What’s new? December 13th addition

On my sewing machine:

Lots of gifts!

I made these rug mugs based on Sweetwater’s Sweet Tea quilt block.  I used labels from their shop too!

 

With the kids: 

 

We hosted Buddy the Baseball from Mrs. M’s 1st grade class in our home last weekend.  He helped decorate the kids’ tree, watched Rudolph, and played Legos with C.

 

In the kitchen: 

Lots more gifts!

(You can find my homemade marshmallow recipe here.)

 

In the garden: 

Lettuce, lettuce, and more lettuce.  Salad, anyone?

What’s new? December 6th addition

What’s new?  Here are a few peeks at what we’ve been up to this past week:


On my sewing machine:

I’m almost finished with this quilt top.  I was drawn to the modern colors and design, so with Momma’s help, I have almost pulled it together.  The picture above is actually just the blocks laid out on my bed.  It really is a big pile of Christmas tree blocks and courtyard squares that looks like this:



With the kids:
‘Tis the time for Christmas musicals!  C was an angel in the angelic hosts while his big sister donned a beard as Isaiah.  The kids were incredible under Mrs. Vee and Adrianne’s direction.


In the kitchen:

Christmas cookies! 


In the garden:
Our December harvest.  What?  You don’t have watermelons in your garden in December.  Well…
Actually, this was the last of the summer garden.  The frosts took care of the pumpkin and watermelon vines, so we’ve pulled those.  We are left with tomatoes (that are probably done), lettuces, cabbages, and broccoli.

Simple Pillows

Here’s a simple facelift for your couch—pillow covers!

I like to make simple envelope pillow covers.  Here’s how:
1.  Measure your pillow.  You’ll need to know the length and width.

2.  Do a little math.  This pillow measured 11 x 15 inches.

• Front pillow piece:  You need 1 rectangle.  Add 1/2 inch to the length and 1/2 inch to the width.  For this pillow, I used 1 rectangle measuring 11 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches.  
• Back pillow pieces:  You need 2 rectangles.  The width will be the same as the front piece.  For the length of each piece, divide the length of the pillow by 2 and add 3 1/2 inches.  My 2 rectangles measured  11 1/2 x 11 inches.

3.  Hem one long edge of each of the back pillow pieces.

4.  Stack your fabric like this:

• Front piece right-side up.
• Back pieces wrong-side up, hem toward the middle.

5.   Stitch all the way around the pillow with 1/4 inch seam allowances.

6.  Trim the corners, turn your case right side out, and press it well.

7.  Slip it on your pillow.

A few notes: 
--This envelope pillow will work for any rectangular/square pillow.  Just measure your pillow and do the same math you did above. 
--If you are worried about the back overlap gaping, you can add more than 3 1/2 inches to each back piece, or just attach a small piece of Velcro to either side!
--Embellish away!  I try to remember to embellish the front before I put my pillows together.  You can paint, piece, add ribbon or ric rac, anything you want, just as long as the front finished pieces measures 1/2 inch long and 1/2 inch wider than your pillow.

1 Skirt, 6 Ways

I love a good TNT (Tried And True) pattern.  The basic idea is this:  find a pattern you like, make it fit and the add (or subtract) design details to create the garments you want.

In my 1 Skirt, 3 Ways class, I start with the essential, flattering-to-everyone A-line skirt. I use McCalls 3341 during the class:

Using this pattern, I made this skirt, just as the pattern instructed. (For a review of the pattern, please see my review on PR.)

The easiest way to tweak a skirt is to take it from fitted to an elastic-waist gathered skirt by leaving out the darts and placing the center back on the edge of the paper eliminating the center back seam. I also added a little extra at the top so I could make a casing for my elastic waist. Here’s skirt #2:

(sorry about the crooked picture)

Skirt # 3 was altered to straighten it to a pencil shape, add pleats and a waist band.  You can get the details in my PR review.

Skirt # 4 was made like Skirt #2.  I did add a little extra fabric by placing the “PLACE ON FOLD” mark about 1 inch from the fold.

You can read the process for Skirt #5 on the PR review.

Skirt #6 was made from a cotton lawn.  I loved the way the fabric draped, and that inspired me to make the ruffle. This skirt is lined with a rayon lining and has an elastic, gathered waist.

Spring 2012 Sewing Classes in Shreveport/Bossier City

I’ll be teaching classes through LSUS Continuing Ed again this spring.  Here are the dates and details:



Getting to Know Your Sewing Machine:

Thursday, January 12 6-9pm

Monday, January 23 9-12

Saturday, January 28 10-1

Thursday, February 16 6-9pm

Monday, March 5 9-12

Thursday, March 22 6-9pm

Thursday, May 3 6-9pm



What else can your sewing machine do? 

Thursday, January 26 6-9pm

Monday, February 6 9-11

Thursday, March 1 6-9pm

Saturday, March 17 10-1

Thursday, April 12 6-9pm

Monday, April 9 9-11am

Thursday, May 17 6-9pm



Learn to Read a Pattern

Tuesday and Thursday, January 17 & 19 6-8 pm

Monday, Janury 30 9-1

Tuesday and Thursday, Februrary 21 & 23 6-8 pm

Saturday, February 25 9-1

Tuesday and Thursday, April 3 & 5 6-8pm

Tuesday and Thursday, May 8 & 10 6-8 pm



Curtains and Pillows! 

Tuesday, January 31 6-8pm

Monday, February 6 11-1

Tuesday, March 6 6-8pm

Saturday, March 17 11-1

Monday, April 9 11-1

Tuesday, April 17 6-8 pm

Tuesday, May 22 6-8pm



Basic Applique: 

Thursday, February 9 6-9pm

Monday, February 13 9-12

Thurday, March 15 6-9pm

Thursday, April 26 6-9pm

Monday, May 16 9-12