December 28, 2010

My Littlest Fan!



I had to share a picture of my littlest fan

little Joanie is only 5 weeks old and enjoying her plush 20 min. blanket!
I mean doesn't this just make you want one in grown up size?

Don't forget you can make your own blanket using my tutorial for your littlest fan, too.

take care mucho!
-Natalie

December 26, 2010

Tutorial: Zen Eye Pillow

This super easy eye pillow makes a great gift and literally can be done in 15 minutes.

Materials:
1 layer cake square (10" square piece of fabric)
2 cups (about) rice
thread in coordinating color

Lay out your layer cake and fold it in half- with right sides together....


Sew along the lines indicated. You need to leave the hole in the center in order to flip and fill.

Cut the corners at a diagonal

Flip it inside out through the hole.

Fill with rice. You want to make sure there is enough to fill the pillow when it is laying down flat but not too full that it is impossible to sew the hole closed in the next step.

Pin the hole closed (1 pin should be enough) place under your machine by scooting all the rice to the side.
Sew your hole closed 1/8 inch from the edge. Make sure you back-stitch at the beginning and end.

Ta Da!!! A great eye pillow to use the next time that pounding headache strikes.

**You can also place it in the freezer for a nice cold compression or in the microwave for a few seconds to mellow you out.**

If you create your own Zen Eye Pillow please share with everyone by posting pictures here

Enjoy being Zen!

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas!!
I hope everyone has had a great day filled with family, friends & celebration.

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

December 21, 2010

Cookie decorating!


Every year I get my girl friends together and decorate cookies. I make dozens and dozens of sugar cookies and we all sit around and ice, sprinkle and talk. I usually have friends bring some decorating items so that I am not spending a fortune on stuff, but I had so much left over from other years that we had plenty to go around. We had a blast!

Even little hands got in the fun!
And cookies were definitely eaten to keep us fueled.

I usually have a little contest going for the best and worst cookie, though we had to nix it this year because many didn't make it to the judging table :)

My mom helped out by making the best apple cider imaginable!

I wasn't with my mom to see how she made it taste so good so I will be getting the recipe and posting it to see what you all think :)


Do you have any fun holiday traditions you share with friends or family?

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

December 14, 2010

Giveaway season in Blogland

I don't know about you, but there seems to be giveaways all over Blogland for the holidays. I have been trying to participate in as many as I can without getting fired from my job, haha.

The biggest one is sponsored by Sew, Mama, Sew! Every year they host a Giveaway Day where bloggers are asked to donate something. Click on the button below and see which giveaways you are interested in participating in... there are so many I know it is going to be hard to choose :)


Another one that I read up on is hosted by Burda Style. I love this blog! It is so informative and is linked up to the Burda Style website which has a rediculous amount of inspiration from creative individuals from around the world. Right now they are giving away a Singer sewing machine and dress form! It is a must if you love being crafty!

*photo from Burda Style's Blog*

Have you been suckered into the giveaway craze too?

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

December 13, 2010

100 Quilts for Christmas!



Do you all remember this post, where I talked about some friends from our DC Modern group challenging the quilting community to make 100 quilts for charity. Well back then I had pledged 3 quilts and I actually met my goal despite all the holiday crazies!

Bloggers Swim, Bike, Quilt & Aunt Spicy set up great giveaways and today- of course the last possibly day- I am finally posting about my 3 little quilts.

Here they are in no particular order....

The first was made with some left over from this quilt. I had this one partically pieced so it was finished relatively quickly.

The second was left over t-shirts from my little Ciao Bella baby quilt.

Lastly, this quilt was started by someone very nice at the DC Modern charity event. A whole bunch of us had gotten together to start sewing some of these 100 quilts. This happened to be one that didn't get finished that night so I took it home finished piecing it together and made some finishing touches.

I was a little nervous having pledged 3 but I am so happy that these will be going to someone in need.

Have you made any charity quilts this holiday season?

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

December 1, 2010

Confessions of a Fabroholic

Was it just me or are the holiday deals getting better?!! I mean everywhere I turned I felt I saw 20% or 40% off. How can a fabroholic pass up these offers that is obviously needed to fill their obsession. Naturally I logged on just to see what they had in stock not really planning on purchasing much. Possibly just a yard here or there. Yeah, well that idea went out the door within 2 minutes of "browsing". My "window" shopping quickly turned into swiping my credit card over and over and over (virtually that is).

At Sew,Mama, Sew! I just had to get this little stack of fabric. I just didn't know when the next chance to get 20% off would present itself.


Ok so ... there was also another 20% off over at Del Ray Fabrics (I did not know this at the time of purchasing my other stack- I swear). I love their pre-cuts so I stocked up! My excuse... well people are having lots of babies, so I need pre-cuts to efficiently make them gifts. :)


And lastly the Fat Quarter Shop also had 20% off. There was absolutely no excuse with this one. By the time I logged on to see what the Fat Quarter Shop had to offer I was too far gone. I ordered 3 different times in one day. I know, I know, it sounds excessive but I kept thinking of more things I "needed". Unfortunately those haven't come in yet, though they are expected to arrive today or tomorrow. I might just have to post more eye candy when they are in.

Did anyone else get suckered in to all the holiday deals?

I am off to check my bank account and make sure I haven't totally depleted my account, haha.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

November 26, 2010

Tutorial: 20 min. Play Blanket

This little blanket is great to show case your favorite fabric and perfect for when you need quick baby gift.

Materials:
1 yd fun fabric
3/4 yard of super soft minky fabric (cut along the fold line- you will end up with 2 squares)
coordinating thread
pins

Layout your yard of fabric face down. Place the super soft minky fabric right side up on top. Trim around so that your fabric is roughly about 2 inches bigger than the minky fabric all around- see pic below.

At each corner follow the steps pictured below...

At this step make sure the fold of your printed fabric should lay next to the edge of the minky fabric.

Then fold it once more over the minky fabric to create a perfect mitered corner.

Pin all around to make sure nothing shifts during sewing and then sew 1/8 of an inch from the fold line all around.
Ta Da!
A cute blanket to put out when baby is ready to play.

These are so fast and easy I whipped up two in just 30 minutes!

If you make your own, I would love to see how they turned out.  Post pictures here.

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

November 12, 2010

100 Quilts for Christmas!


I love this!!! Two fellow DC Modern Quilt Guild members have come up with a great idea. They are asking for people to participate in creating baby/ toddler sized quilts for those that are in need. They are hoping that people throughout the country (or world!) sew and give to local charities. They want to have 100 made and donated in 1 month.

Want to learn more about it? Check out their websites by clicking on the button above!

It technically begins on Nov. 15 and runs through Dec. 15 but you can always start a few days early.

I am pledging 3 quilts!

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

November 10, 2010

Oh, Franson's Quilt Along

I have been a long time admirer of Elizabeth from Oh, Fransson! I have her on my google reader and am always reading what she has to share. I kept seeing and reading her fun posts about her Tokyo Subway Quilt Along. I wasn't planning on joining in on the fun since I have so many things going on, but then I saw her post with all the blocks together and possible backing choices that I couldn't resist any longer.

I joined the group VERY late. I mean most participants had all 25 blocks done when I just started off. I figured it didn't matter since Elizabeth was going to take a break for Fall Market anyway. I have quickly started to catch up.

I have cut all the squares (which is lots and lots). There is a ton more white ones but it didn't make for such a fun pictures.


Here are blocks 1 & 2, though I have finished a total of 5.




Although it is a bit tedious I think it is turning out awesome! I still have 20 more to go. My goal is to have it done for Christmas for my husband (he's half Japanese, I think he would get a kick out of it).

Have you joined some fun quilt along or sewing group lately?

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

November 8, 2010

More Christmas Early....

I finished my sisters tree skirt! Remember I posted about it a few weeks ago? Well I finally sandwiched the layers, quilted and sewed some binding. Every step of the way on this project just made me more excited. Everything just came together better than I had envisioned it.

My sister came home last weekend and took it home with her to use right away. I had to quickly snap a finished picture before it got put into her suitcase, so sorry for the not so great photos.


I got a little close up of the quilting and one of the applique ornaments. I also had to put one of my fun labels. I am trying to leave my mark on as many things I can remember to.

Since I have been in such a Christmas mood I whipped up a very cute Kate Spain 12 Days of Christmas throw quilt. I made it using charm squares and a jelly roll. This is the first project that I have used pre-cuts and I can't believe I haven't used them earlier! They are the best invention ever, totally saving me some major cutting time.


I was so excited at how quickly this was coming together that I ended up making this in 2 days start to finish. I think that may be a record for me.

Have you discovered the greatness of pre-cuts yet? Let me know what you do with them because I have a feeling I am going to be obsessed with them from now on :)

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

November 2, 2010

Tutorial: Ceramic Cup Pincushion

I bought this little cup/bowl a while back in hopes of turning into a cute little pincushion. As I have been working on other projects it has been staring at me waiting to be transformed. I though this would be a great and quick tutorial to share with you all. It actually takes the smallest bit of sewing , but is super helpful to have around whenever you are working on any of your sewing projects.

Here is everything you will need to create your one of a kind pincushion.

The reason I fill my bowl/ cup with rice is to help weigh it down (doesn't tip over as easily) and to take up some space at the bottom so I don't have to use as much fiber fill.

You want to flip your bowl/ cup over on top of your scrap piece of fabric and cut it about 1 inch wider than the perimeter of your bowl/ cup.

Thread your needle and do a running stitch (a simple up and down) around the entire perimeter of your fabric. Keep your needle connected and put to the side for a second.

Take a clump of fiber fill and round it out in your hands. Take two layers of batting and cover half of your fiberfill ball,

Place the ball inside the fabric and pull the thread.

Make a knot in your thread to keep the thread in place and test out your cushion by placing it on top of your bowl/ cup.

Warm up your glue gun and pump out a generous amount of glue onto half of the inside rim of your bowl/cup. Press your pincushion ball inside your bowl/ cup. Then squeeze back the other half of your cushion put another generous amount of glue onto the other half of the inside rim and press the cushion again.

Ta Da! Your done! Can you believe how easy that was? These make great gifts for your crafty friends too. My mom got this one I made last year...

I decorated the rim of the teacup with some bias tape and pom pom trim. If you wish to decorate your rim just remember to do that before gluing in the cushion part.

Hope you have fun making these to show off your pins and needles!
I would love to see your fun pincushions.  Post pictures here for all to see. 

Take care mucho,
-Natalie

October 26, 2010

Have you heard!

So the gals over at Quilting Bee Blocks are at it. They have come up with a great concept of getting all of us sewers/bloggers together for a weekend summit. It isn't until October 2011, but it sounds like a ton of fun!


If you want to find out more about it click on their button above and it will take you straight to their page. If you have a few minutes help them out by filling out their survey.

Hope to see you there!

Take care mucho,
-Natalie