Sweet Valentine mug rug

Valentine's day is just around the corner,

and I managed to finish this little mug rug

I was working on during this blog anniversary!

I think it turned out pretty cute!

6 prints for 6 hearts, ranging from peach to pink to red,

with a interesting white and grey background.

The pattern I used is from Lori of Bee in my Bonnet, the same one I used for my niece E baby quilt:

see that little chick and the little heart?

yep that little block, repeated 6 times!

I used a lovely red print with Eiffel tower stamps for the back

and the binding, I like to use pretty fabric for the backing!

Since it looks like it will be snowing again this weekend,

it will be perfect accessory to enjoy a warm cup of tea

and some cookies, of course!

Happy valentine's day!

blog anniversary

Eleven years!I have been writing this little blog of mine for 11 yearsand I still enjoy it!
While it has not grown much in all of these years,I have; I tried and learned so many things.There are still many things to try and learnand get better at it,but there is time, even during pandemic,even as an essential worker.
Right now, I have mostly have time for small projects,like this work in process that I hope to finish in time for Valentine's day:

Heart, candy, Eiffel tower, what's not to love?!

Happy day!

Valentine's Day mini quilt

I managed to sew a little Valentine's day mini quilt:

and it turned out really cute!

The pattern is from the Spelling Bee book by Lori Holt. I used some of the blocks in my farm quilt.
The ombre heart and typewriter fabrics are from Riley Blake, I bought them last year but did not have time to use them! Last week, I started working on it after finishing  my little design board:

It was fun to audition the fabrics right there,

and see it grow on the design board!

I really it, a fast and easy project,

since I was so late to start it....

Here are some of my previous heart projects:

1-Heart pillows, 2- Pipped heart pillow, 3- Heart coaster, 4- Valentine day doll bedding, 5- Love pillows.

Happy sewing!

heart pillows from Breast cancer

About 5 weeks ago, a friend of mine underwent a double mastectomy. It was her second time dealing with breast cancer in 9 years. I felt very useless, so I read about surgery and recovery, trying to find something I could do for her.... I came up with a lot of articles about sewing heart pillows, so I decided to sew some, hoping it was a real thing and not a gimmick! 

I followed this pattern from all free sewing.com,

it was quite easy.

I used 4 coordinating prints from Prince Charming by Tula Pink,

I wanted to make them cheerful and silly,

there are frogs, snails, turtle, butterflies on them!

The shape is slightly different that a true heart pillow,

it is so one could it to prop the arm to avoid contact with the torso...

I gave them to my friend before the surgery,

explaining her some of the stuff I had read about it,

she did not know about the heart pillow.

She likes them with their pretty color,

but was unsure about their utilities.

Well she has told me they were very useful right after the surgery

to prop her arms up, and later she used them to help her neck pain!

And the other day, when I picked her up to go to occupational therapy,

she came out with one of her pillow and 

used it to protect herself from the seat-belt.

So yes they are useful!

My friend has still a long way to go

but she is a fighter.

After my friend second diagnostic of breast cancer,

I did the smart thing and went to get my mammogram,

it is all good, but it is always nice to make sure,

especially after losing my grandmother to this disease!

Happy sewing!

felt heart box

I sewed this cute little felt heart box

with conversation hearts for Miss C.

It is much sweeter than the actual conversation candies...
I followed 2 tutorials from Wild Olive: the heart box and the conversation hearts.
I hope Miss C. enjoyed them as much as she has enjoyed the previous Valentine's day heart projects I made for her over the year:

1-Heart pillows, 2- Pipped heart pillow, 3- Heart coaster, 4- Valentine day doll bedding, 5- Love pillows.
Happy sewing!

a new stationery kit

I sewed a super cute stationery kit,

perfect to carry a few cards

and write outside.

While it is a simple design, I added some details with a layered applique tag.

It complements nicely the Tilda Cottage fabric,

that I used previously to make a jewelry bag:

(same print but in red!)

For the inside, I used more of the blue print collection:

with large pockets to store note cards, stamps....

I made a few simple cards with some pretty scrapbooking paper,

it is fun to play with paper too, even if fabric is my favorite media!

Sewing this kit was quite easy,

I cut 2 identical rectangles from inside and outside print,

I ironed on fusible fleece to the outside print

and appliqued the tag.

Then I cut a piece of fabric for the pocket,

same width as the other rectangles

but twice the height of my desired pocket.

I folded it in half and topstitched at the fold.

Then I stitched it to the outside print

(the opposite of where you want it in the end!)

on all the sides, so totally stitched to the front!

Then I put the inside rectangle on top with right side facing each other,

and stitched all around except for a few inches,

this opening needs to be at the bottom of the pocket.

Then I turned everything right side out through the opening

 at the bottom of the pocket.

I pressed everything nicely

and hand stitched the bottom,

but it does not need to be done perfectly....

because, when the pocket is flipped to the inside,

it hids that seam!

Just like magic!

I love that trick, so much neater.

Then I topstitched all around and in the middle

to finish making it a little booklet!

Happy sewing!