12 Months of Giving: JANUARY

Three entries in a week and a half must be some kind of record for me!  I was excited, however, to come across my first project, which I just sent out this weekend and I wanted to share.

First, some stats:
The Organization:  Craft Hope (The website is currently down, but they do have a Facebook page)
The Cause:  Hurricane Sandy Relief
The Project: Homemade softies for children who lost toys during the hurricane
The Deadline:  January 10th (but it's a flexible deadline, so I'm sure getting a little project in the mail by this weekend would be fine)

This was a great first project for me during my 12 Months of Giving because it was fairly simple and also got something I didn't really need out of my house.

I found this fabric panel a while back at a church thrift shop.

I thought it was so sweet, but I had absolutely no use for it.  The panel made four softies total:  A frog wearing glasses, a pink bunny, a tiger kitty, and a puppy with floppy ears.  I could tell the previous owner had high hopes for the kit because she had begun to embroider the details on the bunny and the frog.  It was cheap enough that it was silly to leave it there.

When I took it home, I realized that the little guys would be pretty small when the seam allowance was taken into consideration, so I thought they might make sweet baby rattles.  Upon asking for a "rattle piece" at the fabric store, however, I was met with some weird looks.  Then, a very sweet old lady in the shop pulled me aside and said that a jingle bell would do the trick; it was small enough to fit inside a small toy, and would rattle (rather than jingle) when it was surrounded by the plush stuffing.  Thank goodness, really, for sweet old ladies in quilt stores.

So then, with everything all picked out for my little rattles, they sat, for about 6 months... in a box...

All cut up and ready for sewing!

Then, I read about this project and it caused me to smile, thinking of the little rattles, unmade, sitting in a box, and I knew it was time to dig them out.

It took me one night to make them and address the envelope and it has brought me so much joy to think of the little babies that they are bound for.  They came out so sweetly and I would feel blessed to own one.  I know that they are all bound for good homes.

Whoever their previous owner was, I hope somewhere she has a happy feeling as well.  After all, we did technically make them together.

God is good.
Life is good.
Little lingonberries are everywhere.

4 Months of Sewing and 12 Months of Giving

Right now a sleepy puppy is curled up next to me and our new electric fireplace is blowing warm air into the living room, so I am feeling content, to say the least.  This Christmas season has reminded me how blessed I am.  I have good friends, a warm home, and a loving family.

I feel like this holiday season has also reminded me what a challenging time others in the world are having.  Its really hard not to remember the people left without family and homes as a result of the numerous national tragedies that plagued us this year.  But I found myself also thinking about the people that spent the holidays without family and home because of less news-worthy (but just as important) issues-- poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, terminal sickness, deployment, etc.

I had a lot of fun sewing some projects over the last few months.  I think it is time to use my sewing energy to make some things for people who need them.  SO I have one New Year's Resolution, and it is to volunteer or donate to a different non-profit every month that collects hand-crafted goods for people who need them.  I'm still going to make sure that I sew some projects for friends and family, of course (3 weddings this year!), but I want to focus on giving back, too.

So, now I want to show some of the projects that took up the last 4 months.

One of the biggest projects I made, I never ended up taking a picture of (bummer), but it was a quilt for friends of mine who got married in October.  The pattern for that quilt is here... and you can trust me... it came out beautifully.

Above was my next big project.  During the hurricane, I made a quilt for one of the women at my office who was having twins.  She has since had the little guys, two very sweet (and very bitty), little boys.  Since she did not know the sex of the babies during her pregnancy, I made a gender-neutral baby quilt.  It ended up being the colors of her nursery, just by coincidence, which made me smile.  We were really fortunate to never even lose power during the hurricane (not the case for those around us), but I was so paranoid that we were going to, that I initially rushed through quilting it, a decision that almost led to disaster when the entire quilt came out all buckled and wrinkled.  Five hours later, I had managed to un-quilt (via seam-ripper) the top from the bottom and decided to tie the quilt instead.  The end result was a plushy, soft quilt that I was proud to give as a gift.

I have wanted to make these Christmas Tree Pants (because not all trees wear skirts) since I saw the Sew-A-Long courtesy of Happy Zombie last year.  When I started the project, I cut all the fabric and then spent three days panicking that I this would the ugliest thing I had ever sewn.  I just hated all the fabrics together.  I had really carefully assembled all of the fabrics and I felt like they looked fabulous... until I saw them cut into squares together.  It wasn't until I sewed the 9-patches that I started to love it.  I was  happy with the result and it was pretty cute under the tree.








Life is good.
God is good.
Little lingonberries are everywhere.

Getting Life Back with a Few Mini Projects

Two weeks ago, incredibly unexpectedly, and very sadly, my Nana died from complications of leukemia.  In some ways, her death was a beautiful tribute to her life, with all of her children, children-in-law, and grandchildren (and her one grandchild-in-law) around her to say good bye at the hospital and then celebrating her life throughout the week at family dinners, the wake, and the funeral.  However, to say that the loss of her has left me feeling empty, exhausted, and heart sick would be the understatement of the century.  I'm not sure I will ever heal from the loss of her; all I know is that I now have to figure out how to live my life without her in it, and that makes me even sadder than thinking about the loss of her.  She was just that special.

To keep busy over the last few weeks, with her continued illness weighing on my mind and then her death, I have needed some distractions, and so I have turned to my escape, sewing.  I have completed three little projects.

The first was a placemat and napkin set for a girl at my work who got married.  I don't know her that well, but wanted to celebrate her wedding by giving her a "dinner for two."  For the placemats, I used a pattern from Fresh Picked for all Seasons, a book I found tucked away in a local quilt shop.  I think they were simple, but sweet.

I then made some simple napkins (a big square, folded twice on every side and stitched).

Some women at the office are pregnant, and everyone chipped in in order to get them a gift basket full of stuff.  I made some baby bibs as my contribution.  They turned out very nicely, I think.

My husband, who has been wonderful through this whole month and will do pretty much anything to make me smile, thought they made better Noodle capes than baby bibs. (Noodle would be the beloved stuffed dog in the pictures below):

Admittedly, Nana would have smiled, too.

Life is good.  God is good.  Little lingonberries are everywhere.

Mystery Solved

Tonight I finished the mystery quilt featured in the last three McCall's Quilting magazines (buy the magazines here).  This was a quilt that I started in February and, at the time, I thought it would be my first-ever quilt made completely by me. Of course, then I got ambitious for Lauren's wedding gift and made a quilt in the interim... and that quilt was bigger and more challenging, so this quilt seemed a little anticlimactic, but still really fun to finish.  (You can read about the first two parts here and here.)

One thing that I changed from my initial post was the color of the secondary fabric.  I loved the striped fabric that would make up the big blocks.  I had initially chosen a corresponding fabric from the same collection that featured hippie birds with peace signs and trees, but because the quilt didn't really have a purpose (and so, therefore, could end up staying in my life or going to a grown-up person or going to a kid) and since there are not a lot of little girls in my life, I decided to use scrap fabric from my stash that was floral (the small squares above).  I think that it came out pretty nice with the new fabric.

One thing that I did not like about the assembly is that in order to keep the mystery alive, the directions for assembling the quilt were kind of strange.  So for me, that means that not every line matches up the way I would want them to.  This makes me kind of grumbly.  Still, I think it looks pretty cute... here's some proof:

I think that I will hang onto this right now, but I'm going to do some research on places where you can donate quilts, as well.  Maybe somewhere, someone would like to curl up with it.

Until then, this quilt is snuggly proof that God is good, life is good, and little lingonberries are everywhere.

My Very 1st Quilt... Going to a Great Friend

So... something special is in the air... spring has sprung... and I finished my first quilt (quite an undertaking) for a good friend who is getting married and whose shower is Saturday.  Thank goodness I finished on time.  There was never any doubt that I would finish on time, but still, it's kind of amazing that its done and beautiful!

The pattern I used was the cover of Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts for the Spring 2012 issue and when I saw it, I knew it was perfect for Lauren and Mike!  The groomsmen and bridesmaids at their wedding are wearing steel gray and holding bright yellow, orange and pink flowers.  So this just seemed perfect!

Here are the fabrics I chose:

Then, I cut them to look like this:

Then came a lot of sewing and some more cutting and I created some really pretty flowers, if I do say so myself:

Then came time to piece it all together.  That was one long Saturday before Easter, but it was completely worth it!

This weekend, while on a trip to fabulous Austin, TX, along came the flower quilt to sew the binding.  I think the people on the plane must have thought I was nuts... but only the best people are ;)

Last night, I finished the binding and my husband helped me take some "walking quilted" pictures.  Here they are:

I can't wait to give Lauren the quilt on Saturday!

Life is good.  God is good.  Little lingonberries are everywhere.

Yet Another Pillowcase Frenzy

I promise that I sew more than just pillowcases... however, I have made a handful since I my last post.

My Nana is undergoing chemo for a rare form of Leukemia.  She's a fighter and, although the treatments have left her feeling tired and sometimes nauseous, she has remained a trooper.  I made her a set of pillowcases for days when she just needs to rest her head.  I thought that having something special to nap on might make the exhaustion a little more tolerable.  I also, admittedly, really miss her, and wanted to do something that would remind her I was with her in spirit.  I didn't take a picture before I put them in the mail, but they were brown and purple and made of really snuggly flannel.

My husband's friend's little boy turned four today and we went to a bounce gym to celebrate (a bounce gym is a gym where there are lots of blow-up castles, ball pits, etc.).  We were expecting to just watch the little guy and his friends jump and jive for two hours, but we found out that all of the bouncy blow-ups were suitable for grown-ups, too.  This made the party very fun!

The birthday boy is really into superheroes and villains, so I thought I would make him some superhero pillowcases for his big-boy bed.  Here they are!  Dun-na-nun-na-nun-na-nun-na BATMAN!

The fabric was so cute, but I had a lot left over, and (let's face it) no other little Batman fans around, so I thought I would make him a little pillow to match (I have a secret stash of pillow forms on hand... there's not a good reason why).  I dug through my fabric stash and found matching gray, teal, blue, and orange fabrics for the pillow.  I really just slapped it together last night, but I think it came out so cute!  Here's the finished product:

We had bought the little guy a Batman action figure to go with the pillowcases and it ran us $13! (Can you believe a little piece of plastic costs that much?!)  After finishing the pillowcases and the little pillow, though, I felt like he had a nice gift without the plastic, so my hubby and I were psyched to return the action figure and give him something soft and homemade.  Here is the whole gift:

I think it came out really cute and soft!  I hope he likes them when he curls up at night!

Ah, yes, but 2 sets of pillowcases are hardly a frenzy, right?  Well, I thought it was about time that I made myself some, too (and my husband agreed!) so I have two more sets in the works.  One made for me, which features polar bears ice skating.  It's exceptionally girly, but I love the fabric and I love polar bears.

The other pillowcases are for my husband and the band of the pillowcases (on the Batman pillowcases above, the band is navy blue) will be made from my husband's favorite pair of pajamas... which met their untimely end this year with a big whole in the seat.  I was nervous to cut the band for these pillowcases because I was only going to get one chance for success with them, but it was surprisingly simple.  They are shaping up to be very sweet, actually.

Sewing makes me so happy.  God is good, life is good... and little lingonberries are everywhere.

Trendy, Not Trashy

My sister's birthday is Sunday and my husband and I are headed to Massachusetts for the weeks, which means that we will be home for her birthday!  Her birthday is March 4, exactly 2 months before my birthday, so it's pretty awful that I always forget the exact day and end up sending a belated birthday card and gift.  I'm psyched, then, that not only have I remembered her special day, but I have made a little something for her to open!

About 6 months ago, I bought One Yard Wonders (buy it here) and I have been wanting to make this silly project ever since.  The"Not-Ugly Car Trash Bag" clips onto the back of either the front seats and trendily (new word... just invented it, I think) hides all the candy wrappers that you had previously crammed into the glove compartment trash from your car in a pretty little bag.  It even has a front compartment for recyclables or plastic bags.  

My sister drives a notoriously cute car, which she adores, so I thought a trendy trash bag might be something cool for her!  Then, I got so excited about finally getting to make this project, I decided to make one for myself as well.  Here's the fabric I decided to use:

Sewing them together was so easy!  The directions were easy to follow and everything.  My only variance was that I decided to cut the raw edges with pinking sheers rather than zig-zag stitch them (and this decision was largely due to my inability to cut straight lines, leading to yucky raw edges!).

Here are the adorable finished products!  This one is for the birthday girl:

And this one is for me:

Ever since I got this new job, I feel invigorated to spend some true "hobby time!"  It's so fun giving nice gifts on which I spent time and love.

It's just proof that life is good, God is good, and little lingonberries are everywhere.

The Plot Thickens...

This weekend, I continued my work on the mystery quilt featured in McCall's Jan./Feb., and March/April, and got the first two parts to the mystery done!  (See all the fabric I chose here.)

I had done the first part featured in the Jan./Feb. a while ago, but never finished the final 7 or so squares.  So the completed squares and the un-completed squares sat in a bin by my ironing board... little lost UFOs... and as time went on, I wondered if they were destined to remain unfinished squares.  Maybe I would never finish them.  I tend to start a lot of projects and not finish them.

Then, BAM! I got a job and suddenly had time to do some things I love.  Last night, I finished part 1... and here it is!

So pretty! And I love how even everything looks even though I am new at this.  The yellow strips will make up the binding... but I wonder what the rest will look like...

I was so motivated by the ten minutes of sewing and pressing it took to finish part 1, that I decided to start part 2.  (It's truly amazing how much I put things off that I can finish quickly...)

Part 2 was a lot of cutting and a little sewing.  I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that there were no instructions for the colorful fabrics that I chose as the focal points of the quilt... the green and the yellow are more just accent colors to me.  But the good editors at McCall's are keeping secret what my hippie chicks and funky stripes will be used for...

Here is some more pretty green and yellow, though!

Now I want to know how this mystery ends!  I cannot wait for the May/June magazine!

Life is good.  God is good.  Little lingonberries are everywhere.

The mystery unfolds... (and is also cleaned and pressed...)

New, washed fabric can only mean one thing... a new project in the works!

McCall's January/February Issue features a mystery quilt perfect for beginners.  I am drawn to the idea of doing a quilt that is in steps (each issue of McCall's will feature a new section of the quilt) because I feel like I am more likely to finish it and not feel so overwhelmed.  The idea that I won't know the outcome is fun, too!  I'll post pictures as the mystery continues to let you know how it comes out!

Here's the fabric that will make up my fabulous 1st quilt!

So fun!  God is good.  Life is good.  Little lingonberries are everywhere.

Pillowcases for Smiling Faces

I went on a pillowcase-making rampage this week to get some late Christmas presents in the mail for the friends and family that I love.  I finished them on Tuesday night and they came out pretty amazingly, if I do say so myself!  Here's the silly story of how it happened!

I cut everything on Sunday and I just love how everything looks all together!  New fabric always makes me giggle with anticipation!

 To make these pillow cases, you roll the body of the pillowcase in the pillowcase's stripe and pin it.  Here they are:  all rolled up and nowhere to go!

  Here they are, unrolled after being sewed, but not done yet!  Now they are starting to look like pillowcases, though!  Goodnight Sunday!

 Monday and Tuesday I sewed the rest of the pillow cases.  Here they are all folded... I loved them so much I was tempted to just put them in my own linen closet!

  Then I thought... maybe they would look even better on my bed!  But alas, they are meant for people I love, so time to send them off into the world.  Be loved, little pillowcases.

Life is good.  God is good.  Little lingonberries are everywhere!

I've Been Off Looking for Lingonberries...

Sorry I haven't written in a bit, but Christmas has been craziness.  Because I work in the gift industry, Christmas starts in late October and then it is Christmas everyday all throughout November and December. It's also kind of like the Superbowl everyday, because the entire year has led to this and the company either makes money or it doesn't... and for a while there, it was touch and go.

My husband and I traveled home for the holidays to see my parents and entire extended family, which is always wonderful and stressful at the same time.  This year, I chose to see the wonderful.  We took a family picture and had a fun night out at the mall the night before Christmas Eve.  On Christmas Eve, we gathered with my mom's family, and I marveled at the 4 generations gathered in one house.  My mother's side of the family is the Swedish side, so also, there were actual lingonberries on the table, which reminded me of my little abandoned blog.  On Christmas Day, its little cousins and lasagna, truly the best, most relaxed way to spend the holiday.

On New Year's Eve, we started a new tradition by going to my husband's friend's house.  I am getting to know his wife and she is such a sweetheart!  They have three little ones, a little girl who is still in a crib, and a little girl and a little boy who are officially both in big-kid beds.

I thought these pillowcases would be snuggly for such grown-up kinds.  When Gus Lizard and Coconut Monkey heard they could snuggle up with new pillowcases, they said that they should be presents, too!

These pillowcases come out great every time I make them!  So easy and fun!  Find the pattern here! In fact, I have some more pillows to make for friends and family, so I think I am off for a night of self-care and pillowcase sewing.  Sounds just fabulous. ;)

Despite having a rough week, I have to remember:  Life is good, God is good, and little lingonberries are everywhere!

Unfortunately, it would appear that I cannot sew on this blog...

... so my living room continues to be full of fabric.  Also, Joann's had a really good sale this weekend, so a little more fabric came into my life.  This weekend, I cut fabric to make pillowcases, so I will post a picture when they are done.  I am doing a craft fair next weekend in hopes of selling said pillowcases, but if I don't I will donate them to Conkerr Cancer, a non-profit here in Philly that donates pillowcases to children fighting cancer.  The pillowcases dress up their hospital beds during their stay.  It sounds simple, but some of the best things are!

Other than that, not much happened this weekend.  I watched some wonderfully sappy Hallmark movies (Christmas has started on the Hallmark channel), and got in touch with some people who I have been neglecting.  It's amazing to me that I constantly put off calling, e-mailing, or good-old-fashioned writing the people I don't see everyday, and yet it makes me so happy to hear about their lives.  I also made plans to see the upcoming Twilight movie with some friends.  I love those ridiculous movies and I cannot wait to see them with the two friends that will appreciate the silliness with me.

My husband surprised me yesterday morning by wanting to come out to do some errands with me.  I was shocked, because the errands were boring and really didn't involve him.  We had a blast together, though.  We went out to lunch and even got some Christmas shopping done.  It felt good to be with him.  It was like a date, even though we were only going to do some silly errands.

As stressed as I might get sometimes, life is good.  God is good.  Little lingonberries are everywhere.