Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Make a Smilebox greeting

Christmas gift giving

Christmas napkins

I made twelve of these for the holiday and plan to make many more.  I love using cloth napkins over paper.
The plan is to make a mixture of all kinds of fabric.  This picture is a way I came up with folding so both
sides would show.

These are the steps I went through.

Here I simply folded in half up and under.  You could put you silver ware inside pocket or put napkin
on center of plate.  I pre-washed my fabric so I know they will not shrink.

Reader Tips

Reader Tips – Plan Your Projects

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I wanted to share this. I think it is a great idea to do. I fail in this area.

Make a Patchwork Christmas Tree - CraftStylish

Make a Patchwork Christmas Tree - CraftStylish

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Bath Wrap

I finished this bath wrap for my daughter today.  It has been on the "back burner" for way too long.  I think she began to think I was not going to get it made for her. 

 

I put yo-yo's on the top, layered in three sizes with a button, and dotted the letter "i" in her name with an extra small one.  She was so pleased with it.

For security I put two large hooks and industrial velcro on inside.  She is quite modest.  I am very happy I've finished it for her. If she takes it to college next year, she can be confident it will not fall off in the dorm.

This was my first attempt at making yo-yo's.  They seemed to be smaller than they were supposed to be.  Or of course it could be my crafting gone wrong!

Halloween

I was going through some things of my youngest daughter today. She will be graduation and going off to college, fall of 2010.
I was enjoying myself reminiscing her early years.  I found this outfit that I made for her doll along with same outfit I made for her.  Her costume has long been passed down, but I saved her dolls outfit for keepsake.  I am posting a picture of it. 

The outfit is made out of simple craft (acrylic) felt.  You can tell that the fabric balls up over the years, but is still in pretty good condition for a costume.  I remember making it very quickly as a last minute gift to her.  So please don't pay too close attention to my stitching!  It was the thought that counted.  

Rooster Boy - Threads

Rooster Boy - Threads

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Something Old

     I was going across things in my sewing room and thought a few of you would find them interesting or maybe bring back memories. The pincushion was given to me the summer of 1979. I gave a girl swimming lessons and this is what they gave me for High School graduation. I also received for graduation my first Gingher Scissors and Pinking Shears.

     The felt needle book with embroidery on the front is about 30 years older than that.  A lady that made me a quilt for graduation gave it to me.  The cover paper you see is from a very old needle holder.  On these opposite side it is imprinted with "non-rust needles".  You can tell they have all been put to good use.

Holiday Clothes

I made these reversible pants for my step-grandsons.  Halloween print on one side and Christmas fabric on opposite.  The stripe cuff goes with both.

I put one inch elastic in the waist. I have recently learned you can put button holes in your elastic and add extra length so you can let it out as they grow. My experience is they grow taller before being larger in waist.

The top I appliqued with black pinwale corduroy and button stitched white eyes.
It's so much fun sewing for these little fellows!

Splatter Mats

I have been busy this week making splatter mats for my two step-grandchildren.
I had been putting off sewing with oilcloth and found that is was easy.  I had read
a few blog posts talking about possible difficulty of sewing with this fabric.  I am quite pleased about the way these turned out.

I made them reversible and put velcro tabs on them so they would be easy to roll up and keep shut while not in use.

Photo collage pillow

I had fun making this pillow. My daughter put her favorite photos of she and her boyfriend on a CD and this was my first try photo on fabric. She cropped some of them old so the shapes are all different. I just embroidered their name and date. We gave it to him for his birthday. He really liked it. Now a bunch of her friends on Facebook are wanting me to make one for their boyfriends. I might have something starting here.

Craftzine.com blog : Hawaiian Flower Crochet Motif

Craftzine.com blog : Hawaiian Flower Crochet Motif

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This is such a pretty crochet motif. I wish I knew a little more about crochet and had more experience. For you that can crochet well, this is fabulous!

Picnic Quilt

Picnic Quilt
Originally uploaded by sparklygreenknickers

Isn't this a happy quilt. I love all the colors.

Gifts

I made my grandson two things for his birthday. The memory board I made out of burlap and twill. He is going to have a "Cowboy" theme room when he gets out of his crib. I am thinking I might make him some curtains or valence out of burlap for his windows. His Mom and Dad want a "Retro Cowboy Theme".

The little outfit is a jumper from Martha Pullem Store size 2T. I used a cookie cutter for

my Razorback applique and then cut out the word from some other Razorback fabric.

He lives in MO, but All the family are Razorback fans and alums.

We just spent 8 days with them on the lake. It was wonderful. We celebrated his second birthday.

Really Great Hat Cross Stitch Pattern

Really Great Hat Cross Stitch Pattern
Originally uploaded by gableknits

Here is a fabulous cross stitch pattern. One color would make it real simple. I think I am going to have to make one for a friendship for Christmas gift.

Fabric

It took me hours of staring at this fabric before washing it. I think it is beautiful.

My neighbor wants me to make her a duvet, bedskirt and pillows out of it. I love all the colors. I am washing fabric because she wants to be able to wash when she needs to clean it. I knew fabric will come out of dryer a bit wrinkled and I couldn't wait to get it pressed before sharing.

There are so many beautiful butterflies, little bugs, inch worms; but in a very sophisticated fabric.

Pool, Cushions and River

I went over to my neighbors house across the street and placed her cushions I made for her. She had picked out the fabric and brought it too me. The shop did not sell her enough so I made do by buying a stripe to complement the table cushions. I took some pictures from around her pool which I am sharing as well.

I have decided that working with foam and cushions is not my favorite. The two inch mildew resistant foam is hard to cut. For the benches I bought 1" foam and sprayed glued them together to make two inch. It was much easier!

If I could have gotten to her upstairs porch (no one was home) I could have gotten better pictures of their incredible view of the Arkansas River. She get home from out of town today, and has no idea they are out there. We are out of town as of today also.

It will be a surprise when she gets home.

I hope everyone is going to enjoy a wonderful July 4th weekend. I sure am. I will have both of my daughters with me and their friends at our get away lake house. I certainly want to say thank you to the Men and Woman of the Armed Services for their past, present and future service to the United States of America!

Lake

I am finishing up on 8 outdoor cushions for neighbor across street while enjoying our weekend place at the lake.

This is a picture of one and looking at my view from my chair. The other picture is of my little sewing kit I brought over to do my sewing and a couple of Threads DVD's. Next post I will share some more pictures of our little get away. We collect Art so if your interested please check back in!

Potato Prints and more creative crafts projects, templates, tips, clip-art, patterns, and ideas on marthastewart.com

Potato Prints and more creative crafts projects, templates, tips, clip-art, patterns, and ideas on marthastewart.com

Here is a great idea to do with your kids this summer. You can make your Christmas wrapping early!
Also any birthday's coming up this fall. I think it would also be great to let the kids make their own wrapping for their father's day present.

Craftzine.com blog : How-To: Paper Bead Bangle

Craftzine.com blog : How-To: Paper Bead Bangle

This is a cute craft with kid or teens this summer. Thanks to CRAFT- from the makers of MAKE

Spa Wrap

I made this for a graduation present today. My machine didn't do so well on corner of pocket decorative stitch. I am still learning on my new machine. It looks really good on anyway. I put the applique on a washcloth that I attached as a pocket. It lays flat across the front and gathers from large elastic insert across the back.

marble champ corner

marble champ corner
Originally uploaded by lizzyhouse

This is one of the prettiest quilts I ever seen. It is by Lizzyhouse. You can find her blog http://www.lizzyhouse.typepad.com

Repurpose before and after

I found two of these stools in a storage room at the lake. My husband said they were his grandmothers gardening stools. My husband will be 59 next month, so that tells you how old they are. We had a rainbow flag we were not using, so I thought the material would be perfect. I am attaching one of the stools before and after. We are going to use them for our grandsons to fish off the dock with. (when they get old enough, of course).

Here is the after picture. ------------------------------------------

This is the before picture. ------------------------------------------

Baby Shower Gift

Two baby shower gifts given

I just gave away two baby shower gifts tonight at a double baby shower. One is for a boy and the other is for a girl. I had fun making these. The pregnant ladies are expecting their first babies. I used monkey's in both. One is just more feminine than the other. The one with pom-poms, also has them on the other end.

Baby Shower Gift

The is for a baby shower I am going to this coming Wednesday night. The first photo shows a diaper she specifically asked for from my women's group. I added the burp cloth and bib to go with it. The burp cloth is the pink gingham on the back as well. Inside the burp cloth is a double folded 100% cotton diaper.

This bib is backed with yellow flannel that match the inside of the daisy.
Here is another photo without the bought diaper.
I am really pleased with the way they turned out! I sewed a yellow flower stitch around all the edges. The reversible red cherry dress below is what I made for her older sister when she was about eight months old.

Growth Chart Two

Here is the second growth chart I made. Very similar to the other, but one this one I used a plastic name take that opened at the top and added ribbon for frame. I glued a small tape measurer to the side and they can mark on the front. His toddler room is going to be done "retro cowboy".

Growth Chart Tutorial

I have finished the first growth chart. This one is for Henry. I used mog podge to apply ribbon tape that I picked up at Hancocks. After finishing, I decided to to spray Fast-Drying Polyurethane. I just used one coat. The little picture frame I anchored with some pop-cycle crafts sticks. You can change the picture out as you wish. I left sides of pop-cycle sticks unpainted so they would] show up for you to see. I attached

a hammer saw tooth on back to hang.

Growth Chart

These are growth charts in the making. I went to Home Depot and had a 1 x 6 board that was pre-primed cut into two 3 foot lengths. I bought scrap paper at Hobby Lobby.

One of my grandkids is going to have a Cowboy Toddler theme in his room and the other grandchild has all different bright colors to go with his black and white theme room posted earlier.

My next post will be by finished product. I spray painted the boards flat white. I bought the wooden figures at Hobby Lobby. I plan on attaching tape measurer starting at 24". These will be hung 24" from the floor, so the total height will be 5 feet.

I bet by the time they are 5 feet tall, they will no longer want them in their room!

Bazze's Halloween overalls

Here is an outfit that I appliqued on Old Navy Overalls. The appliques I got from

Youcanmakethis website.

Easter Eggs

I made these for my table this weekend. I got the idea from thepurlbee. I just used some scraps I had. I am wanting to start quilting and laid out 64 cuts of 5" square cuts to follow along with "You Can Make This" quilting and I chickened out on my color and pattern decision. I'll certainly try again later.

I hope all of you had and have a wonderful Easter Day and Weekend!