Flip Flops for Summer

Hi everybody.  Happy Sunday to you!  As you can see from the picture, my kitchen is still moving right along.  My husband is doing a wonderful job and I can tell how it is going to look now and I am excited.  My new cupboards(being added to my existing ones) are being delivered Tuesday and the counter top people are coming a week from Wednesday to make their templates for the cut-outs. I am keeping fingers crossed for a finished kitchen by mid June.

I refashioned a cheap pair of flip flops into something really cute from a tutorial on make it love it.  Nothing says summer like flip flops and I thought it was a good time to start feeling the change in the season.  I am such a nut for toile I couldn't resist going that route with the fabric.  They were easy to make and are really comfortable.  There are another cute pair on Ashley's blog with braided knit strips.  Those will be coming soon!

I thought I would include a picture of the hutch my husband made for his sister.  Here it is assembled and completed in her kitchen.  The last pictures I included of it were on his workbench unassembled and with a few touches left to do.  It turned out so beautiful.  She loves it and now has it filled with dishes my mother in law gave her that have been in my husband's family for a long time.  I love those memories and traditions and how cool that those dishes sit in a piece of furniture her brother made! 

Lastly, I had to share a special find of mine from ebay.  You know how obsessed I am with cats-especially cats in clothes!  Well, I found this fabric and had to get it.  I got a yard and I have no idea what I will make with it but I get a chuckle every time I look at it.  It's the little things isn't it?

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.  I am hoping to get some gardening done this week.  I purchased some flowers I have to get into pots.  I am tired of watering them in the garage!  Take care.         Nancy                                                                                                                     

Friday Night Sew In

I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful Saturday wherever you live.  It is sunny and not too hot here.  I probably won't get outside today to work on my flower gardens but I have time to do it.  We are in complete demolition mode here as we prepare for our new kitchen.  We have redone most of our house in the 22 years we have lived here, but this is the first kitchen renovation we have done(other than a new floor).  I think having the kitchen torn up has been the hardest for me.  I have to plan meals now mostly using the wall oven and microwave.  We are fortunate to have a grill with a side burner but it is a little inconvenient to run out to the garage all the time.  What few counter tops left in my kitchen are full with the toaster, coffee maker, bread box, and other essentials so I have to use my dining room table for prep work.  Above is a picture right after more cabinets were removed along with my expensive cooktop that was on the island.  My husband was afraid something would get dropped on it and break it.  Please don't judge how messy the counter tops are.  I feel like we are camping! I will fill you in on how dramatically this kitchen will change in my next post. 

 On to my Friday Night Sew In last night.  I decided to make a tea bag wallet.  I have wanted to make myself one forever.  I don't drink coffee at all.  I am a tea lover from way back.  I used to carry tea bags in a zip lock baggie in my purse.  This is way nicer!  I got the idea from a tutorial from Christy from Is It Naptime Yet?.  The directions were super easy to follow and it was just my kind of project-fast, easy and practical.  I think my favorite part is picking coordination fabric.  I am going to whip up several as gifts. 

It would be nice to include some exotic teas to try and a nice tea cup.  How fun!

Well, today I am cleaning my craft room.  I want to go through my fat quarter/fabric scrap bins and neatly organize them.  I have a real problem not buying fat quarters every time I go to the fabric store.  I think I need an intervention!  Have a wonderful week and take care. Nancy

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