Family Fun

So, I made the boys' costumes this year. I don't have great pics, because it was so rainy and dark here in South Fla, so they're mostly inside. And what is it about kids in costumes? I just love their energy.

Okay, have you ever seen the movie TRON: Legacy? No? Then you maybe you don't have a husband who watched the first one when he was a kid and therefore has indoctrinated his boys. This movie is usually playing twice a week here, and possibly more if I allow it.

It's a total guy movie. (In my opinion.) I've seen most of it, just not all at one time. Here's a pic of their suits. It's all lights.


This Momma could not find one that was inexpensive enough to buy, so she made them!

Complete with discs made by Daddy out of cut frisbees.

Over all, it was a success.  The kids LOVED their costumes.  They had a great time at our Family Fun Night at church.

Unfortunately, little brother did not wear his costume for more than 5 minutes, and I wasn't able to take a pic.  It was just a store bought Batman costume.  But I love it because he says "THATMAN!"

So, if you know what Tron is...how did I do?

Hope you had a great time with your family!

Progress!!!!

Oh, I can't wait to show you the first quilt from the Quilting for Kids blocks. It's done...and soooo pretty!!!

There is no way that I could have gotten all of those beautiful fabrics together without so many ladies.

I will be posting soon about it, with pretty pictures.

I am going to be at a ladies' conference this weekend, so plan on checking it out next week sometime.

And.....here's a pic of my beautiful quilting gloves...



I started using them on my first free motion quilt and was pleasantly surprised at how good they worked! But my hands do tend to get hot in there.

By the way, do you zig-zag stitch after you've sewn on your binding? I have found that this extra step that takes about 10 minutes, makes life soooo much easier when it's time to fold and sew the binding down.

Have a good weekend all!

Tutorial: Stockings for Kids

I have joined Lyanna of Purple Panda Quilts and have made a stocking for one of the foster children she works with.

Please go to her website and join her flickr group to make a stocking too.  She's got great tutorials on simple stockings.  And really, to make one, it takes no longer than an hour or so.



I have a little tutorial on how to add a picture pocket to the stocking that I'm going to share with you today.


Start with a piece of clear plastic bought from the remnant bin at your local quilt shop.

You can make yours whatever size you want.  A picture is usually 3.5 x 5 inches or 4 x 6, but many pictures can be cut down to a smaller size.

Then take a piece of white (or whatever color you want) and make sure it is about 1/2 an inch longer than the top of your plastic piece.  The width of the white should be one inch.

You will fold the one inch piece of white in half, like the picture shows, then iron.  This will give you a good crease.

Use the crease that you just made as a guide.  You will fold both sides of the crease into itself.  See the picture below for an idea of what I mean.  Line up the edge of the white to the center crease on both sides.  Then press with an iron.

Once your piece of fabric looks like the picture above, fold it in half again.  So now it is folded on the original crease that you made.  And both sides of the fabric are folded so that they look like binding.

Next, place the plastic piece in between the white fold.  This will be the top of the picture pocket.

This is what it should look like so far.

Next, place it where you want it.  Pin it, and on the end of the white strip, where you have raw edges, just fold them over and pin under.   You will not be able to see the raw edges if you do it this way.

Sew from the right end of the white strip, down to the bottom, turn your fabric.  Go along the bottom, turn again, then go up to the left end of the white strip and back stitch to secure.  DO NOT sew along the white strip again.  That does not get sewn onto the stocking.

And that's it!  Then continue with sewing your two sides of the stocking together.  Make sure you do not try to add the pocket after the stocking is sewn together...you'll be miserable ripping seams!

I'm so glad Lyanna is putting in so much time and effort into making this Christmas special for the children in foster care that she works with.  And thank you for helping!