Banner of Love

 About a month ago the idea to do a banner in Jade's room sprouted in my pregnancy brain.  It started off simple and the more I thought about it the more elaborate it became.  Once I started to dream about it at night I knew I HAD to accomplish this banner.  Whatever it took!  So I set aside all my weird,quirky,what in the world type dreams (I blame on this pregnancy) and brought out my perle cotton and needle.

 Each letter was picked out from Google images, printed off and traced onto Kona white fabric with my "dear to me" Frixion pen.  I used a variety of stitches on each letter to make it more of a learning experience.  The "J" was mostly back stitching though,but I did add in a little satin stitch and french knot action.  I can be crazy that way!

 For her next letter, I did a chain stitch that I was mostly proud of, more strands of perle might have been handy.  My leaves were done in my new fave fish bone stitch.  Flowers are back stitched.

 "D" was my favorite, in that, I enjoyed doing the two tone pink flower with the fish bone for the leaves once again.  Satin stitch and back stitching too.

 Last, but not least was my "E"  Ah...well this letter I was not totally happy with the result of the split stitch.  Pulling was occurring in some areas.  I puttered away at it though and got her done!  Trusty fish bone and satin stitching.  For the yellow flower, a blanket stitch.

 Kona Blueberry in the border and binding and Cotton Couture Lavender for the side borders. 

 I found the purple lace trim at JAF for a great price and I am head over heels in love with it:)

Timeless Treasure tree print for the back which I thought tied in nicely to the theme of the letters.

 I was in heaven making these letters for my little girl.  Hope to see it hanging on her wall for many years to come and that she will want to have it as a keepsake from her mama forever.

Hugs to all!

Sara

Nothing Like It!

Holidays are in full swing and our house is turning into a Winter Wonderland.  If only outdoors would match us!  All we get is rain...wrong form of precipitation.  I may get side way glances from this statement,but I MISS SNOW!!  It doesn't have to be a lot.  A little will do.  Pretty white snowflakes that do not need shoveling like my roots in WI.  Magical white flakes that lift the spirit and complete the Christmas season. 

The Christmas tree is up and smelling of fresh pine!  I placed some twinkling white lights on it this morning.  When Ayden arrives home from school, him and I are going to do some ornament hanging.  Probably some Christmas music and hot chocolate too.  Warm and cozy times to come under our Twinkling Lights Quilt.  Inside from the unpleasant, rainy, cool weather. 

Aside from the stockings being hung and the the nativity scene on display, I did a Google search the other night to hunt down the letter "J" for our baby girl.  I am going to do her whole name in stitches and turn it into a banner for her room.  If you click on this above pic,it would help get a better view of what the letter looks like.  For some reason or another the camera or photographer was not cooperating;)  I started on a leaf of the beginning tulips last night and I can already foresee it is going to be  quite a lovely project to partake.  I am 30 weeks pregnant today and so this embroidery will keep me busy for awhile.

This is the diaper bag I spoke about last week.  All finished and ready for goodies to be placed inside.  I used an older tutorial for this one and if you email me you can get it from me if interested.  Simply because  I wasn't super thrilled with the tutorial altogether.  I wish there had been more pics for those of us who, aren't avid bag makers.  Some steps were flat out confusing and it took me reading them several times,several before I grasped what she meant.  Even then I still had to unpick a few times.  Overall it was an easy bag to create.  More details though and it would have been fun.  I used heavy weight interfacing,but not enough.   That was my fault,but I think once it is filled up it will do fine.  Also, the elastic for the inside double fold bias edging was supposed to bunch up some,but it really didn't serve its purpose.  Better luck next time in that front.

What I do really like about this bag is the magnetic closure which was easy to put in btw.  I also love the big straps for ease of carrying and the fact that it took me a day to sew this bag up!  I am so thrilled with the vibrancy of the bag in its entirety.  It screams girly bag to me.  Happy!  Happy!

Inside the pockets are lined with some double fold bias tape and for more sturdiness I took a piece of cardboard and clear masking tape and covered it in more mermaid sweetness. 

Mermaid hiding out at the bottom.  There are 8 pockets total inside.  I though about adding one outside,but I think this will do. 

Each time I look at this bag, I adore it even more!!  Lots of diaper changes will be accomplished in fashion!  (Only about a 1/4 yd left of Out to Sea Mermaids by Sarah Jane :( so I may need to get more for a changing pad while out and about)

Summary:
 Heirloom Opal in Fuchsia by Joel Dewberry
Out to Sea Mermaid Play in Breeze  by Sarah Jane
Aurifil thread 50 wt and some misc. Hot Pink thread throughout for topstitching

Do you ever finish a project and then go ok now what else did I want to sew??  I did that after I finished this bag yesterday.  I don't know how I could forget what I want to DO yet??!!!!  Once the pregnancy/mama brain came back,  I started on my last, LAST Lucky Stars block for the year!

A heap of solids with a sprinkle of prints here and there are going into my December block. 

After this star, I will be looking out for a post from Elizabeth Dackson on different variations in which to put the whole years worth of stars together in a quilt.  The year has been a great learning experience in paper piecing,but I am ready to move on.  New projects are wanting to "grow my brain" as Ayden says;)

Enjoy some hot chocolate today with lots of marshmallows  k?   :)

Sara

Head spinning chaos/fun?

Lots and lots of stuff to be done for a local Art Fest coming up the first weekend in in June!

So much that my bed quilt is on hiatus for the time being:(  Ah well sometimes sacrifices need to be made.  Take a deep breath and move forward.  Therefore,my bed quilt has been sitting on the recliner for about 3 weeks.  Somehow.....don't have a clue.....maybe some blonde kid I live with perhaps...not sure though got some new stains on it.  Daaayyyy----goneit!!!  Oxiclean is on the shopping list.  So be it.

By the time we arrived home from a birthday party tonight it was getting dark out.  I really wanted to take pics of some newly finished projects for the Art Fest.  I got a couple of the banner I made yesterday.  Took me all day and winged the entire thing.

Ideas were flowing everywhere!

 Each letter is interfaced and blanket stitched.  I used the FMQ foot on the flowers for the dotted "i."

This was the perfect project to practice a decorative stitch.  The "s" was hard,both of those buggers.  I got through it though and I think it looks pretty darn good!

 Prints:            Art Gallery
                        Ruby by Bonnie and Camille
                        Sugar Pop by Liz Scott
                        Dots @ Joann's

Before this little project, I took about a week and 1/2 and made 12 Wallets.  I didn't think I could do it,but I proved myself wrong!   Pics of those soon!

Potholders were also along for the ride!  I took some: KJR By Denyse Schmidt and Dream On By Urban Chiks.  These were fun and easy peasy.

I also cut out some business cards and finished up some WIP potholder sets and added my label.  Last minute touch ups and maybe. maybe. another something...something for my craft booth:)

 I even got a little binding in for my bed quilt tonight in Kona Bahama Blue and another Kona blue as well:)  I want that quilt on my bed badly!

 These fabrics showed up at my doorstep a couple weeks ago.  Summersville is definitely, definitely a mind blower!!!

I also got some Kona White for my Sliced Apples QAL quilt.  Yes.  I have to find time to do that too.  After my bed quilt and before I make another Angry Bird for someone I know whose little voice sticks in my head;)

Marbles Museum in Raleigh,NC

This little goober!!

my Black Knight butterfly bush getting bigger---eeekk!

 Night ya'll!!!