Monday

I have been working hard the last year to sell some of my handmade stuff on Etsy.com and I am finally getting to share that with others! Today I am so excited to be featured on another blog!!!! There is even a giveaway of one of my items! Check it out here: http://beinglds.blogspot.com/ Let me know what you think!

Kids Lacing Hoops



When I sit down to embroider my kids all want to do it, too!  After so many years I finally came up with this idea!  It looks like the real, grown-up stitching but ever so kid friendly!  It works like a lacing card to teach the basic "up and down" stitch.  My kids love these so much!  If you are interested in having one for your child, visit my Etsy shop in the Kids Can Do Stitching section!  I welcome custom orders so you can have the hoop that fits your child or you can pick from what is available!


Tuesday

FALL ETSY SALE!!

Fall is approaching! The kids have returned to school! The weather is getting cooler! Must be time for a sale!

To take advantage, visit Can Do Stitching and when you are ready to check out, enter code FALL10 to receive 10% off your order!!! Not too early to think about the holidays!

Thursday

Primitive Embroidered Scarecrow Pillow


Today I was able to finish some more embroidery. This one said pillow to me...so I sewed it with a green background and lightly stuffed it. Cutest scarecrow ever, right?!

Friday

Embroidered LDS Temple Art

Recovering from major surgery is tough. But, these sweet notes from my kids lift the spirits! "I want you to feel better" complete with my favorite daisies! Another thing that lifts the spirits these days as I lay around is STITCHING! Here is one item I got done and framed today!

I love how the white stands out so well on the pink fabric and think any girl would love this in her room! It was hard to get a good picture through the glass of the frame, but it is a nice color pink with beautiful colors around the temple!




I am happy with how it turned out!




TIES!


I LOVE making matching ties for my kids. It started so many years ago when I found a pattern for a tie and thought how fun that would be to have my little boy match dad for Sunday! Then, the boys kept joining our family and we enjoy matching everyone! This year they got ties for the 4th of July! I even got to make my littlest one a new dress to match!



Wednesday

Neck Cooler Tutorial

This summer our kids got to participate in a Pioneer Handcard Trek! As part of the preparation I was asked to help the youth and leaders make neck coolers. They are made of cotton fabric filled with polymer that expands and holds water to keep you cool! I thought I would use pictures in a handout originally so I took pictures as I went along. I didn't end up using the pics but thought this blog would be a good place to put them in case you want a cool way to stay cool!

Start by cutting a strip of fabric 6" by 36". With right sides together, sew a 1/4 inch seam along long edge. Leave both short ends open. Next you will turn the tube right side out. I did this by using my handy dandy turning invention! I bent a regular metal hanger as flat as I could.




The hook at top where you hang it on the closet rod will catch the end after you stick the whole thing through the tube.




After you grab the other end, help fold it over this end and pull back to the beginning.





I have found if I pulled on the seam, the rest would follow.




When you get to the other end, help the fabric off the hook.




Then, flatten the tube with the seam in the center. You can press it if you want.




Then sew across from top to bottom 10 inches from the end.




Next you are going to mark an end point for a center seam. Fold it over and pin where the seam lands on the other end.








Next sew from the seam you sewed at 10" from the end to the pin, right down the center seam.




You should have 2 open tubes now in the center of the larger tube. You are going to fill each side with 1/2 teaspoon--and ONLY 1/2 teaspoon--of polymer. I found mine in the gardening department. Mine is called Soil Moist. Using a small funnel helped this process:





Now, I want you to believe me when I say ONLY 1/2 TEASPOON! You will be tempted to fill it up more, but it expands that much! Really, just trust me!




Fill up each side with your 1/2 teaspoon of polymer;




Then sew up the other end at the end of the small tubes, which should be 10" from the other end. And, make sure you don't sew the polymer!




Then close up both ends by folding in the raw ends and sewing close to the end.




And, there you have it! A nifty neck cooler! Perfect for working outside, going on a pioneer trek, or just anytime you need to cool off!





To use: Soak neck cooler in bowl of water overnight, or at least 8 hours. Water will stay expanded for several days. When it 'dries up', just soak it again!





Sunday

Why a Stitching Blog?

From as far back as I can remember I have had a needle and thread in my hand. As a young girl, the women and girls in my family from generations would gather often to stitch. We called it "Stitch 'n' Chatter". It is one of the greatest memories I have!

Now I am a mom of 8 kids and still enjoy sewing and stitching. I have added an embroidery machine to my list of skills but still enjoy the hand sewing as well! I can sew a variety of things from clothing to crafts so there will be lots of variety here! On this blog, I thought it would be fun to showcase some of my recent craft projects and share some of what I sell on Etsy.com!

Thanks for visiting! Enjoy your time here! And, don't forget to leave comments so I know what you like!