Those self imposed rules and regulations

Its funny how our individual brains work and how we develop our own processes for solving problems.  Some people go directly for the endgame and some consider alternate options based on urgency, time, finances, skill, difficulty, etc.  I actually enjoy the challenge of finding a way to complete a project with things on hand, although I seldom manage it.  And, being a Libra, I must also add the "contemplation"  to my list of things to consider.

The functional reason for saving is that I will need it.
What makes it really fun is finding alternate uses for the stuff I've collected.  The explanation for the "alternate use" excitement is perhaps heredity.

I have been on what seems to be a never ending quest to find the perfect bobbin storage system for ME. 

Many were great!!! for a while.   But so many required so much "thought" or effort...  I seemed to place all my effort into sewing rather than organizing pesky (until I needed them) bobbins.

The manicure system required too many parts.  When I sew doll clothes, I want all the thread colors around me and this method did NOT work for me.

I needed a diversion from some of the larger projects I have going so I went to a project that is ongoing; headbands tend to be a staple at craft fairs.  The look of headbands change with fads over time but they always remain in vogue as a fashion accessory.

It seems some items must be seen, touched, and even modeled... so I have not previously offered headbands in an online venue.  Plus, the little sparklies do not generally show well with an amateur (me) behind the camera.   We will see how it goes.

 
Each Headband measures approximately 32" long and 4" wide, thus, one size fits most. Soft, comfortable, and easy to wear. Not suitable for small children due to embellishments.



Additional headbands are maintained in stock at all times and there no two will ever be alike.

$10 each or 3/$25, plus shipping and $1 per total order s/h.  Paypal accepted.

In the future, you will find these under the "Offered for sale..." tab above.
The pattern is also available.

Today was my day to work in the yard...  not that I really "work" out there.  I usually rearrange, move patio furniture, repot plants, give instructions on moving plants in the yard, and things like that.

This was the day I decided to do one of those things I always wanted to do but hadn't...  yet.

Can you tell what its going to be?  If you know, you may be showing your age. :)

I have to say that I don't think hubby was completely on board until I started putting it together.  He loves how it looks and I can't believe he even doubted me!  :)

To prep for the project:

• I picked towns that mean something to me, my husband, and to us as a couple.   The mileage is intended to be "as the crow flies".
• We went to our local nursery for an old pallet...  a really OLD pallet.  I wanted weathered wood. 
• Hubby dug the hole and put an old split rail fence post into cement for me yesterday.

Time to put it all together!!

The towns are in no particular order and I included a few blank boards because we are still adding names.

And yes, its our version of the sign on the TV show, M.A.S.H.

Las Vegas is pointed slightly down for a reason; after all, it IS Sin City!

And I absolutely LOVE it.

Is there something you've always wanted to do but haven't yet? Is it time?  

Don't live with regrets!   DO IT!!

2015 is gonna be a great year!

It took me a while but I have decided on my "theme" for 2015.   I am often appalled at the waste that goes on in our world.    Our world is so...  well, disposable. 

Its broke so I need to buy another one.....  did we try to fix it?  did we take care of it?  do we really need another one?  does it have to be new?

I need a ??....  do you really?  or do you just WANT one?  how often will you use it?  does it have a purpose?  or will it just make us feel good?  and for how long? can you borrow it instead of buy it?

If we asked ourselves just a couple questions and (my favorite) wait 24 hours before we bought stuff, we would most likely change a lot about our lives.   We would reduce our (I do not care for the term "carbon footprint") output (aka trash) and probably save a lot of green (aka trees AND money) over the course of a year.  Sometimes, asking myself how many hours would I need to work to pay for it?  or what, of equal value, would I give up to get the item?

So, my term for 2015 is

MORE.....  with LESS

I want to make do, use up, repurpose, recycle, buy used, trade, barter, and all other methods to get what I want without buying another "one".  There are things I can't (or don't want to) do without, or can't buy used...  I accept that.  But there are so many things I CAN, but don't because I am lazy...  or spoiled....  or some other deadly sin.

I know there are billions and billions of "more with less" ideas out there but lets be honest, I will probably not do a lot of them as they just don't fit my lifestyle, or my commitment to a certain cause.  These are a few things that I do now, or want to start doing...  and a little reminder never hurts.

Upcycle return envelopes found in junk mail or bills we receive in the mail but we pay online to mail other things (if not postmarked).

Use the back of junk mail correspondence or envelopes to jot notes or grocery lists.  Tear your name and address off first and shred for security.

Discontinue the use of Styrofoam or plastic drinking cups for coffee.  First off, its NOT healthy.  Just grab a reusable cup with a lid and off you go. There are probably several in your cabinet just waiting for the opportunity to be used.  Hubby drinks coffee so I remind him to bring the cup from home when we go on trips.

Capture rainwater for pets, plants, and other outdoor needs.  Its as easy as putting a bucket with a cloth secured over the top (to keep out critters and dirt) out in the rain. I usually put something heavy in the bucket (a rock) so it doesn't blow over.   Free soft water!!!

Combine errands to reduce gasoline usage.  This is a tough one for the hubby to do.  I usually group my errands, depending on what side of town I have an appointment or need to be for some other reason.

Reuse, or use reusable, grocery bags or sacks. 

Turn the water OFF while brushing your teeth or shaving.  You can waste a gallon or more of water if you let it run while polishing your pearly whites.

If we all did just ONE THING each day... 

I SPY some "happy" and some "red" - finally

Life gets busy and things get delayed.  We finished the structure and the moving in of my sewing studio months ago but still working on the arrangement and décor.

It WILL be red based and I was working on it.   Actually, I was just THINKING about it but it was in process.

During some down time last week (I was not feeling like cleaning or quilting or laundry or anything, really), I worked on some small projects that had been floating around in the back of my mind.

To start, I dug out the wall paint I used in the house and gave the "create" and clock a quick coat.   The "create" was previously two colors of aqua and was purchased 2nd or 3rd hand.  The clock was also purchased used and was an avocado greenish (aka pukey) color.

I know the paint was not really the right type but I am not all that obsessed about things that can be repainted quickly.   

Regardless, I am very happy with the results.


Then I SPY some dark red wool blend fabric so I covered the raw wood board I was using as a shelf to display my toy and vintage sewing machines.  

I didn't want to paint the shelf as painted shelves take forever to dry or stuff sticks to it.  I didn't want any paint on my machines and I didn't want any lingering projects that didn't get done when I walked away.  

I just cut a piece of fabric, stapled it to the board and viola!!   DONE and I LOVE IT!

I still had some energy so I turned to my favorite sewing chair.  I am actually a little embarrassed to show the before but here it is in all its glory!


The chair fabric is dark enough to show EVERY snip of thread or fabric...  not to mention all the hair from our two snow white cats that, of course, love to sleep, and bathe, on the chair when my rear end is not occupying it.  To complicate matters, its a fabric that is not easy to clean...  or vacuum...  or remove ANYTHING from it. 

But its sooo comfy....

Its time to do SOMETHING with it....  

I find some red check decorator fabric for which I have no immediate plans.

Except for this chair.


I am too impatient to make a pattern so I just lay the fabric over the chair and start cutting.

I cut the fabric (double layer) into a rough shape with the wrong side out.  I separated the layers to drape over the chair back and pinned, then basted.  I adjusted a few spots smoothing out the curve over the top of the cushion, adding some small pleats for a more snug fit, and sewed it. 

I narrow-hemmed the bottom and added a couple ties to make it removable.

I was ready for a nap but felt committed to doing the bottom  cushion. 

As I had no real plan in mind, I evaluated the fabric left, calculating to see if I had enough to do another one if I screwed the first one up really bad.

I felt safe that I had enough so onward I pushed.



I draped a single layer, wrong side up, over the seat and cut a VERY GENEROUS square that draped down a good 6" off all sides of the cushion. 

I centered the square over the cushion so that the fabric hung down about the same amount on the sides, front, and back. 

I eyeballed and pinned loose pleats in all four corners of the seat to fit the cushion, but not tight.  I wanted to be able to remove it to wash it but wanted it to be cinched up at the corners. 

I then trimmed the excess fabric hanging down under my pleat pins...  my goal was for the fabric in the corner to be approximately even with the fabric length on the sides, front and back.


I ripped a piece of fabric, selvage to selvage, about 2" wide.  I removed the selvages, folded in half lengthwise, then stitched with generous 1/4" seam allowance on the right side, around the bottom of the cushion cover, securing the pleats I had pinned.  


I removed the pins as I sewed, making sure I didn't sew through any of the pins.

I ripped another piece of fabric, selvage to selvage, about 1 1/2" wide.  I removed the selvages, folded in half lengthwise, then folded the edges into the middle, and stitched down the length - I cut this into 6" lengths to serve as ties and had them ready to attach as I secured the binding.






I folded the binding over to inside, encasing the seam allowance.  As I stitched, I one end of a tie into the seam allowance about 1" on each side of each batch of pleats, folded the tie over the top of the casing, and continued stitching along.

I tied all the ties, and VIOLA once again!!

(Sorry the check messes with the photo...  and your eyes.)

Color me RED
and color me HAPPY.

Color your world in whatever makes you happy.

Crazee Requests

My family is odd...  there, I have said it.

For example:  One of the things the grandkids requested as their Christmas gift this year was trick-or-treat bags. They said their old 'store bought' bags were a bit worn.

Yes, I said they want Halloween bags for Christmas.  Odd, right?  But seriously, they are such sweeties to ask me to make them something.

So, gramma said yes, as grammas do.

I asked for one of the old trick-or treat bags since there is no reason to reinvent the wheel.  The old ones were flannel with felt glued on the front...  so they should have been a fast project, even making four of them.

My kids, when they were the ages of the grandkids, begged me to NOT make them Christmas gifts.  My kids did get over it and are appreciative of handmade gifts but as kids, they seemed to prefer store bought shiny things.


The inspiration!

I dig out my Halloween fabric and just stare at it.  I wasn't feeling it.  After all, it was the season of CHRISTMAS - Baby Jesus, snowmen, angels, snowflakes, Christmas trees, gaily wrapped packages, reindeer, and other fluffy things.

I keep staring.  Something will hit me, right.   Then I spy 2 Halloween panels for aprons.  Huh!  Maybe........

(should have taken photos of the aprons before I started, right?  huh!  didn't do it.)

I started cutting and piecing....  and here is where I began thinking that I could have just done a simple bag with appliqued pumpkins or something on the outside...  

but nooooooooo, not me.  I just can't do it that easy.   So, I think about 20 hours later, here is what I had.

Frankie with "Happy Haunting"

Witchypoo



They really were

 fun to make.

I have limited artwork to use and since

2 are for girls and

2 for boys,

I tried to mix it up.

  



Witch with "Happy Haunting"

The witch, her cat, and her spiders.

 I will let them choose "witch" one they want.

 I even found 4 ORANGE luggage tags

to attach

to the bags

so if the bootie gets lost,

it can be

returned to

its rightful owner.

Merry Christmas to the kiddos.

A fun day of REUSE, RECYCLE, RECREATE

I have already had a great day playing and feeding my need to create and its only non!! 

As you may know, we are selling a house.  We staged the house for the realtor's photos but are now packing things away to take to the other house. 

Here is the realtor's version of the scene of the creative fun!

I had used a card table for the table and hated it.  It was too low and LOOKED like a card table. 
I had found, believe it or not, a gray shower curtain, trimmed it to size, and used it for the table cloth. I used a piece of black fabric that I was using for miscellaneous decorative touches around the house for a topper.  I had then made a centerpiece from (again) stuff lying around waiting to be throw away or donated.  (more on that later....)

I wandered around the bits and pieces of stuff still in the garage and saw our old washtub on a handmade base. 

I wanted to keep the tub but didn't want the base. 

THE BASE!!!










I knew I had some shelving that was yet to be loaded.  We had several shelves so I was willing to sacrifice 2 of them.  

An idea was well on its way to...  well, something.  I still wasn't sure how it was going to work.

Oh HUBBY!!...  Could you help me??  (DH saw the pile of stuff and rolled his eyes)

We started by digging up some screws, a level, and a tape measure.  Remember that almost EVERYTHING has already been packed and loaded.

We found enough of everything that would serve our needs.





I cleaned the parts and peices up and we leveled the base (no easy task) with the few tools we could get our hands on.   We then screwed the 2 shelves onto the top of the base.

I had (fortunately) kept out the previously used black fabric...  it can dress up things in addition to people.  :)  I covered the base with the black fabric, nailing it into place.  I used the eyeball measuring technique and then ripped the fabric to fit.


I then re-ripped the gray (shower curtain) tablecloth and the black topper and centerpiece.

I put a piece of shelf liner gripper stuff under the tablecloth as it wanted to slip around a lot.


I love the table...  but now I hate the chairs. 

However, my DH has probably been pushed into my creative obsessions as far as I can today.  The chairs may get a piece of the black on them as a trim but DH can feel relief that this particular project is over.

The card table is now loaded and ready to move.

Now the centerpiece...  Disclaimer: one COULD be embarrassed about how this went together...  but I am not.

It is what it is.  But what it is NOT, is safe for a burning candle.  This arrangement is NOT intended for a burning candle.  I would INSIST that you use battery operated candle in an arrangement of this type.  I put a real candle in the arrangement, not to use but because I enjoy the scent.

And once again, I forgot to take photos of the before and during...  but you will get the idea of the process.

I used a ceramic planter that is elevated on a base.  I cut a circle of corrugated cardboard larger than the opening of the bowl.  I cut a straight line in the cardboard from the outer edge to the center of the circle.  I tucked the cut edges of the cardboard behind each other to form a kind of flat cone that would fit into the opening and taped it securely. 

I pushed it into the opening of the bowl.  In the first photo, I pulled the cardboard up so you could see it.

I hot glued a candle bowl in the center of the cardboard.  You can see the cardboard under the candle bowl and you can see the cut I made in the cardboard circle - its in the lower left under the candle bowl.

Flowers I had left from miscellaneous projects and were headed to a donation bin where hot glued onto the cardboard. 

I glued the leaves on last as they can fill in spots you feel are bare or can offer balance to the arrangement.

I always remember to consider balance and vary the heights of the flowers to create added interest.

I added a candle and VIOLA!!!   I would NOT actually burn the candle and the arrangement is NOT safe for a burning candle.  Please consider safety when making an arrangement of this type.

I am really happy with the arrangement considering I found all the parts in a pile headed for the trash.


And since I like it.....




I took lots of photos.









Enjoy your day and consider what you throw away each day.  Is it really trash?  Donate it...  to Goodwill, Salvation Army, mother's safe houses, church groups....  find a way to REUSE, RECYCLE, or RECREATE!!

I have seriously gone crazy.

... And I blame it on not using a sewing machine in WEEKS!!

The bathroom in the house we are getting ready to sell is painted (IMHO) an adorable light aqua color - almost, but not quite, the retro aqua color.  My original plan was to do white tile with black grout in that bathroom, but, well, I didn't get to it.  

So I am looking at the walls, and the white shower curtain, and some black towels I was thinking about putting in there and wondering what I could do to pull them all together.   For a couple days, I contemplated this problem (Libras are particularly good at long term contemplation).


I suddenly remembered a ruffled blouse that had all the colors I needed...  and three green photo frames. They were all in a box destined for Goodwill.....  I dug around, found the blouse and frames.....  I am ready....  but for what?

Since I had three frames, I decided to treat each one individually and (GASP!!) not put photos or pictures in any of them.  The first one, I just wrapped with 2"-3" strips of the gauzy fabric.  For the most part, I secure the ends on the back of the frame.  The very last strip, I let the end stay on the front and secured it and fluffed it up.

I don't know that I am done with it but I set it aside.








The next frame, I painted a white with a touch of the aqua paint in it so it was not crisp white - I thought it blended with the colors in the fabric better.  I had pulled a ruffle off the neckline of the blouse and glued it around the corner, covering 1/2 of the frame.










The last frame, I painted with the white/aqua paint and covered the cardboard insert with the fabric, pulling it into a swirling design and allowing it to be 3 dimensional.

I think this one is my favorite.








I still had ruffles left so I used a strip of the ruffles as a tie back for the shower curtain. 





It needed more so as a last crazy act in this bathroom, I glue the remaining ruffles around the face of the clock I keep in there (even with a clock in the bathroom, I was still always late for work).

The "curtain" is the other 1/2 of the decorative shower curtain and has been hanging there getting auditioned.

I decided I will go ahead with it and will put a casing in the curtain today (YAY...  I get to sew).

I will hang the black towels and fluff everything before showing the house.


Surprisingly, Jerry doesn't think I went overboard...  lol.  I think that means he is finally "getting" me.


May you have people in your life that "get" you!