Elephant & Pig ~ Fronts & Rears

I've created 2 new applique machine embroidery designs for babies.
Elephant & Pig

















These designs look reallly cute on onesies or baby tees & diaper covers with the rear views on the backsides :)










































I've also come up with a new gift packaging idea.
Baby Ice Cream Cone
Inside are diapers, washcloths & onesie!

Baby Animal Faces - New Design

I've just finished a new machine embroidery applique set, Baby Animal Faces. The designs match my popular Baby Wrist Rattles Set.



I created cute little 'peek-a-boo' boxes to hold folded side snap shirts (newborn 0-3) embroidered with my designs.
I cut these on my Cricut Expression. You can download the .scut files & a PDF with instructions here.



Another idea is to fold the shirts and put them inside of little baby bottles!



I got the bottles ('the first years Soothie') @ WalMart.
Fold the shirts so the faces show nicely & pop them inside. Tie a cute ribbon around the tops and they're so cute!







I added a cute ruffle to the bottom of one of the shirts to match the 'Baby Girl' applique design.




















Here's how I did the ruffle for a side snap shirt:
Measure around the shirt and add at least 1/2 of the length to the measurement. Cut a 4" wide strip to this length. You will have to piece it.
Fold the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press.
Fold the ends to the inside and press.
Run a basting stitch along the long raw edge. Gather up edge to the approximate length of the bottom measurement of the shirt.















Cut another strip that is 1 1/2" wide the length of the measurement around the bottom of the shirt + 1". Fold the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press.
Fold each end in 1/2" and press.
Sew the strip to the ruffle. Have the right side of the strip against the back of the ruffle:













The fold on the strip is even with the edge of the ruffle.
Next fold the strip to the front side of the ruffle. The pressed center fold mark is at the top:











Fold the raw edge under & press & pin












Pin the ruffle to the bottom edge of the shirt. I placed it along the stitching line on the shirt.












Sew close to both edges and you're done!

Garden Gate Sign

I made this sign for our fence gate.



















I used my Cricut Expression and outdoor grade vinyl. The Welcome with the swirl under it and the bird & branch were free svg files from the internet. I added the 'to my Garden' lettering. I put it all together in SCAL.
The metal frame is from Lowe's. I didn't like the graphic that was in it, so I took it apart and spray painted over it. I applied the vinyl and put the frame back together.

I love it :) I plan to do some work in my flower garden this weekend. I think Spring has finally sprung here.

IEC - Indiana Embroidery Conference

I will be a vendor at the
Indiana Embroidery Conference in Columbus, IN
October 21 - 25.

You can find all the information regarding the conference - classes, events, hotel, etc. - here

Hope to see you there!

Name Frame

I just finished this for a friend of mine for her niece's room. She wanted pinks, purples & blues. I found the floral print @ JoAnns and thought it was so pretty. I bought extra 'cuz I know I will want to make something using it :)
The frame is 12" x 36".
I purchased the embroidery designs from Embroidery Boutique.
I hope she likes it.

Wrist Pincushions - New Design

My new Wrist Pincushion machine embroidery design set is finished.
They turned out so cute and were so much fun to make.

These will make great gifts for your sewing friends and be a good craft fair seller.
Included are heart, flower & round shaped pincushions.




Create an updated modern tomato or a sweet old fashioned wrist pincushion



There are 2 sizes of straps included to fit wrists up to approx 8" around.



As an added bonus, I created a box sized for gift giving. The free instructions can be found on my website





If you have a Cricut Expressions machine and SCAL you can download the .scut files & instructions to create the box here

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 :)

I LOVE Pincushions

Pincushions are one of my favorites things. Just about anything can be made into a pincushion. I have them all over my sewing room.
I like to crochet, but I can only do simple things. I wish I had the time to learn to crochet better.
There's not enough time in the day to do all the things I want to.

I did make these 2 Cacti pincushions. They were easy. The pattern was in an issue of Crochet Today from last fall.

We have a large cactus collection - real cacti.
I'll post photos of some of them this summer.