Sewing for Christmas

Blogging is so hard for me this time of year. So many of the things I am working on are Christmas gifts for people I love. And most of them pop in here to see what I am up to.... thus ruining my surprises! But today I finished up something I can share with you. Leigh Anne asked me a couple weeks ago if she could have her Christmas stocking. The one I hang on our mantle every year. The one that goes right in the middle, right after mine & her dads, but before her brother & sister's. Nope, I couldn't part with it. It doesn't matter that she is all grown up, lives far away from us and can't be home for Christmas this year (boohoo!) So, instead of sending her the stocking that Santa has filled for her at our house year after year, I made her a brand new stocking to hang on the mantle in her sweet apartment! What do you think? I think it turned out very happy.

I will be taking it to her in a couple of weeks when I go to see her graduate from college! What??? How in heavens name did that happen already? I looked back and my very first blog post here I was crying the blues about her leaving for college, and now she is DONE! Don't worry, there will be many pictures of that special event & I will share them all with you here. Meanwhile, back to the sewing room I go! How is your Christmas sewing going?

pears

Yesterday Happiness is Quilting had their Market Review party. They did it different this time... with stations set up throughout the store where you could watch demos for new products. It was really fun! I picked up a few patterns, including this pear pincushion pattern... It's by Sewn into the Fabric, a new one on me. But it was easy to make (obviously! I have already made three of them!)

Honestly, they are a little fiddly & fussy to make. You see, they are quite tiny. Even the pattern says Size: little. That amused me. This next picture puts it into perspective. You can see how tiny they are next to my sewing machine:

Awesome little Christmas gifts! And they only took some little scraps of fabric, felt & buttons from my stash. I stuffed them with crushed walnut shells to give them some shape & weight. Oh, and I bought the pineapple pattern too. I'm sure I will have some of those to share with you soon!

odds and ends

Lots of little projects going on here lately. It's that time of year! I've been working on some felt ornaments... Sorry I can't show you all of them, but some are for secret swaps!

I've also been crocheting a bit. A skinny scarf for Ally in colors of her choosing...

That was such a fun patten to do, I decided to make another. Perhaps for a Christmas gift? I'm not sure yet who the lucky recipient will be. Maybe I will even make a few more. We'll see!

Tomorrow I plan to reevaluate my project list and choose my next project. Leigh Anne has requested a Christmas stocking for her mantle.... maybe that's next? Stay tuned!

Cross Quilt Top Completed

I finished my cross quilt top. I'm really happy with it. What do you think? In my mind this qualifies as my first "modern quilt". I am anxious to get it quilted. Ahhh it feels good to finish up a big project.

Ticker tape blocks

Two more ticker tape blocks done. That's eight so far... 1/3 of the way done! Orange and black, these colors would have made sense in October, but they were our November assignment. Works for me. This is kind of turning into an eye-spy quilt... can you find the ducks? the ghosts? car? penguins? LOL

Next month, pink and navy. I just wanted you to know I'm still here.

goodies for a friend

A while ago I shipped a birthday bundle off to my friend Maria in Australia. I didn't want to share them here until I knew she had received them. Well today is Maria's birthday (Happy Birthday!) and she posted a picture of the goodies on her blog, so I know they arrived! You really should go check out her blog, Life on the Block. She makes such lovely things and has a beautiful garden too!

Anyways, back to the goodies. In September we had Quilt across Texas & I picked up a charm pack of the special Moda fabric that was designed for the shop hop. Since Maria made me an Australia mugrug a while back, I thought she should have a Texas mugrug for her sewing space! And, I made another "hoop". I am enjoying doing these with bits of fabric, felt, embroidery floss... on Maria's I even added some beads and a charm...

It's so much fun to share with friends all over the world. What have you made lately?

No more braces!

This is how Ally left for school yesterday.... Beautiful, isn't she? And this is Ally now....

Look at those gorgeous straight teeth!

Sorry no creative posts lately. I've been focussing on one of my 3 best creations (Ally!). I promise more crafty posts soon. Oh and before I leave you, had to show you this cute photo of Daddy creeping Ally's photoshoot....

Until next time...