Happy Birthday Emma!

My friend and fellow Aquarius, Emma, turns 5 today and is celebrating with a cat themed birthday. Sadly, I couldn't make the trip to Virginia but I thought I would send along a gift in keeping with the theme. The tote is corduroy with a calico lining and the applique is wool with faux fur accents. I used an old "Lizzy McGuire" pattern for the basic size so it is scaled appropriately for my young friend.



As you can see my assistant was very involved in the design process.

Lydia's Knitting Bag

My favorite 10 year old is very precise with her Christmas list. While she does enjoy HSM as much as any other girl her age, her list is always unique. One year she asked for a pink guitar, last year she wanted a decorative pillow for her bed and this year it was knitting bag. Specifically, a knitting bag that was big, creative, had pockets for her needles and her knitting book and was filled with bamboo needles, a crochet hook and pretty yarn.






I'm happy to report the bag was a hit. Now I just need to find time to take those knitting lessons she's promised me.

The Stockings Were Hung....

Last year my Christmas present to my best friend was a promise to design and make stockings for her entire family. I'm still working on Mom & Dad but I finished the kids' stockings in time for the holidays.

Hanging on the mantle

Griffin's snowball fight stocking

Lydia's snowboard stocking

Stella's snowman stocking

These were fun to make and the older kids gave input on the designs. The stockings are made of felt. I used fusible web for the appliques and did a blanket stitch around each piece. All the details are hand embroidered.

Lydia approved :)

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Red coats, good friends and hot chocolate from Burdick's

Holiday movies, especially this one

And my all time favorite

Max in his santa coat

Especially when he's sleeping

Decking the Halls

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

We had our first snow of the season today. It was just a dusting but it's starting to feel like the holidays. I met my friend Jenn at the annual Bazaar Bizarre to do some Christmas shopping and then walked back to the T thru the Copley Place and Prudential Center to check out all the holiday decorations. It definitely put me in the holiday spirit.

Sadly, still no tree as I have a few projects to finish up before I can pack away the sewing machine that is currently set up in the middle of the living room. But I did want to share our newest Christmas ornament:



It makes me smile everytime I look at it. I had it custom made by an Etsy shop called Lynn's Little Creations. She does beautiful work and I was impressed with how quickly she was able to put it together. If you are looking for something special I would highly recommend her shop.

Canine Couture

I've been working on a number of projects for the holidays but I don't want to spoil any surprises by sharing them here. However, I couldn't resist posting my first attempt at canine couture because I know the recipient and her owner don't read the blog.

I stuck pretty close to the original pattern, using some black wool I picked up a yard sale this summer (for free!), faux fur for the lining and collar and hot pink topstitching. I love the result as modeled by our stuffed friend Winston and I think it will look even better on the stylish Jack Russell terrier who will be recieving it for Christmas.