my first cross stich!

Sorry for the lack of posts, but the holiday season has taken our household by storm. We are currently preparing for a long drive to Phoenix for Christmas, so finalizing lists, cleaning house and packing are the chores of the day. However, I thought I'd share my first completed cross stich with you. It is an ornament for my son Nathan on his first Christmas... now I just need to find a round silver frame for it :).

This is the next one I am trying (WAY more complicated... I'm a bit scared):

http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php?productid=964&cat=374&page=1

Wreath gift

If you are going to my family's Christmas get together in Phoenix... STOP READING!

Ladies, I need help, I kinda feel like this wreath is missing something... not sure what so suggestions are welcome! Thanks in advance! (oh, and if you want to know how I made this one, let me know and I'll do a tutorial) I wanted something that looked like Spring in the country... simple, but beautiful. The wreath is burlap to add texture. Let me know what you think!

Pyrex cozy

Have you ever been invited to a potluck or had a sick friend that you were bringing a meal to? If that meal is in a Pyrex dish, I have a great solution for an easy Pyrex cozy to keep it warm. There are some more complicated ones out there, but in my book, simple is better.

Pyrex Cozy:

Supply list:

Double sided quilted broadcloth (I had 1/2 yard and had plenty left over... I think 1/3 of a yard would be a great size if you are only buying for 1)

Quilter's Bias tape

Velcro

Scissors

Pins

Sewing machine

a Pyrex dish with lid

I started by measuring my Pyrex dish, but then I realized there are SO many sizes out there, it would be easier if I had you just lay whatever Pyrex you were planning on using in your quilted broadcloth.
Lay your Pyrex in the broadcloth, fold up one side so that it is over your Pyrex and just covering both handles. the side of the fold that the Pyrex is sitting on should be about 4 1/2 inches longer than your Pyrex. We are going to end up folding this end over when everything is finished so that it closes the cozy.



So, move the long edge (without handles) of your Pyrex about an inch and a half from the edge of your broadcloth. Pin along this edge leaving a 1/4th inch seam allowance.
now pin along the other side, leaving the Pyrex in the "pocket" we've now made... make sure it is a little bit loose so that you don't have to struggle to get your Pyrex in later.

Cut the side we just pinned, leaving a 1/4th seam allowance.

Now we are going to cover all of the rough edges in the Quilter's bias tape. Start pinning the bias tape on the folded edge of the broad cloth (leave 1/2 inch hanging off the end on each end)... continue all the way around, then cut off the excess. Use the left over piece to cover the rough edge at the pocket opening.

This is the rough edge I'm talking about:

you are actually going to un-pin things so that you can sew this edge first, but I like to make sure I have enough bias tape by cutting the largest solid piece first.

Sew the bias tape in place on the pocket edge, then pin 2 small Velcro squares on the pocket edge, sew these squares on.

Like this:

Now re-pin the outer edge and sew the bias tape onto the entire outer edge (I fold under my start and finish edges before I start so that I get a nice clean look)

Pin the other half of the Velcro squares to the top of the pocket closure. Sew them on.





And you are finished!

I really hope this tutorial makes sense... I seem to have caught whatever my boys have, so this was typed up while in a cough medicine daze. :)
Let me know if you have any questions!

Ugh.

Colds are the worst... especially colds that make the kids cough so hard that they throw up. Anyways, that is where I have been, since Thanksgiving. I do have one suggestion for any mommy with a sick kiddo: Boogie wipes. you can get them at Target, Babies R Us and I've heard rumors of Costco carrying them. They are by far the best thing ever for runny noses. Bug, my 2yr old, will not let me touch his nose with tissues, but when he sees that boogie wipe case come out he is more than happy to let me clean his nose off... he will even wipe it himself! I tried fooling him once, with baby wipes, that is something I'm never trying again... I happened to have a cold at the same time and tried a baby wipe on my own nose and it REALLY hurt. Boogie wipes on the other hand do not hurt at all, infact I find them soothing. Definately worth the 3.99 for a package (you may be able to find them cheaper, I was deparate the last time I picked them up).
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and start of the Christmas season! I'm plugging away at the pyrex cozy tutorial... there are tons of pictures to organize, but hopefully it will be up soon, as well as a puff quilt for a twin sized bed.