Recycle ... Up-cycle ... Crochet Earring Holder

Crochet Earring Holder

In the last few years I have made several of these crocheted earring holders as gifts.

I made a couple of them this year as gifts but, I also finally made one for myself.

I love it!

I used THIS Tutorial on You-Tube

This project interested me for many reasons but mainly because it uses items that might end up in a land field once their original purpose was fulfilled.

I used scrap yarn, and picture frames I either had on hand or I purchased them at Goodwill for .99 cents. I love that I was able to make something useful out of items meant for some other use.

Picture Frame to Earring Holder

For me it is a WIN WIN!

Christmas 2019

Christmas 2019

I had the most wonderful Christmas.

I truly pray that each and all of you had one as well.

I sit here this morning considering all of my blessings and I cannot help but smile.

I am so thankful and so grateful for each and every blessing, God's love, mercies, and forgiveness.

Glad tidings, peace, and good will

from my family to yours.

I put up and decorated my tree much later this year than I normally do, that being said, I think that I have enjoyed my Christmas tree more this year than in years past. 

Precious and perfect Christmas gifts.

Christmas morning Mimosas and Cinnamon Rolls

Sewing My Stash 9

70 x 78 inches

A little Christmas morning sewing room time. 

A sweet little pink scrappy quilt.

And, some where in all of the joys of Christmas, I celebrated my 56th birthday with my beautiful baby girl.

I am so blessed and so very grateful.

Sunday Afternoon Sewing

Sunday (fun day) Afternoon Sewing

I have completed my Christmas shopping and the hustle and bustle of the season is ebbing.

It was a rainy Sunday afternoon here and I was able to be in my sewing room for a few hours of relaxation.

I was also able to get the binding on a couple of quilts.

Meadow Quilt

68 x 78 inches

Sewing My Stash 5

Blue, Teal, and Orange

78 x 78 inches

I store my quilts in my guest bedroom closet, the other side is full as well.

I have 3 Red/White quilt tops, that are waiting for borders and quilting, hanging on hangers.

Those quilts will be 2020 finishes.

Awwww, progress!

Scrap Happy

Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilts

As you all know I have been sewing my stash up into some serious

scrap happiness.

Yesterday I completed the backing for 3 of the scrap quilt tops I have completed recently.

Here is one of the backings ...

*(swoon)*

Fox and The Houndstooth 

by;

Robert Kaufman fabrics

Again ....  *(swoon)*

Champs!!!

Well, Doggone ... our rag tag bowling team, The Lucky Strikes, 

won 2nd place in the bowling Championship last night!

I came across this picture a few weeks ago and it made me smile.

I guess bowling runs in the family .... 

My Grandpa Doc (second from the left) would have been proud of me!

😎😎😎

Update - Painted Pony - Sewing My Stash 8

Sewing My Stash

I am having the best time sewing my stash.

Playing with these little stacks of fabrics

Sewing My Stash 8

Painted Pony

64 x 64 Inches

Fun little stacks

💖💖💖

Quilts and Cats

My Red/White Quilts

Quilts and Cats, when the two come together ...

It's MAGICAL!!!

Or at least it is for me ...

Cat Faces

Presently 73 x 73 inches

Due to space, or lack of space, these quilt photos are of the quilt top folded in half.

I'm presently looking for a low volume white fabric to create the border on this quilt top. I have a few on hand in my stash and I'm still deciding which one will be best for this quilt project.

There are 100, 6.5 inch blocks in this project

The pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman. 

It was a free pattern she posted on her blog years ago. When her blog was called Oh Fransson!

www.elizabethhartman.com

I made a handbag using this pattern a few years ago as well. 

So naturally, when I decided to make a Red/White quilt with a Cat theme I chose this pattern.

I won't lie ... 100, 6.5 inch blocks is a bit tedious to construct but for me, totally worth it!

I'm passionate about red/white quilts and love my cats.

I made two black/white cats faces for this quilt in honor of my kitties, Booker and Jezebel.

Sewing My Stash 8

Sewing My Stash 8

Painted Pony

I am having the best time making scrappy quilts of all sorts.

This year I decided to begin sewing my stash of beautiful fabrics.

I'm calling this one Painted Pony because of the sweet little playful ponies on the fabric I decided to build my improv log cabin blocks around. 

My fabric stash is dwindling a bit, so this scrap quilt will finish around 64 x 64 inches

The Pony fabrics are from a Moda collection I purchase so long ago I don't remember the name of it.

And, there are a few Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy prints in there as well.

I'm not overly technical ... I cut strips and chain piece them back together.

😊

There is nothing that Jezebel loves more than a pile of fabric!

We are both enjoying this stash sewing journey.

Gibby Girl Design

Gibby Girl Design

It is my hope to launch Gibby Girl Design

this weekend.

I will be posting a few of my quilts for sale here and on my Facebook and Instagram pages.

https://www.facebook.com/gibbygirldesign/

Quilt Sizes and Gibbygirldesign Pricing

        Crib/Toddler. 27″ x 36″ up to 36″ x 40″  - $65.00 / $85.00 + shipping

        Youth/Throw. 40″ x 40″ up to 50″ x 50″ - $100.00 / $150.00 + shipping

        Twin/Single. 60″ x 60″  - $200.00 + shipping

        Full/Double. 70″ x 80″  - $300.00 + shipping

        Queen. 90″ x 95″ - $350.00 + shipping

        King. 85″ x 100″ - $450.00 + shipping

        California King. 90″ x 110″ - $600.00 + shipping

Sizes (in inches) and Pricing may vary.

If you live in the Knoxville, Tennessee area I am willing to meet up for delivery.

Here is a sneak peak at a few of the quilts I will be offering

$300.00 plus shipping

SOLD

SOLD

These Two ...

These Two ...

My fur babies ...

Booker and Jezebel

Both of my fur babies are Rescues. I have absolutely nothing against pure breed pets - cats or dogs, as long as they are loved and well taken care of.

That being said, I love my rescues kitties.

Both of them came to me via 

Young Williams Animal Center

Booker in Jezebel's bed

Yes, he has a bed of his own ...

Jezebel hates to have her picture taken ...

This is what most of the pictures I have of Jezebel look like ...

moments before this picture was taken she was looking straight at me!

Booker on the other hand ... loves to have his picture taken ...

Booker

Booker

Booker

Hahaha! These two are precious to me.

They are funny and sweet and at times annoying, right under my feet ...

but I love them both so much. 

They are cuddly and comforting and they add so much to my life.

Handmade Gifts

Handmade Gifts

I have several goals in life that I try to take steps toward accomplishing daily.

One of those goals is to one day make all of the gifts that I give to my family and friends.

I'm not saying that I will not also be giving store bought gifts but I would like to at least be able to give handmade gifts when possible.

I suppose that some of it is because my ultimate goal is to have and sustain a little homestead right here on my little plot of dirt.

I want to learn how to make small batches of soaps, can jams and jellies, and to make jewelry. Along with the quilting, sewing, knitting, and crochet that I do now.

This year I am crocheting sets of coasters 

and I am presently looking for pet treat recipes as part of my "Handmade Christmas" goals.

Do you like handmade gifts?

These coasters are a simple crocheted circle and are perfect for any glass or mug on any table top.

Each set will contain 4 coasters

I will be making a few other gifts as well this year but I haven't reached my goal of being able to give handmade gifts to everyone on my list just yet.

Maybe next year but if not ...

One day for certain.

Still Passionate ... Day 15 ... My Red/White Quilts

My Red/White Quilts

I've been a bit under the weather with a terrible head cold but last night I managed to get the remaining blocks finished for my Cat Faces quilt.

I needed 100 of the 6.5 inch blocks for this quilt ...

100

Ironically enough ... 100 doesn't sound like a lot ... until you start making them! hahaha!

Again, this pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman of Elizabeth Hartman Designs 

I have had this pattern for a long time and I believe it was a free pattern from Elizabeth Hartman's blog. Back when her blog was called Oh Fransson! 

One thing about working to sew my stash is that, I'm not buying fabric, I'm using what I have in my sewing room. I have a lot of white, off white, and low volume white fabrics but not in large yardage pieces. The back ground fabric for these blocks is a generous mix of whatever "white" fabric I have. 

Which makes this red/white quilt, sort of, a scrap quilt as well.

I love that! 

There are 98 red cat faces and 2 black cat faces in this red/white quilt. In honor of my fur babies, Booker and Jezebel

Rows and rows of cute little cat faces

😻😻😻😻😻😻

I'm still working on piecing the rows of blocks and I have cut the sashing stripes and corner connecting blocks for the sashing rows. Hopefully, I will have this quilt top finished soon. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one will turn out.

Mending

Not only am I mending clothing but I am mending from 

a terrible cold.

Tis' the season I suppose.

A few days ago I decided to mend my favorite cardigan sweater instead of tossing it and searching for a new one. Why ... because I really love this comfy old sweater.

Somehow over time I ended up with holes in both of elbows.

I have never mended a sweater, truth be told I have probably never mended any clothing.

As this was my first mending attempt, I think it went pretty well.

I've learned a few things.

1. I should have used yarn the same size and weight as the yarn the sweater was originally made of.

2. I probably should have knitted a swatch and woven it in as a patch.

Instead, I chose a heavier weight of yarn in a contrasting color, I wanted to see my patches. I crocheted the patches as I went picking up the stitches at the edges of the holes to secure the patches to the sweater. On one elbow I crocheted a circular patch and on the other elbow I crocheted a larger square patch.

I love the results and I love that I have added new life to my favorite sweater. There is something very rewarding about mending an article of clothing and not just throwing it away.

Planning Ahead ...

Planning Ahead ...

Each year I crochet an Easter Basket for my daughter.

Last year I waited until the last possible moment and it was STRESSFUL!

So a few days ago, I got my colored pencils out and played around with a few 

ideas for the 2020 Easter basket.

2020 Easter Basket

It feels good to be crocheting again and I'm really glad to be getting a head start on my daughter's basket for Easter 2020.

It feels weird to say, 2020 ...

Here's a look back at all of the past Easter Baskets 💕💕

I've had a lot of fun over the years making these Easter Baskets for my daughter.

Lots of really good memories!

I don't have a pattern for any of my baskets, I just make them up as I go along.

There are tons of free crochet basket patterns and tutorials online if you are interested in crocheting an Easter Basket of your own.

Stay Tuned for the finished 2020 Easter Basket Reveal ...