Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out there! My youngest son bought me pizza for dinner last night because he had to work tonight.  My oldest son gave me a Joann Fabric gift card and my hubby bought me breakfast from Cracker Barrel this morning and bought me a beautiful Peacock scarf.  I was able to spend some time in my craft room today so I have had a fantastic Mother's Day.  I feel very blessed. 

I made an easy budget book cover today from embossed felt.  I had to sew 4 sheets together to fit my book.  I started out with a very plain and slightly ugly composition book that I budget in every two weeks when we get paid.  I have been keeping a budget since I had my first apartment at the tender age of eighteen!  Now it will be a little prettier to look at!  I had to remember how to make book covers like I did in high school.  Only those were out of brown grocery bags-this one is much more sophisticated.  It was good to work with the felt because I didn't have to hem it.  The embossed felt is very sturdy to work with.  Just make sure to use a pressing cloth.  I didn't at first and almost made a mess of my iron.  I used my pinking shears to make a strip to cover the seam in the middle.  I used tacky glue to secure the felt strip and glued two ribbons under the edge to tie the book closed.  I was pretty happy with the finished product.  That embossed felt is way richer looking than ordinary felt. 

I also made a kitty glasses case for a pair of my sunglasses.  I have many more cases to make.  I am a girl who has alot of reading glasses and sunglasses(and shoes and purses and watches...)!  This was easy to whip up.  I just cut out two squares of 8x8inch fabric-one the outer print and one really soft lining.  I used minky for the lining but man that fabric drives me crazy to work with.  It scoots all over when I go to sew it.  I love it but I have to figure out how to deal with it-maybe my walking foot.   I will give it a try and let you know.  Anyhow, I just sew the two pieces together face to face leaving a little opening to turn. Iron the turned square and fold it together minky to minky(or lining to lining).  Sew the bottom and three-quarters of the way up the side rounding the corner.  I just tack the little cuff down on the front and back.  Easy Peasy! 

My husband has been working on this beautiful hutch his sister commissioned him to make.  He is almost done.  He just has to fix the little door on the bottom and router the edges on it.  Then he has to stack them up and screw them together.  I still marvel at how talented he is.  He has been doing all this as we wait for our cabinets and counter top to be ready for our new kitchen.  It is driving me a little crazy to be in the position of having a kitchen with half a floor and minus some cabinets.  I keep telling myself that I am lucky I have a home.  There are people who have lost way more than I am dealing with.  By the way, thank you for all your kind comments and emails about my problems.  I had a good grump fest and then got on with it!  No more pity party-remind me that I said that when the cabinets come and demolition starts!  I am going to take some before and after pictures so that should be exciting! 

I am so looking forward to FNSI this week.  I am picking projects to work on.  I have a four day work week coming so that will be awesome.  I hope you all have a great week doing something fun for yourself.  Take care.   Nancy   

Mayhem and a Little FNSI Fun

Hi everyone.  Things have been a little bit crazy around here.  Our dishwasher's pump blew a seal and flooded our kitchen and what started out to be a small thing we could fix ourselves has evolved into absolute mayhem!  I am living out of plastic bins in the kitchen as half the floor and cabinets have been ripped out.  Our insurance company is trying to get away with paying us as little as possible to replace our cabinets so that is an ongoing battle we have to win before things can get back to normal.  And not to bore you further, but the insurance adjuster said we were lucky we have paid the high premiums of  the deluxe policy!  What would have happened if we had the mediocre policy?!   Also our 12 year old chocolate lab has been having accidents all over our house when we leave to go someplace for a few hours.  Frankly, I have been afraid to come home from work on many occasions lately.  We have her on medication and have changed her food per the vet's instructions.  Let's hope that is it.  We would be heartsick to have to put her down.  Also, my husband's truck broke down and I got slightly injured at work.  So, enough of that. It depresses me just to keep talking about it! 

As you see in the above picture, I sewed a bright flannel pillowcase for kids with cancer as part of my FNSI.  It was fun to make it and I hope it can be a small way to comfort a kid going through such a harrowing and scary ordeal. 

 I also finished up this cute drawstring bag from Pretty Little Purses and Pouches.  I love that series of books!  This was a fun bag and not too difficult to put together.  It was smaller than I thought it would be but it would be great for when you don't want to drag half of your stuff around.  A lip gloss, cell phone, credit card, ID and a little cash would fit in there nicely. 

I would love to gab, but I have dishes to wash(a new-found chore to add to the list) and a pooch to medicate as well as a son to pick up from his job. I wanted to include a picture of my sleeping angel.  I had just changed the sheets this morning and fluffed my feather bed topper.  She loves to sink down in it after I do that.  She looks like she is laying on marshmallows!  I hope you all have a great week.  Take care.  Nancy

The Cutest Little Purse

Happy Easter everyone!  I hope you are having a wonderful family-filled holiday.  I am sad my Spring Break from school is coming to a close.  It is going to be a long haul from now to the end of June! 

I have been having fun in my craft room this week.  I made this cute little purse from the Pretty Little Purses and Pouches book.  I have had my eye on that pattern for a while and I finally made one.  It was fairly quick to make and the instructions were pretty good.  It turned out a little smaller than I thought it would but it is really different with that cool handle.  I bought a pair of beaded handles in my craft store because I couldn't find what the instructions called for locally and didn't want to order one.  I kind of "reinvented" the instructions for the handle straps and was sorry I did.  It almost didn't work-note to self, don't change directions on your first time makings something.  Maybe they are that way for a reason!  Anyway, I don't dress up and go out often, but I have the perfect outfit for this purse right in my closet if I do get a chance. 

I tend to go back to make successful and quick projects over and over again.  Anyone else do the same?  I loved these puzzle bags and they have received such raves, I have been making them frequently.  Here are two more I made.   They are fun.  I have some people on my Christmas list that will be getting one. 

I also had made this key fob to match the tote and glasses case I made for a charity raffle.  I think my D ring was a little big, but I just used what I had on hand.  I am an absolute nut for things that match. 

The last thing I want to share with you is a rare event for me these days.  I went out of my comfort zone and tried a radically new nail polish for this last week. 

It is called Illusion from Avon.  It is like a pearly opal with green tones.  It is chameleon like in nature.  It looks grey when you are holding something grey or blue when it is next to blue.  At first, I hated it but it grew on me.  Please ignore my cuticles in the above picture.  It is time for a touch up.  I may take this color off and go back to my French manicure I am so comfie with now that school is back in session. 

I hope everyone has a great week.  The weather here is chilly but sunny-kind of typical for Spring.  I changed all my bedding and my curtains in my bedroom.  Everything is lighter and brighter in there now-a sure sign of Spring.  Take care.  Nancy

A Couple Of Things For Your Waist

Hi everyone and happy Sunday.  I am glad April Fool's Day came on a weekend this year.  When you work with small children, you get April fooled to death!  My youngest, who is graduating in June, started his first part-time job this past week.  He seems to be doing well and he loves the independence of having his own money.  He doesn't have his full licence yet so we are all ferrying him to and from work.  My husband and I are getting used to having dinner with just the two of us now that both our boys are working much of the time during the dinner hour.  It is kind of nice, but I would not be telling the truth if I didn't tell you it is a little sad to think of everyone growing up and getting on with their own lives. 

Well, onto the fun, creative part of this post!  I made this really cute and really functional hip pack from a tutorial from Daisy Janie.  I love it and I was able to pick out fabric I liked instead of just accepting what was already made.  This is the second project I have made from her tutorials and she rocks!  I love her projects and she can definitely instruct well.  I found both projects easy to follow and had great results. There are so many times I want to carry my belongings and still remain hands-free.  Also, there are places I go that I am afraid I will set my purse down and forget it.  I bought a cross-body small purse and I find it slightly uncomfortable and in the way.  This should be perfect.  It even has a couple of pockets inside. 

 And here is another thing for your waist-actually, it may help make less of your waist!  I have not exactly been dieting, but I have been watching what I eat.  We had a recent hot snap here and I discovered my capris are a little tight in the waist.  I love the Hungry Girl show on Food Network.  I must confess, I watch it because the host is a riot and I like the tips.  Usually the recipes contain NutraSweet or some other fake sugar and I refuse to use that stuff.  But a couple of weeks ago she made these and I thought I would give them a try for my snack day at school.  There are alot of teachers following Weight Watchers and apparently, they also use this recipe for points.  All you do is take a Devil's Food cake mix and add a can of Pure Pumpkin-nothing else.  Mix it up good and bake.  I made mini muffins and I figured they were 45 calories each and pumpkin is so good for you.  If you don't over bake them they are very moist.  I baked the mini ones for 12 minutes.  Enjoy!

 I had to share with you my husband's most recent creation for our home.  I collect Haunted Mansion stuff and he made some glass doors so they wouldn't get broken by the cat and they wouldn't get so dusty.  Isn't he talented?  He is in the process of making a hutch for his sister.  He made her a beautiful bookcase and a small end table already.  I have been hinting that I would like a cutting table and I don't want to pay the $300 plus I have seen them for.  He is a busy guy so we shall see. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.  I am off from school this week so I am hoping to get some Spring cleaning projects done as well as some sewing.  Dancing With the Stars started up again so I will be watching that.  I should take lessons, I love to watch ballroom dancing!  My husband is such a sweetie and he gives in to me all the time, but I don't see that ever happening!  Take care.  Nancy

My Second Friday Night Sew In

Happy Saturday everyone!  I am anxious to share what I made for my FNSI project.  First I want to say how awesome this sew in idea is.  It is so simple but it is like making an appointment to do something you love-awesome!  It is sponsored by Handmade by Heidi and Crafty Vegas Mom-thanks ladies.  Now onto my project. 

I made this scarf with some gorgeous fabric strips I won from Susanne at Make.Share.Give.  I instantly fell in love with the fabric.  I found the pattern for this boho chic scarf at Daisy Janie.  It was kind of tedious but I enjoyed the placement of the patterns and deciding what looked good together.  I discovered(as if I didn't already know) that I am not the straightest sewer and that I didn't enjoy dealing with small seam allowances but I am happy with the finished product.  Thanks again Susanne for the beautiful strips you sent me. 

Now this next segment is not for you excellent quilters.  You may want to look away.  I will understand.  This picture will probably assault your eyes and sense of proportion.  I was up mighty late last night completing that scarf.  I had my sister in law over for dinner and she and I got chatting and had a few glasses of wine, so I didn't get started until 7:30.  Also, I didn't prep my project as Heidi suggested. (notice how I am making all kinds of excuses)  Well, I love the fabric Susanne gave me so much, I didn't want to waste a bit of it, so I thought I would be clever and make coasters.  Apparently, one should not attempt to follow a quilt pattern at 1:00 am especially if that person is not a good straight sewer or able to deal with small seam allowances.  Well, here it is:

   I intended to make several to replace the plain cork coasters in my bedroom, but I stopped at that one.  Yeah, I know.  It is a little "off".  Oh well, Maybe I will give another one a try when I am well rested! 

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a great week.  Take care.  Nancy

Some Little Projects

Hi everyone and I hope this weekend was a good one for you all.  I had fun today working on several small projects.  For starters, I made this watchband with a very free-form ruffle.  I used this tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew.  I can't wait to make more of them.  I got the watch face from my local craft store on sale for $6.50.  I have seen some pretty colored faces on Etsy.  The possibilities are endless! 

 I also made another one of these cute puzzle bags.  It was requested by a friend for her niece.  They really are fun to make.  So far, I have mostly used cute buttons with the shanks snipped off as the prizes to spy inside.  When they are on sale, it isn't too bad price-wise; but I would prefer 3-dimensional items to put inside.   I am on the lookout for some of those for the next one I make.

  Lastly, I made this cute ruffled sunglasses case that I found on Positively Splendid blog.  I love these totally informal ruffles that you gather as you sew.  I made another scalloped totebag in reds that I plan on donating with this matching case for a raffle to add to a scholarship fund named for a friend who passed away recently.  I have so many sunglasses and glasses for that matter that need cute and protective cases.  I think I will wander the craft blogs looking for different tutorials to make all different styles for my glasses/sunglasses protection.  I also have a million books to look through for ideas.  Little projects like these are so rewarding.

 I leave you this evening with a picture of my Mickey when she was sleeping.  Look at those rabbit feet!  She is priceless. 

I am so looking forward to next Friday night's Sew In.  I have several projects in mind.  I will have to decide which one I will sew.  Take care and have a wonderful week.   Nancy  

Food and Drink Thumbs Up and a Cautionary Tale

Hi everyone and happy Sunday evening.  I am going to begin by telling you about some wonderful food and drink ideas I found on blogs.  First, I tried a hot strawberry drink I found on Joyful Homemaking.

I am not usually a huge fan of artificial strawberry flavor, but the addition of other ingredients and making it hot made this drink a welcome change from tea or hot chocolate.  I served it with a breakfast-for-dinner meal and it went over big.  It also made a relaxing hot drink to sip while I perused my craft books trying to remember which one had my project for today in it!  I also made Heidi's sloppy Joe's.  I don't eat hamburger so I can't say personally but my family was extremely enthusiastic about these.  They sure smelled amazing and they were super easy to prepare.  They are on the "make again soon" roster! 

Now onto the cautionary tale.  I don't know about you guys, but crafting keeps me sane.  I tend to get anxious over things and sewing  or painting or knitting(you get the point) keeps me quite a bit calmer.  It gives me such a fulfilled sense.  I usually spend all day Sunday in my craft room working on whatever project is on my radar that week.  I also like to have a finished project at the end of the session.  It isn't always possible but most of the time, I select a project that can be finished in that amount of time.  I mentioned last week, I feel rather stressed with everything that my youngest son has going on right now.  I have quite a few appointments this coming week as well as work and the usuals that we all do day-to-day.   Today I got up extremely early so I could get my chores done and get an early start in my craft room.  I was feeling particulary stressed and anxious to get in there.  Well, one thing led to another and it was almost 2:00 by the time I got in there.  I tried to rush getting started and almost ruined my project.  It required a walking foot be put on my machine.  I only used this foot once before and put it on wrong.  My quilting bunched all up and I had to remove 2 rows(which made me more frustrated) and I still finished with it installed wrong.  I caught it on the second project.  So, I guess the morals of this story are: make time for what you need to feel good even if you have to lock your door and tune everyone out and when you do get a chance to do what makes you happy, take your time and enjoy it no matter how long you can spend doing it.

    So here is what I made.  They are curling iron cozies.  I made two because I also use a curling brush.  When I was off for the week, hubs and I went away for the night.  I had to wait for my curling iron and brush to cool and I just put them loose in my toiletry bag.  I thought this would be nicer.  It has Insulbrite batting so it is practical.  The black check one is quilted perfectly.  The star one is my bunched and puckered quilt job.  Can I live with the imperfection?  Not happily, but yeah.  Oh and I got the instructions in Sew the Perfect Gift.  Don't they look like cute Barbie sleeping bags?  I would have so used them for that as a kid! 

Well, I hope you have a great week.  The weather here is supposed to be off-the-chart crazy.  It was in the 20's today and snowed a little last night.  Wednesday it is supposed to be in the 50's.  Go figure!  Take care.  Nancy