Starfish Alley

Category: handmade (Page 8 of 14)

Making Magnets

January 20, 2012 /

One of my nieces made me magnets for Christmas.  Now I’ve wanted these magnets for several years and in the yearly gift exchange I have gotten these several times only to have them stolen picked by another. Sometimes exchanges like that can be fun but sometimes oh so frustrating! When we were talking afterwards one of my daughters said she would like to learn to make them. In the discussion that followed I must have listened because when I needed a craft for many people I knew just what I was going to do.

She used flat marbles, the kind that are used in flower decorating, Modge Podge, a graphic of some kind and a magnet.  I made 96 magnets over several days time. I had some vintage Girl Scout fabric that was perfect for the job. I think this will be a good item to send home with our volunteers. It fits with our 100 years of Girl Scouting celebration and is something useful  A winner in my book!

 

New year and new projects

January 10, 2012 /

Just before Christmas I did welcome into my home a new toy.  I had some birthday money that has been waiting for the right time.  Now at my age I don’t often get birthday money.  It was a treat for me however as budgeting has been tight here for a couple of years due to employment issues.

During the after Thanksgiving sales Joann’s was running an ad for the AccuQuilt Go cutter and this is where my birthday money went.  It came with one cutting die and I got a second one for Christmas.  I’ve tried them both out and it’s been so fun and fast and easy.  When I was picking things up it occurred to me that I know several people who will be welcoming babies this spring.  I haven’t heard if they will be boys or girls so I started with a pink quilt knowing that sometime there would be an occasion for a pink baby quilt.  I’ve cut out the fabrics and put them on the design wall.  I think it will be fine.  I’m sure I have enough pieces of batting here to make the quilt sandwich and plenty of assorted fabrics for the back and binding.  In the spirit of my new year goal to use things up before I buy more this will be a fun project to finish.

A Kindle Envelope

January 3, 2012 /

We’ve had several Kindle devices floating around this house in the past week.  I have a Kindle with the keyboard, a daughter has a Kindle Touch and Hubby has a Kindle Fire.  Two of the three also have traveling “jackets”.  Nice if you have to tuck it in a purse or a bag.  It just feels a bit more protected.  The daughter with the Kindle Touch lives out-of-state and hers is “jacketless”  I really wanted to remedy that but due to circumstances like being sick as well as birthdays and holidays it didn’t happen when she was here.  I have thought about it however and contemplated what I should do.

Alas.. holidays to the rescue!  One thing I did receive was a new die for my AccuQuilt cutting system.  I have had the AccuQuilt for several weeks but not really had a change to use it due to the aforementioned sickness, holidays etc.  I pulled several fabrics from my stash, cut a few shapes and sat at the sewing machine.  What I decided to do with the pieced blocks was run a strip down the center of a rectangular piece, sandwich a piece of batting in the middle and then a lining piece.  I made the entire piece and then just folded it like an envelope and stitched the sides.  My thinking was that is will protect the Kindle but still be easy to remove the device and slide it back inside when it travels in a bag or pocket. The envelope does not have velcro or any closure but is stitched down at the corners so it creates a bit of a pocket in the top.  If it’s easy to use, it probably will get used.  I’m never sure when I make things for other people if they will find the item useful but I get great pleasure from it and that is satisfying in itself.

Old fashioned

January 2, 2012 /

When I was growing up I was fortunate to have my Great Grandmother move from Minnesota to live nearby with my Grandmother.  She immigrated from Norway when she was young and learned all sorts of handcrafting skills.  I have several things that she made me and I cherish them all.  One of my favorites are these crocheted Christmas snowflakes.  I have 18 of them and every year we put them on the family tree.  I didn’t realize how much my mother enjoyed them until I got married and they came to live at my house and adorn my Christmas tree.  Oh, she really wanted to keep them but did send them to me when I asked.  Part of the ritual of the snowflakes did have my husband befuddled however the year that he decided to store different objects in the snowflake box.  I went to get them out the following year to put them on the tree and they were missing.  Oh, I was upset!  He didn’t know what he had done with them.  I’m not sure why he put them away that year and not me.  Trust me, now the snowflakes always go in the little red box and I eagerly anticipate putting them on the tree.

After Christmas

December 28, 2011 /

I’ve made it through Christmas.  Tomorrow is Aaron’s birthday so dinner again but I love to have the kids around and don’t mind cooking if they will come and visit for a while.

Part of the bigger family Christmas celebration this year was a handmade gift exchange.  We each had the name of a family member. The only guideline was something you made.  I enjoyed seeing what everyone created for their giftee.  I had Kim’s name.  The item that I had planned on making didn’t happen.  I ran out of time when my mother became ill and ended up with a 5 day hospital stay from the 15th to the 20th.  I had finished most of the other projects and knew that I would have plenty of time to create this gift.  I’m not going to mention what the gift is. She will probably get this for another occasion because now I have the pattern and all the supplies. My second idea came together quickly.  Kim is a knitter and last fall I traded a friend some market bags for yarn that she had spun into a beautiful skein just right for knitting.  I passed this on to Kim with a bag that I made for her to carry her knitting in.  It’s easy to tuck in a bag or a suitcase.  I had also included a little pair of scissors.  After the gift opening, I told her that I almost put a ribbon on the scissors and attached it to the bag so they would not be so easily misplaced.  She said that she would love that.  I ended up opening the side of the bag and attaching a D ring.  This D ring is now hard at work holding a clip that has the scissors, a tape measure and a needle book attached.  They are all long enough to leave attached to the bag and still be used but the clip can also be unhooked and the tools used.  It’s big enough that it will be noticed if the bundle is set down and yet small and light enough to easily live in the bag until they are needed.

 

 

Sleep tight

December 26, 2011 /

Another fun project that I did was pillow cases.  Joann Fabrics had their flannel on sale for $1.49 a yard after Thanksgiving.  I’ve always loved flannel.  I’ve made pajama pants many times but this year I decided to make pillow cases.  They’re fast and easy and I think the kids will love them.  So soft!

Little houses

December 25, 2011 /

My Slice die cutter has been fun to use.  It will cut the objects in incremental sizes from 2″ to 4″. It will also cut them so you can create a shadow effect, a detailed layer on top of the base and a mirror image.  After thinking about it I decided it would be fun to see if I could create ornaments.  I was successful without too much trial and error.  I put Wonder Under on the back of all the fabric before I cut it out. This made it easy to layer, use a thin layer of batting and a hanging ribbon and well as having a mirror image back. This was so successful and so much fun I’m thinking of all sorts of other shapes or things I can make.  I also turned the little houses over and dated them and put names on them.  More fun times.

Christmas is coming

December 24, 2011 /

I always have fun thinking of things I can make for family and friends.  This year was no different.  I’ve tried many different kinds of projects this year as well as variations on projects I have done in the past and also tried some new things.  My bridge friends this year got a smattering of several different things.  I made smaller market bags, appliqued towels and ornaments.  I had a great time.  The bags were made from oilcloth which is one of my favorites to work with. The towels I used my Slice machine and mostly blanket stitch rather than a satin stitch and the ornaments were also made with my Slice machine and Wonder Under.

Reaching the finish line

December 23, 2011 /

Even though it is past bedtime I’m sitting in my recliner admiring the lights on the tree and reflecting on the day.  So often this time of year is so hectic that I don’t feel like I have time to enjoy the traditions and the magic of the season.  Each year is different and as the children grow older every season continues to evolve.  Some years there have been boyfriends and girlfriends, some years just family.  The future I also hope will include grandchildren but for now I’m enjoying my older adult children. What a blessing that is. So often family are not able to connect as adults due to jobs, spouses and other commitments.  I’m reminded to cherish each day and each moment with my family and friends.

The past week I’ve had several wonderful visits with friends.  Last Friday I was able to spend time with my dear friend Sarah.  She and her husband have had health issues this past year and it was good to visit with her and hear that they are both feeling better. I also had a visit from my good friend Peggy.  We worked together for a number of years and we had the pleasure of meeting when our boys were in preschool. Last night I hosted Christmas bridge at my house and feel blessed to be able to count Jennifer, Fran and Lucinda as friends. We’ve all shared joyous times and hard times.  These friends all listen and don’t make judgements.  What a rich world of friendship all these people have created for me.

There also has been some gifting this week.  The first gifts were Peggy’s creations.  She brought me a wreath made from beach shells.  It’s a gorgeous wreath and tomorrow it will be hanging on the wall of wreaths.  For now the picture of it on my cutting table will have to suffice.  She also brought me a piece of yard art that she has created out of thrifted dishes.  It is so cute!  I don’t have a picture of that one yet but will take a picture and post in the next day or two.  This lady is so creative and really has an artist’s eye for placement and color.  I’m envious of the gift she has for such creativity and feel fortunate when she brings me these lovely creations. Thanks Peggy. I love them both!

Slicing..

December 20, 2011 /

I’ve been working some on finishing Christmas gifts but haven’t had as much time because my mother has been in the hospital for five days.  Thank goodness she has been able to return to her home with some extra care giving and I’m going to try to catch up on work and get ready for Christmas.

Tonight I’m working on another project made with my Slice Fabrique which is a die cutting machine.  I’ve finally realized that the biggest key is having enough tackiness on the cutting mat so the fabric is very secure.  These are going to be very cute and I’ll post some more pictures as I finish them and they are gifted.

 

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