Kitchen Angel

At this holiday time, it seems that we always need a little gift for a thank you, secret sister, or party.  This kitchen angel is so easy to make, useful, and cute as can be.  

You need a potholder, kitchen towel, dish cloth or wash cloth (these are often sold in sets.  I found mine at Big Lots for $1.49), a small kitchen gadget (wooden spoon, spatula, whip, measuring spoons, etc.), a hair tie or raffia.

Fold the potholder in half to make a triangle.  Roll the wash cloth up.  Place the washcloth, edge facing up, on the potholder. Secure--I used my tag tacker, but a needle and thread to make a quick stitch would also work.

Fan fold the kitchen towel lengthwise, (my pleats are about 2"), then fold in half.  Bring washcloth ends around towel, and secure with a hair elastic, raffia, ribbon or twine.

Slide kitchen gadget under elastic. I finished mine with a silk flower slid under the elastic.  You could use a cinnamon stick, flowers, or leave plain.  Mine cost about $3.00 to make, but looks a lot more expensive.

On This day of Thanks

Last week I watched my little grandkids while their folks were at work.  We decided to make a tablecloth for their mom for Thanksgiving.  So after a quick trip to JoAnn's for some wide muslin, the 5 year old got busy.  Brother wasn't feeling well, so he opted out of the project.  The imagination and excitement that went into the tablecloth!!  After is was finished, she asked if she could write her name on it.  I suggested she also put the year.  Notice the backwards "2's"  I was going to correct her, but thought better of it.  This is her art work.  PS  I did draw the legs.

So on this day of thanks, I am thankful for so many things, but at the top of the list is the creativity and joy of a child.

Buds, Bandanna, Beautiful

I had a bandanna without one border, some lavender buds, and a piece of pink ribbon--Just what I needed to make a gift for my friend.

Hem top raw edge, sew side seams

Add about 3/4 cup of lavender buds

Sew ribbon to back, 2" below design,
tightly tie in a bow on the front.
Finished bag is 5-1/2 x 7-1/2

Easy peasy, you have made a sachet.  If you don't have lavender buds, you can use fragrance oil on a cotton ball.  Then surround that cotton ball with batting (so only fragrance escapes).
You can make most any size to use up those fabric remnants.  If you make these some time in advance of giving, put the sachets in a zip-lock bag with as much air removed as possible.  They will keep their fragrance.

Sew What!

I always try and make something for my friends and family for Christmas.  This year I decided to make Microwave Cooking Bags. Some of the things that you can use them for--bake potatoes, cook corn on the cob, warming rolls or tortillas.When I was in Hawaii this summer, they were selling them in a local fabric store.  My daughter thought they were cool, so I decided to do my version.  There are a lot of patterns out there, but they are so simple that you can make one without a pattern.  Because they will go in the microwave, you must use all cotton--fabric, thread, and batting. The Warm Company makes "Warm Tater Batting".  I found mine at Jo-Ann Fabrics for about $8.00 a package.  This will make 6 bags.

Finished cooking bag

Cut 2 fabric, and 1 batting pieces 11inches x 22 inches.

Layer batting, then fabric right sides together

Sew narrow seam across both 11" ends

Turn to right side, top stitch 11" ends about 1/4" from edge

Fold down top about 1-1/2"

Fold up bottom to within about 1/2" from top

Sew side seams

Turn to right side

Include label with bag (I printed this on my computer)

Here are some of the finished bags.  You can use a solid or matching print for the inside of the bag. Each took less than an hour to make for no more than $3.00 a bag, even less if you use up some of your fabric stash.   (They were selling for $12.00.)  So this is the perfect gift for all those busy people in your life.

Do any of you have quick and easy projects that look like a million dollars?