VW-esque, tutorial-ish & a laugh

I have a couple amazing ladies to share with you today.
First up A little piece of Heather! I don't know about you but I love the pieces of Heather I always feel lucky enough to find :) Which Heather? It doesn't matter you pick! These are some awesome VW-esque vans by Heather Ross, that I sent off in a pay it forward to my friend Mel of Mel's Own Place. And the ruffle is one of my favorite Heather Bailey prints! I've decided I love making these aprons I've got a tutorial-ish post about them here that I may try to fill out more but alot of the "pattern" is super variable, which is nice :)
Next awesome lady is Camille! The Thimble Blossoms wonder is amazing! She's having an
awesome giveaway that is perfect for anyone wanting to get to know her stuff a little better. She asks about dreams in her post and it gets you thinking about 'em...
that and she also mentions Neil Patrick Harris which makes me crave some of his legen... wait for it... dary, legendary shows! I watched Doogie Howser growing up and spent a set of weeks with my sil (I can't remember how many but lots of 3am nights laughing out loud in her bed.) marathon watching How I Met Your Mother! He makes me laugh. She makes me dream.

Thanks Camille. Thanks Heathers :) I hope to have many more Heather and Camille moments to come!
Oh, and tell me if you try out this shirt panel apron I'd love to hear how it goes!

Here's an awesome giveaway by an inspiring lady!

Day 12 Giveaway! What did you think you missed something?

Hello!

My 12 days hit a train wreck this week!

Here's pics of what I did Mon & Tues! (hint: for some reason it's not sewing... hmmm.)

Pretty huh!

Yup, we had a surprise wedding this weekend! That I was lucky enough to be able to help plan and execute!

I have to say I'm pretty proud of this cake! It can definitely be improved upon but I think it came out pretty well. It was my first time using gum paste to make flowers. It was so fun!

Well that's what was happening early this week, instead of sewing,

but I have to show you the ball pattern that I still want to make for my little boy.

Yeah, definitely still want to make it :)

And don't you love the fabric combo used on Tadaa Studio's grab ball?!

It's adorable! I may be digging out a little more midwest modern!

It was going to be day 10 but seeing how that didn't work out, do you think there's still time?

It's not Christmas day yet. :D And only a few parties between here and there.

This girl made her grab balls mini sized, and turned them into ornaments!

Next year when there isn't a wedding the week of christmas I'm definitely making those!

Anyway, Since you've made it this far in my wordy blog, I'll reward you!

(Do you feel like your reading one of those infomercial websites yet :) )

I said giveaway and I meant it!

How do 3 half yard cuts of Heather Ross sound... Merry Christmas to you, huh! hehe :)

I love many things Heather Ross and Far far away was no different.

I picked these up at market and now I'm sharing a few with you!

Included is the frog prince,

A wildflower piece,

And what far far away grouping would be complete without something as magical as a unicorn?

I also decided to throw in a couple of my leftover pieces of Anna Griffin's gorgeous Riley prints!

Hurray! Can you say bonus!

What do you do?

As expected comment to be entered & blog about this to get 3 extra entries!

Don't forget to come back and tell me so I can give you credit!

This will be open until the 31st I'll announce the winner sometime in the first week of January! Ooo, it's happy New year presents too! Yay!

One last thing, please make sure I have a way to contact you! Either leave your email or make sure you're not a no-reply (sometimes it happens and you don't even know it).

So, tell me, is it worth it to you for some way cute

free Heather Ross and Anna Griffin?

you tell me :D

Merry Christmas everyone! And a Happy New Year!

On the 7th day of Christmas!

Ok, so I used both my 2 free days already... dang it!

And just so you know, I'm not going to tutorial on Christmas Eve either! and neither should you! go enjoy your families! Soooo.... Guess what that means?!?!?

A Christmas Eve Giveaway! Yay! Presents for Christmas is so appropriate anyway!

Yes, when you come back for the 12th day of Christmas there will be presents!

But, for today, we are all still making them :)

In fact, the next couple days will be in-law appropriate gifts! Hehe, we're leaving tomorrow for my husbands family christmas :) What a coincidence, huh!

Today we are making photo ornaments that are so much cuter than the plaster cheapo's you can pick up in any random photo center.
These ones could even be hung up with nothing in them and still be admired!

Materials -
Choose 3 charm squares for each ornament, a front, a middle, and a back.
1 gold colored charm square
2 - 5" square scraps of batting
1 - 2.5"x5" scrap of batting

Step 1 - Cut a 5" circle template with a 2.5" circle cut from the center.

Step 2 - Stack your fabric and batting in 2 stacks in the first place your back fabric (face down), 1 square of batting, and your middle fabric (face up). In the 2nd stack have your 2nd batting and your front fabric (face up).

Step 3 - Cut the stacks into 5" circles using your template.
Step 4 - take your gold colored square and fold it around the 2.5" piece of batting. Leaving the side opposite the fold pinked, cut from the fold strips 1 5/8" wide,
you can get up to 3 out of each charm square.
Step 5 - Trace the inside circle on the front ornament.

Step 6 - Sew around the circle you just drew twice. Sew around the outer edge of both circle stacks. Cut out the center of the small circle.

Step 7 - Attach a gold rectangle to the ornaments front circle, pinked side toward the ornament.
Step 8 - Stitch a rectangle approximately 1/2" thick and freehand a circle at the top.
Trim around the shape.
Step 9 - Your almost done place 2 pins about 2.5" apart at the top of your ornament and sew once around the bulk of the ornament. Leaving the 2.5" gap open.
Step - attach a 8-10" length of ribbon to the top of your ornament for hanging and put in a picture!More In-law happiness tomorrow!
I hope you're almost ready!! Maybe these will help :D

A Breakfast of Fat Quarters for Kelly!

I'm thrilled to let everyone know that Kelly O. from has won the giveaway of my "Broken Breakfast" mini quilt and FQ's.

She left several sweet comments (I think she got one into every post! Go Kelly!) One in-particular left me blushing :D

I'm sending you a little Jenean Morrison Mingle and some Sandy Gervais Fresh Squeezed... we can't wait to see what you do with them! I hope you enjoy your prizes!

If you'd like to get a special handmade treasure for yourself

you can still sign up in my pay it forward!

A little fun stuff

Fun stuff is always going on around here, such as these fantastic Amy Butler patterns

and a FQ of pressed flowers (from her daisy chain line) sent from Mallory over at Amy Butler Design

just because I participated in a contest! Wow! Who knew you could win just for playing! I kinda like that theory!

You can probably guess I've added a few things to my to do list! Which one would you do first? The Weekender Travel Bag; the Mini Dress, Tunic, & Tops; or The Nappy Bag? Maybe we'll vote on it and The winning project happens first!

So, after receiving Amy Butler patterns & fabric in the mail I didn't think the day could get much better but, underneath that package I found another awesome surprise! I got my Doll Quilt from my swap partner Claire/milliemorgan!

Isn't she amazing?! Check out the gorgeous applique!

The inset blocks on the backing! I love those kind of details :)

And check this out...

Hand quilting!!!! Do I feel loved or what?! It's so beautiful! Thank you so much Claire!

Don't forget to check out Jelly Roll week and comment to win a mini quilt ( I'm drawing tomorrow night!) or sign up in my pay it forward to get a special project designed just for you!

Pay It Forward

Check out this gorgeous "Nest" quilt!

I was lucky enough to sign up for a pay it forward under
lila mae quilts
aka Natalie
aka my sister!
Hehe :) I love the blessings of having talented siblings!

Seriously though isn't this the greatest pay it forward ever! I love it!
And now it's my turn!
I hope I can do something that will make my pay it forward friends hearts sing just as much as her's did mine!
So, here we go.

I want to pay it forward. Something nice was done for me, and in an effort to make our lives happier and the people in and around them kinder, I am opening this pay it forward to the first 3 people to comment on this post. To those 3 I promise that sometime in the next 365 days I will send you a special gift of kindness in some form. The only rules for you are you have to have a blog, leave me a way to contact you, and be willing to pay it forward to your own 3 people!

So, let it begin! Tell me if you want to play!

Turning circles with our Jelly Rolls!

Jelly Roll Week is here!!!! Cruise over to MSQC and partake in the goodness that will be coming for us all! We should start getting jelly roll ideas later to day or tommorrw! If you don't yet have a jelly roll the daily deal is here to help us all find fantastic deals on jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm packs, patterns, etc. and word has it that soon there will be a free charm pack available on the daily deal site with only the $5 shipping to pay for your entire order!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win my "Broken Breakfast" mini quilt by commenting on any of my "Jelly Roll (end of the) Week" posts and/or blogging about them for more entries! The giveaway is open till September 20th! So comment away and share the fun! One entry per comment, One entry for blogging, only one of each kind per post!
Sew many entries! Sew little time!

Of course, while your here enjoy a quick tute of a fabulously fun, little circular rug!

Supplies~

1 yard of Textured of base fabric
1 yard of Heavy upper base fabric
approx. 44-2.5" strips wof or Jelly roll strips
Basting spray


I'm gonna talk base fabric first. I chose random fabric that I simply had in my stash and I have a lot of random fabrics! I chose something textured for the bottom as this is likely going infront of a dresser in my daughters carpeted room. I chose a denim for the top because I had it, it was sturdy for light traffic, and it was dark so hopefully it will not look dirty to quickly.
You may choose whatever fabrics you like for your base.
You might consider
a piece of canvas,
or heavy drop cloth,
or a light, thrifted rug
(though I would try to avoid anything to thick for sewing purposes and without a plastic bottom.)
The idea is that it will be completely covered anyway!

Making the base~

Fold your fabric square into fourths and stack both pieces. Using a push pin and a length of ribbon that reaches from the folded corner to the raw edge pin the ribbon down to the folded corner of the fabric. Stretch the ribbon across and holding the ribbon and pencil to swing across the edge mark a quarter circle on the top layer of fabric

Use this as a guide to cut through all thicknesses of your base fabrics.

Lay your base circle's out right sides together with the wrong side of the heavy layer on the top. Pin around the edge and sew together leaving a small 4"-6" opening for turning.
Spray the wrong side of the heavy upper circle with basting spray and turn the base piece right side out smooth the circles out immediately so the basting spray can hold it correctly in place.

I did my fabric in circles of receding sizes. If using an actual Jelly roll I would reccomend a spiral pattern instead do this by simply curving in slightly as you aproach the end of the circle you are working on and continue following the edge never finishing a circle round till you reach the center. I recommend this because of the lack of matching fabrics in a typical jelly roll. Spiraling justs give a more scrappy look.

Add your ruffles~
Start by ironing your strips in half lengthwise and trimming the selvages from your jelly roll strips.

Sew your strip down as close to the outer edge of the upper base layeras you can (less than 1/4" from the edge), finger ruffling it slightly as you go.When you reach the end of one strip simply add another by butting the 2 raw edges together.

My outer row took approx. 4 1/2 strips.

If spiraling simply curve inwards slightly once you have made a full circle to the next row. If you're doing full color circles finish a row by ruffling your fabric and trimming it to meet the beginning of the row you were working on and doing a small backstitch.

Then simply scoot in and add another row. When you add your inner rows pull the ruffles from the outer row away from the fabric strip you're working with and line up the edge of the new strip with the sewing line of the first to get your placement spaced right. Continue in this manner adding circles or spiraling inward till you reach the center. For spiralling simply curve till you get there do a little backstitch and your done!
For circles you will take a scrap of one of your strips and using pinking shears cut out an approx. 2.5" circle. When you reach the center there should be a hole about the size of a quarter left to fill. Place your 2.5" circle directly over this space and do a little backstitched X in the center!
Hurray we're all done!

These are super cute and fun for a kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom depending on your jelly roll :)