Ages ago my sister asked for a zipper pouch.


Same fabric as this bag.

As "payment" she said she would pick something for me from etsy and you all know I love etsy. But despite that motivation, I just got around to her pouch last night!


Pretty sage green lining.

I procrastinated on a few other projects to sew this up... I love it but I'm not sure it's her style - having bad luck with sister-projects these days. We'll see what she says!

Labels: bags, sewing

My sister agreed that the earrings were not quite the right color, so I went in search of turquoise beads. And ended up with all of these. Obviously not all turquoise. Is there a support group for this?

Labels: beads

Vintage glass, bali silver, and handmade earwires.

I had a big urge just to have finished a project so I took a few minutes before dinner and made these earrings for my sister. She wanted turquoise but now these look more like light blue to me...

Labels: jewelry

Alternate title: More Stacks



I'm sure you are all hoping for some finished projects, like the purse pattern I keep promising or an actual quilt... But this pile of filing is taunting me. It must be organized so I can pay my taxes. And there was weeding to be done in the yard (and gorgeous weather for it). And chicken salad to be made. And later - hopefully some sewing!



In other news, just before the quilting disaster I agreed to do a commissioned quilt for a friend to give as a wedding gift. Ha! Funny timing. At least the fabric-choosing is going well!

Labels: fabric, homework

This has turned into one of those weeks where everything gets booked up and I have no crafting time, but I did still manage to get my fat quarters together for the Sew, Mama, Sew swap. It will be fun to get eight little packets back in the mail!

Labels: fabric, swaps

I want to use free-motion quilting on my flutterby quilt, but I've never done it before so I know I need to practice first. I found these napkins in my stash that I had intended to use for throw pillows on our music room couch.



During a break from my big quilt re-do, I pinned them to some scrap fleece, dropped the feed dogs, and got to work!



My stitches are pretty uneven, I had some tension issues, and I'm still getting the hang of making a pretty pattern, but I think I'll still sew this up into a pillow cover. By the time I get the second done I might be ready to try it on my flutterby!

Labels: quilting, sewing, wip

Blue triangles are ready. White triangles (quilter's cotton, this time) are ready. Chain-piecing is underway. Better luck this time, I hope!

Labels: quilting, wip

Let me tell you a story...

A few weeks ago I started a present for a baby shower - a shower that is today, in about four hours. (Hi, Margie! Stop reading if you don't want a sneak peak of Mr. Bean's present!)

The white fabric I was using was a soft, brushed cotton. Unfortunately, it was pretty stretchy, so my piecing was not going smoothly. Oh well, I thought, I'm sure it will work out fine, and I pressed on. However, when I got the quilt top together, there were many place like this:



That's okay, it's the thought that counts, I told myself. It will be a snuggy blanket even if the piecing isn't perfect. So I basted it as evidenced by the safety pins in these pictures. However, I started running across places where the soft, flimsy brushed cotton was pulling apart, and seams were fraying:





Still in denial, I assured myself I could hand-sew up these spots. And I began quilting. Any time my quilting stuttered, the successive needle holes tore a little rip in the white cotton.



This was the final straw. A baby quilt needs to be exceedingly washable, and this obviously would not be. Feeling a little sick to my stomach, I admitted defeat. Luckily the overall picture was encouraging enough for me to start over. Though of course it won't be ready for the shower today. And my sweet husband was there to remind me of all I learned from this poor quilt, so hopefully I at least won't repeat these mistakes!

Labels: quilting, wip

I started my day by giving up on a quilt, admitting it was a big *fail* for the first time in my short quilt-making history. Luckily the day improved steadily from there, including helping set up for a baby shower tomorrow (see above standby tissue pom poms), having a nice lunch with my hubby, getting a pedicure, and having my family over for fajitas and black bean soup and tres leches. I hope you all had an equally lovely Valentine's Day!

Labels: crafts, misc

Here is one of the ways I plan to use the mini samplers - leave them in their hoops and hang them on the wall!

Labels: needlework

For Anne's Celebrating Handmade swap, I chose to make a Nutcracker Doll ("Posie Doll") from Stitched in Time.



It was so much fun making a doll. I used some of the beautiful new Heather Ross fabric - of course I was drawn to orange and sea creatures, two of my favorites.



Alicia's pattern is endlessly adaptable - so many different ways to make this doll unique! This time I pretty much followed the pattern in the book but I hope to do several more and play around a little.


A little vintage lace from my treasure box.

Thanks for the wonderful book, Alicia! I hope Kathryn likes her.

Labels: sewing, swaps

I finished the flutterby quilt top. I am anxious to complete this quilt but will have to move it down on the list - I have another project to finish by this weekend!

Labels: quilting, wip

I made the Grand Marnier Chiffon cake from the Sky High book yesterday.



No particular reason - just dinner at my mom's with some friends and their new baby.





Delicious.

Labels: cooking

I know this is technically a Nutcracker Doll but I think of it as my Posie doll. She now has a face and a skirt and her body parts are reading for stuffing. I have never made a doll before and I am having so much fun working on her!

Labels: sewing, swaps

These tiny counted cross stitch samplers are very satisfying. This is a little of what I worked on during the Super Bowl on Sunday!

Labels: needlework

I tried loading up my spring bag and it needs a few tweaks to be right for my everyday bag - for one, it doesn't fit the notebook I always carry around. I LOVE this bag and don't want to see it waste away in my closet.



So I'm selling it! I don't have an etsy shop, so the first person to email me at semikkelsen (at) yahoo (dot) com gets it for $30. S&H and a few extra goodies included.

If you miss out on this bag, be patient - I am also working up a pattern to share for you sewing types!

Update - Thanks so much for the comments! The bag is sold...

Labels: shop

That's what we call it at work when something new has to take priority over the standing to-do list. The two taggie blankies in this gift basket were my at home break in! I finished them up about an hour before the baby shower for new twins. Phew!

Labels: sewing