Hand Puppets

I am blessed with 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. My oldest granddaughter is 27 and the youngest grandchild is 2. In between, there's a wide range of ages. When I walk into Gymboree and the salesperson asks what size I'm looking for, I usually respond, "All of them." I've begun to recycle gift ideas from the oldest to the youngest. This year, it was Hand Puppets, including my knock-off of Lamb Chop and a velvety Puppy. Another of my favorites is a Dragon. With these puppets, your imagination can know no bounds.

Lickety Split Tote Bags

One of my favorite quick gifts is this Lickety Split Bag made by Rae. I have made several for gifts and two for myself (the Owl and the Echino print). They are made from 2 yards of fabric; one for the outside and one for the lining. They are reversible and have two pockets on the inside and two on the outside. I always have one with me when I'm off to the airport. It's handy for all the little things such as phone, camera, Kindle, snacks, etc. Somehow, it always seems as twice as heavy when I reach my destination. Did I mention it's also handy for the airport shop purchases? I have to confess. I'm an airport shop junkie. It's also handy for books or as a diaper bag.

Purse Organizers and Tissue Holders

Just two weeks before Christmas, I retrieved a week for sewing when a trip to visit my son in New Orleans was cancelled. Happily, he was being sent to England and Sweden on a business trip.

I used Elizabeth Hartman's pdf pattern for the Perfect Zip Bags and made coordinating tissue holders. Elizabeth's technique for the zipper resulted in an easy, but professional looking finish. I'll definitely use it again.

Oilcloth Tote Bag

I totally missed my deadline for starting Christmas sewing. November just doesn't do it, but I did get the first gift made before Thanksgiving. In the summer, my daughter Kristin and I had seen a small oilcloth tote bag in a retail shop. She liked it because of the size (enough for lunch or her Kindle and iPod) and the fact that it stood erect and did not slouch over. I first tried a prototype lined with batting, but it was still kind of squishy. I then happened upon a review of "Soft and Stable...for Bags and Beyond!" This product is 100% polyester and is similar to foam. It provided the stability I needed. Check it out here. The oilcloth is from the Loulouthi collection by Anna Maria Horner.

Teddy Bear Baby Quilt

I still haven't tackled a bed-size quilt, but wanted to make another baby quilt for my neighbor's first child, a girl. She did not want to use pink or frou-frou designs in the nursery. Instead, she chose neutral colors tending to gold and brown. I was inspired by the small collection of Teddy Bears she had ready for Emma. The Teddy Bear print is Bear Lake Honey Bears by Blank Quilting which I ordered from a great resource for all animal/bug related fabrics. The design was inspired by this quick strippie.