In The Hoop Coasters

In The Hoop Coasters

I love to sew.  I have a new black and gold scrolled vintage-looking Singer sewing machine, I have a Singer Heavy Duty sewing machine, I have a Singer Serger... and I love them one and all.  I LOVE my Brother Innovis 2500D embroidery machine.  Notice I capitalized LOVE on this one.  I have drawers of embroidery design  CD's which delight me to no end, and I put those designs on flash drives so all it takes is to insert a flash drive in my embroidery machine, pick a design and go for it.  Ideas swirled around my head 24/7 for all-things-sewn.  Recently I have become absolutely smitten with "in the hoop" designs and if you saw my recent prior post of the little zipper purse or the cut coffee cozy, you can see why.  I make a lot of 'gifties' to share with friends and family, and that included making bright and colorful coasters.  Well now... even that project has been ever so simplified with an ITH design project.  I found this delight at GG Designs Embroidery here. 

This site has the cutest little designs of all kinds.  I selected, she sent the selection by email and I was off and running with all sorts of cute coasters.  And if you see my sewing items, you know that I love finding projects to use up the smallest of scraps.  Two 5x5 pieces of fabric will make a cute cute coaster. If you have an embroidery machine, take a peek.

Thanks for your visit.http://www.ggdesignsembroidery.com/

Slam Dunks-At It Again...

Every year before my son and daughter in law visit me for Thanksgiving, I start making their Christmas cards as well as mine.This year was one of those push push projects.  I knew I had to get started but my creative mind said "sew sew sew"...  Nonetheless, here are my efforts.  The Cricut created cards have several different styles and these will go to my son and daughter in law.  My cards this year are a bit off the beaten Christmas Card for Carole path.  I bought some darling punch out kits. 

 I used all of the Christmas themed Cricut carts in the designs.  A free for all fun.  I think my very favorite is the polar bear with the flowing red ribbon.

 This wreath is a metal die rathern than a Cricut Cut, as is the large ornament in the card above.

 The sets below are simple simple simple.  The designs are punch outs in circles, and I cut the "doily" cut from Wild Card for the base card.  A Nestie scallop circle in white paper was placed inside to show the sentiment and my signature.  I've added one of the smaller Christmas greetings with one of my clear stamps. A little added embellishment is a holly punch with vinyl dots in red.  Simple simple...  Not my usual kind of cards but I think these will be received with a smile.

Thanks for stopping by.

Beading and Sewing

BEADING

I used to love to bead.  I made woven beaded hat bands, belts, bracelets.  I have always beaded on clothing, pillows, handmade purses and totes.  One thing I love to bead, and something that my friends love to use, is an eyeglass necklace.  I decided I needed to use up some of those 9 trays of beads so for about 2 weeks I sat at the work station and happily created one beaded eyeglass necklace after another. I made 65.  Yup.... time just flew.  And although I used trays of beads, I still have trays left so back in the craft closet they went to sit until another day.  Here is a view of the tubs containing the 65 beaded necklaces.  

 I just pulled out 2 necklaces to give a better view of the construction.  Long ago I found a lot of the shell discs which I have always used.  This little disc allows the wearer to insert the earwire of their eyeglasses in and the eyeglasses hang safely at their neck.  For myself, I am always laying down my glasses "somewhere" and then I spend stressful trips in every room of my house frantically looking for my glasses.  This necklace will prevent that....  When I used up the shell disc, I found there were not available at the popular craft shops so I bought some round silver findings in different sizes and they work fine.

 Ahhh, back to my In The Hoop Embroidery projects.  Here are some more Coffee Cozies.  I use little bands for braids and ponytails for the loop to hook on the button.

 More more more... I love making these little zipper purses.  Amazing process.

that's it.... it what keeps me busy with a lot of fun and enjoyment to go along with it.