Category Archives: Christmas

2011 UFOs and WIPs

With the finish of the TTMT UFO Deadline Challenge, my mind is filled with the projects that I am not only working on, but the ones that have been on the back burner.

Before we start, some definitions:

UFO = UnFinished Object – a project that has been set aside and allowed to collect dust. Chances are it’s existence has been forgotten until it’s pulled out of whatever dark hole it was stuffed into. While there, it probably multiplied like Tribbles, leaving many more UFOs than you remember putting there in the first place.

WIP = Work In Progress  – Always in danger of becoming a UFO, a WIP is a project that is currently being worked on, and will hopefully become a…

FO = Finished Object – What all projects dream of being. The object of much blog activity and excitement and a good source of personal pride. The Ultimate Destination of a UFO and WIP.

This year, in addition to my list of UFOs, I’m including my WIPs and some DYI. This is by no means a complete list because I’m very much a Do It Right now kind of  person. That is to say, when I get an idea, I often have to stop everything and do it now!

See my 2010 UFO list and the follow-up post.

Quilting Projects

Brown Bear, sadly no change since 2009

Bear Paw Pass Around

STATUS – UFO

Started as a pass around project with my bee in 2008, I sadly have not touched these blocks for over a year. I did go through the box and make a plan…

Brown Bear, sadly no change since 2009

I plan to use the gold fabric for sashing and was playing with the idea of using brown for the cornerstones. The more I look at the fabric, the more I think I want brick red cornerstones. The brown just sort of disappears against the gold.

1/2 square triangles from exchanges

Half-square triangle exchange blocks

STATUS – UFO-ish

These are the results of two half-square triangle exchanged I participated in last year. I have not yet decided what I’m going to do with them, which is what gives them their “ish” status. They’re just waiting for the right project to crop up!

The InuYasha quilt - I still need t-shirts

InuYasha Quilt

STATUS – Still Collecting

I started collecting shirts for an InuYasha quilt for my daughter last year. The plan is to use the Shoji Screen pattern and place the t-shirt fronts where the large panels would be. Unfortunately, I only have one t-shirt so far, courtesy of ladyoflosttimes. If you have an InuYasha shirt you’d be willing to part with, please let me know and we can work out a trade. InuYasha is her fandom of choice and the least a good fandom mommy can do is make a fandom quilt for her daughter!

10" HP swap blocks that need to be a quilt

Harry Potter/Magical Swap blocks

STATUS – UFO

These quilt blocks are the results of several swaps. Sadly, I’ve had them several years now. I am one step closer to doing something with them now that I realize I  need to break them into sets. The top set are all the 10″ blocks with images on them that say “Harry Potter” to me. The bottom set are more traditional blocks, blocks that are bigger (or smaller!) than 10″ or magical blocks that aren’t as HP-ish. I still love all the blocks, but I definitely need to make two, possibly three, quilts out of these!

Misc Blocks from Swaps

Christmas Quilt needs borders

Christmas Quilt

STATUS – UFO…leaning towards WIP

Started two years ago from a swap I participated in on All About Paper Piecing (a currently defunct ning network), this quilt is getting a piano key border out of Christmas fabric. I’ve already got it sorted out and plan to start cutting in the next month so it’ll be ready to go to quilt retreat in March.

New York Beauty UFO

New York Beauty Quilt

STATUS – UFO

I started this NYB for a class I taught last year. I had lots of models for the class, all in different stages of done-ness. The class was a blast…and then I lost my steam. I will be optimistic and take this one to retreat in March. I have all the pieces cut and just need to get them together. Will I? Who knows!

Beginning applique class lesson UFO

Beginning Hand Appliquéd block

STATUS -UFO…leaning toward WIP

I took a beginning hand appliqué class last year and learned lots! I even almost finished my class project. Can you see there are two leaves that need to have buds added and to be stitched in place? That’s it…all I have left to do to finish this block. I’m putting it in my car so I can work on it in the carpool line. Maybe I’ll actually finish it then!

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The Project of Doom

STATUS – WIP

All the blocks for the PoD are designed and I am several weeks ahead of everyone else in piecing them. I plan to have my quilt top finished by the end of March.  This is my pet project for 2011 and my gift to my friends in the Harry Potter crafty fandom. Want to play along and make your own Harry Potter mystery quilt? Click the banner above!

Below – Tackett protects the PoD blocks.

Tackett protects the Project of Doom.

Five at the Hive January Fall 5 at the Hive January Extra

5 @ The Hive Fall Colorway 2011

STATUS – WIP

5 @ The Hive is Honey Bee Quilt Store ‘s Block of the Month. I’m participating for the first time this year. The two blocks above are my January blocks. I’m doing the fall colorway with the extra block. By the end of the year, there will be enough blocks for a completed quilt top. I’m super excited about this one because 1)I’m not designing it and 2) it comes with fabric and 3)I love the blocks and the layout.

Crocheting

Brown Ghan UFO

Variegated and Browns

STATUS – UFO

I completely forgot about this until I cleaned out my stash. I will get back to working on it after I finish the next project on the list. This will probably be a blanket for The Linus Connection.

black and red project

Black/Red Knit or Crochet Swap

STATUS – WIP

After doing absolutely nothing with these fabulous black and red knit and crochet blocks from a Twilight Crafts swap in 2009, I have created enough white blocks to make a chess/checkerboard out of the set. The next step is to crochet them all together and then add a red, white and black border.

Crafts

A bowl I started

Rope Bowl – “It’s A Wrap” style

STATUS – UFO

This is the only unfinished craft project I found, and it can really be classified as a sewing project…so, go figure. This was the bowl I started when I taught the It’s A Wrap class last fall. I brought it home from class and promptly forgot all about it. I would like to get back to it and finish it up because the technique is just so darn fun!

DIY

Stairs - Before

Staircase makeover

STATUS – WIP

Just last week, I pulled the carpet off of our stairs. It had horrible, gross carpet that the builders installed 20 years ago. I’ve steamed cleaned them so many times, the thought of doing it again made me feel like weeping. The stairs are now de-carpeted, de-carpet-tacked, scrubbed and primed. The next step is a faux finish to turn the stairwell and stairs into a stone passageway. Yeah, you heard that, I actually said it out loud!

Projects In Mind

I have about a million and one other projects that I’d like to tackle this year. These are some ideas that have crossed my mind that are on the high end of happening.

  • A Twi-Wizard She-Shirt in Ravenclaw colors with “ofenjen” on the back. Because I can. And for DH, part 2.
  • A new Monk’s Bag 2.0
  • A granny ripple afghan for Linus. Someone made several in December and they were really neat. I want to make one.
  • A multitude of fun layout patterns for the Sewhooked Shop, like Classic Film, intended specifically for 5″ (finished) blocks.
  • A werewolf wall hanging or cushion for my daughter. Not found in all my stuff today were the blocks designed by Cat Magraith that I started making for Miss E last year (definite UFO status). Hopefully they’ll turn up before March!
  • Miscellaneous gifts for people I love. I do have some things in mind, but hey, spoilers!
What are you working on this year? Do you have any UFOs or WIPs? Blog about them and leave me a link so I can see what you’re up to or tell me in comments!

All Packed Away

My family un-decorated a week ago today, but it’s always hard for me to take down the holiday cards. They are concrete evidence in my hands of the existence of so many of my friends and family, all in one place, and I LOVE THAT.

Cheesy? Possibly, but I don’t care.

The cards are all down and packed away. Yes, I save them all.

Christmas cards 2010
One last look. Thank you to everyone that sent us a card!

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Baking Day

toffee close up

Today was the beginning of holiday baking. I’ve been wanting to make candy and treats since the first day of December, but it just has not happened.

2010 found me not only going back to work part-time after being a stay-at-home mom for almost fifteen years, but it’s also the year that I turned Sewhooked from humble blog and website into my own pattern publishing business. It’s been a crazy, exciting and very busy year!

The new (and exciting!) demands on my time have kept me out of the kitchen. With Linus over for the year and my kids out of school, I decided today was going to be The Day.

I broke out my favorite old cookbooks and hand-scribbled recipes and started cooking. These are today’s accomplishments.

english toffee

Toffee, adapted from a recipe found in and old church cookbook.

Chocolatey Butter Toffee

  • 1 c butter
  • 1 c sugar
  • 1 c chocolate chips
  • 1/2 c pecans

Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet, sprinkle pecans on the paper.

Cook butter and sugar in a heavy saucepan until it reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and pour over pecans. Spread the mixture with a non-stick spatula. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of hot toffee. All to sit for several minutes and then spread with the spatula. Move cookie sheet into the refrigerator for 1 hour to set chocolate. Remove, break into pieces and store in an air-tight container at room temp.

drying mints

Holiday Mints, from a company cookbook found at a thrift store. This is a new-to-me recipe.

No-bake Holiday Mints

  • 1 pound powdered sugar
  • 3 Tbs room-temp butter
  • 3 1/2 Tbs evaporated milk or 1/2 & 1/2
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • a few drops of food coloring

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl (I have upright mixer – it worked a treat!); knead mixture in bowl until smooth. Shape mints in candy molds placed on a baking sheet. Cover with a towel and allow to air dry.* Remove from molds and store in an airtight container.

*note – there is no time listed for how long these take to dry. I’m going to try overnight and I’ll get back to you!

ETA – These tasted like toothpaste…I even tried dipping them in chocolate to save the batch, but then it tasted like chocolate-covered toothpaste! If I did this again, I would omit the almond extract.

cracked ginger cookies 2

Cracked Ginger Cookies from Reader’s Digest Cookies – 1001 Mouthwatering Recipes from Around The World, another new-to-me recipe!

peanut brittle

Jennifer’s Best Peanut Brittle – Yes, I did name this after myself. Follow the link and you’ll see why!

fudge

Fantasy Fudge, right off the back of Kraft’s Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme. I’ve been making fudge my entire adult life and this always, always gives me the best results!

Am I done for the holidays, you ask? Not by a long shot! I still have bon-bons and cookies for Santa to make!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post.

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My Friends Make Stuff 2010

You may remember Handmade For The Holidays 2009, where I talked about my crafty friends that make and sell handmade awesomeness.

I started posting this list originally on Livejournal back in 2007 and each year I collect names from personal friends who are crafty and awesome, making all kinds of great things to sell. This year, I’m including an author friend because he is a very talented artist and self-published, which is, of course, awesome!

I personally own stuff made by everyone on this list. It’s ALL amazing, and made with skill and love, and in the case of the books, beautifully illustrated and a joy to read.

Also, I will happily continue to add the names of my friends to this list until the end of 2010, so if you should be on here and aren’t, just drop me an email!

Also be sure to check out my shop and etsy store for quilting, paper pieced patterns, crochet hats and buttons!

Listings are in alphabetical order by first word. 🙂

Convivial Crafter

IMG_0424 IMG_0305 855762791307 IMG_0864

What you sell: this year will be hats, and aprons and maybe a few bags

Price Range: $10-$50Int’l Shipping Available?: yes but shipping will be charged differently.

Fateful Fiber


Neon Delirium (Sandman) Handspun, DFTA Yarn, Blazing Baby Hat

What you sell: Handspun yarn, fingerless gloves (coming soon but I do take custom orders), baby hats, adult hats. Right now the shop has yarn and 1 baby hat

Price Range: $10-30

Last date to order before Christmas: I’ll do my best to ship as close to Christmas as I get orders. Mail takes at LEAST 3-4 days so I can’t offer guarantees, but I promise to do my best!

Int’l Shipping Available?: Yes, just convo me for a shipping quote.

Von Allan Studios

What you sell: writes/draws graphic novels

Price Range: In the $15 range.

Int’l Shipping Available?: If you would prefer not to order from an online retailer AND your local stores aren’t carrying the books and won’t order them…please e-mail.

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Have a sewhooked little Christmas

A little Christmas Cheer from the sewhooked flickr group!

Christmas Hanging

by sewtobed on flickr

Ms. Santa
by ramblequeen on flickr

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by Jennifer T.

Santa's Elf Little Wonky Christmas Tree Lil St. Nick Mrs. Claus

by liljabs on flickr

Lots more great quilts in the flickr Christmas quilts group!

Holly Jolly Christmas

More Christmas cheer from sewhooked:

If you make a Sew Awesome Craft or any pattern, craft or recipe from sewhooked,  I’d love to see a photo.  Email me or add it to the sewhooked flickr group.

Recycled Gift Bags from Paper Bags

The holiday head cold has grabbed me with both hands!  Fortunately, I finished my gift making and wrapping before I could spread cooties along with my Christmas cheer.

I did something I almost never do and *gasp* bought pre-made gift bags for holiday treats.  When I opened the packages, they all had a bottle neck.  After I forced my eyebrows down out of my scalp, I realized the cute little bags were practically useless unless the entirety of my holiday giving included M&Ms.

Without any time to spare, I started digging around in my “keep just in case” drawer and came up with a stack of paper wine bags that I’ve been holding on to forever.  Jackpot!

To make your own holiday gift bags/wrap from recycled wine bags, you’ll need:

  • paper bags (any size)
  • tape or glue
  • hole punch
  • ribbon
  • iron
  • Something to cut the bags (paper cutter, rotary cutter, decorative or plain scissors)
  • stamps, stickers, or other embellishments

If your bags are like mine, they’re likely to be in all different states of crumpled-ness.  So, first things, first, iron those bags if needed.  Medium heat works.  Ironing on a paper bag will also clean your iron, so you might want to start with a sacrificial bag, just in case your iron has any Ghosts of Craft Projects Past lurking around.

Much better!

I happen to have a snazzy wavy blade for my rotary cutter. Try scissors, decorative or plain, or fun rotary blades.

Each wine bag will make 2 gift bags.  Determine how big you want each side to be, leaving about 1″ for folding for each bag.

Bottom and top (L-R)

If you’re making more than one gift bag out of your original bag, you may need to seal the bottom. Glue works for this, but so does tape or a cute sticker.

This is also a good time to embellish your gift bag with stickers, stamps, or doodles.

Top finish off, fold the top down and punch two holes through all layers.  Insert your gift and tie a ribbon through to close.

Repeat the steps for all bags.  The bottom half of your recycled gift wrap will only need the tops folded and punched since the bottom is already sealed.  I stamped mine, but you can embellish your bags any way you like. Now, fill with holiday goodness and gift it!  If you’re stuffing your gift bags with edible homemade goodness, I suggest wrapping it in plastic or wax paper before placing it in the bag.

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

vlog – ttmt – Holly Jolly Decorations!

A holly jolly tour through our handmade holiday decor!

If you make a Sew Awesome Craft or any pattern, craft or recipe from sewhooked,  I’d love to see a photo.  Email me or add it to the sewhooked flickr group.

vlog: TTMT – Hats, Blocks & Sue

In which I share lots of hats, Christmas Cottage Swap blocks, a few ornaments and an update on Operation Save Sue!

If you make a Sew Awesome Craft or any pattern, craft or recipe from sewhooked,  I’d love to see a photo.  Email me or add it to the sewhooked flickr group.