A Cozy Project for Tea Lovers

 

When the weather gets chilly, I find myself reaching for the afternoon cup of tea. If it's just for me, I will make a cup or a small pot. But if the family is around, I will make a large pot for sharing.

One thing I noticed. In the winter, that pot can cool off quickly. I started looking for tea cozies, and found some really sweet ones online. But then I got to thinking...can't I make one myself?

The problem: the fabric needs to be quilted with batting to keep in the warmth.

My sisters and I were cleaning Mom's craft cupboard this month, and look what I found! The perfect piece of pre-quilted reversible fabric.

I made a pattern for the two sides. I wanted the finished product to measure about 10 by 13 inches, so the pattern is just a bit bigger at 11 by 14. I used a piece of crafty grid paper and a round plate to trace the arc, then cut it out.

I started by sewing seam binding to the bottoms, then sewing the sides all around the top, adding a little loop and leaving the bottom open.

And here's the finished tea cozy:

The British have a saying: In for a penny, in for a pound. In other words, as long as I was making one for the big teapot, I decided to make one for the smaller teapot using the other side of the fabric to show off the floral.

And then I made two coasters by simply stitching all around a square and finishing with pinking shears.

I'm no great seamstress, but I'm really happy with how this project turned out. I think Mom would be proud, too. We loved sharing tea time together.

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Two for Christmas

 

I decided to play around with Ringed with Nature again because it was still sitting at the craft table. 

Last week, I made a nature-inspired mushroom card. This time, I thought I'd try Christmas. That's what makes this set from SU so versatile. But here's the caveat: no dies. I'm not sure that it ever came with dies, either. I think there was some wood slice embossing folder that may have had dies to coordinate with this set, but no dies for the other images. So I just fussy-cut when necessary.

For this card, I used the wood slice stamp and stamped it directly onto the wood slice dies from the Greetery...and it worked! I added some pines and pinecones from CP and used papers from SU.

For this one, I just did a combination of fussy cutting and direct to paper stamping.

Tell me...do you make one design for your Christmas cards, or do you play around with all your supplies and make a stash of unique cards?

I have a plan this season to make a bunch with the two or three new sets I've purchased, but also make a few one-offs just to keep the creativity flowing and give my supplies the love they deserve. Because neglected stamps make me think of Buzz and Woody in Toy Story being put on a shelf unloved. 

Don't you worry, unused stamp supplies! You've got a friend in me!

The Story of the Chipped Mug

 

Last year, I wrote a post about my Mom's chipped coffee mug. She drank out of this chipped mug every day.

Years ago, when we were still attending stamp camp's together, our friend Gloria gave us these mugs as a gift. Last summer, I found mine and gave it to my Mom, thinking it would be a good replacement for her favorite chipped mug. I even made her the perfect card to go with it.

Well, guess what. Mom still preferred to drink out of her chipped mug.

Every morning, she would make her coffee in that mug, bring it to her corner chair by the window, and drink coffee while reading from her Bible, doing her devotions, and saying her prayers.

I think that mug had some deep theological meaning for Mom. Every morning, she brought her chipped mug to the Lord as if to say "Heavenly Father, I know that I have chips and imperfections, like this mug. But I also know that I have value and worth in you, and that I am loved by you."

I now have both mugs in my home. I'm using the chipped mug at my desk to hold my pretty pens, pencils and highlighters. And I'm using the non-chipped mug to drink from whenever I miss a hug from Mom. 

By the way, that ginormous Bible in the photo? That was Mom's. It was part Bible, part journal, part scrapbook. It has so many notes and thoughts from her scribbled in the margins. What a lovely memento. I plan on reading it in its entirety this year.

The mug matters. You don't have to trust the science. You just have to trust the Lord.

'Shroom Season

 

I made a card today that was inspired by my morning walks. I think the combination of cooler evening temps, sunny afternoons, and occasional rains have made it the perfect recipe for fungi. I'm seeing 'shrooms everywhere.

So I pulled out Ringed With Nature stamps and Forest Friends papers from Stampin' Up and made this card today. Also used the wood slice die from The Greetery, along with a sprig die from CP and a berry die from Hello Bluebird...for those of you keeping track of such things. :)

Thanks for popping in today!

Smarty Pants? Fancy Pants? Quitty pants!

 

It's Monday, and Monday deserves a fun card post.

I received this card from my friend, Marilyn a few weeks back...and I love it so much!

It's an easel card that allows you to prop up with one sentiment...

...or maybe multiple funny sentiments!

Isn't this fun? And I LOVE that image and how she colored this one. So sweet!

Here's a view of the backside:

I have this card propped on my desk. This hen really speaks to me, especially at the beginning of the work week.

After 25 years working for a publisher, I quit this summer...and it was such a good decision! First of all, the pay was terrible. Insulting, even. And I realized that I could write two or three articles for a magazine and make more money than if I wrote ten to twelve articles for my longtime publisher. And the assignments were just no longer inspiring me. The pressure to schedule interviews, fill my calendar, meet deadlines. It was all too much.

I'm taking this time to be choosy about writing assignments. And now I'm using this space on my calendar to pursue things that bring me joy. Playing music with preschoolers. Jamming with my dulcimer friends. Reading good books and visiting my library.

Mondays feel so much different now. Lighter. Full of possibilities. 

I think I will bike to the library this morning, return a book and enjoy the swirling autumn leaves.

An Advent Unboxing from The Daily Grace

 

Last year, I ordered some products from a new-to-me online store called The Daily Grace. I think I ordered some pens, some highlighters, bible tabs, and a lovely mug that says "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". 

The products were really nice, and many sell out soon after the Advent product release.

So when I saw a new Advent collection recently, I decided to place my order now. It's hard to believe it, but Advent will begin in just seven weeks.

I thought I'd share with you what I received with my order.

An Advent study, along with a journal, pens and a daily devotional that I can keep on the table and flip over to read each day.

I thought that this would pair nicely with this Advent wreath. I like how the wreath has an inscription for each candle that week.

Did I need coffee mugs? No. But did I want them? Yes! They are so pretty!

I also received a free tote bag when I placed my order. This one makes me think of my sister Tina, who loved the song "O Holy Night". 

You can see all the products at thedailygrace.com, and they offer good deals on bundles, too.

Blessings on your Sunday, cafe friends!

Christmas Robins

 

Robins are the state bird of Michigan, chosen because of their spring migration that brings them back to the state from warmers climes. So you probably wouldn't associate robins with winter and Christmas (even though many robins end up staying here during mild winters).

However, in the UK robins seem to appear in Christmas decor. I'm sure the British robin is different than the American Robin, but it's still fun to see them pop up in an unexpected way.

I made some cards with CP's Birds and Boughs that feature the robins.

Both cards use the Round of Merry, but this one uses the outer ring die.

And this one uses the inner ring die.

Simple and sweet, the way Christmas should be.

Happy Friday, cafe friends!