CraftsCategory Archives:

Swap box and Friday Night Sew-In

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Well, my partner (and new friend) for the Simply Notable “Make a Crafty New Friend” swap on Ravelry received her package today. I think I was just excited packaging everything up for her as she was to get it.

Swap Package

Lots of Goodies

There were a few skeins of Caron’s Spa yarn, an infinity scarf knit in Caron’s Spa in a taupe color, a set of four coasters made with Liz Scott’s Domestic Bliss for Moda, some crochet stitch markers I made when I couldn’t find any pretty ones to buy for her. She was hoping for bamboo crochet hooks, so I found some of those, a yarn/needle gauge, a few things for embroidery, the Doodle Stitching book (one of our favorites here), some note cards, a bag full of spiced pecans, and a dozen hand rolled truffles that I had a seriously hard time parting with despite being able to make more any time I feel like it.  She loved her package and I can finally stop being a bundle of nerves about it!

Now that that’s all wrapped up, I can start working on a couple other projects…perfect timing really, since tonight is this month’s Friday Night Sew-In hosted by Handmade by Heidi. There’s still time to sign up for tonight’s sew-in if you want to head over to Heidi’s and sign up. It’s fun, and you could win a prize for participating. And the rules…yeah, they’re super easy. Sign up, participate, and blog about it tomorrow. It’s that simple.

I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to be working on tonight. I want to work on something fun and for me…I had planned to make a blouse for myself tonight, but my material did not arrive in time. :( Sadness. Instead, I’ll either work on knitting one of about four scarves I owe people, a crocheted scarf, my February feathers FMQ challenge for Sew Cal Gal’s Free Motion Quilting Challenge, or maybe work on the blocks for the Craftsy BOM Course. I’m seriously behind on the Craftsy blocks because I’m not entirely certain I want to spend the time learning to make these blocks because I just don’t love them. I am probably going to attempt it anyway, because, as the ladies in my quilting club pointed out, even if they look horrible on their own, they may look really lovely once they’re all pieced together and you see the quilt top as a whole.

Anyway, feel free to pop over and sign up for the Craftsy BOM Course (free) or join in with the Friday Night Sew-In tonight.

I’ll be back tomorrow to update on what (if anything) I managed to accomplish this evening.

Have a fantastic weekend! :)

 

 

Friday Night Sew-In and some of today

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Last night I tried to work on a little sewing for FNSI, but really only got a little more of this mug rug quilted.

Grey/Red Mug Rug

Mug rug in progress

Fridays are movie and/or game night at our house. Half the kids wanted to battle each other on the computer. The other two wanted movie time with Mom and Dad. So I ended up putting away the sewing for the evening and working on the circle scarf I’ve got on my knitting needles right now. I was really too tired to do sit at the kitchen table all night anyway, so it worked out.  Well, there, you have it. My first FNSI was sort of uneventful and didn’t quite go to plan, but what in my life ever does?

We were up till 4:30 this morning though. I was T.I.R.E.D. But I was back up at nine anxiously waiting for the delivery of Bessie 2.

She is all that and a bag of chips, I tell ya. I’m loving her, but holy crap…free motion quilting when done properly is TOUGH. Like really tough. My shoulders are tired and strained and my test piece for setting the tension on the new machine looks like a thread store had sex with a knot company and their baby barfed all over the material. It’s that bad. But I did get my tension set properly for quilting, I cut apart a darning foot and rigged it to quit bouncing and I practiced. And practiced. And practiced. And it still looks like shit, but I’m going to call it a night for FMQ.

 

FMQ Take 2

FMQ take 2 on Bessie 2

Anyway, I’m getting surly, so I’m going to go shut up, set up Bessie 1 and get back to stitch in the ditch quilting. It’s comfortable and right now, my shoulders need a little comfort (plus I feel like I’m cheating on Bessie 1 with Bessie 2).

 

Last, but definitely not least, today is my loverly hubby’s birthday. He turned 35. I truly enjoy razzing him for being almost 4 years older than me. I told him today that if his life expectancy is 70, he’s half way to dead. I also told him I’m thankful he’s still alive because that means I get another year to torture him. He wasn’t really impressed with either of my birthday remarks. I am not sure why. 

A Rag Doll for Christmas

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Mackenzie (aka Punky) is quite demanding this year about what she wants for “Ho Ho Ho” (aka Christmas…Christmas is one tough word to say when you’re a primarily non-verbal child). She wants a “bike-a-bike” and a bear and a doll and books and a purse and shoes and boots…and…and…and…(it continues in this manner for a while and each request is punctuated by the corresponding word in sign language) and she wants her “bike-a-bike” NOW! I know this because she has informed me of this at least 7,642 times in the last two days.  I had nightmares all night in which an evil Punky chanted in a sing-songy voice, “I want my bike-a-bike” and when I refused to give it to her she went all Firestarter on me and howled with laughter as I burst into flames.

The bike is safely (for now) ensconced where she can’t get her hands on it yet, so we’ll move on to other Christmas presents. For the doll, she fell in love with the Black Apple Doll (template and instructions and a video are all on the webpage) from Emily Winfield Martin.

Here is the Punky version:

Punky's Black Apple Doll

Punky's Black Apple Doll

 

Here’s my big secret regarding this particular doll…I put her stupid arms on upside down.  I have a feeling this blog is going to turn into more of a crafting misadventure blog than I’d like.  *Sigh* In my defense, it’s bloody difficult to pay attention to what you’re doing when you have four kids hanging on you, two cats scrambling over everything, and one huge dog who thinks he should take up residence in your lap. However, that’s no excuse for putting arms on upside down. I guess I’ll have to make her another one eventually…perhaps with the arms attached correctly. The older girls think she looks like she’s getting ready to give out hugs, so they like the mistake. It does sort of look like she’s ready to throw her arms around you (or maybe she just woke up from her nap and she’s stretching). Either way, she’s here to stay, flaws and all.

 

 

Purse

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I’m in shock, but the purse I was making yesterday actually turned out quite well for the first purse I’ve attempted to make. :) Girl child #1 who was being incredibly picky about the stupid bag yesterday has declared her love for it today. According to her less grumpy self today, she loves it more than the bike she picked out for Christmas. Color me happy!

Oval Pleated Bag

Oval Pleated Bag

Oval Pleated Bag Lining

Oval Pleated Bag Lining

Pay no attention to the disaster that is the background of the picture. I’m not exactly the most organized person on the best of days, but I’ve got baskets of fabric everywhere, the ironing board out, and I’ve ignored the mess the kids have made of the bookshelves while I’ve been working on the ridiculous number of projects on my plate lately.

 

 

Overwhelmed

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Today, I’m hard at work and completely overwhelmed with all of the things I still need to get done for Christmas. Sadly, I didn’t get all my materials or everyone’s wish lists before the beginning of December, so I’m WAY behind.

I am making progress though, thank God. The apron patterns for the kiddos are made, the fabric is washed and dried and waiting to be ironed so I can cut the aprons out and put them together tonight after the freaks are asleep.

I’ve been hard at work on bags for the girls. Kearsey is a country bumpkin and wanted jean and pink cowgirl material for her purse. At least the jean is cute…the other material…well, let’s just say that if it weren’t for my fanatical daughter, I wouldn’t have bought it.

Oval pleated bag

Oval Pleated Bag in progress

Next week or after New Year’s, I’ll post some pictures of the finished bag, and maybe even a free pattern for the bag if I can recover enough from the holiday insanity to draw one up and post it. I made it super simply without interfacing  or box pleats at the bottom because the jean is so heavy that it kind of stands on its own, but I’ll add the box pleats and interfacing into the pattern when I make it and make one showing them used just to give you some perspective.

I’ve got another bag to make as well, for Arianna, but I’m using a pattern I got from Keyka Lou. If you head to her shop, she’s retiring some patterns, and those being retired are on sale for $3.00 US each. I picked up four. I’m a sucker for her bags. They’re gorgeous.

 

We finally managed to get out and pick up our groceries, the kids’ bikes for Christmas, and our Christmas tree last night, so we’ll either be decorating tonight (not bloody likely since I have my ironing board set up right where the tree has to go) or tomorrow afternoon when Eddie gets out of work since he only has a half day tomorrow.

Speaking of my lovely husband, he’s currently out in the garage working on the wooden bowl he’s carving for me. So far, it’s gorgeous. I might just start pimping his work out and selling it. I could certainly support my fabric and yarn addictions if I did so. Will post pics after Christmas since it’s not done yet.

 

So how close are you to completing your Christmas prep? On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being, “Oh dear Lord, I’m drowning” and 10 being “I’m the shiz-nit because I’m absolutely totally prepared”) I’m nearing a three, I think. Like I said, way behind. :(