Christmas Sewing Challenge

I realized this morning that 3 months from today is Christmas.  Yes, can you believe it!?  So....in honor of that, our sewing challenge this month is Christmas.  Our challenge was to make a Christmas item.

The first item is a cool modern stocking.

The second item is a modern interpretation of the Christmas tree. 

 We will be involved in some craft shows this fall.  Here is our schedule:

Oct. 27 -- HCO Craft Show (Delaware, OH) -- Jan*
Nov. 2-3 -- Chris Cringle (Champaign, IL) -- Jan & Joy
Early December -- Open House at Joy's -- Joy

*Awaiting confirmation

If you're planning to attend any of these craft shows, you'll see these or similar cool items for sale.

Remember to vote for your favorite Christmas item.

Ironing Board Covers

When we were kids, our mom used to make her own ironing board covers.  She didn't sew, so here's how she did it.  She put old towels on the ironing board as a pad.  Then she put an old sheet on top and pinned it underneath to make it fit.  It worked for her.  But we decided to do something a little more modern.

We both needed a new ironing board cover, so we decided to make them.  When it's time for a new ironing board cover, you can find tacky ones.  But it's always nice to create one out of your favorite fabric.  So that's what we've done for this month's contest.

At first, we thought we would have to just wing it and make our own pattern.  But we both found patterns on sale.  Who knew they made patterns for such things!  The ironing board cover was very easy to make.  Just sew on bias tape and put in elastic.  Yup! That easy.  Unless the small safety pin opens up in the middle of trying to add the elastic.  Don't ask me how many times that happened.

Just a reminder...we don't tell which one of us made which entry.  That way, you're not voting for your favorite person.  And don't look at the background to see if you can recognize whose house it is.  You're voting for your favorite entry.

Here's the first entry.  Do you like trees?  This fabric is called Majestic Oak in Sunglow by Joel Dewberry.

Here's the second entry.  Masculine crosses.  This fabric is called Trade Blanket in Steel by Parson Gray.

If you need a new ironing board cover (and you sew), buy a couple yards of beautiful fabric and get busy.

Lap Quilt vs. Snuggie

I'll be attending a wedding next month, and I decided to make a lap quilt for the bride and groom (who will remain nameless).  If you know who they are, don't tell them what they're getting.  I really have a strong dislike for snuggies.  They're just ugly.  There...I said it.  I feel so much better. So I'm doing my part to stop slow down the sale of such ugliness.  I guess it's ok to do that, since I saw the QVC lady on Shark Tank last week.  She said snuggies are out.  And she should know.  She helped the creators sell millions of ugliness all over America.  I'm sure they're all really wealthy now.  Thanks to all of you.  I never bought one.

My niece got married last summer, so I made my first ever lap quilt for her.  It had a ROYGBIV theme with a muted back. 

Binding 

Quilt Top

Quilt Back

I decided to make one for the nephew this summer, since I survived the quilt making party last year.  And I love the crosses on this quilt.    It is just so cool.  I wonder if they would notice if I kept it for myself.

Quilt Top

Quilt Back

Binding

I almost think quilt making could become addictive.  Then I remind myself how tough it is to sew something that big in my not so big sewing machine.  But I already have fabric picked out for my next lap quilt.

I've been busy sewing up other creations the past few weeks.  Somehow, I just don't find the time to sit down and blog about it.  But here are pics of what I've been working on lately. Christmas stockings in June.  Can you believe it?!  And more reversible totes.

Christmas Stockings

We'll be back with our next sewing challenge in the near future.  Stay tuned for it!!!

Elastic Project

If you love pink, you're going to love our entries for this month's elastic project.  We don't tell each other what we're making until we send each other our photos.  Lo and behold, we both made pink girly items.

We didn't make the same thing, although that's one of our fears.  But...we each made something for a little girl.  A ruffled skirt with elastic waist for a 5 year old girl.  She'll be pretty in pink.  And then we have a floral headband for a baby girl.  Great minds almost think alike.

Pretty in pink skirt.  Love it!  Would it look good on someone my age??? We'll never know.

After I made this cute little headband, I wanted to try it on.  But it just wouldn't fit.  I guess you can call me bigheaded.

Since this is an elastic contest, I wanted to make sure you could see the elastic up close.  And not just the ruffles.  After all, last month was the ruffle contest.  And these are pre-made ruffles.

You will be able to see our June contest photos very soon.  We have entered the Umbrella Prints contest (it's a real contest, not a made up one like ours is).  And there are actual prizes.  You'll be able to vote for your favorites in the real contest in June.  You'll have to have a Pinterest account, so if you don't have one sign up now.  You can't vote unless you're on Pinterest.  And once you're on it, you'll be addicted for life.  Trust me.

For this cute little flower headband, I found the pattern in an apron pattern that I want to make.  The flower could go on the apron, but I thought it would look very pretty sitting on the head of a little baby girl.  Not my baby girl.  But someone else's.  

Be sure to vote for your favorite elastic project.  Don't worry.  Neither of us tried on these items.  They're only safe for small children.

I just want to remind you that the voting is anonymous.  We can't see who you vote for, so just vote!  Don't be shy!!!

And once again, we're not telling you which one of us made which item.  You just choose the one you like the best.  But I bet it will be pink.

Baby Gifts

I'm getting my hair cut tonight.  The girl who cuts my hair is expecting identical twin girls in July.  I'm taking her baby gift to her tonight, just in case those girls decide to come early.  Way early.  I know their mom is afraid that's going to happen.  She already has 2 girls, ages 10 and 12.  And now she's having 2 more.  I'm sure her husband is going to love all that estrogen in the house.  He needs a man cave, for sure.

I found this cute owl pattern and just had to make a couple for the girls.  For some reason, owls seem to be a hit with people.  I've never figured out why, but my motto today is "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em".  So I made owls.

And I made owls.  Christmas is less than 8 months away, so I've started working on my inventory for the Chris Cringle show that we're in in November.  It's never too early to start preparing for that.  So I made a few extra owls to take along with me.

We're busy working on our elastic project for our May sewing challenge.  I think mine is going to be really cute, if I can figure out how to make it.  I don't know why I pick things to make and then have to create my own pattern.  Why do I do that to myself?

The pics of our elastic challenge will be posted in a couple more weeks.  Stay tuned for more of our sewing endeavors.

Ruffle Challenge

Ruffle Diaper Cover

Ruffle Scarf

Hi!  We're back.  I bet you thought we were never going to post our latest challenge.  Well, in Jan's last post, she mentioned the Umbrella contest that we are entering.  It's an official contest that we've both entered and our entries are fabulous.  There will be 2 winners, and we both should win.  But....you can't see our entries just yet.  We'll show them to you at a later date.

We decided to change up our contest.  This month we did the ruffle challenge.  Aren't ruffles just the most fun thing you've ever seen?  Well, take a look at what we made.  And then you can vote on your favorite.

This month, we aren't going to tell you who made which item.  You just vote on your favorite.  That's all there is to it.

I had to make a test ruffle scarf just to see how it would work.  So, here are pictures of both scarves.

Vote for your fave!  We'll see who wins this month's contest.  Next month, we'll work with elastic.  And then in June, we'll have you vote for our umbrella contest entries.  No, we're not making umbrellas.  Umbrella Prints is having a "real" contest with "real" prizes, and we've entered that contest.

That's all.

April Sewing Competition

I wanted to let you know that Joy and I are still in a sewing competition.  For April, we were supposed to be creating a piece from fabric that we "inherited" when we cleaned out our parent's house a couple of years ago.  We found a bunch of vintage feedsack fabric.  Well, we moved that competition to a later date, because we have entered a "real" sewing competition.

The sewing challenge is sponsored by Umbrella Prints, which is a design company in Australia.  This is the 3rd year for their challenge.  Here's how the challenge works.  You order a packet of their fabric "scraps" and then make something using that fabric.  You can't pre-select the fabric.  You just take whatever they send to you.  And let me tell you, it's not much fabric.  Here's what the packet looked like when I got it.  Yeah, it's that small.

Here's the fabric all laid out real pretty.  I like the fabric; there's just not much there.

I've made my entry for the contest, but I can't show it to you yet.  Here's how the contest works.  We will add photos of our finished item to our blog by the end of May.  Then we will notify Umbrella Prints to check out our photos.  They'll upload them to their Pinterest board.  Then you....our fans....can go to Pinterest and vote for your favorite.  Just let me say this...my entry is a winner.  It is so cute.  You will love it.  I know I do.  I just wish I could show it to you now.  You'll have to wait a little while longer.

Joy is busy working on her entry.  I have no idea what she is making.  We are both afraid that we're making the same thing.  You know how twins minds work.  sometimes just alike without even trying.  It will be interesting to see what she makes.  She thinks hers could be the winner, but I know mine is.  How can I say it more clearly?  MY. ENTRY. IS. THE. WINNER.  THAT'S. ALL.

Stay tuned.

Oh, one more thing.  We will return to our regularly scheduled sewing contest for May.  The theme is ruffles.  What can we make with ruffles?  I have no idea.  I've been scouring the web for ideas.  Anyone have any ruffled ideas?  Please pass them along.

Oh, by the way, this is Jan....