After making the embroidering machine a cover, the sewing machine got jealous so I had to make her one too. LOL, I debated about using the same fabrics and in the end decided to use different ones. 
I found this tape measure fabric designed by Cosmo Cricket and manufactured by Andover at the Happiness is Quilting store here in Downtown McKinney. Of course, I had to have it. I combined it with a red and white polka dot broadcloth that I took from my mother's stash when we visited in the fall. Mom bought the red & white dot fabric when I was a little girl and never got around to making anything with it. I was glad to use it for my cover as it will always be a reminder of my Mom who made teaching me to sew (and cook) a priority while I was growing up.
I did not have a pattern so I visited a couple of blogs to figure out how to do it. I followed this Sew 4 Home tutorial and only made a few adjustments. After I was done, I thought it was a little plain, so I decided to embroider on it. After much thought (and deliberation) I decided to embroider my motto: "Sew your stress away" because that is what I try to do every time I sew!
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Every once in a while I can make something, the minute I get a request or idea. Last night was one of those times. My SIL had asked me to make something Dr. Suess for a friend's baby that was scheduled to arrive any day. I had seen this 
While the embroidery stitched out, I made the card (yes, a card) to match with a swatch of the fabric and some Heat n Bond adhesive iron on. I love making cards to coordinate with sets, it just makes everything look so complete. This card is 5.5 inches square. 
My embroidery machine came with a vinyl cover so I took it apart and used it as a pattern to make one out of the fabric. To add body to the fabric, I ironed fusible fleece to the back (I love that stuff). I used a contrasting black and white polka dot for the side panels and added a black pom pom trim to the bottom. I am pleased with the results... . Now the cornice... 
The cornice was interesting, I had no pattern and was eager to make it quickly. I used a thin piece of plywood, covered it with batting and then covered it with fabric. I made it large so the pattern in the fabric would show. I took a major short cut by omitting side panels and just hung the board (like a picture) above the window. Yes-- major short cut but I don't think there is a cornice police that will come get me. As far as I am concerned, it works in my book! . Thats all for now, more stuff in the coming weeks. My plan is to change out the comforter, add throw pillows and make a few fun accessories for the room. This will keep me busy for the next month or so. Thanks for stopping by...
This is our second year to plant daffodils, last year's batch in the front yard already bloomed (and I forgot to take pictures). I did not want to miss the picture opportunity for these!
I love this little dog "statue", he's been digging in my flower beds forever. We haven't seen his head in more than 7 years-- there must be a bone buried in there somewhere! Thanks for stopping by!
So here is the bag... Ta Da!!!! I pretty much made it freehand without a pattern (don't recommend that). 
First, I added fusible fleece to the back of the fabric and machine quilted horizontal lines, I wish I could say they are straight but you can certainly 'see' that they are NOT....lol. I had to embroider it 'somewhere' and since embroidery wouldn't really show up on such a busy pattern I decided to applique a square then do an appliqued M and name on top. The square is from GGDesigns in Australia, the M is a font from Planet Applique and the font on the name is by AKDesigns.
I made the bag gussetted by adding a brown gingham coordinating fabric to allow enough space to carry 7-8 boxes standing up.
I lined the bag in the same green gingham from the applique square and added velcro for easy closing and opening. 
I made the strap long and wide so it would be comfortable across the chest. I used the embroidery function on my new Janome machine to add a little personalization. Hopefully Micaela will stay in Girl Scouts for a long time and she can use this bag for delivering cookies many years to come. Thanks for stopping by!
This recipe is from my Cousin Juanita, she has made this cake since I was a teenager, which is a very long time. I had not made it in years.
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A quick glimpse at my sewing area.... Nothing fancy, the desk is the desk I got for my fourteenth birthday (almost an antique, lol). The yellow doily was made by my maternal grandmother more than 50 years ago. The flower stick person holds my pins in the belly votive. On the shelf a few favorite trinkets, the flower pot is by one of my favorite artists Angie Strauss from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, favorite Mary Engelbreit and Karla Dornacher books, a few pictures of me as a bridesmaid with two of my closest friends, Mary Beth and Kristi and the tiny one in the pink frame is of me as a baby with my Dad when I was about a year old. The pink Longaberger basket (breast cancer edition 2002) on my white shelf hold my scissors.
Hope you are staying warm, thanks for stopping by!
Sorry it's a poor picture, I took it when my phone before walking out the door! Thanks for stopping by!
It's hard to tell in the picture, but the flatware and linens have snowflakes on them. My favorite item is the placecard holders, my friend Kristi and I found those at Crate & Barrel on a lunch hour shopping mission about 12 years ago. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh, how I loved my Bonham House! Thanks for stopping by!
This was the tree that replaced the one in my master bedroom (previous post). I had really tall ceilings in that house- 12 ft, I think. I had to use a ladder to decorate the top of the tree. Well I have to use a ladder to decorate all the trees but but this tree I had to get on the top step, lol.
Hope you've enjoyed my stroll through memory lane, hope you are having fun decorating your house for the holiday season. Thanks for stopping by!
I love cowboy themed stuff, so much that we have our little bathroom powder room downstairs decorated in authentic western stuff. Wish the room had room for more stuff because I would make something with this red rope fabric!. Thanks for stopping by!
I wish I had close up of the ornaments, the balls were all different shades of pink, pearl white and green. The door behind the tree lead to a screened in sun room. I had access to the sunroom from the living room so I blocked this door for the holiday season.
This was the other side of the room. I bought those chairs at Goodwill for $9 each and recovered them myself. I also made the curtains. 
Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed my flashback to 2001!