Thursday, August 15, 2013

JUST A QUICK CHECK-IN...


Well, I'm FINALLY starting to work on some Christmas gifts!

Today I began work on a set of holiday mug rugs for my mom, dad and aunt...and one extra for when they have a visitor....one for each place at their kitchen table.  They no longer decorate the house for the holidays, it is just too much effort for them with all of their health issues...and DH and I are lucky if we get anything decorated at OUR house (we have reduced our decorations to just a table-top tree and 4 stockings), so we really aren't able to help them much.  I thought maybe having just a few mug rugs in a holiday theme would give them a little bit of the "holiday" feeling without having to run down to the basement and pull out boxes of decorations.  They can slide these little pretties into a drawer for storage.  



The golden text fabric is The 12 Days of Christmas, which has special meaning in our family.  Every Christmas Eve when J was little we would sing the song...with each member of the family taking two days.  My aunt even bought a set of 12 ornaments and we would randomly pick two in order to be assigned our days!  The funniest part?  My husband HATES to sing in front of people and especially hates The 12 Days of Christmas.  But, MOST Christmas Eves he would give in and mumble his two days, lol.  I'm sure the back of the mug rugs will ring some bells for the folks and my aunt! 


I have had both the green fabric and golden fabric for a few years now.  They were part of a bundle of fat quarters I purchased on Ebay when I first shut down my business.  The burgundy stripe is a material that I got for free yesterday.  What did they used to say on A-Team?  I just LOVE it when a plan comes together!  I plan to attach the little block with some decorative stitching and then stitch something on the empty side (in a matching burgundy thread).  I think I have a plain Christmas tree outline in my machine embroidery patterns. 


The green fabric included these cute little blocks along the bottom selvage.  The piece I received had 2 of the Season's Greetings block...


...one Happy Holidays...


and one Merry & Bright.  I will give a different one to each and wrap the second Season's Greetings separately for the last place setting at their table.  I only got as far as pinning on the blocks today...dang tremor!  But I will continue work on them the next chance I get. 



In the mail today I received this GORGEOUS necklace from my Best Friend (...me waving wildly...) who lives in Florida.  She picks out the BEST birthday presents!  They are always something beautiful, super unique, and usually purchased from talented local crafters.  She knows me so well!!!  I can't wait to call her tonight and thank her!

All in all this has been a great day!  I have managed to chip away a bit at my LONG "ToDo" List and received a beautiful gift from a special friend.  Can't do much better than that!  I'm off to "rock and read" for a while...

Take care, everyone!

8 comments:

  1. Sighs, I still need to figure out what I am going to make for Christmas. The boys say they don't need any pj bottoms, quilts, afghans, or sweaters. What is left for me to make. Perhaps some dish cloths????

    Love the colours you have chosen as well as the design.

    God bless.

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  2. Hmmmm.....bummer that you have stocked them up so well in previous years that they don't need any more, lol. Dishcloths are a necessity unless they have dishwashers and wipe the table after meals with paper towels, lol. Do they have CD players in their cars? Maybe make a CD holder for on the viser? First Aid kit for their cars? Denim blanket to keep in their cars in case of a breakdown so they can stay warm, or if they need to change a tire they don't have to lie on the ground and get all dirty? I know at one point I saw an Altoid container made into a "MacGyver" type emergency kit. Gloves, scarves, hats? Do either of them have any hobbies that you could either buy or make supplies for? Toiletry case for when they travel? IPAD or e-reader carry case in a really masculine print? Messenger bag? BBQ apron and utensils? Guys are SO hard to make things for...or buy things for! We're easy...anything having to do with fabric, thread or yarn and we are set!

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  3. Great Christmas sewing. I just love your necklace

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    1. Thank you, Mel. My parents kitchen curtains are dark green, burgundy, beige, cream, and gold...so the darker colors for Christmas will work. The bright red and green would not go as we'll, even though they are cheerier to my eye. I just called my best friend to thank her. Poor thing, her lupus is getting worse and killing her kidneys and lungs. But she is a trooper too. as she said, "I woke up...it's a great day!" I could not agree more! Hope you are doing well. Take care!

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  4. Lin, I just found you. What a wonderful blog!!! Looks like you are doing so well.
    Congratulations to Justin as well. RedRobin

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    1. Welcome, welcome! hope all is doing well with you! Keep in touch. I will tell Jus you said congrats. We are thrilled!

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  5. I am new here. I have read all of your blog, and enjoyed it. Nice Christmas fabric, and planning. Love your necklace. I also have bunches of autoimmune disorders. Lupus, Sjogrens', Fibromyalgia, etc. No energy is the pits! lol.. I love sewing, and finding ways to be happy in my new life. I just turned 60 this past May. Glad to be here, and share in ideas and our days.

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    1. Welcome to my cottage! I am sorry you are dealing with so many issues. I think at last count I had 15 separate diagnoses. Definitely no fun juggling it all, but, like you, I am trying to learn to live this new life! Check back often...I try to post as frequently as I can. Again, welcome

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