The Handmade

1. Make a stack of fabric napkins (fabric options scoped!)
2. Make an apron....for myself!
3. Finish the Sophia bag (done!)
4. Make a half square triangle quilt for Little Miss Lou (done!)
5. Make a pinwheel quilt for Little Miss Bee (in progress!)
6 . Crochet enough sunshine squares for an adult sized afghan (96 + counting!)
7. Embroider a wall hanging
8. Make one or two playsuits for Little Miss Bee (done!)
9. Make a birthday party dress for Little Miss Bee
10. Make lazy days skirts for Little Miss Bee (done!)
11. Make an apron for Little Miss Bee (done!)
12. Make a super-cape for Little Miss Bee (done!)
13. Make a long-sleeve jumprope dress for Little Miss Lou (done!)
14. Make a tooth fairy pillow for Little Miss Lou (done!)
15. Make lazy days skirts for Little Miss Lou (done!)
16. Make a school photo dress for Little Miss Lou
17. Make an ice cream blouse for Little Miss Lou (done!)
18. Make flannel pjs for both Little Misses
19. Make a fabric pennant garland (made a mini!)
20. Make fabric cards
21. Make an ice cream dress with solids for Little Misses Lou and Bee (done!)
22. Make the doll carrier from Little Things to Sew for Little Miss Bee (done!)

Part of the 2011 in Lists Projects

Christmas Elves

Christmas crafting is in full swing around these here parts, though I'm having to seriously revise my list of critical, must-be-done-in time projects. I did manage to carve out some time to make three little elf dolls as a thank-you gift for another triplet family that has passed on a ton of clothes and other items from their girls who are almost exactly one year older than mine. Let me tell you, triplet moms are awesome. They've all been there, they know what you need and they tell you you're going to be just fine. None of that "OMG, I don't know how you do it" or "I could never manage" nonsense that you hear from every stranger that comes within 50 feet of the triple stroller.

I used the free pattern that Hilary so generously posted a couple of years ago and stitched them up on muslin. For the back I used some retro fabric that I have been hoarding, thinking I would back a quilt with it. They have been tucked into a box and are on their way to three little girls who I hope will love them to pieces.

A Year in Sewing

See that? Up there? That's just a portion of all the sewing I did in 2009. Would you care to hear the full list of my comleted sewing projects? Yes? I thought so.

5 charming handbags, 12 coffee cozies, 3 clutches, 2 patchwork table runners, a swing swing smock, a chef's hat, a sleep mask, 4 Oliver + S playsuits, 2 comfy jumper dresses with bloomers, a flower girl dress, a smocked sundress, 8 yoga mat totes, a birdie sling, 2 patchwork belts, a set of embroidered dolls, 2 mousepads, 2 lazy days skirts with matching embroidered Ts, 8 half aprons, 2 full aprons, an oven mitt, a patchwork scarf, a ruffled spring blouse, a baby quilt, 3 zippered wristlets, a fabric flower pin, a weekender bag, and a stuffed elephant

It's a pretty impressive list, if I do say so myself. For a few of those projects I plan to share more details soon. For instance, the elephant I wanted to keep for myself but didn't and the bag that nearly killed me.

Semi-home made, crafting edition

I love giving hand crafted gifts, but there are many occasions when I can't find the time or summon the energy to pull together a Made by Elise original. Lately I've been whipping up last minute gift bags for purchased outfits, books and the like. They're quick to make and are a lovely way to individualize a present. And, quite honestly, the bag is likely to still be in use long after the contents have been outgrown.

This little bag was made for my niece's third birthday. I used some re-purposed linen from a dress I bought at the thrift store for $2 and appliqued on a Wee Wonderfuls Tulip Fairy Stitchette that I stitched up on linen a while ago and had hanging around. I even managed to use the hem of the dress for the top so the bag literally came together with three seams, four button holes and a yard of purple cording I found in my box of random sewing stuff (everyone has one of those, right?). Inside the bag was a little outfit I put together (but didn't manage to photograph) comprised of a Lazy Days Skirt in a printed corduroy and a T-shirt and tights from Target.

For a birthday gift for a certain one year-old, I made this simple tote from a fairy tale print purchased long ago from Superbuzzy. The handles are 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbon that I stitched on by hand, adding four buttons for detail. Inside was another Target outfit and a little board book that I thought would delight his hip Vancouver parents as much as the sushi-loving birthday boy himself (I was correct).

Next up, a new baby/new mom gift that I'm heading straight to the sewing room to finish.

Baby Dolls

Last summer, sitting in the sun, I began and completed my first Stitchette. Things happened, time passed, and snow began to fly. It was the perfect time to get back to stitching the remaining girls of summer. And complete them I did on quiet Michigan mornings before Christmas, where tons of snow was flying both from the sky and the ends of shovels.

I knew what these girls would become then but they sat in the bottom of my project bag until the weekend before Valentine’s Day. Out they came to be ironed, matched with fabrics, and sewn into rough doll outlines. A bit of stuffing was added and they became the cutest little baby-sized dolls I’ve ever seen.

Baby B, at just two months old, doesn’t quite have the ability to grasp more than a handful of hair. I’m hoping, though, that soon these will be loved, waved about, and slobbered all over. For now I’m so happy to know that Mommy thinks they are the most perfect baby toy ever.

In the mail - finally

I had the best intentions for a handmade Christmas last year, I really did. But then school and rearranging our house to accomodate month-long visitors took over and my plans went up in smoke. Things got so out of hand that I didn't even manage to finish my gifts for my niece and nephew which I feel pretty guilty about. And they were going to be such good gifts.


For my sweet niece, a patchwork pillow in green and purple to coordinate with her bedroom. The center panel is an embroidery based on the Wee Wonderfuls Peppermint Fairy Stitchette. I swapped her candy cane for a bouquet of flowers and the peppermints for sparkles and gave her a coordinating outfit to the fabrics I wanted to use. The fairy tale print fabric is from Superbuzzy, as is the green umbrella print and the purple/orange flower print. I put a hidden zipper along the bottom seam and lined the patchwork panel with muslin to make it a little sturdier. Plans are in the works for a coordinating doll quilt for the gorgeous doll bed that my brother made for my niece's last birthday.

And for my car and train obsessed nephew, a pillow based on one of the Christmas Wishes Stitchettes stitched on linen. The cars, stripes and blue/red fabrics were Superbuzzy purchases, but I'm sure I've seen these prints elsewhere. In all honesty, this didn't turn out exactly how I had imagined. I wanted to use train fabric instead of the cars, but it just didn't work so I swapped it out at the last minute. Also, I would have like to do the embroidery on black linen but for the life of me couldn't transfer the drawing satisfactorily. Anybody have any hints? Hopefully it's good enough to impress a four year-old boy.

I added an outfit for each of them and a couple of these awesome Glitter Balls to the box and sent it off this morning. Hopefully it will get there for Valentine's Day. Better late than never, right?

Stitching and Relaxing

Elise had very kindly shared her extra set of Wee Wonderfuls Summer Stitchettes with me, um, last summer so I decided I should stitch up one of those. Out came the iron, muslin, hoop, and floss. Down I sat in the long absent sun for a few hours of stitching.

This pattern was a big leap from my first jaunt into embroidery and I'm very impressed with the results. Except for hair of gold my Tilly looks just like the postcard included with the pattern. It gives me the boost in confidence I need to take on more embroidery projects. I don't want Tilly to get lonely so I have to bring Ruby, Anna, and Sam to life. Eventually these girls of summer will be turned into little dolls.

Surprisingly my favorite part of the project is invisible to everyone else. I had not expected to find myself so completely relaxed. During my first project I was so busy looking between the book and fabric to make sure it was perfect that I missed the quietness of it. The steady rhythm of the needle and the sound of the floss being pulled through the fabric couldn't help but quiet my mind. It's this sort of relaxation that I need to pay more attention to.

A First

Sewing is my craft of choice. However, it is fairly limited by where you can easily take it. A friend’s house for the day is not a problem but vacationing in a Berkshires cabin for a week is a problem. For that reason I decided I needed to work on developing some skills in the mobile crafting area.

Embroidery seemed like the perfect option to explore. A small hoop, collection of threads, small scissors, fabric pieces, and a needle can all easily fit in a small drawstring bag. It then very nicely tucks into those last remaining inches of your suitcase. So it was that last fall I picked up Jenny Hart’s Sublime Stitching book. During that glorious week in the Berkshires last September I read the book and embarked on my first embroidery project, a simple car.

I lightly traced it onto my fabric in pencil and placed it into my hoop. I decided to keep it simple, mostly using the backstitch, so I could get my rhythm and spacing down. In went the light yellow headlight, then the orange outline, and finally the black tires. It was there that the project sat in limbo for many, many months. (I did mention the glorious week, right?)

Recently I dug out the piece and added the bumpers thus officially completing my first embroidery project. I think I am going to turn it into an oh-so-funky-and-delightful car air freshener filled with dried lavender. I’m hoping the presence of lavender in the car during the commute will have a calming effect on me. Realistically, my car will just smell nice as the impatient person waiting to make a left hand turn out of the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot pulls out in front of me, steaming coffee and cell phone in hand. Hmm, maybe I should make one for their car, too? It’s good to spread the calm.

Stitching time

Cute, aren't they? I've decided that embroidery is the perfect take-along craft: all the supplies fit into a zip-lock bag and scissors are the only equipment required. Plus, assuming you pack enough fabric, it can keep you endlessly occupied. These four Stitchettes were completed during my recent trip. The umbrella and gardening girls were done on cotton sateen and the fishing and skateboarding girls on linen. It was my first experience embroidering on linen and I was surprised how much I liked both the look and feel of it. My linen came from a dress that I got for $5 at the Salvation Army last summer. I've found thrift stores to be a great source for affordable linen; this particular dress also yielded enough fabric to make two smocks. Next up, the Tulip Fairy.

February blues

Only five more days until we start marching our way towards spring. I'm a little sick of winter at the moment (well, at least of dealing with the winter) but have decided to make the best of it. Here's my recipe for beating the mid-winter blues:


A delicious chocolate cupcake or two with almond-peppermint frosting. I prescribe one for breakfast and one before bed plus as many in between as necessary. Accompany with plenty of hot tea (try the Blue Flower Earl Grey).


There's nothing like working towards a nice achievable goal to lift the spirits. How about an easy lap quilt from my favorite sewing book. I have to use up all that fabric before Joel's new line is released.


And plenty of cozy time on the sofa with a quiet project and some more tea. I'd skip the cupcake though, the crumbs get everywhere.

A girly bag

Yes, the great pillow/bag debate finally has a victor and my little Stitchette finally has a home. I had such trouble deciding what to do with this project. Tory finally gave me a nudge in the bag direction and I'm really pleased with the results. I appliquéd the embroidery onto the outside fabric with a layer of flannel in between. The flannel provides some thickness and prevents the flowered fabric from showing through the cream fabric. This was my first "real" appliqué - no glue or double-sided interfacing involved. I basted the fabric/flannel patch on with a straight stitch very close to the edge of the fabric and then went over it with a very tight zig-zag. I love that it looks like those souvenir badges you get when you're a kid.

The single strap was inspired by one of my new favorite bags. I used flannel as the lining and it gives it a nice feeling of firmness that is almost pillow-like. I cut out pieces of the pink fabric and the flannel that were each 2.5 inches wide. I ironed them both in half and folded under a 1/4 inch hem. Edge stitched both sides and it was done.


My flower fairy is also finished. It's basically the Peppermint Fairy Stitchette design but I turned the candy cane into a flower wand and chose spring colours instead of the original Christmas palette. She is going to be the center panel for a patchwork pillow, I already have a stack of fabrics picked out and ready to cut. I am going crazy for Hilary's embroidery patterns these days; I have the quilting bee girls on order and an embroidery hoop ready for their arrival. I'm a little obsessed, I admit, but they are just so quick and easy compared to some of the other projects on my horizon. Ah-ha, now I get it. I am craft-procrastinating with embroidery. I wonder if there is a support group for that?

Tuesday morning craft report

Embroidery continues around here with a fairy that hopefully will become an Easter present for my niece. It's still a month away, I think I might actually get this one done on time.
I thought I had enough fabric, but it turns out I was wrong. I needed some pink to complete my first stitchette project. I was thinking pillow but now am leaning towards a bag. Hmm, I just don't know.
And some turquoise and browns for the room makeover I have planned once we are done with the condo renovations. An ottoman, some pillows and a lap quilt are going to emerge from this lovely stack of Joel Dewberry. And for once I measured before buying so I might actually have enough for the entire project. Imagine that.