Winter Mug Rug

Greetings, friends!

It’s Benzie Design tutorial day, so get excited for a winter project that’s as cozy as it is creative! ❄️✨

Cool temperatures are here (at least they are in Kansas City!), and I’m so excited to share a project that brings warmth and cheer to your home—the Winter Mug Rug! Imagine a steaming mug of cocoa, a sweet treat, and a handmade piece that feels like a little slice of winter magic. This design is all about cozy vibes, shimmering accents, and a touch of holiday sparkle.

I created this tutorial exclusively for Benzie Design, and it’s perfect for a snow-day craft or a relaxing weekend make. Whether you’re stitching by hand or machine, this project is beginner-friendly and full of creative possibilities. Pair your finished snack mat with a cute mug and goodies for a heartfelt gift that will brighten someone’s snowy day!

👉 Find the full tutorial on Benzie Design’s website: https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/winter-mug-rug

Supplies You’ll Need (contains affiliate links that help me keep this blog ad-free):

These can all be found found on the Benzie Design website:

• Iridescent Metallic Felt
• Bellwether Pure Wool Felt Sheets (Tellina, Cerulean, Ecru, Conifer, Black, Rhubarb, Amethyst, Hazelnut, Clementine)
• Peltex Single-Sided Fusible Interfacing 
• DMC Floss 310 
• Invisible Polyester Thread (Sulky) 
• Freezer Paper 
• Sequins (Iridescent Aquamarine, Metallic Graphite)
• Tacky Glue
• Glossy Accents (Sequin Glue)
• Embroidery Needles
• 5” Non-stick Titanium Scissors
• Scallop Shears (10mm)
• Coordinating Threads (for hand or machine)

Optional but handy: Oliso M3Pro Project Iron, sewing machine, tweezers, and a paintbrush.

This project is all about embracing the season—think frosty sparkle, cozy textures, and festive colors. So grab your favorite winter drink, gather your supplies, and let’s make something magical together!

Ready to start? Click here to get the full tutorial on the Benzie Design website:
https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/winter-mug-rug

No matter your skill level, this project is for you! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned stitcher, the Winter Mug Rug is a wonderful way to play with color, texture, and sparkle. Don’t be afraid to experiment—mix and match felt shades, try new stitches, and add extra embellishments to make it uniquely yours. Every creative choice adds personality and charm, so have fun and let your imagination shine! ❄️✨

Halloween Treat Bags

Greetings, friends!

It’s Benzie Design tutorial day, so get excited for a spooktacular new Halloween project! 🎃🧵

Halloween is creeping closer, and what better way to celebrate than with a frightfully fun stitchy adventure? Whether you're a beginner with limited time or a seasoned stitcher ready for an afternoon of creativity, these handmade Halloween Treat Bags are the perfect way to get into the spooky spirit. 🕷🕸

Using a rich felt palette and natural linen, you can create charming little bags that are as versatile as they are adorable. Choose your own adventure: 

• Glue it
• Hand Stitch it
• Machine Sew it

…or mix and match techniques to suit your skills and schedule!

👻🦇 Mix and match the included Halloween motifs to make each bag uniquely yours. And if you're short on time, no worries—grab a Benzie Design drawstring bag from your stash and add your own spooky twist!

⭐🌙 Ready to conjure up some Halloween magic?

Head over to the Benzie Design Blog for the full tutorial and templates, grab your supplies, and let the hauntingly fun crafting begin!

You can find the complete supply list, tutorial with  photos, and templates here:
Halloween Treat Bags: https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/halloween-treat-bags

Materials You’ll Need (contains affiliate links that help me keep this blog ad-free):

From Benzie Design:

• Wool Blend Felt
• DMC Floss
• Essex Linen Yarn Dyed, Flax
• Beads and Sequins
• Sequin Glue
• Home Sweet Haunt, Renaissance Ribbons
• Black Bakers Twine
• Scallop Shears, 10mm

From Therm O Web:

• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece or HeatnBond Heavyweight Nonwoven Fusible Interfacing
• SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Spray 
• Fabric Fuse Liquid Adhesive

🐈‍⬛🧹Why You’ll Love This Project:

• Quick and beginner-friendly
• Great for gifting and/or decorating
• Customizable
• Make it simple or complex
  
  

So grab your floss, felt, and Halloween spirit—let’s get stitching! ✂️🧵 Whether you stitch every detail or add a few spooky touches to a ready-made bag, you'll create something truly special—and that is what handmade Halloween magic is all about! These treat bags reflect your creativity and style, so don’t be afraid to experiment with colors, stitches, and embellishments. Every bag tells its own story, and yours is sure to delight! Thanks for crafting along—now go create, fill your bags with goodies, and share the spooky joy. Happy Halloween and happy making! 🐦‍⬛🪦

Joy To My Heart

When life is challenging, it is always reassuring to have family and friends that love and understand you (good days and bad)...and I am blessed with an incredible circle of loved ones.

It was the best therapy in the world to spend my birthday in Florida this year with my mom and Dan, who treated me like a queen and made me feel extra special. We spent the day exploring Silver Springs State Park - we took a lovely St. John's River Cruise in the morning, then had a delightful picnic lunch in the park (and my mom even had a cupcake with a birthday candle for me!). That evening, they made dinner reservations at Jiko - The Cooking Place, a restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, serving African cuisine. It was an exceptional meal - and I was served an amazing dessert (again, with a birthday candle!) - it was Mulva Pudding featuring ice cream and a tuile cookie in a bird's nest-style presentation inspired by the birds of Africa - it was so unique (and perfect for me)! I also received a Mickey Mouse birthday pin and a phone call at the restaurant from Goofy (singing "Happy Birthday to You"). These will all be memories that last a lifetime. This day brought joy to my heart...

...and the joy and healing continued, when I returned home and found a couple packages/cards waiting for me from faraway friends...and I had a scheduled lunch with my dear friend Mary. I had to share a few photos with you - I have the best friends a girl could ask for - talented, generous, thoughtful - the list goes on and on. These incredible women (you all know who you are) make me a better person - they inspire me and fuel my creativity...they lift me up!
(NOTE: It's still all about the squirrel! 😊- insert squirrel emoji here...)

Arbre ecureuils by C en Roussillon
Complimentary design on her blog...
https://cenroussillon.wordpress.com/gratuit-quelques-grilles/
A special thank you to Robin for this information!

....and I have to show you how I use the Moda tins in the last photo (which I ADORE!) - they are both sitting at my sewing machine table where I use them every single day. The long one has the tools to clean my machine (which I do every time I change a bobbin or needle) and the smaller one has my most used presser feet, screwdriver, and needle changing tool. They work perfectly and are super pretty too - they both make me smile. I need to purchase another smaller one (or several in every size!) - I would really like to use one for my project sewing labels....

I also was able to celebrate my special day with my in-laws - my kind-hearted mother-in-law made her scrumptious homemade pizza (it's SO GOOD) and even baked me a BEAUTIFUL heart-shaped cake...isn't it wonderful?! Our afternoon together made me feel loved...

I guess I am sharing all of this because...there is light, even in the darkest of days. The moral of today's post - surround yourself with those who build you up and make you better - those who challenge and inspire you...and those who support you when it rains, not just when it shines...

“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself.”   -Edmund Lee

Friendship Friday - A Celebration

Today was the perfect day for a friendship Friday gathering...it has been rainy, gloomy and gray all day, but having a long lunch with dear friends was like having a beautiful, sunny day! Spending a few hours with Kimber and Mary is incredibly good for my soul - and today was extra special because we were celebrating Kimber's birthday. We had lunch at our favorite local restaurant and enjoyed great food and extremely fun conversation...so fun, we completely lost track of time and were there for three hours (is there any better way to spend a rainy afternoon?)! It was delightful putting together a birthday box for Kimber...she truly appreciates handmade gifts and really notices personal touches...and now that she has received everything, I can share them with you. I decided to make her a couple small zippered pouches to use in her favorite purses/bags...and since she loves wool, I thought one of my wool applique pin pillows (featuring pink, of course) would be a perfect addition. I have also been collecting yardage of ribbons in her favorite colors that I wrapped around a large vintage wooden spool (found at a local antique shop). I wrapped all the presents in gift gloss and tissue paper and put them in a photo storage box, tied with a bright pink grosgrain ribbon.

I don't know what was more fun - putting together Kimber's birthday box...or watching her open each of her gifts...it made my heart happy. To have many of the important people in my life spread across the country, what a joy it is to have two wonderful friends just a few miles away - I always look forward to our special outings!
...and just like that my rainy day was filled with sunshine!

Saturday Snapshots

Fabric and threads for a pair of Halloween designs
I am working on for The World of Cross Stitching magazine...

I have been busy model stitching every night - still working on my special design for the October issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine...and switching it up with a pair of Halloween designs for The World of Cross Stitching Magazine - they both have the same deadline (which will be here before I know it), so I have been keeping my needle super busy. I have been at the sewing machine too - working on a few quilting projects and making more machine embroidered Easter Egg ornaments for my Etsy shop.

This week, I received some wonderful cards and gifts in the mail to help me celebrate my birthday - I sure have some thoughtful and talented friends...I'm a very blessed girl! Here are some creative things I am "crushing on" this week...maybe they will inspire you...

A whimsical cupcake pincushion...

An incredible wool pincushion with handmade
pins made especially for me...

Beeswax treasures...

Somebunny loves me...isn't this handmade
gift fabulous?!

Owls, jewelry, and Starbucks...so very thoughtful...

It's all about the squirrel in this cross stitch ornament - a lovely gift!

Owl cross stitch made just for me - isn't it beautiful?!

Fabric inspiration and a fun new pattern...

Easter Egg Ornaments that can be found in my Etsy shop...

I love my new GO! Big...and will be participating in the
GO! Big Blog Hop that takes place next week...
look for my project/tutorial on March 2nd...

More on the GO! Big Blog Hop will be posted on Sunday...
stay tuned...

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend...and remember, it's the perfect day to create!

Key To My Heart

I just love working on projects for Valentine's Day - it makes me happy to work with red, pink, and white fabrics...and I have fun with heart shapes/motifs. I have been working with various Valentine fabrics in my stash, along with an assortment of wool felts, and enjoying every minute of it! I managed to finish up a pile of pincushions (tiny decorative pillows) - the pincushion tops are machine appliqué (assorted felts on quality quilting fabric)...and the backs are quilting fabric, as well (the retired collection Hearts Aflutter by Sandy Gervais for Moda). On several pieces, I added a small pink lace flower for a special touch...and each one has a couple decorative pins too! They are various sizes - some square and some rectangular...and I was just tickled with how each one turned out...

If you are looking for a sweet (inedible) Valentine treat to add to your collection...or if you are looking for a special gift...you can find a dozen of these heartfelt pincushions listed in my Etsy shop, ready for shipping...