Psychadelic Coffee Apron

Psychadelic Coffee Apron
Originally uploaded by bethvanduzer

Hit or miss?

I've been trying to find a fabric to go with my Michael Miller Tea Time (looks more like coffee cups to me) and thought the Robert Kaufman Chef's Choice (the coffee swirl) would look good with it.

Does it?

Paige's Apron

PaigesApron
Originally uploaded by bethvanduzer

A dear friend just turned 40. This apron is her gift from me (I'm sure she won't be reading this before tomorrow).

Paige - Happy Birthday!

Flannel Shirt Teddy Bear

I picked up a flannel shirt awhile back at my local Salvation Army thinking it would become - something...Yeah, vague. But I like flannel. And I live in New England. I think flannel is a required fabric in this part of the world.

I recently received an e-mail from one of my homeschool e-mail lists that said they were looking for someone to make bears for a local hospital. After reading about the need I decided that becoming a teddy bear would be a better use of the shirt. I'd love to volunteer to sew these but I needed to know (1) if I could and (2) if my oldest, whom I am homeschooling, would be willing / able to help.


I searched the web for a free pattern but came up empty handed (hey - I know that I might not be good at this so why pay for a pattern I might only use once). But, my trusty library came through with a few books on the subject of sewing teddy bears. I consulted them, drafted a pattern and voila! An 'instant' teddy bear!


I think I need to work on attaching the ears better. I'd like to do it differently next time. And, I haven't bothered embroidering a nose / mouth yet. I might but the fabric nose is 'pointy' and I don't think would embroider nicely. Plus, I kinda like the no mouth look. Oh - and his arms. They are great for hugging but - um - I don't know. They stay up. I think I sewed them on wrong. Hmmmm - must see if the kids mind. If not then I guess it's okay, right? Should I stop pointing out his imperfections now?

On the positive side - he'll be a great prop to use when teaching about Teddy Roosevelt!

For those that celebrate - have a Hoppy Easter! I'm off to help the Easter Bunny hide eggs...

Human Bean or Sleep Mask?

My daughter rock climbs at our local YMCA. She prefers to climb blindfolded. It keeps her from looking down and getting scared. She makes it about two or three steps from the top of the wall while blind-folded. It is pretty cool.

Right now the instructor folds up a t-shirt and ties it over the kids eyes. I thought I would make a sleep / rock climbing mask so she could climb with more comfort. I don't have a pattern so I traced one I found in my husband's travel bags - the free one you are given on an airplane.

Well - it came out looking a tad like a human bean to me. Anyone else get that impression?



So - I had to try it on her. Here is a sleeping girl with chocolate sauce on her cheek in her new sleep / rock climbing mask. I guess it isn't that bad. It fits. Let's hope we remember to take it to rock climbing with us.

Scrabble Fairies!

scrabblefairies
Originally uploaded by bethvanduzer

I have been playing scrabble since I was a wee lass. My mom recently gave me her spiffy scrabble game that has a board with raised sides - so the tiles don't shift around. It is on a turntable as well. Very fancy!

My mom, older sister, husband and I played when my mom and older sister came to visit at the end of December. We had so much fun playing - we laughed so hard we cried at times. I never remembered Scrabble being that much fun when I was a kid!

One of the things we complained about during our play were the Vowel and Consonant fairies. Either they visited our tile racks - or they didn't. And either way - we complained.

And that was all it took for me to think...hmmm...scrabble fairies...I wonder if I could make some...

I searched for scrabble fabric and finally found some on e-bay. I made each of us a scrabble fairy. I am now working on wands - they are made but how the heck am I going to get the fairy to hold it? And - maybe a bag? Or would that just be too much. Maybe this fairy only needs her crown.

The words on the crown? My mom's bingo one night was JANGLERS (for those that don't follow scrabble - a bingo is when you use all 7 of your tiles. In addition to your word score you also earn 50 additional points). Spider Pig - is from The Simpson's Movie and was the name of one of the games we recently played on Facebook - and my sister won the game. So - her fairy's crown is Spider Pig.

I know - more scrabble info than anyone ever wanted to know but hey - the fairies are cute - right??? And scrabble teaches not only spelling but math and strategy. So, if you're staying in this evening and own scrabble, dust off the box and play a game. Print up a picture of the fairies and wave it over the board or tiles when you need a bit of help. Perhaps it will work.

Bingo! Beth