house ornament

When I saw this tutorial from retro mama,

I knew I had to make some!

so here there are:

I followed loosely the directions...

the shape, roof and chimney are the same,

but I used some Japanese fabric that had little girls in windows,

and appliqued them on the house.

I then hand embroidered some vines and flowers,

using stem stitch and French knots.

For the 2 other ones, I stamped "you make my world happy"

and hand embroidered some grass and flowers.

I sent them to some of my girlfriends, 

the perfect girly ornament!

Happy sewing!

linked to Centsational Girl.

linen lingerie bag, take II

Here is the other version of the lingerie bag:

It is perfect to carry and protect your unmentionables,

no more worry about opening your luggage at the airport screening! 

I basically made it the same way I did the one with the hedgehog,

just switching the print and the kona cotton.

Very different look, 

but just as cute!

Happy sewing!

 

linen lingerie bag

Last year, I shared how I made lingerie bags,

previous versions here and here.

Well a blog buddy commissioned me to make her 2,

she really liked the use of linen and prints that I have been working on lately,

like these little pouches and linen baskets.

So here is the first one I made for her.

I used linen, hedgehog print and kona cotton.

For the top I cut the print 2 1/2 X 15,

the solid 1 1/4 X 15 (2 of them),

 the linen 2 1/2  15 and 30 X 15.

I sandwiched the print with the solid, then the linen.

Because it is linen, I used some ironed on batting,
then quilted the top, about 1 inch apart, with a 3/8 parallel line,
toward the back I switched to 2 and 3 inch apart, but keeping the 3/8 parallel line.

Once the top was quilted, I followed the rest of the tutorial,

just changing to one button instead of 2.

I used unbleached muslin for the inside.

I think it turned out great,

and she seems pleased with the result!

Tomorrow I will show the other version I made.

Happy sewing!

one more little bag

After making pink little bags,

I felt the need to make one more,

this time a more adult version:

It is still the same pattern from Keyka Lou,

it is simple and perfect to carry just about anything,

it rolls in your purse, ready for any need.

As usual the handles are heavily stitched,

adding character and stability to the bag.

It is off to a great holiday season!

Happy sewing!

little bags

Yesterday, I sewed this cute little drawstring bag,

well today I made some mini grocery bags

with the same pattern I used for Mon Cheri's lunch bag.

It is the same holiday fabric than the drawstring bag

and Miss C.'s apron.

The pattern is from Keyla Lou.

I kept the handles simple as the print is busy 

and truth be told, I ran out of the snow flake fabric

I used for the drawstring bag!

I will be sending in them some cute 

felt play food I made a while ago

to 2 set of little girls.

They will be also great for shopping

at their pretend grocery store,

or of course to carry little treasures

than little girls seem to acquire!

Happy sewing!

little drawstring bag

I took a break from sewing presents

to sew a drawstring bag to wrap a present!

I know it seems like it does not make any sense,

but it does, well at least to me!

I used this tutorial from In Color Order,

it is a great and easy project,

a nice change from my other sewing....

see, it totally makes sense!

I used some quilting cotton that I had left over

from Miss C's apron from last year.

It is a cute print, quite busy, so I kept the lining simple,

pink broadcloth and I used pink ribbon.

It is just the right size for a few little presents,

perfect if you do not have any stocking!

Here are a few presents under the tree to see how it would look like,

while the kids were at school.

They know about Santa, but they are not ready to see any presents under the tree,

I am all good with that too, I like to wait until Christmas eve,

to see them all there.

It works great, it even goes with the wrapping paper,

it totally looks like I planned it all!

If only....

Happy sewing!

Matisse and a tree

This week end we went downtown to enjoy some culture

and to participate to the Portrait story day at the National portrait gallery.

The artist of the day was Henri Matisse.

Miss C has a passion for art, she loves making it and looking at it,

and since school has been really hard for her lately,

we wanted to do something educational but not school related,

so to the museum we went.

We listened to a story about Matisse's life (for Children!)

looked at some of his work

and then worked on making our own version.

Of course it was about all of his cutout works, later in his life.

Miss C's art work

We all worked on making a Matisse inspired art piece,

here is what we made:

Miss C's, Mine, Mon Cheri's, Brick Master's,

a full family event!

It was perfect,

but it is a little far to make artwork every week!

So next weekend, instead of going to the museum,

we will try to do something similar: I will go to the library to find some story about an artist

and then we will try to make our own version of his artwork.

Watch out Picasso!

We also got a Christmas tree

and decorated it. 

it really started to look like Christmas around the house,

so little time left and so much sewing to do!

Happy day!

another fabric basket

Remember the linen basket I made for my sister?

Well I made one for my mom!

This time I used 3 different Liberty of London lawns,

with linen and 2 different kona cottons.

The tutorial is so easy to follow, 

I really enjoy making these linen baskets,

I just need to make one for myself,

one day, when  I have time, may be after the Holidays!

Happy sewing!

mittens winner and Holiday card

Since only 2 people entered my mittens giveaway,

I decided to send both of them

their choice of mittens:

Red for Debbie B

and

Blue for Caroline,

congratulations ladies!

I just received my Holiday card

and I think it turned out pretty cut!

(even if a little too dark!)

Now I just need to write them!

It is the season to be very busy!

Happy Day!

PS: Debbie B, please email me your address!

another linen pouch

Yesterday, I showed the new pouch I made for my sister,

well she liked it so much that she asked me to make one

for one of her girlfriends,

so I did, my first commission work!

(well it is still family... but still!)

I used the same Japanese print but a different girl,

and different solid color and zipper.

I think it turned out just as cute,

I am going to make more of them!

Happy sewing!

new little pouch

Last year, I made my sister a little pouch,

like the ones here and here.

Weirdly, I guess I forgot to blog about it,

so I am not even sure when I made it (I use my blog as my journal!)

Anyway, as she was here this weekend,

(my sister and her pouch)

she kind of complained about how the pouch was not long

enough for her make-up pencils,

even though she really enjoyed the pouch.

She is nice, well most of the time,

we are sisters,we are obligated to argue with each other!

So I made her a new version:

longer, less tall.

I used a similar print fabric: a beautiful Japanese print with little girls,

some solid cotton and linen,

I am having a renewed crush on linen,

I know it is not really the season...

The back is simply quilted,

I used some iron on batting, and lined it with off white cotton.

Here are the 2 pouches together:

These prints are just so cute!

She left a happy girl!

My sister, not the pouch!

Happy sewing!