HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 HAPPPPYYYYYYYY

 NEW YEAR!!!

Say Hello to My Little Friends

No, I didn't type it like I was Al Pacino in Scarface, but I did think it. LOL

Christmas brought me a few new things to love. 

A new purse. This is a big step for me because I haven't changed purses since 2002.

It's red, it smells of freshly tanned leather. Did I mention it's red?

All kinds of helpful Threads articles in one handy place

A 36" curved ruler. I can't wait to design something with it!!!

Star Trek TOS Season 1.

Janeway

 Santa Spock

This is just the highlight reel. LOL

Celebrating the birth of Christ with family and friends was the real gift.

The smoked turkey wasn't bad either. ;-)

What's in your highlight reel?

What Christmas Looks Like at My House

First off, some homemade goodness. Everyone got to sleep on a new holiday pillowcase. Well, all the kids, my sister is not pleased she did not get one. LOL Looks like I'll be making one more.

Church and the story of Christ's birth.

Dot as a wiseman

The boy as a wisemen

Lily making herself comfy on dot's booty

sleep over!!

Good morning. Oops! The hubs hasn't put out my stocking yet. 

I used Amy's this year. See Karen's Still hanging by the chimney with care?

My niece and my sister

Nephew number 2

Me

Sister

Nephew 4

niece

sister and brother

sister and her son, nephew number 1

oops!! miss fire

my mom

Nephew 3

I didn't take as many pictures as I should've, infact, my brother took most of these. 

I was busy cooking and coughing. lol I was one whupped puppy by the end of the day.

It's almost time to say good bye to 2011

May the sands of time be kind to you and the tides of fortune flow more than they ebb!

I hope the holidays found you healthy, happy and loved!!

Merry Day After Christmas!!

Handmade Christmas Goodness

Made especially for the potholder challenged (old joke, don't ask)
Thanks Karen, they are getting their first spots this weekend.

First off, the potholders.  They are totally rockin' and I ♥ them....a lot.

Can't make a decent pair to save my life. lol Believe me, I've tried.

And then she cross stitched this happy little snowman. He proudly hangs on my tree. 

How can you not smile when you see him happily juggling snowballs?

And look how fun the tissue paper is!!! And her binding skills.....par excellence. 


* * shameless plug alert * *  

If you want a pair, she sells them in her etsy shop. A bargain at twice the price.
She has a pair in there with retro kitchen stuff.......I just might need to get a whole 'nother set. 
Thanks Karen!!!!

Possible New Obsession

I've been seeing this little critters around the blogoshere and I think I want some. Nope, I'm sure I want at least one pair. What the heck am I talking about? Fingerless gloves/mittens!

I hate - HATE - being cold but you can't really do anything with gloves or mittens on, but wait! There is a solution...get rid of all the finger bulk!!

Here's a little pictorial of some I've spied.....I do prefer the ones with a little bit of thumb coverage as opposed to thumbless.

Yeppers, a nice, not overly bulky pair would suit me just fine. Mmmmmmmm, I don't knit or crochet. so it's off to etsy...unless someone wants to trade an apron or a sock money for a pair...just sayin. :-)

More on my pinterest board

I think I like the pink ones (style wise) the best...so far. 

Happy winter Solstice!

This cute and animated greeting for all of you!

And a greeting for my fellow geeks

Sorry I haven't posted more, winter germs bit me in the booty and I have done a whole lotta nothing for a few days. Hope to be back strong in a day or two!!

Merry Christmas!

FNSI and tutorial

 Well, I got a lot accomplished. I made this stocking and took all the pics for a tutorial AND I cut out all the fabric for 12, twelve, pillowcases. Alas, not much happened in the ol' sewing room today and it ALL needs to be done the 24th. lol

On to the tute!!

First, get some paper to use for your pattern. I like old desk calendar paper. It's heavy and when you buy it at the dollar store or in March, it's uber cheap!

Find a stocking shape and size you like. Or free hand a design. I am not that good. lol

I hold mine down with these 'weights' 

I used green and red salsa to keep it festive. :-)

Stockings can be kinda fluffy, so hold down the fabric as you trace. 

After you're done, it will look like this....don't forget to add the seam allowance. 

I just cut my fabric a little wider, but having them on the pattern is better.

 Does it look the way you want?

No? Trim it until it does.

Time to measure for your cuff.

See a much better tutorial here

 

A whole bunch of measurements for the cuff. 

It will be 2 times the width plus one seam allowance

by

2 times the depth and 2 times the seam allowance

We'll come back to this is a bit

Cut out:

2 showy fabric

2 lining fabric

2 pieces of batting, fusible fleece or other materiel to make the stocking feel substantial.

If you use sturdy fabric or you aren't quilting it, skip it.

At this point, do any quilting or embellishing.  Lay your cuff out so you know where you want stuff.

Sew right sides together. Leave the top open.

 Turn the stocking side out. clip any curves if you need to.

Then put the liner in, wrong sides facing each other,

Match seams and pin into place....baste

 This is the link to a cuff tutorial I did last year. It's much more thorough than this one is.

http://thedistracteddomestic.blogspot.com/2010/12/applying-cuff-to-stocking-tutorial.html

 Make a loop or get some twill tape and cut it as long as you want the loop. 

Mine was about 5-6" long for a 3" drop.

Pin to the inside of the stocking in the seam area on the heel side

Now, cut you fabric according to your measurements.

Fold in half..drop sides together

Sew that one seam closed

Press it open

Fold over and make it all even and pretty

Pin to the inside of the stocking. Sew. Finish the edge with a zigzag, serger or pinking shears

Pull out the cuff. I signed my creation. lol

Fold down the cuff, pull up the loop and you are good to go.

Use this as a spring board to create a masterpiece of your very own. A family heirloom even!!

Trust me, it took longer to explain that to make. LOL

Merry Christmas!!