Please buy handmade this holiday season!!

As a mother I can't help but feel bombarded by the LOADS of unwanted advertising for toys that my kids really don't need. What's worse is that the majority of these toys are made in China. This holiday season I have vowed to either make gifts myself or go on Etsy.

I will take this opportunity to self promote my own store: Nelly's Quilt Room 

Etsy has handmade everything. You think of it, they've got it. Many people are even willing to barter.

Think twice about where you're spending your hard earned money. Personally I'll be helping out my fellow crafters on Etsy this season, when I can't make something myself.

Etsy has also started doing gift cards. So if you're having trouble finding someone something, that may be the way to go. 

Happy crafting.

Castlevania quilt

I exhibited one of my quilts in a quilt show for the first time. This quilt is the Castlevania quilt. I made it for my husband, who likes video games. The scene is Simon Belmont killing Dracula.

I'm sure that not many people at the quilt show knew what it was. I did have a picture of what I based the quilt off of. From what I heard at least 3 video game nerds thought it was cool. At the end of the day, I'm just happy someone knew what it was.

I had fun with this quilt. I'm glad I could show it off. I can't wait to post about my next quilt.

Me standing next to my quilt. The adorable baby in the stroller is my son, Frankie.

Niagara Falls

This past week I was vacationing with my family at beautiful Niagara Falls in Canada. I have never been to Canada, so it was pretty exciting. We drove. truthfully it was not a bad drive at all. The first two days we apent at the Hilton in Niagara Falls. It was very nice because of the close proximity to the falls. Keep in mind if you are taking children with you that you have to go down a huge hill to get to the falls. This also means that you have to go back up that same hill possibly pushing a stroller or holding your child. Plan accordingly :-D
     We had a great time. Although all the tourist attractions were very crowded, we still had a good time. We rode Maid on the Mist, which my 3 year old hated because he didn't like getting rained on. My one year old decided to sleep through the whole thing. It was 93 that day, so I didn't mind getting misted. We also did the "Journey behind the Falls." The best part of that attraction was that you can go on a platform and be right next to the falls. If I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't do Journey behind the Falls.
    On the second leg of the trip we stayed at the Four Points Sheraton close to St. Catharines. From here we visited Niagara on the Lake, which also was very crowded. The next day we traveled to Lakeside Park. WOW! It was so beautiful!! My 3 year old loved the park and the Carousel. There's a long pier that you can walk down. There's a nice sized beach area. The park is huge. Right next to it is the Carousel. You can ride it for a whopping 5 cents!! They do accept American money at the Carousel.
     We also went shopping here in Canada at the mall across from our hotel, and also at a large mall by St Catharines. Both malls were nice.
   No matter where I went, the locals were very friendly. The other tourists....don't get me started!!lol

here's some pictures!!!

 This is the American side of the Falls.

The horseshoe shaped Falls are the Canadian Falls

This is a view of the American Falls from our hotel room at the Hilton. The Falls can be seen to the Left, they are lit up at night. It was quite beautiful.

Warren loved the Carousel at Lakeside Park

This is the beach at Lakeside Park

conKerr cancer pillow cases

Hey crafties!!

At my local quilt shop, I was informed about ConKerr cancer. This organization is collecting handmade pillow cases for children and adolescents with cancer. It's a very noble cause. The pillow cases are super easy to make. I use the Hot Dog method to make mine. I learned from You Tube and also the Conkerr Cancer website how to make mine.

I used french seams to finish off my pillow case so that it would be fray proof.  Below is a video from YouTube demonstrating how to make a french seam.

Here's the website for ConKerr cancer:  ConKerr cancer

Here's the YouTube video for Hot Dog pillow case construction:

Turning Twenty Quilt nautical theme

Here's one of my quilts. I made this for my cousin as a Confirmation gift. After I interrogated her about what it was she truly wanted or needed, I came up with the idea of making her a bed set. I go to a quilt shop close to my home where they have drop in sewing classes. I've learned a lot since going there. One day I saw a Turning Twenty quilt that someone had made. I thought it was so beautiful that I bought the pattern. Since then I have made a duvet cover and most recently this quilt. I used 16 Fat quarters and I put a large border all the way around it. Which you can't see in this picture, but trust me, it came out Super Cute!!! I also made matching pillow cases, because I had left over minky fabric. I wasn't about to waste that wonderful stuff. The Turning Twenty pattern is copyrighted, so I can't post it on here. But if you wish to buy it, here's a website for it: http://www.friendfolks.com/

Happy Crafting,

Onelia

I've been super remiss in posting but I promise I will try to start posting a little more on here. Lately I've been doing a good bit of traveling. I've also gotten more involved in quilting than knitting. That being said, I still love to knit.

I've discovered that there's a nifty quilt shop close to my home that offers drop in sewing classes for only $5 a day. So I've been going there once a week to relieve stress. I love making things for my two boys and my husband. I also love to make a few things for myself. Some things I'll post tutorials for. Other things I'll just post pictures of and let you know where you can get a pattern. Obviously I can't post a copyrighted pattern that doesn't belong to me. But I can post pictures of my projects.

Every now and then I may post something a little commercial, like a review of a product. It probably won't happen too often though.

craft on crafters!!!