60th Wedding Anniversary Small Art Quilt

A couple of weeks ago was my husband's parents 60th wedding anniversary. It wasn't until the day of their party that I came up with something to make to give them. I scanned their party invitation and cropped, then altered the pictures. I printed the picture from my laser printer on to transparency film that I've had for many years. I cut up a lot of different fabrics to see what would go with it, but I settled with the one below that is laced with tiny gold threads. (I know that it is supposed to be white diamonds for a 60-year, but I didn't have time to go shopping for white fabric, and didn't have any in my stash.) I used Peltex stiff interfacing and thin cotton batting sandwiched in between the front and backing. Since I didn't have much time, made the backing longer and wider, then  just folded up each corner, instead of the usual mitered binding. Here is the finished product.

Making Rosettes Out of Scraps!

From this...

...To this

 Oy Vey!  I save everything in my sewing room, including the thinnest of scraps. Luckily, so far, my hoarding is limited to only sewing stuff in my sewing room!

These "rosettes" started when I cut off the edges of a piece of muslin to square it off.  Making rosettes are my forte. I've been doing them for years. I would make them when we used to go on car trips, as a way to make the time go by. I also used to get car sick, so reading was out of the question. I now take motion sickness pills so I can read my iPad or iPhone while on the road.

Anyway, I as I said, I make many of these rosettes. I use a needle and thread to keep it together as I make it. I'm going to be using them for a very small art quilt that I'm working on. The muslin that I was squaring off is going to be  used for the front of the small art quilt.

Rosette #1

The only thing I've accomplished so far, is my sewing room being extremely messy, while trying to figure out how I want my small art quilt to look. I have muslin, and all kinds of different fabric scraps all over the place. I also have beautiful storage boxes strewn all over the floor because that's where I keep a lot of my ephemera to use for the little art quilt. I don't want to keep getting those boxes down from where they are at. So, at this time, it's easier to trip all over them, then to continue to take them down and put them back where they belong.

Rosette #2

I take one end and wrap a couple of inches on to itself; then twist for flip the "ribbon" under once as I continue to wrap.

As I continue to twist or flip the "ribbon," I sew the bottom sew that it stays wrapped.

"Voilá!"

Decoupage Before/After: Ice Cream Container Turned Into Tissue Holder

Though the years, I've collected tissue paper that have pretty patterned designs. I was rinsing out this ice cream container to put in the trash, when I came upon an idea to make this tissue holder.

Ooooh, very pretty and practical!

Before 

After

Decoupaging Empty Wine Bottles

I really like some of the beautiful designs on napkins that I come across at stores. In fact, I buy them with the intent to use them to decoupage. What else would you want to use them for? To me, they are way too pretty to use as napkins. Here are some samplings on wine bottles. I've decoupaged other things as well that I'll show next week.

Antique Vintage Linen Napkins Turned Into Sachets w/ Lavender and Flax Seed

Throughout the years, I've been collecting old vintage linen napkins. They've been sitting in a drawer for years. Beautiful, aren't they? They're so so soft, and you could tell they have a premium quality to them. A few are slightly stained in some places, but that adds to it's uniqueness and beauty.

I thought I would reuse, repurpose, and transform them. One idea was to make small 4" x 4" square sachets. They were made using Sizzix Bigz Clear Die Square Scallop #655776. The sachets are filled with lavender and flax seed. That way, you could also put them in the freezer or microwave and place them on what ever hurts to sooth. The smell is relaxing--so I hear. (I have no sense of smell--really! I have one of my daughter's help me mix the lavender and flax seed together.)

 My beloved mother loved the smell of lavender. These sachets are small gifts of thanks to people I know.  I have plenty more of these old linen napkins, so I will be making a lot more to give away. 

My Homemade Version of Little Girl Tutus.

What a beautiful little fairy princess! She is dressed for her cousin's 3rd birthday party.

Since both my daughters' have little daughters of their own, I got to make these very easy no-sew tutus. Here are some pictures of the tutus. They didn't take very long at all to make. The easy part was that the spools already came in 6-inch wide x 25 feet or 100 feet long.  The hard part was deciding which colors to buy.

I cut them in 23-inch lengths.

Here is a tutorial over at "The Imagination Tree," on how to make them. I used ribbon for the waist instead of elastic.

For one, I measured the little one's waist, which was 18 inches. I then added 30 more inches to be able to make the tie.

Somehow, they both came out great--if I do say so myself.

This is the one that the tiny fairy princess is wearing in the pic a.

This is the second one I made for the tiny fairy princess above for her own birthday party.

I tried to match the tulle as close as I could to the invitation

Whimsical or Shabby Chic Decor for a Little One's Birthday Party

I made this whimsical decoration for my beautiful little granddaughter for her one-year birthday party at a park. The banners, including the one with her name, was made using Sizzix dies.

After, I brought this home to keep in my yard for a while.

Cosmetic Bags with Travel Tissue Holders

I made these small bags with travel tissue holders for the sweet ladies that sit and visit with one another at a local "Y" where I take a yoga class. They always have at the table something good to eat. So these are a token of my appreciation--as well as hoping that they will continue to bring in those delicious sweets! 

Beautiful Burp Cloths

Our youngest daughter just had a beautiful baby girl! She is about four weeks old. So now that makes our forth and final grandbaby--two boys and two girls. "The kitchen is now closed." Our two daughters now each have a boy and a girl respectively.

 Here are burp cloths I made for the newest little grand baby girl. These are made of cotton (front), with flannel (back). This is the first time that I am using flannel instead of the Gerber pre-folded diapers. Flannel is much softer and lighter.