Fabric Bowls are Done!

Well I didn't get back in here yesterday but the Microwaveable Fabric Bowls did get finished! But not the doll or the cleaning. No surprise there.

Fabric Bowls

What I like about these bowls especially the smallest one is that they work for cold food too. Think a bowl of ice cream without getting cold fingers!

I'm still experimenting with the making of these and I'll share some tips and tricks later on one of my Monday posts.

Done is a good four letter word!

Rose

It’s Friday Again! Let’s Move It Forward and Finish It.

Today I will be watching my granddaughter Samantha so some of my progress will depend on how much she sleeps today. When she’s awake she has my full attention!

For today I’ve decided to try and finish something I started just before Christmas. Microwaveable Fabric Bowls.

Small Microwavable Fabric Bowl

I made a few to test the process and see if I liked them and then I started another set to give as a gift. The project got waylaid and so now I’m back working on it. I’m trying to streamline the process and make it a little easier but so far I haven’t really done much. I did decide to do a little more quilting on these. The test ones I made just had stitching from corner to opposite corner. The pattern said that was all that was really needed but after I washed them I felt that more quilting would be better. The finished blue one had quilting in both directions and it has been washed. The rest are just having diagonal quilting as I want to see the difference, trying to decide how much quilting is needed. You could also free motion quilt and I might try that on another set. That would be a good way to practice the technique.

Bowls in process

The other thing I would like to try and work on today is my rag doll. Either her hair or some clothes to wear.

Rag Doll waiting for hair and clothes

Hope to be back later with a photo or two.

Oh yes and I have to pick an area to order, clean, and organize. That just might be my cutting table as I need it to work on my Saturday projects.

Until then,

Happy Moving Forward and Finishing!

Rose

WWW Where Do I Start?

Should I just do a recap of what I’ve been up to since October 15, 2014? What? October 2014! Ok so I’ve posted some things in my FIF posts so I won’t bore you with those again but I have done some things during the holiday season that I will share with you.

First I worked at getting the bookmark for our 2015 quilt guild meetings designed and printed. I’m happy with the results. 

Me taking photos

I also took photos of the donation quilt that will be for the guild’s 2015 season. I needed photos for the postcard I create for the quilt guild’s annual festival of quilts show. When I get those I will post a picture of the front and back.

Besides working on those I crocheted 20 drink cozies for the “Meet Samantha” party. I thought I took a photo of them being used but I can’t find it so I will have to do with this shot.

Pink, Grey, White Drink Cozies

This was in addition to the 24 mini crochet dresses I showed in an earlier post. And then I put together some bunting/pennants/banners things for the party. These will be used to decorate Samantha’s room.

Flags getting ready to string together

 Oh that reminds me I made a cloud and hearts mobile for her room too (well that’s not completely finished but close!). And again, no photo.

In addition to all of that I managed to get the final blocks for the 2014 block exchange at our guild finished.

Christmas block

Civil War Reproduction Block

 Then my son asked me to make some finger-less gloves for the homeless they planned to feed on Christmas day. Well he asked for knitted ones like I had made as a gift for him last year but when I started I discovered it would take too long (this was a last minute request). Plus my right hand is not taking too great of a liking to my marathon knitting or crocheting. In the meantime my son and friends felt led to do a much larger scale meal for a low income housing unit. So he really needed more than 10. I got the bright idea to use fleece and so I made 40 sets of fingerless gloves for him to give away.

Some of the fleece finger-less gloves

 And let’s not forget there is the doll I’ve been working on. I have another one of those ready to embroidery the face and I’ve been playing with hair on the original one.

One other thing I started was some fabric microwave bowls. The test ones are okay but when I washed them they didn’t look as great as they did when they were first sewn. I’m still experimenting with the size for these. I did make one that is great to hold my small bowl of ice cream so I don’t freeze my fingers off. So they are good for other things than just the microwave. I’ll share more about those on another day.

Reindeer hats being worked on

Oh yes and I made some of these hats but I will share more about those on one of my Monday tips post.

Okay that’s enough I think to show I really have been working.

Happy Stitching (on Wednesday and every other day)!

Rose

What Happened?

Wow it’s March already! Well we’ve been sick at our household. Not much fun. But I thought I’d better pop in here and let you know I have accomplished some work.

For Christmas I made a pair of fingerless gloves for a friend. Oops forgot to take a picture She also received a scarf. The gloves were crochet, the scarf was knitted. Both techniques I haven’t done for a while so it was fun picking up the hook and needles again, especially the needles.

Another Christmas present was a pair of extra-long fingerless gloves for my daughter. I crocheted that too! Again I didn’t take a picture. Plus they came out too small for her so I have to redo. She did get a boot cuff that fit. Oh and also a knitted cowl. I’ve made a few more of those. My daughter said hers also came in handy when she was sick she used it to keep her chest warm.

I also made a hat for my grandson and a crayon roll up. 

Crayon Rollup

He also got a dapper outfit (well a onsie) from his tutu.

Polka Dots and Stripes

I’ve been testing out a new embroidery project, scribbles and such in pendants. I’ll be posting photos soon and also have a new tip to share (maybe tomorrow).

Tiny Violets

And I’ve started working on another Crazy Quilt for the CQ2013 Journal Project. I’ve constructed all of the blocks first, all 12 of them. Now to get the first three embroidered and embellished before the end of March. I’m using my “Oh look, she colored everything yellow” project for this so all my blocks are black, yellow, and white. I’m liking it so far. I think I will practice a different family of stitches on each block as I need practice in that area.

Finally I’m still trying to sort and organize my “stuff”.

Happy Stitching!

Rose

See I Can Do This!

Back again with an update to TAST 2012:

This week’s assignment was the satin stitch. This is a stitch I’ve used a lot and so it came fairly easy. First I did my scribble (for a while I was calling this doodling but realized it’s really a scribble that I sometimes doodle in with thread and color). I tried to keep it simple as I really wanted something I could finish quickly. When I stopped and looked at it there seemed to be a bird of sorts looking back at me. So I decided to go with that idea.

But Is It a Bird? Satin stitch sampler

The satin stitching was done in rows using my favorite color yellow in variegated pearl cotton. Then I did the beak as it appeared again with a satin stitch and some orange pearl cotton. The eye was done with French knots using black DMC thread and white pearl cotton. Using some variegated blue pearl cotton a encapsulated the bird with a chain stitch. I love how it came out but I’m not sure it’s a bird (at least any known bird) so I named the piece “But Is It a Bird?”.  I’m still considering filling in the rest of the body.

Other happenings:

I’ve been trying to make a driver’s cap for my grandson Jaden with my own modified pattern. Commercial patterns are sized for a one year old or larger and he’s only 6 months. The hats are either too big or too small. Finally I made one to fit his head but the sides of the hat are too short so back to the drawing board!

Jaden 

I did get a cushion covered for him that gives just enough support under his jumper so he can rest his feet and jump. He won’t be needing it for long though!

Now for a praise report!

My son had surgery to place implants in both the top and bottom gums. They found more bone than expected and so were able to do all of it at once. Praise God! After not having any teeth for so long he looks great! You can read more about it at Mo’ Bettah Smile.

I have just finished reading “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. What an amazing book! I’ve started my own list and hope to incorporate some of them in my embroidery and collage work. My daughter gifted me with the book as a thank you (one of many I’ve received from her) for watching her son Jaden (my grandson is welcome in my home and heart any time!).

1. Sunshine and Rain
2. Flowers that bloom
3. Baby snuggled sweet in my arms
4. Giggles

That’s all for now! Be back Monday with a tip that I think embroiderers will like. At least those who work with a hoop that has a tightening screw.

Happy Easter and Happy Stitching,

Rose