Sewing with Fleece

Well, it's time to get my Christmas sewing underway. This year, that means lots and lots of fleece!

Since I really don't want to waste fabric (and $$$) on bum projects, I have been researching fleece tips. Here's what I've learned.

1. Spend money on good fleece. Splurge on anti-pill. (Note: the pilling doesn't damage the fabric, but it certainly isn't attractive.)

2. Most fleece can be used on either side. If you really want to know, you can determine the right side by pulling along the selvage. The fabric curls toward the right side. (According to one website, you can also find the right side by sprinkling water on 2 different areas on either side of the fabric. The side that wicks the water the fastest is the right side. )

3. Once you know the right side, MARK IT!!!

4. Fleece has a nap! Follow the layout on that pattern guideline.

5. Use a zig-zag stitch or a serger.

6. Use a size 14 needle.

7. If pressing is necessary, use a cool iron and a pressing cloth.

Another fun Swap!

I just participated in another fun SWAP. It's so much fun to create things for someone else--and then receive a bit of their handiwork in return. I just received the most wonderful box of goodies from Chrissie Grace. My favorite: The "Joy" sign in the top right hand corner and the beautiful handmade cards.

Sweet Aprons

I tried a new pattern this weekend.

This is "Four Corners Apron" by Vanilla House Designs. Here it is made up in a sweet and sassy fabric with peppermints and penguins!
The pattern was very simple. My only problem, I cut my pocket upside down--2 times!!! Also, my math was off, so my border isn't as wide as that on the pattern, but the black gingham still made a very cute contrast. The apron takes less than an hour to cut out and sew.


I see a couple more of these in my future.

Giving Thanks!

Counting My Blessings:

My salvation through Jesus Christ.

My husband who encourages and supports me.

The kids who are the most brilliant, creative beings.

My parents and parents-in-law, my sisters, and the rest of the gang.

Jane, Ashley, and Ashley.

And their little ones who my little ones love.

My imagination and creativity.

A warm home with plenty to eat.

Wonderful neighbors (Happy Belated Birthday Pam!).

Living in a country where I can speak up about

right and wrong and tell others, without shame, of my Source of joy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Look what I got!!!

I participated in my first blog swap and met my new friend Holly. She hosted a "Sparkles and Snowflakes" Christmas Swap. I was lucky enough to be her swap partner. I sent her a box of goodies and she sent me these wonderful treasures...


Aren't they wonderful? She sent such beauties including 2 special ornaments for my little people, lots of sparkly snowflakes, some yummy cinnamon soap, and a beautiful cross (that the little man said was "to remind us of Jesus's Birthday.")

These are my favorites...

Or maybe this... It's all so wonderful, I really can't decide. I think Holly doubled the sparkles in my house! Thank you Holly!!!

I also think Holly needs to give us a little how-to on making a few sparkly treasures. ;)

The Christmas Card Dilemma

Every year, it's the same.

What can I do for Christmas cards this year?

How can I top last year?

To be frank, I'm never going to beat 2003,

as least as far as my daddy is concerned.

Here are a few others from the past years.

2005

Too cute.

2006

One day in December, the Big Girl came home from

St. Paul's K-4 with this picture. She drew it during free time.

I loved it and immediately knew it would become our Christmas card.

2007

This one was probably the most fun for us

because we all worked on them together.

We all sat around the table to fingerprint the cards.

Then, the hubby applied the sticky-backed rhinestone noses.

I glued on the wiggly eyes and the Big Girl drew the antlers.

The Little Man (only 2 years at the time) had

2 blank cards that he covered with fingerprints while he supervised.

So, what on Earth am I going to do this year?????? I'm open to suggestions.

More fun reading...

I just joined this group of fun blogs. You can read lots of other crafy blogs at www.sewcraftblog.blogspot.com .

Who's Following Me?

So, I'm trying something new.
Over to the right of this post, just below my etsy button, you should see a "followers" thingamabob.
Now, as I type this I have no admitted followers.
So, who's first to sign up?

What's for supper?

Have you ever tried the Grocery Game? Or maybe a free website like southernsavers.com ? If you haven't, these are websites that take all the coupons from the paper and the Internet and match them with local sale papers. The idea is that you clip, clip, clip (or print, print, print) and then use the most valuable coupons with the cheapest prices to literally slash your grocery bill. Then you stock up when you can buy items super cheap and over the course of 6-8 weeks, you aren't really shopping what you need but replenishing your stock. And, they do the matching for you--if you use the coupons from the Dallas paper (Grocery Game) or your Kroger matches theirs (Southern Savers).

Well, since I'm not driving to East Texas to pick up a paper and our Kroger has slightly different sales than theirs, I'm doing my own matching. It is kind of cool, but the question becomes: Do I need to buy 10 bags of Hershey's kisses, etc for $8.00 just because I can?

Anyway, I say all that to say this: This week, I spent $80 on $163.00 of groceries and toiletries. Not too bad. That breaks down to petite boneless sirloins for $2.50/pound, $1.00 for Herbal Essence Shampoo, 4 cans of evaporated milk for free, and $2.25 for a 12 pack of cokes. Pretty good, right?

However, since I only bought things that were on sale, the "same old thing" couldn't go back on the menu.

So I pulled out my trusty favorite: I guess I've had this since college. It is copyrighted 1991. I have notes written in the front cover and all over page 71. (Those cake flour to all-purpose flour conversions get me every time, but I've made the silver white cake too many times to count.) It appears I spilt something on the cheese chapter because the pages hiding our favorite quiche recipe are stuck together. So are the pages with the Au Gratin Potatoes. And the page with the color photos of the cuts of beef--well, half of it is missing. And Mom and Nita-the reason I cook my hard boiled eggs the way that I do--well, Betty Crocker told me to on page 169!

So tonight, I've got ground beef, frozen veggies, potato flakes in the cabinet, and plenty of cheese in the fridge. Sound like the makings for Shepard's Pie. (at least that's what I think it's called.) To the index I go...Oh Betty, you've let me down. I guess this is one recipe I'll have to find on line instead.

Christmas Sewing

It's about that time--only 43 days until Christmas. Here's a peek at my Christmas sewing list:

I know I be making several of these--the shirt, not the hubby;) ,

And a couple of sets of these in other fabrics,And a few little boys I know need cool super hero PJs,And at least one person requested one of these,

And then, of course, there are the pears...

On this election day...

Yes, I voted.

And look what else I did.

You can find them (and gift tags, etc) here: www.wrapitpretty.etsy.com

They're so stinkin' cute!