Sunday Stitches - So Cute I Can't "Bear" It!

It's so cute I can "bear"-ly stand it!!! I whipped this little hat up last night and now I am dreaming of creating many more. Can we just talk about those furry little bear ears? Yummy! I made this one in a six to 12 month size, and I will be sending it off to my cuddly little nephew so that his ears stay warm this winter. However, my pattern it so fantastic that I can make these hats from newborn to 8 years of age. 

Made fully of fleece, and all seams serged, this hat is fully washable and will stand up to many wearings. And the cute factor? Well that is off the charts! Next up on my list, a bunny hat, a puppy hat and a kitten hat. I might even try to make a cow hat just to round out the animals being represented. I really need a baby, one who can lend their chubby cheeks to modelling these hats. Anybody have one I can borrow for a picture - and maybe a snuggle or two? 

I have a small fleece selection in my sewing room at the moment, but I foresee a growing collection in many colours. Oh dear! Once I  sew up a few more of these soft little hats, I will put some in my Etsy shop. Have a happy Sunday!

Sunday Stitches

My sewing room is in complete disarray! However, that is not a bad thing. It just means that I am planning to spend the day working away on several projects. Right now, I am gathering up my fabrics and waiting for inspiration to strike so I can combine them in just the perfect way. I am making a blanket, a bib, a burp cloth and  tote bag, all in an elephant theme. I have some pretty cute fabrics choices to work with so that is my goal today. I should have some progress pictures to share soon. Have a great day too!

Sunday Stitches

This has been a very busy season, filled with plenty of holiday orders! I have had my hands full working away on Christmas stockings for both humans and our canine companions. I love stockings! I think that they are such a nice way to decorate for the holidays, especially if they are personalized and unique. My kids love their stockings too - they always find them filled to the brim on Christmas morning. What fun! Here are a few pictures of some of the cute projects I have been working on.

Stockings for people have also been very popular! One little girl named Ayla, who is in love with polar bears, will find a special stocking hanging when she wakes up to check the treats from Santa.  I snuck in a little bit of time to make some stockings for my own family as well. Of course, they are turquoise and apple green, what else would they be?

Next up on the agenda is the matching stocking for our pup, Rosie.  I have some vintage lace and I am planning to incorporate that into her creation. She really loves winter, and we enjoyed a snowy walk last night. 

I recently finished an order for five book bags. Check back later this week to see some up close photos and a few more details. For now, here is a sneak peek of the adorable tote bags all in a row!

I just can't seem to decide upon a favourite! Stay tuned for plenty of pictures in the days ahead. Happy Sunday!

Sunday Stitches

The dog bone Christmas stockings have had their photo shoot and are now ready to head off to their new homes. Rosie and I had so much fun setting up for all of the pictures. She was such a good girl, and the perfect assistant.

Every stocking is personalized with a name and a choice of fabric to match individual holiday decor. I had lots of fun sewing these up, but more fun will be had with filling them up with treats. This week I am planning on sewing up a few stockings for the humans in my family, and of course, a very special stocking for the model, Rosie. We got plenty of perfect shots, but also had a few bloopers! Are you sticking that tongue out at me Miss Rosie?

Really, Mom? Do I have to do this? I do like the treats though!

That treat was super yummy!

I would say the good pics outnumber the bad, but I'll let you be the judge.

Feeling a bit of holiday spirit yet? I know I am! I hope these pictures have given you a good dose of "cute", but remember - the doggie doesn't come with a stocking purchase! Have a happy day. 

Sunday Stitches

Today was a beautiful day and it was filled with all kinds of my favourite things. Of course, it included lots of time spent in my sewing room working on some very special orders. The doggie Christmas stockings are coming along so well! I love the colours and I am getting into some early holiday spirit. These stockings are a generous size, but I know these pups have been extra good and lots of treats will arrive on Christmas morning!

Choosing fabrics and embroidery colours in only the beginning of the process. Every stocking exterior and lining has to be cut out. Before embroidery, the design must be centered using a water soluble pen. After hooping and embroidering, the basting stitches are removed and the stocking is ready for the sewing machine. Sewing the stocking up actually takes less time than designing and embroidering the name. A couple of the stockings are now at the sewing machine stage, but mostly my sewing room is littered with fabric dog bones! Tomorrow will be a big sewing day for sure.

The final touch on every stocking, of course, is a special little label that is dog-gone cute!

Fall is upon us, and this wonderfully sunny day offered us a chance to visit one of our favourite hiking spots in the York Forest. The sun was shining down through golden yellow leaves and it was almost as though we were walking along a magical path. We meandered along 5 kilometres of leaf covered trails and stumbled upon all kinds of interesting woodland sights.

All in all, a wonderful Sunday! After the dog stockings are complete, I am planning a new project. This time it is for all of my feline friends - bet you can't guess what it is? Meow. Have a happy day!

Sunday Stitches...or Stirrings?

Well, there really wasn't too much time to spend in my sewing room today, but that's alright! I was busy   stirring up a storm and getting all ready for our Thanksgiving festivities. It's always the same lovely routine where we gather up all of our cookbooks and set about making our grocery list.  After all of these years, I think we can almost get the veggies dishes whipped up without looking at the recipes, but every year it starts the same way, and that's just how we like it! We flip through our dog-eared cookbooks to find our favourites. The cookbooks are showing their age - full of marks and rips from so much use which makes them all that much better!

Then, off to Starbucks to fuel up for our grocery shopping adventures (ok, that part is probably not crucial, but it sure makes the process more fun!) : ) After heading home to unload our groceries, we were all set to get to work. Before long the kitchen smelled delicious!

We like to get a lot of the cooking done before all of our family arrives so that we can enjoy their company over the weekend. We managed to get three casseroles finished up and put in the freezer, and we even ordered out turkey. In all honesty, I have delegated a few jobs this year. We ordered some pumpkin pies from a lovely local bakery, and most exciting, some amazing cookies from http://sugarandlovebakery.com. I can't wait to pick them up, and I'm sure these beautiful cookies will be a perfect centrepiece for our holiday table.  I'll be sure to post a picture when I receive them.

Sweet potato casserole, veggies supreme, and turnips with apples

My sewing room was not totally neglected though. I did get a few dog bone patterns cut out and am getting ready to sew up a whole big bunch of doggie stockings for the next big holiday. Yup! That would be Christmas. It will be here before we know it so I had better get sewing!

Sunday Stitches

The advent of cooler days makes for perfect Sunday stitching. Tucked away in my little sewing room with a cup of tea and CBC playing in the background, I work away happily on whatever project is on my sewing table. Want a little peak of today's creations? It's Mr. Darcy's tote bag! All done and ready to be put to use as Mr. Darcy heads off to his job as a therapy dog.

Mr. Darcy, your tote bag awaits!

After what seems like ages out of routine, I was back into full swing today! Machines were humming away productively and my embroidery scissors got a workout. 

Where have you been, lady? We missed you in the sewing room!

Dog bones and paw prints frolic across the front of this bag. Lined with a cheery stripe and coordinating handles, I think the finished product is just as cute as a button! So, off to work with you Mr. Darcy! As the keeper of  furry snuggles and puppy licks, your work benefits many who are in need of companionship and comfort.  Keep up the good work, Mr. Darcy!

Have a happy day!

Sunday Stitches

Sunday stitching found me working away in my sewing room on a special request. My dad has taken up photography in his retirement, and it turns out that he is really very good! He needs some fabric envelopes to protect images that he has printed but have yet to be framed. He requires specific sizes and asked me to make them 20x30, 22x28, and 18x24. I added a 1/2" seam allowance and set to work.

Just one example of my dad's fabulous work.

After cutting out the rectangles, I serged all the edges to prevent fraying. In order to provide a finished edge, I simply folded down the tops of the fabric the same amount as the serging. After stitching it secure, it was only a matter of straight line sewing to create the envelopes. He also asked that the envelopes have some type of closure. I don't really like working with velcro, so we decided upon some of my favourite kamsnaps. They wash well and won't scratch the printed photographs. We decided to identify the envelopes using various colours of kamsnaps so that Dad will know exactly what size of envelope he is looking for. I had lots of fun working on this project, and I know that my dad will find the envelopes very useful.

Work is also coming along on Mr Darcy's tote bag and soon I will have some pictures of the finished product to share. This week might even see the beginnings of the dog bone Christmas stocking project. I know one pup who is being extra good so that her own stocking will be full of goodies!

I am ALWAYS good, Mom!

Have a happy day!