Show and Tell Tuesday...Randomness

Good Morning!  I have to be honest...blogging is a bit hard for me.  I love sharing photos of what I've been sewing on, but I find it hard to write a whole lot.  I think I have Adult ADD...if a paragraph is longer than four sentences I loose interest real fast and don't want to write it or read it.

 

I'm trying to get better, but maybe blogging isn't always about how long the writing is, but more just sharing photos and inspiring others.

 

I have so much to learn about taking photos...I'm for sure not good at it, but I'm trying.  My husband is the photographer of the family.

 

I will press on and take photos and hope someday to achieve the 'look' I'm going for.

 

Having a three day weekend was super nice.  The girls were home and we stayed close to the fire and the TV...although watching the last episode of Season 3 of Downton Abbey really had me depressed.  And I can't even remember the last time I was 'depressed' over a TV show.  If you saw the episode you know exactly what I'm talking about.

 

My daughter and I worked on making bunnies.  This is how far we got...poor little guy needs some assembling.  I will work on him soon.  I plan to make the set...they are so sweet.

 Here are my sweet girls about 11 years ago...

 Here they are this last Christmas...(my oldest is 6'2") 

and lastly....some random sewing.

I was inspired to applique this piece after seeing some kid's artwork at my daughter's school (originaly made from construction paper).  I traced my hand for the tree, and randomly cut out circles and stitched them on.

Happy Tuesday! janae'

How to Make a Circle for Applique...Show and Tell Tuesday

I have so much fun teaching applique...I know sometimes making a circle when appliqueing can be a bear. Hopefully this tutorial will take some guess work out of the process. It a very simple process and the result will be a perfect circle every time. This method would work for any size circle.

Step 1

Cut the desired size circle out of a thin cardboard or card stock.

 Step 2

Trace circle onto fabric using the template just made.  I used a Pilot Frixion Pen which draws a nice dark line and disappears with heat.  Roughly cut circle out leaving at least a 1/2" of fabric beyond pen line.

 Step 3

Lay template onto circle.

 Step 4

Using an iron, press edges of fabric over edge of template.

 Continue around circle until all edge are pressed over.

 Step 5

Using a sewing machine or needle and thread, sew a basting stitch around the edge of the circle.  A basting stitch is a very big stitch.  One in which can be snipped and removed very easily.  Also, trim seam allowance down to 1/4" if desired...this removes some of the bulk to the circle.

 Step 6

Press circle with iron...now it's all ready to applique to a piece of fabric.

Step 7

After appliqueing circle to fabric, very carefully remove basting stitch.