Lizzy's dolls

This is the collection of Lizzy's dolls. She has two, and each is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, or her little fist. I've thus far withheld myself from naming them. So far I've named all of her animals for her (horrible I know, but they all just look like a particular name fits them), but I feel some dolls just need to be named personally by their mommies.
I made the one on the left. I didn't have a pattern, so I'm sure I made it a lot more difficult than it had to be. Her legs are definitely different lengths, and yet I really like her. Her hair has sure held up for the many times she has made it into Lizzy's mouth (yuck!). The one on the right was given to her by her great-Grandmother. Lizzy looked a lot like a kewpie doll when she was younger, so this doll is pretty special to us. I also made her dress. I'm still learning to sew clothes. I actually had to sew this dress on to her because i had made it too small.
I'd love to see you're stuff!

Some books

Here are the remainder of my books I've made that are still in my possession. Tis a sad collection. I can only think of a few more that I've given away, so I guess I haven't made that many.
Anyways, I think bookbinding is a beautiful art for those who are truly dedicated to it. I've seen many amazing pieces while I was at school. As for myself, I really enjoy occasionally making an original book, but it is honestly an expensive art and quite time consuming. My scatterer-brained crafty side needs to move on every once in a while.


I really liked how this one turned out. I was not a fan of the idea that there would be no book board in the cover (it's mostly just bendable thick paper), but the fact that it turned out pretty was a surprise to me. The bead I used was acquired while living in Ecuador.


This is actually one of my least favorite books I've made. I hate the raw edge look. I've never liked a braided spine.
Okay I take that back. I've seen many braided spine books that are very impressive, I mean no offense to anyone, they're just not for me. I think some of my dislike comes from the fact that the only one I ever made, and ever will, turned out horrid. I was trying to save on money and bought poor supplies. I do not recommend this. I used the wrong color of paper for the outside cover. The white I chose does not match the off-white of the inside pages. It also has silver splotches. Oh well.

Here's the inside. I'm sad I used my walnut ink paper for this... I wish I had saved it.








I had a purpose for this book. Actually my goal before taking the bookbinding course was to make a book for my children, to write stories in and illustrate for them. This is the closest I got to that realization. It's not exactly what I had imagined it to look like, nor does it have any words or illustrations as of yet, but it will someday be filled with tales of pirates and tea parties. Mostly pirates.



This is one of my first books. It was pretty shabbily done since I didn't exactly understand the teachers instructions concerning the covered corners. But I had fun with the longer dimensions. I also tried painting the edges for the first time. I was totally going for an old classic book with gold pages... but they turned out to be more yellowish. I'm not sure the whole desired effect came through.

Here's the edges.
















This is a clamshell box and cover that I made for my husband. The inside of the box is covered in hand-dyed walnut ink paper. I recovered a Book of Mormon that fits nicely inside.






Well there you go.

Okay, to start off, here's what I've made in the last while:

Drag-me-around bunny
She's weighted down with rice so she'll swing nicely by your child's side.


Baby chicken in jammies
I specifically wanted this to look like a baby chicken. I feel that there are too many ducks in the world of creativity. Baby chicks need a chance.
Reserved for sister.


Pinstriped Pig
Reserved for sister.


Grapeseed Rabbit
I worked hard on this one. I'll admit, I didn't have patterns for these. I wanted to create one myself, but it's been sort of a guessing game so far. The brown and white stripes by the feet are supposed to be Mary Janes. I know, they look more like brown and white stripes :)


Cherry Red Pig

Ooo my first post! In the words of my sister-in-law, "woot woot"; and Stocking Tutorial

I'd like to welcome you to my new blog: Welcome.

As it says on the side right there, I've created a blog to share the things that I create, the ideas of creations, and basically to have a hub for my stuff. I'll be setting up an Etsy shop soon and hopefully you can purchase some of my creations there. Or maybe just go look at it and tell a friend.

I plan to have giveaways that anyone can enter if they help out in my blog. Sometimes you just need to give me ideas, sometimes I'll ask you to promote my shop. I'll explain when it's relevant.

I'll also post simple tutorials for the creations if you ask. By all means they might not be helpful at all, but I'll try.

Anyways, look around, I'll try to keep it updated. You're all invited!

I have relocated my stocking tutorial to this first post. Enjoy!
Cozy Quilted Christmas Stocking Tutorial:


Christmas is officially here, and I thought I'd try making a quilted Christmas stocking. It was quite simple and I wrote out a tutorial so you can make some too!
This one happens to be opposite colors on opposite sides. Here is the back:

Start by drawing out your own pattern. I would like to encourage you to take the concept of this tutorial and meld it to your own perfect idea of a stocking. Some stockings are short and large, some long and skinny, some with a pointed toe topped with bells. My idea is big. I put the dimensions on there for ya. I was also snipping and trimming as I went along. So anyways, draw out your own pattern. Keep in mind that you will need the tip of the toe and the rim on the top to be sewn to the body of the sock, so you need to count in a little extra fabric for the seem. Also, remember there should be about 1/2" seem allowances all the way around. Don't make your stocking too skinny. The small rectangular piece there will be the loop to hang the stocking with.

Cut out the pattern twice, one for each side. Sew together.

To make your stocking quilted like this one you'll need the outer material, the batting, and the quilted backing for each side of the stocking. They all need to be the same size. The quilted backing can be any scrap of material. It will be covered by the inside lining.

Pin all three pieces together and begin machine quilting the pattern you like. On one side of mine I followed the pattern already printed on the fabric. On the red side I made a swirly pattern. To do this I drew the swirls on the quilted backing and followed my own lines. Remember this will be covered by the inner lining.




After quilting both sides, sew together the loop for the stocking to hang by. I didn't have a very good picture of this so try to picture it in your head. Take the long rectangle and fold both sides in to meet in the middle. Then fold them together again, and sew it down the middle or along the edge. This should hide the long raw edges and make a nice long thin piece to loop. Fold the piece in half and tack it on to the top of the stocking. Let it point in towards the middle of the stocking. When we insert the lining it will be flipped out.


Sew both sides of the stocking together.

Now you will make the inner lining of the stocking. Cut out two pieces of fabric the same size as your stocking. Make sure to cut them out with both of the right sides facing each other.
Sew them together. Do not sew up the top of the stocking. Make sure you leave about 5 inches on the tip of the toe unsewn. This is how you will turn the stocking inside out. In my first picture here I forgot to do this, so I had to go back and unpick it.


The next part is kind of tricky. Keep the lining that you have just sewn together turned the wrong side outward. Stuff the stocking (the right side out) inside of the lining. You will be sewing them together this way.

Sew all the way along the top of the stocking. Peek inside before you sew down the loop to hang the stocking with, and make sure it is where you will want it to be.

Now pull the lining out from around the stocking through the hole you left in the bottom. And sew up the hole. Stuff the lining inside. Sew around the top of the stocking again about an inch from the top.

You're done! It's really simple. If you have any questions I'd love to answer them. Just write them in a comment.
Merry Christmas!