Bargains and More Bargains

So I've been using lots of felt for projects lately.  Just purchased more of some colors you see here that I needed to replenish.  So Joann Fabrics has felt on sale for 50% off.  Regular $4.99 on sale for $2.50.  And I had a coupon for 20% off everything, even sale items.  So, if I figure right it cost $2 a yard.  But the pink on the bottom was a piece that was an inch short of a yard, so the clerk gave it to me for half price, which was really half of half price, or $1.25 plus 20% off.  I think that's $1 a yard.  Whoo hoo.  

May not look like much but this is my new fabric organizer.  Wish I would have taken a before picture.  This is a big improvement, believe me.  And I love just looking at some of my favorite fabrics.  Plus, ta da, I got the shelf 20% off at Sauder Outlet.

What's Going On?

You might think I have put my sewing projects on hold. Not so! In fact, just the opposite. It has been a busy Santa's workshop around here. But since some of you are the ones who will receive the things I'm making, I can't post pics until after Christmas.  But I will give you a sneak peak, and you can keep guessing what the elves are up to around here.

A few secrets

Also working on a few other projects, but Christmas is coming so...all you get is a sneak peek of the great fabric I ordered.  It just came in the mail today and I can hardly wait to get started.

And I'll show you these because they are just too cute.  But don't let any little girls you might know see them.  (I think these will fit perfectly in a stocking.)  If you would like any for gifts, let me know.  I have plenty of supplies to make more.

Montana Wall Hanging

Just finished this little piece tonight.  I really like the scrap border (which probably took as long as the whole rest of the wall hanging-but totally worth it.)  Still deciding where it will hang in the cabin.

Scrap Bag

Made this bag last week.  It's totally made from scraps from a quilt that a friend made.  She has a neat idea to give a bag to each lady from church who has been diagnosed with cancer and I agreed to make the bags.  Each one will have a lap quilt, an encouraging book, and some other things in it.   

Shirring

This is a little doll dress I made.  I didn't have a pattern for a Cabbage Patch doll dress, so I looked at a doll dress I had.  I cut a long rectangle for the main part.  Then I folded it in half and used the doll dress to cut out arm holes.  I had never shirred before but had read about how to do it here.  It was EASY!  You just wind elastic thread by hand on the bobbin and then sew like normal.  The trick is when you finish, you lay your steam iron gently on top of the shirring (don't move it around at all) and the shirring tightens up and looks like this:

Then I cut some bias for the straps and added a little ruffle on the hem for fun.

Fishing Anyone?

I made a little fishing set out of felt for Caden's birthday.  I didn't take very good pictures of it.  Here you can see one of the fish by Caden's hand.  The eyes are velcro, and the end of the fish hook has velcro on it, too.

Zara discovered that it's easier to pick up the fish by the felt on their bodies.  I got the idea for the fishing set here.  I did change the directions a bit because I couldn't pull the body through the opening on the fin like it said.  I made my opening on the bottom of the fish and it was easy to pull through.  I used the end of a chopstick to poke out the corners.  I had read about doing that and it worked really well.