Recycle Those Christmas Cards......

Recycle those Christmas cards and get some sewing experience for the little ones at the same time. This is one of our all-time favorite Christmas crafts! We do these every year! And every year this craft really speaks to one child or another at our home.

This year it was Ethan's year. From the first moment I pulled the supplies out he was READY! He had so much fun making them and has shared several with church friends already!

They are very simple to make. Take a Christmas card and cut the front and back apart. You will only use the front piece. Then take a hole punch and punch holes all around the four sides. Then using a coordinating piece of yarn (or two pieces like above) have them work a whip stitch all around the card. (I don't tell them they are doing a whip stitch.) I stay close by and help to make sure the yarn doesn't get knotted...because it does happen. We also use a plastic darning needle to make it go faster...but it can be done with no needle or you could wrap a piece of clear tape around the yarn tip to make it stiffer and therefore make it easier to "sew" in the holes. Then using a tail that we left at the top center when we started, and the leftover yarn, we make a hanger.

I don't think you can mess these up. They are so forgiving and yet so fun! The smaller ones can be hung on your tree but we generally hang them on interior doors or furniture like above. And the little ones LOVE to give these as gifts! They are always SO proud of their accomplishment and how can you not LOVE that!???

Bean Bags.......

The other day I mentioned I had started a new project. I like the ideas you all had of what it might be. I really should take the time to make a picnic quilt one day. And I really want to make a quilted tablecloth to go on our kitchen table! I have always wanted one and I think that would make our kitchen table look so charming. Maybe another year....actually, I think that would be a great winter project.

Anyway, I was making bean bags for the kids and Ethan picked out the fabrics for me. We will use them in all sorts of ways! One is it is a great technique to reinforce math facts with the little ones. We will toss a bean bag back and forth while calling out whatever math facts we are working on. For example, counting by 2's, 3's.......12's, etc. I have found that getting the kids active while working on math is very helpful for their memory retention.

Emily is desperately trying to teach herself to juggle using them. I taught myself to juggle oranges underneath our orange tree in Florida when I was about 11 years old. The kids think it is a riot that I can juggle and they beg me to perform for them all the time. I guess I should be glad they are so easy to amuse!!!

You all have a great weekend!! I am hoping to visit a new yarn shop I recently found out about.

New Project......

Yesterday found me cutting out fabric squares. Any ideas what I might be working on? Here's a hint...the kids will love it!

All is well here after a round of summer colds last week. The kids are getting a little stir crazy inside all day...but the temps have been way too hot to spend much time outside. I was planning on a visit to the library and a new yarn shop today....but Ean decided to get up a bit too early today, so I'm thinking an early nap for him may be a better idea. The library and yarn shop can wait until tomorrow. Other than what you see above I don't think I've been sewing much the past week or so. I need to decide what my next big sewing project will be.

And every time I download pictures from my camera I am in for a surprise. The kids are forever borrowing my camera to capture life from their angle. Today I found this little gem on there. The boys doing what they do best....playing around and being silly! I already miss these days, even though I am still in the thick of them. And that surely doesn't mean it's all easy....trust me....some days I'm not sure I'll make it until their father gets home. But all in all...it's a blessed life I lead!!!

Good Times.....

It's good to know my sewing supplies are coming in handy for the little folks around this place. The other day I found that Ethan had created this "sled" and was taking Ean for rides. It was all fun and games until Ean fell off backwards and bumped his head. Fortunately Ean wasn't too disturbed because he quickly climbed back on for another go around the living room. Never a dull moment around here!

Week in Review.....

It has been a busy week but a great week, nonetheless! Ethan had his fifth birthday so we went to a Train Museum for a visit. The kids loved the trolley ride!

And the caboose you could explore!!

Of course, opening gifts is always high on the list of fun!!!

Especially when one of the gifts is an awesome airplane!!! (I love this picture!!!)

But Ethan wasn't the only one having fun this week. The girls had a blast on this rock climbing wall!! Emily got up pretty high!

Elisabeth had fun too. They both are ready to go back already. Ethan had to wait and watch patiently since he doesn't quite weigh enough to participate yet.

Now it's time to start the frantic halloween sewing. All of the kids told me they thought they wouldn't dress up this year....and then today....that all changed! So I am just back from the fabric store and the sewing machine is just about to start humming. Can I do it? Three costumes in 24 hours? We'll see!!! Maybe I'll post on facebook as I go!

Hope your weekend is splendid!!!

Week in Review....

(Those huge stitches are only basting stitches...so don't panic!)

Last Saturday afternoon our local Smocking Guild hosted a class with Claudia Newton. Claudia taught us how to do drawn thread work and the project was a precious little baby diaper shirt. I am about 50% complete with my embroidery at this point and I am loving it. I can't wait to finish it. I have consciously avoided drawn thread work for awhile now. Mostly because I thought it would be too fiddly and would put a major strain on my eyes. I am happy to say...I didn't find it too fiddly....but it is definitely a strain on the eyes! But I do think it is going to be well worth it!! Have you ever had the pleasure of taking a class with Claudia? She is such a wealth of knowledge and her kits are incredible...she thinks of everything!!!

While I was enjoying such a wonderful Saturday, my Elisabeth was at home developing a fever and a sore throat. That's never good.

On Monday Wayne had to travel to Virginia for most of the week. That brings me to the above picture. It probably doesn't look like much....but it's the raw ingredients for homemade cooked playdough. I surprised the kids and made some. Playdough is a staple in our house...but unfortunately we had none. So we made some. I used to make this recipe all the time when I used to teach. It is a little grainy compared to the store-bought stuff....but it is cheap and fast.

And it makes a lot so all three little ones can play and have fun....for hours!!! And that is VERY helpful when the daddy is out of town!!! I do not keep food coloring around the house...so we had naked playdough...no color added.

Unfortunately, Emily and Ethan are now sick too. And Elisabeth is still sick. Fortunately, Wayne is back home to help out and Sweet Ean is still his pleasant self...even if he doesn't like to sleep much. Hopefully this weekend everyone will get back to normal and I'll get some stitching done....we'll see!

Ethan "Hand Sews".......

Ethan (my four year old) doesn't like to be left out of anything. And he hears me talking about sewing and hand sewing quite often. So this morning he came to me with a handful of felt scraps and yarn. He told me he was ready to "hand sew" and that all he needed was a needle. I promptly found him a needle that would accommodate the yarn, yet still work with the felt and he was as content as could be.

His sister, Emily, has been knitting leg warmers for herself for ballet this Fall and he must have tuned in on that because when he finished he told me he had made "leg covers" for Ean.

FAQ'S......

(Elisabeth learning how to do a whip stitch earlier today)

(She is stitching a soft and fuzzy teddy bear)

I love getting the emails (as well as the comments) you all send me. I am telling you it truly makes my day!!! Plus it helps to know I am not always talking to myself. I have noticed that a lot of people are curious how I have taught my little ones to sew, embroider, quilt, etc. So I am thinking about pulling together a FAQ page. On this page I will answer these questions, as well as other questions I receive. In the meantime, if you have any other inquiries for me...just let me know and I will add them to the list. This is going to be fun!

Isn't it funny how when I have lots of sewing I should be doing I find other things to do on the computer instead, and visa versa? Very similar to when I was working on my master's thesis....I had the cleanest house in the neighborhood!!! I call it "thesis avoidance techniques".....or let's work on anything other than what I should be doing! Some days are just like that!

Emily's New Skort....Stitched Up A Notch....

My sweet Emily continues to improve. She tires easily....but her smile is back! While she was snuggling with Ean the other day, and wearing her new skort, I realized I had never shared her most recent embroidery project with you.

A month or so ago she asked me to make an A-line skort out of this wonderful lightweight denim fabric. (The shorts are made out of quilting cotton from Moda. I love Moda fabrics because they are so soft and pretty!!) Her goal was to have a blank canvas in which to work some embroidery magic. And that she did.

She hand-drew this cute floral design on tissue paper and then basted the tissue paper to the skort. Then after making her floss color choices she stitched these flowers in about 30 minutes. She wore it several times before she got sick, and she always received such thoughtful comments from others. She says it is very comfortable so I'm sure she'll get lots of wear out of it this summer. Now she is on to stitching a sampler. I need to take a picture to share.

A Gaggle of Girls.......

For Christmas Emily surprised Elisabeth and me by making us each a doll. She liked them so well she made herself one too! I think they are adorable!!!! And certainly not bad for a 10 year old....with absolutely zero help from anyone else!!!

December Fun......

This has been a busy month....and so far, we have managed to do our favorite December things.

The gingerbread house is now complete and looking good. Emily orchestrated the decorating of our annual gingerbread house tonight. I built the house and then turned the icing bag over to her. She piped icing and Elisabeth and Ethan strategically placed the candies. Everyone had fun.

Elisabeth made the annual Nativity Scene for us using various baby dolls.

And Elisabeth also had a birthday!!! She is now a sweet seven year old. And somehow Ean turned 6 months old this month. I don't know how because it seems like he was just born yesterday!!!

The girls also had their ballet and tap Christmas Recital. They both did excellent!!!!

Our Smocking Guild had our annual Christmas Dinner....it was a great evening with wonderful friends.

And Emily has had several custom orders for her hats. She bought the yarn, made and delivered this one the same day it was requested. The photo isn't great....but it is chocolate brown with light pink. (I think this one is my favorite so far.) While she was making it a neighbor stopped by and ordered one just like it but with reversed colors. She has quite a following now.

I still have a few gifts to wrap....but I think we are on track for a fantastic Christmas. I hope yours is wonderful as well!!!!

Christmas Surprises.....

Emily has been secretly working on a few home made gifts for her siblings. Here is one thing she is making for Elisabeth.

Busy Week......

It has been a busy week for our family. Today was Ethan's fourth birthday!!! Hard to believe he is four already!!!! Where has the time gone??? Anyway, after lunch out and a few weekly errands were run.....we went to the local toy shop that has the wonderful old style toys and not the trendy stuff. We allowed him to pick out a couple of gifts. We had never taken this approach before...but actually it turned out great!!! Later today I whipped up a birthday cake and we promptly consumed it. It was a great day!!!!

Earlier this week I had a birthday. Emily outdid herself by making this sweet stuffed bear for me. It was a complete surprise!!!! She had asked to sew late last week and told me it was for my birthday.....but I knew nothing else. I was so tickled. It is sure a cute bear....and extra special since Emily made it!!!

Earlier tonight Emily and I camped out on the bed and traced some circles on a few charm packs that we picked up this week from our favorite quilt shop. We are hoping to make some yo-yos. I think we already have a project picked out.

Either way.....I am sure we will have fun!!!! The weather is quickly turning colder here....so this will be a nice and cozy little project to work on in the evenings.

How has your week been? Hopefully filled with some of your favorite things.

Another "Emily-Made"......

I think I mentioned before that Emily is taking ballet classes from a precious, formerly homeschooled girl (she's 24 yrs old now and has been teaching dance for 9 years). All of her students are homeschooled and not only has Emily made some wonderful friends through her class...but I have made some equally great friends along the way as well. Anyway, today was her last class with the end of the year recital being this coming Saturday. Emily has been thinking of a gift to give her teacher for a few months now. Earlier this week she decided she would design and knit her a little bag of some sort. She started knitting and quickly finished up this sweet little clutch purse. Then she topped it off with a mother of pearl button. She wrote a precious little note to tuck inside and then gave it to her teacher today after class.

Her teacher loved it. Emily was thrilled with herself for making it. And I am tickled that she is so willing to make and give heartfelt gifts to important people in her life.

Emily's New Hobby.....

For Christmas Emily received a gift card to a local craft store. During a trip to that store last week, Emily decided to use her gift card to get a crochet kit. She already knew how to crochet a chain stitch and a single crochet stitch....but the kit also taught her to double crochet. Upon learning that stitch she was off and running, teaching herself to make granny squares. She has been crocheting in all her spare time over the past few days...even in the car sometimes. Tonight, after I realized she had been in the girl's room for awhile, she came out really excited.....with this beautiful scarf around her neck. She had finished the required number of granny squares and stitched them together!!!! She has officially picked up a new hobby, I believe!!!!

She's A Clever One....

The other day a dear friend from Smocking Guild called and we were chatting for a few minutes. By the time I hung up the phone Emily came up to me and told me she had a surprise. I truly was surprised when she produced a completely finished fabric flower on a ponytail holder. She said she pulled up my tutorial and made the entire flower in just a handful of minutes. I was impressed!!!

This child definitely has drive and motivation. And the neat thing (besides what a great job she did) was how proud she was of herself!!! She never ceases to amaze me!!!

Emily and Elisabeth.....

Emily has been enjoying making fabric yo-yo's the last week or so. She is hoping to make enough to put together a quilt for her doll. I told her I thought that was completely realistic...it won't take that many for a doll quilt.

Next thing I knew she was teaching Elisabeth how to make yo-yo's. Emily is a lot like me....she enjoys sharing with others when she learns something new.

Sweet Elisabeth was very proud of her completed yo-yo. And she should be. I'm thrilled when I finish anything....and for a 6 year old, she is doing great in the needlework department!! It helps having a good big sister to teach you the ropes!!!

Emily's Latest Needlepoint.....

Emily has finished another needlepoint. She started this spunky little puppy for Ethan awhile back. When I told her I was working on finishing up old projects...she decided she would do the same. She was far enough along that it only took her about two days to complete it. Now she needs to decide how to finish it....frame it, or turn it into a pillow, or what?

I have several projects I have finished this week as well...but they will have to wait to share until the camera batteries are re-charged. Back soon!!!

It's Been A Productive Week.....

I've had a relatively productive week. I really am trying to finish up some projects that have been lingering on my sewing table a little too long. This dress above I started for Elisabeth way back in September or October. It felt really good to wrap it up earlier this week. I will get Elisabeth to model it and take a few photos in a day or so.



I also finished the cross-stitch angel that is destined to be a pillow. I made a trip to the quilt store and picked out fabric for the backing and the ruffle. I will be happy to get this one done too. While at the quilt store I also picked up some batting to finish my most recent quilt.



I also am working on a jumper for myself....not quite done yet....but pretty close. So, to celebrate the completion of a few things (and the almost completion of another couple), Emily and I headed out to Hancock's today to browse around. I picked up the above fabric to make Elisabeth a spring dress.

And we purchased the above fabrics to make Emily a few more long skirts. She thought she was getting too old for homemade items until we went to the mall a few months back. There was nothing I would have allowed her to wear outside of her bedroom....and fortunately she agreed!!! So far so good!!!

Happy New Year......

I hope you all are enjoying the new year thus far. On New Year's Day we taught Elisabeth how to play battleship....so she and Emily (with Ethan's help, of course) played many intense games over the course of the day. They all had so much fun. It is always good to increase the number of games they can play together. They enjoy board games. Wayne taught Emily how to play chess and monopoly years ago. I guess those will be two new ones for Elisabeth to maybe learn this new year.

And while they have been happily playing games, I have been trying to work on some unfinished projects. I have a goal of completing some this year. I wish I could finish them all before starting something new.....but I'm not sure I have that much discipline. The cross-stitch above is going to be another pillow like one I made a few years back. I started this one right after I finished the last one....it's been sitting in a bag for awhile. Time to finish it up!!! What are you all working on???