A Sew Loquacious Handmade Holiday

Halloween is in one week.  There are 33 days until Thanksgiving!  There are 62 days until Christmas and 69 days until New Year's!  What are you planning for the Holidays this year?  I recently posted about my pledge to contribute to handmade charity this season as well as my plan to either make or give handmade gifts this holiday season.  With this handmade pledge in mind, I've decided to document my Handmade Holiday here on my blog.

The The Sew Loquacious Handmade Holiday will include sewn, knit, or otherwise handcrafted gifts, as well as food ideas.  What are the most memorable gifts you received or gave?  I am certain that most were handmade.  I remember my grandmother giving all her grandchildren crocheted slippers one year.  I wore mine until they had holes in the soles!  When I was in my 20's,  my mother made pajamas for everyone.  I still have the pair she made for me!  Holiday baking always evokes memories of my childhood.  My mother made divinity every year.  Truth be told, I hate divinity, but she also made fudge, almond bark covered pretzels and Party Mix.

Grab the Sew Loquacious Handmade Holiday button if you'd like to join in!  Whenever I post a Handmade Holiday project, I'll add it to the linky tool at the bottom of the Sew Loquacious Handmade Holiday page..  If you write a post about a holiday project you are made, you can link up on this page as well!  Be sure to leave a comment, too!

I'm excited to get started!  I'm on the hunt for an easy knit slipper pattern or tutorial.  I'd like to make a pair for my youngest daughter.  If you know of an easy (not using double pointed needles), let me know!

Thanks again for sending me "get well soon" wishes!  I've been feeling much better in the last few days and have completed a couple of knitting projects, which I've added to my Etsy shop.

I've also managed to get into my sewing room to work on two birthday gifts.  I tried my hand at freezer paper stencils.

I bought two ready made shirts and cut about 2 inches off the bottom.  I then sewed fabric/ruffles to them after painting the stencils.  I'm really pleased with how they both turned out.  I made a yo yo for the top shirt.  It is attached with a button pin so it can be removed for easier washing.  I had a lot of fun doing the stencils and I am still amazed how well the freezer paper works!

Have a great Sunday everyone!  Please have a look through the Charitable Links page and consider making a project for charity.  Also, please join in the Sew Loquacious Handmade Holiday!  I know it's going to be a lot of fun!

Tootles!

Yo Yo Mountain

So what is it like having a new knee?  It hurts!  I've had a rough time since my last post.  The pain and swelling have been pretty severe.  I'm still confident, however, that it will get better and my recovery will be back on track asap!  

I haven't been able to get into my sewing room, but have made a mountain of Yo Yos and started a new knitting project.  I've also joined Pinterest.  I had seen references to being "pinned," on different blogs, but hadn't visited the site until a few days ago.  I haven't "pinned" a lot of things yet, but I'm starting to get the hang of it!  Are you on Pinterest?  Let me know.  I'd love to see your boards!

Tootles!

A New Blog Look

Notice a few changes?  You probably know by now that when I make blog design changes, it usually means I am immobile or otherwise not able to get to my sewing machine easily! The most obvious change is my header.  Usually mannequins creep me out a bit, but I thought these were a little quirky and not at all scary.  You might notice a new profile picture, too.  That's actually me.  Surprised?  I added my "Pages" or Categories under the header.  I need to do a little more tweaking here.  I'm sure there is a way to make the gadgets spaced or aligned better.  There also has to be a way to add images here!  Since I'm pretty much stuck on my butt, I have plenty of time to explore the blogosphere for tips and tricks for more tweaking!  

Thanks to everyone who sent "get well" emails and or left me sweet comments regarding my knee surgery.  My surgery went well and I came home from hospital Saturday afternoon.  All and all my hospital experience was pretty good.  All the nurses and techs were great and treated me really well.  Oh, and my Japanese Fabric Slippers were a huge hit as was my Walker Caddy!  I have a long recovery road ahead, but I feel good and I'm looking forward to a new lease on life with my new knee.  Maybe this is another reason for changing up a few design elements on my blog.  A new knee, a new, positive, outlook on my art, craft, and life in general.  Too cheesey?  Over sentimentalism might be pain pill side effect?  

Besides making changes to the Sew Loquacious blog design, I've made several Yo Yos today.  I convinced my husband to bring me a few bags of fabric scraps, my Yo Yo makers, a pair of scissors, and needle and thread.  Yo Yos are so easy to make, especially with the templates!  I'm hoping to make it into my sewing room soon, but in the meantime, I'm happy making these little circles!  I also have my eye on knitting a few scarves while I on the mend!

Please let me know what you think of my blog design changes.  I really appreciate your feedback!

Tootles!