Merry Christmas!

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!  I hope you pause to remember the reason for the season.  Blessings to you all :) Angie

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter my SMS giveaway this week.  I'm so happy to read your comments and welcome my new followers!  I'm planning another giveaway when I get to 200 followers, so spread the word if you like the blog.

The winner of the chenille neck warmer and black dahlia earrings is: #4, Alyssa of Sweet Sewn Stitches blog.  Congratulations, Alyssa!  I'm sending an email and hope to hear from you soon.

Last Minute Gift For Her

We're ready to leave tomorrow for Part I of Christmas Vacation - my family.  I've been frantically sewing this week after being gone last week on a hunting trip then having the flu, leaving only 4 days to get my gift sewing done.  I needed a quick, last-minute gift for girlfriends and remembered all the great shirred, scrunchy knit scarves I've been seeing in Blog-Land...

Flannel Scarf Only $5 at Peace and Mind - Etsy shop!

Photo by Brassy Apple

Photo from Hope Studios Blog

The first tutorial I found was for the pink scarf above by Hope Studios.  This was a very fast project - 15 minutes total per scarf.  The tutorial by Hope Studios is found here.  I made a few changes after the first scarf.  I preferred a width of 8" for 2 rows of shirring and 10" wide with 3 rows of shirring.  My knits were 60" wide in various lengths, so I pieced them together to lengths of about 90" x 8-10" wide.  I chose not to make the cuts at the ends of my scarves as in the tutorial.  Wind plenty of bobbins with your elastic thread - I used 1 bobbin per scarf.  They turned out great and I plan to make some for myself once the frantic gift sewing is over. 

SMS Giveaway Day ~ CLOSED~

 

Sew, Mama, Sew

Sew, Mama, Sew 's  Winter Giveaway Day is coming Monday the 13th.  Mama's participating again and opening my giveaway now!  Open to US & Canadian resident only, please.  Contest will close Dec. 17th at 12:00 noon PST.  Now for the loot...

One pair of black resin dahlia earrings on sterling silver plated studs and 

One black chenille neckwarmer.

To enter, simply leave a comment and please include your email.  Mama Lusco Handmade blog followers may leave a second comment for an extra entry.  Good luck and I hope you'll visit again soon!

Pre-Loved Christmas Dolls

I am so excited about my girls' Christmas presents this year!  It's no secret that we're having a super thrifty Christmas this year.  Living on a single income with a double mortgage and unreliable renters has been a huge challenge financially, so almost everything this year is thrifted or handmade from our stash.

I totally scored at the big Thrift Shop Christmas Sale 2 weeks ago!  I found this original American Girl doll with a trunk of clothes for $10!!  Yes, that is TEN dollars!  She still needs her hair washed & trimmed, but is otherwise in beautiful condition.  I found the funky blond Tolly Tots doll on eBay for a total of $12 shipped.  I thought this was a good deal until I found the AG Kaya!

As I posted earlier, I've found a few free patterns and drew up my own peasant top & bloomers, purses and head scarf.  I just need to make a few fancy dresses and the doll sewing will be finished.  I was blessed to receive a free pattern from Amanda at www.hintofhistory.com  for her new Hooverette 1930's doll wrap dress.  I made the reversible version and it is precious!  She has many wonderful vintage-inspired patterns on her site for dolls, girls and women, too. 

Another project I've been making are feed bag totes from our chicken feed.  They will be great shopping bags and I plan to use them to package other gifts. How is your Christmas sewing coming along?