I wish each of you a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving and hope you are able to spend it with special people in your life. I wish each of you safe travels and a holiday filled with love, laughter and reminiscences over fond memories!
I want to share my “Thanksgiving Cactus”. Its in full bloom and measures 32″ across. Never mind that I bought it during Christmas 4 years ago, thinking it was a “Christmas Cactus”. But it blooms each year at Thanksgiving and a little research confirmed that it is a Thanksgiving Cactus. I bought this as a small plant in a 4″ pot. It amazes me that not only has it lived, it has thrived and grown and grown each year. Although not a traditional color, there’s definitely nothing wrong with a little pink with our turkey.
1. Fold tabs areas of the house back and trace the outline of the house on the back side of the stripe fabric with a pencil. Cut out adding 1/4″ all the way around the house outline.
2. Lay the fabric right side down and glue the house to the back side of the fabric. Cut an X in the window and door areas, cutting from corner to corner. Fold the pieces back and glue to the back side of the house. Fold edges around the house back and glue to the back of the house. Cut pieces for the door and windows from the card stock and glue to the back side of the house. Fold house and glue together following instructions with the die.
3. Fold batting in half and cut a piece of batting the width of the roof and adding 1/2″ to the depth. Lightly glue the batting together between the layers. Align raw edges of the batting to the back edge so that the fold is over the front edge of the roof. Glue the batting to the roof. Put a line of glue on the front edge of the roof and press the batting over the edge. Glue the window and door frames in place.
4. Paint the roof and door of the small house red and paint red dots on the front. Paint the fence red. Fold house together and glue on the roof. Glue the small house to the larger house, overlapping by 1/3″. Glue buttons to house. Glue fence to attach to house.
Please click on the Sizzix badge in the sidebar to visit the other blogs in the blog hop. You will see some fabulous houses!
Halloween is almost here – next weekend! I love pumpkins – they represent Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Plus they are so delicious to eat in great desserts. You can make this easy Pumpkin placemat in time for Halloween. This free pattern will serve double duty as you can use it for a Thanksgiving table setting – just leave off the buttons.
Click to download the free pattern and instructions and start sewing. All you need is the background fabric, orange fabric, green bias tape, baby rick rack, fusible web and if you are making it for Halloween, buttons.
I wish you a fun Halloween! My husband will be handing out our candy since I will be in Houston for the International Quilt Market.
Its always fun to meet someone who you really admire. At the Atlanta Gift Market last month, I had the good fortune to meet Mary Engelbreit in the showroom of Katherine’s Collections. Mary was there for a personal appearance. I have always been a fan of Mary’s as well as appreciate her as a trail-blazer for art licensing.
The past couple of months have been the most hectic of all. Preparing for two major trade show events in January required hours and hours of work. Attending the shows, Atlanta Gift Market and CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) were almost like vacations because while they were technically work, I could lay down my paint brush and ignore my computer for a few days. Plus, its always such fun to meet up with friends.
The day before the CHA show in Anaheim, Brenda Pinnick and I went to Laguna Beach for some much deserved R&R. We shopped and had a great lunch while watching the Laguna Beach surf (which was very high due to the recent rains).
Although the shows are over, work continues with work from the shows as well as the work that was still in progress before the shows.
And, I am happy to say that I just finished a new fabric collection and am really excited about it.
I hope you are all staying warm in all this cold and snowy weather.
Everyone loves counting down to the holidays…add candy to the mix and you’ve got a fun Advent calendar from Sherri Osborn for the whole family to enjoy.
If you’re looking for something a little different to do with your paper beads then take a look at this paper bead star. This project is simple to adapt in a wide variety of ways.
Just because you’ve got to bake cookies for the whole family doesn’t mean you can’t look fabulous! Phyllis Dobbs has created this adorable holiday apron, and she’s got the free pattern just for you.
Sometimes those plain ornaments just need a little dressing up. Tammy Powley will show you how to use seed beads to create this unique ornament drapery.
Welcome to my turn in a Holiday Blog hop. I’m delighted to be part of this blog hop put together by talented artists. We are taking turns sharing a fun holiday project or craft and hope that you are inspired to make some using our free patterns and instructions. And leave a comment on each of the artists blog and you may win a random drawing for a prize by each artist.
I love to entertain over the holidays and often need more festive dishes or bowls. I painted this terra cotta flower pot to give an extra bowl to hold holiday treats (or even a plant). Since stripes and dots are very popular design elements and which I also happen to love, I used these to decorate it. It’s easy to do and you can make one and use it that night.
1. Use a terra cotta flowerpot the size of your choice – you can make it as big or small as you like. Wash the flower pot and go over it with alcohol to disinfect it.
2. With a pencil, draw the lines for the stripes around the rim. I made the stripes on mine about an inch wide. Also, draw 1/2 inch circles randomly on the bottom of the pot.
3. Paint the red dots and the red stripes, alternating the stripes. Paint the background of the bottom pot white and the remaining stripes. It will take 2-3 coats of paint. Let it dry between coats. Paint the inside of the pot your choice of white or red.
4. When the paint has dried, add small white dots in a line on the red stripes.
5. After all has dried, use a clear satin acrylic to seal the paint.
6. Fill with your choice of snacks, chips, ornaments or whatever you desire.
Please leave a comment to be entered into a random drawing for a prize. Also please visit the other artist that are participating in this blog hop and leave comments for a chance at more prizes.
As part of this blog hop, we are supposed to answer these questions to give some information about ourselves. Mine are below.
5 things we might not know about you that you’d like to share.
1. I love to listen to music when I work and have music of every genre except rap. The type of music I play depends on what I’m working on.
2. I planted lettuce for the first time this fall and was delighted that it turned out so tasty. The only place I had to plant it was in the flowerbed by the mailbox, but the bright greens looked very pretty and my husband backed down from being horrified by veggies growing front and center of our yard.
3. I’m a color junkie and often buy stupid stuff just because I like the color, however anything with great color is not stupid! Like a purple cooler to carry to the beach when we have several in basic red and white.
4. I enjoy social gatherings with my girlfriends such as bunko, girl’s poker, pokeno and book club. And, I don’t have time to read the books so I go to listen, socialize and drink wine.
5. I feel guilty because I don’t get around to exercising as frequently as I want – almost non-existent at this point as I’m working hard on close deadlines.
5 things going on in my creative world.
1. In October, I signed with a fabulous agent, Jewel Branding & Licensing and am very excited about this partnership.
2. I’m working on several new art collections and am looking forward to seeing new products created with my art at the January markets.
3. I’m putting together a quilt e-book.
4. I’ve been creating Christmas crafts to share with my blog readers.
5 things that really inspire me.
1. Color, lots of it.
2. Humor
3. Nature, especially the greens
4. Flowers, even though this is technically part of nature.
5. People – family, friends, and other artists. I’m also really inspired by the paintings of Matisse – love all his work.
Be sure to leave a comment and be included in a drawing for a prize.
Cooking and entertaining goes with the holidays, so I designed and sewed this Christmas apron for a festive addition to kitchen chores.
The first step was to hit my fabric stash to find red and green fabrics. I found the perfect combination of red, green and red and white stripe fabrics. I created a simple pattern that can be made in less than 2 hours. Click for the free pattern and instructions that you can download.
I would love to see pictures of aprons you make using this pattern. Enjoy and have a fun Christmas as you whiz through the kitchen wearing your new apron!
I’m inviting you to join our Blog Hop with the Artists. Each artist will post a Christmas project, craft, idea or fun project. Play, post and win – a prize will be given by each artist from the comments made on her blog!
How it works -
1. Between now and November 22, visit each artist blog below on the date listed to Play, Post and Win. Each artist will have some fun projects, free patterns or crafts or How-to’s for Christmas.
2. Just post a comment on each of our blogs when you visit, and you will be entered for a random drawing of a prize by each artist from the comments made on her blog.
So you can see, its fun and easy and you may win! Regardless, you will be a winner from the free projects offered by each artists.
This is my first blog hop and I’m excited to be a part it with such talented artists. Each artist licenses her art for products such as gift items, fabrics, table ware, stationery and much more. Check out their blogs for a chance to win and learn more about each very creative woman.
Today starts with Terri Conrad, so please visit her blog and be sure to leave a comment.
For 40 years, Sesame Street has been part of our lives and has encouraged us to accept all holiday traditions. Barbara Crews will show you how to create this wreath dedicated to some of our favorite Muppets.
For Thanksgiving crafts like place mats and name cards, you’ll need some festive art. How about a lesson from Helen South on drawing this cutie penguin.
Save cash for presents when you reuse gift bags or buy those inexpensive plain bags. Phyllis Dobbs will show you how to dress them up for the re-gifting process with a touch of delightful embroidery.
If you’ve got an ornament exchange to attend this year, a traditional Swedish ornament will really stand out in the crowd. Cheryl Fall will show you how to hand stitch this original piece.
Add a contemporary look to your holiday while saving some cash on Christmas Cards. This wax resist technique from Marion Boddy-Evans is just what you need.
This dimensional ornament has an intricate look, but is actually simple in design. Kate Pullen will show you how to cut and stamp this delightful addition to your decor.
Decking the Halls has never been so fun, and this one is perfect for helpful kids to take part in. Use up those scraps of fabric with this decorative craft from the Sadie and Lance blog.
Stuffed animals add a bit of fun and tenderness to any slew of presents. Stuff a stocking with a smile when you sew this little hippo from Lesley Shepherd.
Top off your candy jar with a snowman face as sweet as the treats inside. Sherri Osborn will show you how to paint and assemble this wintry decoration that is appropriate to show off all season long.
Embroider a plain gift bag to make it unique and tell someone they are special – all you need is some Pearl Cotton and assorted buttons.
This is so quick and easy to make, you can make several. Starting with a plain white gift bag, I used Pearl Cotton #3 from The DMC Corporation for the embroidery. Draw 2 top lines 1 1/4″ apart and stitch the lines with a back stitch using 1 strand of green Pearl Cotton. Stitch the inside lines with a running stitch and then stitch assorted sizes of red buttons between the embroidered lines.
Stitch a large lazy daisy flower with 2 strands of red Pearl Cotton. Use a second needle and red sewing thread to anchor the loops at the outside edge with a small stitch over the Pearl Cotton. Sew a large green button at the flower center to finish the bag.
You can add your own personal touches as you make your bags. I would love to see what you make.
Have fun and happy stitching.
Phyllis
Copyright – this design if for your personal use and may not be used commercially without written permission.
WELCOME! I invite you to visit with me in my studio where I create illustrations for licensing onto fabrics, gift, garden and textile products. I also design quilts and sewing patterns. My new quilt book with Leisure Arts is due out Spring 2012.
I would LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, so please leave a comment or email me. I appreciate your visits.
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Phyllis' Zazzle store features products created with her fun and whimsy art!
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Cupcakes are such a trendy craft theme right now, so check out these cupcake crafts to make in this free ebook created by Maria Nerius.These 31 Cupcake Inspired Creations feature something for everyone, from sewing patterns and paper projects to painting and beading.
I wish each of you a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving and hope you are able to spend it with special people in your life. I wish each of you safe travels and a holiday filled with love, laughter and reminiscences over fond memories!
