Christmas Eve Lovie

Can you imagine the look in the eyes of your favorite little girl as she opens up this special Christmas Eve package? Lovie and her babies are all decked out and ready for the holidays. With a sprig of holly in her hair Lovie is ready to attend any holiday function the little girls in your life might be attending.

Perfect as a quiet toy to keep little ones amused during a long holiday church services or as a special Christmas Eve gift to help that long night pass a little quicker. Think about doing Lovie and her babies in fabrics to match that special Christmas dress or make her totally sparkle with some of this years great fabrics that are shot through with gold and silver threads! I am doing Lovie and her babies in the same fabric that I am making Christmas Pj's out of for some special little girls in my life! and I suspect she would be just charming done in velvet or very hip in deep purple suede for the teen in your life. ( hint- if you do Lovie for a teen .. pop an I-Tunes card into the baby pocket!.. it will be sure to be just what they wanted!)

Christmas Eve Lovie is at her first week introductory price for the next seven days.. after that she goes up to full price. You can find her here at my Big Cartel store.

Fresh Thoughts Thursday

Looking for a new way to merchandise embroidered socks? Try making Sushi with them! Yes.. Sushi.. Catch the wave of all things Japanese and roll your socks up into little bundles that look just like Sushi. Right now Japanese motifs and cultural icons are very hot with the teen set.. so roll up some socks and wrap them topped off with some inexpensive wooden chopsticks! This elevates what could just be " a pair of socks" into a really cute and worthy gift!

Here I have used some wool felt to wrap up these wonderful cashmere socks that I monogramed. A yummy gift indeed!

Totally simple

Need something very simple and yet also very classy? Use the Cocktails at 7 coaster template ( included with each collection) and insert a monogram of your choice. For this one I used a loose weave linen and a deep eggplant colored thread for a very sophisticated look... great for men to don't like anything to "girly".

Sew hectic!

I feel the frantic stampede of the holidays right behind me but did carve out a bit of time to do a little sewing for myself! I am really trying to get to know my new sewing machine and the only real way to do that is to get in their and mess around! So first project was a cover for my new baby. Nothing fancy but I do admit I toyed with the idea of a fully fitted cover.. but since I am trying to get projects done and not get lost in obsessive details I decided on a elastic drawstring end for the embroidery unit and a fitted end for the thread cage end. All and all it all went well and fits my baby just right and meets the need of keeping my kitties out from under the cover where they oh-so love to hide!


For the next project please forgive the wreck that is my studio.. we have just torn out the flooring ( new flooring soon as I can pick it) and are putting in new french doors and curtains... the place looks like it has just been ransacked by sewing pixies! and the photo.. well lets just say that after 5 photography is not in my talents!... but here it is... my second project on my new machine was a 3/4 length wool cape with velvet lined hood. The wool called my name one day while at the fabric store... it's coco colored with deep chocolate roses.. perfect for going out at night! I monogramed the inside of the hood and am now working on a purse to go with it!

In other "Fresh' news... oh boy people!.. I never knew that there was such a need for in-the-hoop coasters.. but I guess with the current Mad-Men style trend something retro like Cocktails at 7 is the perfect gift for a bunch of people on everybody's list!.. I am filling orders as fast as I can and I think everyone will be happy to know that my new website with instant download will be ready pretty soon!.. I know I sure will! So.. all that to say.. please be patient.. I am sending as fast as I can :)

Please Join Me for .. Cocktails at 7

Can you believe it, the holiday season is already here! I just received my first holiday party invitation of the year and that means it's time to get sewing on hostess gifts! But this year I am ready! Cocktails at 7 is the first installment in the Charmed I'm Sure, In the Hoop Coaster Collection and it's my go-to gift for the adults on my holiday lists!

With two great sizes these coasters are do-able by anybody with an embroidery machine. The Grande-size is a bit under 5x5 and makes a full sized impression with 4 iconic cocktail images quilted into the front of the coaster. The Demi-size is included for you folks who often get left behind! Sized for the 4x4 hoop these demi-coasters will be sure to steal your heart while leaving your wallet firmly in place! Using the same iconic cocktail designs as their full sized version quilting is scaled just right for these petite coasters.

Both sets are easy to run and do not require any color changes making them fast! Requiring only 2 - 5x5 fabric charms ( or bolt fabric cut to the same dimension) and 1 5x5 square of thin needle punched batting these are very economical to make at less than 50 cents a coaster! The large size stitches start to finish in about four minutes and the demi size stitches in three!

Finishing them does not take but a blink of an eye. For those who enjoy hand sewing a simple whip stitch does the job. Those "allergic" to handwork will be thrilled to know that a small dab of fabric glue will also do the job.

As always with all Fresh Thread designs we include printable gift tag files for your creations. Created in a To./ From. format these are tags that will work for both personal gift giving and for use as a product hang tag for those who will want to make the coasters for craft fair sales. Of course full instructions are included!

Sew out all four designs for a wonderful hostess gift, or do all you need in one quilted motif for your next wine club dinner or for this holiday's newest trend.. the Martini Party! All 4 designs are included in both sizes as well as a blank coaster template that will take you as far as your imagination can carry you! Hint: How about a monogram letter for a new married couple! The options are endless! You can find this collection at my Big Cartel shop... just click here!

The collection begins shipping via- email on Saturday N0vember 7th. First week introductory pricing is just $10.00!

Showing off my drawers

Did you ever guess that I am the sort that would flash her "drawers" in public?.. well I guess I am ;-) In a fit of organization I am making my way through my studio organizing it bit by bit. All the drawers are getting cleaned out and before I restock them they are each getting a nifty new drawer liner as inspiration to keep things a bit more tidy! I am using my rather mammoth collection of scrap booking paper for the job. While just a little thing.. I can't tell you how much it tickles me to open the drawers and still be surprised by the sweet or sassy print inside each one. They are all done in a different paper so it's quite fun!

What are YOU doing to make your sewing or crafting space more organized or fun to use?

Holiday Hoop-La

Well.. it's started... it's the week after Halloween and that is when I kick it up into full gear for the coming holidays. So much to do.. but also a desperate desire to make it an enjoyable time with family and friends. To that end, simple gifts are high on my embroidery list.

A quick stop in the Target Hot-Spot netted some great gifting potential! For $1 each, fingerless gloves in sizes for the young.. the fingerless style makes these super easy to embroider and to make it even easier get yourself one of Cookie's Sock Easy Embroidery Helpers I can't say enough about this item, it's not just for socks!.. and with the fingerless style of these gloves.. you can embroider in areas that were not even possible before!

In the bottom of that pile is a pot holder and mitt set.. also from the Target Hot-Spot. Ready for a monogram and perfect for a quick hostess gift!

Check back in very soon for a custom made pillow box design just perfect for little gloves and mittens of all sorts!