Individualized Placemats and Coasters

February is Fat Quarter Month at Sew Mama Sew. So many people have submitted so many cute and easy projects that utilize fat quarters or fabric scraps. Check out the big list they have. I have marked quite a few for later use and added some to my Honey Do List.

And I have already realized a couple of the ideas; like this purse and now some individualized placemats and coasters for my kids: Hockey-theme for Yanic, because that's his life and a pink cupcake-theme for Anika and Kordula, well, because they are just as cute as cupcakes.

All three of them were very surprised and excited to see their sets on the breakfast table this morning.

I followed this great easy tutorial by Wink Designs.

The top fabrics are all cotton (except the UofM fabric is flannel) and for the back I used a simple creme colored muslin. I prewashed all of them, as muslin has a pretty high shrink factor.

The coasters are made from two 5 inch square fabric pieces and batting.

Springtime in Paris (I wish...)

... but dreaming is allowed.

I just wanted to show off the new purse I made for myself. I came up with my own pattern this time.

Maybe, I should switch to designing purses instead of making toys and clothing for children... Hee, hee. Might be a smart move, if the CPSIA goes into effect as planned...

The size of this purse is much more suitable for daily use (remember the Amy Butler bag from a few weeks ago). At least for me: It's about 13 inches wide, 9 inches high and 3 inches deep. I added four interior pockets and a magnetic closure (I love those!).

I can't believe that not too long ago I was a complete Anti-Purse-Person (I used to have a laptop bag only and stuff my wallet, etc. into my coat pockets), and now I already made my second one. I think I will even make another one, tweaking my pattern a bit (Increasing the fold in the center a bit, and removing it from the lining completely. Right now outside and lining are cut the same way. And, possibly making it not as wide. I also think the interior pockets should not be as deep.).

The Hockeyplayer's Bed

Some of you may remember how excited I was about making and giving one particular gift this past Christmas: New Bedsheets for my son. He is and has been a Hockey Fan and Player basically since he could walk. Even one of his first words was "ockee". His entire room is decorated with pucks and hockey posters and paraphenalia. All that was missing was the right bedding.

I bought a couple of different cotton fabrics with hockey player and equipment prints and a University of Michigan Flannel. Out of those I made pillow covers and a comforter cover.

In our house Santa brings the gifts on Christmas Eve. While John and Yanic where at church that afternoon I changed Yanic's bed. So, he did not find the covers under the Christmas tree, but had an added surprise by the time he had to go to bed. He was majorly EXCITED!!! A job well done, Santa!

It's a hoot ! ! !

This was such a fun project.
I first stumbled across the idea through a link on Nerida's Blog. I followed the general idea of the tutorial from Moonstitches but drew my own pattern and used different materials; linnen and felt. Instead of stamping the letters on each owl I applied them with 3D paint. I love the result and the girls do too. I think next will be a "Happy Birthday" banner.

I hang the banners above their cribs using yummy Cupcake push pins (Dollar deal at Joann this month).

Ooooh, just two more months until the girls' second birthday, and still so much to sew: Birthday crowns, outfits (how about some cupcake dresses...?!), birthday banner, baby doll pillows and blankets for the doll cribs they will get....

Cute little dresses

First of all I just want to say ...I LOVE SEWING DRESSES FOR MY GIRLS....

It is so rewarding: they don't complain, they don't have a brandname mindset yet and they typically look cute in them.


Just before Christmas I made a set of matching T-shirt dresses off my Honey-Do-List following this easy tutorial from The Long Thread. I added a little birdie applique on the bottom on oposite sides. I did not cut the bottom of the shirt, but used the full length instead.


Unfortunately, the girls wouldn't stand still for "proper" pictures. So these are all I can present to you. They wore them on Christmas Day for our family gathering at John's parent's house.






I think I will make many more of this style for summer using short sleeve shirts and tank tops.

A new purse for me

After much back and forth on which pattern, style and design to use I decided to try the Amy Butler Birdie Sling pattern.

I have to say, it is a really easy to understand pattern and works up very nicely (if you actually read all instructions and follow them at the same time...). I tried to wing it a couple of times, but just ended up opening seams afterwards. However, no matter what you do, this is not a one-evening-project. Just cutting all the fabric and interfacing pieces took me two hours. The actual sewing of the bag took about 4 hours. The only modification to the original is, I added a magnetic closure.

To be honest, the bag is quite a bit bigger than what I expected (14.5 inches high, 6 inches deep and about 20 inches side seam to side seam). In fact, for my taste it is too big for every day use as a purse. So, I will be making another purse for myself. A smaller one, of course. Maybe, I will even come up with my own pattern. We will see.

For right now, here are a couple of pictures.

Can one be too organized? - I don't think so...

In an attempt to be more organized this year, I started with cleaning out my purse... I almost think I took it too far. But, only time will tell if I will keep really using all these little pouches and holders in the future.

So, I made two zipper pouches. One of them has an interior pocket. I made a holder for all-my-cards-that-are-not-credit cards, a business card holder, a coin purse and a purse organizer.

For the pouches and coin purse I followed this easy tutorial. For the card holders I used and modified this one from Christys Creations. And for the organizer I followed this easy pattern from The Givingflower.

Winding down after Christmas

Christmas went W.A.Y. too fast this year. It seems like I just started getting everything ready. Then Christmas Day came and went.

To wind down from all the hectic I sat down to whip up one of these zipper pouches this afternoon. It literally took me less then 45 minutes. And with some practice I think it will be even less. This one will be for myself. I just love this butterfly fabric. I had been eyeing it for about 3 months now, thinking I could make some skirts or dresses for my girls. But now I think it's just perfect for this pouch.
I will be making more tonight with some really cool brocade I just bought. A couple of Ladies will be getting them as gifts soon.

Honey-Do-List Update

It is long overdue that I post some pictures of the things I was recently able to check off my big list of things I would like to make.

Earlier, I wasn't able to hint on what I was making for John:

Well, it was a tea bag wallet. I followed the tutorial that I found here. It was super easy and quick. And John, who for the past four years or so has been an avid tea-drinker, liked it. At least this is what he said, when Nikolaus left it in his boots.

Then, I did finish my neckwarmer a while ago and was trying to finish matching mittens before posting pictures. But, I think the mittens will have to wait until next winter. One is finished, but I just cannot bring myself to start working on the second one. However, here are a couple of pics of the cowl. Rember, this was the inspirational piece...?! As you can see, the only thing both have in common is the color and the fact that they are not knitted in rounds but rather like a regular scarf with both ends joined (mine with giant buttons the other by sewing the two ends together). But, I like mine none the less.

I can't wait to give all the Christmas gifts I have made this year. Then I will be able to post pictures of Yanic's new bed sheets and some things I made for my mother in law.

Our lovely tree

It feels like this year I am missing an entire week in getting ready for Christmas. We are a week late with getting the Christmas tree, we have yet to decorate the outside of our house, I still have not sent a single Christmas card and no packages have been sent to Germany yet.

However, the tree is up. We went to our local tree farm again and picked the perfect specimen. Yanic had a lot of fun helping me decorate it while John was sleeping on the couch. And Anika and Kordula are just amazed by all the colors and lights.
We also got around in making our annual ornaments, that the kids give away to family for Christmas. We were making these which I had on my Honey-Do-List (one more thing crossed off) It turned out to be really messy. I am happy I used washable markers, so the obligatory bath afterwards was a breeze...

Also, Anika and Kordula decided this weekend to be big girls and eat a few meals at our kitchen table instead of in their high chairs. I guess it is time to switch to booster seats soon.

Dieses Jahr fehlt mir irgendwie eine ganze Woche, um mich auf Weihnachten vorzubereiten: wir haben unseren Baum erst mit einer Woche Verspaetung geholt, ich habe noch keine einzige Weihnachtskarte verschickt, unser Haus ist draussen bisher nicht dekoriert und keines der Weihnachtspaeckchen ist bisher auf dem Weg.

Aber, der Baum steht jetzt. Yanic hatte viel Spass mir dabei zu helfen, waehrend John auf der Couch geschnarcht hat. Und wir haben den Baumschmuck fertig gemacht, den die Kids jedes Jahr als Geschenke vergeben. Es war eine ziemliche Sauerei. Aber zum Glueck habe ich abwaschbare Stifte gehabt, sodass das Bad hinterher ratzfatz ging.

Anika und Kordula haben sich dieses Wochenende auch eingebildet, schon ganz gross zu sein, und wollten am Tisch essen. Ws wird wohl langsam Zeit, die Hochstuehle in Booster umzutauschen.

Working down the list and adding to it

I just found this great tutorial and HAVE to add it to my Honey-Do-List. And I already know what kind of fabric I will use! One of the lovely Matryoshka or Fairy Tale fabrics. Aren't they cute?!

I can't wait to get down my list far enough, in order to start making these dresses for the girls.

By the way, the stocking stuffer for John is done. Here is a non-disclosing picture. All I can say it's black and green and has a button. Oh, and the sewing lines are straight, although it doesn't look like it in the pic...

Also, I started AND (!) finished Yanic's new Hockey/U of M bedding yesterday. I am so excited, because I know he will be super excited when he sees it on Christmas Eve. I will post some pics soon.

I am also done with my cowl. It looks different from the inspirational piece, but I still like it. And I decided to make matching mittens. So, once I am done with everything I will post some pictures.

Tackeling the big Honey-Do-List

I am starting to work down my list. I finished the Christmas Cards this morning, while Anika and Kordula were playing nicely with each other for close to an hour without fighting once or coming to ask me for anything... Here they are, all 50 of them!

I have also started to work on my cowl. I have actually started and re-started three times now. But every time it just didn't look right. So, this morning I was brave enough to face the Black-Friday-Crowds andwent to the local craft store (A+K in tow) and bought some different yarn. I hope this one will work better. The first one was a merino wool blend, now I have 100% merino wool.

My Honey-Do-List

I always see and find new projects I would like to work on. Most of the time I buy the materials, but then don't get around quick enough to work on them. So, in order to keep track of my ambitions, here is my new big list of things I would like to make, am dreaming about making or "have" to make (because I am planning on giving them as Christmas gifts):

• New bedding for Yanic made from hockey and U of Michigan themed fabrics. DONE!!!


• Some of these house ornaments.


• More of these birds.


• Kitchen towels like here on the Sew Mama Sew blog site and owl coasters.


• Christmas Cards (Yep, I will be handmaking them this year...). DONE!!!


• Tutus for my nieces. DONE!!!


• Jute storage baskets for Yanic's Bakugans, Pokemon cards and other miscellanous "treasures". Similar to what RedBerryCrochet has in her store. !!! CHECK! MADE THREE LAST NIGHT!!!


• Duck cushions like in this Burda pattern for Anika and Kordula (but without buying the actual pattern ;-)).


• A neckwarmer like this for myself. DONE!!!
• Stocking stuffer for John (Can't put a link or picture here, because he is reading my blog...). DONE!!!
• A bag for myself. Or maybe rather this one?! Or better this one? And this needs to come with it. DONE ! ! ! 1/4/09 Just found this cute Fat Quarter Purse Tutorial !!!
• These lovely dresses for A+K. They may end up being summer dresses, by the time I get down to this point on the list. D O N E ! ! ! 12/20/08
• These cute ornaments to attach to gifts this year. DONE!!!
• Ice Cream Cones as toys for A+K
• A Beanie like this for Yanic
• Labels
• Felt letters for A+K+Y and nephews, nieces...
• and doesn't this sound yummy?!
• would love to make a few zipper pouches as well. Here is another tutorial, and here a more complex one. DONE !!!
• and, oh my gosh, do I have to make one of these owl garlands!!! DONE !!! 1/10/09
• maybe some new owl ornaments
• Birthday Crowns for A+K DONE !!! 1/17/09
• a pair of shoes for my soon to be born niece/nephew
• possibly some cool skimasks for the kids for next winter
• patchwork scarfs as gifts for next Christmas
• and I think a few pair of these elf slippers would be so cute maya*made: elf slippers: a tutorial
• Pool Robes for the kids for our next Florida vacation
• possibly these patchwork placematts and napkins
• cool summer shirts for the girls
• in the future for sure homemade greeting cards using paper napkins
• these super cute clips using cut outs of cupcakes
• fabric storage baskets
• projects using chalkboard fabric