Memory Doggies

Several yeas ago my sister gave me four shirts of her husband who passed away.  I told her I could make some doggies for her grandchildren.  I can't find the pictures of the doggies I made but all together I made five doggies.  

Like this one you see here made out of Island Batik Fabrics

She didn't know I was making this for her for Christmas but here is a pillow for her bed, the buttons and applique are off his shirts.  She was really touched by this.

Then they have a grandson that is named after her husband and he worked for the Railroad, so I made this quilt.  The applique is out of his shirts using the Accuquilt Go Train die.

So out of four shirts I got 5 doggies, one quilt, one pillow, and one pincushion made from his cuff.

You never know what is going to happen so I had a week to do whatever I wanted at the beginning of Dec. so I rushed and got all of this done plus a round table cloth for my son and his wife which I can't find the picture.....too lazy to go and get.

Thanks heavens, we ended up keeping our grandson for a week, my mother fell and was in the hospital, and then m sons came for Christmas which I was running to and from the rehab for my mother.  She was in the hospital for four days and then was taken to rehab and then....guess who gets sick?  You guessed it...no fun during this Christmas season.  It was good to see the boys and their wives.  My fifth son and his wife cleaned the house before they left....I thought that was so sweet.  Am I luck or what?

STICKY SUBJECT - - - COSMETIC SURGERY

I am a fly by nighter.....

My mother always said that I run around like a chicken with my head cut off.

I don't like to pin.

But.......

I decided that I should really start.

for some reason it makes it easier if you pin.

I never wanted to take the time but for some reason things go together easier.

Go figure.

I am how old am just now figuring this out????

Should I be ashamed?

My sewing room has been humming.  I wish I could show you all of the things I have been doing but it will have to wait til After Christmas.

I actually had a full day of nothing to do...well I had things to do but nothing I had to get out and do.

So I had a blissful day yesterday.

My daugher in law has our round table....and the top is kind ugly so I made her this.

She loves purple and yellow...these are the colors she wanted.

You can get the pattern here

Then...

I was in the store the other day and saw a table runner with reindeer on the ends like this but different reindeer.  I came home and thought about it....remember the hand towel.

This pattern is by "The Wooden Bear"

I just love this little guy.

Anyways.....I just enlarged him and used my awesome Island Batik Christmas fabrics.

I just love it.....looks more fun up close and personal but this picture will have to do.

I hope all of you are getting ready for a wonderful Christmas.  Most of my gifts will be handmade.

I have another day in my sewing room.  Count me lucky!!!!

Everyone was so sweet to comment on my naked reindeers.....

A little cosmetic surgery and now they have ears????

Silly me!!

Fidget Blankets or Sensory Blankets

Have any of you heard of fidget blankets?

I only heard about them today.

In case you have not, these blankets are for people with brain injuries, dementia, Alzheimer's, and Autism.



 SewnbyMurrays96



Mayflowermemory


PiddlinAround


Here are just a few of them with the link underneath.  You can certainly look it up on pinterest or etsy.  I didn't realize there were so many out there and to be honest.....didn't have the slightest clue as to what they are.

My mother was diagnosed with Dementia at the beginning of the year, although, I don't think she has progressed to this point yet.  I did noticed that when I took her to the Dr. today she was twiddling her thumbs for the hour drive there and back.

So a wonderful idea and a great idea to make and give to hospitals.

-----------------------------------------

On another note....I got my embroidery machine back yesterday.  I did make a hand towel...to lazy to take a picture...busy day today...but I did walk out with both legs but had a slight hobble (didn't have to give an arm and a leg away when I went to pay for the repairs)

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME FOR GIVING AND THE ISLAND BATIK AMBASSADORS ARE IN THE MOOD

This month's challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors is to make something (anything) for Charity.

When I think of Charity as in giving I am thinking of like March of Dimes, the Hospitals, Linus etc...

I was lazy, I wanted something near enough to me that I could take it straight over and not have to worry about forgetting.... 

So the thing that popped into my mind was the Wesely House where my mother is living.

It is an assisted living place.

When they get enough items they have an auction.

The residents get paper money throughout the week.

Winning at Bingo, Finding the Elf on the shelf are just a few ways to earn this money.

Then they have an auction.

All the ladies love my mother's little puppy.  So I decided to make a puppy and donate it to the auction.

I was so hoping you would not notice the dust on the table (blushing here)...I guess I could scoot the dog over the top and take care of that table.

I just love the various Island Batik fabrics and who doesn't love pink???

I am sure there is a store near you that sells Island Batiks to find out just go to their site and click on find store.  I know you will love the fabrics like I do.

WINTER WONDERLAND - Island Batik Ambassadors

                                             

                                                Better late than never right???

Did I tell you that the Island Batik fabric hardly fray?

Totally wonderful to applique with...raw edge or needle turn....

So I decided to make this bunting.

I love to sit and look at the fabulous fabrics.

I chose the lazy way out when I made these.

                                                 Folded my fabric to the length I needed

                                        Got my trusty triangle ruler and marked around it

                                                         see the markings

                          Then I pinned it in a few places, then used my pinking shears and cut around it.

Looks like this when unfolded but you are going to leave it folded.

I sewed a seam with my sewing foot next to the edge of the pinking part and then a seam 5/8 from the top for the ribbon to go through.

Then I blanketstitched the lettering onto the fabrics.

                                        Did I tell you that Island Batik fabric hardly fray?
                                                                 Of course I did!!!

    I love making hand towels and I love it even more when I go in my friends home and find it hanging on the stove handle.

To show you how much I love making them.....(that is an understatement)

I have a collection here:

You can tell I have been didgging....

A collection hanging here:

Some more here!!!

Great for a fast gift.

But I wanted to make some more Christmas ones

                       I just love this reindeer....if you have been to my blog you have seen him before.
                                                  One day I will make myself one.

I truly loved using my Island Batik fabrics for each of these projects.

I also love using my Accuquilt Go cutter

There will be more later....looking for my Santa one but can't find him.....

It is raining here in Texas......time to take a book and hide somewhere.

SEWING MACHINE ISSUES AND OTHER STUFF

I can not begin to tell you what a month November has been so I won't.

Needless  to say there has not been much sewing until a few days ago or in between family crisis and issues.

I did get my sewing machine back, only cost me an arm...they let me leave with my leg.

Glad to get her home.

I had originally thought to buy another machine, downsize but then as I was looking at the machines and talking to my husband I noticed one thing I had forgotten about


............................... the longer neck.........................

for me that is a must have...so I am sticking with my Pfaff  Quilt Expression 4.0.  She is now purring so you won't hear a complaint from me (least ways not any time soon...hopefully).

We did drop off my Embroidery machine and decided that it was cheaper to fix it than to get a new one...so if you see me limping...you know they took my leg this time.

During all of the goings on here I had failed to mention that one of my patterns is on page 50 of the Island Batik Fall/Winter Catalog 2016.

I was really excited about this.

Right now I am working on a project for Island Batik




If  you don't hear from me before Thanksgiving...hope you have a wonderful one with friends and family....remember to turn your scales back ten pounds.

SEWING MACHINE FRUSTRATION

Are you ready for this???

This is my sewing machine.

I have loved this machine.  Still do.

Here is the problem.  I think the even feed has gone out.  I can not sew on this machine.  I can blanket stitch and quilt but it won't sew....well...it will sew but does not sew correctly and makes it a chore...I have to pull the fabric through.

Sigh....Sigh.

It has been this way for months.

See this machine?

It is my embroidery machine.  It sews beautifully but just recently  has decided to cut off while I am sewing.

I will sew and it will stop....I have to patiently wait for it to turn back on.

I will so some more...off it goes.    

I have been playing musical machines.  I would sew on my embroidery machine and quilt on it if that was the machine I was on at the time and blanket stitch and quilt on the other machine.

What a circus!!!!

So...........................  none of this would be a problem but

the cost to work on the embroidery machine is 150 to just look at it.

Sigh 

Sigh.

It is about 100 to look at my sewing machine.

Here is my quandary

I don't want a fancy sewing machine anymore.  I just want one that will do a pretty straight stitch and do the blanket stitch.  I do want the even feed.  Any suggestions?

Thinking about a different embroidery machine instead of a pfaff...not happy with the automatic cutter.  Any suggestions?

I need help.  The fun has gone out of sewing....gotta have the right equipment.

My husband says to just get them fixed.  I say get new machines.

What say you?