Christmas 2010 Presents

Yes, I know.  It is well past Christmas 2010.  My kids spent the after-Christmas months taking turns being sick.  Don't you love when that happens? 

At any rate...

I crafted a few goodies to give to the family last Christmas...we did primarily a Goodwill theme last year, but I always like to make a few things too :)  First up:  handmade coffee cozies, so they didn't have to use the cardboard ones from the coffee shops!  They have hook-n-loop closures, so they can be laid flat in a wallet or purse.  They're insulated, and machine washable to boot!

I also sewed up some pretty neat oven mitts.  At least I thought they were...everyone else giggled a bit!  Oh well...not everything can be a hit ;)

I can't remember where I saw this now, but I L.O.V.E.D it and put it on some throw pillows (two of them!) for Christmas:

I got some good feedback from these boys :)

That ballet bag...

I was talking about six (cough) months ago?  E uses it every week to take her ballet things to class.  She loves it, and says the ballerina on the front is her :)  I made it reversible, also...because the interior is cutie pie also!  And it's machine washable, which is great since it holds her shoes!  I modeled it off of a vintage "Going to Grandma's House" bag from my MIL!

Okay, so I'm waaay behind.

I'm working on catching up now!  I'm editing pictures from November until now (including all of those things I was working on for Christmas presents and couldn't post about in the fall!), and will have goodies back up to look at :)  Thanks for hanging in there!!

Frock by Friday...er, Saturday?

So I'm on a Frock by Saturday pace...but I think that's alright!  I don't know how Kathleen does it with 3 littles running around!  I got up at 5:30 this morning to finish Monday's homework for this dress.  Maybe that's how she does it too!

For Monday, we were supposed to piece the pattern (a pdf), alter it, cut it out, and cut out our fabric.  Doesn't sound like a ton of work, but it took me an hour to print and piece it last night, so I had to alter it and cut out the fabric this morning.  Just made it before I had to get the kids' stuff ready for preschool and wake them up!

It feels great to be making something for myself finally!

Here's the pieces laid out on the fabric...





And then all cut out! I love this fabric...so pretty!



It's not too late...you should join us :)

Frock by Friday excitement

I've been an avid lurker of Grosgrain for awhile...I think the things she comes up with are just awesome.  She mostly reworks thrift store finds in astonishing ways and runs a "Frock by Friday" series in which she leads her readers through making a dress in 5 days.  Next week's dress is beautiful, and I'm so excited to join her!!  I got my supplies today:







I'll post at least the result next Friday! SOOO excited!!!

Fuzzy foodies

Perhaps you recall my first foray into felt food?  Yes?  Well, I've been slowly adding to my the kids' stash.

E got an awesome cookie cutter and rolling pin set from her aunt and uncle for Christmas last year, and I added the Ikea baking set, which came with a cookie sheet and more cookie cutters. So I made some cookies using the cookie cutters as a pattern!



In the oven :)



I also found an awesome pattern on the web for a sandwich and chips. I haven't made the bread yet, since I just got the bread-colored felt. But I made the insides, and they are cutie!







I also found a neat pattern to make carrots, so three of those were added to the fridge:



Some corn on the cob was next...



And that chicken parm...although no one knows it is chicken parm...oh well.



E requested donuts, and so I made four. Two chocolate, two regular. With colorful frosting ;)







Mmmm, tasty!

Upholstered Chairs, Take 2

Remember those nasty chairs I was working to reupholster?  I decided after the first try (with stretchy greenish fabric) that there was no way in hooch that I would do the second one.  With it's fresh 1000 staples to pull out and icky fabric to remove and toss.  Well, after I re-did the first one in IKEA fabric, I caved and did the other one.  In a different fabric since I couldn't decide...same line from IKEA, though, so they do coordinate.  I have to paint and attach the second set of arms, but couldn't resist sharing what they look like now!

Here's the first chair, with the awesome arms back on.  Swanky, huh?





Second chair, with the different IKEA fabric.  E and I have to paint the arms for this one yet :)



Awesome, huh?  Almost too good to sit on, but the kids love 'em.  Just the right height :)