Using a Passion as Sewing Inspiration

Each person who sews and creates often finds that the creativity for what they sew comes from their own passions, or the passion of a friend or family member.  The following pictures share some passions and loves of some friends and family members - and hopefully will suggest some inspirations to other sewists to create some unique and meaningful items for themselves or others.

Gifts do not need to be elaborate - it is the connections and meaning embodied in each gift that make it special.  The detail of the monogram was the key in making this simple cover for a diary.

Nothing consumes this young athlete's time more than playing baseball.  This quilt recognized his love.  The quilt was a substantial investment in time and $$; but well worth the delight it brought to him.

A simple gift, but the fabric acknowledges the familiarity and attention to detail to show that you really did create the gift with the individual in mind.

The fabrics here make for an entirely different focus and acknowledges a family joke (the flamingoes) that will bring a smile to the two who share the joke throughout the year.

Sometimes a gift can honor a professional passion and serve a very practical use.  This tote not only recognizes this professional's passion for sharing information about Laura Ingalls Wilder but gives her a thematic way to carry her handouts, and small demonstration items used in her presentations.

The parents of this young child are passionate about documenting the experiences in his life.  An annual photo album includes pictorial representations for experiences he has during the year.  And throughout the year  the memories continue to be meaningful as items such as the pillowcase (and book) are shared and used over and over.

This gift for a new baby honored both the father's passion and the mother's side gig.  Many other themes could have been used, if one had known the nursery theme, and so forth but without that knowledge this theme seemed to have a fun connection.

Choosing to make a meaningful connection can bring both a fun search for fabric and a way to connect it to a friend's passion.  Rose is known for her cooking and her hospitality so the apron and tea cups were just the connection to make to her name.

Using a panel highlighting a special character, object, or motif is a quick way to share a passion.  One does not always need to use the fabric as someone else dictates.  These book panels can be used as stand-alone quilted pictures.

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These sewing projects were all inspired by a passion or love for a particular activity or motif that someone special possesses.  While these examples tend toward the home decor or accessory line; inspiration for clothing can be built on interests as well.  Consider a garment in a recipient's favorite color, or showcasing an interest - perhaps a cover-up apron for a chemistry teacher (using fabric with the table of elements); or recycle a thrift store item to contribute to the conservation efforts of your community.   Look forward to a special occasion and zero in on a special dress to be worn and make a coordinating accessory to go with that special dress - perhaps a faux fur cape with a lining to match the dress, or an evening purse to accent the dress; or a tie or vest for a companion.  

What's the passion (or love) that inspires you?

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Cite this article: 
McElmeel, Sharron.  (2021, May 15).  Using a Passion as Sewing Inspiration.  Green Frog Gifts (Blog).   http://bit.ly/inspiration-sewing.

 Visit Greenfroggifts on Etsy 

The Gift of Books

Looking for "book" related gifts to give for new babies or for toddler birthdays - and here are two "new" ideas.
First of all - Jennifer Black Reinhardt's Always by My Side is a great book to share the love of a stuffie.  In this book it is a polka-dot dino but it could be any favorite stuffie that goes with a cuddly blanket.  Try these giraffe blankets and this plush giraffe.  And you have a stuffie package to go with Always by My Side.

Find the giraffe blanket and such at  https://www.etsy.com/listing/714199664/blankets-books-purple-giraffe-blanket.  And the book Always by My Side at your local bookstore.

Reinhardt, Jennifer Black. Always By My Side. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2021. ISBN: 9780593173824.  The second package is for all lover of nature.  Package Elizabeth Rusch's and Will Hillenbrand's newest title, Zee Grows a Tree with a sapling (or perhaps a plant) to grow side-by-side the new baby or from a baby's first (or subsequent) birthday.

Rusch, Elizabeth and Hillenbrand, Will.  Zee Grows a Tree. Penguin/Random House, 2021.

View the book trailer at https://spark.adobe.com/page/GcJNFVmdtqWkk/

And perhaps package with a blanket in a favorite tree/floral pattern. 
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Cite this blog:  McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, March 24). The Gift of Books (blog). http://bit.ly/giftofbooks-1

 Visit Greenfroggifts on Etsy 

Irish - Green Mint Chocolate Cake

Irish - Green Mint Chocolate Cake

Green Frog Gifts loves anything green -- and this green mint chocolate cake is a great dessert to serve for St. Patrick's Day.  Simple as pie - well simple as cake.

 

Prepare cake mix as directed.  Substitute 1/4 cup of Creme de Menthe for 1/4 cup of the required water.   Add the oil and eggs as directed.

Optional: If you like a chocolately chunk component (and I do).  Take 3 Hershey's chocolate bars and chop them up.  Put into the batter and stir.

Bake and cool the cake.

Now for the topping - once the cake has cooled you will want to spread on the hot fudge layer.  Since the fudge is so thick I usually warm it in the microwave before spreading on the cake.
It'll still be warm on the cake so I stick the entire cake with the fudge layer into the freezer while I flavor the whipped topping.









I add a tablespoon or so of Creme deMenthe to the whipped topping and stir.  Add green food coloring if you want a deeper shade of green.

Cut the Andes mints into random chunks.

Spread the green Creme deMenthe flavored whipped topping on the cake over the fudge layer.  Randomly drop the Andes mints onto the top of the cake.

Serve with ice cream.

Enjoy every crumb.

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Cite this blog post:
McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, March 6). Irish - Green Mint Chocolate Cake. Green Frog Gifts (blog). https://bit.ly/GFG-cake

 Visit Greenfroggifts on Etsy 

Cool Chicks - Blanket, Books, and a Stuffie (and a few cookies)

 Cool Chicks

Bynum, Janie.  Chick Chat. Simon & Schuster, 2021.

McGehee, Claudia. Where Do Birds Live? University of Iowa Press, 2010.

Stemple, Heidi E.Y. Counting Birds: The Idea That Helped Save Our Feathered Friends.  Illustrated by Robin Clover. Seagrass Press, 2018.

The 100% cotton flannel fabric for the blanket is from Robert Kaufman, designed by Ann Kelle. White background with green, blue, pink, and yellow birds.  Kaufman Urban Zoologies Flannel Birds Wild Fabric.

Backing is rose colored minky rosette pattern.

The stuffie is an adaptation of a pattern from AGASHE on Etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AGASHE

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Then turn your attention to the kitchen and create some cool chick cookies.

Cool Chick Cookies
Make a few dozen and prepare friendship plates for all the cool chicks in your life.  Festive plate, 6 cookies, and a note telling your friend what a cool chick they are.
Plan ahead you may need more than the 50 eyeballs as each cookie needs 2; if you have left overs they will also come into play when you want to make a Gobbler Chocolate Cookie or two (See Thanksgiving post).

Read abouts stuffies:

McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, February 26). Stuffies - Always There. Green Frog Gifts (Blog). http://bit.ly/stuffies102

Cite this blog post:
McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, March 3). Cool Chicks - Blanket, Books, and a Stuffie (and a few cookies) (Blog). http://bit.ly/coolchicks-birdbooks

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Green Frog Gifts -- unique gifts -- sewing and cooking

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenFrogGifts

Stuffies: Always There

   There is nothing more comforting than a cuddly stuffie, or a soft cuddly blanket.  These comfort objects are there when one is young and although the need for comfort often diminishes as children grew up and get involved in baseball, painting, or just growing up and making new friends, the stuffie will always be close by.  One never knows when the need for a cuddle will arise -- and knowing that the stuffie will always be there is a comfort in itself.

A great new book celebrates the exalted position of the stuffie.  Jennifer Black Reinhardt's 2021 book, features a young boy who has a loving connection to his green dinosaur stuffie but as with most stuffies or comfort blankets the need outgrows the need for a constant presence.  What does not go away is the comfort in knowing that the stuffie or blanket is close by in case a cuddle IS needed.

Reinhardt, Jennifer Black. (2021). Always by My Side: A Selfie Story. Random House. ISBN-13/978-0593173824.

Click on this link: https://www.sidekickcoffeebooks.com

In the classroom:

1. Invite children to draw a picture of their stuffie - and include themselves if they wish (the cover of Always By My Side will be a great mentor illustration).
2. Encourage discussion about the stuffie and what the stuffie means to them.
3. Writing - suggestions
• Write a paragraph telling about the most memorable moment event that included your stuffie.
• How did you come to get your stuffie, from whom, why, and a few brief memories - write a brief biography of your stuffie and you.
• Create a graphic novel that shows/tells about a time when your stuffie was there for you.
• On a scale of 1-10 (one being needing the stuffie with you most of the day to 10 where the stuffie (and you) are content to have the stuffie sitting on a shelf, or on a chair waiting for you to cuddle them -- what is your number relationship with your stuffie right now?  Explain how that came about.
• For older readers/writers:  Compare/contrast your own relationship with your stuffie to the relationship the two boys have with the green and pink-polka dotted companion and lion cub stuffie.  Is there a stuffie on your shelf awaiting a cuddle some time in the future.
4. Read some other books about comfort pals.
• Tony Baloney by Pam Muñoz Ryan (Scholastic, 2011).
• Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber (Houghton Mifflin, 1973).
• Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale  by Mo Willems (Hyperion, 2004).
• Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (Hyperion, 2007).
• Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems (Hyperion, 2010).
5. If possible, include a day when readers can bring their stuffies to share the classroom experience.

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Cite this blog post:

McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, February 26). Stuffies - Always There. Green Frog Gifts (Blog). http://bit.ly/stuffies102

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Green Frog Gifts -- unique gifts -- sewing and cooking and definitely some cuddly blankets and stuffies.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenFrogGifts

Remembering... Raisin Pie

Remembering ... Raisin Pie

"At the blueness of the skies; and in the warmth of summer, we remember them."

And for decades tradition in the United States has brought together friends and family to remember a loved one who has passed into the next world.  We are left with memories and stories -- stories often told in the after days around food.  Before modern refrigeration came, death during seasons where there was a lack of fresh fruit, limited the pie offerings for the gatherings. But women (the primary cooks in the households of years past) were ingenious in their quest to share food at these gatherings.  Thus the "funeral pie" was born.  Dried raisins were available year around and thus could be used to make a raisin pie anytime during the year.  The popularity of the raisin pie on these occasions earned it the title of "funeral pie."

As years passed the raisin pie has gone under revision.  The basic raisin pie has been embellished with a meringue topping in place of the top crust; or eggs have been added and beaten into the raisins.

The tradition of the raisin pie as the favored funeral pie has gone by the wayside, but just the thought of raisin pie brings memories to me.  Memories of the loved ones lost and gone in the last years.  Sharing a raisin pie, no matter the occasion, brings memories back.

"At the blueness of the skies; and in the warmth of summer, we remember them."  And the memories bring joy with each passing day.

I HATE Vegetable Soup - Vegetable Soup

I HATE Vegetable Soup - Vegetable Soup

Whenever anyone finds out I don't like vegetables I get admonished about how good vegetables are for one's health.  Yes -- I really don't like vegetables.  Well sort of:

I'll eat fresh tomato bruschetti with basil. But I don't like tomatoes.  I'll eat soups such as chili with a tomato base; or pizza with tomato sauce. But I really don't like tomatoes for themselves.

I'll eat peas, but don't want them in soup.  Pea salad with cheese squares, sweet pickles, in a sweet mayonnaise dressing is actually delicious and a favorite. I'll eat corn (actually love fresh corn on the cob) but don't want corn in soup.  Carrots are okay but best if raw.  Will eat cooked if small pieces.

String beans - just don't like them.  Same with greens such as lettuce, kale - if anything raw spinach.  But I guess salad greens are not really vegetables but they are in the same category in my mind.

You get the idea.  But I do sort of like raw cauliflower, broccoli, but basically I really don't like vegetables. But this soup is so delicious that I don't really think it is filled with vegetables.  So here is the recipe -- the quantities are not precise by any means.  And if you are vegetarian I am sure you could make it with vegetable stock and no beef at all.

The soup comes out delicious and is great with fresh bread.  I have a friend who makes beer bread and it is great.  Just coarse enough and just right to dip into the broth and enjoy.  Not sure of her recipe but here is one I found that looks and sounds right.  

So serve up a big bowl - pour a glass of milk, butter a slice of bread, and enjoy.

Cite this blog post:
McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, February 10). I HATE Vegetable Soup - Vegetable Soup. Green Frog Gifts (Blog). http://bit.ly/vegsoup101

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Green Frog Gifts -- unique gifts -- sewing and cooking

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenFrogGifts