Back in the swing of things, from Far Far Away

So glad school is started and... not.
It's been crazy busy the last 2+ weeks since the start of school and just before it :) But I'm forcing myself back into my sewing (should that require forcing? I think not!) with a baby shower gift! I've been dying to use this Heather Ross Far Far Away fabric that I got at quilt market last fall! And since my wonderful friend had a beautiful baby girl I was reveling in the perfect moment and put this together yesterday!

I love the fairy tale images Heather created! I really want to get some Far Far Away 2 I have a friend with some in home dec weight... aah! It's so pretty :D
It's a changing pad so of course I had to give it something soft and fluffy for the backing!

I've got a boy one I'm finishing up for my etsy shop and then I'll have to see about finding some more minky and chenille backing fabric!
*thinking in your best fairytale accent*
Alas, a girl's work is never done!
Fair thee well my good friends. I wish thee much joy and sewing! Or joy in sewing :) which ever comes first!

5 Brand New Crayons!

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 5 Brand New Crayons!

...Plus a few extra incase those first 5 get broken :)

I love crayon rolls!

It's my personal opinion that if you have a child between the ages of 3 and 8 a great go-to gift is always going to be a crayon roll!

Kids are so creative at that age and these give coloring there own style and even more fun!

I've been looking for the perfect way to use this great novelty print from Bunny Hill Designs (Japanese Import fabrics) and this is going to be perfect!

And to top it off they're really simple!

You can make one from a fat quarter, a batting scrap, and some binding in an hour or so! Seriously!

Christmas gift done? Check!

I love that!

To make your own~

cut 2-5"x20"strips (one is the outside) and 1-6"x20" (I left mine long and trimmed later, all of my strips were approx. 8"x22" but if using a fat quarter you'll need to be a little more stingy with your fabric!)

Fold the 6" strip in half lengthwise and stack on the matching 5" strip lining up across the bottom edge. Sandwich with the outside layer, a piece of batting cut slightly larger than the whole project, and the inside strip and folded strip.

Now baste, pin, whatever, just prep it for quilting. Sew strips across the short width of the quilt sandwich, 3/4" apart, to quilt and make your crayon pockets at the same time.

Making sure you have enough pockets for the number of crayons you will be using (I have 24 crayons and trimmed it to 26 pockets so I could bind it)

Square and trim your mini quilt roll to approx 5"x 18 1/2"

Bind as desired and add your crayons. Roll up and place a pin where the overlap ends.

Unroll and remove the crayons (atleast the 4 around the pin) and stitch in place a 1" piece of velcro sewing only on the already stitched seams. Cut out a shape from an accent fabric batting and backing, (Mine was cut from excess that was already quilted together) quilt it and attach half to the end of the crayon roll sew the other side of the velcro to the underside of the shape.

Put all your crayons back in and roll it up!

Your Done!

(After the fact, I measured and if you want to add your velcro during the first stage of quilting it should go on between about 7 3/4" and 8 1/4" according to my finished roll. I have yet to test that number though :) Good Luck!)