Small Finish

It felt good to spend some time in my studio yesterday, even though I did not accomplish anything big. But, I did complete two small projects that are long overdue. Two more pillowcases- for my  nephew's children. Nathan plays hockey all winter and baseball all summer. He loved the hockey pillowcase I gave him for Christmas last year so I was on the lookout for baseball fabric in my travels this summer. It was an easy find, but fabric to suit Mallory was tougher- she plays volleyball and is into drama - neither of which the fabric designers have done. I looked high and low, to no avail. So I ended up with ladybugs- she has had a love affair with ladybugs since she was a toddler, so I hope she thinks this is cool. Her room is purple, so that was my choice for the accent band, and I thought the yellow polka dots went well with the dotty ladybugs! I will deliver these this evening.
These pillowcases are so quick and easy to do and all seams are enclosed. Click on the hockey pillowcase link above to see the measurements I use.

Piece,
Linda

To be in your children's memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.

Basketball Dreamin'....

Before Christmas I told you about making a hockey pillowcase for my great nephew Nathan - you can see it here. Who would ever think that my 21, almost 22 year old son would want one as well? I really thought he would think he was too old for a "special" pillowcase... not so. Of course he informed me he would have to have TWO since he does have two pillows. Luckily I had two pieces of basketball fabric on hand in my stash; bought with him in mind, for sure, a number of years ago, probably when he was an FHS Black Kat. They don't match but he didn't care. I liked one better than the other, but again, he didn't care. There was enough length for the body of the pillowcase and I had the cuff and trim fabric so it was a quick and easy job. Here they are - perhaps they will help him dream of game-winning shots with his Intramurals team. Go Boys Go!
These pillowcases are so much fun to do with funky or bright colorful fabrics and I love the fact that all seams are enclosed (I do French seams along side and bottom). I can see more of these in my "sewing future". And what a great idea if doing a quilt for a child, to do a matching or co-ordinating pillowcase- what a special gift for a special child!

Piece
Linda

Life lessons you can learn from a child: Play more. Be curious. Get all wrapped up in what you're doing. Even the littlest things can bring you pleasure.

Only One More Day....

My Christmas sewing is done. Yippee! Among other small projects I've made several sausage pillowcases. Have you heard of them? They are so quick and easy, and... well... almost addictive. When made with bright colorful children's prints, they make a very nice gift for that special child in your life. I found some great hockey fabric a few weeks ago in Moncton and decided my great nephew Nathan might like his own special pillowcase, so guess what he's getting for Christmas tucked in with his gift?
There are lots of tutorials available if you don't know how to do this quick easy project. Just Google "sausage pillowcase". A number of gals in my guild have made many of these- they use slightly different measurements as they liked the proportions a little better. Here are the amounts of fabrics we use:
For the main fabric 27" x WOF (width of fabric)
For the contrast strip 2" - 2.5" x WOF (I cut mine 2.25")
For the cuff 9" x WOF
The pillowcase shown here is Nathan's. After Christmas I'll show you the basketball one I made for Mark. (Silly me- I forgot to take a pic before wrapping it and it's now under the tree...)
I hope your sewing projects for gift giving are all finished and wrapped too...Only one day left to go...

Peace
Linda

"No gift is too small to give, nor too simple to receive, if it's chosen with thoughtfulness and given with love". ~Franz Kafka