In the USA, Thanksgiving is the most traveled day of the year. Hopefully it will be this year so that everyone can get together with family and friends. The airlines have all kinds of new baggage regulations and car travel may mean compact cars to save money on gas. When we went on vacation this past summer, we had a compact car and one of the ways we managed to pack LOTS of luggage and bring home souvenirs was the luggage I had made. Most people wouldn't call it luggage but I do... because I make the bags we travel with, they store in smaller spaces and the squish into a compact car, much better than hard sided suitcases... and it costs less than buying luggage. I wonder how a screen bag would be received by the airport security team.

• Free Bag, Tote, and Purse Sewing Patterns

The holidays are usually marked by new outfits for the family gatherings. This year in order to keep expenses under control, many people will either be sewing a new outfit or sewing new accessories to change the look of a previous years outfit. There are lots of ways to change the look of an existing outfit.

• Sew a Shrug

• Stylish Fabric Scarf
• Change Jeans into a Jeans Skirt
• Sew a Fabric Shawl
• Free Handbag and Pocket Book Patterns

My daughter moved this past weekend and being a nice mom (if I must say so myself) I made pans of baked ziti to feed the volunteer moving team. We did a pretty good job of setting up her new kitchen the day before the real move so heating the pans wasn't a big deal... until I reached for a pot holder. She had bought really nice heavy oven mitts. They were so heavy that you couldn't really feel what you were gripping so the first pan almost landed on the floor. Once she decides what her decorating theme is going to be I know I am making her new apartment new potholders and oven mitts. Since my daughter doesn't cook, I know I will be the one doing the cooking and I would rather not have my cooking land on the floor... or get any burns.

• Free Patterns for Potholders and Oven Mitts

• Free Kitchen Sewing Patterns and Projects

I made a resolution last New Years that I was going to sew new Christmas Ornaments every month... and I even kept the resolution for many months but as with most New Year's resolution, I quit being resolute. Now that Christmas is around the corner, I decided to make a bag to keep in the car. That way all those wasted moments that I sitting waiting for my daughter, I can get ornaments made. I'm working on soft sculpture Santa and Mrs Santa heads this week, but because ornaments are small most of them can be made into a take along bag or kit that's ready to sew when ever you have a spare moment.

• Create and Sew Christmas Tree Ornaments from Fabric, Lace and Trim - Free Patterns and Directions