Twas the Night

Hello and welcome, blog hoppers!  I'm delighted to have you visit and hope you'll find some quick-to-make gift inspiration with me today.  Let me start with sending huge thanks to Marlene and Mdm Samm for all their work behind the scenes - we appreciate all you do! 
 
If you're new to this hop, you need to know that along with showing gifts that could be made in a few hours, we also show gifts received from the hop participant ahead of us on the schedule.  This way, everyone makes and sends something handmade  AND everyone receives something handmade. Pretty amazing, right?
 
Look at all the handmade goodies Bobbie at From This to That sent me...



there's a fantastic lanyard + vintage button covered scissor fob (with the prettiest sparkly red scissors), a blinged out tape measure, a decoupaged sweet gift keepsake, handmade notebook (with my initial made from a zipper), sparkly festive cup with straw  AND... pretty ribbon, seasonal fabric, yummy tea, mmmmmm... chocolates, the funny "Keep Calm" tissues and cute emery boards.

Yes, I know, Bobbie completely spoiled me with her thoughtful gifts.  Thanks so much, Bobbie!

Check out that mannequin shaped scissor holder on a lanyard - super cute!

Now for my own gift making ideas...

These little pouches only take two squares of fabric and can be made in different sizes.  I used 10.5" squares of fabric for this pouch.  Perfect size for tucking a small gift into! Click here to see my other versions.
 
I updated the look of my simple drawstring pouch (here's the link to my original tutorial) using two squares of fabric by adding some baby pom-pom fringe and not turning up the corners. 
 
Fill with jingle bells candy for a simple and sweet gift!

Another favourite gift to make - my ribbon embroidered snowflake spicy sachets, which I first made last year (here and here).


I have to say, that even though I've made these sachets before, my ribbon embroidery was easier this time - all thanks to a handy new light - a Beam N Read!

 I live in a house with few windows and limited lighting, so light for stitching is always an issue. Shadows get in the way of seeing my marked guides for embroidering those snowflakes on the linen, but with the Beam N Read I had all the light I needed.

It's small and portable (I like the option of using batteries or the USB power kit - depending on where I'm stitching) - unlike the lamps that I had been using.  It has made such a difference that I was lamenting I didn't have it with me the while helping my hubby on a kitchen install (I was placing screw cap covers in the back of a dark coloured cabinet and those LED lights on my Beam N Read would've made my job easier!  I'm just afraid if my hubby sees how handy this light is, he may permanently borrow it. ;o).


Make some to give, make some to keep - the gift of a Beam N Read will make all your stitching easier!

A favourite gift combo I like to make and gift to sewers is a needlecase  (especially the one designed by Tone Finnager  in her book Sew Pretty Homestyle), paired with a pincushion (such as this felt one designed by Betz White - pattern can be found in her book Warm Fuzzies).  Both are quick to stitch. 

Now that leads us to my go-to gift idea this year... my design for a round bottom drawstring gift bag ( I debuted this design a few months backs, using fancy fabrics - click here to see).  I love making bags....

Couldn't resist using some baby pom-pom fringe on the drawstring bag!

I had fun playing with this design using seasonal quilting cottons and making differing sizes.

Two sizes of round bottomed drawstring gift bags trimmed with different sizes of pom-pom fringe (my latest haberdashery crush it seems ;o).

These will be perfect for tucking in a variety of gift items (such as specialty soaps, lotions and bath salts for girlfriends).


I have plans to sew more of these including some in a larger size (using masculine fabrics, to fit some slippers I'm making for my guys), so it's a good thing these are quick to sew!

 I  also have a few other quick to sew gift ideas with tutorials or links to my patterns for you, if you click the links under my blog banner.


Thanks so much for visiting and be sure to stop by all the talented ladies I share today with.  You don't want to miss a bit of gift giving ideas and inspiration! Enjoy...

Wednesday, Nov. 19






Sew Me Something Good (you are here!)



P.S.  Looking for the full schedule of the hop?  Marlene has it!

Happy gift making!


 

Comments

  1. Super fun gift ideas! Drawstring bags are wonderful all year long for sew many gifts. Thank you sew very much for participating and swapping/hopping. Creative T'Was the Night Bliss...

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  2. Love your drawstring bags and that cute pincushion! Thank you for sharing and Happy Holidays!!!

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  3. Great gifts from Bobbie! The drawstrings are a super present idea.

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  4. Bobbie really sent you a lot of goodness. She spoiled you nicely. Your bags are so cute and I love the colors you used for these. Those sachets are picture perfect and I'm sure they smell as beautiful as they look. You certainly have very pretty stitches.

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  5. Great gifts received, and lots of wonderful projects made!

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  6. The gifts you recived are really very cut, lucky you :-)
    I love the snowflake hearts, sew cute!
    The bags you made are wonderful and your pictures too.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Bente

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  7. What a fun post to read with my morning coffee. So many treasures! Especially love those sachets and the drawstring bags. Thanks for all the links...I am thinking of buying one of those lights...everyone seems to love them!

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  8. You received lots of great gifts from Bobbie. I especially love the scissor fob. Your gifts are so lovely. That pincushion looks like it was made from a sweater or sock? Love it! Wonderful job and great gifts. Just my style.

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  9. The mannequin shaped scissor holder is fantastic; and I adore your ribbon embroidered snowflake sachets!

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  10. Lots of cute goodies from Bobbie! Hope you get lots of enjoyment from them. Love the bags... and I'm a lucky person that already has one that you made. :-) Love all of the different fabric combinations. Merry Christmas!

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  11. Wow, spoiled you were! What great gifts you received. Thanks for all the lovely gift ideas, those drawstrings bags are cute.

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  12. These string bags are just so bright and beautiful, I assume you are addicted one you start with one, smile...
    I love your spicy heart, modern and yet having the little bitty special on it!

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  13. What a plethora of gifts you got - and you're not sharing the chocolates? :) I love those drawstring bags....they're on my to-do list and you can bet I won't be buying any gift sacks this year! blessings, marlene

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  14. The tissues....soooo funny. All your gifts were great and I loved the ideas you shared with us. The bags are adorable. Great job and love the fabric you chose. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your holidays.

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  15. had to try a couple times to get this window open....would not stop till I got to share how wonderful all of your gift ideas are Katherine...beautiful photos too...you are such a delight....what a lovely day.

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  16. WoW! Look at all those pom poms! They sure make your projects come alive! Love the drawstring pouch to pieces! MUST MAKE!!!

    I love everything you have shown actually so bigger and bigger my folder becomes.. :)

    Bobbie sure fixed you up right nice and proud like... Great gifts to start out the season with. :)

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  17. Pom Poms are my favorite too!!! I love your little gift bags! Happy Holidays.

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  18. Bobbie certainly spoiled you with those sweet gifts...lucky you! I love your gift ideas and that bag is just a treasure! Thanks for sharing them all.

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  19. You are one spoiled gal. I like that lanyard scissor holder, and the little bags would be nice to have on hand for those small gifts.

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  20. What absolutely adorable bags! I love all of the trim on them.

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  21. Everything is gorgeous, I love so many of your ideas! Thank you for sharing :)

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  22. I love the ribbon embroidery on your heart sachets!!! I love all kinds of embroidery, but have never seen anything like this :0)

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  23. I love that scissor holder as well as all your other goodies! What a fun little bag with jingle bells inside. Great on a door handle to ring in the holidays!

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  24. Ooh, I LOVE your bags!! I'm always on the look out for a small bag patterns and the rounded bottom gives these bags a very nice look! And I've never seen embroidery with ribbon.. what a lovely job you've done! All of those goodies that you received from Bobbie, you have been quite blessed! Merry Christmas, Katherine!

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  25. Great gift ideas. Love the drawstring bag. I am drawn to them for gift ideas.
    The gifts you receive are lovely. Happy holidays.

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  26. The bags and ornaments are so nice. What a wonderful gift. And yes, you were completed spoiled, what fun gifts!

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  27. Love your use of the baby pom poms. they make for such a Christmasy look for the hop. Your gift ideas are great.

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  28. What a sweet treat you received from Bobbie! So much fun!
    LOVE your drawstring bags...your pictures are beautiful. Beautiful hearts and needlebooks...oh my...I'm getting inspired again...feeling 'drawn' to the sewing room once more! Thanks for the wonderful post! Happy Holidays.

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  29. Wonderful projects you have made.Love the drawstring bags. They would be great for putting gifts in.Thank you so much for sharing.) Wow, you really received lots of pretty presents.

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  30. I love your gift ideas. That drawstring bag is darling as it that little pull pouch. You received such nice gifts too.

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  31. Lovely gifts given and received!
    Thanks sew much for the link to the drawstring bag tutorial. I have made some before but your pattern is sew much sweeter!
    I also loved all the little orange kitty and navy goodies your sent to Jeanie. They are purrrrfect!
    Thanks for sharing in the hop ... :) Pat

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  32. Bobbie spoiled you indeed, Katherine! You have such attention for details.I love the trims and the snowflake ribbon embroidery. Thank you for inspiration!!

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  33. Attack of the pom poms! :) I love that addition to your drawstring bags, it's very festive. And your ribbon embroidery is beautiful! I want to try that out! Thank you for sharing!
    ~Brandy

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  34. Pretty sweet gifts from Bobbi! Your drawstring bags are really unique,love them! Thanks for sharing the link.

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  35. nice collection of handmade gifts.

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  36. Those little round bags are a sure fire hit!! I am thinking of all the seasonal fabric that would make these a go to gift year round!! I WILL be copy catting you!!!
    Merry Christmas
    Gmama Jane

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  37. Your projects are so very sweet and a very cool idea to add other little gifts into! Thank you for sharing and bestest of wishes to you!

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  38. Your blog is just beautiful, gorgeous pictures, just a delight to visit today. Love your gift, perfect... also love your bag of jingle bells, so adorable. Have a Merry Christmas! ~Cori

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  39. Lovely drawstring bags and sachets! Thanks for sharing.

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  40. Love your ribbon embroidered hearts. The so we quilt sounds like a great hop, have to finish this one first.

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  41. Love all your great gifts from Bobbie. You are so creative too. Wonderful gift ideas, but I think my favorites are the embroidered heart sachets. So very beautiful!

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  42. You received a bunch of cool stuff from Bobbie. I love all of your quick gift ideas! Thank you for sharing them with us.

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  43. Beautiful!! I like the sachets, what a clever idea to add to presents for those that live far away. Ih,have I got ideas for relatives this year.

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  44. Golly - great ideas. Thanks for all the links to the patterns or books. I'm loving your tiny bag with the mini pom-poms - from the top it looked like an ornament. :) I'm going back to check out all the links and look up your tut on the bags.

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  45. Wow, Santa Bobbie was really good to you! I love the bags with the pom pom fringe! They are just too cute!

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  46. I really need to make some of those drawstring bags. Everything is just beaming with Christmas goodies.

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  47. Very cute drawstring bags! Such fun gift ideas. Thanks for sharing!
    -Brittany

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  48. What beautiful sachets. Lovely stitching.

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  49. Fun embellishments for the drawstring bags. Gonna have to make a note on the pattern I used to try that. :)
    I also really like the snowflake heart ornaments. Beautiful.
    Thanks for sharing all the ideas.

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  50. You have made some lovely projects. I just love the little sachets. Adorable. I might have to make a bag or to to put Christmas gifts in. My list "to make" just keeps getting longer. Have a Merry Christmas!

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  51. I'm visiting from the blogathon and here I am, finding all these ideas! Nice projects, enjoyed reading your post.

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  52. Those embroidered heart sachets are so adorable! Great gifts exchanged between you and your swap partner.

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  53. Everything is so cute - the jingle bells in the pictures are the perfect seasonal touch :D I particularly love your round bottom drawstring gift bags - I was working on one last night - I actually had to add a band to the top to make the bag big enough - I could have added a strip of mini-poms! I'll remember that for the next time :D

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  54. Those round bottom bags are a great design! Thanks for sharing.

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  55. Hi Katherine! Yes, the baby pom-poms are adorable, but you are a master of embroidery! The ribbon sachets are just lovely. I love your fabric choice, the ribbon colors and the snowflake pattern.

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  56. Love, love those drawstring bags! Such great fabric choices - they would be so fun to receive.

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  57. Katherine...I love the needle keeper and the pin cushion...perfect accessories to add to the drawstring bag...it's the perfect gift for a quilter. Yes, you were spoiled by Bobbie!! Thanks for sharing your quick and easy gift ideas...Happy Holidays!!

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  58. Those bags are too cute with that pom pom trim. Such a clever way to dress up the bags. Everything you have made is wonderful! Such lovely craftsmanship! Thanks for the inspiration.

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