Hi Ya'll! I hope your Christmas was a time of making memories with some of the special people in your life. We had a nice day with some family but the best part of Christmas this year was a little elf born Christmas Eve! Grandson Conner is beautiful and already home with his parents and big brother Josh. I'll be going to Virginia very soon and I'll get plenty of pics. For now here's a few

Connor was 8 days late and I was working on this bag when we got notified Becky had gone into labor. It really helped me put that "nervous energy" to use and made the time seem to pass quickly. I love everything about this messenger bag. The size, the roomy exterior pocket and the ability to use several fabrics. The pattern doesn't call for a magnetic closure but I wanted one so I installed it. Here's a few more pics.

You can find the free pattern here http://thestitchingscientist.com/2014/05/oval-messenger-bag-with-free-pattern.html

Have fun with this!

Gina

A quick and easy Christmas crafts post

Hi Ya'll! Stopping in to share a few quick and easy crafts that you can do for hostess gifts, for your home,and  some ornaments. I made this Santa in under an hour. I just love it and I found the tutorial here http://decorandthedog.net/decorandthedog/2014/10/30/how-to-make-a-gnome?crlt.pid=camp.U8u9FQZfi5Jt
 Then I made 2 small elf ornaments.I found the tutorial here http://thetanglednest.com/2012/12/homemade-ornaments-pinecone-gnomes/
 Here's the pics!

Happy crafting! Blessings, Gina

My latest sewing projects for my Etsy Shop and my Christmas Decor

Hi Ya'll! I hope you enjoyed the rest of your fall. We enjoyed our half a day of it here in Northeast Florida! Literally. But that didn't stop us from going  fall farm festival and enjoying the festivities.

I shared with you previously my stocking for Connor, who's due next week and my ornament for his big brother Josh and another for their parents. I made Connors 1st Christmas ornament and I love it. It's a Scandinavian Santa Clause.

I made some more of the bow tie bags for my Etsy shop. I just adore these. They are so roomy, have two padded pockets on the inside, and the bow just adds a special touch. These are available right now!

I am also making a few of these xl size fabric storage baskets for my shop as well. Great for your crochet or knitting supplies, in a childs room for toys, or in your craft room. Mine is going to store lots and lots of scraps until my next quilt.

And now for my humble home with it's mostly handmade Christmas decor. Here's our tree. Mostly handmade ornaments. All the cross stitched ones were made by me, as well as the pinecomb angels, little Santas, the Christmas caroler and a few more. Several were made by Mom or grandma, and many by friends or my kids. Oh I especially love the ones the kids have done.

I also made the sunglasses into snowmen, and my stepdaughter and I did her footprint and she turned it into Oloff.It turned out so cute but boy is it heavy! Of course grandson Josh's handprint his mommy did and made a Santa is a treasure.

The rest of our decor is mostly handmade too. I quilted and cross stitched the largeJesus decoration in 1990. It truly sums up what Christmas is about. I've shared my red door with you before that I decorate for the seasons since we don't have a mantle. My oldest Jim made the Christmas bear in 1st grade. I found the kit for the wood JOY at Goodwill for 2.99 and modge podged scrapbook paper onto 2 of them and painted the other. I did the littlefelt snowman in a frame years ago and just whipped up the bunting yesterday. Bunting is so festive and you can do it in fabrics for each season, to decorate a childs room or for a party.And it's quick to make!

I hope you're inspired to make something for you or someone else. An ornament or a decoration you'll pull out each year that will say "It's Christmas!" 

Blessings, Gina

My scrappy quilt, tote, and collectibles

Hi ya'll! Just dropping by to share pics of that scrappy quilt I told you about. I save scraps because there are so many uses for them whether its crafts, cards, or in this case a quilt made entirely of scraps. I didn't purchase anything to make this lap quilt for the couch for the coming months and of course just to look pretty. I quilted it today on my machine and when I go to town tomorrow I'll stop and get binding from Joanns and by tomorrow evening I'll be using my quilt.

I made myself a tote for fall/winter from a burlap coffee bean bag. I love it and use it almost every day.

In addition to coffee and coffee bean bags I have a thing about vintage cameras. I'm not a pro and don't own an expensive camera but I enjoy taking photos and seeing how cameras have looked throughout their existence. I have a few more than these but these are my faves. And this typewriter? Well we invited some sweet neighbors over for bbq and catch phrase and the next day she showed up with her fathers old typewriter and said she knew I'd love it, care for it and enjoy it and gave it to me. Sweet!

Make. Collect. Have fun! Gina

Some sewing for the home

Hi ya'll! I've been busy but some of that busy has been sewing to make our home more lovely and cozy. I took some burlap coffee bean bags and made a curtain for our dining area. I didn't want to cover our yard sale vintage stained glass window so the curtain is short and allows the light to pour in. We're coffee lovers so this project wasn't just for neccessity.

I love my handmade curtains. I made a set for the living area which I shared with you already, then made a set for our bedroom. I love this french script fabric in duck cloth.

I've come to love the color turquoise over these last several years and I've been incorporating it in our home a little here and a little there. I made a pillow for the couch in this arrow fabric.

I was thrift shopping with my dear friend Janet when I found this tray to place on my vintage suitcases for a drink, my Bible, or whatever.

I'm still working on that quilt for the couch to keep me warm in the winter. I know this is Florida but we do get a little cold weather and let's face it, a handmade quilt on the back of the couch just looks pretty and adds so much color.

I went to Hobby Lobby with Janet and was trying to find something I could use in this small space on the living room wall next to our tv. When I saw this chalkboard I knew this was my project. I can change the chalkboard to hold Bible verses, holiday greetings, or some inspirational quote I see. I made a small colorful bunting to go above it and I love it. 

When hubby and I did our deck remodel which I shared with you back in June, we wanted a vintage wagon for our recycled/upcycled cooler but couldn't find one at a reasonable price. We put a galvonized pail on and it worked great to hold ice and drinks. Thanks to Janet, I found out a mutual friend had a vintage wagon she was selling at a yard sale today to help a missionary family come home on furlough. Chris put it on and it looks so cool and helped a good cause! I hope your October is beautiful, full of fall fun, and some cool projects! Blessings, Gina