Handmade Christmas

For our Craft Fair at church, I decided to make these cute fleece scarves, but they didn't really sell well. I had already decided to give them to friends and family for Christmas if they didn't sell and that's just what happened.

Then I made these for the women in my family. Each one is quilted with colors in her kitchen. I got the different patterns here. This was my first time to attempt free motion quilting. I hated doing potholders. It was just too small scale I think. I just did the binding on the machine instead of by hand. Much easier, but it doesn't look great!

All we could get Grandpa to say that he wanted for Christmas was a pie, so we decided to make him and Pop a plate with D's handprints on them. Ben designed the plates and we both painted them. I think they turned out great!!!


I made Nana a quilt. She said the only way she was going to get one was if she had a baby. What a surprise!!

It was my first attempt to free motion quilt on a quilt. It was a lot of fun and went much faster than the other ways I've quilted before. I think it turned out pretty good for the most part. It measured 48 x 64 and was designed by me--spools and pinwheels--my mom's favorites.

Aunt L graduated from A&M in December. How exciting!! That deserves a quilt too. Free motion as well. It measured 50 x 60 and is a disappearing 9 patch.


Here are both of the quilts stacked and folded. Love them!!

The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney With Care...

This week, I had ended all my other projects, so decided to tackle making our stockings. This has been on my list for a long time, but other stuff just kept getting in the way! I love how they turned out (especially mine). I used this tutorial except I added a 4" top since Dad thought they needed a little extra height. Plus I quilted them and sewed our names on with embroidery thread. The backs look pretty much the same except no name and different fabrics.

I asked Dad what kind of quilting he wanted on his and he said diamonds. To do this, I used 2" masking tape. It made life much easier, but it still took quite a long time to do this!

Since we don't know Baby #2's gender, I did not make him/her one. I got this tiny stocking at our recent Christmas tea and it seemed to work perfectly. I wanted Dietrich's stocking to look like a boy, so I chose denim and lots of boy prints. Then I just did a squiggle free motion quilting in lime green thread. It is also lined in a lime green fabric.

For my stocking, I decided to be adventurous and try some free motion swirls while quilting. I love how it turned out!! I lined it with pink gingham fabric.

These were relatively easy to make, especially if you don't quilt them.

Our mantel

Guess I should have some Christmas greenery on there, but I didn't do much/any decorating really this year!

Help!

My house is being overtaken by used baby food jars. For some reason, I just can't throw them out! What should I do with them?? I have a ton of them and can't think of anything to do with them! I need help!! Thanks!

Baby-on-the-Way Projects

Here is the hooter hider I made. I think it turned out really cute! I got the pattern for it here, but I changed it up a little bit by lining it with some super soft microfiber that feels like minky. I thought that would be nice for the winter. Plus, my son is addicted to his super soft blanket, so maybe Baby #2 will love it too!

I just finished my hospital gown which I got the directions for here. I am by no means a great seamstress, but this was actually pretty easy and something I think I'll enjoy having. It doesn't look super, but it will be better than the icky hospital issued ones! I still have to put bias tape along the bottom.

Ben was most impressed that I put pearl snaps on the sleeves!

FINALLY Finished!!!

Finally finished D's quilt that I started in class in Feb!!

22 Days Until Christmas

Well, it's 22 days until Christmas and I'm ready!! I've gotten all of my gifts purchased and made. I am super excited about this year because of the handmade items that will be thrown into the mix. They are all a surprise, so I will post about them after they are opened. I have been working on binding my son's quilt and I only have a little less than half to go. Maybe I'll finish it today.

I have some ideas for my next quilts in my head. I have some charm packs from Mary Engelbreit's The Caroler that I plan to do something with, but I haven't got time to make a quilt for this Christmas. I would also love to make a black and white quilt with some bright colors (pink and green maybe) in it. I also have a baby fabric that I just bought, but I lost the paper telling me what to look for online to complete it!

I need to make a nursing cover-up before Baby #2 arrives in less than 5 weeks, but I'm trying to decide if I want to line it with some soft fabric. I have also thought about making a hospital gown, but I'm not sure if I can get it done! Besides all this, I need to organize and work on my scrapbooking! Oh so fun...

Thanksgiving Banner

Be sure to check out my post on Today's Housewife today with the Thanksgiving banner I made. I've been doing some stuff lately, but I can't put any of it on here yet!

Been Resting...

I picked up my son the other day and my body said that wasn't nice. My back pretty much quit working after that. Being 23 weeks pregnant, I had to take it easy. So I have been resting my back for 3 days. The first day, I did nothing. Then I realized I could probably cross stitch while I was on my back, so I got out the project I've been wanting to do (instead of working on the million projects I have started). I was able to finish it tonight and I love it! It's a name blessing that I got from Joyful Expressions. We got to pick the Bible verse, etc. I like the way it turned out. Here it is:

Friendship's Craft and Gift Show

I am organizing a craft and gift show at my church in November! I'm so excited...even though I probably won't have enough time to make anything for it. I just thought of the idea on Tuesday, so it's come together really quickly. I've gotten 4 people to sign up for it today and this is the first I've mentioned it out in the world. Super cool! Here is the website about it if you'd like to read more, and if you live in the area, sign up or just plan to come!!

I've Been In a Mood...

A quilting mood!

Finished quilting my disappearing nine patch the other day. Now I just need to put the binding on it. I have one other quilt waiting for binding. Then maybe I'll start working on Christmas presents! Wahoo!!

I haven't named any of my quilts yet...and need to start adding a little tag to them! Ideas for names for this quilt?

Some Recent Crafting

My sis-in-laws sister is having a baby girl! I haven't had anyone around me having a girl recently, so it was time to make some girlie crafts! While at my mom's house, we did this project which we found here: Bow Holder.

I also had been wanting to do a girlie quilt, so I was able to whip this one up. It didn't really take too long and measures about 26" x 36". I just quilted straight horizontal lines on it since I'm not too brave yet. It's my first quilt to make and give away. It had a really soft backing! Pinks, browns and greens are her colors. I got the idea from here: Stack of Sweets

The other thing I made which I failed to take a picture of is a Flower Headband similar to that one. So cute and so easy! She loved the gifts and I can't wait to meet the baby that will use them!

Back on the Machine

After taking a short break from sewing, I got back on it today and made this for my nephew's 7th birthday. He thought it was a shirt until he opened it all the way up and was super excited! He was so excited to get home and put it on his pillow! He just loves Star Wars.

After lunch with his dad at McDonalds, we headed over to (Up)Chuck E. Cheese to watch him play some games. Fun times!

Practicing Quilting

I had a good idea to make my family members potholders for Christmas so that I could practice quilting now. I'd love to do some stipling on the 2 quilt tops that I have finished, but I don't want to just jump in there and do it! So I got a few potholders ready and started. Then I tore out the quilting...twice. I then thought it looked okay, so I tried to bind it...and tore it out once! What a pain these little things ended up being. I haven't even finished the first one I started. I thought it was such a good idea and now I can't stand to look at these tiny time-consumers (besides the fact that I think they look kind of funny)!!

Link Parties

Here are parties I participate in:

Mondays:


















Tuesdays:



















Wednesdays:















Thursdays:

















Fridays:











Saturdays and Sundays: