Placemats teach table setting

Each placemat features a novelty fabric personally chosen for each child/grandchild. The appliqued pieces show how to set the table for dinner. The back of the placemat is the same novelty fabric, making them somewhat reversible.

Applique is NOT my thing, but this turned out OK.  I glue basted the fabrics after I starched the dickens out of them.  I used machine applique.  The stitch I used looked like a combination of a narrow satin stitch and buttonhole stitch.  I'm hoping it will wear a little better than the buttonhole stitch alone and it didn't get too stiff or puckery like the satin stitch (and it didn't hang up on the foot either).  Thin batting and no binding, I turned them pillow case style so there would be less chance of a cup tipping if it was set on the edge.  I was afraid binding might make a bump that could cause spillage. 

Reusable gift bags

The girls received new earrings for Easter and they were wrapped in these reusable gift bags with Easter themed fabrics. I remembered them after a facebook friend suggested yesterday's bags could be used as reusable gift packaging. I love the idea of passing on the gift bag or consider it a bonus gift.

Zippered bag

Two little bags to carry or store whatever you want. The smaller bag shows the pattern on the fabric as it was. The larger bag features a portion of the same fabric carefully cut out and reassembled into a six pointed star. What would you put in these?

waste not, want not!

I sorted some scraps by color and started sewing them together.  these are the rainbow colored squares I created.  waste not, want not. 

mouse quilt top done

Look Ma, Cameron's quilt is done!

a little small on my queen sized bed, but should fit nicely on his double

The Label on the back

close up of the fabric on the back



Coleen's request, dark fabrics on the back



Fun in the snow attic windows flimsy

Instead of playing in the snow I prefer to showcase the snow.  This is not a great picture, but it's not finished yet.  I'll take a better pic later.  for now just thought it was a good time to show the snowy beginnings of this wall quilt since it has to come down from the design wall to make room for Brianna's quilt (that I started piecing Tuesday when the quilting on Cameron's Monkeys blew up).

a little of this, a little of that

Nana was knitting and crocheting like crazy before Christmas, yarn stash decreased (but not depleted yet).  Scarves were added to clothing gifts, stuffed in water bottles and otherwise distributed to family and friends.  Some soft, some furry, some plain, some twisted (potato chip pattern- funny name for a scarf pattern, but fun to make). 

No More Cold Feet

These are easy to make and sooooo very warm. After seeing this post about knitted slippers http://blog.craftzine.com/craftprojects/easy_house_slippers/ I knew I had to make some.  I had some wool yarn (wool of the Andes from Knit Picks) just waiting for a felted project.  I went to the crochet version

http://www.mommyknows.com/easy-norwegian-house-slippers-the-crochetted-version-by-mommyknows/

because I crochet faster than I knit and I was impatient.  It has gotten cold here and I needed to warm up some toes.  The hardest part is folding them into a slipper.  You might need this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKMFEkSKGHg  I did.  It took 3 wash cycles to get them felted down small enough for my feet, but they are now PERFECT!  I stopped the machine before the wash water drained out and re-set it to the beginning twice.  After they were rinsed and spun out I put them on wet to form them to my feet, getting a custom fit. 

 PERFECT!

CUP COZIES



rolled for storage



I am sending  these latest “creations”  to special friends.   We use them to keep our hands cool when the drink (coffee) is extremely hot and also to absorb condensation when the drinks are iced or frozen.  They fasten with a button and an elastic loop that also holds it together when rolled up for easy storage in your purse or desk drawer. 



cup cozy