I've been trying to "brush up" and perfect some basic sewing skills...you know the ones many of us shy away from....like zippers and buttonholes. Today I wanted to play with some autumn fabrics, so I decided to make some pouches and/or project bags with zippers. Now for those of you who are a little afraid of zippers, there are some great patterns to help you perfect this skill. A great skill starter pattern for pouches with zippers is "Perfect Pouches" (#113) by Lazy Girl Designs....easy instructions to make three sizes of pouches - and the largest 9" x 13" is perfect for a cross stitch project bag! The smallest - 5" x 7" is the top left pouch in my photo and is great for those stitching treasures and accessories. For those of you with a sewing/embroidery machine you can make some of these great pouches completely "in-the-hoop"! The Purple Hat has some wonderful digitized pouches you can make with your embroidery unit...take a look at: Large Purses, Purse Essentials, Pencil Cases, and Wet Wipes Cases... easy and quick to make zippered pouches made entirely in the hoop. I had so much fun making these little project bags...I got a little carried away...looks like there may be another contest in the future to give one (or some) away...
Today I want to share with you a sewing favorite of mine...so much a favorite, that I have made four of these as gifts for stitching friends! The design is titled "Needle Case" (#105) and is from Lazy Girl Designs. This cute little needle case has two pockets (one on the inside bottom and one on the outside back)....the middle panel on the inside will hold your pins and needles...the pocket on the inside will hold your scissors (up to 4") and an assortment of other stitching goodies such as a needle threader, floss, needle minder, or small ruler....the pocket on the outside back is perfect for a package of needles. It folds up into a small-sized case (see images below) approximately 4" W x 3" H....so it is perfect for putting in your stitching bag. This design has great instructions and requires very few materials....and it can be embellished a number of ways with ribbon, buttons, and trims...I even used two colors of fabric to "spruce" it up. A great little project for the beginner or the advanced seamstress...and a fun gift for a stitching/sewing friend...
Back in July, I shared a Saturday Sewing project with you...an embroidered cutwork envelope. As many of you know, I have a passion for handwritten notes and stationery...and since the response to my last envelope was so enthusiastic, I thought I would share the envelope I finished today. This envelope is embroidered on a lovely green Dupioni Silk with Robison-Anton rayon and metallic machine embroidery threads...and the digitized embroidery is from the same collection (Husqvarna Viking #215 - "Hoop! Sew! Go!, digitized by Lena Mattson). I placed a handwritten thank-you note on a green card inside and it is ready to put in the mail....just a little something special to brighten the day of a dear friend! Take a little time to brighten the day of someone special in your life...
Today, while Simba was being groomed, I made my monthly trip to Quilter's Cupboard in Ankeny...I was on a quest for some perfect fall fabrics. Last week, I machine embroidered some wonderful autumn designs with the plans to make several seasonal pillows and I wanted to find some great accent fabrics. Like many other quilters, I have a large fabric stash and multiple fabrics that would work...but I just couldn't resist a trip to the quilt shop to see "what's new"! There were so many great fabrics, I had a hard time narrowing down my selection...4 yards and 7 fat quarters later (obviously, not all autumn themed), I was ready to head home with my adorable, freshly groomed dog and enough fabric to make a heaping pile of pillows. Now I just have to find the time to put the pillows together....maybe tomorrow...Sunday seems like a good sewing day...hopefully I will have some finished projects to share with you soon...
Today I needed a little change of scenery. As many of you know, all my cross stitch models are on display in my home, along with stitching from an assortment of other designers...some are out year-round and I some I rotate through the seasons. Today it was time to put the autumn and Halloween designs out on display. My newest Halloween designs are on loan to Norden Crafts for the TNNA Needlecraft Market in a couple weeks, so I will have to wait several weeks to find the perfect places to put them....but the rest of the models are in their temporary homes, enjoying their moments in the spotlight! It was also an opportunity to put out my new quilted autumn table runner I made a couple weeks ago...in the center basket are several of my Halloween ornaments, surrounded by bay leafs and cinnamon sticks.
Several weeks ago, I got the most wonderful surprise package from Paula at Kelmscott Designs. I have wanted to share this with you since the day the package arrived....however, these pieces are new releases at the St. Charles Needlecraft Market later this month and I wanted to wait until Paula was ready for the world to see her fabulous new creations. I can't tell you how excited I was when I received these adorable little Fish Thread Winders - they are so much fun!! I was so impressed with these, I immediately started brainstorming an idea for a future design that would incorporate these 2" mother of pearl fish. Kelmscott Designs also has a new pair of scissors called "Tudor Rose" (beautiful), a new needle minder called "Adam and Eve" (gorgeous!)...and a new Handmade Wooden Box. If you are new to Paula's fabulous creations, you must peruse her website and checkout all of her extraordinary needlework treasures - you will be amazed (Paula can also be found on Twitter under the name Needleminder)....and make sure to check out your favorite needlework shop for the newest Kelmscott Releases following the TNNA Market September 25-27th.
This afternoon was the annual local Horizon of Hope Luncheon benefiting local breast cancer charities. It is a lovely event held each year by local Longaberger consultants - a wonderful lunch, an auction, a guest speaker, and a preview of the new Longaberger holiday line. The event this year was held at Bravo! Italian Restaurant (yummy)....and an abundance of baskets filled with goodies were auctioned off for the John Stoddard Cancer Center and Susan G. Koman - For The Cure Des Moines Affiliate. I was thrilled to have the high bid on a gorgeous Mail & Bill Basket filled with note cards, a pen, a sticker maker, pink scissors, an address book, a candle, and a Longaberger pink travel mug - what an awesome basket! When I purchased the luncheon ticket, it also included the 2009 Horizon of Hope Note Basket and the Horizon of Hope Tote....so I had a pile of "good things" to bring home from the event. It was an afternoon filled with friendship, food, and fun....all raising money for a terrific cause - I can't think of a better way to spend my Sunday.
It is that time again...I am frantically model stitching on a couple new designs for release this fall. Everything else is put on the back burner, as I work hard to get things ready for my framer. That means blog posts are at a minimum...and I have little to share with you, other than my current project. So...here is a teeny tiny peek at what I am currently working on...it is a new winter design...and I still haven't come up with the perfect title (I have a few ideas, but the right words haven't surfaced yet). This should be enough to keep you guessing for a while...just a peek to whet your appetite...now back to my stitching nest...
With the long holiday weekend, I thought I would take a little time off from Blue Ribbon Designs and do some sewing, quilting, and machine embroidery. I started off with a pillow for my in-laws...Monday is their 37th Wedding Anniversary! I used the same "Lovebirds Linework" design I posted before (thanks Shelli! - Needle in a Haystack Stitchery)...I added the personalization with my 4D Software....and used coordinating fabrics to make a patchwork border. I made an envelope back and slipped in a 14" pillow form. Sometimes the simplest things make me so very happy...being at my sewing machine is an instant uplift and can turn around even the ugliest of moods. I have already embroidered several additional designs to make more of these pillows...so look for me to share them with you real soon! For now, I am off to deliver this gift...and help the happy couple celebrate their anniversary with a family dinner...
It is a beautiful day here in Iowa...the sun is shining...the perfect temperature...just gorgeous! After doing some landscaping work in our yard this morning, I decided to take my mother-in-law out for the afternoon. We made a trip to the Blank Park Zoo and then went out for lunch...what an excellent way to spend part of my day! Des Moines is blessed to have such a wonderful zoo - my husband and I are zoo members and visit often. Currently, my favorite animal on exhibit is the Red Panda - I also adore the penguins! During this visit, all of the penguins were swimming and fun to watch. We also got up close and personal with an Emu...walked right up to us...was feeding on vegetation right along the walking path. The giant tortoises were also out today...and I caught a photo of one SLOWLY moving. However, the most active animals today were the giraffes - they were all moving about, feeding, and close to the walking trail - they were only a couple feet from us! It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon...
As you can tell, I like to make most of the gifts I give throughout the year...so much joy in the making, so much joy in the giving! I have learned there are those out there who appreciate a handmade gift much more than others...and hopefully I do a good job of matching the gift to the person. Here is yet another birthday gift I made this past month...I couldn't show it to you earlier, as I hadn't had a chance to give it to the recipient. I machine embroidered the design on Weeks Dye Works Wool Fabric...it was done in a 5" x 7" hoop and is a nice sized pincushion. The digitized design is from a set by Fancy That Designs called "Redwork Pincushions" and I used my monogramming software to add the letter M. I was very happy with the end result and plan to make a few more in the future....maybe even one with the letter B (because you all know I love my pincushions!)...
