SNUGGY Tutorial

I had a couple of requests on how I made the original Snuggy for Lynneah and I needed one for her naps here so here it is.

This is the original, with her string of genuine pink pearls.  Those were lots of fun making sure they wouldn't come off, barring some little scamp doesn't take some sharp scissors to them!











This is the pattern that I made up.   The head was drawn around a bowl, just the right size.  The face is patterned after a picture of Curious George from a story book I bought just for that purpose, for a quilt for Garrett, no it isn't done it . . what can I say.  Next on the list.
Here we got for the second one, that was meant to be so ugly, it's cute.  If I didn't hit the target, do me a favor ands don't tell me, OK?

The first thing I did was figure out how big  could make the head.  I didn't think ahead very well.  I could have added a neck and didn't, just cut out the circle.  Made it hard to attach it to the snuggy later!








Next, I lay the head pieces on some paper to sketch out the ears, hopefully in proportion to the head . . or something like that.  Remember this is all made out of scraps, of scraps and so I was a little limited in some of these choices.  Sound like a good excuse?  Good!

I cut the ears out in the" minky" and flannel.  Stitch, clip and then turn right side out.

When you turn them and realize that the fronts don't match at all, you start thinking ,"How cute these would look with the 'Grandma's button box' look".

Next I laid out all the face and head parts, marked with pins.  The three white buttons are old shirt buttons (it's OK you don't have to admit you have hundreds of them, we all know you do) are to put on the back of the other ones to help make them pull-off proof  for babies.

This is what it looks like on the wrong side.  don't judge me, my sewing really stinks these days.  Hopefully, when I get new glasses in a couple of weeks, it will improve.  The fuzzy fabric was really hard to mark the mouth, so I basted from the back, still didn't show up very well, so I had to kind of free hand while I embroidered it on.  We will leave it at that!






So I put the right sides together, inserted ears, stitched and turned it . . . oops!  Don't know how I misaligned those sad little ears so badly . .  so I broke down and picked on side out to get them lined up a little better.







For the snuggy itself, just cut two pieces of fabric the same size.  Stitch them with right sides together, leaving one corner unstitched.  Trim corners, turn and stitch about 1/2 " from edge.

Now, I will have to admit that I did this before I made the head, so once again, the opening is a little too wide, so do this after the "insert" is finished!

Fit the critter into the corner and stitch it in.  I had to baste this one in since there is no neck.










So, here is the pathetic little thing in all it's glory.  One side of me is a little embarrassed that I made such a dorky little thing.  The other side of me is proud that I can still be a "free" spirit and go where my little whims take me. The frosting on the cake was when I showed it to Lynneah and she giggle as she grabbed it, crunched it up under her chin and squeezed tight!  It's a keeper just for her.

P.S.  A neck would have been so helpful, make sure you have a body or at least a neck to insert into the corner   ;-}

23 Adult Truths.......OH, how true!

23 Adult Truths.......OH, how true!

1. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

2. Nothing stinks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font . . . though it is probably best not since it would hurt feelings and get us all into way too much trouble.

5. How on earth are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind-of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work (or home) when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. . .  like 5 minutes after the grand kids arrive.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again .  . .  . blue ray? . . . what’s that?

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page

technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to  . . . or anything else for that matter.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call . . . oops, maybe that one shouldn’t be put out there?

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger . . . presuming there really is one.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

23. The first genital guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

Ladies.....Quit Laughing.

I Think Married a Fisherman!!

Just a little Story to Think About . . . 

The businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The businessman complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied only a little while.

The businessman then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, señor."

The businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But señor, how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "15-20 years." "But what then, señor?" The businessman laughed and said, "That's the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions." "Millions, señor? Then what?" The businessman said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"

Matt L. gave the lesson at FHE tonight. 

As he was talking, I couldn't resist turning to Jon and ask,  "Did marry a fisherman?" 

 He just smiled at me and replied, "Well,  yes, lately you have!"

Thanks for the lesson tonight Matt . . . and thanks for teaching at least one ole' fogey to think a little more clearly!

Bill Cosby "I'm 76 and Tired"

According to this disclaimer on Bill Cosby's website, he sis not write this email.  You can find it here:  

http://billcosby.com/site/2011/09/if-you-got-the-bogus-email-its-time-to-hit-delete.html#more

I didn't write this but, I do agree with it.  Forgive me if it offends you, but I am tired of worrying about my country and the world that my children and grand children are living and will continue to live in.

"I'm 76 and I'm Tired" I'm 76. Except for brief period in the 50's when I was doing my National Service, I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I'm tired. Very tired.    I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary and give it to people too lazy to earn it.      I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari‘a law tells them to.   I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia, New Zealand, UK, America and Canada, while no one from these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance...    I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?  I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.   I'm really tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.  I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20's be-deck themselves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves un-employable and claiming money from the Government.  Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 76... Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and her children.   Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way in.