I Saw Some Hedgehogs

OMG. Are these stinkin' cute or what?

I saw the pink one at a Christmas Bazaar and finally got around to making a pattern.

In the process of making a couple more in a purple swirl.
I would make more in this blue batik but I just have scraps left (good job, Kathy!)

Backsides

 They have batting and insulbright inside to actually use these as hotpads.

Hot Pad Thank You

At work Monday morning, I received  a surprise package. 
Once home, I opened it to find some Insulbright from a customer who had ordered a couple of handmade items off my etsy site.

 I immediately cut and sewed four hot pads with this cool postcard fabric so I can send two her way as a lovely thank you for the supplies and acknowledging that I can always use Insulbright.

For those that don't know what Insulbright is, it's a foil punched batting that withstands heat making it great to insert into hot pads or anything that gets near the heat.


***For the next three weeks, my rural postal route is being counted (Feb 7 - 28).
 
I have the best carrier and I like to support her so I will be posting extra letters and packages this month from my home to help her out.
Counting rural routes determines a carriers salary - an evaluation.
Mail volume has re-bounded since the recession with first class mail up over 1.5%.

Her route has not been counted in four years so she should see a huge boost in salary for the long days she has been putting in. She starts her day at 6:30/7am and ends it around 5/6pm. She generally works five days a week with a sub on Saturdays.

I've written about mail count before:
1. How your rural carrier gets paid.

2. Letter Writing.
3. Who to write to.

A lot of rural routes are being counted this month, not just mine. Whether you live on a rural route or know someone who does, I would like to encourage you to write more snail mail.

Postcrossing has talked about going off-line in February and committing to just writing letters.
They have a Month of Letters Challenge up right now for February.
I have noticed when I conscientiously turn off my laptop for longer periods, I get more done on the sewing front.

I love getting mail - above post - surprise package in my mail. Who doesn't like finding something beyond circulars in their mail box?
Here's an easy way to post more letters. Add a teabag to your card and ask the recipient to have a cup of tea with you. I swear I could hear smiles while my friends opened up that envelope. It will cost  a bit extra for that tea bag - as long as it's under a quarter-inch in thickness, it should be 70 cents (49 cent regular forever stamp plus 21 cent non-machinable stamp).

I would love it if you would send me a postcard (February 7 - 28, 2015):
Kathy
24463 S. Skylane Dr
Canby, OR 97013

Bazaar Busy

I get in my sewing room(s) and cannot focus on one job. I want to make it all - at the same moment - on the same cutting table. I pull out fabrics for the next project before I am done with the first.  I end up having to have a severe talk with myself and I end up having to leave the room for a while (time-out) so I can get back to the ONE job at hand.
Which was to finish this respectable pile of hot pads.

Which was difficult because I am a self-imposed "gotta make it better" sewer. That last word could be the sewer but we'll try to keep it a sew-er. Just make the stinkin' simple hotpad. No way, Jose. I have to hand-draw a figure from the fabric - dragonflies - and quilt around that to make MY hotpads unique. That's me, I confess, very unique.
And troublesome.

You gotta admit - it turned out cuter.

I still have four insul-bright squares cut-out and I don't even wanna tell you where my busy brain went with these. I'll give you a hint: it involves a spin on dragonflies.

But, these are DONE.

Can you spot the OSU and U of O hotpads?

Portland PO Holiday Bazaar is Saturday, December 3, 2011 at

721 NW 9th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97209
Eco-Trust Building
Hours: 9am - 4pm

Come see what my undisciplined brain sews up.