Winter = time for crafts

I don't have much to share on the blog because honestly, we've had a busy couple of weeks with school and activities. George started ski lessons, both boys are doing martial arts, I've been very busy with work, yada yada yada. However, I did have some time to get out the sewing machine and make a few things. My grandmother made these little oven mits that are exactly the right size and mine were starting to wear out after 15+ years. So I made a few sets for myself and a few other of the original mit recipients in case their  mits were on the fritz.

My sister Meg was in town while I was making them, and I was complaining that I couldn't figure out how to get the sewing machine to sew through the thick layers of fabric. This is how the conversation went:

MEG: Well what needle are you using?
ANG: Um, the needle that came with the machine.
M: How old is the machine?
A: 8 years
M: And in 8 years, you've never changed the needle?
A: You can change the needles?
M: (Sighs). Yes. (Proceeds to remove needle from machine, then tries to poke herself with it. Needle is obviously very dull as she jabs her hand with it multiple times and it does not leave a mark). I'm amazed that you've even been sewing through fabric for this long! Don't you ever read your manual?
A: Oh, this? (Digs out pristine, never-been-opened sewing machine manual).
M: Oh.My.God. Have you ever opened it? The cover is falling off of mine!! You probably also need to adjust the tension on your thread. Did you do that?
A: What's tension? Oh, you mean that little dial does something? It serves a purpose?
M: (Bangs head against table). Grandma Marie is up in heaven right now YELLING at you.

Anyway, with Meg's help I got the oven mits done.

And this is George's artwork from school, titled "Colorful Parrot".