How to Make a Pizza for your Quiet Book Page!

I have been working on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle page in my grandson's quiet book. I saw this fabric in the store and grabbed it! how perfect! I cut out enough "slices" to make a whole pizza (8 slices!) and then I pressed single sided iron on interfacing to the back to fuse the threads all together so there is not frayed edges or dangling threads when I cut it out.  Then...cut out the pizza but leave about 1/4 inch outer edge on it. Then.. to make it more sturdy.... I used double sided iron on interfacing (Wonder Under) and fused the pizza image to another fabric that would be the visable back of the image. In this case.. I had some white flannel..and used that. But...if you want it stiffer, fuse it to felt. If you want velcro on the back, sew the velcro to the felt FIRST, then fuse the felt to the image.  Watch the video to see how it all works!

Makes a perfect pizza!!! Use it in a kitchen setting or grocery store page or a picnic page!

Thanks for stopping by and...keep on preserving those memories! Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE This post is linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us!

Super Hero Tooth Fairy Pillow

My grand daughter turned five and is now in kindergarten. And you know what that means! Loose teeth!  I think that the tooth fairy time for kids is a special time and a fun tradition that I think should be "carried on" throughout the generations! I got a nickel under my pillow... my kids got 50 cents 2 (brand new, shiney quarters!) and  my first grand daughter (now 14) got $5 (from her parents, not me!) But  whatever the "payoff", I like to keep the memories of "old times" in the present so the kids can have their own memories for their future....sooooo ... I made her a tooth fairy pillow.

I always make things specific to the person...their likes, favorite colors and of course it has to be usable too. What does my little Emily like?  Super heros! Her favorite being Wolverine! (I just read, that the writers are going to be killing off Wolverine in the comics here shortly, she is going to be devistated!) But I still had to give her her favorite...and once he is "gone", she will have her memories! 

I started out looking for a pattern. I am NOT at ALL into super heros these days, and my searches found next to nothing about Wolverine (except for the NFL football team by the same name!) But finally someone pointed me to a site (that I have since lost..thought sure I bookmarked it!) and this is what they had.

 I downloaded it to my photo shop and enlarged it and although it is a pattern designed for quilting the image, I just took the lines I wanted, and cut the pieces to applique instead of quilting. Worked great! Black, yellow and a flesh tone for the mouth area.

  I used those colors and red for the background. I cut 12x12 red, batting and the back is black. I appliqued the face of Wolverine onto the red background. I appliqued all the pieces onto the red and then went back and put the batting on the back and did straight stitching on the edges of where I just appliqued (with a thick close zigzag) so that it would have the poofy effect and some dimension.

 

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On the back, I made a yellow pocket (for some reason my photo editor keeps messing up on this picture and won't let me save it, so I can't show it!) But it is just black, with a yellow square in the one corner for the tooth to be put in and then of course, my label.. "Made especially for you by Nanny". 

I added a yellow handle for her to hang it on her doorknob when not in use, or hang on her bed post.. and she can say hello to her beloved Wolverine, every day! When needed, it can be slipped under her pillow! Parents have it so easy these days.. back in my tooth fairy days.. we just layed the tooth on the bed under our pillow...and the parents had to hope they would find it in the dark without waking the child! I remember those days too!

I pinned the hanger to the front, sewed it wrong sides together, turned and pressed, then did another bit of straight stitch outlining just the yellow part of his head and a straight stitch all around the outside edge and FINISHED!!!

I hope she likes it.. I think she will! It is Wolverine, for heaven sake! What's not to like! I am a bit proud of myself on this one to, I have to say, as I have not done this kind of applique in YEARS!! I used to do it on everything about 25 years ago and it as my favorite thing to do, but then I stopped sewing and just picked it back up about 3 years ago. I am happy to know that I have not totally lost my applique touch! I used to be pretty darn good at it! But, a bit of practice to remember all the tricks of the trade and I'll back into shape! I have one more GD who is four and another one on the way..so they will need tooth fairy pillows too!

These are a couple of books I have heard a pretty good (and sound pretty good!) for working with applique...I think I will be getting the 101 Applique Blocks one! Although I used to just look through coloring books (now "online" coloring books!) sometimes I like looking through a real book and finding something.




Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE  This post linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us! Lots and lots of amazing talents on "display"


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

Doll Diaper Bag and Quilt

I already posted about the doll quilts I made for my grand daughters. But there's more! I got the brain storm..to make them doll diaper bags! Searched all over the place for a pattern and found this pattern.   I started with trying to find a fabric in my stash that each girl would like, but that wasn't working to well, when it suddenly hit me... I have lots of the fabric I used for the back of the quilts still available, so I took that fabric and made them each a diaper bag  to match the quilt.

 Then while working, I thought...okay, one of the girls is not a doll girl! She is a camping, football and not so dainty when it comes to anything....I didn't think she was going to like a doll  anything! So I thought, instead of calling them a doll diaper bag and doll quilt,  she can call hers a Treasure Bag and Sitting quilt...she can collect back yard "treasures" in the bag and sit on the little quilt to inspect said treasures!

 

The quilts fit perfectly in the bag so I'll tell the ones that like dolls that they can use it for that, but I will tell all three of them that it is also a "take it with you" quilt and bag and offer these suggestions:

Take it to the back yard and spread the quilt out, and take the bag and go treasure hunting in the backyard and find all kinds of cool rocks, twigs or whatever else... and have the bag to collect the items in. Then go back and sit on the quilt (so they don't get dirty!) and compare and share what each have found.

Have mom pack a little lunch  in the bag and lay the quilt out under the tree in the front yard and have a picnic

Take it with you when you have to go run errands or have to wait somewhere and put a few little toys in the bag with the quilt. 

Use the quilt as a pillow or to cover cold legs. 

Take the the bag of toys with you if you are going to a place where you have to wait (like the doctors office).

Take the quilt/bag to the beach...lay the quilt out on the sand for your "own" space and take the bag to find shells or other treasures!

Give it some thought now and if you have any little girls in your life that would enjoy these doll items..get started now and make them for a Christmas gift...or Birthday gift! And this would also be perfect for a newborn..even the diaper bag would be perfect and the quilt is just big enough for a little newborn blessing!

This is the kind of template I use to make the squares. I prefer Omnigrid as it is the easiest to see the numbers and lines than other styles I have tried.

 


Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE   This post linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us! Lots and lots of amazing talents on "display" Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories! 

Can You Say, Back Pack, Back Pack?

I haven't written on my blog for some time. Life just keeps getting in the way and it hasn't been much happiness.  I also had to give up some of my writing venues as they either closed down or just got to cumbersome to work with.  But I am always glad to have my sewing room as a haven and my talents as therapy! I look back over the last two months and think..did I do anything? And then I make a list and yeah.. I guess I did get alot done in spite of all the drama!

The biggest and funnest thing I did was make things for my 3 grand daughters ages 8,5 & 4.

I made them "superman/hero" capes. Searched all over for a pattern then just kind of "winged" it on my own... One was the comic super heros (she loves Wolverine and Hulk), one was Dora, the Explorer and the other one was Disney princess. They loved them but of course, I forgot my camera! But they have a huge backyard with trees and such so they'll be able to swoop all over the place! I lined them with poly/cotton broadcloth...good way to get rid of all that I had stashed up!

I then had the inspiration to make them back packs. I got a Simplicity pattern and was surprised at how quick I was able to whip them up! Again, one of Dora the Explorer in purple/green camo, one with dinosaurs and one with pink camoflauge. I wanted the closure to be quick and easy, yet heavy enough to hold the flap closed no matter what they stuffed inside! So I chose a large, metal washer and a heavy, metal nut from the hardware store. I made a thin strip of the matching fabric and sewed them to the back pack. I wanted them to be able to just drop the nut into the washer and go instead of ties or clips. They loved them and this time I did take pictures!

 This is Lillyanne..the 4 year old...she loves Dora!

I used purple to make the flap and appliqued images of Dora and Boots that I cut from the fabric onto the front flap. And then here is how the closure looks. Quick and easy to close, just drop the nut into the washer. The weight holds the flap closed, no matter what is in there!  

Then there is the Pink Camo...the oldest loves pink camo! I couldn't find actual camo so this is camo made with deers hidden amongst forest branches.

 
And the dinosaurs! This one is for the 5 year old...and she is just getting into her dinosaur stage so she was thrilled to have some dinos "on her back". The fabric is a dinosaur print and I made the flap a solid blue and appliqued 3 of the dinos on the flap.
 

I also use a bright poly/cotton for the lining in each of them so it isn't so dark inside when they go searching for things!

 

They all three turned out really cute and the girls loved them. I just hope the parents remember to let them take them out to play or on the road with them. I told their dad (my son) to let them store outside toys in them, then they can just take and go. Or store writing/coloring supplies in them and then when they want to color, they just take the whole pack pack to the table, color then put it all way right there. And hang them in their rooms on the door knob, a hook on the wall, the bed post, back of a chair...that way they are easy to get to and use,  yet everything is picked up and organized all the while having a cute room decoration!

This is the pattern I used, if you are interested in making one...or two...or three...how many kids do you have? Make one for each! And with Christmas coming up...this back pack will make a great Christmas gift...especially if you are a distance from the kids..the back pack is light weight and inexpensive to mail!

Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE This post linked to the Linky Party for the day. Click on the "Daily Linky Parties" tab at the top of my page and join us! Lots and lots of amazing talents on "display"


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!

Baby Quilts or Doll Quilts....quick and easy and FUN!!!!

While my PC was in the shop trying to update and later finding out it couldn't be so I had to buy a new one...

I looked forward to a week of nothing but sewing! I Didn't have anything planned, so I happened to be thinking about  my grand daughters and have been told "NO TOYS" as gifts because they have so much already that they don't play with. So I make them things they need or could actually use for a reason. My immediate thought was doll quilts! I didn't have any design ideas, but thought this would be a great way to use up scraps (since I am not a "scrappy" quilter, I have lots of scraps!) So I just took some scraps and some charms that I had no use for otherwise and literally off the cuff...came up with these three quilts. I gave them Baby Alive dolls about 2 years ago Christmas so I used that doll size and made the quilts to wrap that size doll.

And another fun thing...these quilts can also be used as (real) baby quilts! They are about 36x36 and soft, cuddly and perfect for any baby to be snuggled up in or to lay on the floor or grass at the park to play on!

Ashleigh's Doll Quilt  I had started this one about 2 years ago intending it to be a full size quilt. I was mistakenly designing from the inside out and found out that wasn't a good way to go! But, in this case, I notice that 2 of the pinwheels were not positioned as they should have been to match the rest, so I just stopped and hung the WIP in the closet as I didn't know what to do with it. So I noticed it, and just thought..for a doll quilt all I had to do was add another sashing or two and a binding and it'd be done. So that is what I did.I am sure Ashleigh didn't even notice the pinwheel issue!

For Ashleigh's quilt, I used the WIP that I had and added some borders. The first border there is a pink and white "checked". This is from s bargello quilt I had made for my daughter in pinks and this is what was left so I cut the strips and put them on the outside of the solid pink. Then another border of a pink print and another border of a solid pale pink were smaller pieces I had...not scraps, but not big enough to do much with....except to cut for borders! Binding is last and it is just a pink.  The quilt is about 36x36".

Emily's Doll Quilt 

This quilt is made up of hour glass blocks. I had bought a package of 5" charms that included these strips and plaids prints. I don't like working with lines so these didn't get used..until now. I used them with a matching solid and made hour glass blocks. The solid is  some I had ordered a long time ago, a package of 100 5"  charms. When I got them I found out they were that batik looking pattern and I don't like that!  So.. I took  the plaids and matched them with a  batik and made the hourglass blocks. I used white as the middle blocks.  The green border is large scrap piece that I could cut 2" borders from and same with the yellow. The binding is the cotton/poly fabric. Measures about 36x36

LillyAnn's Doll quilt

 First, please pardon the picture..it does look off, but I am having a hard time learning a new software program since Windows 7 doesn't accept older versions of my Microsoft Picture It software! This quilt is made using more of those batik 5" charms that I don't like! I made flying geese blocks with the charm and some yellow fabric. Then I sewed four together, in no specific order. The middle blocks are just a child's fun teddy bear print fabric I got at a thrift store last summer....5 yards for $2! At the time I didn't know what to do with it but it was brand new fabric and only $2! So since Lillyann is only 3, I thought she'd like the teddy bears. Then I used larger scraps again for the red and teal borders and pink for the binding. The back is the same teddy bear fabric

All three of these doll quilts are literally just colorful with no specifics. I just used alot of color on them with out worrying about matching much.Which is a 'first' for me as I have this tendency to make everything match!

The batting I used on all of them is just baby receiving blankets I got at the thrift store. When these have their final wash, I am sure that receiving blanket will shrink more but that will just make the quilt have that crinkled look which many like and it also helps the quilt to be softer and more "wrappable". I didn't include pictures of the backs, but I used that same teddy bear fabric for 2 of them and another teddy bear fabric that I got the same time at that thrift store, is on the other one. They all turned out pretty good if I do say so myself, and I know that I am my own worst critique! And the girls will love them!

Fun thing also, with these doll quilts...they can be used for the dolls but also for the little girl themselves! Great for a sitting mat at TV time or snack time on the floor or outside or take in the car to cover with.

So my week of waiting for the computer was totally worth the wait! And has taught me to sometimes, get off the PC and just sew!

I am sharing this post on the Wednesday Linky Party...

Want to read more at Fabric and Memories? CLICK HERE


Thanks for stopping by and...keep on sewing those memories!