Just Say No! A Free Selfish Sewing Embroidery Pattern.

Makers seem to have the damnedest time saying no. We can't turn down testing new patterns and joining blog hops. We join every swap. We can't seem to tell our friends and family that we don't really want to hem all their new pants. No is a negative word and it makes us feel bad. But if we can't ever learn to say no, we'll never be able to do any Selfish Sewing. Why have the talents to make beautiful handmade goods to never use them for ourselves every once in a while.


I'll admit to you this: your Selfish Sewing Week hosts are the worst at Just Saying No. Rachael and I are bad. A few weeks ago, she and I were chatting and Rachael joked that she needed to make herself a reminder to Just Say No, but she had said yes to so many things her plate was too full to even consider it. Oh, the irony!

Something had to be done. I made this sweet, fast little embroidery hanging and sent it out to Rachel. I hope she's got it hanging up in her sewing room. Or, no, better yet, by her computer, as that is where all the Yes Saying happens. Then I remembered that we're all violators of the Just Say No rule, so I made the pattern up for everyone to download for free!

It is a PDF that you download (for free) to your computer. Print it out with no scaling or fit to page nonsense and you are good to go. Also, have you tried Pellon Stick and Washaway? I have a hate/hate relationship with my blue water soluble pen. Mostly because it just ends up spreading about my project instead of disappearing. I also do a good amount of embroidery projects on fabrics with colors and patterns making it difficult to transfer patterns too. If you trace your pattern directly onto the Stitch and Washaway, you can then stick it to the front of your fabric and just stitch through it. Then pop it into a bowl of water just like this and you're good to go!

Download the free pattern here!



Do like Nancy Reagan said and Just Say No! (Now I just need to find the time to make one for myself. Ha!) Selfish Sewing is officially on!

Felt Matryoshka Nesting Doll Ornaments

Everything I do I must make more complicated. I decided to make these little Russian doll ornaments to add into a Christmas gift for a friend. Then I thought, hey, I should make them into a blog post. Then I thought, hey, I should make a tutorial for these ornaments. Then I decided to get super crazy and thought I should make a pdf pattern to share with you all. I like to make it easy for you and do all the work. Or I have control issues.

So, without further ado, I present:

Step 1: Print out the Matryoshka Ornament Pattern below. It should fill one sheet of printer paper.
Matryoshka Doll Ornaments Pattern

Step 2: Cut out each pattern piece in felt of your choice. Cut two of each main body piece. I found it easiest to keep each doll's patterns and felt together in a ziplock bag until it was time to sew. Mostly to keep Jimmy from mixing them all up.


Step 3: Stack hair and face piece and stitch onto one body piece. I used a basic running stitch, but you can get super fancy here. Or even use a sewing machine. Heck, you can make these ornaments without sewing at all. Just glue them. Hot glue, Elmer's glue, Arlene's glue. Sky's the limit.

Step 4:Stitch dress piece and kerchief tie piece to the same body piece. I added a lazy daisy stitch with a french knot center. You could stitch a heart. Or a button. Or embroider a name. Again, go ahead and run with it.


Step 5: Stitch on a face: two french knots and a curved stitch. I think I will make a man one next with a mustache.


Step 6: Align the front body piece (the one you stitched all the parts to) with the back piece. Starting at the lower left hand corner stitch up the left side, around the head and back down to the lower right corner. Make sure you add a loop of ribbon so your ornament can hang. I cut my ribbon to 7 inches to make a nice big loop. Little kids can struggle with these things.


Once you stitch your way back to the right corner, stuff your doll ornament. I used Pellon Perfect Loft which I must say is just lovely to use. It's light and fluffy and easy to stuff. I have also stuffed little guys like this with felt scraps too. It all depends on how finicky you want to get about it. Stitch the remaining bottom edge closed.

Admire your handiwork.


Happy Holidays, ya'll.

I'm a bonehead: Noodlehead clutches

I've finally finished a batch of six Noodlehead clutches. Two I sent to their owners without taking pictures. (facepalm)

This is for Chrissy. She wanted something badass. She's from Baltimore.

It is in the mail on it's way to you, girlie. I hope you love it.

I made two of these bags; one for my sister-in-law for her birthday and one for me. SIL's has an awesome free hand embroidery rose done in red to dark variegated thread. It was the best one so I gave it to her. This Tequila Sammy one is for me.

The lining is this awesome orange and teal print from Joann's. I also added a strap with a lobster clasp to attach keys too. I hate digging for my keys.

I love the skeleton Guadalupe on the back. She will be a large part of one of my tattoo sleeves one day. Once we're done paying off our legal debt.

And now, the most boneheaded of them all. I am so pissed at myself. I bought this beautiful Heather Ross linen from Ayumi of Pink Penguin when she did some destashing. I'm working hard at being a fabric user, not a horder. So I cut it up and made two smaller sized Noodlehead clutches from it. I had the most perfect lavender dotted fabric for the lining. I stitched these awesome scissors onto the flaps. I was in L. O. V. E.

Then I put the rest of the bag together. And tried not to cry. Sigh. It never even occured to me to leave enough room for overhang. Grrrr...

Let's just go back to where they look lovely.

At least one of the bags is for me. The other is a gift and I'm hoping it's recipient will still think it's pretty swell.

On a positive note, DS Charm swap packages are still coming in! My postal carrier is still super happy about it, huffing and puffing it up to the porch. I can't wait to see what everyone makes with their charms!

I'm off to clean up my disaster house a bit since my parents are coming to stay for a few days starting this evening.

Mother's Day, mug rugs and monkeys

Everyone in our house is feeling much better now. Thank you all for your kind words. It felt good to have you say you liked reading my blog because I was real. Despite my daily attempts to be a supermom, I am not. Why edit out the screaming toddlers and vomiting infants. Someone should get a good laugh out of it, right?

Now that Mother's Day has passed I can show you what I made for my mother and mother-in-law; the two women who have everything, need nothing and who are so crafty they could make everything themselves. Which makes them the hardest persons to get gifts for; unless you count the dads who give you zero ideas whatsoever. Seriously all the mothers ask for are grandbabies, pictures of grandbabies and visits from grandbabies. Instead I made them one of these.

The colors are twigging out, I know, but I can't fix it, and they're already gone so no retakes.

Each hand got traced (or in Jimmy's case stamped because I challenge you to trace an 8 month old's hand) on to the paper side of Heat'n Bongd Lite. Each person got a fabric of their own 'personality' and was then machine appliqued to mid-weight denim. I hand stitched our last name with embroidery thread along with the year to record when our little ones hands were this small.

The cover has a snap and envelope closure so they can be washed since they were going to homes with pets. I also made the custom piping. I'm please to report both mothers loved their pillows. Which only ups the ante for next year. And I'm not making anymore grandbabies.

These past few days I have sewn some random little things. Since kids were still on the mend and the house trashed from the week before there was very little time to sew, but I still had to make something to keep from going mad.

I took two of the test squares from my Modern Mini Quilt and made them into a mug rug. For those who don't know, a mug rug is smaller than a placemat and larger than a coaster; like just the right size for a cup of coffee and a bagel. It seems like a silly thing. I think crafters made it up so they could just make incredibly tiny quilts.I don't have the proper stuff to make it heat resistant so it shouldn't be a hot pad. Luckily, it perfectly fits on this table in my sunroom. So, a mug rug it is.

I also made Bruce. He belongs to Jimmy now.

When Jane was born I made her my first sock monkey. Now when I go to Target I buy knee socks when they are on sale and would make super awesome monkeys. The pile of monkey socks has been calling my name for a while now so I pulled out four pairs this week. They are so simple to make, easy on the stress level and something I can make with an infant asleep on my lap.

Bruce has a mustache. Ron Swanson would be proud.

And ha, ha! I got beans and peas to grow. I actually think the first round were eaten. Hopefully this round will stay once I transplant them.

The final order of business is prepping for the Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day. I need your help for my giveaway. Would you rather win a Noodlehead envelop clutch or aMother Daughter vintage ruffled apron set?

This Year's Resolutions and Happy Mail

So it's April and I'm just writing down my resolutions. I made them four months ago and have been working on them since. I have just decided to articulate them into words finally and share. Really.

2012 Resolutions:
1. Buy less fabric "just because" I like it (unless I really really love it.)

2. Use up fabric I already have. (My fabric hording is no where as bad as others I have seen, but if I use up what I have then I need more, right?)

3. Sew selfishly. (I'm not doing as well with this with custom orders and gifts, but I do have a swoon quilt pattern that will be for me.)

4. Learn new sewing skills.(You know, like threading and using my serger.)

Last week I finished up two sewing projects, but I can't show you because they are Mother's Day presents. What?!? Mother's Day presents done before it is even May? I know. I don't know who I am either.

Happy Mail!: I got my Pretty {little} Pouch swap in the mail this weekend! I was so psyched. This is what my partner, Sandi, sent:

I love it! Sandi even tried some hand quilting/embroidery on the bag which she confessed she had never tried before. How awesome is that?

I love this piece of Melody Miller's Ruby Rising Star, too. I've been pondering what to make with it, but I'm thinking I may just put it into an embroidery hoop to hang on my studio wall since I love it so much.
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I have found a use for the flask full of corks that sit on my kitchen counter top. Cork stamps. I can't find the original source of this idea. I read too many blogs and pins, but if you google 'wine cork stamp' you'll find a bunch. It took me a few stamps to remember to reverse my doodles. Anyone need a backwards sewing machine stamp?

It is a great mini project to do and you could make some nice cards or wrapping paper. Hey, I didn't even cut myself with my X-acto knife despite it's brand new blade! Now I just need a project for all of our beer bottle caps... One that won't make our house look like a man cave.

I'm hoping to finish up my mother/daughter vintage sheet aprons before this weekend. Hopefully, J&J will cooperate!

Happy Hump Day!

Nursing cover & burp cloth set

Nursing cover & burp cloth set $38

Breast is best, but maybe you don't want to flash everyone at Target? Babies get hungry in all the wrong places; Murphy's Law. This set is perfect for every nursing momma. I've made the nursing cover is larger than all the others you can find online. It measures 38 by 28 inches which gives you some extra fabric to keep tucked around you to hide your "I just had a baby" tummy and sides. Neckline is completely adjustable with easy to slide D rings. Terry cloth pocket in the bottom corner lets you tuck necessities away (breast pads, pacifier, etc.) and also is super absorbent for clean up and messes, or shall we say, squirts. It is also comes hand embroidered with your name, initials, or what every sweet something you would like.

Why settle for a pre-made cover? These nursing covers are designed exclusively for you. The sky is the limit when it comes to your set design. There are beautiful fabrics to choose from at The Intrepid Thread. Just let me know which you like best. Something swirly? Something a bit whimsical? Or make a bold statement.

Each set includes one (1) matching quilted burp cloth. Made from 100% unbleached cotton twill weave Indian prefold cloth diapers, these burp cloths are incredibly absorbent and become softer with every wash. Indian prefolds are diaper service quality and because they are unbleached the prefolds have a natural ivory cotton color and are better for the environment. Each prefold has been machine washed with dye-free, fragrance-free, non-allergen laundry soap and machine dried once to prevent shrinking and make your burp cloth soft and fluffy. Each boutique burp cloth is 2x6x2 ply and measures 9.5" x 13". If you would like, you can order additional coordinating burp cloths for an additional $4 each.

Both the nursing cover and burp cloth are machine washable and dryable. Come on, we've got babies, so they have to be! Also, this set rolls up into an incredibly small package making it super easy to tuck in your diaper bag, purse or stroller. The perfect baby shower gift. Everything a nursing momma could ask for. Except maybe a Starbucks. ;)

Just shoot me an email to start the design process. thatmoxiegirl@gmail.com

One year Etsy-versary

Today is the one year anniversary of the opening of my Etsy shop.

Shop stats*:(I can't help it. I love stats.)
14,000 people have visited my shop
1,000 people marked my shop or an item as a favorite :)
210 sales
165 nightlights sold
22% revenue donated to charities
100% profitable
* Shop stats have been rounded so as to not get bogged down in the details, but are an accurate reflection.

My expectations have been far exceeded, though I truthfully did not set any goals for my first year. Heck, I didn't even know I would keep going for a full year. I'm giving myself a shiny star because in addition to running my shop I am raising a way too smart 2 year old, grew and birthed a strapping 10 1/2 pound baby boy, packed and moved our family into our new house (while pregnant), and oversee all my duties as Chief Operating Officer of Dorsey Family Enterprises.

Most of all, I have fun. I get to make every single day and I love it. And people like what I make enough to give me money for it. How awesome is that? I am super thankful to my husband who has been nothing but supportive of my venture. He always encourages me to keep making. He has never once suggested that I spend less time making and more time cleaning, cooking, etc. When I am hesitant to buy fabrics or other investments, he asks me what I am waiting for. Thank you, Danny!

I'll have to get to work setting some goals for my second year. My fellow Nordy friends know my near obsession with setting and achieving goals. I'm thinking 50% increases, at least! Also, this morning during our bathroom board meeting, our CFO (Danny)green lighted the Fenton Street Market proposal! I'm super psyched, and super nervous, to be doing my first physical, real, in person market. Woo hoo!

This past week I finished my first FMQ(free motion quilting) project. I need to get a hoop large enough to put it in so it can be hung.

Yesterday I decided to learn how make cathedral windows for my partner in the Pretty {little} Pouch Swap I still have to make it into a pouch, but I hope she likes it!

And on that note, I have to get going. There is a two year old spinning her brother in his doorway jumper and, as my mother used to always say, someone is going to end up hurt.

Noodlehead clutches

Here they are! The newest bags! Who doesn't love new bags? Don't ask my husband. He'll tell you I have too many already. Pssht! Like there is such a thing as too many bags.

Each bag is 7 inches tall and 11 inches wide. Fully lined with a zippered pocket, 2 slip pockets for cellphones or chapsticks, and 4 slip pockets for credit cards and IDs.

The exterior flaps of the bags are embellished with fun embroidered accents.

The sewing pattern is the newest one offered by Anna Graham of Noodlehead. I'm in love! How about you? Send me an email (thatmoxiegirl@gmail.com) if you'd me to design a Noodlehead Clutch for you. ;)