Pikachu coloring

FYI...

Pikachu's stripes and coloring on his tail is BROWN.

NOT BLACK...which is the color I bought!

And his ears are tipped in black.

Good thing I found that out before I cut out the black or started sewing!!!

My art table is cleared of papers and glue and rubber and ink. It is now laden with thread, scissors, pin cushions, sewing machine and fabric and pattern pieces.

Yes...the art room is my favorite room in the house!

Petite seamstress, petite project

DD didn't go to her last youth church activity a couple of weeks ago, b/c the weather was beautiful. By the time she was done playing outside, it was time to go and she had a pile of homework. So this week, when the leaders asked the girls to bring their pin cushions back, I asked for a pix or directions so she could make one at home.

We made this just before we left yesterday.  And then had to admire it all the way to church!  It was so simple and cute. Well, now she wants to make a bunch of them..."for presents!"  haha.

Start with a 3 inch circle. She cut the fabric using a 3 inch nestie circle.  Then handstitch a basting stitch around the circumfence.  Pull the ends to gather.  Stuff some fiber fill in there...pull to close. I added a few stitches to hold it together.  Then, she poured hot glue into a waterbottle cap and quickly stuck the pin cushion part on top.  Then, she adhered the blue ribbon around the edge and glued on the button.  Picking out the blue and white pins from my own pin pile was a must for her too! 

Cara's Rag Quilt

I made this quilt for my sister, Cara.

I think this is possibly the 8th quilt, of this variety, that I have made in the last few years.   I started making them when my sister Jocelyn was to be married.  On the denim, I had a friend embroider the name of each family member on a square.  Soon, my sister Marissa  and brother Jordan were married and they received a rag blanket like this. And each year, there were more names added to the denim squares.  Just before Christams 2008, I figured I should make one for Cara, as she was married before I was and before I was sewing these.  But as soon as DD saw the fabric I had picked out, she was sad that it wasn't for her.  (Not fair!)  So, for that Christmas, I made it for her and Cara didn't get one for her bday in January.  Then, last year, I made 2 more for the boys' christmas gifts.  And again, in January, no quilt for Cara. 

So this week, Cara's quilt is finished.  Yeah!  I hope she likes it...as her lime green kitchen has recently been remodeled! I thought this blanket be used in the front room which is right off of the kitchen.  But, it's fun and she has lots of kids who can snuggle under it with her!

Sewing Smackdown #3

To VOTE....go HERE.

I saw this nifty notebook...but the pattern cost money. So I figured it out myself.  It was pretty easy. And I inserted a green piece of fabric into the pen shaft. It is green to match the green lining...which you can't see in this pix.  I think next time, I'll sew in some ribbon to decorate and tie this shut!  Now..whose birthday is next??

To VOTE for your favorite #3 Smackdown Project, go to Jocelyn's Blog.  We are doing a giveaway today too!!  Check it out!

Bird Food...Sewing Smackdown #2...

VOTE NOW on my sister's blog for your favorite sewing craft....(but read this first...hehe)

Today is day two for the Sewing Smackdown and I have one theme..two projects. The theme is Valentines this round.  And here are sew simple gifts to sew for friends, teachers, loved ones...that will last longer than a chocolate bar!

First....felt fortune cookies. I did a lot of research in January on these faux cookies and this is what worked for me.

Get out your handy-dandy nesties!  And cut some Valentine colored felt!

Fold in 1/2 and sew like this.

Open your circle and stitch on a tag cut from twill.

Now, fold in half, so that the first seam is perpendicular to the fold and on the inside of the cookie.

On the outside, sew the curve...as shown.  I used white thread here to show in the tutorial. But on my cookies, I used acrylic thread so I didn't have to match or change the thread.  To hold it's shape, I stuffed a little bit of fiberfill inside. 

Next, are you a love bird?  Do you know a pair of them? Well, let's make them!

(Adelle adores these birds...well, the pink one!)

What you need are some squares.  You can figure out what size. For my small birds, I used  two 4 inch squares. The yellow beak material is 2.75 inches.  The wings were 3 inches...about. You'll want some embroidery floss or yarn for legs. Beads or buttons for eyes. 

Take your beak material and fold it in half, to make a rectangle...iron.  Fold it in half once more to make a square, iron.

Open to the rectangle, fold in to make corners...then fold in half once more...ironing all along.

Putting right sides together, sew along top edge of 4 inch squares for the body.

Take your wing squares, fold into a triangle with right sides together. Sew down one side, as shown.  Flip rightside out again.

Now, I saw this bird on a blog but wanted to make it my own for the Smackdown. And a bird simply isn't a bird if it doesn't have wings.  So I added that to my rendition. Of course, I far too many to count...trying to figure out what fit best, how to sew it on best...stayed up too late...wait...I digress. So...pin your pieces on, sort of like I have done in this pix.  Sew the wings on.  (I top stitched some and zizaged others.)  The beak will be sewn in the next step. I pinned it in so you could see where and how and what.

Then sew the left and right sides. Becareful that you don't pick up the bird's wings in your seam.  You will be sewing the bird beak in at this time.

Clip corners and turn rightside out.

For this small bird, 1/3 cup of regular rice was just the trick.

Now, you can braid yarn or floss.  Or I bet ribbon would look cool But...haha...if you know how to make FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS...like me...then this is the way to go!  I used a couple of  yellows to verigate the color.

Then, fold the bottom in but perpendicular to the original seams. So match the side seams and they become the front and back. Like when you are folding dresspants.  Pin in your legs.  Be sure to keep the rice out of the way of your sewing. I used a few more pins,  horizonally, to keep the rice back. Top stitch the bottom edge.

As I said, I wanted to make this more "Mine."

So, I had a few extra quilt squares (that never were made into said quilt). Basically strips of cloth sewn together.  Finished, it was just over 6 inches square. I used fiberfill and rice for him.

This bird is really great at Whoonu!

Oops...and when you are finished sewing, sew on eyes using buttons or beads!

Sewing Smackdown Project #1...

THE ADELLE BAG

Edited: TO VOTE for me...click here to go to Jocelyn's blog.  But, please take a minute to scroll down to the next two entires where two of my kids sewed their own projects. They would be thrilled to get some feedback as they weren't invited to join in the challenge.

My DD has been wanting a hipster tote and so I decided to design my own pattern for her as part as the first sewing project.  I also recycled some of her jeans, which makes this a green project that you can easily do with items found around your craft room.

The Adelle Bag 

Basic Supplies:  A waist band from jeans, the leg of jeans, a jeans pocket, the seam of jeans, thread, ribbon or other embellishments. The length of the Adelle Tote (aka the jeans leg) is determined by the size of the user.  My finished Adelle Tote is 10 inches long. (Remember to figure in seam allowances.)

First, if you want to embellish your waist band, pin and then sew ribbon onto your jeans. 

 Next, iron a seam around the top edge of the jeans.  Sew.  I used a yellow thread which is similar to the thread already used on the jeans.

Then, place your pocket.  Be sure to embellish first.  (I added that red gingham ribbon.)  Sew around the pocket on the same seams.  Then sew the bottom seam on the hem line.

 Figure out where you want the belt loops. Use the seams of the jeans.  Be sure to see what it looks like with the width of the belt.

 Pin the new loops as shown here.  Then sew carefully so that the space for the belt is the same on each loop.  I used a triple stitch in order to make this very secure.

Also, I added 2 loops on the back of the bag.  When worn, only the front loops are used. Now, my DD can turn this into an over the shoulder bag or a drawstring bag, by threading the belt through all of the loops.

 Use fray check for the edges of the new belt loops. I think that as these fray a little, it will look super cool.

 The Adelle Tote...modeled!

 Now, I guess the voting for the projects are on my sister's blog. I'll post a link as soon as I find out. So come back and vote for the best Adelle Tote you ever seen.  She's so pleased with it that she wore it to the Blue and Gold Banquet last night. I'm pretty sure it'll be on her hip Monday while at school as well!

Oh yeah...and my DS and DD also sewed something for the Smackdown...keep reading....

M*'s Midnight Mask

Yep...DD has wanted to have a night mask.  For her beauty sleep.  A Green Project for those out there who have piles of jeans!  Actually...Jocelyn is going to be sorry she started this. I don't think I can send any more hand-me-downs to her son...I need these jeans for our projects!!

Make a template. Be sure to think of your seam allowances. (Tip, fold paper in half and draw 1/2 the mask.  Symmetry Simplified!)  Find some old jeans to use. Fold the jeans so that right sides are together. Pin on your template. 

 Cut out the template!! 

 Reuse the template.  Pin on light batting and cut it out.  Then trim it down so it is slightly smaller in size.

 

On the right side, pin in your ribbons.  DD's mask uses two 16 inch ribbons. (Boy is she lucky to have a mom who shares her good ribbon!!)

Baste. Then pin in all the ends so when you sew the entire project, you down sew in the ribbon.  The "sandwich" should be:  denim with right sides together (ribbons in the middle) and batting on top. Sew around, leaving space at the top to turn your mask.  Grade layers and then clip curves.

Turn your mask right side out.  Use a slip stitch to sew the top edge.  This is DD's first time hand sewing!!

The finished Midnight Mask as worn by the one who sewed it!

 Side view.

Again, This is the first day of the Sewing Smackdown. Scroll down to see DS's Dragon Pillow!  Scroll up to see my Adelle Tote!