Pumpkin Placemats

So, just when I think I'm back to blogging - I do something stupid like take photos for the blog then leave the camera in New Jersey when we were visiting the kids.  UGH.  So, I missed a week and my schedule is all off - but here I am again.  This time with a crafty project I just finished for Carriage Corner.  

I decided that pumpkin placemats were in order.  First, I did a search for a pumpkin embroidery design.  See the one I had was too small - but I liked that it had 3 color sections to the pumpkin.  I found a larger design that I could make work.  Then, I dug through the stash of quilting cottons to come up with 3 orange fabrics and 2 greens.  

Next up was creating templates for the applique fabrics. While the design I purchased came with 'cut' files - I don't have a machine for cutting fabric or vinyl so I have to do it myself.  To do this, I unthreaded my embroidery machine, put an old needle in, hooped stabilizer, and then placed regular printer paper on the embroidery hoop, pinning it in the corners.  I stitched out the first couple of colors, then changed the paper - to get templates for everything I needed - fabric 1 - the outer edges, fabric 2, the middle section, fabric 3 was the center of the pumpkin, the leaf & stem.  Because my design was only intended for 1 fabric, I had to get a little bit creative, I stitched the satin stitch that would go around fabric 2 and then traced the template shape.  It worked.  

Templates:  fabric 1 & 2; stem & leaf, fabric 2.

After that, I figured out what size I wanted my finished placemats to be and cut the background fabric to size.  I'm a lazy embroider-er and feel that there is too much room for error when hooping your main fabric.  I tend to hoop my stabilizer and then pin my fabric to it.  So, once I figured out where on the placemat I wanted that pumpkin to land - that's what I did.  The next photo shows my 'official placement.'  I folded the background fabric in half, lining it up with the center markings on my embroidery hoop and had the bottom edge of the fabric just touching the inside of the hoop.  Without moving the design, this positioned it perfectly for the plate to sit right over the embroidery once breakfast was served.  

I will admit - I embroidered a couple of pumpkins that couldn't be used.  And learned a few things in the process.  I had to remember to layer the fabrics all right side up when cutting the templates.  I used fusible basting spray to keep the pieces in position during embroidery.  

Once all the pumpkins were embroidered - a full house around here is 13 - but I made a set of 12.  Honestly, it rare that we have more than 10.  Plus, the only plates these placemats will work with currently are plain white and I only have enough to set a table for 8.  Yes, things can get confusing around here - but I try to always plan for 12 when purchasing or making table linens.  

Anyway - once the embroidery was done, I then cut strips of the green fabric used for the stems and stitched it to the sides of the placemat.  I then squared everything up, layered embroidered top, backing and batting.  Stitched around the outside, leaving an opening for turning.  Turned, pressed and then stitched around the outside a 1/4" from the edge.  

Here's the pumpkin side set this morning - there is a basket of gourd in the center of the table.  I don't like these green napkins with the placemats, but they are what I had this morning that worked.  

Eleanor's First Stocking

Oh Gosh - I still haven't introduced you all to E yet.  The Princess and The Sports Writer had a beautiful baby girl on January 23, 2017.  She is just the most perfect thing ever.  I strongly advise everyone to have grand kids.  :D

E wearing a dress her Mommy wore as a baby.

Ravelry says that back in 2009 - I decided to knit new Christmas stockings for our family of 4. Everyone picked their favorite color - JB chose Eagles Green; The Musical One = purple; The Princess = hot pink; and I got lime.  The 4 original stockings are the same.

The Princess, JB, Mine & The Musical One's stockings

Then, The Princess got married. So, it only seemed right that The Sports Writer got a stocking. His stocking is slightly different than The Princess' and the rest of the family. Similar but different. This was gifted to The Sports Writer in 2014, after the wedding.

Leg of The Princess' Sock

Leg of The Sports Writer's Sock

We picked a soft pink and white for E's First Christmas Stocking - I say first, because as she grows up, she might want a different color and I'm okay with that.  As you can see - E's sock is similar but different from the others.  I really love the striped instep on this one.  I love the way the stripes look and the snowflakes across the top of the foot.

E's First Stocking

My favorite photo of The Princess & Little E

New Sewing Room

Well - we've been in our new house and living this new life for close to a year now.  While our "Owner's Quarters" are much smaller than our home was in Seattle - there is plenty of room for us.  There is even room for us to have personal guests.  Oh - but that's a tour for another day - remind me, k?

Today, I thought I'd show you how I've set up my sewing space in our Owners Quarters.  Once again, we have a large walk-out basement space.  And I think I have just as much space as I had back in Seattle, only with more furniture.  So, when you go downstairs, the first thing you see is the fabric shelves.  Yes - I know they should be covered, and they will be - someday.  Probably before Eleanor can walk and starts pulling fabric off the shelves.  At the top of fabric shelves are baskets of yarn.

The old leather dual-recliner loveseat is downstairs along with 2 chairs.  {We move most of this furniture out for sewing retreats.}  Because Beau couldn't manage the stairs very well, we started spending our evenings downstairs.  We have the seating and a large tv down here.

Immediately to the left of the fabric shelves is the little shelve which holds my envelope patterns. The top bins have button overflow and zipper storage and the basket on the window ledge holds fusibles.

Behind the chairs, is my sewing desk.  It's the same one I had in Seattle.  It holds all 3 of the machines - although I'm not sure the newest one will be out all the time.  I've been moving them around to set the sewing machine up for embroidery and still be able to sew - hence the newest one.  

Behind my sewing chair, is my cutting table.  I lost the storage under it when we chose to put the dog crates under there.  This truly was for the best, because the crates are large and Jethro & Stella still sleep in them.  So reorganizing was a priority.  As you can tell - I did not clean up to take these photos - I was getting ready for shirt cutting and holiday sewing prep.  I do tend to clean up between each project, however.

Behind the cutting table is my ironing board and iron.  I keep it set up all the time.  The door go out to our fenced yard.  

Finally, at the end of my sewing desk is a bookcase which holds my sewing and knitting reference books, binders of knitting patterns, and my Threads and Ottobre magazines.

So - my space is spread out and yet just a bit more compact than it was before.  We spend more time down here.  There is also a full kitchen, dining room and half bath - which is why it works so well for the retreats.  Sorry for the mess - but welcome to my new sewing room.