A Bit of Christmas and Winter

Those are the icicles outside my bedroom window. Love the colors and textures of winter. The bottom right is some of the packages holding the giveaway fabric. Some got doodles and scrapbook paper as that's what I had on hand. I did realize that I have not mailed one out yet (So sorry!) so if yours has not arrived yet, don't worry it will. My nephews and I made gingerbread houses and rice krispy treats/trees.

That sentence seems way too simple to discribe the noise, chaos, talking, colors, mess and running after the littlest who's 1 and a half. She preferred climbing on everything she could, opening everything she could and throwing around anything she could get her hands on. Little Lulu has learned the art of distraction. She'll do something loud and not allowed around the corner so you'll come running so that she can run and do what she wants that is also not allowed and worse. I turned my back for less than a minute and she had moved a stool over to the counter, climbed up on it, climbed up onto the counter, grabbed a plate, scooted it over to her and picked up an entire gingerbread house and was moving it quickly up to her very wide open mouth. Her brother was practically in slow motion running over with arms outstretched, "NNnnnooooooooo!" I saved it, barely.

She's just so stinkin' cute it's hard to be mad. She also knows exactly what she's doing and that it's not allowed. The most mischievous looks that one. New rules: I'll gladly have the boys over to craft again - if their sister is not coming. I was ragged at the end. That picture of her is at Halloween in the adorable Hedwig outfit my sister made, having just turned around from doing something she oughtn't.

Nephew 2, Proximo said about his gingerbread man, "He's in love, can you tell?" I said, "Oh, yes! His eyes are hearts!" Funny funny boys. His gingerbread man also has two faces. I'm not sure why but I do know that Proximo had a very good reason. 

It is also birthday season around here. The top photo is some of my favorite things: dad's homemade egg nog (non-alcoholic), hot water for my cold and Betty Crockers Bavarian Chocolate Torte. My very favorite birthday cake ever. This one had about 10 layers (including icing). It is so light and fluffy. The icing is made with non sweetened whipped cream, cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla. The whole business is a light textured dream of chocolate in my happy happy mouth. 

The white cake is a key lime cake with a whipped cream frosting. The secret ingredient is sour cream. So it is also light and fluffy with a tang that's delicious. 

There has been sewing and crafting going on but as my computer is dying a slow and painful death working with any photographs has been like moving through a river of frozen molasses. Wearing chains. It took me, off and on, hours to get just these few photos edited and up. The ones of sewing things haven't been working. So Happy New Year to you!

The Post That is Not

I keep trying to write this post, or I do keep writing it, and it's fighting me. grrr. So I'll stop. Here's Henry Bastion Grey III. I made him in the wee hours of Christmas Eve. Story to come when story starts behaving.

Paper Piece and Happy Mail

How cute is this package? It's from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics on Etsy. I asked about changing a bundle they had and they responded super fast and they said yes. I was so pleased with them and the service and shipping. I've had varied experiences with buying fabric and am thinking maybe I'll do reviews on stores. I'd totally recommend Fresh Squeezed Fabrics,  top notch. Not sure how much I should say about the not great experiences yet though.

I am trying my hand at paper piecing for the first time. I couldn't leave well enough alone and added pieces to the design. I'm making this for a friend and she likes dark gem colors like forest green-no judgement, only love. Hahaha, I heard Kristin Chenoweth say that and I've adopted it. When I get the whole block done I'll let you know more. Bigger cuts of fabric are definitely a first timers friend. It does create a bunch of scraps, the blue one on top is a little bigger than an inch wide.

Heather Ross Gagillion Giveaway Winners

I realized I didn't post the winners! Sorry, all the winners were emailed and have responded. I've sorted the prizes, first number drawn=first winner, second name=second winner and etc. Here are the winners in alphabetical order: Catherine, Carolyn, Lynn, Nancy, Sangeetha, Tiffany and Tina. Thanks again all for visiting! 

Sew Mama Sew Handmade Kids Winner

Congratulations, the winner is #28 KellyS! She's been emailed. Thank you to everyone who has stopped by and visited. I wish you a Happy Pre-Christmas!

Yellow Heading

Sometimes instead of sewing I make a new header for the blog. The blue might be too much-but the giant dinosaur? Sewsaurus's fine. Might have to change it again though :)

Heather Ross Plus a Gagillion SewMamaSew Giveaway

*Update* Giveaway and comments are CLOSED. Thanks so much everyone for the great comments I have laughed and loved reading them all. The winner will be announced by December 9th. Good luck!




I haven't posted anything I'm working on because I've been sucked into the worm-hole that is the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day (week). Here are previous things I've worked on: Photography Tutorial, Scrappy Stash QAL, Merrily We Sew Along and I have a few pics up on Flickr. I make so many more things that I've not posted yet, ah well.

I figure I'll throw my hat in again, am giving away a child's shirt here, would you like some of the Heather Ross Gnomes and Puppies? If you've been wanting some forever, I have some to share! If you're not familiar with 'em these fabrics are out of print and getting really hard to find. I ordered a little packet with the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway in mind and they are tinyish pieces about charm size.

I'm not competitive but I love winning :) so I want lots of you to win. How does 6 or 7 winners sound? I'd like for you to win something you like so I chose a variety of fabric. I've got pre-washed: a fat quarter print from Children at Play that's the best shade of aqua,  fat quarter of French General La Petite Ecole. There are also two fat quarters- Anna Maria Horner and Amy Butler fabrics-Loulouthi and Gypsy Caravan that are unwashed. I received them as bonus in a fabric order and would like them to go to someone that loves them before I start playing with them and bleach :)

How about stripey fabric for binding? Here's about a 1/2 yard of Riley Blake. Then this lovely purple vintage lace is up for grabs and there are at least a few yards. (The measuring tape is just there for scale.)

If you're working on an I-Spy quilt or would like to start one :) I'll send along a package of I-Spy scraps that will probably include the prints pictured and some others. Thennnnnn, how about an official Star Wars fat quarter? I'm sure you know someone who likes Star Wars. 

How to win? Just tell me an outfit you'd like to wear out in public if it were socially acceptable. Birthday suits and pajama's don't count :) I'd also like if you'd come back to visit me or follow but it's not required. First winner gets first choice of fabric and on down the line. Good luck!

Thank you all so much for visiting I am loving reading the answers!

Giveaway ends December 7th and the winner's in alphabetical order are Catherine, Carolyn, Lynn, Nancy, Sangeetha, Tiffany and Tina.

Sew Mama Sew Handmade Kids

*Update* Giveaway and comments are now closed. Thanks so much everyone who has entered and stopped by I appreciate all the blog love. As per the Sew Mama Sew rules a winner will be announced and notified by the 9th. Good luck!



Ok, we're not giving away hand made kids just things for them. 

It's the Grand Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day (week). It is so much fun and I've found a lot of blogs that I still check in with. I know you would like to win something so I'll just talk about myself instead for a second (buahaha). I sew, craft, crochet and nod at knitting every once in a while. I am also a photographer in my other life. I'm fairly new at this blogging so if you'd like to follow me and encourage me along I'd just love it.

If you need some help with your blog photos take a look at this tutorial and see if it helps. If you take great pictures and they're still not working out quite right learning about this thing called curves might just make you a master commander awesome-sauce photographer. How to win? Just tell me why you'd like to win this! I made it from, I believe, a Simplicity pattern that said it was 0-3 months which might be true if you have a large baby. It would fit my petite little friend Lulu who is almost 1 1/2 years old. So if you've got a little one around or would like to use this as doll clothes you're welcome to it! 

The giveaway will end December 7th at 5pm and a winner will be announced by December 9th. Good luck! And this particular giveaway is for US shipping only at this time. Update: I have been getting some no-reply bloggers and that's sad as if I can't contact you, you can't win. If you're not sure make sure you include your email address. 

I Spy Some More

Here are a couple of blocks I'm working on for an I-Spy quilt. These are not at all to scale. The yellow rocket ship (Children At Play) block is square and the fork (French General La Petite Ecole, Shore Thing) block is kinda huge. Probably a foot and a half? I keep plugging along with these.

elpetittaller giveaway

I'll be posting my giveaways as soon as I can. In the meantime you can go over to elpetittaller to have a chance at winning a fabric-cover covered notebook. Good luck!