Quilt for Shery and Dustin's Baby Shower

I guess the JoAnn's gift card was burning a hole in my pocket.
:)
Dustin and Shery got married on my birthday last year with the men in cowboy boots and hats, a lasso integrated into the ceremony, and I was trying to think of something fun to make for their baby due in a few months.
I searched coloring book pages online (They tend to have simpler shapes to turn into an applique') and found a cute cowgirl boot...perfect since they are having a girl...right?
Went to Fedex to have the coloring page enlarged and then I used freezer paper to trace the boot so I could have iron-on pattern pieces. I think my favorite part was appliqueing it to the large green square, then going nuts with some of the fun stitches for detail.
I struggled with the border for a while, but decided to do a pioneer braid like the tutorial on http://www.quiltville.com/. It was a little tricky to work with because it stretched, but I like the "braided" look. I just made the binding out of the same green flannel.
I did end up making it just enough too big for the original backing piece, and I didn't want to fun back to the store for more fabric, so I pieced a braid down the back, too. It worked out well that I had barely any leftover, too!

I just did a meander on my Christmas present from John...my 1951 Singer 201...it really is amazing how much fun it is to sew on that old machine.
This was my first quilt that I made out of flannel, and just from the feel right out of the dryer, it is super soft...I'll probably use flannel again soon.

Katie's Award Assembly

Katie holding her award. Maggie had to jump in on the shot.

Gingerbread houses with the Kinders...

I got a photo of Katie after class was over. We were too busy (and messy!) during to get any good shots.

Katie was so careful making her house--I bet she could have worked on it all afternoon.

We made a tent

If you look close, you will see the furry stow-a-way on the roof.

Missy LOVED this tent--it was the perfect cat hammock.

Too bad Maggie wouldn't cooperate for a picture, but you get the idea.

49 pieces of tape on the wall

Oh, how I wish it were only a song! Katie made a beautiful picture and then taped it to the wall with...you guessed it...49 pieces of tape!

Wondering if I am going to regret the dollar store brand 'scotch' tape as I try to peel this off the wall...

And yes, Katie wraps Christmas presents--plan your Christmas gift opening timeline accordingly.

Trick-or-Treat

Cinderella (with makeup!!! her favorite part)

Cuddle Penguin sporting the new trick-or-treat bags courtesy of the open house at John's work.

Did a quick tour of the neighborhood, then a special trip out to visit some friends.

Scrapppy Reusable Produce Bag Tutorial

October is Scrapbusters Month over at http://www.sewmamasew.com/ and I decided to get into the spirit and use up some of my scraps. I ended up making lots of things, but I thought that this would be pretty useful for most as an alternative to the rolls of plastic produce bags in the grocery store. The measurements are very flexible, and I think that having bars of cotton fabric instead of total construction of mesh will help it hold up longer. Another bonus is that this is a project that it doesn't judge...if you stitch a seam crooked...it still functions!

****Edit****
I clarified reinforcing the mesh in this video. It is a little rough holding the camera and recording, but I hope it helps!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7LC02TxmSo

*****

Materials:

scraps of mesh (I found this as a remnant in the fabric store, but repurposed sheer curtains, and netting works also.)

Length of ribbon (mine was 24 inches)

Fabric scraps--I used pieces from my cut 2.5 inch strip bin (which is the same as a jelly roll width)-what a great way to use some of those leftover prints!

Getting Started:

1. Cut the mesh you have to a rectangle shape. This can vary--I made a bag large enough for a few pounds of apples...you may want just enough for a few onions. I will give my measurements throughout. Mesh = 12 inches x 22 inches



2. Cut Fabric to size.




Top fabric: 4" x 22"


Two pieces of side fabric: 1.5" x 12"


Bottom piece: 2.5" x 22"





3. Prepare Top Casing

Fold in half (wrong side together) along the 22" length and iron. Fold 1/2" in on each side and press. (see drawing)






4. Attach Top Casing

Open up and use a zig-zag stitch to attach mesh to casing. I made sure the stitching was about 1/2" into the mesh to help it not tear too easily.



Fold over casing and stitch in place.

5. Attach the bottom piece to the mesh with a zig-zag stitch (outside of mesh bag is touching the right side of fabric.

After, fold the seam down and stitch it to the bottom again.

6. Stitch sides to the mesh in the same manner as the bottom.

7. Fold outside of bag together and stitch along the side and bottom. Turn right side out.

8. Use a safety pin to thread ribbon through casing....now you have a reusable produce bag!

p.s. I apologize for the scanned handwritten sketches, but unless Santa delivers Adobe, I'm trying to work with what I got! = )