Sunday, December 9, 2012

A Couple of Things

Not much sewing has been coming from my hands.  Testing, muslins, etc. but nothing that I've felt like blogging about.  I have kept up with all of your fantastic projects though.

My Designer group met at one of the member's homes for our holiday luncheon.  Lots of chatter, laughter and food, of course.  We had a gift exchange--a White Elephant, actually.  We drew numbers to determine who chose a gift first, 2nd, etc.  The first person opens a gift.  The second person can draw a gift from the pile or take an already opened gift from someone instead.  And it goes on.

We had to make a gift for the sewing room and could only spend $5.00.  Here is my gift, wrapped in pattern paper and tied with tape-measure printed ribbon.  I thought it was perfect for the occasion.


This is what I made.  It's a round box--about the diameter of a salad plate that I've had for years.  It came with a bottle of perfume in it.  I covered the top with black velveteen, made a pincushion for the top, and decorated it with trims.  The top looks like a little hat.


It has braid for handles, inserted through grommets, so it can be carried.


I covered the inside of the lid, and the bottom.  It can be used to hold sewing supplies.


This is the gift I drew from the pile.  It's a sewing machine caddy.  It slips underneath the sewing machine, and the pockets drop from the front of the table.  It holds scissors, tweezers--whatever you need when you're sewing.  It can also be rolled up with your tools inside to take along for classes or sew-ins.


We also showed our most recent challenge projects.  The challenge was to use a computer generated color editor to pick colors from a photograph.  I used picmonkey.com for the generator.  It's amazing how many colors are actually in a photograph.  The photograph I used had reds, greens, blacks.  I gathered those colors of cotton from my quilting stash, and made a crazy-quilt pillow.


The top was pieced and embroidered by hand-lots of embroidery.  Many bouillons and french knots.  I added beads when the embroidery was done.  Then put the pillow together with a green and black lace ruffle.

Our next challenge is to make pants.  I have a good fitting pant pattern, but I want to try the SureFitDesigns pants kit.

Continue shopping. Christmas is in two weeks.

23 Talk to me:

Ann said...

What a neat gift you made out of the round box. The gift you drew is really nice to have in the sewing room.

Kyle said...

So happy to see you back in the blogosphere with a new post! That small box is so cute. You did a great job with it and I like how you made it into a purse. :)
Thank you for your kind words about my jeans, and saying that you're proud of me! Awww!!!

Faye Lewis said...

Love the gift you made and the one you got. It should really come in handy.

Corrine said...

Hello there, hope you are well. Your pillow is stunning. What a great idea for a challenge project. I received an email today advertising a sale for the SureFit Design elements. I plan to do that one of these days but right now I am fine tuning my new quilting mid-arm. Too many projects, not enough time.

Jane M said...

Welcome back! You made such a lovely gift, I bet it was hard to give up. And that pillow is so much fun. I have yet to give pic monkey a try but hope to in 2013.

Mary Beth said...

Nice work, Gwen! Hope you're having some fun this holiday season

Linda T said...

What a beautiful "box." It does look like a hat on top. I would have loved to have opened this one and taken it home.

Lori said...

What a special gift you made and such a fun way to wrap it.

The Hojnackes said...

I love what you did with that round box!

Tee said...

Very nice and useful gifts!

Bunny said...

Glad to see you sewing again! That pillow is beautiful as is your lovely sewing "box". I would have been glad to draw that number!

Maybe we can work through our SFD pants together. I probably won't get to mine until after Christmas but that seems to be coming VERY fast!

Sharon said...

Love the gift you made and the wrapping is perfect as well. You are very creative with your challenges and I look forward to hearing/seeing your results with the Sure Fit Pants.

shams said...

What a great and beautiful box! Definitely a nice addition to a sewing room.

MushyWear said...

Beautiful job on the pincushion box. I am so impressed with the hand quilting details on your pillow. Oh to have such patience!

Karin said...

What a great way to "up-cycle" a box! All the gifts look good. Great to hear your voice again in blog-land:-)

Ann Made Studio said...

WOW all the gifts are so creative and so nice.
Receiving anyone of these would be a joy!

TechSpoon said...

Very pretty Mom. I love you!!

Dr. Fun (AKA Sister) said...

Cute box, but i especially love the wrapping!

The Slapdash Sewist said...

What a cute little box! And the sewing caddy is a great idea. I may need to make one of those.

Unknown said...

Gotta love a red headed 60 something sewist!!! Just found your blog and I am loving it. I, too, adore Glenda's Sure Fit designs. It solved all the fitting issues of my humongous bustline on my perfect 60 something body. I'll be following your blog from Dhahran, KSA. So nice to meet you.

Sewingadicta said...

Oh My God! I can not decide if I die for that box you made or received by your gift, they are all wonderful, but let me tell you that that box is beautiful .... I love it!

Lori said...

Gwen, check out the award I gave you on my blog. Thanks

Diana said...

Gwen, you are so creative and talented. That covered box is ingeneous and the pillow is absolutely beautiful! Merry Christms and Happy New Year!

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