Dressmaking.

I never thought I'd be making clothes for myself. I was in my favorite shop around the corner and one of the girls inspired me and gave me some good encouragement. I bought and downloaded the pattern  called the Wilksen Tank. I found the perfect fabric and got down to business... About 7 hours later I had a completed project. I posted a picture on fb and Instagram to give me the courage to actually wear what I made. No excuses. I wore it Monday and it felt good to put on a piece of clothing that was handcrafted with my own two hands. It makes me even more thankful for Eddie Bauer and Target. No wonder everyone only had a couple of articles of clothing back in the day!!!!

Quilt Update...

I've been busy working on the next stages of my quilt. There is quite a lot that goes into each step. It can be monotonous when you have to repeat everything fifty to a hundred times. Also, I'm not use to precision and it seems that good quilt making requires lots of it! It is good to work slow and steady. Here's a photo of the layout...

Sleepover Crafting.

I love having sleepovers with the "nieces" because that means crafting with them! We took a trip to Sew to Speak so they could each pick out the color they wanted and then we got to work making  dolls. I think they liked it.  Oh, we also had a blast watching throwback TV... #punkybrewster

Quilting

I signed up for a quilting class at my favorite shop around the corner, Sew to Speak.  

I can't wait to see what all these lovely fabrics turn into!

Snow Day Project!

Baby Elephant

I picked up this pattern and the fabric at my favorite neighborhood fabric store, Sew to Speak. 

The finished little sweetie is only about 4 inches tall.

Love it! 

It's been a busy crafting year...

I am finally getting around to documenting all the fun things I have made and shared with those I love. Now without further ado... I present my 2013 craftiness!

More Little Bitty "Garden Dolls"

Receiving Blankets for Bennett

Tote Bag 

Embroidery... and a throw pillow

Picking Strawberries... and JAM making!

Summer Mini EPP Hexie Quilt
(that I may have finished during Christmas break)

Pickle Making with my sisters!

More blankets to welcome my twin niecefews, Ben and Tara! 

Costume making for the Conrad family of 5 superheroes! 

Softie Book for my nephew Daniel

17 ornaments! 

A fun way to celebrate where you're from... especially after you move away! 

Pillowcases for Carlene

Homemade Peppermint Lip Balm! 

Pincushion for Julia

Lego "to go" Boxes for Thomas and Kenny

Infinity Scarf.... I made this one for Rebecca!

I think that about wraps it up... 

Here's to another great year of hand craftiness! 

Maybe this year I'll be better at posting.

 

Dressing up the walls...

I moved into my new place in August.

I have slowly started to decorate the walls...

but for the most part it's still bare around here.

I think it is time.  

Dining Room

Bedroom

I think I'll add more to the space when I find the right fabric! 

For any occasion!

I've got the sewing bug... I keep looking for things to sew. 

Now that Raggedy is behind me, I am much more confident at the machine. 

Here is my new favorite... It's a two sided bunting to help decorate and celebrate birthdays. 

One side has boyish colors and the other is for the girls. 

Boy Side

Girl Side

Brrr....

it's cold out there... Here is a little something to keep out the draft. 

Raggedy Ann

I've been really wanting to learn how to sew for a long time. Not just being able to go in a straight line, but to really make something. I wanted to make was a Raggedy Ann doll... I started with a online search to see if I could find the perfect pattern. I wanted it to be like the doll I had as a girl, which was not an easy search.  After many attempts google sent me to  Etsy and I ended making my first purchase in January of 2009. I had the pattern... I just needed the motivation to get to stitching! 

Fast forward a couple of years....  Inspiration!

In November I got to work cutting out the pattern, embroidering that face, assembling the dolly, making the dress, apron, and pantaloons, and making hair.  It wasn't easy. There were times I was ready to throw pieces and parts, but determination and goals really do make all the difference. 

While I didn't get the same reaction I hoped for... I know in my heart that one day Carlene will appreciate my effort. And for now it's enough to know that it was a labor of love and I am proud of myself for actually doing it! 

Special Thanks: 

to Jess for helping me get started and teaching me how to cut out a pattern...

to Aunt Nancy for talking me through some rough patches in dress making...

and to Mum for answering my many sewing questions...

New Year... New Post...

It only feels appropriate to start the year off right. I've been quietly crafting prepping for the Christmas season. Now that Christmas has come and gone I can share all the handcrafted goodies....

Gingerbread Houses: My NH friends shared this great idea of making gingerbread houses and sharing the fun experience of building and decorating houses together. So fun!

Baby Doll: My dear friends LadyLee&Mr. Jones are having a new little and of course she needs to have a baby of her own... 

Peppermint Lip Balm: During the summer I helped whip up this batch, courtesy of SouleMama's recipe. 

Embroidered Tea Towels

2012 Ornaments: Here is the newest ornament for the collections. I made14 ornaments this year.

There is more to come... but some crafts need their own post!

Birthday Baby

Nieces turning 2 need to have a baby doll....

My summer crafting buddy, Erika, found this blog post showing how to make a "Garden Doll".  She informed me that we would be making them. I agreed.

We followed the tutorial up until needle felting got involved... not ready for that (yet!?!)... Instead we made flowers out of felt and used the blanket stitch to attach them.  We also headed over to a blog called Shiny Happy World to get some tips on how to make the face.  When I need help, and I often do in the sewing department, this is my go-to site.

It was a simple doll to make... We each made two to give away to some special little girls.

Hoot... Hoot...

I am a softie for softies, especially if an OWL is involved. 

I got the idea and the pattern from Ellie, my little sewing buddy... 

She made this owl shuffled animal  during a class at Sew to Speak.  Here is her softie! 

Ellie's Owl

I travel home to MA for a few many weeks every summer. Usually I don't pack too many crafting supplies. This year I packed my felt and planned to make time to sew a few small projects. This owl was one of them. I cut, sewed, and stuffed this little guy in a matter of a couple of hours. 

My Owl

The new owner of this little guy has been happily hooting ever since!

"Auntie" Sleepover... No. 2

Ellie had a plan from the moment she knew she was having a sleepover all by herself. She hoped for.... but didn't expect, a trip to her (and now my) favorite sewing shop in Clintonville: Sew to Speak.  We needed to pick out fabric for a project. My that store is hard to leave without leaving half your paycheck behind! So many fun things...

We got started right away and worked all night and into the next day. We had fun and in the end we made two cute snail softies.

Looking for the perfect eyes.

Ellie picked it out! 

Cutting the felt

Sewing... Sewing... and more Sewing! 

Braided fabric for the shell

Finished product! 

Happy Girl!