T-Shirts for Christmas

These t-shirts probably won't be the most exciting thing under the tree, but Lucy has been wanting a peace sign shirt for awhile and she loves anything with a dachshund on it, so hopefully they won't be a complete disappointment. 

 Usually, I use Wonder-Under or Heat 'n Bond to do appliques.  Those products work well and make appliqueing really simple, but sometimes they can be kind of stiff.  So, this time, I experimented.  On the peace sign, I only used a glue stick.  On the dog, I used an iron on silky stabilizer on the wrong side of the t-shirt.  I got a few wrinkles with both methods, but I think they worked as alternatives to iron on appliqueing.

Lucy's Latest

I may be biased because I am her mother, but when I find Lucy's little drawings around the house I am amazed at what she comes up with.  

I think this is pretty fabulous for eight-years old.

Trick or Treat Bags

One grandson asked for a trick or treat bag for Christmas! So while the Halloween fabric clearances were still hot, I took orders from other grandchildren who missed out on the first wave of bags I made several years ago. I made two bags from half a yard, plus extra for the handles. Several bags were already delivered at time of photo. One is for a baby yet to be born.

Hawaiian Christmas

Hoping to warm up the heart of one grand daughter this Christmas with my version of the newest American Girl doll, a contemporary girl from Hawaii.

Using doll clothes patterns I already had as a guide for size, I fashioned a kimono top sun dress accented with a ruffle and fabric flower. There is a velcro closure in the back. I cut up an old beach towel to make a doll size towel. The big beach bag has a layer of stiff interfacing in between the fabric and lining. Bias tape is stitched closed for the handles.

It was hard to find spring blooms even in fake flowers at the craft stores, but I cut up a couple of bunches I did find and sewed them into a lei.
I found the octopus (stress ball) and ice cream cone (lip gloss) at Michael's. The shells are from the Washington coast!
Aloha!

12 Squared: November Square

Paper piecing was the method of the month.  Shari picked a Tokyo Sun pattern.  It may have been my current slightly over-whelmed state of mind, but I had a hard time figuring this out!  Thankfully, my mother-in-law is an expert quilter and paper piecing aficionado... and I live in her backyard, so it was convenient to ask for her help.  

But, I like how this turned out (minus the mistakes).  It kind of reminds me of the sun in The Very Hungry Caterpillar.