::New in the Studio::

My sewing machines are staying busy these days.  I actually have both of them set up and use them all the time.  My old school Bernina 1008, which I call the 'work horse', is mostly for quilting projects.  The walking foot stays on it as does the white thread.  My newer Bernina 215 model is used for the smaller projects, especially the appliques and burp cloths.  The needle down feature of the 215 is a must for those. 

a skirt

birdie skirt

gift set~ gender neutral

tied with floss

turtle applique

gift set ~ gender neutral

gift set~ girl

ready to be mailed

Another reason for keeping the two machines in use?  My girl can sew next to me.  Can I just tell you how much I love that?  She made her own initial bag and learned how to use the zig zag stitch around the edge of the applique.

While waiting for my help in finishing her bag, she absently-mindedly doodled a cat and we turned it into an applique for the back of the bag.

A picture of our NYE celebration.  The three of us met up in North Carolina with family for a couple days and it was awesome.  How can you not have fun with all these kiddos? 

in order from left to right:

Maeve 5

Coleman 2

Sarah 5 (a cousin)

Eleanor 7

Bridget 9

Phoebe 2 (a cousin)

Colleen 11

Mary Larkin 5

Ginger 2

and baby Eamonn, 7 mos, was already fast asleep.

It was a fun night of s'mores and a countdown at 8pm.  My kinda night!

 

::Valentine Heart::

Admittedly, I'm not much of a holiday person.   I like a small celebration here and there, but I don't go over the top.  Case in point, some of our ornaments never made it onto the Christmas tree.  Yup, they sat there in a box next to the tree, but not on the tree.  And those that were put on the tree didn't get placed until the 23rd.  Please don't call me a Scrooge.  It's not that I don't like holidays, I do...  I just don't like the disruptions and the fuss.  Most years, our tree is taken down Christmas day 'cause the hubs and I like to vacuum up those needles and put everything back in place as soon as possible thankyouverymuch.

So, it is a bit ironic that I bust out the Valentine Hearts early.  Not so much 'cause I love 'love' and all that mushy, gushy romantic stuff but because the shape of a heart makes me happy.  It just does.  And pink and red together are eye candy.  I just like 'em.   

 

::How to Organize Embroidery Floss::

I love, love, love hand sewing.  I like quilting and binding by hand, making my little hexies and now embroidering too.

My embroidery thread is a hot mess and I spend more time searching through the pile of thread as opposed to actual sewing.

Here's how you corral your floss in a nice, neat organized stash.

Head on over to Joann Fabrics and don't forget your coupon!

Purchase the following products:

*note that I used DMC brand*

Floss bobbins

Floss Number Stickers

DMC Floss

Put your empty bobbins on the ring.

Pull the two wrappers off the floss,

but don't throw them away yet!

Take the end of the floss and thread it through

one of the small slits at the bottom.

I thread it through two or three times wrapping

around the rounded corners

for extra security.

Wrap the entire package of floss 

around the mid-section of the bobbin

and pull the end of the thread through

the other slit.

I wrap two or three times here as well.

Remember how I said not to throw the wrappers away?

Find your wrapper and look for the color number 

next to the bar code.

(It's usually a three digit number.)

Open your package of floss number stickers and 

look for the coordinating sticker.

Place sticker in the top right corner where you find

No.____

I'm just getting started!

I do have floss that isn't DMC brand

and I still put it on the bobbins,

they just aren't organized by number.

Here are the needles I use.

Hand embroidery adds a sweet touch to 

almost anything! It's a fun way to personalize

with a child's name or a favorite quote.

Visit DMC for a list of all the colors they make.

You can purchase embroidery designs but personally

I just make up my own and draw it lightly in pencil.

I highly recommend that you watch this video 

to learn the basic stitches and to see how some 

of the tools are used.

Enjoy

::New in The Studio::

Say hello to the oldest Tooth Fairy Pillow

in the universe.

Our mom, being the sentimental keeper of all

things in our childhood, brought this to my oldest

when her teeth started to fall out.

As cute as it is...

we were in need of a little update.

I mean... it's more than 30 years old.

This little gingham cutie is gonna be retired to

a knick knack shelf in the girls' room.

Plus, my niece (Flannery's daughter) is getting to the age

when her teeth are gonna start falling out so she needs one too.

Complete with pom pom fringe, of course.

And a little embroidery to make it extra handmade.

Even though my precious little nephew (Molly's son)

is years away from losing teeth~

in fact, he's still doesn't have them all!

well, he needs one too.

How ca-ute is that baseball fabric?!

Mad for Plaid

some Christmas dresses

and a pink one too!

Here are some new number shirts too.

See one you like? Send us a message to order one.

We're hoping to get these listed in the shop soon.

up close

doesn't get much sweeter than these.

and for boys...

there's that baseball fabric again!

blue+red+green=classic style!

with construction signs

another girls shirt

a close up.

love, love, love the turquoise and red

Hope you all had a great weekend!

:: Halloween Hand Towels::

Headed to Tarjay to get me some

hand towels.

I was in the mood for

a little

Halloween decoration in the

powder room.

I.could.not.bring.myself.to.buy.orange.or.black.

These lime green and teal blue towels

jumped into my hands and

wouldn't let go.

I'm so glad they did.

Does the pieced pumpkin look familiar?

a scary ghost!

Some pom pom fringe...

My girls were so excited when they walked in

and saw them.

Now I just have to refrain from saying,

"Don't touch!"