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MOM

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celebrating

A collection of handmade gifts for the mothers in our lives

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Introduction: I was so excited when Dana invited me to be part of the “Celebrating MOM” event. Not only to be working with someone as wonderfully talented as Dana, but also, through our blogs, and now this book, to be bringing attention to what is-in my opinion-one of the most underrated holidays of the year: Mother’s Day.

I don’t think any of us doubt our affection for our moms, but the very nature of motherhood; selflessness, humility, and a self-sacrificing spirit, make it easy for her to slip through the cracks. Whether she is our mom, step-mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, godmother, surrogate mother, or any other motherly figure in your life, we all have someone who encourages, comforts, and unconditionally loves us.

Let’s celebrate her!

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I would like to dedicate this book to my own mother-

Who taught me about sewing, creativity, and thinking outside the box. But most of all, taught me about the true and ultimate Creator.

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Contents: “A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” -Tenneva Jordan

Introduction 2

Chapter One: Apparel 4

• Bouquet Tee 5 • T-Shirt Apron 10

Chapter Two: Accessories 12

• Crinkle Scarf 14 • Rose Cuff Bracelet 18 • Family Tree Brooch or Pendant 22 • Grosgrain Ribbon Belt 26

Chapter Three: Home 30

• Lace Doily Coasters 32 • Silhouette Chalkboard 34 • Field of Flowers Vase 38

Chapter Four: Graphics 40

• Mothers Day Graphics

Acknowledgements 50

About the Author 51

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APPAREL Chapter one:

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“MOMories”

“Whenever we fought as children my mother would make us sit next to each other with our arms around each other's shoulders and sing to each other. If I really needed to tell my brother that he stunk or was driving me crazy then that was fine so long as I sang it to him with my arm across his shoulder. We always ended up laughing.” -Chandi

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A lovely bouquet of blooms that will never loose their freshness!

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• Use pinking shears (or regular sewing scissors) to cut eight rounded rectangles with a flat bottom in three sizes: 2”, 1.5” and 1” tall.

• Then lay out all the pieces, putting the smaller on top of the larger, and sew along the bottoms in one long line. Gather them up by pulling the top thread only.

• When you’re done, tie the threads from both ends into a knot to secure. You should have a nicely gathered flower just like this:

• Then cut five, 1/2" strips of knit in the length of your shirt.

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• Arrange them on the shirt, starting at the flowers, and coming down to the side seam of your shirt

• Pin, and stitch on with a narrow zigzag stitch.

All done!

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“MOMories”

“’Mom, what's a Tempest? Is that a woman with a bad temper?’ ~the question my home schooled child asked when studying the Bard of Avon.” -Christine

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No matter what your style (or your mom's!) there is a t-shirt for it.

Which means there can be an apron for it, too!

• Cut the front design out in a large rectangle from sleeve inseam to sleeve inseam, and from under the neck to the bottom of the shirt.

• Fold the bottom of the shirt up until it's right under the design, then fold the hem down for a more finished look. Sew into four even sections, with the end section sewn into two for spoon slots.

The T-Shirt Apron

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• Using the back of your shirt, cut 6 strips, 2.5" x 24".

• Then sew three strips together into one, and repeat for the other three. You should have two long snakes.

• Put them on top of each other with wrong sides facing and seams matched, pin, and stitch all the way around to make your apron waistband and ties.

• Then pin your apron skirt to the back in the center, and sew on!

All done!

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Chapter two:

ACCESSORIES

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“MOMories”

“Every time we would complain or beg for something, [my mom] would always tell us yes we could have it...when she won the lottery. Needless to say I am still waiting for that Barbie I wanted when I was 7, LOL” -Tasha

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A darling alternative to the chemically wrinkled summer scarves you’ve seen in stores. To revive the crinkle after washing, simply twist and let

dry!

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• Cut a 13"x60" rectangle, and slice three-inch long slits every half-inch across each end. Hem both long sides.

• Dampen your scarf by spraying it with water, or running it under the facet.

• Then twist the ends in opposite directions as tightly as they will go, and tie together in a loose knot. Hang to dry, or throw in the dryer!

• Fray the ends by pulling out the short, horizontal threads in your slits, tying a knot at the top.

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• Print this butterfly template, and use it to cut butterflies from knit, felt, or any non-fraying fabric.

• Then pin your butterflies on your scarf, and hand stitch around the body.

You can also add a little sparkle, by threading a seed bead on every other stitch!

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“MOMories”

“My friends and I were talking about our moms and what they are and are not willing or able to do for us. I innocently described my mom flying out to cook me a freezer full of food when I was pregnant and unable to merely glance at raw meat without gagging. I continued to detail many such tasks, thinking all moms did these things at the drop of a hat.

Finally my friends desperate to come up with something my mother would NOT do for me, ‘Well she wouldn't clean your windows would she?’

‘Not only would she offer to clean them, she would then put on soft music and the entire time she scrubbed she would say things like - Don't nice sparkling clean windows make you feel wonderful!’ I replied with a laugh and a new realization that this was not altogether the norm.

My friends needed to hear no more, they instantly crowned her ‘THE FAIRY MOMMY’ I know they all love and appreciate their moms, but mine does have something a bit magical about her…” –Sharon

A photo of Sharon’s “Fairy Mommy”, taken 20 years ago (she still has the wings!)

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A feminine marriage of flowers felt and pearls.

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• Start by cutting two strips of felt. For a small-medium wrist, cut 1 1.4" x 8 1/2" As a rule, you'll probably want to cut the length to about 1 1/2" longer than your wrist measurement.

• Cut a 3/4" length of Velcro and attach one side to the end of each strip, by sewing around the edges.

• Place one strip on top of the other, so that both Velcro pieces are on the outside, and on opposite ends, and stitch all the way around to create a cuff.

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• Take approximately 6 medium sized flowers and pop them off the stems, removing the plastic pieces, so you're left with just petals.

• Hot glue the petals to your cuff, one layer at a time, finishing with a pearl in the center of each flower. Continue down the cuff, gluing flowers very close together. If you don’t want to mess with hot glue, a couple of hand-stitches would work nicely, too!

All done!

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“MOMories”

“My son was in kindergarten and we were going to the store. I was preoccupied, so when he asked about the twentieth question in a five minute period which was ‘When did you get married, Mommy?’ my reply was, ‘A long time ago.’ He was quiet for a while and then asked ‘Was Jesus alive?’” --Sydney

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Make mom her own family jewelry, at a fraction of the cost!

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• Cut 7-3 inch lengths of heavy-duty bendable wire, and using your needle nose pliers to bend one end of each piece into a circle.

• Open a flat-backed safety pin and wrap extra wire around the pin and “tree trunk”.

• Gently bend your “branches” down into a tree shape.

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• Thread a bead for each birthstone onto a headpin and trim with wire cutters to about !” from top of bead. Then bend the end into a circle with pliers.

• Twist the end of the loop up slightly to open, and attach to the loop on one of the branches, then close the loop again with your pliers.

• To make a pendant instead of a pin, skip the safety pin, and attach the loop of the center branch to a chain, using a larger loop or jumpring.

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“MOMories”

“Before we would leave the house or my mother would drop me off somewhere she would say, ‘who loves you more than anyone?’ We would always have to reply, ‘Mommy does!’ Before she would let us leave. Simple pleasure.” -Erin

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So quick and easy-you’ll want to make one for every outfit!

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• Cut a 45” length of ribbon (or about 1.5x your waist measurement) and thread it through 2 D-rings, folding under the edge, and stitch closed.

• Then fold under the opposite end and hem.

• Take apart two fabric flowers, and put them back together into one, alternating layers. You can use two different colors, or two of the same for a nice, fuller flower.

• Use a needle and thread to stitch the front of your belt, covering the rings.!

That’s it!

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Have fun playing around with buttons or brooches in the middle of your flower….

Or use hand made flower pins for a charming, vintage look!

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“MOMories”

“I love my mother. She has always been there for me when I needed advice with kids or marriage or just crazy life stuff. I am number 4 of 5 kids, nothing special, but if anyone asked I would say that I am her favorite child. It may not be so, but I feel that way whenever we are together. It's a great thing to feel like someone special. I feel spoiled by her love and care. Last year for her birthday I made her a yummy cake with homemade frosting. I was holding the cake and she went to smell it so I raised it up a little toward her mouth so she could get to it easier but she came down way faster than I thought she would. And so I got her in the face with it! Instead of being upset we had a great laugh and them she took a handful and got me right back! I will never forget it. I love you, Mom!” -Stefanie

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Chapter three:

HOME

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“MOMories”

“Me: Guess what? I have a blog. Mom: You do? Oh, honey, that's incredible! I'm so proud of you! Me: Um, mom? Do you know what a blog is? Mom: No!!!” -Michelle

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Bring in the feeling of fresh

summer breezes, and

sun-dried linens, with

these fun coffee-table

cuties!

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• Cut eight 5” squares of muslin and press the edges under "” • Then cut four 4” squares of batting, and place one in each of

four of your muslin squares.

• Place the other four squares on top, pin, and stitch around the edges in two rows.

• Starting in the middle, spiral your lace, with the bottom of each row tucked under the tops of the row before it, stitching as you go.

All done!

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Add a little cuteness to mom’s kitchen counter, with a silhouette of yourself when you were young, or one of her grandkids!

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." -Elizabeth Stone

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• Cut an 8.5”x11” piece of freezer paper and slip it into your printer. Print a side-view photo of your child, taking up as much of your paper as possible without any clipping.

• Carfefully cut your silhouette out, all in one piece.

• Use double-sided tape to gently adhere your stencil to a 10”x12” board, painted mom’s favorite color.

• Paint a thin coat of chalkboard paint, let dry, and repeat. Carefully remove your stencil, and you’re done!

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Then you can feel free to dress it up with flowers, polka-dots, or cute notes to mom!

You can also screw in some small hooks, and tie ribbon to hang it on the wall!

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“MOMories”

“When I was just learning to write in cursive I had a dispute with my mother. I wanted to go play at a friend's house and for whatever reason she wouldn't let me go. Well, I figured out a way to show her. I left a note on my pillow, where my mom was sure to find it, painstakingly written in little girl cursive that read, ‘In the story Cinderella there is a mean mom. I have the same mom.’ I had forgotten about this event completely but my mom was asked to speak in church last year on mother's day and that was her opener. Thanks mom!” -Meredith

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Cheer up mom’s table with flowers that will stay bright all year ‘round!

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• To make this vase, simply remove the heads of some mixed fabric flowers, and hot glue them to a vase in random patterns!

• Start by hot gluing all of one color, and keep adding colors until the vase is completely covered. Then add a few randomly mixed colors for a “field-grown” look!

*The bright colors really cheer up a room, but a monochromatic color scheme would be very elegant as well!

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Chapter four:

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"Mothers are God’s way of giving us hugs” -anonymous

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Acknowledgements I would like to thank:

Dana, of www.dana-made-it.com for hosting the “Celebrating MOM!” event, and inviting me along!

My wonderful husband, for taking the photos of me, and only very rarely making fun of me for being obsessed with a little craft blog.

My darling daughter, for keeping my lap warm while I sew, type, edits photos, etc. :o)

Starbucks Coffee. (Couldn’t have done it without you guys!)

And most of all, my generous God, who hears and answers the insignificant prayers of this silly, silly girl.

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About the Author

Disney Powless is the optimistic and slightly scatter-brained author of the craft blog, RufflesandStuff.com.

She began sewing and crafting at the age of 6, and enjoys sharing her hobbies and projects with all the kindred spirits in the craft blog world!

She lives in the great northwest with her husband and their daughter, and she brings the rain with her wherever she goes. :o)

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