Christmas Gift #1

I finished my first Christmas gift today! 1 down- only about 15 more to go! Ha!

I used this zipper pouch tutorial from Skip to My Lou and

This travel tissue holder tutorial (though I added a lining) from Vacuum Queen.

Make It and Love It!

Thanks to all of you brilliant blogger seamstresses, the list of gifts I want to make for Christmas is getting OUT OF CONTROL!

I am currently loving...

If you haven't seen it yet, you won't believe all the goodness. You have to check out this blog! So many great ideas and tutorials. First thing on my list is to make all of my daughter's too-short tees into the Ruffled Dress. Ruffles... of course!

Out of the Cold

The project for this weekend:

Make a hat, a scarf, or a blanket for someone who needs shelter from the cold. Drop it of at the local homeless shelter or simply take a walk downtown and give it to someone in need.

How about sewing a Deep Pocket Scarf with this tutorial from Delia Creates, or a warm Fleece Hat from this tutorial at Mountain Mom Report?

Create something with us? Be sure to add it to the Patchwork Collaborative flikr pool!

Our Thankful Tree

So, here's how our version turned out...

Thankful for the idea from Delia Creates!

Hope your thanksgiving was as wonderful as ours.

Thankful Tree

I have been searching for the perfect Thanksgiving craft for our family this year.

I think I found it today at Delia Creates. I love this!

For Pleat's Sake!

This completely wonderful (and free!) For Pleat's Sake bag/purse pattern from U-Handbag would be perfect for almost any woman on my Christmas list! I love the cute and practical shape.

Micaela Connery

Our inspiring woman of the week is Micaela Connery! Motivated by her cousin Kelsey's disabilities, Micaela founded Unified Theater, a high-school theatrical progam that involves people of all different physical and developmental abilites.

cute, cute!

What a darling gift set (with tutorials!) from Dana at MADE!

Also, at Blue Cricket Design, a great idea for an advent calendar that could be portable and won't take over the kitchen!

Hooray!

I am so thrilled! I won the Fat Quarter Apron Contest at Prudent Baby!!! This is such an encouragement to a novice like me.

And I can't wait to get my little prize in the mail! Thank you to Jacinda and Jaime at Prudent Baby and to Cynthia at Fabric Worm!

National Tie One On Day

How fantastic is this? An easy and thoughtful gift.. Let's do it!

From the Apron Memories website:

National Tie One On Day™ has nothing to do with purchasing anything special or even driving!

Participation is simple. On the day before Thanksgiving, November 24th this year, pause in the preparation of your own meal, wrap a loaf of bread or other baked good in an apron, tuck a prayer or note of encouragement in the pocket, and tie one on…an apron, of course! and deliver the wrapped bundle to someone without your bounty… a neighbor, friend or family member in need of physical or spiritual sustenance, a bit of recognition or just a kind word.

I know it to be true that whether you live in a high rise apartment building or on a quiet block, no matter which direction you walk out of your own front door, someone deserving of a gesture of kindness is close by.

Care to make your own apron to give? Check out this great tutorial from Prudent Baby.

Sewing in No Man's Land

Have you seen this blog?

Kelly is making "No Man's Land" a seriously beautiful place. And she is helping others do the same- offering all of her patterns free! Check her out!

Dreaming

I want to wear this... and spend all day coloring...

This beautiful creation is from Sam at Babaloo. Aren't her fabric choices perfect? And check out her beautiful shop here. Find this pint size tutorial here or at Prudent Baby.

Pillowcase Project

Got a little time this weekend? Sew a pillowcase for a sick child in the hospital. Sew one or sew ten and make somebody happy. Instructions and a drop-off location near you can be found here.

Create something beautiful that makes the world a better place? Be sure to add it to the Patchwork Collaborative flikr pool!

Inspiring Woman: Jessica Posner

Have you heard about Jessica Posner? This woman is incredible. As a college student, she visited Kibera, a slum in Kenya. Shortly thereafter, she moved herself in and, along with the equally inspiring Kennedy Odede, co-founded the first tuition-free school for girls and a community center: The Kibera School for Girls and Shining Hope Community Center

Hear about it from Jessica and Kennedy:

Craft Hope

I love Craft Hope! Need some great ideas to get you giving this holiday season? Check out the Craft Hope website for tutorials and donation ideas.

Today's Project

To get into the spirit of the Holidays, today my eldest and I are packing a box for Operation Christmas Child with Samaritan's Purse. Care to join us? More details here.

So far, our box only has one occupant.

Thanks to the Black Apple Doll tutorial from Martha Stewart. Are these not the cutest? And the perfect gift for a little girl.

Feel in the mood to send some handcrafted goodness to a little one around the world?

Try one of these tutorials...

the Black Apple Doll from Martha Stewart

the ever popular 90 minute shirt from Dana at MADE

a lumber jack hat from Delia Creates

a toddler backpack from indietutes

Now, we're off to fill up our box!

Create something with us? Be sure to add it to the Patchwork Collaborative flikr pool!

Knit for Orphans

Knit or crochet and donate to help keep an AIDS Orphan warm.

Find out more about Knit-A-Square here.

Time to Vote

Jo-Ann fabric and craft stores is hosting a Craft for A Cause contest. The organizations that received the most donations were Project Linus, Operation Write Home, and American Cancer Society.

It's now time to help choose the charity that will receive $50,000. Voting begins November 7 and ends on December 4, 2010.

More at joann.com.

Hope in Kopila Valley

Maggie Doyne, you are one inspiring woman.

Kopila Valley Children's Home from maggie doyne on Vimeo.

Meet Jessie