THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY FACE TUTORIAL

The Little Drummer Boy Pattern, Block 10.  From the 2020 Christmas Carol Mystery Quilt Sew Along.

Many have asked for some help in appliquéing this sweet little face. 

To follow the helpful hints below you will have to print out the actual size of his image which can be found in the PDF file I have created.  

For the printable PDF file and instruction

CLICK HERE

Below is duplicate information of what you can print out on the PDF link above. 

Hope you find this helpful.

The Little Drummer Boy's face is actually quite simple. The pattern covers most of this info but here are some helping hints.
The positioning of the Cap and facial features can make a big difference.  The distance between the eyes and how far down or up you locate them render completely different expressions.  The pattern shows positioning but here i have scanned his head.  If you print this out the image should measure 2.75w x 2.56h.  It will match up with your pattern templates.
You may have seen the tutorial i posted here on this Blog,  and also on my FB Page and the Mystery Quilt FB Page about using vinyl or a sheet protector, and a dry or wet erase marker.  This works perfectly for the Face.

• Place your vinyl over this face image and trace the shapes and details.  
• Once you have your appliqué pieces cut out, position as directed on pattern.  Place this traced vinyl over the head,  carefully lift one end and then line up the Cap & Scarf in line with your traced vinyl.
• Get your head and Cap stitched in place as directed in the pattern.
• Reposition the vinyl over head.  Position Eye Circles and stitch them on with the large dark blue French knots.  With a disappearing ink marker, lightly mark nose, mouth and a bit of the hair using the traced vinyl as your guide.   Stitch as directed in pattern

Here are some additional hints:

• Fabric:  I like to use cotton for appliquéd faces rather than wool.   Stitches are better defined on cotton for a face.  For The Little Drummer Boy i used medium weight Monks Cloth in the color Nut Shell.  I carry this on my website.  This color is a nice golden skin tone.  You can use any cotton skin tone that you might have.  Fuse it well.
• Eye Circles:  Bluish/Grey wool was used.  Cut out the Eye Circles with your fusible webbing, pressing the webbing to the back of the wool a bit longer than usual.  
• Mouth:  You can stitch with floss or cut out a tiny rectangle of fused wool and round it on the ends.   Hold in place with a few slip stitches in a matching color sewing thread.
• Nose is stitched with thin black quilting thread, one stitch down and one short stitch over.
• And the powder rouge for his cheeks is a must.  It is the finishing touch.  Apply lightly a little at a time and blend. 

INSERTING SLIDE CLASP WITH MAGNETIC SNAP VIDEO

For those of you that have purchased our Nifty Little Pouches pattern and the even "niftier" Slide Clasp,  here is a video which very clearly demonstrates inserting the Clasp into a pouch.   Very well done video from Michelle Watson. 

MAKE YOUR OWN SHABBY RIBBON

I really do have some other patterns started but i am still finishing up the dolly.  She is of the primitve sort so the lovely hand dyed rayon ribbons from Auntie Em's were not a good fit by themselves.  Yummy tho huh?  I keep them tidy in this yellow French bowl that i picked up in a little shop in not France . . boo hoo.  The hot chocolate cup became chipped and was then discarded.  Someone was silly.

 Her worn muslin dress needed something . . a bit more raveled . . tattered . . . ratty.

So I grabbed from my stash of tacky nylonish type sheers, the kind that freak out when cut . .  and ravel wildly all along the edges.   Isn't this one just so eeeek gaudy?!!

Grab a similar textile from your stash and make some shabby ribbon with me.

 Cut a strip a bit wider than your desired ribbon.

Gently tie knots about every 3 or 4 or so inches.

It is begining to ravel some now isn't it?  In a little plastic cup mix together some liquid matte medium and some brown antiquing medium.   I was too impatient to continue painting it onto the strip with a brush so I added just a bit of water. Moosh the ribbon into the mixture and gently squeeze out the excess liquid. Then dip a couple of fingers into the mixture and dab here and there on the strip. Maybe wear a pair of gloves like I didn't.   Squeeze the strip in a paper towel and hang to dry.

Mellowed to my liking now.  How is yours looking?

Might be added near the bottom of the dress.  Possibly on top of the brown hand dyed ribbon . . that will bring it down a notch.  More befitting to an aged old doll.

Then perhaps a scattering of some small worn buttons??

HAVE YOU BAKED YOUR CHOCOLATE DIPPED MACAROONS YET?

You HAVEN'T baked your macaroons?  Well then would you like a simple recipe?

I altered this recipe in a number of ways.  Less sugar for one.   Many recipes are a bit too sweet for my taste.  And I like to add things too.  In the Recipe Box below is my adaptation but you can also find a richer sweeter recipe here:

Chef Keem's Coconut Macaroons. 

Lots of good pictures, instruction and even a video on making his Espresso Sea Salt Caramel.  

Great for Christmas sharing. . .

You can bag em up.

or

You can box em up.

or

You can eat em up!

But first . . 

You gotta MIX em up.

Click on the box below to enlarge and play Recipe.
This recipe is thick  and a bit stiff so do by hand or use a strong paddle mixer.
This makes half the batter of the original recipe.

A free printable recipe card by Smilebox

FALLEN PETALS. . and MATCHING NAPKINS

As I scooped up the last handfuls of fallen petals from my most beautiful ever tulip bouquet, I could not seem to convince myself that they were done blooming.   So i placed them into a favorite white ware bowl so as to honor them just a bit longer.  Then I happened to notice. . .they matched some napkins I had just made from scraps of fabric.

   Double-Sided, Mitered-Corner Napkins.   When I wanted to refresh my memory about the technique I learned some years ago, I did a search and found a great guide for making them and best of all, it told you how to adapt measurements to make your desired size.  This way I was able to use a larger piece and also the smaller pieces that were left over.  Stitching up utilitarian homey things was so fun.  

Make Four - Give A Gift.

Click on this blog,  QUILTED STRAIT,  for the very useful napkin tutorial.  Happy Stitching!

NEW PATTERN

My good friend Don came up with this idea.  He created the basics and I added the applique and little extras inside.  He is a big fan of woven cottons and wool.   And so am I.   These could also be made up in all cotton or linen.  The two sizes can be used as shown or for any ole thing in your life that you choose to organize or simplify.  The pattern is called Organize.  Click Here to travel to the information and ordering page on our website.

large and small wool/cotton Pocket Organizers.

This shows some options for the inside of the large folder.

BABY QUILTS ALL DONE AND WAITING

Well I told the twin grandbabies to take their time in there with Momma all around . . so to speak.  I explained that I needed just a bit more time to finish their quilts.  They are such patient little girls.  The quilts are now finished.   So.  Our arms are open!  I promised them i would not make identical quilts.  What fun is that anyway.  For one I used the Cut-and-Turn block that I showed you in a post last Nov. 19th.   It was a demo at our quilt guild meeting.  The other was an adorable fabric that I found at my friend Sandi's quilt shop in Ashland Oregon. . . Fabric of Vision.  Then I rushed them to All Washed Up Quilts to be quilted.  I left very little instruction since they are the quilters and I am not.  They hit it!  I love the whimsical magic they used to transform these quilts.

Anyway.  here are some pics.  And I'm sure that when the grandbabes see these they'll come a flying out - to get First Pick! 

Just loved this little print.
Bit of a "cheater" pattern.
The picture of the quilt back seems to have gotten lost somewhere.  I just wrapped the backing around to the front to create a simple binding.
That was easy!
Both quilts are bigger than the normal crib size.

I like the back too don't you?!  Momma likes modern fabric
so i sacrificed my last piece of an old favorite from Amy Butler.
Looks much better here than crammed in that fabric cabinet!

Used the Cut-and-Turn Blocks in two
colors and then an adorable little girl
solid block for the alternate.

 For the simple Cut-and-Turn Block instructions just go to my old post dated November 19, 2011.   Or click on the link at the beginning of this post.    The previous post provides a much better contrast of colors and also shows how to execute the block.

A GIFTY BALMY RECIPE FOR YOU

This morning i need to get making my cream/balm that all of my friends are addicted to.  I thought that you might like the recipe.  Makes a wonderful gift...toss into a lovely drawstring bag, add a card.  Get real with the Big Jars. . . and make plenty for yourself.  You will be Happy!

Just a note.  Have heat will melt.  Be not like me who at first did not add enough beeswax to the Lip Balm Version, and walked around with the tube in my pocket.  Well Melt Me Messy. . .

I adjusted the recipe with more beeswax and all was well.

GUILD DEMOS - A FRUITFUL AFFAIR

Gone so much I miss most of our local guild meetings but my friend Sue and I were very happy we were able to attend this one.   An evening of demos.  The quilter-wanna-be, that's me, learned a very useful block that I will incorporate into the baby quilts for the expected twin grandchildren.  First ones!  Yippee.  Youngest son the first to have children...you don't get to choose the order you just make the quilt(s).  Here is the informative evening in pics.  Click for big.

Robin does her magic
with four 5" squares

So much prettier than my photo

1.  Begin with four 5" squares seamed together.  Cut 1 1/4" away from center seam as shown.      Best to place on small mat for rotating ease.  Rotate your mat in quarter turns making the same cut each time.
2. Now, leaving center and outer corners where they are, rotate all four inner rectangles l80 degrees.
3. Next sew it all back together and there you have it...a Simply wonderful block.

 Connie showed us how to use the Guild's AccuQuilt to cut many different shapes.  We were so surprised to see that it even cut notches for matching up pieces.   

Kim - Queen of Thangles

LOVED Thangles - great hopes now
for all sizes of the half square triangle.

Gotta get some Thangles - all sizes!

Nancy did beautiful hand painted cards and painted fabric as well . . assisted with her can of shaving cream.  Yes, shaving cream.   Amazing.  My close-ups too blurry..sorry.  Loved that she emphasized the ease with which children become artists using these methods.  Fun too!

Susan was very artful as she demoed some quick gift bows out of various ribbons and laces.  Just in time!

Thank you so much gals!

FLEECE LAUNDRY DAY

Hi Friends...it's Woolbert.  I have some exciting news.
Reets isn't much of a shepherdess so she always buys her tiny curl fleece from someone else.  Last time it came unwashed...that was many many months ago.  Today was a miracle.  Finally...she overcame her fear and washed the thing.  Big Wooly Bully Deal I say!  Oh well...just so she never heads my way with any shearing scissors.   Freaky!


Well...Woolbert just does not understand that in the first place tiny curl is almost impossible to find. And then when you wash it, you can barely touch it.  Scaredy as I am, I was forced to do it myself as my friend Carin is just never home long enough to lend her expertise. But when in doubt, look online!  Losing Our Shirts, Keeping The Farm...Love the name!  And loved their blog with a wonderful fleece washing tutorial.  Go see if need be.  Made it sooo simple. 

kinda dirty...

Cleano!

I took the "clean" pic after my first batch.  For the following batches i placed the fleece on some flexible mesh in the water so that i didn't have to handle it as much.  I think it preserved the curl a bit better.  This process is way easier than I thought..thanks to Keeping The Farm!

Stitching Guides, Tutorials, Videos

Folsom Show ever so close.  Don't come visit right now...there's nary a path!   I have just a moment though to share a website that is a wonderful source for all of your embroidery stitches.   I used to reference a site in all of my patterns but have learned it is no longer found.   So if you are stitch searching go to Mary Corbett's website and find yourself in stitchery heaven.   She walks and talks you through a zillion different stitches no matter how simple or how complex.   Super site!

NeedlenThread.com

Loved one of her recent posts as she was working with wool threads.  

All for today...back to ripping wool.  See you in Folsom if I'm lucky!

Oh Christmas Tree Napkins - Be Green Be Clothy

I guess I could have left that preachy little "Be Green" out huh?

I bought some very clever Christmas tree napkins at a recent craft fair.  I wished I had bought more of them for gifts so decided to try and stitch some up.  They are basically just a half circle using two contrasting fabrics...stitch them right sides together, turn, press, fold accordion style.   Just do a Search for Christmas Tree Napkin and you will find free patterns for them in both video and pdf formats.  The napkins online did a nice job adding rick rack but I omitted that, as you can see below.

I could not scan the entire half circle...
I had to fold it in half.  What you are seeing
is a quarter circle.

Cheery little thing isn't it?

I made some in the reverse direction also.

You know, looking at them now, I believe my folding is a bit askew.  The napkins I purchased and the free online patterns have a preferred folding...pretty sure.

I will have to go refold  and repress mine.

Anyway, I cannot wait to make a stack, tie them together with some favorite ribbon and wrap them up.   So I'm off now..my fabrics are calling.