Taking a break from my Patio Picnic Pattern

For a little Christmas in July!

Just a couple Christmas mug rugs for my friends Roy and Teresa.

Anyone else working on Christmas yet?

Hello Everyone

It's been quite sometime since my last post.

Honestly, I just haven't been in the blogging mood.

Don't know why.

I'm still sewing and crafting and have plenty of things to share.

Rather than buying more fabric I have been trying to lighten my stash pile. 

Do you ever go through your stash and wonder what in the world you were thinking when you bought that piece of fabric?

Here's one of mine.

I literally haven't a clue what I was thinking.

Super ugly....

Anyhow, I thought maybe if I cut it up into smaller pieces I could hid the ugly.

Again, not really sure what I was thinking.

I found this free Floating Star pattern  on Jordan Fabrics and thought I would give it a try.

It's very similar to the No Point Star from Cluck Cluck Sew I did here.

Jordan Fabrics made a wall hanging using the Floating Star pattern.

 I decided just to use the Floating Star and make a table runner.

I will say, cutting it up didn't help a whole lot to make it any less ugly.

It's a bit busy.

Rather than using it as a table runner I decided to hang it on my antique wooden ladder for decoration.

I have yards of the red and white star fabric leftover and made the little quilt as you go flag wall hanging following a You-Tube video by Fat Quarter Shop.

It was a super quick afternoon project.

Hope everyone is staying safe at home.

See ya soon.

And another...

Continued from Tuesday's post...

I still had tiny little scraps lying around the sewing room floor and couldn't let them go.

I began picking them up and just stitching them together haphazardly until I had sew together about a 5" x 8" piece.

I cut a heart out of paper a bit smaller than the one I used for the
 No Point Star block.

I was able to squeeze 4 hearts out of that scrappy little 5" x 8" piece I had sewn together.

Now, what to do with these scrappy little hearts?
I stitched together a quick little "base" using 5 by 5 inch squares and 2 inch wide sashing.
I then used my new 505 Adhesive Spray to temporarily place my hearts down while I ran a zig zag stitch around each one.

I do really like this 505 spray despite the can says it is only removable by dry cleaning.

(I did e-mail the company to ask about the dry cleaning, but I never got an answer.)

 It holds really well. I used it both to hold down the hearts for stitching and to sandwich my fabric and batting.

I added my binding and it's complete and ready for hanging.

All from scraps off the floor and a bit from my stash basket.

Thanks for looking!

Linking today to:

http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/

http://yesterdayontuesday.com/

http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/

http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/

One thing led to another....

After my last (not so perfect) small quilt project, I thought I would try something a bit less "pointy". 😉

Scrolling through Pinterest I came across this No Point Star tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew and thought I would give it a try.

While still trying to put a dent in my fabric stash, I came across some scraps I thought would be perfect for a little scrappy February block.

I cut out my fabric as she instructed for one block and started chain piecing.

I followed her instructions and it went together really quickly.

I then decided to just stitch a quarter inch around the star points, center and around the border.

It looked a little boring to me so I decided to add a few hearts in each corner and the center of the star.

I cut a star from paper and drew around it with my disappearing ink pen.

I just followed my lines and...

WALLA!!

I have hearts.

All I needed to do was dampen the fabric to remove my drawn lines.

I added the binding and it's complete.

I can use it as a table topper...

hang it...

or use it as a (rather large) mug rug.

Which leads me to my "another" project.

As I was cleaning up my mess I spotted the little triangles I had cut off to make the star...

Couldn't let those go to waste, now could I?

They were such tiny little pieces.

Perfect for a mug rug.

Isn't it amazing what you can do with the tiny little leftovers if you just take a second look before tossing them in your trash bin?

Have a great day!

Linking today to:

http://www.esthersquiltblog.com/

http://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/

https://www.quiltfabrication.com/

http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/

http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/

~ A gift for Lindsay ~

Do you know someone who always has those perfectly filed and painted nails?

In my world, that would be Lindsay.
Her nails are always beautiful.

Since Lindsay does her own manicure and has hundreds of nail colors already, I thought she could use a jar for her cotton balls.

After all, who doesn't need something cute and personalized to hold their cotton balls.

Am I right?

Or, if you need a personalized housewarming gift instead, you can check out my cookie jar wraps here.

Speaking of Lindsay...

I made these Christmas ornaments for her and her family using my new Cricut Maker.

In fact, I made personalized Christmas ornaments for a few others too.

So much fun...

Linking today to:

http://yesterdayontuesday.com/

http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/

http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/

https://www.loulougirls.com/

Sweet comments and a little February sewing

Apparently, I didn't think the whole thing through before deciding to answer your comments via the comment section rather than my usual e-mail.

 I received so many sweet compliments on my last post and then realized I just can't pop in and add another comment to answer each one.

 I needed to add a "reply" button.

 Duh???

I tried several tutorials to add the reply button in the comments and nothing worked. 

I contacted Blogger for some help on Saturday and they still have not answered.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I am stumped.

In the meantime I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to write such sweet and encouraging comments. 

Even though I spent a good deal of time trying to figure the whole reply button thing out, I did start a little February/Valentine sewing...

Just need to add a few finishing touches...

Be back soon.

Christmas curtains

I packed away all my Christmas decorations this year except my buffalo check curtains.

I received so many compliments on the curtains that I decided to leave them up and add more color to my living room this year.

Since normally my living room is pretty neutral, I knew it wouldn't take much to add splashes of color here and there.

That's the joy of having a neutral pallet, you can switch things up pretty easily. 

I'm thinking a few quilted projects and colorful pillows here and there might work.
I am just itching to get something started.
Unfortunately, I had another eye surgery last week and won't be able to sew again for awhile.
In the meantime...
I can plan.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and now on to a great New Year.

I'm starting my new year by cashing in one of my Christmas gifts from Mr. Fisherman.

 A $100 Amazon gift card!

I have never been much of an online shopper. 

I like to touch and feel things before I buy.

I like to know the quality of things before I spend my hard-earned dollars on something.

You can't always tell the quality of something from an online photo.

It may be beautiful in a picture, but when it arrives it's cheap, cheap, cheap.

Well.....

I have since changed my way of thinking.

 I have not been able to drive since my first eye surgery in December 2017.

I can handle the surgeries, but not being able to drive???

Drives me nuts!

Soon, I will be back to normal, but in the meantime, I have learned how fun it is to shop online.

I have ordered several things online over the past 6 months or so and had only one return.

I can see how online shopping could become very dangerous.

My first purchases using my gift card came in two days.

Oh, how I love Amazon Prime!

I saw this binding tool used on a U-Tube video and thought I would give it a try.

I also ordered an open toe, free motion quilting foot since one of my goals in 2019 is to learn the art of machine quilting.

I also ordered a couple charm packs which were not part of Amazon Prime's two day shipping.

Darn.

 I see how that 2 day shipping can really spoil a person, can't it?

Merry Christmas everyone!

As I'm typing this post, I am thinking "How do I explain my long absence from blogging without sounding like a Debbie Downer or that I am looking for sympathy?"

I am not.

Sometimes life just throws you a curve and you learn to work with it.

Since December 2017 I have been working my way through several eye surgeries (5 to be exact and 2 more to go) due to a detached retina in one eye and a torn retina in the other.
For those reasons, I have been MIA for some time now.
Sooooo.....

I have decided to set myself a few goals for 2019.

Oh my, did I just say that out loud? 
YIKES, I did, didn't I?

They will be very small goals, but goals just the same.
Here goes....

1. Make and complete at least one small quilted project a month.
(Table runner/topper, wall hanging, mug rug, placemat, etc)

2. Learn to machine quilt - the correct way.

3. Blog at least 2 times a week.

I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's a start and I am being realistic.

Until then, here's a quick gift idea from Christmas 2017.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas...

See ya in 2019!

Don't be afraid!

 

I'll be back soon.

~ Halloween outfits for the girls ~

I finished these up yesterday just in time to mail out to my grandbabies in North Carolina.



I purchased the sweet little tulle skirt and the blank long sleeved tee for about $12 an outfit..

All I did was add a little embroidery I purchased from Planet Applique.

 

 

 

All ready for Halloween!



Trick or treat bags

 

I picked these bags up last year at The Dollar Tree to embroider for my neighbors children.

They already had the cute little designs on them - all I did was embroider the names.

 

 

 

 

Until next time...

 



Pincushions are essential

For anyone who sews, a pincushion is a must.

 

 

I love making pincushions.

Pincushions take very little fabric and you can make them any size, any shape, any color, etc.

 

Why not make them fun!



Halloween bugs and kisses

First, let me apologize....

This was not my original idea - I stole it.

I made these cute little trick or treat bags for my neighbors children a few years ago, but can't for the life of me, remember where I downloaded it from.

I would love to give credit where credit is due, but I have no clue where it came from.

 

 

Aren't they cute?

 

 

They were so easy to make.

Just a bit of cardstock, baggies, spider rings and kisses!

 

 

Do you hand out candy or are you one of those who turn the lights out, lock the door and hide?

I am the latter, but I do always try to make my friends children a little something.

Am I bad?

 



Same pumpkin - different look !

Are you like me?

 

I have a huge abundance of scraps left from other projects, and I just can't seem to throw even the tiniest little piece away.

 

These little quilted wall hangings are quick, easy and can put a small dent in your overflowing scrap pile.

 

I used the same pumpkin design as I used here.

 

 

I just used the smaller pumpkin design and changed it up a bit.

 

 

Check it out....

 

 

Hope your having a great Tuesday!

Free Craftsy Pattern

 I found this free pattern by Debby Kratovil on Craftsy and thought I would give it a try.

 

The original pattern is called Wild Strawberries and looks like this...

 

 

Mine, however, looks like this...

 

 

I just loved the design of this little quilted wall hanging.

 The half square triangles and the cute little prairie points caught my eye right away.

.

The strawberries are adorable, but I wanted something for fall. 

 

I purchased the pumpkin applique from one of my favorite embroidery sites ( Planet Applique)  and got to work.

 

 I am sure you quilters out there will immediately spot my imperfections, but I'm thinking, if we don't tell, maybe the non-quilters won't even notice :-) 

 

Even though I know it's not perfect, it was a lot of fun to make.

 

Now, go download  Debby's free Craftsy pattern and don't worry about those tiny little imperfections.

 

I'm pretty happy with the way mine came out - imperfections and all !

 

Happy Friday!