What Else?

Oh gee, look, it's a pillowcase.  Big surprise :)  This is such a no-brainer project for me.  I am working on a quilt right now, but it is not ready for viewing....in other words, it is in pieces.  Ergo this quick little diversion.  The Easter fabric is over two years old, but most importantly, it is now OFF the to-do list.

Look Familiar?

I made this pillowcase to coordinate with the Funny Babies quilt I made a while back.  It has the fold over flap back.  Flap backs are great because you don't have to worry about the pillow falling out of the case.  They are great  for toddlers who like to lug their pillows around. 

St. Patricks Day

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching.  I picked up some cute kids fabrics at JAF to make a couple of pillowcases for the boys.  Matthew is getting the leprechaun pillowcase and the Snoopy one is for Beckham.  My goal is to make both boys a pillowcase to celebrate every holiday in the year.

A Finish

Aren't these the cutest belly babies you have ever seen?  This is from a fabric line called "Funny Babies" by Amy Bradley.  I bought this as a kit, so all the fabrics were included, even the backing and binding.  The babies are a panel.  Now Beckham has a nice quilt to nap on when he comes to visit Grandma.

"It's Always Something"....

is a quote and title of a book made famous by the late Gilda Radner.  And, isn't it the truth?  For the last two weeks or so, I have been dealing with a bout of bronchitis.  Thank goodness it has passed, but I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do.  A few weeks ago I made valances for Matthew's bedroom windows.  Today I finally got one set of the lower panels completed.  I still have another set to go, but I am hoping to get to those tomorrow.  The valances as well as the panels are lined.

  P.S. Don't look too close at the painted stripes.  Unfortunately some turned out well, while others did not.  That is on the future redo list.  At that time the chair rail will also be painted.

For Your Special Day

How lucky am I?  I found the birthday fabric at JAF.  During the same week, while shopping for another project, I came across the coordinating black fabric at a quilt store.  One pillowcase is for Matthew and the other is for Beckham.  Of course both boys will need to wait a while.  Beckham's Birthday is in October and Matthew's Birthday is in November.

Be My Valentine

Here is today's bounty.  Three Valentine table toppers and a bib.  What is missing is a Valentine pillowcase for my Grandson.  I found the cutest Valentine fabric with dogs and the words "I woof you" on it.  I got it at JoAnn Fabrics last week.  I was ironing the fabric today and noticed a 3 inch imperfection.  Grr.  I went back to the store, but they are now sold out of that fabric.  A check of three other stores came up empty.  I'm hoping I can find a comparable replacement somewhere before Valentine's Day.

Get Your Craft On Girlies!

Lately I have been checking out quite a few DIY blogs.  People are doing some amazing things to their homes.  Anyway, you know how you check out one blog, then you see a sidebar link with a photo and it piques your curiosity?  Well, this was what I saw, so I decided I had to see more.  Actually, this has nothing to do with a DIY project, so if that is what you are hoping for, you can stop reading NOW.  But, this is just too cute not to share with my fellow bloggerettes.  These are my ingredients, go get your own!  P.S. you can get the cherry jelly hearts at WalMart.  http://poppiesatplay.blogspot.com/2011/02/cupids-arrows-super-quick-valentines.html

The Great Blizzard of 2011

The great blizzard of 2011 has hit.  It packed a one-two punch.  Our area saw at least 5 feet of snow.  The digging out has begun. 

As you can see, it is at least waist deep on my husband, and he is 5'10".  When he got down to the bottom of the driveway, the city plows had piled the snow so high that it reached his shoulders!  I just keep telling myself March 20th isn't that far off.  March 20th is the official start of spring and it can't come soon enough!

When You Run Short of Fabric

I bought this fabric at least 5 years ago, which means I doubt I could find it any more.  I did buy it with the intent of making curtains from it.  I remember when I bought it, I took what was left on the bolt, hoping I would have enough.  Fast (okay, slow) forward 5 years. Once I measured what I had, I knew there wasn't going to be enough for both gathered valances and gathered curtains, which was what I wanted.  I started hunting through pattern books hoping I would find an alternate pattern that used less fabric.  This valance is a Simplicity pattern and the name of it is Sewing Patterns For Dummies.  No comment.

My New Toy

Isn't it beau-ti-ful?  I so needed a new stove.  Only two of the four burners on my old stove worked.  And, my  previous stove was electric.  This time around, we opted for gas.  We chose this model because I cook a lot of casseroles, frozen pizzas and little items.  I always hated to heat up an entire oven for things so small .  It also has the convection option on the bottom oven only.  Of course, my favorite feature so far is the timer that beeps to let you know when the oven is done preheating.

I Wont Be Buying A Lottery Ticket Today

Remember how I said I was working on a binding today?  Look at this...yep, that is a miter, right smack dab in the middle of my corner!  What are the chances that it would land there?  And, of course it was on the third corner.  There was no way I was taking that baby out!

Cool Tool

Today I am making binding for a quilt.  This nifty little tool is a great help.

Important: On your strip (and yes, it is still folded and I am working on the open ends), place your ruler so that the top of the ruler is even with your fabric.  You then rotary cut from the bottom of the strip to the top (about where 4 is).  Then cut the small vertical piece.

These strips were both cut the same, just turned around .

Now you nestle those two strips.  Sew 1/4 inch from corner to corner (where you see the two pins) and...and...wait for it...

VOILA..you have a perfectly pieced biased binding strip.  Pretty cool, huh?  Told you it was a cool tool!

More of the Same

Unfortunately, I only had one yard of this fabric.  I wish I would have had more.  It was enough for just one pillowcase.  I'm sure I bought this fabric for some lovely young lady, but since it is more than 5 years old, I am sure she is probably out of this stage by now.  Those ballerina hippos sure are cute though.

Again, another one yard piece of fabric.  Some of these focus fabrics are so darn cute.  I am keeping a small square of each one of these pillowcase fabrics, just in case I decide to make an i-spy quilt someday.

Batter Up

How do you like my valance?  I bought this baseball print to make a valance.  Needless to say, I changed my mind and used something else.  I was stuck trying to figure out what I was going to make with 3 yards of this fabric.  Ugh.  I already used up 1 yard making some bibs for Matthew.  Since I had enough left, I decided to make a set of pillowcases.  Pillowcases are such a great way of stash busting large pieces of fabric.  And, I finished them just in time.  Spring training is only 3 months away (grin).

Consignment Shops

Mike will be transferring jobs beginning February 14.  This job will be 5 days a week from 8 to 4.  Finally some normal hours for my son.  With the changing of jobs comes a shift in babysitting duties.  Beckham will now be with us on Thursdays AND Fridays.  It was time for me to update the toy collection/selection.  Since winter in Wisconsin is in full swing, rummage sales were out.  I decided to check out some consignment shops.  Wow, I had no idea what great places these are.  I found some wonderful, like-new toys at more than reasonable prices.  The picture shows just some of my bargains...Becks is one happy camper.  Even though I found all these great toys....

....he still likes to play in Maddy's pet carrier.  Thank goodness Maddy can't talk, because I am sure she would have a few choice words for the little interloper!! 

Katz

Friday's pillowcase of the day is some krazy katz.  Pretty soon I will be sewing pillowcases in my sleep!

Another "Kick"

It would seem I sew in spurts. Sometimes for weeks on end, I do no sewing. Then there are times when I get on a kick, like a few months ago, and I make multiples of one thing. Well, I think I am on another kick. My Goddaughter visited last Friday and wanted me to teach her how to make a pillowcase. It went so quickly and easily, that I wondered why I didn't make more of them. I decided to dig out all the fun focus fabrics that I have. Matthew now has a few new sets of pillowcases, with more to come. The "kick" continues.....