Oprah's Favorite Things?? The Real Reasons For Giving Thanks, And A Giveaway!

Oprah-shmoprah.  I'm sorry, but most of the *favorite things* are great if you are in the audience, and you're getting them for free!!  But what about the rest of us poor schmucks??  

Our favorite things often lie in the simple things in our lives.  My list is pretty short and sweet.  And, after my *many* years on this planet, my list no longer centers around material goods.  I won't tell you that I don't enjoy driving my fancy car, because it is better to have reliable transportation than the kind we had many years ago.......I have not forgotten driving with jugs of water in the back seat to refill the radiator on the wrecked Chevette.  But I know my true happiness does not rely on those things. 

I watched Oprah's *Favorite Things* Show last week, like I do every year.  Mostly to see what made the list.   Then, I thought.....why not share MY list, and ask all of you to list one of your *favorite things*?  It can be anything that makes you happy.  

For example, I love getting things ready and packing my suitcase for my annual birthday trip to Michigan.  It's not just getting to leave town for a few days.....it really is about my roots, seeing my family, and sharing the dark humor we are known for with the people that get it.  I love driving past the farms, seeing the fall colors, and that feeling of being loved and grounded all at the same time.  

Just about a decade ago, I lost 4 family members in 5 years, 3 of them to cancer.  It was so hard, for so long, to see anything in that experience that was good at all.  The holidays were by far the most difficult time for a long, long time.  I could hardly bring myself up enough to even decorate.  There were so many years we were together for Thanksgiving or Christmas and we took for granted that it would just *be* that way.  Richard would drink too much, Mom would complain the turkey was dry, Karen would burn the rolls, I would force people to try a new, healthy alternative to the old holiday recipes.  Then when things changed, I realized how much I depended on them to be the same.  I was lost for a long, long time. 

Gotta Have Bling Part 2- Chenille Letters

First let me say a big "Thanks!!" to all who emailed me for the first set of files.  I am happy to share my files, and would love to see what you make with them!

Second- let me just say a big "Boo-Yah!" and "Heck Yes!!" on the harvesting of the first vegetables from my garden!!!  Yes....it's true!  For a mere cost of $3500 and a timeframe of 7+ years, I grew and harvested 3 watermelons!  But, I don't want to toot my own horn here (right...?)

Okay...on to the tutorial and freebies!!  
Is this just the cutest High School sweatshirt ever??

 I branched out from the High School sweatshirts and did one just for the love of Texas:

And here is how to make some of your very own!

Like before, just shoot me an email and let me know what format you need the font files in, and I will send them to you FOR FREE!!


Note:  These are not true type fonts.  You will need to use your editing program to size them and arrange them.  These designs fit 4 x 4 or 5 x 7 hoops.  I am giving away these font files.  You may use them for your own personal use, sell items made from the files, give away the files with appropriate tag-back to Ticklish Moose, but may not reproduce and sell these font files.  Simple enough, right?  


If you do not have an embroidery machine, you can still make chenille letters by printing out fonts on freezer paper, pressing it to the fabric, and sewing a small zig-zag stitch following the outline of the fonts.  Use a stabilizer backing to give the letters some body.  Then follow the final steps to create the chenille. 


Start with any T-shirt, sweatshirt of hoodie, the fabric of choice, and I use flannel behind the fabric to make a *poofier* applique.  I have found that like the rag quilts, the flannel makes a really nice fringe-y edge.