Finished Matts

Finished place mats... check.

Better late than never.

Or am I just ahead for 2014?

Finished these and started playing with an idea I had for something else with the looms.

We'll see where that takes me.

It is something I have been tinkering on for a couple of years now,

so don't hold your breath.

But I always seem to come back to things I start

so don't give up either.

Table mats

I decided, somewhat belatedly 

that I needed mats to go with my tea cozies.

Leftover matching yarn... check.

Love and Money Looms... check.

Frame for looms... check.

Empty toilet paper rolls... check.

I have used the looms before and enjoyed them.

The frame to hold the looms is new however,

and I really am liking it as well.

Although it works great for wrapping I am finding it a bit awkward

when tying and have decided to try taking the loom off the frame to do the tying and see how I like that.

Luckily, that is very easy to do.

I first spent hours  and I do mean hours 

unraveling the mess of yarn so I could use my yarn winder

to make it into a nice neat ball to fit on the yarn holder at the top of the frame.

Winding the yarn onto a toilet paper roll makes that a breeze.

And fortunately the toilet paper rolls fit perfectly onto the winder!!!

Fun.  Fun.  Fun.

Another Apron

Another apron finished!  

Can you tell I like this pattern?

And I am stash busting!  

That counts as cleaning doesn't it?

Cookies for Valentine's Day

I like to bake cookies.  

Even more I like to bake cookies for particular people knowing it is their favorite.

My oldest granddaughter recently requested "those cookies with the mint candy in them and the pink stripes".  

The official name is Peppermint Rounds.

They are oatmeal cookies with crushed candy canes so I usually make them in January with leftover candy canes. 

But because I was out of town a good part of January I did not get them made.  Therefore I decided to change them up a bit and use them for Valentine's Day Cookies. 

I know it is a little bit early, but hey once in a great while a person can be early!

She was tired tonight so will stop by after class tomorrow.  That's OK.  The great thing about these cookies is they tend to get softer the next day!

Think she will like them?

She did say the cards I made for her were a hit and they made their goal.  

Wooo Hooo!  That means I don't need to make any more!!

Cards for the hospital patients

My granddaughter is involved with a project where the goal is to make 300 cards to be given to hospital patients.  They will display the cards in the gift shop hoping people will be interested in donating to this cause.  The money raised will go towards grief carts but whether they sell or not all the cards will be given to patients.

So I offered to make some cards as so far they only have 60.  

I made 30.  Doesn't seem like a very big contribution but it is 10% of the goal so if each person gives 10% it won't take too many people.

I had intended to host a card making party on Sunday but we ended up spending the weekend helping my daughter set up her classroom as she took over a kindergarten class on Friday. Another worthy project that included the family and friends as they were available.

There is still one more weekend before Valentine's Day

 so maybe I can induce some friends this weekend and get more cards finished.

They are simple cards but I hope they will bring a smile to a face and a buck to the coffer.

What are you doing for someone this year for Valentine's Day?

Have you considered doing something for someone you don't even know?