National Sewing Month - Week 3 & 4

I'm a bit behind in posting, but it is still September, so here's my final post for National Sewing Month.

Another four hospital gowns for the hospice group. (The lavendar/white one was finished earlier in the month.)

Next up are adult size bibs for the hospice group. I've drafted a pattern and have some ideas for fabric combinations. We'll see how these come out.

Thrifty Thursday

Just a few things I picked up earlier in the week.....

A brightly colored duvet cover, detined to be lap blankets. And a couple pillowcases which will be made into something. Someday.


A set of valances from IKEA. I really like the print and can't decide if I should make them into something or keep them for when I have a sewing/crafting room.


A cool basket. It reminds me of the kind of basket you keep fish in after catching them. Don't worry, this one hasn't had any fish in it. The latch doesn't lock, but that's okay. I'm sure this'll be put to use as storage sooner or later.


And a few pieces of fabric. Of course!

Kids say the darnedest things

Last week, Nathan brought home a permission slip to join the Cross Country team. (Yes, they do that at his school.)

I was pretty sure he wouldn't want to do it, but thought I'd better ask him. Just to be sure. I explained about the practices, the meets and how far he'd have to run. He was all fired up about joining the team.

Today was the first practice.

When I picked him up, we had the following conversation:

Nathan: "What are you doing here?"

Me: "I came to pick you up."

Nathan: "I want to quit Cross Country."

Me: "Why? Didn't you like the practice?"

Nathan: "Parts of it were good."

Me: "Which parts were good?"

Nathan: "Taking a break. Getting a drink. Getting ready to leave."

Me: "Well, which parts weren't so good?"

Nathan: "All the running."

Coupon Giveaway Winners

Thanks to all those who left comment to enter my Coupon Giveaway. I "found" a few more inserts, so I've decided to pick 2 winners!

I asked my lovely assistant, who looks less than thrilled, to pick two numbers between 1 and 48.

His first number was 30, which is Nanci of Brambleberry Cottage.

Second number was 25, which is Kathy of Life on Goshen Point.

Congratulations ladies! I'll be contacting both of you for your mailing info.

Coupon Giveaway

A few months ago, I started clipping coupons. There are some great blogs/websites devoted to saving money by using coupons. I have been inspired to give it a try and I have already saved quite a bit. Hubby has been surprised at the things I've been able to get for free or nearly free.

On Sunday, I hit the jackpot on coupon inserts at the recycling center. I found at least a dozen of them. Unfortunatley for me, there weren't a lot of coupons for products that I buy. This turns out to be a good thing if you're a couponer and leave a comment on this post.

Yep, I'm giving away a pile of coupons.

And I do mean a pile. I stopped adding up the values when I hit $200. There are coupons for groceries, cleaning products, pet food/treats, paper goods, and health and beauty items. There are no internet printable coupons. The earliest expiration date is 10/11/08, but most of them are 10/31 or later.

If you'd like to enter, please leave a comment and make sure that I can get in contact with you via email. The giveaway will end at 12:00 pm Pacific time on Friday, September 19th, when I'll randomly draw the winner.

One of the inserts I found was old and all of the coupons had expired about 2 weeks ago. I wondered if there was anything I could do with them and went looking on the internet. Turns out that military families overseas can use coupons for up to 6 months past their expiration date. If you're interested in sending coupons overseas, check out My Precious Pennies blog and request information on donating. (She's also hosting a coupon giveaway!)

And check out the other giveaways listed at Money Saving Mom.

National Sewing Month - Week 2

September is National Sewing Month and during the month, I'm trying to keep up with my friend Christina, who pledged to complete 2 projects each week. She is definitely surpassing that quota.

I, on the other hand, am not.

My sewing projects this week:

• Sewed button onto Nathan's shirt
• Sewed button onto Hubby's trousers

Hey, it involved a button, needle and thread, so it's sewing!

Hopefully this week will yield a few more creative sewing projects.

Instincts

I had no plans to go thrifting today. I went yesterday. There was no need to go again so soon.

But, I had breakfast with some friends and found myself near my favorite thrift. (Yes, within 3 miles is near.)

A little voice told me I should stop and go in. Call it a Thrifting Instinct, telling me there was something good waiting for me.

And really, why not just take a quick peek while I was in the neighborhood?

There wasn't anything spectacular and I wondered why I was wasting my time there. Then something colorful caught my eye.

A nice piece of vintage faric....


And then a few more pieces.....


And after digging through the entire bin, a nice little pile! (I even have an idea for a project already.)


This interesting man's shirt also caught my eye.


Especially when I looked at the tag. I don't know what I'll do with it, but it's Versace for goodness sake! I couldn't leave it there.


And my last little treasure. A vintage Snowman apron.

Have you found any treasures lately?

Thrifty Thursday and Good Mail

I obviously had a pink thing going on today. I found 3 flat sheets and a pillowcase. All destined to be gowns or blankets.


Can't beat books for .25 each. I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can jump into the baking book.

And the Good Mail....
My vintage fabric/sheet squares from the swap that Katie hosted. Each stack has 20 6" squares in it. Don't ask me what I'm going to do with 200 6" sqares. I haven't figured that out yet. Thanks to Katie for organizing this swap.


And a box of goodies from my friend Cindy. She always keeps an eye out for things to send to me and Nathan. (He's making a house with the craft sticks and sticky tape right now. ) Thanks Cindy! Your gifts are always much appreciated.

WIP Wednesday

My Wonky-Scrappy Log Cabin quilt top is done. Now I just need to decide how to finish it. I think the finishing needs to be simple. I might just use the sashing fabric to make binding and hand tie the centers with a neutral embroidery floss.

National Sewing Month - Week 1 Finished Projects

I didn't get around to finishing my scrappy quilt, but the top is done. I really like the way it came out. I intended to give it to the hospice group that I'm sewing for, but I'm not sure I'll be able to part with it.

I did finish a few other projects.

Simplicity 3835. I've seen a lot of bloggers make this blouse in many different fabrics. The cut is similar to my favorite summer tee shirt, so I thought I'd give the pattern a try. Unfortunately, the blouse doesn't fit me. Apparently, I'm not very accurate at taking my own measurements.


And my first hospital gown for the hospice group. Sorry for the washed out photo. I know it doesn't look fabulous, but it's a soft lilac and white gingham with flowers on it. I thought this thrifted sheet would be cute and cheery. I didn't notice until the very end that I'd cut the sheet with the flowers pointing down. Oh well, it's still nice.

I also finished another gown, but it's too late to take a photo. And really, how many hospital gowns in different fabrics do you want to see?

In the neighborhood

A herd of these machines came through our neighborhood yesterday. On their way to the almond orchard at the end of the street. I think these are the sweepers that remove debris from the ground before the tree shakers come in.

And while I was outside photographing the sweeper parade, I notice this....

our Pampas Grass in full bloom.

Thrifty Thursday

Hey, I'm actually posting Thrifty Thursday on Thursday this week! Must be making some progress.

A nice jar (I think I'll fill it with homemade snack mix as a Christmas gift for Nathan's teacher.); a Zyliss food chopper for my grandpa; an incomplete set of Marlboro dominoes (don't ask me what I'm going to do with those. I have no idea.)


And a bounty of fabric! Believe it or not, I was very selective and left a lot behind. Purple sweatshirt fleece (2 yds); copper colored Calvin Klein Egyptian cotton sheet; navy/blue floral (about 5 yds); Nature's Sketchbook for Red Rooster Fabrics (2 yds); Flroica by Peter Pan Fabrics (2 yds); and Way Out West (horse) fabric by Robert Kaufman (2 yds).

I think my fabric stash has grown beyond ridiculous. I need to do some serious sewing. Luckily, the gowns I'm sewing for the hospice group take about 2 yards of fabric, so I can use up some of what I have fairly quickly.

The gowns are secured in the back with velcro. Any suggestions on where to get the best prices on velcro?

WIP Wednesday

A few more wonky-scrappy log cabin blocks.

Hopefully, I'll get the whole thing finished over the weekend.

In honor of National Sewing Month, my friend Christina has vowed to create two sewing projects each week. Call me crazy, but I'm going to join her. My projects this week will be finishing the Wonky-Scrappy Quilt and making at least one hospital gown for hospice.

Anyone else want to join in on the sewing festivies? What do you hope to complete this week?