We Create Our Limits

Did you know that we create our own limits without realizing it? It's true. One of my favorite quotes really makes you think about it. The quote reads:

"The fears we don't face become our limits"

As always, I like to see who made the quote so I can learn a little more about the person, or at least give them the credit they deserve. This quote was written by a man named Robin Sharmas. He's written many interesting books. 

The above quote is usually followed by these words:

 "The opportunities we don't seize become our walls"

Just think about what this means. We actually create our own limits without even realizing it. Maybe we should step a bit outside of our comfort zone and I'll bet that we can do amazing and interesting things. Don't let fear stop you from doing things you want to do. Sometimes it's just taking that first step. Give it a try and see if you can soar above your own limits! Take back your control!

A Little Gift for You - A Customizable Packing List for Your Travels

You know how I love to travel! I also like to keep organized. Part of that organization includes making sure I have everything I will need. I created this list to share with you. Think of it like a "base" that you can customize by adding, replacing, or removing things. I like to keep my travel planning in my Trello boards, but I know not everyone uses that platform, so I figured everyone could use Excel. If you don't use Excel, there are other programs you can open the document in, but you can also open it with Google Sheets which is free. Just be sure to save a copy of it so you can edit.

If you'd like to see some travel organization in Trello, just let me know!

You can pick up your free copy of  the packing list by clicking HERE.

Really Medicare!?

Oh wow! In just two weeks I will officially be on Medicare. I already feel old enough but then I receive THIS packet in the mail. Yep! Assisted devices catalog. I am not taking this sitting down. Not I. For the past two years I have really started working very hard on myself. After seeing what my elderly parents go through in their later years, I'm not thinking that is what I want for myself. I've been really working on strength, balance, endurance, and mental health. I feel blessed that I've reached this far in life and I'm not going to take it for granted. I've been working hard at this because I want to enjoy what's left of my life the best way I can. 

I don't know if any of you have ever watched the very popular show called "The Golden Girls," but it's always been a favorite of mine. I really believe that the golden girls of today are much different than they were back then. I'm not ready for baggy clothes and that dowdy look. I believe we can be fit and healthy at any age. I'm looking ahead with an adventurous spirit. Who’s with me on this?

I recently came across a hiking challenge and I am pumped! Hiking has always been my favorite activity. I'm lucky enough to live by The Indiana Dunes and they have trails from easy strolls to rugged like Trail 8, also known as the 3 Dune Challenge. Here are a few links you might enjoy. One is for the 3 dune challenge, and the other is for the Spring Hiking Challenge, and you can live anywhere to do it.

3 Dune Challenge

Spring Hiking Challenge

With all that said, I will still take advantage of my senior discount!

Start Now, Don't Wait

When I see a quote that I absolutely love, I jot it down, so I don't forget it. Sometimes a quote can be a huge motivator and the quote I'm sharing with you today is just that.

I found this quote somewhere, don't remember where but it goes:

"A year from now you may wish you had started today." I researched it because I always like to give credit where credit is due. The author appears to be Karen Lamb.

This is such a powerful quote, and I have used it myself for motivation. If you actually think about the words, it makes so much sense. Time passes so quickly that a year passes by before you know it. Jot this one down somewhere and say the words out loud when you need it. You may be wanting to lose weight, quit smoking, be kinder and more giving, etc. Whatever goals you plan to attain, they can all begin with this saying.

On the lighter side, I found this one (said by Jim Carrey) in one of my word games:

"Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes."  Yep, sounds about right!

Photo above: One of our adventures with our kids and granddaughter.

My New Sewing and Embroidery Studio

I'm all moved and settled into my new house. It doesn't feel like home yet in fact, I feel like I'm living someone else's life. I can't really describe it. I still feel like a big part of me is missing, and it is. I should probably replace settled with adjusting. However, with my new house comes my new sewing space. It's a lot different than the room my husband built special for me at the other house. That room had space for everything. Nothing had to be stored elsewhere. If you want to take a look at it, you can see it HERE. 

This room is so much smaller so there is less storage. I'm taking advantage of an extra dresser in my bedroom to store supplies that I don't use all the time. 

This room has no Murphy bed to turn it into a guest room. Since it's just me I have a second bedroom that is used just for guests. My granddaughter has taken over that room for her overnights here along with the guest bathroom. I let her decorate these two rooms and they are coming along nicely with a Paris theme.

My previous room had my desk where I do all the other aspects of business along with home management, journaling, correspondence, etc. I decided to buy a new desk and put it in the living room, which I do love since I spend so much time at it. As you can see in the image above. One thing remains the same, Berta, my trusty assistant, is always at my feet.

One of my favorite things about this room as the set of French doors where I enter the room. I just love them. And notice the sewing themed curtains? I got them from Amazon. 

When you look to the right, you'll see my new worktables. They are height adjustable, which is nice because when standing for long periods of time, the taller height will be so much easier on my back. I also have a three-drawer storage unit in the corner.

Along the other wall is another three drawer storage unit and next to it is my fabric cabinet with my colorful storage jars atop. Do you think I have enough zippers?

There is a little nook next to the fabric cabinet. What a perfect place to use my embroidery machine! I keep it on the old desk, and on top of that is a black box that my husband made for a completely different purpose. Funny how perfect it is to raise my embroidery machine. And the fabric drawers I picked up at Wal-Mart fit perfectly for some of my scrap fabric.

Of course, my aprons are included in this room. I think I'm starting a collection. I have a few that aren't up there yet. You'll also notice that I installed some shelving units for storage and cute things. My son came and did all the big stuff such as the TV mounts, fireplace mantle, curtain rods, and numerous other things. I gotta say, I'm quite proud of my installation of the small shelves. I hope they don't fall down!

I do love this new space although it's going to take some getting used to. Change can be so difficult but at the same time it opens new doors for new experiences and opportunities. I hope you enjoyed my sewing room tour. Maybe someday I'll do a YouTube video about it. Maybe...

The Worst Summer of My Life

As the title says, it has been the worst summer of my life! I wish I could start over again, but have it end with different results. My husband and I had been looking forward to a really nice vacation starting with a scenic train ride from Chicago to San Francisco, then spending four days in San Francisco in the beginning of summer. Unfortunately, he became ill, so we flew home. He passed away within 18 hours of getting home. He passed from pneumonia. It all happened so fast! One day he was fine and working in the yard, traveling and enjoying the scenery. In just a couple of days later, he was gone. 

So, my life is in a complete mess right now. It's the absolute worst thing I've ever been through in my life. Fortunately, I have an amazing support system with family and friends. My kids have talked me into moving closer to them, which I agree is a good idea since I do spend so much time with them and I now feel so alone out here by myself. It's really not that far (about 30 minutes) but now I've found a house a mile away from my son. In the summer it's not so bad, but we are known to have some brutal winters with a lot of that Lake Michigan snow. And driving can be disastrous. And it will be so nice to be right there with them. My granddaughter and my son timed their bike ride from their house to mine, five minutes and 15 seconds. My subdivision is across the street from theirs. She is really excited. I've even given her the task of decorating the guest bedroom since she will be the one to use it the most.

This is why the blog has been neglected. Between keeping the business afloat, grieving, moving, and trying to get my life back in some kind of order, I'm overwhelmed. So, hang in there with me and I'll be bringing some more informative articles, tutorials, and other fun things you are used to seeing here. I might just be moving a little slower at it than usual.

Photo above: One of the photos I took from our scenic train ride which was the last time and place I saw my husband's beautiful smile.

Travel Tray Pattern

I seriously can't stop making these! It doesn't get any easier than this. I've seen this little tray all over the internet, so I decided to create a pattern to share with my creative friends. They are so easy and so quick, you can make a bunch of them in no time. I'll bet they would be great sellers for your craft shows or Etsy shop. You can make them in any size you want. 

I made the first one for myself for our travels. They are perfect for setting on the dresser of a hotel or guest room to hold your small items. In my case, my husband kept throwing his pocket full of change into mine. The germs and gritty feeling of money creeps me out. So, I made him a smaller one just for that purpose. Now I can keep mine nice and clean.

I shared the tutorial awhile back but I've turned it into a PDF pattern so you can download it and print it out if you like. Personally, I like to read patterns from my tablet to save on paper and ink. You can find the download right HERE

If you prefer the tutorial on the blog, you can find that HERE

I'm slowly going through all my tutorials, and I'll be turning them into PDF documents. Keep watching either with my weekly mailer or follow this blog.

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.  

Finding the Grainline and Why it Matters

I don't sew clothing, but I do make a lot of bags. I make bags for every purpose imaginable. If you sew clothes, curtains or bags, you need to know how important the grainline is. If you are using a woven fabric such as 100% cotton or a woven cotton blend, you need to pay attention to how you are laying your pattern pieces.

Woven fabrics are made up of lengthwise threads, and crosswise threads. It is important to know the difference when you are making something that needs to hang properly or where strength is needed. The best way to find the grainline is by looking at the selvage. The grainline always runs parallel to the selvage. But sometimes you may have a piece of fabric where the selvage has been cut away, or maybe the fabric is an odd shape. Finding the grainline is very simple and I’m going to show you how. You can use the images above for reference.

The crosswise grain has a slight amount of stretch. It’s strong (as far as holding its shape), but not nearly as strong as the grainline, or sometimes called the lengthwise grain.

The lengthwise grain has no stretch at all. This would be the grainline. Can you see why this would be stronger and holding its shape when you are making a purse where it will be holding weighted items? If you are making a purse for example, you'll want the lengthwise grain to be vertical. This way there would be no "give" in the fabric and it will hold its shape. If you are making a matching strap, you definitely want to cut the fabric along the grainline for the length of the strap.

The bias has a lot of stretch. This would be at a 45° angle from your grain lines. When you pull the fabric along the diagonal, you get a lot of stretch. That is why you would cut a bias tape in this direction. The stretch allows you to go around curves easily. 

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.  

Feeling Groovy in the 1970's

I was a teenager in the 70's. That was a good time to be young. Things were simple. We didn't have cellphones, computers, or even cable. Can you imagine having only three main TV stations? And worse yet, when I got a flat tire and that other time I ended up in a ditch, I had to walk to find a phone to get help. And how about prom? We didn't have our hair, makeup, or nails done professionally. We also didn't rent limos. I'm sure our parents probably appreciated not having to spend so much money. But we still had fun. As I remember it, the day after prom was the most fun because that's when you spend the day going someplace special. For us it was usually a big park, beach, or a day at Great America Theme Park. We also did dinners in downtown Chicago after prom. 

I had a blast looking through my old photos to share some of them with you. What a fun trip down memory lane! In the photos above you'll see me getting my hair curled by a friend for prom. At least we had curing irons! I also included a picture of my sister as she's getting ready to go to school. But the picture of my sister is how I remember the 70's fashion. Bell bottom hip huggers, wide belt, platform shoes, and of course long hair. And take a look at the picture of my dad in front of the floral curtains. Dad looked great but the curtains, yikes! Of course, it wouldn't be a true 70's picture without my first car, a 1970 Toyota. By the time I got to drive it you had to put it into neutral at every stoplight and gently press the gas pedal or it would die. It was mine and my sister's first car and we loved it at the time.

But back then, we really didn't feel like we were missing anything. So many things have changed in that short amount of time when it comes to technology. I can't even begin to imagine all the things my granddaughter will see in her lifetime. I do hope though that she will look back at her teens in a fun way just like I do.

After looking at the pictures I can say that the quality of our photos have come a long way.

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.  

Choosing the Perfect Color Palette

Did you ever notice that the most beautiful color combinations come from nature? Sunsets, flowers, the oceans, and fall foliage are so beautiful, why not think about them when planning your next project? Just use a photo, then take it into a photo editing program and pick colors from the image. You can't go wrong when you choose colors straight from nature.

When my kids were small, we would drive about an hour to my parent's house on weekends. On one weekend I looked at the trees along the highway and pointed them out to my kids. I told them to soak in all that beauty because you won't see them looking that beautiful for another year. They were at their peak, and it was beautiful.

A couple weeks later I took that same drive. I was heading to my mom's house to meet all the ladies in the family for our annual day after Thanksgiving shopping trip to Woodfield Mall in one of the Chicago suburbs. Yes, malls were a big thing back then before the big box stores and Amazon. Anyway, just as I was approaching that area of trees that I pointed out to my kids a few weeks prior it looked really different but in a good way. Since I was driving in the early morning, the frost was still on the ground and the trees. I look over and I see deer surrounded by the glistening tree branches and ground. It looked like it would have made a beautiful postcard or painting. I kind of felt like something was telling me to never underestimate Mother Nature because she will come right back at you in a magnificent way!

So next time you need some inspiration for a color theme, just look outside.

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.  

What Happens on a Girls' Trip...

If you've never gone on a girls trip you are missing out! One of my mom's favorite things was going on girls’ trips. And for those who knew her will know that they were always centered around shopping. Mom loved to shop! Two of my favorites were Mall of America and Gurnee Mills. She always liked to stay in the nicest hotels too. I really miss those days with my mom, my sis and myself just enjoying non-stop shopping and having fun. My most recent was a trip to Frankenmuth with my daughter-in-law, my sis, and our granddaughters. And yes, in the photo above you'll see my 60-year-old sister hanging from the luggage rack. It's hard to believe that no drinking was involved. But that's just some silly fun we would have never had if we had the hubsters along.

What makes for a good girl’s trip? A girl’s trip is anything you want it to be. You can go on shopping trips, state park trips, big city trips, small town trips, and even wineries. For the wineries just make sure you grab an Uber and of course, you must all be twenty-one. And whatever you do, you need to journal it so you never forget a thing. If kids are involved, it's easier when they are older. Just be sure to include as much fun for them as for the adults.

Another fun thing to include is something matchy. If you are the planner, you can give everyone a nice little gift such as fun travel accessories or piece of jewelry. On our recent trip you can see that we all had matching (temporary) tattoos. Quite surprisingly they lasted the whole trip!

OK, one more rule. When you do travel with your granddaughters and they want ice cream for dinner, you have ice cream for dinner!

Where will your next girls’ trip be?

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.  

Dream Journals

Let's talk about one of my favorite subjects...dreams! I am so fascinated with this subject. I always have crazy dreams and some of them seem so real. A few years back I decided to start a dream journal and I'm so happy I did. I love to look back at some of them and read them. It's always good for a laugh. The photo above is from a dream a few years ago. My friend and I were riding our bikes to downtown Gary to visit the lakefront. And yes, we were carrying ironing boards. Just why?! And if you're not familiar with Gary, you don't want to ride a bike, car, or anything there. And the funny thing is that we could have easily grabbed our ironing boards and visited the lakefront that's 10-mile (maybe less) drive from my house. Same lakefront but safer area and it has a beautiful lighthouse.

I find that recurring dreams are most interesting because I'm sure there's an underlying message, they are trying to send you. For example, for years and years I kept having this dream that I was trying to find the underground shopping in Toronto. I've been there in my much younger years and I guess it left an impression on me. In my dream I can almost find it but something just doesn't seem right. Well, fast forward to 2023 and my husband and I went to Toronto, and I was able to show him the underground shopping. It's called The Path and he really loved it! But after my recent visit, I haven't dreamed about it again. Strange!

I could go on and on with a long list of my dreams from my journal but I'm thinking you have your own funny dreams to think about. I log mine in my notes app but they have some really cool apps for Android and iPhone that will help you create a journal that can be a lot of fun. Some of the apps come with AI features that will help you animate or illustrate them. For my dream images I used the AI functions of ChatGPT and Copilot. It's one of those things that you can get lost in and before you know it, you're late for dinner!

I do have a few suggestions though if you want to keep a dream journal.

The key to remembering them is to jot them down right away. You can even use the microphone on your phone to talk into. If you don't do this, there is a good chance you will forget it. I don't know why. In fact, when I look back at my journals, I don't remember most of them. I am so glad I wrote them down.

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.  

Cookie Sheets, Spatula, Oven Mitt - For the Sewing Room?

Some of my favorite sewing supplies are actually kitchen items, and I use them all the time. There are other odd things I've found around the house that I find helpful as well. Right now I'll discuss my three favorites.

Baking sheets: I bought the set that comes with three different sizes. These things are the most helpful for everything. I use them to separate fabric pieces for projects, to set on my lap while I'm watching a movie and doing some hand stitching or clipping jump threads from my embroidery projects. They are also great for organizing the various steps in smaller items like the gift card holders above. If you want to make those, there is a free tutorial right HERE on the blog. It's a great kids project. I made some that I hand stitched instead of gluing and painting.

Rubber spatula: I think of this one as my hand and finger saver. When I'm at the embroidery machine and I'm needing to hold something in place or move something out of the way, I use this instead of my fingers. As of this writing, I've never had a needle go through my fingers!

Super thick oven mitt: This item is invaluable for ironing in areas that can't be laid flat when pressing. I don't use this as much as the other items, but when I do need it, I'm happy to have it. 

And no, I don't use any of these items in the kitchen also. They are now my sewing supplies.

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.  

Is This What They Call The Golden Years?

Does time seem to go too fast or is it just me? I have officially reached what they call the “Golden Years.” I celebrated my sixtieth birthday four years ago and in the past four years I feel like I’ve learned so much, mostly about myself. And it’s not all bad. The way I look at things is completely different than it was just ten or fifteen years ago.

I’ve learned where my priorities are. I’ve always put my family first above everything but I now I guess I look at it even differently. I became a Nana almost twelve years ago. I’ve discovered a kind of love that I’ve never known before. Having kids is amazing in its own way, but having a grandchild is on a whole other level. Maybe it’s because you don’t see them as much as you did when your kids were growing up, or maybe it’s because you are not the disciplinarian and are more relaxed and chill around them. I just know that when that beautiful child is with me, life stops everywhere else, and I just enjoy every minute.

Time is ticking along. Some say time is an illusion and I never understood that, and probably never will. The fact is that it’s moving ahead, quickly. All that being said, the way I prefer to spend my time is different than it used to be. I focus on doing things I enjoy, and I have learned to say no to things that I would have done before because I thought I had to. No more of that.

Giving is so much more fun for me than receiving. You reach a point where you really have what you need, and “things” don’t make you as happy as it once did. I find it more rewarding to share what I have or what I can with others that are in need. Time, money, or awareness can make a difference in your life and can help those in need. When you realize how blessed you are, in what ever way that may be, it makes you want to share that with others.

There’s more to life than what we have in Indiana. Yep, a lot more! I’ve always enjoyed traveling but these days, we travel every chance we get. I’d rather spend my money doing things and having experiences than buying material things. It’s a big world out there and we want to see it while we still can. We’ll be taking our first scenic train ride in a couple of months. It will be an experience. I’m glad my husband isn’t into taking pictures and videos because I’m sure it will be quite a sight watching me climb up into the upper bunk at night.

I realize that my health is my most important asset. No truer words have ever been spoken. As I watched my parents and others age, I realize that not only do I want to remain healthy to live longer but I want to keep my mobility. Years ago, diet and exercise were something I attained for vanity purposes. Today, it’s all about my health and mobility. I’ve gotten a good hold of that lately and am working hard at trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Next, I’m going to add strength training to my daily routine.

If you are still with me and haven’t fallen asleep while I ramble on, thank you. My final thought is that I hope you are inspired to take good care of yourself and those around you.

The photo above is my favorite photo from a two-week road trip we took last year. There are a lot of beautiful places out there!

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.  

 

Tutorial - Turn Any Small Toiletry Bag into a Hanging Bag!

I have been on the hunt for the perfect hanging toiletry bag for travel and have not found one. We just scheduled a (2 overnights) trip on the California Zephyr. It's our first rail trip and I've been doing my research. One of the things I've heard over and over again is that you want to hang your toiletries for two reasons. First, you do not want to set it down on the sink because it has been used by so many people before you. Second, there isn't much room anyway. So of course I continued with my search. Found nothing that I liked as much as the ones that I've been using for probably about ten years. I just really love these bags because when I made them, I really took my needs into consideration. Plus, anyone who know me, knows that I travel like a minimalist. I take the least amount possible and pack ultra light. If you'd like to hear more about this technique, drop me an email or comment right here. I have it down to a science now. Checking bags has gotten so expensive and it seems like halfway through boarding they always start gate checking carry-on bags anyway. But I think the thing I like most about packing everything in a personal size backpack is that my stuff will never get lost. It's also nice to have all your stuff with you and it's so much easier to throw it over your shoulder than lugging a suitcase around. I'm in my 60's and I still find it easier! 

NOTE: The bag located at the bottom of the image is a pattern by Andrie Designs which could be found HERE.

I decided to keep my well loved bags and just make an attachment that can turn it into a nice hanging bag. If I'm going somewhere that I don't know how much counter area I'm going to have, I throw a suction cup in my bag so I can hang it from the mirror if needed. But like I said, I take very little with me so if you have a whole lot of toiletries and your bag is heavy, this will not work for you. These seriously took me  minutes to make! If you prefer the PDF version of the pattern, you can click right HERE.

What you'll need to make the tab:

100% cotton fabric, scraps that will match or compliment your toiletry bag

Fusible fleece interfacing, scrap (you can also use a piece of felt or cotton batting in place of fleece)

Dimensions for the above supplies will depend on the size of your toiletry bag

Thread to match fabric

5/8” wide ribbon, 2 1/4 inches long

Long Prong KamSnaps were used for my project, but you can also use velcro or sew-in snaps

Large S-Hook or carabiner clip

General sewing supplies will also be needed such as pins, needles, cutting tools, ruler, marking pens, sewing machine, and iron.

NOTE & TIP: I strongly recommend using the long prong KanSnaps. I purchased mine at Etsy. I tried the regular ones for this project and they kept popping off. I switched to long prong and have no problems. Also, if you are going to make a hanger tab for one of those clear vinyl bags, regular KamSnaps will be fine. To add a little more strength to a vinyl bag, I would cut a narrow strip of medium to heavy weight interfacing or felt. Place this between the snap and the bag.

I feel that five snaps are best because it provides more strength.

Create your pattern piece (or use the one that is with the PDF instructions linked above and below).

If designing your own tab, remember that you will also be using a 1/4 inch seam allowance all the way around.

From your pattern piece, cut two from the cotton fabric, and one from the fusible fleece interfacing. Iron the fusible fleece interfacing to one of the backs of the fabric pieces. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the fusible product you are using. If you are using cotton batting or felt for this piece, just baste it along the edges to the back of one of the fabric pieces about 1/8 inch away from raw edge.

Fold the piece of ribbon in half with wrong sides together. Place it on the upper portion of one of the fabric pieces. The fold will be toward the bottom and the raw edges will be even with the raw edges of the fabric.

Place the remaining fabric piece on top of this. The right sides of the fabrics will be facing each other and the ribbon will be “sandwiched” between the two.

Beginning at the bottom edge, stitch around using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, leaving about 2 inches open in the bottom for turning.

Clip at corners and turn right side out. Gently push out corners and iron. Fold the edges to the inside where you left it open and press.

Stitch about 1/8 inch away from the edge all the way around the tab.

Find the center of the tab, closer to the bottom and use the pointed object that came with your snaps to make a hole. Place this on the toiletry bag and make a hole in that using this hole as a guide. Then make two more holes on each side of the center hole about one inch apart. Attach your snaps using the instructions for the snaps you are using. If you are using velcro (not my first choice) or large sew-in snaps instead, stitch them at those markings (do not make holes if using snaps or velcro).

Snap the tab to the bag and slip your hook or carabiner through the ribbon. You now have a hanging bag!

FOR THE FREE PDF PATTERN CLICK HERE

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week. 

Favorites - Sewing Machine Feet

Time for some more favorites! I probably have every sewing machine foot they make. I want to share with you my favorites and the ones I use regularly. I actually have more favorite feet to share later. Many years ago when I first started sewing (I was a teenager) it wasn't so easy to get the feet. You had to go to your dealer and order them from there. Then the wait for them to come in was forever! Now it's so easy. Who has the biggest selection? You guessed it, Amazon!

The walking foot: Great for using on your layered projects such as quilts and even mini quilts. It actually "walks" over the project so your layers don't shift. I like to do a lot of the strip quilting and quilt as you go projects and this is so helpful!

The narrow zipper foot: All zipper feet are not created equal! My last machine came with a zipper foot but it wasn't a narrow version. Of course I hopped on Amazon and ordered me the narrow zipper foot. The foot that came with my machine was a wider version. I remember trying one years ago and I could never get close to my zipper or piping while using it. If you're going to make a lot of zipper projects or use piping, you need to get the narrow version.

Open toe foot: This is my number one favorite sewing machine foot and I use it all the time. If you look at it, you'll see that there is a really wide cutout where the needle is. I do a lot of applique with my sewing machine and I can get a good look at the edge of my appliques during stitching so my stitching goes exactly where I want it.

So there you have it. My favorite and most used sewing machine feet.

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week. 

Gallery Glass - Great Idea for a Kid's Craft

 

I don't mean to brag but...I am the lucky Nana to a smart, beautiful, thoughtful, and talented girl. OK, maybe I bragged a wee bit! She likes to spend weekends with us, and it always must be two nights. Her rule, not mine. That leaves lots of time to work on craft projects and she loves to do craft projects. I've already introduced her to my sewing machines.

One of the projects we recently did was with Gallery Glass. I purchased the kit at Amazon, but I also found it at WalMart. What's great about this paint is that you use it right out of the bottle. There are no messy paint brushes or dirty paint water. It's great for kids because they use the bottle for the painting, which is much easier than using a paintbrush. I did some research to make sure it's kid friendly and it is. It's non-toxic and water based. Of course you'll want to supervise, especially with younger children.

Always make sure that you use a protective product over your work surface. You'll also want to use some alcohol to wipe down the glass so there will be no oil or dirt left behind. Also stress the importance of trying not to touch the glass (painting area) with your fingers. If using it on a glass, candle cup or other type of holder, it's easy to hold the item placing your hand or fingers inside while you are painting the outside. 

Once your area and glass are ready, you draw your picture or design with the black "leading" which is kind of like a 3-dimensional paint. You need to let that completely dry before continuing. Once it's completely dry, you fill in the areas with the colored paint.

I happened to have these glass bowls left from a couple of parties that we hosted. They were used for the centerpieces, and I hated the thought of getting rid of them and I'm glad I didn't. I also have a box of flameless votive candles which worked perfectly inside. My granddaughter can use it in her room and doesn't have to worry about forgetting to blow out a candle or catching the place on fire. I personally prefer those over real candles lately. They really look real too. I'll share the links to these things below. 

If you are looking for a great kid's project, this one is easy and inexpensive. These would also make great gifts for the elderly or hospital patient when given with a flameless candle.

Links:

Flameless candles

Gallery Glass

Sign up for Sher's Creative News so you don't miss anything!

There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week. 

Favorites - I Love These Machine Embroidery Supplies

Time for some more favorites! These are the four items that I use in my studio on a regular basis. 

Pre-wound bobbins are a massive time saver. I order a large box of white, and I also have them in several colors. The last thing I want to do when I need a bobbin is to stop and create some more. This way they are always on hand, and I don't have to stop what I'm doing.

Basting adhesive really makes stabilizing easy. I much prefer it over pins and tape. Sometimes, depending on what I'm stabilizing, I'll use it with pins. It makes such a difference when making things that require a layer of batting such as coasters, zipper bags, etc. I used to worry about it gumming up my needle, but after several years of use, it hasn't happened yet.

These snips make clipping threads neater. I don't use these for cutting away fabrics, but they are great when you need to clip that thread close to the stitching. They are so thin and lightweight. As for clipping away excess fabric for applique, I like to use my curved embroidery scissors.

Snag Nab-It Tool is probably the best thing ever invented for embroidery, sewing, and basic snag repair. It has a sharp point on one end, and a rough section on the other end. It's made to pull snags through to the back which turns a damaged sweater into like new. Have you ever finished a project, and everything looks beautiful except those one or two stiches in your silky satin stitches that the needle obviously missed? Of course you have! And it's not your fault. This tool is designed to make it look like it never happened. You just find the stitch that didn't stitch (or just sticking out in a weird way) and insert the pointed end right at that stitch on the top of the project. Then you gently push it completely through. The rough edges on the opposite end of the tool will catch that annoying thread and bring it right through to the backside. If you want you can put a tiny drop of Fray Check on the back where the stitch is but honestly, I've never worried about that. And you know these thread mishaps always happen at the end of your project after you've done all that work! TIP: Store it in the little plastic sleeve it came in and maybe put a dot of paint or nail polish on the plastic sleeve. This little thing is so easy to lose.

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week. 

Buc-ee's! Don't Miss this Little Gem While Traveling

Have you ever been on a road trip and passed a sign with the cute beaver that says Buc-ee's? Well, my advice is to stop in for a quick (or not so quick) visit. Buc-ee's is not just a fancy rest stop off the highway, it's an entire experience!

We travel a lot! Two of the places we regularly travel to are Texas and Florida, and there are a lot of Buc-ee's between here and there. My first time there, I was in constant aww! They have so many things that will make your road trip extra fun. They have a lot of choices for lunch, dinner, or a quick snack. Everything is super fresh and worth every penny. On our last visit we picked up some cobb salads for lunch and they were fresh as can be. We sat in the car and enjoyed them. No wilted lettuce in our salads!

They are really known for their smoked beef brisket. And the smell when you are in there is amazing! Not a fan of brisket or beef in general, don't worry, they have a lot more. Everything from sandwiches, salads, yogart parfaits, fruits, nuts of every kind, fudge, candies, cookies, chips, and so much more! My personal favorite is chocolate covered cashews. Yep, it's the only place I've seen them, and they are sooooooo good!

They also have some cute stuff too. They have holiday items, souvenirs, pets’ stuff, kitchenware, games, coolers, gifts, kids' stuff, and every kind of soft drink you could imagine. They are also known for their 100 plus gas pumps at each location. If your car is a little dirty, they have the longest car wash you've ever seen.

This may sound funny, but they are also known for their restrooms. Yep, I said it, "RESTROOMS." They are super clean and quite pretty. It seems like every time we travel, we see where another one has popped up. 

If you are on a road trip and see a Buc-ee's you should stop on by. I'm sharing the link to their website so you can take a sneak peek. Did I mention how much I love the place?

Oh, and my son would never forgive me if I didn't mention their beef jerky. They also have a little thing called "beaver nuggets." Yep, they have things you've never seen elsewhere. Be sure the check it out for yourself.

https://buc-ees.com/about/

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There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week. 

Free Pattern - Phone Sleeve or Eyeglasses Case

I recently designed these phone sleeves which also makes a great eyeglasses case. A seasoned seamstress can whip these up in no time. I've also added lots of tips and notes that will make the pattern beginner friendly. A regular sewing machine is required for this project.

You can grab your pattern right HERE.

Sign up for Sher's Creative News so you don't miss anything!

There's a free machine embroidery design in every issue (unless I'm running a sale). You'll also find links to free sewing tutorials and articles too. The newsletter goes out once a week.