Christmas presents with scraps

 My Christmas stockings left me with a ton of left over fabric that was already sewn together.  I've had a Chrismtas pillow on my project list for a while.  It dawned on me that my scraps would be perfect for those pillows.  There is no time like the present to make presents!

For each 16" pillow I cut a 8 inch square white piece of fabric.  I needed more white fabric on the outside to create a diamond shape.  Two - 8 1/2 squares for the sides of the pillows and cut them once diagonally to create two large triangles.

I cut 2 inch wide pieces from my last project and framed in 8 inch piece.

 I pressed out the seems and added my other pieces of white fabric on each side.  I had 4 square pieces of fabric with a colorful border along each edge.

I sewed on the large triangles on each side of the square to reorient the fabric square in the center to create a diamond instead.

All that hard work left me with a beautiful diamond pillow top.

That is all I can get done today.  It's time to head to work.  Tomorrow I plan on using even more scraps for more pillows and other projects.  

- Bryn

An almost year in crafts

Kaleidoscopic Quilt

Citrus Coasters

I want to rework the blog again.  At the moment most people who look at my blog are family and friends.  I feel it might not be necessary to do the tutorial style posts, yet.  I'm working on getting notice in the craft community by using Pinterest and visiting other blogs.  As always, simplicity is key.

Easter Basket

Here is a look at some of my past projects.

Diamond Pillow

Button Bouquet

Princess Clock

Just one princess

Chevron Pillow

I've done quite a few different projects over time.  Working on a variety of things keeps it interesting.

Americana Quilt top

Irish Plaid quilt - my first real quilt

Halloween Cross Stitch

All 3 Thumbtack Pumpkin

Look for another redesign of my blog.  I can't quite decide what works the best for me and this blog.

My Modern Log Cabin Quilt

Lattice Hawaiian quilt top

4th of July Purse

Hawaiian Wristlet

 My next project will use the majority of the scraps from my Christmas stockings.  As always, thanks for looking and inspiring me to keep making more.  Please leave me a comment on your favorite project.

- Bryn

Making Christmas

Halloween has not even happened yet and everywhere you look there is Christmas stuff.  I have not quite the Christmas bug yet but I need to start on all my present projects

I bought a couple new Christmas fabrics while they were on sale and added them to all my stash of green and reds.

I had the fabric laid out in different patterns.

Mixed up

My usual color organization is color progression.  Dark to light of each color

Colors together

I went with the second option.  It looks much more like me.

How many other projects do I need to finish, many.  So why start something new.  Because that is what I do!
I assembled enough fabric to make 4 fronts of Christmas Stockings.  I took some brown wrapping paper and cut a general pattern for the stocking.  Not too bad for a first try.

 4 Christmas stockings for two couples.  They look nice, but they are not even close to being done!

Cutting the lining was next.  The problem about getting better at the stuff you make is having to do all the steps to make it look like it should.

Stockings with-in Stockings - so meta!

Now to add a detail.  Not sure add the toe and heel detail.  I think it might be busy enough already, so no red on the bottom.

Add red or not - that is the question

I put together the outside and the inside lining.  

My final addition was a felt top.  It's not a Christmas stocking without the white trip on top. 

After turning the felt and putting the finishing touches they are done!  Three Christmas presents and one for me!

Tomorrow is another Christmas project with many of the scraps from this project.  I have to get up at 5:30am for work so I expect not a ton of progress.  To another day!

-Bryn

Pinterest By Bryn

I have found my new favorite social networking tool.  Pinterest!

Anyone can look at your feed of items that you "pin." You can even follow the things that I like here.

 

 

I can even post the things I made and have new people find me online.

I am looking forward to sharing my stuff with the bigger online world.

Hopefully it turns into something!

-Bryn

Halloween Cross Stitch

I bought a couple more cross stitch patterns recently.  I tend to do one type of project for a while and get in a rut.  Then I move onto another type for a while and get in another rut.  Cross stitch rut here I come!

I started on a Halloween Cross Stitch a couple nights ago.  I really love Halloween and at the moment I don't have a ton of homemade items for the holiday.

 Do I tend to go overboard with my pattern buying, of course.  Do I get to them, yes eventually, well, probably.

Halfway there

While I was visiting home I finished another cross stitch.  I had a lot of issues on this one.  I was not fully paying attention while I was making it.

So Crooked!

 It's finished, even before Halloween!  Have to head to the craft store tomorrow to get a frame, add a fabric frame and it is done!

Not only did I finish one project, but I finished 3!  I made two of these for gifts and I working on a third for myself.

Wish me luck in finishing before Halloween!