint can to cut the center and then just cut up one of the fold lines for the back opening.  I used a piece of muslin for the back of the red fabric (sewed RST and turned out), this eliminated bias binding.  Added the ruffle, ribbon ties and some topstitching.  Quick and cute, my kind of holiday sewing project.

Crafting

Yesterday, Meredith, Kaitlyn and I spent the afternoon in my sewing room.  Kaitlyn worked on Ruffled Christmas Trees, I did the ruffling and she did all the hot gluing.  We made several of them as the pictures show.  We used ribbon, osanburg, fabric and also used some quilting cottons from a jelly roll.  Those strips are precut 2-1/2" wide with a small pinking on each side.  I cut them in half (1-1/4") and did the basting on the cut side. 

Meredith was looking online for gift ideas and found all the zipper tutorials.  She made headbands, brooches, rings and hairpins.  I am wearing a brooch today.  Here is some of her crafting.

It was lots of fun and we are planning our next crafting day. 

Christmas Planner and Scrapbooking

Now that Meredith's room is complete (and thanks for all the compliments, greatly appreciated) I have been doing a bit of scrapbooking.  Behind is what I am, that is for sure.

This morning while reading my blogs, this wonderful idea for a Christmas Planner was featured.  I knew right away I wanted to make at least three and the first one I finished tonight.

This one is for Paige, my planner and organizer.  She takes care of all our Black Friday shopping needs.

The twins and I went to a new to us scrapbooking store on Saturday and they had paper covered boxes.  Kaitlyn wanted to make these and we bought the supplies for two.  This one is for Paige, part of her Christmas from Kaitlyn.

Here she is with her creation: