Christmas and little children

Today was my youngest daughter's school devotional for Christmas. There is just something about little children that is so sweet and makes you want to cry at times like this. I spent most of my day helping with this and with her class.

The one trying to give a teeny tiny wave is my daughter (much better for 4 days now; thanks for all who sent emails concerned about her). She is trying not to get caught waving to Mae and Pai (mom and dad) when she should be paying attention to her teacher.

I know I didn't post an ornament today. Tomorrow you will get two, same goes for Monday because, as stated before, I don't post on Sunday.

Part 11: Socks candy canes and bears

Supplies:

1. felt red, cream, tan or any colors you like
2. bear button and cane and any thing else you feel like stuffing the sock with; glue dots
3. needle
4. size 5 pearl cotton embroidery thread
5. scissors

Order of events:

1. Draw out a pattern for sock or use a punch if you have one
2. Glue together (I used glue dots; I have a busy day, so I needed a quick project). You can stitch these on, too, if you don't want to use glue dots. I do not recommend white glue; it turns yellow and gets brittle with time.
3. Layout fillers for sock; stitch or couch onto sock.
4. Add hanger; done.

DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PATTERNS TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!

Part 10 Snow People

Supplies:

• White felt
• Pearl cotton size 5 embroidery thread
• beads
• needle thread
• fur yarn
• scraps of homespun fabric and black fabric

Order of events for making the boy:

1. Cut three circles from felt (all three are different sizes, from small to med to large).
2. Stitch on eyes, mouth and buttons. You can make either a French knot, colonial knot or use a bead as I did (I used the stitching of the beads on to stitch the circle together at the same time).
3. Stitch on 1 piece of brown size 5 pearl cotton through snow person for arms (this one piece makes both arms). Tie knots next to felt to keep the arms from pulling out. Fray ends of thread for hands.
4. Tie on scarf. At first I thought fuzzy fur yarn would work for this, but it bothered me something fierce. So, by the time I was done, I cut a strip of home spun, frayed the edges and stitched a bead on it. I like that much better. Do whichever you like best.
5. Next, I cut two rectangles from black cotton, frayed the edges and stitched them on. This became his hat.
6. Attach hanger; done (see new scarf).

If making the girl:

1. Cut three circles from felt (all three are different sizes, from small to med to large).
2. Stitch on eyes and mouth; you can make either a French knot, colonial knot or use a bead as I did (I also stitch circles together at this time).
3. Stitch on 1 piece of brown size 5 pearl cotton through snow person for arms (this one piece makes both arms). Tie knots next to felt to keep the arms from pulling out. Fray ends of thread for hands.
4. Attach apron; this is a piece of homespun fabric with frayed edges that was gathered.
   
5. Hair is green fuzzy fur yarn. I thought this might look like someone had used fir tree branches for the hair. I stitched on three pieces of this yarn and then braided them.
6. Attach hanger; done.

DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PATTERNS TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!

Busy Day Snow people Ornament preview

Will post tutorial later. I have a very busy day and can't type it up and post it now!
You can use this and the later post to enter into drawing.
DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PATTERNS TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!

Part 9: felt / sequins / big glitter ornamnets

Supplies:

• felt
• sequins, any type
• big holiday glitter (I used snowflakes)
  
• beads or any other embellishment
• thread
• needle
• embroidery floss
• thimble, if you use one
• scissors

Because I am showing two ways of attaching sequins with and without holes, I made 4 ornaments; two for the giveaway, and two for my tree. This post counts as two ornament posts (you can leave a comment on yesterday's so that you get your name entered for today and yesterday) one for yesterday and one for today. Feel free to go back and post a comment on any that you haven't posted on to get the max entries for this giveaway.

Order of events:

1. Get sequins and felt, and figure out your layout
2. Sew on sequins/glitter (with sequins, of course, go through the holes).With glitter you are couching the piece of glitter down. Make sure to get a thread that is a close match to the color of your sequin/glitter.
3. Add other embellishments such as beads (you can do French knots instead of beads; I just like holiday ornaments with more, not less, so I used beads).
4. Edging; I did blanket stitch for some, and just an angeled stitch (a real wide satin stitch, meaning lots of space between the stitches) for others. Side note: You can make two and stitch them at this point front to back if you have an advent tree that is free standing. This way, no one would see your stitches on the back. I didn't do this because mine face the quilt, all hanging, and the backs are not seen.
5. Add hanger and you're done!

Part 8: Ornaments for Advent

I had a minor operation today (11:00 a.m.) but it makes it very hard to type much. So I will not post an ornament for 1 or 2 days, but when I do again I will post enough to make up for the missed days. Sorry; this was a little unplanned (the operation that is).

You are welcome to post a comment on here to be entered into the drawing for this day even if there is no ornament tutorial. I have made some ornaments (preview on right side) just can't type without pain.

DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PATTERNS TO MAKE THINGS TO SELL FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY!!!!

Aprons Galore. . .

Want to make aprons or just love looking at patterns? Go to Tip Nut; there are 56 free pattern links here from which to make aprons. Think last-moment items to make for Christmas.
Types of aprons they list:

• Lined & Reversible Aprons
• Dishtowel Aprons
• Craft Aprons
• Housekeeping Aprons
• More Aprons
• Knit & Crochet Aprons
• Clothespin Aprons
• Children’s Aprons
• Vintage Style Aprons & Vintage Patterns
• Men’s Aprons
• Cute & Cool Apron Related Finds

And the socks were hung....

This is on the door of my sewing room. I was home from church on Sunday with two sick kids, one who has been sick since Monday at 5 a.m. the other just for a little bit (I think indigestion or something fleeting like that). The first I am thinking this is her last day of being sick; no fevers today, just a cough and a runny nose. Cross my fingers; sleep would be good after a week of being kicked at night and woken up for water, medicine, and socked in the mouth a few times while asleep. Yep, she wakes up scared from the fevers and comes out swinging. She has quite the hook on her; I have the fat lip to prove it. She apologized so many times when she was awake, but I told her it was OK because how can you be grumpy at a person who does something in their sleep, and doesn't know they are doing it, and is sick? I just can't. Anyway back to the topic: I wanted to write about socks, the type you hang by the fireplace, not the type you get in the middle of the night from a sick six year old.

I have been trying to figure out what to get, make, my husband's older sister and her family (I don't think they read this blog, I think the other siblings do on occasion). Anyway, I remembered an old promise (10 + years old) that when they where done having kids I would make them all Christmas socks. Well, she is pregnant and said she was done two babies ago. So I figured I best just make those socks and add as needed. Counting bun in the oven, there are a total of eight in that family. So I got out my fabric samples from upholstery store books and got to making some socks. Eight in one day! I thought it would take much longer than it did; I hope they like them. There are only two females in the family, so the rest are for boys; I hope at least six look boyish, or at least passable for a boy.

What does the antique baby dress have to do with this post? Nothing; it is just what hangs on my sewing room door when I am not taking photos and using the hook it hangs on.

I'm still having lighting issues in my sewing room. My husband and I think it is because of the color of the room. It is a bonus room above our garage, and the ceilings are slanted and lower than in the other rooms. So all the light in there is bouncing off of this color on the walls that has a pink under-color; thus all my pictures right now have a pink cast to them. I am going to have to make a small white room or something to take photos in so I can correct that problem or something because this is driving me crazy!