I can now close down November :D

More Christmas sewing -  I tend to assembly-line projects when it's something I like - it saves time, and uses up a nice lil bit of stash.  Here are a few projects I've finished this month in multiplicate :D

First up - more Eunice bags - I've now made 9 of them, at last count.  These are Christmas gifts for my neighbour girls - they'll have other goodies tucked inside (stickers etc.) :)

Eunice bags

Wallets - tutorial here - I did some of these last year for Christmas gifts, and this year I'm doing some for the kids that didn't get one last year.  Some of them will get goodies tucked inside - gift cards or maybe even a little bit of $$$ ;)

Kids wallets

Close-up of the inside of the wallet

Snowman hand puppets!   I used this pattern, but I sewed mine together - I don't actually make *glued* projects, generally - it's great for kids, but I prefer something a little more permanent :D  These are for some neighour kids - I'm going to make one of my snowman drawstring bags (tutorial here) to hold them - I think it's very appropos :D

Snowman hand puppets

I'm not very happy with my rocket finger puppets - things went awry from the first moment I started them, and didn't improve as I continued to work on them. They're too plain, and there's a problem with the ric rac on some of them - I'm just not pleased with the finished items, and will be making a new set.  Not everything works out well, and these fit that description :D  (The pattern for the rocket is from a Rocket Toss game I bought on Craftsy years ago - it's no longer available)

Rocket finger puppets - not a success, lol

Christmas gift pillowcases :)  Nice stash busting (about a meter per case), quick to make up (even with all the raw seams zigzagged) and best of all - useful :)   I hope the kids like them :)

3 kids pillowcases - ants, ants and ladybugs 

Close-up of the ladybug fabric (from Fabricland)

Close-up of the red ant fabric (Fabricland)

Close-up of the blue ant fabric (Fabricland)

Recently I posted a picture of some Eunice bags I had finished up - one of the bags was made with soccer fabric (from Joanns).   These 2 items will be tucked in that soccer bag - a wallet, and a flex frame bag - I wanted to use up the scraps, and I thought these would be fun for an 8 year old boy :)

Flex frame bag and wallet front

Flex frame bag and wallet back

That's it for now - I'm tempted to take a break, but I have lots of things I could be working on - and besides - sewing is fun :D  I'll be back in Santa's workshop dungeon tomorrow, I expect, working away on something :D

Linking up with several linky parties:
- Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew for November (all of these items, lol)
- New to Me for November (snowman and rocket puppets - a success, and a fail!)
- Bag It - the 2 Eunice bags :)

Ladybug ladybug - fly away home :)

Quicky post, as I have to get some finger puppets finished up today, and I haven't even printed out the pattern, oops!  I just finished this project off, and I'm so pleased with it that I had to post it right away :)

Ladybug drawstring bag :)

Presenting ... ladybug drawstring bag :D  The tutorial is here - I printed out her pattern - I printed it out scaled to fit my paper (8.5" x 11"), proportionately, then increased the size by 50%.   My bag finished to 8" tall x 8" wide.  The wings are separate from the main body bag, but I tacked them down at the very bottom so they'd sit in place nicely.  The black dots are little sequins I stitched onto to the wings :)  If I can say so myself without sounding boasty, this is a mighty cute ladybug bag, and officially counts as #25 in my "52 in 16" goal.  I'm pretty sure I won't reach my goal in the next 4 weeks, LOL, but at the very least, I should pass the half-way mark?!  :D

Drawstring bag and finger puppets :)

These are the finger puppets I finished up that needed a cute storage bag to keep them corralled :D  This set of goodies is part of a Christmas gift for a 4 year old girl - her brothers' gifts are almost finished as well, and will be posted when I get them finished :D

All the puppets and the ladybug bag are new projects for me, so I get to post them to Fiona's New to Me for this month ... and since they're Christmas gifts as well, they qualify for Ho Ho Ho for November as well - YAY ME :)  ETA:  Oh yes!  The ladybug bag is going in the Bag It challenge - I almost forgot!

OK!  Butt off computer and back to sewing machine in 3 ... 2 ...

;)

OMG for November - completed :)

I've been working on a dinosaur D9P (disappearing 9 patch) quilt for OMG since I joined it last month.  This month's goal was to finish the last 2 of 9 blocks, quilt them (QAYG), and trim them down to size.  Mission ACCOMPLISHED :)  I not only got all the blocks finished and quilted, I also got them stitched together, so I now have a quilted quilt top ready  to be birthed and tied :)  I hung it on the clothesline to get a picture - it's currently 3C out there with the windchill (feels 37F) :D  It was a mite nippy to be out there in t-shirt and sandals, lol.

D9P quilt back

D9P quilt front :)

I suspect that finishing the quilt will be my OMG for next month :D  If you have a "quilt related goal" that you need a gentle kick in the butt to work on ... I suggest you try this challenge - my fabric would still be hidden in a drawer NOT being a quilt top, had I not decided to try this :D  Thanks Heidi for starting OMG, and to Patty for continuing it!  Posting my photos to the November finish link-up party here :)

Sleigh bells ring - are you listening? :)

Christmas sewing!

Drawstring gift bag - appliqued with this lil lady ... 

I'll just pop these into the drawstring bag and *poof* - gift done!
Owl hand puppet tutorial is from Sewn Together by Jenny Doh
Finger puppet pattern was available to Good Critters newsletter subscribers - it may not be available any longer.
The book is from Amazon :)

Not a Christmas gift, but a donation bag - a floral toiletries bag :)  I call it a toiletries bag because I have toiletries from the dentist that I don't use so I save them and donate them in a pretty bag :)

A finish-up-some-scraps pleated pouch :)

3 more Eunice bags - these are all Christmas gifts :)  When I have all the goodies made and collected that are going inside, I'll take group photos :D 

Shark bag - this isn't a Christmas gift either, but I wanted to make a pouch for a young lad - I think he'll like this shark *chomp* :D

All 7 of these bags will be posted to the Bag It challenge, and the owl pieces and Eunice bags will go to the Ho Ho Ho linky party for November :)  I'll post the puppets to Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me linky for November - both designs - the hand and the finger - are new to me, and I think I did a nice job on them, so I think they deserve a New to Me designation :)   I have snowman hand puppets, wallets, little girl finger puppets, and more Eunice bags finished that I need to photograph ... Christmas sewing is almost complete :)   Christmas shopping is almost done as well - I'm hoping to have time to finish up some UFO projects in December, rather than frantically sewing on Christmas Eve to finish things up, hehe.  It would certainly be a first :D

OMG for November - my goal, and OMG's new home :D

Last month was my first attempt at the OMG (one monthly goal) challenge, hosted by Heidi at Red Letter Quilts :) Starting this month, Patty at Elm Street Quilts will be the new hostess for this challenge, and I'm ready to get cracking :D Here's my November entry, involving a dinosaur D9P quilt.  Last month my goal was to cut out the squares and start on the blocks (and I reached my goal - cutting done, 7 of the 9 blocks assembled).  This month I want to finish the last 2 blocks, QAYG quilt them, then trim them down to the correct size.

D9P blocks 8 & 9 ready to be assembled

Left = the 7 blocks ready to be quilted.  Right = the batting cut out for the 9 blocks, and the squares for the two last blocks to be assembled.  

I found the last of the pictures of my  Halloween finishes for this year - skeleton puppets for several of the neighbour kids and for some greats (niece + nephews), along with bat finger puppets that either got tucked into cards, or tucked into treat bags :)  This is 2 different sets of skeletons - on the first set I had forgotten to stitch the mouth on before sewing the pieces together, so I had to draw them in with permanent marker (I wasn't happy about that!).  On the second set the mouths are stitched on - a much nicer look, in my opinion :)

Skeleton Hand Puppets (pattern here)

Another set of skeleton hand puppets (pattern here)

Bat finger puppets (pattern here)

AHA, lol - I forgot about this little guy that I made either in September or October ... a simple bunny hand puppet made from a washcloth!  I sent him off as part of a Christmas gift for a great nephew :)

Bunny bathmit hand puppet - tutorial here :)

Posted to OMG for November :)

Ninjas and Turkeys and Eunices and Humbugs and Bats - oh my!

Well!  I got some sewing done this month, despite the ear infection (that I'm fairly sure still hasn't cleared up) and the cold that followed and intermingled with said infection :D

I wasn't able to get anything New to Me completed for the October linky, but I did get all of my Halloween and Thanksgiving, and some of my Christmas sewing completed, so I'm ready for the October Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew party :)  Here are a few of the projects I finished up:

Trial run TMNT superhero cape to check sizing for a great nephew.  It's just right, so I'll be making Batman versions for his upcoming 5th birthday party!  Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da  da ... BATMAN!!!!!  That's from the 60's episodes because I'm old and I loved that show :)  I don't know if the TMNT have a jingle because I'm old :D

Thanksgiving bib for a great nephew for his first T-giving - happy turkey day, Nash!

3 Eunice bags - Christmas gifts for some family members.  I tucked goodies inside, and boxed 'em up - they've been delivered already :D  I did them in "boy" type fabrics for 3 members of the 2BC - 2 Boys Club :D  That would be the grandma, mom and auntie of 2 of my great nephews ;)  Just in case they ever - you know - have little guys around to play with?  :)

Close-up of the zipper pull on the vehicle bag :)

Close-up of the zipper pull on the airplane bag :D

Close-up of the zipper pull on the solar system bag :)

Some of the Halloween sewing I got finished - the bags in the back are humbug/triangle bags, and in the front we have some of the bat finger puppets I made (pattern here) - these are the ones with glitter embellishment :D

I made about 6 (or more?) skeleton hand puppets and more bat finger puppets for some little friends - I hope I took pictures - I need to check my camera :D

Posting to Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew for October!  Check out Fiona's Figgy Pudding Tea Towel tutorial - it's adorable - I think it would be adorable as an applique (3D, maybe?!) on a Christmas tote :D  And speaking of Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew ... I did the tutorial for September - a snowman drawstring bag - one of my bloggy buddies MADE MY BAG!!! and she won the prize for September - I am tickled pink black and white about that - congrats Kathy!

Also posted to Bag It! 2016 --- 3 Eunice and 2 humbug/triangle bags :D

OMG for October - progress report :D

Earlier this month I decided to try out the OMG challenge/linky, to get some projects done that have been planned in my mind, but not even started.  I decided on a dino D9P quilt - here's what I posted as my goal for this month:

"For October I'd like to get started on a toddler size Disappearing 9 Patch (D9) quilt with some fabric I bought on sale a few years ago ;)  Since October is a big month for Christmas sewing, I'll aim for cutting out the block pieces, and assembling some of the blocks (4 maybe?)."

I'm happy to report that I achieved - and even surpassed - my goal, and finally cut into the fabrics and got started on a quilt :)

One of the D9P (Disappearing 9 Patch) blocks :)

I got 7!!! blocks done!  So pleased :D

Because I was doing a lot of Halloween and Christmas sewing earlier this month (plus I've been feeling not-so-well :D) I set my goal low - to cut out the blocks, and to MAYBE get 4 done.  I did get the fabric cut (81 X 6.5" squares - not exactly the most time-consuming of goals, lol) and got 7 of the 9 blocks needed, assembled.  The other 2 are laid out on the cutting table ready for stitching - after everything is cut, each block takes less than 1/2 hour - it's very VERY simple sewing, with very little matching needed ... which is why I like the block so much, lol.  

I'm definitely joining OMG again next month - Heidi's non-aggressive KITB (kick in the butt!) is just what I need - especially at this crazy busy time of the year.  Thanks Heidi!

Posting this to the October OMG finish linky party :)

Halloween sewing :)

I'm alternating Christmas and Halloween sewing, because thanks to the internet, there are approximately 87,479,461 (and counting) free crafty tutorials available for us to look at, and I'm trying to catch at least a glimpse of all most lots of them :D  To that end, I'm working on Christmas gifts AND Halloween goodies - and here's what I finished up today  :)

 First up are some hand puppets along with a Halloween book, and a drawstring bag to hold everything for presentation :D  Links:
Ghost Tutorial/instructions
Ghost Pattern page 1
Ghost pattern page 2
Skeleton Tutorial/instructions
Skeleton Pattern page 1
Skeleton Pattern page 2

I did "hax0r" the tutorials a bit to change these from softies to puppets :)  I also resized the pattern to 75% to make it work for a little guy :)

My 2nd Halloween gift is for a baby (not quite 1).  I made him 4 Halloween fabric "taggy" triangle bean bags, along with a drawstring bag to hold them.   I'll be tucking a card into each bag, and some candy into the puppet bag :D

For those of you who make Halloween gifties for the little ones - what do you make, and for what age range?  I'm sewing for kids age almost 1 ... to 8 :)

Oh - I forgot!  I'm making the puppet recipient some pumpkin spice scented play dough - I found some recipes on Pinterest that I want to try out.  I thought I would include a pumpkin cookie cutter with the playdough :D

Posting the two drawstring bags to Bag It! 2016 :)

OMG! :D

I decided to try out the OMG linky party that the lovely Heidi @ Red Letter Quilts, curates :)  As per her description ... "One Monthly Goal is open to any quilter who would like to set (and achieve!) ONE monthly goal, and share the success in a group environment! This is a friendly and social linkup: Loitering is permitted and Participant's are encouraged to spread CHEER: Encourage and congratulate one another! " :)

For October I'd like to get started on a toddler size Disappearing 9 Patch (D9) quilt with some fabric I bought on sale a few years ago ;)  Since October is a big month for Christmas sewing, I'll aim for cutting out the block pieces, and assembling some of the blocks (4 maybe?).    Here's a D9P quilt that I want to try as well - I love the colour blocked design - but I'd like to get a donation quilt finished first :)

Here are the fabrics I'll be using, or at least, choosing from:

Classic Jurassic - by wilmingtonprints.com

Classic Jurassic by wilmingtonprints.com

Classic Jurassic by southseasimports.com

Check back at the end of the month to see how I do with my goal ... which has been posted to OMG for October :D

Christmas sewing ... and bags for Bag It! :D

Now that Christmas is getting closer I hope to be able to spend more time sewing ... just in time for Bag It! from Elm Street Quilts!  If you like to sew bags, or if you want to learn how to sew some fun new designs, you should check it out :)   There are prizes to be won, and links to fun new blogs and tutorials - I use this as a challenge (and excuse) to make more bags :D  This blog post alone has 6 bags that were made during the challenge period (2 of these 8 were made prior to September 19) in it - my first bags for the challenge this year - that's a pretty good start!

Candy corn zippies ... for some friends :)

Santa Sack - for a lil guy who shall remain nameless :D
Based on this tutorial :)

Pleated Pouch for a friend - tutorial here :)

Close-up of the zipper pull for the grey pouch --- is that really a bra??  Why yes!  Yes it is! :) But what's that other thing above the bra??!  Could it be ... ohhhhhhhhh ...

Yep - panties!  The zipper pull is a bra and panties - someone obviously has a disturbed mind :D  Why yes!  Yes I do!  :)  If the recipient prefers something a bit less "out there", I put a note in the bag saying I'd make a new one for her, LOL :D

Strawberry zipper pouch - with beaded ribbon embellishment and strawberry zipper pull :)

I'm not sure if you can see the beading, but I added red and pink seed beads to some of the dots on the ribbon :)

Another pleated pouch :D

Acrylic teardrop zipper pull :)

Christmas stocking for He Who Shall Remain Nameless :)
Construction is based on this tutorial - I can't remember where I learned the technique originally, but back then (5+ years ago) it was called a Magic Stocking :)

Here's the back of the stocking - it's not pieced - it's just another print from that particular Dr. Seuss line, quilted on the diagonal like the front :)

The lining is another print from that series - I bought a set of FQ's years ago in Pennsylvania (hi, Mickie!  Hi, Shayme!) and am finally getting around to using them!  

Here's a closer view of the patchwork and quilting on the front :)

For Bag It!, 3 of the candy corn zippies, both pleated pouches and the Santa sack qualify for entry - 6 in total :D  OOPS!  Update Nov. 1/16 - I goofed up while posting to the Bag It linky party, and only the 3 candy corn bags are counted - 3, instead of 6, lol.