Sports Stick Girls can be seen by clicking here.

I do my test stitchout on a heavy duty clear vinyl (have used the plastic that blankets, sheets come in).  I don’t bother to use stabilizer.  If you wanted to use stabilizer, use wash away so it doesn’t interfere with seeing the garment color through the vinyl.
Before I remove the hoop I draw around the inside of the hoop with a marker.
After I remove the hoop, I cut around the marker line.
I can audition my choice of colors by seeing through the clear vinyl and I can also set up the perfect placement.
Once I pin the stitchout in place on the garment, I re-hoop with the appropriate stabilizer, remove the pinned on stitchout (on the vinyl) and I’m good to go.  Takes all the guesswork out of it.

This is one of the Deco Sun designs stitched out in gold on a burgundy shirt.  Fortunately it looks better than the picture indicates.

(Deco Sun designs can be seen by clicking here.)

How did I start making scrubbies? Well, it started like this: Once upon a time, one of the free daily Designs By Sick (DBS) designs was for a Halloween scrubby. I didn’t have any netting, and the fabric store was too far away. However, the dollar store was just down the street. So I hot-footed it over there and bought some scouring pads, and sponges with built in scouring pads. The nice thing is these scrubby sponges come with printed scouring pads. They are so much prettier than plain netting, and hopefully they will hold up just as long or longer.

Well I couldn’t appliqué the whole scrubby sponge to the dish cloth, so I separated the scrubby sponge into two parts, scouring pad and sponge. There are several ways, I like to say, to “decapitate” a scrubbing sponge. You can use a serrated edged knife to start the process, or sharp shears, or nimble fingers. Whichever method you use, gently separate the sponge from the scouring pad. Be careful not to tear the scouring pad.

Some of the sponge may adhere to the pad when separating them. That’s okay; just don’t leave huge clumps of sponge attached to the scouring pad.

Now that you have your wee stock pile of printed and solid scouring pads, it is time to appliqué them to the dish cloth.

I tried two different hooping approaches:

1.    Hoop the Tear-Away Stabilizer (TAS) together with the dish cloth.

2.    Hoop the TAS only, and baste the dish cloth to the stabilizer.

Of the two approaches, the first one is quicker. However, I like the second approach better, because the hoop doesn’t leave any marks on the dish cloth. I find it strange that they call the second method “hoop-less”, because you still use a hoop. When I first read about hoop-less embroidery, there was no explanation, and I just couldn’t make the connection. I wondered, “How do you embroider without a hoop!” Now I know.

Anyway, after the dish cloth is secured to the hoop, you will sew the outline stitch of the appliqué. Here I learned another lesson; pick a color that you can see. It will be covered up later, and seeing the appliqué outline clearly helps prevent shortage mistakes. By shortage, I mean when your souring pad does not cover the appliqué area adequately, or should I say completely.

Now the fun begins. Pick out a scouring pad and place it on top of the appliqué area. Make sure that the scouring pad completely covers the appliqué area. Then sew the next color.  This color becomes the line around which you will trim the scouring pad. Again, use a thread color that you can see easily. That way when you trim the scouring pad, you be able to see where to cut.

Once the tack down line is in place, it is time to trim the scouring pad. Do not remove the design from the hoop when trimming. Also trim fairly closed to the tack down line, but not too close. I try to trim to somewhere around 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch away from the tack down line. I think that is between 3 and 5 mm.

Repeat this process until all the appliquéd pieces are in place.

I use a single layer of Water Soluble Stabilizer (WSS) between the dish cloth/scouring pad and the embroidery stitches. This prevents the embroidery stitches from sinking into the dish cloth and the scouring pad. You can see here, I put the WSS on top of the appliquéd pieces before sewing the satin stitches that finish the edge of the scouring pad.

Once all the sewing is done, if I did the process hoop-less, I remove all the basting stitches that hold the dish cloth to the hooped TAS. Next, I carefully remove the excess TAS from the back of the wash cloth. It’s easy to pull the terry loops, so be careful. Then after I trim the threads and remove any jump threads, I take the project out of the hoop. Any of the excess WSS can be easily removed, or you may use a spay bottle of water to wash it away. Let it dry, and voila, a scrubby is born.
Hints:
Separating Scouring Pad Sponges: Sponges are most likely damp when you purchase them. If they are really wet, let them dry out a bit, but not too much, as they are easier to separate when slightly damp. Make sure the scouring pad is dry before appliquéing it in place.

Needle: I used a bigger needle then normal. I also used strong needles, Titanium 90/14 topstitch needles.

Pressure Foot Height: I raised the pressure foot height to make sure the thick appliqué could glide easily under the foot while embroidering. If you don’t do this, the appliqué can bind and cause all kinds of havoc, like un-hooping your whole project before it is done.

Tension: Unless your machine automatically adjusts the upper thread tension, you may need to loosen it a wee bit, due to the thickness of the scouring pads.

Water Soluble Stabilizer: I tried both with and without using WSS. I like the results better when using it.

Initial Thread Changes: The initial threads are usually the outline stitch of the appliqué, the appliqué tack down line, and the satin stitches that finish the edge of the appliqué. Each one of these are digitized as a different color. The reason these threads are digitized as different colors is so that your machine will stop for a thread change, allowing you to prepare for the next step. If these thread were not coded as different colors, your machine would whiz right through all these steps, not allowing you do do the prep work between each step. So here, just because your machine indicates a different color, you don’t need to use a different color. All three of these can be, and most likely should be, the same color.

When to Un-hoop: Do not un-hoop the project until you’ve stitched the last thread. This means carefully trim the appliqué pieces while the project is in the hoop.

Scissors: Use heavy-duty sewing scissors or shears. This is not a wimpy project, and cutting through thick scouring pads would be way too hard on your fine thread trimming shears. I have some heavy-duty Gingher brand scissors. I used them and they worked perfectly. Plus they are really sharp.

Trimming the Appliqué: I found that if you pull up ever so slightly on the scoring pad while you are trimming it, then it is easier to trim.

Thread Breakage: This probably happens more than usual, because the scouring pad abrades the thread as you sew. I noticed higher quality threads worked better. If your thread breaks, just re-thread and back up to just before it broke, and continue sewing. I also used a metallic needle for those fine threads and  for  metallic threads too. Yes, Rudolf’s nose is a shinny red.

Patten: Keep is simple. Pick out simple appliqués. It’s fun, and DBS has a lot of appliqué patterns from which to choose.
Conclusion:
Once you’ve made a scrubby, you’ll never look at appliqué the same way again.

Here are just a few of the scrubbies I made. All these designs are available from DBS.

Have fun washing dishes. Now the next question is what to do with all those sponges? Perhaps I’ll have to come up with another project of the week, LOL.

When SewMagical wrote the article “Just Zip It!”, we challenged everyone create a sweatshirt and send us pictures!

I will begin posting these today – and there is no deadline – so if you create a sweatshirt using SewMagical’s instructions – or your own design.  The “Just Zip It” article  – instructions for creating these sweatshirts can be found by clicking here.

New Sweatshirt today (new ones will always be put first)

Today, we share Barbara’s Sweatshirt project!

From Maggie:

This is my first sweatshirt project, it is a CHEAP Walmart shirt. Savannas Birds really helped it a lot. #3 on the back,#5 left lower front,#6 (flipped) lower right front and #8 left chest.
I used grosgrain ribbon to face the front opening. Elastic was used to make button loops for large buttons, sewn to wrong side of facing. Two inch hem at bottom. I removed the bottom ribbing as shown in Sewmagical’s tutorial and used that ribbing for the collar.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in a nice project.

Savannah’s birds can be seen here.

Helen tells us:
In response to the “Just Zip It” article I made 2 sweatshirt jackets.
One is purple with  2 of the violet corners designs on it (using DD Violets and Corners – click here to see the set)

The other is blue with redwork lighthouses on it(using the set RW Lighthouses – click here to see the set)

The Dragon Year is coming, I was searching for dragon pattern but found I had some already on your CD of Fall 2010. I found it is so cute after I finished the project.

I will donate my first one to Kiwassa Neighhourhood House for their Chinese New Year party and trying make some more. I wish my project will remind someone to use the patterns and do not let them over sleep in their collection. (editor’s note:  Rose does not want you to overlook the designs you may already have in your computer!)

Rose used a dragon from Applique Dragon – you can see the set by clicking here.
This set was created by Heidi – you can see all sets by Heidi by clicking here.

To learn more about the Kiwassa Neighborhood House, you can visit their website here.

This is the Applique Christmas Bell. I used  Mylar instead of fabric for the Bell. It turned out beautiful. This is on a Kitchen Towel.

You can see the Christmas Bells Applique Alphabet by clicking here.
The set was digitized by Rhonda -and you can see of her sets by clicking here.

I am usually careful, when I work on my projects, about where I place my straight pins. Either I place them away from my line of stitching, or I remove them as I come to them, before the presser foot and needle go over them.
Stitching over a pin can cause damage to your machine. It can break your needle, and the broken pieces may fly off and hit you in the face, perhaps even in the eyes.
I know all this, yet sometimes I forget, or I just miss removing a pin. That happened to me the other day, and the picture below shows what happened. Yes, the machine needle broke as well.

Protect your machine and yourself. Don’t sew over pins!!

I am going to be a  “Great-Aunt”  again

My nephew and his wife are expecting their first child.  The baby shower was right before Christmas.  My nephew is a very good soccer player and his wife is quite the runner.  Using an athletic theme, I made a quilt.  Now I am not an experienced quilter.  I know the basics, so that is what I used.  Squares.  No fancy shapes.  But the embroidered sports kids from DesignsBySick.com make up for it, at least I think so!  We do not know if the baby is a boy or a girl so there is both.
I drew it out on graph paper first.
When I started sewing it together, it grew!
Each square was 6″ finished size, so it ended up being about 44″ wide and 56″ long with the binding.
The binding was the blue tie-dyed fleece folded over the front from the back.

You can see the Sports Kids Designs sets here:

Sports Stick Girls  click here

Sports Stick Boys  click here

I use the “foamies” found at your local discount stores.  I use the star shape and pull one side down so it will temporarily stick on my machine.  I write the size of needle I am using for that particular machine.  When I change to a different needle, then it is easy to run the needle into the foamie and file away if it is still a good, usable needle.  The next time I need that needle, there it is on the foamie with the type that it is.  Has made my life so simple!!

Here is a photo of Old MacDonald’s Farm finger puppets that I made for a Christmas present.
I especially liked how all the puppets fitted inside the barn. It  was the first time that I had made this type of project.

Old MacDonald Finger puppets can be seen by clicking here.
This set was created by Cutie Pie and you can see all of her designs by clicking here.

The response was, once again, overwhelming!  I have included all of the challenges and hope you enjoy reading each and every one…as I mentioned in the Newsletter – get a cup of your favorite beverage and sit back and relax.

An update here – our tradition changed this year – because my other half decided to take a header off the side deck – and ended up fracturing his clavicle.  So, he was pretty medicated for Christmas Eve and  – well, he still is.  So, no “Night Before Christmas” at our house this year.  And, Christmas morning was slow and relaxed – we all made breakfast together and after Dad rested a bit, we opened gifts in the living room – probably close to 2 PM.    (This is also the reason the Newsletter did not go out last Sunday!)

After reading all of the entries, however, I see some I would like to incorporate into our lives (mostly the goodies!) and I know my daughter will do the same as she has read every one and has fallen in love with so many of your family traditions.

Once again, thank all of you for sharing part of your lives with us.

I give you – Christmas Traditions – Near and Far:

Homemade Goodness
by Sue R.

On Christmas afternoon all of my paternal grandparent’s family would gather at their farmhouse for Christmas. When I say all,  I mean 52 of us – Grandpa and Grandma, 14 aunts and uncles and the 36 cousins. Everyone brought food and we would have a full sit down meal then open gifts from the grandparents – we all knew what we were getting but it was still exciting. My grandmother would start sewing in January for the following Christmas.
All the girls got long flannel nightgowns- fancy ones with lots of ruffles and a pocket containing $2.00 (lots of money for a child in the 50′s and 60′s). The boys got flannel pajamas also with $2.00. The women got home made aprons with $5.00 in the pocket and the men just got $10.00. I remember feeling sorry for my uncles because they just got money.
After gifts were opened and the money all turned over to the parents my dad hitched up the horses to the sleigh (if there was snow or the hay wagon if not) and took the little kids for a short ride then all the older kids would go out for a long ride. When we got back we all would change into our new home made pajamas and have hot chocolate and cookies. How I wish there were pictures of all the kids in the jammies but in those days I guess people just didn’t think of doing that.
My grandmother has been dead now for forty years but I have now continued the pajama tradition first with my two boys and now with my 4 grandchildren and hope it will be remembered just as fondly.

Ornaments Through the Years
by Laura S.

My husband and I were married in North Carolina on December 7, 1969.  Bill was stationed at the Lemore Naval Air Station in Lemore, CA, so our honeymoon was a 10-day drive across country to Fresno, CA where he had rented a small house, furnished with a sofa-bed, a stove and refrigerator.
We had all our wedding gifts and other worldly possessions stowed in our Rambler and  arrived in Fresno on December 17, just 7 days before Christmas.  A friend of Bill’s gave us a small live Christmas tree, but we had nothing to put on it so decided to start a new tradition of each person in our home at Christmas time would add a new ornament to the
tree with their name and the date written on the ornament or on a tag attached to the ornament.
We had no idea how important this tradition would become to our lives.  That first year, Bill found a beautiful white ball-shaped ornament with delicate gold trim to symbolize our new marriage.  I, being the crafty one, bought a white styrofoam ball that was hollowed out in the middle and open on 4 sides.  I had saved the little plastic wedding bells and the sugar doves from the top of our wedding cake; so I sewed them in the center of the ball.  Then I sewed leftover seed pearls from my wedding dress around the openings on the sides and added a gold ball on the bottom.  So our tree the first year had two ornaments.
The next Christmas found Bill at sea and I flew home to be with my family.  Before I left, I purchased my ornament for our second Christmas – a lighted ornament with angels inside that was made to go on the top of the tree because our first tree didn’t have anything on top.  When I returned, to my surprise, Bill had sent his ornament home…an angel that was meant for the top of the tree.  Luckily, for our 3rd Christmas we added a gold string to Bill’s angel and hung her on the tree.
It’s now 42 years later and the collection has grown, along with the size of the tree.   We had 2 boys, some foster children, occasionally grandparents or friends and home-stay students from Japan that shared our Christmases.   If a guest didn’t know about our tradition, we took them shopping for their ornament.
The Christmases that we all shared are on the tree, complete with dates and names,  and the memories are priceless!

Holly, Holly Every Year
by Ruth C.

I don’t know if this counts as a typical tradition but in my family, it ain’t Christmas unless…
Back 35 years ago when I was first married, the Christmas decorations that were available were nothing like they are today!
I bought a 9-foot garland to put up in my kitchen archway. It was all plastic! Green plastic stem, leaves and holly with red plastic berries! Then there were 6 each of red-flocked plastic roses and apples spaced along the length. It was pretty nice compared to anything else that I could find!
I used it a few years and then one year the mice got into it during storage and ate the flocking off of the roses and apples! It was getting pretty ragged anyways and I could get much nicer garlands anywhere now so I was going to throw it away but the boys said, “Awe Mom!! Can’t you fix it!?! We love that thing!”
Soooooooooo, I went to the store and bought 6 silk roses and new shiny red apples and
replaced the half-eaten flocked roses and apples on the garland! I even decided to string some colored lights on it to pretty it up!
Well, this thing has somehow become the symbol of Christmas in our house! As I said, it is made of plastic and over the years it has broken in several places and I have had to wire it together! Every year I take it out of the box and have to do more wire repairs as it falls into pieces in my hands!
I had had enough and was going to throw it out but my 2 sons, almost in unison, said “Don’t you dare!!! It’s not Christmas without that garland!” It started out in my kitchen/dining room archway but then, since I wasn’t allowed to throw it away, and it was becoming pretty pathetic looking, I moved it to the dining room/hallway archway at the opposite end of the room and put up a MUCH prettier one in the kitchen since it was such a prominent spot for decorating! I got some grief from the boys but I said, “Hey! It’s up!!”
Then after a few more years, it was moved again – to the bathroom doorway!!! My sons are now 33 & 28 and laugh about it every year that it’s relegated to the bathroom – but it’s up!!!
This year, I had to replace all of the bulbs in the light string as they all blew out for some reason at the end of last season! I couldn’t replace the whole string because the stupid thing is all wired together and the light string is its main support! Besides, they are making the strings on the lights shorter and shorter each year and the new strings aren’t long enough!
At Christmas, I decorate every door/doorway, every window, every tabletop, every nook and crannie in my home! Neither son lives at home anymore but when I decorate the house and they come home for Christmas, the first thing they do is check to make sure IT is up!!!
I think I am going to have to put this thing in my will when I die! They will have to agree to either share it year to year or cut it in half that they can each have half!!!
Isn’t there a story in the Bible something along that line? Where if they truly love it they would not want it cut in half but rather leave it whole and allow the other to have it! Hmmm!  (Yes there is!  King Solomon!Kings 3:16-28)

Ornaments for a Lifetime
by Raelene T.

My Christmas tradition started with the birth of my eldest grandchild 13 years ago. I decided to make her, and any future grandchildren (I now have 8), an ornament for their Christmas tree – until they turn 18. That way, when they leave home they will have a a small box of Christmas memories to take with them into their new home.
The children start asking me mid-November what they are getting, but they don’t get told – it is a surprise.
So far I have crocheted, knitted, beaded, cross stitched, embroidered, used buttons, pegs, and lots of other things, but this year I made machine embroidered decorations!

by Helen M.

Our family traditions are the basic traditions.  We decorate, bake, and make gifts for friends and relative and attend Christmas Eve afternoon candlelight services,

followed by wild rice soup and watching “The Christmas Story”.  As each child was born I would make them a special Christmas stocking that has been used every

year of their life.  As they got engaged, I would make the new family member a stocking as well.  With them I try to blend the stocking with my child’s. And every

year my hubby and I pick out an ornament to symbolize that year, such as an animal when we got a new pet.
But where we get a little different is with our gifts to the children. When the kids were younger, so they could not guess what they were being given I would use

boxes way bigger than their gifts and put blocks of wood or rocks to disguised the weight as well. As they have gotten older it is hard for us to know what they

need, want, already have etc.  So I have been known to make money trees, buy clothes with lots of pockets and hide money in the pockets.  Most recently I have

started making money origami gifts.  I have made floral bouquets, jewelry boxes (to hold jewelry) and baskets filled with gold coins (dollar coins) .

Cookies from Grandmother
By Lucinda  C.

Our family’s Christmas tradition has always been about cookies.
Most of our traditional recipes were handed down by our Swiss Grandmother.
There is the traditional Christmas morning breakfast cookie, a brown sugar based one with raisins, dates and nuts. Another chocolate fudge one, best with black walnuts and frosted with a chocolate fudge icing.The light, one bite snowballs, filled with finely chopped pecans and dusted with a thick layer of powdered sugar.  This recipe came from my godmother.
The traditional Italian pizzelle with anise oil, made two by two and takes almost all day to make.  These weren’t from any specific recipe but my Italian grandmother always found someone to make them for any celebratory occasion – Christmas especially was no exception.
While our family has spread from one end of the US to another, we still cherish the family tradition of making cookies at Christmas.  Any yes, in our house Santa greeted with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk.

Don’t Forget Pajamas!
by Sandy R.

I make pajamas for Christmas. Needless to say over the years they have improved. Now they all have at least one embroidery on them. Some even have more than one on them. I still remember the year when my son was 10 I was not going to make pajamas. They had plenty by that time. When asked what kind he would be getting on Christmas Eve. Needless to say there I was in the the early hours of Christmas making him and his brother new Christmas pajamas.

Santa, Please Fill Our Sacks!
By Linda Sue C.

Our Christmas celebration has always been Christmas Eve, an appetizer buffet and opening presents from/with family and friends. That left stockings and Santa gifts only for Christmas morning. This started when the children were quite small and then after a divorce it was always the kids with me and my side of the family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day around 10 a.m. they went to their father’s side of the family.
Another tradition was the fact that Santa didn’t wrap gifts. Both children had giant fabric bags with their names embroidered on then that they set out along with cookies, milk and carrots for Santa’s Reindeer.
I personally gave up wrapping gifts in paper about 25 years ago and all gifts given by me for any occasion come in fabric bags, embroidered FSL boxes or fabric envelopes. I had one friend who asked for her Christmas gift to be a variety of fabric bags in different shapes and sizes for her family Hanukkah and Christmas gifts.
When the children’s father moved out of state we started a tradition of going to the movies (the kids and I) on Christmas Day. I know that sound like a weird holiday tradition but it is fun family time even now that the kids are grown.
The holidays always mean gingerbread too. My son loves my gingerbread and I end up making several batches. However, I must divide them up in tins and hide them or he would make himself sick eating them all at once. He is now 27 and knows better but that doesn’t stop him LOL.
New Year’s Eve is party time for us. Not drinking and dancing or going out noooooooooo. We have a potluck game night. We have board games, computer games, old fashion parlor games from our Civil War reenacting hobby. Everyone eats and plays and laughs and sings and stays up all night. No one leaves. We set up air mattresses beds, beds, couches, even the floor . Then on New Year’s Day my kids help me make a huge pancake brunch and then everyone starts to leave around one of two in the afternoon.

Gingerbread Houses!
by Marrion

I started a tradition with my grandkids after a friend invited me over to do a ginger bread house about 5 years ago. I enjoyed it so much and had so much fun.
It’s a big hit evey with the parents of the grandkids and they wonder why we never did it when they were growing up. I bake the kits and glue them so they are dry and they get to decorate it anyway they like . Then we eat them later.

Chanukah Traditions
by Judy

As we are Jewish, our family traditions are a bit different than many. We always light our Menorah each of the 8 nights. I do hang “too many” Chanukah decorations in our kitchen and family room. Usually on the 8th night we have our lattke fry off. As we have our children, their spouses, girl and boy friends as well as the family members of our children by marriage and close friends, we can be frying patties for 25 or more. I make several brisket pot roasts, my daughters-in-law bring salad and veggies and we grate onions and pounds of potatoes and fry away until all are full. We serve sufganiot (Hebrew for fried, jelly donuts) as we exchange gifts. My children have a name swap but the granddaughter gets spoiled by all.
My husband and I always gave our 5 gifts every nite-small ones except for the last night. In memory of our son, Joshua who perished at the WTC, we give a basket of 8 gifts to a charity for children who might not have any Chanukah.

Expect the Unexpected
By Joyce

As a small group from our church we usually “adopt” a family from the community and provide gifts, clothing, and food per their “list” of requests.
This year we decided to “do” for several in our church who did not submit a list but could use some TLC.
To a widow, we provided a truckload of firewood to heat her home, to a college student who comes home to work each weekend a gas gift card, to a guy  undergoing chemo who can’t work full time a grocery gift card, and to our pastor, notes of appreciation along with a gift card to a local restaurant.
It’s nice to help those in need but nice too to recognize those who are special everyday.

Cherished the Old, Looking for New – Traditions
by Carla

One of our biggest traditions was on Christmas Eve we would all pile into the car and go look at Christmas lights after we would come home drink eggnog and the kids would get to open one gift or sometimes two. New pajamas and sometimes slippers. Can’t have the scruffy looking for the Christmas pictures.. lol
Now all three of my children have grown with children of their own. Christmas Eve has turned into watching it’s a Wonderful life or some other Christmas movie and after opening the pajamas and finishing all the wrapping, everyone tucks into their old room with their family. We all wake up just like they were still small and open presents and spend a grand day together when they go home they get to see what Santa brought to their house.
We moved into an apartment last year and now we don’t have that much room the kids say they will spend Christmas Eve night in their own beds. My grandson will be 12 in a week this will be new for him. Kinda of sad but yet sweet to see how the grow. Now we need new traditions.

Cranberry Pie
By Merry M

One of our family favorites is Cranberry Apple Pie. I make my own crusts, and the rest of the pie is pretty easy. I buy the cranberries in bulk and toss them in the freezer as-is. When I need them, I scoop them out by the cup, rinse them in the collander, and they’re ready to go! The recipe was in the old Betty Crocker cookbook that I got when I was in high school (a few years ago!).

Saving the Memories
By Connie V

Our family goes together to drive around and look at Christmas lights and end with hot cocoa.
I also put together a notebook of traditions with family cookie recipes, Christmas short stories, fun memories. The girls all really love these for adding their own recipes and traditions or Christmas memories.
One memory I shared was our very first Christmas. We did not have much money and I spent $5.00 on a scruffy tree and went to a thrift store and found red and green pipe cleaners and small Styrofoam balls and those became snowmen ornaments and I made construction paper hoop chains and it was my fondest xmas memory which I included in the memory book.

A Tasty Tradition
by Carol

My first Christmas as a bride money was so tight it was practically non-existent. We had a small tree and managed to buy a string of lights. I made an angel for the top of the tree out of a dime store doll that I cut in two. I taped her top to a paper roll. I stitched a dress for her from scraps and remnants of fabrics, her wings were silver feathery picks for a floral arrangement. For the ornaments on the tree, I made and intricately frosted dozens of sugar cookies and hung them on the tree. When the kids came along, they loved the cookies on the tree, so did all their friends!
Now, 46 Christmases later, the same angel is still on top of our tree and we still decorate with cookies. Over the years I have added a few ornaments too, just so it doesn’t look too bare when Christmas arrives and most of the cookies have been eaten. Now the grand kids love the cookies on the tree. As long as we have a Christmas tree, it will be decorated with cookies.

Cookies of Their Very Own
by Pat H.

I am 73 and when I got married in 1959 I received my grandmother’s molasses cookie recipe. We would only make them at Christmas. My daughter and each grandchild gets a batch, plus all of mine they can get before going out the door. Takes 2 days to make and starting the beginning of December they keep asking when I am going to start. They are wonderful with milk. If they did not get any gifts, they would think the cookies were enough if they got their own batch.

Keeping the Home Fires Burning
By Kit J.

We too read the “Night Before Christmas. We also place cookies and milk out for Santa. The kids who are now all teens, or older, still look forward to it. With Dad overseas for another year and missing Christmas with us, it is important to do the comforting traditions that make the Holidays special.

Carrying on Family Traditions
By Judy S.

Christmas eve was always the Polish Custom of the 7 fishes, mac and cheese at Grandmom’s in Philadelphia.
After dinner we celebrate and wish each other good cheer while sharing the “host” with all family members. Then Santa arrives with gifts for each and everyone – the whole alley between Grandmom’s house and the aunts was filled to the brim with gifts. More food was served and we would got the little ones in their Christmas PJs and drive the 30 miles north for 10:15 PM Candle Light Christmas Eve. This custom continues even though grandmom and older relatives have passed, but now at a cousin’s home in NJ the Sunday before the holiday. The grandchildren now enjoy and its always a good time with the relatives.

A Nutty Tradition

By Jill

One year, my ex-husband and I had a bowl of mixed nuts in the shell on the table at Christmas time. When his sister (20 at the time) came over she said she thought that only “rich” people could afford nuts in the shell. The next year we started delivering a bag of nuts on her doorstep, we would ring the bell and run!! Silly her she didn’t know who was doing it (whatever). My daughter had not even been born yet when this all started but we took a break one year when she was 12, the next year she wanted to know why we didn’t do it anymore so we started again CJ (the daughter) is 29 and still delivers nuts to her Aunt Glor every Christmas.

Protecting the Tree?
By Sharon T.

When our kids were little, we would wait until Christmas Eve day to put up the tree.  Cookies and cocoa after dinner.  Breakfast as soon as the kids were up meant we got something in their tummies before the melee of opening gifts began.  My husband always brings in a large trashcan and everyone balls up the paper to toss from as far away as possible.   We attend the last Mass of the day on Christmas Day, usually about 11 AM.  Pretty staid by most standards.
I do recall one year putting the tree in the playpen because our then 18 month old son would crawl out of the playpen and crawl under the tree.  The time it fell over was when it, instead of our son, went into the playpen.  He wouldn’t stay in the playpen, but he wouldn’t voluntarily get in either, no even to play with the tree.
The year I discovered our kids getting up in the middle of the night to open their gifts and then rewrap them so the “parents won’t know” was the last time they were put out early.  After that, it was after we were sure they were asleep on Christmas Eve.
The kids are all grown with kids of their own, but we still have turkey with all the trimmings for dinner with homemade pumpkin pie for dessert.
Now the tree goes up in early December and comes down a week after New Year’s.  We get to enjoy it a bit longer.  The ornaments are ones we’ve collected from the places we’ve been all over the country.  Opening those small boxes up is a treat every year as we remember when…..
Gifts are still opened right after breakfast, although when it’s just hubby and me, we enjoy our morning coffee a bit longer.

Christmas Cake  – With a Kick!

By Geraldine V.

Because I’m Irish and love Guiness, I bake an Irish Guiness Cake, where the fruit is stewed and soaked in Guiness instead of the traditional Christmas cake, instead of the icing I decorate it with slivered almonds on top and top it with some whiskey when it comes out of the oven. The cake is made in advance and the smell is devine, it is not cut until Christmas Day. This has become our traditional Christmas cake in our house and everyone loves it, my friends expect to get some when they come round.

Chocolate Gravy!
By Stacey B.

As small children we’d visit our aunt, my Mom’s older sister, and her many children. She always made homemade buttermilk biscuits and chocolate gravy. My siblings and I loved it, when I was around 13 I got the recipe and it became a tradition for Mom to make it on special occasions but we all showed up at Mom’s with spouses and kids in tow for Christmas morning’s breakfast of chocolate and biscuits. She always fixed something else for the spouses as none of them seemed to care for it. We lost Mom in March of 2009, but this is a tradition we have all continued in our own homes in Southeast GA, and Northwest GA. I can still hear Mom saying, “Keep stirring, mmm, smells good.”

And, Stacey has shared the recipe!

Here is the recipe!!!

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

• Mix all the dry ingredients in a heavy saucepan with a whisk, add the milk.
• Cook over medium heat stirring constantly. Remove the pot when the mixture is thick, it’ll thicken after it starts to boil, don’t let it burn.
• (optional) Add the butter. Stir in until completely melted. Serve over biscuits with a teaspoon of butter dolloped on top.

If you don’t want to make buttermilk biscuits of your own, it’s messy lol, Grands biscuits work great, and walmart’s bag of buttermilk biscuits are good too.

Ding Dong Ding Dong…

By Pamela S.

Christmas Eve has always brought such wonderful memories for me.  All ten of us (and often a few more-Grandma, a friend or other relative) would crowd into our little front room.  We would have a little program with piano/violin playing, songs, nativity (either read or acted out).  One of us kids would be in charge of planning the event.  As we have gotten older, we have gotten sillier.  What I remember most about these nights is the laughter we share with one another.  There is one event that is a staple at these programs…the pipe bells.
One year at a family reunion, we made some pipe bells.  This became the new hightlight of our Christmas Eve programs.  We were so awful at harmonizing with those bells that we always ended up laughing our way thorugh the songs rather than playing them.  We had a friend that came to our Christmas Eve program just to play them!
My parents eventually moved out of state and my husband missed those silly bells.  He made us a set as well as one for his parents.  Now, we play those bells at his dad’s home.  Some years we get to play them twice if my parents are in town.
This year, I am giving a set to my sister who doesn’t live near us or my parents.  She missed those bells and wants her children to enjoy playing them.
Who would have thought they would bring so much Christmas joy and memories!

On the First Day of Christmas…

By Jackie

My husband and I were married 18 years ago and on our first christmas we started a new tradition. We give each other a gift every day for the 12 days of Christmas ending with day 12 being Christmas Eve. This makes the holiday last almost 2 weeks. I really enjoy it, it’s such a treat to check our stockings every morning when we get up. We have different schedules and some days, in lean years, we just get a handwritten note or very inexpensive gift like cheap jersey work gloves since we both work outdoors in the cold and wet weather. Happy holidays!!!

Bushels of Cookies

By Carol Ann M

Our family loved to BAKE, BAKE, BAKE at Christmas, and every holiday for that matter!
I remember my grandmother making “bushels” of cookes for Christmas. There had to be enough for anyone who came calling to take a small dish of cookies home. And let me tell you, that’s exactly how her recipes read…”makes 1/2 bushel” or makes one bushel”. But the funny part is grandmom never measured anything precisely. The ingredients were a “pinch of this” of “a little in your palm”, or “whatever it takes” (usually referring to flour).
The prize question posed to Grandmom every year was, “whatever it takes to do what, Grandma”? Of course, there was never a scientific answer, but she would always respond with my original question….”Whatever it takes!”
I guess she meant whatever amount it took to make a good cookie dough. You had to be able to “feel” the consistency of the cookie dough to know if it “takes” more flour or more butter, etc.
So every year, at Christmas, when I run myself ragged making “bushels” of cookies, I think to myself “Grandma, what does it take” to realize I don’t need to drive myself crazy making all those cookies!?

Some Old, Some New

By Louisa K

I grew up with a lot of traditions but some I changed. On Christmas eve we went with my mother to put flowers on all the family graves here in Hermanus (RSA) and when getting back from the graveyard gathered around the Christmas tree and one of my children would deal out the presents under the tree.
Then to bed to wait for Santa while sleeping.
After all the excitement we go to attend the chucrh service and then have a meal of cold meat and salads where my mum slogged away in the heat to serve a cooked feast.
We do end with my mother’s special recipe of trifle.
Crackers and paper hats a plenty and love and joy.
This year I will be privileged to have all three my sons and their families together for the first time in six years!!!!!!!!!!!

Plum Pudding from Grandma

By Pauline

Our Christmas tradition is the famous recipe of a scrumptious plum pudding I inherited from my mother in law 50 years ago. My family will not eat any other. As I am in Australia I have my Christmas Pudding in any weather as it is summer here, but that does not seem to matter. They love it.

“Deer Me!  What’s for Dinner?”

By Gerry B

We always go to church on Christmas Eve, then come home for our big Christmas dinner…so all the Santa stuff can be enjoyed the next morning! Years ago we started having venison on Christmas Eve…not telling the kids it was DEER meat until they were older. Of course I had to joke it was Rudolph (remember all our kids were grown by then) so one year one of college aged kids slipped a cherry tomato onto the platter & waited. Yes, we all laughed. Now we have grandchildren and again don’t mention just what that meat is, but we still have venison every Christmas Eve thanks to my hunting friends!

The Best Potatoes EVER!

By ibwaitn

My grandmother from Russia didn’t have much money so they made potato fudge. When she past away mom made it and when I married, I started making it and 50 years later I still make it for the family.

Waiting the Arrival of the Baby Jesus

By Cindy B

Here is the custom we have had at our house since our children were little.  I can remember doing this in school as a child and thought it would be a good custom to continue so that our children would learn that Christmas is not just about toys and gifts.
At our house, the nativity scene was set up at the beginning of Advent.  However, the baby Jesus was not put in the manger until Christmas Day.  I had made our set in ceramics years ago.  The original set had the baby Jesus and crib as one piece.  Then a few years later, I found a 2 part piece.  So I bought it and painted it also.
Our children had to do good deeds before Christmas and when they did, they were allowed to take a piece of straw and put in the manger scene to start making a “soft” bed for the baby.  And the baby would be put into the crib after the kids went to bed on Christmas Eve so they could find Him waiting for them in the morning.
We continued this custom until they all left home.  One year, our son was over with this family before Christmas.  That year I was in a hurry when setting things up and had put the baby Jesus in the manger scene.  He saw it and exclaimed:  “Mom, it’s not Christmas yet, the baby hasn’t come.”  He promptly took it out and put it in its hiding place.  Never again has the baby appeared “too early”.

PJs Made by Elves

By Billie S

This tradition was carried on from my childhood, to my children.  And now that they are grown, to the grandchildren.
Every Christmas eve, “Santa” pays a visit to the kids room right before bedtime.  He leaves a present for all the kids.  When they quickly open them they find a fresh pair of pjs or nightgown made by one of his “elves”.  So they get to wear the new pjs to bed.  It is usually without problems, as Santa showed them that by leaving the presents, he is in the neighborhood.

Smorgasbord!!!

By Carol H

My family is of Swedish heritage. Every year my aunt and uncle would hold a smorgasbord on Christmas Eve. We lived far away from each other, but I remember always being intrigued with the idea of smorgasbord. I married a man of Swedish heritage (imagine that!) and told him about my aunt and uncle’s tradition. One year, early in our marriage, we decided to do a smorgasbord for his family on Christmas Eve. Armed with my mother’s authentic Swedish meatball recipe and my grandmother’s authentic rice pudding recipe and recipes from my aunt, I forged ahead and we had the first smorgasbord. It became a tradition and parts of it have carried on over the years, well loved by my children. A few years ago, with both sons, daughters in law, grandsons, and grandpuppy in attendance I became ill and had to teach my son to make Swedish meatballs. We were coming close to full circle. They turned out very well and the tradition continued.

Old Ways Are the Best Ways

By Vivian

We didn’t have much for Christmas when I was a child. Our tree looked more like Charlie Brown’s, but my 2 older sisters and I made red & green paper chains, and our Mother showed us how to string popcorn. We weren’t allowed to touch the glass ornaments, that was for Mother & Dad to put on, with a star on top. It was a real treat to have our parents drive us around the neighborhood on Christmas Eve, to see all the pretty lights people had put up. We thought our tree was just as pretty.
That all ended when our Dad died when I was ten, sisters were 13 & 16. We had to move in with our Mother’s parents, and Grandma and Grandpa helped make sure we had a nice Christmas.
My husband and I would drive around with our 3 kids every Christmas, and we made paper chains and popcorn and cranberry strings on our fake tree we had to use because of one child’s allergies, and it was just as pretty.
Now the kids have moved away, and it is just the two of us again. The town we live in decorates a park for people to walk or drive through, and there is a Christmas train that goes through town before Christmas. It’s so much fun watching the little ones’ excitement, waiting for Santa’s train. The tradition continues with our grandchildren, driving around with their parents, who live too far away for us to visit.

Presents, One By One…

By Anne

Growing up, there were three families, my grandparents, aunt and uncle and their girls, and ours (my brother and I and our parents).  On Christmas Eve, we alternated to each home, where we had dinner, then exchanged gifts from each other.  We went around the room, opening one at a time, so all could enjoy.  On Christmas Day, we always went to my grandparents’ house (even if we had been there the night before) for Christmas Dinner.  Now that I have children of my own, and they have children, we are not able to get together, because we live all over the country.  Our youngest lives closest, so we usually go to their house for the holidays.  And we still go around the room to open gifts.

Gingerbread Rules!

By Rose

When my oldest son was in 3rd grade, the room mom led the kids in a Gingerbread House Decorating Party.  We thought it was so much fun, we’ve done it every year since. This year was our 16th annual party. I have several high school seniors who’ve made gingerbread houses with us since they were in kindergarden-and these are the football and baseball players! My niece is a cop and she brought half of  her squad with her on duty this year! (let the neighbors wonder! :0)
The party started out with just my kids and their friends. Then we added cousins and friends, then neighbors, then as the kids got older, we started adding our friends and their kids. We’re up to about 50 guests and 25 houses the last  few years. We start with graham cracker houses and cement frosting, then add everything we can find that works. A cheeto bit is the nose in a marshmallow snowman, black gum drop bits for his coal buttons and pretzel stick arms. Sugar cones coated in cement and rolled in green sugar for a Christmas tree with red hots for ornaments.
Pretzel logs for log cabins. Necco wafers for roof tiles. Two sprinkles on a starlight mint for the clock in the clock tower. Green gummy Army men for the fort. Pinto beans for the rock chimney. Shredded wheat for straw. Tic-tacs hang off the edge of the roof like icicle lights. A Rollo on top of a Tootsie roll for a coach lamp. Spearmint leaves on top of Tootsies for short trees. Powdered sugar through a sieve for a snow coating at the end!
My only rule is that everything has to be edible. I usually make some basic houses for first timers, and we give everyone an aluminum foil covered cardboard “yard” to work on. Have plenty of extra graham crackers on hand for those creative guests who make things like army forts, castles, space ships, etc. I have the recipe, diagram and directions on a PDF file and would love to share it if you want.

GINGERBREAD FOREVER!

Christmas with Grandparents
By Shari G.

When I was a little girl, on Christmas Eve we would go to my paternal grandmother’s house and open presents.  Since she was a widow, she would spend the night with us or with my uncle rotating each year.  We would take her with us over to my maternal grandparents and open gifts there.  That side of my family was large so there were 20+ kids running around and my grandmother would always have some gift for each of us.
When I turned 13, we moved 3 hours away and no longer went to grandparents on Christmas eve.  It wasn’t until I married my husband when I was 22 years old before we started having the Special Christmas Eve again.  We started going to my in-laws for Christmas eve dinner and gift opening.  Since we lived on the family ranch, our house was only about 100 yards behind their house.  Starting about 4 AM my mother in law would watch out her back window for our kitchen light to come on to know she and my father-in-law can come down to see the kids excitement over what Santa brought them.  Because I knew how much this meant to them, I never allowed the kids out of the room until they were down there (although I am sure when they got older, they would sneak a peek while we were still sleeping).
Then either my parents and brother would come to my house for Christmas dinner or we would go to my parents.
Now my kids are all grown and have families of their own.  My youngest son and his wife would always let Santa come here for their little Emma since their apartment wasn’t big and they knew how much I loved to see the excitement in her eyes.  We would all go Christmas eve too my in-laws or I would have it here, Emma would spend the night and my son and his wife would get up early before she would wake up to come over.  It was wonderful.  My older son and his family do Christmas eve with us either here or at my in-laws and we always have my parents join us and then they go to my daughter-in-law’s family for Christmas day.  My daughter and her husband makes a round to everyone’s on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Last year, our Christmas has changed.  My youngest son was killed in a car accident June 12, 2010 and so his daughter and wife moved back to his wife’s hometown and I no longer get Santa to come here.  They do come over for Christmas Eve and then over to my parents for Christmas dinner and I am thankful for that.
Our traditions are changing as the family grows and changes but one thing is constant, the love and excitement of the holiday season which is the best tradition of all.

Singing Christmas Tree
By Lori

One of the churches in town started doing a singing Christmas tree back in the early ’80′s. We used to go with my mom. After she passed away, I continued the tradition with my nieces and nephews. A few of them have stopped coming with us, but there are still more than a dozen of us that go – it now includes great nieces and nephews.

Carrot Crumbs in the Bedroom!
By Mariann

Now for some of the Christmas traditions and scenarios I set up with my own children…

I often thought about all the questions that pop up when kids see the different store Santas??? gifts with price tags from Macy’s on them??? etc…
So, when I explained Christmas to my own children, I let them know the facts
1. There is only 1 real Santa and he is the spirit of Christmas loving, caring, giving and joy. Of course he’s busy at Christmas time and can’t get around. But, there are Certified Santa’s whom he allows to work in his name at the stores, so that many, many children can get to see what he looks like, and enjoy his presence in the parades and at parties. They are his representatives and  pass on everything said to him. So, he knows what you say. He is magical so he knows quite a bit more without you telling him, but it helps to be direct.
2. He works with parents who pay part of the bill to provide gifts for their families and contribute to those who don’t have enough. The parents provide him with advice for their own families. That’s why you might get a Barbie and one outfit that you parents can afford. Your friend might get the real life $1000 Barbie BMW and her whole set of friends!! (If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?) Your parents help decide what’s appropriate for you and your circumstances.
3. The toy shops in the North Pole make so many toys, but mostly handmade ones. The toy manufacturers also make toys that Santa can buy. Stores like Macy’s, Longs Drugstore, etc. open in the middle of the night if Santa wants to shop to add to his collections. He pays and also buys their wrappings, just like parents do. So the wrap may be the same as at home.
4. Of course the reindeer bring him all over…time is different on Christmas Eve so he can get to everyone. Children provide cookies and milk since it is such a LOOOOONG trip for him. Our family decided to provide carrots so he doesn’t get sugar shock and he can share with the reindeer. Oddly, each year, the reindeer seem to come upstairs of our house, probably to see what sleeping children look like and they always seem to drop carrot crumbs in the bedrooms. You can be sure they were there!
5. Santa is VERY happy if you decide to share one of your toys with someone who doesn’t have as much – that’s the true Christmas Spirit.
Now as the children age and started questioning Santa…the answer is always the same – Santa is the spirit of Christmas and that is always true, you can see it everywhere. Besides, if you don’t choose to believe – well, it seems he stops bringing presents to you as to not offend. But Mommy and Daddy will always believe!

By Kelley P.

When my three children were small, I wanted them to have something to carry though life with them long after I was gone. So, I decided I would get them each a new ornament every year. By the time they were young adults ready to move on their own, they would have enough ornaments to start their own tree.
Those years were very, very lean, I can tell you. We lived in income based housing and never had two nickels to rub together but those kids always had their ornaments as one of their gifts on Christmas morning. Some where home made, not the greatest either, some were store or craft show bought. When the morning came, they would leave their stockings until last to open. That is where the ornament always was.
Now, to this very year, the ornament is in their stockings and they each have their own home, their own tree and their family Christmas tradition.
I have now started it will my grandchildren. Hopefully they will grow to realize that the memories created by these ornaments is what the world is made of…love, giving, Christmas cheer and memories!

Sweet Traditions
By Dee Dee

My younger sister and I created a tradition that our children and grandchildren enjoy one way or another.  We start getting together just after Thanksgiving and start making our Christmas candy.  We do ‘painted’ molded chocolates, peanut butter balls, fudge, different flavors of crunch (peppermint, peach, toffee and/or lemon), and I usually do several kinds of cookies (peanut butter crunch and chocolate chip are done every year!) and sometimes nut rolls.  Some like to help make them and everyone likes to help eat them!  We make enough for family and to give as gifts.

Here is  a picture of a baby quilt with your applique baby font that I will give my niece who will have her baby in March, 2012.

My niece married 6 years, she and our whole family were expecting she will be pregnant. Thanks God, she will have her baby soon. Her mom was passed away many years ago, being her aunt, I was trying to make something special for her.
I love the pattern of baby font, both embroidery and quilting took me a lot time, I believe my niece will be happy with my gift that with the value of my love.

The Baby Alpha can be seen by clicking here.

Don’t know if this is helpful or not but it sure worked for me!
I live in Georgia where the humidity can get UNREAL.  Using WSS (water soluble stabilizer) is very challenging at times; ESPECIALLY when making Lace!
I was NOT having any fun until I got the idea to use plastic mesh screening (bridal tulle).  I hooped the heavy WSS on the bottom, the screening in the middle & a lightweight WSS on top.  The result:  NO MORE DRAMA.  No tearing, NO shifting & NO ugly flowers!!!.
I find this is also helpful when I’m too cheap to throw away the bits of fibrous WSS that are too small to hoop alone but too big to throw away.
A WSS sandwich with screening in the center works like a charm.  Once the WSS is out, fussy cut the edges & you have a GORGEOUS piece……..and it’s VERY durable.

Below:

BEFORE
Single Layer WSS
Double Layers WSS
Thread pulled WSS
Project tore

AFTER
Single Layer WSS 4x on bottom
Double Layers Bridal Tulle in the middle
Single Layer WSS on top

Threads are NOT pulled by WSS

Hi Rob, I told you I would send you a picture of the quilt I embroidered when I bought 20 spools of #843 thread. I didn’t need that many but it never hurts to have extra.
The quilt is a queen size and the color is a tone on tone. The quilt and pillow are made from crepe backed satin.
The DesignsBySick Polyester thread has such a satin look and finish to it that it was a beautiful match for my quilt. I love using your thread,  it is just so smooth running in my machine.

NOTE:  All Designs By SiCK Threads are ON SALE (50% OFF!!!) until Monday night (12/12/2011)!

I cut a slit in the side of the bag long enough to accommodate the width of the stabilizer and fed the end through the slit and TAADAA!  Neat and clean and contained.

I would like to submit photos of a few of little cushion covers which I made for my Grandson.

I took the filler out as they photographed a lot better.

I used the Sunbonnet Mylar Boys embroidery designs from Designs by Sick and then played with them to end up with two little cushions for my Grandson, Barton.

On one I added a few ‘B’ things such as butterfly to the boys hat and a basket, bee etc.

I had fun and really loved the designs.

You can see the Mylar Boys Set by clicking here.
You can see all sets by Heidi by clicking here.

I would like to submit photos of a few of little cushion covers which I made for my Grandson.

I took the filler out as they photographed a lot better.

I used the Sunbonnet Mylar Boys embroidery designs from Designs by Sick and then played with them to end up with two little cushions for my Grandson, Barton.

On one I added a few ‘B’ things such as butterfly to the boys hat and a basket, bee etc.

I had fun and really loved the designs.

You can see the Mylar Boys Set by clicking here.
You can see all sets by Heidi by clicking here.

I keep a dry erase board near my embroidery/quilting/sewing machines so I can write down the needle type in each machine as I work.  My brain is getting too old to remember from one day to the next……

My supersize sewing room storage project!
I read the article in your newsletter on sept 25th “Sharon’s Husband is Not For Sale or Rent” and it inspired my storage solution.
My embroidery area is really small. It is in my bedroom at the foot of my bed. I use an
old entertainment center and a plastic dresser with drawers. The dresser was perfect
it kept all my thread that I had in just the right size drawers. But as time went by the
plastic got weak and I had to pull up on the drawer above to pull out the drawer I wanted.

I have been looking for something to replace it for almost a year now. The problems I ran into were:

• too expensive
• not the right size to fit the space
• not the right size or number of drawers that I needed

After I saw the storage unit that Sharon’s husband made for her, I had my
“ah-ha” moment. My husband Jim had made us a DVD unit a few years ago so I know he could do what I needed. (I just had to butter him up)

I kept the plastic drawers from the old unit and designed the new unit around those.
Then added a few more shelves for more storage.

Here is a photo showing it just after he finished. My daughter, Jasmine is holding a
5’ ruler to show the scale of it. The total cost of the materials was less than $50.

Here is the unit in place and filled. It is so much easier to find what I want.
I can’t wait to get started on more embroidery projects.

(personally, I want to thank Jody for having the courage to show us pics  of the “before” – as not too many of us share that aspect of our lives with others.  I still think I saw the producers of “Hoarders” in our little town, asking for directions to my house! ~ rob)

Here’s my latest thought… I just knew there had to be another use for the tray the carry-out sushi came in.  My bobbins fit perfectly, and the snap-on lid keeps them in place.  One less item for the landfill.

You go online and browse through the array of sites offered by http://www.DesignsBySiCK.com

You have:
1. Forums where you can confess your embroidery addiction or introduce yourself
2. Forum albums to see projects by other members
3. Stitch chat is a great place to meet and greet other DBS members
4. Chat on DBS – live chat with your fellow embroidery buddies
http://www.stitchchat.com/
5. Yahoo group is where you get daily messages and notifications. (This is my favorite!)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SiCKDesigns/?yguid=248406911
6. Facebook fan page to post pictures of completed work, get freebies and show your
support!
http://www.facebook.com/DesignsBySiCK
7. Face book embroidery application to get for your SmartPhone!
8. Thread chart information, colors, choices, and so on. (http://www.threadchart.info)
9. Hourly hunt for the free design. This changes every hour.
10. Find the hourly dollar page and buy some designs on the cheap!
11. Review the most popular designs. (I just checked, I have them all hmm… must be more
to do ..)
12. Review products sold on the website. I bought the thread pack a while back. Check out
solar thread ideas and stabilizers.
13. Got a stabilizer question? See the stabilizer guru on the forums!
http://www.embroideryforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/46-Ask-the-Stabilizer-Guru
14. Browse through the Articles, Tips and Customer projects on the website!  Decide which of the projects you have created using a designs from Designs By SiCK you can  photograph and send to Rob and receive a set of your choosing if it is published!
15. Finally, browse designs!

(St. Lucia Day)

Do you have one which you have continued from your childhood and continued with your own children?
Did you discover a new one on your own and make that a part of your holiday celebration each year?
Were you so excited to learn a new one from a friend or in a book  – you made it your very own?
We want to hear about them!  As always, winners will be published and receive a set of their choosing.

Now for mine – Each year since the very first Christmas with the very first baby, my husband (known to most of you as the Big Biker Dude) has read “The Night Before Christmas” to our children on Christmas Eve.

As the children got older, Dad would make up some silliness in the middle of the story to the delight them and make them smile.  Once he even “rapped” the story to the children.

The kids, now past their teen years still love to gather around dad and listen as he reads – only now the oldest (who flies in from Los Angeles where he works as a writer/director/editor) develops a newer, more up-to-date version of the story for Dad to read. No one can keep a straight face as he reads about the trials and tribulations of Santa who experiences technical problems with his high-tech sleigh and how he manages to pull off the night’s events in the long run.

The story seems to grow with the family and has become more about the love and closeness of family rather than the ribbons and festivities.

YOUR TURN!!!

Please EMAIL them to me – rob AT designsbysick DOT com

Subject: Christmas Challenge 2011

In the quilt pictured, there’s a long story there… I have been sewing for about 40 years now. My lovely grandmother taught me on her old treadle machine when I was little. I made doll clothes and little blankies or my stuffed animals when I was about 5. I never let her church clothing scraps go to waste!! I did not try quilting until later in life, I was afraid. Why? I’m a perfectionist. I was afraid I’d never ever finish a quilt, because I’d be too fussy with it, always “fixing” something.

So one day on a personal challenge, I dared myself to prove I could do it, knowing nothing. Its just math, right? So I used my math knowledge and started to make a quilt. I knew nothing about 1/4 inch seams. I knew nothing about the 7/8ths rule for HSTs (half square triangles). I knew nothing at all about quilting, yet I designed that first nightmare on point ~ WHAT was I thinking?!?

Needless to say, while it did not turn out too bad, it is totally yuk compared to what I create now. So that original “top” sat on my shelf, staring back at me, saying “ha ha” for years.
My husband caught me trying to throw it away one day. “Oh, NO you don’t!” he said. If I didn’t want it, HE did. So again it sat. Then I saw it last week, and as a personal joke, I finished it (LOL “I’ll make him eat those words!” I thought).

Needless to say, that horrid math-lets-make-a-quilt-oh-my-this-is-terribly-bad quilt is now on his recliner, and he and my kids love it to death. Ewwww.
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BINDING TOOL INSTRUCTIONS:

Items needed:
Small link chain, or 18-20 inch necklace or length of yarn
4-inch section of tubing* (or a toilet paper tube works in a pinch!)
Scotch tape
length of binding for your quilt
quilt
(ha ha ~ don’t forget the sewing machine and thread and and and LOL)

* I save the remaining core of larger spools of threads, the ones that don’t have a lip on them, and the cardboard core of tulle spools work great too!

1. Make your quilt top as usual, sandwich, and quilt your pretties…

2. Measure your binding as you normally would, and create your length. Iron all 45-degree seams nice and neatly. (I always fold in half and check against my quilt before rolling to save frustration later of having to add one more strip).

3. Roll your binding neatly and uniformly, RSO (right-side facing out) on your tube. You can just put a small piece of Scotch tape on the end to secure it to your tube)

4. Thread your chain / yarn thru the hole of the tube to make a “necklace”.

5. Put your necklace on with the flap rolling out the UNDERSIDE. This will feed your binding onto your quilt edge RSD (right side down). Start sewing 9-12 inches from the edge, so you can miter that last edge once you’re sewn all the way around your quilt. The binding will AUTO FEED as you need it!

6.  Smile because you didn’t have a pile of strips at your feet that could get caught under your chair wheels, or stepped on while sewing!

7.  Fold over binding and hand-stitch to backside, and voila, you’re done!

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TIME / SANITY SAVING TIP:

FYI: for a “fatter” binding (I like a meaty wider binding than normal), I use this little trick:
1. figure out how fat to make front edge of binding
2. apply scotch tape “flap” onto right edge of foot for a visual marker

3. don’t forget to measure that width, then multiple x4 and add 1/8 inch ~ to make your bulky binding the right size!

Here’s what the foot looks like:

****  Check out the “prize” my daughter won at the quilting retreat we attended in September – A BINDING BUDDY!  Just add “string”!!!  (she read the article and said, “You know, Mom, I won one of those at the Retreat!”

Every Sunday, you receive this Newsletter. It is a wonderful combination of instruction and inspiration. It draws your attention to a few  of the many sets available at Designs by SiCK, and some of the ways they can be used. You may have even  thought to yourself, “I could never contribute something like that!”

Well, here is another how-to article. . .  on writing a “how-to” article.

Everyone has their own style of writing, and their own method of developing an article. What works for me may not work for you. That’s fine. With a little practice you will discover what does work for you. Then you can contribute articles and see your name on computer screens around the world.

Here are things to think about as you write your article:

• What are you giving instructions for? A description of the item or technique will help your readers know what to expect.
• What supplies are needed? Include a list of what goes into the project. Include measurements if they are important to the size of the finished item. Mention any special points to be aware of, like fabric weights to use, or to avoid.
• What steps need to be followed? Do they need to be done in a particular order? Give a description of each step, going into detail if needed. Doing a straight seam is likely to need less specifics than inserting a zipper, for example.
• Keep your instructions to the point. Break down the process into bite-size chunks, and give each portion the space it needs. Having too many steps in one paragraph can be hard to follow, especially if the technique is new or unfamiliar.
• Try to include pictures. Some people learn by reading, others need to see illustrations. A good tutorial article includes both.
• Give credit where it is due. If your project is inspired by something you saw somewhere else, say so. If the pattern is your own creation, don’t be afraid to say that, too.
• When you are finished writing, proof-read your article. While the built-in spell checkers in today’s word processing programs are great, they do have limits.  For example, if you use “sight” instead of “site” when talking about a location on the Internet, your program may not pick up on the error.
• As a final step, you might want to have someone else read your article and see if they understand the steps. This can make you aware of anything which is not clear, or if your phrasing can be improved.

It’s my turn to give credit to someone else, now. As I was sitting trying to think of a topic for an article to share with all of you,  my friend Kat said ”I like the way you give instructions. Why not write something on how you come up with an article?” This article is the result. Thank you, Kat!

(Note from Rob – please do not worry if English is not your first language or your grammatical skills are not the best.  Your talent as a crafter/embroiderer/quilter, etc far outweighs the need for perfect grammar!  Use SewMagical’s tips to make sure you include the important steps in writing your tutorial or article, but do not hesitate to share your talents because you are shy!  And, everything is proofread before it goes online – so – NO WORRIES!
Additionally, you can see other “Guidelines” for writing articles by clicking here.
Remember – we want to see your projects, read your tips and see what ideas you have!)

This quilt was made to be auctioned at a Cancer Awareness benefit.  In each block the ribbons are a different color that represents a different type of cancer.  The log cabin fabric colors also match the ribbon colors.  The purple represents cancer awareness.

I only started to quilt one year ago.  I love the effect embroidery makes on a quilt.

You can see the Breast Cancer Awareness designs by clicking here.

I have a tip for you.
Any time that you make a design where you will be using WSS (water soluble stabilizer) then why not add a tiny charm design to your hoop?
That way you waste less and you can always use a charm to add alongside a ribbon when you give a gift! It makes a very pretty addition to your gift package and it never hurts to have an extra little something around when you unexpected need a gift!

Hand towels I made for my beach themed bathroom!
I just love the Jacobean designs.

Lucinda used designs from Jacobean Sea Friends by Bonnie – you can see the set here.
You can see all sets by Bonnie here.

When I make FSL (free standing lace), I like it to ‘SPARKLE’.
I do not ever throw away a scrap of the stabilizer.  When I get ready to melt away the stabilizer, I use a glass bowl, put extra stabilizer scraps in the water, then I add some Ultra Fine Glitter.  You can get it at any craft store.
It adds sparkle to all your FSL.
You can also paint it on. If you are a non-believer, you can take a small amount of permanent fabric glue and add a little of extra stabilizer water, and paint it on any fabric that you want to sparkle.  It is great for Christmas tree trimming that you have had for 50 years and looks a bit frazzled.  They will be better than when they were new.
The key is Ultra Fine Glitter.
Children love to make things SPARKLE.
Have fun!!

Hand towels I made for my beach themed bathroom!
I just love the Jacobean designs.

Lucinda used designs from Jacobean Sea Friends by Bonnie – you can see the set here.
You can see all sets by Bonnie here.

While we are part of an on-line community of embroiderers and needle-crafters, we may not have anyone living near us who shares our passion for this wonderful art. I’m pretty sure we all have times when we wish we could tell someone about the wonderful design we just stitched out (purchased from Designs By SiCK, of course!).  Or maybe we want to talk about the tension problem we are having (on the embroidery machine, not us, right?). But there is no one around us who would really understand when we complain about a bird’s nest.

Ah, ha! That’s where you are uninformed, my friends!

There is such a place, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your computer. Designs By SiCK has a sister site, called StitchChat, located at http://www.stitchchat.com/ You can even reach it by going to the menu bar at the top of any DBS page, finding the link that says “Socialize”, and clicking “Stitch Chat” on the drop-down menu. There is a weekly chat which takes place on-line each week on Monday evenings at 8 PM Eastern time, although the chat room is always available.

An on-line chat can be a great place to meet others who share your interests. You can often find help (or perhaps give it) with stitching related problems. You can share in others’ successes. Conversations in a chat room, just like in real life, will wander back and forth, and twine over and under each other. It can be a lot of fun, but, if you are not familiar with it, it can be intimidating at first.

So let’s learn how to use the chat room.

The first time you go to the Stitch Chat site, you will need to register with the site. This is a separate log-in from the one you use for the Designs by SiCK site, but is very easy to do, and it is free.

Once you have registered, the home page will look something like this:

On the right hand side, near the top, you will see your log-in name. Since I used my page for this picture, it says SewMagical.  On the top left, I marked a red circle (#1) around the notice about the chat. Even though the page says 10 PM Eastern, we have been meeting earlier, around 8 PM Eastern time. At the lower right hand corner, you will see another red circle (#2). This shows you how many folks are already in the chat room. To “enter” the room, just click on the bar where it says “Stitch Chat Chat”.

The chat window will open, and look like this:

There are 3 panes to the chat window. On the right side, you will see a list of everyone who is in the chat room with you.

The left side has 2 panes, one below the other. If you place your mouse cursor in the lower pane, you will be able to type what you want to “say”.

Once you hit the “Enter” key, your text will be sent and will appear in the upper pane

Other people in the room read your words, and respond in the same way. And guess what…you’re chatting!

I have always found the folks in chat rooms to be very understanding about things like grammar and fumble-fingered typists. It doesn’t matter if you make a mistake or two along the way…we’ve all done that!  If someone doesn’t understand what you are trying to say, they will ask.

So if you are feeling alone in your love of embroidery, or just want to meet some new, fun, interesting folks, come join our Monday night chats!

See you there!

My great-granddaughter is 3 and Halloween is turning into a wonderfully fun adventure for her.  She found an old Halloween vest that I made her grandmother about fifteen years ago from one of the craft panels.  Of course, it hung to the floor, but she wore it all day.  I couldn’t have her possibly tripping over that or looking less than perfect when she went out, so I looked through my stash and found another old craft panel that I had bought years ago because I loved the tiny pumpkin print that was part of it.  A little freezer paper (to make a pattern), some careful cutting and piecing, and of course a quick trip to Designs by Sick and now she has her very own Halloween vest.  The design set is named Pumpkin Friends and I used #4 and #9.
Spoiling great-granddaughter is so much fun!

You can see the Pumpkin Friends Set by clicking here.

I know that many of you do quilts and some of us are relatively new to this hobby as I most certainly am.
I have decided to have a go at an attic window cushion that the  single bed quilts can be folded into during the day time for our little  motor home.
To get the sections joined together you have to stop 1/4 inch from the end of the one block and  then place the next on to it.
NOW -  how could I get that vital 1/4 stop so my eyes can see it??????
With the wiring of cogs and the flashing of lights my brain cells started to work.  The little man in my head shouted out it was so easy to do.
So,  how is it done:
Take a sticky backed address label and using your quilting  template, you cut the label into 1/4 inch strips.
Next all you need do is stick one strip at the end of the pieces of fabric where you have to stop at 1/4 inch before the end.
With the labels being white,  I can see them easily and they will lift off with no problem at all.
Here is as promised, the completed  cushion showing the Designs By SiCK wild animals (from the Realistic Wildlife set)  in the attic window. I have had such fun creating this  first set of attic window blocks.
Now to go hunting for another set to  sew to show through the attic windows.

(The Realistic Wildlife set can be found by clicking here)

You can see the set here.
You can see all sets by Heidi by clicking here.

Have what you think is embroidery disaster?
I DID!!!
I purchased some new legging outfits for my new and beautiful granddaughter.
Somehow my machine started eating the fabric and it skewed everything out of place.  I thought it was ruined.
I painstakingly cut all the stitches loose, pulled them out and pouted.  I tried doing it again, but it just didn’t look good enough for my little angel to wear.
How to fix it?
I embroidered the same pattern on water soluble stabilizer, sewed it over top of the bad one with a bit of ruffled trim around the edge to cover up any remaining spots that might have looked picked.  And now it almost looks as good as the other one I did with butterflies.

I had purchased the Closet Dividers and had not yet had an opportunity to use them. I thought, “Well, this is not someone we are close to, but I would like him to look good when his gift is opened.” So, since we knew this was going to be a boy gift, I made blue gingham dividers and re-arranged the designs so that there were only “boy” things.

Just before his gift was opened, the mom-to-be opened a package of tiny hangers. She said, “Oh, this is perfect. I am such an organized person that I will get a lot of use from these.”  My husband is thinking, “If you liked this gift, you will LOVE mine.”

Sure enough, his gift was the absolute hit of the shower. I added a door hanger in blue gingham that said, “Sh-h-h-h  Baby is sleeping”  My husband – the hero – now thinks that I just might be about half smart….and it only took him 40 years to figure this out.

Debby used the Closet Dividers  – which can be seen by clicking here

Designs by SiCK has a different door hanger   – which can be seen by clicking here.

OK, folks. I know it’s only the middle of October, and Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Yule are still roughly 9 weeks away.  I also know that some folks are already making (or have already made!) their holiday gifts. But I also know that some folks are sitting there, scratching their heads, thinking “Gee, I have a holiday  invitation. I want to make something really nice for the host/hostess. What can I make that will not only look nice, but be useful too?”

With that thought in mind, I’ve put together a list of gift ideas, using designs available here on Designs by Sick.

** Make a Freestanding Lace centerpiece and then embroider a set of napkins with a coordinating design. As an example, the 3D Christmas Bells design 7 (http://www.designsbysick.com/details/bell)
and the Christmas Ornament Lines design #6    (http://www.designsbysick.com/details/xmasorlines) would match up nicely.

**Help decorate the tree by making a set of FSL Ornaments http://www.designsbysick.com/details/rsfslornaments These would be great for homes with young kids/pets – no breakage or glass fragments to worry about.

**Made some Borderless Ornaments (http://www.designsbysick.com/details/borderlessornaments). Add a pin back to make a brooch.You can find pin backs in both sew-on and stick-on styles at your local craft store. You can also attach stick-on magnets to make refrigerator magnets.

**Make Napkin Rings http://www.designsbysick.com/details/fslnapkinrings, then attach a Borderless Ornament. To complete the set, make napkins with similar design. http://www.designsbysick.com/details/simpleborders

**Use design 03 from simple borders  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/simpleborders to make napkins, then use http://www.designsbysick.com/details/rosebowl or http://www.designsbysick.com/details/rosebowl2 to make a set.

**Use corner designs from  http://www.designsbysick.com/charts/jnrosebordersminiset to decorate napkins, then stitch border designs from the same set on fabric, and make napkin rings.

**Get a plain solid color mug from the dollar store, then use http://www.designsbysick.com/details/coffeearomas to make a Coffee cozy with mug mat. If you get a mug with a design on it, match that design to  make the mat.
For both of these ideas, you can include some tea bags or coffee singles to make the gift extra special.

**Sometimes it can be hard to make gifts for men. Why not decorate a sweatshirt to match his interests?. You could use cars (http://www.designsbysick.com/details/americanhotrods or  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/rwconvertibles) military (http://www.designsbysick.com/details/MilitarySilhouettes) or dogs (http://www.designsbysick.com/details/dogs, or http://www.designsbysick.com/details/malamuteshuskies as an example.

**Maybe you want to make a gift for kids for some quiet time. Try:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/appliquetictactoe.

I hope these ideas will help you get started on your gift making. Go, sew, and make something wonderful. And by the way…..Happy Holidays, whatever you celebrate!

[editor's note:  And - you can get a cup or glass of your favorite beverage and settle down to peruse the many, many ideas others have used in the Projects area of the website - their creativity never ceases to amaze me]  :

http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/category/projects/

Here you will find such ideas as a basketful of scrubbies
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/basket-o-scrubbies/
A cover for an electronic book
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/this-is-not-your-mommas-bookcover/
A quick and ease dog coat (with pattern!)
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/quick-and-easy-dog-coat/
Photo Album cover
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/photo-please/
Tissue box cover
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/snow-globe-tissue-holder/
A Steering Wheel Cover
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/got-ya-covered/
Bell Pull
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/ring-my-bell/
A Homemade Book
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/a-book-from-grandmother/
How a Kanji Design turned into a family affair!
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/well-i-saw-the-neat-kanji-design-and/
A gift for Grieving Parents
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/an-angel-never-forgotten/
Kanjii in the Kitchen

http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/kanji-designs-a-unique-use/

Storybook Quilt
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/max-and-his-blanket/
Something from a beginner
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/beginners-project-a-sweet-idea/

(Hint:  There is another puzzle coming soon!!!  This will be perfect for the small ones in your life!)