There's Still Crafting Time Before Christmas!

There's still time to make these darling cupcake ornaments for Christmas—or for a Valentine's party! The photos on the free tutorial (see below for web address) are much better than mine!

I'm so amazed at how much free and wonderful information is available on the web—particularly the tutorials for sewing, quilting, and crafts projects. This one really caught my eye—enough to run out to buy the supplies and whip some right up for pretty little Christmas gifts for friends and family—not to mention to hang on my own Christmas tree. They don't take long and the free tutorial is well done. Visit the site below.
http://www.bakeitpretty.com/blog/?p=511

I'll add my two cents to the designer's directions to make the process even easier!
1. Buy a 2-ounce bag of the iridescent fake snowflakes (about $1.99) and a large bag of the plain and mix together in a sturdy paper plate bowl. I did about half and half. I used the entire 2-ounces of iridescent flakes with a similar amount of the plain snowflakes for 18 cupcakes.

2. Look for the quick-drying crafts glue (Alene). A 4-ounce bottle is enough for 12-18 ornaments, depending on how much glue you use on each one.

4. After "skewering" the balls as directed in the tutorial, hold each one over another paper plate bowl and drizzle a healthy amount of glue on the top of the ball, first. Then use the sponge brush to spread it. You really need a "healthy" coating of glue for good snowflake coverage.

5. Place the snow-covered balls in a tall drinking glass rather than a coffee cup if your skewers are long. Six skewered balls should fit in one glass without touching.

6. Now that my cupcakes are finished, I wish I had cut a circle of thin cardboard to glue into the bottom of each cupcake liner—they would be sturdier, easier to handle and to store. Do this step while you are waiting for the snow and glue to dry completely so they're ready when you're set to finish the cupcakes.

7. Use cool-melt "hot glue" for the safest application of glue just inside the upper edge all around the cupcake liner. Then insert the snowball and carefully press the liner to the ball all the way around.

8. Adding the hangers and cherries turned out to take the most time in the entire process. I used narrow ribbon loops—about a 5" length makes a good hanger. I also used fine straight pins from the sewing room to secure them in the glue. Then I added another "shot" of hot glue and pressed the cherry in place, stem up. It was too difficult to push the stem through the ribbon. Before the glue cooled, I sprinkled more snow over the cherry to make sure that it wouldn't show. Voila! The cutest little cupcake ornaments I've ever seen!

9. I think the cost for these ornaments turned out to be $1.00 or less! They are pretty cool and make an inexpensive project for a great little gift!

These would be too cute arranged on a cake stand for a party—give one to each guest as a favor. They would also be cute, with or without the hanging loop, for place settings.

Merry Christmas! A special offer for my readers!
If you are following my blog, for a limited time, you can order any of my patterns at my website http://www.joyofsewing.com/ for the list price, with totally FREE shipping or handling charges. That applies whether you order a single pattern or several. It's my Christmas gift to my readers. Print off the order form and send with your check or money order (US funds), postmarked by January 15, 2010, and the shipping is FREE!

Merry Christmas! Barbara
And, here's my favorite fudge recipe--I just whipped up a batch for Christmas nibbling!

Fabulous Fudge

I think this recipe came from my Grandma Weiland, who loved sweets, particularly at Christmas time!

2¼ cups sugar
¾ cup evaporated milk
16 large marshmallows
¼ cup butter
¼ teaspoon salt
6 ounces (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Optional: Instant coffee granules--see note below.

Butter an 8" square cake pan.

1. Mix the sugar, milk, marshmallows, butter, and salt together in a heavy 2-quart saucepan and cook over medium heat. Stir constantly and bring to a boil--until just bubbling all over the top of the mixture.

2. Boil and stir just 5 minutes more and remove from the heat.

3. Stir in the chocolate pieces; stir until melted.

4. Stir in the vanilla and the nuts.

5. Spread in the buttered pan and allow to cool.

6. Cut into pieces of the desired size.

I add a teaspoon of instant coffee when I stir in the chocolate for a richer flavor. For Butterscotch Fudge, substitute butterscotch chips for the chocolate chips.

Christmas Vest Revisted

I cannot believe this year has flown by with only one new post from me. Maybe now that my books are done--The Sewing Answer Book is in the editing stages now and is due to be released in July of 2010--I will actually have some time to sew and work on new patterns and post more often.

Merry Christmas to anyone who is following me and hasn't given up on my blog! I really do hope to post more often in the months ahead.

I'm generally not one to leave a project unfinished, but I must admit there are a few things hiding in my workroom that I haven't quite completed. One was a Christmas patchwork vest that I made in the early 90s as a work-in-progress sample for one of Judy Murrah's wearable art books (while was Editor-in-Chief at That Patchwork Place). It has been tucked away to finish for a special holiday ever since. Now that I have more time to sew, I've decided to finish, give away, or toss that have languished long enough.

When I brought out this pretty Christmas vest to finish, I basted the side seams and tried it on. Oh Dear! Something happened to my figure in the intervening years and it didn't fit me anymore!

And it was shorter than I like to wear these days—no tummy-hiding with this shorter, classic vest design! Not wanting to toss the vest and knowing no one it would fit if I did finish it, I decided to cut it apart and use parts of it to make a special Christmas stocking for my granddaughter, Kendall. She will be 21 months at Christmas time and I can't wait to see her reaction to Grammy's Christmas decorations. I've had to put things up high to keep the amount of temptation to a minimum.

It was fun to use some of the patchwork parts of my never-finished Christmas vest to make this little stocking for her.

I cut the stocking front from the patchwork made for the vest back. I rescued the cute little "baby block" packages from one front and fused them to the stocking front. Next I cut a back and the cuff from fabric leftovers that I still had in my box of green scraps and fat quarters. A short length of wire-edged ribbon for the loop was the finishing touch. I hope Kendall will keep this stocking forever, as a remembrance of her "bonus" Grammy.

Note: I didn't have a stocking pattern of the right size, so I photocopied a stocking shape I liked from an old catalog clipping, then enlarged it in several steps on my copier until it was a size that would fit across the back of the vest on the patchwork. I traced it onto tissue paper so I could see the patchwork for positioing purposes and then cut it out of the patchwork. I cut the toe and heel from patchwork pieces leftover after cutting the stocking front.

Sew Excited!!

Yes, I'm so excited! I just opened the box containing my very own copies of my very own book! The Quilting Answer Book has landed and is available at bookstores, quilt shops, and online. To order online, go to http://www.storey.com/subcategory_listing.php?cat=Crafts&subcat=Sewing&sort=date&p=0


It's so much fun to see such a big project come to such lovely fruition. Working with the folks at Storey Publishing was a stellar experience for me as an author--on the other side of my usual place on the editor's fence!

Signing Books in Colorado
I'll be traveling to Colorado this month to help my mom following wrist surgery--and I'll be visiting the Great American Quilt Factory on May 23rd from 10:00am to Noon to visit with quilters and autograph copies of my book. If you live there or know a quilter who does, let them know! While in Colorado, I'm looking forward to reconnecting with a colleague from days gone by. I haven't seen Carol Ann Waugh, now an art quilter, with whom I worked at Butterick Publishing in the early 1970s. Check out her website to see her wonderful art quilts!www.carolannwaugh.com

Save Our Planet
After watching Oprah's recent "green" show and witnessing the disastrous heap of garbage floating between our West Coast and Japan (90 miles deep at places), it became even more obvious to me how important it is for all of us to do our part to save our planet and all who inhabit it. Plastic bags are one of the worst offenders, trapping, encasing, and strangling our wildlife.

Add to the impact of that show, my first-ever trip to a local dump--my husband and I took rotting lumber from an old shed to a local transfer station for transport to the landfill. Midway through our dump, a large garbage dumpster backed up on the opposite side of the container truck into which we were disposing of the rotted wood--which will decompose. As we stepped back to avoid the stench, I watched with dismay at the amount of garbage just one truck holds--and at the things that rolled out that could have been placed in home recylcing bins.

I felt bad for all the times I took the easy way out in the past and just put things in the garbage rather than keeping a recycling bin on my porch. I do recycle now. When I looked to my right, I saw one of the container trucks in the yard with a big sign that read, " Half of the contents could have been recycled." It should say "should have been recycled." As a result of that sobering trip to the dump, I came home and made a set of 5 cotton canvas tote bags to keep in my car, using my Magic Tuck Market Tote pattern. Of course, plain Jane canvas has no place in my life. I embroidered the pocket for each tote with a favorite fruit or vegetable motif. My Bernina artista 730 made it so easy!! Here are the finished totes.




























































































FYI: I'm working on a "tote-torial" that shows you how to adapt the Magic Tuck Market Tote to a canvas tote with embroidered (or not) pockets. You will find it at www.joyofsewing.com

What makes this a magic tote, you ask? Well, it has a special tuck in the bottom that allows for a flat bottom when you stand it up to load it with your shopping goodies, but when you're not using it lies flat with the bottom tucked up inside as shown in these two photos.



































I hope you'll consider making lots of these totes to keep in your car for your shopping trips. A set of four or six would make a great gift for each of your friends and encourage them to recycle.

Here are closeups of four of the embroideries on the totes:


















































Until next time,
Keep sewing and smiling!
Barbara

The Very Best Reason to Make a Quilt!

A Beautiful Granddaughter!!
It's been two months since my last post--Christmas, very cold and snowy weather, and a major battle with a respiratory problem zapped my energy and time, not to mention trying to work on my newest book (The Sewing Answer Book) to be published next year and loving this beautiful baby whenever we get to have her with us for a few hours each week. Kendall is 10 1/2 months now and almost walking on her own. I love rocking her and singing her to sleep--she's a good cuddler.

Another Baby Coming Soon!

My "baby" will be "born" soon! I love the cover of my new book, The Quilting Answer Book (Storey Publishing, www.storey.com). It's at the printer now and will be available sometime in April. The price is great!! Just $14.95 for a 436-page handbook to keep by your machine and to tuck into your workbag to take along for quilting classes! It's chock-a-block full of all the info you need to make a quilt from choosing fabric, to cutting and sewing the quilt top, adding borders, quilting, binding and labeling! I hope you will ask for it at your local quilt shop and consider giving it as a gift to friends who quilt, especially the newbies. It's a great little reference, even if I do say so myself!

That's it for this post. My sewing book is due at the end of March--and I want to send it in early. I'm close to finishing the first draft so I will easily make my deadline.
In the meantime, keep sewing and smiling!! And check out my new tote patterns at www.joyofsewing.com. They're available at many quilt shops around the country!
Barbara

When Is a Sweater Not a Sweater?

Imagine my delight to find this lovely Christmas sweater, complete with felted poinsettia, on a sale rack for only $15—

and then my horror to find a cut in the lower back. The sweater was too pretty to leave behind so I bought it anyway. Then, what to do with it?

I thought I could fuse a piece of interfacing under the slit and wear it anyway—but the sweater proved a bit too small so into a box it went.

This year, I unearthed the sweater in my search for some other set-aside project and decided to do something with it or send it off to Goodwill. I'm in a "use it or be done with it" mode. A Christmas pillow for my couch was the wonderful result.

Here's how I did it--you can use this general procedure to rescue a sweater with a stain, mothhole, etc., or one you find on sale that doesn't fit or one that you discover in a thrift store.

Step 1: Steam press the sweater to remove wrinkles, then button it up, make sure the lower edges are even, and then use rotary tools to cut it apart just under the armholes.

Step 2: Remove the top button to get it out of the way of the seam placement at the cut edge. Whipstitch the buttonhole lips together.

Step 3: Cut out the lovely flower to reapply to the pillow. I trimmed as much of the underlying sweater away under the felted petals.

Step 4: Unbutton the sweater and apply lightweight knit fusible interfacing to the underside where the flower will be restitched—for added support and easier machine stitching.

Step 5. Apply small strips of fusible web to the underside of the flower center and petals. (Flower in position on sweater with white press cloth shown in photo.)

Remove the protective paper on the fusible web and position the flower on the pillow front, keeping it out of the way of where the upper raw edges will be seamed together (1/4"-wide seam). Cover with a press cloth and fuse in place.

For added durability, stitch in place after fusing. I machine-stitched along the existing embroidered details wherever possible and close to raw edges when there was no embroidery.

Step 6: Salvage a piece of the sweater from the cutaway to "mend" the hole with fusible web. Apply the web to each side of the slit on the wrong side with the iron and them remove the protective paper to expose the web.

Step 7. Force the cut edges together and cover with the sweater scrap. Fuse in place. Trim the edges and round the corners of the patch--it doesn't have to be "pretty" since it won't show. This will be the back of the pillow, so even if the "mend" is not perfect on the right side, it won't matter that much. I did a zigzag stitch over the edges from the right side after fusing the patch in place on the wrong side.

Step 8: Button the buttons, pin the front edge in place, and slipstitch in place.

Step 9. With right sides facing, stitch the upper raw edges together where you cut the "pillow" section away from the upper part of the sweater. Stitch again, close to the first stitching. Trim excess, leaving a 1/4"-wide seam allowance. Turn right side out and steam press as needed.

Step 10. Pin and edgestitch the lower rib knit edges together, leaving a long opening for inserting a pillow form.

Step 11. Measure the finished pillow cover and make a pillow form that is an inch larger all around so the pillow will really fill out the cover. Use muslin or other fabric leftovers to make the cover and fill with polyester fiberfill to the desired firmness. See Tip below. Remember that the sweater has "give" so it will snug up over a firm pillow. Tuck the pillow form inside and hand or machine-stitch the opening closed (you may need to use your zipper foot for this).

Tip: Make the pillow form larger than than the outside measurements of the sweater cover—at least an inch. It will fill out the cover better.

This was an easy project but did take a bit longer than I anticipated—but then that's usually the way it works out!


Rather than a sweater lying unworn at the bottom of a project box, now I have a lovely pillow to grace my couch for the holidays! Plus, I have sweater leftovers to use for trim on other projects—or cute little mitten ornaments for my Christmas tree!

Speaking of Christmas Trees

Here's mine--and just in case I don't find time to do another blog this month, Merry Christmas to all of you!

Until next time, keep sewing and smiling!

Barbara

Three New Patterns—They're Ready!

Where did the month of October go? I wasn't blogging because I was busy proofreading my newest book—see below—and finalizing the three new patterns in my pattern line (Jo-Lydia's Attic at http://www.joyofsewing.com/) so they'd be ready for Quilt Market. Working on the directions, reviewing the illustrations, and taking photos for the cover sheets took lots of time, but I'm pleased with the results and hope you will like them as much as I do. (We also celebrated our second anniversary and our birthdays--October is a busy and happy month for Stan and me.)

Without further ado, here are the new patterns with descriptions and price. As a special offer to my blog readers, you can order any of these for $1.00 off the retail price listed for each one, plus FREE shipping and handling. Send a personal check or money order (US funds only) to the address provided below and I'll send them right out!

Make checks to: Barbara W. Talbert
Send to: 10410 NE 33rd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98686

The Quilted Traveler's Tote

The perfect carry-on or tote for class supplies

Quilt your own fabric—complete directions included for quilting each tote section before assembly; or use already quilted fabric

Zipped security pockets inside and out

Zip-top panel drops down inside when you just want an open-top tote

Retail: $12.00 (special to readers, $11.00 plus free shipping and handling--see ordering info above)

Sew 'N' Go Sewer's Wallet

Neck wallet with multiple pockets on both sides for travel docs

and/or sewing tools

Great for travel or for sewing classes

Retail: $8.00 (special to readers, $7.00, plus free shipping and handling; see ordering info above)

The Magic Tuck Market Tote

Stitch-and-flip, stand-up, fold flat tote; packs flat to take along in your suitcase

Completely lined inside finish

Zipped inside pocket, plus cell phone pocket and one pocket on outside

Easy stitch-and-flip construction

Jelly-roll friendly (2½" pre-cut strips)

Quick and easy to make in multiples for grocery totes—what a great gift!

Retail: $12.00 ($11.00 to readers, plus free shipping and handling (see ordering info above)

The Quilting Answer Book--It's coming in the spring!
The last week of October found me winging my way to Hartford, CT, to join my husband on a business trip—first his, then mine. After his meetings in Waterbury, we drove north to North Adams, MA, to visit Storey Publishing. They are publishing my new book, The Quilting Answer Book, in April, 2009. I've seen the first page proofs of this 436-page handbook and am so pleased with the results.

While at Storey, I met with the Editorial Director, sales staff, and the publicity department. Exciting news—the book will be the featured selection in an upcoming book club catalog! I reviewed the cover idea and can't wait to see it in its final form! Stay tuned for more information on the release date for this nifty handbook that is jam-packed with quilting how-tos, but small enough to tuck in your handbag or your sewing tote! I'll post the final cover design as soon a I have it so you'll know what to watch for in your local quilt shop.

Now I'm busy at work on the manuscript for a companion volume--The Sewing Answer Book!

After a lovely lunch with the folks from Storey, http://www.storey.com/, Stan and I headed north to Vermont and then east across the Hogback Mountains into New Hampshire and then on to Portland, ME, where I once lived. Stan knocked off four New England states he hadn't yet seen in just one day. It was a bright, sunny late fall day and there was plenty of "color" along the way—not as bright as it would have been if we had been a week earlier, but beautiful just the same—as evidenced by these photos. I love these fall color combos, don't you?

It was great to see my dear friends there (Beth and David, Gene and Anita, and Sue and Dana) and introduce Stan to all of them since they were not able to come for our wedding two years ago. We both caught colds, which put a damper on sightseeing, but we did take a little drive out to Portland Headlight (see photos) in Cape Elizabeth—one of my favorite places when I lived in Portland during the 70s and 80s.

That's it for now! Until next time,

Keep sewing and smiling!
Barbara

When is a Walnut Not a Walnut?

When it's a thimble holder! There are two walnuts in my collection of vintage sewing tools. I found the first one in an antique shop in Flemington, New Jersey, years ago. It is a thoroughly Victorian notion—to make a little red silk drawstring pouch, drill holes in a perfect walnut shell, connect the pieces with a little silk cord, and then tuck a thimble inside! It's such a dear little thing! I have a vague notion that I saw this same little thimble holder described in a Victorian publication, sometime after I purchased it.

The second walnut is brass--hinged and designed with loops to wear on a chain—I'm guessing. It's felt-lined with a loop for the thimble and a leaf for pins and needles. I have no idea how old it is but I’m sure it dates well after the "real" one.

A Sneak Peek
I've been busy this week, trying to take good photos for two of my three new patterns to be introduced in time for International Quilt Market in Houston this Fall (how can it be already?). Since I'm not a professional photographer, I've had to experiment with my Sony point and shoot. I'm pretty happy with the results. Outdoor lighting on my porch did the trick to get rid of unwanted shadows. Plus, my pattern illustrator, Missy Shepler, gave me some great pointers. If you need illustration and design help, she is a treasure (www.sheplerstudios.com). She did all the illustrations for my book, The Quilting Answer Book, to be published in the spring by Storey Publishing. And, I'm hoping she'll be on board for the next one—the one I'm working on now—The Sewing Answer Book.

Anyway, back to my patterns. Here they are—The Quilted Traveler's Tote and The Magic Tuck Market Tote.

The Quilted Traveler's Tote is a roomy bag with a zip top that drops down inside when the tote isn't too full, but expands above the tote when you fill it with goodies from your travels. It fits in the overhead, has an inside zipped pocket, plus divided pockets on the outside. The pattern includes directions for quilting your own tote fabric because already-quilted, double-sided fabric selection is usually quite limited. You cut the pieces for the tote first and then do the machine quilting to make it easy to handle the work at the machine.

The Magic Tuck Market Tote looks a lot like a regular flat-bottom tote, but the tuck that creates the bag bottom allows you to fold the bag flat for packing in your suitcase. It's also perfect for groceries—make up a bunch of these to keep stacked in your car for your market trips--no more plastic or paper bags to clutter the environment!

Missy did the illustration for my third pattern, The Sew 'N' Go Sewer's Wallet. The two-sided wallet has a neck strap and pockets on both sides to hold travel documents, eyeglasses, and small sewing tools. A vinyl pocket on Side one side holds your ID or your name badge when attending sewing and quilting classes. On Side Two, you can tuck your boarding pass, passport, driver's license, business cards, or a credit card. Or, you can fill those same pockets with your sewing tools so you can do handwork on the plane or in your rocking chair.

Watch for these new patterns to appear on my website (http://www.joyofsewing.com/) soon. You can order them there or ask for them in your favorite shops in early November. All of them would make great gifts!

A Favorite New Book
I haven't bought many new sewing books lately, but I just couldn't leave Sew Pretty Homestyle by Tone Finnanger in the store! It is chock-a-block full of sweet sewing projects in all of my favorite pastel colors. It has a bit of a Victorian feel with a "cottage modern" look too. I may never make any of the projects, but they are great inspiration and just fun to look at. Sweet little angels, embroidered hearts, and sweet quilts are included. It was published by David & Charles—you can find it at amazon.com if it's not available at your local fabric or book store. The author has also done two Christmas project books with projects in her signature style.

Garden Party

Each year my friend, Linda Wisner, hosts several informal get-togethers in her glorious garden on Sauvie Island, an idyllic spot about 12 miles from downtown Portland, OR. She invites friends to drop by in the late afternoon to share her garden bounty as well as delicious treats from her kitchen--she's a fabulous cook. We were finally able to partake in her hospitality this year and Sunday proved to be a glorious sunny fall day--perfect for the event! Linda served up homemade Pizza Rustica, making a new one with different toppings, as each one disappeared from the table.

I wandered through Linda's garden before we left and took a few photos. I love examining these for color combinations--nature is such a good teacher. Really looking at how colors work in nature gives us lots of clues for wardrobe colors and quilt fabric combinations--if only we take the time to really look!

Enjoy these crisp days of Fall. They will be gone before we know it.

Until next time,

Keep sewing and smiling!

Barbara