Christmas Stockings

Hallelujah! I finished my youngest child's stocking last weekend! A four hour marathon sewing session while I watched college football was all I needed to get this baby completed. The only reason that block of time was available was due to my youngest two taking unusually long naps, and my fantastic husband keeping my 5 year old entertained. Dinner was not made this night (we ordered pizza), but that stocking is DONE!

The others I have done through the years.

And the one that started them all. My mom made this for me and let me take it with me when I started my own family. Perhaps I'll make myself a new one eventually so she can keep this one on her mantle. For now though, it's with me....and in good company with the other handmade stockings.

Quilt Class: Week 9

Circles! I know, crazy! How do you quilt circles, you ask? Magic, I tell you....MAGIC! I cannot begin to explain because, quite frankly, I'd probably just thoroughly confuse you, but let's just say it involves freezer paper, fabric glue stick, a zipper foot, and a compass (the circle drawing kind, not the one that points north). Please excuse my creased quilt square. I didn't iron it before I snapped the picture. Oh, this class is the BEST!

November Sampler

Some baking: pumpkin pie and Muddy Buddies. My 5 year old helped with both of these. He loves to bake with me, so Santa is going to slip a child size rolling pin into his stocking this year since he has a hard time using my big one.

Our Thanksgiving Turkey Countdown. Each day, we remove a feather and briefly talk about why we are grateful for the item listed. My 5 year old came up with all of the topics on the feathers on his own. It's been a good conversation starter and the younger siblings haven't tried to rip him down yet, hooray!

Fabric Dollhouse

I have been really wanting to try my hand at one of these for a while now and I'm so glad I finally got a chance make my first fabric dollhouse. I found the tutorial for it HERE and am planning on making a few of these for Christmas gifts....I won't say who just in case there is a chance of them reading this and finding out!

So, you have a cute little, soft fabric dollhouse with buttons holding one side up. Undo the buttons and.........

A little indoor/outdoor dollhouse all ready to be played in! Aren't they adorable?

I'm going to add some flowers and maybe a little walkway on the grass. And I still need a door and window on the outside of the house too.

Another way to use this is to just button up the sides (or just sew them together for an older girl who won't use it for playing with dolls) and use it as a purse. Way cute! I'm itching for a good chunk of time when my kids are asleep so I can make some more!

Quilt Class: Week 7 and 8

I missed week 7 due to illness, so this week I'm back and ready to quilt!

The lesson I missed was on hand applique and this week was iron-on applique. I really like this simple square and would love to make a bunch of these for a baby quilt in pinks and browns and greens. Maybe I can squeeze it in sometime....

This process is very similar to the baby onesie applique I've done numerous times. I zig-zag stitched around the white petals, but still need to do the purple. Simple and sweet.

Quilt Class: Week 6

Here is the lovely Ohio Star square.

And this is called the Swamp Angel. No, I don't know why it's called that, but I feel bad for this square to be so cute but to have such a unpleasant name. The concept for this week was to learn quarter-square triangles. I love learning these techniques because you don't waste any fabric when you make them...and who doesn't love that?

Quilt Class: Week 5

I'm way behind due to illness (my kids' as well as my own) and just finished last week's squares tonight. Here is the Dutchman's Puzzle. It was deceptively difficult, using large half-square triangles.

This is the Bear's Paw pattern. It's actually four "paws" put together to make the square. Each of those little squares are 2 inches, plus all of the half-square triangles in there....this one was a lot of sewing! I really like the look of it though, lots of fun pattern possibilities with this one.

I've cut out my fabric for tomorrow's class so I can sew more squares. Whew! I think I need to go to bed now.....well, after I steal a piece of Halloween candy out of the cupboard.