Baby Hooded Towels...

With a new grandbaby ready to make his appearance any time now, I am trying to kick it in gear and finish a few things...I bought these fun polka dot towels from Wal-mart a few months ago.  With a package of extra wide double fold bias tape per towel, I sliced here and sewed there and made these fun baby towels with a hood.  Love the polka dots...another project down....

The Shirt...

 So, this week our car has been in the shop with an electrical issue.   I was riding the bus this morning to work with this shirt on my lap.  I had to pretend  that everything was normal and that I always take ugly shirts with me to work. (The client is going to pick it up from me at work)  This young mother with a baby in her lap could not take her eyes off this creation for 5 minutes.  I was busting up inside.  Little did she know that a famous rodeo clown wears this shirt and it fits his occupation....priceless....

 Each year, I get to sew one of these.....  Usually, the fabric is western themed, but this year, oh, this year, I got to sew with this the jungle print and the stripe.  The client buys the fabric and brings it to me to sew.  This year, he didn't get enough jungle print for the sleeves.  I went to JoAnns where they purchased the fabric and no jungle print.  I googled online the selvage information--no fabric available.  I picked the least offensive substitute, this black dotted fabric...

 The client likes his shirts custom...He likes the western yokes with decorative fringe...

 He likes a rib knit cuff, so he can rip the shirt off in a hurry if he gets caught on something...

He also likes gripper snaps instead of buttons, to be able to rip the shirt off in a hurry...

This rhinestone cowboy is my co-worker, Kaleb.  I didn't even ask him to model, coersing was not needed... he just put it on and started posing and I grabbed my camera.  Too funny.

Happy St. Valentine's Day...

 It's a finish.  Used up scraps from a previous year's Valentine fabric....

 Applied the hidden zipper under the flap technique--easy and sneezy...took less than 5 minutes...

Had sew day on Saturday and my sister, Carolyn made up this runner by Bunny Hill--lovely...May Cupid hit you with his arrow today!!!

More hats...

Made this hat out of the original fat quarters purchased for the hat. This hat only takes 2 fat quarters to make. Now the pattern calls for interfacing on the brim, however, in my opinion...it needs more stability in the band and brim.

This version I made out of Jackson's old levi's. I added fusible fleece to the band and brim and I like it much better. What a fun project to sew and also to wear...

Quick Gift Idea...

On this website http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/QuarterlyChallenge/ZipItBag.pdf is a fun make up bag that you can make out of the beautiful laminated fabrics. A quarter yard will yield 2-3 make-up bags depending on whether or not you need to fussy cut the print. Here are a few that I have done up for gifts...Give it a try and make a few!!

My heart skipped a beat or two....

My sister, Rose, and I got together again on Saturday for a sew day. She showed me Kit's big girl quilt all quilted. She just needs to bind it. I think it is adorable and so girly.

Close up of the quilting...

Rose was also inspired by Janelle Wind's journal cover and made this cutie....

Front view...

She also made these adorable Amy Butler gumdrop pillows for her little kids out of old stash needing to be used up...they love to play with these!!

Matt's gumdrop pillow...

This picture is sideways--pardon my lack of computer skills to turn it properly right side up....love this bird hanger...Rose always makes the cutest things and has them tucked in a corner here and there throughout her house...

She made this adorable rug from a pattern from Sweetwater. Love it as well!!

My heart skipped a beat or two last night....my brother, Jon, dropped by on his motorcycle with something to show me. Now background on Jon...he has so much talent and skill he could literally do anthing he set out to do in this life. He has wanted a Red Baron quilt with the Maltese cross. Because all of his quilting sisters had no idea where to start with this, it never happened. He bought a sewing machine off KSL for $30.00. He went to JoAnns and got some plain red, black and grey fabric. He consulted with many people how to go about creating this quilt and they all suggested that he applique the cross on the quilt. Jon, however, wanted it pieced. He said last night he was no dummy and knew basics like to cut and sew with the grain (as in woodworking, which he is a pro). He knew to take a 1/4" seam and he assembled a queen size quilt that he designed complete with inset curved seams--yes, he did it the hard way. He would not allow me to post the picture of the quilt online as he designed this original and did not want it copied. Just to tell you the quilt is square and is amazing. 1st try at something extemely difficult and he nailed it.

Happy Birthday Hailee!!

What could this be? Could it be a squishy ball? Could it be a squishy ball in a treasure bag? This is going to Hailee for her birthday!!

Treasure box--fun charm square pattern or just use your scraps...Takes about 45 minutes start to finish--Do you have little grandkids or children that would like one?
The pattern is by This & That and is called Abby's Treasure Box--could hold make-up, treasures, could hold a sewing kit.....
You can find the pattern here: http://thisandthatpatterns.com

Diaper Clutch Anyone???

Today I made this diaper clutch. I found this darling fabric line by Riley Blake. I'm really liking all the Riley Blake lines coming out!!!

Inside of clutch....

Front side of the changing pad...


Back side of the changing mat, making this mat reversible...Just love it!! Wish they had these when my babies were babies.... This pattern is by All My Bags and Quilts too, "Diapers to go!" #150.

Journal Covers...

I just finished these two journal covers. They fit the composition notebooks. I really had fun trying to decide the embellishments on these. I have to tell you, there is the most adorable fabric out there and I love working with it!! This one is a Hootin Owl...

This journal cover is made from Amy Butler's Love fabric. I just love love love it!! I made a 3 dimensional flower from a new pattern I tried and it was really fun to do... This time around, I used an elastic closure instead of tying the books closed with twill tape. It was fun to revisit the journal covers again.

Every once in awhile, I will run across a fun little pattern that sews up in nothing flat. This little pattern is one of those. The pattern describes the Hot Fingers as: "The best friend your fingers will ever have! So grasp your cup, pull open that steaming bag of popcorn or grab that baked potato, all without burning your fingers! For Microwave Use Only!" You can find the pattern here http://susiecshore.com ,#ST-944. Would make a great happy gift, neighbor gift or whatever....

What's Up Doc???

I found the cutest tutorial from the whip-up newsletter on these darling fabric carrots....http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/2010/03/tutorial-make-carrot-full-o-candy-for.html, click where it says easy peasy tutorial. They were super simple to make, taking only minutes from start to finish, and it just makes you giggle they are so fun and cute. Fill with your favorite Easter treat and use as gifts or reuse them from year to year....Happy Carrots....

Odds and Ends...

Last year about this time, retro-mama.blogspot.com did a tutorial on fabric Easter eggs. I located the blog and did these up really fast last night. Fun project--not too hard and a little bit festive to boot! Give it a try with your odds and ends.

Pee Pee Teepees

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To finish off this baby gift, last night I went home and made 2 peepee teepees. For those of you who have not been exposed to this, they are a little flannel cone that you use with your baby boys to keep them from spraying all over when you change their diaper. Found the tutorial over on Little Birdie Secrets here. Quick and easy to make and hopefully useful!!

Baby Essentials...

I have had this pattern for some time and have not made it up until now. Boy do I wish they had these when my babies were small...the gal who designed the pattern stated that you could make several in one hour. It took me a few hours to make one...there is binding on the changing pad and also on the clutch itself and then you quilt the clutch as well as the changing pad. Fun project.

Pattern by: All My Bags & Quilts Too!

This is a picture of the clutch closed...

A peek inside the clutch--pockets to hold the wipes, diapers and changing pad...

Here is a photo of the finished baby bear afghan. Some lucky baby will hopefully enjoy these. I personally am not a fan of the bows, however, it helps outline the bears.

Turning 50...

I have the priviledge of working with a wonderful friend that I grew up with. My friend turned 50 yesterday. We had a great time. This is my gag gift for those turning 50...the voodoo doll laden with symptoms of old age on the front and back.

This idea was not mine, I revised it. My mom was given one of these years ago and I adapted it and have made them and while making them, giggled the whole way through the construction process. Should you want to make one for that someone special turning "50", cut out the doll shape, then stabilizedthe muslin by ironing it to freezer paper, then write the wording on it with a permanent fine tip marker and then sew, stuff and adorn. Don't forget to applique the heart on and fill it with pins. Lots of fun--and stick it with a pin when you experience one of those ailments.

Zip It!!!

Saturday, I picked up this magazine at Wal-mart. I noticed that they had these cute make-up pouches in the magazine that claimed it took 60 minutes start to finish. They called for oil cloth, which is a laminated fabric. My dear husband drove me to Preston, ID this morning to the wonderful quilt store, Suppose. They carry the oil cloth that I needed. Here is the article, titled, Zip It!!

Here are the cute little bags that literally sewed up so quickly. The one on the right was the first one I made, taking up only 45 minutes. The one on the left took 30 minutes. It calls for 1/4 yd of fabric per bag. You can get 2 bags and have a piece left over, so it looks like I might make a few more. Fun project!! Give it a try.

Santa Bottle Covers...

Take a sneak peak at these darling Santa bottle covers...would make a fun decoration or be a cute gift for Christmas time. This is another wonderful Nancy Halverson pattern. Fast and fun to sew!!! They hold a 2 liter pop bottle!!!

Fun at the Quilt Guild and a sneak peak at a fun project...

This sweet little pillowcase is one of a set that I'm making for a special someone for Christmas. The pattern is by Crab Apple Hill, my new favorite for embroidery. The embroidery goes super fast and looks so pretty. Easy project to stitch up and make!

These pictures of quilts are just a few of the show and share. I arrived late to guild due to an emergency at home and so I didn't get many photos. As usual, the girls did not disappoint and their quilts were all gorgeous!! Loved them all!!!