January 2017 - Finishes and WIPs

January has been a busy month of getting back in our routine and trying to focus on what needs to get done around here. I've managed to get in quite a bit more sewing & cutting time than I would have thought possible and have a good bit lined up to work on for February!

A special friend of our family is preparing to travel to India to pick up her beloved daughter who is joining her family via the gift of adoption. We are so happy for them and excited to send over a bundle of handmade bibs for the little ones she currently shares a home with. I was able to get 35 adorable, squishy bibs made, most using the free Super Simple Little Bib tutorial from Gingercake. You can find it here! Sewing baby bibs is such a fun and satisfying project, and they are always welcome donations!

A few close friends helped us put together 22 bundles for our local Police Station, each including a cozy fleece blanket and a stuffed friend. They will keep these in their cruisers to have on hand when needed for children they care for and serve. This was the first time we have donated for this purpose, got this idea from our friends at Little Lambs of Utah. They were very warmly received by the Police Officers, so we certainly hope to be able to do this again!

Did a little painting/redecorating in our family room. The "Welcome" pic at the top gives a peek. I've been wanting to paint over the paneling in there for years, and I love it so much I don't know what took so long now!

I'm also working on a special dress for my oldest daughter's graduation from high school. I finished the "test" to work out both my jitters and kinks, and hope to get the real dress made soon! We both really loved this pattern, and I'm especially pleased at how it came together and how well it fits. I'll be sure to share more of the final dress once finished too!

I have been cutting up a storm in every free moment I've had and have over 100 stuffed friends in progress for the FLUFF Project! Still need to finish cutting the smaller bits like eyes, noses and hair for some, but I'm hoping to be able to get a lot of them sewn and ready to be stuffed this coming month. 

I've also received 2 good sized donations of stuffed animals for our next FLUFF Project delivery already, so I'm hoping for an impressive first delivery to Juvenile Court for 2017! 

Be sure to keep up with the day to day happenings of life and sewing over on my Instagram page, @hopefulthreads

Thanks for being here!

Keep looking for ways you can #SewToShare & #SpreadHope!

Big Hugs,

Kristy