What about doing the men the fleece lap blankets but in just more manly fleece. last year I searched for SL Cardnials fleece for my grandfather and my uncle and made them both blankets out of it. Luckly enough my brother found it passing through SL. on his way home from NM.
Are grapevine wreaths hard to make? My mom and I have both wanted to try this. She has a huge grape orchard in her back yard.
Has anyone made the rice bags? I have wanted to try that also but have never done it. I have an 89 yr old grandfather and 90 year old great uncle that want me to make them these.
Hi ladies! My dd made the no sew fleece blankets last Xmas for her mil, and a few others and they loved them!! The pillow sham idea is a good one too! I made alot of clay pot windchimes last year for a few friends, and Im gonna make more this year, also here is a link if anyone is interested with alot of ideas for Xmas things all year round, a nice group of ladies too
Are grapevine wreaths hard to make? My mom and I have both wanted to try this. She has a huge grape orchard in her back yard.
They aren't gard to make at all. Gather the grape vines when they are still green. If you try and make them otherwise they just crack and fall apart mostly. We just let the grape vine itself determine the size it will be when finished. Start winding it into a circle and weave it some into itself and continue adding more until it is as full as you like. Then when yo have it the finsihed size I take some wire and addd a hanger on the back of it. You can but them relatively cheap, but it is so much more fun to gather, make it all yourself!
__________________ cat lover We Welcome Strays
When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping"; now we just "chunky dunk"
1. I am looking for a yarn poodle craft. My granny made them along time ago and I am hoping to carry on the tradition of them. they set on your bed and made entirely out of yarn for the fur coat.
2. to sandielovesteddybears. Do you have by chance adoption papers for your collection? I also collect teddybear and i have some adoption papers for each one but i really do not like the style but cannot find any other style.
3. I am making the no sew fleece lap robes for all the residents at our local convl. hospital but I still need a manly gift for the men, I have octops for the ladies but no second gift for the men.
and one more thing. Thanks to the two ladies that passed on the craft links. it gave me several ideas for the rest of the family members.
Hi lornajjones2003! No I dont have adoption papers for all 3,000 plus of my teddies,lol! I do have a few bears that came with adotion papers, like the Cherished teddies, and if you make your own bear at Build a Bear you get to make your own adoption paper right there. I get my bears from all over, some I order from QVC (Boyds bears) some I buy in gift shops, alot I find at flea markets,I order on line there are alot of tbear sites on line, usually if you order a one of a kind bear from a specific artist you will also get adoption papers.All my bears are special to me and it doesnt matter if they have adoption papers,they get a really good home though!I just remembered my bears of the month bears that I got for my Perpetual calender came with adoption papers from Danbury mint, each month Id get a different calendar bear for the little bee hive shaped shelf and they each have their own BC.
I have to say what a nice thing for you to make gifts for the patients at the convl. hospital,as ffar as for the men , I have the directions for a cake in a mug gift and you just put it in the micorwave, it makes a cute and inexpensive gift, as long as they have access to a micrwave.
Hugs Sandie
Last edited by sandieluvsbears; 04-04-2005 at 08:25 AM.
kimmer: rice bags are very easy to make. i made them a couple of chirstmas's ago when i made papering baskets for my mom and sister.
i bought a big bag of regular rice, can not be instant rice. then i took one of my towels that the binding had started to come undone but the main part of the towel was still in good shape, and cut some rectangles out of it. i sewed the rectangles together on 3 sides and turned then right side out. then filled it with rice and sewed teh end shut. then i made a pillow case out of some pretty fabric i had. the pillow case is washable so when it gets durty it can get washed. the rice bag itself can't be washed though.
when you fill the rice bag, you want it 2/3 to 3/4 full with the rice. you don't want it filled to the brim because the rice can't move around to conform to whatever bodypart it's warming up.
when microwaving the bags, they need to be sprayed with a bit of water (but don't soak it, just lightly mist it) or if the bag is small enough and the microwave is big enough, put a mug of water in with the bag. if you don't, the rice will dry out after a while and burn.
becareful about what fabric you choose for teh pillowcase. you don't want something with metallic thread in it, or you need to make sure the cover is off when microwaving it. they can also be put int eh freezer for cold compresses.
when i get around to it, i am going to make some small ones to keep in teh freezer for an eye pillow for when i get migraines.
forgot to say what i have done so far for this year
i have made 4 crocheted washcloths and 2 potholders. these will be for my sister and mother. not sure whatelse i am making yet.
my daughter and I used to make gifts for the national child connection network. a shoe box filled with stuff for each child, this year we hope to do that again but we are mainly working on the convl. closer to home. so many have had to give up everything and no family to visit them. we feel this is the least we can do.
3,000 wow!!!!!! I only have about 1500 so far. I keep a notebook with their picture in it with all the information i can get on my teddy bears.
how did you get started, if I might ask. I got started by my son, he took me out to breakfast and talked me into playing a claw machine, i got a cutie and before long i started collecting. all shape, styles.
catwoman thank you for instructions. My mom makes alot of wreaths for my aunts flea market and has a ton of grapevines she thought it would give her wreaths more of her personal touch makeing them herself.
Pita1213 thank you for the instructions for the rice bags I am going to have to give this a try real soon since my grandpa keeps asking for one.
Kimmer, rice bags are a wonderful gift. I gave some several years ago. One went to the hospital with an expectant mother while in labor. Another went to the hospital for "fanny" surgery. I love giving gifts that are useful.
Right now, I am working on yoyo angels for my daughter's dance students...have about 200 to make. Every year, she gives her students a personalized, homemade tree ornament.
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Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.
When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping"; now we just "chunky dunk" 
I have a couple of questions.
