Goals Are Good

It’s that time again.  Time for me to give a quick run down of my goals for the new year for myself.  Because if you remember, I don’t make resolutions, but try and set goals for myself.  I did not, in fact, accomplish all of my goals for this year in their entirety, but I did make a valiant effort.  I stopped biting my nails.  They aren’t always that long because they usually break or tear, but I’m still very proud to have stopped biting them.  I did print a few of my photos and actually got one into a frame.  I made it through several months of my 365 and 52 challenges – but I don’t think I’ll be repeating those challenges for myself this year.  My very big challenge for myself did actually find it’s way into being accomplished…with a little shove from just the right people.  I didn’t keep up with exercising, but I did lose 5 more pounds!  (Yea me!) 

I am always thinking about my goals and ways to accomplish them.  I don’t have anything big planned for this year, but would like to see more of my photos printed and framed, and get into the sewing room more often to sew.  I received a Yudu for Christmas (and that is as far as I’ve gotten with it in the photo), so I’d like to start doing screen printing (with this and more traditional methods) for my shop and I want to get a few more quilt patterns off of paper and into production.  I think I’ll give myself a few more weeks to cement my plans for myself this year.  It’s good to have goals.

And on a side note, we are experiencing our first bout of croup.  It’s been no fun.  Brice got a fever Christmas evening and hasn’t even played with his toys yet he’s felt so terrible.  Unfortunately we had to start him on some medications to allow him to breath and try and beat this thing.  I am so tired and really can’t do anything more than be a mommy right now.  Which is very hard for me to do.  I am someone that needs to have a little time to myself each day, and it just isn’t happening.  The good news is I got everything cleaned up and put away Christmas evening before big-time-sick hit.  I will see you all back here very shortly and hope to have some sewing to share!  Have a very happy (and safe) New Year!

Folding Knitting/Sewing Basket

I’m sure you’ve seen one or two of these in the loveliest of 70s fabrics at one time or another.  I have had a few for awhile and just picked up a few more a couple weeks back and decided it was time to start recovering them.  So this was my first attempt.  It took me three days and lots of hemming and hawing, but I did finally figure out how to make the cover once again.  Of course I love the linen with the pops of patchwork.

Inside I lined it with a cute Lecien print and added a few pockets.  A little one for small embroidery scissors and then two bigger pockets for whatever it is you need pockets for.  Of course I went about it the hard way, making the small pocket separate from the larger pocket, instead of just making one big pocket and sewing off the small section like I did the two bigger ones.  Sometimes I like to do things the hard way. 

My hope is to get the rest covered and listed in the shop in the near future, but we’ll just have to see how long that takes me. 

Holiday Crafting

I stitched this up last week just because it was so darn cute!  It came from a Japanese cross stitch book I picked up last time I was at Kinokuniya.  I still don’t know what I want to do with it, so I stuck it in a little oval hoop I had. 

I’ve also been making a Dresden Plate for another project, which took me three days to complete!  I’m going to take photos tomorrow to share!  I still have a few Christmas gifts to make and a few to buy.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute to motivate me!

Bunny Ornament–A Quick Tutorial

A few of us quilt-y friends decided last month to do an ornament swap.  Our deadline to mail was this week and my secret partner got her ornament!  We roped Yahaira into choosing our partners for us so none of us would have an idea of what were were getting.  Jeni was my swap partner and I was so happy to have the opportunity to spoil her since she spoils all of us!  I knew right from the start I wanted to make her a bunny ornament and came up with the idea of doing a small patchwork stuffed one, but that didn’t quite turn out as planned.  The ears were too narrow to pull through, so I had to come up with another plan…because I wasn’t going to make another 66 piece tiny patchwork piece again.  So the project slowly evolved into what you see and I couldn’t be more happy with it!  I have plans to make an owl, and a Christmas tree with green patchwork, and…  Lots of stuff. 

 

So this will be a quick tutorial…because it’s really simple.  You really could figure this out on your own, but I’ll give you the template I used and some quick instructions. 

1. Cut out 66-1” squares from your fabric (I used my tiny scraps for this)
2. Sew the pieces together into 6 strips of 11 squares with a 1/4” seam allowance, making sure to use a shorter stitch length to better hold the pieces together.
3. Sew your 6 strips together.
4. Trace the bunny template onto the paper side of fusible web and iron on to the backside of the patchwork piece.
5. Cut out the bunny shape and peel away the paper backing.  Iron on to your backing fabric (I used a large scrap of linen)
6. Sew a running stitch around the outside edge of the bunny with three strands of embroidery floss.
7. Layer on top of batting and backing fabric (with fabrics right sides out).  Trim your fabrics with a 3/4” of the backing fabric left around your bunny.  Your rectangle should be approximately 4” x 6-3/4”. 
8. Edge stitch around your rectangle with a 1/4” seam allowance leaving an opening at the top to insert the loop later.
9. Trim your edges with a pinking blade or shears.
10. Insert your ribbon loop and top stitch opening closed.
11. Glue on your bunny tail (a pom-pom) with fabric glue. 

 

A lot of directions, but it’s really pretty quick and easy!  The tiny patchwork seems hard, but it’s really not.  It won’t be perfect – small patchwork rarely is – so just go with it.  Make sure to give yourself a small stitch length when sewing it together so it doesn’t separate as you work with it.  I’d love to see what you create - feel free to add it to my Flickr group!

 

You know what I especially love about this ornament?  I could see it hanging in a craft room all year long!

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Edited :: Per Yahaira’s casual request, here’s a dog for the dog lovers out there.  Just exclude the bunny tail part of the directions.

Edited Again :: And a kitty for the kitty lovers out there…

…and an owl

…and a robot

Small Things

I found this little egg cup at Crate & Barrel the other day, and just couldn’t resist buying it.  I knew it would make a great pincushion!

I also made up this tiny patchwork for an ornament swap I’m doing.  The finished squares were 1/2”!  I totally love the ornament I made!  I will share it with you just as soon as my friend receives it.  I don’t want to ruin the surprise, because seeing it would totally give it away. 

Somerset Ornament Tutorial

It’s been a little quiet around here, but that is always what seems to happen around the holidays.  Remember the ornament I made for the Christmas swap a few months back?  As promised, there is now a tutorial for you to make your own.  Head on over to Liz’s blog Say Yes! to Hoboken and see how easy it is.  (And ignore the fact that I spelled Somerset wrong – I was in a hurry when I typed it up!  I just hate making spelling mistakes!)  I’ll be back with another ornament to share soon!

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Updated 7/25/2011 - Somerset Ornament Template