I've always been amazed by the people who participate in these Polar Plunge annual events around the country. I have never had any desire to participate at all, brrrrrrr but I do admire those who do.
When this hop was announced by Joan (thank you, oh creative one) I knew it would be a super creative experiment for one and all.
What I discovered while coming up with an idea for this event is that living for the past few years in Central Florida I wasn't really Feeling One with The Polar Air anymore but I did want to do something Polar vs doing something in winter blues.
One of my favorite sources of ideas is Clip Art. While out there searching I found these adorable models who perfectly depicted the message I wanted to share. The Florida version of Polar Plunging.
Once I had the idea for the design I had to come up with an idea for its use. I have used this idea before but at least it isn't my usual fall back mug rug. This time I'm using the design for a kitchen drying mat.
I have an old friend moving down to Florida this year from the North East and I thought that the mat with a couple of dish towels would be a great welcome to your soon to be new home gift and not to big to add extra boxes to her packing up. Actually she is the one who introduced me to the drying mat concept last year.
But what it did do was give me an idea for another item for this hop, not polar bear but the warm blues. On Monday morning, yes 3 days ago, when we saw the frost we were on our way to the vets. My car has heated seats but not a heated steering wheel and by the time I got home my gloveless hands were frozen. The best way I could warm them up was using a very, very old rice bag.
It did still do it's job and I was grateful but I decided it really was time to make a new one but then I had a better idea.
I decided that maybe making 2 smaller ones, hand size, would be even better.
So on Monday night of this week I whipped out these blue checked ones.
And on Tuesday night I made this set for a friend of ours who has neuropathy issues in his hands and is always complaining of the cold. For the record the set takes less than 30 minutes to make. They are made of 100% cotten, inside pillow, washable outside pillow case and all thread with uncooked rice filling so that it is safe to micro wave. They are about 5 inches square.
So now that I have hopefully warmed you up some, please continue visiting all of the participants of this COOOOOL Hop. Here is a handy dandy list of all of us for your viewing pleasure.
Oh I almost forgot I have a pair of these to give away. If you are in the US I will send them finished including rice. If you are international I will send them without the rice and you will need to fill and add that closing seam. Just leave a note in your comment that you would be interested in being in the draw that I will be doing on Monday.
Monday Jan 24
Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
Tuesday Jan 25
Becky’s Adventures in Quilting and Travel
Wednesday Jan 26
Quilting & Learning - What a Combo!
Thursday Jan 27
Friday Jan 28
