Wow I'm a Slacker

I have a friend. She had a grandchild. He was born before my grandson. I made her grandson a gift. I never sent the gift. I am a bad friend.

I figure if I admit this and post it, I will be so ashamed that I will finally get to the post office and send it. There is no excuse for not getting it sent, other than I am being forgetful lately.  I think I need people, or at least an assistant. If this does not arrive on your doorstep by the end of the week please call and yell at me.

Oh and Joan, when you get it, you can see how far from perfect my sewing is! This blanket is wonky, but since it's meant to be drug around and loved I hope that won't matter! P.S. I'll put something in the box for you too!

17 weeks

Our little goober is 17 weeks- How has time gone by that fast?

He has quite the personality

and let's you know when he's not happy about something

like having a million pictures taken

Don't you dare put him on the ground... however, being propped up in a box is fully acceptable

I'm glad we have that straight! 

Box of Chocolates Garland Giveaway *and the winner is*

 I want to thank everyone for participating in my giveaway and welcome everyone who is new- I hope you continue to visit because I have a lot of fun things planned! 


So without further ado the winner of the garland is~

The winner has 5 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

I really hate that I can't give everyone who entered a garland so I put together this tutorial for you and I hope you will make one for yourself! If you do please add it to my flicker group so we can all see!


Please do not sell anything made from this tutorial it was provided free to you for personal use only. 

Materials and Supplies

dark and light red felt*

white felt*

dark and light brown felt*

DMC Embroidery floss: (2) red, (2)brown, cream

4 feet brown grosgrain ribbon

1/8" wide brown ribbon - length of garland

scissors

pinking shears

hot glue gun

printed heart templates

*wool felt or a wool blend felt work best for this project. If using acrylic it's best to use felt by the yard as opposed to the small sheets of the felt. Felt by the yard is a thicker product and will hold up better with the embroidering. 

Instructions

Each heart will need two base hearts in addition to the top layer (if top layer is desired). Use one of the templates to cut out all three layers

 Use your scissors (or pinking shears) take the top layer and cut the heart smaller. Be sure to keep the shape of the heart consistant.

 Use your scissors to do the same to one of the base hearts. The heart you cut down will be used as your backing heart.

 When you layer your two base hearts they should look like this.

 The three hearts should now look like this.

 Take the top heart pair (on the left) and embroider as desired

Below are some ideas for decorating. 

*Helpful hints*

My personal preference is to use all 6 strands of the embroidery floss.

On the undecorated cream hearts  I use 3 layers since the cream felt is slightly see through

 When you have finished decorating all of the hearts, lay them out making sure the garland will look well balanced when its completed.
To prepare the ribbon. Sew 1/8" ribbon through the grosgrain and tie it off.

 Using your hot glue gun pipe a line across the top of the heart. Make sure to put the knotted ribbon far enough into your heart that the backing will cover it.

 Pipe hot glue onto the backing heart and let cool for just a second,

 then sandwich your ribbon so all of your thread and ribbon is covered.

 Continue adding hearts to the ribbon until the garland reaches the desired length. Repeat the ribbon tie off on the opposite side of the garland.

Start decorating!

And please don't forget to add your project to insanely crafty's flickr group so we can all see!

Sewing For A Cause

It's so much fun having a small child to sew for. I'm not sure why it is so fun to sew for wee ones, they grow up and out so quickly! I guess it's just that tiny things seem cuter.
I am so lucky to have had three children of my own and now this amazing grandson.  There are others for whom this has not happened. Fortunately, there are opportunities out there for adoption. Unfortunately, adoption is very expensive. Fortunately, there are people out there who see a need and do something about it. One of these groups is called Sacred Selections. Several times a year they have fundraisers to help families pay for adoptions. They help people find ways to raise money for themselves, and they also counsel these couples, who want to be parents so very much, through the process.
When my mom and sister told me they were donating items for an auction, I asked if I could take part and donate too. These bags are a couple of the things I sent. Hopefully they will be a little helpful in someone reaching their goal. I had fun making them. I thought of when I was expecting my children and the lovely anticipation  that went along with that time in my life, hoping that soon those waiting for children will realize their dream.

Each bag holds two shopping bags and has a detachable wrist strap for carrying or keys or both!

A Very Yummy Give Away!

If you have not seen my daughter's blog yet, now is the time! Jessica made this garland to give away just in time for Valentine's Day. If she hadn't already promised to make me one get me started making one I'd be pouting right now.

Box of Chocolates Garland Giveaway

*this giveaway is closed*

Finally a little giveaway for you! This garland might look familiar to some of you since I made a similar one for myself last year. (And I don't want to talk about it but I like this new version better) I thought that since I was nearing my 250th post (what?!) and Valentines day is just around the corner one of you might like to have it!
So up for grabs is this yummy (roughly) 8 foot long wool blend felt garland with hand embroidered detailing.

If you would like to enter please leave a comment.

For extra entry's you can

1. Follow me

2. subscribe

3. blog about my giveaway

Just leave me an additional comment for each one (if you're already a follower or subscribe it still counts as an additional entry so leave a comment!)

The giveaway will be open until next Friday (the 28th). When I will use random.org to pick a winner (If the winner does not respond within 5 days, a new winner will be chosen)

This giveaway is open to everyone anywhere!

Toadstool Terrarium

The lack of sunlight makes having plants in our house impossible. So I decided to make myself a little terrarium.... out of felt! I am really thinking the world could be made out of felt!

This is TOTALLY someone else's idea check out Lisa Jordan's blog lil fish studios mine looks like a 5 year old made it compared to the beautiful work she does - I wish I could afford it! If you haven't seen her before you must check out all of her amazing creations!
I just made a simplified copy of hers though I realized later mine is about 4 times the size of hers... which is actually harder (I think) Anyway I have plans for another one that will be my own design...as much as it can be.... lol by no means will it really be mine.
Anyway I LOVE it and it is now on a shelf in my dinning room.... should have taken a picture of that! It's a nice pop of color!
And here is the boy who is growing up so fast! He was actually laughing at me tonight. Got to love it!

Also I am going to be having a giveaway (hopefully friday) so check back for all of the details!!

A Quilt For My Grandson

I started this way back when I found out he was to be. Thank goodness I finished before he grew up.

 It's my version of an eye spy quilt. Hand quilted with size 5 pearl cotton.

 Simple quilting.

 Jess told me not to get all uptight about the quilting. It's wonkier in some places than in others. I tried. 

  There are fabrics in here from several lines, some of which were donated by Jennifer and Katelyn. Thanks you two. 

I was having so much fun making the blocks that I ended up with enough for a twin size quilt. Pay attention much? Do math much? Jess asked me to make it with blocks on the front and back. Double the fun..... 

The individual blue blocks on either side were a happy mistake.

                          

I've said it before, I'll say it a million times. I love this boy!