Petite Pretty Pincushions

I took the selvedges I mentioned in the last post and made… 

See the fussy cut fish on the top ‘thread’??

pincushions! 

Teeny tiny little 3” thread spool pin holders.

Back of “Debbie” - love Laurel Burch!

The pattern is “Quilty Friends Quilt Label Block” by Happy Sew Lucky

which I reduced by 50% (because I’m crazy…)

“Debbie” is made from sales samples ⬆️ ⬇️ somebody gave me… 10? more? years ago.

Both the top and bottom pieces are lined with Pellon SF101 light interfacing for more structure. (Also hoping it keeps the pins from sticking out the underside. Ouch!)

I redid the top of “Reyna” three times - could not get the thread lines to look straight - before throwing in the towel, ripping out the center section and remaking the rest. Annoying but worth it.

They’re stuffed with crushed walnut shells and the smallest bag I could find without paying the ‘craft tax’ was 4 pounds. Anybody want a pincushion or six?? (Craft tax - prices per ounce are significantly higher because it’s smaller amounts for crafters. 😡)

Once stuffed, I glued the last section of seam shut (note for next time: genius idea!) and ladder-stitched it together. Would I make these again? Heck yes - but maybe just a bit bigger. 

More notes for next time: add borders so the spool design is more prominent; leave off the zig-zag bit under the name tag-don’t need it; use 60 weight thread and a size 70 machine needle. 

Bunnies For Baby

These were delivered today so I can finally post finished photos. Hooray!

Rainbow zebras and colorful stripes, all by Tula Pink

The daughter of hubby’s oldest friend is expecting her first baby next month (such excitement!)

Tiny hedgehogs to go with her woodland creatures theme

so of course he or she (the dad knows but the mom wants to be surprised) needs a quilt, right?

And new moms need something to keep them warm and comfy during those early morning feedings too.

Roses for the backing

Both are quilted with little cottontail bunnies and flowers

Baby quilt

Mom quilt

and both have Tula’s rainbow lady bugs for the binding. 

I’m super pleased with how these turned out. Sure hope the new family loves them (I always worry…)

Holly, Scarlett, Avignon Picnic

Surprise Mail

The grands love getting packages from Auntie Teena

because it’s always fun stuff for THEM!

Since her first visit in 2019(?), back before she had a sewing machine and fabric stash (why yes, I am an enabler 😜), Teena’s turned into a major bag lady. 

She outdid herself this time with a purse for Leo (perfect size for the pre-teen);

a clear axolotl purse with fancy adjustable strap 

and a shiny pink, rainbow strapped, axolotl backpack for Jac;

along with a Spiderman backpack for Donovan 

that has already accompanied him to school 

and Disneyland. 

And sometimes there’s fun stuff for me too. Love my sparkly axolotl bag!

Thanks, TiaTia! 

Early Finish

With the exception of one gift card, all our Christmas shopping is done.

I’m pretty sure this is the earliest we have ever finished. (One year we did all the shopping on December 23. It wasn’t pretty.)

My plan was to start wrapping next weekend . . . but I started unboxing, and checking gifts off the list . . . and discovered that all but four three items are already here . . .

Six hours of TV watching later, everything is wrapped, ribboned and ready to go. 

Last year we came up with a evil genius idea for what to do with the wrapped goodies. With two curious toddlers, two nosy pre-teens and a cat that eats (and barfs) ribbons, they can’t be under the tree. So, high on top of the bookshelf they go, where the grandkids can see but not touch. Win win!

Merry Early Christmas

It’s been a long year of watching movies at home instead of in a theater. 2021 doesn’t look like it’s going to be any better, so hubby and I decided to treat ourselves to an early Christmas present. 

A 65” LG OLED 4K TV. 

We opted for Best Buy’s professional installation and that turned out to be a very good decision. The TV is a glass screen no thicker than a pane of window glass. Beautiful to look at but easily damaged. Hubby helped get it out of the box and on to the cabinet to the installer’s steady chant of, “don’t bend it, don’t bend it.” 

The original plan was to remodel the shelving unit once we saw the TV in place. I’d like to have the TV set back a little further, both for aesthetics and safety, but I’m not sure it’s worth shifting the TV around. Then again, hubby is braver than me, so I may wake up one morning to a finished job. Or a lot of swearing. 

A Little Late Or A Lot Early?

I started these wall-hangings shortly after Thanksgiving, 

 for Marie’s family

but between making bags, the little girls getting sick and all the usual holiday madness fun, I’m just now finishing them up. 

 For Gary and Shelly

Gifting these makes a tiny dent in my panel collection, 

 For Mary and Matt

a hole I’m pretty sure I’ll fill before the next holiday season rolls around. 

  Candy cane stripes for binding

I do love pretty holiday panels. 

Jac helped me set up for pictures, then asked to have her picture taken with her new yarn. Who could say “no” to that little face??

Such a silly bunny. 

Bag Lady

The latest round of Pop Open Pouches - #’s 8 through 14 - is done and gifted.

Wish I’d gotten better pictures, and shots of the linings, but I was pressed (ha!) for time this morning.

I started making this pattern in October and I’m still not tired of it.

I am getting faster though, which is a good thing since I have several more to make before Christmas. 

 My favorite lining, a fat quarter of Downton Abbey fabric I’ve been hoarding.

Christmas Begins

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. 

Yesterday the tree, then today lunch - and gifts! - with Breanne, Garrett and their boys.

So much fun.

Travis, who loves sports and reading, will be 8 on the 23rd

and Isaac turned 3 in October. 

Sure wish we lived closer - or all our lives would slow down - so we could see them more often. 

Merry first Christmas party of the season!