Happy Mother's Day!

It was a beautiful Mother's Day here in Iowa - the sun is shining...and although it is a little cool (which I LOVE!), it was the perfect day for a barbecue. My mother-in-law and father-in-law joined us for a little cookout this afternoon...we had a lovely time. I thought I would share the mother's day gifts I put together this year.

For my mother, I made a new set of hot pads and a set of snap bags. I have posted about the hot pads before, but in case you missed it, the pattern/tutorial is FREE on YouCanMakeThis.com. ...and of course, I foofed the gifts!!

For my mother-in-law, I made an embroidered scented trivet...then I picked up a pie plate and server to go with it. The scented trivet was a class I took at a local quilt shop last year - a Martha Pullen "Gift of the Month" project - the class focused on Gimpwork and Machine Embroidery. The back side of the trivet has an opening where I put a cinnamon scented sachet...so when you place your hot pie (or anything out of the oven) on the trivet, it make your home smell even more wonderful.

Wishing each of you a very special and very relaxing Mother's Day (especially my mommy who I was unable to be with today)!

Simple Sassy Snap Bags

Do you ever have those days when you never slow down, but it doesn't seem like you have much to show for it?...that seems to be my life lately. I have been buried under an endless pile of work, trying to get my new BlackBerry set-up the way I want it, and yesterday my new color laser printer arrived. I think I finally have my new phone under control...and the printer is up and running...but the pile of work is still here. I *had to* mow and do yard work today...it has been raining for what seems like an entire week and we finally have some sun...so this morning after dealing with the printer issue, I managed to make it outside to manicure the lawn...but in the process, I missed getting together with my stitching group and the local quilt guild meeting. I really need an invention to give me a few more hours each day....either that, or something has to give. After tearing my hair out this afternoon working on some printing files, I decided to take a few minutes and finish my "snap bags"...a little sewing therapy...

This is such a fun little pattern called "Snap Happy!" by Stitchin' Sisters. These cute little bags use metal carpenter measuring tape (in the casing) to snap them open and closed....it works really slick! I just purchased a cheap metal measuring tape at Lowe's and used old scissors to cut it into the needed pieces. The pattern has instructions for three sizes of bags: large (7.5" x 6.75"), medium (6.5' x 5.5"), and small (5.5 x 4.25). They are quick and easy to make and the directions make them "sew" simple. The prairie point tabs on each side are used to pull the bag open...and handle loops are added for easy hanging. The pattern also gives you basic instructions to create your own custom size - I plan to experiment to make cross stitch project bags approximately 12" x 9.5"...I have some fabulous sampler style fabric that would be perfect to more of these. I have also thought about machine embroidering names or monograms on them...or adding trims/rick rack...I have lots of ideas to embellish these snappy bags! (The fabric used in the photos is "Attitude Girls" by Mary Engelbreit for Moda.)

Now that I have had some time to be creative, I must get back to those *insert expletive* printing files...hopefully stepping away for a bit has made the task a bit more manageable...