Showing posts with label gift ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gift ideas. Show all posts

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Sewing Plans

Years and years ago I purchased a Janome machine and it gave me so many problems that it took away the fun of sewing. For years I thought the problem was really me. When I finally got rid of it and bought an Elna basic sewing machine, I realized that basic sewing was far more fun when one wasn't always trying to "baby" a sewing machine.

Then last winter I saw a fancier Janome machine that seemed like it would fit my needs for something better than basic. I am planning to make more quilts so I wanted a machine that could help me achieve that but also allow me to expand and advance my level of sewing projects.

This machine is easy to use. It comes with a DVD but I didn't find it necessary to view it first.

Some of the features which led me to purchase the machine are:

  • a thread cutter
  • self-threading machine
  • a drop in bobbin
  • a see through bobbin area
  • 1 step buttonhole attachment
  • a well marked needle plate
  • enough stitches to make sewing interesting but not so many as to be overwhelming
  • a quilt table and attachments
So far I've made 4 skirts for my mother, repaired a shirt for my brother, hemmed some jeans for myself and made a quilt for my niece.

My next project will be making a quilt for my nephew. I am way overdue on the project but I'm hoping it will be done by late June/early July.

 My nephew wanted a quilt like the one I made for his grandmother and pictured here. I hope to use some of the fabrics in this photo. Not all of them of course. I have to find the right combination of the ones below and some others I have on hand.




Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Busy Hands

 If I could tell the world just one thing it would be we're all okay, and not to worry cause worry is wasteful and useless in times like these. I won't be made useless, won't be idle with despair, I will gather myself around my faith.  Light does the darkness most fear.

Jewel, American singer/songwriter

Hi friends,

While I've been house bound, I've been working on a few things besides my decluttering  project.

For example, I've been knitting lots of dishcloths for my Etsy shop.  All proceeds from my shop go to Kenyan missions.  I find the knitting allows me to relax and think and pray about things on my mind.  It also helps me feel like I am doing something useful and something that may yet be helpful to the missions in the country I hold dear.

I made my rug out of old pajamas which you can see here.

Another project that I've started is a Wizard of Oz quilt that I was originally planning to make for a Christmas gift.  I ran out of time so now I am making it for a summer birthday gift.

It is a simple quilt and the quilt layers are being secured by hand with yarn ties instead of machine stitching.  I'll also add a few rows of machine stitching just to make the blanket extra secure.


I still need to cut off the edges and make a binding to sew around the edges.


There are a few birthdays in February and early March so I've been working on some small gift packages.   One for a local friend and and one for an aunt who lives out of town.

My friend turned 69 years of age on February 11th.  Since she has become a senior citizen we don't get together as often as we used to and her health has been fragile for some time.  This year we were going to celebrate her birthday by going out to high tea.  But she came down with pneumonia a few days before her birthday and quarantined herself while on a course of strong antibiotics. I told her to take it easy and not push herself at this time so she can get better and I was relieved to hear her sounding much better over the phone a few days later.

This is part of the gift for my friend, Rose. I've made her two red dishcloths and thought this lovely china cup would be a nice cup from which to drink her tea.

Next month my aunt will celebrate her 67th birthday.   I made her two dishcloths in shades of green and blue and included some note paper, a nice pen with floral designs on it and some funds so she could treat herself to a meal out in a restaurant.

I hope my aunt likes her small gift.

Now and then  it is lovely to be remembered by someone else.  Do you agree? I don't think your remembrance has to be anything huge or expensive. I think my friend and my aunt will both feel remembered when they receive their gift packages.

(My apologies for the poor photos. It was late at night when I took them.)


I hope you will come back soon.  I am planning a giveaway which I haven't done for awhile. I will post all the details right here.
Enjoy your week.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Gift Catalogue - Missions of Hope

Hello friends,

I know you are all busy preparing for Christmas. If you are still considering what to gifts to buy for Christmas, I have some ideas for you. It is becoming more and more popular to purchase charitable gifts on behalf of someone else. We have some great ideas for you through the Missions of Hope. Please take a moment to consider whether any of these gifts would speak to your needs.  It would be also be great if you would feel free to share this post with your friends who may still be looking for Christmas gift ideas

Soon I will do a post on a woman who has been helped by gifts such as these.  Thank you so much for considering these needs.

Merry Christmas and happy shopping!

Orphan & Family Needs


$155 to $205 US - School Fees per Boarding student
$25 US School Uniforms per student
$15 US School Shoes per student
$25-50 US monthly for Orphan support
$55 US Family Support


Farm Animals





$5 US per chicken
$6 US per rooster
 
Just a few hens can help provide eggs and chicks to raise poultry for sale.


$55 US for one goat ($50) + vet inspection ($5)
A goat can provide milk and if two goats of opposite sex are purchased, can provide a simple livelihood for a family.





$800-$1000 US for one high grade cow

A good cow gives quality milk for consumption and for sale.
8 or 10 donors can help to purchase 1 cow.


Agriculture



$120 - $250 US for seeds & fertilizer per growing season   For several years, Missions of Hope has planted communal crops (corn, cabbages, potatoes) and given out the harvest to the widows and orphans.  We were unable to do this in the Jan.- March 2011 planting season.  Instead each farmer must find adequate funds for planting. Help us to help them, with the planting in Jan.-Mar. 2011.


Other Suggestions


* corn 30 kg  $22.00 US
* oil 1kg  $7.00 US
* beans 5kg $4.00 US
* flour $2.00 US
* onions 2kg $2.00 US
* royco 500 gr $2.00 US
* veggies $3.00 US
* rice 3kg $4.00 US
* meat 2kg $6.00 US
Based on monthly needs per family of 5 members
* $250 US to sponsor 1 mother for small business start-up or to learn a trade
 
* 300 US/yr to help 1 child attend school
OR
* $3000 US to send 1 youth to college/uni.
OR
* $60 US to buy 1 cell phone for pastor or college student
OR
* $10 US/mo. to buy airtime for pastor or student

* misc. $10.00 US (eg. soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc.)
Based on monthly needs per family of 5 members
* 1 pit latrine - $60 US
sponsor 1/2 latrine - $30.
* legal title deeds - This need has been met.
OR
* Build 1 Refuge Centre  $15,000 US OR any amount to help get project underway
* blankets n mattresses
$25-$50 US for 2-3 people
OR
*day clothes 1 child $15. US
OR
* medicine n doctor - $20 US
 
 
NOTE:  All prices fluctuate greatly in this time of incredible inflation. We have tried to give accurate costs to the nearest rounded up dollar. These figures will be updated when there is a significant change in prices.

DONATE HERE   (See top right of page).

If you wish to donate more than $300. US kindly contact us first by clicking here

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