Cozy Construction and Care

Protect your Kindles, Ipads, Scrap-booking (Cricut, Silhouette, Xyron), Binding and Laminating machines from those nasty little dust bunnies with a lovely cozy that is guaranteed to fit like a glove! Each cozy features pretty, coordinating fabrics (100% cotton) that have been machine-quilted over a layer of batting and muslin lining. All seams have been finished and the binding has been hand-basted. A button, bow, or applique embellishment adds a delightful finishing touch to each cozy. Your Cozy will certainly be a pretty addition to any work space, and will keep your Cricut Expressions/Cakes, Creates/Personal Cutters, Cuttlebugs, Gypsies, Imagines, Kindles, and Ipads free from dust, scratches, and normal wear-and-tear and damage for years to come! All cozies may be machine or hand-washed in cold water. Line dry or use low heat when drying in a clothes dryer. A cool iron may be used, if necessary. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING INQUIRIES WELCOME. Orders will be shipped via USPS within 10-14 days of payment, and in most cases sooner. Click on pics to enlarge.

Monday, July 22, 2013

"Most Pathetic Cover" Cozy Contest

The first "Kathy's Cozy" was made when I saw that my mother-in-law covered her Cricut Expression with an old towel.  How could such a splendid machine be covered with a faded, thread-bare, ragged old towel?  So, because I love my MIL and she loves her machine, I made my first quilted Cozy.  It turned out great.  She loved it (and me for making it for her).  Now, three years later, my little business has grown and I make Cozies for more than 30 machines.

This is actually the second Cozy I made for my MIL.  She picked the fabric and has a whole matching set.  I'm her favorite daughter-in-law.  (I'm also her only DIL...but I like saying that I'm her favorite.)


And...I know some of you are just like my MIL.  You're holding out and still covering your machine with an old towel, pillowcase or T-shirt.  So, this is your opportunity to win a brand-new, custom Cozy for a machine of your choice.



Here's what you have to do.  Take a picture of your machine with your pathetic cover.  Your machine can be a Cricut, Xyron, Silhouette, Cuttlebug, Sewing Machine, etc.  Make it as pathetic as possible!  Send the picture to bckpiano@yahoo.com.  I will send an email confirmation back to you when I get it.  You will have until July 31st to submit your picture.  Please submit only 1 picture per person.

On August 1, I will post all of the pictures here on my blog and the voting will begin to find the most pathetic cover.  Voting will end at midnight (EST) on Tuesday, August 6th.  Votes will be tabulated and the winner will be notified on Wednesday, August 7th.  The person receiving the most votes will receive a custom Cozy for that machine.

Have fun and be creative!  I can't wait to see your pics :)

~Kathy

Saturday, July 13, 2013

"Your Little Piece of Cookie Heaven"

Recently, I was asked by a very polite gentleman from NYC to work on a custom Cozy order.  (Okay, I have to stop here.  In all of my communications with him, I couldn't bring myself to call them "Cozies."  Call me gender biased, but with him, I referred to them as "Covers.")

The first thing I noticed was that he was an excellent writer.  I really enjoyed reading his emails.  They were fun to read and were full of wit, light-heartedness and intelligence.  Turns out, he was a writer.  I knew it!

We exchanged some friendly emails, and then he sent a package containing an old plastic cover that I could use as a pattern, and two pieces of upholstery fabric.  I made sure I had all the details correct, and then I started to create his Cozies.

They turned out great and fit like a glove.  He even sent a picture.


But that's not where this story ends.  A few days later, I received a mysterious package in the mail.  I didn't remember ordering any fabrics.  And...the box was much too light to be the rice cakes I had recently ordered.  I opened it up and this is what I found.


My excitement grew when I saw a picture of a cookie and read the word, "bakery."


And yes, I was so excited, I even took pictures of each step of the unwrapping of the box.


 This is what I found inside!   Holy cow, these were (notice the past tense) HUGE cookies!


Where I live, these are called muffins.  But, in NYC these are called cookies.  I've never been a city girl, but these cookies could persuade me to reconsider.


By this time in the process, my husband and sister had gathered around.  I noticed they, too, were salivating.  So I (grudgingly) shared.  We broke out the milk and began to sample the 4 varieties of cookies from Levain Bakery.  There are no words to describe how good these cookies were.  They were crunchy, chewy, sweet, heavy, substantial mounds of cookie heaven.  


15 minutes later, this is all that was left of the first packet.  They were a lot better than the rice cakes.


Here's the card that was enclosed in the box.  "Your Little Piece of Cookie Heaven."  Truer words were never spoken.  Thanks, Bill :)

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Do You Suffer from CWS?

Okay...I admit it.  I have taken my sewing machine along with me on vacation.  Sometimes warm oceans and sandy beaches and just aren't all they're cracked up to be ;)

But, in my defense,  I've only done that twice.  I will admit, however, that I'm not an outdoor-type girl.  I don't like being hot.  When I'm in the sun for more than 15 minutes, I begin the process of burn-freckle-peel.  And, did I mention that I'm a mosquito magnet?  I must have succulent flesh, because I can be standing beside my husband and he doesn't attract a single insect.  But I return to the great indoors covered with silver-dollar-sized welts that itch for days.

  I'm an indoor-type girl.  All I need to have a good time is some air conditioning, a comfortable chair, and a puzzle to work on.  For me, a vacation is a change in the routine.  It's a time to get together with my family.  It's a time when the stresses of life are forgotten for a short period of time and I have few responsibilities.

But, sometimes during a vacation, my CWS flares up.  (Craft Withdrawal Syndrome)  If I don't work on a craft project for long periods of time, I get restless, irritable, and short-tempered.  (This is not to be confused with PMS)   The only cure for CWS is to have a craft at hand.  Even a few minutes of crafting can lessen the intensity of these symptoms.

It's good to know that wherever you are in the US, a Walmart is no more than 15 minutes away.  In a pinch, I can go there and pick up a skein of yarn and a crochet hook.  It's a quick, inexpensive cure when the symptoms flare up.   

These are some baby blankets I have crocheted during bouts of CWS.  In spite of the nagging symptoms, I think they turned out pretty well :)

 













For more details about these blankets, check out my Etsy shop.  :)







Tuesday, July 9, 2013

A Few New Cozies

I don't have any grandchildren to brag about, but I dare you to ask me about my Cozies :)

I love these colors together!

Mmm...and it's even low in calories!

It might be hot outside, but this Cozy is guaranteed not to melt!

Thank you, thank you very much!

Loving this melon and chevron combination!!!

More cupcakes...and these are a little glittery.

If you don't have an outdoor garden, you can have an indoor one!

Check out my Etsy Shop for more Cozies!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Something Different

I love making quilted Cozies.  There's something about the hum of my sewing machine that is comforting.  And I just love fabric.  I'm obsessed with it.  I'm always on a quest to find the most beautiful fabric combinations.  And there are days when, after spending all day as a 4th grade teacher, I need the act of sewing random lines of uniform stitches at a high rate of speed to help me relax.  Quilting makes me happy.  

But long before I knew how to quilt, my mother taught me how to crochet.  And, although I don't have much time to do it, I still love it.  So...I found the perfect project for someone who likes to crochet pretty things, but doesn't have a lot of time:  fleece blankets with crocheted edges


A yard of fleece will make 2 baby blankets.  After I trim them to size, I add some holes around the edges using a skip blade.


Then, I just start crocheting.  Sometimes I use a pattern for my edges.  Sometimes I just make it up as I go.  


Sometimes I make shells, sometimes loops, and sometimes a lacy edging.


And...the good thing is, I can usually whip one up in an evening.


If you're interested in purchasing one of these blankets, check out my Etsy shop.


Friday, July 5, 2013

God Bless America!

The 4th of July is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends.  But it's also a great time to create some beautiful Americana crafts.  

To complete this table runner project, I used left-over strips that had once been Cozy edgings.  I knew I was saving them for something!  After the entire quilting process, this is how it turned out.  


Even Betsy Ross would be impressed!  :)


I made 9 all together.  My beautiful mother-in-law was the recipient of one of them.  One of my Facebook followers received one, too.  The rest of them are listed in my Etsy shop.


Another one of my 4th of July projects included this Expression Cozy.  It's perfect for anyone who decorates their craft room in an Americana or homespun theme. 


The perfect finishing touch is a crocheted flower in the perfect shade of ecru.  A button center completes the look.


As you celebrate this week, be sure to thank God for His many blessings--and especially that of freedom.  God bless America!