Creating

Two days before Peyton's baby shower, I got the idea to make a little banner for her.  I have no problem dreaming up projects and thank goodness, I got this one put together in time!

I used 3 red cotton prints that I had in my stash, cut out the letters and zigzagged them on to the banner pieces.

The banner was hung on the "gift boxes" - crates from the John Deere dealership that our son might be able to re-purpose and use in his garage!

It's amazing for me to have two projects finished in one weekend!  It's a rainy, windy day here today so I'm heading to my sewing space for more fun :)

Creating

On my list of projects for this year was the line "sewing for babies".  It's taken a while but at long last I finished a baby quilt for Peyton and gave it to her this weekend.

It's a strip rag quilt with 3 flannel patterns on the front.

I love how the seams opened up and almost look like little ruffles.

It was my first time sewing minky, that lovely thick plush fabric that is found in so many baby quilts.  It's good to be challenged and learn something new, right?!  The #1 thing I learned was to pin, pin, pin and pin some more when sewing with it.  But the end result was so worth it - a quilt back with the most wonderful feel and texture.  I just wanted to keep smoothing and stroking it!  I think the back is softer and cuddlier than the front.

Here's the dedication panel, my favourite addition to the back of every quilt that I've sewed.

I'm so happy to have made this.  I hope it will be a reminder for our granddaughter that she is loved and cherished so very much.

Gratitude Gifts Today

Going back in my journal to read what I've written each day for the last week and pondering Ann's words today, truly has re-membered me to Him again.  How can I write it and count it and then, just moments later, forget His goodness in my words and my actions?  I am yearning to live more in His image and I despair when I so easily forget.  

Lord, help me to center my heart and my thoughts on you and your grace - every minute of my day.

#4141 - #4176

- a sawhorse at the thrift shop

- winter clothes packed away

- crisp carrots sticks

- new shoes and sandals on sale

- a trip to the greenhouse

- words of wisdom in God's word

- Psalm 139:13-14  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

- the safe arrival of beautiful Peyton Mae, a daughter for our son and his wife

- cuddling a tiny baby

- all her perfect little parts - long fingers, dark hair and tiny mouth 

- watching them as parents now

- the incredible miracle of God creating a little person

- picture frames

- wise authors

- text messages

- photos sent via text messages

- no school :)

- asparagus plant

- tea with a friend 

- making meals for a freezer

- greenhouse warmth for peppers

- books for babies

- clean dishes + empty counters

- woodpecker in a tree

- rose buds growing

- childhood memories

- photos in an album

- that my parents bought so many of the yearly school photos

- taco chips and red pepper hummus

- safe travel

- long rows planted in the garden

- fabric for projects

- knowing that God has it all covered

- hearing His voice during worship

- His reminder to ABIDE in Him

- that He makes seeds to grow each springtime

Five on Friday

1.  There is a provincial election in Alberta on Monday and I'm working as a deputy returning officer for the first time.  I hope I remember to do everything I'm supposed to - in the right order!

2.  I love pre-shrinking new fabric - and then folding it all neat and smooth, ready to be cut into.  A friend at work inspired me to visit a quilt store - I am planning to sew tomorrow :)

3.  Cutting into brand new fabric and stacking up quilt pieces also makes me very happy!

4.  Big Huge Labs has this very cool map feature.  I still have a lot of the world to visit!

Crystal's Travels

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

5.  I found this sign on Pinterest - it speaks directly to me!

And with that, I'm off to bed - because I have a reading conference to attend early in the morning :)

Creating

Here's a little baby project that I sewed up last week!

Kelsey had been given a nursing pillow but it didn't have a cover.  So, with a little trial and error, this is what she now has to use when the baby comes.

I will make a few more for her in other fabrics - this was really just a trial run!

Creating

 Randi at I have to say, is hosting monthly sew-along projects throughout 2012.  In February, she shared an easy tutorial for making an ironing board cover.  I haven't had a new one for years and years - mine was a sad, threadbare, stained mess - so I decided to use some of my favourite fabric and sew a new one.

It was really easy to make and I love how it turned out.

This should make ironing a happy chore, right?!  Actually I don't mind it at all and having a new cover makes me very happy.  I can see myself making a few more of these for family and friends.

Creating

Making pyjamas for our grandchildren has become a sewing task that I quite enjoy.  This little green flannel nightgown was easy to sew and fits Helayna perfectly.  

She's grown nearly two inches in the last month though so it doesn't quite touch the floor, as she had requested.   She helped me sew buttons on, just as she had sketched them out to show me the details :)  Time to start another one for the next granddaughter!

Creating

Valentine's Day could not go by without a few special pillowcases.  I just keep loving these little things that I make to share :)

Of course I forgot to take pictures of the other sets - I was in such a hurry to give them away!

Creating

When I was in Fredericton this summer, Melinda had an idea to make a patchwork tablecloth so we collected the fabrics and cut the squares.  Then I went home and the patches sat - and sat - and sat.  When she came to visit in October, she brought everything along, thinking that we might get some sewing done while she was here.  That didn't happen either so she left everything with me.  With her birthday coming in February I knew that I wanted to get the tablecloth sewn so that she could finally use it.

The top which would have been too small so we added the striped borders.

I love the bright colors and the way they that complement the patterns.

The back is lined with this brown and there was just enough stripe left to make 4 matching napkins.  

I think the tablecloth has taken up residence on her table now :)  I had to wait until the box arrived in New Brunswick before I posted my photos or it wouldn't have been a surprise!  This was a really fun project and good practice sewing even seams for me.

Five on Friday

1.  Soaking your feet in hot water that has Avon's Footsoak with Mint and Rosemary dissolved in it is an awesome way to spend an hour! 

2.  I finished day #2 of subbing at a high school today.  I know lots of the kids at this school which helps but it was still quite the day!

3.  Ann posted a link to Valentine Confetti at Nest of Possibilities today - it looks delicious!  I am doing this for sure!!

(photo from Nest of Possibilites)

4.  Maëlle gave me a beautiful kiss today - her mouth wide open on my cheek!  She is growing up and learning to do so many things, like crawling, right now.

5.  I stopped at the quilt shop in Winfield today and found some beautiful Valentine fabric!  She has expanded her inventory and now has a whole wall of fabrics in the longarm room.  She even had the pink and brown colorway of Swiss Chocolate by Amanda Murphy - which I resisted, but just barely!

Five on Friday - Linked

1.  1.  Randi over at i have to say is hosting a sew-along starting on February 14th.  She's going to make a new ironing board cover - which I desperately need - so I'm going to join in.  How about you - would you like to do a quick makeover for your laundry room?   Come and join us!  

P.S  Randi is also the owner of a lovely online fabric shop, Fresh Squeezed Fabrics.

2.  Meadow had the idea of sewing a dress and wanted some help this week.  So - with a little help from the fabric manufacturers (who so very nicely pre-smocked some pink material) we were able to sew a sun-dress in an hour yesterday - fastest dress ever!  I forgot to take my camera along so we don't have a picture but I found this photo online at Bug Fabric which shows the Minnie Mouse option.  The one we used had Disney princesses on it.  It sure was easy and turned out great!

3.  I took 4 memory cards in to Costco the other day - and came home with 500+ pictures!  They ranged from Thanksgiving right through to last week.  Definitely an overdue project.  Did you know that Costco is having a special sale early in February and 4 X 6 photos will be $0.06 each?  A very good time to print photos!

4.  "Now, as always, the most automated appliance in a household is the mother."  Beverly Jones in "Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Food and Love"

5.  Our Health Advisory Council is doing a pilot project using an online forum to gather information next week.  This is a first attempt and we are really excited to see what the 50 invited participants will share with us.  We are trying to chart a path into the social media realm!

Creating

Last year I sewed two Christmas banners - and gave them both away!  So it was time to make one for our house this year.

I used 15 different patterns and had to cut one piece upside down to make it work!  The other side has the trees right side up.  

My projects to share with many friends and family members this year were sets of pillowcases.  I think I sewed 16 sets - and still have fabric for a few more.  Some of them were sewed under pressure - and given away before I could snap a photo!  These few pictures give you a peek of what they looked like. 

I really loved making - and sharing them!

Creating

For Helaya's birthday, I made her a little fairy nightgown.

It was perfect since she celebrated with a fairy theme this year!  

It's so much fun sewing for the little ones in my life :)

Creating

This week I'm packing up shoeboxes to send to Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan's Purse.  I started out thinking I would do two but once I got going,  I had enough items to actually pack four - which made me even happier!  Earlier this fall, I was inspired by Melissa, at One Crafty Mumma, who sewed something cute for her nephew and by Josie, at Mr. Monkeysuit, who made something special and put it in a shoebox last year.   So I made up my mind that I was going to create something to put in my boxes this year.

This is a fabric cars caddy, all closed and packed -

and here's what the inside looks like!  There are six little pockets to hold the vehicles along the bottom and then a little road / playmat along the top.  It was really easy to create - the tutorial is so easy to follow.  I love how it turned out and I hope some little boy will be thrilled with it too!

And this is what I put in the girl's box:

There's a zippered pouch and a traveling art show caddy.

The art roll unfolds to this -

and the pouch opens up like this.  

I stuffed it with sewing supplies including some fabric, needles, buttons, embroidery thread and scissors. Perhaps it will make an older girl / teen smile too!  I think more of these projects just might be in my future :)

Creating

Or at least I'm planning to very soon with this lovely bundle of free fabric that I won over at The Green Bag Lady!  Teresa's vision is to rid the world of plastic bags so she and her crew are sewing and giving away fabric shopping bags.  I've had one for more than a year now.

There are 4 pieces of organic cotton knit fabric from Harmony Art.  The two prints are fat quarters and the solids are a full metre each.  The colors are my favourites!  And the little piece of white with text looks like a word search with words like Mom, Dad, family, and love in orange and the other letters in green.  It's very cool!  The blogging world is filled with generous people who are so willing to share.

Five on Friday

1.  The weather this week has been so gorgeous that I just had to pump up the tires on my bike and go for a ride along the lake yesterday.  When I drove home, this is what it looked like going up our road.  The leaves have really changed color now and the sun was at that perfect point in the western sky to give a beautiful warm hue to everything.

2.  After breaking my glasses nearly three weeks ago, I finally have new ones to wear!

3.  Today was the day to make beet relish - it's going to be so good on the deep, dark days of winter.

4.  If you are looking for home decor projects that you can sew, the Sew4Home site is amazing!

(photo from Sew4Home)

5.  Do you have some apples that need to be taken care of?  Then you should try this Apple Pie Filling In A Jar.  Naomi gave me some two years ago and it is absolutely delicious!  It's still on my to-do list for this year.

(photo from Skip to My Lou.org)

Creating

Sometime ago I showed a sneak peek of a sewing project and now that I've given it to our daughter-in-law, I can show you the whole thing!

I sewed this apron using 3 different patterns from the "Party In Pink" fabric line by Fresh Designs for Henry Glass.

I used an old apron as a pattern and just designed the ruffles and finishing details as I went along.

I really am happy with how it turned out - and I think K liked it too!