valentine table runner

I have needed a small little runner on my entry table for some time. I had plans to get one done for Christmas using vintage table cloths, but since the fabrics for it are still sitting in a pile upstairs by my sewing machine, I decided to move on and make one for Valentines day. It's not too long - just 42" and it's 13" wide. I just took scraps of my favorite red and pink fabrics and cut them in to either 2", 3", or 4" wide and pieced them together. I stitched in the ditch for the quilting part. I really need to branch out with some sort of free motion, but for now, I am staying in the ditch. I photographed it on my kitchen table and it looks tiny there, but it is the perfect size for my entry table. I am excited that I got it done. I actually might get the Christmas one done now since it came together so quickly!

love pillow tutorial

Love Pillow Tutorial

I am so excited to share this simple tutorial with you. You can get this pillow done in about an hour. Isn't that awesome? Also, with so many different color and fabric options. I have made three and have plans for a few more that include hot pink and polka dots! So, let me share the tutorial with you:
You will need:
Love Pattern Pieces (One and Two)
1 front piece of fabric (I used duck canvas) 14" high X 19 1/2" long
2 back pieces of fabric 14" high X 12 1/2" long
fabric paint
sponge paint brush
freezer paper
1 travel pillow 14"X20" (I bought mine at Walmart for $3!!)
1. Print out your two pieces of the Love pattern and trace on to a sheet of freezer paper. Over lap the two so that the "L" goes in to the "o".
2. Cut out the Love letters (ha!) with an Xacto knife making sure you keep the insides of the "L", "o" etc. to use with for the stencil.
3. Iron the freezer paper stencil on to the front piece of the pillow, putting another piece of freezer paper underneath. If you want to look at a freezer paper stencil tutorial closely check out Dana's at Made. I centered it making sure it was 3 1/2" inches from the top of the "L" to the top of the fabric and 3 1/2" from the bottom of the letters to the fabric. And, approximately 3 1/2" from end of the "L" to left side of the fabric and 3" from the "e" to end of the right side of the fabric.
4. Apply the fabric paint to the fabric. It takes me 2 to 3 coats to get the coverage I want.5. Let it dry and then peel off the stencil. If there are any spurts of paint that have leaked, feel free to take a paint brush out and fix it as much as possible. (I had to do this a bit myself!)
6. Take the two back pieces of the pillow and serge or zig zag stitch down one 14 1/2" side on each.7. Iron over 3/8" on the two pieces you just serged and sew seam. I hope your ironing board cover is cleaner than mine!!
8. Line the back pieces and front piece right sides together and pin. Sew all the way around with a 1/2" seam.
9. Zig Zag stitch or serge all the way around to make sure the ends don't fray especially if you are using canvas.
10. Turn right side in and it should look like this on the front and back.
11. Stuff the pillow form in to the new cover and take it to the nearest couch to admire.
OPTIONS - You can also use this Love pattern as an applique like I did on this black and white dot pillow. I used the pattern to cut the words out of red felt and using Wonder Under and a zig zag stitch, I appliqued it on to the front of the pillow.

scruffy dog applique

Last night I went to a baby shower for a newborn boy. For the baby gift, I appliqued this little scruffy dog on a onesie and gave it with some nice soft stripey pants.

Here are a few versions I have made in the past and thought you might like the pattern.

You can download it HERE.

simple tote

It felt good to sew again. It was so cold up in my sewing room that I had to bring the machine down to the kitchen table. But, I was still able to make a simple tote in a few hours. I made it as a belated Christmas gift for a friend.
The dimensions I used were 15" wide X 17" high and the straps were each 24" long X 4" wide - folded in half and then in to itself making 1" side straps. I used the same method I used for the trinket keepers - hole in the bottom of the lining and pulling the outside fabric through. I added some stiff stabilizer to the back of the outside fabric, but not on lining or straps.The outside fabric is Paris Bebe and the lining is by Elisabeth Merrill for RJR Fabrics.
It made me want to sew more. I left the machine on the kitchen table. It won't help our family dinners, but it will help me sew!

new ornament

I always try to add a few new ornaments to our Christmas tree each year that capture a moment from that year. This is a soldered ornament I made from a photo of me, my siblings and my parents taken at my grandfather's funeral this past September. It was so nice to be with them all and I love this photo of us together. Now, I need to make one with a photo of my family from our Disney trip in October.

merry christmas everyone

neighbor gifts

I kept it simple this year and thought I would pass it along. This Christmas I gave out Ikea frothers (thank mom for shipping them!) with hot chocolate. On the tag it says, "We WHIP you a Merry Christmas! Love, the Underwoods." I love these little frothers. They make your hot chocolate and hot caramel milk (my favorite) feel fancy. Sweet and simple!

surrounded by elves

Just in time for Christmas...some new little elves. I have had the idea to make clothespin elves for my tree for quite awhile, but couldn't find the time. So, a few days before Christmas and they finally arrived. I took a few photos of them along the way, so that I could one day create a tutorial. That will have to be for next Christmas. I put thread through each of their hats and hung them on my tree today. Love that they could join us!

hand print snowman tile tutorial

I needed a craft idea for my son's first grade class party and saw these ornaments on the eighteen25 blog. I found out that we couldn't do ornaments for his class, so we thought maybe little tiles that they can take home and put easels.
Here is how we did it:
Supplies -
White, black and orange acrylic paint
1 foam paint brush
1 4"X4" tile (I found a box of these in our garage - it's a mess, but also has a few goodies)
toothpick1 - Generously paint the inside of hand with white paint just down to the knuckles.
2 - Pressed it hard on to the tile and let it dry for about 10-15 minutes.
3 - My seven year old used a toothpick to create the eyes, buttons, nose and brim of the hat with black and orange paint.
4 - He used a flat 1/4" wide brush in a upward sweeping motion to make the rest of the hat.

It's done! Now, let it dry and put it on an easel or attach a ribbon with glue and hang it on the tree!

on my way to a craft show...my first

I have had a few kind friends allow me to use their homes for Open Houses for my jewelry, but I have never been in a craft show. This Saturday will be my first. I am going to be at Christmas in Anchorage here in Louisville, KY. I need to be thinking about how to set up since that's going to go on tonight. Instead, I am on the computer searching for gift ideas. I guess I am nervous, so I am distracting myself. Here are a few new charms I made this morning while I was avoiding other things!

cyber monday is here

I am posting this tonight, Sunday, because I need to run out early in the morning. But, there is a CYBER MONDAY deal in my amazing mae etsy shop and I am happy to offer 10% off your entire purchase. Use the promo code - CM10OFF. That's a 10 (one and zero) and then, OFF.