Memory Hot Pad Tutorial

I was inspired to create a memory hot pad by Nanette Merrill’s Doll House Hot Pad Tutorial.

The following tutorial is made using a photo my husband took while we were in Hyder, Alaska in 2008.










Materials:

Digital photo (or scan a photo into your computer) – with a fairly large central object.
Photo fabric sheets (I used Miracle Fabric Sheets ™)
Thermo or Insulbright or cotton batting – NOT POLYESTER
Fabric for “frame” – as wide as the white area (two pieces 2 x 11 1/4 and two pieces 2” x 8 3/4).
Fabric for backing and edges – 13” by 11”.
Matching Thread
Contrasting Thread
WALKING FOOT for your sewing machine
Iron and Ironing board

Instructions:

Select a digital photo with a central subject.

Print the digital photo on fabric sheets capable of being printed on an inkjet printer – I used Miracle Fabric Sheets TM – follow manufacturer’s instructions.

Choose coordinating fabrics – I chose colors/patterns that compliment the side and bottom edges:








Cut your fabric – Measure the WHITE space around your photo – for each side add ¼ inch for the seam allow. (If the side is 1 ¾ inches wide your “frame” strips will be 2 inches by the length of the white area.)

Place the pieces on the photo fabric to check for placement:



After checking placement I decide that the black fabric needed to extend wider on the short end. For this photo I ended up with two pieces 2 inches by 11 inches – one in black and one in light blue. For the short ends I chose to use BOTH the black and the light blue to make up the width because of the objects within the photo.



Sew the long edges first. Place the fabric face down along the outside edge of the photo area. Press seam so that the fabric photo now has no white showing on the long sides.











Because my short ends have two fabric colors I have sewn the two together to create a single piece of fabric.


Now sew the ends on the photo fabric and PRESS:


Trim up your edges to create your final size.





Add the batting – I use the spray adhesive to hold the layers of batting and fabric together:





Center the batting and photo fabric on top of the backing fabric – wrong sides together. Measure around to make sure all sides are equal:










Fold the edge of the backing fabric toward the outer edge of the batting/photo fabric pieces and pin in place.


Do this on all four sides.


Miter the four corners – choose your own method. I’m not good at this and usually fall back on simply neatly fold the corners in place. Check the internet and someone will have a great way to miter a corner.











Fold the backing edge over the edge of the batting/photo fabric and pin in place. (This is why you made sure the fabrics were squarely centered on the backing fabric. This is your edging.


Sew around the inner edge of the recently folded edge.




Last step:

Stitch around the elements of the photo – in the gutter of each seam is a start. Next you decide what you want “quilted” – for this photo the pier braces and the perch for the eagle are stitched all the way around—where it is black I used black thread, where it is blue or white I used light blue thread. The eagle is stitched with gold embroidery thread.

Spring Trip

We planned a trip to Sheridan, WY to attend our friend's celebration of his 40th anniversary as a priest with a visit to Alliance, NE to see Larry's family.

The drive to Nebraska was uneventful for us - not so for 3 travelers we observed in various single vehicle accidents. Sobering events to say the least.

With a little rain and little snow and lots of wind we made it to Alliance for a week's visit with family. We seem to bring lousy weather with us each time we visit - or at least that is what we are told.

The highlight of the trip was our brief visit in Sheridan. It was such a pleasure to be able to make it to Sheridan for this momentous event. It was so nice to see Tom Ogg - it has been a few years. What he has lost in hair Larry and I have gained in pounds and wrinkles! A lovely event, well organized with lots of nice people. We will pray that Fr. Ogg retires in 3 years as he has planned and that he gets to be less of an administrator.

Beware Cute Fabric!

While a friend and I were on an escape day we happened into Walmart. I headed for the fabric section and while I was looking for something new I happened upon a cute fleece fabric with animals. Not only was it an interesting design, the fleece itself was velvet soft.

Fast forward to purchasing not only the fleece but a bunch of flannel as well. The end result is a couple of snuggles for babies as well as a couple of pillows made from the scraps. Isn't the animal print the cutest! I may purchase more for more projects!

Busy, busy, busy

The last couple of weeks it seems like we have been riding, driving at every turn.

We flew to Spokane, WA and were picked up by the owner of the yellow Valkyrie trike and taken to Moses Lake - where we purchased the trike and stayed the night. If you are looking for a good place to eat Michael's is good.

It was an incredibly cold ride home. We left Mose Lake with temps below 50 degrees and I think the maximum was 55. We were in such a hurry I mistakenly agreed to forgo installing the wiring for our heated gear - stupid me! We ran into a mini blizzard in Crescent, Oregon but made it as far as Klamath Falls the first day. Thank heavens the Super 8 has a hot tub. The next day we waited until 10 a.m. to leave because it was once again below 50 degrees. By the time we rode to Weed, CA we were peeling off outer layers. Made it home safe, sound and reasonably warm.

We were home 4 days and headed for Coarsegold, CA for the brake upgrade on my trike. That was another 2 day adventure and chilly ride.

We now have 6 days to get ourselves organized before we leave for Nebraska and Wyoming.

Spring Continues

While the skies have been clear and sunny the temperatures have been decidedly wintry.

Sunday we traveled to Santa Rosa to pickup a new laptop for a friend. I lovely drive in the Mustang. Daren and Kristie also came for a visit.

We visited with Daren and Kristie and then had lunch at Jack's Gaslight in Lakeport. Except for the fact Jack doesn't appear to have a heating system and it took forever to receive our food it was great - as usual. Daren's friend Jonathan visited with us during lunch.

Today was "use up as many oranges as possible" day - so I baked. I find it amazing that many recipes online request frozen orange juice, not the real deal. Go figure! I think I'm down to 20 lbs. of oranges we grew.

The orange tree is now covered in orange blossoms - they smell so nice.

The photo of the yellow trike is Larry's newest ride - which we will pick up in Washington state next Monday.

The bottom photo is of friends Carol J., Suzanne S., Michele P. and Chuck G. taken after breakfast last Sunday.

Enjoying life.

I've taken a little vacation from my craft projects. They are calling to me so I'll get back to them soon.

Last weekend we went to Sacramento to begin our little group ride San Simeon. We departed the Sacramento area using the levee road to Locke where we met up with Bill, Eileen, Steve and Jo. We continued down the levee road beyond Hwy 12. We stayed off of the interstate and it made for a long day. The temperatures were in the 90s, but the traffic was reasonable.

We stopped in Gilroy for lunch at Famous Dave's BBQ. Larry & I wanted to see if it was as good as the one in Billings, MT. It is. Major YUM!

We arrived in San Simeon and had enough time to walk across Hwy 1 for dinner at the Mexican restaurant. The restaurant is the same as it was the last time we were in the area - not very good.

On Monday we went to Hearst Castle for tour number two. Lots of stairs. Nice weather and a very interesting tour guide.

We left San Simeon to 51 degree temps and riding over to Paso Robles it got down to 45 degrees. For me it was the first day I have ridden wearing my insulated gear all day long. I don't think it ever got above 60! We managed to stop at Famous Dave's again on the way home. Didn't want to miss the offer of a free dessert! At Gilroy we headed east and rode north on I-5. As we neared Sacramento we found lots of wind. Glad it wasn't for the entire ride.

I purchased a new camera and managed to leave it on the table in Sacramento so the photos posted of our little ride (800 miles round trip to Lake County) were taken by our friend Jo. Thanks!

Evening Wrap Instructions

Here are the instructions for the 60" long evening wrap.

Materials Needed:

¼ yard of 60 inch sari or brocade weight fabric (FRONT)

¼ yard of 60 inch silky weight fabric for lining (BACK)

½ yard fringe – at least 2 inches long, even longer would be good

Double stick tape

Thread to match

Trim edges of fabric pieces. Make sure both pieces of fabric are the same size.

On the right side, narrow end, of the FRONT fabric place 2 inch sections of double stick tape an inch from the edges at approximately 2 inch intervals. Place the correct width of fringe on the tape. (Make sure your fringe is neat on the edges or it will not look good.)

Do the same thing at the other end. You now need to place tape on the top of the fringe (if you don’t the BACK won’t hold for sewing).

Place the tape on the long edges in the same manner.

Carefully place the BACK (right side) on the FRONT (right side) and fringe. Matching edge to edge.

The double stick tape will hold the fabrics together for sewing.

Starting about 5 inches from a corner begin sewing a ¼ inch seam. Sew all the way around stopping 3 inches from where you started.

Trim the corners and edges, except where the opening is.

Using the opening, turn to the right side. Using a long handled utensil, poke the corners so they are neatly squared.

Remove the double stick tape.

Press the seams. Top stitch the opening and around the entire wrap.

For a longer wrap purchase two ¼ yards of fabric for FRONT. Sew ends together. Cut to length you want. Do the same with the lining fabric (BACK). Proceed with instructions.

For a wider wrap purchase ½ yard of fabrics. Tape and sew.

If these instructions are not clear enough I'll do a step by step tutorial.