Charming Girls Quilt Club - 5 Things

5 Things.....
1. My Favorite Fabric is:
I love florals and warm colors, it doesn't matter who designs them (if I like them, I buy them).
2. The pattern I'm most looking forward to sewing is:
A quilted tote bag (pattern sent to me by another club member)
3. The food that is my weakness:
Taco and potato chips
4. If I knew I couldn't fail, I'd:
I'd run a marathon or swim in the ocean. I know this might sound a bit much but I loved to run when I was young and I've always loved the water but for some reason never got the hang of swimming (just wading, floating and splashing around).
5. The Best "Life" Advice I know is:
Trust in your faith.













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Does Organizing Make Sense??

Today was the day to get to the things on my to-do list; no more putting it off. First task was cleaning the bathrooms, a regular chore that no-one wants to do. I'm having one of them tiled this weekend and I had to remove everything to make it easy and less cumbersome for the tiler.

Then, I quickly picked up around the house (not much to do there) and lastly headed to my sewing room - the disaster room. I folded fabric, put away notions, picked up threads from the floor and tried to put everything in its place. The problem with putting things away is you never find them . I'm told everybody has that problem?? That's the whole reason the room gets torn up in the first place because you have to tear everything apart just to find what you put away. Makes you wonder, does organization make sense?

After a long day of "organizing" I finally sat down to a dinner of pizza with my husband and grandkids. After they leave I hope to take a long hot bubble bath.

Christmas in July

I decided (late I know) to post a few pictures of Christmas ornaments I've made in the past years to share with all of you early birds who are already preparing for Christmas in July.

I know everyone is always looking for ideas so I thought I'd show some of my Christmas crafts for you to see and maybe make in "a crafty moment".

The gingerbread ornaments were made this past Christmas and the others I'm not sure what year they were made. The ones posted here I kept for samples and some don't look like the fancy one I gave away. All of the ornaments I made for friends and family were designed in colors specific to the taste of the person in mind.

I used them as gift toppers, I grouped several together and gave them as ornament gifts and some I just threw in with other gifts to add a little surprize.

The gingerbread ones were made from fabric scraps and I either embroidered on them, sewed or glued on buttons or added some ribbon or ric rack to dress them up. The blue and green one in the background were never finished. I just saved them as samples.


This was made as an ornament. This was my sample, the ones I gave away were made in satin with sequins or beads added.

This little Angel is made with folded fabric and starched. The wings are just glued on and the beaded head is stuck in the fold with a foiled pipe cleaner. Put a bit of glue before sticking it between the fold.

These are the cutest pasta ornaments ever - made from four types of pasta a wooden bead and seed beads for the hair. Once they are all glued together you just spray paint in what ever color you want.

This little one was made from scrap fabric. You can either stamp, embroider, or paint the face on these. Glue some small twigs for reindeer antlers and cover with a ribbon or a bit of straw grass (not sure what you call that stuff).

I hope you enjoyed by contribution to Christmas Crafts!!
Leave me a comment -- I'd love to hear from you.

Third Project Complete

H00ray...done in a day.!! I thought I'd never get to this project because I dreaded cutting out the pattern, as it turned out its only two pieces. The pattern had five different options to choose from and when I took the pieces out of the envelope the first time I thought oh no, there's too many pattern pieces to deal with and stuffed it all back in. There it stood all month long glaring at me do pick it up again. So, a couple of nights ago, I sat on the floor and cut apart all the pieces and separated them. After that, it wasn't such a big deal and discovering that this option had only two pieces I knew it would be a piece of cake to sew it up.



Thanks to Charming Girls Quilt Club, I was motivated to finish this project that was in my sewing room for several months. Once I decided to just get it done it didn't take much time to complete. It looks nice on and I plan to wear it this weekend.

To check out all the other finished projects, click on over to
http://cottoncharmquilts.typepad.com/charmingchatter/

So Many Giveaways...so little time

It's nearly the end of the month and there are many giveaways still open. Check out my Giveaway list and click to enter. These generous bloggers are waiting for you to enter. Alot of the giveaways are offering some really nice stuff.

It doesn't hurt to throw your name into the hat and they don't require much. The requirements don't cost you a penny, most just want you to become a follower.

In the last week I've added a number of new sites offering to giveaway some really cool stuff. Just browse on down the list and visit each site to enter. Both you and they will be happy you did. You never know, you might be the next winner.

Hope you've had a great week and I hope to hear from you all. I plan to keep up my giveaway list if I hear from you that it's nice to have a one stop place to giveaway opportunities (we all know how long it takes to blog hop) so leave me a comment or two if you are using it as a resouce an while you're at it you might want to become a follower of mine to get my giveaway updates.

I say it doesn't hurt to spread the love. Have a blessed day!!

Eye Glass Caddy

Last week I spent a few days at my daughters house while I was out of town and noticed that she had so many pairs of sunglasses hanging from her mirror from a scarf. I quickly got an idea to make a caddy for her to hang them on. When I got home, a whole week later, I was eagar to get back in my sewing room; my place of solitude. Don't you all feel like you need to do something creative to relax. I know I do. I put a simple pattern together in no time.

It took me less than 15 to 20 minutes to create the pattern and sew it together. It can hold up to a dozen pair of glasses. It can be hung from your mirror, a bed post, a peg or even a door knob, a great organization piece if I say so myself.

The project was fun and really easy, a great project for anyone

to make in a short period of time. Check out the Tutorial. I ended up making two and took quite a few

pictures to help guide you through to the finish. Believe me, this one is really easy.

I hung it from a wall hanging that I have to get a good picture of it. I was trying to get one hanging from the mirror but it wouldn't come out right and the strap wasn't long enough to go around the large square bed post on my bed.

The caddy is holding six pair of glasses and can easily hold several more.

Eye Glass Caddy Tutorial

Supplies: Piece of fabric 8x13 inches, 1/2 in wide twill tape or ribbon, and bias tape (2.75m double folded). Please read instructions all the way through so that you have an understanding of the steps. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me. I hope you enjoy making the caddy. You won't believe how easy it is to make.

Cut a piece of Fabric 8 x 13 inches.

Fold it in half lengthwise and sew a 1/4 inch seam as shown creating a tube. (Leave both ends open.)

Turn right side out and press so that seam is in the center.

This picture shows what the front side should look like.

Picture of back side with seam in center.

Start pinning 1/2 inch Twill Tape approximately 1- 1/4 inch from the top and zig zag from side to side as shown till you get to the bottom. Cut off when you get to the bottom.

Fold in a 1/4 inch seam at the top and pin. This part will be sewn together when you stitch around to attach Twill Tape.

Pin top edge together as shown and described in previous photo.

Sew along the edge to hold the Twill Tape down. This will be covered when you put on the Bias Tape.

This picture shows how the caddy should look now. The bottom edge on the left is still open (it should not be sewn together). It will be sealed when you finish with the bias tape.

Cut a piece of card stock 3-1/4 x 11-1/2 inches. I used an old file folder. Any type of cardboard will do.

Slip it inside the caddy through the open end. You're almost done now.

After you've slipped the cardboard inside, flip it over to the side with the seam and stitch in the ditch. This will hold down the Twill Tape and make slots to insert the eye glasses when finished.

Your piece should look like this with the stitch down the middle. I rounded the corners of the unfinished side for ease when stitching the bias tape on.

Cut your bias tape approximately 48 inches long to go around the caddy and leave enough for the strap.

Start at the center of the bottom with the bias tape and begin sewing around. The wide side of the bias tape goes on the bottom and you stitch from the top. When you come to the top edge, sew along the bias tape to create the strap as shown below. Put a pin on the bias tape to mark the end of the strap.

TIP: Remember to leave enough bias tape to make it around the caddy to where you started. You can pin it if you like to be sure.

When you've sewn enough for the strap, insert the other side of the caddy under the bias tape and sew down to the bottom edge where you started and your done. See photo below.

Photo of where the bias tape should meet at the bottom of the caddy.

You're finished. Fill it with your glasses and make a few more for friends and family.

Photo of caddy being put to good use.

Leave me a comment if you make one for yourself. I'd love to see how yours turns out.

ABCDEFG - Package Arrived!!

I've been out of town all week visiting my son in the hospital and just now getting home. In the mail was my package from Julie's Open Window. I won her card giveaway some weeks back and have been looking forward to receiving it.

The card is really cute and would be a great card for a 5th birthday and a cute keepsake too. Thanks for all the little extras you included in the package, they were truly a surprise. I'll have to create a card with the embellishments you sent and post a photo. Look for it soon.

Thank you Julie, keep creating those lovely cards. I can tell your cards by the cute flowers; they seem to be your signature style.

I Won!! Cute Thumb Cushions

How lucky am I!! I won a giveaway for a pair of thumb cushions from http://sue-niven.blogspot.com/2009/07/thumb-pincushion.html. Here's a picture of the cute little things. The full story of these tiny creations is in her blog. I understand her story of compassion and loss of a great friend to cancer. Many of us have also known or lost someone close to us as well. Her story tells it all. I plan to pass on her story and to make a few of these in honor of her friend and those I know who have suffered through cancer and give them away also. They are cute little thinking of you gifts. They're small enough to carry in your purse and just give to someone for a kind jesture or just because. I love them and think they are so cute. They kind of remind me of a chocolate kiss -- something everyone would enjoy receiving.

Thank you Sue. I can't wait to receive them.

Stamping Buddy

Today is all about Kathy a friend I met several years ago at our monthly bingo group. We got to talking about our hobbies and it turned out that she is an avid stamper.

Kathy sent me a batch of her cards to post for others to enjoy. Kathy is retired, plays bingo almost daily, cares for her granddaughter a few times a week and works at some of the local bingo games.

Thanks Kathy for sharing. I love the Rooster Card. Which one is your favorite? Please take a moment to comment or just say hello. It doesn't take much time. Sharing is what our blogs are all about and we do want to hear from you.

Blog Connections - Great Finds

I've spend most of today looking at different blogs for inspiration. It sure does take up a good part of your day just browsing. I came across a great find and wanted to share it with my followers. For those of you that love bags, go on over and visit Jean's Page http://quiltinjeanie.blogspot.com/ she's got a fabulous giveaway going on too.

Another site I found today, also doing a giveaway. is http://scrap-bags.blogspot.com/2009/07/weekly-special-and-give-away.html stop by and check out her hand dyed fabric. It's a really cool looking piece.

I'm curious, how often do you search for that one new and inspiring blog? I'd love to hear from any of you bloggers out there about the one favorite blog you've discovered lately. Don't you think if we share great finds it will save us all some time.