Stockings

I made these for a good friend who lost her house and everything in it in a fire 2 1/2 years ago.

I also made one for my grandson, but I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it to him over Thanksgiving.  It is similar to the last Santa stocking, but with a light blue background and dark blue toe, heel, and cuff.

Padfolio

After making a folder-folio for a gift, I had to make one for myself! Actually, I prepared the backgrounds at the same time, because I knew I wanted one. I just didn't have time to make it before Christmas. I modified mine to hold a legal pad on one side instead of loose papers. I also added a little loop of fabric for a pencil. And I used some of the skills I learned in Terri Stegmiller's Mixed Media Collage class to make the cover. I painted the purple cone flower with Neocolor watercolor crayons on white duck cloth, then fused it to Pelmet Vilene (which is a stiff interfacing, but thinner than Timtex or Peltex). Then I outlined the flower and stem with free motion stitching. I'm looking forward to having an excuse to use it!

Folder-Folio

I met with my book club on the Friday before Christmas - it was a really good discussion on a book that many of us didn't particularly like (The Sea by John Banville - I reviewed it here). I noticed that our leader had a folio with her that she kept her papers in - but it was just one of those heavy paper folios. So I decided to make her this:


Front cover - as always, you can click on the picture to see it larger.


Inside.

I worked on it over that weekend, then I took it by the library last Monday. I got to see her offices and learn a little bit about what she does at the library (other than lead our book club). And my DH came, so he got to meet her too. It was fun. The pattern for the folder-folio is by Terri Stegmiller and can be found here.

Fabric Bowl

Sweet P has a contest on her blog to post pictures of unique containers in our studios. So this is a fabric bowl that I made. It is sitting on a not-so-unique container - a cardboard box! I keep name tags and pins and that sort of thing inside it.

Sewing

One of my good friends came over to sew with me today. Normally, two friends and I sew together each week, but the other friend is in Switzerland right now (lucky her!). We always do a lot more talking and laughing than sewing, but we always have a good time. Today, I started on a new project (why not - I only have TONS of unfinished projects as it is). But this is a jacket for myself. I rarely make clothes, because they don't usually fit right. But I was actually able to try on a garment made from this pattern a few weeks ago and see that it would fit me, so I'm going to enjoy making this. Here is the pattern I'm working on - and I'm doing it with several different fabrics (I am a quilter, after all). You know - the fronts will be one fabric, the sleeves another, etc. I didn't get very far with it today - but at least I got it all cut out. I'm using a rayon batik for the fronts, back, and sleeves, so it should be really soft and drapey. I don't think it will be very hard to make, and once it's finished, I'll be sure to post a picture.

I also bought this pattern and some silk dupioni to make it. It doesn't look like much from the picture, but I tried on the actual garment here too, and it's really lovely.

And then I bought this pattern too, but I didn't buy any fabric for it - maybe because they had to order the pattern and send it to me later (which they did). And then I also remembered that I had this pattern along with fabrics in my stash. So I think I've got enough clothing projects to keep me busy for quite awhile!

Breaking Bad Habits.

I have gotten into some bad habits lately that I've been thinking for awhile I needed to stop, but today I finally took the first step. This morning, I did my exercises for the first time in months. Then we went for our usual 2 mile walk.

When we got home, I called our vet, because our kitty has been sneezing and coughing for several days now. I got an appointment for 10:00 (it was 8:30), so I ate my breakfast, took my shower, got dressed, asked my husband to get the cat carrier down from the attic, and cleaned it up. By that time, it was time to take the cat to the vet. We have to give him an antibiotic (a pill). Have you ever tried giving a pill to a cat? But guess what? They've come up with this clever pill gun that makes it so much easier! It looks almost like a really long syringe without the needle. Then because he's a "senior cat" we had a whole bunch of lab work done on him (about $100 worth!). Pets are expensive, but so worth it!!

Anyway, I didn't spend all day on the computer. I spent some time sewing. I took care of some sponsor responsibilities for Our Stamping Studio. DH and I watched a movie this evening (Brokeback Mountain - awesome movie). So all in all a pretty good day. I feel like I accomplished a lot.