Tinsel Table Top Quilt

tinsel quilt cover

It’s almost Christmas!!  There is still time to whip up a few last minute gifts!  I love this pattern because it shows off theme prints so well.  If you didn’t know, I LOVE theme prints!  Especially if they have cats!  I love this fabric by Cotton and Steel called Tinsel.  I couldn’t bring myself to cut it up into tiny pieces.  Click HERE to download the PDF.

tinsel quilt. 11

tinsel quiltThere are two versions you can make.  A table runner or a table square.

tinsel quilt. 5I love that the fabric has “Sally’s Christmas List”  because I have a Sally 🙂tinsel quilt. 3I quilted it with loops and retro stars.tinsel quilt. 4The runner is for me!!tinsel quilt 18And the square is for Mufasa’s best friend Roo!

tinsel quilt. 13   tinsel quilt. 6        Baby Mufasa was such a big help!!!  IMG_3043

Noel Mini Quilt

noel cover

Hello, my name is Amanda and I am addicted to gingerbread cookies and Christmas sewing!  I love this time of year!!!  It’s so happy and magical and joyful!  I can’t stop listening to Christmas music, baking cookies, or sewing with this Little Joys Fabric from Penny Rose!  I created this little quilt pattern using Therm o Web’s EZ print sheets.  All you have to do is print the applique pieces from your computer and you’re already on your way to making this quilt!  noel quilt 3

Mufasa was very helpful in the creation of this quilt as you can see.noel quilt 4The pattern is over on the Therm O Web blog today!  Hop on over to download the pattern and get the cutting instructions!!

noel quilt 5This quilt is perfect to hang on a wall, put on a table, or give as a gift to someone special.

noel quilt 13Because most of this quilt is applique, I didn’t want the applique pieces to puff out from the quilt so I quilted over the entire top.

noel quilt 11Merry Christmas!!

 

Santa’s Little Helper Quilt

santa's little helper quilt patternHey good lookin’!  Whatcha got cookin’? How ’bout cookin’ somethin’ up for me!

Stitchn_Kitchen_Christmas_Blog_Tour-01I’m so excited to be participating in Riley Blake’s Stitchin’ Kitchen blog tour!  Thanks for stopping by and welcome to my little corner of blog land!!!  I’m a Southern California mom who loves cats, quilting and sewing!!  You can follow Mufasa and I and our sewing antics on Instagram @jedicraftgirl.

christmas elf quilt 6I love sewing at Christmas time and I am loving all the amazing projects everyone is creating as part of the Riley Blake Stitchin’ Kitchen Blog Tour!  I created this fun little throw quilt with inspiration from our elf, Ritchie.  My kids love our Elf and they love writing him little notes.  This special Santa’s Little Helper Quilt has a pocket on the back of the quilt for children to leave notes for their elf and for the elf to leave notes in response.  It’s a magical quilt and it was created with a little help from some magical elf friends!

christmas elf quilt 26Let’s get cookin’!  All fabrics are from the Santa Express fabric line.Screen Shot 2015-12-11 at 2.51.25 PM

christmas quiltRecipe yields 1 quilt 32″ x 42″

1/4 ” seam allowances

Ingredients

1/4 yard each:  blue santa, green snowflake, reindeer, and stripe fabrics for strips

1/3 yard solid white for pinwheels

1/3 yard Riley Blake Basics prints in red

1/4 yard for pocket

1 1/2 yard backing

batting

1/2 yard binding

a sprinkle of elf magic

Directions

Preheat your television to play your favorite Christmas movies while you are bakin’ up this project!

Begin by cutting the red basics and the solid white fabrics into 4 1/2″ squares.  You will need 20 of each.

christmas elf quilt 8Using a sprinkling of elf magic use the directions below to create some magical half square triangles.

magic pinwheel instructions

It’s almost like magic how the half square triangles appear!  Make sure to cut off the little “dog ears” of the pinwheels.christmas elf quilt 12Pressing the seams open helps the pinwheel lay flat.christmas elf quilt 15'

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Once you have pinwheel blocks constructed (dry ingredients) you can now add them to the side strips (wet ingredients).

pinwheel block sashing instructionsSewing blocks with partial seems also seems a little magical!  Lay the 20 blocks out and sew them together in rows.  Pressing seams alternately and pinning at intersections.

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Quilt as desired 🙂  Add binding.christmas elf quilt 27To make the little envelope for the back, follow the instructions below:

fabric envelopeHand stitch the envelope on the back of the quilt as you would hand applique a quilt label or applique piece.

christmas elf quilt 4

I just love this little pocket!  You could use this same idea for a tooth fairy quilt!!

christmas quilt elf

With the quilt all finished, it’s time to enjoy some homemade gingerbread cookies!  These are my family’s favorite!  We’ve been making this recipe every year since I was in Kindergarten!

gingerbread cookiesThey are so spicy and yummy and your house will smell delightful!!!

christmas elf quilt 3

Be sure to follow along with our Stitch ‘n Kitchen blog tour for holiday project tutorials and favorite recipes!

12/1 – Riley Blake Designs

12/2 – Simple Simon

12/3 – Mode de Lis

12/4 – One Little Pooh

12/5 – A Bright Corner

12/7 – Quiltscapes

12/8 – Life After Laundry

12/9 – Crafting Chicks

12/10 – Melly Sews

12/11 – Choo Choo Skadoo

12/12 – Jedi Craft Girl

12/14 – Polka Dot Chair

12/15 – Sew Like My Mom

12/16 – Sugar Bee Crafts

12/17 – Fort Worth Fabric Studio

12/18 – Messy Jesse

12/19 – Leigh Laurel Studios

12/21 – The Happy Housie

12/22 – The Flannel Queen

12/23 – Riley Blake Designs

12/24 – Riley Blake Designs

12/25 – Riley Blake Designs

Christmas Cat Sweater

typsy elves cat sweater 4I don’t know if I’ve ever posted about an item of clothing that I didn’t sew but I am so in love with my new Christmas sweater that I had to post a few pictures!  The sweater has cats  all over it and bells all over it and bows all over it!  I JINGLE when I walk!!  I got the sweater from Tipsy Elves .com.  I saw them in an episode of Shark Tank – their sweaters are amazing and they even had several cat themed sweaters to choose from!  I wore it to our church Christmas party and i attracted a lot of attention 🙂

typsy elves cat sweater 2I’m not one for a lot of pictures of myself – but if I’m wearing a cat sweater it’s all right!!  typsy elves cat sweater 3It was very difficult to get a picture with Mufasa – he was pushing away from me as I was trying to hug him – he ended up snagging the sweater 🙁  typsy elves cat sweater 5I can’t help but smile when I see this sweater!  I wish it wasn’t 80 degrees today so I could wear it!

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 6} Gingerbread Cookie Cats

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Today I’m taking a little break from the sewing machine and enjoying my FAVORITE gingerbread cookies – shaped like cats!  This recipe has been our family’s favorite since I was in Kindergarten!  It is super easy but the most flavorful gingerbread recipe you will ever have.  I just brought them to our church Christmas party and a few people were fighting over them 🙂

Amanda’s Famous Gingerbread Cookies

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1/3 cup water

3 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp + cinnamon

2 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream the butter and brown sugar.  Add the molasses.  Next beat in the water. (it will look a little weird)

In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.  Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.

On a floured surface roll out the dough 1/4″ thick and cut with cookie cutters.  If the dough seems a little sticky, just add more flour as you are rolling out.

Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 for 8 minutes.  Let cool.  Dip in dipping chocolate or pipe with royal icing.

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Gingerbread dipped in chocolate is one of the best flavor combinations in the whole world!!!IMG_2612I collect little vintage cats – they sit in my kitchen window and keep an eye on the baking!  IMG_2626I didn’t want to cover up the detail on the cats, so I just dipped their heads in chocolate 🙂

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 5} Kitten Softies

christmas cat softie 8These cute cat softies are ones my mom made in the early 80’s.  She is also a crazy cat lady, I think it is hereditary!  These cute little kittens can sew up in a snap and look darling tucked in a Christmas tree.  Download the pattern HERE.  I think I will make some in some updated fabrics!  Every tree needs kitties in it!!!

christmas cat softie 2I have a cat themed tree upstairs in the hallway.  Don’t worry, there are plenty of cat ornaments on all my other trees!!!christmas cat softie 3

christmas cat softie 6  I bought this Mufasa ornament when I was at the Farmers Market in New Jersey!christmas cat softie 5OK, I may have bought 2 Mufasa ornaments 🙂

IMG_2607Just a sampling of some of my favorite cat ornaments I’ve collected 🙂

christmas cat softie

Holly Jolly Jingle Bell Key Fobs

christmas key fobI whipped up a few of these Jingle Bell Key Fobs because it’s nice to jingle everywhere you go in December!  They make fun gifts and I really do love having one on my key chain.  If you would like the tutorial, click HERE.

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 1}

vintage kitty sizzix ornament

meowychristmasHi, my name is Amanda and I am a crazy cat lady – there I said it!!  There is something about Christmas and cats that it so much fun!  Whether the cat is climbing the tree and batting ornaments around the house, clawing at the wrapping paper on the gifts, or drinking the milk for Santa, Christmas and Cats were made to go together!  Each day December 1-12 we will have a Christmas Cat themed project for you to make!  I say “we” because I have teamed up with some talented ladies for some feline fun!  Tina from @emilyannskloset, Melissa from the Polka Dot Chair, Bev from Flamingo Toes, Tasha  from a Little Sweetness, Kerri from Sew Dearly Loved, and Lucy from Lucy Blaire Handmade will be joining in the festivities!

vintage kitty ornament sizzix

vintage cat ornament 12Today I am showing you how to make these vintage inspired cat ornaments.  I LOVE vintage prints especially if they involve cats.  Let’s get started!

Supplies

Sizzix Mitten Die

Small Ric Rac

White fabric

Tinsel

Felt, 2 colors

Heat n Bond EZ Print Transfer Sheets

Spray n Bond

Ribbon

Bakers Twine

vintage cat ornament 5Begin by printing the cat images (click here to download) in REVERSE onto the Transfer Sheets.

vintage cat ornament

Roughly cut out the image and place it face down onto white cotton fabric.

vintage cat ornament 6Place the pressing sheet over the image and press with a hot, dry iron for 20 seconds.  (Read the instructions from the manufacturer just to be safe).  Let cool completely and then peel off the backing paper.  Cut out with scissors.

vintage cat ornament 11Mufasa my Kitty Helper was sleeping on the job!!!  For the mittens, die cut the felt using the Sizzix mitten die.

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You can die cut up to 4 at a time.   You will need (2) mittens and (2) mitten tops per ornament.

vintage cat ornament 2Using Spray n Bond, spray the back of the kitty image and position on the top of one of the mittens.  Spray the back of the small ric rac also, and position it around the kitty image.  Start and stop the Ric Rac at the top of the image.  The Spray n Bond keeps all the pieces firmly set so they don’t move during sewing.  Sew on top of the ric rac.

vintage cat ornament 14

vintage cat ornament 3Using the basting spray, spray the wrong side of one of the mittens and stick the 2 mittens together.  Choose a decorative stitch and sew around the mitten.  Start and stop at the top.

vintage cat ornament 15Spray the (2) white mitten tops with basting spray and position them on opposite sides of the mitten.  Top stitch around the mitten top in white thread.  Cut a piece of narrow tinsel by the yard and zig zag it along the mitten cuff.

vintage cat ornament 9Thread a piece of baking twine on a needle and add a loop at the top of the mitten.  Hot glue a little bow at the top of the ric rac.vintage cat ornament 4

Hang on your vintage tree!!!   vintage cat ornament 8       These are so fun and easy to make!  They would be purrrrfect tied on top of a gift, tied on a plate of cookies, or simply tucked into a Christmas card 🙂vintage cat ornamentvintage kitty ornament sizzix 3

vintage kitty ornament sizzix 2

Winterberry Quilt

winterberry quilt 2

I visited my friend Tina in New Jersey this summer!  We sewed for 5 straight days and this is one of the quilts we put together.

winterberry quilt 9 I just got it back from the quilter; just in time for December!  The fabrics are called Winterberry by Moda.  winterberry quilt 3We choose this pattern called Modern Greek Cross.  It is such a FUN pattern!winterberry quilt 4

I’m used to sewing with Mufasa so I was so happy to have Roo’s company while we sewed.  winterberry quilt 5

The blocks are so much fun to put together!winterberry quilt 6

All good kitty quilters must approve the quilt layout before sewing it together!winterberry quilt 7

We sewed this together in August and December seemed so far away.  How time files!  winterberry quilt 8  The quilting turned out darling – she used an allover holly design.  I love it! winterberry quilt 12

Mufasa totally approves!  I think it’s so cute that Roo helped make the quilt that Mufasa is sitting on!  They are best friends and don’t even know it!winterberry quilt

Patchwork Acorns

patchwork acorn potholdersI’m sharing my Patchwork Acorn Potholder tutorial over on the Therm O Web Blog.  You can download the pattern and read the instructions!!patchwork acorn potholder

These are cute to use as potholders or as decorations in the kitchen!  I used a kitchen towel for the backing and the inside is fusible fleece.

patchwork acorn potholder 22

I also used the same pattern for the acorn and appliqued it onto burlap for a quick fall pillow!IMG_1846

To make the pillow, use spray an bond basting spray to hold the acorn in place.  Top stitch a few times around the acorn.  Then sew a 1″ seam all the way around the pillow leaving an opening for stuffing.  Stuff, then sew closed.  Fray the edges of the burlap as desired.IMG_1836