HI MissMaggieRock!
GREAT to see you! You've been missed here!
I'm sure Flamey and Jenni or Maryann or Pattico will come along with some neat projects for you.
I remember Flamey made these neat cloth bags for groceries or totes or whatever.
The only sewing I did lately was baby recieving blanket and burp cloths and a diaper case for wipes and diaper.

Well, I've just about decided to start sewing for myself again.....everything seems to be made for 15-year olds, or the colors are strange, or some blamed thing. Very disappointed to to shopping. I started to try on a lovely plum jacket last week, but noticed, in time, that the collar was not done well at all. I think that is a problem with those of us who have sewn our own things in the past....seeing cruddy, cruddy workmanship.

My cousin bought a cute little double apron for the bottle of dish soap or a large bottle of hand creme...She gave it to me for christmas, she said I got it because she knew if I saw it they would all get one. So I've been sewing them...they are very simple..There are 4 cuts of the same fabric...sew two together, turn right side out. two sets of those sewed together at shoulders. with ties sewed at each side of the front then tied at the back. easy and cute.

I made over a dozen sets of coasters, 6 coasters in a set. They look quilted sort of. There are 6, 5" squares layered. the top four are folded. you sew around the outside edge once and turn them inside out..and you are done. Easy. Just takes time to cut 36 squares for one set.

And the fabric bookmarks are really easy and all the readers in the family loved them.

I'll share any instruction and draw up a pattern for any of them anyone might be interested in..

patti

Patti, I've seen the little aprons you are talking about. A cousin shared them at a family renunion. They are cute.

I've made the coasters too, I think. That sounds like the
one Flamey shared. I have also made "hot pads" from the
same instructions...just larger.

Tell me about the bookmarks, please.

I'm just finishing a quilt I made for a new neighbor who will be born in the spring. Hot pink and lime green--really cute fabrics, and not too 'old-fashioned' looking.

Just bought some yellow fabric printed with daisies to make a new shower curtain. Am thinking of appliqueing a picket fence in front of it, just for fun--what do you think?

Have been sewing up curtains (for the new house) like crazy--designing them all myself, because I like things that are 'different'. Still have to make some for DH's basement lair, but I haven't gotten around to painting it yet, so guess they can wait a bit.

I'm not so into sewing clothes--I prefer stuff for the house like curtains, quilts, etc.

I'd like to make some vintage type aprons for the girls in the family, but the fabric that I like is over $9.00 a yd. So I'll wait until I can drive into Los Angeles where I'll be able to visit the fabric district.

Something along the lines of these styles...

Here is a link that might be useful: aprons

Here's the link for the "grocery bags tutorial". I made about 40 of them for Xmas gifts and they were a big hit!
Kathy G in MI

Here is a link that might be useful: Grocery Bags

I bought a man's XXLarge plain navy sweatshirt on sale for $12 at Kohl's. I am going to make myself a cozy jacket/cardigan. I love sweatshirt material, but I don't want a hood or zipper on it, and I certainly don't want any writing or pictures on it. I plan to just cut down the front and hem the raw edge. I don't know that I am even going to sew any buttons or other closures on it either. You sewers could applique or decorate a sweatshirt cardigan if you are like me and want something warm and soft for cool evenings at home or errands about town.

missmaggie...the book marks are about 1 1/2 inch wide and 10 inches long. You cut them out of the real heavy duty pelon (stiff as cardboard) Use iron on fusing (the kind you can sew with)
Iron your chosen fabric on both sides of the pelon and zig zag around the edges.

I used pretty satins with designs woven in.

I had purple with gold designs, black with blue, purple and gold leaves, and red with gold and black bamboo leaves and little flowers.

Then I also used cotton/poly blends with floral designs.

What I did was cut a square of about 8x10 of the pelon and ironed on 8x10 of the choice of fabric on each side. (Each side can be different fabric so the are reversible) Then I used a fine line permanent marker to draw cutting lines. Cut them and zig zaged around the edges . Not a satin stitch but pretty close to avoid raveling edges.

I sewed some of the ribbon that has beads attached to some of the top ends of some of them.

Quick, very easy and you can stick them in a card to send to someone.

Have you ever made the placemat purses? They are really cute IF you can find placemats!
I did aprons last year and pot holders and a cookbook for GF's and DSis Christmas gifts. They really liked them too!

OHOH I know, ask to see Jenni's chalkboard placemats.

Thanks for the ideas.

I made a shower curtain out of a zebra print and
used some of the left overs to make a couple of the
shopping bags...now I need to remember to take them
in when I go to the store.

Azzalea I think a little picket fence sounds cute to go
on the daisy fabric. I just changed the bathroom this
summer, but I had it done with a picket fence on the walls
( real wood) before.

I made aprons with a farbic yoke and a small towel for the
bottom ( wipe your hands right on the apron) They were well received.

I also made the casserole carriers out of placemats.

Patti, I will try the bookmarks. I may try some from
kiddy fabric too.

I know what you mean about trying to shop for clothes. I just spent all day looking. I ended up at JC Penneys (great sales) and did find two tops but no pants. I used to make everything too and I am going to start again at least for me. My only problem is here in the MidWest all the fabric shop are 50-75 miles away. I'm wondering do they even have broadcloth anymore. I loved it for summer pants.

Stopped and bought a few grocery and guess what the bag tore on the way inside (Broken eggs). Thanks for the instructions for the bags. I have often thought about it but now I am going to do it.

I wear aprons all the time, so for Christmas I made one for each of my DIL'S & my soon to be DIL. She was so happy and said to the others "we are now officially considered wives". deborah ps; those aprons are sooo cute, I'm going to look for fun vintage fabrics now, to make some like that..
Now I'm working on a blanket for a friend's baby shower.

I saw lots of ideas at tip nut. check it out. If you sign up they will send you daily tips/projects on sewing, crafts & cooking.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tip Nut

missmaggierock....check out this site...I think it was the place I found the bookmarks at...\

Here is a link that might be useful: sewing project site

Hi, MMR! So nice to see you here!

I've been sewing a few things, like an atlas cover (giant paperback book cover) a matching wallet, both of those patterns I made up myself.

{{gwi:1574998}}

Some Aeropaks- a free pattern from http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/freepatterns.htm

I made a few of these

for friends from this tute-

http://thimbleanna.com/tutorials/GoofyBagsHowTo.html

And one of the best places I've found for free patterns and tutes and ideas is here...

Also, I find good ideas on whipup.net Have fun, there's a ton of stuff out there for you to get inspired by!

Here is a link that might be useful: Craftster.org

Just an FYI if you like to sew but don't need 300 new pillow cases or small quilts...

Your local hospital probably has a guild that would love to have these items for their child life specialist or senior assistance program. When children check into many of the children's hospitals throughout the nation, the ones who stay a while are often given lttle lap quilts made by volunteers who love to sew and enjoy the outlet. Some are very simple quilts, just a big piece of fabric hand tied with yarn, and others are very difficult patterns (one of my favorites is a quilt we received with several applicae (I can't spell that...applicay?) anyhoo, hand applied and embroidered cats. We've done so many hospital stays that we have quite afew, and I'm a quilter myself, but I still treasure them. I'm making my son shams out of the ones we have (about half a dozen). I'll give them to him when he's grown.

They're very special to me, and to the parents who receive them. In a sterile hospital, they're a bright bit of cheer that really makes a difference.

We were also given a couple of wonderfully cute pillow cases in bright fabric. They were lined with quilting fabric (so more like shams) and were really cherished, given that hospital pillows are now made of plastic.

You can also make tiny quilts, hats and jackets for newborns, especially the preemies, who's families aren't often prepared with tiny tiny clothing for their little ones. Micro preemies, well probably all of them, have to wear a hat at all times. I have a little lime green knit one that was given to us in the NICU that I will always treasure.

So, if you've a yearn to sew and want an outlet, do try your local hospital. Oh and on the seniors thing....they often spend a great amount of time in the sterile hospital or nursing home environments, and many don't have family. A bright lap quilt means a lot to these folks :)

These are such great ideas. Lots of things to
look thru.

You know I searched for sites and found some things
but it's so much more fun to know what friends have
found to do.

I do enjoy sewing, sometimes just to be sewing. One of
my DIL's goes on misssion trips to Central America. I have
made lots of clothes for her to take to the little
girls, and some boy things.

Thanks for helping with the projects.

Patti I would le the pattern nw that I am laid up for a while

Stacie