My little Ladybug

I made this dress last month.  I loved the fabric.  The dress came together so easily, too.

Corinne has worn it about 4 times already.  It’s also big enough that she can wear it next year.

I added little ladybug buttons as the finishing touch.

Follow the Pink, Green, Blue and Brown Brick Road

I’ve been sewing again.  I’ve not been posting, but trust me, I have been sticking to my goals of sewing this year.  I am sewing for my house and family.  It’s been great!

I started this quilt this week, thanks to the snow that pounded us this past week.  The pattern is Amy Butler’s Brick Path Quilt.  I’ve had this on my “to do” list for quite a while.

Wednesday I cut out all the bricks and this morning I finished the strips.  I may get to pressing the seams later today.  My goal is this week to get all the strips sewn together.

I really like the way the colors have come together.  I am still rather new to the quilting thing..and the hardest part really seems to be picking out the fabrics and choosing a design!

Like my flannel design “wall”?  I am going to do something more formal, but don’t have the resources this weekend.  So, I used my son’s flannel bed sheet.  It’s working so far! 

Happy Valentine’s Day

 

To you and yours, happy Valentine’s Day!

Year in Review

Well, I am going to do it. I am going to rate how I did last year on my personal crafting resolutions. Why? Maybe it will help me stay on target for 2010.

My day is mainly full of all the things we NEED to do or things others NEED me to do (and sometimes I WANT to do those, but they are not for personal me time). Go to work, laundry, get everyone ready for the day, get everyone ready for bed, play with kids, help with homework, read with kids, teach kids lessons, make lunches, clean, etc. A lot goes into having a family and attempting to be a great mom. But we all know it, there are times when you need "you" time, and as I said...there are times when I just need it. Creativity is an outlet. Running, shopping, sewing seem to be my "me times" - the times when I feel I am doing something for myself.

How does that relate to new year's resolutions? Sort of like this: keeping a balance between my time with/for others, and the time needed for personal, individual goals for ME: making things, staying fit, making a comfortable home space.

My 2009 resoltuions:

1. I want to finish up a few unfinished projects.


These include putting some printed photographs in real albums - the last of the printed photos I plan to have...digital pictures are so much easier to keep organized!


I have two pieces of furniture waiting for me to finish them. One is a rocking chair I gave to my son for his 1 year birthday. They love it unfinished, but the whole plan was to finish it and put it in his big boy room. I am not behind on this (yet).


The other piece of furniture is a bench given to me by my sister. Last summer I took off all the stain. I just need to give it one more nice sanding and paint it.

I did NONE of those! This will remain on my 2010 list.


2. I want to finish decorating my dining room and bedroom.

I did NONE of those! This will remain on my 2010 list.

3. I want to attempt sewing clothing again.

See my comment on #4.

4. I want to make Corinne a few summer dresses. I made two last year. I can do better, they are so easy!

I did make 1 dress for Corinne. I did not blog about it because I needed to move a strap on the dress and I didn't get to it. I made 1 shirred dress for Corinne out of pre-shirred fabric. It came out OK, but I am not convinced I like the way the pre-shirred fabrics work in dresses. Maybe next time I will try to cut off the shirred part as a top and add a skirt so the dress will be more full.


5. I want to make myself a quilt. I've got the pattern. I need to do a few items above before I give myself the pleasure of a quilt for myself.

Still have not done. Still have the pattern. Lots MORE ideas this year, too. This will remain on the 2010 list.

OK, so I didn't do so well on my list. I kept up with my quilting bee, and I got a lot of blocks back on that (to add to fulfilling #5 above), I started a roman shade for Nathan's room...(add that to #1). I made a few gifts...oh well.

I had a fun year remaining balanced in other ways. I played with my kids a LOT, I continue to teach them lessons, keep them learning right from wrong, and show them love every day.

I'll just see what this year brings. My goals will still be there. They are things to aspire to, things to do on a rainy day, or a big day of needed "me" time.

Another gift…

This is another gift that was made a few months ago.

A pair of flour sacks with decorative trim.  AND, a mini-punching bag.  For a co-worker who worked her tail off with me.  She just wanted a punching bag at times.

Knitting Needle rollup - again

I made another Knitting needle roll-up.  It was a birthday gift for my Mother In Law.  She had requested it months ago and was quite surprised when she opened this up. 

I am really happy with how it turned out.   I used this tutorial from Lupinbunny.

Fully opened up.

It flips over at the top to keep all the needles in.

It was a well-received gift.

Merry Christmas!

No handmade holiday for me this year.  Just finishing up on my PTQB blocks.  ALL CAUGHT UP!  This theme was “Trees”.  I was inspired by a Christmas card at my Mother In Law’s  house. 

A log-cabin-ish block for Rebeka from Artsy-Crafty Babe.  Hope she likes it.