Christmas is .....

68 days away.  Where has the time gone?  How are your projects coming along?  Mine are moving along very slowly.  I actually have about 45 days left for any creations.

Here's some little gift ideas:

How about these Adorable Autos?  This pattern is from Sweetbriar.  Make one or all three.  Keep those imaginations going?

How about this cute pillow pattern from Country Appliques?  For the older child, the Goodnight Cars Pillow pattern.  Cars fit in the garage and there is an additional storage pocket on the back.

How about a sleeping bag for the doll(s)?  This is the Slumber Party sleeping bag pattern by Atkinson Designs.  With 4 sizes to choose from, you should be able to find the right one.

This one takes a little more effort to create.  Dolls On The Go pattern by Sisters' Common Thread is create for the little person who likes to take their doll with them.  There is storage for the doll and accessories.


Happy Stitching!

Fall Decorating Inspiration...

I love to decorate for fall.  I haven't really started yet at my house.  My living room is almost completely bare waiting on new furniture to arrive.  However, I can ideas as the furniture is suppose to arrive this week.  Here's a few interesting ideas:

Let's start with our indoor pumpkins.  Aren't these Hot Skwash Velvet Pumpkins cute? You can find these at neimanmarcus.com  and searching for the name.  The prices are between $20 and $45.00 each depending on the size.  This could be fun to create yourself.  Go check them out.

Aren't these hurricanes wonderful?  I think that you might be able to use these for more than just fall decorating.  Search neimanmarcus.com for Golden Twig Hurricanes if you're interested in looking at them a little closer.  The pricing is between $130 and $180 for each hurricane.  I really like them and may look to see if I can find some interesting twigs to kinda duplicate this look without spending a lot of money.  I'm sure the dollar store has inexpensive clear hurricanes.

Although this picture is really showcasing the garland, I think the runner under it is more interesting.  How easy would that be to duplicate?  Just decide the length and width, then find the burlap, and spend a little bit of time making the fringe.  You can get a closer look at both the runner and the garland by going to neimanmarcus.com and searching for Bountiful Harvest 6' Garland.

Here's a quick and easy way to change the seasonal décor.  Just change the pillow covers.  Pillows are fairly easy to make.  I always pick the pillow size and then cut the cover the same size.  For the pillow back you will want to add a closure of some type.  I prefer zippers.  Here's a Pillow Zipper tutorial that explains how I do the back (click on the name).  To see this particular pillow, go to potterybarn.com and search for Hunter Plaid Pillow Covers.

How about this fun little pillow?  Again, this would be easy to do.  If you wanted to the embroidery, it could be a take along item or you could make it even easier and use fabric markers to make the word on the cover front.  This pillow is also found at potterybarn.com.
 
Hope your inspired to create something wonderful!

Happy Stitching!

Christmas is Coming...

Did you know there is 106 days till Christmas?  Christmas always seems like a long way off but isn't.  Personally, I need to have gifts ready by the first of December so they can be mailed to far away family members.  This subtracts 20 to 25 days off the days till Christmas.  How soon do you need to have gifts ready? 

Here's a few decorating ideas:

These fabrics are perfect for table clothes.  The border runs on both selvages.  Fabric is approximately 58" wide.  Click on Holiday Home to visit this fabric collection.

How about these cute little Pot Holders?  Make some for gifts and for your own kitchen.  Click on Christmas Trio of Pot Holders to visit the pattern description.

How about a new table runner?  This is Peace Table Runner pattern by Cottage Creek Quilts.  Click on the pattern name to see the description.

You could get creative and make a cute little Christmas Village with the Glitter Village pattern by Atkinson Designs.  Click on the pattern name to see more information.

Change the look of your pillows with the Pillow Party pattern.  Click on the pattern name to see more information.

Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful to add to your holiday decorations!

Happy Stitching!

The Bunnies Are Coming.....

The Bunnies have arrived.  Check out these cute patterns:

This is the Bunny Pail pattern by Sweetwater.  How cute it this?  Included with this pattern is 1/4 yard of Heat N Bond Lite and 1/2 yard package of the Soft and Stable in white.  This is enough to create one bucket.  Want to make more than one?  Just ask about increasing the quantities of the Heat N Bond Lite and the Soft and Stable. 

This is the Bunny Table Runner pattern by Sweetwater.  Isn't this sweet?  This includes 1/2 yard of Heat N Bond Lite for the applique.  This is enough to create one table runner.

This isn't bunny related but related to the same spring time holiday:

This is Egg Pocket pattern by Sweetwater.  Aren't these little eggs cute?  Included with this pattern is 6" x WOF of natural canvas and 1/6 yard of Heat N Bond Lite.  This is enough to create 4 egg pockets.  I like the idea of putting little surprises in them.

Feel free to ask any questions.  Click on the pattern name to see additional information on the store listing.

Happy Stitching!

Jacket Inspiration....

Fall is coming and it won't be long before we need to have light weight jackets.  Do you purchase your jackets or do you make them?  Here's some inspiration:

This gorgeous little number is from Lafayette 148 New York and is called the Zena jacket.  I love the black & white tweed with the angular piping details.  Just beautiful.  If you want to check out the details, go to neimanmarcus.com and search for Zena wool-blend jacket.  Price tag:  $698.00

GA's Jacket pattern by Silhouette Patterns has a little bit of the patterns to it.  The collar is different. Worth a look.

Isn't this a cute little zip jacket?  It's from Armani Collezioni. Love the tailored look.  Love the ribbon detail.  Price tag:  $1295.00  Want to check the details of this pretty little princess seam jacket?  Go to neimanmarcus.com and search for Tweed Zip-front Jacket. 

Looks like I'm on a black/white/grey trend today.  Let me know if you find any patterns similar to either one of these jackets.  As sewers we should be able to duplicate any look that we are interested in and have it fit.  So celebrate your creativity and make something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!

Unmentionables Worth Mentioning.....

Here is the Unmentionables Worth Mentioning pattern:

Have you looked at this pattern?  It is full of basic items needed for a wardrobe.  There are 3 versions of the VPL Undies.  You can make them out of anything you want maybe even using up those small pieces of leftover knits.  There are 2 versions of slips with this pattern.  One is a straight slip and works well with the Magic Pencil Skirt pattern or any straight skirt.  The other slip is a fuller version in two lengths and works well with Pamela's Favorite Bias Skirt pattern or any fuller skirt pattern.  The final item in the pattern is the Cami Illusion.  What a great little pattern!  Think of the fun you could have with this little pattern.  Aren't there times when you don't want the bulk of a cami under something but want extra coverage?   Oh, I know you can purchase these little jewels in basic colors but now you can use prints, too.  Strap guards are available at the eBay store.

Need a little more inspiration?  Check out the trunk show at youtube for this pattern -  Trunk Show.  Lots of beautiful items shown.  Looking for tips and techniques.  Check out the youtube video - Unmentionables Worth Mentioning Techniques.

Hope your inspired to make a few of these great basic items.

Happy Stitching!

Fall Inspiration 2...

I love looking at the clothing when the seasons change.  Here's a very wearable outfit:

The top is really nice. It is a princess seam with pintucking on the sleeves and front.  There is a sheer trim around the neckline and eyelet around the hems.  This version is made from silk.  I would think that you could duplicate the look with a batiste or maybe a hankerchief linen.  Pintucking would need to be accomplished before cutting anything out.  A wing needle could be used to recreate an eyelet look.  If you not familiar with using a wing needle, do an internet search.  You will find lots of information.  This needle is used a lot in heirloom sewing.  The basics are that you will need a zigzag throat plate and an open toed foot so you can see what you are doing.  A basic straight stitch will work but you will most likely need to do repeats.  If you have a stitch on your machine that moves in and out of the same hole multiple times, this is a good stitch to sample. If you want to see this top in detail, visit Neiman Marcus and search for the Short-Sleeve Eyelet-Trim Blouse by Elie Tahari.  The price tag is $278.00.

The jeans are a classic 5 pocket, cropped skinny jean by Elie Tahari.  To see more detail, use the link above and search for Azella Cropped Skinny Jeans.  The price tag is $198.00.

I could not resist this little dress. What a great way to show case stripes!  This would work well with the color blocked dress patterns that abound.  A great way to create a curvy silhouette.  If you want to check out the details, use the Neiman Marcus link above and search for Mitered Stripe Sleeveless Sheath Dress  by Milly.  The price tag is $395.00. 

Here's another sweater with exposed zippers.  I'm not sure if they are functional or decorative.  Duplicate the look with your favorite pullover top and sweater knit.  Make sure that you have enough sitting room when you lengthen the pattern (assuming you need too).  You can decide whether to make the zippers functional or decorative when you add them.  Use the above Neiman Marcus link if you would like to look at the details.  Search for Susie Zip-Body Cashmere Sweater by Christopher Fischer.  The price tag is $298.00.

Hope your inspired to make something wonderful.

Happy Sewing!