I don't do monsters

I participated in this monster swap.. I am not one to make monsters. i thought it would be fun to go a bit beyond the normal around here. It is hard to make a monster girls! I have been  taught that this is not my area of expertise. i need some practice apparently, but not sure if that will be happening in the near future.    This is the little guy that i sent and i am waiting for my little one to show up. Here is a picture gallery of all the lovely  monstery monsters.

He wears his heart on his sleeve and has a crow as a companion. The one eyed cyclopse with a smile...i really can't make them mean looking! funny.

Tangled Floss

I have a few strands of embroidery floss for stitching- the thicker kind..that just don't stay straight.  Don't you hate it when you pull on the end and it all tangles up?

You have the same issue? I could roll them onto the paper or plastic cards, but to tell you the truth i think they are all used up, or they are hiding from me. Any whosies...I saw the little pile of wood spools and thought. why don't i just load them onto the spool?

All nice and tidy like....go on give it a try or a roll, or a wrap. Whatever you would like.

What -you ask am i doing with that embroidery floss?

This of course is part of the Secret......ah. man girls- i am mean......like a monster----arrr.

Counting the Stitches

Here is a little do-dad heart ornament i finished up! It is all wool and Angie shared the pattern with the quilt group 2 weeks ago....i know, it took me all this time to get that little thing finished!

Until the Christmas Tree is set up it will just have to wait patiently while hanging from the cupboard in the living room.  Love it though...thanks for sharing!

And, just becuase  I need something else to do---no really i do. I really don't mind counting stitches.  I have always been a X-stitcher and normal stitcher and crocheter and whatever sewer of the number sort. I like that kind of thing...kind of like counting the stairs when i go up or down {shhhhh, don't tell}.  So this is kind of a mind relaxer......yes. mmmmmm....why? why? do i need a brain relax?  BECAUSE---

I have sat too long at the computer--It is not my fault though! It is that wonderful surprise that i am trying not to spill coming the week after Thanksgiving.  But, i swear my brain is going to BURST!!!!

I got this great pattern and a few others becuase I traded a few things with Hollandesigns.  Girls, if you want anything in the slipper arena or even the fingerless glove thing you go there! She has some great patterns. For CROCHET too!!! yea!! everyone is a knitter {but me} so finding a liker of the crochet with wonderfully cute and so far easy patterns was such a treat!

Now, my little toesies will be kept warm while sitting at the computer..........

pst--tonight is quilt night. bingo game with prizes...hope i win a few goodies!

Scrappy Needle Keeper Tutorial

In keeping with the tradition and the need to play along with others, I couldn't pass up doing a tutorial for Sew Mama Sew They are having a Stash Busting Tutorial Month!!! lot's of goodies over there....as always.

After thinking and thinking----i came up with a needle case. These are so handy girls. They are relitively quick and perfect for putting in stockings, presents, or just plain'ol send them along with other goodies kind of thing.  Let's get started shall we?

SCRAPPY NEEDLE KEEPER TUTORIAL

Go through your sewing trash. Mine is a box that somehow fills up quickly...does yours? don't mind the wrappers and other goods....just the fabric scraps. that is all we need.

Grab yourself a handful and sort them just a bit. Luckily i was working on a project so there was a bunch of co-ordinating scraps. yay!

For this needle keeper you need a base or foundation fabric. Mine is a piece of white sheet. Use muslin or whatever scrap you've got hanging around. You need something light and no or little pattern.

Cut this piece 6" X 8 1/2"

Grab one of the scraps and lay it in the center---Right Sides UP!!

Place another scrap across the first one- right sides together and stitch 1/4" along the cut edge. Flip back and iron. Notice how mine is short just a bit on the bottom. No biggie.

See that little left out spot? It is going to get some covering. Lay the next piece right sides together and sew along that edge.

Fold back and iron.

This next piece I am going to take the full width, making sure it is moved far enough on the fabrics that it covers and doesn't leave anything left out. Cover up that salvage notes, unless you are using that as your design. man- why didn't i think of that?

See? After you sew it- and turn it- and iron it- It looks great! On to the next piece.
Continue laying them down and working out the edge of the one side.  Don't worry about those extra long pieces hanging off the edge. They will all get trimmed later.
Now that you have one side finished, go to the other side and continue with the same process.

If you run into a piece that has no nice straight sides- cut it!

You will end up with this real wonky, crazy, pieced thing that has unruly sides! isn't it lovely?

Turn this with all the right sides down. Now that you can see the correct shape-- trim it.

Ah, so much better :)

Now, cute it up.

Run it through the sewing machine. Stitch along both side of the seam. I used my foot as the guide and tried to be consistant. whatever.

Finished.

In the center of the rectangle edge you need to pin the button loop. I am using a 1/4" wide X 3" long bias tape- pre made.
Now you need a piece for the inside of the needle keeper. Girls, i kept using the scraps and made a scrappy inside. Cut it to 6" X 8 1/2"

Lay the inside right sides together with the outside finished cute piece.

Stitch all the way around the outside edge. 1/4" seam. Leave a 2" opening for turning of course.

Trim the corners, and then turn it right sides out.  Push those corners out nice like and iron that baby flat!

Because of the inside foundation piece you are sewing to, there isn't any need for batting. It keeps it's shape real nice like.

Coax that turning hole inside nice and then iron that flat. Sew all the way around the outside edge 1/8". Go slow it is a bit thick--but this will secure that button loop and close that turning hole.

oh. we're getting there!

Fold in half and iron. This will make a marking crease for lining up the inside felt.
Cut the felt page to 6 1/2" X 4 1/2"
Center the pages and Pin in place. Sew a straight line from the top to the bottom. If you need to make a pencil line to follow- do it. See mine?

Now all you need is a cute button!!!!  Fold the needle keeper in half and pull that button loop over. Take a pencil and mark right where it is.

Hand stitch your button on--only catching the top layers. You don't want those threads to show on the back...or if you do--machine stitch that baby down!

Girls---that is soooo K -U T E!

Outside

Inside

Side-side

More Scrap Buster Ideas

And,Don't forget to play along---

Guess the number of salvage rolls.....