Something About Nothing

My oldest daughter and her group of friends dubbed themselves The Anderson Family while in high school.  They have long since graduated and went about the world serving LDS missions, going to college, graduating, getting jobs, getting married and starting families - not necessarily in that order nor have they all done all of those things.  Through these years they have stayed in touch and every Christmas they have a family party in which my daughter and the "Mom" of the family give each member a lovely homemade gift with The Anderson Family logo   on them.  This year they wanted to create a Christmas tree ornament.   I suggested that we start with a ready made ornament and add some vinyl using my Silhouette Portrait electronic cutter.  I bought vinyl when I bought the machine but have been scared to try it.  I'm really sorry I haven't tried it sooner.   IT WAS SO EASY! I started with their family logo: Set it up in the software for ...

I just finished up a few gift tags to send off to the Quilting Arts Gifts Readers Challenge .  One set was made using fabric I painted with a star stencil I made with my Silhouette Portrait  and Gelli Plate. And the other set are Snowflakes! I created some snowflakes in my Silhouette program  and cut them using the Portrait from one of my ice dyed fabrics  and fused them onto white felt.  The back is a red batik I love.  I really like these two and I think I will use the snowflake pattern again. Are you going to participate and make some fiber gift tags to send in?   You should!   Follow this link to find out more.

I can finally blog about the new Outdoor Concert Quilt I made over the holidays for my friends, Lori & Jim. I decided to go with one fabric instead of two for this blanket and I love the way it turned out.  I really like the pockets in this quilt so that you can easily throw in a few things and not need to lug another bag.  You can find the pattern to make one of your own in the 2012 issue of Modern Patchwork.   The magazine is on sale right now in the Interweave store for only $7.50!  It's a great time to get some great patterns.

We are having our Christmas Dinner today so I'm baking and wrapping and remembering people I should have bought gifts for. Maybe I can make a few last minute things. I've noticed a few great websites I need right now and thought you all might need them as well:   1) Gift Wrapping - Over the past few years we have been trying to cut back on the paper wrapping paper heading off to the recycler and dump by wrapping with fabric. I've found this wonderful website that shows you how to wrap with fabric according to the Japanese style of Furoshiki. 2. I've had the Little Bit Funky blog up for the last week wanting to make these lip balm cozy's to put in my kids stockings. 3.  I also had plans to make a few of these circle zip ear bud pouches but my first one turned out a little wonky and I forgot to put the tag on until I was almost done so I placed it in a different spot.  Ooops!   I'll go back to making more eventually.  Maybe these could be V...

My friend's daughter got married this week. She is a great friend and her daughter is just awesome. I would just love to make every friend's daughter a quilt.  I really, really, REALLY would like to but I decided I just don't have the money or the time so I had to opt for something smaller. I decided to create this table runner for her.  I really enjoyed making this project. One of the best parts of the project was when I taught my friend Sylvia how to use Skype and then she helped me to pick out the fabrics via a video-chat! The bride's kitchen colors are red and sage.   I hope this will go in her new kitchen! What gifts are you creating?

It is getting to be that time of year where I need to really get my act in gear for Christmas if I truely want to make gifts.  I love sharing the things I make but as the items are gifts for the people who read my blog (well they look at the pictures actually - they rarely read what I write so I could tell all about the projects and not just post pictures ;)), I can't really share anything.  However I do have something to share that may be of interest.  I've run across a couple of blogs with great gift ideas and I thought others might want to check them out to get some great ideas: Chickpea Studio - My friend Juliette is very creative and posts fun projects to her blog. She has a list of tutorials down the side of her blog with fun projects.  She and also writes tutorials for Berninas Sewing Republic. I've made her key wristlets and crocheted baskets. She also has a great tutorial for a fold up, take along crumb catcher to put underneath a high chair....