New yoyo tool coming out by clover

If you are into the yoyo tools made by clover ( my children are) there is a new one coming out soon it is a jumbo circle yoyo maker. I know you can pre-order them just not sure when they will ship. This one is supposed to make a 3 1/2 inch (90mm) yoyo.

yoyo quilt help

I haven't worked on the four patch yoyo quilt in a while, we have about 5 different yoyo quilts in different stages of finished. So when we went to Nevada I took it along as one of my car travel projects. The yoyos are all safety pined together so when ever we stopped I could pick up the project and fold it and everything stays in place. I want to make more yoyos in the future to make this a little bigger but at the moment we just need to get the current yoyos all sewn down and in place.

When we got home from Nevada my oldest daughter agreed to help me some on it. Nice to have a child old enough to add an extra pair of hands to a project. My daughter is sitting on the yoyos that are already sewn together she isn't sitting on the safety pins encase one opens.

Vintage Indie and yoyos

My squared up yoyo tutorial has been featured on Vintage Indie.

Speaking of yoyos have you seen these at Hancock fabric's site pretty cool I may have to make some.

yoyo+ crochet = WIP dress

This is a work in progress that I work on in the car while my husband drives the first 1 hour of our commute and the last hour at night. So, it only is getting worked on two hours a day or less. When done, this will fit a 24 month/2T-size little girl. I don't have one of those; this is just an experiment with sheer fabric and yarn to try and make an image I had in my head. It needs 4 more yoyos around arm/neck openings. So far it is coming out as I thought it would. It also needs crocheted sleeves and the skirt part finished. The white part is the slip a 24 mos/2T-sized little girl would wear under the dress.

This last photo is not true to color, but it shows you how sheer the yoyos are

All the supplies in this project, from the fabric to the yarn to the thread, came from thrift stores at differnt times.

YoYo progress on Halloween Star Quilt

In case you all thought I forgot about this project, or scrapped it, I haven't; it was just put on the back burner for a while. I still plan on having it done for next Halloween. I have included one of my children as a size-sort of reference. She is a typical 6-year-old in size, if that helps all who wondered how big this was so far. End goal is big enough to fit on my double pillow-top king-size bed. I have a ways to go, to say the least.

other posts on this quilt

• Not Much Progress

• Center Medallion Complete

• Halloween YOYOs

• Start of Halloween Yoyo swap

For those who are curious, I am still job hunting.

Garlands

I have made a few garlands the last few days and they are in the store. I am still making Valentine's and Thanksgiving; then I will go on to Halloween and Mother's Day. Those hearts for the Valentine one are taking me a little bit more time to make. All of the garlands are a little longer than 2 yards a piece.

Currently there are:

Patriotic (One)

St. Patrick's day ( seven)

Easter ( one)

Christmas (one)

Christmas (one)

Christmas (one)

Baby Boy baby shower (two)

Thinking Valentine's

I was a florist for many years, it is how I put myself through collage and what I did for the first few years of our marriage as employment. I also sort of grew up in a flower shop as my Vavo owns one and I lived with her when I was a child. So many days as a child was spent playing in an empty box of flowers with paper dolls or making dolls from broken off flower heads. Don't ask; it was fun at the time. I liked Valentine's Day at that point in my life; it was fun watching all the people come to my Vavo's shop and get pretty things she made.

As a teenager working in flower shops, I really hatted the holiday. I never seemed to have boyfriend over that holiday or, if I did, he felt he had to get me something, not because he wanted to but because he figured he had to because of a holiday. The other type of boyfriend was the one who figured you worked in a flower shop so you never want to see a flower again; aren't you sick of them yet. To say the least, I hated that day.

Now that I am grown, don't work in flower shops anymore (for 11 years, that is), and I am finally having fun with this day again. I still don't expect things on this day because I have never liked people feeling pressured to get me something, so no worries there. I guess it is different now because I usually get Valentine's made by my daughters because they want to and they love me. I know this because they make me Valentines all year long, not just on V's Day.

I have actually had fun with this holiday since having kids and a husband, not in that order. I am not worried that the man in my life will feel guilty if he does or doesn't get me something; he knows I am good either way. I always felt this was a florist's holiday; a way to make money. I think it was just crazy for them to go insane for 4 weeks to prep, and no sleep for the last two to make and deliver, then crash for 3 days. Not really seeing relatives and friends as you are working 20 hour shifts; just not worth it, to me. Insanity, for short.

OK, I am not totally on board with this holiday, yet, but I do like it now. I have fun making stuff for it and sharing time with my family. Oh wait, that is the originally meaning of the holiday, the part I like (the love part, not the guilt part which I dislike). Yes, I seem to be ranting, but this holiday always does that to me. The holiday of love was always a holiday of stress when I was younger. Now it is a holiday of love for me, and I feel sorry for all those who are still in the holiday of stress and guilt mode.

About the photo above

On to the fun of decorating. I have always liked decorating for holidays. My Christmas decorations are still up. I like putting holidays up, but dread taking them down, sad I won't get to see them for another year. So I usually swing to the next holiday as soon as I can, in this case it is Valentine's Day. Isn't this cool fabric? I am thinking heart yoyos, but I bet you could guess that from the photo. This will probably become garlands, pins and ornaments for the day. Fun crafting time, that is always good.

So I hope those of you who love this holiday have fun with it and those who dislike it find something fun to do and those, like me, who enjoy the sentiment but not the stress, relax with your families and friends.

In case anyone wants to know, the above fabric is Moda's 2008 Valentine's Day line.

Garlands are in store

As of this morning, there are seven garlands in the store in the St Patrick's Day area. They are a little over 2 yards long; about 2 yards and 3 to 4 inches. They are made using three different size yoyos in shades of green and yellow. The green for St. Patrick's Day, and the yellow is for Leprechaun gold. There, of course, is less yellow because the Leprechauns don't want to share and hide it under the green of Ireland. OK, I am being silly now.

WIP for St. Patrick's Day

My goal is to make 5 garlands that are about 6 feet long (about 2 yards long) and place them in the store before St. Patrick's Day. There are three different size yoyos involved in this endeavor.

I also have some in the works for Valentine's Day, too. Those will have hearts and circle yoyos in them. Also three different size yoyos, maybe four sizes, haven't totally decided yet on that one.

Christmas swap at MJF

Group1

1. creatmyworld : Beaded Wreath ornament sun catcher.
2. smoothiejuice : I can't remember which was in which swap -- hot cocoa and Santa mitten.
   
   
3. sunshine : Boa scarves.
4. botanical bath: I can't remember if soap was in group one or group two; same goes for the lotion she made, but you either got this or lotion.
5. Gaias Rose : Hand-made ornaments.
6. Willowtreecreek : hand decorated notebook.
7. Bertha : Pin in box with ornament decoration on box.
8. Rebekka Mae : Citrus ornament and needle case.
9. Cheryl : Hand towels, there are 4 styles; each person gets one, not all four. I kept a tree.
10. Tina Michelle : Heart ornaments and bookmarks.
11. Farmgirlwannabe : Embroidered Christmas sock with Sees candies inside.
    
    
    Group2
    

1. creatmyworld : Snow flake beaded ornament sun catcher.
2. smoothiejuice: I can't remember which was in which swap: hot cocoa and Santa mitten.
   
3. sunshine : Handmade brooch.
4. botanical bath: I can't remember if lotion was in group one or group two; same goes for the soap she made, but you either got this or soap.
5. Gaias Rose : Tree-shaped ornaments.
6. Willowtreecreek : Hand-made pin.
7. yarnmamma
   
   
8. ktknits : Basket.
9. allee: She sent a crocheted tree; can't find photo of it, don't know why.
   
10. dropped
    
11. dropped

My last two weeks have been too busy and this post shows it. Yikes!

Part 6: Advent Calender Button YOYO Ornamnet

Supplies:

• button (I used vintage buttons)
  
• small yoyo (use what ever you want for the template)
• needle
• embroidery thread to sew and use as hanger
• scissors
• sewing thread

Order of events:

1. Make yoyo.
2. Tie knot in embroidery thread; pass through center of yoyo and back again.
3. Thread button and stitch on; go through yoyo and button two or three times. Finish with needle on back of work.
4. Insert needle into yoyo; come out edge of yoyo.
5. Make loop for hanger; tie off.
6. Take needle back into yoyo and cut off.

Because I don't like to post on Sunday, I will post another ornament late tonight for everyone.

Part 4: Advent Calendar : Candy Cane ornament

Here is an easy one even the little kids can make (with help from an adult with cutting implements).

Supplies:

• Variegated pipe cleaner
• Round item to wrap pipe cleaner around
• Embroidery thread
• Embellishments (sequins, ribbon, felt, bells whatever)
• Something to cut pipe cleaner and embroidery thread

Order of events:

1. Cut pipe cleaner about 2 to 2 1/4 inches long
2. Bend around round item to form hook
3. Cut and tie knot in embroidery thread to make hanger
4. Add embellishments

Part 1: How to Make a yoyo Advent Calender

This is the start of a continuing tutorial. This will show you how to make the wall hanging part of the calendar. Then, each day I will post how to make one or more ornaments to hang on the tree 'till I have 25. This way you can make it, too. (Above photo is after star, prior to buttons)

Supplies:

• Green fabrics (you can use 1 or lots of green fabrics, I choose solid for the tree and variety for the ground) 42 green yoyos tree, 25 green yoyos ground = total 67 green yoyos
  
• White fabrics (you can use 1 or lots of white fabrics) ( I used recycled 100% cotton, from my husband's outgrown Sunday shirts, 2 of them) 86 white yoyos
• Red fabrics (you can use 1 or lots of red fabrics, I used lots of varieties) 67 red yoyos
  
• Brown fabric enough for 1 yoyo
• Yellow fabric enough for 1 yoyo for star (I used the small clover flower maker to make my star)
• Standard cd to use as template
• Thread
• Needle
• Scissors
• Thimble (if you use one)
• Pencil, optional (for tracing around cd; I don't do this, but some might)
• Optional small clover flower maker to use in making the star. You can also just buy a star at a store and sew it on instead of making one.
  
• 2- 4 cabone rings ( or other type of ring to use as a hanger)
• Dowel or other straight item for strength when hanging
• Bias tape
  
• 67 buttons (I used mother-of-pearl, but you can use whatever you want)

Photo to upper right is what the back looks like.

Order of events:

• Make round yoyos and yoyo star
  
• Lay them out in the pattern (shown below in this post)
• Stitch together in six format, not the 4
• Add star at top of tree
• Stitch a button on every green yoyo
• Stitch on cabone rings (or other hanger item) on back of wall hanging on top row of yoyos; covered by bias tape
  
• Stitch dowel (or other straight item) to top back of quilt to help prevent sagging from weight; covered by bias tape
  

There are 21 rows in this wall hanging.

1. 11 red
2. 1 red 8 white 1 red
3. 1 red 4 white 1 green 4 white 1 red
4. 1 red 3 white 2 green 3 white 1 red
5. 1 red 3 white 3 green 3 white 1 red
6. 1 red 3 white 2 green 3 white 1 red
7. 1 red 3 white 3 green 3 white 1 red
8. 1 red 2 white 4 green 2 white 1 red
9. 1 red 3 white 3 green 3 white 1 red
10. 1 red 2 white 4 green 2 white 1 red
11. 1 red 2 white 5 green 2 white 1 red
12. 1 red 2 white 4 green 2 white 1 red
13. 1 red 2 white 5 green 2 white 1 red
14. 1 red 1 white 6 green 1 white 1 red
15. 1 red 4 white 1 brown 4 white 1 red
16. 1 red 2 white 4 red 2 white 1 red
17. 1 red 3 white 3 red 3 white 1 red
18. 1 red 8 green 1 red
19. 1 red 9 green 1 red
20. 1 red 8 green 1 red
21. 11 red

Stitch all yoyos together and hand stitch star at top of tree. You can do this same type of pattern with English paper pieced hexagons. If you want to use this other technique, go here; there is a tutorial.

Add front embellishments like the star and buttons now. The buttons are for holding the ornaments on the tree. They are also to hold the ornaments on the bottom ground area 'till they are moved up. There are more buttons on the tree than on the ground so you can have more of a choice where to place them.

Stitch two to four cabone rings (or other hanging devises -- I used metal belt loops because that is what I had on hand) on top row for hanging purposes. Use four if you don't use a dowel for strength and to keep quilt from sagging. Once stitched on, cover stitches with bias tape, too, just like the dowel.

WIPs/ Part 0 : ?

Here are a few things I am currently working on. One is a crazy nine patch that I was in swap for the blocks.

The other is the start of a project that I plan on putting on this site with instructions of how to make one for yourself. An advent calender; you are looking at the back of it in this photo.

Crayon Art in Quilts

This was a question asked on flickr, though others might have it too. There is a note on this photo on flickr that reads crayon art right over the two tree drawings. So here is the explanation.
-------------
Santo Pano Patchwork says:
Crayon Art ? How does it work ? Fabiana.

Sunshine said:
This can be done a few ways

1. Color on paper; lay paper on top of fabric and iron. Have paper towels between iron and paper so excess wax doesn't transfer to iron. (Image will be reversed; remember when writing words and things that have to face a certain way)
2. You can color straight to the fabric then iron to heat-set pigment; again have paper towels between work iron to absorb excess wax (best to use high-quality crayons for either way because you have more pigment and less wax).
   

Santo Pano Patchwork says:
Thanks for the tip, I've already tried and it has worked perfectly. I've got a good result, from my first time with this technic, I'll try to improve next time.
Thanks again for being so kind.
With my best wishes.
Fabiana

Holiday Tutorials On This blog

Clicking on words will take you to tutorial; clicking on image will take you to where that image is hosted on flickr.

1. We three trees
2. Pomander Balls
3. Cream cheese Mints
4. Kid's airplane ornament
5. Holiday Brooch
6. Old fashioned rock candy
7. Kissing Ball
8. Embroidered Felt Ornament
9. Holiday Journey -- Not a tutorial, but a fun family activity
10. Triangle Hair scarf; easy gift
11. Yoyo doll vintage-looking gift

Fall Quilt Top

I have assembled the quilt blocks from the swap at MJF. This will make a very good sized sofa blanket. Not too big or so small you can't share with the person at the other end of the sofa. This will be nice for the fall months in the coming years. I doubt I will get it all quilted before this fall is over, so next year hopefully. There are all kinds of styles in this quilt from embroidery to appliqué to pieced and rick rack, yoyos and button embellishments. I am glad I signed up for the swap twice; I like this amount of blocks. I am going to embroider in the center block with the names of those who participated in the swap, and I might embroider some leaves there, too.

Patriotic Quilt Top/ Happy Veterans Day

This quilt is a collection of two 4th of July swaps and three different embroidery/signature block swaps. One swap for quilt blocks was over 6 years ago for all star blocks in a patriotic fabrics. They are six-inch blocks to which I had to add a boarder to make them work with the other blocks. The next swap was what felt like the never ending signature swap; it ended after the second signature swap did and after the second block swap ended. The last signature block I got about two weeks ago from an on-going block swap over on MJF. The last five blank blocks are for my family members: one for each kid, husband and self. I will embroider on them later after they each have picked a picture. I am sure it will be a butterfly, lady bug, fairy for the kids; a peace dove for me; and haven't got a clue what my husband will pick for me to embroider. Even though these blocks where not originally intended to make one quilt, I think they came out fine together. This is a twin size quilt. I probably won't get this quilted in the near future, but at least it is out of block stage. The spacer blocks have writing on them; I am sure you cannot read it, but it is the pledge of allegiance written over and over again.

What you cannot see in this photo is me and my 6-year-old daughter standing on the stairs trying to hold this up while my husband takes the photo. Those little hands on the top left of the photo are hers. It was funny because as she was standing on her tip toes trying to hold it as high as she could without falling over, she was wobbling all over the place.

Holiday Brooch Tutorial

Supplies:

• Mattel Knitting machine (find on ebay, thrift store, the bottom of your closet from when you where a kid in the 70's)
• safety pins or pin backs
• fuzzy yarn
• yoyo (you have to make these; I used a cd as my template)
• jingle bells or other center decoration (buttons....)
• thread, needle, scissors

How to:

1. Cut and make your yoyo; set aside, leave long tail to stitch to fuzzy yoyo, bells, and pin.
2. Make your fuzzy knitted yoyo, (this is 16 rows that are 16 stitches on the Mattel knitting machine, you can do this on knitting round needles too, gather both ends and pull both tails to one side and tie ends in a knot and cut).
3. Stitch fabric yoyo to middle of fuzzy yoyo; have tails of fuzzy yoyo facing fabric yoyo so they are hidden when piece is done.
4. Now, stitch on bells or other embellishments. When done, take needle to back of work.
5. Sew safety pin to back of brooch, or use a store bought pin back. Finished!

Not Much Progress

I didn't make much progress on this, this weekend too many parties.

Don't forget to sign up for the 500 post give away.