Today's Zipper Brick Pouch

Today I used a video tutorial from Melanie at the IHeartStitching channel to make a gorgeous brick pouch for a friend who has helped out with the children lately!  This tutorial was quick and easy and turned out perfectly!!  The tutorial can be found here:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m-SsfnXbVrc

I then made a large pin cusion to go with it which turned out great!  I used a medium sized bowl, traced it onto fabric and sewed the edges leaving a small space open to stuff it.  I filled it half with poly-fill beads and half with stuffing and then sewed the hole closed.  I used embroidery thread to section off the circles and then add the button!  Love how it turned out!! 

Until next time!

Jenn

Quilts and things...

Just a catalog of a few quilts I have made!

Some Crocheting Fun for Christmas!

This week I have been working on some Christmas presents for friends and family.  I dug out some old yarn and half finished projects to complete and give as gifts this Christmas!  

The first thing I finished was these beautiful boot cuffs made with a tutorial found here: http://patternsforcrochet.co.uk/boot-cuffs-usa.html.  I had to reduce the number of stitches on the bottom section to make them a little tighter for a tween but I love how they turned out!!

The second thing I completed this week was a pair of fingerless mittens.  Such a great pattern!  I thought I would have difficulty with the thumb hole but the planning and easy repeat of this pattern made it super easy!  I used this pattern from Getting Hooked on Crafts: http://gettinghookedoncrafts.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-crochet-pattern-fingerless-gloves.html?m=1 . 

  

I can't tell you what yarn I used as both of these are missing the wrapper!  The black mittens are made from a yarn I picked up at Hobby Lobby a while back. It's actually black with a bit of Aqua sparkle.

Loving my Jamberry nails also!  These that look like Santa's Belly are my favorite so far!  To bad I broke several nails before  putting them on!

Napkins! One holiday gift down!

Today I made a set of homemade napkins for one of my classroom assistants for a Christmas present Wait!! Am I ahead of schedule??

I loved this fabric I found and figured these would be my trial set I would keep since there's always a learning curve with new projects but they were easy to do and perfectly fine the first time through! I used the tutorial found here: http://gingercake.typepad.com/gingercake/2012/01/nine-minute-everyday-napkins-tutorial.html
I didn't change a thing! Just followed it exactly as described and...voila!

Six beautiful Everyday Napkins for about $3.00 (fabric from JoAnne's bought with a coupon) and just about an hour and a half of time (since I dawdled getting the cutting done)! I am so excited and plan to do a few more sets for gifts!  I am going to go back and print the labels from her tutorial as soon as I dig out some cardstock!

Next project! After some of these others are finished!

On another note I made another ruffled apron! Too cute! So easy!

A little Pinterest inspiration and a birthday party..

While recovering this morning from yesterday's adventure, I found myself cruising Pinterest and looking at little sewing projects for gifts to come when I came across a photo of a ruffled apron. The link didn't seem to be working so a quick google search found a variety of directions which I looked through and pulled together a an apron for my daughters friend who was having a party today.

A little digging in my stash found I don't have many bigger pieces of fabric (something to work on!) and I struggled to find some fabrics I liked together. In the end this is what our
little project looked like! Ignoring the totally clashing dress. Think I'll try my hand at a tutorial when I make my next one!

A Big Kids Day Out!

Yesterday I took the oldest two to Michigan Adventures to have a little fun in the sun! While they loved spending time at the Waterpark and later riding the roller coasters I had a blast watching them grow into the amazing little ones they are!