Finally the snow is gone (I think)

As I vacuumed today the last remnants of the snowstorm that hit our house when the Portland Christmas box got opened up are gone. At least I think they are gone. The boys had so much fun playing in the snow, then Jayden would sweep it up and they would jump in it again. I knew it wouldn't stain, break anything or hurt anyone, so I just let them play. Here are some pictures. I am posting here so I don't forget and I didn't want to take away from Christine's well wishes.

january sewing

So, I made a New Years Resolution to do one sewing project a month. And this is what I did this month...

I finally made some draft snakes to put under the doorways and on windowsills to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Unfortunately I used all the rice I had, ( I finally used up a 4 pound bag from Costco!) so I haven't made any more. I need to make a BIG one for the sliding glass door in the back room.

And I made a sewing machine cover. I made this in a couple of days. It's supposed to be reversible, (has green corduroy on the inside) but I was having one heck of a time with the binding tape, so I said, forget it. Maybe if I got bigger binding tape, I could figure it out, but for now...it'll work.

My quilt tops

Here are the quilt tops for Melissa, the gold and blue and the green one is Amy's. I was really pleased with the way they turned out. Of course now I have to put them with the back and the batting and tie them off, but the time consuming part is done.

Oops. Wrong Site

Well, I do make awfully cute kids!

Jo Mama

Cool Uncle Rob

baby quilt

My real first attempt at piecing a quilt and then quilting it. I didn't tie this one off, I just sewed through the layers. I had never done this before, so I didn't know that you actually needed a special foot for the sewing machine. I tried it with just my regular foot, and it bunched up the material on the bottom. So after ripping out the seams (fun...) I went to Sears and broke down and bought the new foot. And I'm so glad I did. It worked great! There are some things that I can improve on, but for my first one I thought it turned out really good.

It's a gift for Zack's cousin, Janice who just had her second baby. I don't think she knows about this blog, so I think it's safe...



I also made the bias tape. Not a really fun project, I think it turned out really cute. I now know why people do it, making your own could get addictive. It just adds a little something. I think on my Christmas list will be a bias tape maker...YAY, fun!

boredom...

I was a little bored the other day and I found this tutorial for a pincushion. So...I tried to make it. It was harder than I thought, and I didn't have the right kind of buttons for the middle. (I think) But, I guess it will hold the pins good enough.