Last weekend I got together with some friends. We used to play Bunco back when that was all the craze. But we all got pretty sick of the game. So now we just get together and eat or do crafts or whatever suits our fancy. This month we decorated pumpkins. I saw this swirly, crystal pumpkin and wanted to make it.

I went to the store in search of crystal swirly patterns to transfer to my pumpkin. But alas, they were stinking expensive! So I resorted to buying some other crystals, a starburst pattern, and plain ones.

I didn't know if they would turn out cute or not but went to work that night. And it did turn out cute! I was so happy.

The crystals are purple and clear. I thought they were perfect Halloween colors.

I saw this one and loved it too. I like the sequins. They add enough bling to compliment the other pumpkin.

And my Mom made this  awesome table runner! I love the prints in it and especially the Trick-or-Treaters out getting candy. Something my boys hope to do soon.

Duct Tape Wallets

What is this mess you ask? Well, the cake frosting was delicious but the cake itself didn't turn out so well. So we resorted to eating the frosting off the top before I threw the whole thing away. Oh, you mean the red stuff! Why it's duct tape. Baby decided he'd try his hand at making duct tape wallets. These are some of his tries.

Olaf helped him and even found a youtube video for him to watch. He had a lot of fun making these and improving on the original design to make other things too, like change holders that you can stick anywhere.

He's so dang serious about it that I couldn't help but take a picture of him slaving away. As soon as he had made his first wallet Middle Child had the brilliant idea of selling them.

I think it's going to take a little more practice. But he's willing to try! Hopefully duct tape isn't too expensive.

The Almost New Cross Stitch

Several years ago I did a cross stitch. I love it.

But I didn't have anywhere to put it. So I put it in a frame from Ikea with a boring white mat and hung it on the wall at work.

My friend at work would look at it and remark that it needed a different color mat. But I didn't want to spend the time or money to get it professionally framed.

One day last week she brought all her framing stuff to work because she was framing pictures for the office. And she brought this mat from home. It went perfect with the cross stitch, but it wasn't a color I would have ever picked out. But I loved it when we put the two of them together.

And then she learned how to cut circle mats just for me! And she framed my little cross stitch with a new coordinating mat. Look how great it looks now!

New Christmas Stockings

This year as I was putting out the Christmas stockings I decided I needed to make new ones. I love my stocking and I made one for Olaf and the kids, but I never really liked them. So at the beginning of December I went in search of cool Christmas fabric. Not to be found. Anywhere.

So late at night I got online and searched for some fun fabric. And found it. And ordered it. And waited. And waited. And waited. Only about three days, maybe five if you include the weekend, cuz I had to order it on a Thursday night, just in time for the weekend.

When it came I washed it up and dried it. I love folding freshly laundered fabric. It makes me happy. I know I'm weird. Then I cut it all up and pinned everything. Sister-in-Law Nurse was over laughing at my disorder of pins. I have these pins with pretty, metallic, pastel, round heads and I can't pin the same color right by each other. There's no particular order other than that. She laughed and threatened to send her two-year-old into my linen closet because it's so orderly (one day I'll take a picture and show you). I might have to change the locks. He's a Holy Terror but you can't get mad cuz he's so stinking cute.

Then after I got them cut and pinned they sat at for almost a week. I hate to get the sewing machine out unless I have a good chunk of time to sew, which doesn't always happen.

It finally happened and I got these stocking whipped up in no time at all. And with minimal seam ripping. For some reason it doesn't matter how small the project I always have to rip out at least one seam.

This fabric is my favorite. Candy Colored Christmas by Alexander Henry. So fun and whimsical. The other two with Christmas Trees are Michael Miller Fabrics, another one of my favorite designers. And the Santa Making a Snow Angel is another Alexander Henry stocking. That one's for Tank. I thought they turned out pretty cute with the Red Corduroy Cuff. I thought about velvet but decided in a family of boys corduroy was more appropriate. Hope you had an awesome Christmas! Olaf decided he wanted to keep his stocking that I made him. I told him that was okay, I'd give the dog the stocking meant for him. I guess he likes Tank enough that he was fine with that. At least he didn't want two stockings full of presents!

How Many Libraries Do You Need?

There is nothing like a good fabric store with luscious fabrics. I love to touch. I love to mix and match, mostly mix. I love to ooh and aah. I love to see.

Today I purchased the following.


The ladies asked "What ya gonna do with this?" To which I replied, "I don't know, I just have to have it before it's gone." Maybe I'll make a bag. You know I can't make a quilt, but a bag is doable.

Then a friend got some of this fabric to make a bag for her and her girls. I love it! It's adorable!


Just so you know, it's three separate bags, not one.

Another thing I LOVE to do is pull the warm, soft fabric from the dryer and fold it. It's so beautiful, so pristine. It's not been cut, I can fold it nicely, and it looks so pretty when it's all stacked. If I had loads of money to spend on everything I would seriously consider a library of folded material, not books. Although that would be hard, I love books almost as much as material. Maybe I'd have two separate libraries. See how beautiful it would be.

But then again, maybe I only need one library. See how the fabric blends beautifully with the books on the shelves.


I know. It's a sickness I have. I just don't know of any fabric detoxing programs readily available in the US. Maybe if someone called Obama he could get a bill for that one rushed right through Congress.

New Purses

This weekend I found a cute purse online and thought to myself "I can sew that." I couldn't see everything about the purse, just the basic shape. So I went with the shape and made my own pattern. I had already bought some brown and green material that I really liked and thought this would be perfect for my purse. So I got it all out, cut out the material, and started sewing. Several hours later I had this purse. It turned out really cute! I decided that I wanted to make another one that was longer and thinner. So I made another pattern before I went to bed. I didn't get around to it the next few days, busy with Father's Day and allergies and that good stuff, but today I sewed the new pattern up and loved it!

I got some cute muted colors for the outside and a bright pink with darker pink tulips and vines for the lining. It was so fun to make! My Mom loves tulips so I decided to give it to her. I thought it just turned out adorable. I was worried the bright pink would be too crazy for the soft blue and greens but it brightened it up just right. It's fun playing around and making these fun things! I love it!

Brown pouch I made all by myself

Brown pouch
Originally uploaded by dons5

I think this is my favorite cosmetic pouch that I've made so far. I just love the fabric colors and design and the inside has this matching green kind of crazy lining that is just fun. It was my first attempt at a pleat and I thought it turned out looking good. I was pleasantly pleased with this pouch!

I have recently been sewing things. I started with baby items, bibs and onesies, but have branched out from there. I started making zippered pouches and have had so much fun. I think I like making pouches even more than baby stuff! Now I just need to learn how to make more tote and bags to go with the pouches.

I have always enjoyed sewing but haven't done much with it for probably 15+ years and now I have found fun things I can sew quickly. Since I don't know what to do with all this fun stuff I sew I set up an etsy.com shop, 3 C's Creations, named after the boys of course. Although I've only sold one thing to my sister it's been fun sewing and maybe one day people will discover my shop and I'll have an excuse to sew even more.