Winter Break is Over

We’ve had the past 3 weeks off from school.  It has been a blast!  After Christmas, my parents took my children up to their home.  My hubby and I were alone for an entire week!  I spent most of the time taking down all the Christmas decorations and crying that Christmas was over 🙁
We watched all 6 of the Fast and the Furious movies!  Ya, I know, you are totally jealous!!
Got to play with Marbles…..
I sewed 20 of these heart keychains……
…and 20 of these ice cream key chains for Therm O Web
I drove up to my parents and got to be with my kids!  We went to an Elvis Presley tribute concert where on the way home Sally declared, “I love Elvis Presley!!”
Played with the cat cousins……

We went to the San Jose Tech Museum and saw the Star Wars Exhibit!  It was totally awesome!

This is the real Anakin costume…..
 and the Obi-Wan costume…..

and Yoda!!!

I got to visit with my Nana who is almost 94 years old!

…and hang out with my sister-in-law….crafting….thrifting….late night guitar karaoke…..One Direction Movie watching!!

I can’t believe it’s all over and now time to get back to a schedule….hmmmmmmmm

Amanda

Deer Garland

My sweet friend made me 5 of these darling Deer ornaments.  I love them so much!  I didn’t want them to get lost in my Christmas tree so I made them into a garland.  Its my favorite Christmas decoration!!

 I tied them to some jute then got out the box of vintage lace and burlap and kept tying until it was full!  I love it 🙂

Amanda

Candy Land, Elf style

Richie and the Frozen girls have been playing some Candy Land.  It looks like if you are an elf, you play with real candy!!

Amanda

Do you want to build a snowman?

New favorite movie!  Frozen!!  Have you seen it?  We are obsessed with it at our house!!  I made this little printable because I can’t stop singing the song!  Click here to download it.

Amanda

O Come Let Us Adore Him Printable

I am thinking about getting ready for Christmas!  I made this printable to put in my living room.  I thought I would share it!!  I think the Christmas decoration boxes are coming down on Tuesday!  I can’t believe how fast the time goes by!!
Click HERE for the PDF
Click HERE for the PNG

Amanda

Time to Vote

AmysCreativeSide

It’s time to vote for your favorite quilts in the Blogger’s Quilt Festival hosted by Amy’s Creative Side!  There are so many AMAZING quilts!!!
To vote for my daughter, Ella’s, Fish Throw Quilt, click HERE.  She is #68.
If you want to vote for my baby quilt, click HERE.  I am # 80.

Thanks so much 🙂

Amanda

Halloween Table Square

This tutorial was featured on the Ginger Snap Craft blog a few weeks ago.  I thought I would post the tutorial here as well! 

 I wanted to make a smaller Halloween item for my table.  I like to leave my centerpiece on the table even when the kids are eating or doing homework.  I love table runners, but sometimes they are too big.  I just need a little spot of color!  This accent table square works perfectly!  Here’s how you can make your own!

Supplies:
1/2 yard of cotton fabric (chevron) you can also use a “Fat Quarter”
backing fabric, the same amount as top piece
18″ square of lightweight fusible stabilizer
1 package jumbo black ric rac
Heat n Bond lite or other fusible appliqué
small piece of black fabric
Bat pattern, click HERE

Directions
Cut the chevron and back piece 18″ square.  I used a heavier weight solid fabric on the back.  You can use a different print and make it reversible if you want.

 Iron the 18″ square of fusible stabilizer to the wrong side of the chevron fabric.

Trace the bats onto the Heat n Bond.  Cut out around the bats and iron to the wrong side of the black fabric.  Cut along the drawn lines.  Peel off the backing.

Position the bats where you want them and iron into place.  Using black thread, stitch around the bats to secure.

 Baste the ric rac along the edge of the square.  I do this on the machine using a larger stitch.

 This is how I start and stop my ric rac:

Make sure the ends are off the edge of the fabric.

Pin the top and bottom squares right sides together.

 Follow the basting stitch and use that as your seam guide.  Leave a 3″ opening to turn the square.  You kind of have to curve the corners.

 Turn right side out and press.

This would also make a cute pillow.  You would sew it exactly the same way.  Only you would stuff it at this point.  Or, you can leave a larger opening and insert a pillow form.  In this picture I laid it over a pillow.  You would want to put the bats a little higher so they don’t get lost when the pillow sits upright.

Continuing with the table square, pin to hold the fabric in place and topstitch around the square.  This will also close the opening.

 I like to use my “blindstitch” foot and put the needle over for topstitching – it works great.  You can totally use a regular foot too!!

After you finish topstitching, you’re done!!  I had fun playing with my new table accent!!

Amanda

A word on Instagram

I consider myself a social person.  When I go to a party, I am usually the first one there and the last one to leave.  At church, my family has to drag me home or else I would talk in the halls forever!!  Then, why am I usually the last one up on social media trends?  People were texting years before my cell phone had texting capability.  I was one of the last people I know to join Facebook.  I got my iphone last December after friends had theirs for years before me.  Maybe I prefer real social interaction.
Which brings me to the topic of Instagram – I feel like I am the last person on Earth to get an Instagram account!  I didn’t realize how far behind I was until I attended Sewing Summit and found out that most people communicate via Instagram more than any other social media.  So, here I go…..I am joining the Instagram world!!!  

Amanda

Halloween Applique Shirt & Twirly Skirt

My Halloween Skirt & Shirt tutorial is up and running on the Therm O Web Blog.  I can’t wait till it’s October so Sally can wear this!!  Would it be too much if I make myself one??
Therm O Web fall advertising…that’s my projects!!

 Love the bats!  It’s nice to be able to sew something for a boy.  Seems like everything is so girly!

Amanda

Sewing Summit 2013

I just got home from Sewing Summit last night.  It was totally AMAZING and FUN and AWESOME!!!  It was held in downtown Salt Lake City.  I can’t believe I left the kiddos and husband and boarded a plane…..I never do anything like this!  It was totally worth it.  Of course the first day I was racked with guilt over leaving my family to fend for themselves….but after I boarded a tour bus and hit 3 quilt shops in the Salt Lake area, I was beginning to feel better!!

 Yes, thats a tour bus – haven’t been on one since high school!  It was so much fun to get on a bus and be with 40 ladies who loved sewing and quilting.  Everyone became instant friends!

 We went to Pine Needles, Material Girls, and Quilters Haven.  I don’t have a quilt shop where I live, so this was a huge treat!  So many fun ideas to get inspired by!

The conference consisted of 2 days of classes, 4 classes each day.  Bernina sponsored the summit and we all got to sew on brand new Berninas!

I got to take classes from some of my favorite people in the sewing world and meet others as well.  
Amy Smart from Diary of a Quilter taught this Half Square Triangle Quilt class.

Jeni Baker from In Color Order taught this Equilateral Triangle Quilt Class.  

 I also loved meeting Rachel from Family Ever After,

and Heather Bailey!  She is soooo amazing!

 In between classes I got to meet lots of new friends and talk about sewing!  If you are at all interested in sewing or quilting, you should totally go!  It’s for EVERYONE!!!

I also got to eat some super yummy chocolates from Hatch’s

eat ice cream from the creamery,

and from Aggie ice cream.

 I arrived at sewing summit with 1 bag and a small carry on and left with 2 check-ons and 3 carry-ons!  I was quite a sight walking through the airport!!

Amanda