Cloth Baby Book

What do you get a baby for Christmas?  I came upon this idea and really loved the way it turned out.  The individual pages are 8 inches square.  I sewed on the letters of Brady's name and embroidered the rest of the words on the front.

I didn't try to make all of the pictures the same size and I purposely didn't center them on the page for a bit of variety.

To put the pages together I sewed two pages side-by-side.  Then I put two of the sewn pages right sides together with a layer of quilt batting, rounded the corners, and sewed around the whole page, leaving an opening for turning.

After stitching the opening closed, I laid the pages on top of each other  (I had three layers of pages) and sewed through the whole thing down the middle.  I'm not sure my machine could have handled more pages.

I used Avery printable cotton fabric and printed the pictures with my ink-jet printer.  I was pleased with the quality.

I couldn't leave the back plain, so I put this little collage of pictures together like a nine-patch quilt block.

Chalkboard Fabric ABC books

Now that the Christmas presents have been opened, I can share some of the gifts I made.  Preschoolers Caden and Sophie got these books to practice writing their letters.  I used chalkboard fabric on a burlap background.  I ordered the chalkboard fabric from JoAnn Fabrics online.

I like the look of the variegated thread I used to zigzag around each page...and it saved lots of time by not needing to change thread colors.

I added a little tab with a snap to hold the book together.

 I just put metal eyelets on each page and put the pages together with book rings.

There is an extra page at the end for doodling.

Tic tac toe, anyone?

Wide open bag plus

So I made this bag for myself a while ago...loved the retro fabrics.  But I goofed.

See the pocket where the credit cards belong?  I made it too big and the cards kept falling out into the bag.  Not good.  So...

I made this little credit card holder...

that fits into the too-big pocket nice and neat.  Yes!  But I kept losing my change in the bottom of the bag.  So...

 I made this teeny tiny coin purse out of some scraps.  Love it!

So for a while it seemed like the bag that just wouldn't quit.  But now it's all good.  And I'm happy!

Burlap Christmas stockings

Thanksgiving stones

Quick little project:  painting letters on stones.  With a little bag, of course.  Stones are used to spell out words from the letters in Thanksgiving.  Once a teacher...

Twirly skirt

Fancy dresses

This was a fun, quick little project.  Directions are here, but not in English.  The dresses are made of cotton fabric and felt sandwiched together with Steam-a-Seam.  The buttonhole stitch around the edge almost looks like crochet or lace.  So cute.  I looked on the internet to try to find colored elastic, but then I remembered that I had some elastic headbands in my craft cupboard.  They worked great.  I probably could have used the bands just the length they were, but I shortened them a bit.  I will be making more when I buy more headbands!

PS:  I just found some colored elastic at JoAnn Fabrics.  But I think I still like the headbands best.

Recent finishes

Boxy pencil bags for Zara's birthday party...

another bag for church ladies who are diagnosed with cancer...

another doll quilt, this one made of 1/2 inch hexies appliqued in flower design...

with some lace around the inside panel.

My doll quilt collection is growing.

Bags for benefits

All of these cuties are going to different benefit auctions.  More on the way...

Mail Call

What could be in this mail bag?

Mail for the whole family!

All of the pieces are made of felt and velcro together.

 I printed out the names on fabric using freezer paper to run it through the printer.

Can't wait to have some of these letters delivered.