Sew & Tell Linky party?



Here's the thing...

I am pondering hosting a SEWING linky party each week and wondering how many of you would be interested. Because I don't see many SEWING linky parties, I am hoping some of you would like to join me for some SEW & TELL fun each week.

What's a SEW & TELL linky party, you ask?
First of all....
IT'S A PARTY !!!... and who doesn't love a PARTY !

 It's a party where you will be able to share your creativity with others. My readers will be able to link up their sewing projects for others to see, and in turn, add a button on their blog back to mine inviting others to check them out or add a link to their own sewing project. When the party is over and all the dishes are done, I will pick a few of my favorites to feature the following week.

If your interested, please comment on this post or shoot me a quick e-mail.

If I get enough interest, I will start hosting a Sew & Tell party each week. 

Are you game?

 

 

These darn mug rugs are sooooo addicting!



 



  

 

Linking today to:

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

 

Mug Rug

 

I took a little break from sewing my picnic table runner to make a gift for a friend.

 

 







 

Have a great weekend !



Linking today to:
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
http://www.myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.com/


I'm not sure....

 

Is it the month of July, the summer weather or the fact that this red and white fabric just screams picnic to me?

 

 

 

I'm working on another picnic table runner.

 

Be back soon!

Serger love....

 

Mr. Fisherman bought me my first serger over 20 years ago.

I'm now on my second one and have no idea what I would do without one.

Once you own one...there's no going back.

I inherited this baby when my mother passed away in 2007.

This one (for the most part) threads itself.

My first serger was one you had to thread manually. Until you get the hang of threading a serger you literally want to rip your hair out. Eating glass would be less painful...

 If you own a serger, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

It takes some patience, but eventually it becomes second nature...really.

So, don't let threading your serger stop you from using it, keep trying.

There are so many fun things to do with a serger.

 

I had just enough of the red and white checkered fabric left from my ant and watermelon table runner to make a quick tablecloth.

By the way...has anyone noticed this is the same fabric I covered the lampshades with on my thrift store chandelier?

 

 

Original post here.

 

Okay, back to the tablecloth...

Originally I was going to serge, turn under a half inch and hem my tablecloth, but after sergering the edges, I decided I liked the look of the serged edge instead.

 

 I usually like to serge a rolled edge on napkins and tablecloths, but I liked the casual look of these stitches against the red and white checkered fabric.

 

Whichever you choose, it's "sew" easy to have a new look for your table in minutes!



A little of this...

 

...and a little of that.
 

 

 

 

Makes for a quick, and simple dishtowel.

Enjoy your meal or...
Bon appetite!



Linking today to:
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

 

Quilt as you go

Remember Friday's post?

I wanted to experiment with the quilt as you go technique and do a bit of scrap busting at the same time.

It started like this...

 



...and ended like this.

 



Here's how it went.

 I first cut and laid my strips down. I then printed out copies of the designs and placed them where I wanted them to go.

 

 

Next, I layered the back fabric and batting and began to sew my strips using the quilt as you go method.

 

 

Very easy.

 

Once the strips were all sewn down, I began my embroidery.

Come on - can these ants get any cuter?

 



Of course, what's a picnic without watermelon...

 

 

 I did like the quilt as you go method, but I had a bit of an issue with my fabric puckering around my embroidery designs due to the thickness of the batting and the two layers of fabric.

 

 

Even at that...

I still think it turned out pretty cute!

 

 

 

 Whatcha think?

 

Have a great Monday everyone!


Linking today to:
http://diyshowoff.com/
http://www.flamingotoes.com/
http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/
http://www.classyclutter.net/
http://lollyjane.com/
http://www.bloominghomestead.dreamhosters.com/
http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/
http://gigglesgalore.net/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
http://www.dizzyquilts.blogspot.com/
http://www.myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.com/
  

A simple sketch...

a few scraps...

 



...and your imagination.

Makes for a fun sewing project!

 

See ya soon... 

~ Stash busting ~

Well, sort of...

Well, it started out that way...

Really.

 I started going through some of my smaller scraps and decided I could make a few simple placemats or table runners and reduce a good amount of my fabric stash. I've been wanting to experiment with the "quilt as you go" method, so I thought table runners or placemats would be a good start.

Not only would I be reducing my stash but learning a new quilting technique.

It's a win - win!

As I am sorting through my fabric, I am realizing I didn't have much batting.

I prefer the Warm and Natural or Warm and White batting made by The Warm Company.

 

 

I like the way it crinkles up after it's quilted and washed.

 It looks more like the quilts my Granny use to make.

 Anyhow, I noticed Hancock Fabrics had all their batting on sale, so off I went.

One problem.

I came home with MORE fabric!!!
I know, I know, don't lecture me - I couldn't resist...

 

Isn't it pretty? 

I thought to myself, "Wouldn't this make a pretty table runner?" and talked myself right into buying it.
Besides, I can still use some of my stash I have at home to go with it.
Right?

Now, I have another problem.
I purchased a small Ottlite they had on sale, but found it's not going to work for me.
Here's my problem...
 I need to go back to the fabric store to return it, so.....
I'm thinking "Horse blinders".
Don't they use those to keep horses focused?
Do ya think they would work on people too?

Wish me luck!

~ Good enough ~

 

Do you ever get excited about sewing something and when your done, it turns out to be such a disappointment?  Not that the pattern was a disappointment, but your sewing was not up to par or your choice of fabrics wasn't quite right, etc. I have a box of disappointments. I'm not quite sure why I keep them, but I do. Do you keep your not so worthy projects or do you toss them?

I suggest you stash them for a bit, bring them out later and take another look.

You may find, they weren't so bad after all.

 

I bought this Favorite Things pattern years ago with the intention of making a few as gifts for my younger nieces.

 

 

Before making them as gifts, I decided to practice on myself.

I even took the time to add a bit of embroidery.

 

 

It has tons of pockets for cash or credit cards.

 

 

You can add a zippered pocket, a pocket with a flap or just pockets on both ends.

I opted for the quick and easy pockets on each end.

 

 

I was so disappointed in my sewing skills, I didn't even finish sewing the strap closure or the button on.

 

 

Funny, as I take a second look, it's a little wonky, not perfect, but....

it's really not that bad!

 

Sometimes I think we are so hard on ourselves if it's not perfect.

When really... good enough is, by definition, good enough.

 

Have a great day!



Red, white and a little blue...

 

What's more appropriate than a swim suit and beach towel to celebrate the 4th!

I found these little red and white bathing suits at Target for my grand babies.

 

 

Aren't they cute?

 

 

I then purchased plain white towels and stitched a little red, white and blue to match....

 

 

 

Add a little sunscreen and they're ready for some all day fun in the sun.

 

 Have a happy and safe 4th of July everyone!


Linking today to:
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

 



Host a stress free game night

 

Last weekend we had 8 guests over for game night.

I wanted to make it simple so we made and sliced hoagies on a platter, sweet and sour meatballs in the Crock pot, homemade mac and cheese, easy baked Mexican dip and Fritos.

We made everything ahead, so no last minute stress before the guests arrive. The hoagies were in the fridge, meatballs in the Crock pot, the mac and cheese and Mexican dip ready just to slide into the oven and bake a hour before the guests arrive. Could it be much easier?

I asked everyone to bring a dessert of their choice.

We had cheesecake, cupcakes and a dump cake.

 Of course, I had to try one (or more) of each.....ALL very yummy!

 I didn't have much time to plan or decorate since I had decided only the week before

to host a game night.

Since we would be spending most of our time between the kitchen and the game table, I thought I would just stitch up a few new dishtowels and napkins.

 



 

 

 

And, that's how you host a no stress game night!

Have a great day.

 

 

Linking today to:

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

http://www.craftsalamode.com/

http://www.sewcanshe.com/