Valentine Hat and Scarf

Hello!
Today I want to show you a set of red hat and scarf I made to donate to the Children's Tumor Foundation.
Every year they host local little parties on different parts of the country to watch the 24 hours of Daytona race.
The Children's Tumor Foundation has a car on the race with the purpose to raise money for reaserch and  awareness to Neurofibromatosis.
My daughter Brenda has Neurofibromatosis 1.
We try to help participating in events, raising money for reaserch any  way we can.
So, I decide to make the hat and scarf set  to be used on the raffle at our local party today.
It a very simple set, fast and easy to make.
For the hat, I used a loom from Provo Crafts. I love these looms. I have made many  hats just like this for charity events at my church.

I used Homespun and Fun Fur from Lion Brand for the set.

I made the scarf using regular knitting needles.
I put the hat and scarf  together with some Valentine candy on a little wire basket from the Dollar Tree .

And here it is, ready to go! I hope this can help the event today.
Thanks for stopping by,
Ana Paula :)

Sweet Treat Pincushion

Hello! Today I have a sweet treat to share.

When I first saw this on the Quilts and More magazine ( Spring 2010),  I new I had to make one.
Took me a awhile to find the glass. Finally I spotted it at the Dollar Tree. I grabbed some, an made not one, but three pincushions. I gave the other two as birthday gifts to friends.
They  are very easy to make, even if you don't have the magazine. Felt crafts are so cute and easy.

I filled the glass with pink buttons. You can use it as a sewing kit and fill the glass with pins, needles, thread and a pair of  mini scissors.
I just love how it came out, and my friends liked theirs too.

Thanks for stopping by!
Ana Paula :)

Craft storage corner

I really love crafts, I always did.  I come from a very crafty family.
My mom and all her female relatives were always doing some kind of handwork.
They did sewing, cross stitch, several kinds of embroidery, knitting, crochet, even bobbin lace.
So, I end up learning something. Being a crafter  means that you collect a lot of "stuff".
I have several storage boxes filled with my things.
When you live in an small apartment, things can get difficult.
I needed something to hold my craft supplies, especially the small stuff in a way that could be handy and I could find when I needed it.
We are lucky to have an Ikea near by.
I got a Expedit shelf and Flort boxes that hide all the mess. They close with a zipper and have a place for a tag. How cool is that? I just love these boxes.
Now, things look much better, I don't have a before picture, but trust me, it was scary.
Here are the after pictures!

The tins and boxes hold buttons, lace and other small items. I love red, as you can see.
I still have boxes of fabric and yarn, but that's another project. :)
Thanks for stopping by.
Ana Paula.

A Christmas update and a blog party!

Hello!

I know it is the end of January, but I forgot to show off this little elf that I made with the kids at my daughter's class.
I got the idea here . I made some changes to use what I had on hand.
I had wood beads with only one hole. So, I made the hat complete with jingle bell and hanger and glued on the bead.  I made little kits for the kids using  ziploc bags. They had the heads, pipe cleaners, pony beads, a big wooden bead for the body and a pre cut felt scarf.
They only had to thread the beads, fold the ends of the pipe cleaners and put the scarf on the little guy.
The kids followed the directions pretty well. We had other Moms helping at the class. The kids loved it!

Anyways, no more Christmas for now. Now the blog party!
SJ, at The Homemaker on a dime is hosting a great party to help you to get more followers and make new friends. She is a pretty cool gal, and very clever. I can say that because I know her personally. :)
Please check it out.






Thanks for stopping by.

Ana Paula

Recycled denim blanket

Hello!
Things are slow around here. I am organizing. That's my New Year's resolution.
But,  I will have a cross stitch finish to share soon and a couple of other little projects.
Anyways, I hope that after all this organizing I will be able to make all the stuff  I have planned for the year.
I ordered some cross stitch patterns, and can't wait to start something new. And work on the old ones too. :)

Since I don't have any cross stitch to show you, I decided to share this denim blanket I made using old pants.
It is a very simple one, using big blocks, I even used parts with pockets. It's a very fun blanket!
The seams were clipped to make the "rag quit style". I used red tag denim from Joann for the back.
We use this for picnics and I always get lots of compliments. People stop by to take a look.
So, just an idea for recycling all those jeans you have around the house. Now, I am collecting  old jeans for a new project. Recycled denim is so much fun. Thanks for stopping by.

Laura Ingalls Wilder doll

Hello!
Hope all of you had a great Christmas and New Year celebration.
We stayed home for Christmas and after opening the gifts Santa left, we went to Grandma's here in town to open more presents. For New Year's we went to San Diego.
Anyways, here is the last handmade gift I made this Christmas.
Brenda told me that she wanted a Laura doll.
I am a Laura fan. I read all her books in Portuguese in Brazil when I was a little girl.
Brenda has been getting the My First Little Books for Christmas and birthdays since she was three, and  just loves them.
So, I decided to make her Laura doll. After looking around a lot, that's what I came up with.
It was quite a challenge for me. My eyes are not the same they used to be.
I had never stitched over one thread. But, here she is.

Yes, she has no shoes. The pattern I used had no shoes. I could not find a pattern that fits her. Still working on it.
The cross stitch patterns for the doll's face is from Cross Stitch and Country Crafts March / April 1987.
The magazine only offers the cross stitch pattern. I used a pattern I got at Joann's for the doll's body and head..

The apron and bonnet pattern are from another source. The fabric for the dress is from Lakehouse Dry Goods.
I think her face is beautiful. I am very happy with the whole project. It was a work of love. I love Laura , and making this doll for Brenda was such a pleasure. My sweetie deserves it.

She was waiting Brenda under the tree on Christmas morning sitting on a little chair I got at Salvation Army.
My Christmas morning pictures did not came out very good. Many blurry ones.

This one is from Christmas Eve. Brenda loves dolls. She also wanted the Disney's Rapunzel doll. Santa took care of it.

Tonight I got this picture of Brenda on her Christmas Pjs.

Now, I can't wait to starting reading the "real" Laura books with my cutie. It will be so much fun!
Thanks for reading my blog.