T-Shirt Quilt: Baby Girl Memories

Christening Gown: Harper

Custom Quilt: To Space and Beyond

Seasonally Appropriate: Neighbor Gifts

This year I took to some hand-embroidered napkins to accompany mugs and cocoa for the neighbor gifts.

Kids: Tooth Fairy Pillow

Well, I've been noodling the idea of a tooth fairy pillow for the shop for a while. I've tried big pockets and small pockets and everything in between. But finally I think I've found something I like. With these particular personalized pillows, there'll be no question in the Tooth Fairy's mind just who's tooth she's whisking away.


Bigger pocket to accommodate a letter to (or from) the tooth fairy and then whatever you happen to put the tooth in. What does one put a tooth in? Sandwich bag? Ewwwww. Anyway, each keepsake pillow is handmade with care, of course. Embroidered fabric pillow holds a child's tooth in the pocket while waiting for the Fairy's special delivery.


I hand embroidered this child's name on the pocket and also added the fairy (which loosely resembles the actual child) for displaying as a decorative pillow. This one is 12" square. And the back is an envelope back, completely removable and somewhat washable.


I'm not sure what I'll do for boy pillows. Requests? Ideas?

Run Run Rudolph Table Runner

Right now it feels like we're all over Christmas. But when I was stitching the finishing touches on this gift I was still filled with sugar plum fuel and happy thoughts. When the no-retail rule came to reside in our family gift exchanges I was in a panic. But turned out a small-ish quilt to be used on the table for Christmas feasting. Actually could be hung on the wall for decoration is you were so inclined.

For the label I embroidered right into the back piece, as I tend to do for all my quilt signatures. But this time I used metallic thread. It was actual metal. Imagine embroidering with a guitar string. Lesson learned.

Every time I finish a quilt remember how much I love hand sewing a binding.

Yoga Mat Tote: Keep Calm & Carry On

The Carla Yoga Mat Tote bag can be slung comfortably across the body, allowing you to carry a yoga mat to and from class with style. Unique to this style are the hand-embroidered mantras -- show the world what you think with simple stitches. The tote holds a classic yoga mat and has an exterior pocket for collecting your car or locker keys, membership card, phone, and even wallets. The pocket has a flap and velcro closure for security.* The bag has a wide strap that resists rolling and folding, making for comfortable carrying. Great for any yoga or pilates enthusiast.

*Various pocket styles are available in this fabric palette. Please specify your preferences in the notes to seller when placing order. Dimensions: Circular bag that measures approximately 27" long and has about a 6-inch diameter. Care and Cleaning: Spot clean with cold water or dry clean. May be rinsed in cool water by hand and line dried, as well. Warm iron if desired. 100% Cotton. Sewn in my pet-free, smoke-free studio. Hand embroidery is for custom orders, only. Start conversation to learn more and for a more accurate quote.

The Husband Factor

When I started learning to embroider, I know for a fact that my husband rolled his eyes. You know, ANOTHER crafty thingy. But when he discovered that I wanted to embroider tea towels for our home he was muy supportive. Those are his favorite kind of towels for the kitchen. In fact, he even suggested I go online and buy a case (of like 800) and start making gifts for everyone in the family.

If I'm going to do that, I'll have to start now to be ready for Christmas 2010. But, I do so like a flour-sack tea towel with a little flair. My favorite ones have gingham bias tape around the edge and a little embroidery in the corner.

Felt Easter Chair Backers

So, I made a few of these -- along with every crafter on God's green Earth -- last Spring. They were promptly snatched up at a Spring show I had. But now, I'm thinking about doing another set and wanted to look back and see what I liked and didn't like.

I think I would prefer -- in my own home -- non-holiday specific bags. Not discreet bags for each holiday. Particularly for Easter, we do baskets. (But these bunnies are adorable -- and might find themselves in another project like a quilt.) I also think I'd prefer to line these with a simple cotton... just to improve the shape of the bag and to add more color.

I also am not sure about the buttons. But, I want to think through how a tie would work. Any suggestions out there? I could use any advice. I'm also wondering about size. This is a pretty big bag, could accomodate a large coloring book, plus crayons/markers/coloring pencils. And I'm not sure I want to encourage that much toy giving at every small holiday. (I'm a scrooge.)

Costume: Purple Haze

I made another one. Did a few things differently. The sheer I used for the sleeves already had an edge, so I didn't need my serger to roll edge the hem of the edges. I did, however, elect to roll edge hem the seams of the sleeve, rather than use the french seam called for in the pattern. I also added a velvet ribbon. It covers up a gather (that I needed to fix these sleeves to accommodate that edging) and I think it adds a wintery touch even if on sheer sleeves.

I used a contrasting fabric for the middle panel. I did this because I realized the dark purple was a little severe for the 3 year old who will be wearing it. It still needs to be hemmed -- but won't do that until she tries it on again.
Speaking of trying it on. The first fitting showed me that I needed a zipper in this one, rather than the hook and eye I used on the pink-pink-pink version. This was a little difficult as I had already sewn the shawl collar on.
Considering the cold weather we've had around here, I'm starting to realize these little girls will be wearing long johns and snow pants under their skirts. Might make for a full skirt without the petticoat. Cute.

Now I will make a veil for this one, too. But I need a brainstorm on that one. The little girl who will wear it has a really cute, short bob. So, a headband might not stay on her head when weighted down by the veil. So, I need to noodle that.
PS -- I promise you the other costume is coming. Be patient.

Quilt: Black and White and Girl All Over

I finished another quilt. This one is a little baby blanket. I kinda made up the pattern after seeing something in a magazine. If you want to know how I made it, just leave a comment and I can send you specifics. I tried mixing fabrics that were both traditional and modern. So there are some midcentry modern and some depression area (reproduction). Also, gotta have the good 'ol polka dots. The label on the back is a combination of satin stitch on the machine and hand embroidery.

This one is for another one of those fabulous nieces. Only 8 more quilts to go -- unless of course we get more babies in the family. Who should I make one for, next?

Quilt: Little Birdie

Once upon 7 p.m. on a Wednesday night I heard a little bird calling to me from the fabric bin. It said, make a quilt and make it fast and hand deliver it in -- another state -- on Friday morning.

And, so I did.





So, to recap. I started hand stitching the blocks with embroidery on Wednesday as I listened to Twilight on the iPod. On Thursday I packed, chased my boys, and cut all the blocks. Then -- with the boys -- I arranged the blocks to our liking. About 7 p.m. on Thursday I started chain stitching those bad boys together. Then came the layering and quilting. I used an undulating pattern of trace and space with 1/2 inch, 1 inch, and 2 inch distances. By 1 a.m. (on Friday) I gave up on the binding with only 1/4 of it finished. I packed a needle and thread and a handful of buttons.

My flight departed at 6 a.m. and I landed with quilt in bag at 8:15. Throughout the next 24 hours I sticked a bit more on the binding and sewed the buttons on just before midnight on Saturday night. Phew! and Voila!

Pleated Sheers

I found occasion to use my serger, again. I'm trying to use it as much as possible because I've heard that if you use it alot in the first month you'll teach yourself to always think of how you can use it on projects that don't call for overlock but that could be improved with overlock.

My dining room really needed something to bring down its scale. I know that sounds weird... but it's a tall room with an enormous table and an enormous hutch in it. Every time I went in there I felt like the place echoed. Now, that being said, it's not a huge room, really. It was just tall and narrow. So, thought fabric might help.

I zipped these up (I have more to make when JoAnn's delivers my special order of 15 more yards) very quickly. It's a gauzy linen with black embroidery embellishment from the Tommy Bahama line (got it for 40 percent off with coupon). I used overlock to finish the top and bottom ends of each swath of fabric. Then I used blind hem to finish the sides. Then I used curtain pleater tape and drapery hooks to create the pinch pleats. This was a pretty simple process and very quick. I used blind hem, again, to finish up the bottom hem.

Summer Swap: Summer Holiday Sunset

OK OK OK OK... I've been such a slacker -- I guess that's summer for ya.
I got this phenomenal quilt in the mail from Leah at Pugglelogic. (We both participated in the Four Seasons Quilt Swap). She also sent along some goodies for me -- a fabric that represents her homeland of Australia and some gorgeous embroidery floss skeins. I am so grateful to her for putting such thought into this little art piece. She -- like me -- is a stay-at-home mom with young children. So I know the kind of effort it requires to first get to the sewing machine, let alone create something with zing.

The sunset she has created is peaceful and warm. Her stitching is great and I love how closely the quilting comes together in parts. It's really perfect. She also used a technique of laying another layer of fabric -- almost like a two-sided flange -- onto the quilt to create surf. The dimension is just right (without getting all fussy). To me it just says, "Can I bring you another zombie?"

I don't know how she did it, but she created something that resonates with me and my personality.

Thank you Leah! You're a gem.

Summer Swap: Lone Tree

I'm returning to the tree theme this season for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap. Sadly, this might be my last quilt in this swap. I'm just getting so busy. I don't know if I can continue.

This quilt is not quite done. Still needs the hard stuff, quilting, binding, washing, mailing, etc. But I should make the deadline. In fact, I've got to get it in the mail this week as we are traveling a great deal of July. Wish me luck.

I'll talk more about the choices when I send it off and I know the partner has it. Otherwise, might give away too much. (The label is blurred to conceal her identity -- well, there you go, I'm not sewing for the one guy in the group.) I did hand embroider the label and learned that I loathe embroidery on black fabric. Maybe if I could find a better way to mark the fabric I'd try it again. I do like the contrast.