Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Welcome 2011!

Sorry...I know I am ELEVEN days into 2011, but I've been trying to keep my resolution to keep my house cleaner and more organized!! I know, I know...it is my resolution EVERY year!! But you know how it goes..."if you don't first succeed, try, try again!!" I am trying!! I've got my Christmas stuff down and put away...YAY!! I also spent a WHOLE day going through my THREE children's closets!! I was tired of tripping over BAGS and containers FULL of clothes that needed to be sorted and put in the attic! It was giving them an excuse to NOT keep the room clean! And this is a 20x20 foot room ya'll!!! Now I just need to go through all of the toys and throw out the broken ones!!! And you know how I HATE to throw stuff out!! :)

So anyway...I promised to be back with the gifts I made for some adults in my family...so without further ado....for my Momma:



I did all of the mouse ears on my monogramming machine, then sewed them onto the tee shirt. I wanted them to be BIG and DRAMATIC! What do you think?




And one for my lil' sister...


My daddy is not going to Disney World with us! :( We will get you off the porch ONE DAY, daddy!! xo



I had a hard time trying to think of something for my daddy!! But then I thought...PEPPERS!! He LOVES hot stuff! He grows his own peppers and makes his own hot sauce...that's some dedication ya'll!! :)


Did ya notice the pocket? Can't have a tee shirt withOUT a pocket!! HA!

Ok...so the last gift has been about 2 years in the making!!! Not because it is sooooo hard, or BIG even...but because I am the WORSE procrastinator in the WHOLE world!!!

My momma's sister was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. When I found out, I knew immediately that I wanted to make something for her. She lives in Texas, so we couldn't be with her during all of her Chemo and then Radiation Therapy. My idea was to make something she could have with her that would give her the feeling that we were all there "wrapping" our love around her! I know, sweet right? The problem is that I just didn't get it done!! She only has one child..but that child gave her three really great grandkids!! But because my Aunt is soooo full of love, she has always thought of my siblings and me as her own...just like my mom does my cousin...so of course our children are her extended grandchildren!! Makes sense, right?

She is Nana to all of the children!!

I did the big kids' hand prints with fabric paint on cotton jersey fabric. The little ones got their foot done! :) I started this when my brother's daughter was 2 months old!! She will be 3 in July!! I do have a little bit of defense for why it took some time...my cousin was pregnant with her oops third child at the time...so I needed to wait until after she was born so I could include her. Also, my family lives about 2 hours from me...not an ideal way to get everything I need! :)
The backing is a really soft cotton jersey fabric with a black damask-like print!! LOVE IT!
So I FINALLY finished it and gave it too her for Christmas!! Of course, she cried...which had us all tearing up!! She has been in remission for over a year now...we are blessed!!
I want to thank the generous givers at Sew Forum for the embroidery designs I used! I LOVE the little pink ribbon bird! I still haven't ventured into actual "quilting"...maybe this will be the year! Because of all of the super soft jersey I used, I wanted this quilt to be more like a fluffy comforter! It is smaller than what I originally intended...hey I had to cut corners to get it done!!! HA! Obviously 2+ years was not enough time!! ;)
Well...that is all for now! I have done a lot of sewing the last couple of weeks, and my SMS giveaway winner received her package...after a failed attempt..UGH!! So I will be back soon with more! Ms. Priss got an American Girl doll for Christmas...that should tell you what I've been sewing...I am REFUSING to spend $30 on DOLL CLOTHES...sheesh!! I know I will give in and look for sales because when you buy outfits, they also send charms that go on her necklace...I can't make those! :P So if any of you know of any AG doll clothes tutorials out there...send me an email and LINK!!! Until later...

7 comments:

urban craft said...

Lauranie, you are a crafting maniac! Look at all the wonderful stuff you make. You put me to shame. And $30 for doll clothes? I wouldn't even pay $5 not with skills like yours.

Lisa said...

Miss Procrastinator: Love the quilt! Gorgeous and full of love! :) The Mickey Heads...the best yet! What is the count down at? Wish I could go with, but I can't wait to hear all about your adventure! :)

Erika Mulvenna said...

That quilt is such a wonderful gift! And look at all the great stuff you are stitching up! Have you found the free sewing patterns and projects at www.WeAllSew.com yet? I think you'll find lots of stuff to keep you stitching!

Allie said...

You go girl - keep on trying, look at you, you've got your Christmas put away! My tree is looking so forlorn with half its ornaments gone.

Your shirts are awesome - what a great, great gift idea! And the quilt is wonderful too, a beautiful creation. So very glad to hear she's in remission, hon!

One of the big pattern companies has AG dolls clothes patterns, get them when they're .99 at Joanne's. There's a few names on sale right now. I don't even pay $30 for an outfit for me!

April said...

Hey girl! I was just thinking about you the other day saying I have to go check her out! I love the quilt! I just started looking for ideas to make a quilt for my great grandmother for her birthday and this is so perfect! Did you you come enter the giveaway I have going on? Cowgirl Heaven is giving away a $60 gift card! And I have another giveaway coming up at my Sew Crafty Saturday Party this weekend!

Bea said...

Yeah, you finished the quilt! I am so proud of you. It came out beautifully.
How much longer until Disney? Good thing, you are making all these matching shirts. You will never lose sight of each other!

Shari said...

Your Mickey ear shirts are very cute. We're big Disney fans around here.

Congratulations on finishing your quilt. What a very special gift. I can relate since I'm currently trying to finish my first quilt (which I bought the fabric for more than 3 years ago).

I have doll crafts and some patterns posted on my blog.
www.centralnjemilyroseathome.blogspot.com