List on a Monday morning

Please excuse me while I go have an anxiety attack now.

A Visit from the Post Man

This afternoon I was lucky enough to get a special visit from my neighborhood postal worker. I love getting mail -- it makes me feel so special.

About a week ago or so I placed an order for these delicious kona fabrics. I have been anxiously awaiting their arrival so I can get started on my special new project(s).

And now here they are in all of their glory - beckoning for me to cut into them and yet I am still on my sewing hiatus.

Kona colors: Lime, Pepper, Coal, Ash, Medium Gray, Berry and White.

Anyone want to come over and cut some 5 inch charm squares for me? =)

Early Bird Giveaway Winners!

So today is the day to announce the winners of the early bird contest for the Stockings for Kids drive. I am so blown away by all you non-procrastinators who have sent in such beautiful stockings already. I know if we continue at this pace, we will be able to reach our goal of all 50 foster children getting stockings this year!

I decided to do the drawing the old fashioned way -- aka I pulled my husband away from his studying about leukemia long enough to draw the winners.  So let's get down to it shall we?

First prize:

A fat quarter bundle of Kate Spain's beautiful 12 days of Christmas Fabric goes to (drumroll please)

Pieces to Love!  Yay, I hope that you enjoy playing with these yummy fabrics.

Second Prize: 

This scrumptious advent calendar kit...and that goes to (drumroll again please)

Caren! (Your extra entry for sending it in early really paid off! Yay - hope you enjoy the advent calendar)

An email has been sent to the winners letting them know. 

A very large thank you to everyone who has participated thus far. Don't forget we will be having a large drawing towards the end of the month where the rest of the prizes (including a $50 gift certificate to the fat quarter shop) will be up for grabs -- so keep your eyes peeled for more info on that soon! And if you are a person after my own heart who waits 'til the last minute to get things done, no worries the deadline isn't until Dec 1. =)

Stockings for Kids Tutorial Tuesday: Striped Stocking

***Just a friendly reminder that the early bird giveaway ends tomorrow night at midnight EST!*** 

This week Jeni over at one of my favorite blogs, In Color Order, has graciously agreed to share this striped stocking tutorial. I have been so excited to see her tutorial because she is so creative and does awesome things with color. And her tutorial does not disappoint - I love that she made it with non christmas-y fabrics and yet it still has that holiday feel. I might have to make a few of these to use in my house this year!

Thank you for all your help with the stockings (check out the flickr group -- there are so many gorgeous stockings posted!) and be sure to come back next week for another tutorial from Melissa over at Sew Bitter Sweet Designs.


Striped Stocking Tutorial


Materials
- Old stocking for tracing or there is a template available for free HERE (printed on 11x17 paper)
- Variety of scraps at least 12" in length
- 1/3 yard of stocking backing fabric
- 1/3 yard of lining fabric
- 1/3 yd fusible fleece
- 1/4 yard of cuff fabric

1. Choose your fabrics. For my stocking, I choose all different shades of green.

2. Lay out your template (printed, or an existing stocking), and measure the widest part, usually near the foot. Add an inch, this is going to be how long you want to cut your strips. Mine was 11" wide, so I cut my strips 12".

3. Cut your strips a variety of widths. I cut mine between 2.25" and 3.5". Once they're sewn together, you'll know if you need to cut more!

4. Sew your strips together along the long sides, creating a big rectangle until it is the size of your template. You may need to cut a few additional strips to make sure it's long enough. Press seams open. 

5. Using your template, cut out your stocking piece. Cut the stocking back out as well. Don't forget to flip your template over before cutting out your backing! You may choose to do both sides striped, but I used a solid for the back of mine!

6. Using your template, cut two pieces of fusible fleece, remembering to flip your template for the second one. Trim your fusible fleece down a 1/4" all the way around so it won't be in the seam allowance. Fuse by the manufacturer's instructions

7. Quilt the pieced front as desired, quilting through the front and fleece. I quilted mine using random diagonal lines with my walking foot.

8. I finished my stocking and added a cuff using Alison of Cluck Cluck Sew's Lined Stocking with a Cuff tutorial shared last month here on Purple Panda Quilts!