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~THE SEWING NOOK ~



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I love to sew. Sewing has been a hobby since high school. When my girls were young I made clothes for them and their dolls. I have made my share of Barbie clothes. Now I mostly enjoy making home decor items, pillows, placemats, table-runners and curtains. I also enjoy making stuffed toys and dolls. At Easter I like to make lovely Victorian baskets, using various fabrics and trims.



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One of my favorite things to make are costumes. I guess it's because it gives you a chance to get really creative. Halloween costumes are a treat every year for my grandchildren. I've made poodle skirts, dinosaurs, clowns, indians, lions, and of course princess and fairy costumes. Oh, don't let me forget the cute Minnie Mouse costume complete with ears!

Recently I made a christening gown for my granddaughter Megan. It was heirloom styled cotton batiste with lots of lace, ribbon and small hand sewn seed pearls. She looked like an angel in it. One thing I haven't perfected yet, is making jointed teddy bears. The fur takes special handling when you cut and sew it.

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I love to buy fabrics. When I see some I like I always try to buy between 2-3 yards. That's usually enough for anything I would decide to make with it later on. Needless to say I have quite alot on hand. If I would stay off the internet I could finish up some projects I have started. Oh well I guess I'll finish them someday.



This year (2001) I went to my local quilt store and took a 4 hour quilting class and I am hooked! I love it. I have so many scraps and fabric on hand, that this will be a good way to put some of it to good use. I have made 3 flannel Ragtime quilts. I have a blue and yellow Ohio Star quilt top done, just waiting to be machine quilted. I need to practice alot more first. I am also workng on a quilt called Nanna's Garden. It uses 40 different floral fabrics in 1" squares sewn around 8" white squares.

When my Mom passed away in 1997 she left behind a Log Cabin quilt top she made in 1975. I decided this year to finish it and give it to my Dad for his birthday in May. Its looking pretty good right now. I have added the sashing and binding and am tying it with embroidery floss.

One of my goals is to make a victorian styled crazy quilt. They are made out of many types of fabrics satins, velvets and silks etc...They have alot of hand embroidery stitches on them also. Very pretty and a heirloom for sure.

Sewing is a life-long hobby I will always love! If you would like to learn to sew there are some great classes offered at your community centers,local schools and craft stores. I have even found some virtual sewing classes on the internet.

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LINKS





Quilt Magazine
A Bear's World-Free Pattern
MC Calls Patterns
Butterick Patterns
Simplicity Patterns
V I P Fabrics
Sweet Creations
Home Sweet Home Country Patterns
Heirlooms Forever
Keepsake Quilting
Needlecrafters Companion
The Patchwork Place
Sandra Betzina Sewing Show
Sewing A-Z
Sewing City
Living Soft
The Cloth-Doll Connection
Wrights Trims
Nancy Zieman's Notions
Home Sewing Association
Offray Ribbons







Maki ng crafts can be very self-rewarding. Its relaxing and a great way to make money at home in your spare time. I have sold my crafts in consignment shops where you rent shelf space. Also I have had booths at craft fairs. Now I only craft for friends and relatives. My favorite crafts are the country crafts. You can make something as simple as rag balls, place them in a basket to sit on a table or bookcase shelf. They are so easy tear 2 inch wide strips of calio or gingham fabrics and wrap around styrofoam balls. Glue the ends under. You can make them any size. Wooden painted objects are the staple of country decorating. Believe me I am no painter, but I have tried my hand at birdhouses and they are fun and pretty easy. I think its because they don't have to be precise..or is it because I used stencils and sponge stamps...umm!!!

My sister Carol and I recently painted gourds to look like English cottages, complete with gardens, trellis, windowboxes and cobblestone walkways.

Visit craft fairs and get ideas almost any style can be copied and made to be your own. Handmade crafts are pricy, but make a few and you will appreciate the work that is involved.

I like to make wreaths for all of the seasons and holidays. You can get your ideas from magazines.

The grapevine wreaths with seasonal flowers hot glued on really look good on your front door. You can take one wreath and make it interchangeable for all seasons. What would us crafters do without our glue guns? Swags also are quite easy for the beginner. Look in your local craft store for ideas.

Christmas of course you can make beautiful ornaments for your tree, angel tree toppers, tree skirts and stockings can even be made now by the non-sewer. There are all kinds of fabric glues and iron on bonding products on the market now.

Plain picture frames can be turned into works of art. Mirrors can be decorated with shells you picked up on your last vacation. A great way to save those memories. Rubber stamping has become very popular. You can make cute invitations, gift tags and greeting cards.

There are so many ideas for beautiful Home Decor items, just pick a theme and go with it. Whether it's country, southwestern or modern style you can find a craft to make, that will make the room more personal.

Below you will find some great links to craft sites where you can get ideas and help for all of your projects. Enjoy and lets get crafting!!!




Aleene's Crafts
Mary Engelbreit
Hot Off The Press
Rubber Stamping
Craft Ideas
Holiday Crafts
Arts and Crafts
Jana's Craft Connection
Hobby Lobby
Christmas Crafts
A World of Crafts
Great Craft Ideas
Craft Net Village
Craft College
Holiday Crafts
Learn To Do Crafts


angel


And Sew I Watch Over You



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INDEX



[Introduction] [Index Of Pages] [Family~Matters] [My~Collections] [Making Memory Albums] [Sewing~Crafts] [Spring Gardening] ["I Love You Nanny"] [Kewl Kids Links] [The Tea Room] [The Sweet Shop~Desserts] [Main Dishes~Casseroles~Crock-pot Meals] [The Strawberry Patch~Recipes] [A-Is For Apple~Recipes] [Healthy~Recipes] [Recipe Archives I] [Recipe Archives II] [Causes and Awards] [Awards~II] [Webrings~Banners]

Please visit my sister site "Women of Great Taste" a cookbook.


Thanks for visiting, I hope you will continue with me down the garden path to see what we can find at "Nanny"s Cozy Little Nook" There's still alot of interesting things to come....Please sign my new guestbook.

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Since April 24,1999




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