From our home to yours....

Gift and What's up next....

A friend wants to give a diaper bag to her daughter for Christmas.

This is what I made for her.

It has lots of pockets, both inside and out.

Hope she likes it! 

My next project....

repurposing this skit. 

Any guesses what it will be?

Check back soon!

Carolyn

Coaster Project with link to tutorial

I finally finished a Christmas present!

A fun easy coaster project, 

using this tutorial by Jenny B. Harris of Allsorts Makery.com 

I made the following modifications.

The directions call for 4.5 inch squares, I used 5 inch.  

And instead of fusible web, I used iron on interfacing.

I also top stitched around the outside edge.

These match the kitchen accessories I made earlier this year.

Have you been working on Christmas projects?

Happy 1st weekend of December!

Carolyn

Shirt to Skirt in less than 2 hours

Finished product.......a lovely skirt!

A brief overview.........

We started with a heavyweight, 100% cotton, wrinkle resistant,

 L.L.Bean XL tall men's shirt, 

purchased at a local thrift store for $2.

Cut the shirt below the chest pocket.

Took in the side seams, added front and back darts

and a waist band, made from sleeve fabric.

What a fun, quick project, and best of all, Andrea loves it !

Not bad for $2 and 2 hours.

Have a great weekend!

Carolyn

P.S.  Thanks AmandaJean @ Crazy Mom Quilts for the Finish it Up Friday Challenge!

New Snack for Fall

One of the girls I work with brought this snack for us yesterday.  It was delicious!  I made it today, so easy!!!  This will be a new favorite for this time of year.

Chex - Pumpkin Pie Crunch from Taste of Home

I changed the recipe slightly.  Because I wanted to make a double batch (most will go in the freezer) I didn't have a large enough microwaveable bowl.  So, I used my super big stainless steel bowl and baked it in the oven, 250° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.  This is the way I make the Original Chex Mix recipe, it's from those pre-microwave days :)

Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Carolyn

Russ, look what we saw in the backyard.....

Not a big deal, but this is the first pheasant we've seen in PA since we moved here 6 plus years ago.

He was a little camera shy, but I got a pretty good picture of him and then he ran into the weeds and eventually flew to the other side of our little creek.

The neighbors dog was curious too.

Have a wonderful week....it's beautiful here in central PA.

Carolyn

"Finish it up Friday" Diaper Bag Completed

I completed this diaper bag last evening, just in time for Finish it up Friday.

Thanks Amanda Jean for the challenge of completing projects!!!

The diaper bag features pleated pockets across the front.  

This style pocket was a new challenge for me, I'll be using them more often!

Inside there are 2 slip pockets on one side and....

a large pocket which is more like a divider on the other side.

I used a simple button and loop closure.

I hope the mother-to-be finds this bag useful.

Have a wonderful weekend!  

We're supposed to get 4-10 inches of snow....not ready for that yet!

Carolyn

"Finish it up Friday" Sneak Peak

Thanks to the inspiration of Amanda Jean for posting "Finish it up Friday" links on her blog, I'm hoping to have this project finished by tomorrow.

Now I need to get off the computer and move to the sewing machine...teehee!

Check back tomorrow for the finished project!  

Any guesses what it is?

Carolyn

Vintage Sheet Comforter

Recently I completed this comforter for our daughter, Andrea.  She wanted a warm, fluffy bed covering for winter not a quilt.  I cut 6 vintage sheets, purchased at local thrift stores, into 6" squares and assembled them in a Trip Around The World pattern.

The design doesn't make a big impact but it's the blend from one fabric to another that I appreciate the most.  It's like a field of wildflowers :)  This will brighten up those winter blues!  I also used 2 vintage sheets for the back of the comforter.

The difference between a quilt and a comforter is the way it's constructed.  Both have a front panel, a back panel and something sandwiched in the middle (batting, flannel, wadding, a blanket, etc.). The layers of a quilt are stitched together by hand or machine with thread.  A comforter is tied or knotted together with yarn or crochet thread and usually has a thicker batting.  I had a challenge with trying to knot this comforter.  I'm not sure if it was the extra thick batting I used, or the yarn, or the needle, or just me, but I could not get the threaded needle to go through all the layers.  So I found another way....

I sewed small x's at the intersections of the blocks where I was going to tie the knots.  It serves the same purpose just no fuzzy threads.

From this picture you can get an idea how thick this comforter is....it is so cushy and comfy.  And by using the vintage sheets, it already feels soft and well loved.

Just had to hang the new comforter on the clothes line for a few pictures too.  Now if there was just snow on the ground this picture would be perfect, but I'm not wishing for the white stuff yet!

Well, that's one more thing crossed off my to-do list....seems like every time I cross something off I add 2 more items....at least I'll never be bored.....teehee.  I still have lots of partial and some full vintage sheets  leftover, anyone interested in trying a new project just let me know!

Have a great weekend!
Carolyn

The Vintage Sheet project is completed but.....

...I can't show you the finished product until Friday, after it has been given away.

This is what is leftover after using parts of 8 vintage sheets.  Either I need to get busy with more vintage sheet projects or find a friend that can use them.  Any takers?

Carolyn

Birthday and Retreat Goodies

Recently I found an interesting piece of fabric at a local thrift store. 2 yards at $2/yard, not a steal, eBay has it for $3 a yard but I didn't have to pay shipping.   After on-line research, I found that this sturdy camo fabric is used by hunters to make blinds in the woods and for hunting clothes.

Of couse I had to make a bag, a Super Sized Tote to be exact, and I thought it was the perfect birthday present for my mountain loving sister.

I added a feminine touch with the addition of a purple (her favorite color) monogram.

A buckle was used as a weight for the tab/flap closure.  The inside features a large divider and 2 slip pockets.

As a thank-you gift, I made this across the body bag for my Aunt who hosted my sister and me for a quilting/sewing retreat this month.  I made her a bag this style in the past, so I thought she may need a new one.  The stripes go different directions on each side....nothing fancy, just a simple design element.  She loved the bag!

And lastly as a little gift for the retreat crew, I made these little fobs featuring thrift store thimbles, beads from my stash and scissor charms purchased at JoAnn Fabrics.  I use the turquoise one as a zipper pull on my new purse.  They could also be attached to a key ring or strap ring on a bag.

We had a great retreat....unfortunately one of my sisters got the flu so didn't make it, but we are hoping to get together again to sew!!!  We did a lot of sewing and chatting, a perfect way to reconnect with the skills passed down through generations....Thank You Grandma H. and Mother - we love and miss you both!  And Thank You Aunt Louise and Carlene for helping to start a new tradition :)

Love and Hugs, 

Carolyn 

p.s.  Janice loved the "birthday" bag, I finally got to give it to her yesterday.

Free Motion Quilting

Over the past few years, I have enjoyed the challenge of Free Motion Quilting (FMQ). The internet has been my main source of instruction and inspiration. FMQ takes lots of practice, but I think of it as doodling with fabric, machine and thread, instead of paper and pen.  It's just plain fun to me!!!

These pictures are a few samples of my FMQ work.

Now, thanks to a Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts, for posting a link to a great resource for free motion quilting, Christina at A Few Scraps.  I'm excited to try some of Christina's designs....if you too are interested in Free Motion Quilting, check out these great blogs.

Happy stitching!!!

Carolyn

Vintage Sheet Collection becomes ?????

Over the past few months,

I have been collecting vintage sheets from local thrift stores.

I finally have enough to start a new project.

Here's a sneak peak....

I'm hoping to finish the project and show pictures soon!

Hope you had a great weekend and are enjoying beautiful autumn weather!
Carolyn

Refinished / repurposed furniture project

Today, Greg and I just completed refinishing this pine corner cupboard. 

It sits next to our tv and will hold dvd's, etc.  I'm tired of messy, open shelves.

The cabinet was a purchased at a local Amish used furniture store.

The owner goes to auctions and buy furniture, etc. to resell.

I tried to get an aged look. 

After a light sanding (Greg's part), I painted the cabinet antique white.

Then I added black paint to a glaze base,

brushed it on and wiped it off until I got the affect I wanted.

....we really like the finished project!

We spray painted the brass colored hardware in hammered dark gray.

Greg also did all the tearing apart and reassembling.

I forgot to take a before picture, this is the side of the drawer,

the only part of the cabinet I didn't paint. 

So you can get an idea of the original cabinet color.

I do like this look but I wouldn't want all my furniture like this. 

Besides it's a lot of work, now back to sewing projects :)

So what you do think?

Thanks for stopping by....

Carolyn

Aqua anyone?

I found this awesome aqua textured fabric for a new bag.

Trust me the color is better in person :)

I also found more of this rich dark brown fabric, I used it once before.

The pictures don't show it, but the brown fabric has a leather look,

although it's soft and easy to work with.

After lots of trials and errors, ripping and redoing,

I learned a lot and I love the result. 

This bag features an outside pocket and a zip closure.

It's fully lined, with pockets inside too.

I used heavy interfacing to help the bag keep it's shape.

Time will tell if it keeps that shape.

Thankfully,

I have enough fabric to make another bag,

if this one doesn't work for me. 

Now it's time to get ready for a special sewing/quilting retreat with my sisters and Aunt.
I'm so excited!!!
Carolyn

New style bag and a special blessing

I finally finished a new style bag. The bag has a zipper closure and pockets both inside and out.  (It reminds me of a flat bottom taco....teehee.)  This bag is fairly big, but I think a small version would be cute too - may have to work on that some day....but not soon, my "to do" list is huge.

See all that wood in the background, we have been blessed with 4 pick-up truck loads of cut, split and stacked firewood. Thanks to a special couple from our church, we will be toasty this winter!

Enjoying a beautiful day today since Irene passed by. We had 1.2 inches of rain and lots of wind but no damage.....thinking of all those who were not as fortunate.

Hugs, Carolyn

Quick Laptop Sleeve

Andrea's headed to college this week.  Her computer has a new padded home.   It's a simple envelope style project, prequilted fabric on the inside for padding and cotton fabric on the outside.  Andrea selected the mod batik fabric.  We both love the finished project!

Thanks for stopping by........and come visit our empty nest :)

Carolyn

Texas bound.....

I shipped this diaper bag to a special mommy-to-be in Texas.   As a teenager, she spent many summers providing child care for our daughters.  She will always hold a special spot in our hearts.  We pray she and her husband and have a safe delivery and healthy baby girl. 

The bag features, pockets inside and outside and a magnetic snap closure.



Thanks for stopping by my little blog!

Carolyn