dresden dish towels

I needed simple gifts to give a few of my friends for Christmas ... something inexpensive ... something homemade ... something quick. And actually in the end I got a bonus - but more on that in a later post.

For about a year now, I have wanted to do something with the vintage towels that are sold in the quilt shop where I work. First step: buy 10 towels in five colors: berry red, bright green, pale yellow, deep sky blue, and black (sorry, not all pictured). Nest step: think of something interesting to stitch on the front using what you have on hand at home.
 So I took this ...

Made by this company ...

And these simple tools ...

To make this finished product.
I like to think of it as "half a Dresden plate is better than none!"

I packaged them all in clear treat bags and slipped a Merry Christmas cupcake pick behind a twine bow.

And because I had them, I sealed the back with a bakery sticker.

I'm thinking I need to make just one more for my son's piano teacher whom I'll see tomorrow at lessons.
You know what I'll be doing tonight ...

where I play

Thought I'd introduce you to my happy place.....
aka my sewing room.

First off, here's my dear friend Miss Bernina.
Not too fancy, but so reliable.  And she never complains.

I discovered the framed print at Home Goods (I'm a sucker for anything "birdish").
Not only does it cheer me, but the wide white matting provides a great spot to stick reminder post-it notes!

Next, my little retro doggie.  I downloaded the free pattern from pattern bee, stitched it on some dot fabric, and framed it in an inexpensive IKEA frame. See his little raised ear?  He's wondering what I'm up to.
And my "twirl-a-button" is a scrapbook pen holder.

Here is something I found at a thrift store.  I wasn't sure for what it was originally intended (maybe spices?), but it holds my quilting thread quite nicely! It was half-off day, so I think I paid around $2.

Next is the lovely 12 drawer free-standing kitchen cabinet I bought from IKEA.  A friend of mine had one in her sewing room, and it really is the perfect thing for storing fabric and notions.  The butcher block top is a great size for cutting mats and quite durable to boot.

And finally, here's a cabinet I bought years ago from an antique mall in Roseville, CA.  It first held school books for my children, then my blue and white dishes, and now fabric containers.  My daughter thinks I should Mod Podge decorative paper on the boxes. 

I think she's right.

And there you have it.  Right now, it's all pretty plain.  But I have big plans for adding color and making the space more personal.  My kids know that when I get to spend time in this room each day, they have a happier mommy and better lives!

Thank you, children, for knowing me so well and respecting what I love.
How 'bout I sew you something in appreciation?  ;)

modge and me

A while back I made a memory game with small wooden discs blogged here.

This is a set I made last Saturday using larger 1.5" discs.  Take those and some printed paper, scissors, Modge Podge, a sponge brush, and about an hour of your day and you, too, can produce this cute little toy.  Actually, it would take less time if you own one of those snazzy paper cutting punch tools such that you don't have to cut out each circle by hand!

The adorable container was something I found for only $2.99 at Michael's craft store.  It has a hinged lid and a clever peek-a-boo window.  It's "old-time lunchbox meets take-out" and more nice polish to the set than the organza bag I used in the mini one.  Plus I think any child would have a lot of fun carrying around a metal box (I would!).

I've played this game with my 12 year old and my 19 year old, so I'm thinkin' it would be a great gift for just about anyone!

hoo knew?

While searching for a couple of elusive toys I had made for my grandson, I found in the back of a cupboard this paper on wood board that I had crafted long ago and forgotten about.   Well, now that I have my new sewing room it need hide no longer.  I am going to hang it in on the closet wall that I see when I open the door. I love the cheery owl faces and will enjoy their inquisitive expressions as I slide the door open.  It will be as if they're asking, "Say now, what interesting project are you about to begin? Do tell!"

I'm primarily blogging about this because I want to share a little tip I discovered.  Because the nails for the hanger that I had were too long for the thickness of the board, if I had nailed them in they would have poked through onto the front.  So to shorten the nails, I cut a thin strip of cardboard (from the back of a charm pack) and folded it accordion style, three times.  Then I poked the nail through the cardboard before nailing it into the wood.  Problem solved.

FYI:  The owl pattern and project idea is found at the Martha Stewart website linked here.  It features a single owl, but to pay tribute to a darling children's book that I adore titled Owl Babies,  I made mine with a momma owl and her little owlet.

double the fun

Because I had so much fun making yesterday's project, during lunchtime today I simply had to do it again!  And because the first set was a little girlie looking, I decided to take out two people from the original group, add them to today's set, and create specifically a boy box and girl box.

 Fortunately, I have enough supplies to make yet another set.  I love paper and wood!  ♥

Previous post on this quilt

come and play!

come and play!

My darling 20 month old grandson, Evan, is coming (with his parents) to visit in just a few days!  Because he loves to sort and line things in a row, it motivated me to put together a toy that I had been intending to make for quite a while. The supplies are few and quite inexpensive - the wood products only totaled $5 and the others I had on hand.

The supplies are easily found at most craft stores: an unfinished wooden card box, eight 2.5" people, small print origami paper, craft paper, scissors, and Mod Podge (I used satin).....oops!  and a sponge brush.

First, I made a template for the "clothes", 1" x scant 3", and cut out the rectangles from the origami paper.  I put Mod Podge only on the backside of the paper which meant I had to be careful when I started wrapping because the paper couldn't "scoot" like it can when you put the adhesive on both the wood and the paper.  Origami paper is thin, so it wrapped quite easily and laid flat with no fuss.

Next I decorated the outside of the box by simply using Mod Podge to adhere the base paper and the decorative paper.  The "g, h, i" strip is simply cut from a scrapbooking alphabet paper sheet I had and Mod Podged to the base paper.

Inside I used thin craft paper and a little decorative whale cut from the same alphabet sheet that I used for the front.

Here are the little cuties nestled inside.  I am going to look for a non-toxic sealer to paint over the paper on the people since they just might end up in someone's mouth!  Now all I need to do is find a car that they'll fit in...since that is the toy of choice for a grandson who is all b-o-y!

valentine's day cards

Today I stitched up Valentine's Day cards for my sons.  I chose cardstock colors that matched personalities and scrounged through my scrap bag for happy fabrics.  No lace, no rick rack, no pink (so missing my girls today!)

This easy project idea came from a post I saw a couple of years ago at The Purl Bee.  Using a cutting blade, I removed a heart shape from the folded card front.  Then I glued a piece of fabric inside which covered the cut out.  Finally, on the front I sewed a decorative stitch around the heart. Nobody complained that his was too girly, so mission accomplished!

I wanted something for my dining room table that was tall, easy to move off the table (when we're eating), and CHEAP. Walmart had foil wrapping paper for $2.44 and wire ribbon for $1.27. I simply wrapped some gift boxes, taped them together, and tied the ribbon around them. As for the decorations on the wall behind the centerpiece, those are thick, felt window decorations from the 99 Cent Store (2 for $0.99). I hung them from some leftover Costco ribbon (sooo much left over!) and thumb tacked them on the wall. Now all I need is a little ham and scalloped potatoes!!

Here is a fun and quick idea to add some girlie funk to a Christmas gift. Take a little piece of craft boa (sold on the roll) and tie it in the center of some curling ribbon. Easy peasy!

Memory Game

This matching/memory game was such an easy project! I simply traced, cut out, and covered 1" wooden discs with origami paper using Mod Podge. When they were dry, I stored them in a little mesh bag which had held fortune cookies from Panda Express (reduce, reuse, recycle!). I have more circle papers cut but ran out of wooden discs. It's funny what you can wake up in the morning wanting to create! ♥