MERRY

Yeah, I couldn't resist. When I saw Rossie Hutchinson post about her laser-cut letters spelling out 'MERRY' (or 'HAPPY') I had to try them. Not sure I'd ever embroidered on wood before!

Where Rossie suggested using 6-strand embroidery floss for the embroidery, I had much more #8 perle cotton on hand, and opted to use that - double thickness. It worked like a charm, especially with the size 20 Bohin tapestry needle Rossie included with the letters. Suggested stitches and colors were included (online), though I did tweak the palette just a bit to use the colors I had.

It was some fun stitching, and I used them as a reward for other chores completed. Ha! They went pretty quick, and strung together on baker's twine, they look pretty darn cute!

Bags and Bags

Drawstring fabric gift-bags continue to be de rigueur around here, and I got an early start this year due to a couple of circumstances, the first of which was Jeni/In Color Order announcing a Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along. And yes, I've made oodles of them over the years, but the sew along encouraged me to make more.

Jeni does a very thorough sew along, and in addition to providing a brand new video on how to make one of her bags, offers helpful Tips for Choosing Fabrics for Drawstring Bags. So if you're new to her patterns, she's got you covered.

In the last couple of weeks I've made five, one using Jeni's original pattern, and the others all from her expansion pattern, some with boxed corners, some without:

• (left to right) Peek-A-Boo Lining Project Bag, The Original Tiny Bag, Easy Going Two Fabric Project Bag. 

• Mini Accent Everything Bag

• Easy Going Two Fabric Project Bag

Then, we had a three-generation family Zoom event last weekend. For years, this family group has celebrated Christmas together weeks before the actual holiday, quite often on Thanksgiving weekend. Anyway, the plan this year was to gift each other ornaments (mailed ahead). I decided to make hand-sewn gift-bags for each one, and since I was mass-producing (16-6" bags) I went with the pattern by Svetlana/Sotak Handmade. Svetlana has a growing YouTube channel, and among her videos it one to make her drawstring bags! It's so easy to adapt this pattern to any size bag as I did for mine. Svetlana also has a tutorial for the bags on her blog if you prefer that. Either way, they are quick and easy.

Funny thing. Invariably when I gift in a handmade bag, I get the standard 'thank you' for the gift of course; then that's almost always followed by, 'Can I keep the bag?' 

The Last of Them

Rather than drag things on, I'm going to fill this post to the brim with the last of the handmade items I made over the last weeks. Varied for sure, all enjoyable to make, and each one gifted. It's been frenzied sewing for sure, but these small projects have been a nice diversion from those larger quilts, which I need to get back to shortly.

After making a set of Patchwork Potholders for a family exchange earlier in the month, I decided more were in order. I made three more sets inspired by Svetlana/s.o.t.a.k handmade's Patchwork Potholder tutorial, hang tab and rivets and all. This time, I used ultra suede scraps for the tabs, which should be totally washable.

Gotta show this set's back view, as it's my favorite print in Anna Graham's Forage collection, which I used completely for these sets. The cotton-linen Essex blend, along with a layer each of batting and Insul-Brite, made for pretty sturdy potholders.

And then, after realizing I'd never made daughter dear a set of Log Cabin Hexi Potholders, I had to rectify that. I've made several sets over the years from the free Craftsy pattern by SewCanShe, and come to think of it, with the upcoming changes on Craftsy, I highly suggest you go download this pattern for future use while it's available. They are so scrap-friendly, and still one of my very favorite potholder patterns.

One of my co-worker friends just loves Dala horses, and in past years, I've made her a pillow and a mug rug. This year I went on the hunt for some Dala fabric, not knowing for sure what I'd do with it when I ordered. But I found a darling print that was part of Katarina Roccella's INblue collection, and decided after some internal debate to make an improvisational table runner. I was inspired by one by Victoria Gertenbach that I'd discovered on Pinterest.

So I curated a little stash collection to go with the Dalas, and just went to creating. Puzzling the different fabrics together was a bit challenging but I like the feel of the piece I ended up with. The runner is long - 14" x 52", and thankfully, the recipient reports it's perfect for her table. I quilted a 3" diagonal grid using Aurifil 50wt #2250 [Red]. I debated going denser, but that scale with the Dala print seemed to work. The final step was a festive red binding.

A new-to-me pattern was the Boxy Travel Pouch from We All Sew, which I made for my mom. Measuring about 6 1/2" x 9" x 2 1/2", I again used Anna Graham's Forage, and with it's unique shape, I think it could be used for a variety of things for my mom's upcoming travels.



And, one more holiday pillowcase, again using the tutorial by Twiddletails. I really could have made these for everyone on my list, they are such a nice finish. Gotta say I've been enjoying the ones I made for us.

And one more repeat - another Danish star to tuck into grandgirl's stocking. I know it's a small token, but all the other 'girls' in the family got a handmade item, so I wanted to make her a little something too.

SO! That wraps up all my Christmas sewing, I think, other than several gift-bags that got put to use without time taken for a photo. Fingers crossed I can start holiday sewing a little earlier next year, but seriously I don't hold out much hope. It is what it is, and now that it's done, I'm certainly glad I did it.

Still Sewing...

Don't think for a minute that I haven't been sewing every chance I've gotten since posting a couple of finishes last week. Here are just a few more projects that have either already been gifted or are for ME!

This little fabric star goes by alot of names.... Danish Star, Scandinavian Star, Woven Star, etc. I kind of used a combination of two tutorials to make mine - one by EvQuilts, and one from We All Sew. I like the folded fabric technique in the first - and the wonderful step-by-step photos - but the dimensions - and videos - in the second. Cutting my fabric 4" x 16" and folding per EvQuilts' instructions led me to a successful star. I was really hoping to make more of these - wouldn't they make a fun garland?!

I also made another Box Pouch using Katie/Sew Katie Did's Box Pouch pattern, only this time it was basically a "wholecloth" pouch, meaning I used a single fabric for the exterior. The design was perfect to just layer with interfacing and batt and get to quilting, no marking required.

It ended up being a really soft pouch, but had plenty of structure. I like to press these pouches well along all the 'edges', though of course those edges soften with use.

A project I decided to make on a whim was a set of holiday pillowcases for our bed. Our quilt is really neutral, as you might remember, so I kept that in mind as I considered fabric. I finally chose Sleeping Deer from the Pine Grove line by Dear Stella. For the cuff, I used Anna Maria Horner's Illuminated Graph in Seafoam from her Loominus collection, and the bit of metallic woven in just adds to the festivity. And then the little red accent strip is by Karen Lewis Textiles.

Pattern-wise, I followed the tutorial by Twiddletails, which I've used before and like alot. One tricky bit was my use of directional fabrics, coupled with the fact that I needed the cases to 'face' opposite directions. The simple trick when using directional fabrics is this: Anina's tutorial has you cutting your main fabric 27" x 41", which in most cases, you'd cut the 41" across the width of fabric, using only 3/4 yard of fabric (27"). With a direction print, you need to cut your 41" along the length of the fabric, thus you need just under 1 1/4 yard fabric. Just a little mind game, but nothing too tricky!

I also needed a stash of gift tags. Since I already had plain shipping tags from when I made quilted gift tags, I used them again, this time stitching on some scraps of ribbon. At 4 3/4" x 2 3/8", they're definitely on the large size, but they work!



So that's all I can share right now, but the good news is my 'necessary' sewing is done! Off to work this morning and then time with the family. Good times!

A Finish or Two

A little sewing here, a little sewing there, and you've got finishes to share, right? I'm happy to say I completed a Christmas stocking for my little grandgirl! Inspired by one found in Heather/@geminiredcraft's Instagram feed, with a palette gleaned from (half of) a fabric bundle curated by Kristina/@fabricbubb, from there I made it up as I went. Quilting with one layer of batting and some uneven straight-line gave the stocking some good structure and texture. I used the stocking shape template from Camille Roskelley's Merry, which I had used to make a hexagon stocking for baby's big sister a few years ago. That way, they are very similar in size and shape. Don't you love that fussy-cut feature fabric - Cotton + Steel's Noel Snow Babies by Sarah Watts? Baby's mama and I sure do!

I also finished the Tall Tall Trees pillow! It's a pattern by Amy/@amysinibaldi of Nana Company. I made mine using scraps for the trees, twill ribbon for the tree trunks, and the snow-like Cotton + Steel Sprinkle in gray for the background. I finished it at 12" x 20", just a little larger than the pattern directions. Not shown, the back is the same gray fabric, with a lapped zipper, then it seemed perfect to finish it off with more of that red stripe.

Believe it or not, there are just a few more gifts I hope to make before Christmas, so I better get to it!

Christmas wips

For better or worse, I'm apparently a frantic holiday sewer. I mean all of the sudden I need to make all the things... not quilts necessarily, but smaller projects, mostly for gifting, but not necessarily. So currently I'm working on a Christmas pillow....

and a stocking. Both were really fun to piece and quilt, and now I'm in the finishing stages.



This thing about holiday sewing - even though it's hectic - is I'm spending time at my machine, and that's a good thing. It kinda balances out all the busyness of the season for me; and well, gifting handmade is pretty satisfying. So what about you? Doing any holiday sewing? If so, whatcha makin'?

Wishing you a very....

May the joy and peace of Christmas be yours!

Let It Begin

Doing things in order is a thing, the kind of thing I usually do, which is why today, with Thanksgiving behind us, the Christmas season really begins. Yeah, I've had a few red-cupped lattes, and stashed some Christmas fabric destined for gift bags, but otherwise, that's it. Yeah, it'll be a very full December.

A couple of things I always try to fit in are handmade gift bags and tags. They're a whole 'nother thing I really enjoy. The making hasn't started yet, so for now, I thought I'd repost two of my favorites, both my own tutorials.

First, the Trim-Tied Gift Bag, which is handy, with the ribbon attached. My favorite is made with a linen-blend, as show below, but the tutorial tells how to make a lined version using quilter's cotton as well.



As for tags, I make mine with quilted scraps. Born in desperation one Christmas Eve, they're fun to make, and use up those festive Christmasy bits from your other projects.



So what's your favorite Christmas make, or what's on your list to do? And though I have a collection of tried-and-true gift bag tutorials, I'm always happy to learn of more.

Tuesday at the Table

While I was busy rushing to and fro and crossing things off my personal to-do list last weekend, hubby headed to the kitchen. Like to bake. By himself. This was highly unusual, but I didn't ask too many questions. And before long, the house was smelling really good, and wouldn't you know, he had made biscotti. Smitten Kitchen's gingerbread biscotti to be exact. And honestly, if you like biscotti even a tiny bit, you should make these too. We took a coffee break that afternoon to taste-test them with a short café Cubano. {Our Americanized version consists of a double shot of espresso drawn over a teaspoon or so of brown sugar, topped off with a spot of cream.} Anyway, we declared them a rousing success.

Another recent success from Smitten Kitchen was her fromage fort which I made for our recent guild party. Basically it's a garlicky herb cheese spread. It was really easy to make (can you say, "clean out the cheese drawer?"), and spread on baguette slices, was pretty darn addicting. It would be a great appetizer to make ahead and have on hand for the holidays.

Speaking of, menus are set for Christmas Day. The family starts things off with brunch at our house, and I'll be repeating the popular and yummy Cinnamon French Toast with Ricotta Filling, served up with Coffee Bacon. I know. That bacon sounds pretty weird, but we love it, and by now, it's practically tradition.

Fingers crossed as I try Horseradish-Rubbed Roast later in the day for dinner - recommended with high praise by my hairdresser no less! Figure it will go great with the Classic Mashed Potatoes, which we enjoyed so much at Thanksgiving. I'm keeping it easy by letting the family round out the meal.

So what's going on in your kitchen? I know things are hectic, but I'd love to hear what I'm missing! {wink}

On Blitzen

As Christmas gifts this past year, I made two table runners using the patchwork table runner tutorial by s.o.t.a.k handmade. Actually, the second one was a variation, using 2 1/2" squares from a mini charm pack, where Svetlana's tutorial called for 2" squares. And the setting was slightly different

While making both of these runners, I was definitely wishing I had time to make one for myself too, but well, time just didn't allow. SO when a mini charm pack of basicgrey's blitzen was discovered in my stocking on Christmas morning, I knew just what I wanted to do with it!

So again I used the larger squares, adjusting the other measurements as needed. All these tweaks make a difference of course. Where the original runner was 41" long, the second was 46", and this newest one, 50".

But I'm fine with that. As a background, I again used Kaufman's Essex (of course!); backing was from stash fabrics, Sandy Gervais' Reindeer Games pieced with basicgrey's pb&j "Jelly".

For quilting, I got out every white and beige I had - #2000 (beige), #2021 (natural white), #2024 (white), #2310 (light beige), #2314 (medium beige), #2326 (tan) - and I have plenty thanks to the Aurifil Basics Collection I won last year on Giveaway Day. {Boy, have I enjoyed that box!}

And from there I straight-line quilted across the width at irregular intervals, changing out the threads whenever I felt like it. Towards each end, I matchstick-quilted a 2" section just for some added detail.

Bound in more Essex (which worked very nice by the way), I was compelled to wash and dry the runner immediately to see how that linen/cotton mix crinkled up. And I wasn't disappointed.

This project is on my 2014 FAL Q1 list. All credit for the finished project photos goes to hubby. Thanks Joe.

Bokeh

photo editing courtesy of PicMonkey, but the bokeh is mine!