Secret Santa Swap Received and A few other things

I was Judy's swap partner and she made me a very cute wallhanging.  Amelia already claimed it as her own.  I really like it.  Judy did a beautiful job on the stitching.  I love the label on the back.

Thank you Judy!!

And something that I finished.  Vickie shared a tutorial on her blog on how to (quickly) make up an XL hot pad.  CLEVER!  I liked it so much, I made two!  My Christmas table is going to be very festive!

I also got some quilted items back from Sharon.  I'm working on getting the bindings on now. Once I'm done, I'll show them off.  :)

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Secret Santa Swap Items

I got everything finished for my partner.  I just have to add the label to the table topper.

Here's the table topper:

And here's a matching key chain:

You've already seen the snowflake ornament in my previous post.

I hope she likes it all!  It's going into the mail this weekend.

Come back tomorrow to see what else I've finished!

Jen  :)

Friday Night Sew In Results

Hooray!  I got some sewing in AND I did a Christmas craft with Amelia.

First - I got the letters started for another personalized pillow.  This one is for my BFF's youngest daughter.  She is turning 1 at the beginning of December.  I can't be there for her big birthday bash (they live in Texas) but I will send a gift.  I need to work on the border and get the pillow all together.  I will show you again once I'm done with it.

Next up, Amelia and I beaded some snowflake ornaments for the grandparents for Christmas gifts.

Pretty!

 Here is a close up of Amelia's.  This one is for my mom.

And this one is mine.  Well, it's going to go to my Secret Santa swap recipient.  I should take a picture of my table topper.  I'm all done with it.  I just need to make a label for it.  I'll show you soon.

  
I also got some prep done for a quilting class that I'm taking tomorrow.  My husband was feeling a bit better so he kept Amelia entertained so that I can do some sewing and then I entertained her with some beading so that he could rest.  It worked out and I'm happy about that.

Now I can shift focus (again) and finish my Bliss tote.  It's really coming along!

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Oh HSTs - You are going to be the death of me!

Why?  Why?  WHY can't I get these things right?!!  UGH.  I'm trying but failing.  Not so miserably but miserably enough to annoy me.  I'm working on my Secret Santa Swap quilty item and I picked a relatively easy pattern.  Okay Jen, just say it.  EASY pattern.  Kris made me a table topper for the Valentine's Day swap that I participated in a last year.  When I looked at the pattern, it would not have been one I would have chosen because the fabrics used on the pattern cover... sorry.  I found them ugly.  Goes to show - put your BEST fabrics on the pattern cover sample.  You will sell more patterns!

But I LOVE what Kris created for me and I decided to use that pattern (I did end up purchasing it) and I liked the size.  AND it used charm packs which I have plenty of.  It has HSTs in it.  I took my time.  Pressed (NOT ironed) with starch, sewed a 1/4 seam seam and they STILL came out the wrong size!!  I'm telling you.  I am so DONE with HSTs!!!!  Not really.  I need to finish my pinwheel sampler.

Well, here it is.  Half of it anyway.  It's not too bad but there are mistakes and a lot of fudged seams.  I'm thinking if I can can the center all lined up right, nobody will notice the rest.  LOL!

And here's the second half.  Just laid out for now. I hope to get some sewing time in between *ahem* work today.  :)

UPDATE:  the top is all pieced.  And it doesn't look half bad.  Even if I did fight with the HSTs.

And the pattern I'm using.  Grandma's Attic by This and That.

I also finished some Halloween pillowcases for Punkie.  Excuse the color.  That blue is NOT blue.  It's purple.  It's weird how the camera distorts colors, isn't it?  I really want a new camera.  My brother has a super fancy SLR digital camera with removeable lens and everything.  It was in my possession but he needed it back.  Bummer.  THAT camera takes beautiful pictures!

I will be back to show Punkie's Halloween costume.  It is all done but I would like her to model it for you but she's not ready.  We need black shoes.  That's on tomorrow's errand run.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)