The Best Christmas Movies to Sew to

In preparation for the holiday sewing season, I'm sharing my favorite Christmas movies with you.  We all love to listen to our favorite shows and movies while we sew, right? So what's better to listen

to while sewing up Christmas presents than Christmas movies? So pop those cookies in the oven, cozy up to the tree and sew up those Christmas presents while your favorite Christmas movies play.

1. The Christmas Secret (2014) starring Bethany Joy Lenz
2. Crazy for Christmas (2005) starring Andrea Roth and Howard Hesseman
3. A Christmas Wish (2011) starring Kristy Swanson and Edward Herrmann
4. A Christmas Romance (1994) starring Olivia Newton-John
5. A Season for Miracles (1999)
6. Holiday in Handcuffs (2007) starring Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez
7. A Christmas Snow (2010)
8. 12 Dates of Christmas (2011)
9. Christmas Angel (2009) starring Kari Hawker and K.C. Clyde
10. Elf (2003)

11. The Santa Clause (1994)
12. The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
13. Home Alone (1990)
14. Home Alone 2 (1992)
15. The Christmas Note (2015)
16. Gift of the Magi (2010) starring Marla Sokoloff
17. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008)
18. A Christmas to Remember (2016)
19. Home for Christmas Day (2017)
20. A Very Merry Mix-Up (2013) starring Alicia Witt and Mark Wiebe
21. Moonlight and Mistletoe (2008)
22. A Christmas Detour (2015) starring Candace Cameron Bure and Paul Greene
23. My One Christmas Wish (2015)
24. Paper Angels (2014)
25. Snowglobe (2007) Starring Christina Milian
26. One Starry Christmas (2014) starring Sarah Carter and George  Canyon
27. Christmas at Cartwright's (2014)
28. Dashing Through the Snow (2015)

29. Finding John Christmas (2003)
30. Christmas Under Wraps (2014)
31. Home by Christmas (2006) starring Linda Hamilton
32. Christmas with Holly (2012)
33. Matchmaker Santa (2012) starring Lacey Chabert
34. Let it Snow (2013)
35. A Dream of Christmas (2016)
36. All I Want for Christmas (2007)
37. Love You Like Christmas (2016)
38. A Very Country Christmas (2017)
39. Once Upon a Holiday (2015)
40. Journey Back to Christmas (2016)
41. Just in Time for Christmas (2015)
42. Snow Bride (2013)
43. 12 Gifts of Christmas (2015)
44. A Christmas Melody (2015)
45. The Mistletoe Promise (2016)
46. A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004)
47. A Royal Christmas (2014)
48. A Cookie Cutter Christmas (2014)
49. The Christmas Card (2006)
50. Trading Christmas (2011)
51. Christmas Connection (2017)
52. Snow Bride (2013)
53. Coming Home for Christmas (2017)
54.Crown for Christmas (2015)
55. A Gift to Remember (2017)
56. A Wish for Christmas (2016)
57. The Christmas Hope (2009)
58. Fallen Angel (2003)
59. Silver Bells (2005)
60. Finding Mrs. Claus (2014) starring Mira Sorvino
61. Home for the Holidays (2005) starring Sean Young
62. A Grandpa for Christmas (2007)
63. The National Tree (2009)
64. Christmas Mail (2010)
65. Christmas Homecoming (2017)
66. Christmas at Angel Falls (2017)
67. Christmas Lodge (2011)
68. Lucky Christmas (2011)
69. The Christmas Star (2013)
70. A Town Without Christmas (2001)
71. The Bridge (2015)


Do you love these movies too?  What are your favorite Christmas movies?  Please share in the comments below.


-Allie Ann :-)

Primrose Peplum by Sew Caroline

Hi everyone!  I'm so glad you stopped by.  I've recently had the wonderful opportunity to test a new pattern.  Sew Caroline's Primrose Peplum was a really quick and fun sew for me.  I was so happy to have this opportunity because when I am spending so much time designing, there just isn't as much time spent sewing and the sewing that I do get in is usually spent sewing with muslin fabric.  I loved taking the time to sew something with a fabric of vibrant colors.  I love colorful fabrics!  I'm so happy with the results. It ended up fitting me really well and it is so comfortable. What took the longest amount of time for me was choosing the fabric.  I decided to use a lovely Anna Maria Horner rayon from her Pretty Potent line for Freespirit Fabrics.  I was delighted to find it in my stash and it was a great fabric choice for the Primrose Peplum.  I just love how it turned out.  You know what I thought was really neat about this pattern and fabric combination?  This is also what inevitably helped me in my decision to use this fabric.  This Anna Maria Horner fabric is called Primrose!  I thought that was just such a fun discovery.  This pattern and fabric really are an excellent match.  The Primrose Peplum pattern will be releasing very soon so be sure to keep an eye out so you can sew one too!

Happy Sewing!

     -Allie Ann :-)

Pillowcase Tutorial

Hey everybody! Okay. So pillowcases are a staple beginner project for people when they start sewing. I've never given up on them, however. As a seasoned seamstress I still enjoy sewing a pillowcase because I love to sew. Anything. Sometimes you just need a simple, quick project to sew.

This project is for beginners and sewers of all kinds. I use the burrito method and like they say once I tried it I couldn't go back to any other method. This tutorial features Bari J's new Alphebet panels from her new fabric collection. Other letter fabric can be used as well as embroidery and other appliqué methods can be used to add a name to personalize your pillowcase. This tutorial features everything I've come to choose for homemade pillowcases:

-burrito style 

-one cuff (avoiding the thickness of a cuff and thin fabric strip)

-name (to personalize)

To Cut:

-24.5in by width of fabric for pillowcase body (I used Katy Jones fabric for AGF)

-16in by width of fabric for pillowcase cuff

(I used Katy Jones fabric for AGF)

-letters from 1 panel of Bari J's letter fabric(AGF fabric) or the letter fabric of your choice or fabric scraps for letter appliqué or thread for embroidery

1.To begin cut out your pillowcase body and cuff, then trim selvage edges, taking care that both pieces have the same width.

2. Add the name to your cuff by appliqué or embroidery of your choice whether that be by hand or machine. For this pillowcase I chose to machine appliqué the letters on leaving raw edges for a unique look.

3. Next, for the burrito method, pin one edge of cuff to one edge of pillowcase body right sides together taking care to ensure placement of name is in the direction you want. Roll the main panel like a burrito and then place the other edge of the cuff right side to wrong side of the pillowcase body. Re-pin now using the same pins and placement but add this new layer. Sew these fabrics together with a 3/8ths seam allowance. 

4. Turn the pillowcase out. The pillowcase body will now be encased inside the cuff. Press flat with your iron. Topstitch 1/4" with your choice of stitch whether that be a decorative stitch, straight stitch, or maybe a zig zag stitch.

5. Fold the pillowcase in half right sides together, matching all edges. Pin to ensure your cuff seams meet up and then sew with a 3/8ths seam allowance and/or serge the edge or use a zigzag stitch to finish the edge(optional).

Turn your pillowcase right side out, iron and fold or put it on your pillow. Your pillowcase is now complete! Yay! :-)

Here's my photos:

-Allie Ann :-)

Parkside Shorts and Skirt by Sew Caroline

Hey everyone! Calling all sewists! Sew Caroline's newest pattern, Parkside Shorts and Skirt, was just recently released and you will love it. It's a great pattern for beginners who've just started sewing as well as seasoned sewers who need a quick and simple project to wip up! I know because I was one of many testers for this pattern and it sews up great. It's great for a sewing fix when you just need to sew and don't have time to cut out a bunch of pattern pieces. The pattern includes both shorts and skirt so you'll have a lot of options and Caroline is working of extra pocket tutorials to go with the pattern. So, what are you waiting for? Go get yourself a pattern and start sewing and I haven't told you the best part yet. The Parkside Shorts and Skirt pattern is on sale now through the end of the week! Go buy, download, print and paste it and you'll be on your way to a new pair of shorts or skirt of even better, sew both! Grab some stash fabric and get going, that's what I did!
PS: You can see Sew Caroline's post about her pattern here and you can see all the testers photos here.

-Allie Ann :-)

Last Bag of 2015

Hi!

I made this bag for my friend, Debbie of Elkhorn Quilt Company. She sells great fabric, quilt kits, and sewing supplies. Her website is here. I made this bag with Katarina Roccella's new line for Art Gallery Fabrics, Wonderland. I really like this fabric line, it's so cute. I love how the fabric looks in this pattern as well. I hope you enjoy. Happy New Year! Here's to 2016, may it be filled with sewing.

- Allie Ann :-)

Santa Rosa Plum Jam

Hi all! My family has a Santa Rosa plum tree in our yard and just love eating plums fresh from the tree. Some many of our plums have begun to ripen and fall from the tree so I thought jam would be a great way to use them. 

Santa Rosa Plum Jam(more like sauce***not thick but great flavor)

-4 cups of plums, pitted

-1 cup or sugar 

-the juice from 1/2 of a small lemon 

-To begin, add all the ingredients to a large pot and stir together.

-Next, place the pot on the stove on low-medium heat, stirring constantly.

-I used a electronic hand mixer to break the plum into smaller pieces.

-Take care not to boil or burn your jam.

-The jam will simmer for about 30 minutes until it is a slightly thick sauce.

-Allow sauce to cool then pour into glass jars and chill in refrigerator to further thicken th the jam.

-Enjoy with butter on toast or English muffins or try over vanilla ice cream :-).

-Allie Ann :-)

My Kind of Mexican Rice

I love a good Mexican rice from a favorite Mexican resturant. For the longest time, I've wanted to make some delicious rice at home. A few months back, I finally began to search the internet for the best, most delicious Mexican rice recipe. I found a lot of recipes for Mexican and Spanish rice! I filtered through them and did some trial and error batches of rice. After all of that I came up with the following recipe which I really find to be very delicious.

Ingridients:

•2 cups long grain rice(it's important that it be long grain)

•4 cups chicken broth

•1/4 cup olive oil 

•heaping 1/2 cup tomato sauce

•1/2 teaspoon cumin

•1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

•1/2 teaspoon ground oregano

•1/2 teaspoon black pepper(I like to add quite a bit more because I really like pepper)

•fresh onion(chopped finely)

•fresh jalapeño(halved and most seeds removed depending on your taste for heat...ps don't remove with bare hands) 

•a large pot with a lid

1. Heat olive oil on medium to high heat depending on how quick you can stir your rice in(6-8 heat level)

2. When the olive oil is heated(you will see some fizzling) add your rice and onion and stir often until lightly golden

3.When rice is sizzling and golden brown, stir in the tomato sauce

4.When rice it somewhat whiter and the sauce has stuck to it pour in chicken broth 

5.Stir in the chicken broth then add all the spices and fresh Jalapeño and stir that in as well

6.Bring the rice to a boil then lower the heat to 2-3 and cover the pot. Make sure the rice maintains a light boil throughout the cooking process. 

7.Let the rice cook, covered for 15 minutes...Do NOT remove lid

8.After 15 minutes, take the pot off of the burner, Do NOT remove the lid and let stand for another 5 minutes

9.After five minutes you can finally remove the lid and stir the rice, bringing the bottom rice to the top

10.Grab a bowl and scoop up some scrumptious rice! Or even better make tacos, enchiladas, burritos with fresh Mexican rice

-Allie Ann :-)

P.S. I hope to add a new sewing DIY soon just thought I'd share this recipe :)