Stockings (Part 2): Applique

As I said in my last post, I am working on making Christmas stockings for kids in foster care as part of the Stockings for Kids project.  I have finished up three patchwork quilted stockings, and I am bursting at the seams with ideas for applique designs and I'd like to share them with you.

First off, we have the Christmas robot and the kitty with a tree.  You can't see the note at the bottom very well, but it makes me chuckle.  I wrote "fortunately I sew better than I sketch!!!"

Here's the kitty with the tree.  It looks so different from the sketch, though the applique pieces are the same, because of the fabric and embroidery techniques I used.  I wanted the kitty to be stripey.  I think this fits the bill.  You can't tell from the picture, but I used a backstitch for the star and a blanket stitch around the hat.  I have found the perfect white button for the pompom at the tip of the hat.  So assuming the kids don't take off with my button, it should be finished up tomorrow!

Here's my slightly wonky Christmas robot.  I want my stockings to look handmade.  Not bad quality, but just "off" enough that they can't be mistaken for mass-produced.  I do all of my embroidery by hand (which was not easy on this one, since the body/arms/wheels were made from vinyl).  I wanted this robot to be slightly wonky (like Wall-E after he got smooshed at the end of the movie).  I think that's how we humans are.  Smooshed.  But God has a way of healing our hearts and putting things in place like no robot can.  So I am praying that the child who receives this stocking will also receive Gods healing - way down deep in his (or her) heart.

I know I already showed you this picture, but I just love the details.  I was trying to figure out how to make stitches that resembled rivets.  I think this works pretty well - and I love that my 90 cent bag of embroidery floss from the thrift store had just the perfect shade of "robot grey" (my name for it).  And those glasses!  I can just imagine a cute little near-sighted robot going into the optometrist saying "take me to your candy cane glasses."  

Next up, a chilly penguin, and a sweet kitty with her teddy bear (I'm thinking pink fuzzy fleece for the kitty).  I'll keep you posted.  

Chow for now!  :) Caren

Stockings (Part 1): Quilty Appreciation

Hi all!  I've been busy this weekend with a bunch of family stuff, but since this is my crafty blog I thought I'd share my newest project with you.  Last week I found out that Lyanna from PurplePandaQuilts has given a challenge out to fellow crafty folks - she is trying to get Christmas stockings made for kids in foster care.  As she says on her blog: "From October 1 - Dec 1, I will be hosting a stocking drive to benefit the foster children of Central Virginia".

So I decided to join her!  A while ago I received a box of festive fabrics from my bloggy friend Brooke.  She is an amazing quilter, and had already pieced together some blocks for me.  Now in case you don't know me well, I'll tell you - I have ZERO experience with quilting.  None.  But the blocks were already put together - and they're so great - and they'd be PERFECT for Christmas stockings!  So I gave it a go.  

Which brings me to the title of this blog post.  I have a new-found appreciation for quilters, and the art of quilting in general.  Seriously, quilters are ARTISTS!!!  I am not intimidated by new ways of doing things, and Lyanna had a tutorial for making a quilted stocking, so I thought I'd jump right in!!!

Fortunately, the tutorial was a good one.  Oh my - after 4 hours of hard work, I finally figured out that there is a tension adjustment on the BOBBIN.  And that was just for starters.  But I finally did it.  I quilted straight (or as near to straight as I could get!) lines down the front of the first stocking, then tried out the "stitch in the ditch" method for the others.  That worked a bit better, and I actually came away from it with some fairly cute stockings.

So for all of you quilters out there, I say thank you.  If you love it, do it well.  And I promise, you will get no competition from me!!!  I encourage you to use your craft as an outlet of joy and good will to others.  Not just for holidays, but in every season.

Well, I'm off to work on my next few stockings, which are fairly heavy on applique and embroidery (oh yeah!  Back to my comfort zone!!!).  This fun little face is a sneak peak for my next post.  Until then, be blessed.  :) Caren