first little gift

Last weekend I had the chance to stitch up this little pillow for a Christmas swap I'm doing.


The prim snowman design is from Heartstrings Embroidery. All of the Christmas fabrics were ones I had in stash. I think they were mostly from Hobby Lobby. I used 3" strips to patchwork a border around the wool felt embroidery.


That's the sum total of my sewing (for others or me) for the past week. But I'm off for Thanksgiving now, so hopefully I'll have things to share!

Not today though, I'm leaving in a little while to shop with my sister & Lu, and then we're off to dinner and this:


Have a great day!

anthro shirt: still in progress

I had to set this one aside for a few days in order to preserve my sanity. The collar band/front placket/ruffle treatment I envisioned was giving me FITS on finishing. I almost ruined it at least 4 times.

So of course the prudent thing was to step away until I could see clearly again. Here's where we are now:
We have ruffles! And a collar band attached, albeit a little worn and ragged around the edges (but really, who's going to be that close to my neck?)

Here's a picture showing just how "off" the front neckband is going to be. See that weird dip? Yeah, I'm past the point of caring now! :)


I decided on double ruffles and I folded the placket to the outside (the reverse of what you would normally do). I'll topstitch it into place, hopefully later today. Then I have sleeves and handstitching on the collar, hemming, and I'll be done. Still sounds like a lot so no promises it will be this weekend. Just picking this unfinished thing up each day and looking at it wears me out!

Honestly the only thing spurring me to finish it at all (by now I would have tossed it normally!) is that the fabric is gorgeous AND vintage, and darn it, the ruffles are looking super cute.

I did cut out that Vogue skirt I mentioned, and altered the tissue. It will need a muslin before I can cut into the blue linen though. I had to grade up and there are several pieces that need checked. Maybe I can find the energy to do that too.

Meanwhile, I've filled those empty (avoidance) stitching hours with some machine embroidery! I haven't done much of that since getting the Mac about 15 months ago. I have been having a ball planning some holiday decorating & gift projects. Here's one stitching up right now:



The design is so cute, a primitive snowman hat embroidery design from Heartstrings Embroidery. It's called "All Flakes Welcome". I think it will become a pillow for my couch, but I also need a mantel scarf, a door hanger, and some new kitchen table accessories would be nice too! I'll be sure to keep you updated on this project too.

Have a great weekend!

toasty

As long as I'm bundled in the covers that is! It's been FREEZING here. (And yes, I'm kind of a wuss about it.)

I uncovered long enough to photo some more gifties though! First, a set of candy cane stripe tea towels, embroidered with this fabulous design from Urban Threads:


Aqua and red are one of my absolute favorite color combos!! I added aqua rickrack and grosgrain trim. The top towel has the Toast embroidery, and it's coordinating towel just has the trims. It's hard to see in this photo, but the lettering says "Feelin Toasty". Here they are tied with ribbon for gifting:


Ten years ago or so, I used to make spool & clothespin dolls when I did the local craft fair circuit. My favorite was always a Wizard of Oz set. I wish I still had one to show you! They always sold out and I never did get around to making one to keep. I do have some holiday dolls left, I'll have to dig some out and snap a few pics for you.

Anywho, I was so happy to see clothespin dolls emerge again last holiday season over at Alicia Paulson's blog (as Santa Lucia dolls). JennyB at Allsorts has been crafting some especially cute ones recently too. They've got my creating juices flowing, so Lu & I did some clothespin doll crafting this weekend! Here's my first finished dollie. Don't you love her big spotted bow and scottie dog dress?

"Dolly Shannon"

Today I'm trying to finish up work on a table runner for my mom's dining room table. (Yup, another Christmas gift). I sort of procrastinated on this thing, and I'm down to the wire (but the end is in site!) I'm going to stipple quilt it this afternoon, but here it is basted:



I used a jellyroll (my first!) It was a real time saver! I can see lots more jellyroll projects in my future! The prints are from American Jane "Recess" by Moda. I wish I had a yard of each of these!!

Ok, off now to run to the post office. I missed the mailman by thismuch this morning. Doh. Still have to get my Christmas cards in the post!

glam.

It's been a peaceful, quiet weekend.

Which could be because my cordless phone is dead and I forgot to pick up a new one yesterday. Ya think that was Freudian? In any case, I ended up with enough time on my hands to start a new project for Lu.

(I seem to be in a bit of a rut in the sewing for me department. Lu doesn't mind.)

I chose this cute Project Runway pattern from Simplicity:


I'm making the yellow version, with the hem band from the black view.

I'm using light purple knit from stash, nicely aged. In fact, it's almost as old as Lu herself. Hee. The best part (of course) is the embellishment, which took the better part of one viewing of Haunted Mansion.


This applique heart is from Anita Goodesign, part of a design collection called Sugar & Spice. I really, really heart Anita Goodesign. But they are pricey. I only buy the collections that I know I can use several different ways. I'm generally more of an individual design purchaser!

Stitched out perfect, even using metallic threads. I have a pucker on the lower right, but that's probably my fault from pulling too hard when tearing off my stabilizer. It should steam out just fine.

Stay tuned! I hope to finish this one tomorrow so I can move on to other things. Like Christmas! People! Do you realize there are only 66 Days til Christmas!??!


Just in case you're not sure (I wasn't), you can go HERE to check and see if you're on the Naughty or Nice list. (I recommend doing so now, while you still have time to mend your fences with the fat man.)

Ok, now I promise not to mention the big C again until after the big H.

Listening to George

mutual.

Admiration, that is.

The amazingly talented Niamh of Urban Threads just featured your own little jemima bean (aka ME) on her blog! SWEET!


Feel free to go HERE to view my 15 seconds of craft fame.

Since I am a huge fan of Niamh's artist-y goodness (and I've kind of had a crap October personally speaking) I feel all warm & fuzzy inside.

Thanks Niamh!

I've got two tees for my girl Lu ready for some UT embroidery, so keep watching (or should that be...watch out?)

I ask you, what's not to love about
humorously fabulous machine embroidery?