Sewing for my Valentine

I did a little sewing for my little Valentine.  My big Valentine will be getting chocolates and some new socks.  Pretty romantic, huh?  LOL!!

I ordered the cutest throw pillow kit from Emily Ann's Kloset etsy shop.  The iron-on is just too adorable.

I sewed the turning hole after taking this picture.  :)

Lori Holt had shown on her blog a while ago, some cute glass jars with fancy glass knobs and it's been on my mind to make some.  I made a few for the house and of course, my little Valentine needed one for herself in her favorite color.  I filled it with her favorite chocolates - Dove Dark and some Hershey Kisses.  The kitty's name is Caramel.  She was napping on my bed when I disturbed her with my photo shoot.

Here are the jars I made for myself.  I plan on using them on the dessert/candy buffet at my in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversary party happening later this summer.  For now they are hanging out in my kitchen.  I plan on using them long term in my sewing room.

I stopped at Hobby Lobby last week and spotted super cute Valentine fabric and bought some yardage for pillowcases.  I love them and want a set for myself.

I have been trying to keep up with things.  I pulled out a few WIPs/UFOs and working on getting things done.  Need to snap a few pictures.  And I've been working on some swap items for a few new swaps I've joined.

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

Headbands!

Punk is a hair chewer.  It's a bad habit that we are trying to break.  She only does it when she is nervous or concentrating.  We've tried pulling her hair back but she doesn't like pony tails for very long.  Her hair is too fine for barrettes. It's a struggle, I tell ya.

At Christmas, my aunt gave Punk a very pretty outfit and with the outfit, she gave her a 6 pack of elastic headbands.  I didn't think Amelia would even use them but I put them in her bathroom anyway just to see.

Amelia discovered them and she's been wearing a headband almost everyday now. Keeps her hair away from her face (and mouth) and she is putting a strong effort into breaking the hair chewing habit.

I did some Pinterest surfing and found a bunch of tutorials on fabric headbands and I made one to see how she would like it.  Let's just say I have a list of colors she wants.  ;)

I also made her some elastic ribbon ones.  By the time I'm done, Amelia will have a rainbow of headbands to choose from.  What was cute was that one afternoon, we were getting ready to go out and Amelia put on a pink and black top.  She so sweetly asked if I had time to "whip up" a matching headband.  LOL.

I'm just happy she likes them and wears them.  She looks so much older with her hair pulled back.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Yellow Brick Road Quilt

A few years ago, I went on a road trip to Baltimore and found a nice quilt shop.  While visiting, I found a quilt kit that would work for my Punk.  Fast forward to now - quilt kit still all packaged up, not touched at all. 

It used a simple pattern that I already have, Yellow Brick Road, and decided it was time.  My intention was to have Punk help me with the making of the blocks.  She helped some but quickly got bored with the process.  So I picked up the slack and got the top done.

Bright and fun.  Perfect for a little girl.  I have some fabric that I've been holding on to for a backing for another quilt... which I never finished.... so I'm going to use it with this one.  

Happy to have the kit done and into top form.  Now, to get it quilted.

enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Nesting

Last day of school today!  WOOHOO!!  I am ready for lazy mornings.  So ready!  So is my future 4th grader.  4th grade.  Where did the time go?!??!  Tomorrow we are off to Hershey, PA for some fun time.

I'm not a big Instagram user (jenwith01); between blogs, Facebook, Pinterest... I just forget about IG but every now and again I will pop in there and check things out.  About a week ago I popped onto Instagram and got sucked into a new project.  :P

It all started with this:

Evolved into:

I just kept going.  

#nestedchurndash is the quilt along happening on Instagram.  They are big blocks too.  24" finished so only 9 blocks with sashing will make a very nice sized quilt.  I haven't decided if I am going to keep this one for myself or give it to Amelia.  I think if I give it to her, we'll have to share it.  I'm going to have a hard time losing it.  I'm sticking with a 2 block palette for each block and I'm really loving it.  I'm just not sure what to do for the last 4 blocks.  I'm going to have to start repeating colors.  I'm thinking more a lime-y green with aqua or yellow as one combination, red and yellow as another.  After that, I'm stuck. I don't want to do another pink block since there are 2 pinks already (pink and green/pink and orange).

What I have right now is:

pink and green

aqua and red

purple and gray

navy and yellow

orange and pink

Any 2 color combo ideas?

enjoy your day!

Jen  :)

Mastering the art of the 1/4" seam

Punk loves to "sew" on my machine.  She loves to dig in her fabric bin for the prettiest of fabrics, fold it in half and sew all the decorative stitches she can fit on that lone piece of fabric.  A while back, I had put a handful of good sizes pieces in her bin.  Nothing I cared for but too big to throw away.  I donated to the Punk Cause.

Working on a project, my shadow came to visit me and promptly dug in her bin for her own fabric.  I convinced her that instead of doing decorative stitches, to layout a quilt top.  Put her fabric in the order she would like and then mark the rows.  When there was time, I would square up the pieces to a uniform size and then she can sew them together.

The project was put aside for a while.  The holidays came and I was busy with my own stuff.  Last night after dinner, she and I needed an electronics break so we went upstairs and got to work.  We figured out which size to square the fabric to (9" square).  I squared up the first 2, showed her how to line up the edges and how to pin them together.  Where to line herself up on the foot for the 1/4" seam and off she went.

Concentrating

being her silly self

lining up those edges

sewing her first 2 full rows together

She did great!!  Out of 16 squares, in only TWO spots her seams didn't match up quite right.  She did much better than I did my first time!  At the end, she heaved a big sigh and was glad she was done.  She was a bit nerve-wrecked at the end.  The stress of "everything must be perfect!".  After her first two rows were sewn and I pressed them, I showed her WHY 1/4" seams were important and how everything lined up nicely when you did it right.

I only assisted with the squaring of the fabric, initial pinning on the pressing of the blocks.  I'm not ready to give her access to the rotary cutter and hot iron.  Punk was thoroughly impressed that her first quilt top took an hour to put together while mine take days.  LOL.

Her first (of many, I hope!) quilt top.  Please ignore the bedroom clutter.  I am a hoarder of slippers and clothing boxes.  :)  The rest of my bedroom is nice and clean.  That is my clutter corner.

I hope to stop this week to get some backing fabric and we'll finish the quilt this weekend.  If she is interested, I'll let her dig in my stash for the "good" fabrics and we'll work on making a bigger quilt for herself.  Bigger blocks and a few more rows and she'll have her own lap quilt!  Another idea is to bust out one of the quilt kits I bought for her that uses a very simple pattern (Yellow Brick Road) and have her help me construct it.  I fear that all the prep will bore her away so I'll stick with the super simple for now.

Proud Mama over here!
Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

She has a new dress

Just over 4 years ago, I made my ironing board a new cover.  I have been looking at it recently and a new cover was needed.  The area where I do most of my pressing on the board was discolored and crusty with starch.

I stopped at Hobby Lobby on my way home on Wednesday and spotted some very pretty fabric that I felt would work just fine as a new dress for my ironing board.

The gray and yellow I find striking together.  I'm going back on Monday to get more yardage for some pillowcases.  This girl can't have too many fun pillowcases for her bed.

I've been thinking hard about reorganizing my sewing space.  It's out of control.  I went to my local sewing center where I purchased my Koala cabinet and ordered the additional shelving for it.  I spotted the most AWESOMEST new machine that was begging to come home with me.  The owner gave me the trade-in value for my current machine plus all kinds of extras but... the price tag was, well.... kind of insane.  I came home without a new machine.  It's still on my mind but I'm holding strong.  MAYbe next year I'll cave but right now I'm good.

Back to reorganizing - with my new shelves coming for my cabinet in the next week, I'm going to slowly start getting my space back in order.  I would take a picture of it but it's horrible.  I can't bare to show it off.

Punkie had her first Spirit Day for school yesterday.  Crazy hat/crazy hair - one of our favorite Spirit days.  This year she wanted a punked out pony tail on the top of her head.

Next year we're going to add some hair color.  Lots of kids had fun colors in their hair this year but nobody teased it like I did.  :)  In my humble opinion, we rocked it again this year!

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

8 years old and 3rd Grade

Another year has gone by.  My baby is officially 8 years old.  We celebrated twice over the weekend.  Big family/friend party on Saturday and ice cream cake on Sunday.

Today was the first day of school.  A 3rd grader.  Where did my little preschooler go?!

I just realized that my 5th blogiversary is coming.  I also just realized that I started my blog on my wedding anniversary!  HA!  I never noticed that before.  I think a giveaway is in order but I'm going to hold off for another month.... when I celebrate my own milestone.  :)

I have been doing a little sewing.  Working on getting some bindings done but I also made a little wallhanging for myself.  I'll show you that soon!

Enjoy your day!

Jen :)

Let me catch you up

Well hello there!  No excuses on my blogging absence.  I just didn't have much to say.

Let me catch you up on the last 6+ weeks or so.

Amelia graduated college and she's off to Super Hero school.  Just kidding.  She successfully passed 2nd grade and on her way to being a 3rd grader and a "book buddy" to a kindergartner.  She's looking forward to that.

Last day of school

Ellyn made Amelia the dress that she wore for her last day of school... 2 years ago!  It finally fit her.  She's a petite little thing.  I wish I had her metabolism.

Her teacher loved the apples wallhanging.  I had Amelia write the label.  She added the last sentence all on her own; "Thank you for this wonderful year".  She really liked her teacher this year.

I had some quilting done by Jill again.  Wonderful job, as usual.  Here are 2 of the pieces I had done.  I finally got my pinwheel quilt (quilt in my header) quilted but I haven't had a chance to trim it up.  I will show you that one soon.  The Valentine heart wallhanging - Carol made one earlier this year and I really like it so I made one myself.  The Lucy's Crab Shack table runner... I pieced it last summer.  Nothing like procrastination at it finest getting it quilted.

Lastly, I made a couple of pillowcases.  Next week, Punk and I are flying the friendly skies to Texas for a mini vacation.  We're off to go spend some time with my BFF and her family.  We haven't seen each other in 3 years.  We email/Facebook pretty much every day so we keep in touch but there's nothing like face to face.  We are all super excited about the trip.  The pillowcases are for her girls.

That's it.  Not much.  Trying to keep cool in this mega heat we've been hit with.  Spending lots of time in the AC and pool.  My sewing room doesn't have AC so it's a bit warm in there.  Probably why I've been staying away from my sewing projects.  I have a few things in the works that I would like to get motivated to finish.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

For My Little Mommy

Last year, Punkie big wish was to get an American Girl "Bitty Baby" doll.  Of course Santa listened.  "Baby Amelia" has been a big part of her year.  Punkie loves to play "house" - just play pretend in general. 

This year, Santa is bringing her more accessories for "Baby Amelia" and "Big Sister" (that's me), made a few things for her too.

I found a tutorial for dolly cloth diapers on Lori Holt's blog and whipped out a few (7).  Along with the new cloth diapers, I made a simple blanket for Punkie's baby too.  I wanted to make some bibs as well but you know how it is.  Time ran out.  I'll still make some bibs; they just won't be under the tree.

I hope my Little Mommy likes them.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Candy, candy everywhere!

Tis the season!  Time for gingerbread house decorating 2012.  For reasons that I can't remember, we didn't decorate a house last year.  But made a point to do one this year.  We gather at my aunt's house and get to work. 

We all take the easy way out.  Buy pre-assembled houses that come with the icing all done (no messy mixing needed!).  All that is needed is (extra) candy and a willing person to get messy.  We tried the house kits one year that come baked but not put together.  Yah.  Pain in the butt.  These are better. And while it's not "home baked"; who cares??  The kids want the candy, not the cookie house.  At least my kid is that way.

Here's most of the extra candy that we all donated to the gingerbread cause:

Hmmm, looks like I missed the OTHER end of the table because there was a lot more than that!

I wasn't sure how Punk was going to be.  In the past, she showed no interested or very limited interest in the house.  This year, she and I planned our decorating strategy.  What we wanted for a roof.  What other things she wanted to see on our house.  She wanted a chimney and we bought candy to make a chimney but we both forgot about it.  I took her to Walmart and spent a MINT on candy.  The cashier probably thought I was a bit late for Halloween for all the candy I bought.  LOL!  It's okay. We all shared.  She surprised me and was very excited to decorate and actually sat there with me and decorated.

Okay.  On with the show.

Here is Josh's house.  He is going to be a big brother TOMORROW!  I'm so excited!

he kept giving me "bug eyes" with his smile.  LOL!

And some of the others.  There were 2 other little boys there and then my 2 cousins and my aunt who all decorated a house.  Amelia and I shared one.  Next year, I will make my own.

And our creation:

Punk is eating a candy cane

By the time we were done, there was no rhyme or reason to the candy placement.  We just stuck it all on there.  Amelia and I added a candy sleigh to our side yard and everybody else followed suit.  It far from perfection but it was envisioned by my little girl and that's all that matters. 

We had a great time and hope to remember to make time and decorate again next year.

Enjoy your day!
Jen