Lysol Healthy Families

As a Mom of four little kids, germs and messes are a daily part of our home.  So having disinfecting wipes around for messes and spills, and their new hands free soap dispenser when I'm preparing dinner - make my job easier.  And by teaching my kids the importance of washing hands and helping me with cleaning the house, I'm hoping that less flu's and colds come into our home.  Because a healthy home = a happier home.

Have you heard of Lysol's Mission for Health?  It was started because Lysol understands health matters to us all; especially to mothers.  Lysol's Mission for Health is not just about making better products to help moms protect her family, but also about contributing to the health of the communities we live in. That's why Lysol started the new moms program, healthy habits initiatives in schools, the cold & flu prevention program and disaster relief efforts. Lysol is dedicated to doing more for health.  Learn more at Lysol.ca: http://www.lysol.ca/en/mission-for-health

Disclosure: I am part of the Lysol Healthy Families Ambassador Program by Mom Central. I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

April Bee Blocks . . .

This time we had to make Star Weaving blocks with this colour palette and Kona Ash for the background.

Here's my two blocks.  It was fun picking through my scraps and it was also a nice break from a secret quilt project I'm working on (which I'm hoping to get quilted this weekend).

And next month is my turn to pick the design and host our charity bee.  I'm already planning my block - it's going to be girly and REALLY scrappy!

Linking up to TNT Thursday.

Mini Clutch Tutorial

These mini clutches  were a big hit at my daughter's birthday party, and my daughters have found lots of uses for theirs.  So I thought I'd do up a little tutorial in case anyone else wants to make some.

First, cut out your pieces:

From the outer fabric, lining, and batting - cut one main piece 8.5" x 10"

From the outer fabric, lining, and batting - cut one flap piece 8" x 3.5"

Prepare your flap piece:

First, find something round and use it to cut the bottom edges of the flap pieces in a curve.

If you'd like to use an elastic loop and button closure, center the elastic on the outer flap fabric and place between the outer fabric and lining, right sides together. Layer the batting on top.

Sew all three layers together with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Clip curves, turn right-side out and press.  Topstitch close to the edge.  Put aside for now.

Prepare your main pieces:

Layer the outer fabric on a piece of batting and fold in half, with outer fabric right-sides together.  Stitch on side edges with a 1/4" seam.

Fold lining piece in half and sew side edges with a 1/4" seam, but this time leave a 2" opening on one of the side edges (to turn the clutch right-side out through later).

Push out one of the corners and mark a 2" line across and sew on line.  Clip corner.  Repeat for both corners of outer and lining pieces.

Attach flap to outer piece:

Find the center of the flap and the main outer piece and pin together.  Sew a scant 1/4" from edge.

Assemble bag:

Place the outer main piece inside of lining, right-sides together.  Stitch top edge with a 3/8" seam.

Finish bag:

Turn right-side out through opening in lining.  Stitch opening closed by machine.  Put lining into main bag, push out corners, and press top-edge.  Topstitch close to top edge.

Now just put on a pretty button and you're done!  You can also use a button-hole and button closure, a snap, or even velcro.

This one is for myself, perfect for a couple things I want to keep together so they're easier to transfer between purses.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions or corrections to the steps above - THANKS!

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and Fabric Tuesday.

on Spring break . . .

The past two weeks my kids have been off school for Spring break.  We have gone swimming, ice skating, to an indoor-playground, hosted a bunch of girls for my daughters 9-year old birthday party, walked to a friends for lunch, had friends over, hosted some cousins for sleepovers, hosted all my siblings and their kids for a coffee/dessert evening, walked to the park, and gone on lots of bike rides.  And it has all been SO FUN!  And I'm happy to say that I've had the energy for all of this, thanks to my doctor figuring out what's been causing my fatique and stomach problems for the past year and putting me on some medication to fix it.

And today we went for a bike ride to the library and duck pond, came home and everyone except my oldest daughter napped while I read a book, and then one daughter baked a batch of cookies while another daughter made dinner that's smelling wonderful cooking in the oven right now.  So I'm enjoying some freshly baked cookies with a rare afternoon coffee and making a pathetic attempt to catch up on my emails while the kids are all painting some masterpieces on our deck.

And there's only one day left of them all to myself because they're returning to school next week . . . how many days till Summer holidays start?!

Accuquilt's 3rd Annual Barn Quilt Design Contest

Enter by submitting original entry designs in .pdf, .jpg, .gif or .eps format.  Deadline is April 9, 2012 and there is no cost to register or enter.  Designs should be in the shape of a square, since they will be displayed as a 17’ x 17’ square on the AccuQuilt building.  Enter as many times as you like!

Prizes:

Grand prize winner will receive a prize package consisting of:

- One (1) $1,000 AccuQuilt Shopping Spree ($1,000 value)

- Round trip airfare for themselves and a friend from winner’s home and transportation to Omaha, NE, for an unveiling ceremony for their design on the AccuQuilt offices. 

- Two (2) tickets to the 2nd Annual Let’s GO! Quilt Retreat in Fremont on June 20-21, 2012 for themselves and a friend. 

- Three (3) night hotel stay (one room for three nights). 

- Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for three days. 

One runner up prize winner will receive a prize package consisting of:

- One (1) $250 AccuQuilt Gift Certificate 

- One (1) ticket to the 2nd Annual Let’s GO! Quilt Retreat in Fremont on June 20-21, 2012.

The top one hundred (Top 100) quilt block designs will be selected by a panel of AccuQuilt’s management from among all eligible entries received. Each of the 100 winners will receive a prize package aggregate value of $25 consisting of:

- One (1) $25 AccuQuilt Rewards Points ($25 value)

So start working on some quilt blocks!  Good luck!

Mini Clutches and a big THANK-YOU. . .

So, a couple weeks ago I asked for you to vote for the top I made for the Valentine's Day showcase, and THANKS to your votes, I placed second and won a $25 gift certificate to Contemporary Cloth.  I just want to extend a HUGE THANK-YOU to all of you that took the time to vote, I appreciate it so much!

As you may know, I have three little girls and two of them are school-age.  Little girl birthday invitations come home quite often, and buying gifts can add up.  So, since I enjoy making little bags and purses, I have been trying to sew for every birthday girl for the past couple of years.  It saves money, but I also really enjoy trying out new patterns and of course playing with fabric!  My daughters also love being part of picking out the fabric and style when another birthday party invite comes home.  So, with the fabric gift certificate, I ordered a bunch of half yard cuts of prints and coordinating solids for birthday girl sewing.

And since my oldest daughter is having her birthday party this weekend, I wanted to sew fabric goody bags for the girls.  And with my girls on Spring Break this week, they were lots of help with deciding on which fabrics to use and picking out matching buttons.  

These mini clutches were fun to make and my girls have already found a dozen uses for them - the finished size is 7 1/2" x 4" and 2" deep at the base.

Linking up to Finish it Up Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Sew & Tell Friday.

double strip quilt . . .

A very generous friend of mine gave me a bag full of leftover fabric from a double duvet cover she's making for her daughter.  All the fabrics were already in strips and after laying them all out, I realized it was enough for a double quilt top.  And since my oldest daughter was in need of one for her bed, I just sewed all the strips together for one fast quilt.

The fabric line is called Spellbound by Art Gallery Fabrics, and it's a bit of an older line.  I love the colours, perfect for my baby girl that will be nine already next weekend!  And now I'm trying to decide what colour to repaint her room with to match, maybe a purple?  Or the blue?  I'm hoping to pick up some backing for this quilt this week so I can get it quilted and bound.

Linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and Fabric Tuesday.

planning my quilt is coming along . . .

I ordered the solids to complete my bed quilt and they arrived in my mailbox this week . . . I'm hoping to start cutting into these soon, but I've been tackling some overdue mending lately that needed to get done first.

And after seeing my daughter using washcloths and hairpins to make a diaper for her dolly yesterday, we sewed up some cloth diapers for them.  Now suddenly all my girls are playing with their dolls again, so I'll be making a bunch more dolly diapers during nap time today :)

DO. Good Stitches

DO. Good Stitches is a group of charity bees hosted on Flickr.  Each group has quilters and stitchers, and each month a quilter organizes a quilt and then finishes it off and donates it to a charity.  I applied for a spot a few months ago, and happy to say that I just got placed as a quilter in the Joy circle.  For the month of March, we were asked to make wonky stars.  It was fun making a block I haven't tried before, and I'm hoping to get these in the mail today.  If you'd like to apply for a spot in one of their charity bees, just fill out this form.

Modern Mini Quilt Challenge . . .

The Modern Mini Quilt Challenge ends today, and I'm getting in an entry in the final hours . . . I was really hoping to enter a mini wallhanging quilt for my craft room, but I just didn't get enough sewing time lately to finish it.  So, here's a mini quilt I completed recently, made with a honeybun of Moda's Arcadia.  The finished measurement is 35" square.  I'd love to do this method for a whole quilt one day, but this makes me happy on my table for now :)

sewing for this week . . .

Another little girl birthday party today, and I was running out of ideas for this one (she already received an apron and book tote for her last two birthdays).  My daughter mentioned that she doesn't have a place to keep all her artwork, so after a Google search, I came across a file folder tutorial.  My daughter was pretty pleased with it, I hope the birthday girl is too!

And here's a sleepsack for my new niece (this one fits up to size 2T, so it's more for next Winter for her).  Our local fabric store had fleece at 70% off, so this was an inexpensive one to make, and I bought the bias tape pre-made.

And my BEST thing I made in the sewing room this week - a cover for the safety door handle for my the inside of my little guy's room.  Seems my little guy is protesting bedtime lately, and wants to join us or play with his sisters instead of staying in his room.  And those safety door handles are just too easy for him to pop off.  So I made a fabric cover to go over the handle and so far he can't figure it out :)

Linking up to Finish it up Friday, Sew & Tell Friday, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.