Birthday Gift Needle Book

We joined some neighbors last night to celebrate a birthday.

Needlebook filled with snips, needles, pins, and some cute sewing charms.

It's so pleasant to get together and enjoy some cake and conversation!

This beautiful cake was made by another very talented neighbor.  Aren't those rosettes gorgeous!

I met the birthday girl a couple years ago before either of us moved into our neighborhood and we were both delighted to discover our common interest in sewing.  She has since taken up quilting (and sometimes jokingly blames me) and it's so fun to stop by to see each other's projects.

Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts

Happy 5th of July! Update: Toppers Completed

The tag was added to the front with personal details and washing instructions on the back.

These patriotic items have been in the works since May.

The firework fabric almost sparkles like real fireworks

This block is from a Spectacular Star Table Runner free tutorial from Lindsey Weight at The Fort Worth Fabric Studio Blog.  She truly has so many beautiful and wonderful tutorials that I plan to make someday!

I was going to make the Spectacular Star Table Runner but then decided to add triangle borders and make multiple table toppers or wall hangings to share.

Pattern revision notes for future reference.

Make all the units as shown below and lay out into this configuration and sew together.  The center of the star is a 3 1/2" square.  

To make the corner units:  First make (8) Half Square Triangles (hst's).  Place the red and white 2 1/2" squares right sides together.  Sew around the perimeter and then cut diagonally twice.  Press open and square up to 2".  Sew the bow tie block by sewing the HSTs with the 2" squares as shown.  Square up to 3 1/2".  Then sew the borders on as shown above in previous photo.

Make 4 flying geese.  Cut (1) 4 1/4" square and Cut (4) 2 1/2" squares.  Draw a diagonal line on each 2 1/2" square.  Use the flying geese no waste method here.

Make 4 of these units.  Cut (4) 2 5/8" centers and to create a square in a square, Cut (4) of the two colors 2 1/2" squares and then cut in half diagonally.  Sew triangles to each side of white square as shown. Square up the unit to be 3 1/2"

After sewing all the units together, square up the unfinished block to 12 1/2"

Linking up with Two Chicks and a Mom's Funtastic Friday; Confessions of a Fabric Addict's Whoop, Whoop Friday; and Sew Fresh Quilts, Lets Bee Social; and Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts

Teddy's Coca Cola Attire

My friend got Teddy, a labradoodle or is it a golden doodle?? for her birthday.  We've exchanged gifts for years and sometimes like to make homemade gifts for each other and so I looked for some tutorials to make accessories for Teddy.

Teddy looks very cool sitting there in the shade with his scarf and leash!

Here are the links to the tutorials I used: leash from She Can Sew  And a scarf from Gleeful Things. 

The leash is charm square friendly and I used a strip from and old pair of jeans for the interfacing which gave it just the right amount of thickness and body.  I got the swivel toggle hook from Home Depot for around $3

Linking up with Two Chicks and a Mom's Funtastic Friday; Confessions of a Fabric Addict's Whoop, Whoop Friday; and Sew Fresh Quilts, Lets Bee Social