need a new way

I have been storing all my thread in this drawer container but I'm not liking the system anymore. I have looked at buying a spool holder but I don't think I'll like that either. I am trying to talk my hubby into building a shelf unit for the wall to set them all on but I wonder if I'll like that? I think I want them all out because they are such beautiful colors and it might look more like art than anything but I also have issues with clutter and things looking messy. There seems to be a fine line in my eyes from art to clutter. Right now the drawers take up a fair amount of space on the desk but it is right next to my machine so I don't have to get up every time I need a new color but then again it is more exercise getting off my butt every time I need a new thread....Can you tell I am having a real life dilemma here? I have been scouring pinterest for ideas and so far I think displaying them might be the best but now I just need the hubby to be on board with the project usually he loves working with his power tools but I think this project bores him. I have a big blank wall so we will see what happens over this long Christmas weekend....

no more holey knees

My daughter is somewhat of a klutz. She has pretty much put holes into every pair of pants she owns. Being Miss frugal I can't just throw out the jeans when they still fit so I'm on a mission to patch up all that need a little TLC. This is the first pair I've gotten to so far. I used my Go baby cutter and the rose of Sharon template. I also use heat and bond and iron them to the jeans before I use my machine. I drop the feed dogs and free hand close to the design edge. Sometimes depending on the room in the leg it is a little tricky keeping a straight line! It looks like I had a couple cocktails on a few flowers but who's looking that close? I'm sure my daughter will have a new hole in them sooner than later!

my lucky day

Sunday I was looking up a fabric store that I was going to take a drive to sometime this week and on the website it said new location in my town!! It is actually about 2 miles from my home. So monday morning I was there bright and early and it is a huge place with all kinds of designer fabrics. Next thing you know I spent 2 hours roaming the aisles and it felt like 10 minutes. I'm not sure if having a store so close to my house is a good thing or bad thing....I've already been there twice this week! The lady said didn't I just see you?? I might just have to get a part time job there but my paycheck would go right back into their hands. I picked up this riley blake fabric, I'm always looking for unisex colors for brother sister outfits and who doesn't love red and aqua together?! I also picked up some stuff to make more outfits for my daughter she is outgrowing everything lately.

I pulled out my Portabellopixie "claire" pattern and made 3 peasant tops for her. I love shirring and the rolled hem setting on the serger makes finishing the edges so quick. I also used the sweet polly's play clothes pattern for the skinny leggings. She has plenty of black pants for the blue top but I need to make something for the apple top. I could pick up some more of the sleeve fabric and make some ruffle pants....I haven't made her ruffle pants in forever she had a bunch a couple years ago and we just needed a break from ruffle pants. I actually have been trying to find a real classic trouser pattern with cuffs but not seeing anything. I suppose I can try make up my own.

Christmas outfit done

I finished my daughter's outfit. The black Tee and red sweater are from target. I embellished the Tee to match the skirt, I just love the red deer fabric so much. I love red and teal and red and pink together. Sometimes I wish I was a kid again so I could wear this outfit! I also have a huge weakness for polka dots and it is hard NOT to buy every polka dot fabric I come across. Maybe a multicolored polka dot quilt should be on my to do list. I've been so busy this last week with orders my Christmas quilt hasn't been touched since I last posted about it. Maybe this weekend I can work a little on it. My poor family is missing me I've been in my sewing room all the time! This time of year I do find myself sewing more than any other time of the year. Our weather has been so cold I guess there is nothing else to do than sit in the house and sew!

I don't like sharing

I got a new machine last week to be able to use when my Ruby is embroidering and told my daughter we can share but now she is wanting to sew more and it is cutting into my sew time! I love the fact she takes an interest in sewing don't get me wrong but I am not the most patient of teachers. I need to get a couple of simple projects for kids to get her to try. I bought a cute cat kit from american girl company that I'm going to give her for Christmas so over the break we have some crafts to do. She loves creating anything so she definitely got my crafting gene and I'm so happy that we can create together!  Last night she made a little pouch that holds dad's iPhone with pink camo.....not sure if it will get used but dad said he loved it...lol

I love my new machine. I got the opal 690Q. I've been a husqvarna fan for at least the last 15+ years. My first was the Rose then I upgraded to the designer1 and then 4 years ago I bought the Ruby. I've been wanting a backup machine to be able to use while embroidering and let me tell you life has been great being able to multi task even more! My productivity time will be much more improved and hopefully that will mean I can create more in a shorter time.

More Santas

Now my bathroom has a little Christmas joy. I saw some hand towels at target that said naughty and nice so I picked up a couple plain red towels and added my own embroidered naughty and nice. I would love if they can out with a Mrs. claus that mirrored this santa because that would have been super cute to have a his and her set! Of course the Mrs. claus would be the naughty 'cause Santa is the nicest!

I also added 2 new items to my Etsy shop. I had made my daughter a halloween candy bag for trick or treating and it turned out so cute I decided to made a couple to sell in my shop. I just love them.

Christmas placemats

Quite awhile ago I saw these placemats on the modabakeshop site and have wanted to do them but I just never got around to doing them until now. I had an extra layer cake from Riley Blake from a christmas quilt I did a couple years ago so it was perfect to do these 4 placemats. I love the santa one so we can put the cookies and milk on it for Santa. We just put out our Christmas decorations and I realized that I sure don't have many, not sure what happens to them every year so I have been trying to  sew some things to get into the Christmas mood.

Here is a cute Santa pillow I did a couple weeks ago. The santa is from urban threads it was a bonus secret santa from an order I had placed and I love the vintage feel of the design.. I am making a set of Christmas towels with the same santa for out bathroom so I'l post when they are done.

This year's christmas quilt

I can't remember if I started this quilt last year or the year before...wait I think it was the year before. That's right last year at this time I was recovering from a big hip surgery (PAO) and I don't think I was able to sit comfortably at my machine until February and then it was very short periods. I was going through everything because I just switched rooms in the house and now I have the largest room for my sewing studio! In the transfer and organizing I came across a few, ok many, WIPs. Since I try to make a Christmas quilt every year I figured this is a good time to finish this one up. Sometimes I give the quilts as gifts and keep some for myself. Living in Minnesota one can never have too many quilts laying around because the minute you sit down you are looking around to grab one and snuggle up under it. The fabric is not something I usually reach for when shopping but there was something about it that I liked. I guess depending on my mood that day you really never know what I'm going to come home with. I try to get colors and patterns I don't always migrate towards right away. If I went with what usually catches my eye every fabric in my stash would be pink and polka dots. Hopefully this long holiday weekend I can finish this up and add it to one of the sofas for this christmas season.

bringing the blog back to life

It is crazy how fast time goes by. I looked up my blog and realized it has been way too long since I have posted. I still have been busy sewing I just fell off the blogging wagon and have been posting a lot of my sewing projects on my personal Facebook page but I'm sure all my "friends" are getting tired of all the pics I post of my projects. I figured I can post as much as I want on my sewing blog and no one can get tired of seeing pics since we all go to sewing blogs to get new ideas and inspiration from all of us crafters. What was fun is to look back on all my posts and remember the projects and to see how little my daughter was! She is 8 now and is following in my footsteps and loves to craft anything she can. She got a little sewing machine for her birthday last year and has make a couple things. I am just bad at helping her with it since I don't have a ton of patience with teaching!~ She is getting older and easier to teach though so hopefully this winter we can try a few more projects.


I am working on redoing her bedroom. She was tired of pink and wanted it purple so I have been sewing pillows and a quilt and trying to figure out curtains. I just finished 4 big pillows to line her daybed and I love them they are huge @ 26 inches.

I started her quilt but she has just informed me she thinks quilts are too bumpy so she wants either a duvet cover or a smooth comforter. I figure I'll continue the quilt and instead of making it a full size to cover her bed I can make it more a lap quilt to lay across the end of her bed or over the arm of the daybed. Either way the quilt will not go to waste, it would even look nice in our living room with the colors I have picked. Now onto getting fabric for her curtains and a comforter.