This event is closed & pending on winner's responses.... Hi everyone - I am trying something new and participating with my new Etsy Shop Natural Therapy Packs. I'd love to have you join us and enter. The important thing to remember is that this giveaway takes place on Instagram and starts with my page...
I have partnered up with some awesome
shops to give you the opportunity to win some wonderful prizes! There are 17 shops, and there will be 17
chances to win! Follow the loop to find
the prizes! To enter you must:
It's time to look at our younger readers. The preschool age child needs books that fit in with what they know and Howard B Wigglebottom always fits the bill.
Christmas Time is overwhelming for kids. There is constant activity, excitement and chaos at times. Then there are the presents. Everyone seems to be getting presents, there are presents under the tree, teachers give them presents, friends have parties and Christmas Day it seems like there is a MOUNTAIN of presents and suddenly it's all over. Parents are happy for their kids until their child asks: "Are there any more?" They don't know any better and yet the adults in their life are embarassed and irritated that their kids aren't "happy with what they got".
I wonder how many of these parents have taken the time to teach their kids to give to others. That giving is better than receiving and also taken the time to provide a few very carefully chosen presents instead of just getting a bunch and expecting the kids to be happy with it all and not ask for more?
Reg $15 - always $6 on the WeDoListen.org website - Hardback
FREE Audio always available for all Howard B Wigglebottom books
About the book:
It was Christmas time, the season for GIVING - but for Howard B Wigglebottom, it was the season for GETTING!
Howard is a little bunny who can't give up anything of his. Everything is so precious to him and he is so worried about losing any of it or someone else getting his things that one day he takes off with a bag full of ALL his toys and starts walking.
As he's walking he meets new friends who are homeless and he realizes that his mother is right, he has way too much stuff and he decides that what he really wants is to appreciate the good things he already has.
This book opens the opportunity to discuss Giving & Sharing, Listening & Following the Rules, Talking to Strangers and being Homeless. There are reflections in the end of the book that you can use to give you ideas on how to discuss these behaviors with your children (age 3+).
My thoughts:
It's no secret I love Howard B Wigglebottom and the wonderful way that life's lessons are taught in a way children understand. It's not an adult standing over them telling them to share, not tell lies, obey when told to do something, pick up their mess, play nicely, etc... and then expecting said child to understand.
This book teaches children that there is more satisfaction in giving to others and sharing what we have. After Howard gets left behind with his giant bag full of ALL his toys that he can't bring himself to share he wanders around, getting sadder and lonely until finally he falls asleep. When he wakes up he finds out that there are others who need and would be happy with just one toy and a family of their own. This particular book teaches about the Happiness of Giving, the Happiness of Getting, Learning to Share, Paying attention to avoid getting into trouble, being homeless and talking to strangers.
Each book has lessons for kids to learn, you can actually see and hear the story before purchasing it and there are activities and even a poster on the website for you to print and enjoy. At no charge. Plus the hardback books are always 60% off so they are affordable to give and receive and you can't go wrong there!
The other day I was in Hancock Fabrics and while waiting to get some fabric cut I overheard another customer telling another customer about a YouTube channel called Missouri Star Quilt Co where they do video tutorials on quilting and sewing. When I got home and a couple days later when I couldn't sleep I somehow found their channel and started looking around and I came across their Holiday projects video.
One of the projects I saw on this video is for using fabric strips that you have left over from other projects to make Christmas Ornaments. They are darling! Unfortunately I don't have any strips as when my sewing machine died a few years ago I sold off 3 big bins of fabric because I just don't have room for them in my apartment. SOOOOO, long story short - I had to go buy fabric.
Here is my effort at making Christmas Ornaments. I've decided to make them up for Christmas gifts for my daycare parents (who do not visit my blog lol) and family. My sewing isn't as beautiful as the gal in the video but I still think they turned out really cute. This post will share the trials & tips that I came up with to make it easier for me - maybe it will help you if you decide to make them.
Materials you'll need:
1/4 yd of up to 8 fabrics
1 yd of backing fabrics
Fusible Pellon - I bought Med-Heavyweight
Fusible Webbing
Thread
Foil if doing what they did in the video. I used glittery fabric instead.
Sewing Machine, Scissors, Cutting Mat & Rotary Cutter
Video (above) & Written Directions
I'm not going to tell you how to make the ornament - you can watch it in the video and they explain it much better than I could. I will list the materials for you though and add some tips that will hopefully help you if you make them.
1) Cut your 8 fabrics into 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" strips. The main fabric in the center of the ornament is a striped fabric that has a 3 1/2" strip with the scene printed on it and I just cut that strip out. You could really use anything you want for that middle strip. I also have a deer scene and a cardinal scene that I'm going to use for that middle strip.
2) In the video they used a ruler called a Easy Circle Cut 2-10" as well as the 18mm Small Rotary Cutter which I did not have so I used my large glass lid from a saucepan that I already had. The ruler is $15.99 and if you are planning on making a LOT of these or if you quilt a lot you might want to invest in it. It would make cutting your front & back pieces out a LOT easier. 3) Fusible Pellon - I found ironing the fusible pellon didn't work so well and ended up raising the temp of my iron to the Cotton setting - so make sure you are using that setting. This is found in the interfacing area of the fabric store. Later note: I find that the ornament is not stiff at all and lying flat like I thought it would. I don't plan on washing it - so Im thinking maybe I should stick a piece of cereal box cut into a circle inside or is there a stiffer pellon I could use that would still fit through the sewing machine?
4) Fusible Webbing - This is also found in the interfacing area. I had to ask about this item as I wasn't finding anything that looked like what I used to buy. This is thicker and I actually liked it MUCH better than the stuff I used to use. It is not the thin, cheesecloth looking stuff anymore. I THINK I got the Heat N Bond Feather Lite Fabric. It is MUCH easier to use.
5) The Ornament Hanger uses the Fusible Webbing (Heat N Bond) from tip #4. In the video (again) they made it using foil but I really did not like how it looked when I tried to use the foil method. It looked neat on the video... when I did it? Not so much. I also tried using the same stuff with the glittery fabric and I liked it but I really did not like the hole I was to cut in the top of the dome shaped hanger at the top. So, I decided to not do it at all and just to undo the top of the ornament, insert a 3/4" wide ribbon and then when I top stitched stitch it in place. Later Note: So far, I'm not to thrilled with just the ribbon as I don't like the loop hanger - unless I hang it off a branch or quilt shelf. Does anyone have any suggestions on HOW to hang these?
6) Top Stitching. It's been a LONG time since I last did top stitching on something I was making for someone else. It doesn't look as nice as I'd like it to look and hopefully no one will care since these are gifts. The feet for this new sewing machine seem to be different than my last machine and I'm having a hard time figuring out which part of the foot I need to use for measuring where my stitches are placed while stitching.
What do you think?
If you have any suggestions on how to do the ornament topper,
displays or to stiffen the ornament itself - please share in the comments below....
(I'll add a picture of the end result Sunday - I like it just no idea how to display)
Hanging the ornaments:
As I was sewing these ornaments I got a mad, crazy idea for hanging them. Take a branch and either spray paint it a contrasting color (red or black?) or maybe use spray on snow? As soon as our branches dry out I will take one to Michaels and ask them what they would suggest. (It's been raining quite a bit the last couple days.) I like the idea of using the spray on snow but I've never used it and when would I ever use it again?
Hi everyone - I have some exciting news and if you are friends with me on Facebook you already know what it is. If not, you will in just a little bit!
Most of you know I took most of last year off from blogging. I was tired, not sure of my direction and just fumbling along because I didn't feel well due to my Fibromyalgia & working a full time job with my in home daycare and blogging when I wasn't working. My pain was getting worse, I wasn't walking or standing to well, and well, I was just done. I had no idea if I was going to continue blogging at all - up until about July-August of this year.
So, what was I doing?
The Nativity
I started by sewing myself a couple of hot & cold therapy packs. Heat seems to be the ONLY thing that truly reaches down and calms my nerves. It's natural, costs me very little, I don't have to do drugs or medications that have the potential to destroy my liver, kidneys, etc. Often times on bad days I can take one of those heat packs and put it directly on my lower back or hips where the pain is the worst and when I wake up my pain is drastically diminished or even gone. I had a few requests from friends who found out what I was using, sewed up a few for them, then my chiropractor offered to sell them for me in their office and by November of last year I had started up a new business. Tomorrow is my Holiday Grand Opening - I'm nervous. I've put a lot of time into it and even though my SEO and my TITLES and my descriptions are not up to par - I'm still moving forward and going to see what happens. It's really exploding and moving much faster than I expected! I'd like to invite all of you to check out Natural Therapy Packs. The Grand Opening is from November 1-7 and you'll find Hot/Cold Therapy Packs, Organic Lavender Sinus Pillows & Tissue Covers. Special Offer for US readers....
Just a FEW of the tissue packs available!
I am offering all my readers in the US a special offer - purchase a Hot/Cold Large Therapy Pack or a Organic Lavender Sinus Pack and you'll receive a FREE Tissue Cover as a thank you from me. I will do my best to send a matching tissue cover but no guarantees. It depends if I have fabric still for the therapy pack you chose. This offer ends 11/10 and it's only while supplies last. (At this time, I am only shipping to the US. Hopefully soon I'll be able to ship to Canada or the UK/AU but this year I'm not able to. Sorry about that & thanks for understanding.) And now, a giveaway! To get the ball going I am going to host the first giveaway right here on GivingNSharing! I am offering an Organic Lavender Sinus Pillow and a Tissue Pack to ONE reader. Winner's Choice! I do require all entries to: leave their Name, Full Address & Phone/Email Address on the actual entry (do not put it below this post please safety comes first!) - if this info is not left then another winner will be chosen. Please note: I am the only one who will see this information - I do not spam and I will not contact you for any reason other to let you know it's shipped if you are the winner & afterwards to ensure you know how to use your new sinus pillow.
Disclaimer: This giveaway is hosted by ME the owner of Natural Therapy Packs, an Etsy Shop. I am responsible for shipping the giveaway item. All private info on GiveawayTools is only seen by me and will not be used for Spam Purposes or for selling. Thanks for reading GivingNSharing.
