Quilted Heart Keychains

Every Valentine's Day I like to make a little item to give my friends.  And so the Quilted Heart Key chain idea was born :)  I love this project because it is a total scrap buster!!  Here is how you can make one:

Supplies:

Scraps of 2 fabrics 

Scraps of cotton batting

Fusible web

Twill tape or ribbon

Small jump ring or key chain

Larger jump ring or zipper pull
Click HERE for the heart pattern

Step 1
Cut your main heart fabric into 2 squares about 4" each.  Also cut your batting that size - this measurement can be very rough.

 

Step 2

Layer your items like you would a quilt.  Top piece right side facing out, batting, and back facing opposite.  

 

 Pin your heart to the top of this layering.

 

Step 3

Sew around the heart following the pattern.

Step 4
Trim close to your sewn edge.

 

Step 5

Cut 2" of twill tape and loop it through your small split ring.   Sew the edges down toward the center of the heart.  This will be covered when you add the next fabric heart.

Step 6
Trace your smaller heart onto your fusible web (trace 2).  Iron it to the wrong side of the fabric.

Cut the hearts out on the line and iron them to both sides of the heart trying to center them the best you can.

 

Step 7

Top stitch around the center heart.  I stitched around it twice.  I like when the stitches kind of follow each other and are not perfect - kind of sketchy like.  

Then add your larger split ring or zipper pull.  Done! 

 

Red & Pink Love Baby Quilt

My sister-in-law is here visiting and we are sewing up a storm.  Her friend is having a baby this month and we thought a a Valentine's inspired quilt would be perfect.  We choose pinks, reds, and whites but nothing with "hearts" or obvious Valentine's motifs. 

We were both fighting over it by the time it was quilted!  I don't know if it will make it to her friend!  The binding isn't finished yet.  My sis was leaving today and going to hand stitch it in the car.  I was sad to see her and the quilt go!

Blankets for Moroccan Orphanage

 Today my friend came over and we sewed flannel blankets for an orphanage on Morocco.  She is organizing a charity event for her elementary school.  The children will be able to use a needle and yarn and put ties in the blankets we prepared.  It is such a fast, easy way to make blankets - and they are cute and feel homemade.

We used 1 yard of flannel for the top and 1 yard of flannel for the bottom.  Layer the two pieces RST and place on batting.  Sew around like you would a pillow leaving a small opening.  Turn and topstitch.  Now it is secure and the kids can add "ties" as the quilting.

My Red Kitchen Has Got To Go!!

Welcome to the Jedi Craft Girl blog!  I am entering this post in the Creating with the Stars contest from East Coast Creative.  It's such an exciting contest and there are so many amazing applicants!!

  

I have lived in my Southern California tract home built in 1989 for the past 9 years.  When we moved in I painted my kitchen red - Tomato Red to be exact.  Lots of things change in nearly a decade and the kitchen had to go.  Unfortunately, living in California is not cheap and neither are renovations.  It was left to me, my paint brush, and thrifty mind to fix this place up.

This is the after.  Ahhhhhh... just a sigh of happiness when I look at this photo! 

It's amazing how big the kitchen feels now just by changing the colors.

 I removed all the cupboard doors, sanded, primed, and painted and painted and painted white.  Then I sanded and distressed the doors and frames so some of the red would show through.

For the pantry doors, I applied paintable textured wallpaper to the insets and painted them red then aqua.  A light sanding and you can see how the red shows through the detail of the wallpaper - love it!!!  (Click Here for the full details of that project)

 

 

I found this kitchen table on Craig's List for $25. Whoo Hoo! It was honey oak.  I did a chalk paint treatment in white (click here for those details).   The chairs were given to me by a friend.  Four cans of spray paint in four different colors = HAPPY!!

 

Next up, a rolling cart I found on the side of the road.  I wheeled it home a half mile while on a walk.  Several coats of paint, distress, electric sander to the top and some custom mixed stain and now I have the perfect place for my Pyrex collection!

I love my big kitchen window.  I found this vintage looking fabric and sewed a pleated curtain with red pom-pom trim.  I nail-gunned it to a board then to the ceiling.   It gives it the perfect airy look.  I hung the custom hook board above and now I can display my vintage Strawberry mugs.

Sometimes I think my kitchen is too cheerful and colorful - like there should be a birthday party going on everyday in there!  But then I think - "What could be better!!"

Busy day of Sewing!

 My sister-in-law is here and we are sewing up a storm!  We are making baby quilts for gifts.  Yesterday we got 3 tops sewn! Look at my dining room!!!  Two sewing machines and fabric everywhere! 

 Like my newest Pyrex find?  It makes for the perfect "sewing trash" bin on the table.

 This one is my favorite - the pattern is so much fun!

This is the pattern - its from the Fall 2011 issue of Simple Quilts & Sewing.  I don't like the Halloween version - but I love ours!!

 When we get them finished today, I will post more photos!  Now on to pinning and quilting!

Garage Sale Saturday

It's Saturday which means I set my alarm and get up earlier than I do the entire week to go Garage Sale-ing!  I was quite happy with my finds today!!!

 

Wood frame - I wonder what color I am going to spray paint it!! $1

 I found this vintage Arts and Crafts book.  I love the owl on the cover - it's going on display in my sewing room.  $1

 I found a new Pyrex dish I don't have - I was super excited almost in tears when I found it!  Mint condition $1

 I got this cute little bird china plate - it's not vintage but has a vintage look.  50 cents

 I love this antique barrel.  It had an antique store tag on it saying $85 - I paid $5!!

 

And lastly, my FAVORITE....a vintage hand made, hand quilted bow tie quilt.  I couldn't believe it was just laying on a lady's front lawn.  It was calling my name - I NEVER find anything like this at garage sales.  It had an antique store tag on it $385 - I paid $5 for it!!  I am on a shoppers high :) 

Do you like to go to garage sales?

Red Hot Popcorn

 

I am linking this recipe up to 30 Handmade Days Blog.  Mique is having everyone link up a favorite recipe - this is one of my favorites for Valentine's Day!   It is super yummy! (I have changed it slightly from others on the Internet)

Popped popcorn - I used my hot air popper and popped 2/3 cup and then another 2/3 cup. (This will be enough to fill up a roasting pan)

Lightly butter your roasting pan and place popped corn in pan making sure to sift out ALL seeds. Heat oven to 250 degrees.

1 cup butter
1/2 cup Karo syrup
1/4 cup sugar
10 to 12 ounces red hots ( I guessed because my bag was a 14-ounce bag)
1/4 tsp. salt

Melt the above ingredients on the stove top. Bring to boil and boil for 5 minutes. (My red hots took a long time to dissolve almost the entire 5 minutes.) Turn off the heat and add 1/2 tsp. baking soda. Stir well. Pour the molten hot mixture over the popped corn and toss to coat. Place in the oven for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. Yum!!! 

Baby Owl Birthday Favors

 We made these little owls for my daughter to bring to her preschool class on her birthday.  Remember when we were little and our mothers would bake cupcakes and bring them to school on our birthday?  Not any more - we can't bring any treats - even if they are store-bought.  We wanted to bring something cute and fun and that most likely wouldn't get thrown away. 

 We love these little hooties!  Each one is just a little bit different.

 As she handed them to the children, they were so excited to bring home a new friend!!  (they would also make cute valentines!)