A Recycled Tote

I told a friend last week that I somehow want to support the Goods4Girls campaign, but I can not afford all new materials. (click on link to find out more) I told her I was looking for flannette from old Pj's or receiving blankets and terry from old towels to make mentrual pads for Goods4Girls. She told me she would look around. She has seven children, so she was bound to find some material worthy of recycling. Three days later she had a garbage bag full of material for me. She brought to my house after Children's Holy Hour and then we went to her house for tea. We got talking, as young women tend to do over a cup of tea. She told me about this one sweater that she threw in the bag. Apparently, it was tattered and had been fixed a number of times, but it now needed to be laid to rest. The kids really loved that sweater. It was given to one of the boys by a dear friend. I promised her I would see if I could recycle it somehow. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but a promise is a promise. It was her oldest daughter's birthday the next day and we left a jacket in their van, so we had to get together that day anyway. I spent all Saturday morning figuring out what I was going to do and then make something. Well, I googled a few sites and this tutorial is what I found. I had to do some strange cutting, but I somehow managed to get enough material together to make this bag. I was able to salvage and use one of the hoody pockets and a piece of material where the name brand crest was sewn on. I had some golden material for a lining left over from an All Saint's Day costume and luckily I even found some matching thread. My dear husband modeled the bag for me twice. You can see each side of the bag. I thank the Lord that I was able to make such a quick gift. It was well received and I am glad that I didn't turn this hoody into a menstrual pad. Now it can be cherished a little longer.

Baby Shower Gifts

I have been invited to two baby showers in the next two weeks. This is actually how this ball started rolling. I was busy searching the web for free patterns to make lovely baby shower gifts for two friends. I found some lovely patterns. I chose a few and altered them to my taste.

The first gift is a "Pucksack" or "Strampelsack" in German. I am not sure of the English terminology, sorry. It is meant to replace a blanket. These are used in Germany to help prevents SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrom). I used one like this with my third child. (I didn't know of their existence for the first two). It was wonderful. I didn't have to worry about the blankets being pulled over the baby's head or that the baby would kick off the blankets in the middle of the night. The one I made is made of flannelette on the outside and a lining of diaper flannelette on the inside. Diaper flannelette is much softer than regular flannelette. The waistband is made of a 90% cotton, 10% nylon jersey material. It is nice and strechable. I adapted this pattern which didn't include a lining and changed the measurements slightly.

Obviously, my friend knows she is going to have a girl. My other friend doesn't want to know the gender until birth, so I made her this one.

I also made a pair of 3-Seam Footies (external pfd file link) and a rice sack to match the the first pucksack. I am hoping that the rice sack will help against the painfull post labour pains as my friend is having her fourth. It can be warmed up in the oven or in the microwave. The inner sack has four compartments so that the rice doesn't slide to one end. If you would like some detailed instructions, please leave me a comment and will mail you the instructions.

Saint Ephrem, Patron of Talents

This past Monday (June 9th) was the Feast Day of Saint Ephrem. I was reading the prayer of the day from "Daily Prayers with the Saints for the New Milenium" when I realized that my talents need to be used and not kept for my own personal use. Saint Ephrem is the patron Saint of talents.

This is the prayer:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Ephrem was gifted as a poet, and he used his talent to teach religious truths, earning the nickname "Harp of the Holy Spirit." I ask him to pray for the proper use of my talents, and I dedicate them to Your kingdom, to be used according to Your will. Keep me from being held back by feelings of inadequacy or false humility, and teach me to see my talents as You see them, regardless of how insignificant I think they might be. Help me to overcome jealousy toward other people's talents and to grow in Thanksgiving for the gifts You have given me. Saint Ephrem, pray for me. Amen.

So in conclusion, I looked at the talents I posess and decided to sew my way into the kingdom. The world wide web is a great place for looking for ways to use my sewing talents. In the next days and weeks, I hope to display some of the projects and challenges I plan to take on. I will provide you with help of the saints and many giving folks here online with inspiration to make a difference in your families, communities and the world. I would greatly appreciate your support through prayer on this incredible journey.