I’m not dead! It’s been six months since I’ve posted anything, and I must say that it’s very hard to get back into the routine of posting after you’ve taken a long break. Gordon and I spent about four months arranging new housing for his parents (independent and assisted living), as well as cleaning out, repairing and selling their…
For the past few weeks I’ve been working on Emily’s latest Halloween costume. This year she asked me to make the Cyndi Lauper outfit from the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” video, which was, appropriately, a lot of fun to make. It’s a coincidence, since I recently posted a squaw apron pattern, and the skirt Cyndi wears…
These cute stencil patterns were designed by Grace Evans, and published in the San Francisco Chronicle. Grace suggested using the stencils on walls, pillows or curtains. Since I’ve never stenciled anything, I envision them in a quilt using appliqué or crayon tinting. Click images to enlarge.
If you are planning for Hallowe’en festivities, you will be pleased with this appropriate design. It can be easily and quickly worked in outline, with heavy thread. The natural, bright colors of Autumn should be used. A table runner and sofa pillows would be novel and once made, could be used for several Hallowe’ens. Candle…
Do you think home sewers and crafty people in the 1920s could actually create these costumes with the unbelievably limited directions the publishers give in these articles? I have my doubts. Still, the illustrations are pretty cute. Most of the costumes have no instructions at all (simply suggesting you apply fabric or crepe paper to a foundation garment), and there…
I’ve had several requests from readers who wanted to make the Halloween screen I gave to my sister a couple of years ago, which I copied from an embossed 1920s Halloween decoration that I found online. Since my sister has the screen, I can’t provide detailed photos, but I can give you a pattern, a list of supplies, and…
Here’s a little project for my mother-in-law’s upcoming 86th birthday. It’s easy and fun to do, and reminds me of stitching sewing cards when I was little. Select an Alphabet I used an old Leisure Arts booklet (20 Backstitch Alphabets, Mini Series #2). You could also use a font. These instructions are for working with…
This is the project I’ve been working on constantly since my last post — making 150 crepe paper flowers in white and shades of blue/green, along with 35 birch bark vases. The theme for the decor at this event had already been selected, and, although Emily and I sort of struggled with different ideas for…
When I was making the wedding flowers for our friends, Kyle and Marcia, I found some instructions online for dyeing crepe paper streamers, which was appealing since there weren’t that many shades of crepe paper in their wedding colors, blue and yellow. The process was pretty easy, requiring only streamer rolls, food coloring and some shallow…
First of all, I want to thank everyone who made a comment on my Flower Garden Quilt Quandary. After reading all the comments (most of which politely suggested that I am crazy to take this quilt apart), and looking over the quilt again, I have decided to keep the set the way the quilter intended….
My younger sister, Mary, is a freak for Halloween. Unfortunately, she lives in a condo and doesn’t get any trick-or-treaters, which is a shame, because this girl goes all out in the decoration department. Fortunately, she has a wonderful Halloween party every year where she is able to show off new purchases and creations, in…
All quilt work took a back seat these past two weeks while I began a new project for our dear friends who are getting married this June. They were high school classmates in the late 60s, and recently met again at a high school reunion. Kyle has been our friend since he and my husband,…
This is a continuation of a previous tutorial. Please refer to part 1 of this tutorial for general directions which are not included here. SIMPLE PUFFY FLOWER – FANCY EDGE An easy variation of the Simple Puffy Flower in part 1 that can be done with any craft scissor. With your 12′ length of streamer,…
When I make crepe paper bouquets, I like to include a mix of Dennison type flowers (made with single petals) and ruffled flowers. I’m not going to bother writing a tutorial for the Dennison style flowers, because you can find good directions for these on the Martha Stewart site. There is also a free download…