Detail of Quilt made by Piece O Cake Designs

For Christmas this year I splurged and bought myself a few titles from my publisher, C & T Publishing.

I took my time and went through each one slowly, unwrapping each page like a present.

One of my favorite projects was from Applique Outside the Lines – No Rules, No Ruler, by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins. (You might remember me gushing over seeing Becky at Quilt Market in an earlier blog.)

I had first seen this dynamic duo years ago on Alex Anderson’s televised quilt show. I remember them showing how to make appliques and thinking – I like how the work looks, but I could never do that! All the pieces and the precision and the fussy fussy. Cripes!

I went to a quilt show in the fall of 2010 and I took photos of only six quilts. (That means I only really liked these 6) One of them was very whimsical and charming.  I didn’t write down the name of the maker, but…

Live Well and Be Happy Quilt

…it just happens to be from a pattern found in the book that I just bought! This is a project called Tree O Life and it is a great example of the lively, lyrical approach found in Applique Outside the Lines. 

Each time I see a quilt from their creative team, called Piece O Cake Designs, I feel a bit green with envy because their applique work really appeals to me.

However, the fact is that I avoid applique like it is a four letter word. This is strange, when you know I wrote a whole book about applique chair quilts! While I espouse using a glue stick at every turn, Becky and Linda show both hand and fusible applique directions in the book, so you can use either approach.

Leaves in the Breeze quilt page from the book

The leaf quilt on the cover really called out to me and I hopped at the chance to make it in raspberry, pinks, and greys with green stems. This would give me a chance to use all these great greys that a dear friend sent me as a Christmas gift. (Winning!)

Pink Leaves - on the design wall

Of course, I started out using glue stick like I do for my large pieces on the chairs. But I found that this really stretched the edges of the leaves and with the small pieces it was a real pain – I got glue all over everything BUT the leaves! The leaves ended up in stupid little curls of fabric or with so much fringe they looked like J Lo’s false eyelashes.

Then I smartened up a bit and began to put fusible on the back of my pinks.  I couldn’t be patient enough to use the books’s templates, but I didn’t think the girls would mind if I rotary cut them.

Leaves in waiting

What I did was remove the paper off the pieces first and then cut each leaf with a swoop, swoop of the rotary cutter. Then each one was ready to place and fuse quickly and easily. Boss!

Four rows ready to sew

I sewed a funky zig zag stitch around each fused leaf and then added the green stems.

Detail of edge stitching and green border

another close up

Then I added a fun and funky border – just like the girls! I even made a great pieced binding, too. Love it!

Pink Leaves in the Breeze by Alethea Ballard; 2012

So what’s next, you ask?

The Ground (as seen from above)

Yumbalia!

Or perhaps?

Picasso's Garden

Yes, please!

Pirateland, 2010

It was after dinner and before Cheeto-thirty (you know – the time to eat Cheetos each night) and there I was sitting in the Lay-Z-Boy googling myself again. Just another Thursday night for the old maverick quilter.

And I came across a book review that made me want to buy my own book – I swear!  It was so positive, even I was inspired.  I ran right into the sewing room and cut up some large scale fabric – kidding.

Check your humble author out HERE!

And thank you Creating the Hive for the shout out.

OK folks, Cheeto-thirty starts now.

Pirateland detail

Loving Hearts

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and since it is February, you can see that my quilt finishing schedule is about four months behind.  I think I will have the Christmas quilts finished by April, but who is counting.

I want to share with you a special quilt that I made.

Love for Susan

Some of you have seen a quilt on my website called Love for Susan. It was made for a dear friend when she was recovering from unexpected surgery about three years ago. I was able to get it done by the time she was sent home from the hospital and I was happy to wrap her in love and affection. She uses it all the time and has washed it many times. With the raw-edge appliques it is just soft and yummy.

I love you cup from Starbucks

The idea for the quilt came from a cup that was distributed by Starbucks. I loved the flowers which were created by hearts. It was an easy project to design and the way I made it allowed for my family help me assemble the top. For Susan’s quilt, my husband and one of my nephews glued the appliques for me and working as a team we got that sucker done in a day!

When I learned that a friend and colleague from my husband Steve and son Nathan’s work was mounting an epic battle against breast cancer, I immediately wanted to make her a quilt like Love for Susan. However, many things slowed the progress and it took me a long time to finish the project. I made all the appliques and Steve and Nathan worked with me to glue them in place. It was so nice to be able to do this together. This month we were finally able to give it to her.

She has endured three surgeries, rounds of chemotherapy and now radiation, but she is fighting a good fight and we were so glad to finally give her a token of our love, support and admiration.

I can share the ideas and designs of this quilt with you and give you instructions to make it, but because the design was distributed by Starbucks and is likely under copyright, none of us can make the pattern or the quilt to sell. But I am sure they won’t mind if we share the Loving Hearts Quilt with friends and family. It is so pretty and quick to make when you really want to support someone special.

Close up of Loving Hearts flower

Here’s how to make the Loving Hearts Quilt -

Send me an email at maverickquilts at gmail dot com and I will email you templates for the hearts and leaves

Materials needed:

Background piece of fabric 55″ x 70″ (can be pieced if you can’t get wide yardage)

Scraps of pink fabrics

Scraps of green fabrics about 6″ x 10″

Large scraps of green fabrics (2) about 14″ x 18″

Freezer paper

UHU Glue stick or lightweight fusible web (see note below)

Sewing Directions:

1.  Make three heart sizes by folding a piece of paper in half and cutting it into three sizes (or use templates from my email – see note above). Begin with pieces of paper 6″, 5″ and 4″. Transfer the templates onto freezer paper.

2.  Rough cut chunks of pink fabrics in the three sizes. 15 of each size for a total of 45.

Note: At this point you can add fusible to the backs of each piece of fabric if you don’t like the raw-edge look and don’t want the edges to fray. Trace the heart pattern to the paper side of the fusible.

Step 3 - stack 3 pieces of fabric, press to nestle the fibers

3.  Press 3 pieces of fabric in a stack

Step 4 - Pin

4.  Pin with flat head pins

Step 5 - Press freezer paper in place

5.  Iron the freezer paper template to the top of the stack, on top of the pins

Step 6 - cut

6. Cut out the hearts.

Remove the freezer paper

create 15 of each size

7.  Use the same technique to create 22 small leaves and 2 large leaves.

8.  Create the flower stems by cutting a 1 1/2″ strip of fabric and dividing it about 2/3 of the way.

9.  Create the leaf stems by cutting a strip of fabric 3/4″ and subcut it into 22 stems 1 3/4″ long.

10.  Cut the background fabric to 55″ x 70,” or so. Put it on a large flat surface with sheets underneath (so you can iron on it) or on a design wall that you can iron on.

Step 11 - create flowers

11.  begin creating the flowers by laying out 5 hearts for the middle, then add the next layer of (10) hearts to surround the center.

Step 12 - create all the flowers and add stem

12.  Get all the flowers in place.

13.  Add the border leaves, leaf stems, flower stems and flower leaves.

14.  Fuss it all until it looks balanced and even.

Note: If you are using fusible,  press everything in place now.

Glueing instructions:

Get some help! I was able to make this quilt as a family project. My husband and my son each manned a glue stick (I prefer UHU brand) and I wielded the iron. I handed a heart to one of them and marked and removed the next one. They would glue the back side, and I would put the hearts back on the background and iron them in place. It felt good to all do something together for someone we care about.

a.  Mark each heart’s location on the background with a pin at the point and a pin at the ‘v’.

b.  Add glue to the entire back of heart, taking care not to stretch out the bias parts too much.

c.  Repeat the same system for the leaves and stems.

Leaf quilting detail

Quilting ideas:

If you can get it quilted on a long arm, then the whole project can be completed fairly fast.

The top edge on the longarm

I quilted it with lots of circles on the backgrounds, leaf veins in the leaves and hearts and circles in the hearts. By sewing about 1/4″ inside the edge of each applique, I was able to create a raw edge. This will fray nicely when you wash the quilt.

Hearts quilting detail

Our friend is a really girly girl, so I had to use Minkee on the back and a puffy wool batting inside. It looked so great on the back!

Then I washed it on gentle in my washing machine and dried it on medium heat in the dryer.

When it comes out of the laundry, the raw edges need a little haircut in places to make everything look clean and tidy.

Loving Hearts Quilt, by Alethea Ballard; 2012

Send me photos and messages when you finish your quilts. We can all get strength from sharing love with the brave people who are fighting cancer.

Needle case - snapped shut

Have I ever mentioned how crazy I am about all of my nieces and nephews? I absolutely adore each and every one of them (even the sardonic one). For those of you (nuts) who have read each and every word of Maverick Quilts, you know that I dedicated the book to them and now I even have a new little baby niece. Yeah!

Last week I got the chance to sew with my Great Niece who is 2 and 3/4. (She’s my oldest niece’s daughter and she is GREAT!)  She sits on my sewing table or on a step stool and says, “I help. I do it. Me.” She jabs the fabric with pins (don’t tell her dad) and has learned stab, lift, and poke to pin the fabric correctly!

We made a pillow together. I position the fabric under the presser foot. She leans on the gas pedal, which we place up on the sewing table. I say go and stop, and she is great about starting and stopping at the right time. She presses the thread cut button and then helps pull out all the pins and puts them back in the pincushion. We made a darling cupcake pillow with a minkee back. It was sooo fun!

Look at this cutie with the pincushion and the darling pillow we made!

Another of  my favorite sewing experiences was last March when got to quilt with my niece, the budding quilter, Lucia. You might remember the great Boudoir Chair she made for me that was featured in the Quirkology of Quilts museum show we had in the fall.  See this post.

Lucia and I started sewing together when she was three. We would do the gas pedal on the table trick. She was already figuring out how to match fabric, sew strips together, press, subcut and sew again! She wielded the scissors without fear, and I was just there – holding on for dear life.

Kitty & Duck Quilt, by Lucia, February 2008

She is the only person who has ever made me a quilt. Now, two quilts! The first one (above) was really for my cat, Scott. She was three and a half years old.

Reading a sewing pattern

She was seven when I visited her last March. We cut out a flowered dress, sewed a head band, and made an armchair quilt with some kitty fabric. How funny is it that we have the same expression on our pursed lips?

She did all the cutting and gluing

It was a hot day and we were tired, but she persevered and got the top ready for quilting.

Lookin' good!

She made a carved border, added appliques and eventually the quilt was stretched on a frame. She gave it away as a wedding gift! Lucky bride!

She lives far away (boo hoo), but I hear that she has been sewing a lot lately. The report is that she has been doing a lot of hand sewing and needed more fabric and more needles. So, being the loving auntie I am, I made a little needle case to send to her.

I took an orphan quilt block, a plain piece of fabric, a piece of flannel for batting, and sewed rick rack into the seam to make a rectangle.

Needle case - open

Then, I made two felt needle holders, stuffed with wool batting. Wool helps wick moisture away and keeps the needles sharp and free of rust.  I added a cool little double-ended needle threader and I went to the fabric store and bought a cute pair of embroidery scissors. I added an elastic strap to hold the them in place.

Needle case - folded once

I had a strip of snap fabric and I attached snaps to make it shut up nicely.

Needle case - snapped shut

I added a button on the outside – just for looking at! It covers the sewing where I attached the snap on the other side.

Love the rick rack!

It went out in the mail today along with a new pincushion, flower head pins and some Valentine fabric. I can’t wait until she gets it!

What is a lunch date to San Francicso without looking at fabric? Well…What is a trip to ANYWHERE without looking at fabric, I ask you!

I went on a fun lunch date in San Francisco today (to yummy Wexler’s Tavern), and, on my companion’s advice, I visited the Crate & Barrel store where they have a wonderful collection of Marimekko fabric.

With fabric prices on the rise this store made me really appreciate a humble quilting store!  Buying cotton at $14.00 per yard hurts a bit, but Marimekko makes that seem like a VERY NICE PRICE!

Yes, I tell the truth when I tell you that I paid $16.95 PER FOOT today!

OOOOOH but just look!

Marimekko fabric and PVC vinyl

My shopping started with these PVC vinyls. They are lightweight and flexible.  I think they will be very easy to sew into some cool things. Can you say bag?

I also got a lovely piece of Lumimarja, designed by Erja Hirvi. It’s the white with pink blossoms in the photo above. Read about the designer here.

And then I HAD to get these little bovine cuties!

Wild in the Evening & Potholders

On sale for only $8.95 per foot! Woohoo!

I asked to see the binder which listed all of the fabrics that Crate & Barrel carried. There was a page with interesting details listed for each design.

The lime fabric with claves cavorting across it is called Wild in the Evening (Iltavilli) and it was designed in 2008 by Miina Akkijyrkka. These playful calves romp across the fabric creating “a visual tribute to freedom and uncharted adventure.”

The circular fabric is called Lappuliisa – read this!

Read this fun description - Love it

In writing this post, I just HAD to do a little research and I found that the Marimekko site was as delightful as its fabrics.  You can see the fabulous fabrics and colors (so much better than my little photos) at the site. Look!

Crate & Barrel also has a wonderful collection of Marimekko bedding, party ware, dishes, and more.

Pillows

See all of the pillows in pretty colors at the Marimekko website here.

Dishware

I don’t usually get excited about hard surfaces like ceramic and glass, but these were all soooo yummy to look at!

Cool cups

Yes, please!

Green Cups

Who doesn’t want one of these?

There were even designs for fun elephant paper party plates and fabric to match… check out the cowboy boots on this guy!

Elephants and partyware - can you see the zebra?

I was thinking about Marimekko and what I knew about it before today. It made me think of large-scale florals. I know it used bold, clear colors. I could recognize its iconic design called Unikko when I saw it. But that was about it.

Unikko fabric in many colors

This fabric was designed in 1964 (just like me) by Marimekko’s star designer Maija Isola. The simplicity appeals to me very much, but I think it is really the size of the flowers on the fabric that I am most drawn to. Each flower must be more than a foot in diameter. It feels unfettered, promising, freeing.

Unikko in black/white/green

I was able to get some of the Unikko in this colorway. I can’t wait to use it! What should I make?

In delving into this I see that there is very much more for me to learn from Marimekko’s designs. Please hold.

I find that one of life’s joys is curiosity and that in learning new things I feel young.

See the video “Secret story of Marimekko” and feast on the colors and designs here. Creative director of Marimekko, Minna Kemmel-Kutvonen, says, “In general, when we talk about colours, we usually say here that the color doesn’t yell at you – it glows.”

Bella Boxes quilt square close up

Each year is made up of moments. Most of them flow together in a swirling river that winds its way through the days and weeks. It is hard for me to discern individual events when they are in the past, as I am often looking forward to what is coming next.

My photos help me remember the passage of time. With the way my computer stores my photos I can be reminded of the order of things have happened.

As I reflect on the year I am reminded of some of my favorite moments.

Here is a look back at 2011 in photos.

Teaching Dream Chair Quilts classes

Barbed Wire Betsy

Painting class with Marcy Wheeler

Koi Pond Chairs Quilt before painting

First Royalty Check

Bouquets to Art show at the De Young Museum

My trip to Georgia

Time with my niece and nephew

Making the Peonies and Pagoda quilt

Driving to Oregon

Visiting Mount Shasta

Seeing my nephew

Seeing my other nephew

Seeing my other other nephew

Save the chair for me

Making the Kapow quilt

Salt Lake City with Ashley

My little nephew

Seeing Maverick Quilts for sale when I go somewhere!

My tiny cousin

Making the red Kapow quilt with the other Alethea

Disneyland!

Learning to mosaic with Sue Horn

San Francisco with friends

Teaching the Sew Fun Kids Class

Seeing the work my husband and son completed at the Cal Berkeley Bolt School of Law

Creating new quilts

Mavis

The Elephant quilt

Working with Margaret, Carmen and Linda on the quilt show

Koi Pond Chair quilt after painting

My little niece

Camping in the rain with my husband

New Goddess quilt

Urban Burp

Teaching Maverick Quilts classes

Absolutely Baby Quilt

The Quilt Fairy

Ghastlies Quilt

Volunteering at kindergarten

Starting the Peets Coffee quilt

Walking up to Coit Tower with my husband

My newest niece!

Christmas-ish

Super Cat!

I wish you all, dear readers, a Happy New Year.

Thank you for your interest in me and my work. I will continue my endeavor to deserve it.

Have you been slogging through the boring old stores this month? Or have you been online scrolling through the cyber corridors of Amazon, Lands End, or the Just-Torture-Me-Now-I-Can’t-Stand-Another-Second-On-This-Darn-Computer Store?

Hmmm… chances are you have! And chances are that you have been underwhelmed with many of the choices for clothes and gifts out there.

Well, do I have a treat for you! Multiple Threads, an eco-boutique, at 1820 Solano Avenue in Berkeley is a wonderful store and so much more! Read on, dear readers…

Pillows, Sweater Quilts and Blankets

Multiple Threads is remarkable in so many ways, I will just have to start somewhere…

Every square inch of the store is filled with the most amazing things. In this small corner alone you can see the following:

Pillows fashioned from a skirt made in India, pillows made from wool scarves or sweaters, pillows made from crocheted blankets.

Hand-stitched cashmere throw blankets, bed quilts made entirely of sweaters, silk neck-tie pillow, and baby quilts made from vintage quilts.

Candle sticks created out of old spools of thread, lamps made from antique jelly molds, coffee pots, and tart pans (from Panache Lighting), and underwear deftly and humorously sewn out of funny t-shirts (from Petaluma Panties).

OK, I am exhausted just telling you about this one little part of the store, but I know you are getting the jist. Everything in the store is hand-made and everything is ingeniously created using re-claimed and recycled materials. It’s an absolutely eco-friendly, go green, inspired, melting pot of creative energy and genius work!

Dresses and sweaters from Miranda Caroligne

There are several Bay Area designers who display in the shop, including the clever Miranda Caroligne. She is a really big-deal designer and also the author of Reconstructing Clothes for Dummies. Her signature look includes the interesting, colorful outer seams that connect pieces of sweaters together to make her great dresses, shirts, and skirts.

Ghetto Goldilocks dresses

Ghetto Goldilocks is a really innovative designer from Oakland who makes wonderful dresses out of “adopted” clothing. They are fabulous! See the fun raggedy edges on the sleeves and necklines. Very urban chic. Visit her website to see a slide show – you’ll be inspired

Ghetto Goldilocks vest and Field Day skirt

Also from Ghetto Goldilocks are some really interesting vests and jackets for both women and men. The last time I was in the shop, Briget from Ghetto Goldilocks was just bringing in some long, almost-Victorian-style jackets that are really inspired.

Field Day Wearables is another company from Oakland. Multiple Threads carries their cute cotton dresses and skirts with gathered waists and buttons down the fronts. I am in love with the skirt (above) which was made out of a sheet!

Field Day’s vintage ties are hand-printed with unusual graphic images that make an absolutely wonderful accessory for today’s modern man! (sorry no photo)

Shayna's masks

Shayna, one of the seamstresses who works at Multiple Threads, has a painting background. These masks, which are painted and sewn on canvas, are really remarkable. She also created the hats seen at the opening of this post, using overstitching on cotton t-shirts to create the wonderful eyes and faces.

Dress out of the Night Kitchen

On this dress, sewn from reclaimed velvet curtains, Shayna has created a wonderful face that is evocative of Maurice Sendak’s In The Night Kitchen.

Shayna's remarkable black dress

This dress is incredible. I can just imagine Helena Bonham-Carter wearing it to a film preview! And I can’t wait to see what this amazingly talented young lady makes next!

Pins and barrettes with a healthy twist

The gift selection is…

Purses and wallets - reinvented books and maps - from Mugwump

just as interesting and wonderful as the rest of the store.

Scarves pieced from sweaters and embellished with yarn

And such a wide selection of items to choose from…

Brooches created from reclaimed fabrics

everything is fabulous – you really must go check it out.

BUT STOP!

Stop! in the name of mittens!

I have yet to even begin to tell you about the boutique’s amazing creators, Diane Austen and her lovely daughter, Martha. So, here goes!

The brains and talent that have envisioned this great store and made it a reality, Diane and Martha, work very long hours and they work hard to make sure everything is just right. The things they make are incredible and they make it all right there in the workshop part of the store – You can even watch them in action if you’re lucky!

Party dress and shrug

From dolls to dresses, sweaters to skirts, and so much more, everything is made from reclaimed materials. Sweaters, shirts, t-shirts and scarves are reincarnated into fashionable, unique, super cool clothing and accessories. Just look…

The doll wall

Little girl jumpers - sweaters given new lives!

Lovely dress, cleverly devised from several sweaters

Sweater vests and silk-tie skirts

Jumpers for grown-up girls, too!

Sweater leggings - my personal favorite!

Kids clothes

Diane's signature skirt - unbeatable!

So, no more boring shopping for you – high tail yourself to Berkeley, have a cuppa, and spend some time exploring this amazing boutique. Who knows – I might just see you there!

1820 Solano Avenue  - at Colusa

Ciao!

Happy, happy kid!

What fun we have been having in my Sew Fun Kids Class!

Once a month we descend upon the classroom at Wooden Gate Quilts in Danville, California. Pretty soon it is filled with positive creative energy and the hum of the sewing machines. (And an occasional hiccup from a broken needle or empty bobbin)

Most of the students begin with little or no sewing experience and they are always ready to jump in and get going! They work fast and try very hard. And we get so much done!

One of our first projects was a totally practical and super cute two-sided apron, complete with fun pockets.

Terrific two-sided aprons

Alaina's attractive apron

We were all a little surprised to learn that Alaina was 19 years old, since she looks about 12. But we loved having her in class while she was home from college. Here she is in her yellow gingham apron. Maybe we will see her back in class on the Christmas vacation.

Creative binder covers

We had the opportunity to try a little fusible applique on these binder and composition book covers.

Darling froggy binder cover

How cute us this?

Great bag with a green lining

Another great project that everyone loved were these crafty bags. We used fabric-covered hair bands for the button loops – so clever!

Little Bag Ladies!

Can you say Dar-Ling?!?

Three-color bag - beautiful!

Another style of bags we tried are these three-color bags. We used the same technique from a French-seam pillow case and added the straps to make a completely finished , perfect-sized bag.

Hilarious Halloween Cake

One of our classes was the weekend of Halloween. Our super-mom Hilda made us this fabulous cake.

Amelia made this bag all by herself at home!

The next day I was teaching another class and Amelia came by to show me the Trick-or-Treat bag that she made at home overnight. She had learned to sew the day before and was already designing her own projects – and finishing them. I was so proud!

Ava's color-coordinated banner

One of the most delightful things about working with the students is seeing their smiles when they complete a project!

Happy Birthday banner!

Our secret to success and those happy smiles is our marvelous assistant, Maddy. Much of the time she is literally run off her feet fixing the sewing machines.

This banner was a special gift, but with all the letters and fabrics it was a huge undertaking for our short class.  Adrine and Maddy worked very hard and finished it just in time! Great job!

Mia's first sewing day and look!

These banners went together very well, and they look great!

Mia's sachet cache - great work!

Our December class fun with the girls making sachets as gifts.

First sewing day ever!

These two darlings had their first sewing day and they didn’t hesitate to jump in and create many sachets and even a pillow – way to go!

Fleece Hat!

We experimented with the new shipment of fleece and will be making everything we can think of out of fleece in the next class.

Until then…

Mavis Quinn, 2011 Holiday

Happy Holidays and Merry-Xmas from all of us here at Where Cuckoo Women Create Magazine .com.org.biz.

My latest assignment has been an utter joy to complete, as this is my favorite time of year.  I love the shopping, the traffic, the animated drivers and the compulsion to give gifts to everyone I have ever met and some that I’ve never met. Usually, I get my gifts online at Sharper Image (Great prices on personal grooming devices) and the Burlington Coat Factory (Loads of fur (fake) this year! So IN!). However, my editor has sent me out to see what Cuckoo Women are creating for this year’s Holiday Gift Boutiques, and I loved it! I was able to get a gift for absolutely everyone on my holiday list!

My first stop was the West Countie Crafters Holiday Gifte Boutique and Sweet Shoppe.

At the Boutique

There were so many booths and vendors and I just loved walking through and seeing what everyone has created for this year’s holiday extravaganza! While I can’t possibly show you everything (especially since a strange lady in a Santa hat kept getting in my way and grabbing all the good stuff up and shoving it in her motorized scooter’s carrying basket), I can give you a rundown of the things that I especially liked.

Clown Nutcracker

Now, this hand-painted gift combines two of my ultimate favorite Christmas themes, the cheerful and positive nutcracker and the soothing and reassuring clown. I couldn’t pass by it without snapping a pic!

Bed Spring Tree Topper

GO GREEN is a mantra of our modern society, so these clever tree toppers and ornaments made from old bed springs were just flying off the wooden barrel they were displayed upon.

I'm not sure what it is, but heck, it's Christmasy

And this Santa-like skeleton thing – so seasonal!

Also in the GO GREEN holiday department were these fetching items:

Reused foil - thank you, Thanksgiving turkey!

Cotton Balls - thank you Macy's makeup counter girls

Cotton Balls and Tongue Depressors, too - Thanks, Dr. Heller's phlebotomist

Nothin' like a peanut ornament! Thanks to the Duckville Little League

Ohhh, a peanut gnome, how cute is that?

Fall Garden Trimmings, thanks to the neighbor's green barrel left out on the streets on Wednesday Mornings!

Save your Jar Lids - they make CUUTE snowmen! Thanks, Auntie Marge

Crafty Tree Topper - thanks to the Stunville School Custodial Staff

Speaking of tree toppers, there was a whole booth of clever tree toppers at the faire!

A Red-Eyed Octopus Thing get's one in the holiday spirit, for sure!

I'll have the Blue Christmas, please!

Love Christmas, I do!

I have to say that at the next booth I bought one of everything and crossed most of the people OFF of my list. Boy is that LIBERATING!

A Princess for my Niece Griselda

My niece Brunhilda loves glitter, so I had to get this for her!

Santa Yoda for my cousin Yancy

R2D2 delivering gifts for my dear friend Lynn

Marvin loves Chewbacca - perfect!

Stormtrooper for my nephew Stanley

Bobba Fett for my nephew Bavid

C3PO for my nephew Cedrick

This guy is just perfect for my brother, Marlon

The Wool-Felted Aircraft I had to have for my tree - sorry relatives, they're MINE!

These cuties are also for my tree!

I couldn’t believe that I got so lucky this year! So many great gifts in one spot.

There were some other really interesting things that I saw, and, while I am not quite sure what they are, they look pretty special!

What?

Humm?

Um?

Really?

How?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Well, dreary readers, that’s all for today. I have to take my pet chinchilla to the vet because he is making the most appalling sound- I think he ate my wool-felted Millennium Falcon. There goes the tree!

Editors note: No animals were harmed in the making of this post. The opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the feelings and beliefs of this magazine. Some names were changed to protect the innocent.

Ho Ho Ho pillows - so cute!

The Ho Ho Holidays are here and what fun this season is!

After three, yes count them, three Thanksgivings I am turning my sights to … Crafting!  And you thought I was going to say Christmas!

I am madly preparing for a three-day craft boutique this weekend in Lafayette, California.  I know many of you dear readers live too far away to come, but you are all welcome just the same.

I do Love to Sew and have enjoyed making some fun fabric gifts.

Let It Snow pillows with lovely silver stitching!

My favorite are these darling pillows – but I only made two sets and I feel sure that they won’t be left over at the end, boo hoo.

More crafty gifts…

Darling flower sachets

Sexy closet sachets - Yes, please!

Micro Mitts - darling - and they work!

Paper Banners - are you kidding me? Fabulous!

Here are the details of the show – come if you can.  I will be there all day Friday and early and late on the weekend days.

2011 Email Flyer for Lafayette Santa's Bag

Saturday day is my Sew Fun Kids Class and I can’t wait to teach the girls to make little sachets!

Little sachets