Sunshine and butterflies

After a beautiful, sunny week in Arizona, it was a little difficult to be welcomed home by hurricane Sandy, but I'm counting my blessings that we suffered no damage, not even a power outage.  What better way to cheer up this long dreary week than to think of sunshine, butterflies and sweet little girls wearing sunhats and sundresses!? I just love how this little sunny day combo turned out!  I started with McCalls pattern M6541 for the basic Aline dress that buttons at the shoulders.  I added the butterfly, but still felt it needed something so I added a ruffle along the bottom and covered the buttons with fabric to match.  A sundress needs a sunhat though so I moved on to McCalls pattern M6539, adding the matching butterfly to finish out this sweet little outfit.  Both patterns come in sizes newborn through 24 months.  This is made in size medium, 6-12 months.  This one will definitely be featured in my Etsy shop, scheduled to open in the Fall of 2013.

Cheering up a rainy day

It's absolutely dreary here today!  What better to do on a rainy, icky day than dream of an upcoming vacation to sunny Arizona!?  Since our granddaughter will be joining us, I thought it would be fun to make her a little something for the plane ride.  I had pinned a cute tutorial on making a coloring pad and crayon tote a while back which can be seen here.  I took a look through my fabric stash, which is getting totally out of control, and found some cute sock monkey fabric and some coordinating alphabet fabric.  The tutorial was very easy to follow.  The only changes I made were to increase the size just a bit to accommodate the notebook I had.  The tutorial showed a 4x6 inch tablet, and I had purchased some 5x7 journal books at Michaels for 50 cents that I wanted to use so I just increased it an inch in width and height.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  Who doesn't love sock monkeys?!

Weekend sewing fun

I sure love weekends!  Especially when I get to spend them sewing.  I learned to sew in high school, starting with "Introduction to Sewing" in 7th or 8th grade, continuing on through "Advanced Tailoring" in 12th grade.  I wonder...do kids today still have that same opportunity?  I sure hope so!

Back then, I wasn't preparing for college, because it just wasn't something I thought could happen.  Luckily though, I did end up going to college and getting my four year accounting degree.  That degree allowed me to have a very rewarding career that I'm looking forward to retiring from next summer.  While my college degree made my life easier financially, my sewing skills are what's really brought me joy in life.  I'm so thankful to those teachers who taught me so well.

I haven't taken a sewing class since then (40 years ago...yikes!) but this coming week, I'm going to my first quilting class with my boss.  She promises it will be fun, and I'm looking forward to it.  When thinking about preparing for class, it occurred to me that I didn't really have a tote bag to carry quilting class supplies in.  So this weekend I made myself one using a pattern that I had pinned a while back on Pinterest. You can see it here.  I altered the pattern to make the finished bag 12" x 14" because the 8" by 10" size just wasn't going to suit my needs.  I liked the style though and the project was easy....start to finish in one afternoon.  Here's the finished result - hope the quilt i make in quilting class turns out as pretty as the bag :)

I also spent some time this weekend creating a baby girl gift set.  Anyone who has been following my blog over the past six months knows that I've made a whole lot of boy gifts, and it sure felt good to get back to "girly" things today.  There's just something irresistible about baby girl things!  Here's the newest inventory item for my future Etsy shop.  It's a burp cloth made of 100% cotton in a darling chevron print, backed with absorbent 100% cotton terry cloth, with a sweet, sleepy owl centered on a matching patch.  I've also included a 3-6 month 100% combed cotton onesie made in the USA by American Apparel  with a matching applique; and what gift set would be complete without a matching pacifier clip!  I love it!  Hope you do too!

Pacifier clip gift set

Now that I've made several pacifier clips, I thought it would be nice to have them included in a gift set.  So I made this burp cloth and baby bib. They are made of 100% cotton, and backed with 100% cotton terry cloth. So soft against baby's delicate skin.  Perfect for a new little baseball fan!  For someone who never liked making "boy gifts", I think I've finally got the hang of it.  Baby gifts don't necessarily have to be pink and frilly to be cute!  Hope you like it too.

Pacifier Clips Tutorial

Happy Labor Day Weekend!  It's so nice to have a three day weekend.  I'm thinking life would be more fun if every weekend was a three day one.  I mean really, don't we all waste about a day a week at work anyway?  Wouldn't we all be more productive if we knew we had a three day weekend to look forward to?  Maybe not, but hey, it's worth thinking about!  But that's not why I'm here.  I'm here to show you my newest creation...pacifier clips, and let you know how easy they are to make.  Because all of the supplies come in larger than you need quantities, it's easy to make several at once.

Step One - gather supplies - you'll need:

7/8 inch wide ribbon - cut to 16 inches long
1/8 inch wide ribbon - cut to 5 inches long
1 - 1 inch pacifier clip (also sold as mitten clips or suspender clips)
Glue gun
Decorative patch
Sewing machine

I purchased all of my supplies except the pacifier clip at Micheals or JoAnn Fabrics.  JoAnn Fabrics didn't have the pacifier clips, nor did Michaels, so I found mine here on Amazon.  I purchased a package of 25 for $7.95 plus shipping.  Just make sure that they are labeled "lead free" so you stay in compliance with CPSIA.  Also, make sure you don't make the finished pacifier clip any longer than around 7 inches.  You don't want it long enough to get tangled around baby's little neck!

Step two:

Loop the 7/8 ribbon through the pacifier clip and match up the raw edges.  Turn under 1/4 inch on each raw edge:

Step 3:

Fold the 5 inch piece of 1/8 wide ribbon in half and pin between folded raw edges of 7/8 inch ribbon:

Step 4:

Sew all edges securely, especially the end where the red ribbon is attached.  When making things for baby, you can't be too careful to make sure there is nothing that can fall apart.

 Step 5:

At this point, the pacifier clip is basically complete.  However, if you want to add a little fun, hot glue a decorative patch onto the metal pacifier clip.  I used my Brother PE-770 Embroidery machine to make mine, but you could just as easily purchase one already made.  Here a few that I've completed using different ribbons and matching patches.  These happen to be geared toward a baby boy, but the possibilities are endless, and you can be sure I have plenty of "girly" ribbon on hand to make up the next batch.  I'll post those pictures when they are done.  But for now, hope this little tutorial helped!

New Brother Embroidery PE-770

If someone had told me how much fun I would have with a new embroidery machine, I would have bought one a long time ago!  As it was, it was just kind of one of those ideas I had of something I might like, and with retirement about one year away, I decided it would make sense to buy it now while I still had a paycheck.  I could have purchased the machine on Amazon for about $75 less than I paid, but I wanted to keep my dollars local, and have a resource to go to if I had questions, needed lessons, or needed repairs.  So, I went to Riverside Stitchin' Quilt about 30 minutes from home and talked with the very knowledgeable Chuck Kennedy who steered me in the direction of the Brother PE-770.  What a great little machine!  It was relatively easy to learn to use right out of the box.  I tried several of the included embroidery patterns, and they were fine, but what I really wanted to do was applique'. So I started searching online for downloadable applique' patterns.  I found some really cute ones at www.secretsof.com.  I decided to put the "crazy gecko" pattern I choose on a denim bib since I already had all the supplies.  It wasn't the easiest thing I have ever done, but it was only moderately difficult to pull off, and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with the result.  Do you agree?

"Beaches in Mind"

It happens to all of us.  We've all had at least one classic craft fail.  Here's the story of mine.  Not to worry though, it has a happy ending.  It started with something I saw on Pinterest (of course).  Here's the photo from the original pin.  I'll fully admit, that I didn't follow the directions, so I'm in no way saying that it couldn't work the way described.  However, I have this thing against Mod Podge.  I've never had good luck with it (am I doing something wrong? I don't think so, but admit it may be possible!)  So, being anti-Mod Podge, I decided that I would use double-sided scrapbook adhesive to attach the pictures I had chosen to the canvas.  It was looking good! I was feeling pretty proud...but then, the final step, putting the copper-looking foil between the pictures.  This is when things went terribly wrong! I saw them going bad but kept going, hoping for everything to fall together in the end.  Well, it didn't.  The pictures were not attached to the canvas firmly enough, they were not laying flat, the copper tape was not laying flat.  To be honest, it was now looking horrible!  Not one to give up, I kept hoping maybe I was being over critical.  I gave it a day to sit while I pondered where I had gone wrong and what I could do to correct the problems with it.  I came to the conclusion that there was nothing that could be done to fix it.  The only way to get the end result I was hoping for was to start over.  So, I ripped all the photos and the foil tape off the canvas and headed back to Michaels.

I decided that to get the look I was going for, the canvas was the first problem.  It was too flexible, and there was no way that the photos would adhere to it without using Mod Podge or something like it.  Still being very anti-Mod Podge, I had to look for an alternative.  I ended up choosing a 24 x 36 inch white poster frame.  The original project was 24 x 30, but since my pictures were 6 inch square, another 6 inches really didn't matter.  It just added a row of pictures, and I decided it looked better sideways than lengthwise. The backing in the frame was good and solid (much more conducive to attaching photos using double sided adhesive).  I used Scotch Double-Sided Removable Scrapbooking Tape.  It took two 8.33 yard rolls, and wasn't the cheapest product I've ever used, but it worked beautifully.  I stuck rows of the tape all across the frame back in about two inch row intervals.  Then, as I placed a row of photos, I peeled off the tape backing a row at a time.  The photos were easy to place, could be re-positioned if necessary, and stayed perfectly flat once attached.

Thankfully, I had plenty of photos from three years worth of the "page-a-day Islands gallery calendars" which I've been holding onto because they were just too beautiful to throw away.

Now, the final step was to get the decorative tape between the rows.  Since this is when the last attempt had started to fail, I was a little concerned.  However, never having been one to give up, I crossed my fingers and kept going.  I hadn't really liked the copper foil look with these pictures, so this time I opted for white, to match the white frame and hopefully look a bit like window panes.  I used a product  called Recollections Mounting Tape.  It was double sided and acid free.  I placed it between the picture rows, and just didn't remove the white covering of the double sided tape.  If Michaels web site had a more comprehensive list of the products they sell, I would link to it, but I couldn't locate it online.  I found it easily in the store however.  It comes in 15 ft. x 1/4 inch packages.  I used two packages.  Now, the final step, putting it in the frame.  So far so good.  I was starting to feel confident now!

So, here's the final product.  Granted, it really doesn't look like the original Pinterest pin, but I love it!  It really looks exactly how I was hoping it would.  Other than the original fail, this project went really quick.  I had the whole second try done in one evening.  I've named it "Beaches in Mind" after the title of a Beach Boys song on their new album "That's Why God Made the Radio".  It's a beautiful song that matches this project perfectly!.

Research and development

I've been having some fun doing "research and development" (translation - playing at my sewing machine) in trying to find the type of items that I will sell on Etsy when I retire.  Even if that never comes to fruition (which I really think it will), I'm still building a lovely inventory of baby gifts for future babies of friends, or even future grand babies!  I'm still working on appliqued onesies...I just can't get enough of the fun colors and shapes.  Yesterday, I made my first denim bib.  Naturally I found the idea on Pinterest, which can be seen here.  It was actually one of my first pins back months ago when I first discovered Pinterest.  The pictures are below.  Let me know which ones you like and what  you think the selling price should be if it were for sale on Etsy....be a part of my research and development!

Batik tablerunner

I've just finished a table runner using the beautiful batiks I ordered from Keepsake Quilting.  I used fat quarters from "Batavian Batiks Collection" and "Autumn's End Batik Collection".  The pattern I chose is from  "Anka's Treasures" and is called "Framed Four Patch".  I absolutely love batiks and I have lots left from the two fat quarter collections I purchased.  Oooh...what to make next!

Onesies!

I've been working on such a fun little project that I just have to share it! As a favor to a coworker, I said I would applique fabric numbers onto onesies so she could take her newborn son's picture each month for his first year.  After completing the number appliques, I was having so much fun, I started experimenting with shapes - birds, giraffes, turtles, dinosaurs, flowers, cupcakes...OMG, the possibilities are endless!  I've had such fun playing with the designs, that I'm almost certain they will be the first item I list for sale on Etsy when I retire.  In fact, I just may not be able to wait another year...I may list them this summer!  Here's a sample.  Let me know what  you think.

Baby Boy Quilt

Finally, the third baby boy quilt is complete!  This quilt is for a fifth generation namesake, so I wanted to choose a pattern where I could incorporate a "five theme".  Somehow I was thinking that a star has five points so I would choose a star pattern, but most quilted stars have eight points, so that didn't work.  I could have appliqued a five point star, but i'm not that accomplished when it comes to appliqueing, so I kept looking.  I finally settled on a pattern called "Chautauqua" designed by Lorena Laumer.  The pattern was to make a 64 x 64 quilt, and since I wanted a baby size, I decided to size it down by eliminating two of the borders, and generally sizing down each square by a third.  Sounds simple enough right?  Not exactly!  It turned into a giant math problem that took me more than a little time to get to where I thought it would be close to right.  All in all, the quilt went together without any major issues, and I'm pleased with the result.  If you look carefully, you will see the roman numerals 1 through 5 placed on the quilt to recognize each of the preceding generations and to welcome, the fifth!  Hope "James the Fifth" gets many years use out of this gift. Now...can someone PLEASE have a baby girl!!!

Welcome Little One Cards

Since I've been making so many baby gifts, I figured I might as well make some baby gift cards too.  I'm a complete amateur card maker, using stuff I have around the house, and just plain creativity, but I like the results.  Here's my baby boy gift card:

The front:

The inside:

In case you can't read the sentiment, the front of the card says "Welcome Little One" and the inside says "Life's most amazing journey begins with the tiniest feet - Congratulations"  I just love that sentiment!  What an amazing journey having children is!

Bugs on the Nine Patch Quilt

Now that a certain special lady has had her baby shower, and she has seen the quilt I made for her, it's safe to post it on my blog.  Since she's a Pinterest fan, I didn't want to spoil the surprise by posting on my blog about her quilt.  Since she was decorating her baby boy's room with Pottery Barn Kids insect themed sheets, I used one pillow case from the sheeting set to start the idea train.  From there, I went to my go to fabric guru, Janice Shoup at Quilters Haven, and the "Bugs on the Nine Patch" was born.  The pattern comes from "Quilts for Babies & Kids", which can be purchased here.  It was a fairly simple project, which was quite a change after the Hollow Cubed Block quilt I finished in March.  Hope you like it!

Here are the fabrics I used, including the pillow case:

The finished front:

and the finished back:

Now, there's one more little boy about to be born that needs a quilt.  I've purchased the pattern and fabric, but am struggling with trying to size the pattern down to a baby quilt size.  I'll get it, but the math is challenging.  Does someone know an easy way to convert patterns to smaller sizes without changing the basic layout?  Once I finish the upcoming quilt (assuming I figure out the math), I would really love for someone to have a girl!!! Enough boy projects...I miss pink! :)

Hollow Cube Block Quilt

The hollow cube block quilt is now complete!  A special thank you to Janice Shoup of www.quiltershaven-newyork.com for helping me pick out the border fabrics.  I was really struggling with how to pull the colors together and she came to my rescue.  The finished quilt is just as beautiful as I had hoped it would be, and I hope the little baby boy who I made it for will enjoy it for many years.  The project was a challenging one, but I learned a lot and am pleased with the result.  Hope you like it too!  Below you can see the front and back:

Productive weekend of sewing

Aah, another productive weekend of sewing!  How I love not working weekends anymore!  It was well worth the pay cut.  I finished sewing each block for the baby quilt I've been working on.  Here they are before I sewed them together.  At this point, I thought my biggest challenge was getting the colors arranged...oh, how wrong I was!!

Somehow, I hadn't yet considered just how I was going to sew these blocks together.  I suppose if I was working from a pattern, or had taken a quilting class, I might have had a clue what I was up against, but as usual, I was winging it and making it up as I went along.  I sewed each row of blocks together - no problem.  My first hint of the challenge laying ahead came when I saw the rows lined up and realized that sewing the rows together was going to involve some very precise connections.  I tried sewing the first row to the second using my machine...complete disaster...out came the seam ripper.  Finally, after staring at the rows and trying to dream up an easy way to get the rows sewn together, I broke down and just sewed them together by hand.  There just didn't seem to be another way to get them sewn together with the precision needed to make the blocks looked stacked properly.  Looking back, if I had had a design wall, and hadn't sewn all the blocks before trying to hook them together, it probably wouldn't have been so challenging, but I don't have a design wall, or the patience to think that far ahead!  Aah, lesson learned (or maybe not)!  But anyway, at long last, my patience paid off and the rows were successfully sewn together.

Now, the next challenge...what color to use for the borders.  After putting several scrap fabrics behind the blocks, I decided on the darkest blue.  Next problem...Joann's didn't have that blue fabric!  I had purchased most of these fabrics in fat bundles, and unfortunately, not all of the fabrics were available by the yard.  Back to the drawing board.  After laying out several (and I mean several!!!) fabrics on Joann's cutting counter, I decided on a nice, bright green.  Green happens to be my least favorite color, so it took quite a bit of struggle for me to get past that.  However, the quilt is not for me, and the green really did seem like the best choice.  I also picked another cute fabric which I am planning on using for the back and perhaps a narrow border along with the green.  I'll be working on that exact layout in the back of my mind this week and tackle the actual "making it happen" part next weekend.  Hope the work week goes by quick!  I'd rather sew than work any day of the week - can't wait until I can spend more time sewing and more time looking at sunshine instead of clouds!

Fabric "Nana Made It" Labels

I've been working out of town for the last week and a half, so I've had to take a break from posting.  However, I have a few updates to share.  First, the hollow cube blocks are coming along for the rainbow baby quilt.  I have sixteen of the twenty-two needed done.  Still not sure what the quilt back or border fabric will be, but I'm working on it!

Another fun project I did a couple of weekends ago was making labels for my projects.  I used a tutorial found  on Pinterest using t-shirt transfer paper. I'd put a link here to it if I could find the tutorial I used, but it seems to have hidden from me.  I'll see about that in the future.  However, it was really easy after a little practicing on the computer and with the t-shirt transfer paper.  Here's the results:

Next week, it's my granddaughter's second birthday, which was a perfect excuse to try out my card making skills.  I've been pinning a lot of cute cards on Pinterest for inspiration.  I went all out and bought (as a little bit early birthday present for myself) a Cricut Expression 2.  Here's my very first attempt at card making.  When I get to be a pro, I'll probably look back at this card as pretty amateur, but for my first try, I'm happy with it.

Aahh...so many fun things to do...so little time to do them!

Hollow Cube Quilt Block

I know some very special people who are having babies in June, so I've been thinking about what I'd like to make for their babies.  I'd been thinking that I wanted to make a quilt, and after seeing pictures of quilts made using the hollow cube quilt block, and watching this very helpful tutorial, Hollow Cube Quilt Block, I thought I'd give it a try.

Here's the color palate I chose:

I made one test block using colors from my stash before starting on the real thing.  It was a worthwhile use of time because I didn't get the layout of the first block exactly how I wanted it, and I figured out a system for which pieces to sew first.  Once I had a little confidence, I moved on to the real thing.

Here's the first two blocks, using the red tones.

Christmas Gifts

Now that I've finally taken the time to download pictures from my camera, here are a few of the fun Christmas gifts I made this year.  As always, full credit goes to Pinterest for my inspiration!