Mug Rugs

Since returning from the Utah grandkids, I have been working on a few different projects. One project I wanted to work on was to make a little something for granddaughters Kayla and Marissa for valentine's day.  So I looked online to see what I could find.

While visiting with the granddaughters, it's always fun to sit down and enjoy a tea party together, so when I found a pattern for a "mug rug" online I thought it was the perfect project. (Here's the free pattern by Debbie Taylor) What is a mug rug?  Well it's a small placemat that's used for setting your tea (or hot chocolate) mug on.  If you have  cookies with your tea, they can sit on your placemat also.  When I saw the pattern I just had to make them!

This is my version and I thought it turned out really cute.  I liked them so well that I even made one for Kayla and Marissa's mom, and then one for the bff.

I found the really cute valentine material at JoAnn's half-off because it was so close to valentine's day. Some of that material ended up not being what I thought it was.....but that's another story!

All-in-all, though, I was happy with the results and had a lot of fun making them.

Snow-Day Sewing Lesson

I know, I've been slow with the posts lately!  I don't really have a decent excuse, though I have been busy spending time visiting grandkids in Utah.  We've been back home for a few days now and are slowly getting back into our routine.

It snowed most of the time while we were in Utah.  Here is a video I took.  It was really a pretty view, just too cold though!

One of those snow days I decided to give Tara a sewing lesson.  She has her own little Hello Kitty sewing machine that she hadn't used yet, so I got the okay to help her use it for the first time.

Since her mom sews, Tara was fairly familiar with how things worked, so she got the idea quickly.  Her mom found some material scraps to use and I showed her how to put a doll quilt together.  She did a really good job.

I thought Tara's sewing machine would be good for her to learn on, however, the speed on the machine didn't adjust very well and it sewed fairly fast.  It wouldn't slow down!  She did adjust to it pretty well though.  Must be from watching her mom all these years!

Anyway, we had a fun day learning and now Tara says she's ready to sit and sew with her mom!

More Outfits

I've still been busy sewing Raggedy Ann doll outfits for the granddaughters.  I'm almost finished with them.... and about ready to move on to other projects.

Just have a couple of pictures to show of the clothes I have made recently.

I really thought this material was cute!  I love the valentine hearts on it.  I still have an apron and a pair of "bloomer" pants to complete for this outfit.

I was originally going to make a pair of denim pants to go with this gingham shirt, but decided a skirt was really cute, and an easier modification to work with.  I am also making "bloomer" pants in the gingham to go with this.

As soon as I get those few pieces finished, I'll be done with doll clothes and on to something else.  I'm ready for change!  I have had lots of fun with this project, though.  Making dolls, and doll clothes is something I haven't really ever done before, a change of pace for me.  I'll definitely come back to it again!

I haven't decided what project I want to work on now, though, or even if I am going to be starting another project right now!

In the meantime I still have some knitting to learn!

Owl Quilts

Just a quick post to show the pictures of the owl quilts that I made for granddaughters Kayla and Marissa.  I made them for Christmas, however, I never did get the finished pictures posted.  So wanted to show how they turned out.  The girls weren't expecting quilts from me and were very surprised on Christmas when they opened them up.

Both girls tell me they use their quilts all the time.  I'm glad they enjoy them.

Kayla's quilt.

And Marissa's quilt.

A New Sewing Machine

It's still very cold here and I have been trying to stay home and not go out in the cold, windy weather.  I am much better now, but still trying to get over the flu.  I do still have a scratchy, sore throat and a bit of a cough, but mostly, the flu is gone.  I'm so glad!

While I've been home I have been working on a few sewing projects.  I had mentioned to granddaughter Marissa that I was making some Raggedy Ann doll clothes for her cousin Tara, so of course Marissa wanted some extra clothes for her Raggedy Ann!  Working on several cute outfits for the dolls has been keeping me busy.

I also want to begin a throw quilt for myself.  With all of this cold weather I like to sit and read, bundled up in a nice warm blankie!  I've made lots of quilts and throws for many people but I haven't made one for myself, so I'm going to get busy with that.  I haven't decided for sure yet, but I'll probably make it another wonky quilt and dip into my many boxes of material to make it.

I can't wait to get started on the quilt because I'm anxious to try quilting it with my new sewing machine!  It is specifically a quilting machine and has an extra wide arm space for putting the quilts through. I've been really happy with the sewing machine that I've had for the past ten years or so, and really didn't think I would be getting a new machine anytime soon.

It just happened that I was in JoAnn's waiting for some material to be cut and standing by the Viking sewing center and looking at the quilting machines they had with the nice long arms!  When I left I told the hubby that those machines sure would be nice for all the quilting I do, but I didn't even look at the prices because I would be afraid to know....  my other machine is a Viking also, and I know how much it originally cost all those years ago!

So about a week or two later, while back in JoAnn's waiting for more material to be cut, there at the Viking sewing center sat one of those quilting machines, reduced to half of its original price!  I asked the sales lady about the price reduction and she told me a newer model was being introduced so they were selling out the older model.

It was still a steep price, and I debated for awhile; Went online and looked up the reviews on it, and even went back to the store and sat down and tried the machine out.  Finally the hubby said "you need to have it because you do a lot of quilting and it would be a good machine for you."

So I bought the new machine, and so far, I really just love it!

A Southern Dinner Or, A Rainy Day Meal

Tonight I decided I wanted to make a southern dish.  At least I think it's a southern dish. The first time I ever tried it was many years ago when I spent some time living in Georgia. At the time it seemed to be quite a popular dish there.

I'm talking about the combination of pinto beans, cornbread, coleslaw and macaroni & cheese.  I know, they don't sound like they should all go together, but somehow, at least in my opinion and many southerners opinions, they make a really great meal.  I don't eat this "southern meal" very often, just once in awhile when I'm in the mood, southern comfort of a different kind!

One of the reasons that a big pot of beans sounded so good tonight, is the weather we are having.  For the past few days it's been cold, rainy, snowy and windy. Just the right weather for something warm simmering on the stove all day!

So am I the only one who decides to make meals based on the weather?  I've been told that by a few people, but I'm sure there must be others who have the same meal-planning system don't they?  Pasta salads, quiche, and fruits for hot summer days, and simmering soups and beans for cold winter days, right?

Well, even if I am the only one, I suspect I'll just keep right on planning my meals using the same system.  It just works for me!

Doesn't it just look like a good rainy-day meal?

Every Girl Needs A Full Wardrobe

I posted the picture of the raggedy ann doll that I made for Marissa's birthday but I wanted to post another picture of the doll with a different outfit on.  I have been making some doll clothes for granddaughter Tara's raggedy ann doll.  She has been wanting to be able to dress her doll differently, so I decided to make her a few outfits.

Since I had some leftover flannel from the nightgowns that I had made for all of the granddaughters a few years ago, I thought I would make a raggedy ann nightgown.  I just used the dress pattern and revised it some by cutting it longer and adding a ruffle to the neckline and the hemline.  I thought it turned out really cute.

I have a couple more ideas for clothes to make so we'll see how they turn out.  I'm having fun making the different clothes.  I may have to get busy and make a few for Marissa's doll also!