My first completed embroidery projects

Let's just say, I really, REALLY,  need me some bifocals!! My neck is not thrilled with the way I hold my head when I am trying to see what I am doing. LOL

I picked and easy peasy transfer as my first, then I went totally insane...I have no idea what I was thinking when I planned the second one. LOL

Since I am road trippin' and staying and eating and sewing with friends, I needed a hostess giftee or two. They HAD to be handmade by me. Okay, they didn't  have to, but I did it anyway.
I made some homemade jam this week, so I am wrapping the jam in some red-worked tea towels.
Not too bad for my first  two projects......I hope they think so too!!

My friend Amy loves dachshunds.

My friend Karen loves Minions. LOL

The weenie dog was pretty easy...it still took me forever, but I think it looks really good.

Ahhhh, the minion. I was actually looking for a good chicken outline. Finding nothing, I wondered what the heck I was going to do.....then it hit me....Karen loves the Movie Despicable Me.  I printed up a color book page, I tried to trace the image....I ended up free handing most of the details because of visibility issues.
It's quite clear that I don't know how to be a dainty sewista. LOL 
The emblem in the middle is a little muddled. 
Oh well, might as well jump in, head first, screamin' your head off, right?!

I am still pretty proud of myself!! New skills rock!!! Now give me that Dress Me Up! quilt pattern and let me at it!!!!

L A or bust!!

My friend Denise and I are going down to lala land to the big giant quilt show in Long Beach.
This trip will be full of firsts!!
Our first road trip together!!
Meeting some blogger buddies that have felt like friends for-ev-er!
Our first trip to The Long Beach International Quilt Show.
Hangin in the OC (maybe we'll see the real housewives, eh?)
Going to M and L fabrics!!! Can you say: goodbye money?
Look out Karen, Amy and SoCal........here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
just sayin......

Plum Jam

What a day!!! I soooooo need to shower and peel off a few layers of sweat! LOL

It was jam making day!!

Please follow basic canning instructions from the Ball jar site, okay!! I don't want anyone getting sick. 

Bacteria is bad....just sayin.

My recipe as follows:

4 pounds of pitted plums...you can mix and match all the different kinds..washed and coarsely chopped

1 large apple (granny smith if you can find it) - grated

4 cups of sugar

big pinch of salt

a big squirt of lemon or lime juice

1/4 cup of water

Prep all you canning supplies:

My utensils all clean and dry

Pots at the ready, water a simmerin'

lids keeping warm

clean and sterilized jars keeping a toasty 180ºf  in the oven

I don't have enough room to keep them in a pot of hot water on the cook top

Plums washed
My tree is soooooooo full of little bitty plums!

el yummo!!!

chopping time

Put all your ingredients in a heavy duty pot. Bring to a hard boil as quickly as possible. Stir a lot to keep the fruit from sticking to the bottom. As you see pink foam develop, skim it off and toss it.

Boil on a pretty high heat until it reaches about 220ºf or 30-35 minutes

Ladle  into jars and process according to the canning site (about 10 minutes at a full boil)

Let cool. 

Label and store. 

Any with lids that didn't seal,  put in the fridge and eat. 

You can even share with a neighbor!!

Yes, some are upside down. I learned that somewhere........does it help?  I don't know, it's just an odd little habit. Trust me, after they boil for awhile, you don't mess with em too much and you just set them down however. LOL

***update***

I had one jar that wasn't full enough to process and I ate a little bit this morning on toast...... yyyuuummmmmmmm

Gelled nicely

Pardon me while I chew......

Friday Night Sew In

Once again, big plans, but a houseful of people and and accessories that wouldn't co-operate, I only got one item finished. The other will just take a half an hour this morning...will post a follow-up when it's done!!
My partner in the Aloha Apron Swap will soooooooooo know this is for her!

I call it: wHooooo's your Tiki?

one side

the other side with the fabrics reversed. 

Let's play catch-up

First off, thanks for all those that played in my giveaway!
I will be going to the post office tomorrow.....I have a few things to mail and I want to go all on one day.

Second, it's been 71 hours and no Maureen (13) so I will be doing a new post or a redrawing for the Subversive Seamstress book. Sorry Maureen......I even waited an extra day!


Tonight is the FNSI...Friday Night Sew In (there's a link in my sidebar...I think)
I will be finishing up a apron for a swap and some little sewn goodies to go with it!
Also, my mil wants a few more tissue holders for her peeps and I have some fabric prepped for that.

I am in a mug rug swap so if I get finished with my aprons and stuff, I will be designing that as well.

I just need to make a to-sew list and stick to the schedule! LOL  I am a great planner and a slow doer. ;-)

Just because this is pictureless, let's feature a blast from the past.....
My kids circa a few years back, in the Christmas Parade! I'm guessing about 2007

 My boy is now almost a brown belt now! He's the one in the back center of the frame.

the Dot (green stripes) in the Nightmare Before Christmas

(yes, I did all the dang dresses and there is one jack in there too!!)

Just a reminder that Christmas crafting time is upon us...sooooo if you want it done by Christmas, better get your booty movin!

PROJECT RUNWAY...NEXT WEEK EEEEEEEEEEEEE

20 Designers get whittled down to15 by the end of the first episode! Such drama.

Is it too much drama? I would do these kinds of shows differently. How? No one goes home the first show. 

I want to get to know the contestants; discover my favorites; bond even. I want to get a feel for how the people are going to be before Heidi tells them they are 'auf' and gives them the kiss-kiss of death.

I am slowly going through all the mini videos of this new batch of contestants. So far, I am liking the white haired one (maybe because she looks a lot like moi...I don't know) And there is one guy with a name that HAS to be fake.........seriously.....Gunnar Deathrage....he is about the most unscary person in the entire cast.

Well, back to watching their casting videos and wondering what they will be like when the pressure starts to get to them......

EEEEeeeeeeeeee I can hardly stand it!!

Read more here!

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/19415/project-runway-announces-season-9-designers?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=20110719-blouse-hem&utm_campaign=threads 

**ONE WHOLE YEAR ALREADY**

To meeeeeeeeeeeee!

Watch for another giveaway when I hit 100 followers!

It'll be epic......at least to me!! 

oooo looooooookkkkkk

I learned to center my post title today!!!

Happy blogoversary indeed!!

 

And the winners are:

 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

13
11

Timestamp: 2011-07-19 16:24:23 UTC

Well, I am number 11, so I have to go again. lol


Here are your random numbers:

7

Timestamp: 2011-07-19 16:25:49 UTC

congrats number 13and number 7!!!

Katmom and Maureen!!

In order: drawing number one for the Sweetwater Label crew kit is Katmom
Number two, the book, Maureen

Congrats ladies! As soon as I get mailing info, your packages will be on their way.
Remember, you have 48 hours to reply here or to me via email!!

If you didn't leave contact info, this blog is my only way to get in touch...just sayin

Skill building update

 The chart that I should've had with me went I went to a drop-in embroidery class at Thimble Creek quilt shop in Concord, CA

What it is supposed to look like when I get done. If I ever get done. LOL

What I managed to learn:

chain stitch

outline stitch

lazy daisy

I also learned that since I didn't have a pic or a diagram I did the wrong feather stitch...lol and those dots aren't a butt-load of french knots. hahaha

Anybody out there know where I can get a really good sampler???? This one isn't bad, but I've seen some of the ones that girls did in school in the 30's and 40's....just fab-u-lous! And disgusting because 10 year old girls stitch better than I do. LOL

Tomorrow is when I do my drawing and celebrate 1 year in the blogosphere!!

ps.....this sampler is from the Sublime Stitching Book. :-)

Manic Monday - skill building

Manic...why? cuz I will be a busy little bee.
Skill building....cuz I will be taking an embroidery class!!!!

My Monday in pictures:

Dropping this one off at 7:30 to go to camp.  A lot of youth and a lot of good christian fellowship! 

And a little breaky-poo from teen angst for this here mama. Win, win!!

ps......she's not a blond anymore.That only lasted two weeks, back to our nice deep auburn/brown. :-)

My class supplies. I know I need fabric or something but I am soooo not prepared. I just barely noticed that the class, a drop-in, was THIS Monday and I was actually free. I know, right. I just have the basics becasue I know nothing but the back stitch. lol

I need to decide how to deal with my bed-skirt. It got ripped big time and I am not sure I can create a nearly invisible fix. Pretty sure I can get some organza and make it look okay....but it's in a showy spot. I may just cut off everything under the scallop and add a pop of color or a boring ol ruffle. heck, I may just patch it anyway...I really like it.  We shall see.............

Made a whole bunch of these. My mil wants six for her friends, my mom took my last stash of six AND all the tissues (thanks mom) and I need about 50 for a church lady thing in October. I have GOT to stop telling people I have these things. See the pretty swirly gold and purple? In honor of the Harry Potter Weekend!!

Why is this a Monday item? Because I have to hide them from my family....soon...before they all disappear.

Working on these two patterns this week.

This is the dress fabric. I may add another color to the mix, but I like the way these look together. I did not take a picture of the black and white fleece for the costumes. If you've seen panda colored fleece once, you've seen it a thousand times. LOL

OOOOOoo, I almost forgot...I will be making some plum jam. Got a new pot with a rack today!!

 They were totally out of the ones with the lift out rack, but I got a tool for that so no big. 

Ate a plum today, not quite ripe and I think I may have ate a bug.......I don't feel so good.

Hope your Monday is manic in the best possible way!!

Don't forget to check out the giveaway post; the drawing in on my one year bloggoversary....Tuesday!!!

Have a Happy Harry Potter Weekend!

My kids, circa 1998 or 9, before you could get anything Potter in stores!

Even the doll had a little cauldron to carry.
(now they are 19 1/2 and 16 1/2...where does the time go?)

* * MY GAIN IS YOUR GAIN GIVEAWAY * * and stuff

Do I have you attention? I knew I would!
I have hit the 71 mark on followers....me???? How exciting is that? Okay, it is to me!
Time to reward my followers with some sewing goodness.

First: I have been sewing but not completing, I am trying my hand at a fabric luggage tag.
I was inspired to make them for a couple of reasons:
*I am going on a trip in two weeks!!!! Par-tay in So Cal!
*I am in two apron swaps and need little giftees and one of my swapees is a traveler
*I got some great labels that just scream coming home (here's where the giveaway comes in)

My mess.

I didn't like this one....too plain.  Yes, the buttonhole is crooked. :-p~~~

Making this frame was too fussy

 After being frustrated for too long, I made a pie.

I will be eating a slice for breakfast in just a few minutes. It's been in the fridge alllll nniigghhhttt lloonnnggggg)

***the giveaway part***

One of my inspirations is part of the giveway!!!

I am a member of the Sweetwater Label Crew and they accidentally sent me TWO -2 of this month's little craft kits.

I don't need  two kits, sooooooooooo

My gain is now your gain!!!! This little kit is giveaway number 1.

Giveaway number 2 is this great and funky little sewing book.

 Again, my gain is your gain!

Okay, here's how I am going to work this.

All  U.S. followers are eligible for the book.
All U.S. followers PLUS international followers are eligible for the Label Crew Pattern and Labels.

Here's what you need to do to enter:
In separate posts:
*leave me a comment about your sewing/crafting/self ....that's one entry
*let me know if you are a follower or if you just became a follower...it IS a follower giveaway after all. ;-),,,that's two
*Shout to the blogosphere about following my distracted self. Okay, let people on your blog or facebook know I am having a follower giveaway and if they follow me, they too, can have a chance at some sewing goodness....that's 3

* * Important * *  

You must have contact information (email) 

and 

You must let me know if you have a U.S.or International mailing address

Three chances to win a prize!!!

I will random number generator the winners on Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 and post the winners!
I will also send you an email and give you two whole days to respond...after which, I will pick an alternate winner. Sorry, ahead of time, if you are on vaca or something..it's not like it's a million dollars or anything. :-)

Good luck!!!

Monday, Mondaayyyyyyy  baa daaaa baa daa daa daa
If you started singing the Mama's and the Papa's, consider yourself dated. LOL
I couldn't do much on the old computer today because Dungeon Fighter Online had double XP  and every male known to my neighborhood was on the computer.........one on MY computer so I got a lot of boring stuff done, ya know,,,cleaning...yuk!!

I did take a little time to enjoy a few of the simple pleasures in life:

A fresh package of pins in a pretty pincushion

A little bit of assembly line sewing and serging

And my good deed for today......donations! Some lucky teen girl is gonna be really happy.....the dot cleaned out her entire wardrobe........there is some great stuff in them there bags........most of it barely worn!!
(gotta love school uniforms, right?)

My boy finally parted with the castle........he got a lot of great years with that thing and he thought about keeping it, but he finally decided it needed to be loved by someone else. He's had it since he was about 3...sooooo, that's 16 years.....that thing is pristine still yet. Ahhhh, all the battles fought and dragons slayed...good times, good time.....................
I have a couple of medium projects to start:  two apron swaps and two panda costumes for Vacation Bible School...Panadamania!!!

I keep threatening to sew for myself, but it never quite happens.....LOL

What was your Monday like?

Another Tissue Cover Tutorial -- I know, right?

My blogging buddy Karen, over at Sewmuch2luv, did a fab-u-lous tutorial for tissue covers.

I've made about a dozen using her technique. Did I mention it was fab?

Well, being the lazy sewista that I am, I wondered if there was a way to make her easy peasy tissue covers with just one piece of fabric instead of four. It took me a couple of tries to get the measurements right, but here is a companion tutorial.

If you want to use co-ordinating fabrics, you will still need to follow her directions.

I made a Disney Princess one ( Karen's way), added a lot of fussy cutting to get the princesses jjjuussstttt right,  and it turned out great.

***Warning*** 

Lots of big pictures

 My Karen style cover and my fabric of choice for this project.

Let the tutorial begin:

 

Cut a strip of fabric 5½  by 14½

(142mm by 365mm..at least I think I read that measurement right...lol  )

Fold in half, right sides together so you have a piece that is 7.5" by 5.5".

Make a ½ seam (13mm) along the short side.

Press seam open.

Turn right sides out.  See that seam? First, center it......

Second, put it face down. It will end up on the inside when we are done! Honest! I promise!

 Mark your center. You could use a pin or chalk or a little crease. Do it on both sides and just the ends.

 See, both ends, with the messy edges are now marked.

 Now, fold the pretty edges toward the middle so it looks like this.

Pin them so the ends are nice and close together.

Sew the raw edges with a ¼" seam allowance (6mm)

Go over the center a time or two because it will get a lot of stress during use.

Finish your raw edges with a zigzag or a serged edge or pinking shears to keep the loose threads at bay.

Turn it right sides out, push out your corners until they are all pretty....

Seeeeeee, the line IS on the inside!!

Ta-daaaaaaaaaa

I am quite sure it took me more time to write about it than to make it!!

In fact, I made three of them and it took less than 15 minutes! Trust me, I am NOT a speedy sewista!

Thanks, Karen, for letting me add to your easy peasy-ness!!

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