Pattern Pact 2011

I mentioned my resolution to sew from a pattern/book/magazine I already own once a month for the year of 2011. A couple of commenters declared a similar resolve, and Jenn has been all over the idea!

So we are organizing a sew along of sorts!



This one will be pretty low key! Each month between February and October, choose a pattern from your library and post your choice to our Flickr group. By the end of the month post your finished project! Done! Choose something simple on those busy months or tackle something you've been meaning to try.

And need another reason for joining in -- besides using those patterns that are languishing unopen in a drawer? There will be GIVEAWAYS! That's right, each month participants will be entered in a giveaway (fabric! gift cards! tools and supplies!), and those who take part for each of the nine months the pact runs will be entered in a special sponsored giveaway (just don't ask who the sponsor is -- still working on that!).

OK, so you have until February 7 to choose your first project!! Let's go!

WAIT! I almost forgot. If you'd like to post the button to your blog, go ahead and download it from this post, and link it to this post or our Flickr group. Let me know if you need help!

Sneaky Peeky

We've had a snowy week, with lots of huddling around the fireplace. I've found a little time for crafting/sewing when not working or huddling.

Jaxon has been BESIDE himself over these Dr. Who paper figures I folded last fall.

I finally broke down and made some for him.




He wanted the "colorful Doctor," the black TARDIS, and a k-9 "puppy." It took me a good two hours to fold these and he has probably played with them a total of 30 minutes. At least they were a happy 30 minutes.

I've been working on a project I'm not quite ready to reveal, but I can't help showing a few process shots. Any guesses what I am working on?








Here's a hint: I am a big fan of the TV show "Psych." If you watch you should know...

And I am looking forward to a long weekend. The CMQG is having a sew-in Saturday and I am headed to IKEA Sunday. Woo hoo! I'm hoping this morning's sunrise is a harbinger of a sunny weekend!




-- Post From My iPad

Resolutions 2011

This year we are all getting into the resolution spirit:

Samantha resolves to enjoy the cold weather, she hates the heat...


Jaxon resolves to practice his angry face, although he never uses it when he is angry -- it makes him laugh!


I resolve to make something from a book or magazine I already own each month. I buy them and then they languish on the shelf (or in the magazine rack). No more! Here's the first for January:

Cosmo Bag from Amy Butler's Style Stitches

My sister got me Amy Butler's new book for Christmas. This is my first begin-and-finish of 2011.

Fabric is Michael Miller's Gray Prom (and dumb dot), lined in curtains from Jaxon's nursery. The prom fabric was made for me! Perfect! Look at this young lady spiking the punch:



Too cute! This is designed by Shawn Wallace. She's my favorite and behind most of Michael Miller's novelty fabric.

The bag went together quickly -- I just wish I would have used heavier interfacing for more form.

Those are our resolutions! Oh, and Charlie? He resolves *not* to be on my blog!

-- Post From My iPad

Go Ohio!

Hey gang-a-lang, just dropping in to share this video with you. Wilson Footballs is in a small town in Ohio and supplies all official (American) footballs to the NFL. I can't imagine having to turn a leather football inside out. I can barely do a cotton purse. These are some craftsmen and -women!

Back to work!

Time Warp

The calendar says 2011, but I am finishing up 2010. Yesterday was my last day of vacation, the quarter began today. I got a lot accomplished over break -- lots of crafting, some work around the house, and 4 novels (and many magazines) read -- but could have used another week before facing the students.

I finally finished my Pay It Forward gifts. When searching through my blog to confirm recipients I discovered that my 365 days expired in November. I hope my Pay It Forward friends forgive me!

In each package I included:

A market tote in either pink and gray print or bright polka dots...



A small bottle of Best Press*

And not pictured...some Buckeye candy and origami wreaths. Now I can move onto 2011!

* A note about Best Press: When we visited Courtney last spring, she asked if I use Best Press. "No," I responded. "I use water. It's free."

"Well, it's really good," Courtney advised.

A local quilt shop was having a sale -- buy one gift pack of Best Press, get one free. So I've been using Best Press and I am officially a convert. Courtney, I am eating humble pie!

-- Post From My iPad

Highlights from 2010

Highlights from 2010
Originally uploaded by modernjax

Some of my favorites from 2010...and I have a couple of WIPS to finish today so I can start something new in 2011 (man, that sounds like the future -- where's my flying car and cleaning robot? And while we are on the subject of the Jetsons, I will take Jane's dress as well!).

Happy New Year!

Pop Pop

Just popping in and out (or apparating) during our little staycation to share a couple of awesome gifts I received for being a good girl this year!


Jaxon got mommy a gift (with daddy's help)...


...it wasn't on my wishlist...


...but the elves heard me tell a perfect stranger at Target how cool it was...


...and daddy put it together late on Christmas Eve so Jaxon could surprise mommy...


...and I decided to take photos of it with my new "photo studio in a box" and tripod (and my not-new-to-me camera). Let's see if my photography improves!

Happy Holidays to you!

We have been keeping busy but finding plenty of time to relax in the modernJax household (mostly during the time I *should* have been writing christmas cards). I've been crafting away, particularly enjoying handwork so I can hang out with the family and enjoy the Christmas tree.

I finally used the last of my Scrappy Holiday Blocks.

Yes, Charlie volunteered to hold the quilt in the snow while wearing shorts and no shoes. Like last year.

I pieced the blocks into this quilt at my retreat and attempted to machine quilt the tree, but really hated it. Ripped it all out and started over with hand quilting. Much better.


I planned this as a gift, but one of the blocks bled in the wash. I'll wash it again and see if the dye comes out.


I've been making lots of treats, my usuals like Buckeyes and fudge, but also these little snowmen. The edible marker didn't work quite as I had hoped -- next time mini Chocolate chips.

I made a batch of cutout cookies and our friends Rose and Evelyn came over to help decorate. The kids had very distinct decorating styles.

Jaxon heaped as much icing as possible onto a cookie for daddy (which daddy dutifully ate) and Evie used almost no icing but a whole container of sprinkles. Festive!

And Jaxon kept going, so Santa has a *nice* surprise when he visits the house.

And while the kids decorated cookies, Rose and I decorated wreaths. I was a bad hostess and took no process photos or photos of Rose's wreath. I took a couple of quick snaps of mine the day after when I finished.

One for grandma....

...and one for...me? Anyone local need a wreath?

And finally, we took Jaxon on the North Pole Express, and he was quite excited!

His favorite part was when the conductor punched his ticket...

...but excitement soon abated and sleepiness took over.

He seems so peaceful when he is sleeping. Here's hoping a peaceful holiday to all of you, my friends!

Handmade Gifts: Retro Pillow with Flange

Notice the absence of "quick" from the title? This one will take some time. I've been loving handwork lately so this was right up my alley. This isn't so much a tutorial as a "how I made this." If you'd like to make it and need more detailed instructions, let me know!

Almost forgot -- I made up this pdf if you want to play along!!

The pillow front was inspired by an illustration from a 50s Christmas card. The "hair" and the holly berries are yo-yos (I made 33 small and 6 large). The fabric is "Have a Sheri Berry Christmas" and the yo-yos are made from part of a charm pack.


Once I had a bunch of yo-yos I cut a piece of fabric 1" larger than my pillow form in both length and width. I drew a face and wrote "Happy Holidays" with a water soluble pen. I cut my holly leaves from another charm and used steam-a-seam to attach it to the fabric. Then I stitched the face, words, and around the leaves using coordinating thread (I forgot to do the words and the leaves until after I sewed it all together. WHOOPS!).


Using the rest of my charm pack, I laid charms around the outer edge until I was happy with the placement. Then I sewed them together (adding an extra charm to the end just in case)...


...ironed-on some lightweight interfacing, folded in half, and pressed.


Pinning the raw sides together I stitched along one side, starting and stopping 1/4" from each end. I did this on all four sides (joining the two ends as if they were quilt binding).


Then I took the excess at one corner, folded it together...


...and laid it flat to create a pleat. Sew over the 1/4" gaps you left to create the pleats.


I made an envelope-style back (there are lots of tutorials out there for this)


Voila! Jaxon informed me that it isn't comfortable because of the "bumps." PERFECT!

SANTA! I know him!

We've been celebrating the Christmas season, making sure we also have plenty of time to relax! My goal for winter break is to do one crafty thing and one domestic thing (cleaning or baking) per day. I've been successful, but part of the problem with Jaxon being home with me is as soon as I clean a room it gets messy again!

I also haven't done Christmas cards yet, and with only 10 days til Christmas I'm not sure if cards will happen. We'll see.

We spent an evening at Franklin Park Conservatory with some friends, where we decorated cookies with Mrs. Claus, and enjoyed meeting Santa and Dasher and Dancer. I was also amazed at the entries in the Gingerbread House competition!

The nutcrackers!

The roof! (This is a gingerbread replica of the Worthington Inn)

The Grinch!

On the crafty side of things, I've had plenty to keep me busy. Two of my recent projects include...


...a sunglass sleeve for my sister (I have a bunch of pre-quilted fabric a student brought me from Japan and I'm not sure what to do with it. This was a great, if small, way to use it)...


....another yarn wreath. I wanted to make it argyle, Jaxon wanted me to wrap it in lights (and he can be persistent!) so I made felt "lights." That kid has some good ideas! More yarn wreaths to come...


...and a mouse costume for Jaxon's preschool winter program. I think it was a success, he's been wearing the tail around the house since!

Christmas Tree!

A little break from the quick gifts posts...to put up our Christmas tree!

We always put up the vintage aluminum tree, but before Jaxon was born we used to have a live tree as well. Then Jaxon became a human tornado and we decided to forgo the live tree for a couple of years. Now we are back to the tradition of visiting our local tree farm! If you have never been to a tree farm there are a few things you should know:

It's helpful if you have a snowfall a day or two in advance, even if it mostly melts off.


This helps with anticipation.

When you arrive at the tree farm they most likely have different varieties to choose from.


We somehow always choose the variety that's grown the farthest away.

Select a tree cart, and make sure it is sturdy enough to hold your tree.


If it can pull a four year old you are probably fine.

It might be chilly this time of year, so be prepared to keep warm.


But maybe not by laying in a trench. Even if you are pretending to be a mouse.

Once you find your tree, carefully cut it down.


A helper can be, well, helpful.

Once you've felled your tree, place it on the cart and steer toward the baler.


A traffic director might be necessary.

The helpful attendant will put your tree on a shaker to get out the loose needles, and then send it through a baler.


Then you can throw on the car and go home!


And if you are as lucky as I am, you'll get the tree up and then spend your time cleaning up regurgitated pine needle (STUPID CAT).

I also finally got the table topper hung, yay! It's the perfect size for this wall (that I have never known what to do with because the thermostat is right in the middle), yay!



And a little sneak peek of something to come....