Tag Archives: handmade gifts

Pillowcases and Trivets

Since the fire/smoke season hit (it used to be called summer), I lost my sewing mojo.

Who wants to sew when it is 100 degrees in the sewing room? Who wants to turn on the iron? And if you do turn on the iron, you have to turn off the window air conditioner (the only one in the house, and it is upstairs), because the iron and the air conditioner do not play together.

And the smoke is so thick that one cannot open windows at night and early morning to cool off the place!

Enough of that whining. Things could be worse.

Ever since summer became fire season a few years ago (this is our 4th year of drought), we pack our Go Bags and try to be ready for evacuation, should there be a need. It has come close a few times.

But we are so blessed.

This year, it was my oldest sister who had to evacuate. This was so unexpected! She lives in the big city. Spokane. All of my sisters (and myself) were born in Spokane. And thankfully, another one still lives there and took in our evacuated Big Sis.

Eight long days.

And then she received word. Her home is still standing, and she can go back.

So blessed!

I live 2 hours north of Spokane. The air had cleared and the blue sky was fabulous! For a brief respite, all the windows were opened.

But fire season isn’t over. The smoke is back.

I adjust, like we all must to our circumstances.

I really like making pillowcases because they are so quick, easy, and make great gifts!

If you would like to see more pillowcases, you can click here. I have made quite a few.

And sewing something, anything, brings back the sew mojo.

Pillowcases

I have also done some scrap sewing.

More trivets (potholders or hotpads).

Trivets/Potholders

These are also quick and easy and make great gifts!

Click here, and you can see how I make them. However, I don’t make a circle template anymore. I just draw around a plate. Faster and easier.

Trivets/Potholders

Have fun and carry on!

Pillowcase Update

I have stitched up the last of the pillowcases!

Pillowcases

They have all been boxed up and delivered.

All 137 of them!

Pillowcases

The Hubster helped me to deliver them to Shriners Children’s Hospital-Spokane.

Pillowcases

I have a soft spot for Shriners because they were a blessing to my family several years ago. I highly recommend them!

Pillowcases

Now that the pillowcase marathon is over, I was thinking about about what to do next.

I realized that I spent the first quarter of the year on decluttering and donations.

Pillowcases

Sticking with a quarterly schedule, I am going to spend the next quarter on one, or two, unfinished sewing projects. Maybe even start a new project.

I am going to sew at a more relaxed pace, especially since spring is here, and I want to be outdoors.

Pillowcases

The year is young yet. How are you doing with your goals?

Have fun and carry on!

And More Pillowcases

You may remember from a previous post that I had cut fabric to make pillowcase kits for donations.

A lot of fabric.

And a lot of kits.

Sewing Studio

I originally was going to spread the sewing out over the year.

Pillowcases

Then I decided to see how many I could sew in March.

I have lots made, and I still have lots to sew.

Pillowcases

I don’t own a serger, so I have chosen to make French seams.

This takes me a little bit longer, but there are no exposed seams in these pillowcases, and I like that.

Pillowcases

Spring is showing herself with sunshine and bright green things poking up from the soil.

It is getting hard to stay indoors!

We will see how many more kits I can get finished through the rest of this month!

Have fun and carry on!