Felt Nativity Ornament

The idea came from Pinterest.  Of course.  Like many of you, I find all kinds of clever and inspiring ideas on Pinterest.  But for once, instead of just pinning that idea, I actually took it and made my own version.

Mary is standing in my version, and I gave her a head scarf. 

I sketched it out on paper and then traced around the "parts" for my pattern pieces.  

A loop of jute was sewn between the layers so that the ornament can be hung around a doorknob or on the tree.  Don't ask why I tied knots in the jute.  It just happened.  :)

And then I made, not one, but two.  

One to keep and one to give away to a special friend.  

Christmas Banner

  
After seeing so many beautiful Christmas banners on Pinterest and other websites, I decided to make one for my own fireplace mantel.  Because I couldn't find any printable letters to my liking, I ended up making my own banner letters using the "Flakes" font, a free font from RAFwebdesigns.  Making the letters took a long time, but I was happy with the way they turned out.  

I found all kinds of ideas online for ways to put the banner together, and I incorporated some of those ideas in my banner.  Assembling the banner was not difficult but it did take time to cut out all those ornaments!

The banner is now decorating the mantel in my living room, and it looks so pretty there.  Now I just need to get up the rest of the Christmas decorations! (This coming weekend, hopefully).

Merry Christmas!
Ruth

 

 

New felt pincushions

A few little fun things I've been working on....I so enjoy working with felt!

Cheers!
Jessica

Vintage makeover

This laundry bag made from a vintage bedspread I'd got at a garage sale years ago. Despite the fact that it is threadbare, stained, and torn in places, I loved the print and used to use it on my bed at home. In fact, this fabric was the background for our original SewChic blog design...Today, part of that bedspread became a small-sized laundry bag for delicates...


I got the inspiration from Anna's bag at Pleasant View Schoolhouse. I love her blog.

I had fun sewing on two ruffly tulle flowers. I like how they add dimension to the front. The whole thing is so delicate; faded, worn and old ladyish...I love it!

Baby Shower Gift Idea

I'm not sure when I'll start finding time to sew or craft again, but I'm up to blogging! Here are a couple of pictures of my darling new baby. Elliot is 18 days old today...he's already growing so fast! He's starting to move his arms and hands about more, and although he hasn't found his thumb yet, he likes to suck on his hands.

It's just so nice not to be pregnant anymore! Even with taking care of a baby all day and all night, I still feel more rested and energetic than I have felt in months.



My elderly neighbor, Miss Alice, made me the neatest baby gift. She took a small sized wreath, wrapped it in wide, wire-edged ribbon, and then tied all sorts of baby items to it to create a special gift that is going to be so hard to take apart! Mine has all sorts of useful things tied to it--bibs, a sippy cup, booties and socks, a couple of onesies, feeding spoons, a pacifier, a teether, a rattle, and various nail and hair grooming items.


Miss Alice has been making these "baby wreaths" for babies for years and years. She said that she has probably made over 50 in her life. Despite her ailing health, she wanted to continue her tradition and make one for me. I was so blessed by her kindness and generosity. God has truly given us good neighbors here, and I am thankful for each one that we have gotten to know.

Jessica

Justin's Christmas Ornament, 2006

This is the only ornament I made this year... a felt lighthouse for my husband's stocking. Lighthouses are special to him and he has collected a lot of neat lighthouse stuff over the years. It was a lot of fun to make, and yes, he loved it!

Felt Ornaments

Inspired by Jessica's coasters, my mother and I made felt ornaments while she was visiting us for Thanksgiving. Mom, creative as she is, sketched out simple patterns for our use. We made two of each design, 1/2 for her and 1/2 for me. I also made several ornaments with the 4-H clover to include in gift baskets for our wonderful 4-H leaders.

We are quite the messy crafters, don't you agree?

Making the ornaments with my mother was a lot of fun. I cherish the memories that I have of going to fabric and craft stores with Mom. We used to do so much together when we lived back in Colorado, and I do miss those times! I think my love of sewing and crafting was inherited from Mom. She is so creative! Thanks, Mom. I love you!

Ruth

Felt Coasters for Christmas

Here are some pictures of the felt coasters I made last week. I enjoyed making and using my autumn leaf coasters so much that I went ahead and made a set for Christmas. I used the same size circles as before and just created 6 different Christmas designs for the centers. This was a really easy project that went pretty fast.

Mom is making some some beautiful felt ornaments...and I can't wait for her to share them!

Enjoy this season!

Jessica

The Perfect Pear Pincushion

We like pincushions here and I just came across a cute pear pattern by Stacy that would be perfect for a pincushion. It would also be appropriate for Christmas ornaments or decorations. What fun!

Jessica

Creating Cardboard Houses

This week we have had fun making houses out of cardboard boxes. Ellen, Jacob, and I used house paint to cover the brown boxes, then we drew on the designs with markers. Since the markers smeared easily when touched, we sprayed the drawings with a matte finish. The kids have been having a lot of fun playing in their new houses, and I enjoyed the creating process, even though we're not great artists. :-)
Ruth


If you'd like to see the pictures close up, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/callmeruth/. You can also see Ellen's blog at http://learningon.homeschooljournal.net/ to see what she had to say.

Jacob lost a tooth last week. Don't you just love his toothless smile?

Emily even got in the act, "helping" as she could.
She got more markers on her feet and hand than on the box.
Take a look at her little orange piggies.

Fall Pumpkins Revisited

Another project finished! I started these pumpkins after Jessica posted a picture of similar ones and after I happened to see the orange fabric clearanced at Hancocks. Yes, I know that most of you decorated for Fall months ago, and that Christmas is just around the corner. But, hey, I'm just glad that I finished these this year!

The pumpkins were easy to make. Since the fabric does not fray, I sewed the seams wrong sides together. For the vines I laid a pipe cleaner in a strip of fabric and sewed alongside the pipe cleaner, enclosing it within the fabric strip. (Does that make sense?) The leaves are just two layers of fabric sewn wrong sides together. By machine I stitched the leaf veins. Overall, I'm pleased with the way the pumpkins came out. Jessica, next time you come over you can pick a couple to take home with you.

Oh, I also wanted to mention the table runner in the next picture. My mother made it for me last year for Christmas. The tablerunner is reversible with one side for Thanksgiving and one side for Christmas. I've enjoyed having in on my dining room table already this year.

On to the next project....
Ruth

Easy Autumn Felt Crafts

For this pumpkin pincusion, I basically used the Paisley Pincusion pattern, but mine came out larger then I wanted because I didn't do the extra line of stitching on the seams to make "petals" like the pattern shows. I forgot to read the directions...oh well. I still like it!


This felt coaster set has been so fun to work on this week! The pattern was from a library book, Holiday Touches for the Country Home, and it was so easy.

To duplicate them, cut out two circles, one larger then the other, and a maple leaf design from contrasting colors of felt. Layer them, secure the layers with craft or fabric glue, and them stitch them together with a blanket stitch in a contrasting color. Use 6 strands of embroidery thread for the blanket stitching.

I want to make some Christmas coasters next...I thought I would just use my Christmas cookie cutters as simple patterns for a tree, star, stocking, snowman etc.

Fall Decorating

Last week the holiday bug hit me and I've been feeling like creating, and cooking, and puttering, and nesting in my little house. Saturday we finally broke down and bought the electric fireplace and mantle for out living room that we've wanted for so long. Our living room is so cozy....I love it.

This is my new fall wreath in my eating area. I know it doesn't look the best on the bright green wall, but for right now, that's just the color the wall is, and I live with it.

This little project was so easy to make...and fairly inexpensive. I'd gotten the wreath at a garage sale last summer for $2, and the fake leaves and berries I got at WalMart--3 little bunches at $0.94 each.

First I used some leftover fabric scraps from another project to wind around the wreath (about 1/4 yd). I ripped the strips rather then cutting them to create a ragged look.

Secondly I cut the 3 bunches of leaves and berries apart into individual stems, and then used floral tape to bunch them up separately, 6 little bundles, 3 for each side of the wreath. I laid bundles on the wreath to see where I wanted them to go and then wired them in place, starting with the leaf bundles on the bottom, the orange berries overlapping them, and then the yellow berries on top. To finish I simply wired a big bow in the center and secured a couple leaves in at the top to cover a bare spot.

Justin putting together our mantlepiece for the electric fireplace.


Happy Thanksgiving!

Bridal Shower Craft

Saturday, Mom and I hosted a small bridal shower for a dear friend of mine, Tonya. She's getting married in less than 2 weeks and we were so excited to celebrate with her.


The luncheon menu consisted of Italian soup, Chicken salad sandwiches, Ham and cheese sandwiches, and sides of pickles and olives, cheese and crackers, and grapes. For dessert we had fancy little petit-four cakes, and cream cheese eclairs.


I made little name place cards for each person, and I thought they came out cute! They were so easy to make and gave a very elegant feel to the place settings.






To made them, I cut rectangles of purple and pink cardstock, 3" by 4 1/2". I placed the stickers on them so that they would stand well above the center when the card was folded in half lengthwise. I semi folded the card in half carefully, trying not to bend the sticker too much. I then used an x-acto knife to cut out the outline of the sticker on the top half. Once the sticker was cut out, I was able to completely fold the card and write the names on them with a calligraphy pen.

Felt Pumpkin Craft

These free felt pumpkin patterns from AOK Corral are really cute. I've been thinking about doing some fall decorating, and these would be so fun and easy. Also, for those of you who like to make cute pincushions, I think the smallest one would probably be the perfect size for an adorable autumn pincushion.

Thanks to Mrs. Wilt for the link!

Jessica

Free Pincushion Pattern

Here is a free pincushion pattern...and it's absolutely adorable! I love how it's made out of felt. If only I needed another project, I would make one, but right now I have plenty of pincushions and projects to keep me busy for awhile!
Jessica

Free Petal Pincushion Pattern

Pins and Pincushions

This was not an original idea, but a fun one nevertheless. When I saw these easy to make pincushions on another blog I just had to make one for myself! (So I made two and gave one to Jessica). Then of course, I had to make Shrinky Dink pins to go with the pincushions.

This is where it got fun. We had nine people around the table drawing on Shrinky Dink and making pins! We found out that Jessica's husband is quite the artist. Actually, I already knew this, but I had never seen him in action before. The pins he made are something special! I love the intense look on the faces of these creative people. Even Matthew joined in the fun. Heather and Sam made a few Shrinky Dinks and then manned the oven to the great relief of everyone else.

I remember making things with Shrinky Dink years ago when I was a kid. I'd forgotten about it until I saw a tutorial for these pins on the Wee Wonderfuls blog. Good memories, good times. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Ruth

Fast and Easy Headbands

After I posted yesterday I realized I didn't get pictures up of the headbands I made to match the girls' dresses. A few days ago I came across a blog
with some beautiful headbands and a free pattern and instructions to make them. Thank you, Heather, of My Name is Heather," for the tutorial!

Also, thank you all who have commented on my previous post. Your sweet words are such an encouragement to me.

Katie gets the credit for these beautiful pictures. She figured out how to operate my camera better than I can, with special effects and all.

blessings,
Ruth