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!

Cheater Chargers--A tutorial

My mother and Sister-in-law always set beautiful tables. They have a vareity of table linens, decorations, candles, etc. Since this is definitely not the season for additonal expenses for table decor, I wanted to inexpensively add some color to go under my pretty dishes. Off to the closet I went and found a remnant of quilted holiday happiness. With stripes on one side and pretty trees on the other, I got to work. You won't believe how fast these went together.

First, I cut 13 inch circles.

Second, I pinned and sewed the bias tape around the perimeter.

Third, by folding back the raw edge and sewing to the end, the charger is finished.

The fun part is that they are reversible. You can quickly make these! I made our six from cutting to finish in an hour (while addressing the needs of my kiddos). This is a fun idea for the holidays--you could quilt your own and have one side be for fall/Thanksgiving and the other side be for winter/Christmas/Hannakah. I'm thinking we might need these for birthdays, too. They also work as trivets.

Hope you enjoy this idea and make some of your own.

A Little Gift for Mom

My father, brother and I have schemed up a present we know my mother will adore. She will be surprised and enjoy it very much. Still, even when one receives a "big" gift, getting something thoughtful and small is also dear. In her Mother's Day card, she will get this little hanky. It was super easy and I free-handed the embroidery. If you want to make one for your mom or grandmother, just take two pieces of very soft cotton, embroider the motif(s) you choose, sew them right sides together, turn and top stitch. I used 12" x 12" material. Happy stitching and sewing!

Sleeping Dollies and their Improv Blankets

These little dollies are on their way to our friends--the M4 Posse. I hope their girls enjoy their babies like my little girl does. It was fun to free-hand the pattern and the faces. Any ideas what they might be named? I'll have to check with the M's and see.

The blankets are project improv inspired. I love the pink windows with the birdies in them.

Hope for the M4 Posse

We have friends who are hitting one of those extended valleys in life. The mama is in the midst of breast cancer treatment. Their little ones are the same ages as our kiddos. They have the most amazing perspective and energy as they tread through this experience. Mama M has lost her hair and Daddy M has shaved his head. This piece of stitching and patchwork is my project improv that belongs to them. Mama M would tell you to do your monthly self-examinations. Please send some extra love and possitivity into the world for his little family. "Hope is a thing with feathers" as Emily Dickenson wrote.

A Play or Changing Mat for Baby Otto

A new little man is in the world and I had to make something for him. Otto is the babe of a former co-worker. He is sweet and has all kinds of dark hair just like his Mama. This little changing pad or play mat is what I made when Sew Mama Sew did their doll quilt sew along. I used some charm squares from Moda's Recess and some blue I had on hand from the panels on my boy's windows. I bound it with some remnant navy and blue cotton from Joann's. I added the ribbon so this would be easily portable. Stippling still seems to daunting, so I used my walking foot and just sewed diagonals over the squares. One of these days I'll get brave enough to stipple, I promise. This little bundle with a onesie from our favorite local coffee shop will find the baby this week.

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day is December 3rd and I'm excited to participate! I have to figure out what I'll give away, but even that is fun. I'll get that item posted soon. . . or maybe it will be a combination of things. Hmm. Please come back to see what you would win. You could maybe even look at my etsy shop and tell me what you'd like to have in the giveaway. I'd love suggestions.

Handmade Holiday Discounts and Freebies--2

Here are a few more goodies to help you create and keep your holiday budget.

If you're plotting some scrapbooking or some photos for cards. . . http://www.snapfish.com/ can help you with super saver deals on 20 prints--one cent a piece. That is a super bargain.

http://www.shutterfly.com/ is also offering discounts on their products. Their photo books are my favorite and great gifts for family.

To Organize or Gift a Girl's Hair Clips

Did any of you resist cutting your child's hair? Our baby girl is probably due for a haircut, but I'm not ready. A cut would mean her baby hair was gone and I love that some of the dark brown from her first days is on the tips of her now blonde hair. So we've tried hairbands, ponies and clips. She rejects them most days and I find them strewn about as I chase her to replace them. I've been trying to figure out how to organize them, especially with the travel season upon us. And I had an idea. Here it is, a girlie clip organizer. It will fit in my purse or diaper bag easily and will keep her hair pretties handy. Go ahead and make them any size you like. You only need some fabric, interfacing, ribbon and a snap (or velcro).

1. Cut your pieces--two of fabric, one of interfacing, two of ribbon.

2. Adhere your interfacing to the wrong side of one fabric piece.

3. Baste stitch your ribbons to both ends of the other piece of fabric. Straight stitch down the center of the fabric and ribbon to hold it securely.

4. With right sides together, sew around the perimeter, leaving an opening to turn it right-side out.

5. Turn, iron, topstitch the edge and sew on a snap or velcro. Now you have easy storage for clippies, or add some pretty clips or bobbies and it is a great present or stocking stuffer.

Have fun!

Handmade Holiday Discounts and Freebies

These links all have discounts or freebies this holiday season. Who doesn't love crafters who share their lovely talents and vendors who offer discounts to help us keep our budgets? Also, Pacrific Fabric and Craft has holiday discounts running now, too. They offer on-line sales as well as sales at their Northwest stores.

A Memory Game to Sew for Kids

My little guy loves to play memory with his daddy. They use playing cards. I've been trying to come up with some Christmas ideas for my kiddos and this one is great! If you want to make something lovely for your little one, this memory game seems perfect. The intructions are on a the Hallmark Magazine Blog and the photo above links to it. All you need is some of your favorite digital photos sized 2x2", printable fabric, some felt or flannel and a material you like for the backing. What a lovely gift--personal and keepsake. Happy Crafting!

Boys of Summer Give-Away

In October of 1977, my grandfather and I watched the Yankees win the World Series. I know, you say Yankees, really. . . but please understand, my grandpa's mother read the baseball news to him when he was a boy and much of it was about Babe Ruth as a Yankee. He brainwashed his grandchildren. I recall my cousin explaining to his son that he could root for any team he liked while at Grandpa's house, but he could not talk badly about the Yankees.

The present series and my baseball memories with Grandpa inspired the burp cloth set and pair of newborn slipper shoes, that are the give-away for this week. Please leave a comment by the evening of October 25th and I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner and announce on October 27th. These are great for your own little guy or girl and a fun gift, too. I can't wait to see who gets them.

Holiday Star Ornament

Oh, I love this. The linen with the stamped print and unfinished edges remind me of an book I have with The Shaker Hymn, Tis a Gift to be Simple. These work up so quickly and would be lovely of felt, holiday cotton, or wool. If you'd rather purchase, just check my etsy store. . . I'll have some of these there. If you don't own stamps, you could embroider the words that you adore--noel, love, joy.

Now I'm thinking I could make little circle ornaments in bright colors with the names of my son's friends from pre-school for their little holiday goody bags. This season is so much fun!