Teacher gifts

I made some teacher gifts for the girls' teachers this year.  One teacher loves lady bugs so I found a paper pieced pattern.  The other teacher loves puppy so I found some puppy fabric for the center and back.  Here's what we came up with.







Please don't look too closely.  My orange peels were not pretty.  But, practice makes perfect.  I will be doing these again.

Next up, another nephew quilt!  I'm so excited for our growing family.

One more nephew

We welcomed another nephew to the family last December.   It was only slightly late due to the Christmas crafting that I did.  Here are some in process and finished pictures for your viewing pleasure.











I won't even link to the pattern.  It would show you how badly I screwed up.  I did NOT follow the directions.

I loved doing the skinny dark grey stripes .  I loved making those figure 8's.

Back to old habits

I needed a break from my other project so I pulled out a really old hand quilting WIP.   Seven years in the making.  It feels good!!!!

Flat dolls and things

Thank you Pinterest.  I can now fix holes in jeans with scrap fabric and  fusible webbing. 

Hi M,   Ramses helped with your cuddle blanket.  

Some inside out doll pieces.

Some half finished dolls.

A wine bottle tote.

I need to remake these mittens.  A special Christmas ornament to my mom from her aunt.  

And I added some embroidery floss hangers to these wooden snowflake ornaments my sister gave to my mom.

Not pictured are some linen napkins that I made for my sister and sisters in law (or sister in laws?).  I made sets of 6 and did a satin stitch along the edges.  One each in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. It was a little tricky because I had to get close to the edges but still stay on the fabric.  I ended up cutting off the little bit that was leftover and it made a huge mess.  It would have been easier if I had a serger to do the job.  Wondering if I should add one to my wish list? 

Edit-I forgot about the felt ornaments we made for different family members.  I used red and green felt and used rows of the fancy stitches on my machine to make designs.  Here's the link I used.  

Shhhhh

 

My next project.  I won't be posting any more information until it's done.  

I was able to get most of it from my own stash (thanks to a grab bag from Fat Quarter Shop I bought a while ago) but needed some fabric for the backing and binding from the store.   I need to cut up these strips and then sew them back together again.  Monday night was spent recovering from a cold.  Last night was doing homework with three kids.  I really hope I can get to it tonight....

Yup

Still lacking in big girl camera photos of a finished quilt.  I made some stuff for Christmas gifts.  Some I have photos of and some I don't.  I also have some new things I'm working on.
A new baby quilt and bunch of dolls for all the nephews in my life.

It's that time of year again

When I'm sewing and staying busy but can't blog about it.  It's Christmas craft making time.  I still don't think I'm going to get everything done but we will see.

I had a great time with some new materials and some new techniques today.  That's the only hint I'll give.

And I know, I know, I still need some big girl camera pictures of the quilt for little man.  It's been a little cold around here though and there's no way I'm going outside for the small amount of natural light I can get if the high is 9.  I'm kinda wondering if it would be worth it to learn how to knit to keep my family of 5 in hats, scarves, and mittens from now on.