Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Wee Wonderfuls Elf Boy


Wee wonderful elf boy
Originally uploaded by hmsohly


Stitched, quilted and stuffed, this is the boy version of the Wee Wonderfuls Elf Stitchette. The girls are adorable, too! The kids got them early so they could be part of the holiday decorations. The photo of all three on the couch was fuzzy, but the boy alone turned out great. The one for the big girl in the house is very sweet and has her dark hair.

Wee wonderful elf big girlWee wonderful elf little girl

The one for the little girl is darling, too. It has her blonde hair. Many thanks to the designers who share their talents with us for free. I have purchased the some other embroidery patterns from Wee Wonderfuls and look forward to making those, too. Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Reversible Runner


December 8 2010 170
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
I do have a thing for toille. This Santa toille really stole my heart. Right now, it is hosting our gingerbread house, snow globe and Happy Santa on our console table. I did some simple line, organic quilting and put a white, winterberry print on the other side wo it will work for the holiday and through the winter, too. I completely cheated and used bias tape to bind it, but it turned out almost as well as if I'd spent the time making the binding myself. Sometimes, it is good enough for who it is for, as my friend, Nancy says.

I hope you are enjoying decorating for the season.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Sweet Water Quilt-as-you-go


December 8 2010 169
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
So, I gave this a try. I enjoyed that I could try different patterns on small pieces--it alleviated the decision making and commitment phobia. Once I had quilted each square, I trimmed them as wonkily as I felt comfortable. I found this method easy to do and like that I learned which patterns I appreciate most. This is just a lap quilt, but I think it will make a nice gift.

Hope you are having fun trying new things!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Winter Banners






The weather people are forcasting a snowy winter in the Northwest. Who pretty snowflakes and lights that twinkle in the night? My kiddos and I made these little banners to welcome winter.


With two pieces of felt, scrap ric-rac, and felt stickers, these little banners came together easily.


The only sewing I did was to sew on the ric-rac which became the string for the lights. You could glue it on in advance and then let the kids get started. We're working on counting here, so they counted and sorted the different light stickers. We had 30 so they each got 15 (one pack from Joann's for $1.00). They divied up the colors that went best with their sensibilities and with their felt. Then they made their patterns. Once they had the designs ready, they pulled the adhesive and placed their lights along their strings.


I helped with the snowflakes because some of the felt stickers didn't cooperate with the intended die cut. Joann's has other stickers--gingerbread men and ladies, penguins, etc. You don't need kids to make this project fun. They would make great gifts for the holiday season, too!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Winter Pillow Cases


Winter pillow cases
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
What fun! Just in time for the snow in Seattle, my friend, Nancy, and I made pillow cases for our kiddos. She wanted to get it done last year, so I found a great tutorial. With my stash and what Nancy had, we made five cases while our youngest kiddos were at preshcool.

These would be great wrapping for larger gifts and were a happy surprise for the little people in our lives. Nancy is inspired to make them for other seasons, too.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Wool Fall Runner


Wool Fall Runner close-up
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
Here is a fast one! With a wool remnant and one seam, I have a fall runner. . . something that can take us from September to Thanksgiving. A pretty flannel would work, or another plaid you like. These colors just seemed perfect for our house.

It is super simple. Fold your remnant in 1/2 with the selvadges on each end. Seam it and press. Easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Thanksgiving Crafting with kids


With scraps of cotton, some felt stickers, acrylic paint and a sharpie marker, we now have a banners to remind us and welcome friends as we approach Thanksgiving.

I simply hemmed the scraps and created casings for dowels. I found a font I liked, enlarged it and then traced the word "thankful" onto the scraps. The kids painted the letters. I love the spots where they are outside the lines. Once the paint was dry, they chose the pattern order of the stickers and placed them. I had fun, tracing the letters in the brown Sharpie, to make the words pop.

This will soon be fluttering on our door. Find a a scrap, a font you like and some felt stickers. Or find some leaves, make crayon rubbings through the fabric or find fall colored scraps and have the kiddos make patterns with those.

Thankful for my little helpers.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Gail Pan Had Me at It Again


Gail Pan Had Me at It Again
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
Here is a gift, basted and ready to stitch. I made one of these in red for our home and my mother loved it. This year, she will receive this one as a Thanksgiving gift. The colors are more in keeping with her delicate, victorian sensibilities. Oh, I hope she loves it. You could easily make one of these before the holidays for yourself or for someone you love. Visit Gail Pan at her blog for the "A Christmas Wish" patterns and just stitch a block each night. The panels come together so quickly. You could even do a four-block version and choose your favorite words. Use your favorite colors and keep it up all year, if you like. If you need inspiration, visit the flickr group to see what others stitchers and quilters have done.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Quilt Festival Entry


sydney's quilt
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
I made all three of our kiddos quilts last Christmas. This was for the big girl in the house. She is my step-daughter and it makes me incredibly happy to see her wrapped up in it on weekend mornings or while she does her homework. It is simple. . . but started the redecorating in her room. I just love that she uses it.

So this simple, black and white is my entry. Thank you, Amy for organizing the Quilt Festival!


Amy's Creative Side - Blogger's Quilt Festival
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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Halloween Fun


Halloween Fun
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
With summer and school, I'm just now getting back into some making. With half a fat quarter of halloween themed fabric from Joann Fabrics, I used stash to border it and make a table topper for my mother. She loves halloween. She is always a witch and can't wait to see the kiddos at her door.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

knit halter


knit halter
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
This little halter has served our Sugar Lump well. She wore it as a dress over a onesie as a toddler and now as a tunic as a bigger girl. I used this basic pattern: Katja and modified it to make it longer and add the eyelets and a-line. I knit the ties in garter rather than i-cord. Oh, I also knit it in the round, but you could easily seam it as the pattern suggests. It was asuper fun way to use up some stash scraps!

Hope you're enjoying your summer a busying your fingers with relaxing little projects.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Paper Flowers


paper flowers
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
Our big boy wanted to make this for his sister for her birthday. With construction paper, pipe cleaners and scissors, we played the day away.

All the cuts made by the littles worked just fine. She loved it!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

pillowcase outfit


pillowcase outfit
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
For two dollars at a thrift store, our little Sugar Lump got the perfect girlie summer outfit. She loves the twirly skirt--just an elastic waist. The halter is just hems and bias tapes to create the ties.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Graduation Quilt


Graduation Quilt
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
Our Nephew Sam graduates in a couple of weeks. This twin size quilt seemed like it might help him take the colors from his home along with him to school. the back is red--love using a sheet for backing. I couldn't believe I had all of this in my stash, but here it is.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Button-down Remix front


Button-down Remix front
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
Here is the front of the remix dress. I'm looking forward to doing more revisioning of the boy's outgrown items to make them work for the little girlie.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Button-down Remix


Button-down Remix
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
I know Elsie Marley is doing a make a pattern for kiddos and share it this week. I don't have that in me. But I did have time to remove the cuffs from this button-down. One had torn loose from the sleeve in some sort of tree climbing adventure. By adding a bit of trim where the cuffs had been, a little pleated skirt to the bottom of the shirt, a sweet pocket on the front, and some cotton twill ties to give it shape, Our little Sugar Lump has a new dress for cool spring days or for this fall.

It was fun to play again. I hope you're playing, too.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Mother's Day Ideas

Last year, I made my mother a monogrammed hankie. She loved it. Now, I'm in search of another handmade goodie for her. These are some of the ideas I'm considering. What are you making for your mom?


Lacy Scarf to Knit from Purl Bee




Fabric Basket from Orange Flower Sketchbook


Puff Daddy Stool from Pickles


Clothes Pin Holder from Blue Bird Studio


And here is the link for the little hankie I embroidered for mom last year, just in case that strikes your fancy. You could also make a lovely set of monogramed sachets, if you like.


Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tulips Galore

We are so lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest! What a beautiful part of the world--and in spring the tulips are too much to take in. The kiddos enjoyed the mud stomping and we enjoyed all the color. I hope you're out enjoying spring, too!




Happy Blossoms!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Planning Ahead


Nothing like a wedding shower, to get me motivated. It had me thinking about a wedding that is coming in July. . . and then Christmas in July. Here is the quilt top that I finished. I used only what I had on hand. . . some pretty fat quarters that I quartered and some muslin for sashing. Now, if I can get it sandwiched, quilted and bound by July, I'll have really done something.


Live has created radio silence here. My hand rehabilitation, the kiddos ages, and now spring. I'll be back eventually. For now, it will be sporatic. Hope you're enjoying the spring!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Thinking Spring


My variation on a disappearing-nine-patch. I love the Moda Nouveau print. Just seemed like a little window on spring was in order today. Hope you had some sunshine and could enjoy a few minutes of it!


Sunday, February 14, 2010

Mexican Wedding


Mexican Wedding
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
Here is a candid my friend Marni caught of us at our Mexican Wedding. I have no amazing marriage advice, just the age-old marry your best friend and you will be happy. Happy Valentine's Day!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Free 2010 BOM Patterns

Last year, I was completely enganged by Gail Pan's BOM pattern and literally, couldn't wait for each monthly installment. Here is a list of new BOM patterns and quilt alongs for 2010. Designers and crafters are so wonderful to share their skills and inspire us. I hope you find something you just have to make in this list.

Sentimental Journey from Block Central

Galactic Explosion from Nancy Rink

Boquet from Jenny Elefanz

Walk through the Garden from Northwest Quilters

Under the Sea from Willowberry Designs

Simple Thymes from Angie's Bits and Pieces

Nine Patch Frolic from Sundrop Designs

Kids of Seasons from Capricorn Quilts

2010 Quilt-A-Long from Ava Landen

Sampler Quilt Along from The Sometimes Crafter

Block Party from Handmade by Alyssa and Kristen Unraveled

Raid the Stash Quilt-A-Long from A Quilted Hen

Quilt-A-Long from Ava Landen

Snow Bound from Bunny Hill Designs

Black and White, All Washed Up


sydney's quilt
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
Though I showed this as a WIP, I thought I'd sahre it finished and washed. The big girl in our house liked it. Setting the charms on their pretty diamond points was a fun new experience for me. I would definitely make another like it. Hope you are keeping cozy. We're still in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and so glad we'll see the temperature rise above zero. Now the kiddos can get outside to sled and play in the snow.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Scrappy Winter Quilt


scrappy winter quilt
Originally uploaded by hmsohly
Made from all kinds of things I had on hand, I love how this turned out. It is perfect for winter--bright and sunny when our weather is gray. The linen sashing and white blocks really make the colors dance. Hope you're having fun with some relaxing projects.