Disclaimer: I love love love Jen's Homemade laundry detergent recipe! It's effective, inexpensive, and makes me feel great for doing both at the same time! But it requires forethought. Which I really don't do well. Even as I watch the last of the detergent get mixed into the last load of laundry...
So I desperately looked for another option...and found TipNut's list of 10 different recipes! I want to try #10 which incorporates vinegar...and yes - it turns into a powdery form eventually. Check it out...
Showing posts with label make-your-own. Show all posts
Showing posts with label make-your-own. Show all posts
Friday, September 26, 2008
Homemade automatic dishwasher detergent!
Mrs. Dani comes through for us once again! Here is her wicked easy recipe for dishwasher detergent!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Blocks
So cool! I found this idea from Martha Stewart by a suggestion from one of the blogs I read regularly, Thimbly Things (isn't that the coolest name?)
I seriously have to consider a whole blog of the craft ideas I don't want to forget about!!! (like my Blecipes blog)
Oi.
Now I totally need to yard sale for old children's blocks and books!
8/27/08: this is my new Craftank blog, just for craft ideas!
I seriously have to consider a whole blog of the craft ideas I don't want to forget about!!! (like my Blecipes blog)
Oi.
Now I totally need to yard sale for old children's blocks and books!
8/27/08: this is my new Craftank blog, just for craft ideas!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Finally! Another wardrobe refashion
My hubby and I finally got the chance to make my duct tape dress form...
We started with a two 60' rolls of duct tape, saran wrap and an old over-sized t-shirt...
And boy was it hot in there!
It took about an hour to tape me up, another half hour to finish it...stuff it, tape up the arm holes, etc...
And now I can finish all those tops that really need a dress form to finish them!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Note to Self: 4th Edition
1. It's important to have goals, and it's important to have them in front of you. Since my blog has pretty much become my personal Internet-central, I've decided to post my goals here. But since this is contradictory to a previous lesson - that I really need to declutter my sidebar - I've also decided to take other simplifying measures and post some of my lists in actual posts and just have links on my sidebar. So over the past week, I've moved my my bucket list, my collections, my reading list, and things I don't want to forget to someday talk about, (as well as my goal setting). Hopefully this will help to alleviate some of the visual clutter and make the blog more welcoming!!
2. Tanaya challenges me. Stretches me. I don't just relate to her, I am inspired by her. In contrast, I also relate all-too well to Jana's Emotional Hangover.
3. I dug out the paper making kit I found at a yard sale this summer. I want to make my own paper for Christmas cards this year, and am thinking about getting a head start. The packaging had some very interesting facts about paper usage statistics in North America. The kit was manufactured in 1991. This lead me to hop online and look for more current stats on how much we rich North Americans use! I found this old information from 1994; this site (which markets "green paper"), the average year of their references was 2001; this was a particularly interesting site which made me think beyond paper and garbage but more about the garbage trucks, salaries, taxes...you see where I'm going.
It didn't take long until I said to myself: self, it doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of difference whether I find an accurate number or not, the truth is we use and throw away a heck of a lot of paper that could be recycled. And I have the tool to recycle it myself. I continued reading the paper-making kit box and saw that I'd been assuming some wrong information. I figured I'd be able to recycle envelopes, newsprint, etc but not glossy paper like many fliers in the mail come. Wrong. I can use it all! Then I thought about my garbage can at work. Paper bags from fast food restaurants, envelopes, fax cover sheets, the glossy back of sheets of labels...it can all be used!
4. The deeper I dig* and the more I learn, I am astounded at the waste I create just by going along in my day to day life. I've never considered myself an extravagant person, but in contrast to the majority of the rest of the world that lives in unimaginable conditions, I am indeed living an extravagant life! So now I've found yet another expense I can withdraw from my budget - new paper! And can appreciate what paper I DO use (then recycle) a little more. Now I'm shredding everything at work...even non-confidential paper, (and paper fast-food bags) and bringing it home. I may ask for a non-homemade item for my birthday this year - a really good paper shredder for the house!
I'm most excited to share this site which talks about how they used to make paper in 1889; and Elizabeth's Flowers has kits to sell. (I'm not endorsing it, it just seemed like the lowest priced kit I found so far...) and I discovered that Elizabeth herself has a great blog as well!
I think it's important to note - the first link there has directions that make it sound REALLY complicated and pretty cumbersome! It's not. It's not as easy as going out and buying a ream of paper, but it's not that hard either!
*every SINGLE time I read "the deeper I dig," I read it the digger I deep. It's the strangest thing!
5. My hubby and I are fans of the sci fi channel shows Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International. This is odd in one sense because I'm NOT a fan of horror or sci fi flicks of any kind. Granted, GH and GHI are nothing like a horror flick, but I generally stay away from any shows involving the paranormal. Not that I don't believe in the paranormal - I do believe, I just don't tend to want to purposely watch it.
So getting back to the point - we're fans of the show and often times will discuss the cases during commercials and later on. There's the interesting differences between the residual hauntings and intelligent hauntings, the debate over what constitutes proof, criteria used for declaring a site as haunted, etc... A residual haunting is like a tape that plays over and over again. It comes back seemingly without reason. You can't prompt it or make it "play," neither can you make it go away. It does it's thing whether you're there or not.
Now stay with me here...
I'm a little bit concerned about my plastic cup. If you haven't been "watching," it's stinky. Real stinky. It actually smells like skunk. *shiver*
I tried a deodorizing method I found online, to no avail.
I asked for input and got a great suggestion to use peroxide. It soaked for 13 hours. I emptied it out, rinsed, sniffed and *grin* it smelled like a clean plastic cup! So I set it on the drying rack and headed to work, got back home and went to happily sniff my newly deodorized cup and got a nasty surprise.
The stink was back.
Remember what I said about a residual haunting?
I think I may have a dead skunk haunting my plastic cup.
Any suggestions on how to exorcise it?
And an extra-freaky tidbit. I have another identical cup.
The other one now stinks too.
Weird.
6. I took the Multiple Intelligences test and "Park Ranger" popped up in two categories as possible career matches for me. Hm...maybe a career change is in store for me?
7. I have friends of all ages. Well, not ALL ages. I don't have many (if any) friends MY age. A few years ago I went on a search for a friend my age and I discovered I am the only person born anywhere near 1976 in my little corner of the world! Then I became obsessed with this search...to no avail.
Fast forward to sometime this week and it occurred to me I hadn't thought a lot about this obsession in quite awhile. This idea that I had to have a friend my own age. One night I was sitting up, checking in on y'all and it hit me while surfing from a 20-something's blog to a 60-something's blog, with SAHM's, career women, crafty women, sustainable-living women...it doesn't matter what age you are.
A friend is a friend is a friend.
8. "Silly."
I use the word silly often in not-so-silly situations. Like when I want to call myself stupid, but don't want to ACTUALLY call myself stupid. I say "Silly," like - duh.
Awhile back, my counselor Bill caught me on this and I couldn't explain why I did it.
A few weeks ago I was at my folks house, walking around the patio, snapping pictures and I twisted my ankle. Dad came outside a few minutes later and I explained why I was hobbling.
"Tsk," *shaking head,* "Silly."
Imagine my shock-awareness-aha moment.
And I realized my Mom does the same thing.
So when they were telling my brother and I growing up not to call each other stupid, they were essentially giving us permission to do just that - under cover.
I haven't learned all that I can from this lesson yet, I'm still pondering it over and over in my mind, but I thought I'd share this aha moment with y'all.
Now I think it's important to note here though...I'm not one to say "It's all my parents' fault!" (insert winy cry-baby voice here) and that's not my message. Rather, what can I learn from it, what can I take away, digest, and discover about my own self-talk and how can I grow.
9. I'm learning that one of our greatest resources just might be each other, so I'm going to throw this out there because one of you just might be able to help me.
When I was born, someone gave me a stuffed bear with a music box inside. It played rock-a-bye baby and I LOVED listening to the music while I tried to fall asleep. I can remember holding it close, feeling the clicking as the music box made it's music. The round thing turning, the pins clicking over the nubs. And then it would go slower and slo.w..e...r..... until it stopped in the middle of the song. As it turned and clicked and played it's music, it would create small vibrations though and I loved thinking about, picturing in my mind, what the music box inside looked like.
I still have the bear, but I threw him across the room at my brother in a fit of rage at the age of, of course, 13 and broke the stem/key off the music box. So alas, Benny plays no more music, but the memories are there and I can still hear the tin-y clinking of it in my mind. Benny is also so beat up and worn out, I can't even imagine what he must have looked like the day I was born and he was given to me. As my Mom tells it, he was the first gift I ever got.
When my brother's wife had their firstborn, I started a tradition. Or so I intended. At my SIL's shower, I gave the baby a stuffed bear that played rock-a-bye-baby. We didn't know then whether it was a boy or a girl, but it didn't really matter. It was SO hard to find a bear with a music box inside, but I managed to find one at a music box specialty shop.
Now that my hubby's brother is expecting, I want to do the same, but the music box shop I went to originally is now gone.
My question is this: Does anyone know of a source for teddy bears with music boxes inside? I don't care if it's online or by mail or international or WHAT. And I have until November. LOL.
Interestingly enough, "Benny" is pink.
Benny, a pink bear with orange eyes.
Amend that: Benny, a thoroughly loved pink bear with orange eyes.
10. I continue to find connection after connection with people all over the globe. It reminds me of the six degrees of separation. I go to some one's blog, see another interesting link, click on that link and so on. Fabulous! Take for instance The Country Doctor's Wife, who I cannot visit from work because I always find myself laughing hysterically. I discovered her from the Pioneer Woman, who I found from the Farmer's Wife, who I found from Shelly at the Happy Hut, who I met on Wardrobe Refashion. It always comes back to Wardrobe Refashion!!Okay, that was only five, but you get the point. (Unless Yahoo! counts, which is how I found Wardrobe Refashion!)
11. We're going camping again this weekend...this time REAL camping...in tents and everything! Except, we're expecting rain all weekend, so we're thinking of putting the blow up mattress in the back of my hubby's truck and sleeping there instead of in a puddle. An option anyway!
So I'm bringing lots of rags because we tend to use lots of paper towels while camping...but I thought "how can I transport the rags in a compact and user-friendly manner?"
Result:
Tissue box style container...all of the rags are folded together just the same as tissues are in tissue boxes and I tried it out to make sure it worked...and it does! When you pull one rag out, the next one pulls through just a little!
I'm so darn proud of myself it should be illegal!!
I'll end this post with some shots of my big backyard. Ihave been having a bit of trouble with my camera as the LCD display is shot. *shaking head* if it's not one thing, it's another! I just got it back from the repair shop! So anyway, a few of the shots are really over exposed, but I'm working on it! Enjoy...
Concord Grapes (unripe)
Cone Flower (over exposed)
antique roses (I think)
Still haven't id'd these.
2. Tanaya challenges me. Stretches me. I don't just relate to her, I am inspired by her. In contrast, I also relate all-too well to Jana's Emotional Hangover.
3. I dug out the paper making kit I found at a yard sale this summer. I want to make my own paper for Christmas cards this year, and am thinking about getting a head start. The packaging had some very interesting facts about paper usage statistics in North America. The kit was manufactured in 1991. This lead me to hop online and look for more current stats on how much we rich North Americans use! I found this old information from 1994; this site (which markets "green paper"), the average year of their references was 2001; this was a particularly interesting site which made me think beyond paper and garbage but more about the garbage trucks, salaries, taxes...you see where I'm going.
It didn't take long until I said to myself: self, it doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of difference whether I find an accurate number or not, the truth is we use and throw away a heck of a lot of paper that could be recycled. And I have the tool to recycle it myself. I continued reading the paper-making kit box and saw that I'd been assuming some wrong information. I figured I'd be able to recycle envelopes, newsprint, etc but not glossy paper like many fliers in the mail come. Wrong. I can use it all! Then I thought about my garbage can at work. Paper bags from fast food restaurants, envelopes, fax cover sheets, the glossy back of sheets of labels...it can all be used!
4. The deeper I dig* and the more I learn, I am astounded at the waste I create just by going along in my day to day life. I've never considered myself an extravagant person, but in contrast to the majority of the rest of the world that lives in unimaginable conditions, I am indeed living an extravagant life! So now I've found yet another expense I can withdraw from my budget - new paper! And can appreciate what paper I DO use (then recycle) a little more. Now I'm shredding everything at work...even non-confidential paper, (and paper fast-food bags) and bringing it home. I may ask for a non-homemade item for my birthday this year - a really good paper shredder for the house!
I'm most excited to share this site which talks about how they used to make paper in 1889; and Elizabeth's Flowers has kits to sell. (I'm not endorsing it, it just seemed like the lowest priced kit I found so far...) and I discovered that Elizabeth herself has a great blog as well!
I think it's important to note - the first link there has directions that make it sound REALLY complicated and pretty cumbersome! It's not. It's not as easy as going out and buying a ream of paper, but it's not that hard either!
*every SINGLE time I read "the deeper I dig," I read it the digger I deep. It's the strangest thing!
5. My hubby and I are fans of the sci fi channel shows Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International. This is odd in one sense because I'm NOT a fan of horror or sci fi flicks of any kind. Granted, GH and GHI are nothing like a horror flick, but I generally stay away from any shows involving the paranormal. Not that I don't believe in the paranormal - I do believe, I just don't tend to want to purposely watch it.
So getting back to the point - we're fans of the show and often times will discuss the cases during commercials and later on. There's the interesting differences between the residual hauntings and intelligent hauntings, the debate over what constitutes proof, criteria used for declaring a site as haunted, etc... A residual haunting is like a tape that plays over and over again. It comes back seemingly without reason. You can't prompt it or make it "play," neither can you make it go away. It does it's thing whether you're there or not.
Now stay with me here...
I'm a little bit concerned about my plastic cup. If you haven't been "watching," it's stinky. Real stinky. It actually smells like skunk. *shiver*
I tried a deodorizing method I found online, to no avail.
I asked for input and got a great suggestion to use peroxide. It soaked for 13 hours. I emptied it out, rinsed, sniffed and *grin* it smelled like a clean plastic cup! So I set it on the drying rack and headed to work, got back home and went to happily sniff my newly deodorized cup and got a nasty surprise.
The stink was back.
Remember what I said about a residual haunting?
I think I may have a dead skunk haunting my plastic cup.
Any suggestions on how to exorcise it?
And an extra-freaky tidbit. I have another identical cup.
The other one now stinks too.
Weird.
6. I took the Multiple Intelligences test and "Park Ranger" popped up in two categories as possible career matches for me. Hm...maybe a career change is in store for me?
7. I have friends of all ages. Well, not ALL ages. I don't have many (if any) friends MY age. A few years ago I went on a search for a friend my age and I discovered I am the only person born anywhere near 1976 in my little corner of the world! Then I became obsessed with this search...to no avail.
Fast forward to sometime this week and it occurred to me I hadn't thought a lot about this obsession in quite awhile. This idea that I had to have a friend my own age. One night I was sitting up, checking in on y'all and it hit me while surfing from a 20-something's blog to a 60-something's blog, with SAHM's, career women, crafty women, sustainable-living women...it doesn't matter what age you are.
A friend is a friend is a friend.
8. "Silly."
I use the word silly often in not-so-silly situations. Like when I want to call myself stupid, but don't want to ACTUALLY call myself stupid. I say "Silly," like - duh.
Awhile back, my counselor Bill caught me on this and I couldn't explain why I did it.
A few weeks ago I was at my folks house, walking around the patio, snapping pictures and I twisted my ankle. Dad came outside a few minutes later and I explained why I was hobbling.
"Tsk," *shaking head,* "Silly."
Imagine my shock-awareness-aha moment.
And I realized my Mom does the same thing.
So when they were telling my brother and I growing up not to call each other stupid, they were essentially giving us permission to do just that - under cover.
I haven't learned all that I can from this lesson yet, I'm still pondering it over and over in my mind, but I thought I'd share this aha moment with y'all.
Now I think it's important to note here though...I'm not one to say "It's all my parents' fault!" (insert winy cry-baby voice here) and that's not my message. Rather, what can I learn from it, what can I take away, digest, and discover about my own self-talk and how can I grow.
9. I'm learning that one of our greatest resources just might be each other, so I'm going to throw this out there because one of you just might be able to help me.
When I was born, someone gave me a stuffed bear with a music box inside. It played rock-a-bye baby and I LOVED listening to the music while I tried to fall asleep. I can remember holding it close, feeling the clicking as the music box made it's music. The round thing turning, the pins clicking over the nubs. And then it would go slower and slo.w..e...r..... until it stopped in the middle of the song. As it turned and clicked and played it's music, it would create small vibrations though and I loved thinking about, picturing in my mind, what the music box inside looked like.
I still have the bear, but I threw him across the room at my brother in a fit of rage at the age of, of course, 13 and broke the stem/key off the music box. So alas, Benny plays no more music, but the memories are there and I can still hear the tin-y clinking of it in my mind. Benny is also so beat up and worn out, I can't even imagine what he must have looked like the day I was born and he was given to me. As my Mom tells it, he was the first gift I ever got.
When my brother's wife had their firstborn, I started a tradition. Or so I intended. At my SIL's shower, I gave the baby a stuffed bear that played rock-a-bye-baby. We didn't know then whether it was a boy or a girl, but it didn't really matter. It was SO hard to find a bear with a music box inside, but I managed to find one at a music box specialty shop.
Now that my hubby's brother is expecting, I want to do the same, but the music box shop I went to originally is now gone.
My question is this: Does anyone know of a source for teddy bears with music boxes inside? I don't care if it's online or by mail or international or WHAT. And I have until November. LOL.
Interestingly enough, "Benny" is pink.
Benny, a pink bear with orange eyes.
Amend that: Benny, a thoroughly loved pink bear with orange eyes.
10. I continue to find connection after connection with people all over the globe. It reminds me of the six degrees of separation. I go to some one's blog, see another interesting link, click on that link and so on. Fabulous! Take for instance The Country Doctor's Wife, who I cannot visit from work because I always find myself laughing hysterically. I discovered her from the Pioneer Woman, who I found from the Farmer's Wife, who I found from Shelly at the Happy Hut, who I met on Wardrobe Refashion. It always comes back to Wardrobe Refashion!!Okay, that was only five, but you get the point. (Unless Yahoo! counts, which is how I found Wardrobe Refashion!)
11. We're going camping again this weekend...this time REAL camping...in tents and everything! Except, we're expecting rain all weekend, so we're thinking of putting the blow up mattress in the back of my hubby's truck and sleeping there instead of in a puddle. An option anyway!
So I'm bringing lots of rags because we tend to use lots of paper towels while camping...but I thought "how can I transport the rags in a compact and user-friendly manner?"
Result:
Tissue box style container...all of the rags are folded together just the same as tissues are in tissue boxes and I tried it out to make sure it worked...and it does! When you pull one rag out, the next one pulls through just a little!
I'm so darn proud of myself it should be illegal!!
I'll end this post with some shots of my big backyard. Ihave been having a bit of trouble with my camera as the LCD display is shot. *shaking head* if it's not one thing, it's another! I just got it back from the repair shop! So anyway, a few of the shots are really over exposed, but I'm working on it! Enjoy...
Concord Grapes (unripe)
Cone Flower (over exposed)
antique roses (I think)
Still haven't id'd these.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
What happened to efficiency weekend?!
Turns out, I had to work. (no time to do-my-own-tuneup on my car)
Then I remembered I can't buy anything brand new. (can't buy a spiffy new clothesline)
So I rummaged through the shed and found just enough rope to string between the shed and a tree. This is going to be one heck of a clothesline! 71 feet! I'll end up putting it up just when it's in use, then take it down because it's pretty much in the way! But hey, we don't use the yard a whole lot except to mow anyway, so it's all good!
Then the ticking clock reminded me that my hubby and I are doing the motorcycle safety course this coming week, so I really needed to get my embroidery floss out of the way so I could finish our coats...
And what could a long straight piece of wood have to do with embroidery floss storage?
Well, to be exact...it ends up, four long straight pieces of wood helped me keep all the floss in order and stored on top of my shelving unit out of the way:
I did come up with an effective way to get mystery stickiness off one of my "new" thrifted pitchers: spray/drip all over with goo gone, all the while stray sprays and drips fall on the rag or towel under the object in question.
Wrap in said rag or towel.
Tie securely in plastic bag.
I forgot to take an after picture, but I set it asside for a few hours last night before I remembered to get back to it. It didn't just wipe off, I still had to rub a little but I wasn't scrubbing!
Sunday I'm back to work for a couple hours after church, then I'll finally get to pick up groceries and start my price book!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
...and then I found the macro button!
Another rainy Lunchcapades in New England.
And what would I make with all of these?
Lots of stuff! Tonight I'm making a bunch of jars of gourmet condiments. Including gorgonzola stuffed olives, pickled radishes, onion jam, corn & pineapple relish, spicy olives and my homemade creamy caesar dressing!
Of course, I stopped at the farm stand across the street from work for fresh corn on the cob. I'll steam it up, slice off the kernels, and pop them into the relish.
Saturday I plan to picnic with three other ladies I haven't seen in a year and we are all bringing something fantastic to eat! Leah is bringing authentic Puerto Rican sandwiches with avocado, tomato and onions pickled in lime juice or cider. Mmmmm...pickled avocado. She's been to PR twice this summer with her family. I can't wait to hear all about her travels! Mimi says she found a great coconut cake recipe she's been dying to try out, and Jewel makes great iced tea! I'll be sure to take lots of pics and get recipes of everything! I'll be making fresh dough for rolls Friday night to pop in the oven before I leave Saturday morning so they're nice and fresh! (warm rolls with onion jam...)
The rest of my break I spent fiddling with my "made by" tags. I decided to follow the route I've gone with my cross stitching. I'll just do a simple tag with my initials instead of making a big deal out of it. I may do a simple border as well, but no extra words. Not that that isn't nice, it's just not my personal style. I acutally adore a lot of the customized tags out there, but for my stuff I think simple is the way to go. So I started shooting pics of it, fighting with my camera, mad because I know there's some setting I can get to somehow that will allow me to get ubber clear close-up pics but I've changed all the internal settings and it isn't WORKING for me!
Then I found the macro button! And it couldn't be easier if it said "hit this button for close-up shots!" **shaking head**
Then of course I had to take close-up pictures of everything!!
And what would I make with all of these?
Lots of stuff! Tonight I'm making a bunch of jars of gourmet condiments. Including gorgonzola stuffed olives, pickled radishes, onion jam, corn & pineapple relish, spicy olives and my homemade creamy caesar dressing!
Of course, I stopped at the farm stand across the street from work for fresh corn on the cob. I'll steam it up, slice off the kernels, and pop them into the relish.
Saturday I plan to picnic with three other ladies I haven't seen in a year and we are all bringing something fantastic to eat! Leah is bringing authentic Puerto Rican sandwiches with avocado, tomato and onions pickled in lime juice or cider. Mmmmm...pickled avocado. She's been to PR twice this summer with her family. I can't wait to hear all about her travels! Mimi says she found a great coconut cake recipe she's been dying to try out, and Jewel makes great iced tea! I'll be sure to take lots of pics and get recipes of everything! I'll be making fresh dough for rolls Friday night to pop in the oven before I leave Saturday morning so they're nice and fresh! (warm rolls with onion jam...)
The rest of my break I spent fiddling with my "made by" tags. I decided to follow the route I've gone with my cross stitching. I'll just do a simple tag with my initials instead of making a big deal out of it. I may do a simple border as well, but no extra words. Not that that isn't nice, it's just not my personal style. I acutally adore a lot of the customized tags out there, but for my stuff I think simple is the way to go. So I started shooting pics of it, fighting with my camera, mad because I know there's some setting I can get to somehow that will allow me to get ubber clear close-up pics but I've changed all the internal settings and it isn't WORKING for me!
Then I found the macro button! And it couldn't be easier if it said "hit this button for close-up shots!" **shaking head**
Then of course I had to take close-up pictures of everything!!
There's something that just makes me giddy about cross stitch. Perhaps I'm spreading myself too thin trying to master every thread and bead artform there is!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
This and That
I saw the post category "this and that" today and had to laugh...I think most of my posts could fit under "This and That!"
My shash of partially or mostly used materials is bursting from it's container! I put sandwich-size and gallon sized ziplock bags in the top compartment so I don't have to run upstairs every time I want to stash some cuttings.
I got some sewing done tonight. No wardrobe refashioning, but finished up a project, started and finished two others, and fiddled with a third. All in all, I'm quite pleased with myself.
I made a simple dresser scarf of sorts for the bureau in my work space using up some stash! Hubby should be so proud of me!
My shash of partially or mostly used materials is bursting from it's container! I put sandwich-size and gallon sized ziplock bags in the top compartment so I don't have to run upstairs every time I want to stash some cuttings.
I finally decided on two materials. Mostly based on the size of the remnants!
Is it just me or is there something deeply satisfying about holding pins in your mouth? I don't know, makes me feel all domesticated.
I decided awhile back to make my own "Made By" tags. I picked up some Offray antique white grosgrain in 7/8" and planned on doing a free-form cross stitch kind of thing. I finally sat down and doodled some ideas,
then tried a few out. I learned that I'll definitely need to do the initials first, then the outline. I purposely picked very pale colors. When I'm "signing" actual cross stitches, I typically will use a thread just a slight shade off from the color of the base cloth.
This whole file is cross stitch patterns and I have another one filled with back issues of cross stitch magazines that I finally cancelled awhile ago.
And my lovely *cough* stove and yard saled cookie jar/kitchen rag holder.
And my lovely *cough* stove and yard saled cookie jar/kitchen rag holder.
I also got the rest of my hankies made and another notions bag which is larger and made from tulle...we'll see how it holds up over time! I used a tripple stitch and crossed my fingers...
In over my head? or brave enought to attempt it?
Okay, I have a new idea. I was thinking about my open shelf unit for the sea shells I have collected and was feeling a little precarious about the whole thing. The thing is, our property directly abuts the railroad and our house shakes just a little every time it goes by. Thankfully it creeps by at about 20-30 mph, but still...it's enough that we are very carefull about properly hanging pictures and breakables.
So here's a free tour of "How MJ's Brain Works:"
Without a glass front to the shelves, I'm thinking the shells may not be so safe inside the shelves.
Then I got to thinking about securing them within the shelves or on/in something different than the shelves, which lead me to recalling how I sewed my hubby's aunt's weaving to a canvas which I painted first. 
Except not all of the shells have holes in them which will lend to being attached to some material by simply stitching a loop around it.
Then I recalled one of my favorite beaders' work. Triz is a magician with beadwork! The technique I'm thinking of now is called Flatwork. Check out her site as well as her Etsy shop... absolutely incredible work!
Now I'm thinking...I'm a baby beader. Flatwork is like WOW, way ahead of my level. Do I dare attempt it? Or do I plunge in and learn as I go?
Still mulling it over...
So here's a free tour of "How MJ's Brain Works:"
Without a glass front to the shelves, I'm thinking the shells may not be so safe inside the shelves.
Then I got to thinking about securing them within the shelves or on/in something different than the shelves, which lead me to recalling how I sewed my hubby's aunt's weaving to a canvas which I painted first.
Except not all of the shells have holes in them which will lend to being attached to some material by simply stitching a loop around it.
Then I recalled one of my favorite beaders' work. Triz is a magician with beadwork! The technique I'm thinking of now is called Flatwork. Check out her site as well as her Etsy shop... absolutely incredible work!
Now I'm thinking...I'm a baby beader. Flatwork is like WOW, way ahead of my level. Do I dare attempt it? Or do I plunge in and learn as I go?
Still mulling it over...
Friday, July 18, 2008
Again, I shouldn't try to sew at night!
Perhaps I should just plan, draw, make project bags, and do frivolous crafty things at night until I'm more proficient at sewing!
I picked out a shirt I haven't seen my hubby wear in YEARS, but since he was working on a side-job last night, I didn't cut into it yet. So my shorts project is currently on hold until tonight, but maybe I shouldn't even attempt it until Saturday! LOL
I found some sale fabric that would make great shorts at the fabric store last night. I know... dangerous territory, but I was very good. I even put a lot of items back before I checked out! The fabrics I purchased were either remnants or $1 or $2 per yard. I'll have to go back and find the receipt, because I forgot to post it on my running tally last night...
Right, so I found this shorts fabric at $1 per yard and a cute simple shorts pattern, and while I was waiting to get it cut, I decided to spring for extra since it was such a great color, and price. It's a nice lightwieght but "sturdy" material.
Well, it's a good thing I got so much extra because I was fed up with the pattern and just started cutting what I thought I needed based on looking at the jeans I currently fit into (bad idea #1) ...then went back to the pattern and actually used it to cut the pieces as they should be, but forgot that there were different patterns for different lengths (bad idea #2) so even though a piece says "E", I should have kept looking for "cut 1" or "cut 2." Luckily, I have enough leftover yardage I'll still be able to make at least one pair of shorts from when I get back to it!!!
I used to be so patient and never just rushed into stuff like this. I think working at night makes me rush things. Plus I really wanted to finish it last night so I could wear them this weekend to a barbeque at a friend's house. Again, caught by the deadline! Well, no finished shorts.
But I have discovered an unexpected bonus to this crafting-at-night practice I've developed. I've slept really well this week! I think putting my mind to something at night really helps tire me out so that my mind can't race while I'm staring at the ceiling wishing I were asleep! (or maybe it's the no-ice cream thing! I love ice cream with chocolate swirl or chocolate chips or chocolate anything added! Major caffeine intake I alwayse chose to ignore!!!)
So perhaps I'll find something simple I can make at night and just make a bazillion of them for a craft fair or something! Like clutch purses or the project bags (thought they'll have to be a heck of a lot better put together than the first ones I've done!) Or Blue Yonder's hankercheifs. I tried one last night from a sage green flanel remnant I found at the store yesterday and LOVE it! I'm using it today, it's very soft, very cozy and I don't even miss the puffs plus! (And I don't miss the cost or the waste either!!) And while I'm on the subject, I can't say enough great things about Blue Yonder! So I'll keep it short. Two words: Taaaa-lent! (Writing, cooking, sewing, parenting...)
Plus, if I win the AMAZING Old Red Barn quilt, I'll owe it all to her for posting it on her blog! (Have you heard about the quilt giveaway? No? Why the heck not?! Click on the icon at the top right side of the page and check it out. Now!)
I picked out a shirt I haven't seen my hubby wear in YEARS, but since he was working on a side-job last night, I didn't cut into it yet. So my shorts project is currently on hold until tonight, but maybe I shouldn't even attempt it until Saturday! LOL
I found some sale fabric that would make great shorts at the fabric store last night. I know... dangerous territory, but I was very good. I even put a lot of items back before I checked out! The fabrics I purchased were either remnants or $1 or $2 per yard. I'll have to go back and find the receipt, because I forgot to post it on my running tally last night...
Right, so I found this shorts fabric at $1 per yard and a cute simple shorts pattern, and while I was waiting to get it cut, I decided to spring for extra since it was such a great color, and price. It's a nice lightwieght but "sturdy" material.
Well, it's a good thing I got so much extra because I was fed up with the pattern and just started cutting what I thought I needed based on looking at the jeans I currently fit into (bad idea #1) ...then went back to the pattern and actually used it to cut the pieces as they should be, but forgot that there were different patterns for different lengths (bad idea #2) so even though a piece says "E", I should have kept looking for "cut 1" or "cut 2." Luckily, I have enough leftover yardage I'll still be able to make at least one pair of shorts from when I get back to it!!!
I used to be so patient and never just rushed into stuff like this. I think working at night makes me rush things. Plus I really wanted to finish it last night so I could wear them this weekend to a barbeque at a friend's house. Again, caught by the deadline! Well, no finished shorts.
But I have discovered an unexpected bonus to this crafting-at-night practice I've developed. I've slept really well this week! I think putting my mind to something at night really helps tire me out so that my mind can't race while I'm staring at the ceiling wishing I were asleep! (or maybe it's the no-ice cream thing! I love ice cream with chocolate swirl or chocolate chips or chocolate anything added! Major caffeine intake I alwayse chose to ignore!!!)
So perhaps I'll find something simple I can make at night and just make a bazillion of them for a craft fair or something! Like clutch purses or the project bags (thought they'll have to be a heck of a lot better put together than the first ones I've done!) Or Blue Yonder's hankercheifs. I tried one last night from a sage green flanel remnant I found at the store yesterday and LOVE it! I'm using it today, it's very soft, very cozy and I don't even miss the puffs plus! (And I don't miss the cost or the waste either!!) And while I'm on the subject, I can't say enough great things about Blue Yonder! So I'll keep it short. Two words: Taaaa-lent! (Writing, cooking, sewing, parenting...)
Plus, if I win the AMAZING Old Red Barn quilt, I'll owe it all to her for posting it on her blog! (Have you heard about the quilt giveaway? No? Why the heck not?! Click on the icon at the top right side of the page and check it out. Now!)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Old Red Barn Quilt Giveaway
Personally, this may be TMI (too much information), but I'm drooling right now. Wishing I had the talent, skills, gumption, and imagination to even conceive of this, much less the courage to actually attempt it! (Much less finish the fantastic piece!)
Click on the "Win this Quilt" graphic to the right of the page, at the top...and get even more incredible, yummy, awesome views of this magnificent treasure! It will bring you straight to Dana's Old Red Barn blog. Do it. Right now. Seriously.
What are you waiting for, Christmas? You don't have that much time!!! The contest ends July 22nd. (My 8th wedding anniversary, by the way.) Do it now!!
Wouldn't that be a great anniversary present? I mean, 8 years! We made it (barely) through the 7 year stretch and we're still going strong! What an incredible accomplishment! Especially if you'd been listening to me 2 months ago! (pre-How To Grow Blogspot)
Maybe I should consider the youtube video after all...or you could enter the contest in my name! Wow, what an incredible token of friendship! (if you don't know what I mean by the youtube video, that means you haven't checked out the contest site!!!!)
; )
This gal also makes yummy soap (but don't eat it) and seriously, if I don't get the quilt, ... well, I'll be dissapointed, but if I get one of the gift certificates instead, I'll not be too terribly dissapointed! What a great consolation prize!!!
I so wish I could post pictures of the quilt and soaps here, but I don't want to do anything to jeapordize my chances of winning! Just take it from me...it's fantastic!
Acutally, don't take my word for it, see for yourself already!!!
Click on the "Win this Quilt" graphic to the right of the page, at the top...and get even more incredible, yummy, awesome views of this magnificent treasure! It will bring you straight to Dana's Old Red Barn blog. Do it. Right now. Seriously.
What are you waiting for, Christmas? You don't have that much time!!! The contest ends July 22nd. (My 8th wedding anniversary, by the way.) Do it now!!
Wouldn't that be a great anniversary present? I mean, 8 years! We made it (barely) through the 7 year stretch and we're still going strong! What an incredible accomplishment! Especially if you'd been listening to me 2 months ago! (pre-How To Grow Blogspot)
Maybe I should consider the youtube video after all...or you could enter the contest in my name! Wow, what an incredible token of friendship! (if you don't know what I mean by the youtube video, that means you haven't checked out the contest site!!!!)
; )
This gal also makes yummy soap (but don't eat it) and seriously, if I don't get the quilt, ... well, I'll be dissapointed, but if I get one of the gift certificates instead, I'll not be too terribly dissapointed! What a great consolation prize!!!
I so wish I could post pictures of the quilt and soaps here, but I don't want to do anything to jeapordize my chances of winning! Just take it from me...it's fantastic!
Acutally, don't take my word for it, see for yourself already!!!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Oi. *Sigh*
I went back to the craft store at lunch today. I gave my hubby fair warning. I had to go. I simply had to.
We are taking a motorcycle safety course in the begining of august and we need jackets (per the instructions in the course description). Have you ever bought or priced out biker jackets? Oi. We went a few weeks ago to see what options/sizes/types/materials there were in the motorcycle jacket market. Boy, what variety! Even on craigslist it's hard to find an affordable jacket, so I thought - what about my hubby's old carhardt? Actually, he's worn through two of them. I keep them around to use to patch up heavy duty items like car seat covers, jean patches, etc. But even the older one I've only torn the pocket off, so it's structurally sound.
No, I'm not going to make my hubby show up to class in a torn up winter jacket in the middle of the summer. My plan is to wash it with soda ash then dye it, hopefully making the patch of never-before-seen-and-so-pristene carhardt material less noticable! I also plan to take out the insulation and liner and add a new liner out of more breathable fabric. The whole reason he stopped using the coat is because the zipper broke, so I'm going to rip off the velcro patches that no longer stick and put on heavy duty snaps.
Which leads me back to the craft store. Heavy duty snaps and a snap plier tool.
Then I found button covers, remembered I needed beading needles (don't know where my needles went!!!), saw the prettiest filigree clasp, and three different color collections of large glass beads. Wow. What a find!
$58.20 later I slinked out of the store shaking my head. Problem. Really. *sigh*
Then I got back to work and thought - what if I could make it from scratch? What if I could find the polyester mesh and neoprene and kevlar materials they use for the summer-type jackets that breathe really well? Why not? So I may have made that trip for nothing! (But it will ALL be put to good use!)
At least I didn't buy more fabric!
I'm not posting pictures for today's lunchcapades because I left my memory card in my laptop at home again. Oi.
We are taking a motorcycle safety course in the begining of august and we need jackets (per the instructions in the course description). Have you ever bought or priced out biker jackets? Oi. We went a few weeks ago to see what options/sizes/types/materials there were in the motorcycle jacket market. Boy, what variety! Even on craigslist it's hard to find an affordable jacket, so I thought - what about my hubby's old carhardt? Actually, he's worn through two of them. I keep them around to use to patch up heavy duty items like car seat covers, jean patches, etc. But even the older one I've only torn the pocket off, so it's structurally sound.
No, I'm not going to make my hubby show up to class in a torn up winter jacket in the middle of the summer. My plan is to wash it with soda ash then dye it, hopefully making the patch of never-before-seen-and-so-pristene carhardt material less noticable! I also plan to take out the insulation and liner and add a new liner out of more breathable fabric. The whole reason he stopped using the coat is because the zipper broke, so I'm going to rip off the velcro patches that no longer stick and put on heavy duty snaps.
Which leads me back to the craft store. Heavy duty snaps and a snap plier tool.
Then I found button covers, remembered I needed beading needles (don't know where my needles went!!!), saw the prettiest filigree clasp, and three different color collections of large glass beads. Wow. What a find!
$58.20 later I slinked out of the store shaking my head. Problem. Really. *sigh*
Then I got back to work and thought - what if I could make it from scratch? What if I could find the polyester mesh and neoprene and kevlar materials they use for the summer-type jackets that breathe really well? Why not? So I may have made that trip for nothing! (But it will ALL be put to good use!)
At least I didn't buy more fabric!
I'm not posting pictures for today's lunchcapades because I left my memory card in my laptop at home again. Oi.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Lunchcapades
Hi, my name is MJ and I'm a craft store junkie.
(hi MJ)
I first came to this realization on July 11th, 2008. After a week of blogging about how I needed to cut down on my craft spending, I took another "quick trip" to the store for one little thing and left with $27.71. Just a wee bit of baby stuff. That makes it all better, right? But spending is spending and I knew I was simply justifying myself.
(stay tuned for more of my recovery story as it unfolds...)
Yes, you see more beading supplies. Four flannels. For baby stuff. Really. From the top:
1.) Green flannel has flowers and butterflies in darker green. My SIL LOVES green, so I thought this might make great burp cloths. (She also is not big on "cutsie baby stuff") It wasn't on sale though, so I only got half a yard and paid $2.50.
2.) more baby food flannel matching what I'm going to make bibs out of...I'm going to use this yard to make my own matching bias tape! So cool! I got the last of the bolt and got about 1 1/5 yard for $1.79.
3. & 4.) yardage for baby blankets. Total 4 1/2 yards for $5.37.
Maybe I should think about selling at craft fairs this fall in order to support my habit.
And of course, Wendy's! (No, still no frosty!!!Woo Hoo! I can quit something!)
I also got off white grosgrain ribbon to make my own "Made By" tags. I looked at the small selection and decided I could make my own. (and a lit less expensively!) I love to cross stitch and can personalize it really well myself, making it even better!
And my gas. My precious gas. I'm thinking of trying all the hypermiling techniques floating around out in cyperspace these days. I'll see if I can stretch this tank a little further than normal! (and my uber-curvy self reflected in my clean black car. Oi. I have curves where I shouldn't though!)
Meanwhile, the inside of my car really needs a good cleaning!!
Can you tell how much I love my sunglasses?
What's in my purse:
notepad to write down prices, lists, poems, things I need, etc..., my journal, (the cover of which says "Life is just so Daily!") The Joy of Beading by Anna Borrelli, lots of loose papers, my password notebook, cell phone (of course), and lots more stuff buy you can't see it!
(hi MJ)
I first came to this realization on July 11th, 2008. After a week of blogging about how I needed to cut down on my craft spending, I took another "quick trip" to the store for one little thing and left with $27.71. Just a wee bit of baby stuff. That makes it all better, right? But spending is spending and I knew I was simply justifying myself.
(stay tuned for more of my recovery story as it unfolds...)
Yes, you see more beading supplies. Four flannels. For baby stuff. Really. From the top:
1.) Green flannel has flowers and butterflies in darker green. My SIL LOVES green, so I thought this might make great burp cloths. (She also is not big on "cutsie baby stuff") It wasn't on sale though, so I only got half a yard and paid $2.50.
2.) more baby food flannel matching what I'm going to make bibs out of...I'm going to use this yard to make my own matching bias tape! So cool! I got the last of the bolt and got about 1 1/5 yard for $1.79.
3. & 4.) yardage for baby blankets. Total 4 1/2 yards for $5.37.
Maybe I should think about selling at craft fairs this fall in order to support my habit.
And of course, Wendy's! (No, still no frosty!!!Woo Hoo! I can quit something!)
I also got off white grosgrain ribbon to make my own "Made By" tags. I looked at the small selection and decided I could make my own. (and a lit less expensively!) I love to cross stitch and can personalize it really well myself, making it even better!
And my gas. My precious gas. I'm thinking of trying all the hypermiling techniques floating around out in cyperspace these days. I'll see if I can stretch this tank a little further than normal! (and my uber-curvy self reflected in my clean black car. Oi. I have curves where I shouldn't though!)
Meanwhile, the inside of my car really needs a good cleaning!!
Can you tell how much I love my sunglasses?
What's in my purse:
notepad to write down prices, lists, poems, things I need, etc..., my journal, (the cover of which says "Life is just so Daily!") The Joy of Beading by Anna Borrelli, lots of loose papers, my password notebook, cell phone (of course), and lots more stuff buy you can't see it!
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