Koozies - Benefiting American Heart Association

Aren't these beautiful.  Koozies that were made in memory of a very dear friend Mary.   Mary was a major influence in the world of Softball and died suddenly of a heart atttack.  All sales from these koozies goes to the American Heart Association.    

Koozies were made by using 3 different layers of heatpress vinyl.

Key Fobs

I by no means am an expert but I thought I would put a tutorial together on how I made my key fobs and my sources.  Honestly, part of this is for me so that when I do this again (in 6 months or so) I can remember exactly how I did this.

I embroidered a single letter for each guest of the wedding shower on a ribbon, using a 4x4 hoop.  I was able to sew 4 at a time.

It took a little playing around but once I figured out positioning of the ribbon it was easy.  To do this I stitched on plain fabric, made my marks and then moved the letter in the software until I got it right.   I marked my center and then a small mark on the outer ribbon position.

I hoop only the cut away stabilizer and then use spray adhesive.  

I cut a length of ribbon 10".   I like the length but the next time I may try 12" and see how that works.

I place the first ribbon on the center line, then on the outside marking.

I then placed the next to ribbons spaced evenly.

Until I felt comfortable on how things would stitch and that they would line up correctly, I stitched one letter at a time.

My machine, the Singer Futura, XL 400 that I LOVE!

Once stitching is done,   I cut the stabilizer away.

I then cut a piece of webbing the same length as the ribbon.

I then ironed on 2 sided adhesive that came in a roll to the ribbon.

Peel off the paper backing.

Center the ribbon in the middle of the webbing and iron on.    Once it was ironed on I stitched down both sides with a straight stitch on my sewing machine.

Now you are ready to add the hardware.   Bend the webbing in half and place the metal part of the key fob on the top.   I have a hand tool called a hand seamer which worked perfectly.   Squeeze hard and the hardware is attached.   Add the key ring.   

That's all there is to it

Here's all of them that I made for my nieces wedding shower.  These will be favors for the shower.

Supply sources:
Embroidery font, Pea Pod, 2":  http://www.8clawsandapaw.com/
Webbing and hardware, 1 1/4":  http://mamashecrazy.com/
Hand seamer:  Tool I purchased from a local tool store, Harbor Frieght.  It was only about $8 and well worth it.
Ribbon 7/8":  Hobby Lobby

Something special to wear for her Baptism

My granddaughter is getting baptized so I had the pleasure of making her a special outfit for her special day.

First I made her a beautiful long gown.....then  I made her a bracelet with her name on it.....then a handmade rosary with her initials.  This was just way too much fun.

Last but not least I made her a beautiful bow for her hair.   The bow has a really special meaning.   It is made with the lace from her great grandma's wedding dress, lace from her grandma's (that's me) wedding veil and netting from her mommy's wedding veil.    It's something that I hope she treasures and passes it on to her daughter.

Another new toy

Uh oh.....look what I found on Craigs List.......did I tell you I love Craigs List.    It is brand new, doesn't look like it had ever been used. 

What is it you ask?   A pleater,  "silly goose", needed for smocking.    Yippee.   Now if I can just find some time to do some smocking.

This is so me!

I saw this design at emblibrary and just had to have it.   Stitched it on a sweatshirt and wear it to my quilting classes.     This shirt just says it all.

I made another for my cousin, who's as bad as I am......sorry Jana.

Hooded Bath Towels

I'm having way too much fun with my new embroidery machine.   I wanted to make something else for my grandkids and thought these would be fun.   I got two completely different reactions when the gifts were opened.

Jaxson:   "A towel.....it's a towel"
Gage:   "Oh Mimi, I've always wanted one of these"

They were perfect, even if it was just a towel.

Curlz font from 8 claws and a paw

Catepillar font from Adorable Alphabet

Chi Omega Owl

A girlfriend wanted a special gift for her niece.    Appliqued an owl from planet applique, added greek letters from 8 claws and a Paw on to a tote.   Added lettering also that I purchased from 8 claws and a paw.     I then found a really cute in the hoop zipper bag, from Embroidery Garden,  perfect size for a cell phone that I did in the same colors.    I was really happy with how it turned out.   So was the recipient!

Kitchen Towels

What a quick simple gift but very much appreciated.   I made these towels for my mom and for my aunt.  I'm loving the single color stitching.  

Sock Monkeys

I started several years ago buying jammies for my 2 grandsons for Christmas that match.   Well now we have a little girl added to the grandchildren and I wanted their Christmas jammies to match.   I have to do it as long as I can.   Eventually they aren't going to agree with the matching thing.  

Remember having sock monkeys as a kid.   Just one of those things you know you had and loved.

I decided to make them for my grandkids and great niece and great nephew.  I thought they would match the jammies perfectly.     So, I got busy sewing and made 5 of them.  The boys had hats and the girls had tutus!   They were a huge hit.

Baby gifts

I've been learning a lot, and messing up a lot.   This embroidery is harder than it looks.   Here's some fun gifts I made for a friends new grandson.

A shirt that says "Pop says I'm a keeper"

Ok,  the hat with a plunger has a story behind it, and my friend Dee is going by the name "Duma"....long story.   I don't expect an adorable baby to wear the hat with a plunger, it was more just for a joke.

They are in Texas and what a cute burp cloth.

I did a practice on fabric and decided it was too cute to throw away so I mad a bib.

Craft Sale

My two sisters and I did a craft show at the local high school.  Lots of people and we had lots of fun.

My sister Mary crochets.

My sister Kathy makes bracelets.

For the craft show I had vinyl stick people, license plates, rosaries, and my rosary bracelets.

Rosary Bracelets

I enjoying making bracelets but I really enjoy making rosaries, so I decided to try my hand at rosary bracelets.   It's really hard to tell in a photo but I made 2 different styles.  One is small and has only a single decade and 1 our father bead.   The other has the entire rosary and is made out of memory wire.  They are really fun and wrap around your wrist about 3 times.

I hung some from the Eiffel Tower as a display for a craft show.

I think it's the stress

I embroidered this cute file, with a zebra and the stripes falling off, on a bag that I found at Walmart on clearance.   The saying below is "I think it's the stress"    How true is that.

Isn't this adorable!

Here's where the embroidery file is available.   I think it's the Stress

Happy Halloween

I had lots of fun making halloween outfits for the kids.

Shirts for Jaxson and Gage and Gage even helped me make them.

I used the Bone Frame Alpha from Plannet Applique.    See it here   

For their name I used the Bonz font from 8clawsanda paw here

Johanna was dressed so cute in her "My First Boo Day" outfit. The pumpkin is an applique from

Kinsley was a ghost but too cute to be scary.

Monogrammed Towels

My first project was monogrammed towels.   It was really easy and such a nice gift.   The first set they wanted first names from the Bride and Groom and their daughter.

The second set were mongrammed for friends of my daughter getting married.

My new toy

I'm really excited to show you my new toy.   I can't wait to post some projects, but I'm still learning and honestly I've had it for a week and haven't embroidered anything yet.   I'm a little....well a lot....intimidated by this machine.   The reviews I've read were great and the machine has so many cool features.  I took a class last week and I have to say I was not impressed with the instructor.   Looks like another hobby that I will just have to dig in and figure it out.

Well without any further delay, here's my new toy.

The Singer Futura XL400 embroidery machine.

Isn't she beautiful.

Upcoming Craft Show

I haven't done a craft show in ages but my sisters both wanted to do one.   We got accepted to a huge craft show at the local High School.  Oh no, now I need to get organized and figure out what I'm going to try and sell.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk - Diaper Cake

What a perfect gift for the mother to be that is a KU fan.

Diaper Bag

Had a fun weekend making a diaper bag this weekend.  I love it when my daughter asks me to sew for her.   I love how it turned out and am thinking I might want to make myself one a little smaller to use as a purse.  I also made a matching changing pad and a little pouch that holds wipes and several diapers.