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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

A Tale of Two Stockings

Ready for Santa to come


     This Christmas there will be two more people at our house to celebrate.  Our younger son and his wife had a little boy in April and our older son is bringing his girlfriend.  That means two more stockings for the mantle.

Miles' stocking before
Emily's stocking before
 

     Our younger son bought a stocking for me to put a name on to hang up for our grandson.  Of course I couldn't just put a name on it.  I also embroidered a polar bear wrapped in lights that I had gotten from Embroidery Library.







          For our older son's girlfriend I bought a plain stocking at the store to embellish.  I used an appliqué design from Designs by JuJu.

Stitching on the deconstructed stocking


     The easiest way for me to do the stitching was to take the stocking mostly apart so I could hoop it flat on sticky paper.  I printed out templates of the designs, including their names.  I decided on placement and marked the stocking.  Then I attached it to the sticky paper and did the stitching.

Miles' finished stocking


    It was then easy enough to just stitch them back together and they were ready to hang with the rest of the family.

     Welcome Miles and Emily.
Emily's finished stocking

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Monogramming


Monogrammed hankies


     Last year I had a client bring me several things she wanted personalized for the holidays.  The first were new hankies for her grandsons.  She wanted a 1" block monogram.  In order to get the initials all in the same place on each, I hooped sticky back stabilizer and then stitched a 'corner'.

Hankie aligned with stitched'corner'


     I used this for placing each hankie so that all the monograms were alike in placement.


Patching the stabilizer from the back


     I reused that sticky back stabilizer by patching the hole with a small piece of the sticky back each time.  I used this same method to do an initial on a set of antique napkins.

Monogrammed linen napkins

     

    The other thing she brought to me were old pillowcases that either her mom or her grandmother had added the hand crocheted lace edging.  She wanted Mr and Mrs put on them for newly married granddaughters.

Squaring the hoop on the table with the arrows

  
     I again hooped some sticky back stabilizer and used the grid on my cutting table to square up the hoop.  I had pins marking where I wanted the embroidery and folded the pillowcase along those markings and laid it carefully in the hoop.

Checking final placement


     I used the plastic grid that come with the hoops to check for final placement.

Monogrammed pillowcases


     Stitched, removed stabilizer, pressed and I had a bunch of personalized items to give to her.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Baby Blanket for Newest Grandson

Finished blanket


    I love making these receiving blankets as gifts.  I have been told they are a great size to wrap up a newborn and also make a great blanket to place on the floor for tummy time.

     I have made many of these for charity also.  I buy two 1 1/4 yard pieces of flannel and wash them in hot water and dry in a hot dryer.  That shrinks the flannel and makes it soft while removing any chemicals.

Baby stats


     When I make them for a newborn, I include all their stats, one in each corner of the blanket and then I place their name in the middle.  I love to find the right fabrics to mix and match when making these.

Name


     I also make them for shower presents but obviously without the embroidery.  I will make them in a gender neutral color scheme unless the parents know the sex of the baby.  If you would like one of these, just contact me at celeste@sewmuchfun.biz.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Silver Purse

Pattern


     I had bought this silver grey vinyl at an ASG Conference but didn't know what I would make from it.  I wanted a purse to go with my grey outfits so I decided to make a purse from it.

Pocket


     I chose to do the Savvy Plus bag.  On the inside I added a double pocket.  It has a zippered part and an open part.  I of course added my monogram to the pocket.

Webbing with Wonder Tape


     For the handles I used cotton webbing covered with the vinyl for some added strength.  I used Wonder tape and Wonder clips to hold the vinyl in place since I could not iron it.  

Folding over the vinyl


     I then made single fold bias tape from the blue linen that I used for the lining to cover the raw edges of the vinyl on the inside of the strap.

Wonder clips at work


     I stitched it all down using a grey thread in the bobbin and a blue thread in the top.  I lengthened the stitch length and sewed slowly to get a nice even topstitching.

Finished purse


     I now have a nice light weight purse for when I am wearing my grey outfits.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Oh The Places You Will Go Quilt

Finished quilt


     A quilt for the newest grandson from the pattern Pathways, A 3 Yard Quilt.  The theme for his room was based on the Dr Suess book, Oh The Places You'll Go.

Label 1


     When shopping for the fabric I found a cute mini print that had various modes of transportation including hot air balloons.  I then found some Dr Suess fabric that I used for the back even though it was Cat in the Hat.

Label 2


     After getting it all pieced I took it to my local quilt shop where I then selected the quilting pattern and thread color I wanted.  I found a fun hot air balloon pattern and chose a red thread.  I think it all turned out just right.

Quilting detail

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Name on Christmas Stocking



     It is almost that time of year again, people wanting names on their Christmas stockings.  Last year I needed to put a name on a store bought stocking for my granddaughter.  I chose the same font I had used on her big brother's stocking a couple of years ago.



    I printed out the template and positioned it where I wanted it.  I had to take the stocking apart so I could use sticky paper to hoop it so it would lay flat.  I have also used the under the hoop method to stitch stockings but I decided this was going to be much easier.

     I stitched out the name using a color I pulled from the design on the stocking and then quickly stitched the stocking back together.  Sometimes it is not as easy as it looks to place a name on a stocking.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Jeans Apron


Inspiration photo from Creative Green Living


     My sister asked me to make her an apron from an old pair of jeans.  She sent me a photo and a link to what she liked.  I Pinned it and then used my phone to follow along with the instructions while making the apron.

     My sister sent me a pair of her jeans and after quizzing her about color and style of fabric I found some great pink and purple butterfly print in my stash.

     After taking apart the jeans I then started putting it all together.  I did make wider binding and straps because the ones in the project seemed so flimsy.  I used the ruffler foot on my machine to gather the fabric.  It took a couple of tries since I hadn't used it in a while.

My sister's finished apron


     I think it came out really cute and my sister was happy with it.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Memory Quilt

Layout graph


     My daughter teaches at a Catholic school.  Near the end of the last school year, one of the mom's was killed in a random shooting while coming home from a weekend away with the family.  It was devastating to say the least.

Batting and backing


      They asked me to make a quilt for each child.  The kids in each of their grades drew a loving note or picture for the child.  They also included photos of them with their mom and some of their classmates.

Top pinned in place


     I graphed out where I would put the photos and children's squares.  Then I added squares from my scraps to fill out the other places.  The original thought was to include pieces from the mom's clothing but it was much too soon for the family to part wth anything.

Sewn, ready to be trimmed


     After piecing the top, I layered the batting, flannel backing with the right side up and then the quilt top, right side down.  I stitched around, leaving an opening.  I then turned it all right sides out, edge stitched around the outside edges and then quilted around each of the photos.

    I still tear up when I think about these quilts.  I just hope they have brought some comfort to the children.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Taxi Cab Quilt

Finished quilt


     I made this quilt at retreat in March.  I had bought the fat quarters the previous quilt retreat and then added the background, binding, backing and flange fabric from Quilt Play near my house.

Black and quilting detail


     I chose a tiny print black for the background and then found a great stripe that I wanted to use for the binding.

Close up of binding and flange


     To make it more fun I cut the binding on the bias and also added a narrow flat flange.

Back


     The backing is the yellow, black and white in a floral print, hence the name of the quilt, Flower Power Taxi Cab.

Label 1


     I added my two labels, one with the name of the quilt and the year.  The other has the info about who pieced it and who quilted it.

Label 2


     This is a fairly easy quilt and I would do it again.  This is the second time I have used this pattern, Quilt in a Day, Hole in the Wall.


Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Passport to Style Blouse

Fabric



     I sewed another blouse from Cutting Line Designs.  This one is the Passport to Style blouse.  I bought the fabric and pattern at the 2016 ASG Conference in Indianapolis.  I liked this print because of the softer colors and that it would go nicely with the taupe core four wardrobe I was putting together.

Pattern


     As usual Louise Cutting's directions are excellent.  I only wish I had made it one size smaller.  I was debating between two sizes and probably could have gone smaller.  It fits okay but is a little big in the underarm area.

Finished blouse


     The fabric was easy to work with but as it is a linen it will always be wrinkled unless freshly ironed.  I will just deal with it.

Blouse styled with taupe skirt


     I have worn the blouse a couple of times already and have gotten some nice compliments.  I am looking forward to making it again.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Medal Embroidery


All done stitching


     My husband and I are participating in a series of races in Wisconsin.  You get a medal for finishing the race.  This year all the medals in the series are the same except for the color of ribbon.

Basting box for placing the ribbon


     There was a sticker on the back of some of them indicating the race but no other identifying info.  I decided to embroider the name of the race on the ribbon.

     I measured the width of the ribbon and chose a heavier font to lay on top of the grosgrain ribbon.  I adjusted the height of the lettering to fit on the ribbon and then adjusted the width of the name if necessary so I could do them in my 5 x 7 hoop.  I then added a basting stitch.

Holding the medals while stitching


     I hooped sticky paper and stitched the first color which was the basting box.  I then laid the ribbon on the sticky and repeated the basting box to hold the ribbon down.  I did have to support the medal as it stitched the lettering since it was heavy and may have pulled the ribbon off the sticky paper.

     Then all I had to do was remove the bating stitch, tear the ribbon off the paper and pick out all the little pieces on the back.  We will now be able to always know which medal came from which race.


Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Reflections on my Birthday

     Today I am writing a very different kind of blog.  I turn 60 today and I was just thinking about all that has happened in my life but especially the last 10 years.

     In this last decade I started to run longer distances doing my first half marathon and also my first full marathon.  In one year I did 5 Rock n Roll half marathons around the US and earned the title of Rockstar.  I also took up biking and have since done many duathlons including Worlds in Australia last October.

     My husband and I have traveled many places including a wonderful two week biking trip in the Netherlands where we met two other couples.  This past summer we all got together and biked the Katy trail in Missouri.  There was lots of riding, rain and laughter.

     We have added several new family members also.  My daughter got married to a wonderful guy and blessed us with two grandchildren.  Our youngest son also married a great girl and they have an adorable little guy.  Our older son is settled in a job and dating a nice girl.  We get together often for walks and family dinners.

     In about 6 weeks my husband and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.  I remember when my parents celebrated theirs and the nice gathering they had.  I am blessed that my mom will be here to celebrate our 40th with us as well as all of our children, children-in-laws (is that even a word?) and grandchildren.

     As I reflect back I also look forward and anticipate many more adventures.  Thank you to all my friends and family for the love and support they have given me over the years.

     Just one last thing that would make this all complete, Cubs winning the World Series :-)

                                                              Go Cubs Go



Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Danger Curves Ahead Blouse

Pattern used


     This is a blouse I started last year and finally finished it.  I bought the pattern and fabric from Louise Cutting at the 2015 ASG Conference.  I started it and then got busy with other things.  Finally took the time to finish it.

Front of the blouse


     I love Cutting Line Designs patterns, Louise puts so much detail into the instructions.  The patterns also fit well when you cut to the size indicated by your measurements.

Back of the blouse with the fun button detail


     The fabric is a linen blend fabric so it does wrinkle but it is also very cool and comfortable in the hot and humid summer.

Buttons taped in place, ready to sew


       I found the directions very easy to follow and things went together smoothly.  I like to sew my buttons on by machine.  I used blue painter's tape to hold them in place while sewing them on.  After sewing the buttons on the tape comes off easily, leaving no residue.

Modeling the new top


     I like how the shirttail hem allows for movement of the eye but the length covers the back end and the front flows nicely over my little bit of extra tummy in the front.  I will definitely make this blouse again.