napkin ring pin cushion

I found a little bag full of old napkin rings in Cincinnati last week and I thought the perfect way to recycle them would be cute little embroidered pin cushions. I used several stitches from my Doodle Stitching book and some of the hot pink and white linen from my daughter's dress to make my first one. Pretty cute for a napking ring huh?

Soap covers and spring cards

We have had pretty severe weather here today, so I have tried to stay off my computer. It is a bit calmer now, so I thought I would post a few mini-projects. I made a few "'sacks" for the soaps in my bathroom today. I really don't like the ugly pump containers sitting on our sink, but we use them all the time and it would be inconvenient to put them anywhere else. I decided to make little drawstring covers for them today. I think I like looking at them a little more now. I also made a few spring cards and this is one of them. I used orchid Brilliance ink and some Momento inks, a few inkadoo clear stamps and then made a flower out of organza to add. Other than that we have been doing school, downloading Tapesty Year 1 for next year-Yahoo!, grading a physics test, hemming pants and pinning skirts to hem tonight. All around a pretty good day. Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Little Boy Bowties-Too cute!

Here is a link to a fairly straightforward tutorial for little boy bowties. These would make every little boy look like a little man on Easter Sunday! http://papernstitchblog.com/2011/03/29/diy-craft-project-how-to-make-the-cutest-boys-bowtie-in-time-for-easter/

Pincushion Giveaway Month at Sew Weekly

Need a new pin cushion for yourself or want to win one for a friend or family member? The link below will take you to where you need to be to sign up to win. The contest is going on for a whole month. Even if you don't win...they are super cute to look at and you just might be inspired to make your own. The lilac pincushion is todays giveaway.http://www.sewweekly.com/2011/03/announcing-the-30-days-of-pincushions-giveaway.html

No Foolin' Vintage Pattern & Jewelry Giveaway!

Even though it is April Fools Day, I am not foolin' when I say that I am trying to clean out my patterns. I have twelve patterns and 4 sets of vintage(clipon) earrings to giveaway. All patterns have all pieces. The envelopes are questionable, but the back area that gives fabric and notion requirements is fine on all of them. So you have a chance to win one of these! Here's the scoop on how to enter.

For one chance: leave a comment including an email where I can let you know if you've won

For another chance: You can follow my blog (make sure you post that you are following as an additional comment-if you already follow you can post that you follow as well)

The giveaway is open to US readers due to shipping costs. It will stay open until April 8th and then I will use a random number generator to pick 16 winners!

So here's the loot:

Butterick 6042 size 12 Bust 34(70's?)

Simplicity 5854 size 12 Bust 34 (1973)

McCalls 5214 Girls 12 bust 30 (1976)

Simplicity 5854 size 16 Bust 38 (1973)

Simplicity 9361 size 16 Bust 38 (1971)

Butterick 4681 size 12 Bust 34 (60's-70's?)

Simplicity 8314 size 18 & 20 (1977)

Simplicity 9519 size 12 Bust 34 (1971)

Butterick 5215 size 12 Bust 34 (late 60's?)

Simplicity 8051 girls size 12 Bust 27 (1977)

McCalls 2697 girls size 12 Bust 30 (1970)

Simplicity 5688 girls size 8 Bust 27(1982)

The four pairs of earrings are shown in the pictures above. They are in pretty good shape. May need a little TLC. All clasps work.

Butterick B5613

This is the pattern I have listed on "The Cutting Edge" and I have to say it was very simple to cut, mark, pleat and sew together. It only took me a couple of hours to do the whole thing. The instructions are very simple and there is one front panel with pleats and two back panels with pleats. It called for a 7 inch zipper, but I had a 9 inch and that worked fine. I was surprised that there was no interfacing used in the yoke. I did topstitch along the edge to hopefully help it keep its shape. The only thing a little odd about it is the 4 pleats in the back. Both of my girls are blessed (cursed) with ample backsides although they are both very thin (0-2 in RTW) and I think another pleat on both back panels would make it lay and look better. It sort of separates over their bums. I will have to take a picture because I know this probably doesn't make a lot of sense. The only thing I have left to do is hem. This matches the little fabric necklace I made earlier this week-CUTE! I will make more of these skirts. I might try view D which is a bubble skirt. My oldest wants one in bubblegum pink. Very fun for summer. Now on to the next project once I finish the hem.

Embroidery Book #2 by Aimee Ray

My youngest daughter is taking a needlework class through 4H and they have some beautiful crewel embroidery sampler pillows in the works. She and I have also been working on some "Doodle Stitching" from Aimee Ray's first book by the same title at home. It is an excellent book! I have loaned it to a sweet girl at church for now. So in its place is the new Aimee Ray embroidery book. It has some equally cute projects in it and all the patterns come on a cd, so you don't have to trace or scan out of the book. She has made it very user friendly this time around. The instructions are clear and she gives helpful hints, like the color numbers of the threads she used in the project. This would make an excellent Christmas gift for young girls just getting started or Grandmas who like to do personalized gifts for grandchildren. I have a plan for some of the small sweet designs in this sequel! I did finish my little bird design from the first book.