Thanks for all the birthday wishes for my mom. I think she had a great day. My dad flew all the adults in the family out to Telluride to surprise her. It was a quick trip....22 hours door to door which is a bit shorter than my last journey out West. It was great being able to celebrate with her. All that eating and drinking and not enough sleep has left me completely worn out.
Moving on....craft swap was on Monday night and, as always, was just great! One of our group is recovering from major surgery and decided to sit this swap out. Well, we really couldn't let that happen! We all made an extra craft for her and, with her husband's approval, held a surprise craft swap at her house. We swooped in with food and drink and handmade goodies. What isn't there to like about that?
Inspired by Amy and Courtney, I made coffee cozies. My original intent was to make them patchwork using fun fabrics from my stash, but when I found the chocolate brown linen on sale, I decided that it was better. This way all little coffee drips will blend right in.
I embroidered everyone's name with a running stitch and chose fabrics to compliment the floss. There is one layer of batting sandwiched in the middle. I wanted to quilt each one differently, but in the end decide that less is more and went with two simple lines. Each cozy closes with little fabric loops and two buttons.
My friend Laura pointed out that these would make great teacher gifts....sew up a cozy and pop a gift card in the cup. I think she's right.
Every one made such wonderful items at this swap. I haven't had time to photo them all, but I will in the next day or two. I am also working on the pillow zipper tutorial....I had hoped to have it up this week, but it may be a bit longer. After our quick trip, groceries, laundry and rest are at the top of the agenda. Back soon.
my cozy worked great! loved telling the coffee girl as she pulled out a green sleeve for me -oh, no thanks - i have my very own.
Posted by: suzanne | August 30, 2007 at 09:50 AM
oh erin. you just added another thing to my list. i have been wanting to do this since amy first did hers. is it really getting to that time of the year? i always think of cozies like that with fall and brisk air!
Posted by: heidi | August 30, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Those are fantastic. I'll be making a bunch for gifts this year--thanks for the beautiful idea!
Posted by: Beverly | August 30, 2007 at 10:47 AM
They turned out great! I love the names stitched on them.
Posted by: amy h | August 30, 2007 at 10:48 AM
wow, those are *so* pretty! and your handwriting *is* really beautiful!
Posted by: Grace | August 30, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Lovely! I love the personalized embroidery on each sleeve. And brown linen - my current favorite.
Posted by: Mefuza | August 30, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Oooh, I love these! Love that chocolate brown linen too. The colors just pop out with the brown. Such a great idea for those coffee drips. How sweet of your swap group to surprise a fellow member...how fun!
Posted by: debbie | August 30, 2007 at 11:14 AM
All you bloggers out there never cease to amaze me with the creativity you have! Coffee sleeves? Whodathunkit? Not me, that's for sure!
Posted by: Margot | August 30, 2007 at 11:16 AM
So so cute! Your crafts are so much fun to see. I love those.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | August 30, 2007 at 11:40 AM
What lovely cozies! Yes, the brown is a splendid and practical idea and looks great too.
Posted by: Anina | August 30, 2007 at 11:46 AM
oh my sweetness! I completely stinking LOVE these! I think some of these might find their way inder a few Christmas trees this year :-)
Posted by: stefani | August 30, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Those are a great idea... I love them :) I do not have teachers, but I may do this for the holiday Christmas exchange, with 25 coworkers it is a challenge coming up with something reasonable to give everyone, thanks for the great idea.
Posted by: Amber | August 30, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Brilliant idea, making them brown! Such pretty cozies :-)
Posted by: beki | August 30, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Could these be any cuter?
You never cease to amaze me Erin!
these are fantastic. lucky lucky lucky girls :)
Posted by: kat | August 30, 2007 at 12:04 PM
Oh Erin, these are just so darling! Ever since I saw them on Amy's blog I've really been wanting to make one... I have a good friend who is both a big coffee drinker and an environmentally conscious kinda guy so I think he would really like one of these...
Must get cracking...
Posted by: amy | August 30, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Love your coffee cozies...makes me wish I still drank it. Wow!!! How fun to actually be with your Mama on her Birthday. You have a wonderful Dad. xoxo
Posted by: Dawn | August 30, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Gosh... those are just too cute for words! Such a great idea!
Posted by: Liz | August 30, 2007 at 12:13 PM
I think it great that you have a group to get together with in your area. I must try to find one - or make one here.
Posted by: Andrea Heinz | August 30, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Those are so totally cute!
Posted by: Tracy | August 30, 2007 at 12:42 PM
FAB idea! The embroidered names add a nice touch. You're so clever! Happy Day :o)
Posted by: Tracy | August 30, 2007 at 12:46 PM
Ok, I've seen these on other people's sites, but these are the CUTEST ones I"ve seen anywhere. I love your fabric choices and especially the personalization. Any chance you might consider doing a tutorial? I could bumble through on my own, but I know they wouldn't be half as cute...and I have a sister who is a serial coffee drinker who I'd love to surprise with one of these for Christmas!
Posted by: Angela | August 30, 2007 at 01:04 PM
These look fun! I think I'll try my hand at making some!
Posted by: Apples on a Stick | August 30, 2007 at 01:06 PM
so cool, erin. Sounds like a great swap.
Posted by: molly | August 30, 2007 at 02:18 PM
what a great idea!
Posted by: Lili | August 30, 2007 at 02:25 PM
i love these! the chocolate linen is perfect, indeed!!
Posted by: cloth.paper.string | August 30, 2007 at 04:07 PM
Erin, these are great! Now, if only us teachers could suggest our own gifts ... here in Mexico I received a plastic rosary from one of the families in my school! Perhaps I should start dropping hints early on this year? :)
Also, I wanted to let you know that I'm having a pattern giveaway over at my blog to celebrate my 100th post! Stop by before Saturday and leave a comment!!!
Posted by: Montessori By Hand | August 30, 2007 at 05:43 PM
They are so awesome! I really love the the fact you put your own stamp on everything you make. Looking forward to the pillow zipper tutorial. I tried to put one in last week and it looked totally crap!!
Posted by: belinda | August 30, 2007 at 06:30 PM
The coffee cozies turned out great!
Posted by: Robyn | August 30, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Fabulous! Your stuff is always great!
Posted by: Mary Beth | August 30, 2007 at 07:49 PM
Oh Erin, I really love the cozies and following your links back I now know how to make a really great belt too! Again, you really amaze me. Could you just spend a week at my house being my tutor in all things domestic and wonderful? Everytime I look at your blog I add more things to my To Make list. As always, thank you for the inspiration.
Posted by: Lisa R=P | August 30, 2007 at 09:14 PM
ok, first of all, what a great group of friends.......Such a wonderful idea to surprise your friend..........second, jealous of a 22 hour getaway......sounds like a blast..........thirdly....lovin' the brown and the way you personalized each one....
Posted by: leslie | August 30, 2007 at 09:31 PM
Those are great cozies, and yeah, a teacher gift is a great idea!
Posted by: Lisa Clarke | August 30, 2007 at 10:41 PM
love your take on the coffee cozy. they are fabulous. you do such a nice job, erin.
Posted by: amandajean | August 30, 2007 at 10:48 PM
love these, am filing the idea away for future teacher gifts! (I particularly love the floss matched to inside fabric.)
Posted by: daria | August 30, 2007 at 11:34 PM
Love the way the linen contrasts with the "hidden" prints. And love the birthday surprise, how wonderful for your mom!
Posted by: Sonya | August 31, 2007 at 01:00 AM
Brilliant Erin! I love them. Your friends are very lucky. Food for thought... If you made them a bit bigger they would be great as headbands too!
Posted by: erin s | August 31, 2007 at 02:45 AM
oh my gosh. those are the greatest additions to any cup of hot goodness. i love them. love them all. i wonder what you will do next time to top this one.
Posted by: leslie | August 31, 2007 at 05:35 AM
These are great! The names embroidered on them is a perfect touch.
Posted by: Steph | August 31, 2007 at 06:57 AM
Love these! Especially love the brown linnen, such a good idea for the coffee drops! -kb
Posted by: Kelly | August 31, 2007 at 07:06 AM
They area great! You could get a contract with Starbucks;-)
Posted by: Jane | August 31, 2007 at 08:19 AM
Such cute coffee cozies!
Posted by: Chara Michele | August 31, 2007 at 08:59 AM
you are quite brillinat, erin. you belong on the martha stewart show!!
:)
Posted by: meg | August 31, 2007 at 07:52 PM
Those are so awesome! I love brown! Great photo of you and your mom. You two look like sisters!
Posted by: Carla | August 31, 2007 at 08:54 PM
A smart little project, and a PERFECT idea for teacher gifts. You never cease to amaze me with these swaps.
Posted by: sulu-design | August 31, 2007 at 10:13 PM
as a teacher, i can say i would love one of these... : )
hee hee hee.
beautiful work.
Posted by: kristin | August 31, 2007 at 11:15 PM
I will definitely be making these for someone, just don't know who yet...
Posted by: Mama Urchin | September 02, 2007 at 12:04 AM
i love your cosie creations. such a great project idea - and perfect for this time of year. so fun.
Posted by: kristin | September 03, 2007 at 07:26 PM
These are great, Erin! I love your choice of fabrics and embroidery floss colors. I'll add these to my to do list!
Posted by: gena | September 04, 2007 at 01:45 AM
These are great, Erin! I love your choice of fabrics and embroidery floss colors. I'll add these to my to do list!
Posted by: gena | September 04, 2007 at 01:46 AM
Wow! Those are beautiful!!!!
Posted by: Knitterella | September 04, 2007 at 07:42 AM