I Am Still Around!

Sad to say I have not posted in a long time.  But for 2014 I am hoping to get some UFO's finished. I have too many piled up. That includes crochet, sewing and using the French knitter. 

Here are some pictures of a project. I made over several times before I was satisfied with it. I slipped the tube over a fabric covered headband and did a second one using the same colors. They were gifts this Christmas to my granddaughters. Unfortunately I forgot to take after pictures before sending them off. I have others in the works and when the are finished I will try to remember to take pictures.

What have all of you been doing this past year?

And what do you hope to get done?

Linnea

Can I get a Whoop Whoop? (baby blankets)

 Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is our host for this meme each week.

Thank you Sarah for being an awesome host. There are lots of links over there already.

 A nurse at work is expecting her first child, due in September and 

I decided to make this self binding receiving blanket for her. 

She is having a boy so off I go to look for boyish flannel and this is what I 

found at JoAnn's Fabrics.

Cute huh?

I got enough for a second gift for another co-worker also expecting a boy

in November.

 Starting the sewing. First thing you have to do if find the centers of each side.

A pinning I go.

 This is how the self-binding looks after you get it sewn together.

 Then I added the rickrack along the seam

and this time I used a zigzag stitch to sew on the rickrack.

I love how that came out much better.

From now on it will be the zigzag stitch.

 I had enough to make a couple of burp cloths.

One out of each fabric.

 I made it the same on both sides rather than using

each fabric for each side.

Makes for a nice set. 

And the expectant mother loved it.

That made it worth while.

I used the tutorial here to made the blanket.

Happy Sewing!

Linnea

Blue Monday Winter Blocks

About time I posted here again. 

Especially for a Blue Monday.

I am participating in a Winter Block Exchange using

winter theme or feeling type fabrics.

The darkest one on the right I already had in my stash so 

I decided to start with one to find other fabrics to go with it.

 Finally I got to work on the blocks.

I am running out of time to get them done.

First it was the light blue and white squares.

 Then the light and dark squares.

 Then the medium and light squares.

 More triangles to make into squares.

I did a lot of chain sewing which saves time and thread.

 Ahhh... now the small triangles made into squares.

 Moving along and making rows with three squares each.

At this point I realized my mistake. 

I had figured my measurements for the squares based on a 4 row

block I was considering making and then I changed my mind

about which block design to use. 

Totally not paying attention that this is a 3 row block.

Guess what, the blocks are coming out smaller than they are supposed to

be for the exchange. 

Sigh.....

 I just kept plugging away anyway hoping that I 

will make it work in the long run.

Wandering Star is the name of this block.

I love how my choice of fabrics fits with the name.

Block is smaller than it should be. I plan to solve the issue by adding

a border or borders to make it the correct size of 9.5 inches square.

Making 12 of these for the exchange.

Happy Blue Monday!

Linnea

PS: I am linking up with Sally at Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

Lee at Lala Lovelys Quilting is the host for the Winter Block exchange.

Getting Ready for Next Year

I have not gotten a lot of projects done this year. So my goal

for 2013 is to get back on track and finish the many things I have started.

This red shawl is one of those many things. 

I am a lot farther along than it shows here, but it is not finished.

Part of the problem is the texture of the Homespun Yarn by Lion's Brand.

It is beautiful and feels wonderful and soft, but it is frustrating to work with as a crochet project.

I am sure it is much easier to knit with it than to crochet, but I don't 

knit so I am not sure about that.

Anyway, that is one example of a UFO.

I have many more to do as well most of which 

are sewing and mending projects.

Wish my luck in getting my pile of projects smaller! 

I hope that those of you with UFO's piling up will

have the same luck as I hope to have.

Happy New Year

and happy sewing and/or crafting!!

Linnea

Secret Santa Surprise!

I participated in the Secret Santa Soiree  again this year.

Colorado Lady was our gracious host for this fun exchange.

As of now I have not yet figured out who my Secret Santa is this year.

This is what I saw when I opened up the box. 

Love the pretty paper and the cute tag.

 Then I spy a teddy bear. I love teddy bears!

And a cute old fashioned style tree.

And some Winter Cranberry hand sanitizer.

Never saw anything like that before!

Next I unwrap a precious snowman.

Isn't he cute?!?

A note pad with its own pen!

Love all the red!

Then I unwrap the bear and I love love love it!

Or rather her. 

Her name is Muffy VanderBear. 

I love her cute outfit and her red shoes.

A photo of all the gifts sitting on my cutting table. 

Then Helmi wanted to pose in a picture too!

She has decided Muffy is a very nice addition to our household!

Look at the cute little hot pad tied to Muffy's wrist.

Isn't that adorable?

Helmi admires Muffy's green bow.

No Helmi, you may not take her bow.

You have your own bow.

This was a fun Secret Santa exchange.

I still have no idea who sent me these lovely gifts.

Thank you so much to whoever who are.

I think I have visited all the blogs and I still have no idea!

Merry Christmas!

~Linnea~

July Note Card Party

The Note Card Parties seem to sneak up on me.

I did not realize it was time again until I started seeing posts 

from others.

So this time I decided to try it from this blog instead of

the other one that I have used previously for the 

Note Card Parties.

A thank you to Vee at A Haven for Vee for hosting.

 This first one above is from the shelf in my sewing room.

 The Christmas cards I made for my co-workers in 2010.

 I forgot I had taken this picture. I like how it looks

and it could make a cute note card.

The same with this one.

I made the dolls from those panels that House of Fabrics

used to have years ago.

I also painted the doll bed although

in these pictures you can't see the design on the 

ends of the bed.

Hope you all are having a good summer.

Or perhaps winter depending on your location.

~Linnea~

REDensday Wallet

 Gee! It has been a long time since I last posted here.

I made something RED and thought I would share it for REDnesday!

I am joining Sue over at It's A Very Cherry World!

I was browsing Pinterest and fell in love with this wallet pattern.

I decided I could make it and rummaged in my fabric stash and came up with

this combo for my wallet. 

The pattern/tutorial I followed can be found here.

 One thing I would have done differently is not have the interfacing go all the way to the edge of the fabric.

Would have made pressing and turning easier.

I used Decor Bond from Pellon. Pretty heavy.

 The tutorial said use a 7" zipper, but could use longer.

I had a white 7" zipper on hand. 

After putting  it in, I wished I had used a 9" zipper. 

 I bought these RED Wonder Clips by Clover at Hancock's as a

Mother's Day treat for myself. Worked great while sewing on the wallet!

 My chalk holder is RED too!

 My finished wallet. And I love it!

I added a zipper on the outside as well. Bought a 

9" zipper for this one and it was definitely easier to work 

with the longer zipper and cut it shorter.

Here is the inside. 

There are two long pockets. One on each side.

Six credit card slots.

Two zippers.

And a snap closer. 

Now I plan to make a matching purse!

Hope you all had a wonderful REDnesday!

~Linnea~