My handmade Christmas

Gifts for the Dale clan...(bag, monkey, penguin, coasters)

Gifts for my men...(a rice bag for each, and pieces of a quilt) The boys love the rice bags. Tutorial here (of course)

I didn't get pics of the placemats and coasters I made my mom, but they're pretty.

Of course, not all of it was hand-made, that would be crazy.(but cool!)

This is what was given to me...A perfect blu&brown crochet hat, geogous wool hand bag, earrings, and the prettiest woolfelt pincushion ever! (and yummy strawberry hand-made soap, and a lavender home-made candle AND..tins of delicious home-made sweets!) THANK YOU all!!

Sometimes I Ice (lots of pics)

Last night our family joined Daniel & Cindy for some official Christmas House building and Grinch watching. We had a great time. Can you guess who's is who's?

I also made a christmas purse for the ocasion: (From...Bend the Rules Sewing!)

Meme part 1: Gifts (and more iceing!!)

These wre made at Amy's on friday. So fun! Then, yesterday we did it AGAIN in school. I'm all iced out!!

Sew Mama Sew has put out an invitation to join thier holiday blog meme. I love to play too, so, here are my answeres!...

Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give? Bags. I love making bags, but one only can use so many.
If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making? I''ve made a few gifts, but I won't show yet. Just in case. Last year I made all the gifts on my list. Every year I like to make an ornament for each family in our family. Here are some. Haven't started this years yet(but I'm excited about the pattern(s) I chose...yoyos!!or buttons...or pnked edges or...I'm running out of time!!)
Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received?I made my boys flannel PJ pants last year on my serger. I used the wrong stitch and the seams ripped out on both the first time they wore them. We saw their bums. I fixed the seams on my regular machine and they are now the favorite PJs which makes me so happy!
Do you have any great gift compilation ideas (a grouping of gifts just perfect for certain recipients?) I love a movie basket with popcorn and candy. Though I've never done this as a Christmas gift.
Name one thing on your personal wish list. Scalloped pinking shears. for fun cutting. I really like scissors. A lot.
Do you make and sell things that would make fantastic gifts? No, but I have been wanting to do a craft fair the last 3 years. Thing is they are always around the holiday time. I grew up going with my mom to all kinds of craft shows, and I love them. (only got to see one this year)

Off to more gift sewing and baking and wrappin and visiting...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Baby gift #2!

Here's another bib! I love this pattern. Everybaby gets one!! There's a blankie and sock baby, too. (I love the sock babies.) The pattern came from a library book about sock dolls. PHEW!! If only I had more to show. Christmas is practically here and my crafty list is GROWING instead of shrinking.Yikes. Time to get serious and prioritize.

Oh Christmas Tree

Today...

I made some trees AND we got our tree!!

(OK, I made the trees last night)They have jingle bells inside and tiny ones on top.Pattern from the Small Object. Quick and so fun I made 4.

AND...

YAY!!!

Hand made gifts...

If you were excited about Sew Mama Sew's Handmade Holiday daily idea lists, you'll love this too: Martha Stewart has a holiday "craft of the day"!! If only I had more time to craft and sew!! My project list is getting longer every day!! (So glad for finals this week...no more homework soon!!)



p.s.Look--I figured out how to hyperlink!! (assuming they work)

I am thankful for...

• My family (ALL of them!)
• The sunshine today
• Air popped popcorn
• pie
• old friends, new friends (both I got to spend time with this week)
• busy days
• slow days
• colors
• turkey with gravy
• time with my husband
• health
• pre-school
• finals week
• Snow?
• chai tea
• Christmas is coming!!
• my boy's good attidudes and hard work
• Freckles
• Big brown eyes
• God's grace (that He continues to pour into my life moment by moment)

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

Pleated...WIP

Cindy & I worked on these Sunday...

I whined a lot, but it was a really nice day. I can't wait to finish mine...

Pretty Fall Bag

Charming Handbag from "Bend the Rules Sewing". Finished on Monday! Very simple pattern, though I had to figure out the handle dimentions 'cause the pattern didn't list it. It was an easy figure, though! This is some of my Favorite fabric...so pretty! Can you see the snap? The bibs have snaps, too. I don't know why I didn't buy/use a snap press a LONG time ago. I loveit! 8 bucks well spent.

*edit* For the casings I cut 2- 2" x 6 1/2" strips, for the handle I cut 1- 2" x 26 1/2" strip (or you could piece 2- 13" strips)

**edit** Oh yeah...Don't forget to clip the curves before you turn it right-way out(otherwise you have to turn it back and do it, then turn it right again. )

Sometimes I Bake

I love baking (and then eating it), and on a rainy, blustery fall day pumpkin bread just seems like the thing to bake. So I did...




Whole Grain Pumpkin Bread (I got this from iChef.com and changed it a little)

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees, grease 2 loaf pans

1 1/2c. flour

1c. whole wheat pastry flour

1/3c. wheat bran*

1/3c. wheat germ*

1/3c. oat bran*

*or 1c. total any grains you like or have on hand

2ts. baking soda

2ts. cinnamon

1ts. cloves

1ts. nutmeg

1/2ts. salt

1/4c. finely chopped pecans (I leave these out)

Whisk these all in a large bowl

2 eggs, beaten

1c. Oil

1 1/2c. packed brown sugar

1/2c. molasses

16oz. can pumpkin

Whisk these together

Add the liquids to the solids, stir well. Pour evenly into your 2 loaf pans and bake 1 hr. until pick comes out clean (mine always smells like it is burning about 10 mins before it's done, but it's not) This tastes best out of the fridge the next day for breakfast with some chai. Yummm...

Baby gifts...1 down

This is what I made for my friend Cindy & Daniel's baby! I am very pleased with the plane bib.(That's my last bit of that fabric.) The bibs are from Amy Karol's "Bend the Rules Sewing".( you can visit her here http://www.amykarol.com/) I love this book right now. All the projects are quick and simple and fun. BUT, I did have to have James enlarge the patterns 'cause I couldn't figure it out. Thankyou, love!
I drew the frog pattern based strongly on a frog pattern from a library book.
The shower was so nice, and I got to chat with some friends I don't see often! Amazing how my community of friends/acquaintances is so connected.

Speaking of lists...

I am so excited about this ! Fun for me!! I just wish I had time to sew one a day. That'd be super fun! Time to get buzzin'!

http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/ This is where the button is supposed to go. I am not so clever with computers.

I love lists

Christmas is coming!! Time to make lists! lots of lists. Wish lists, gift lists, baking lists, crafting lists, address lists, shopping lists, chore lists, party lists, and so on! First list, though...Thanksgiving pie list!! Wanna see?

1 blackberry

1 peach vanilla

1 blueberry

1 pecan

3 pumpkin (1 sugar-free, 1 with fresh pumpkin)

1 apple (maybe)

first three are in the freezer now! Check, check, check!

Hallow-late

This is what I did for Halloween this year...
(sorry, it's blurry)

And this is just fallish and pretty...see the cricket?

Work not yet in progress

This morning I forced my children to go into Sue's Stitch in Time with me in search of the perfect frog fabric to inspire a baby gift. Instead Z found some fun pirate ships and a nice map fabric. So, today I am pondering how to make this a not too cheesy gift....maybe I like cheesy.

TA-DA!

My mom's birthday gift all done!! It's a peppermint stripe lap quilt made with love. and...fancy stitches!(that you can't see 'cause I'm a point-n-click photographer)

I also have some pre-school displays to show 'cause it's fun!

Yay for fall! and corn and pumpkins. And...I am loving the super-flying leaves in the wind today. It's a good day.

He Fixed It!

Hereis the WIP pic.

nothing to show

I have not drowned in my projects pile. But they seem to be multiplying YIKES! I intended to post once a week, but I have nothing to show. except this...no pictures!! Stupid Adobe is holding them hostage until I register, BUT it won't let me register!! James'll fix it. The pictures show a little friend's 1st birthday gift (finished since last pic) and two WIP's...a scrap scarf and my mom's birthday quilt. Dumb adobe.

Today I will

Buy some orange sticks(dark chocolate) and clean my house for dinner guests and wish I had time to work on my mom's birthday quilt (that I started at least 2 years ago!)maybe tomorrow...

I Finished some more!

I finished my quilt!! This is MY quilt, but if you come by on a chilly day, I might share. I'm working on yo-yo's out of the small scraps because I like these fabrics so much! No waste.

These are some over-due gifts. SSSHHH.

Funny pantsed monkey

Here he is!!!His pants are awful...But I had my heart set on the frog fabric. Lesson: ALWAYS measure.(but I probably won't) I have a quilt to show, too!! And...I started a scarf from the quilt scraps while sewing with Cindy. Maybe that'll get done tonight....

P.S. The monkey's a Christmas gift so, SSSHHH, don't tell.

One Down

One million to go...A fovorite shirt..........."how'd you do that?" he asked. I hope he's pleased.

Up next...a sock monkey in funny pants!

For Bambi

No-sew pillowcase skirt! http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11118 Family fun is a great place for kids projects.

Free Beginner Projects

A bag is a good place to start: http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/vintagefabricbag_03172005.xml

Or maybe a pillowcase skirt: http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/2006/05/pillowcase_skir.html

Christmas is coming: http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=55d076ecfd22f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=stocking%20pattern&rsc=ns2006_m1

Everyone needs a pin cushion: http://crafts.kaboose.com/pincushion.html

Hope these suit your budding seamstress. Happy Happy sewing to you & Gabby!
Martha is a great place for projects.

Maternity Stumped

here is a tutorial to adjust regular patterns to fit an expectant belly: http://rowena.typepad.com/rostitchery/2006/04/full_tummy_adju.html


This shirt could be altered http://fitzpatterns.myshopify.com/products/0408-kate-batwing-top-sewing-pattern

That's it. That's all I've got. Shalisa, you've stumped me! I just don't know where to look for maternity patterns. BUT...If you want to make a mouse: http://www.kidscraftweekly.com/pink_mouse.pdf or http://sewingstars.com/mousepattern.htm

Free Baby Patterns

First request...Baby sling and swaddling blanket. I'm afraid I may be stumped on the swaddling blankets. BUT, here's a great looking link with LOTS of free sling patterns: http://www.mammasmilk.com/pages/makeyourown.php . There ya go Cindy. :)

*http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/elprojects/SimpleProduct_ELP.aspx?CS_ProductID=PR1273&CS_Category=Children%20and%20Nursery&CS_Catalog=Elprojects HA! found a swaddling blanket pattern (thanks to someone on craftster!) It's just an oval with a pocket in the center to stuff the baby in. Easy (skip the embroidery steps)http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=95090.0 some good tips for 'winging it ' here.

as to the quilt pattern request...I can give a million places for that! What do you have in mind?

Don't buy patterns!

I love to waste WAY too much time admiring others' work and searching for and reading patterns. This has lead me to form the opinion that, if you are not too picky, one need NEVER pay for a pattern for what one may want to make. For example, I am making a quilt from a pattern here: www.freespiritfabric.com/core-pages/patterns.php . I'd like to test my theory. Tell me something you want to sew, knit, crochet, etc...and I'll post a link to a pattern or tutorial. I can find it! Just leave a comment to play with me.

*edit--I still will buy patterns. But, sharing is fun!

UFO!!

The otherday, at http://turkeyfeathers.typepad.com/ she presented a FWYH (finish what you have) challenge. This got me thinking about my UFO (unfinished object) pile. It's out of control! I'll play too!! Sept/Oct is "Sometimes I Finish What I Start"!! (This is not everything!)YIKES!

I have sewn before

This is the quilt I made for my nephew Amadaeus. My boys drew the animals! I machine quilted the wavy lines on it. By far the best machine quilting I've done. (it took me over an hour to get the pictures on here!)

Me too!

I really do NOT need another project. But, I enjoy reading others' craft blogs and some friends' blogs so, on a whim...Here I go!!! My intent is a craft blog. Maybe I'll be more inclined to finish things if I think someone is waiting to see it! I probably should learn to do picture stuff on here, too. Hmmm...Hopefully, I did'nt bite off more than I can chew. I don't want to choke.