Thimbleanna » Little Projects

Little Projects

February 13, 2010 on 7:48 pm | In Crafting, Sewing | 54 Comments

Well….how is your smiley hunt coming along? Thanks to Leigh for pointing out this really fun Faces in Places blog in my comments. I could spend hours looking at all the super cool smileys that people have found and submitted to that blog. I think this is an especially fun activity if you have kids too!

I’ve had a fun two days here in ThimbleannaLand. Yesterday was CrazyBIL’s birthday. CrazyBIL is crazy about Nutella (being German and all.) In the past, I’ve made him Nutella cakes for his birthday and this year I thought it would be fun to make him some Nutella ice cream. I wasn’t able to be here for his birthday dinner, so I packed up a little ice cream party kit (ice cream, cookies, silicon cupcake liners, spoons, candles and matches) and took it to his office for him and his co-workers to have on a little afternoon birthday break. I really don’t like Nutella, but I thought this ice cream was pretty tasty!

After I dropped the ice cream party off, I drove a few hours to have a sleepover with TheFirstChild and SweetiePie. I had to go see half of my sweeties and take them a Valentine goody. For TheFirstChild (and TheSecondChild too) I made some boxers. I didn’t find any Valentine fabric that I liked this year, so I went with traveling gnomes instead.

Because nothing says love like a gnome and his kangaroo. TheSecondChild got the kangaroo gnome front and center on his boxers — in honor of his semester in Australia a few years ago. And here is SweetiePie, modeling TheFirstChild’s valentine boxers.

There’s even a secret message stitched near the hem. I can’t tell you what it says though, because…well…it’s a secret!

And for SweetiePie, I made a little necklace. After seeing these all over blogland, I couldn’t resist making her a little bauble with my nickname for her on it. My technique needs a LOT of work, but this was really fun to make — I’m seeing many more of these in my future.

I had a GREAT time with the kids, and I hope you’re having a good weekend too. I also hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. And in the famous words of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” To me, that means YOU. Be good to yourself. Treat yourself to a little Valentine goody!

XOXO,
Anna

54 Comments

OMG that is crazy fabric………who would have thought to even design it………..lol……….never seen a gnome and a kangaroo in front of the opera house ever……….lol……..

Comment by Chookyblue — February 13, 2010 #
Mmmm… That ice cream looks delish!! How thoughtful of you to truck it all the way to his office! Do you deliver to CT?? Who wouldn’t love a traveling gnome on their unmentionables?

Comment by Jackie — February 13, 2010 #
Darling Valentine goodness. You are so crafty clever.

Comment by MichelleB — February 13, 2010 #
Very cool gifts! All of them…..I remember my ex Italian boyfriend telling me that they visited the Nutella factory on a school trip as a child….I mean we went to museums and things and they went to the Nutella factory – doesn’t seem fair.

I love the necklace – how do you make them?

Now I just have a to wait a few more hours till I open the Valentine’s card my mum sent me – usually the only one I receive in a year ;o) At least she’s stopped sending them to work!!

Comment by Di — February 13, 2010 #
(((Anna))) Happy Valentines Day!!
Please show us how you made the necklace – bauble, pretty please with sugar on top…..
xoyou’re sweet,
Shawn

Comment by Shawn ; ) — February 13, 2010 #
Happy Valentines Day to you Miss Thimbleanna! Love the fabric with the gnomes and kangaroos! How cool is that, I could just imagine a gnome jumping in for a bouncy ride too, lol! Love the necklace, very nice indeedy!

Comment by sue — February 13, 2010 #
Your gnome fabric is adorable Anna- I bet your boys loved their boxers with the secret message – you are so creative! Sarah is a big Nutella fan so I can see some of your Nutella ice cream in our future.

Comment by Lisa — February 13, 2010 #
That Sweetie Pie knows how to rock a pair of boxers. I can see why you use her for your underwear model and pay her with lovely jewelry–nice work, by the way. As for that secret message, I can only imagine…

XOXO~
Cassie

Comment by Cassie — February 13, 2010 #
YOU.
ROCK.
and sweetiepie is so stinkin’ cute!!!
love the boxers.
love the necklace.
i have to pick your brain on the jewelry.
happy valentine’s day thimbleanna.
be mine.

Comment by brigita — February 13, 2010 #
i read the secret message.
with my xray vision.
they love you too.

Comment by brigita — February 13, 2010 #
What a cute bumm, I LOVE the boxers xoxoxo Clarice

Comment by clarice — February 13, 2010 #
I love the necklace for sweetie pie. Very Cute! The boxes shorts are great too! Happy Valentine’s to you!

Comment by Kim Walus — February 13, 2010 #
Happy Valentine’s Day, Anna! Great presents – and a great song – I might borrow that one some day. Glad you thought of it! :)

S.W.A.K.

Comment by Marsha — February 13, 2010 #
You are soooo nice! Love your little bauble. It is so cute. I am sure everyone loved their gifts.

Comment by Pat — February 13, 2010 #
Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too!!!!! Your necklace for sweetie pie looks adorable – I’ll bet she loves it. And those gnomes – well, I’m just speechless. That fabric is the BEST and I can’t believe I haven’t seen it anywhere in blogland before now!

Comment by rohanknitter — February 14, 2010 #
You constantly amaze me with your crafty talents. But first of all, I must say, I love Nutella! A bagel place near me makes the most wonderful Nutella crepes. Anyway, back to your crafts … that gnome fabric is adorable! Will your boys really wear those, or will SweetiePie snag it? The necklace is so sweet … how did you punch the letters on it?

Comment by Stacy — February 14, 2010 #
I LOVE that fabric! And so cute as boxers :-)

Comment by trash — February 14, 2010 #
hi anna,
happy v.day to you!
can you share where you purchased that outrageous & fun fabric!! love it…
yes, please, tutorial on how your produced that fab necklace for sweetiepie…please!

Comment by linda — February 14, 2010 #
That’s gotta be one of the cutest fabrics I EVER saw!!! How fabulous :o)!!! Did the kids love them??? Oh I bet they did :o)!!!
Hugs,
Joy :o)

Comment by Joy — February 14, 2010 #
Happy Valentine’s Day to YOU! Boxers are wonderful! And SweetiePie’s necklace is cute as can be…you are amazing!

Comment by Carol — February 14, 2010 #
Great looking boxer shorts! and thanks for the faces link :o) some of those are clever!

Comment by Sew Create It - Jane — February 14, 2010 #
What a fun post! I am going to have to try making some of that Nutella ice cream (maybe snow cream since it’s snowing AGAIN).

That fabric is so adorable! Do you mind saying what line it is or where you got it from?

And the necklace is fabulous. I would love to see how you held it in place while you stamped it. Your family had to have had a great Valentine’s weekend with all of these fun projects you made!

Comment by Anne — February 14, 2010 #
This gnome- on- trvel- boxerws are phantastic.
I love,love, love them and I want to have that fabric!!!!
What a fun-piece!
Have a happy holiday
Janine

Comment by Janine — February 14, 2010 #
Love the gifts…You are always so creative.
Happy Valentines Day!

Comment by Judy — February 14, 2010 #
Happy Valentine’s Day Miss Crafty!

Comment by molly — February 14, 2010 #
Great gifts all around! I love the gnome fabric.

Comment by Karen — February 14, 2010 #
Such a beautiful necklace. I’d love to have one!!! How did you make it?
And very funny boxers!

Comment by Maria — February 14, 2010 #
I think gnomes with wobbly opera houses beat hearts any day.

That is most excellent jewellage! Gorgeous! How d’you do it?

Comment by Emma — February 14, 2010 #
Ohhhhh sister I LOVE me some nutella – lordy a smear on a graham cracker – heaven I tell ya heaven, lol. That ice cream looks mighty tasty as well. Those boxes – a real hoot and you come up with the greatest fabric – what a cool tradition you’ve started. Your necklace for sweetie pie – very very adorable. I’ve been seeing those around as well and think about one for myself. My 2 girls don’t really wear much in the bauble category (WHAT – not me – love it). So see I’m not being selfish – just realistic. Hope you have a Happy Love Day sweet pea.

XOXO – Mrs. Farmhouse

Comment by Karen — February 14, 2010 #
You’ve packed so much into one post I don’t know what to say – it’s all fab. Would you like to come over here and join my family as an honorary sister?

Comment by dottycookie — February 14, 2010 #
Happy Valentine’s Day, Anna! I love all the little projects, especially those shorts!

My lovey is out snowshoeing on the 2 feet of snow around our property, Victor is asleep, so I’m going to treat myself to a little valentine nap this afternoon. XO

Comment by Jill — February 14, 2010 #
I love Sweetie-Pie’s necklace – how did you make it?! And I love all your other posts – I’ve been so busy at work that I haven’t been able to keep up – but I’m on holiday all next week – woohooo!!!!

Lucy xxx

Comment by Lucy Locket-Pocket — February 14, 2010 #
Daughter 2 always gives her brother some Christmas pants, ie boxers – she buys them, though (yes, I know, so feeble). He doesn’t just keep them for Christmas, though. I often vaguely wonder what his patients would think if they knew their doctor had Rudolph or something on his pants.

Comment by Isabelle — February 14, 2010 #
those boxers are great but the necklace is even better – awesome :-)

Comment by periwinkle — February 14, 2010 #
WOW! LOVE the necklace. I got one for Valentine’s day, too. Would love to know how you made it.

Comment by melissa — February 14, 2010 #
ohhh anna!
i adore the sweetiepie necklace! would you consider doing one on commission?
i’d love to know how you make them!!

Comment by melly- — February 14, 2010 #
OK smily faces all over your house.
Very funny :-)
Pop over to my blog and see what Zappa have learned from your cats!

I tell you, cats can read!!

Comment by Nancy — February 14, 2010 #
What an awesome post!!! I’m loving the nutella icecream, YUMMO!!!! That fabric is a hoot also and the necklace that you made, well you sure are one clever thing now aren’t you I just love it…

Hugs
Jodie :)

Comment by Jodie — February 14, 2010 #
You are up to it again!!! Just making tons of cute things!! Lovin’ those boxers!!! Was fantastic fabric!! It’s amazing the fun and fabulous fabric prints we have today!! Happy Valentines Day!!

Comment by Jere'e @ Quilted Quickies — February 15, 2010 #
You are so talented Anna and I just love that necklace you made for Sweetie Pie. It’s awesome. LOVE IT! Now I feel the need to hunt down a tutorial or two on how to make them!

Comment by Jen — February 15, 2010 #
Nutella ice cream… gnome and kangaroo boxers… a stamped necklace… you are super talented! I’m impressed. I think my favorite are the boxers though. :)

Comment by Jennifer — February 15, 2010 #
You must have had fun delivering those boxers. I am amazed and always impressed at your talent.

Comment by Susan — February 15, 2010 #
So much good stuff here, I’m overwhelmed. Mmmm to Nutella ice-cream and the boxers are so funny, then necklace just beautiful.

Comment by Rebecca — February 15, 2010 #
I’d love to be your crazybil. Ok I mean sister in law. lol How nice of you to take that to his work. I KNEW I should have moved to Indiana. Darn it.
Love the boxers!!! Very cute model sweetiepie is. And that necklace..OMG is there anything that Thimbleanna can not do?? I mean seriously????? I’ve seen those necklaces all over the place. But man oh man are they expensive.
CUTE!!
Happy belated Valentine’s Day.

Comment by Sharon — February 15, 2010 #
i love the boxers and the pendant…i don’t have the lower case alphabet, only upper case. Where did you find it and did you have to pay an arm & leg for it? the only lower case i find are about $90. too much.
we were supposed to go to bloomington today for lunch and yarn shops but again SNOW! so far at least 6″. we are over this crap and how dare it cancel a yarn fondling trip. Stay warm, robin

Comment by Robin Brown — February 15, 2010 #
Cute boxers and sweet necklace! You are one mega-talented gal! I just spent about half an hour looking at Faces in Places. Good night! They are everywhere. I must see if I can find some for myself.
I’m not such a fan of Nutella, but that ice cream looks delish!

Comment by Karin — February 15, 2010 #
I had Nutella for the first time at Christmas. It was good! I bet the ice cream party was a smash! YOU are just TOO nice!

….and Anna, those boxers are just priceless! LOVE them!!!!!!

And how do you make the necklace? Maybe a tutorial? It is super sweet.

xo
becky

Comment by Sweet Cottage Dreams — February 15, 2010 #
Fanstastic fun post as usual!
You are such a Sweetie!!

Comment by meggie — February 16, 2010 #
You made that necklace?! That is fantastic! So is the ice cream. So are the boxers. You are one clever lady, Anna! x

Comment by Kitty — February 16, 2010 #
I see jars of Nutella in the grocery stores, however I have no idea what it is! It looks like chocolate but obviously is some kind of nut spread. Your ice cream idea is so clever and so pretty in the little cups!

Love the gnome shorts… and the body of the girl wearing them. Oooooo… to be young!
Hugs Anna!
Joni

Comment by joni possin — February 16, 2010 #
You’re so much fun. CrazyBIL is really crazy if he doesn’t appreciate you. My husband loves Nutella. I helpfully remind him that it probably the reason that all of the running he does hasn’t resulted in him losing any weight.

The boxers are hilarious.

Comment by Caroline — February 16, 2010 #
I love your post and those gnome boxers make me laugh — they’re simply adorable.

Comment by Junie Moon — February 16, 2010 #
Anna, you are one of those people that does everything so well. I admire that trait. Things are done not only to perfection, but with such taste and panache. I hope that is how that word is spelled!

Comment by nanette — February 16, 2010 #
Those boxers are adorable!! Daniel is a boxer fiend, I so need to make him some. I think the necklace looks beautiful…did you engrave it somehow?? You never cease to amaze me :)

Comment by Tammy — February 16, 2010 #