Post Christmas Blah

Anyone else feeling this??

(or is it just me?)

It seems that we rush and rush and rush to make sure that Christmas is "right" and now I just do not want to do ANYTHING.

Normally I am one of those day after Christmas-tree is put away people. It is still up.

I do however have a few projects in the works. 

I want to do the Salt Water Taffy quilt from the Moda Bake Shop using Moda's Oh Deer line by MoMo.

 

I also have a 1600 quilt / Jelly roll race coming up. I just picked up three complimentary prints to go with the ones I already have. I didn't want to have to go and purchase any fabric to make up my 40-2 1/2 strips but I was a few short. I like to pick out 10 fabrics to give a nice array of prints with out too much repetition. Luckily that means you need just 10" to get 4 strips but I always get 12" (1/3 yard) just in case.

Don't know what a jelly roll race is?? 

Check out the Missouri Quilt Co video here:

VIDEO

 So tomorrow on the agenda:

PUT AWAY THAT TREE!!

What about you??

Simplicity 4760

Pattern Description:

Boys' and Men's Pants and Shirt. This is a basic button down shirt pattern but not a "dressy" shirt.

Pattern Sizing:

Boys S, M, L and Mens S-XL

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

I think so.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

I had no problems following along.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

It is a basic shirt which is just what I wanted. It is for my 3 yr old nephew and I know it will be trashed within a few wears. I did do a few special things to punch it up but nothing that was to crazy.

Fabric Used:

Thrifted Ikea 100% cotton top sheet. $2 bucks for SO much fabric!







Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

 

I did do a fancy seam on the shoulders and down the sides of the shirt. I don't know if it has a name but I folded the seam allowance to each side and stitched about 1/4" away from the seam. I don't think it is a flat felled or french. Anyhow I think it is pretty








Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes I still have a bunch of sheet left so I will make one for my little guy as well.







 

I like this little yoke on the shoulders with the seams I did for a little bit of interest. 

On a solid white shirt the detailing is what makes it special.

I specifically made this pattern so that my nephew could wear it with a little bow tie. 

My little guy loves them and has this same bow tie:)

Pinspiration post #2

The Original

post that got me started:

Came from a fun blogger named Jenn over at

www.cleanandscentsible.com .

She has a lot of great ideas on her blog so you should definitely set aside some time to check it out.

My Supplies:

Paint

Cheap o' canvas from Big Lots. A whopping $5.00 for 2 canvases.

Paint brush/foam brushes

A little one to steal their hand prints

Picture frames (or you can use them without, tit is hard to find deep enough ones to fit the canvas)

Sticky sayings from the scrapbooking section (or if your handwriting is nice you can just write your saying. Mine sucks sooo stickers it is)

I have a 2 1/2 yr old and he must have big hands. 

The canvas on the left is 11 x 14 and the right one is 8 x 10.

My little guy does not like having dirty hands; AT ALL!

 I may have had to bribe him with a batman cupcake.

Lookie what I got!

I am in love:)

I got it for myself at JoAnn's AND it was on sale for $89.00. I also am a VIP member and got an additional 10% off. It is not ALL of their colors but I should never have a project stalled because I don't have the right color again. I have a few Gutermann's that do not fit because I bought bigger spools or the color was one that wasn't included in the cabinet. The box can hold 3 spool's of each color so I just put them behind the closest color.

Day of Silence

Paint Laced Bag Tutorial

A quick tutorial

Supplies:

Elmer's Craft Bond (or similar)

Tulip Fabric Paint

Tote Bag Blanks (I got mine at JoAnns)

Not pictured:

Paper doilies-10"

Sponge dauber thingie

COVER your work surface with newspaper or paper bags! This stuff is SUPER sticky and will stick to your table for a VERY long time.

Take one paper doily and spray the back with craft bond. Do yourself a favor here; it is not more-the-better. Use just enough to make it stick. The first one I did I used way tooooo much and the doily ripped when I was taking it off and I had to remove bits of paper with a pin.

 

Place the doily sticky side down firmly

Starting from the edge of the doily start applying the fabric paint with the foam dauber thingy. 

Then fill in the rest and while paint is still wet gently remove the doily.

Ta-Da!

I am going to go back and put a letter in the corner of the bag to personalize the gift but it really isn't necessary. I also had a thought; what if you did a second layer of lace but in another color like a grey closer to the corner?

Cherry Cheesecake Brownies

Cherry Cheesecake Brownies

A lil bit o deliciousness

 

So I have made these a few times and love them so much I thought I'd share the recipe.

Ingredients:

One box of Brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker this time)

One can Cherry Pie filling

One 8 oz Cream cheese

One egg

1/4 c sugar

1 tsp vanilla

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease cake pan -or- line with nonstick aluminum foil like me.

1) Make the brownies per the box directions, or if you are super fancy you can make your own but I cheat.

Plop into greased/lined cake pan and spread evenly.

2) Mix cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla until completely smooth-no one wants chunks of straight up cream cheese in their brownie. Drop on top of the brownie mix in globs.

3) Crack open that can of cherry pie filling and glob on top of the cheesecake/brownie. Take a knife and swirl it around a little. 

4) Bake for about 40 minutes.

TRY to let it cool enough before eating so you don't burn the craples out of your mouth:)

My 1600 Quilt

My 1600 Quilt...ONLY 15 months in the making.

Yea. I bought this fabric a LONG time ago and I've had it sandwiched but not quilted for 

many, 

many, 

many months.

It's done now though:)

I thought I would share it with y'all.

The front.

The pieced back.

My lovely handmade binding! See my post on how to make it in my post Bias tape? Anyone?

Here is my little man helping 

Daddy hold up the quilt. Good thing Daddy is tall!

Bias Tape? Anyone?

Yeah, you read that right. I am going to show you how. I have Christmas presents to finish and I'd rather not spend money on tools so necessity is the mother of invention (or so I hear).

So herrreee we go and I hope you don't mind this MILE long post with a lot of pictures!

First you need 1/2 a yard of fabric.

Wash, dry and iron it (if you must). 

I'm not saying you have to or anything, 

because honestly, I don't do it all the time. 

I ironed it before I got started using steam...

does that count??

I use a Clover erasable marker to mark my fabrics. I like it because it goes away when it gets wet. The only draw back for me it is that 

the ink is very light.

Okay in person not so much in pictures, hence my red arrows:)

You should be cutting off a triangle here people!

Measure twice--Cut once right?

Here is the first tool that I don't have and made myself--

a Bias Tape Ruler.

First use masking tape to mark the first section. For 1/2" double fold bias tape you need and original strip width of 1 7/8". I used the masking tape to make the first section 1 7/8" solid tape. Then take the ruler and line it up with the edge of the fabric and tape again at your marker pen line on the fabric. Repeat on the whole ruler.

It is hard to explain here but I will try:

Take the ruler's first taped section and line it up perpendicularly to the angled edge of the fabric and mark with pen and each side of the ruler.

THEN

Now if that was not confusing enough for you...
there's more...

Fold the fabric right sides together-it's wonky but then off set the lines as shown here:

Pin the long edges together getting the lines you drew on as close as you can. Don't worry if they are off a hair (ignore the little OCD monster if you can).

It is going to look CRAY when you are done but sew it up anyhow.

Lay one side as flat as you can and start cutting following the lines, starting at the offset bit (remember).

Now it is time to make the strip in to finished bias tape.

 Then you feed the end of the tape through the pinned section folding then edges to the middle and iron as you go. Then you fold the tape in half again and feed/iron it again.

This is a slightly tedious process. I'm not going to lie.

However, I do not have a Simplicity Bias Tape Maker, so this is what I came up with to fold and iron with out burning the CRAPLES out of my fingertips. I would love to have one but I just don't (donations?? Haha)

I was very proud of myself for coming up with this! It works beautifully.

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

Did you know Christmas is coming?

My little man reminds me all the time. I hear "Santa is coming, Momma" a LOT.

It is sooooo soon, like 2 and a half weeks!

I am finally working on the quilt top I talked about a month ago. I am hoping WILL get it done tonight...maybe.

I also wanted to thank Dona of Sewing Smiles of Smiles! I won her giveaway recently for some patterns that are totally adorable! The were made by Benita of heart felt patterns. You can check them out on Etsy . Benita is working on a Sesame Street set that I just CAN NOT wait to see.

 

EDITED TO ADD AWESOMENESS!!

The Sesame Street Patterns are out and available for purchase Here .

I am in love:)

Super Sunday Sync #12

101 Link ups last week.  Let's make 140 today!

Please help spread the word...Tweets Welcome!

Tweet Let's give a warm welcome to our Guest Host this week!

Rules for the "Super-est" hop ever:

1)  Link up a family-friendly post (or your homepage if it will always be decent) that you think is SUPER!

2)  GFC follow your hosts {Dawn and Kera} and guest host {Made by Momma}.  We also appreciate (and return) any Facebook Likes, NetworkedBlog and Twitter Followers.  Be sure to leave a comment, we'll follow you back on any and all of them!

3)  Visit the blog before you, and a few others {the more, the merrier} and follow them.  We're all looking to have more followers, that's why we're hopping, right?  Remember to leave a comment and we'll follow you back.

4)  Grab a button and put it somewhere people will see.  We'd love for this hop to really take off and be a weekly event!

<div align="center"> <a href="http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com" title="Super Sunday Sync" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t378/shorelovee/Blog/SSSButton.jpg" alt="Super Sunday Sync" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Don't forget to Tweet! Tweet Like my post? Tweet me: Tweet Facebook ** Twitter ** Google+ ** Pinterest ** NetworkedBlogs This months Fab-o Sponsors:

I want to add that if I can get to say...50 followers I will be doing a giveaway.

 I have WAY to much stuff in my stash and I would love to share some yardage!

Froggie Hat - Simplicity 1953

So a while back during lunch at work I was cruising Pinterest ( I know, shocker) and I saw this cute frog hat someone had done. Another girl I work with said how she liked it and wanted one. I did not pin that post at that time but tucked that into the memory bank for future reference. 

Well her birthday was within this last week and I made a frog hat for her using Simplicity 1953.

I gave it to her today so I can share it with y'all now. She loved it :)

Of course the little man LOVED it and wanted to model it for me!

Here is my review of the pattern:

Pattern Description:

Misses' and Child's assorted animal hats, each in three sizes.

Pattern Sizing:

S,M,L for adults and children.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Pretty much, I changed the mouth to be a wavy frog mouth.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Dunno LOL Didn't use them; It is so easy you do not need them!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Easy and goes together very quickly. I also like that the hat is lower in the back and covers the ears, it will be super warm.

Fabric Used:

Fleece for the hat and felt for the eyes.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

Just the mouth like I said before.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I have sewn from this pattern before for my son but I did the monkey for him. I probably will make him another one some day. 

 

Here is the monkey hat I made for him a while back, probably a year or longer ago.

Simplicity 2156 - Little girl leggings

Pattern Review:

Simplicity 2156

Pattern Description: Child's & Girl's jumper, jacket and knit leggings and dress or top sewing pattern. I made the leggings only.

 Pattern Sizing: Girls 3-14

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes it did.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy only two pieces for the leggings.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that they were so easy and quick as I had to make three pairs in three different sizes for three different little girls.

Fabric Used: Some kinda knit I got off the clearance-red tag rack at JoAnn's. I saw it and knew that it would be perfect for these girls ages 6-10

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I really did like the leggings but I would like to make the jumper or the jacket. The jacket has an adorable little ruffle detail at the back!


I really struggled with where to photograph these leggings! Plus I had little man jumping up and down in the background yelling "Take my picture Momma! Take my picture Momma!!"

I couldn't argue with that...he was beggin' me after all:)

I have one other thing I have sewn up recently (and it is adorable too!) but I can not share it until sometime tomorrow because it is a present for someone I work with and she might be reading this right now!!