2012

Another year gone and a new year begins.  2011 saw our James marry his Stefanie, our Jeremy ask his Stephanie to marry him (she said yes!) and our Sara give our grandson Nathan a little brother, Colin.  We were busy this year . . .

2012 we are looking forward to a nephew's wedding in May and Jeremy and Stephanie's wedding in September.  The outlaws of Jim's family (that's all us in-laws) have decided that we're all going to all the nephew and nieces weddings where ever they are since it's the only way we get to see each other all in one place!  I hope Stephanie warns her family about our crazy one.

From my family to yours - a safe, healthy & happy New Year!

Handmade For The Holiday 2 - French Bread Christmas

Looking for a quickie hostess gift and you did the wine bag last year?  How about a simple table runner?  Wrap up homemade cookies or a bread in this table runner, wrap with a pretty bow and you have a wonderful gift that any hostess would love!  Written by Susan Fuquay, she writes that this project will take you about an hour. I did a little bit one morning and then finished up then next morning so I'm not sure how long it took me but it was a QUICK project. We have a kit with pre-cut strips, so it's entirely possible to finish in an hour.  I used the Christmas Stonehenge fabrics from Northcott and this will give any room a bit of glitz and pizazz for Christmas!  Click here for the kit.

I free motioned holly and berries down the center but this would be a good project to practice your straight machine quilting too.

Want to add a bit more to the gift?  Riley Blake has a great video on how to make quick hot pads.  Make a coordinating hot pad to go with the table runner!  Click here for the video.   and here for a kit.

I'll be back in a few days with some other projects you still have time to make for this holiday season!

And don't forget to email me to be put on our "Stuff Your Stocking" email list!  Starting December 6th, I'll be sending an email at midnight for with a link to that day's special.  You can shop online, send me an email, call the shop to order or stop in and tell us to "STUFF YOUR STOCKING!" with that day's deal.  We'll keep a bag for you of the days you decide to purchase and at the end, we'll have it ready for you to pick up or we'll mail it to you on our way home on the 18th.  Specials are only good from midnight to midnight, so don't miss out!  These will make great gifts for sewing/quilting friends or for you!  Email me by clicking here.

Wordless Wednesday

It's Almost Time!

Are you sewing like crazy for Christmas?  Or are you done already?  (HA! That will NEVER be me!) Or are you like most of us, still trying to dream up things that you can make up quickly that look like you took forever to make?  (That would be me!)  I'm sewing some secret things for Christmas this year which I can't post about because certain people read this blog and my secrets won't be secrets anymore.

Next Saturday I'll be hosting two HANDMADE FOR THE HOLIDAYS events at the shop (click here for details) that will give the locals some good ideas of things there is still time to make and impress your gift recipients but for all of you out in blogland who can't make it, I thought I'd give you some ideas too.  So check back over the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting different ideas that maybe you could use.  I'll include links to our website under the pictures so you can quickly get started because after all, it's getting down to the wire even if we don't want to think so!

Cash & Carry

Teenagers are probably one of the hardest groups to buy a gift for.  Who knows what they really want and if you do know, how the heck do you afford it?  So we end up going with gift cards which just don't seem personal.  The card itself isn't but what you're giving them is time, time to wander the shop or the mall or an opportunity to go out to eat and not have to beg for money to do it.  So, wrap that gift card in something they can use.  Girls are easy, can they ever have enough little purses?  Here's a really cute little purse that's quick and easy, and hey, you'll have enough time to make one for yourself too!

Boys - ummm harder but everyone can use a pillowcase.  We have great kits for pillowcases and the pattern is free when you buy the kit.  Younger teenage boys you can use a sports or car motif, we have quite a few of those, just pick something out from the novelty or boys section of our website, tell us to make it into a pillowcase kit in the nots section of our web site.  Pillowcase kits are $14.99.  Older teenage boys - black, anything black, or fiind out the color of their room or their favorite color.

I'll post every couple of days with more ideas.

Wordless Wednesday

Shop Small

Have you heard of Shop Small Saturday?  You've probably seen the ads on TV where they say if everyone buys just one gift at their local down town, it would make a huge difference in the community's economy.  And that saying - Think globally, act locally?  It's appropriate for your holiday shopping too.

Shop Small is coming up this Saturday and is a movement gaining popularity to shop locally first.  There are stores around where you live run by people who live in your community and most of the dollars you spend there, stay in your community and help the local economy.

There is plenty in town to find gifts for everyone on your list!  Everyone gets their hair cut - gift certificates to a local salon will make both the giftee and the salon happy.  How about a manicure for a new Mom?  Or a pedicure?  Accompany it with a coupon to babysit while she goes.  It might not be something she usually does but just the hour by herself, will be like a mini vacation!

Restaurants - everyone has to eat!  Even teenagers eat and love pizza - give them gift cards to the local pizzaria - House of Pizza in Bayville makes really good pizza, try their Baked Ziti Pizza.  I am sure, yes positive, your grandmother does NOT want another powder gift set.  She would probably be thrilled with a gift card from a restaurant that she loves and who delivers.

I still laugh when I think about the customer who told me that she would absolutely scream if she opened up another nightgown and bathrobe from her son and daughter-in-law.  She told me she's told them straight out, here is QP's numbers, call them and get a gift card - DON'T GET ANYTHING ELSE!  I would have loved to have seen the look of relief on her daughter-in-law's face when she found out she didn't have to spend hours wandering the mall trying to figure out SOMETHING besides a robe and nightgown to give her mother-in-law.

The German Butcher Store in Forked River is a local favorite.  Family run, they have wonderful meats, cheeses and dinners.  I'd like a gift card from their if any of my children are listening . . .

Have someone in a nursing home of assisted living?  Buy them a book of stamps (the PO can use the money!) and a box of notecards, give them a gift card to their favorite hair salon and take them to have their hair done by whoever used to do it.

Blue Moon Books also in Forked River is a great used book store.  Give someone the gift of time and a present, let them browse for their own book.

Craft stores, hobby shops, toy stores, auto repair shops, barber shops, movie houses, restaurants, nail salons, pizza places, spas, beauty parlors, hardware stores - if you have them, count your blessings and support them.  They support your community and you.

Shop small and make a big difference this holiday season!

Word Wednesday

These pictures won't make any sense without explanations so my Wednesday post won't be wordless this week.

The loot in the shop.

About 10 days ago I put out an email call asking for donations to ship to soldiers from the tri-state area (NJ, NY & PA) who are serving in Afghanistan.  Boxes must be shipped before November 17th to reach the soldiers by Christmas.  This is the second year we've participated in this effort and we had a great response.  A big thank you to everyone!

The back of the truck

Jim and I took the donations dropped off at QP up to the A.R.M.S. group yesterday morning.  It's a little building behind the Armory in Toms River where quite a bit happens.  

They had the doors wide open in the gorgeous weather and were busy sorting donations.  

Behind this drop off point were rows of assembly lines to get the boxes packed and on their way.

While there, I asked about QP being a permanent drop off point for the group.  They don't have one by us, so it seemed like a great fit.  Within minutes, I was talking to the woman in charge, Ronnie Micciulla, who asked - for Operation Open Arms or Project Little Soldier?  Hmmm, was my response, umm both?

I asked her to explain Project Little Soldier.  Between November 1st and December 17th, they will try to collect TWO presents for every child in South Jersey who has a parent serving overseas this Christmas.  Brace yourself, all 2200 of them!  That's 5,000 gifts they will attempt to collect in about a month and half.  I was stunned.  2200 kids, with parents based out of south Jersey armories.  2200.  I still can't believe it.

So, I'm asking you to count your blessings this holiday season and donate a gift to a child from newborn to age 16.  It can be a doll, truck, DVD, movie gift certificate - anything that someone in that age group would love to receive as a gift.  We'll be advertising in the community and through our emails.  We'll have a drop off box in the shop until Dec 17th.  I'm hoping that as you do your holiday shopping this year, you'll pick up something for a child whose parent can't be home for Christmas for they our serving our country. 

No matter what you think of the war, support the soldiers.  And help support their families this year.  You can find out more about this wonderful group by clicking www.supportams.org 

Thank you.