FAMILY Guest Post - Bonnie from Fishsticks Designs

I'm delighted to have Bonnie from Fishsticks Designs here to share a very special FAMILY post today!

 Hi, Everyone! I am so excited to get to visit Hopeful Threads today. I have gotten to know a lot of you already through the projects that I’ve worked on with Kristy, and I am in awe of your generosity. I wish I could invite you all over for dinner and fellowship . . . and lots of sewing, of course! Wouldn’t that be fun?
Did you know that I actually got to meet Kristy in person last month? My family and I took a little trip up north to visit my mother-in-law in West Virginia, and I snuck away with three of my children for a day. We met Kristy and her little ones for a museum visit and lunch, and we all had so much fun!
 
 I love that Kristy plans one month each year to encourage us to create specifically for our own families. I sew for my family almost every day, but, because I design sewing patterns for a living, I find that I easily fall into the rut of only sewing for business purposes instead of taking the time to focus on things that my family could really use or would really love. It’s good to regularly step away from outside responsibilities and remember that making memories with and for our families is far more important.
When I first started sewing for loved ones many years ago, I sewed really basic, simple quilts. I did so with the thought that I was creating something that would be enjoyed by the receiver, as well as something that would outlive me, something that my great-great-grandchildren would cherish because it was made with love by my hands. I was often frustrated, though, by mistakes that I made or little imperfections that made the perfectionist in me twitch a little.
 I have fond memories of the things my Granny sewed for my sister and me growing up. We had gorgeous handmade dresses and beautiful quilts, piles and piles of quilts. My Granny went to be with our Lord about 16 years ago now. Sadly, in my not-so-responsible younger days, I let most of those irreplaceable quilts slip out of my hands. (I have tears in my eyes now just thinking of how much I wish I’d realized then what it would mean to me now to have those back.) I do have this one yellow quilt that my Granny made for me, though.
 
 I don’t even remember when I received it – it feels like I’ve had it forever. I’m sure that I’ve looked at it hundreds of times and always thought it was perfectly constructed. It’s funny, though that as I was curled up under it one day, I happened to look down at a part of the back that was flipped over towards me, and I was surprised to see a little pucker in the quilting.
 
 In that little moment I was overwhelmed with the realization that this quilt was lovingly created by a real person. It wasn’t a product of a factory or an assembly line, but the work of the hands of someone who loved me and poured that love into this simple yellow quilt. We’re all beautiful and imperfect and life is beautiful and imperfect, and in that little imperfection, I found a lesson in letting go of the need for absolute perfection, for the sake of future generations.
 Don’t get me wrong. If you’re sewing to sell or sewing for competition or sewing for a living in any way, you simply must strive for flawless work, and, of course, I think we should all be working on improving our skills each time we sit down at the sewing machine. You don’t want to spend time sewing something that falls apart before it has time to even be passed down. I’m always going to correct any mistakes I make when sewing clothing simply because I want the recipient to want to wear it. It’s different, though when I’m working on a quilt or a stuffed animal, for example, for a loved one. I try to not be quite so quick to grab that seam ripper. I think those simple little imperfections give life and character to my work. It’s like leaving a story behind for future generations.

Thanks Bonnie, for sharing a glimpse into your home and family with us!

You remembered DAD right????

Father's Day is THIS WEEKEND! 

If you need something perfect and quick to sew for all the dad's or dad-like figures in your life, be sure to check out my "Big Daddy's XL Oven Mitt" pattern/tutorial!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend celebrating the men in your families!

Babyville Boutique GIVEAWAY!!!!

I'm very happy to share that Babyville Boutique decided to include you all in on the fun too!

You have the chance to win a surprise bundle of Babyville Boutique products valued at $50!

Simply follow the Rafflecopter prompts below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway open US only. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Winner to be announced and emailed 6/20/13 and expected to respond within 48 hours to claim prize or an alternate winner will be selected.

In the meantime, check out all the cuteness on the Babyville Boutique website and dream about what might just be included in the prize winning bundle!

Pattern/Product Review - Babyville Boutique Cloth Diapers Made Easy

 When this bundle of goodies arrived that Babyville Boutique sent me to use for one of my FAMILY projects this month, I was soooooo excited! I mean just look at all that cuteness!!!!

We use cloth diapers, and our Lil' Guy was ready for some new ones! I have sewn cloth diapers for years....it was actually kind of what started this whole Hopeful Threads thing if you haven't heard....but this was my first time using Babyville Boutique brand patterns & materials. 

 The book they offer, Cloth Diapers Made Easy, is true to it's title! It is packed with 60 pages of step-by-step instructions, full color photos and sewing tips and techniques throughout! 

Everything you could possibly need to get started with cloth diaper sewing! 

Also included are full scale patterns for 4 different diaper sizes.

There are multiple diaper types and variations, each that include a detailed supplies list to make prep even easier. 

And the fabric prints!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!

Each one I started to sew was my favorite! :) They are all so cute! And this is a GREAT quality PUL (Polyester Urethane Laminate) that feels very durable and sews beautifully! 

(PUL is the waterproof fabric used in cloth diaper sewing)

 The Robot & Cowbaby prints are some of the newest boy prints available. 

How are you suppose to be able to pick a favorite???

 I made a turned and top-stitched version of pocket diapers for these. 

The image below shows the "pocket" opening in the back. This is where the absorbent insert(s) are placed, between the inner and outer layers. I chose to use a microfleece for the inside of my diapers, but there are a variety of other options shared in the Cloth Diapers Made Easy book as well.

I think I finally settled on this one as my favorite. Isn't is sweet? 

I love green, and am kind of partial to frogs and turtles anyway. But my! So cute!!!!

 And the cuteness doesn't stop with the fabric....nope! There are coordinating appliques, sew-on labels,   buttons, EZ Adjust tape, FOE trims (fold-over elastic) and even engraved snaps! 

 I made the size Medium for my Lil' Man. The weight range in the book says 18-28lbs., and the smallest setting fits my 18lb. Sweetie perfectly! He'll be able to wear these for a good long while too. 

Eeeeek! Look at those squishy thighs in that sweet diaper! :)

 Babyville Boutique also very generously sent along some of their gender neutral fabrics for me to sew some extra diapers for donation. These adorable diapers will be going to an organization that helps provide cloth diapers to families needing a little extra help getting started, The Rebecca Foundation's Cloth Diaper Closet. This organization is growing and hopes to be able to provide for more and more families. You can read more here. 

 I know I'm a label addict, but don't you love the sweet labels and polka-dot trim????

I had this mushroom FOE in my stash that worked perfectly on the red too. 

 These pictures show the hook & loop closure and pocket opening for this alternate diaper style.

"Who's Cute?" the little owl on the label asks.....the baby wearing this diaper is my answer!

 I had a great time sewing these and look forward to making more in the future.

A warm THANKS to Babyville Boutique for providing these adorable products for my project. You can learn more about Babyville Boutique products on their website here and their facebook page here. 

FAMILY Guest Post - Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs

I've asked some of my favorite people to share something special about their FAMILY this month, and our first guest post comes from Melissa at Sew BitterSweet Designs. 

Hi Everyone! I'm Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs. I would like to thank Kristy for having me here today. I would love to say that I have some sewing or even quilting to share with you today, but I don't. I am working on a quilt for my cousin and a pillow for Anne (my 3 yr old) but no finishes.

When Kristy first approached me about a month honoring family, one of the first things I thought of is all the cooking I do for my family. I pour my heart and soul into my cooking for them. It makes my heart sing when someone goes back for seconds or requests a specific item. The number one all time favorite in my house is homemade cinnamon rolls, which makes sense as it was (and still is) the number one favorite that my mom used to cook too.

Homemade bread truly is a labor of love and this is no different!

This recipe is adapted from Betty Croker's Christmas Cookbook - (c) 1982

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients: 

2 packages active dry yeast 

1 egg 1/2 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees) 

6.5 to 7.5 cups all purpose flour 

2 cups lukewarm milk 

1/4 cup margarine or butter (scalded then cooled) (softened)

1/3 cup sugar 

1/2 cup sugar 

1/3 cup vegetable oil or shortening 

1 tbsp plus 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

3 tsp baking powder 

2 tsp salt 

My recommendations - my mom has been baking these since I was a baby - We use King Arthur Bread Flour and find that it makes the world of difference in making the perfect cinnamon roll. We also use unsalted butter where it calls for butter or margarine and shortening where it calls for vegetable oil or shortening. 

To scald your milk, microwave it in short increments until a film forms. Let cool to lukewarm. (do this first! Do not dissolve yeast until you have cooled your milk.) 

Instructions: Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl (I use my kitchen aid mixer). Stir in milk, 1/3 cup sugar, the oil, baking powder, salt, egg and 3 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth, Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. 

Turn dough onto well-floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; then turn the dough over so that both sides of dough are greased. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double original size (approx 1.5 hrs). Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched. 

Punch dough down and divide in half. Roll 1 half in rectangle 12x10 inches. Spread with half the butter. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon; sprinkle half the mixture over rectangle. Roll up beginning on the 12" side. Pinch edges to seal the dough and stretch to make even. 

Cut into 1" slices, place slightly apart in a greased baking pan (I use cake pans). Warp tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Repeat with the other half of the dough. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours but no longer than 48. 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove foil from pans. Bake until golden brown - 30 to 35 minutes. Frost with powered sugar frosting while warm. Makes approximately 24 rolls.

Powdered Sugar Frosting

Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla until smooth. (I always double this!). I hope you enjoy making these and eating them with your family. We love them best on a lazy Sunday morning while watching one of our favorite cartoon movies. In fact, while we were eating them last Sunday we watched Shrek 2 together. Great way to make some fun lasting memories. 

 If you have time, I would love it if you stopped by my blog and looked around!
 

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to head to the kitchen and try these out! They look AMAZING!!!! Thank you Melissa for sharing this special family treat with us. :)

Official Announcement - The FLUFF Project....our ongoing effort to GIVE BACK to children in Foster Care

I'm very excited to share this OFFICIAL news with you!!!

During our April Project Finale and the delivery of nearly 400 stuffed toys for children in Foster Care last month, I decided that sewing and donating stuffed friends for this cause would become the first ONGOING project at Hopeful Threads. The response both of those participating and the caregivers that received the toys to be given out to the children was overwhelming to say the least! So very touching! Our family is excited to see where this will go! The outreach will be known as "The FLUFF Project".

I've created the above badge that you can find on "The FLUFF Project" page at the top of the blog. I would LOVE to have you add this badge to your blogs and websites and help me get the word out that this will indeed continue! 

I have already heard from several others in the Hopeful Threads community that they too have hopes of developing such an outreach within their own local communities, and provide these cheerful and hope-filled gifts to children in Foster Care near them as well. Nothing could please me more than to see this grow and grow and have an impact across the US Foster Care System! I would be delighted to share the progress of any such efforts too, so please share with us as you do this.

Remember, I have created a board on Pinterest FULL of all kinds of plushie and soft toy patterns, tutorials and inspiration to help you as you create. You can find that here, and I will be adding to it continually. 

Additionally, I have a swarm of plushie ideas stirring about in my head that I hope to create and share over time, in support of "The FLUFF Project". 

The first will be Whaley & Starla that I created in April during our original project, and I plan to have them ready to share very soon!

EVERY STITCH MATTERS!

Every single thing you do, whether sewing, spreading the word, starting your own local efforts, purchasing a toy for donation, adding the "FLUFF" badge to your blog/website.....ALL of it matters! All of it leads to ONE MORE child that will receive a stuffed friend to comfort and encourage them during a difficult time. 

Thank you so very much! For being such a HUGE part of bringing this about, for being such a HUGE blessing to me and those who receive your donations, and for helping to make this continued effort an ongoing success! I already have a box beginning to fill and can't wait for it to be full and ready to deliver! I know this is going to be great!

Book Review - Sewing The Seasons by Sandi Henderson

 This FAMILY project was actually created month's ago during the testing phase for this lovely book. Now that the book is available for purchase I can share with you. 

Sewing the Seasons is the newest book by well known pattern and fabric designer, Sandi Henderson. The book is packed with 23 projects to keep you sewing year round!  I've always loved creating from Sandi's inspiration and this book is no different. There's something for everyone in this book.....clothing, accessories, home decor....you name it!

I was privileged to test the Ice Cream Sundress pictured here. It's a sweet, simple sundress that my Lil' Miss is so happy to finally have OFF the mannequin in mommy's sewing room and hanging in her closet! :)

Here's my version....

 This sweet dress offers a shirred bodice which creates a darling ruffle with the rolled hem edge. 

 The narrow straps tie neatly, and stay in place, through a button hole on the back. I love the look...and they stay in place....did I mention that? We've all had those sundresses that the straps are constantly sliding off the shoulders....NOT this one! 

 The hem is finished with double ruffles, also with a rolled hem. 

The next project on my list from this book is that darling kite you see in one of the pics above. My daughter has decided it would be perfect as a decoration for her room that we HOPE to get re-painted and decorated this summer. We did her older sister's last summer and it was lots of fun! :)

You can read more about Sandi's work and find LOADS of inspiration on her website here.

My gratitude to Wiley Publishing for the opportunity to once again assist with the testing of this book, and to Sandi Henderson for her continued creative inspiration.