Blog/Craft Goals for 2011

1. Learn to Quilt – I just mean the basics. I don’t expect to churn out 25 quilts or even two I would like to complete one quilt from piecing to binding by next January – is that too lofty a goal?

To help meet this goal I joined So Scrappy’s Rainbow Scrap Challenge (See button on side bar.) I plan to post something each Scrappy Saturday – even if it is just to say –not much progress this week.

I also joined the Quilting Board and will participate in the BOM that Sulabug is moderating. The first block is a paper pieced church. Each block is a house of some sort. I’ll post pictures of my blocks monthly and may need suggestions to help with problems.

2. Make something hand-made for everyone on my Christmas list.

3. Submit at least two projects for publication in a magazine –Create and Decorate, perhaps.

4. Write a new post weekly about crafting that week – this may be just the perils of a hopeful quilting newbie or it could be about other creations I’m working on.

5. Also –write once a week on a non-craft related topic. This may include: my yard, projects at my house, thrifting, a new favorite blog –or anything that suits my fancy at the moment

6. Write at least one or two tutorials for my blog – nothing too detailed.  Start small.

7. Leave more comments.  Everyone loves comments!!

That’s it. Wish me luck!

The Big Bowen Christmas Party:)

Tonight we went to our annual Bowen get together at my sister-in law Cher and her husband Harry’s home.  Cher always has their home decorated beautifully.  She has a that special touch.  The Bowen family is ever growing with new babies and marriages.  This year there were 43people.  The food was great and a good time was had by all.  We celebrated my father-in-laws birthday. 

We exchanged Christmas gifts and some of them were handmade.

Cher knitted us all this adorable Snowman Ornaments --THAT IS A LOT OF KNITTING --when you are making so many.

My mother-in-law, Pat, cross-stitched some Kate Greenway patterns for Emily and Ali, two of her seven great-grandchildren.

And............... I made this Crewel picture for Cher who just adores pansies and chickadees!!

And this has nothing to do with the Christmas get together........

Cher made this absolutely gorgeous quilted wall hanging for ...... her bathroom!!  She is such a talented quilter.  On a later blog post I'll show you the quilt she made for me. (It will make you all jealous.)

And I have to show a few pictures of the kiddos...

Grace with her Mommy and Nanny.  Grace's sisters were Em and Ali in the cross-stitch pictures.

Drew, Georgie and Lexi -- our adorable grandchildren.

Jack

You have to admit Bowen Babies are Pretty Babies!!

And Just One More Thing .....................

This is my niece Kassy with Lexi.  She has been our best and most consistent helper since George's diagnosis.  The kids adore her and so do I.  Thanks Kassy.

Christmas 2009: The Year of the Lamps

     Every year at Christmas I try to make each of my three children something handmade.  Last year both boys were engaged and my daughter was married so I thought—hmmmm-- something for their homes.  I decided it should be a collaborative effort between my husband and me.  A Lamp!!  He made the lamp –I made the shade.  Of course, I covered the shade with felted wool and I made it personalized with the first initial of their surnames.  They all loved them.  My husband and I were pretty pleased ourselves.

Christmas Pins: Decorations for your Lapel

     Here are a couple of the pins I made from my wool scrap bag.  The patterns are my own.  They are all hand-stitched with DMC embroidery floss or perle cotton.  Each one ooak –I couldn’t make them exactly the same even if I tried, similar but not exact!! I think they’ll make a cute small gift for someone on my Christmas list.

Babushka Doll

     I decided to make a babushka doll for a special someone for Christmas.  I searched the net for ideas and found a wonderful pattern at http://weefolkart.com/  I made the pattern about 10  inches tall, added a backing of wool felt and stuffed it. I also changed some of the doll's embellishments and embroidery.  I think she is adorable -- what do you think?

Santa Is Coming

     With Christmas right around the corner I've started making presents.  My goal is to make one thing, no matter how small, for each person on my Christmas List. 

Unbearably Cute Bear

     I  dressed this little bear with scraps from my wool felt basket.  Here she is with her flowery dress and  a rose in her "hair."  I think she is adorable and I hope my grandaughter will think so too!!

A Penny Saved
     I made several penny rugs for gifting:


Here are two plain three stacked penny rugs for two special ladies on Santa's List. Aren't the colors beautiful?   They measure approximately 10" x 10".  The pennies are 1 1/2 ",  1" and 1/2 inches.  To make the pattern for the "rug" part I cut a square or rectangle of freezer paper about 1/2 inch bigger than I want the finished rug to be.  Then I get something round to make the scallops.  You have to play around a little to make them even --but you can use this pattern quite a few times and trace it when you need a new one.  Iron the freezer paper on to your wool fel and cut!!  Pennies get nicer if you use freezer paper too, but if your pennies don't look perfect don't worry -- blanket stiching does wonders.  After cutting out the number of pennies I need I blanket stitch the smallest one to the medium sized one, the medium sized one to the large one, and the large one to the rug.  Then I cut a second rug and blanket stitch it to the completed rug to give the penny rug weight.  (To keep pennies from shifting while I stitch I use a small dab of Aleene's No-Sew Fabric Glue in the center of each penny . Caution:  Don't use too much or it will seep through to the top and do not use on the part you'll be sewing -- it is very difficult to get a needle through the dried glue.)

This is a longer version of the penny rugs above.  This one is 26 inches long and 11 inches wide.

This is one of my favorites.  Same general shape as the first ones, but the middle "penny" is cut in the shape of a flower and embroidery is added.  Cut two 1 1/2" pennies -- one black and one any color you want yor flower to be.  Then cut triangles out of the flower color to make the petals.

Ornaments
  These ornaments are from a kit by Rachel T. Pellman of Rachel's of Greenfield.  Of course after following general directions you make them one of a kind with special embellishments.  I added extra embroidery and beads to mine.  I still need to ad the hangers and some greens.  I'll take a picture when they are completely done.

Santa Clause is Coming
      These Santas are made from a pattern by All Through the Night--Folk Art Designs with a bit of Wimsy.  Each one is a little different.  I sewed mine by hand, but you can use a machine.  Love this pattern -- so simple but the results are very impressive -- don't you think?