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May we all be thankful to God for our blessings…
…and not worry about the not-so-perfect pie.
Don’t forget there is less than a week to go on the tutorial contest. There are about 18 entries so far. I will be doing a post with all the tutorials, but for now, you can check them out here. Well, maybe not today! I know I have pie to bake, so not much crafting going on around here. And check out the contest sponsors in the sidebar. They have some things that would make great Christmas gifts.
-Thankful for inspiring crafters here and here and here. And here….and here! I think it’s pretty cool that God gave humans the ability and creativity to make beautiful things.
And thankful for fun giveaways like this one!
There are also giveaways going on now or starting tomorrow at several great sites:
oh, how behind I got on this! And I can feel it! I really think just the simple exercise of thinking of one thing each day to be thankful for changes your perspective. Truely, the days I didn’t were more frantic, more grumpy. Gotta change that! Today, I’m thankful for new beginnings…each day, each year, forgiveness. Maybe I failed miserably at this blogging something I’m thankful for, but I get to start fresh today! Oh…and I’m thankful my sister and her husband and their darling little boy are coming up for Thanksgiving tomorrow!
Stole this from here…such a great idea!:
The Thanksgiving holiday is one of my favorites…food, football, family,friends and lots of fun. But, originally, it was meant to be a day to pause and give authentic thanks to God. Unfortunately, for many, including myself, thanksgiving is more of a one-day holiday that a way of life. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been blessed beyond comprehension, and even in the unwelcome moments of life, I have so much to be thankful for.
What would it look like if I ONLY spoke words of gratitude the entire week of Thanksgiving? If I went so far as to look at a pile of laundered clothes that awaits my folding and putting up, a task I normally hate, and instead think and speak out loud, “God, thank you for these clothes, for providing covering.” When my daughter voicing her grumpiness, “God, thank you that she has a voice that works and you are shaping her own unique personality.” If every time next week I see a person, I tell them why I am thankful to God they are in my life.
So, starting this Monday morning and going through this Sunday evening, I’m challenging myself to live an entire week full of thanksgiving.
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
(Ephesians 5:4 ESV)
Anytime I’m tempted to think/say/do something negative (filthy, foolish, crude or otherwise unthankfull), I will instead choose, in that very moment, to give thanks to God for His blessing in my life.
If you’d like to join me, please leave a comment saying so AND repost this (in our own words, if you’d like…no need to link me) on your blog, twitter, facebook, etc. and challenge your friends to do the same. Even if you’re not reading this until after Monday morning, it’s never too late to take up a good challenge. And, keep in mind that nobody who takes this challenge is going to make it an entire week without missing the mark…so, when that happens to you, just pick yourself back up and start again!
super cute baby clothes alert! Apricots is giving away a $25 gift certificate. Just visit Today’s Creative Blog to enter!
Check out the button in my sidebar. If you like Flea Market Frenzy, this a dream-come-true giveaway!
I haven’t posted a Grosgrain giveaway for a while, so I thought I would make up for it by posting three!
You can win a $30 gift certificate to The Brass Hussy, which was already one of my favorite Etsy shops.
You can win this lovely dress in one my favorite colors. The lucky girl was one of the finalists in the Shabby Apple dress contest. I’m still crying over that one (just kidding…umm…sort of!).
And finally, you can win 3 fabulous custom cards worth a total of $45 from Modern Blitz Designs.
There, that should keep you busy!
NOTE: Photobucket as usual doesn’t like me today…so it’s not letting me re-size my other photos. I will get them posted as soon as I can.
Of course, I really wanted to wait until this was all done to post. But it’s getting down to crunch time and you will already be pressed for time if you really want to make this and get it done before December starts. So I thought I better get it up here, even in its unfinished state. You could always, if you wanted to, start with embroidering December 1st and just use the calendar unfinished. Though if you’re like me, that would just be annoying and would probably result in yet another half-finished project! Anyway, I hope someone finds this useful.
I’ve been wanting to make an advent calendar for several years now and am glad I finally got around to it. I’m really excited about how it’s turning out, even with my VERY limited embroidery skills. I’ve only embroidered two things before this, so anyone can do this, even if you’ve never embroidered anything. These are excellent instructions on the different stitches. There is also some basic embroidery info here.
I used the split stitch for the wreaths and trees (I’m having to look this all up….I couldn’t remember the names!), the stem stitch for the numbers, the back-stitch for the candles, and french knots for berries and parts of the garland. I used my machine to make the window panes. I used Wooly Nylon in Dark Brown, but I think you could also use two threads threaded through the same needle. Once this is all finished, I’ll have better instructions written up, but for now, this will have to do.
Supplies:
- 1 yard natural linen (you will only use half, but you need the width)
- 1 yard background fabric (I used home dec….I think quilters cotton would be flimsy, not to mention the extra width is nice…felt would work well too)
- about 2 yards unbleached muslin…maybe a little less
- embroidery floss (Joanns has a package of a ton of colors for a great price…it might not be quite as nice to DMC, but it is cotton and the price is right)…you will need green, red, white, black, and gold/yellow…..or whatever you choose to use
- hand sewing needles with large eyes
- black or brown thread for the window panes
Cut out:
- 46 4″x4″ muslin squares
- 2: 4.5″ x 7.5″ from door fabric (I will be using the same fabric as the background)
- 27″ x 32.5″ of background print
- 29″ x 24″ of linen and muslin for house….we will be cutting it into a house shape
- 2: 7″ x 4″ pieces of background print fabric for hanging loops
Take the linen for the house. Fold it in half so the two long sides meet . Take a ruler and draw a dot (with chalk or a disappearing pen) 3.5″ from the top. Using a ruler, draw a diagonal line from the top center to the dot. Unfold. Draw a chimney…mine is about 2″ about 4.5″ from the edge. Really it’s whatever looks good to you. Cut along the roof line, making sure you don’t chop off the chimney! Use this piece as a template to cut out a house from the muslin. Now all your pieces are cut and you’re ready to sew.
Take two muslin squares and sew them right sides together (if you can tell which is the right side, you’re a better sewer than me!), leaving a couple inches to turn them. Repeat with the remaining 44 squares. Turn them right sides out and press. Topstitch along one side of each square…this will be the top of the pocket.
Now using black or brown thread, stitch along the middle of each square. You could mark each square with a pencil, but I just used my machines stitching lines and it was close enough. I did it chain piecing style, one after another without cutting the thread in between. Then take all the squares again and do the same thing, but perpendicular to the other lines, so you will be making a cross. You could do this by hand, but machine is so much quicker and really, I think it looks just fine. Now all your windows are ready to embroider!
Now you can the background ready. Take the background print and fold each edge over 1/4″ and then 1/4″ again to hem it. Stitch it down.
For the house, take the linen and muslin and sew them right sides together. I pinned like crazy and I think it is kind of important, since both muslin and linen like to stretch out of shape. Leave a couple inches for turning. Turn it right side out and press. Center it on the background and topstitch all around. I used my edge foot, with my needle as far left as it will go. Again, I used a lot of pins (I’m not a big pinner, but sometimes it is very helpful!).
Sew your door pieces right sides together, leaving a couple inches unsewn. Turn it right side out and press.
Once your windows are ready to go, use your ruler to map out the placement of the windows. Or you can eyeball it. They will be a wee bit less than an inch apart side to side and a wee bit more than an inch up and down. You can see in the picture I chose to put mine in order, but I suppose you could just place them randomly. Stitch the door and windows on along the two sides and bottom of each one. Don’t sew the tops or you will have nice little patches instead of pockets!
Now we’re going to make the loops to hang the calendar. If you wanted to, you could cut the background fabric bigger and make a sleeve to put a dowel in, but I wanted to do it this way. Though now I’m having doubts about how it will hang…so maybe you should just ignore me and add the dowel!
Take one of the rectangles and press the short ends in 1/4″. Now fold it in half the other way (basically, you’re making bias tape). Press. Unfold and fold the two edges so they meet along the center fold line and press. Now fold it in half again and press. If this is confusing, look up making bias tape…I will have pictures later, but I don’t yet. Repeat with the other stripe. Stitch along each long edge. Take one of the strips and fold it half so the two short sides meet. Stitch it to the top of the background fabric, about and inch from the edge. Repeat with the other strip. Take a ribbon and tie to each loop.
And you’re done! All you have to do now is hang it up and remember to put stuff in it! And bask in the glow as your kid’s proclaim you the best mommy in the world. 
Photo via Martha Stewart
Yes, I realize it’s not Christmas. It’s not even Thanksgiving. But if you want to make Christmas cards, now is a good time to start. I love Christmas and I don’t want to turn into one of those people who dread Christmas because they have way too much to do. I don’t think I’ve ever made our Christmas card. Some years I’ve done a letter, sometimes just a store-bought card, and sometimes (gasp!) nothing at all. But this year, I kind of feel like cutting and pasting and playing with paper. Some of my favorite ideas:
-Glittery Deer..I like the idea, but I think I would change it somehow..and yes, more glitter!
- Envelope Fold Letter…..definitely going to do this if I end up just doing a letter!
-Magnet Cards….fun for the kids
-Drying Mittens…cute and it’s not Martha Stewart!
- Snow Globe Card…without the bow and add some…..well….glitter. Hard to believe I don’t even have any glitter, isn’t it!
-Cut Work Felt Card….I think this would be cute as a Christmas card.
Do you have any favorites? Please share….or come up with a new one and enter it in the tutorial contest.
We had a busy day yesterday. Our church held an auction to raise money for a Bible school in Nepal, so getting ready for that (and sewing a last minute dolly blanket and pillow) took up most of the day. All the items were things made by people from the church or services like landscaping, so it was fun to see what everyone had made. We bought several things, including the cutest baby hat ever (no…no news!….but I can hope, right!) and a darling little mouse drawing by a sweet friend. I also bought one of her octopus…..not one of the ones pictured, mine is green. Actually, I’m not sure why I did, because I’ve always been irrationally scared of them! I’ve had nightmares. But her’s seem friendly enough, so I think it’s safe!
I also wanted to announce the final prize for the contest. It’s from me, and there are two choices: either 3 yards of County Fair fabric (you can pick, with some restrictions….I have more of some prints than others) or a patchwork scarf, made by me. I just made these for the first time and I think they are so pretty. I’m usually really critical of the stuff I make and not always happy with it. But I can honestly say I love the way these turned out. If you choose the scarf, you can either have one of the ones in my shop (if they are still there) or I will make one just for you. There is only one entry so far, so you have an excellent chance of winning. And I would really, really love to have more entries! So if you would like to make my week, made a tutorial and enter!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
BEFORE:
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I’ve also been working hard on cleaning my house, but I totally didn’t get any of that done yesterday. Which is why I scheduled the laundry room, in my case a closet. I won’t be devastated if that doesn’t get done. I did get the entry pretty much done and got my pantry shelves picked up. I didn’t go crazy and organize every shelf, but at least now everything is off the floor and on the correct shelf. It’s so much nicer! The before picture of the pantry is mid-cleaning, so it makes it look even worse, but I forgot to take a picture before we started.
I am a part of a Etsy team called SewingMamas. It is a great group of ladies and you can find their items by searching for “Sewingmamas Team“. This weekend we are having a Stocking Stuffer event. So if you are looking for stocking stuffers you will have to check it out! There are some great things!
-I can’t knit, but these are yet another reason to learn (via Tilly)
-You really should sign up for this if you have any interest in digital scrapbooking. I took a free class from her earlier this year and she is a fabulous teacher!
-These pumpkin spice bars were amazing. No pics, because we ate it too fast. I added a little less sugar and oil (I think 3/4 c oil and 1 cup sugar?) and they were so yummy and moist.
-Made this chicken…it was good, but I think you definitely need the lemons. I only had lemon juice and added some of that, but I felt the juices were kind of bland. It made an awesome start to this chicken soup, though.
Umm…I’m already behind. I underestimated how long it would take to clean my teeny, tiny dining room. So I still have more to do in the entry way. But thankfully, I had gone through the shoes and coats recently, so I don’t need to do that. Anyway, today I’m going to work on the pantry, otherwise known as shelves in the garage. They are overflowing all over the floor. So todays mission is to get everything to fit in an orderly fashion! That is all I’m going to do. But if you have a real pantry, you could:
-organize
-wipe down shelves
-sweep and mop floor
-clean light fixture
-wash window(s)
I’ll add pictures later. Right now I’m off to clean.
