Diversions – Sewing Machine Cover

I am still planning away on my bedroom makeover, but I did embrace a little diversion this weekend to finish a project that actually needed to get done.

When I bought my Target special sewing machine last spring, it came without a dust cover of any sort and I have noticed that when dust gets in the bobbin case and on the thread I do have issues. . .so it was time to invest or sew. . . of course I decided to sew

I bought the ADORABLE Michael Miller Pet Deer fabric from my new friend over at Lucky Kaeru Fabric that I was dying to use, so when I came across these instructions, I decided to give it a try.  I think it turned out ok.  I am not crazy about the two fabrics together, and sort of wish I had gone with one fabric, but it was fun to work out the corners on the cover and it was certainly an easy project to knock out quickly in a night.   Now that I look again, I think I will go back and add the optional pocket on in the brown fabric. . .I will get more of my lovely deers in that way!

A slow makeover

I am slowly updating my bedroom decor.  I have neglected this room of the house for a while, and since the rest of my house is finally shaping up, I feel it is time to make some changes to my favorite room.

I am not completely sure of the direction, but for now I want to keep my comfy quilt on the top of the bed and and I want to keep my bed and probably my carpet. . so I will work around those.  What I do want to do is add some red.  So, to start, I made up these cute little pillowcases.  I got the pattern free from Sew4home where I found LOTS of patterns I can’t wait to try!

First HomeMade Gift

I am sure that when I was little and in grammar school I used to give my parents homemade gifts each year, but I have been out of school for just a couple (ah hem) of years now.  I have not made anything for my parents for Christmas in several years, but I decided it was time to change that, so, I gave my dad a homemade gift this year, and I am pretty sure he really liked it.

I found this easy little pattern over at McCall’s for a blanket with sleeves and a pocket and I knew that my dad would just love this if I could find the perfect material. . and thanks to fabric.com, I sure did.  What do you think?  DS was sweet enough to model it for me, but what was even more fun was that BOTH kids requested one of their own!  I guess this was a big hit!!

Christmas Decorating

I promised to post what I have been working on, so here they are.  This is the project that I was working on several nights last week.  I was in a hurry, as I needed these done for our family Christmas party on Saturday.  I think they turned out pretty good.  It gets a little easier each time I make these panels, however it does take about 6 yards of fabric for the curtain panels and about 2 yards of fabric for the tablecloth.  I guess the real key to saving money when you are sewing is to always look and buy fabric when it is on sale, and never never buy Christmas fabric the first few months of fall.

I have a few more projects that I am working on as gifts, so I can’t post them here yet, but just as soon as I can I promise I will.  It was almost a year ago that the sewing bug bit me for the very first time, and it has only been about 6 months since I got my beloved machine, so I am quite happy at my pace and should be ready to tackle that first quilt soon. . I know DD is sure hoping I get moving on it so it is ready for her to take to college in the fall.  Where or where does the precious time go?  Just yesterday. . .ahhh well, “this is the day that the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!”  Here is a quick look at the pattern I think I will try doing for her, she absolutely loves black and yellow, so this design by Heidi Pridemore for Timeless Treasures may be just the ticket. . .

I’m Playing Holly Jolly Bingo!

I am playing Holly Jolly Blog Bingo over on the “In Stitches” website.  They are an adorable online quilt shop, and I can’t wait to see if I win anything.  I usually don’t, so I am certainly not holding my breath. . .but here is hoping for something good!

I am still sewing away, I have completed my holiday curtains and tablecloth using the Be Merry Fabric from Riley Blake Designs that I ordered from my new favorite Etsy site, Lucky Kaeru Fabric and Supplies.  It was a pleasure working with this vendor, she was very quick in getting me the fabric that I wanted, all communications were quick, and the shipping was very fast.  I really have had such wonderful luck in all my orders from Etsy so far and spend many a quiet lunch hour browsing all of the wonderful vendor sites there.  If you somehow have missed this wonderful handmade megamall, I encourage you to take some time to visit right way. . . just be sure you have lots of time for “window” browsing!

It’s Beginning to Look Like . . . Chocolate Fondue!

Every Christmas, without fail, I have to send my mom a frantic email asking for her chocolate fondue recipe.  When I lived at home, a couple of years ago, my favorite holiday memory is of Christmas Eve with my family.  Our tradition was to go to church early in the evening for a candle light service.  We would ALWAYS here a pretty awful rendition of “Oh Holy Night” where my brothers and I would try not to laugh (it NEVER worked) followed by an always beautiful ending of “Silent Night” sung after everyone was handed a little candle of their own to hold.  After church we would fly home to start our Christmas Eve party which was one present and lots of food.  There was always lots of great snacks, but Mom would always lay out the cookies and chocolate fondue.  I don’t remember the rest of the menu for those Christmas Eves . .  . but cookies and fondue were always my very favorites.

Now that I am on my own and always watching my weight, my splurge each Christmas on chocolate fondue has become quite something to look forward to.  Thanks Mom. . .things were always so special!

Mom’s Chocolate Fondue

6  1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup light cream

1/2 cup margarine or butter

1/8 tsp. salt

3 tbsp. creme de cacao or cherry or orange-flavored liqueur

In saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat–add sugar, cream, butter, and salt.  Cook, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes or till thickened–stir in liqueur–pour into fondue pot–place over fondue burner–spear dipper with fondue fork–di0p in sauce

Makes 6-8 servings

Suggested dippers: angel food cake, pound cake, apples, maraschino cherries, marshmallows, bananas, grapes, pretzels, donut holes, etc.

Cafe Thursday – First Purse!

So I finished my first handmade purse for DD this past weekend.  It took a bit longer than it should have, but still it was pretty much a weekend project and I am quite certain that the next one will go even faster.

I picked up the latest edition of Quilts and More to feed my latest passion and one of the first projects listed was this adorable purse.  I checked with DD to make sure she would even want one, and she assured me that any purse would be fine with her, but one in her favorite colors would be most appreciated.

I had so much fun picking out the fabric, ric-rac and webbing for the shoulder strap that I was in JoAnn’s for hours.  In the end I probably spent about $15 on this, but I have enough fabric, webbing and thread left over to make several more purses.  I will have to use different decorations, but then that is half the fun anyway.

My next purse project will be a bit bigger and will have a matching fabric strap.  If I had made a fabric strap on this purse I could have also saved money.  I also could have used some leftover fabric and saved more, or even used some old clothes and saved more. . .the options are endless. . .

I am Still Here, But Oh Sew Busy!

Since getting my little sewing machine a couple of months ago I have been completely addicted to sewing!  I have been searching patterns and fabric until my eyes have gone buggy, and I have even managed to finish a few more projects around the house that I am quite excited about as well.  I am getting my pictures and links together so I can show you what I have been working on, but I am so easily distracted now it is hardly funny.

I have been jumping all around the internet the past two days playing this fun little game and in the meantime I have been introduced to a number of quilt shops that I plan to visit regularly and found a whole other world of things I can do with my sewing machine.  I think I owe my dad a quilt from way back when, he may finally get paid back!  Check this little contest out and definitely check out some of these fabric/quilt shops.  Who knew this would all be so much fun?!

Vacation

I have been on vacation, here is what I got to see:

I think that Colorado has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Between the vallies, the mountains and the rock I just can’t imagine more beauty in one place.  We got to go rock climbing and look out over the mountains and I am just so amazed!

I also got to spend time with some amazing people, here they are:

I just love this group of people!

Just Sewing Away

I love my new sewing machine.  My projects have a LOOONNNGGG way to go before they are a thing of beauty, but I sure am having fun decorating and planning outfits to sew.

My latest project was to recover a piano bench cushion that my mother-in-law made a long time ago to match her decor.  My pad is not nearly as neat and crisp as hers was, but then again, it is better looking than I expected and now matches my own curtains.  You will also see in this little picture a view of my new little sewing machine. . .oh what a joy it is!