My Favorite Wall Hanging

 

I love my Whooo La La wall-hanging.  I was inspired by the Michael Miller fabrics and these quirky little hooties.  It's also a lot of fun to say "Whoooooo La La"!!!!  The applique is done on the machine as well as the quilting.  I have it hanging in my upstairs hallway and when I walk by it makes me smile.  That's what a quilt should do right?  Make you smile!!  I am entering it in the Blogger's Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side.  There are so many amazing quilts entered!

Lined, Draw-String Fish Bag

 My daughter is going to Hawaii and she wanted a little bag to keep her mask in so it wouldn't get scratched by all the sand in her beach bag.  I found this tutorial on In Color Order blog.  It is the best tutorial & and the bags come out darling!  I love that they are fully lined.  My daughter choose the tropical fish fabric.  I would have sewn the ties out of fabric - but I ran out of time so we just used ribbon.  Now I must make a dozen of these for me!!

3rd Grade Mother's Day Craft

I needed a quick & low-cost Mother's Day craft for 3rd grade.  Here is what I came up with.  It was fun & crazy at the same time.  I forget how long it takes younger people to craft - but everyone finished their project.

To make these pom pom pens & holder you need:
fabric 2.5" x 20"
fabric 1" x12"
ballpoint pens
can without a sharp edge
scrapbook paper
glue & hot glue

 

There are many ways to make a fabric pom poms - I have seen many tutorials.  This is what I came up with.  I think if I was making it myself I would have sewed them.  It's too hard to sew with 46 3rd graders!  So glue it is!  Take your 2.5" piece of fabric and snip it almost all the way through - making a sort of fringe.

 

Next, run a bead of glue along the bottom of the fringe.  I glued this one to the wrong side.  Glue it to the "right side" of fabric.  Then start rolling up your fringe into a tight tube.

 

When you are done the pom pom should look like this.  Next take your 1" piece of fabric and wrap it around the pen, gluing to secure.

 

Don't they look cute?

All we did to make the "Pencil Holder" was glue a strip of scrapbook paper around the can.  Of course you can get super cute with die cuts, vinyl, ribbon, buttons, and ric rac - but we are keeping it simple for 3rd graders!!!

Next we needed to wrap the gift.  Wrapping 46 gifts can add up - so I went the brown paper bag route!  I bought doilies and cut them in half.  The learners glued the doily to the front, placed the gift inside & wrapped the outside with variegated pink cotton yarn!  Done!

I was exhausted when I came home from making this craft at school.  I don't know how teachers do it.  They are amazing people!!

How to Ruin a Quilt

This is a new topic for me.  I usually spend my time creating new, beautiful quilts.  Today I will share with you how to ruin one!  First put your newly-finished quilt on the living room couch.  Then wait for your psycho Bengal Cat to attack the quilt.  Let him bite it and claw out all the stitching you've worked so hard on!  When he is done you are left with tiny holes in the fabric and loose threads!!

Don't let the cute little sleepy head fool you!!!

 

If you look closely at the quilt - you can see the threads!!  I have since removed the quilt & placed an older quilt there.

5 Minute Fix-Up

 I literally had five minutes to pull this outfit together.  I had bought a stack of solid shirts for Sally hoping to embellish or "fix up".  I have tons of ideas pinned on Pinterest - ruffels, gathers, buttons, etc.  Not today - but the shirt still came out cute!  I drew a crazy daisy on some Heat Bond.  Ironed it to the yellow fabric, cut it out, ironed it to the T-shirt & stitched it in hot pink thread with the Free Motion foot.  Added a center to the flower & stitched that as well.

For the headband - I cut 2" WOF of the yellow fabric.  I didn't even hem the edge.  I ran a gathering stitch along the length.  Gathered & hot glued it to a circle of felt.  Made a quick fabric button & hot glued that into the center.  Done!!

 Don't you love the dangly clip-on earrings!  I got them at an estate sale for $1!

Travel Sewing Kit

 Clover and Violet are hosting a Summertime Adventures tutorial blog hop.  This week is on travel sewing kits.  This is my favorite travel sewing kit.  The outside is made from pieces of fabric woven together.  Inside there is a large zipper pocket, two large velcro pockets, a small velcro pocket and a little pin cushion.  It is perfect for holding scissors, needles, thread, and misc. notions. 

Turquoise Owl

 A little turquoise owl from Ross today for $4.99!  The perfect item to make my day happy.

Lawn Chair Quilt Top

 I pieced the Lawn Chair blocks together.  It is such a quick, fun pattern.  Just the right thing when you need a fabric fix!  I love the Tradewinds fabric line - it is so bright - looks great with all the white.  Now, how shall I quilt it?  (Of course I snapped the picture before I thought to press everything!)

Look what just arrived in the mail!

 These darling Pyrex bowls just arrived at my door - courtesy of ebay where I was the highest bidder! 

I am in love!  I don't have these sizes yet - they will add to my growing collection!

Cats & Quilts

 The strippy quilt is done!  It's not an official quilt unless a cat sleeps on it!  It's Marbles' new favorite napping place!