Time for stockings

I decided to send gift cards or maybe cash to our kids and a couple of grandsons for Christmas this year.  Not wanting to just stick them in a card, I started looking for something to make to hold the g.c.s/ cash.

I found a cute kit online, but soon realized that there was a LOT of hand sewing involved and I  wouldn't have them done in time for this year.

Then I found a cute idea for mini stockings.  I had to find a copyright free drawing of a stocking and then enlarge it.

Pretty easy to do....trace the stocking parts onto paper backed fusible web...fuse pieces to desired fabrics then cut out..  Then, fuse onto felt..  Cut the felt even with the cotton print then stitch close to the edge of the cuff ( no need to do the sides of the cuff as you'll do that later) and do the same to the inner edges of the heel and toe if you add them.

Next, you place the stocking onto another piece of felt and stitch around the stocking (except for the top of course) and trim around the stocking using pinking shears.
Six of the seven I want are done and stuffed with their goodies and ready to mail out next week.  The last one doesn't need to be done until Christmas Eve at the latest so I've got time.

I made a Christmas bow tie for my dog, Buddy a week or so ago, but it was just too big for him despite my cutting the required pieces smaller than the instructions called for.

It made me think of a circus clown.  He's going to have his pic taken with Santa tomorrow and NOT wearing a clown tie!  So, after I finished the 6 stockings, I  made another stab at making a smaller tie for him.

               Much better!

Speaking of Buddy, he's sitting here whining me...it's bedtime ( or so he thinks) so I guess I'd better end this for tonight.

And another one

Off my 'wanting to do' list

I bought two of these and might try to get the second one done before Christmas, but it all depends on how things go.

Next up on my list is a kit that I bought from Quilted Joy.

The red print is the backing.

And somewhere in my mess are two more panels that I ordered (can't remember who from though).  Not sure where they are.. looks like I'm going to have to do some cleaning :(...never mind, I found them...

And those two came from Bear Creek Quilting Company...and will have to wait until I get fabrics for borders, backing and binding.

When I found those two, I also found another kit

This one will definitely have to wait until the new year.  Hopefully, I'll be able to work on it while I'm recovering from my knee surgery.

Well, that's it for today.  I  didn't expect to do this much.

Take care

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I Did It!

After having issues with Mo'e, I  was able to deal with them and start quilting on the youngest daughter's bf's quilt.  

But then more issues came up....after crying out for Help on one of the fb groups I belong to, I  found that one of Moe's encoders had come unplugged.  Everything was going fine until I got to the last 'row'; when trying to baste the edge down, there was a BIG wrinkle/pleat.  After wetting it and letting it set overnight, it wasn't quite as bad, but it was still there.  I did manage to quilt most of it out.

Then I noticed that I  left a little too much on the top of the backing when I was laying the top down so when I got down to the bottom of the quilt, the top was about an inch longer than the backing.  So, when it came time to trimming, I did it so they were the same.

All I can say is "Better done than perfect" and I'm just glad it's done.  I'm sure he'll love it - imperfections and all.

The backing is fleece and I used 80/20 batting.

There was some scrap fabrics left from the top and so I made him a couple of mug rugs.

Now, maybe I'll get another one or two of my own tops quilted.  Just panels so it shouldn't take too long.

Ttyl

Here's the pic

And the backing fabric....

Off to knee camp and other errands.

Ttyl

Would you believe?!?!

Look! Mo'e is nekked! 

For the first time in MONTHS!  For five of those months, it held just one quilt waiting for me to finish it.

Tonight, it was finally finished!!!!  I'd do a happy dance if my legs weren't so stiff and sore.  I'll take another picture once the binding and label are on.

Tomorrow, I  hope to get a couple of things done before my son and I  attend 'knee camp' after dropping Buddy off at the groomers.  It's something they require before you have surgery on your knee - in my case, it's total knee replacement.

Sometime before the weekend, I  want to load another quilt top onto Mo'e...

the one for my youngest daughter's bf so it needs to be done and ready to ship out by the end of next week....which means I have to decide HOW I want to quilt the white strips.  If I  had more time, I  could consider outline stitching the letters RAIDERS in the white, but I  think it would take me too long :(.  It's for a guy, so I don't want to do feathers. Guess I'll have to check my books to see what I can find....

Ttyl.....

I've been busy (still)...

Since my last post, I finished my RSC2021 quilt top and it's been set aside in the waiting to be quilted line.

And then I started another quilt... this one is for my youngest daughter's bf/fiancé/partner/other half (not sure what to call him).  He's been after me to make him a Las Vegas Raiders quilt...EVERY chance he gets - online, in the background when I'm on the phone with her, etc.  I keep telling him "We'll see".  

I bought the themed fabric a few months ago, but hadn't decided on the pattern I was going to use so didn't buy other fabrics to go with it until last week when I had decided on the pattern (BQ6) and I found just the right 2nd fabric at our local quilt shop.  I needed a third fabric, but it was going to be white and I already had that at home.

I started cutting the pieces for the top on, I think it was Sunday, and had two blocks sewn by late Monday - and that's when I realized that I needed to figure out a different layout for some of the blocks so that the big squares were all facing the same direction.  Took a bit of time, but I figured it out.

Wednesday, I was able to sew all the blocks together into rows and yesterday, it became a quilt top.

There's not a lot of space for me to stand to get a good photo (old sewing/craft room that still needs to be de-cluttered) and the ground is wet so I'm not taking it outside for it's photo op.

I bought Raiders themed fleece for the backing and will use my usual Hobbs 80/20 batting.  I had enough of the themed fabric left over to make the binding and a couple of mug rugs.

Now, I just need to finish the quilt that's been on Mo'e 'forever' (since June) 

so that I can get this latest top quilted in time to send for Christmas.  Although, now that I'm thinking about it a little more, maybe I should just send the mug rugs for Christmas and then send the quilt later.  LOL

I've been busy

I'm finally feeling like doing 'something'.  First off, I made three pairs of these Jack Lantern mug rugs as surprise gifts for some neighbors.

Then it was on to this small wall hanging... 

Oh wait!  this table runner top was before the sheep wall hanging.  I just didn't get it quilted until after I did the wall hanging.  Used plenty of scraps but still have plenty left - we all know how that goes, don't we?

Then it was on to catching up on my RSC2021... the last I'd done was June, I think.  I had to add  3 extra blocks to make it larger ( and to use all of this year's colors)...

I still have an outer border to add... will probably do that tomorrow.

And here's my Buddy posing with his new November scarf that I just made for him.

Other things have been going on, but mainly just ordinary day to day 'stuff'.  Still trying to get things done around here so that my son can lay new flooring down, scrape the 'popcorn' off the ceilings and paint almost all the rooms in the house - I'm balking at letting him paint my new sewing room, which was the former formal living room ( I MAY change my mind later).

Ok, Buddy is all confused with this time change and thinks that as soon as it gets dark, it's time for me to go to bed ( so he can get his bedtime treat) and has been bugging me for about an hour now.  Guess I'll give in now and head to bed.