My New Best Friend

Apologies for the omission of an introduction!

Please do meet my now "not so new" helper,

the Lap App.

It was a "whim" purchase last spring. One of those "I'VE GOT TO HAVE IT" acquisitions that are made without really rationalizing whether or not the item is really suited for you.

Most often I come to regret such impulses and yet continually fail 

to learn from such impulses....

to which I say,

"THANK GOODNESS!!!!"

It is sold here at The Lap App Store under the premise of being a lap table, which it is to be sure.

But....using it atop my work space has proved to be my favorite means 

of hanging out with my new friend.

The added height and the ability to adjust the angle of my work surface 

are benefits I would not have anticipated. The thimble printed cover is removable and underneath is a non slip surface for tracing. An alternate heat resistant cover for ironing is also included.

Handy extras can be found in the three spindles for thread storage, a magnet for keeping needles safe, and my very favorite... a petite pocket for holding scissors.

I do think we will be friends for life!

Day Twenty One - Secrets

What a difference a day makes!

 

My "Grinch" took off in the wee morning hours, I'm guessing he was headed back to the mall where he could await some other poor unsuspecting victim. I on the other hand headed up to the nook and stitched away to my heart's content. Here's a teeny peek at some of the handiwork. Wish I could show more as I'm just in love with this project. I'll give you a proper look see after Christmas but until then it has to remain, like most everything else around here, top secret! 

 

 

Day Two - Homemade Ornament

 More often than not I buy a book based on it's cover which is exactly how I came to add Joelle Hoverson's delightful book Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts. Although filled with oodles of inspiration in the homemade department it was the two patchy birds on the cover that sold me. For years now I've intended to make up a flock of them but somehow time just flew away from me. Not this year however! A new cut of red fabric and a package of sweet lavender from one of my favorite places inspired me to give it a go.

 

 Being that it only required four cut pieces and an estimated completion time of 45 minutes I figured I could sneak one in between morning errands and afternoon pick ups.

And guess what?

I did!

 

 A few quick seams, a bit of pokey work turning it right side out, and before you know it, it was time to stuff the bird!

 

To be honest I wasn't totally happy until I added the ribbon around the neck...ribbons just make everything so much more gifty don't you think?



Patchwork Plans

 Up in the sewing nook earlier this week a very scary realization came upon me...

it's beginning to look

like the holidays

will be here

SOON!!!

 

 I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year and goodness knows there are a lot of rough patches all throughout the house that need to be put into an order of one sort or another.

 

 Now by no means do I expect complete perfection.

Realistically, if I can stitch up the rough edges I do believe I'll have a solid enough surface

upon which to stage not only that feast of thanks....

 

 ...but oodles of Christmas festivities as well!!!

 

 If someone had asked me last summer what I expected to be blogging about during the holidays I'd have optimistically said "Christmas in a Summer Cottage." Now such a thought has me laughing all the way to Savers every week as I continue dashing around in my declutter and donate phase. I've actually accepted the fact that the underling aesthetic of the house will be lacking when it comes time to deck the halls and trim the tree.

It won't be the end of the world.

 

 I'll simply bind things up as best as I can...

 

and make the best I can out of a very

Patchwork Christmas!

 



Sewing on the Go

With end of the year school craziness upon us I've taken to dragging along a mini project or two as we scurry hither and thither attending art shows, presentations, and ceremonies. The grand finale comes this weekend, however, when Child #1 graduates from high school...

YIPEE!!!!



Rainy Day in the Nook

 A run of chilly, damp days has keep us cozied up inside. Not a problem as I had some cape work on the agenda and the sewing nook was the perfect place get it done. In the process of putting linings in however, I couldn't help but cut a few scraps for future hexies of both the 1 and 2 inch variety. Yes I'm officially addicted to the creation of these things!!!

  

 Soon after ties were threaded, braided, and tied off.

 

 Hitty lent a hand (and the rest of her body) for the final fittings!

 

And then...."Tadah!"

I was all done!

Now....where did I put those hexies?

 

 



Three More....

 

3+3=6

 

I'm really on my way now!!!



Sew Many Decisions

  Way back when, a sweet friend sent along a package of luscious fabrics with the idea being I could put my hand to some Hitty cape work for us. And I did!

 

 But typical me cannot leave well enough alone and so a matter of "details" has come into play. And that's where I get lost...in the details!

 

 Some fur perhaps?

 

 Or a bit of handworked embellishment?

 

 I was thinking a simple crochet trim would be fun but really just can't commit because what if a different crochet trim would be better?

 

 Eeny meeny miny mo?
 

 

Out With the Old....

Fourteen years ago, when Teen #2 was my sweet little Doll Baby, I decided it would be fun to make her some dress up clothes.  I learned how smock,

 



I made several very tedious buttonholes,

 



and I sewed up more than a few lengths of french seams. When all was said and done my Doll Baby had a new dress that was almost as sweet as she was. And me, well I had a new passion!

 



I became obsessed with smocking.

I joined a SAGA group, I subscribed to magazines, and I acquired this amazing machine, the Amanda-Jane Smocking Pleater. With it I was able to pleat up oodles of fabrics to embellish with trellis stitches, bouillons, and french knots.

 



For several years I had my fun....Christmas dresses, birthday frocks, playtime rompers....every occasion became an excuse for another creation.
 

And then my Doll Baby turned four and a half.

   

 Easter Sunday, 2001 did not go well. Doll Baby had wanted a shocking pink velour number with silver sequins but instead got a homemade gingham pinafore. I in turn received a truly terrifying preview of adolescent rebellion. I'll skip the gory details but  needless to say that was the last smocked anything I made for her. I have not budged but then again neither has she. Now, as a Sweet Sixteener her fashion tastes remain within the realms of velour and sequins...a combination that just so happens to be par for the course at her favorite shopping haunts Pink and Juicy Couture.

 Baring the occasional baby gift here and there, my pleater has for years been empty of fabric. Not much fun for the pleater or for me. So in the spirit of embracing all things "FUN" this year I've decided to do something about it. Amanda-Jane is headed to the Etsy shop and hopefully some new adventures in sewing.

 

And what about me?

It just may be that I've got some new doll baby adventures right around the corner.

 



Made an Amendment

Oops!!! Seems I needed to be a bit more specific with the cutting sizes of the napkins! In order to accommodate the 3/4" scallops, the finished size must be divisible by 3/4" with no remainders. In other words the finished size cannot be any willy nilly number of  you choice. Oh how much I hope no one had a run in with this issue! Sooooo sorry if you did.....

Here's the handy selection of sizes I've since added in to the tutorial. I did the math and checked it twice so all should be well now!

10.5" Tea Napkins..........cut 12" squares
12" Lunch Napkins........cut 13.5" squares
15" Dinner Napkins.........cut 16.5" squares
18" Feast Napkins..........cut 19.5" squares

Made A Napkin And You Can Make One Too!

 Who's ready to make some scallops?!!!

 

 If you are the first thing you need to do is select a cotton fabric you want to work with.

The second thing you need to do is decide what size napkin you want to create. I'm going to make this one what I call a "Tea Napkin." I want it to measure 10.5 inches which happens to be just the right amount of dainty to accompany tea and crumpets. To achieve that result I've cut out a 12 inch square of fabric to start with.

Have a gander at an assortment of sizes, pick one, and cut out your square!

10.5" Tea Napkins..........cut 12" squares
12" Lunch Napkins........cut 13.5" squares
15" Dinner Napkins.........cut 16.5" squares
18" Feast Napkins..........cut 19.5" squares
 

 Press a 3/8 inch hem on all four sides.

 

 Fold the hem over once more so you get a finished edge to it and.....

 

 .....pin it in place along one side.

 

 Thread yourself a needle in whatever coordinating thread catches your fancy. Begin your first stitch by inserting it up through the underside of the folded hem and just about 1 inch in from the right hand corner.

 

 After you've pulled the needle up and through, draw the thread over the top edge and insert the needle from the back (although technically the back in this case is actually what will be the front of the napkin!) You want to come up right alongside that first stitch.

 

 When you pull the thread through all the way it should look like this.

 

 But.....your going to want to pull it a bit tighter so it looks like this instead.

Take 2 more loop around stitches in this same spot to hold the fabric cinched in place.

 

 Now it's time to make you second cinching stitch.

Insert the needle alongside the first stitch and have it re-emerge 3/4 inch to the left.

 

 When your doing this make sure the needle doesn't pass through to the "front " side of the napkin but rather stays snug against the inner portion of the hem.

 

 Pull through.

 

 Take your loop stitches and cinch the fabric down to create your first scallop!

 

 Continue making scallops along the side......

 

  .....until you are about 1 inch form the left hand corner.

 

 Take a few minutes to fold and pin the next side over into a finished hem like you did before.

 

 Where the corner folds overlap simply take a few tiny stitches to tack the edges together.

 

 Starting 3/4 inch from the corner begin making the loop around stitches once again until side #2 is complete. Sides 3 and 4 should then be a breeze. Best put that kettle on because before you know it you'll have your nappy in hand and looking for your tea and crumpet to go with it!

 

PS - Have you ever seen a cuter corner than this?!!