The Mardi Gras Season is upon us. I am sure most people have heard of this fun time of year.  If you have never visited any of the hosting cities that participate, I encourage you to try it at least one time in your life.  When I talk to people who have never been to a parade, they usually state they would be too afraid. I think there is an idea of what happens but let me put it in perspective for you.

This is what a parade route looks like in the smaller towns and cities.  The parades usually go on for a couple of weeks over many different days and nights.  The streets are closed off and families gather together.  We park our pickup trucks, haul in grills and cooking pots. Everyone brings lawn chairs and we spend the whole day together.  You will smell great cooking, eat some wonderful food and visit.  If you walk over to strangers, I bet they will offer you something to eat and drink.  You will also see your kids playing in the street. How long has it been since you saw that?  Footballs are thrown across the roads between people and everyone gets involved. After all of that happens, the floats come and you catch more goodies than you can haul out.  I guarantee everyone will sleep great after all of that activity!

So let me tell you what happens in the background while all of the parades are going on. A lot of planning has to be in place to make those parades "Roll".  There are many people who pay to join Krewes.  These people actually buy all of the items or "throws" that you catch from the floats.  There are special rules that they have to follow, costumes that must be worn including masks and they get to attend many different parties.  You can see in the pictures that the ladies  wear beautiful dresses and the members have to wear their costumes. There is also a Grand Court and young ladies that are announced to society. Another custom is the day of the Tableau or grand ball, the Krewe members ride around town in open top school buses, stop at various gatherings in parking lots, listen to music and have a great time.  If you are wondering "Shaggy" is my son's nickname.  That is another custom in the Krewes. Everyone has a nickname. He is the one line dancing in the parking lot.  Not a shy bone in his body! 

This is the logo for our Krewe.  We have been participating many seasons and if you come to the parades my husband and many of my relatives will "Throw You Something Mister!" So in honor of the Mardi Gras Season, I have several designs that you can stitch out.

Mardi Gras is also known as Carnival Time.  This design would be great to decorate pillows or try it on garments!  

If you attend any parade, you will see that everyone gets into the spirit so join them by sewing this Happy Mardi Gras design on your sweatshirts!  Here I used variegated thread but you can use Purple Green and gold which are the official Mardi Gras Colors!

Stitch this My First Mardi Gras design to let people know you are brand new to the Mardi Gras celebration!  Perfect for children and babies also!

New Orleans and Bourbon street are what everyone thinks about when you mention Mardi Gras.  This Bourbon Street Lamppost design would be great on pillows and kitchen towels.

This Fat Tuesday Logos Design is everything you need to say about Mardi Gras all wrapped up in one design! Maybe this has inspired you to attend  a parade? If you can't visit, the local news stations will always record them.  Look for videos online and have a celebration at home.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you have learned and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!  PS. I'll enjoy some gumbo and a piece of King Cake for you!

It is National Embroidery Month!  I love all things embroidery and because it's the month of Love I thought a cute Heart Applique design would be just right. You can stitch this directly onto your project or create a cute patch just by changing your stabilizer! A 4x4 hoop and a little fabric is all you need!

This little design is really fun and I know you will love stitching it out. The Needle only has "eyes" for the sewing machine.  Check out the slideshow below to see how easy it is.

Look for it in my store here and celebrate National Embroidery Month along with me! I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

Mylar is a fun addition to Machine Embroidery. It is a foil like tissue paper that can be found at your local craft and hobby stores in the gift wrap section.  You do need to use a design that has been digitized for Mylar use. I am releasing this new design today in my store. Check it out here.

Designs for Mylar are very similar to Applique.  They need to have a placement stitch that tells you where to place the Mylar. If you like sparkle and shine when you do Machine Embroidery, you will love working with Mylar!  Here you see my design is ready to be tacked down.

An easy way to keep it from sliding around in the hoop is to use Painter's tape. Just a little bit will do the trick. Then sew the next step which should tack it in place and an open fill will cover the entire Mylar area.

There will be an outline stitch that goes around and ensures all of the product will stay put.   

Once it completes, you just gently pull the excess away. You can use tweezers and small scissors to get any small pieces.  Then sew out remaining parts of your design.  Mylar is a synthetic product so you will need to use a little extra care when laundering.  Just wash it on gentle and dry on low or hang to dry.  Keep your irons away from it also.

One of the neatest things when using Mylar is the versatility.  You can keep one color in your stash. I used silver on all three stitch outs above. The thread is reflected in the product and each look is custom.  Try variegated thread for extra special projects!  

I decided to use my variegated thread and stitched out the design on my sweatshirt.  It takes a plain garment that is inexpensive and turns it into a custom work of art.  

 Check out all of the different things you can do with this single design! I also have a You Tube video you can watch below that shows how easy it is to use Mylar. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

I am sitting here typing my review of the Butterick Pattern 6838 wearing my version C nightgown.  So you  already know this was a successful project.  This pattern has been on my to do list for some time. Once I decided I was ready, it worked out to be a relatively easy stitch out and I have sewn one for myself and another as a gift for my mom.  There will be more versions in my future.

Pretty nightgowns are one of my favorite things but sometimes they can get expensive.  I am not talking about the T shirt gowns or even flannel ones you can buy at big box retailers.  Think about the heirloom bridal or boutique nightgowns you may see in the fine department stores.  Yards of 100% cotton fabric that is light and airy when you spin around. Beautiful cotton lace trims and silk ribbons. I have seen these type nightgowns upwards of $80 - $90 dollars and they are worth it.  Why you may ask?  Comfort.  If you have never slept in 100 % cotton, you need to give it a try.  No polyester blend, just cotton.  Think of how wonderful it feels to sleep under a quilt.  It is warm in the winter but we use ours in the summer also.  A cotton nightgown is perfect for ladies in their ever changing seasons of life. Add a sleeve and it will keep your arms warm. Add some length and your legs will stay warm.  Go sleeveless and be breezy. Give it a try and I promise you will feel so comfortable you won't want to get dressed in the morning.

My version C which has length and a short sleeve takes  4 1/8 yards of fabric, some fusible interfacing, and a couple of trims.  I used the Pellon 906F Sheer weight fusible because I wanted this to have a little stability but be very breathable.  The layout of the pattern pieces is easy because the main part of the gown is cut on the fold for the front and back. This takes up most of your fabric.  Once you have those taken care of, you will have the yoke and the sleeves.  So not a lot of pattern pieces are involved.

The yoke is where you will interface.  Pay attention to the instructions here and make sure you only interface one front yoke and one back one.  I suppose if you used a lightweight interfacing and wanted a little more structure, you could interface both sides but I would make sure you were not using a heavier weight product.  The yoke does have a fair amount of hand stitching after you have put the the front and back together because of the facing. It is not difficult, but the hand stitching is necessary and done from the inside to conceal the seams. You will also do a good amount of gathering on the front and back gown pieces.

The sleeves take a few steps as they use two pieces of fabric each and they are set in so some ease stitching is required..  Trim or lace can be sewn or if you like a plain gown, you could leave this off. I would also advise to baste where the pattern says to. Basting is always a step that people avoid because it looks like it wastes time but it will help you avoid having to unpick your project.

I would advise also to make sure you transfer all of your markings and use the arrows on the pattern to make sure you line everything up.  The gathering when connecting the yoke to the front and back gown pieces is specific and more prominent in the center of the gown rather than all the way across.  When you line up the raw edges and use those markings you will see what I am talking about. I will say the only thing I was not sure about was the neckline.  It is a little more generous than what I imagined when looking at the pattern cover photos. So if you have ​very narrow shoulders, you may want to go down a size so the gown doesn't fall off your shoulders. I would measure yourself and the pattern pieces before you decide. Look at the back yoke when you do this to make sure you have enough fabric to ensure you will be comfortable while sleeping and not feel like the gown is too tight across the shoulders.  Also, pre-wash your fabric because cotton will shrink. Even if it is pre-washed you may see a little more shrinkage after it is sewn.  It will also get softer and more lovely as you wash it each time.  

So here is my nightgown all finished.  I was pleasantly surprised with this pattern because as soon as I slipped my gown over my head, I knew it would be a favorite.  I have become accustomed to being disappointed with my garment sewing projects over the years.  I am sure you have also because you never know what you are going to get. After spending the money on the fabric, notions, pattern and then going through the process, it is disheartening when the fit doesn't work out.  I think you may like trying a nightgown project because it is forgiving and even if not perfect, no one will see it except you. As far as skill level, I would say that because of the facings and set in sleeves, I would not say an absolute beginner would want to tackle this. A beginner with a few sewing projects under their belt who is comfortable with gathering and pattern layout can tackle it though. I was able to sew my second gown without using the instructions until I got to the sleeves.  I had to refer to them and then I pushed through the rest of the project without needing any instruction help.

Maybe you have been inspired to try your own nightgown project? I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

I have released several new Springtime designs in my store including a new FREE Embroidery Design!  This is my Buzzing Bee Design and it is really sweet.  There are only 3,065 stitches in it so you can get a quick project out in no time! Just some information about my Free Embroidery designs.  Some websites have their free designs available as a clickable download right on their blog page.  I list all of my free designs in my store because it ensures you get a safe file.  You just add them to your cart, put in a little information and then a link is emailed to you. I don't sell your email information and I won't bother you with advertisements. I may drop you a line and ask if you liked the design you picked out. That helps me ensure everything got downloaded and it is working. If you are like me, you love getting something for free, but you wonder what's the catch?  On my website, I am hoping you will try my free designs and then maybe you'll come back and buy other designs in the future. If not, that's OK. Just grab the free ones.  Maybe you will tell a friend about me and they will visit my site. I love machine embroidery and sewing, how it has helped me grow and get through hard times of my life and I want you to get inspired. 

So with my latest free design here are some ideas.  Maybe you have a blank pillow that needs something added to it?  Here is an example of what it might look like.

How about stitching it on a tea towel?  Add a simple phrase like  "Welcome Spring" or "Busy Bee" and hang it on your oven door.  

You may already be working on your Easter dresses?  Wouldn't it be so cute on a little sweet sundress like this one?   This is an exciting time of year to me because each day is a little longer and I know that soon I will be working in my yard and watching all of the little bees doing their hard work to help my flowers bloom. Come back and visit my site because I am adding new embroidery designs and creative content all the time. I love to hear from you also. Add a comment here or send me a comment on my contact page and let me know what you are working on. ​I hope this has been inspiring, that you share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

Welcome to a New Year and New Decade.  My son said to me this morning that he had 2020 vision.  It took me a while to get the joke.  Gotta love those quick young minds!  I am excited to be moving into this new year. I have a lot of great creative ideas starting with several new designs released today and other oldies on sale.  The Love Hearts pictured above looks like simple text until you notice the small hearts in each letter. Stitch this out in one color or use variegated thread to see those hearts really stand out!

My Script Love Heart Design stitches beautifully and I know you will really enjoy watching it as it comes to life on your project.

My Mug Love embroidery design is simple and homey.  I can picture this decorating so many kitchen projects.

Heart Sing is another simple design in one color.  Sew this one for that special someone that just makes your heart really sing!

Heart line is perfect by itself or add your own text. If you want to sew out something that will take a few minutes for a quick gift, this one is just the ticket!

I also have several Heart Quilt blocks available in different sizes.  These use the flip and fold method. If you are not very precise with your piecing skills, an embroidery machine can really ensure you will have a beautiful block once complete. Full color instructions come in the download.                               Check out the  4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 8x8 or the entire set. 

My Fringe Heart can help you show your patriotic love.  See it in a 4x4 and 5x7 size. Instructions included in the download.

My Heart Apple design would be perfect for a Teacher Valentine.  See it here.

Love is in the air!  Check out my SALESALESALE page for all of these designs and get them now because Valentine's Day will be here before you know it!  I hope you are looking forward to your New Year, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

As I move into preparing for the New Year, I have really been using my In The Hoop Calendar Topper. After searching for my chalk marker and ink pen a couple of times, I realized I needed a special place to keep them close to my refrigerator to make it easier to write my notes and reminders.  So I created my newest design which is a magnetic pen holder.  

Here are both designs on my fridge.  The calendar topper has chalkboard fabric which I have been writing on with my chalk marker.  I also like to write on the calendar so an ink pen is necessary.  This design has a front pocket that will hold two pens.  It is a 5x7 design, stitches out really quick and in one hooping.

It has nice quilting to give it some stability and here you can see the front pocket divider.

This shows the back pocket that can hold magnets to attach it wherever you need to be able to find your writing tools quickly.  My family has even started using them because it is so handy!  It is amazing how something so simple can become part of your routine. 

The design is available in my store here.  There is also a You tube video below showing how to create the entire project. I hope you have been inspired by this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

This year is winding down and if you are like me you have some organizing to do.  One of the best ways I accomplish this is by having a calendar. I like to keep up with appointments that are coming up, write my shopping lists and also make small goals for the upcoming year.  At the end of each year, I like to look back and remember what I accomplished.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on a calendar. In fact I found this one at Dollar Tree and thought I would digitize a topper for it so I can hang it on my refrigerator. The project is easy to finish and you can use your 5x7 hoop.  There is no hand sewing involved but you will need to use three different designs to complete the calendar topper. When you download the design you will get full color instructions that show all measurements and process.

This particular calendar works well because it is very lightweight and comes with a small wire hanger.  The project wraps up with a ribbon and snaps to hang the topper from the calendar.  There are also pockets on the back where you can insert magnets so it will stick to your surface.

The chalkboard fabric is appliqued onto the topper and gives you a great place to add notes and lists.  I love how it looks on my fridge. Just having a place to begin my organization really inspires me to work on it.  I have a You Tube video below that shows the entire project from start to finish. Maybe it will inspire you to do some organizing yourself!  You can see the design in my store here. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

One of the tools I have in my studio is a Sawgrass SG400 printer.  I have had it for a couple of years and it is really fun to use when making special fabrics.  I had a Christmas gift in mind for a family member that loves to ride Indian Motorcycles.

I used McCall's pattern M7139 version C which is a device stand.  I have seen these online and thought it would be just about the right size to be able to print my own small piece of fabric.  The printer can handle a regular 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of printing paper.  It is specialty paper though and is a little different than the transfer paper from an inkjet printer.  

If you are thinking of breaking into Sublimination, you will also need a Heat Press.  The paper reacts with the printed image and as the heat works on it, a gas is created.  That process pushes the image permanently into the fabric or whatever substrate you are printing on.   Each item you are subliminating to will need to be treated to accept the pressing also.  So Cotton shirts might not be the best thing to work with unless they have been treated.  100% Polyester shirts will work but I have noticed if I purchase shirts off the rack, they sometimes don't have the vibrant colors when pressed.  Shirts that are purchased specifically for sublimination do much better.  Lighter colors seem to show up better with the paper I keep in stock.  I use Texprint R.

For this project I had several yards of 100% Polyester knit fabric in my stash.  If you look at Wal-Mart, some locations are now carrying pre-cut fabrics in larger quantities. You can see this yardage was very reasonable and it allowed me to kind of experiment.  If you ever purchase something like this, you may notice when the fabric is unfolded, there are stains or even debris in them.  I think they must be off cuts from the factory or ends that  are not really loved.  For my purposes, a small stain won't matter because I am going to cover it up.  Just make sure you launder the fabric before you use it.

 I designed my fabric in Corel Draw and sent it to my printer.

Here is the printed page and my fabric ready to press. Notice it is printed in reverse.

The fabric is first pressed briefly for about 5 seconds to take out the moisture. Then the image is placed, a paper topping goes on top to help protect your platen and it is imprinted.

These are the settings I used for this particular project.

Here is the fabric once printed.  Pretty cool to be able to make that since I could not find any ready made fabric with these logos.

Here is the pattern piece placed on the fabric so I used most of the images.

Here is the device stand all finished.

I made another one in denim.  I will advise you to put something in the bottom to weigh it down just a bit.  You could use small stones, marbles beans etc.  I had some small ceramic tile samples left over from another project, so I used that and it worked really well to maintain a flat bottom.

These are very useful. I have since made a couple more and during the day, I use mine to keep my phone standing upright. I can see emails and texts coming in.  I also use it with my I pad turned on it's side. Very helpful while you stream videos.  If you are looking for a quick sewing project, this one is hard to beat as most people have some kind of electronic device.

I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

The New Year is closely approaching and I have digitized a great design to help you create a hostess gift or a gift for yourself.  I like to bring something when I am invited to a party. It just feels right to do it.  A bottle of champagne or wine can add to the party or be saved for another time.

I wanted to have something that could be used for future events so I didn't put the year in the design. All of the fun elements just look like a New Year's Eve Party!  

Flour sack towels were my material of choice because they are relatively cheap and easy to work with.  Here you see my champagne bottle ready also.  The design uses a 4x4 embroidery hoop and doesn't take very long to stitch out. Within about 20 minutes, you can have this sewn and be walking out the door.

So here it is all jazzed up. I filmed a You Tube video showing two ways you can present the gift to your hostess. One way is a very creative bag you fold the towel into. The other one shows you how to wrap the towel around the bottle so you can impress everyone at the party!  Check out the video below.  The design can be found in my store here.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what your create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

I purchased the Echidna Hooping Station in two sizes several months ago and I wanted to do a review after using it for a little while.  I have been a fan of John Deer who is an Embroidery legend and have had the pleasure of meeting him several years ago at a sewing convention in Atlanta. I actually purchased my embroidery software from him and attended his digitizing training.  He also has a You tube channel that is very informational and is one of the people I credit much of my embroidery knowledge to.  I so appreciate how he freely shares his techniques.  The Echidna Hooping Station is a product he endorses so I was intrigued when I began my research into adding it to my studio. Click the hyperlink above to be directed to his page to see embroidery knowledge and purchase the hooping station. I am not affiliated with him or his site but I want to rightfully acknowledge him.

The order arrived very quickly and it came in flat boxes so there was some assembly. The pieces are minimal and one Phillips head screwdriver is all that is required.

I was pleasantly surprised that they did send extra screws/parts in the order.  That was an extra bonus. Don't you hate putting something together and not having all of the pieces?

The stations did take up some of my working table so I had to make room for them.  I have really enjoyed using them and now they are just a part of my working process.  Here is just one of the ways I use them.

If I am going to embroidery a polo shirt, I first mark my embroidery location with my chalk marker and placement ruler.

I put my hoop on the board and secure stabilizer with the magnets that will come with the station.

I slide the shirt over the station and use a small ruler to ensure it is centered in the hoop.

 Then the top hoop is carefully placed and the item is ready to embroider.  Overall, I think if you are considering purchasing the Echidna Hooping Station, you will be pleased.  It has become an integral part of my studio. I do have a You tube video that goes into a little more detail of my Pros and Cons.  You can watch it below.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

I love to look at patterns and if they are on sale, I tend to pick them up for future projects.  The Simplicity Pattern 2300 has several different bags that can be hung on a personal walker. I decided I wanted to try version C that you see in the bottom picture.

I work better on projects if I have a special person in mind that will be the receiver.  This one is really meaningful for me because I hope it will help the person it is intended for.  She is very independent and although she has a debilitating illness, still takes care of herself and lives alone. She also uses public transportation to do all of her shopping and make hair and doctor appointments.  Currently she is using a self fashioned bag that is functioning, but I hope this will make it easier to secure her personal items safely.

I liked this particular bag because it calls for double sided pre-quilted fabric.  That means it does not need to be interfaced to add stability.  The amount of fabric required is 7/8 of a yard. This is perfect for me because I tend to purchase remnants and once I went through my stash, I found a beautiful piece of fabric seen above.  I did need to quilt it before I could cut out the pattern.  

I chose a deep brown color for the back of the fabric as the darker color should help hide any stains.  Here you see the natural cotton batting I used.  

I laid out a 2 inch grid with my large ruler and Frixion pen then used safety pins to hold all of the layers together.  My machine has a walking foot and this made the quilting go very well with minimal shifting.  The printed fabric I worked with was almost too small and I had to plan economically to use every part as the fabric is directional.

I also used two different color threads for the quilting so they would match the top and bottom fabric.

Here is the fabric all quilted and trimmed so I could see exactly where I could place my pattern pieces. This would have made a beautiful lap blanket also. Creating your own custom quilted fabric is very rewarding.

The frixion pen is easily removed with a hot iron.

So after all of my careful planning, I was able to get my pieces cut out and this was the amount of fabric left over.  The pattern has only six pieces and they are easy to cut out.  Other items I needed were a package of double folded bias tape, 3/4 yard hook and loop tape and 3/8 yard 1/4" elastic.  

Here is the organizer after I had sewn the pockets and front and back together.  Some of the things I would advise anyone sewing this particular pattern are:  Read the instructions carefully before you begin.  The cutting layout does have a couple of  interesting things to note.  The front and back as well as the tabs that hang the bag are laid right sides together when you cut them and the pattern piece is placed right side up on the WRONG side of the fabric.  Sound confusing?  It did to me too and I had to make sure I read that several times so really look at the Cutting layouts notes section.  Another thing that may confuse you is some of the sewing directions are not listed under the part of the instructions as you work through the pattern.  It will state "Apply binding" instead of showing pictures in the instructions.  You have to refer to the Sewing instructions section and look up "Apply Binding" to get details.  I assume this was done to save double printing the instructions for the other bags in the pattern.

Another thing I would advise is to make sure you really pay attention to the markings on the pattern pieces and transfer them to the fabric.  I used my frixion pen to mark the pocket, velcro and tab placements.  The outside phone and water bottle pockets are sewn on first.  The middle pocket is sewn on top of these and hides unfinished areas of those outside pockets. There is a small amount of hand sewing required also. Here you see the red clips at the top of the organizer.  The front and back are sewn around and then turned with an opening to be closed with needle and thread.

The tabs are the last two things that are attached to the organizer and because of the pockets on the front, they have to be hand sewn.  The instructions are a little vague as they just say hand sew.  I decided to use a ladder stitch and go around the three sides connected to the bag.

Then I sewed the top of the bag to the back side of the tab using the same ladder stitch.

There were of course some things that I had to figure out because I had never seen them before.  One in particular is the binding.  The instructions call for you to open the double fold binding and trim along the fold.  There are some pictures and they do help. I tend to use the finished pictures to help me complete projects, but the cover photo does not show binding in a different color so this was one thing I had to trust I was doing correctly. The trimming of the binding reduced bulk but left the second fold so you could wrap it around.

The binding is used to create a casing for the elastic on the water bottle pocket.  I think I assumed the casing would be part of the quilted material when I first began the project, but the binding is a better way to make a lighter casing and once I figured it out, I now have a new technique in my sewing arsenal.  Isn't that usually how it goes? Those things that are hardest or confusing usually wind up being some of our go to things.

The velcro went on easy because I used those markings from the pattern so again, make sure you take the time to transfer everything over.  The pockets did have some first time elements also for me.  They are actually formed first and have some darts in them to help give volume.  When you sew the outer ones on, one side that will remain visible is turned under and attached while the other is left raw because it will be covered by this middle pocket.  The instructions state to baste the raw edges and I would not skip that. I know a lot of people want to move through a project quickly but that quilted material is thick and will shift. So make sure you do baste when it states to.

The last thing I would advise you to do is make sure you are using larger needles.  One layer of quilted fabric is thick but there are areas when you are sewing the front and back together that you will have three to four layers of material.  I started with a denim needle and did have one break.  I wound up using a heavy duty 110/18 needle to finish the organizer.  So maybe buy a new pack of needles and take it slow when you are sewing. I also lengthened my stitch from a 2.5 to a 3.0 and just moved patiently through the project so my machine could do it's work. My iron and pressing station were used throughout also to make sure that quilted material did not shift and was as neat as possible.

So here is the finished organizer ready to ship to my special friend.  It took me two sewing sessions to complete it.  If I had started with ready made quilted material, I believe I could have finished this project in one day or roughly eight hours of layout, cutting and sewing.  I would not say this is a beginner project because of the type material.  It does get thick and you do have to manipulate it.  A beginner might not know to use all of the markings and the pockets with the darts are a little fiddly to attach to the bag.  I would say a couple of easy bag projects with flat pockets might be good to practice on before mastering this pattern.  It did turn out beautifully, I learned some new techniques and look forward to trying the other bags available in the pattern.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

It's that time of year and I have been working really hard on original Christmas Embroidery Designs for you. Some are sentimental. Some are cute and some are just plain funny. They are all on sale now through the end of December on my SALE SALE SALE page. I know you will love thinking about the creative projects you can make. Let's take a look at them.

The Whimsy Tree stitches out in one color with no trims. It would be beautiful on crisp white linens or tablecloths. 

Seasons Greetings will make that chef in your family smile.  Perfect for kitchen items!

This little Chicken doesn't "Deck the Halls". She "Pecks The Halls!"  If you have a farmer in your life, they would love this design stitched on a pillow or kitchen towel.

Do you have a traveler in your family?  Roam for the Holidays would decorate their mobile home quite nicely!

A Jolly Snowman just makes you feel like singing doesn't it?  

Mistletoad is puckering up for a kiss.  This design comes with a FRINGE element in his scarf. Instructions included with the download!

Merry Fishmas would be perfect for that fisherman in your life or for that Aquarium lover!

Know someone celebrating Christmas on the coast?  Santa Claws is a cute beachy design.

Are you in Puppy Love?  My Merry Kissmas Design will help you share it with that special someone.

Fleece Navidad looks so festive and will bring a smile to your Christmas gathering.

Mooey Christmas is perfect for that person who can't get enough of decorating with Cows.

Bark the Herald Angels will make even the Grinch smile at Christmas!

Sheeps Until Christmas comes with two designs in the download. One is the little sheep that you can use to countdown until Christmas with Chalkboard fabric. The second one reminds that Santa is watching Ewe!  Check out the sewing project we used these two design with here.

My Manger Silhouette design would be perfect to add to a couch pillow, towel or table runner.

My In the Hoop Sock Monkey Ornament would look so cute on your Christmas tree!

Those Old Pickup Trucks are very popular right now.  Stitch out this Old Winter Truck and decorate your home past the Christmas season!

As a Merry Christmas to all of my customers, I have also added the Dog Paw and Cat Paw Humbug designs.  Check them out on our Free Designs page

I hope this year has been a good one for you and your families and that your Christmas Season brings you much Peace. That is my special Christmas wish for you.  Joyeaux Noel and remember to share what you learn, and be generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

 My family just shake their heads at me when I wash out plastic containers. They don't even ask any more if I want to save unique packaging. Sometimes I don't have a problem discarding them but when we finished off a container of Cheeseballs recently, the tub was so big and sturdy, I had to come up with something I could re-purpose it for.  So it sat on my studio table for a couple of days while I pondered.  The hardest part was singling out where I could most use it. Right now as the seasons have changed, my yard is getting bare and I always feed the birds. That was my light bulb moment.

If you are interested in the brand cheeseballs, the picture above might look familiar. I could have just used the container to store my bird seed as is.  If you have one in your pantry, don't throw it out.  These have a wide opening perfect to reach into.  I think you could come up with a multitude of uses in your house.  

I digitized a really simple embroidery design for the project and used an old pair of blue jeans that I cut apart.  So my project was Upcycled and Recycled!  The design can be found here in my store. Cutting the jeans apart meant I did have to piece all of the fabric together and there were seams. I don't mind that but you might want to use a large piece of fabric instead.  I think a canvas drop cloth would be excellent also.

I wanted my cover to fit snugly around the container, have a handle, a pocket and an open bottom.  Since it would be made of fabric, I didn't want it to get too dirty as I carried it around my yard refilling my bird feeders. In the picture above, I sewed the cover so it comes just above the bottom edge.  That way it still sits on plastic.  I am not worried about the cover slipping off because I made sure the elastic is good and tight.  Using the denim also helps stabilize the fabric and it is really sturdy. You could of course add a bottom very easily or sew a few strips of belting to enclose the cover.  

The pocket is very spacious and covers most of the front. My thought was I might need to carry some tools to clean out old birdseed or maybe a funnel.  I added tucks on the bottom and elastic to it can hold larger items very easily.  This is where I embroidered the cute design also.

When I cut the jeans apart, I kept all of the seams and used them for the handle.  I just braided them together and sewed them flat to either side of the cover.  Then I trimmed them straight across so they would look neat.

The top and bottom include a casing so elastic could be pulled through. This makes the cover stay snug against the cover.  It is very forgiving also since the cover has a lot of different dips and valleys. I will tell you that depending on the type fabric you use, this may differ.  My denim was very thick and I did use a large needle for sewing leather.  I had some areas that also required some hand stitches just to secure.  This was usually where I double folded the casings and seams met together.

So now I have an excellent "upcycled tool" that will be useful to carry around my yard while I refill my feeders. I can also be assured when I store any leftover seed, the critters that might be looking for the buffet won't have such an easy time.  If I store seed in the bag it usually comes in, I will more than likely find evidence that my shed has had "visitors"  

 I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work

I love to re purpose something.  If you have read my blog posts, you will see that I do have a hard time throwing anything away.  I keep a stash of items stored in my craft room and it does tend to grow out of hand so I am continuously working on projects.  My newest project has upcycling, sewing, quilting and embroidery all wrapped up.  I purchased some flannel sheets last year from Wal*Mart in the buffalo check pattern.  When you buy those sheets they will usually come enclosed in a boxy fabric zippered bag.  Don't throw these out!  You can use them for so many projects.

Here you see the outside bag with an added handle, cute embroidery and a pocket.  The sheep is an applique design with chalkboard fabric.  You can officially write in how many "Sheeps"  until Christmas Morning on his body.  The Text also lets you know that Santa Claus is watching "EWE"  I took the original bag apart and drafted a pattern from it so I could make a lining.  The lining was quilted so once I installed it , the structure of the bag would be more stable and stand up.  I also used cutaway stabilizer in the pocket so it would help the bag stand up better.

When I was planning the project, my thought for a final use would be a pajama bag for kids.  Holiday pajamas are really popular and instead of them winding up on the floor, a bag like this would be a great place for them to be stored. It could sit on the bed and also allow for interaction with counting those precious days away.  The pocket can hold chalk and erasers.  This would make such a cute bag to carry to grandma's house.  The set of sheets that I purchased was a Queen size.  I do have a generic drawing of the pattern with measurements I drafted so you can try this also.  Just know that each set of sheets may come with a different size bag so measure your project accordingly.  Look for the pattern download below. 

Both Embroidery patterns are available in my store here.  They come bundled together so you can embellish any project you want for the holidays!

​ I also did a You tube video showing my process. It is the complete bag from start to finish so grab a cup of coffee and enjoy watching below. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

Coffee Mug Wraps have become a lovely part of my daily routine.  I have been using them for a couple of years and now I am addicted.  You have probably purchased coffee at a shop or convenience store and used one of the paper wraps.  These are like that but so much better.  I am not a coffee expert but I do love to drink out of a real ceramic mug.  As I have gotten older, I notice my hands have become a little more sensitive with hot and cold objects.  I guess that is what happens to all of us eventually.  I also like to really enjoy that first cup and drink it kind of slow so these mug wraps help insulate the heat longer.

Mug wraps are also great for stainless steel cups like the Yeti or Artic brand.  I know some people like to use vinyl monograms on them, but I think a cute wrap would be just as useful.  It will help designate whose cup belongs to who and maybe bring a smile with a cute saying.  Best part is they are washable, so if you spill a little drink on them, just toss in your laundry load.  I have eight new designs that are releasing today. Let me show them to you.

I designed this Blessing Presence Mug Wrap for that coffee lover that is not a morning person. You know the one?  They kind of wake up later in the day and may not be too chipper to sit with in the AM hours. So, they are "Blessing you with their presence"  

This Where Is Lunch Mug wrap is for that person who is already thinking about lunch as they are drinking that morning cup.  I have worked at jobs where the most important decision of the day was lunch! I bet you have too!

This My Kung Fu Mug Wrap is for the coffee lover that depends on their Java.  It really is their super power!  

This Latte Da Mug Wrap is for that DIVA coffee drinker.  I can just hear them now. "Well Latte Da!"

This Legal Grounds Mug Wrap is for that serious but mischievous coffee drinker.

This Life Happens Coffee Helps Mug Wrap is for that coffee drinker that needs affirming words to get motivated!

This Not My Circus Mug Wrap is for that Coffee Lover that always has a snarky comment to make. You know who I'm talking about!

This Dark Shot Mug Wrap is for that coffee lover that understands how to twist the written word and entertain all of us while doing it.

All of these designs can be customized with your choice of fabrics and threads. There will also be a generic instruction set with each design download.  I filmed a You tube video below that will take you through a complete project so you can see how fun they are to make.  Of course you will need at least a 6x10 embroidery hoop for these. I see some unique gifts in your future.  I hope you have been inspired by this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

This Sock Monkey Ornament design has been released today and I think it just may get you in the holiday spirit!  I know it is a little early but it does take some time to create those little special items. This one would be perfect to have stashed away for those last minute ideas. I envision gifts for teachers, Co Workers, Children or using these as tags on other gifts.

It finishes in one hooping and the back would be an excellent place to embellish with a sentiment or the year the ornament was made.  

You can also customize it with your fabric choices.  Maybe your decor isn't red and green for the holidays?  No problem. Try it in any color and I know it will still be precious.  Soft decorations are a great thing for children and pets.  I gave up using those little metal hooks years ago because I always have someone curious in my household. These also are flat so they take up less storage space.  That is a win in my book.

Full color instructions come in the download and if you have a few pieces of fabric, leftover quilt batting and ribbon, you can have a fun afternoon by yourself or with your children.  Maybe let them decorate their own tree with sock monkeys?  I created a short You tube video below so you can see how easy they are. Visit my store here to get the design. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

To honor our Veterans, I have released a brand new design that is FREE!   This is an applique design that can also be a free standing patch.  The picture above shows it stitched out using a mesh type wash away stabilizer.  When I embroider patches, I do use either a mesh type or a "Vilene" or clear wash away. This does depend on the type of patch, how dense it is or stitch intensive. Sometimes I can embroider the entire patch in one hooping. Other times in order to get the best outcome, I will sew the inner part of the patch in the first hooping, then sew a placement stitch and the satin outline in a second hooping.  I did a little experiment with both types of wash away stabilizer on this design and filmed a You tube video for you to watch.  The link is below. With any design, I always do a test stitch before I work on a final project because it helps me determine any changes I will need to make. In the beginning, I did think I was wasting materials, but doing a practice run will allow you to learn so much and hone your embroidery skills.  Don't give up if you have a design that stitches out and does not show the results you want.  Sometimes, just changing the type of stabilizer will make all the difference. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

Thanksgiving has to be one of my favorite holidays.  I love it because we usually do have a great meal with family, we reflect and remember, and it is a very relaxed day.  In preparation for having guests over, I have been working on some new designs to help with my decorations and they are on sale! The Gobble design above comes in a 4x4 or a 5x7. This would be great on your table linens or as placecards.  

The Turkey applique is so round and cute.  Use this design on oven mitts or tea towels to hang on your oven door.

My Happy Thanksgiving design looks beautiful on a table runner. Check out my post here to see how to make one.

At Thanksgiving, we are counting our blessings and this applique design really speaks to that.  Use it on pillows or towels in your bathrooms. Check out the magnet design also here. I did a post showing how it looks with pictures of all of your blessings. When you download the magnet design, it creates a soft in the hoop project.

My Sunflower design just goes with this time of year. In our area, it is the last flower putting on a show before the first frost.  This would look lovely on couch or chair pillows.  Maybe decorate your guest room with a fall theme?

Rustic comes to mind at this time of year also. I am a rooster lover and this Weathervane design is one of my new favorites. The contemporary look would be beautiful on crisp white napkins. 

I had to include something for the nature lovers also.  I am a bird lover and the Owl is one of my favorites. We have many that live around our house and their comforting Hoots remind me of home.  I designed three different colorways. This Camo Owl design uses camouflage colors.  The hunter in your life would love to see this decorating their space.

The Day Owl Embroidery Design is bright and reminds me of when I actually see the owls around my home. Sometimes they let you walk very close to them because they are curious too.

The Night Owl embroidery design is just WOW to me.  Here it is stitched on black fabric to really highlight those unique colors.  All of these Owl designs use a method of layering light fills on top of each other.  It creates beautiful dimension and feels so textural without being heavy or stiff.  I see these stitched on a jean jacket.  Wouldn't you be the talk of the gathering with this decorating your outfit?

The Sewing Set comes with six different designs ready to show off your crafting passion.  When I have guests over to my house, they always want to come into my studio and see what I am working on.  These designs would be great to put in frames on your walls. Maybe add some cute little sewing sayings too.  Or if you are already thinking about Christmas gifts, these would be perfect for that seamstress in your life.

My Autumn Leaf, Home Sweet Home and Pumpkin Talk have been favorites so they will continue to be on sale along with all of these new designs. Visit my Sale Sale Sale Page to see all of the embroidery designs on sale that will be available until November 30, 2019.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, you share what you learn and you are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

I recently purchased several pairs of pants and when I tried them on in the dressing room, I thought they were perfect.  They have large flat pockets on the back and front, lightweight fabric and tapered legs.  They also have a long stride which I tend to like and is sometimes hard to come by.

I was disappointed after the first time I wore them because as the day goes on, they tend to start to droop in the rear area.  I even had someone comment that I needed to get a smaller size. That wouldn't work for me because the waist actually fits in the morning and a smaller size would be too tight. I hate to think I have to start out uncomfortable in the morning and wait until the afternoon to feel better.  A tight pair of pants is just about as annoying as anything because it is all you can concentrate on.

This shows the difference between one pair that has added elastic and one that does not. You can see that the pair showing the tag looks like the back of the pants is taller than the front. This is why they started to slide down in the afternoon after I wore them for a while.  The other pair with the elastic looks like the waistband is the same on the front and back. Let me show you how easy it was to make this adjustment. I have several slideshows that will take you through the steps below.

Now the pants look like this when they are not being worn, but they stretch very gently when I put them on.  The four inches of elastic stretched to the six inch markings provides just enough coverage to keep the pants from looking twisted. It also creates a much nicer silhouette when I wear them and pulls that extra fabric in the rear up.  The stitching is not easy to see since I used narrow elastic and matching bobbin thread. Instead of being uncomfortable by the end of the day and having the stride in these pants falling down, I should be able to feel confident in wearing them. Maybe this has inspired you to try to do a simple alteration on a pair of pants you own.  By the way, if it doesn't work, cut up those pants for another project or donate them. If they are not truly what you love, why would you want to keep wearing them and feeling miserable?  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.