Knitted Ruffle Scarf

I know these scarves have been around awhile, but I just learned how to make one.

I don't knit, but I can crochet. 

A neighbor showed me how to knit one of these recently. 

It was so easy and came out really cute.

It's about 5' long and I used Red Heart Sashay yarn.

There are tons of videos on how to make these.

I need to make a few for Christmas gifts :)

The T-Shirt Quilt

It took awhile, but the quilt is finally finished.

I worked on it off and on for close to a year.

It was made using 30 of my oldest son's race shirts.

David is a runner, marathoner and ironman.

Each shirt was washed and cut apart dividing them into fronts & backs.

I rough cut the fronts to around 15"x15" then ironed a lightweight fusible stabilizer (Pellon) to the backsides.

All the shirts were then cut to 14"x14".

The blue sashings were cut to 2 1/2" and I stitched 6 rows of 5 blocks each.

I had a local lady quilt it on a longarm machine.

She did a wonderful job on it.

I cut a continuous strip of binding 2 1/2" wide and machine stitched it around the quilt. I had to stitch it at the kitchen table to support the quilt.

The finished quilt measures approximately 80" wide x 95" long.

My son loved it.

I've very proud of all of his accomplishments!

Burlap Flowers Photo Project

As promised, here is my finished photo project using the In the Hoop Burlap Flowers I made.

The wreath was purchased at JoAnns already pre-made. 

I used a 50% off coupon :)

The little black frames were purchased at Dollar Tree.

The frames have holes in the easels on the back side.

I attached the frames, with large safety pins. It was a bit tricky, but they are all secure.

I wanted to be able to remove the frames so I can change out the photos.

 I sized and printed all the photos of our grandson in black & white.

I used 3 of my burlap flowers to embellish my photo wreath.

The flowers are in this set of mine:

Frayed & Layered Flowers

In the Hoop Burlap Flowers

I love experimenting with my designs.

I stitched one of my Frayed & Layered Flowers using burlap instead of cotton fabrics.

I love how it turned out.

I'm working on a family photo project and a few flowers like this will be the perfect addition to it.

My In the Hoop Frayed & Layered Flowers Set 2 can be found on my site here:

http://www.embroiderygarden.com/shop/in-the-hoop/flowers/frayed-layered-flowers-set-2-frag102.html

I will post my finished project in a few days :)

Spooning

I took a little time out and made something for me.

The frame is from Michaels. I didn't use the glass.

It's embroidered on linen using Scriptina and Caroline fonts.

The old spoons are glued on with E6000.

It will sit in an easel in my kitchen.



Homemade Breast Pump Bras

We welcomed our first grandchild about 2 weeks ago.

He's simply precious :)

Our DIL wanted breast pump bras (not the same as a nursing bras). 

The pump bras needed to be ordered, are expensive and comfort is an issue.

She had comfortable bras she wanted to use and asked if I could help. 

I pondered how I could do this and immediately thought to use my embroidery machine. 
I was able to quickly digitize a large eyelet that I used to create openings in the bras to accommodate the pump part.

This is going to work out perfectly and be more cost efficient and comfortable.

Follow me on facebook for more fun and unique designs, ideas and projects involving machine embroidery.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Embroidery-Garden/143334308826

For the Bride

The wedding is next weekend!

This bride shirt is the last of my wedding stitching.

KC's new monogram is embroidered over the pocket.

The wedding date is on one cuff and a pair of intertwined hearts is on the other.

She'll wear it while she's getting her hair and make-up done and before she slips into her wedding gown. I would have liked to made all the bridal party one, but time has run out.

 



The Baby Shower

Our oldest son, David, and his wife are expecting!

We will be first time grandparents in August.

 

'Rub-A-Dub-Dub A New Baby to Love' was the theme.

 

These were our centerpieces.

I got the small tubs and blue bath scrubbers at Dollar General.

I added vinyl dots to the tubs and made custom labels to attach to dowel rods that were secured in a small block of styrofoam in the bottom of the tub.

A little rubber duckie and a small bottle of bubble bath from Bath & Body Works were placed inside.

 

I filled little baby bottles with duck-shaped Runts candies and added tags cut on my Cricut.

I used Cricut Pens to write "Thank You"

 

The centerpiece tubs turns out so cute I made the Mom-to-be a larger version.

The big tub and duckie came from Target. I made a bigger custom tag to attach to a dowel rod.

The bottom of the tub has 2 packs of diapers. A blue blanket covers them.

The bow around the duck secures it to the dowel.

There's baby shampoo, wash, etc in the folds of the blanket.

 

I also made a Stork Diaper Bundle. About 1/2 pack of small diapers were rolled and rubber banded together in a pyramid shape. I cut a piece of cardboard for the bottom.

Flannel fabric was folded around the cardboard and tied with a double bow. A pacifier hangs from it.

The stork & 'Special Delivery' tag was cut from cardstock on my Cricut and attached to a painted dowel rod. The rod is stuck down in between the rolled diapers.

 

I made our son a "Daddy Doo-ty Apron".  A few brown splats are randomly embroidered on it.

Daddy Doo-ty Apron is embroidered at the top. Baby bottle nipples are glued on in the appropriate spots. Safety googles for and a face mask are attached.

A "Panic Button" is stitched on near the belly button with 'Call 1-800 GRANDMA' embroidered underneath.

'Wet' & 'Dry' pockets with rubber gloves, air freshener & clean diapers inside.

A pair of tongs to pick up those dirty diapers completes the apron.

Cute & fun :)

 

 We had duckie shaped iced cookies

 

As a rememberance of the day, I cut onesies from cardstock, again with my Cricut, and had everyone write a bit of baby advice on them.

They were hung on a ribbon clothesline with tiny baby clothespins.

 

As the gifts started to arrive, they were placed on a table decorated with a clothesline of baby clothes.

 

 Rub-A-Dub-Dub, I can't wait to get my hands on that baby to love :)

 

The Shower

Our youngest son, Alex, is getting married in May.

My daughter-in-law & I spent several months planning a garden themed bridal shower for him & his fiancee, KC.

The shower was held in the room of a local restaurant.

I chose a few options for lunch and they made up special menus

The favors were little silver 'take out' boxes filled with silver hershey kisses.

We put round stickers on the bottom of the kisses that said "Thank You Alex & KC"

Machine embroidered lace butterflies sat atop the boxes

Unfortunately Alex couldn't attend the shower, but we skyped him in :)

He 'sat' at the head table and could view the guests and talk with them

Our dessert table featured rose swirled cupcakes in white & pink frosting.

We also had heart shaped cooked with their names put on them

For the cupcake stands I purchased pretty glass plates and various vases and candlestick holders from thrift stores and glued them together with E6000 glue.



I created topiaries from large tissue paper pompoms, painted dowel rods, styrofoam and clay posts for the dessert table. A tall glass vase with lighted branches and more machine embroidered butterfiles was in the center.

Guests enjoyed the day.

The table centerpieces were potted Spring plants ~ tulips & hyacinths.

We played 'The Price Is Right' game. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

I found cute prizes for the winners from Bath & Body Works.

Under $5 each! - Hand soap, hand sanitizer & a cute little holder for it.

Me & Jen during the Price Is Right

Before opening the gifts we did the 'product poem' which was a big hit.

It's basically 2 letters, one to the bride & one to the groom.

In part it went, Dear KC, soon you will marry Alex a (SUAVE) and (CHARMIN) guy.

A bottle of a suave product and toilet paper are handed to the bride as the poem is read.

It continues on featuring several household products. 

A similiar letter customizef for the groom is then read. It was lots of fun.

 

We also passed out wooden spoons and fine tip permanent markers to each guest.

Everyone was to write a bit of marriage advice, wisdom, congrats, doodles, whatever they wanted for the couple. Afterwards the spoons were placed in a 'mason jar' vase so the bride to be would have a bouquet of marital advice. Some were quite funny.

Here's KC with her paper plate bouquets made from the ribbons & bows off the gifts.

KC & one of the grandmas

In all it was a great day!

Winter Scarf

My future daughter-in-law has started a small business and is making hand crocheted infinity scarves like this.

She offers them with a crocheted flower or bow in lots of color choices

She has other items available too at her Etsy shop

Click the link below

 

Good Luck KC!

Sock Monkey - Whoo Wha!

You might remember the Memory Bears I made my cousin's kids after my Uncle (their Grandfather) passed away using his old shirts.

Well, one of the girls found a pair of his socks and wanted a sock monkey made from them.

I've never made one before but knew I was going to try :)

 

I used the instructions from Craft Passion. They have some adorable sock monkeys on their site.

 

Here's how mine turned out. I decided to make him a hat from fleece and use some of the leftover buttons from the shirts on it.

 

I ♥ him!

The Tree is Up!

It's barely the first week of December and my tree is up and decorated.

I did something completely different this year. After about 20 years of doing the same tree, I thought it was time to change it up.

I've always wanted to do a tree like this.

I ♥ snowmen!!

The head came from Big Lots.

The bow at the neck was one I had that I used as a tree topper in past years.

I bought 2 rolls of silver wide deco mesh ribbon and used it as a garland.

The round 'icy' garland on the tree is something I've had for several years. I purchased it on clearance at JoAnns.

The 'snowballs' are stryrofoam balls painted with white glue and rolled in faux snow.

There are around 100 snowflakes & icicles from Dollar Tree on it..

When the lights are on, the tree SPARKLES

 

I might just leave this tree up all winter :)

 

Holiday Table Favors

I created personalized snowmen table favors for my family this year.

My Snowman Flameless Tealight Cover is from my Holiday set.

 

The hat is made 'in the hoop'. It's not included in the set, but is available for download from my Yahoo group. I added all our names using Embird.

They're going to look so cute, all lit up, sitting on our Thanksgiving table.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!



Busy, busy . . .

I haven't abandoned my blog :)

I've just been super busy.
December was jam packed and January is full of "to do's" also.

I hope to be back to creating & designing more in a few weeks.

Possibly even another Giveaway :) Got any ideas?

Our 1st harvest ~ Yellow Squash

Fresh picked from our raised bed garden.
The squash plants got a lot bigger than we'd thought they would.

Waiting on tomatoes, jalepenos and green peppers

Grandma's Buttons

My husband's grandmother died recently. She was almost 94 years old.
Grandma and I had some of the same interests.

She sewed. Grandma was one of those people who could just look at something and cut it out and make it. No pattern, just cut and sew and it would turn out great. She was always making something for her grandkids and great-grandkids.

Everyone got a little something of Grandma's to remember her by. I got her button box and scissors. I love them.
I want to do some projects using the buttons, maybe a table runner with flowers and use some of the buttons for the centers.


















I've been getting a wonderful response to my new Wrist Wallet and Baby Wrist Rattles.
As a spin-off, I'm going to do a Wrist Pincushion Set. Look for it soon on my site





Yep, that's one of Grandma's buttons on the top :)