Holiday rush and gifts galore

Hello everyone. Sorry I've been quiet, but I was busy working on gifts and I didn't want to show them too early. Besides I didn't want to give away what I was making. First off this is basically going to be a picture heavy blog and I'm sorry about that. However, that said you'll see what I had been making for gifts. Yes, I'm already trying to think of what to make next year for people. I'll figure it out. I'm actually proud of myself because I was able to get them done and one time. I even did a ceramic dragon (I painted it)that I gave to my oldest boys friend, which she loved. So really without further ado, I'll give you the pictures. :)

I'm actually not sure what order these pictures are in. But the potholders and oven mitts were kind of fun to do. All gifted out to people. Then the progress pics of the wall hanging I made my step daughter. She loved it. So all in all I'm happy with what I did. I learned some things too in the process of this. One thing I learned is that fact that I can do it and I will be doing a lot more. I have plans for 2014 and here's to all those lovely ideas dancing in my head.

I doubt I will be posting again here in this blog, so I'm signing off this blog for 2013, I hope your new year will bring happiness, joy and of course many more creative ideas to fill the time.

GH
See you all in 2014. :D

I did it! So excited. :D

Hey all.

I know I updated yesterday, but by George I feel that another update is needed. I'm so proud of myself. First I did the wreath, and I know it's not perfect, but I did it! I did it without help and so forth, that for me is an accomplishment. I'm usually looking online or calling someone. I did this myself, with the help of the book Block Magic, by Nancy Johnson -Screbro. Love, love this book and I'm so happy I bought it years ago. Little did I know that I would venture finally into doing what I wanted to do besides sewing.

Next it the tree, it was easier to do, but still, I did it. There was a bit of confusion with some of the measurements and hubby came to the rescue and he helped me with that. It was a little hectic because one of the cats fell into the tub and got all wet, and then the dog wanted outside. I did get it done and I finally decided, yes, you better pack it up for the night. I just feel so accomplished and am so proud of myself.

Here are the pictures. :) I'll be making another holiday wall hanging with this. It may not get done this year, but that's okay because I'm learning and having fun. Next year it will get displayed.

Til next time, have fun!

A new shirt and some walking foot sewing.

Hey all.

I've been a busy beaver, working on christmas gifts, which I can't mention. Also I was working on my holiday wall hanging, which is coming along nicely. Ken (kenmore sewing machine)was being temperamental. Actually he's temperamental at least once a day when I use him. So miss my Grace babylock, oh so much, and I'll be dancing when she's fixed. Anyway, so I've been busy. One of which was getting a shirt done and sewed up for my youngest. I finished that today. Below you can see it. He was happy to see it done, that was for sure; me I was happy to have it done so I could move on back to my other projects. Go me!

Next is a picture of my holiday wall hanging that is a work in progress. I hope I can have it done in time. I am finding that machine quilting, is a bit of a struggle because you do have to move your fabric around constantly. I cannot see myself sewing a twin or anything bigger on the machine, but I suspect I will surprise myself as time goes buy because lets face it, Long arm sewing machines are expensive. So here is are a couple of works in progress for the wall hanging. The walking foot is proving to be very useful; I can't wait though to start the free motion quilting on it. That will come.

I had to rip out a section that I did today because the bobbin bounced, but once I fixed it, it seemed to be okay. So ripping was the last thing I did today before I put everything up for supper. It was a very productive day and I'm quite happy with the progress I'm making, even though Ken likes to give me grief. [laughs] So here are the pictures for the wall hanging.

Well that's it until next time.

Keep sewing and having fun

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween everyone. I hope all the kids out there are going to have a blast trick or treating. I hope the adults out there have their fun too, because remember no one is too old to have a bit of Halloween fun. I managed to finish the Halloween wall hanging that I started at the beginning of the month. I'm both proud and disappointed with it at the same time. Funny how that is. lol

The pattern came out of a Patrick Lose magazine, and I just had to make it; so I did. I'm disappointed that it didn't turn out straight and that my applique came out a little jumbled. I'm kind of happy with the free motion quilting that I did for it and I'm really proud of the binding. It was one reason it took me so long, the binding. I hate it and love it at the same time. Not to mention that it's been a while since I've done any type of binding. So it really was a surprise to know that if it I didn't want to, I didn't have to do bias binding. I just cut out what I needed and went from there. It was a bit of a challenge since I kept sewing the pieces together the wrong way. It took me three tries to get right, but once I finally did, I got it on then hand sewed the back. I actually got lost in the hand sewing and almost forgot to put super on. Thank goodness for my husband who happened to pay attention to the time and ask if I was putting dinner on. So all in all it wasn't a bad day and I still wish I had my laptop.

Anyway without further ado, here at the pictures. I have more but with the laptop in the shop those pictures may have to wait.

I have my hand stitching I was doing, and then the finished product. Remember I'm a beginner and I know it's not the best, but I made it and well, I'll try another later and see how I made out with that one. For now, I'm proud of what I accomplished and not to mention what I learned through making this. Indeed this was an adventure and I'll do it all over again, soon. :)

Once again, I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween.
Laters :)

Sewing troubles, and Halloween bags.

Hello everyone, I hope all is well.

It's the middle of October and I've been sort of busy with a lot of things. My main sewing machine Grace broke down. I think it was my own fault, so I had to pull my Kenmore out and he's still as temperamental as I remember him lol. As my mother said though, I'm glad I can switch machines. I really miss Grace because she was so nice to sew with and you didn't have to fight with the tension. I'll get to sew with her soon, well after the Christmas holidays. Until then I'll deal with Ken. He's still much loved, but he's just a temperamental machine.

I got busy today(tonight)and worked on two Halloween bags, One for my Husbands grandson and then his granddaughter. I made a pillowcase for the grandson; I figured he'd get more use out of it this way since it will double as a halloween bag. Now the granddaughter gets a cute little bag. It's a little big, but she will grow into it and when she's older I'll make a pillowcase one for her. So, that was my adventure tonight. I really enjoyed myself as well, and I can't wait to give the kids their little gift.

Here are pictures

The first picture is both together. The second is a close up of the little bag that I made for the granddaughter. The third is the close up the decorative stitch I used. Lastly the last one is the pillowcase. I always make them a bit bigger. Easier to get on the pillows.

Well that's it for now.
Happy sewing/quilting and crafting. Stay Creative. :)

First Time Free Motion Quilting.

Today, I did take the plunge and tried out free motion quilting. It really and truly is not as easy as it looks. BUT it's fun! lol. I don't have an extension table, although it is on my list to get. Along with that list is my walking foot. I'm going to need it soon. Anyway I'm not giving away that project. Today is about finishing a UFO= Unfinished object. In my case my plunge into free motion quilting. There are several video's online and I've watched a couple here and there. I had ten potholders to do and well, that's what I used. I know I need a lot more practice, but I'm going to continue. I had a lot of fun and towards the end I was be-bopping along with some music.

I did run into one snag and for some reason my first bobbin decided it was gonna tangle all over the place. I figure (and as does my mother) the bobbin wasn't wound right. So I got another bobbin ready and didn't have another problem at all. I went on my way and I was having fun. I can say that an extension table would have made things just that much easier and that will come. I was happy though. Those woman and yes men out there that have done this for years, kudo's to you for making it look so easy and I only hope one day I can make it look like that as well.

Here are the potholders. Close up of the free motion. I didn't do too bad; I know that at times my stitching was longer or shorter, that comes with practice I'm sure of it.

For sure I will be doing this again; I really enjoyed the free motion quilting. One project in the bucket done, several more to be working on.

Oh happy day/evening.
Until later. :)

Halloween Project

It's me again. I finally took the plunge and turned my dinning room in a sewing room. Even if that is the case, my sewing machine still resides in my living room, because there isn't enough room in the sewing room. Besides, where the sewing machine is now, I can easily look out the window, so that's kind of nice. I'm happy with it, because I can work on the projects without having to take the table down. Also, during the holidays the long table will serve as a dinning table, so it's a win-win situation.

Here is one of the many projects I am working on. I realized too late I had forgotten to see about getting fuseable interfacing. My bad, but I also need it for another project I'm going to be working on. Hopefully I buy enough, lol. Here's a sneak peek at the Halloween project. It came out the the fons and porter - Patrick lose fall edition; The mini quilt is Seasonal Silhouettes. I can't wait to get it going and learning some more things.

Here are the pictures, and as you can one of my 'helpers' decided to get into the pictures as well. The view with Skittles in it, is the picture of the whole room, and my little cutting area. :)

Happy crafting/sewing/quilting everyone.