Maybe I should rename this blog?!

Well it has taken me a LONG time of working off and on, but I finally completed this pillow! I had intentions of making it an afghan when I made my first square, but quickly realized after making 3 squares that it might be too busy for that. So I decided on a pillow and I am so glad I did!

The square design comes from the book, "Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs," by Edie Eckman. I adore this book and there are many more designs from this book that I can't wait to try out and post here! The yarn is Lion Brand's "Cotton Ease." It is incredibly soft and super easy to work with. The back of the pillow is a single crochet stitch that I worked to measure up with the front. The edging is a simple scallop. I have made up my own scallop edgings but this particular one I saw on one of my new favorite blogs, www.attic24.typepad.com, and I love how it lays. I have also started a ripple afghan in the same colors as the pillow using a tutorial from this blog and I couldn't be more thrilled with the ease and results so far! The blog's author's name is, Lucy, and she lives in England. The colors and creations on her blog are pure eye candy!

The inside of the pillow is from a pillow case I purchased to make a skirt for Mckenna. After I made a desperate call to Dan to pick up some "poly-fil" on his way home, I cut the case to fit and sewed up the sides leaving an opening for the stuffing. This is basic pillow making 101, so I won't go into details here.

The very last picture shows a clock that I made over two years ago. Our basement colors and decor are inspired by and created with "Winnie's Walls," a line of scrapbook paper (it is no longer in print). These are very fun and fresh colors and our whole family is pleased with the uplifting feeling we get!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my latest project. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to post more. I have been creating but mostly for others and could never remember to take a picture! I have lots of ideas rolling around in my head, and with a clean studio area and a promise to get my sewing supplies organized, I have no excuses!

Whoooo's Ten?!?!

Okay, I know you might be wondering what's with all the owls, but Mckenna (and I, too, I must admit!) is really into owls right now. So, after the skirt (see the post below) it was pretty obvious how I was going to decorate her requested chocolate cake with chocolate icing.

While I did not try the cake (I am not a big chocolate cake fan and therefore had one of the vanilla cupcakes with matching blue crystal sprinkles instead), I was informed it was awesome and very moist! I like to attribute my moist cakes to my Grandma's old mixer she gave me that she had in her condo down in Florida. I probably should save up for a nice "Kitchen Aid," but why mess with a good thing!

If the owl looks familiar, it is because I used the owl template used in Mckenna's skirt. I used the body template and free-handed the rest. Again, the template is from Sew Simple magazine, Volume 11. I'm getting lots of use from that little template!

Mckenna loved her cake, which is the most important part. I am grateful that she hasn't asked me to undertake something as gigantic as Aidan's Clone Trooper Helmet cake (see very first blog post). Though I suppose I could have sculpted a 3-D owl...(flashback to the night I sculpted Aidan's cake)...maybe not!

Sorry for the blurry photos. I was having flash issues.

You're Such a Hoot!

When I purchased this Michael Miller fabric, I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with it. I just knew I had to have it! After making the first skirt for Mckenna (see post below for that), I wanted to try a fuller skirt and knew the bold colors of this fabric would be perfect!

As the skirt was coming together, I felt it needed a little extra something. One of the fabrics in this collection has owls all over it (which you can see in the closeup shot of the owl applique), and so it became obvious that I should applique a large owl to the front of the skirt. The owl template is from Sew Simple magazine, volume 11. It is supposed to be enlarged to make a softie but it was the perfect size for Mckenna's skirt. The little triangle on the top of the owl's head is not from this collection.

The skirt was fairly easy to make. The applique was more involved, but I am pleased with how it turned out. I'm getting better at using my machine's applique stitch!

Something for Aidan

Aidan asked me the other day why I did not have anything made for him on my blog recently (I reminded him that his Clone Trooper Helmet cake was my first post!). Admittedly, I have not made a lot for him, but I remembered I took pictures (closeup picture is a little blurry, sorry) of something that I did make for him for this school year.

Second and Third graders have to have what is called a "carry all" as part of their school supplies. It holds crayons, glue, etc... Aidan picked out this cute "rocket in space" fabric for his carry all. I felt it needed something extra and asked him if he would like a larger version of the rocket that is in the print appliqued on it. He said he thought that would be cool! I've always intended on perfecting the blanket stitch by hand, but found this applique stitch on my lovely Janome sewing machine and knew I had to give it a go! Let than five minutes later, this rocket was finished! Yay! I would have loved to hand stitch some of the smoke swirls coming out the bottom, but time was running out and Aidan was very pleased with just the rocket.

These bags are fun and easy ( I have made some for other kids in school and also for the stand at the picnic) and "fun and easy" are three of my favorite words when choosing a project!

Skirt with Matching Headband for Mckenna

I call it a "twirly" skirt, but my mom called it a "4-H" skirt. That should let you know how easy it is to make. It took only a half yard of fabric with enough left over for the headband. This was SO much fun to make for Mckenna, and the fact that Mckenna would wear skirts and dresses over anything else makes this project a sure winner with her!

This fabric was supposed to go towards a zippered pencil case for her to use for school, but I still have not tackled the whole zipper thing yet, so I placated her with a skirt instead. I like the accent fabric on the bottom but I would do the seam underneath slightly different next time. I think I may have to serge the seam that connects the two fabrics together.

Mckenna and I have two other fabrics pinned and ready to go for more skirts. I want to find some cool corduroy fabric for Fall and Winter. I am also going to try different lengths and variations in fullness. This skirt design is really easy to play around with.

If you have a little girl or young lady in your life that would like a skirt like this, let me know. I will be happy to make more! If you would like to try this yourself, email me and I can go into more detail on how to make it.

It all began with a yo yo.

I cannot believe it! I finally finished this purse that I designed! It's shape and structure are not anything major but I did not use a pattern, just a picture I had in my head.

It all began with a yo yo. I picked up a yo yo maker from Jackman's Fabrics many months ago. I have always loved yo yos but was intimidated by their construction. The yo yo makers from Clover are a dream come true for me (I now have all the sizes of the circles)! I use Moda Charm packs (certainly a new obsession that rivals my long obsession with scrapbook paper...and that's saying a lot!) so I don't have a lot of cutting. Anyway, I knew I wanted to make yo yos but I did not know what I was going to do with them. I wanted to showcase them and so I thought of using them as an accent around the top of a purse. More than a month later and voila! My purse!

I have included two pockets on the inside and a removable hard bottom so that it can go in the wash (the plastic bamboo handles slide out of the loops). While I have a lot of improvements I can do should I make another, I am for the most part...pleased.

In the process of making this purse, I had my very first sewing machine fixed (a Brother I purchased at the Wal-Mart in Killeen, TX, just about 10 years ago) only to trade it in last week for a brand new Janome (pictures coming soon)! I simply love it! It is digital and has so many cool features that make sewing more enjoyable rather than stressful. I have so many ideas and projects that I am anxious to create and share with you!

Items for the St. Anthony Church Picnic

These are some items I have created for the Fancy Works Stand (of which I am the chairperson) at the St. Anthony Church picnic this year. The first photo shows some ribbon flip flops (believe me when I tell you the photo does not do the bright colors justice). I am hoping to have about twenty pairs in different sizes and more ribbon colors. I had to make a pair of the black flip flops with the lime greet, hot pink, and black ribbons for Mckenna. She LOVES them! I pulled aside a pair of brown and black flip flops that I will use for myself. Why not, right?!

The second photo is a message board in a red and white gingham fabric. There are sewn pockets across the bottom of the board. The ribbon trim that crosses the board is perfect for sliding in photos, notes, and other memorabilia. This is so cute and will be hard to part with at the picnic!

I hope to have time to make some decoupaged clothes pins and I will post those (as well as how I use them in my laundry room) as soon as I can!

Again, thanks for looking and let me know what you've created today!