Holidays and Sniffles

Pssss . . . It's snowing again. It is also 2 degrees outside currently. Ever felt like things were running smoothly -- no stress, no worries. Holidays just around the corner and then BAM! Out of no where a little tickle starts in the throat and then next thing you know you are laid out flat in bed for 5 days. That happened to me. Packages were not even sealed up to be mailed out. One more afternoon at the sewing machine needed to finish up a wall hanging headed to Kentucky to my brother and his new wife. Well things will be arriving late for some. Christmas cards unfinished will become New Year greetings. Am I sweating it -- NO. Not what the holidays are all about. Do I have my 3 kid's presents wrapped -- NO, but I know they will be happy and feel my love. Just so thrilled none of my family came down with my more than sniffles. Glad they are not saying these words anymore, "Mom you sure do look like a picture of health, NOT." -- Avery age 13.

Denim and Bandanas

I have to say I wanted to do something with denim for a while. I don't usually wear jeans and ended up finding some good ones for $1 at a yard sale in the summer. Then came the thought of cutting them up. Finally after many months I settled on who I was making a denim throw quilt for. (Someone in Arkansas will be getting this after the new year!!)

I played around with some ideas I found online for patterns and then asked a trusted source for advice on what she thought. Not being very impressed with the response, I decided to play around with some bandanas and denim. This is the end result.

I am pleased with the finished item, but don't know that I will be making another throw or quilt with denim for a while. I found it very time consuming.

Also, I have kept the upper portion of the jeans where the belt loops and pockets are and am playing with the idea of using them for aprons or making tote bags out of them. Guess I am in the total recycling kind of mind right now!!

More projects in the works in my future but now I must head to the kitchen and get some dinner going as some are starving.

Mug Rug Crafting

This year I have been working for a company that has 3 different group homes in my town of Great Falls, MT. At the girl's home is usually where you will find me on Saturdays from 8 a.m. till midnight.

As the holidays approached I wanted to have the girls try their hand at sewing and brought my machine and scraps of fabric with me one day.

I had read on another blog about a craft idea of the "Mug Rug". This seemed simple enough and I embroidered a few cute cup designs to use on each little "Mug Rug" coaster.



The staff of the girl's home really enjoyed these crafty presents and thanked me for coming up with something creative for the girls to try.



One 16 year old told me that she enjoyed sewing with the machine but felt it taxed her patience. She was still all smiles in handing out the little gift bags with the coasters and some tea bags and coffee treats for everyone at the party.

Merry Christmas and a "Mug Rug" or two may be coming to friends of mine real soon!

Have You Ever . . .

Have you ever purchased something (a gift) for someone and then not sent it to them for some reason or another?

Well, I have a couple that are hanging around. I don't feel bad for not sending them. As a matter of fact, they remind me of those I love and usually brighten my day. I know I may or may not ever give them as gifts to these people. I also know you may be thinking "she is the strangest person", but that is how my life goes.

Stitching Busy Fingers -- Embroidery

I purchased a big lot of cloth hand towels and have been busily stitching away. Here are some photos of the first few I have completed.

I am thinking about putting a few more patterns on a towel and then using a fabric backing and some quilt batting to make a table centerpiece/runner.

I find some of these comical. They are of a vintage flare and one of my favorite online sites is flickr.com where a ton of patterns can be found for your stitching fun!