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~

Help Find Stolen Quilts

I came across this post about stolen quilts. I am sadden for this lady that this happened. Those of you in Texas in the area where it happened can maybe keep your eyes peeled for this quilts. There are pictures of her missing quilts on her blog.

Here is the link:

http://karencombs.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/quilts-stolen/

Thank you, Linnea

Time for Whoop Whoop

 Time for Whoop Whoop again.

No finishes for me but I did make progress. 

I had hoped that this would be a February finish,

but I guess it will have to be a March finish.

Thank you to Sarah over at Confessions of A Fabric Addict 

for hosting this fun meme.

 Still working on my tote bag. There is a lot involved in this project.

The instructions did not say to add plastic canvas,

but I decided I wanted a firm base so I cut a piece to fit.

And hand sewed it in, so it would stay put. 

I started in the middle of each edge and worked out 

while sewing it and used quilting thread since it is heavier 

than regular thread.

Worked great!

 The outside of one side of the bag.

Don't have the lining in it yet at this point.

Those tabs are for buttoning the pocket closed.

 Here is the other side. I am loving this!

There is enough left of the strips to make this bag two more  times.

 I made covered buttons to match.

This project is included as part of the tote bag project.

A pouch out of vinyl and fabric to keep 

doodads in. 

I will use it for floss, scissors, needles and that kind of thing.

I am going to use my bag to carry cross stitch and other stitchery projects.

It will be a fun bag to carry around!

Hope to show it finished next week!

~Linnea~

A late Whoop Whoop.

Sarah at Confessions of A Fabric Addict still has her link open 

so here I am finally getting my post done. 

I did get some sewing done again. I am really working 

at sewing several times each week. It is just harder some weeks than others.

But I do squeeze in a few minutes anyway sometimes.

Last time I showed my January blocks for the House Blocks Sew-Along.

These are the February ones. I am happy to have them done in the month of February.

Not sure, but I think the March ones are going to be yellow houses.

I got more done on my Baby Crawling Mat project.

I am actually making two of them.

I did not have enough fabric for the borders and yesterday

I stopped by Hancock's and they had just enough left on the bolt.

Whew! And yes, I bought the rest of the bolt.

This is a quick project I fit in for Mardi Gras.

A colorful vest to wear.

Got it done and wore it Tuesday evening.

I used an out of print Butterick pattern for it.

The number is 5552.

When checking the Butterick website I discovered that number is

assigned to a different pattern now.

I hope next year to add a ruffly blouse to it.

That was my week.

I have done a lot more sewing this weekend, 

but will wait until the next Whoop Whoop to share that one.

Happy Sewing and Crafting!

~Linnea~