Thanksgiving Treats for the Grands!

 As many of you know, we are long-distance grandparents, and we do our best to stay an active part of their lives via technology and the postal service.

Our goal is to send them something, via postal mail, once a month.  Sometimes, I fall short, but I do try.

For November, the postal service is delivering ... are you ready for it!!!

We have a sense of humor, so keep that in mind when you read what we're calling their Thanksgiving treat this year ...

It starts with a box for each of them that looks like this.  I was thrilled to find the color and amount I needed at the Dollar Tree.

I lined each box with tissue paper and filled it with gold foil wrapped chocolate balls (Ferrero Rocher is the brand name) purchased at Sam's Club.  I sprinkled in some brown shredded paper, also from the Dollar Tree.

I found these 'turkey glasses' at Michaels on, I think it was 40% off, could have been 50%, to go along with the theme I chose and dress up the gold boxes.

I added a card and bagged them up tying yellow-gold ribbons on one end to close them up.  (I had the ribbon on hand.)

Aren't these cute!!!  

So, are you curious what we've named this Thanksgiving treat for our grands???

We've sent our grands 'turkey poop!'

That's what we're calling it, and we can't wait to hear from them and see their reactions when they open their boxes!!!  Our children are wonderful to facetime our grands opening things we send them.  It's the next best thing to being there!

Update 12/1/24 ... I have some sad news to share about these treats ... one of my grands had their package stolen from their mailbox and never received it.  It was delivered by the postal service, but someone else took it before my daughter could get to the mailbox, someone it was never meant for ...  my daughter is trying to recreate it as closely as she can.  My heart is so sad over this!  

 Until next time ...

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.

Let's Make Some 'No Sew' Christmas Decor

Aren't these just so cute!  I saw a picture of these somewhere, I don't remember where and fell in love with the look.  They fit my farmhouse style decor perfectly.

I set out to recreate the look ...

I already had the ticking on hand so cut it into 7 by 6-inch pieces or close to that.  

I pinked the length ends (7-inch sides) ...

Placed a recycled used canning lid in the center ...

folded both sides over the canning lid (I used a dab of clue to hold it in place)

Do you see what I did next?

Those two rubber bands were used to scrunch up both ends ...

For the final touch, I cut two 10-inch pieces of red rickrack and tied on each end covering the rubber bands ...

As you can see, I made several!

Once I had them made, I popped outside and cut a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and bay leaves.

I arranged them all in this wooden bowl and this is the end result ... I absolutely love the look!

I gathered enough rosemary and bay leaves to fill this cup while outside as well ...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

(This was a project where I used what I had on hand ... that's my goal for this holiday season decor ... use what I have on hand to make new decor and or update what I've been using for years.)

 Until next time ...

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.

Another Skirt!

 Remember this prairie slip I made out of a thrifted 100% cotton sheet ...

I've been working on this skirt to go with the slip ...

I looked in my wardrobe for items to style both the slip and skirt with and this is what I came up with ...

I pulled out a black camisole from my lingerie drawer and a sweater from my sweater drawer and created this outfit!

I have a pair of brown ankle books and jewelry to complete the look ... I'm very pleased with the total outfit and will be able to wear it all winter.  On those really cold days that I wear this outfit, of course I'll sneak in a pair of leggings under the slip/skirt!

I purchased the fabric to make this skirt on clearance at a local Hobby Lobby chain store.

The slip as mentioned was made from a thrifted sheet ...

(I'll use this slip to go with other dresses and or skirts in my wardrobe as well.)

Everything else was already in my wardrobe ...

This is how I maintain my wardrobe from season-to-season while creating new looks the least expensive way I can!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how my mind works when it comes to updating and expanding my wardrobe.  I love to hear ways you manage your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.

Thrift Store Cotton Sheet: Look What I Did With It!

Whenever I get the opportunity to go thrift shopping I always, always look for 100% cotton sheets that are unstained and in good condition.  Here's how I used one from my 'stash' ...

I made a prairie slip to wear under my long skirts.  I made it long enough to hang below the skirts just a bit.  I'm working on a fall skirt and when it's finished, I'll share how I'll style this slip with that skirt.  This slip will add another layer of warmth for those colder temps this winter.

I cut the slip out in such a way that the hemmed top of the sheet became the hem of my slip.  Notice the pretty decorative stitching.   This was such an easy project, and I'm so pleased with the way it turned out!  I did not have a pattern; I used the method I use to make my skirts only making them less full around the waist and hips.

The instructions for how I make my skirts are found in this post!

But that's not all I used that same thrift store sheet for ...

I shared on A Working Pantry blog about being gifted this vintage Santa fabric. I cut the Santa's apart, pressed them all and sorted what I wanted to do with each ... here's what I did with one and it's where the thrift store cotton sheet comes in ...

Look at this cute gift bag!  Do you see the thrifted cotton sheet, of course you don't because I lined the inside with it!

I couldn't resist 'styling' it!  This picture does not do it justice.  The thrift store cotton sheet lining made it where no one can see what's inside and gives it plenty of body!  I love it so much that I'm going to make more and keep them for our use here in our home.  Hmmm, another idea is to fill several with paper, etc and arrange them in a basket for decorations.  My mind is whirling with possibilities and with different ways to stitch them up.  I'll definitely save one of the larger 'Santa's' to make a throw pillow cover.

(By the way, I still have quite a bit of the sheet left to use in other projects.  I think I paid $4.99 for it, a full-size 100% cotton flat sheet that was in good condition.  I'll take it!)

Living in a small house, we don't have room for a lot of storage, these bags can be used, emptied and packed away year after year while taking up very little space.  That's my kind of holiday decor!

I hope you've enjoyed today's post as much as I enjoyed stitching up each project!

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.