Pillow Covers and more Linens...

I meant to show these yesterday when I shared photos of my boys on Christmas Day.  These are the gifts I made and gave to them.

red and purple pillow cover for Rachel

au.then.tic pillow cover for Paul (to match a quilt that is a long time in coming)

black and white linen napkins for Matthew and Tiffany

The grandkids got money from me...they all want to buy their own things and that is fine with me.  By giving them money - or gift cards - I know they'll get something they really want.  

Today is Saturday, but it sure feels like a Sunday to me.  Next week, the days will be all screwed up for me, too.  I won't know from one day to the next what day of the week it is.  That is one problem with being retired...but I'll deal with it.  ~grin~  But, this time is going to be put to good use.  As I said in yesterday's post, I need to clean up and put my sewing space and fabrics into order.  It could be worse than it is, but it's bad enough.

Have a great weekend!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Christmas Day and Linens...

Have I mentioned that I love linen?  Yes, I believe I have...here and here and here...and a few more places, but I don't want to bore you.  ~grin~ 

I gifted my friend, Kim, with a few linen items.  She's my guinea pig...trying things out for me to see how they work out.  For her, I made a washcloth and hand towel for the bathroom, two bread bags (one for normal bakery bread and the other for longer loaves such as baquettes or french bread) and I decided to give her the chocolate linen napkins I talked about in a previous post.

natural linen bread bag

transparent yellow linen washcloth and hand towel

loop on hand towel for hanging

chocolate linen napkins I decided to give to Kim and not keep for myself

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I had a wonderful Christmas Day with my boys and their families.

Matthew Glenn

Matthew's fiance, Tiffany, and her daughter, Sam

Grandson Conlan

Paul Gary and wife, Rachel

Devin was sick and Kaylynn was unable to be there...otherwise, it was a perfect day.

Tag opens his own gifts, you know.  Here is a small part of his video...

I need to take a few days to clean up my mess and get organized in my sewing area.  Not looking forward to it, but a clean workspace is good.

Have a great weekend!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

The Greatest Story Ever Told...

While they were there,

the time came for the baby to be born,
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

She wrapped him in cloths

and placed him in a manger,

because there was no room

for them in the inn.

Luke 2: 6-7

Finishing Up...

I am finished with my Christmas and birthday gift sewing...woohoo!!!  I have one more thing to make that will not get done on time to give for Christmas, but what a good feeling to have all the rest of the gifts done.   

There are a few things that I am unable to show because the soon-to-be recipients are on Facebook and read my blog, but here are a few that I am able to show you. 

Love making these...so easy and fun!

A few more cloth napkins.

Chocolate brown linen napkins...I may keep these for myself!

I also made these to put in my Etsy shop...

Soft brown corduroy pants for an 18" Waldorf-inspired doll.

While reading blogs yesterday afternoon, I ran across this tutorial by Kelly of KelbySews...and decided to make a few.  Yeah, just for the heck of it.  

4x4x8 inches

4x3x7 inches

super cute & super easy

see the bright pink zipper & lining?

I think I will quit now.  Because I can.  (But, don't be surprised if I make one more smaller boxy bag today.  ~grin~)

I will be spending Christmas Day with my boys and their families.  I hope that you all have a lovely holiday with those you love.  

Merry Christmas!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

She Loves Her Some Purple!

This week went by really fast and I didn't get too much accomplished.  Two things that I started were non-finishes, as they were not turning out as I wanted.  That is always a disappointment for me.  ~sigh~

But, I did get a 24" pillow cover done for sister Joyce.  I wrote a post a bit ago talking about how we chose the fabrics via FaceTime...Joyce in Maryland with me here in Wisconsin.  Click here to see that post.

It's bright, so put your sunglasses on!  

front

back

I finished the backing with a zipper closure...it's there hiding under the little flap where the purple butterflies join the lime green.  Very easy to do that type of closure...will do it more often.

I had a little bit of leftover fabric, so made some Kleenex cozies for Joyce.  I am sure there are some in Maryland who do not yet have one.  ~grin~

The package arrived at Joyce's house today...she is very pleased with her new pillow cover and excited to have more Kleenex cozies, too!  

I have been trying to develop something new, but am having a bit of difficulty with it right now.  I really want it to work out, so I'll keep working at it.  In the meantime, there are more projects waiting to be completed.

edited to add:  photo of cover on pillow insert...

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For those of you in need of a Tag fix...

Tag and I spent a lovely morning in bed one day this week.  For no particular reason.  Tag snoozed while I read.  (oh look!  Four quilts on the bed.)   

Have a great Sunday!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Going to the Library?

When I have books to return to the library, I usually just grab them and throw them in the car.  Once in awhile, if I have several books, I will put them in a used plastic bag (the grocery store type of plastic bag)...pretty fancy, hey?  When I return books to the library, I usually have a few waiting to be picked up.   

After I made the library book bag for my sister (see it here), I have been thinking how nice it would be to have one for myself.  Ya know?  So, I took a few hours out of my day yesterday and made one!  Course, I didn't have enough of the same fabric I used for the first one (darn! but it's okay, cuz that makes Joyce's all the more special), so I hunted around in my stash and came up with these two prints by Judie  Rothermel.  And, I used Kona Cotton Solid in Amber for the lining and Coal for the bottom piece.  The bag measures 10.5 x 10.5 x 3 inches.

 

 

and yes, a pocket for the library card.

That is all I have to show you today...and laundry is waiting.

Have a great Monday!!


 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Lazy Day???

I am taking a day off.  Well, not really taking a day off.  Not by choice, anyway.  I haven't gotten started on anything.  Yet.  And, it is almost noon!  But, you know, it seems everything that I pick up to work on needs one additional part.  So, you say, drive to Hobby Lobby!  Well, yeah, except that I cannot get into my car.  

ohyeah.  Cuz I wanted another car repair!  My car door will not open - not from the inside, either.  In fact, I was in the car when the door would not open.  Crawling over the center console and getting out the passenger door was not only not pretty, but it definitely was not good for my knees.  Once was enough!  I will not be getting in again unless it's through the door.   

It is not frozen.  I think the latch is stuck.  Not sure when it will get fixed, but it should be within the next few days.  Hopefully, it will be an easy fix.  In the meantime, I am unable to go over to spend time with Curly Sue...and there are no quick trips to Hobby Lobby!  

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I have one thing - and only one - that I am able to show you today.  

Last year I made a gazillion cloth napkins to give as Christmas gifts.  This year, I have already made most of the Christmas gifts.  For the few people left to make for, I want to give linen napkins.  Before ordering the linen, I thought it best to see how I would make the napkins.  You know, to be sure that it would all work out the way I wanted.  I decided that I would like to have wide hems, instead of the small hems I made on the cotton napkins.  Here is the sample one I made... 

It has a 1.5" hem with mitered corners and measures 15.5 inches square.  This sample is a pale yellow. 

I am pleased with it!  It was putzy, but simple.  Putzy because of the measuring and pinning and pressing.  But, like I said, simple to do.  So, it looks like I'll be making a few more of these.

Hopefully, I will soon have some sewing done that I am able to show you.  

Have a great week!





"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Time of Year...

It's that time of year!  You know, the time of year when you have far more on your 'to do' list than any one person could possibly imagine getting done!  

As usual, my list is too long.  Commitments to honor.  Christmas and birthday gifts to make and send.  I am plugging away at it and have actually been able to cross a few things off.  woohoo!!  I won't be able to show photos of all that I am working on, but I will try to remember to show those photos once things settle down at the end of the year.  

This is what I've accomplished recently...

Two outfits for Emma to model for my Etsy shop...

this has been done for awhile, but I had some finishing touches to make.

snails and text...what's not to love about this outfit?

  Pillowcases...

love the dots the best but they both make me smile!

these three were made 'envelope closure' style, so no pillow shows!

 Kleenex cozies...

always need to have some of these to work on

piano lining and choir fabric

see?  choir!  makes me want to sing!

 Doll quilt...

so not in love with this...not sure what to do with it now

Plans for sewing with corduroy and linen coming up this next week.  Hope things turn out as I envision!

What are you working on?

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Here's my sweet boy...oh, how I love him!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Hello...My Name is Fiona!

The time has come...
I have finished with Fiona.


She is listed in 
Cathy's Etsy shop, here.
I can't wait to see who will fall in love
with her and give her a home.

For Fiona, I made
a play outfit,

a sweater with matching booties,

and a dress with pantaloons.

Here are some photos...

 I absolutely love her!
That orangey-colored hair,
her big brown eyes...
adorable!

And, she was a joy to dress.

I am so looking forward to the next 'dressing'.

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Oh!  And, here are two doll coats

I just listed in my Etsy shop...

 Both coats modeled by Emma, of course.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11