Key Fob Winner

I am so behind :-)  The breakneck pace I have been keeping is really starting to catch up with me.  I was supposed to pick a winner of my key fob giveaway this morning but forgive me.  I'm sure a few of you out there can relate -- the closer we get to Christmas the faster time goes.

Anyway, for this giveaway I used a random number generator and matched the result to the comments left for me on my key fob post.  The lucky number was 14 and that means that Sarah J from Vintage Chic Home is the winner.  Sarah has a blog just full of creative ideas.  I particulary LOVE the advent calendar she created this year.  Please stop by her site and leave her a comment.  Sarah, once I hear back from you on your color choice I'll be sending you your key fob and hardware.  Congratulations!  And thanks to everyone who left a comment.  I hope everyone is inspired to make a few of these for themselves.

Woodland Nature Clip Ornament and Giveaway

The last of the advent ornaments brings a super quick and easy but lovely-to-look-at clip that can be used to adorn gifts as well as your tree.  Once you have your materials gathered, you can put one of these together in less than 15 minutes.  I love to wrap my packages in brown kraft paper and tie them with jute cord then clip this on.  A little spray glitter adds some sparkle.  After the package is opened the decoration can be clipped onto a branch of the Christamas tree. 

I also created a smaller version of these clips on mini clothespins and used them as package toppers on the gifts I made my boys' teachers.

I've written a tutorial that gives you all the help you need in crafting one for yourself.  And, if you leave a comment on this post, I will pick one winner randomly and send the winner this ornament for their own tree.  Comments must be received by 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning to qualify, and the results will be posted on Wednesday morning.

This is the last of my advent posts but watch for my Bag of the Week post later this week.  Sharing this with the folks at Today's Creative Blog on their Get Your Craft On Feature.  Head over that way to see lots of creativity.

Cardamom Pear Butter

I like to make a small gift for each of the teachers at the school my boys attend.  Last year I made everyone a machine embroidered snowflake.  This year I opted for something different.  My original inspiration came from an article in Food and Wine about handmade gifts.   This beautiful pear jam with cardamom caught my eye.  I loved the cute jars they used, too.  They are from Weck Canning and come in a variety of sizes.  I opted for more readily-available canning jars from the local hardware store.  With super-limited time this year I also went looking for a recipe that wouldn’t involve cutting the pears into tiny dice and one that was a bit simplified.  I found this recipe for Cardamom Pear Butter on The Traveler’s Lunchbox site.  I particularly loved that I could use my immersion blender (I LOVE that tool!) to puree the mixture.  I don’t think the end result was quite as beautiful as my original inspiration but it sure tastes good.  And I just love the pinging sound a cooling canning jar makes.

I finished up the project with circles of fabric placed under the lid rings and a homemade label I created on my computer and punched out with a large round punch.  I used baker’s twine to tie the tag to the top of the jar.  While I was hunting for ideas on the internet I came across this wonderful post at the kitchn with lots of ideas for packaging homemade goodies.  I particularly like the tutorial offered on local kitchen for making jar labels.  I am already starting a list of gift ideas for next year.

Bag of the Week 50

Folded Quilted Tote Bag

Many years ago (before I had kids) I used to attend a sewing retreat with the Richmond Chapter of the American Sewing Guild at Holiday Lake 4H Camp in Appomattox, VA.  Our sewing space was a lovely lakeside cabin with beautiful views.  I met so many nice people at those retreats, and one year I watched as a number of the ladies made this fantastic tote bag.  I went home and made one for my mom out of fabrics I had in my stash.

This bag is terribly difficult to photograph – it has lots of nooks and crannies that are just impossible to show properly.  In the photo above there is a pocket underneath the triangular flap and an identical one on the opposite side of the bag.  In addition, in the center of the bag (between the top folded edges is another pocket.  PLUS I added a zippered pocket on one inside wall.  This bag starts out as a flat square, 31” in this case, which is then folded and stitched into the tote you see.  It is a fun and easy project.  Below are instructions for folding your finished square into the bag.  You can make your square in any method you choose.  My sample is strip-pieced onto a solid fabric foundation (with a thin layer of batting between) and the edges bound.  You can also use whole cloth for both sides and either bind the edges or stitch right sides together and turn. 

1.        Fold square diagonally with right sides together to form a triangle.

2.       Measure along the folded edge, divide this length into thirds and mark.  Beginning at the folded edge, draw a perpendicular line at these points stopping 1 inch from the top of the triangle.  Stitch along these lines, backtacking well at the top.

3.       Turn the side points to the outside of the bag along the stitching line – they will overlap and form a pocket on each side.  Stitch the two layers together where they overlap.

4.       Add a strap by stitching the ends to the inside of the bag, centered over the side seams.  Customize your bag by adding pockets to the inside of the bag before assembling.

Key Fobs for Teacher Gifts (and Giveaway!)

My latest project for the holidays is a whole bunch of fabric key fobs, some of which will become gifts for my kids’ teachers.  I found a list of great ideas for teacher gifts including these lovely key fobs.  Now, I believe in giving credit where credit is due, but the link to the tutorial no longer works.  Somewhere between when I originally read the post and a week later when I sat down to make some of these, Buttercuppity’s blog became invitation only.  I was able to access a cached copy and get the details.  Here is a synopsis along with several changes I made along the way:

• Cut double-sided Peltex (#72) 10” x 1.25”.
• Cut fabric A (background) 10” x 2.75”.
• Cut heavy weight fusible interfacing 10” x 7/8”.
• Cut fabric B (foreground) 10” x 2”.

Center Peltex on the wrong side of fabric A, wrap fabric edges over Peltex and fuse both sides.  Center interfacing on the wrong side of fabric B and fuse.  Fold fabric edges over interfacing and press to crease.  Stack fabric B on top of fabric A with the raw fabric edges facing (sandwiched between layers) and stitch down both sides (you can use fusible tape or Wonder tape to hold the pieces together while stitching).  Fold the resulting strip in half, matching raw edges.  Attach the hardware to the top.  Make sure to cover the hardware with a soft cloth when using pliers to crimp the top closed so as not to mar the metal.  Hardware can be purchased from Country Brook Design (you want the 1.25” key fob hardware).

Since I am really in the spirit of giving this year I will give one of these beauties to someone who leaves me a comment on this post.   You can choose the color and, as a bonus, I will throw in three sets of hardware so you can make your own!  I’ll pick a winner next Monday morning.

Sharing today over at Get Your Craft On (Today's Creative Blog).  Love all of the projects linked up there.  Check them out.