Roman Shades Complete

Checking this project off my list feels SO good!  

 Our lamp is still trying to find the right home, since rearranging everything.  We did have a table lamp, but, one little boy accidentally trashed the shade....

up

Fabrics are Amy Butler, the home decor fabrics have such a nice feel to them.  Slightly more $$ but worth it for a quality covering in my book!  That is partly why I did the roman shade, 2 yards per window vs. 6 - 8 yds for a full length curtain.

one down

I lined these with black out lining.  Fabrics fade really fast here in windows, and I didn't want to take a chance at my gorgeous fabric fading.  Plus, having the living room dark will be nice for movies, and the hot summer months to come. 

two down :)

 The windows are on the small side, so I decided to mount them over the window and made them a few inches wider and longer, to give them more of a presence.  I really, REALLY like them lots!

cord lock, eye bolts, button holes

I purchased my cord lock, and rings on etsy.  Yesterday I was convinced that the cord lock didn't work - thankfully Joe had a look at it, and I had goofed it up.  Today they are gliding up and down, locking as I want them too - yay!

rings for cording

I used a zig-zag stitch, with the smallest stitch length, I ended up dropping the feed dogs too, in order to sew the rings on without too many holes in the fabrics.  There is also a dowel in the hem to keep things flat as it lifts.  


My rings are spaced 9" apart and start 6" from the bottom, then every 12" up from there.  All in all they went together really easily, getting them hung with Joe's help alleviated a lot of my frustrations.  I know some of you may have more questions, and I will do my best to answer them in the comments.


I hope you have a great weekend~
Amy
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Houses in Frolic!

I'm so glad to have you help me celebrate 500 posts!   It wouldn't be possible with out all of you  :)

I took a little time on Saturday to make some house blocks for V.  Pulled out a little extra yardage, from a different project, cut, and whaalaa -

Houses in Frolic

What do you think?  I love them - yes, there's five total!  I work in production mode best, and it's for a great cause!  :)  These will be in the mail early this week to meet the April 31 deadline.

While working my blocks, I was able to put a couple new tools to work!  I told you about Kelly's month of giveaways, and went and entered myself in a bunch of them too.  Lucky me - I won a set of tools.  Yay me!  

Super sharp little scissors and seam ripper - I have to rethink my ways a little to put it to good use, but it's nice and sharp.  And the scissors are a great addition for all the little threads hanging.  Thank you Kelly!

I hope you have a great day!
Blessings~
Amy
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For a New Big Sister!

One of Ella's teachers is expecting a new baby boy, and has a 2 year old little girl at home.  When I learned this I started thinking about what I could do/make for the new babe!  Unfortunately, I've had zero time for extra quilt projects, so I put it on the back burner in my mind.

Then I received this amazing cut of fleece from Valori Wells, it is so soft and snuggly!  In the end, we decided to make a special blanket for the big sister, from Ella, who is our big sister.

Quick instructions:  Square up your fleece, buy satin binding, pin in place as you go, and stitch!  A walking foot probably would help with the creeping nature of the satin, but it's a sweet little fast blanket.

Ella was able to give the blanket to the soon-to-be big sister, at school (apparently she came for the art lesson) and it was a well received gift!  I'm praying that her baby makes an entrance soon!

Blessings ~
Amy
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Springy Table Runner

Hi there!  I had a fun and productive weekend, and the best part is - there's no school today!  Friday was the end of the quarter, so the lovely teachers have a day to work without students.

I finished piecing a quilt, and prepped the backing, made from this beautiful collection - Botany by Lauren and Jessi Jung, I believe it will be out in March.  The colors are fresh and scream spring!  Before I finished my quilt top, I had already planned a quick table runner for my living room!

Honestly, I think I spent about an hour total on this piece.  I even stitched the binding on the machine - not as hard as everyone makes it out to be!  The only thing I would do different next time is cut the binding smaller - I was working with jelly roll strips.

 Hopefully my table will stay clear so I can admire it all the time!  I hope you had a good weekend!

I need to go wade through all the giveaway comments and announce them - cross your fingers :)
Amy
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Fast Finish - Yay!

Even though I don't really need another bag (according to my family!) I did need a finish!  A little something that could be completed and shared here, and be a low key item just for me.  I've had this bag cut out for quite a while and so last night, was the night!  I had pieced a couple backs earlier in the day, but set aside my current piecing project, to finish something!

This is an unlined tote bag intended to carry quilt projects in progress and the like! (In fact, I put two quilt tops/backs in to take the picture!) Having joined the local quilt guild (it's fun!) one of the first things I noticed was that lots of ladies have large totes for toting projects for show & tell - here's mine!  I made it with two 1/2 yards of home deco fabric, one for the bag and one for the handles.  I have a 1 yard cut waiting for a similar bag, but I may use dowels for handles.

What have you been up to!?  I've not been to my reader in over a month!  I just have to prioritize my life a little extra right now - not enough hours in the day!  But, really, I do want to know what you all have been up to :)

I'm still looking for more nominations - talk your blog buddy into nominating you!

Blessings,
Amy

I added my post here :

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Christmas Stockings

While I wasn't mopping up the kitchen or soaking my hands in dishwater I was working on these over the weekend! Last year when I made our tree skirt, my family suggested stockings. I wanted to make them, but had purchased enough fabric for the tree skirt only. Well, earlier this summer I was blessed, when the charming Kelly cleaned out her stash, and I knew that stockings were a must!

I love the maverick stars and this is my first project with them. I love the gentle reminder of Christs' birth with the star - even Emmalie noted while I was sewing that they were like "Jesus' star". She's such a smart girl :) I put everyone's name on them, that way there are no squabbles year to year. And I had fun mixing up all the fabrics that I had!

I took pictures of my process, and plan to post a tutorial this week!

Let's swap dinner recipes tomorrow - k!?

No dishwasher yet :( It needs a bit more work. . .

Happy Monday!
Amy

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Sew & Tell

I spent Wednesday - sewing! I didn't do any dishes, laundry or vacuuming until after 4:30pm! Yeah, the place was a disaster between the kids and all my threads, but I was smiling. As has happened often, I had an idea for a bag that was keeping me awake, needing to be made. So I got busy!My little Sassy Tote. It measures 9" wide and tall, and 3" deep. With 2 interior and 1 exterior pocket.
It holds all that I need it too, but hopefully I won't loose stuff in it. Can you tell that's been a problem lately!?
Pretty prints on the back -- I love the Amy Butler Love prints!
I think my favorite feature is the outside pocket - I'm limiting my keys and phone to this pocket, so I can always find them.
And I have put together a pdf pattern for this bag! This weekend I am offering it for $3 right here via this paypal button at the top of my blog. (Go up to the top and click the "buy now" button.)

After the weekend it will go to $5 - so get it while it's hot! I will email the pdf as quick as I can, and you can make a new bag this weekend.


Sew & Tell is happening over at Amy's - go toot your horn and let us know what you got done this week!

I'm also thinking about Christmas, stockings and Advent calendar - anyone interested in a pattern for those?

I hope you have a great weekend, I think mine will be busy!
Blessings ~
Amy
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Grocery Sacs

Slightly more interesting than yesterday! I have been wanting to make a set of grocery sacs since I made the first one last year. . . you know those projects that you put off because they just aren't that exciting. Guilty! The pattern is from SewSimple - May 2008 - it works up easily and is comfortable to carry a load of groceries. Now I have a set of six, made from thrift sheets!

I gotta run again - so excited for Friday to come!

Amy
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5 : : Sent

The placemat I sent to Beth!

My favorite part and the inspiration for the rest of the placemat :)


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Freshcut Pincushion

I took this -

and made it this -
So fun! I love Dresden plate ruler/template thingy! Takes all the mystery out of them :) If you look back at this post I have more information about it, and the pattern I used for the pincushion.

ETA: the link to the pattern is here! I didn't realize it was hiding :)

My Wonderland fabric just keeps on giving! I promise I didn't buy that much - just love using up all the little bits :)


This is what Emmalie was working on while I sewed - "I'm organizing for you!" she tells me. I understand where the anal/perfectionist comes from, aahhmm, I just hope she outgrows some of it before it keeps her from enjoying anything less than perfect. Such a sweetie, and all the while soaking up the sewing for the day :)


I hope you are having a great day! Just in case you haven't seen this --





Go see Dana and you could be the big winner! But first you have to make a quilt :)

Gotta run!
Blessings to you~
Amy

Check, Check!

That's me getting stuff done! I opted to do the sewing and then focus on the nitty gritty :)

For my Ella girl:
Tutorial found here. I'm sure I didn't do it just like the tute, I printed the pdf and went for it - next time I may go have it blown up a bit :)

A Bible cover for my mom : If anyone's interested in a tutorial, I could be persuaded, well maybe next week. . . Funny thing, I purchased this fabric and have had the measurements since Fall! I guess I wanted to be able to give it to her in person :)


= laundry, laundry, laundry
= make Ella a monster
= birthday cake
= birthday treats for school
= make Mom a Bible Cover (shhh!)
= declutter my desk
= plan a menu
= blog about the HMQS - I met people and have a couple of fun purchases
= clean up the house, more and again, really it never ends :)
= finish up another project, and get it in the mail
= get some decent sleep!

The house is almost done, just need to get to the kitchen again, and birthday treats will be in the oven after lunch! I hope you are doing well :)
Amy

Wonderland Bag

This is what I came up with while stitching down my binding yesterday! I love that I have grown as a seamstress, to the point where I can envision a bag, and have the experience to accomplish it! I had a few scraps the same size and that started the thought process, I always want to use up those extra bits somehow :)



There's not really a front or back . . .



I added pockets to my lining, to fit a phone, pens and miscellaneous bits that always land at the bottom. I added stuff for the picture, but I'm not sure I'm going to keep it . . . have to think it out - it may end up in my etsy shop.



I did a bit of random quilting within the panels.



My only change in the future might be to add some interfacing. I wanted to try a bag with batting only to see how it did - I like it, nice and soft, but having more strength would probably be helpful in the long term scheme of things :)

What do you think of it?

I'm off to tackle a few necessities.

Blessings to you ~
Amy

My Friday Evening

Once the kids were tucked into bed, I ran to the grocery store. . . I was in need of chocolate :) It has been one of those days - and I don't keep it on hand as much as possible. With my fix taken care of - I got to work on these Christmas cards. In less than an hour I had my little forest complete, now I need to sit down and write. . . thankfully I have everything on hand!

Hope you've had a good night! I love sewing in a quiet house :) Joe is here, his little brother (17) hangs out over here on the weekends, they tend to watch Discovery Channel and the like, while it is entertaining - I'd rather sew! Big surprise :)

Nativity

I hope that you had a great weekend! Mine was busy as usual, and good family time too.

We set up our tree during the week, my skirt looks just right under it! Yes, we have a fake tree. . . while living in Southern California, we were in campus housing (Joe was working on his MA), and for insurance purposes no real trees were allowed - so we went to the local walmart/kmart (I don't remember which) and got a little tree, for our little apartment, and still use it every year! I've been batting the kids away from the tree since Wednesday - Owen just had to press his luck, and see if he would get into trouble for touching. It's made for a little extra activity on my part, just keeping track of him :) So far it hasn't fallen over! A couple of weeks ago I was given a nativity fabric panel, a friend was cleaning out her stash from when her boys were young. I would guess that the panel was at least 10 if not 15 years old - so I have no idea where she got it or if they even make them any more - sorry. I cut out all the peices in the evening, and got to sewing the next morning - Emmalie was by my side and was glad to help stuff the people. I've sewn plenty of clothing but the curves and wonky shapes were challenging! I added beans to the bottoms instead of cardboard, so they are weighted and stand easily. The kids, especially Em, have had fun playing with the set since I finished up. It's a fun set, and I love how it brings the meaning of Christmas into playtime.

This is another set that we have. We have let them play with it a little, but it's not the same as the soft fabric set. The mini quilt I received last week was the perfect stage for it on our table. I hope that you are blessed today ~
Amy