DIY - Easy Sew Icepack Cover

This was my first attempt at DIY instruction, and Kenzie and I made this when we were both beginner seamstresses and she was only 8.  It was so easy and useful we had to share.  I apologize in advance if someone else came up with this particular design, but we thought of this one all by ourselves.  The purpose of this little cover is to provide a permanent cloth cover for those refreezable ice packs you can find in any drug store.  I always end up wrapping it in a dishcloth when we use it, so this allows us to use it right out of the freezer.  The seam allowance around the ice pack gives you a fabric portion to grasp that never gets cold because it doesn't directly touch the icepack.

First, you need a ice pack and some soft knit fabric.  The stretch in the knit works well and will never feel "wet."

Measure the height and length of your icepack.  Double the height measurement for the fabric so you can fold it in half, then add 1 1/2 inches to both the height and width.  If the height of the ice pack is 4", the fabric length should be 9 1/2"; if the length is 7", the fabric length should be 8 1/2".   

Fold the right sides of the fabric together along the length, and sew around two of the sides leaving one of the short (height) sides open.  Use a small (5/8") seam allowance.  Turn what now looks like a bag inside out.

Slip the icepack into the bag and hand sew the opening closed.  You will now have an icepack inside a closed pouch, but the icepack can slide around.  Lay the icepack flat and position it within the pouch so all sides are even.  Pick a decorative stitch on your machine and carefully pin around the perimeter of the icepack so it is positioned snugly in the pouch.  Sew.

And that's it!  

Even though we made this fabric icepack years ago, it still holds up well.  Great, easy project!

cindy

Girl's Spa Night

Tonight was supposed to be a daddy/daughter night at the Diamondbacks game.  I was going to spend a quiet night at home with my son.  That likely meant that CJ would play on the computer and I would work on some craft project.  I have to admit I was looking forward to it.

When I arrived home from work, Kenzie let me know that she wasn't going to the ball game because she wanted a "Girl's Night Out."  She told me she wanted to go get avocado so we could rub it all over our faces and put cucumbers over our eyes.  I talked her down from the avocado, pulled out some lotions and found a cucumber.

I ended up with a mini-facial, conditioned feet and a massage courtesy of Kenzie.  A good time was had by all.

  

So much better than another night of crafting.

cindy  

Chats with God

Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear; all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

I can get really stressed out sometimes trying to find a "solution" to life's problems.  The "problems" I'm speaking about are just my own (being effective at work, getting the kids to eat right or brush their teeth, house repairs, etc).  I can't imagine what it would be like to worry about the bigger picture (world peace, climate change, terrorism, the economy).  As a lawyer, I tend to think that I can find solutions to life's problems if I try hard enough.  That, in turn, just makes me stress even more.

The other day I was listening to Selah on my IPod and heard "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," and the words quoted above.  It really struck a chord with me.  How much time do I spend laying my problems down and taking them to my friend Jesus?  Now He may not "solve" my problems the way I think He should - my kids won't suddenly start brushing their teeth - but I have found that just having the conversation and giving up my worries to Him has an immediate impact in reducing my stress.  It also reminds me that I am not (and don't have to be) in control of every aspect of my life.  I just wish I had the conversations with God more frequently. 

To quote an overused 70's phrase: "Let go and let God."



Happy Birthday Church!

Happy birthday Church!  Did you know that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church?  The birth of Christianity is celebrated this day - the day voices of all races and languages came together and heard each other with one voice.  Acts 2: 1-11.  So let's party!  The Holy Spirit is the guest of honor and will blow out the candles.  St. Peter set the table and St. Paul brought the guests.  But this is no ordinary birthday party.  We are guests, but the guest of honor is bringing the gifts. The Holy Spirit brings wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.  Isaiah 11:2-3.  Everything is set at the table and the party is ready to begin.  Will we be there?

The most important thing I need to remember is to accept the gifts that God gives us through the Holy Spirit.  He is the guiding force in our lives, in everything we do, but only if we accept the gifts given freely.  I need to live in Him, walk beside Him and love through Him (the Holy Spirit), with Him (Jesus Christ) and in Him (God the Father).  I personally choose to stay close to the Church because I know it will survive all trials and the gates of Hell shall not prevail over it.  Matthew 16: 17-19.  And there are trials - both for the Church and for each of us personally.  Hold onto the Rock and wait for the day when we will all speak with one voice -  just like the first Pentecost.

cindy

Friday - Time to Get to Work!

I look forward to every weekend because that's when I can really get down to work.  Work on my passion that is - crafting.  This weekend I'm working on a patchwork dress for my Kenzie.  It's been a labor of love for a while now - I stitched lots and lots of 4x2" pieces together to make "fabric" so I could cut the skirt out of a pattern.  Then I decided I didn't like the top of the dress on that pattern, so I'm trying to improvise by matching it to another pattern's top.  This better work!!  If it does, I'll be sure to post a picture - when I get a camera.

We've promised redecorated rooms to both Kenzie and CJ, which includes something I HATE to do - paint.  Don't get me wrong - I love the results, especially when they coincide with the picture in my head, but gosh, I just hate painting.  Kenzie also wants a canopy over her bed, which I want to make, but I may get myself in over my head (no pun intended :).  The problem with promising Kenzie something is that she is going to hold you to it, so maybe we'll get started on that this weekend too.

See what I mean about work?  It's my passion to make beautiful things, but it is time consuming.  Today I saw a blog entry on Stitch Steal's "Feature You Friday".  It's about a woman named Anabela who makes beautiful crochet hats.  Even more beautiful than her hats are the words she uses to describe how she feels about making things and her children.  You can check out Stitch Steal's blog entry about Anabela here, and see Anabela's work at Hats for QTs.

Happy Friday - let the work begin!

cindy

I Gotta Stop Looking in the Rear View Mirror

Tonight I was going through the photos on our Mac and managed to do a quick trip down memory lane with pictures of my kids.  Kenzie is now 8 and CJ is 10 {sigh}.  While I looked at pictures from infancy to elementary school, I remembered the times when each one was taken and what I was thinking then.  By the time Kenzie was 2 and CJ was 4, I remember thinking that they were such big kids and I missed their "babyness".  Now I look at pictures of them at those ages and wish I could reach back in time and smack myself.  Didn't I see how adorable they were?  I also think how "busy" I was (or at least I thought I was) when I was a SAHM.  Some of the cutest pictures were taken while I was trying to take pictures of items to sell on Ebay.  I had to stop and take pictures of them because they wanted to spend time with me.

Today I look at them and still catch myself thinking how their "childhood" is almost gone.  How ridiculous is that??  They still have plenty of "kid time" and I need to enjoy it NOW.  Sure, they were cute back then, but they are still cute now.  Kenzie asked me tonight if I would pay for college for her :)  CJ kept asking me why I couldn't be on "The Voice".  They are still so innocent and I'm trying to stay in the present to savor every minute.  I wish I had a device to record all the funny things they say.

You know, when you try to drive while constantly looking in the rear view mirror, you are bound to crash into something in front of you - the future.

The Great Camera Search

Blogs without pictures are boring.  I don't own a camera (unless you count my cell phone, which I don't).  I have owned several cameras, but I have a unique knack for losing them.  Needless to say, Kentster (read "husband") doesn't buy me cameras anymore. (Sung to the tune "You Don't Bring Me Flowers").  I am trying to balance price with quality.  I have had really crappy cameras, and I hate cameras that only have LCD displays (can't see anything outside).  I'm not a trained photographer, so it would be hard to justify a "fancy" camera.  I've been looking online at Target and Best Buy, but I don't think I understand the terms I'm looking at.  Is it better to have a camera with more megapixels, or a greater optical zoom?  Is it possible to get a decent camera for less than $200.00??  Decisions are tough.  I would love some comments, although I doubt anyone is reading this because it's only my second entry :)  If you are reading this (because you are hopelessly lost in Blog World), feel free to chime in with suggestions on cameras or features.

Straddling the Gap ???

I am a working mom of two with a wonderful husband and an altogether blessed life.  Like so many moms, I'm straddling the gap between home and work.  I've been an attorney, then a mom, then an attorney, and those are just my day jobs.  I'm also straddling the gap of my creative interests.  Creating beautiful things is a gift from God and I guess I've been blessed with many creative gifts to explore.  Cross stitch, scrapbooking, mosaics, crochet, sewing and quilting are just a few of the ways I have exercised my creative desires.  But I'm still straddling the gap between those varied interests.  Whether I land or whether I fall into the gap is my story of every day, but it sure is an adventure!