Christmas in July
 

Any new ideas? Place mats, aprons, pillows, totes? My gang always appreciates new potholders, etc. but I'd love to do other projects. The "Ornament of the Year", I have no idea!! Let's brainstorm!

I made dryer balls one year for the gals at the office & they all loved them. I don't remember the site that I got my instructions from but this looks like a good one. Just "google" how to make dryer balls & a lot of sites will come up.

https://livesimply.me/homemade-wool-dryer-balls/

Headbands are a quick project and a great scrap or stash buster. Vanessa "The Crafty Gemini" on youtube has a tutorial for a reversible headband that uses two 2.5 inch wide strips. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_IYc0nlejI

Microwave Bowl Holders. I recently made some with my sewing student. Her mother was beyond happy with them.

I think I will go over to u tube and see what I can find for you dotty. I would like to see what they are showing as new this year.

So far, this is all I could find to get you started thinking about little gifts. It is a gal on u tube that has a craft booth and she tells how well each thing sold at the fair. The gal has individual videos for each craft she talks about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrhimE80u-Q

Check out Sew4Home website. Lots and lots of ideas there. I have made lots of their ideas, the latest being the Slim Crossbody Pouch. here is a link to the website just do a search for the Slim Crossbody Pouch. It is perfect to wear when you are outside by yourself and need to keep your cell phone handy in case of an emergency. I live alone and if I fell or something happened that I could not get back inside, well.....it could be awhile before anyone found me. I never go outside without it. It is going to be my go to Christmas gift this year. BTW I did not do the piping on mine.

https://sew4home.com/

I made soap holders out of wash cloths. I put lavender soap in the ones for women and Dial soap for the men. I also cut my scraps into 1" wide strips, join them together and then I used a size O crochet hook to make place mats. These are reversible and it's a good way to use up scraps.
Directions for the soap-holder are https://happiestcamper.com/wash-cloth-soap-holder

I was at a craft fair and the lady had a cute display. She made 4 sizes of fabric bowls. all the same fabrics in all four sizes. She stacked them and tied a ribbon around them. It was so cute.

I have a fellow guild member that simply zig zags a christmas fabric band onto standard hand towels. They are decorative and usable.

Dotty I love the long 2 handed pot holder you made for me, I use it a lot. Hope your doing good. Happy 4th to you.

This is very quick and easy.
https://happiestcamper.com/easy-5-mi...h-soap-holder/
https://happiestcamper.com/jar-opene...ewing-project/

Fabric stackable storage bags, zippered toiletries bags are my go to items...

Thanks! I am going to try crocheting those 1" strips. Maybe everyone gets a book this year and all my sewing is for charity!

I found this last year (?) and I thought it would be great for backpacks or even retreats too.

https://www.doodlecraftblog.com/2014...als-caddy.html

I have been making the look-alike-dolls out of 2 dishcloths. Just lay them side by side, and using a big needle and yarn to sew together. You have to practice a little, but they are super-easy. You have the 2 dishcloths together, then gather at the bottom for the legs, and wrap the yarn around the legs to look like a doll.
Then,gather around the neck and use the yarn again to make the dress---look alike
When you need a dishcloth or 2, just snip the yarn and you have a dischcloth! They are quick, after you get used to what they look like.
I am making some for the Boutique at our Quit Show. Got one somewhere is what inspired me.
They make good gifts.
Email me if these directions aren' t very clear.
Maiah

Red Garnet,

Thanks for the reminder! I've seen that tutorial but forgot about it. Those would be great for the office, college student, a boater or even in a work truck too. Even grand-kids could pack toys, etc in them. It would be fun to decorate for each person. Those are going on my list and I'll tuck a couple of gift cards inside too.