HAPPY NEW YEARS !!

 I have already admitted that I am not a big Christmas person...the grinch who doesn't like all the decorations and hoopla!  I do love seeing all the family and friends though! We had dinner for 10 one night, 8 another night and then 20 for Christmas dinner!  Lots of cooking, lots of laughter and love..It was great!

Having said that.....I am a HUGE New Years Fan!!  I love New Years !! It is MY holiday!! Something about all the new beginnings, starting over, the prospect of great things to come!! Not to mention all the champagne! :)
                                                 
I don't make a bit thing of New Year's resolutions....they don't seem to last more than a month anyway! But I do look forward to starting each new year off with the hope of eating healthy, exercising more and spending more quality time with my family and friends.

So from my house (...computer) to yours.....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

                                                 

Goldilocks and The Three Bears...(bags)

I have seen those really cool thread catchers all over the place...I think the first one was from Krista at  Poppyprint.  They even had them for sale at the big quilt show here this fall....but not in any colors that I liked.

So...I decided to try to make myself one! (or two...ended up being three!)
I am sure that there are many tutorials out there, and Krista does give some basic information in her post, but what the heck...how hard can it be???

I started with 2 rectangles of fabric 9"x18"  (Krista's suggested size)...

and sewed each one together at the shorter ends... then sew the bottom shut..

then squared off the bottom with a 2" measure...

Then I tucked the lining into the outer fabric, and rolled down the top making a sleeve.

As Krista suggests, I used the plastic packing tape you find lying around almost any big box store, (free...bonus !)

 and fed it into the sleeve. I have also read somewhere that someone used an old carpenters metal measuring tape.
I learned that it is best to overlap the packing tape quite a bit, which I did not do on my first try and it kind of buckles where the ends meet.

Then add a couple of straps onto the top edge to attach it to the pin cushion pillow.

I tried a few different things with the pin cushion, but found the best was just a simple 4 or 5 inch square of 2 fabrics.. sewed together and stuffed....you can sew the straps into the seam then just leave an opening on the other side to stuff it.
You have to add some weight to this, and I got some lead fishing weights to put inside, the largest size...

They cost about $1 each, and I put 2 into each one. The first one I sewed a little bag to put the weights in...just because it seemed like a good idea...nope..no good reason! So I didn't do that for the other two bags.
Then I stuffed them with stuffing from and old "pink flamingo" costume...I have 4 of these, so lots of stuffing...but that is another story for another time!! :)

I tried various sizes..I thought the first one was a little large, so I made a small one..I thought it was a little small, so I tried an in-between size..and it was just right!!  (just like Goldilocks and the 3 bears  hahaha)

Anyway, I am very happy with my new thread catcher!

special gift

I admit I get spoiled at Christmas...lots of great gifts from my family!
But this year there was a special gift from my sister....

This is made out of the silverware that we grew up with on the farm...

My mother passed away about 2 years ago, and we spent many,many hours clearing out the farm house. It had been built by her father (my grandfather) and I am sure there were many things that had been there that long!!
We took many things home, shared many with grandchildren and other family, but there were some things we just didn't have a use for. This old silverware was one of those things. My sister has a friend who makes this jewellery and she said she would love to have whatever was left...so this is what she made...

I was so surprised  and impressed....I didn't know anything about this. I think this is a great memento, and something that is easy to wear often...with jeans or a  dress!

Making a framed purse

I first saw these little cuties in a moda bake shop tutorial by Kristie from ocd- obsessive crafting disorder


...and I fell in love with them.  So I quickly ordered some of the frames,

 and that was about 6 months ago!!

 I finally got brave enough to try making one.  Kristie has very clear instructions in the Bake Shop tutorial, and there is also a great tutorial over at Making Rebecca Lynne frame-pouch-along.  I kind of used both of them.

(Of course I wasn't brave enough to join in the pouch along...I am such a chicken...but have given this a shot now!)

I drew out my pattern to make the template.... (good instructions in both tutorials for this)

I did have a bit of a problem getting the sides to look the same and even....then I realized the the frame was not symmetrical !! (it wasn't my math this time !!!)

But once I figured that out, I cut my fabric (outer and lining), and I used fusible interfacing and muslin as well, to give them a little body.

 I am very happy with the easy of handling this and the firmness of the body of the bag at the end. For the little blue bag, I was using home decor fabric, which was quite think, for both the outside and lining, so didn't add the muslin in that one.

The sewing instructions were very clear for both tutorials. They used different places to leave the opening for turning the bag.... one used the bottom inside seam of the lining and the other the top edge on one side .......
.I tried both!
Although both worked out just fine, I liked leaving the top edge open as it is hidden under the frame, and leaves the lining tidier, in my opinion.

I squared off the bottom at 2", so it actually sits up on its own.

I also added a little pocket inside...I like pockets :)

The only problem I had with the sewing was getting the corner under the hinge neat...

I got a little better with practice...

but still had difficulty with this part.  I guess they are supposed to be a little pouchy here ..right??? Isn't that why they call them pouches?? (hehehe)

Anyway...next was the glue...what I feared the most!  It actually wasn't as bad  as I expected..but a little messy.  There were several options at the fabric store, and really not any good reason to pick any special one....I used Aleene's  "Fabric Fusion" .. and am very happy with it., overall.

The instructions both said to be careful not to get glue on the fabric, which is difficult...(of course they forgot to mention not to get glue in my hair!)

They also said to start working from the edges, and then move to the centre.....Yeah......I had trouble with that!  I ended up kind of sliding the whole thing in and squishing it around until I got it all worked in. The sharp object (small flat screw driver) did help...of course it is now covered in glue too.

They said to read the directions on the glue, and if says to wait 1 minute after applying the glue that you really needed to do that. Well.... I read the directions but it didn't say to wait...I think they forgot to mention that...because it would have worked a lot better I think if the glue had been a bit tacky first. I found that the fabric slid around quite a bit until the glue started to dry ....hence my fingers are also covered in glue.

In all honesty..by the third one, it was getting easier..I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks!

All in all, they were not hard to make, although I am not sure that I will rush out and buy more frames....(and I might hide the other 2 that I didn't use under a pile of scraps...never to be seen or heard from again! )

But they are kind of cute...when it is all said and done!

Now off to see what is going on at the TN&TN  !

Merry Christmas to All

Merry Christmas to all!!

......and Merry Christmas to me!!
My local quilt shop   Periwinkle Quilting has a book sale on right now!! Who doesn't love a few more quilting books?  They also have moved some GREAT fabric to the half price wall!! I love getting backing for my quilts there...half price? Why not??

I don't really know what I am going to use this as backing for....but I am sure I will find a home for them sometime...and enjoy looking at them in the meantime :)

Things are going to get very busy around here soon, and I will not be posting much for the next few days, but did want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I have enjoyed spending the past year with you! And yes it has been a year already!! Time flies when you are having fun!!

I also have passed the 100 follower mark!!! I am absolutely overwhelmed and honoured !! And really want to celebrate...so watch for another giveaway in the new year...A 1 year anniversary/100 follower celebration!!

But for now enjoy your Christmas!

nightgown finish!

Just squeaking this in before Christmas....but I got the little nighties finished for our grand daughter!

I am never quite sure about the sizing on patterns, and last year I had them sewed in time to actually try them on one night when I was babysitting (she was only 1, so didn't know it was a present!!) But this year, I was on my own for sizing!...

Maybe not quite on my own!  We had some fun the last time she was here....we drew her!!
Now remember she is only 2 1/2....and I am no artist!! But we traced around her...as she squiggled around...and then coloured it!

And no....those are not boobies...they are the cupcakes that were on her t-shirt LOL!

Anyway, this came in very handy as I was trying to hem the sleeves and the bottom of the nightie...almost as good as trying it on, right ??? I guess I will find out when she gets them!

buttonhole paranoia

I know some people are intimidated by putting in zippers....Me?  not a problem!
Setting in sleeves?   A walk in the park!
But....

buttonholes??  They strike fear into my heart!!
My trusty Jenny (Janome machine) has an automatic button hole maker. That should make it easy...right???

You put the button into the gadget, and presto.... it makes a buttonhole!

Only problem is....it doesn't always make it properly..

I am sure that this is Pilot error! And once I practice for awhile, I always get it going properly...but there is just enough of the element of surprise involved to keep my paranoia alive and well.  Having said that, it is a great feature and once I relax...it produces perfect button holes almost every time!

 But now I am going to go check out what more creative (and less paranoid) people are up to over at the Needle and Thread Network !

Spidy wins!

Thank you for all your votes....Spiderman won, although Superman was a close second...and an unexpected candidate.....Batman made a showing!!

Anyway, these are ready and wrapped...

Still a bit more work left on the little nighties...

Things will be getting busy around here now, my daughter arrives home today from University, and my step-son home from England on Wed. The house will be full with family for Christmas....and about 20 people here for Christmas dinner.  Guess I had better get busy...have to make cabbage rolls, cheese sticks, cookies  !!

*****GRANNIE ANNIE******  I have emailed you, but have had no response...I need your mailing address so I can mail off the tote bag you won in the Blog Hop Party!!

Today is the Day!!

Today is GIVEAWAY DAY!!   Yippee!!

First of all I want to welcome all of the new followers and also thank all of you for your comments! I really enjoyed reading about everybody's Christmas traditions....nothing like hearing about all that fun stuff to get you into the Christmas spirit!!

So now ....well after an hour or two trying to get my blog to number the entries (Thanks Laura from Quokka Quilts) but it worked !! I now have numbers, so I don't have to try to scroll down and count!! She gave me a link to a very teckie page....but easy to follow.. if you want to try to add numbers to your comments section...  http://1stfloorflatcomputery.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-number-your-comments.html

Anyway...back to the draw!! I know that is what you are waiting for....so Mr. Random Number Generator please.....

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:131Powered by RANDOM.ORG

And the winner is # 131  (now that I have numbers....easy peasy!!)
[techno wizard that I am...the random number generator said Max of 147 when I did it and copied it, but now it says 100, and I dont know how to change it !! But I did enter all 147 entries...honest!!

Congratulations!!  Grannie Annie!!

Granny Annie said...

131

i'm a silent follower. You make my days bright! I too flit from this to that and loving every bit of it still wish I could actually finish every pattern i clip or buy! So now I am not so silent. Christmas tradition: a box of windup (no batteries allowed) Christmas toys and puzzles that we have been giving and receiving for 25 years. The basket only comes out at Christmas time and the adults play as much as the little ones.

I am so happy that you are not a silent follower anymore!! I will be sending out an email, and once I get your mailing address will get this bag on its way!

Last minute Christmas sewing!

I am getting there!!
I have finished the last of the tote bags....

Yes, I know you have seem many different pictures of these....I can hear you saying "Can't she make anything new??"  But they are so fun and easy to make, and such great bags!! I think everyone needs to have one!!

And I stuffed them full of goodies too!

Now I have some little night gowns to sew for our grand daughter (turning 3 yrs old)

and some fleecy p.j. pants for my step son. (turning closer to 30!!).....

Last year they were pink polka dots! Every year I try to find something else fun.  I wasn't too sure this year.. I couldn't decide......Spiderman or Superman??? which should I go with??? What is your vote??