mooshkette

One of the things I hear a lot after giving someone a baby quilt is that they use them as play mats. So it occurred to me that perhaps I should make a few with the play mat intention driving the process. So, i've made two - one is a patchwork of Anna Maria Horner fabrics, including my favorite "Drawing Room" line.The home decorating weight - more like a cotton duck weight - makes the playmat extra durable for floor duty. The quilting was done by one of my favorite quilters, Shelly in Oklahoma. She did a lovely hibiscus motif on the border and big swirls on the patchwork section. 

I'm on a roll again with the Amy Butler Cami. This pattern is one of my favorites. It's relatively easy to sew and it's very flattering. I've made a number of them and at the moment, I'm going to make a few so that I capture the momentum behind that sweetheart neckline. You can buy the pattern online here.

The pattern is great but the neckline is a pain in the neck. hah. sorry, couldn't resist. All in all, it's a pattern well worth buying and making, at least one if not three or more.

My desk awaits. Tomorrow is another Monday. a new year, a new month, a new week. This photo of a little tableau at my desk represents the only organized section - the rest is a nightmare of paper, files and books.

My goal is to create something every day - my job requires creativity of a different kind altogether - but I'm talking about the tangible, hold it in your hands, object type of creation. Granted, I may not finish something everyday, but the end product isn't really the reward of the creative process anyway.

The last gifts I need to make are men's ties for my stylish boy-friends. Lucky for me, they all like more adventurous patterns and shun the traditional. So, here is my tie out of Liberty of London fabric. The fabric is whimsical and colorful. Hey, not every guy wants to wear pink, but most of the ones I know will!

There's a nifty tutorial for the tie at the Purl Bee and, you will need to buy the Tana Lawn fabric from Purl Soho. You can search around the web for other cotton lawn that is less expensive and very nice. I found some options for around $18/yard which is $20 / yard less than Liberty's Tana Lawn.

The tutorial is easy to follow but it's not an "instant" pattern. It has a fair amount of handwork and requires care in cutting and stitching. Beginner? probably not if you ask me but it's not exactly hard - just tedious.

I will be making more of these - I'm on the home stretch - only 3 more gifts I have to make before next week.

I love Valentines. I am an equal opportunity Valentine giver - not reserving the sentiment for one person, but rather, sharing valentine chocolate and paper treats with all!

This year, I got a really late start on Christmas crafting so I'm really just now in the mood. Thus, I will turn my efforts to Valentines and Easter. They really are right around the corner from a crafting perspective. I have a lot to work out but these are a few of my early attempts at creating some things to share.

A simple sewn card with fabric, crystal and stamping. less is more...