Semi Homemade - my way

Hi everyone! It was a really hectic weekend which left me too tired for this week but it's a new week whether I'm ready or not. It's the week of final examinations at school which is a really big headache for me and stressful for everyone. I'm sure you didn't know this, but when a student fails, it is always the teacher's fault. And as students are quick to tell me, there is always someone over my head. So, already students have contacted the state level!! I'll so be glad to retire. And I may have to work one more month than I had calculated but at least the end is in sight. Enough of my moaning; now for some crafting! Yes, I can do a little something. I don't have one single Christmas present bought but I've been doing a little embrodiery for presents my daughter is giving away and some for folks at work. To me, buying plain and embellishing makes good sense. Quick and easier than starting from scratch. Sort of the way Sandra Lee does her cooking - Semi-Homemade. I bought Cassie a little velour warm-up suite and put some snowflakes and "I believe" on the back of the jacket. Oh, those stars I sewed on; they are buttons but flat on the back so they will be comfortable. Why didn't I just embrodiery them, too? Oh if you must know, I made a mistake!! I know that's hard to believe but I did and when I took it out there was a teeny, tiny, little hole there so I sewed a star over it. Then, so that one star wouldn't look so out of place I put a few more on. All in all, however it got there, I'm pleased with the look. I even put a snow flake on the seat of the pants and the front side on one leg. I've embroidered initials on two purses (which Joy is giving for Christmas) and put names on 4 blankets for the grandchildren of a friend at work. The other thing I've done is decopauge (can't spell that) fabric onto a glass plate. I saw this in a magazine several years ago and wanted to try it but never did. Then a couple of weeks ago, the school held a day long training session for improving customer relations. (Oh, don't get me started on how I feel about that.) The lady who did the major presentation was wonderful but I had heard her before. Her topic was Emotional Intelligence and as a "break", I guess, she demonstrated how to do this! She used Christmas fabric but I just used what I had. The rooster is a rub on and I used two different fabrics from which I learned a couple of lessons. The plate I saw years ago that I really, really want, was done with toile (hope that's how to spell it) and a complimentary check. That's why I did this one with different fabrics. Here's what I did wrong - you need to cut the center fabric and then cut the edge fabric with the center missing. Does that make sense? If you look closely at the photo you can see the checked fabric through the solid fabric behind the rooster. So, don't do that. I'm going to try some more of these after Christmas and I'll let you know how it goes. Just a word about the little oval platter next to the rooster plate. That little platter belonged to my mother. I know she used it for many foods but I remember her cooking bacon for breakfast and serving it on that platter. Mama used that platter a lot and I love it because of the memories it brings back for me. Mother and Daddy had a place on the lake when my children were growing up and she took that little platter to the lake house. Lots of good memories from there, too. I just love having Mama's things around to help me remember the good ole days. And just think, today is tomorrow's good ole days! A happy "today" will be good company for us when we are old! Hope all your today's make good memories for tomorrow. Till later - God bless.