Good morning! It’s Cindy reporting in from Ohio.
We finished decorating our tree yesterday and I wanted to share one of my favorite Christmas ornaments with you. My son made this ornament for me when he was in pre-school (many years ago) and it always makes me smile. He’s wearing his favorite dinosaur sweatshirt…very festive!
In previous posts, I’ve mentioned my two neighbors who just happen to be teen-age girls or TAGS as I affectionately call them. One TAG is very interested in continuing her sewing journey so of course I have many ideas to help her in this quest!
A community service project I have been working on, through my guild, is to make place mats for Meals on Wheels recipients. I thought my TAG would like to help make a few place mats and I was right!
Step 1: I asked her to piece batting scraps together to begin learning how to use a zig zag stitch. Nice job!
Once we had the place mats assembled and turned right side out, I had her top stitch around the outside edges. She’s learning how to turn corners with the needle down…not bad!
Next, I asked her to get more brave and just top stitch/quilt however she liked. I had her use a light thread color so she could see what she was doing. I knew she had gained confidence because she started sewing just a little faster!
We now have 5 place mats completed and have 4 more in progress. Soon we’ll be on to the next TAG project. Stay tuned for more TAG team fun!
Wonderful project for your TAG. I’m in NC, a transplant from Ohio, our guild just finished a project of providing place mats for MOW. We did 500. Nice to be able to teach a young person about giving. Keep up the wonderful work. Blessings. Diane
Hi Diane! You have more snow than we do right now! Yes, MOW place mats are a great “giving” opportunity and my TAG embraced the idea with gusto! My guild will host another community giving opportunity in January…can’t wait to see what it is!
So neat that you are showing her how to quilt, and yet letting her get comfortable with doing her own thing in the quilting. I hope she continues to enjoy learning!
I think she’s hooked! I walk in and out of the room to check on her but try not to micro manage her creative process. Most of her questions are about the machine and then she just takes off!
Hi Cindy! Oh, I love this whole post. TAGs are our future designers and quilters, and will give the industry new life and ideas. I also love the idea of making placemats for Meals on Wheels. That is one program I would love to get more involved with in retirement, if I ever get there. I really look forward to more posts about your TAGS. Happy Friday to you! ~smile~ Roseanne