Occupy Your "Girl Cave"/#1 Husband Update

OCCUPY YOUR "GIRL CAVE"

aka

YOUR SEWING ROOM

Barb at Cat Patches

posted this idea 

and

I found it over the weekend.

My thoughts were if those folks can "Occupy Wall Street"

then us QUILTERS can (in my case)"Occupy Our Sewing Caves"

I plan on making some quick projects for gifts

 Remember MUG RUGS...last Years sewing craze??

I'm here to tell you, I still have the Mug Rug Bug!

These little mini quilts are perfect for gift giving and I plan on making several.

Here are some samples from quilters last year that I copied!

I went to our local Craft Fair this past Friday afternoon and boy Oh Boy did I find some cute ideas. You've seen them but it's always good to have someone remind you at how easy it would be to make something simple to give especially when you have a large number to buy for such as the girls in the office, school faculty, daycare workers, nurses in labor & delivery, NICU nurses, Sunday School class, etc...

KLEENEX HOLDER

 Look at the fabric choices!!  I'm making 47 for some precious senior citizens at a nursing home.  My youngest daughter adopted a local nursing home and has taken upon herself to make Goodie Bags for over 60 residents.  This child of mine helped care for her Grandmother, My Mother, who had Alzheimer's and has a genuine love for the elderly.  She told me today, "Mama, I always say I wish I had adopted a nursing home resident for Christmas.  Well, this year, I'm going to really do it.  I've adopted 60 residents at one of the poorer nursing homes where I live.  Do you want to make something?"

Thus, the Kleenex Holder idea was pulled out of my bag o' tricks

Here is a tutorial if you're interested in joining me.  I'm making 60 of these little cuties in my sewing cave this week.

1. How to Sew a Cloth Tissue Holder for Your Purse

   • 1
     Measure a 7 x 5 ½ inch square on a sheet of typing paper. Cut the shape out. This will be your tissue holder pattern. Label the pattern so when you store it, so you will remember what it is for and can reuse it.  Measure the width of the fabric and cut a strip. Then take the strip and cut the lengths. You can cut both pieces of fabric at once with this process by placing one piece of fabric on top of the other. This makes the task go faster.
   • 2
     Supplies
     

     Select two coordinating fabrics. Iron the fabric. The project takes only a few square inches of fabric making this is a perfect project to use leftover remnant fabrics. Specialty fabrics are ideal because they are bright and colorful and have fun motifs. The choice of fabric can personalize the tissue holder making it a fun gift.  Using the pattern cut two pieces of fabric one from each pattern.
   • 3
     Place top side of the fabric together and pin the short edge (5 ½ inch) sides together. Sew a ½ inch seam from short edge on each side.
   • 4
     Turn the tissues holder right side out and iron.
   • 5
     Inside out
     

     Fold the finished edges towards the center and then pin the raw edges together. The folds measure 1 ½ from the long edge and should come together in the center of the tissue holder. Sew a ½ inch seam from the short edge.
   • 6
     Finished
     

     Turn the tissue holder right side out. Use a ruler to push the fabric into place in each corner. Place tissues into the tissue holder.

FABRIC ORNAMENTS

Supplies:

Assorted Holiday Fabric Squares 2 1/2 in. small/med. 

                                                        3 1/2in.----4 1/2 in. large

Styrofoam Balls - assorted sizes

Ribbon for Hanger

Pencil

I use pinking shears to cut out my squares.  Take the eraser end of pencil, place in center of square and push into styrofoam ball.  Repeat over the entire ball making sure to cover the styrofoam and make the ball full looking.  Vary your color themes.  I am making some Blue and White ones as well and Black and Gold.  Loop your ribbon and use a straight pin to pin ribbon hanger to the top of ball. Use picture for reference.  Go Crazy, Have some fun...this a great project to do with your children or better yet, YOUR GRANDCHILDREN!!  WHOO HOO!!!

 Make sure you check out SEW WE QUILT for more Christmas Projects

I'm busy making all of the above projects plus THREE more projects I'll share with you on Wed.  Let me Know what you are making so I can come visit you!

#1 Husband Update:

Orthopedic Dr. would NOT release Mr. Gmama to go back to work!  He will re-evaluate #1 on Jan. 4th and then not sure if he'll release the big guy.  Dr. is afraid of my hubby being bumped in the school hall or worse...be put in a situation of having to defend himself which would destroy the shoulder.  Doc says the shoulder is VERY FRAGILE (remember this word FRAGILE printed on the Award box to the Dad in the movie The Christmas Story???  so funny) due to it being a "Re-Section"

Come Back Wednesday for more Gift Ideas and some Sneak Peeks

GRATITUDE

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2010

 

"A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart"

 Jr. Asparagus  from Veggie Tales

This was almost the Thanksgiving that "wasn't" given that I came down with a nasty little bug on Tues. evening while in the midst of cooking Thanksgiving dinner.  I am ever so grateful for my sister Sarah, brother-in-law, Dan, and niece Ericka who drove 10 hrs. from NC only to arrive Wed. afternoon and ALLOW ME TO PASS THE TORCH!  

My oldest daughter  jumped in to HELP finish what I had started.  I, on the other hand, LIMPED OFF to bed for 2 hrs., got some sleep and allowed my medicine to work it's magic.  I woke up feeling 200% better, most all of the food cooked and put in storage containers for warming up Thursday, and a feeling of "order having been restored".

Thursday morning found my son and his family of 6 all down for the count with a stomach bug as well.  What more could happen to steal Thanksgiving?  

Dinner was finally served at 1:00 and portions were promptly sent to feed the sick and afflicted who only live 2 miles away.

 Once Friday rolled around, everyone was feeling much better, and the annual trip to the mall for Santa Picture was back on.  This year, it was an all girl trip and Santa was dressed in his Alabama football gear (not a fan of my Santa dressed for a football team).  The entire trek to the mall went off without a hitch unlike in years past when we've  had to wheel one of us out in a wheelchair (story for another time). The Group Santa picture has been a tradition for over 10 yrs.  I especially love getting the pictures out at Christmas and lining them up on the fireplace mantel to see how we have all changed and grown over the years.  The first picture began with my sweet Mama in a wheelchair and it never fails to bring back wonderful memories of the many shopping trips on Black Friday.  Mama and I would get up at 4:00 to make it to the early sales, dig thru the mountains of shirts at some Dept. Store, and then cruise for a seat in the food court.

Christmas Season 2010 is officially open

 Tonight we sit with tummies full and hearts grateful for all that family means.  A simple game of Apples to Apples brought rounds of laughter and team competition...cousin vs cousin...sister vs sister...Grandmother vs Grandchild...all in the spirit of fun and togetherness.  Enough Football has been watched and pies eaten to put everyone into a sports/sugar coma!!  The Grandsons have pulled enough pranks to make us all lovingly distrustful of a simple pat on the back, handshake, or offer to help.  Mischievous minds were in Thanksgiving overload and Oh so Happy for a receptive audience!

 Thank you Dear Lord for the many blessings bestowed on my family this year...even in the trials and tribulations we Give Thanks knowing that You, Dear Lord, are in the details.  Thank you for a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with my family!

.Enjoy the rest of your weekend to all my American Blogging friends and blessings to all my Canadian friends and around the world.

GMAMA JANE