December Elfing Finished~

It was fun being a sewing elf and 

making this basket for Christmas.

I used a combination of two inspirational online tutorials,

Bryan House Quilts

and another at 

Sew Mama Sew,

then added some of my own ideas.

There is room in the bottom to store some fabrics,

and vinyl pockets all around 

to see and keep her supplies organized.

I included cute little scissors, a pin cushion, tape measure,

clips, pins, 

and a seam ripper. 

The zipper is a 26" from Zipit.

Fabrics used were Sew Pretty by Laurie Wisbrun (RK), 

Polka Dot Stitches by Lori Holt (RB),

and a piece N2BU.

This is my December Finish

for the 2013 Lovely Year of Finishes!

Shanna and Melissa are gearing up for 2014 already.

Check it out their plan and set your goals to get those projects finished!!

Thanks everyone!

See you next year.....

A Creative Introduction~

I have been wanting to do this for a while...

introduce this multi-talented,

creative person.

She was one of the first people I met 

when we moved to Oregon.

We were both in the fourth grade.

Both had sheep in 4-H ;-)

and she has AlWayS seeped creativity where ever

she goes.

In high school she painted store windows,

and detailed cars.

Yup, I always was in awe of her work,

and her laugh!

Here are some recent pen drawings

on garage sale finds..

A hard-sided suitcase..

A once boring, white standing mixer..

completed with sharpies. 

She also works with adults with disabilities.

Together they completed this mosaic Tree of Life for their local area.

Just recently

her scroll saw ornament pattern was recently published in the 

Scroll Saw Magazine

You can check out more of her patterns at her website.

She is a VeRy talented lady!

If you follow Dexter Days you might recognize one of the little guys.....

For The Love of Hand Embroidery - December~

In this treasured quilt each block was embroidered,

then hand-stitched together.

I need to find some a little yellow to

repair some of the worn parts especially on the binding.

It is  backed with a thick, cozy flannel sheet 

which is doubled for warmth!

My Grandma Bea made one of me

and one for my sister.

It is very old and fragile, so I didn't force the iron--

but, through all of these years, her artwork still remains!

Only two more weeks before Jane's

Embroidery Ladies are finished showing 

their work.

Happy Stitching.....

Learning Something New~

Because it is the season of busy and I need something else 

to do...,

I am taking a class and learning something new.

Felting and wool have always interested me,

so when the local  UAF campus offered a course

in wet and dry felting,

I signed up.

The instructor is from Finland

and has a shared position between  their  college

and Alaska's universities.

She is also the Rangeland Management professor

who teaches courses relating to raising reindeer

for profit and subsistence.

The first night we talked about the process

then practiced on some little projects..

Wet-felted wool balls

and a needle-punched ornament ? tag?

work-in-progress??

I might need a little more practice,

but it is was a fun evening with good folks.

Can't wait to see what we try next.....

December Goal- An Elfish Finish~

It is the 'elfing' month-

For December I have a whole list of things to finish..

as most of you do, I am sure!

At the top of my list is a little organizing help

made with these crafty/sewing fabrics.

I need to keep it a bit of a surprise, but I am 

running out of days to get it finished!

What are you working on these days?

This monthly finishing idea has been such a mOtIvaTOR..

I really appreciate everyone involved!

Fly on over here to see what everyone else is working on-

Happy Elfing.....