Stocking Stuffers 2022

Remember what I said about gift giving? The criteria I try to live by at this point is that items need to be useful, or delicious, and never require dusting. So everything on my Stocking Stuffers page is useful. Below are just a few fun items to get you started. Go to the page for even more ideas.

These first two tools are designed by Cindy Needham. “The Perfect Spot Magnetic” Tool Holder is helpful and versatile; it sticks to your sewing machine or other surface with a square of adhesive that is easy to remove, without leaving a residue. The magnet is strong enough to hold the EZRipNGrip tool or a small pair of scissors, pins, needles and more. The EZ RipNGrip is one of the best seam rippers I’ve every run across and likewise the tweezers side.

Telescoping Magnets are a perfect tool for sewers, but really they’re handy for everyone. Last year we sold out way too fast, and couldn’t get more —supply chain issues. Right now we still have a few! Yay! But don’t wait too long, because I don’t know if we will be able to get more.

These reusable silicone straws come with their own tiny brush. High quality, pretty colors, and go into a drawer to be used ;-). See what I mean? Jubilee Straws, below.

With help from my woodworking friend Elizabeth, Judy and I created these one-of-a-kind Piece O’ Cake Wool Pincushion Rings! Each one is hand made by us, and they’re all a little different, let us know your color preference, and we’ll choose a perfectly cute one for you!

New from LoLo, lovely moisturizing bar soaps. There are 4 scents: Lavender, Orange Vanilla, Goat’s Milk & Tea Tree, and Coconut Plain Jane (unscented).

All LoLo makes a perfect stocking stuffer or gift, because of the quality we know and love, and it’s affordable!

Plus LoLo is a woman owned small business, and it makes me so happy to give my support. All around win.

The one really big bag you need is this one, AND it folds up to fit in a purse… or a stocking, of course. Click to read more about the Rainbows of Happiness Tote, and how Judy and Lorna have used theirs.

This eraser is impressive! Just watch the video below as I use it for the first time. The Hand-Held Eraser + Holder is new from Blackwing and it’s a must-have for anyone who uses a pencil.

Bee Lovely Needle Minders definitely meet the criteria, and they are so pretty! Magnetically attach to your shirt while you’re sitting on the sofa hand sewing, and it grabs your needles and small scissors, even. So you won’t lose them while you work.

For your crafty friend or loved one, an Animal Hand-Sewing Kit or an Embroidery Kit might be just the thing. We have many to choose from, so you can find the perfect one(s).

This is a page of gift ideas, but don’t forget yourself. I have been known to stuff my own stocking a little, too!

Wednesday Giveaway – Pumpkin Patch

As In the Patch no longer produces their Hand Dyed Wool Thread, we only have a few cards left. This week’s winner – Kare – will receive three of them: Prim Pumpkin, Spearmint and Honey! This thread is a blend of wool and nylon. The nylon adds strength to the thread and the wool contributes a “fuzzy” texture, making it blend end on the edges of wool applique pieces.

FYI: The Lori Mitchell cat figure is not part of the giveaway, but he is very cute 🙂.

I’ll be back with another Giveaway next Wednesday. Until then you can shop for all sorts of sewing notions, books, and other fun stuff at pieceocake.com!

When the dog eats the quilt, visible mending for the win!

April, grandson Jack’s dog, ate a hole in his bed quilt. Deep sigh. This is the dog-eaten hole. Notice the irregular stitches that I used to sew together the tears on either side of the hole.

Follow the progression of the fix in the following photos. It took about 2 hours plus a few miuntes to machine quilt over the patches.

I meant for the patch to blend but not be invisible and that worked. When Jack and I put the quilt on his bed, we almost couldn’t find the patch—but then we found it :-). Jack was as impressed as a nearly 15-year-old boy can be 🤣🤣🤣.

The moral of the story is not to put off this sort of mending. It goes fast and it’s very satisfying.

Wowie Zowie, from Piecing the POC Way, 2nd ed.— before April ate it.

Wednesday Giveaway!

Clover’s Black Gold Applique Needle is a size 12 sharp. And when we say sharp, we mean it! I quote one happy user: “love love these needles. They are wonderfully sharp. I have poked my fingers lots and lots. love love love them.” We are sure this week’s winner will love love love them too!

More information about these needles and all the types of needles we carry can be found on our website here.

Leave a comment/reply on this blog post to enter the drawing. (To leave a comment, click the icon that looks like a ‘thought bubble’ at the top, right, of the post.) A winner will be chosen by the random number generator tomorrow.

I’ll be back with another Giveaway next Wednesday. Until then you can shop for all sorts of sewing notions, books, and other fun stuff at pieceocake.com!

Special Monday EXTRA Giveaway Goes to Beth T

The Wednesday Giveaway Blog Post didn’t drop last week, but if you saw these labels in the newsletter, and commented from there, we picked one random winner from those comments (congratulations Darlene Slocum!). The random number generator chose our winner from yesterday’s comments – Beth T!

Kylie and the Machine (KATM) makes happy labels to personalize your projects. Win this week’s giveaway of Metallic Side Seam Labels and you can sew one (or more!) onto quilts, bags, pouches, and garments! Bring on the smiles!!!

You can view these and all the labels we have available to personalize your creations by clicking here to go directly to the label page at pieceocake.com.

I’ll be back with another Giveaway on Wednesday (this is a special week with two giveaways). Until then you can shop for all sorts of sewing notions, books, and other fun stuff at pieceocake.com!

TLC & LoLo

Lorna had her hands and feet in the sand every day last week at the beach! She has some thoughts to share about LoLo, the crafter’s skin care we have been using and telling you about for years now. She says…

I struggle with consistency in my self care. The truth is, you might find a different product that works for you, but the most important thing is to get into a routine. I’ve had a nightly routine of Cuticle Intensive and LoLo Bar on my hands for years, but a few months ago I added the O’ for Feet’s Sake (OfFS). And I do encourage you to pay attention to your feet. Creating this habit has improved my skin, of course, but working the feet can make the whole body feel different, too. Becky teaches that in yoga; sometimes she has us massage our feet with our hands or gently with a ball.

I have dry skin, and my toes were actually not in great shape before starting OfFS. If I bumped them, they hurt worse than they should, and they did not look good. I can’t say for sure, but I think the Tea Tree in OfFS has made a big difference for me. I feel like LoLo makes skin, not just softer, but stronger.

A week in the sand and salt water, and I’m honestly surprised at how well my skin and nails have done. They look healthy! And my skin feels good, even on the bottoms of my feet.

I also use my LoLo bar on my lips. Turns out it’s the same basic formula as LoLo Lips. But I need to tell you, not all scents are the same; for instance, the bars that have clove or cinnamon are not great for lips, they tingle and burn like a lip plumper. I still use them, just not on my lips. What I use on hands, body, lips (near the nose if I get a little chapped) is usually Orange Vanilla. I don’t know why, but I think it works better on my lips.

Two favorite things about LoLo:

  • How quickly it absorbs, and then you can turn a doorknob, or handle fabric, or walk across the floor, or slide your feet into bed
  • How wonderful it smells, but it’s not overwhelming, and I don’t offend the people in the car with me 🙂

It’s amazing what LoLo can do in just a week of regular use, for my feet, or my cuticles. Sometimes I lose my routine, but I can get it right back with all the benefits. That has trained me to be more and more consistent. Whatever you use, I encourage you, be kind to your body and keep it going.

Becky here again! I made a how-to video for O’ for Feet’s Sake, see below.