Sewing and Crafts

These past few weeks there has been a scurry of busy fingers creating gifts for Christmas presents. Every year I have purchased gifts as there was no time to relax and make gifts. Finally at this somewhat slower paced time in our life I have time to sew and experiment with many projects (yes, all at the same time!)

Four rag rugs in process in different hues; pastel fleece for the bathroom, rich reds and blues for the "tent," earthy tones for a different bathroom, and dark regal colors for the family room. We are blessed with lots of wood floor, but our throw rugs keep wearing out quickly. Country style living fits our decor so a crocheted rag rug blends in quite well, plus they are cozy for the feet compared to the rugs I've been buying for years.
As a newlywed with little money to spend I made rag rugs from old sheets given to me by my mother. This time as an much olderwed trying to live life more providently here I am making rugs again, but this time because I want to and refuse to pay the price for purchased rugs. I have a favorite place to buy my fleece: http://www.fleecelady.com/

Great fleece, great service, great prices! She has a 10 pound box of fleece remnants for a very reasonable price and free shipping! Using my handy dandy rotary cutter and my cutting mat I can whip out strips of fleece in seconds.

Yesterday seemed to be the day for phone calls from family members. All I can say is that I am grateful for speaker phones. My fingers were flying as I chatted for hours with no cringing at the time passing. In the past I've always been in a hurry to get back to my current project, but with rag rugs they follow me where ever I go. When I'm waiting in the car, sitting on the side of a bed talking to a child or trying to get one to go to sleep, while I'm on the phone or watching a movie there is a rag rug close at hand being worked. This project has helped me be a better mom, wife, and grandma because I don't get so impatient sitting still and being with the family!

Just one more plug here for a favorite place....the $1.50 fabric table at WalMart. Yes, the price has gone up from $1.00 but I'm still happy with the price. The $2.00 fabric is good as well. The project? Tote bags of every size and shape. We create as we go along, ripping out seams and changing designs in the process. Zippers and linings have been added after the fact and we are still experimenting with "place mat" purses (Dollar Tree!)

On the project table is a fleece fringed patchwork blanket in pastels (hence the pastel rag rug made with the scraps.) Fleece jammies (just pants) and a camouflaged printed tent are in the works. Pictures of all will follow after Christmas as these are gifts and there should be some small element of surprise. However cutting all that fringe for the fleece blanket will take me forever so I have enlisted the help of the gift receiver. The tent is completed, simple and efficient to fit over the kitchen table perfectly. Door flaps open and can be held open with velcro attachments and the side of the tent sports a screened window which looks out into the back yard. The rich colored red and blue fleece rag rug will find its home under the blue camouflage tent along with several flashlights, camouflage covered (removable covers) pillows and toys!

The removable pillow covers are another project yet! Our couches have the big removable pillows for the back cushions rather than the cushions that stay in place. It makes for a more comfy couch to curl up on watching movies or reading. And it's fun to redecorate for each season! I just learned a trick to making removable covers to fit every season, plus WalMart puts out of season material on the $1 or $2 table! Not every cushion needs to be covered, just a couple which could be made from one yard of material. Enough color to make a splash, but not cost much!

Must get back to the projects as Christmas is next week. I can't possible start any of these projects before December 1st as I would give them away early, can't keep a secret from my family! That reminds me of the cute "Transformer" material I have waiting to make curtains for the grandkid's room at our house......