Pocket and Paper

i really like the look of the stitched numbers.Jessica and i were exhausted. but the pocket advents were finished just in time for December 1st. one for Jessica's house. and one for my sister's house.1/2 yard cuts from Quilt Taffy. 1/2 yard cuts and a panel from Fabrics By The Sea. white Kona cotton on front. and premium Kona muslin on back. and thanks to QT for mixing the brown polka dot with the Have A Sheri Berry Holiday prints. it inspired the brown stitching for the numbers. and OMG. did i actually machine quilt something. i stuck to my comfort zone which is zig-zag. hated it. but will try to do more of it in the future.

my Mom's paper bag advent was finished on December 2nd.she has already asked if she is getting a strawberry candy in each bag.here's a peek. i have another week to fill bags for day 13 thru day 25.

it's coming....

take a peek at this advent i am making with Jessica. 2 of them have to be ready done and filled with goodies for Dec. 1st. we're making more than 2. the fabric is called Have a Sheri Berry Holiday. and in lieu of applique. we are stitching the outline of #'s with Perle Coton No. 5.the paper bag advent i am making for Mom. there's no link. i just made it up. my coffee shop kindly let me have bags early. so i could decorate. i could probably put 1 biscotti in each bag. but i will mix it up with some other stuff. the local pharmacy has that section where they sell small samples. of course i'll only get the things that Mom would like.would you believe that even the local scrapbooking store doesn't have stickers just for advents calendars. but for $2./hr. you can use their cutter and make whatever you want. so i quickly grabbed pretty paper and went to it. i needed 2 pages. since it was not sticky paper i had to glue them on.and i am excited about the fabrics i gathered for Carolina Christmas. in lieu of gold i am using a brown Jo Morton just picked up at the annual sale. the rest are stash favorites.

Block Friend

just awful. teetering on the end of my couch. and whatever is stacked underneath. and the awfulness around it is just the messy area with bad lighting that i work in. that's my current bee block. soon to be a 16-1/2 in. square.i made this block friend rather quickly. perfect for a 12-1/2 in. square. mine is 18 in. x 24 in. not quite big enough to assemble this block. i really need to edit a bit and make 2 more rows.scrap of batting. sorta trimmed nicely. leave a comment and i'll make you one. winner chosen.it folds into a nice 7 in. x 8 in. bundle. and if you're not liking the stripes. i'll let ya pick something else. check back Wednesday morning. i also made some little ones. which i will tell you about in my next Got Vintage post.

Unsuspecting Friends

Jelly Roll and i have concocted a plan. we convinced Layer Cake and Charm Pack to visit us. a few unsuspecting friends that have no idea we plan to cut them up this weekend. shhhh! don't call them up and tell them. today beautiful pre-cuts. tomorrow a simply gorgeous patchwork project.and Jelly Roll gets to live another day.

Have Ya Noticed...

how focused and organized i seem to be lately.
it happens sometimes. and then it just goes away.
but the panic of i-could've-done-all-that-in-October has set in.
my Schnibbles is pinned. and my Half-Pint is on the design wall.
and i've cut out an apron. cute pattern can be found here.it could be my new basket system. most of my 8 blue baskets were in the pantry ooozing with maple syrup or other sticky stuff. i went to store to get more and they only have them in white. so i left. but i don't care what color is in the pantry hall closet. so i might have to go back. because my blue baskets are now my-important-project-baskets.i have plenty of these wicker ones so it's holding my Half-Pint. it has a big handle so i feel like Laura Ingalls when i go get it.this bucket really works for me. when i find lost pattern pieces. that's where they go until i decide where they really should go.it's unfortunate that i put this sofa table/computer table in front of a really nice dresser that i can't see or use anymore. but that's where the plug and cable come in. i probably won't move it any time soon. because i can also see the t.v. from here. and that outranks almost everything.

Got Vintage

does anybody else have a pretty little stack like this?well in just a few minutes i made these.following this very cool tutorial i found on Meet Me At Mikes.my napkin was 12-1/2 in. x 15-1/2 in. a bit bigger than the suggested size. so i turned the top down 1/2 in. more. and made an extra pocket. inside one are a few hole punchers. but it's a bit big for my wallet essentials. so i'm hoping that i have a smaller pretty tucked away and forgotten about.

Run Run Runner

absolutely my favorite fabric line ever.Allspice Tapestry by Joanna Figueroa and Lisa Quan Fig Tree Quilts for Moda.not making it anymore.good thing i have more tucked away.free pattern found here on Sweetwater.
found out about it here on Jaybird.
then Jaybird put it here on Moda Bake Shop.
would you believe there's another photo here on Flickr.if you make one. and enter. Sweetwater is giving away one of those awesome Authentic jelly rolls.

Variety Pack

1 Dish Cloth.
1 Face Cloth.
2 Pretty Cloths.
3 Wavy Wipers.
4 Scrubbies.leave a comment.
leave it here.
a Variety Pack could be yours.

i'll pick two names on Friday.
and let ya know who gets a Variety Pack.

and after i pick two names i will pick another four names to win 1 Wavy Wiper and 1 Scrubbie.

once again here are details on how to make your own.

Make Your Own Variety Pack

congratulations!you have both won a Variety Pack. send me your info so i can drop it off at the Post Office. i plan to do this again next month and i've already started.but in the meantime. if you remember. i did promise you details.

Dish Cloth. pattern from Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine. Spring/Summer 2009. i used size 5 needles in lieu of size 6 needles. i used Lily Sugar'n Cream stripes cotton(120 yds.) in lieu of Debbie Bliss Eco organic cotton(100 yds.). mine measures 10 in. x 8 in.Face Cloth. my own pattern. well not really. Broken Rib. one of my favorites. easy to follow. any combination of 4 stitches plus 1 will work. size 7 needles. cast on 41 sts. just slightly loose. K2 P2 repeat until end K1. repeat this row 54 more times. cast off in pattern just slightly loose. after pressing mine measures 9 in. x 9 in.Pretty Cloth. used Nanette's waffle dish cloth tutorial. after cutting squares i sink-washed the waffle cloth pieces and hung to dry before sewing on binding. this made mine measure 8-1/2 in. x 9 in.Wavy Wiper. this is my own pattern for a cloth that i sell on Etsy and that i am sharing with you. please do not use my pattern for anything other than your own personal use or for gifts that you are giving. size 5 needles. cast on 15 sts. Wave #1: knit until last 2 sts. K1inc1. K1. repeat this row 7 more times. stitch count is now 23. knit until last 3 sts. K2tog. K1. repeat this row 7 more times. stitch count is back to 15 sts. Wave #2: repeat Wave #1. Wave #3: repeat Wave #1. EXCEPT when working last row. the row with your last K2tog. you will ALSO be binding off purlwise. (another way of saying this is. when working this last row. bind off purlwise until last 3 sts. P2tog. bind off last 2 sts. purlwise.) mine measures 4 in. x 5 in.Scrubbies. used Berlin's knitted kitchen scrubbie tutorial. also read her scrubbie update. size 9 needles. i cast on & cast off tightly for a tighter scrubbing edge. & i found it easier to cut the netting with a rotary cutter at 2-1/2 in. then cut up the middle with scissors.Basic Cloth. this one is not part of the Variety Pack. but i'm making one from each colorway just-because. size 5 needles. cast on 50 sts. work garter stitch. until you have 53 bumps on right side. cast off purlwise.drop me a line if you have any questions. or let me know which knit or crochet pieces you love to make.

Variety Pack

1 Dish Cloth.
1 Face Cloth.
2 Pretty Cloths.
3 Wavy Wipers.
4 Scrubbies.leave a comment.
leave it here.
a Variety Pack could be yours.

i love the Scrubbies.
knit your cotton leftovers with some Shiny Tulle.
i'll pick two names on Friday.
and let ya know who gets a Variety Pack.
i get up early.

and i'll also give you details on how to make your own.

A Little Stitching

for my Christmas In July swap i decided to do a little stitching. not too much.last week at the beach i spent time reviewing the instructions. when else would i have time to do that.it was a gorgeous day. i never stitched a gift. so i am practicing on this pretty Shabby Roses BOM from Elefantz.you might recognize the fabric i am using. the background is linen from an old dress that belonged to my sister.i also picked Aviary fabric and soon realized choosing a neutral thread for applique would have caused the words and flowers to stand out. so i might try this one again. just to see the difference.i used a Mark-B-Gone pen and to my amazement the blue lines washed out. my tracing wasn't that accurate and the fabric kept moving around. so i would like to try transfer pencils. do you have a tried-and-true method for transferring? or a stitchery fabric that you like?

Sweet Selvedges

using Nanette's waffle dish cloth tutorial i took selvedges to make the binding. i cut my selvedges at 2 in. used a 5/8 in. seam to sew on and tried both zig-zag and straight stitch to finish.three pieces to make Sweet binding. one long piece to make Santa Claus binding.

Bunny Dresses

i hope my three bunny designers like the dresses i made for them. i'm popping them in their Easter goodie bag right now.here's my bunny Cindy with the dress i made for her. and she is giving you a sneak of a new quilt i am making. i feel a little guilty starting a new project when i have so many to finish. but it's from the Moda Sweet line. and who could resist a little of this sugar.i did after all need something new to sign up for six months of professional studio cutting at a LQS. here are my peeps getting cut into 1-1/2 in. strips. i'm learning how to prep my fabric before i get there. i'll keep you updated on how i like it as i do more cutting.have a most Happy Easter Day! i can see the sun shining outside my window and it looks beautiful. but i'm off now to make some cookies so i can complete my Easter goodie bags.

Bunny Faces

the girls are on school break this week. just wanted to share the bunny faces we made yesterday. using this pattern.added - here they were waiting for us this morning.each arm & leg perfectly stuffed by the owner. rolled so as not to get mixed up. one bunny designer had a sleepover. & preferred to complete her own tummy stuffing. so only three were actually finished today.fabrics have been chosen for their new outfits. but no date as yet when we will meet again. for more bunny fun go to Flickr.

Summer Postcard

this was a fun project.it's been cold here. but in Australia it has been warm and sunny. can't wait until that happens here. this was a little thank you to Helen for her mystery quilt. her daughter Matilda has really enjoyed receiving cards from all over.

One Weekend Before Xmas

yikes. time is running out. just enough days left to finish some important presents. this is what i am working on:

making 5. finished 0.making 16. that's what i said. finished 0.finished 6. mailed 0.do you recognize a pattern here. i did actually finish one gift. a beautiful basket. can't show you the goodies. as soon as i can decide which paper to use i will wrap them all up. until then i have put Santa in charge of keeping it safe. Santa is also going to make sure that i don't keep this one for myself.despite the amount of work i have left to do. i am optimistic about finishing on time. but in case i am sewing up until the last minute. my gift wrapping is simple and ready to go.if they have any left i would recommend running out to get some lunch size bags being sold by Whole Foods. they are only 79 cents each and i know that each recipient will reuse them many many times. pretty & practical.

this one was used to make basket. but i made changes to three measurements so it would be bigger. the 24 squares were cut 2-1/2 in. instead of 2 in. the bottom piece was cut 12-1/2 in. x 7 in. and the handles were made about 6-1/2 in. long instead of 5 in. because of these changes the lining had to be bigger. & you can't see but there is a 3 in. border of bottom fabric sewed to white cotton.