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Thursday, November 24, 2011

THANKSGIVING





A good friend posted this on her blog regarding the first Thanksgiving.  May all of you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends.



http://www.deeprootsathome.com/?p=13320

Friday, November 18, 2011

PINE CONE PARTY FAVOR


I know that I'm getting ahead of myself with thinking about Chistmas, but I know that if I wait until the last minute, I won't be able to get things done.  I enjoy making things for the holidays, whether it's for Thanksgiving or for Christmas.  So today I started working on one of my projects for Christmas.  For those that are interested, here are the directions to make one.

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
5" x 5" muslin
3/8 yard of Christmas print for the pinecone scales
4" x 6" green print for the leaf
3/8 yard of 1/4" wide ribbon
Small amount of stuffing for pinecone core and a small amount of batting for the leaf
Templates

CUTTING
Muslin:    Cut 2 of the pinecone core
Christmas print:  Cut 28 squares that measure 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"  (small)
                               Cut 5 squares that measure 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"   (large)
                               Cut 1 pinecone base
Green print:  Cut 2 leaf
Batting: Cut 1 leaf

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Trace the templates to make the pinecone core, base and leaf.
  2. Cut 2 pinecone cores from the muslin.
  3. Sew the pinecone core pieces along the sides, leaving the bottom opening unstitched.  Turn them right side out.  Stitch a line of basting along the opening of the pinecone core.  Don't cut the thread.  Stuff the pincone.  Pull the basting thread tight and secure with a knot.
  4. Place and stitch the pinecone top over the tip of the pinecone core.  This is one of the squares that measures 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".
  5. Fold and press each pinecone square in half.  Fold the sides of each scale diagonally to meet in the center and press.
  6. With the folded side facing outward, pleace and sew the scales to the pinecone core, starting at the top and working in rows around the pinecone.
  7. In the first row, stitch 4 small scales; in the second and third row, stitch 6 small scales; in the fourth row, stitch 5 small scales; in the fifth row stitch 6 small scales; and in the sixth row, stitch 5 large scales.  Stagger the placement of the scales from row to row.
  8. Place the leaf pieces right sides together.  Place a batting leaf on one side of the unit and sew through all the layers, leaving an opening at the base of the leaf for turning.  Trim the batting very close to the sewing line.  Clip the inside corners.
  9. Turn the leaf right side out.  Close the opening with hand stitches.
  10. Turn and baste the edges of the pinecone base to the wrong side.
  11. Pin the leaf to the bottom of the pinecone.  Place the pinecone base over the leaf and stitch through all the layers to secure the base and leaf to the pinecone.
  12. Tie a bow with the ribbon and stitch it to the leaf.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

THE ABC'S OF GIVING


How do you give when your budget doesn't let give as generously as you would like?  You can easily brighten someone's day for little or no money, with just an investment of a little time.  These ideas I found in a magazine.

A    Ask someone to lunch at your house.
B.   Bake a special treat
C.   Call an old friend
D.   Deliver groceries or medicine to a shut-in
E.   Encourage someone
F.   Fix your family's favorite meal
G.  Give outgrown toys and clothing to charity.
H.  Hug a friend
I.    Invite a friend over for coffee
J.   Just do it - when you see a need, try to fill it.
L.  Lend a favorite book or movie
M.  Make a collage of photos in someone's honor.
N.  Nominate a deserving student, teacher, waitress or other worker for a reward.
O.  Offer to organize someone's recipes, junk drawer or closet.
P.  Pick up flowers for someone
Q.  Quench co-workers' thirst - treat them to a big thermos of hot cocoa.
R.  Read nostalgic poems and stories at a retirement center or nursing home.
S.  Send greeting cards to friends and family marking birthdays, anniversaries and more
T.  Take a walk with a friend.
U.  Use every opportunity to find and deliver sincere compliments.
V.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen or panty
W.  Write a letter.
X.  Exemplify extra effort in caring and sharing
Y.  Yield the choice of movie, restaurant, book club selection to someone else.
Z.  Zip through our day with a smile for all you meet.

Friday, November 11, 2011

CARD MAKING

It has been a while since I have written on my blog.  I had to have corrective surgery on my left hand.  Needless to say, any kind of sewing or crafting was out of the question.  Before I left the hospital, the nurse had told me the only thing I could lift with my left hand was a cup of coffee.  Well, she forgot to tell me what size cup and whether it is empty or full.  I learned that the hard way. 

So I'm now back doing the things that I enjoy.  With the weather getting colder, I've been working on getting my yard ready for winter, cleaning windows and getting things ready for Thanksgiving with my family.

The last two days I've been making cards.  Here are some of what I have made.



When I have received a handmade card, it touches my heart to think of the time the sender took to make it just for me.  More cardmaking time is on my schedule.