Sewing Designs for Sale!

I've finally got my sewing designs up on etsy to sell. Each set is 5 different patterns and separated into the threads and other supplies.

Link Here

Go check them out :D My tape measure design is in there as well as some buttons and other interesting designs. It's always exciting to see them on etsy each time. Now I just need them to sell.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. Any ideas on things you would like to stitch as well would help me to find new designs and make them up. I like getting new ideas and finding out what people want.

Enjoy the designs!

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

My sewing machine is getting a workout!

I don't know what has gotten into me but since the other day I spent making up the tape measure holder I had he urge to stitch some more. So I was browsing blogs and found a link to a quilted fabric BOX!!!! I just couldn't resist.

Link Here

It's such an easy pattern and as I was reading something came over me. I went from feeling very blah. To going well I have the stash ... I have all that black and white fabric that I don't have a purpose for anymore but I love using because it makes colours pop... (I need to get a bigger collection of black and white and some plainish colours to go with it.) So out came the sewing machine ... which at the moment is a feat in itself as I don't actually have anywhere to put it it ends up on a stool and I have to almost sit on the floor! My table can't take the weight of the machine.

But I am getting distracted. I measure out the fabric and decided to make two at once and did two different sizes. A 12 inch and a 9.5 inch. I was curious how they would turn out. One is just the opposite black and white fabrics while the other is a black and white with purple to contrast.

I should show some photos now I've talked enough.
The two boxes and some other stuff I was coerced by my head into making. 

 My table looked a little bit messy, I had the iron set up there as well as I needed to iron as I went. The only batting I seem to have is the iron on pellon.
Though I like to use  this as I don't have to worry as much about the fabric bunching.

 Box number 1 the 12 inch box. It is using a purple fabric and the black and white flowers. I used a multicoloured purple/bluey/red thread to quilt it so it was a statement. I only made it two inches deep so I'd have a wide shallow box for storing craft supplies. It is already in use with my tape measure, scissors and new pin cushion. More to come on that later.

 The second box is the black and white contrast one. I quilted this one with a rainbow coloured thread. So it looks gorgeous against the black and white. I'm going to use this as an ORTs container for the foreseeable future until I find a better use for it. 

See the pretty colour?

 Now onto the stuff that after I finished the boxes I couldn't resist making. I have about 3 pincushions that I know of hanging around the house. But I just had to have one that matched the new sewing set it seemed I had to make. I also wanted a case to hold my scissors so that they don't cut open my new kit. I think I need to fiddle though because I don't quite like the design and I wanted to incorporate my stitching but because I'm not happy it will wait until I like the design.

 I made the scissors blue and the pincushion green because I wanted colours I hadn't used yet. (I already have yellow for the tape measure and purple for the box.)

 All together in their special home. They look so pretty!

See I'm already using it for orts, but I've got to get back into the habit of keeping them again instead of just throwing them on the floor. I got a bit lazy with all the moving.

So with all my wonderful work yesterday I actually have a lot to show though really not much stitching. I hope to have a stitching update soon but I just want to have a decent amount to show everyone then I can post it. At the moment it's not really worth it.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Maskerade Pale Dawn

I finally have all the threads I need to finish Maskerade Pale Dawn. I reached a point where I really needed to buy the kreinik thread and when I went back to my local quilting store they had stock of the colour I needed though only in blending filament but I don't mind that.

I'm using two strands of blending filament with one strand of DMC B5200.

I've finally reached the bottom of the page and filled in all the missing stitches in the middle that were the kreinik which is great! It's starting to look stunning! I'm so excited to work on it though I've now stolen the stretcher bars for my new start. I was going to be good and not start anything new for the new year but... I couldn't resist.

Photos to come later because it's too late to get a good photo.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

I've been designing again :D

I have a new design. Actually it's a series of designs though they're not quite ready to go up on etsy. I just had to show off this one.

I started stitching at 8 this morning and I finished the stitching and finish finished the piece in 3 hours. It's a new record I think for me to finish finish on the day I start! I usually leave that for months.

I did the stitching and was caught by the uses I could put this design to.

SO I grabbed out my collection of black and white fabrics and started fiddling 

For once I didn't measure ANYTHING! Sorry I lie. I measured the felt. It had to be a certain shape and I wanted it even. 

The bright yellow was so cheery and stunning against the black and white! 

 I didn't bother with wadding because I didn't want it to be too bulky and the felt looks nice showing through a little on the front.

 I folded it and sewed up the sides.

 Here is my finished product! A Tape Measure holder with a cross stitched tape measure on the front! Nothing is aligned in the middle buy I deliberately didn't measure so it all looks off so it all looks right :D

I even have a tape measure already inside. Though I still have to find the perfect button. 

To give you an idea on size, it's a little bit bigger than I wanted originally but the cross stitch is only about an inch across! 

Happy Stitching, 

Caitlin 

It's RAINING!!!

Ohk I'm a little bit excited about the rain. It's been too long with the heat! Three days of annoyingly hot weather though only Saturday was really bad BUT... It's now raining and storming which means the oppressive heat we've had today is GONE!! :D It's just slightly exciting.

I do have some stitching news. I have been stitching a little bit but more importantly I have a new pattern ready to publish.

Unlike everything else I've done this is a biscornu, with NO cute characters but lots of purple. It's a break from my normal. I actually designed it a couple of years ago but never got around to publishing the pattern so here it is :D Check out my purple biscornu. You can buy the pattern at my etsy store.

Please tell me if you like it or not. I'm so excited every time I post a new pattern. I just need to sell some now!

I tried a new recipe for dinner tonight. I found it on facebook when one of my friends posted it and I always intended to make it. So I went looking for it and I ended up with a DELICIOUS dinner that the kids and man both liked as well!

They are potato puffs made with "left over mashed potato" if such a thing exists. I cooked  up the mash the night before for dinner and made an extra big serving so I'd have left overs for this meal!

LEFT OVER MASHED POTATOES PUFFS

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/3 cup sour cream, plus more for serving (I used greek yoghurt)
1 heaping cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped chives or parsley
salt and black pepper, to taste 
3 cups mashed potatoes

(optional) Bacon
(optional) Onion
(optional) Mixed Herbs

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter 8 - 9 of the wells of a cupcake pan - preferably nonstick.

I started by cooking the bacon and onion with a little garlic first.

In a medium mixing bowl whisk the eggs then whisk in the sour cream. Mix in both cheeses and the chives. Add the Bacon and onion to the mix.

Taste the potatoes and season them with salt and pepper if needed. Add them to the bowl and mix well.

Spoon them into the pan filling the cups just to the top or a little below.
Bake 25 - 35 minutes until they pull away from the sides of the cup and are golden brown all over.

Remove from oven and let them cool 5 minutes in pan. Turn them out onto a platter. Serve with sour cream and fresh cut chives

much more at http://.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/leftover-mashed-potato-puffs.html

 — with Nelly Petersen.

I just thought you guys would like this recipe and it only took about 45 minutes with cooking the bacon and onion. I was impressed by the taste, and they were devoured. It's always hard to get the kids approval.

Many happy stitches.
Caitlin