turkey feathers

Snowbound

Brrr...I just came in from outside. We had a little snow last night and the girls couldn't wait to "hit the slopes" in the front yard this morning.  I've left them to their fun and I'm back inside where its warm.  I've been sitting here, reading the comments from the last post and cracking up.  I'm really surprised at how many people not only remember Thumbelina, but actually still have their dollies!  I felt such camaraderie with you guys knowing that for some reason.  Oh I really did!  (Maybe we're not ALL so nutty afterall?)  Mine no longer has any of the movement capabilities.  I'd almost forgotten about that feature because when she stopped working (years ago) I'd done a little 'gentle surgery' and removed all the mechanical parts.  Then I re-stuffed her so she's been soft and cuddly for quite awhile.   Anyway, thank you for the bonnet love!  I've filled in a few more details and answered some questions here, and since there's interest in the pattern I've shared the source for it too. 

Bonny Bonnets

And...just when you'd thought you'd seen the last of the wool blanket!  Believe it or not, there's still quite a few scraps leftover from this thing.  I've got more ideas up my sleeve too.  Probably more ideas than time.  Isn't that always the case?  I've obviously got 'babies on the brain' as well and for good reason.  I'm going to be a grandma again for the second time; it's another baby girl for my son and daughter-in-law, due in the Spring!  Naturally, we're all thrilled, especially the girls, who will be aunts again too.  Ginger's still trying to wrap her mind around that concept.  Not easy to understand when you're only ten and have five aunts who are matronly figures.  None of it matters though, we're just so pleased, and of course looking forward to planning another baby shower.  Speaking of that, there was a surprise shower for Manda.  Her real-life friend, Kristy, set it up, and I was tickled to be part of it.  Nice to have a reason to pick up my sewing again after the holidays.  One of my favorite layette things to make are these soft flannel swaddling blankets.  This one says, Sugar Plum, an old Vogart design that I think is really cute--another bonnet design by coincidence.  I hope she likes it.  I thought of her the whole time I was working on it, so it went with lots of xox.  Making a wool bonnet has been on my mind too. Maybe the snow had something to do with it, or the desire for warm ears, but whatever the reason, I had to make this. Just used an old pattern I had. One piece with two darts up the back; two pieces if you count the lining.  Super easy.  Makes for a boxy little topper, like a Dutch girl hat.  Very cute!  Perfect for the stiff wool I'm working with, and just as sweet made from a cotton print as a "sun bonnet" too.  No little noggin around here to fit this on, so I had to use Thumbelina. She's almost as old as I am, and with very bad hair (all the more reason to put a bonnet on her, I say!) and she's the perfect size for modeling newborn hats and gowns.  The flower was my first attempt at needle-felting and I was surprised at how easy that was too.  I think I see more of these needle-felted projects on the horizon.

Finding Inspiration

Some of you may remember this article in the MS Kids Holiday 2003 issue, about getting outside to enjoy a winter's day.  I remembered it particularly because of the clever title all laid out on a snowy background, with twigs and bits of nature spelling out "A Winter Walk".  So beautifully done.  I went back to this again recently to study it more closely.  I really love embroidering letters.  Maybe this comes from working as a graphic artist for a few years, but whatever the reason, I wanted to see if I could do something with needle and thread to convey the same natural qualities.   I went outside, and chose colors from our own winter landscape, came back in, and stitched this up rather quickly.  Then later, I made a sleeve out of it to cover an old pillow I already had.  (I love pillow sleeves--so simple to make and they can be easily removed and stored flat when the season ends.)  Looks so nice and snug here in my reading corner; I think I'll take my magazine and cuddle here awhile.

Cozy Camera Pouch

It's been so chilly here, that all I seem to think about is making quilts to cover things up!  This time, I've used the pre-cut jelly-roll strips to make a cozy pouch for my old camera (that I keep in the car), but it could also be made with a long strap attached for carrying around.   It's basically constructed the same way as the xox tote bag.  (The tutorial for which is finished and over here now; check it out for all the how-to's.)  If you are new to sewing though, you might want to try this smaller project first, to learn the strip-piecing process.  You won't believe how easy this is.  I also discovered, that a standard sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper makes a great pattern.  How easy is that?  You don't even have to measure.  Use it as a template for cutting out the foundation.  (I use cotton-quilt batting for this.)  Trim 4 pre-cut jelly roll strips to about 12".   Then, using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the strips across the long-side of the foundation, starting at the top and working down to the bottom edge.  If you want to embellish your bag with message tape or side tabs, do that next.  Then fold the whole thing in half with the right-sides facing, and stitch along the bottom and up one side.  Repeat for the lining, leaving an opening about 3" for turning later.  Follow the rest of the directions in the tutorial for making the corners in the bottom of the bag, and for attaching the lining.   Make the handle the same way too, just don't cut it in half.  Attach it to the sides of the bag instead.  Make adjustments for the length if necessary, and trim away the excess.  A little velro at the top makes an easy closure.  I'm off to my studio now--have a sweet day!   

Finger Puppets

Aren't these cute?  Ginger has been creating various critters all week.  It started with a few drawings she was doing, and the next thing I knew she was sitting at her craft table quietly and meticulously cutting, stitching, and gluing.    She made these from bits of felt and some cotton-batting scraps that she found in the trash can.  I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, eh?  What do your kids like to do on a rainy day?

Woody Alphabet Winners

Thank you so much for the sweet supportive comments, lovely emails, and especially for the orders that came pouring in! My goodness, you guys can sure keep a gal busy.  I had no idea woody alphabet would stir up so much enthusiasm!  It's all thrilling of course, and highly flattering, but I've been doing the dipsy-doodle from dawn 'til dusk printing and packing orders in hyper-mode.  Never knew I could move so fast!  But that aside, let's not keep anyone in suspense here and cut to the chase.  Our trusty super-shuffler has selected 3 winners from the comments::  free patterns will be going to Linda, Megan, and Pattie in SF.  (Please email me your address and I'll get them in the mail ASAP.)  Congratulations ladies!  I hope you will do something fun with these. 

I still have quite a few other projects on the table and in my head that I've been tinkering with, plus the "tote-tute" to pull together, so I need to get organized this weekend if I hope to succeed.   A few of you have asked me if I thought a beginner could master making the tote-bag, and my answer is, absolutely!  I've always found that if I really wanted to do something I could.  You'll never know if you don't try anyway.   I'll give as much detail as I can for those who may need it. 

On a side note, but relevant here, is the number of beginners that were able to make the little lambkin stuffies for the first time without too much fuss, and that's very encouraging I think.  The flickr group I started (a year ago?) has 105 members now, and every so often another critter gets added to the flock.  Take a look at this little darling that just arrived on Wednesday.  Cute, yes?  I'm telling ya, it's been so much fun to see all the different ways these have been made.  Hard to believe they're all from the same pattern isn't it?  It just goes to show, how much creativity and ingenuity rests in our own hands.

Winter Delights

Thanks dearies for all the xox bag love!  Since I'm always asked for my tote bag patterns, I'm going to be putting a tutorial together for this one.  No time-line for it right now though.  At the moment, I'm sitting here on this very chilly morning with a quilt over my lap, sipping hot tea and trying to wake up so I can get back to a few other projects I've got laid out on my work table.  But first, as promised, the Woody Alphabet is now ready, and available here along with a few other vintage patterns that I finally got around to getting up on the website last night.  Check out this one with pedestal-bowls of festive happy-faced fruit.  I think it's hilarious.  And this one with a darling kitty couple.  Both patterns were originally intended for dish towels, but the latter has this wonderful little cottage motif, that I think would make a cute pillow or something.  Feel free to use the design; click on it to get a larger image.  Also, the new free-with-purchase bonus transfers have been uploaded.  There's a little bit of a Valentine theme going on with hearts and flowers, and yes, another teapot.  What can I say, I LOVE teapots.  And swans, apparently.  The designs are a combination of old and new, as I often take liberties here, like with this swan motif for pillowcases (below).  I altered it a bit.  I can't help that I'm a romantic at heart.  The original is here too if you want it.  Both are traceable print-outs.    Maybe you can think of something spectacular to do with them.  (Follow my directions for tracing if this is new to you.) And one more tidbit before I head back to my stitching---I'm offering a few free Woody Alphabet patterns---just leave a comment and I'll choose three peeps, and announce winners on Friday.  Time to re-fill my teacup and shuffle back to the studio now... 

Update:  Comments are now closed, check back tomorrow to find out who won free patterns!

Back in the Saddle

I'm thrilled to be back in the studio.  Finished up several things. My sewing machine was humming along all weekend and so was I.  After I stitched up the Redwork piece, I wanted to do something with it and this is how it ended up.  Behold: my "Hugs and Kisses" bag.   I think I'll leave this hanging around, just in case someone wants to surprise me and drop something sweet in there.  Anyway, what makes this bag fun (besides the gift potential) is that it's constructed almost entirely from pre-cut jelly-roll strips; that means, no measuring or cutting.  Not to sound lazy or anything, but time is often a deciding factor with a project like this and short-cuts are most welcome.  The whole thing went together rather quickly too and that made me immensely happy.  I'm discovering you can do so much with these pre-cut strips.  Even cutting out diamonds and other shapes with relative ease for quiltmaking.  I know.  Everyone probably already knew that, right?  I'm slow, but I catch on eventually! 

Here's a sneak-preview of the Woody Alphabet I used here, which will be available Wednesday, on my website, along with the new bonus transfer set for Jan-Feb.  Also, another blog give-away, and a freebie pattern for all, so be sure and stop by for some XOX from me to you!

Hanging on by a Thread

I don't know what all I've been doing this week, but I do know it's been a busy one.  Feels like I've been bouncing from one thing to the next without much forethought, and then this morning, I realized that I'd completely lost Tuesday.  I'm still trying to figure out how I mislaid that day.  It threw off my whole week, I kept thinking it was a different day than it actually was.  These short, dark days just seem to heap all the events together in my mind.  I think I need more sunlight and sleep.  But I'm on it now.  Yep.  It's Friday, right?  And I'm looking forward to the weekend so I can get back to a few sewing projects I started.  I must say, it was so nice to pick up a needle and thread again, and sit quietly for a little while yesterday listening to the rain as I stitched.  It always calms me down.  As you can see, I'm putting the twig alphabet to the test.  I decided it was more "woody" than "twiggy", and have been working on creating another set that's a little more like sticks.  I'm liking this though, and have a little Valentine's project in mind for it, which I HOPE to share sometime...soon.

In the Nick of Time

Between storm surges, and before the snow started falling, we made it to Portland for our son's birthday dinner on Saturday.  Our holidays start and end with birthdays, so this is the last of the hoopla for awhile.  Time to put the Christmas decorations away and pack it up.  Looking forward to a little quiet time with some new books and then I'll be ready to get back into homecraft again.  The twig alphabet I'm designing is coming along nicely.  I've already got a few projects in mind that I hope to share.  But all in good time. 

And speaking of alphabets, and before any more time slips by, I'd better tell you about my latest A-Z Quiche update for N.  The ingredients aren't really anything new, as far as quiche goes, but the presentation is a little different.  I made these for our New Year's Day brunch, so that's how I'm tagging them:  New Year's [Quiche] "Brunch Cups".  A mouthful, in more ways than one!    Not only do these make *cute* party food, they are quite yummy too.  I used a flower-shaped cookie cutter about 4-inches in diameter for the pastry shells to create the petal effect.   I was happy to discover these fit a standard cupcake/muffin pan perfectly.  Pastry scraps were also rolled out, cut into shapes, brushed with some of the egg mixture, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, and baked flat on a cookie sheet for about 10 minutes.  Something kid-helpers can easily do.  These make sweet little pastry treats for the wee ones in the house in particular.  If any of this appeals to you, follow me over here for the recipe.