Friday, July 9, 2010
Booty bag
Today to get a little sewing fix I decided to whip up a quick booty bag to store my hand sewing/cross stitch stuff in. I used to store it in this:
Now I will store it in this:
It's hard to tell in the pic, but the lining material is also on the handle. I know there are several booty bag tutorials out there. I just kind of winged this one on my own. It's not all symetrical. (I had difficulty trying to figure out how to make it look symetrical because of the angle of the pant leg). But it will get the job done. Kadyn had to try it out and asked for one for her birthday. I originally used the genes to make a lunch sack for my parents and this was left over. Kind of nice that it has built in pockets. I think it would actually make a cute little bag to collect Easter eggs in. Or you could do it up with an orange lining and it could be a Halloween candy bag. Better yet, It seems like a really cool way to store those little felt dolls I've been making Bren and all her clothes. She could carry it around to places with a little bag like this. Hmmm....I may have to put a couple more on my list of things to make.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
All for two bucks!
I have been busy, busy, busy. When we went to Springfield last weekend we were able to shop at several thrift stores. There are a gazillion of the in that town. I found some awesome deals and fabric to help me feed my sewing addiction. Thanks to some free online tutorials and little of my own ingenuity, I was able to beautify my sewing surroundings all for only two bucks. Everything I made today was made from one old pillowcase and a little ribbon. I still would like to make a chocolate colored table cloth to go underneath all of my stuff, but that will have to wait until I can go shopping again. I think a chocolate colored table cloth would just make everything pop just right.
Anyhoo...first up is my pin cushion. I took an old starbucks coffee mug and hot glued some ribbon on it. It doesn't look as nice as I hoped it would, but better than my old red tomato. The best part is, my red tomato fits perfectly in the opening so all I had to do was cut some fabric, pin it around the tomato,, and shove it in the hole. Should I ever want differnt fabric, changing it should be a snap.
Then we have my thread case. It is full, and I will no doubt get more thread throughout the years, but I think it's nice to have my staples handy. This case was just clear plastic when I started. After a few stitches and some hot glue (one of mybest friends), I came up with this:
Then we have my sewing caddy. I had a pattern for this, but wasn't in the mood to read difficult instructions, so I just took off the dimensions from the pattern and winged the rest. I didn't have any batting on hand, but I did have some scraps of crocheted blankets which worked just as well. When not in use I slide it forward (little hands DO NOT need to be exploring this). When in use it hangs off the edge of the table so it's nice and handy with everything I use a lot.
Now put it all together including my new sewing machine cover (minus my chocolate table cloth) and you get this. Should've taken before pics but forgot, sorry. Anyhoo.....today was a fun day. Such easy projects and so much reward all in one day. Still can't believe I made all of this for two bucks. Go me!
Anyhoo...first up is my pin cushion. I took an old starbucks coffee mug and hot glued some ribbon on it. It doesn't look as nice as I hoped it would, but better than my old red tomato. The best part is, my red tomato fits perfectly in the opening so all I had to do was cut some fabric, pin it around the tomato,, and shove it in the hole. Should I ever want differnt fabric, changing it should be a snap.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Storing Ribbon
Green list
I got to thinking it would nice to make a list of things I've done these past couple of years to try to be more green. So here's my list so far:
1. Made homemade wipes to clean kid's faces in kitchen and double as cloth napkins too.
2. Use towels instead of paper towels. I haven't bought paper towels in.....a year?
3. Use cloth diapers and cloth wipes instead of sposies 98% of the time.
4. Use cloth grocery bags most grocery trips. I do occasionally opt for plastic so I can stock up. Those bags come in handy for throwing away daycare disposables.
5. We got thermal drapes for our windows to help cut down on energy costs.
6. We put up ceiling fans in every room to help cut down our use of the AC during summer months.
7. We layer up in clothes and turn the heat down to a cooler temp in colder months
8. I shower every other day (no I don't stink and when I do, I break this rule. Perhaps I can get away with this because I don't work out and get all sweaty everyday:) To be honest I prefer this because my skin doesn't dry out as badly.
9. OK this one is not for the squeamish, so go to number 10 if you tend to squirm. I made cloth sanitary napkins. I haven't bought disposables in over a year now and I love them.
10. We use water bottles 99% of the time. Cuts down on dishes, no waste with plastic bottles, LOVE THEM!
11. I started diluting liquid handsoap (2 tablespoons in dispenser and then fill with water) in my foaming handsoap dispensers. Now we have a big jug of it and it lasts FOREVER! Less waste there as we don't use as much soap and we aren't throwing away the dispensers anymore.
12. I use vinegar and water to clean most everything. I use Clorox Green to clean my toilets and bathrooms. No more harsh chemicals here.
13. I switched to a dishwashing soap that's supposed to be better for the environment, although so far I HATE it. Not sure if my problem is the soap or the extremely hard water we have here, the jury is still out.
14. I make my own laundry soap. Works great and EXTREMELY cheap. I think I've spent maybe 15 bucks total on supplies for it in the past 18 months and I still have enough to make one more batch.
15. I quit eating meat. I eat a lot of beans. I make up huge batches in my pressure cooker (uses less energy than running a crockpot all day). I buy big bags of them and then make up more batches as I need them and freeze them in ziplocks so they're nice and handy. Less waste this way as I don't have to throw away the cans that precooked comes in and I always wash my ziplocks and reuse.
16. I'm trying to make things I want instead of buying them if possible. Keeps me busy. It's fun, and I feel like it's less wasteful as I always try to use, if possible, what I have instead of buying new
Things I'd still like to do:
1. Get better at container gardening so I can make most of my own veggies.
2. Insulate our attic better to cut down on energy costs.
3. Get a fireplace in the basement to cut down on energy costs.
4. Figure out some way to have recycling bins so we can recycle plastic, metal, glass, etc. (Space is a problem here)
5. Make my own personal hygene soaps and lotions (start up costs here always detour me from doing this)
6. We plan on getting the windows on our house tinted professionally. We were told this cuts down on energy loss from the windows by as much as 80%.
7. Buy more things organic and buy meat (for the nonvegetarians) in my family locally. Money is an issue here.
8. Get a more gas efficient van. Do those even exist? (Well obviously money is an issue here too)
Well there you have it. A list of me trying to do my part and ambitions to aim for to continue making my dent on a the world a little less severe:)
1. Made homemade wipes to clean kid's faces in kitchen and double as cloth napkins too.
2. Use towels instead of paper towels. I haven't bought paper towels in.....a year?
3. Use cloth diapers and cloth wipes instead of sposies 98% of the time.
4. Use cloth grocery bags most grocery trips. I do occasionally opt for plastic so I can stock up. Those bags come in handy for throwing away daycare disposables.
5. We got thermal drapes for our windows to help cut down on energy costs.
6. We put up ceiling fans in every room to help cut down our use of the AC during summer months.
7. We layer up in clothes and turn the heat down to a cooler temp in colder months
8. I shower every other day (no I don't stink and when I do, I break this rule. Perhaps I can get away with this because I don't work out and get all sweaty everyday:) To be honest I prefer this because my skin doesn't dry out as badly.
9. OK this one is not for the squeamish, so go to number 10 if you tend to squirm. I made cloth sanitary napkins. I haven't bought disposables in over a year now and I love them.
10. We use water bottles 99% of the time. Cuts down on dishes, no waste with plastic bottles, LOVE THEM!
11. I started diluting liquid handsoap (2 tablespoons in dispenser and then fill with water) in my foaming handsoap dispensers. Now we have a big jug of it and it lasts FOREVER! Less waste there as we don't use as much soap and we aren't throwing away the dispensers anymore.
12. I use vinegar and water to clean most everything. I use Clorox Green to clean my toilets and bathrooms. No more harsh chemicals here.
13. I switched to a dishwashing soap that's supposed to be better for the environment, although so far I HATE it. Not sure if my problem is the soap or the extremely hard water we have here, the jury is still out.
14. I make my own laundry soap. Works great and EXTREMELY cheap. I think I've spent maybe 15 bucks total on supplies for it in the past 18 months and I still have enough to make one more batch.
15. I quit eating meat. I eat a lot of beans. I make up huge batches in my pressure cooker (uses less energy than running a crockpot all day). I buy big bags of them and then make up more batches as I need them and freeze them in ziplocks so they're nice and handy. Less waste this way as I don't have to throw away the cans that precooked comes in and I always wash my ziplocks and reuse.
16. I'm trying to make things I want instead of buying them if possible. Keeps me busy. It's fun, and I feel like it's less wasteful as I always try to use, if possible, what I have instead of buying new
Things I'd still like to do:
1. Get better at container gardening so I can make most of my own veggies.
2. Insulate our attic better to cut down on energy costs.
3. Get a fireplace in the basement to cut down on energy costs.
4. Figure out some way to have recycling bins so we can recycle plastic, metal, glass, etc. (Space is a problem here)
5. Make my own personal hygene soaps and lotions (start up costs here always detour me from doing this)
6. We plan on getting the windows on our house tinted professionally. We were told this cuts down on energy loss from the windows by as much as 80%.
7. Buy more things organic and buy meat (for the nonvegetarians) in my family locally. Money is an issue here.
8. Get a more gas efficient van. Do those even exist? (Well obviously money is an issue here too)
Well there you have it. A list of me trying to do my part and ambitions to aim for to continue making my dent on a the world a little less severe:)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Introducing (drumroll) POLLY!
I finished my first doll. She just really looked like a Polly so that is what I will call her, unless Bren decides to name her something different, of course. I made her two outfits. I do think I may still add some velcro to the inside of her hair pieces so they stay on better when the kids play with her. I also may swap out the straps on the overhauls for something more sturdy (I don't think the thin felt straps are going to hold up very good). Other than that, I'm pleased with the way she turned out. It was kind of nice to hand sew ( I did use the machine for two small things I confess), but for the most part it was all done by hand.
I think one of the reasons making this doll appealed to me is that it kind of reminded me of a paper doll, only a little more sophisticated. As you can see in one of the pictures, the tops are very easy to get on and off as they are open in the back. This was yet another reason this really appealed to me. Both girls are great at getting clothes off of barbies and baby dolls, but they can never get them back on. I'm hoping this doll's clothes alleviate that problem. Anyhoo...I will be starting her boy companion, Paul, very soon.
I think one of the reasons making this doll appealed to me is that it kind of reminded me of a paper doll, only a little more sophisticated. As you can see in one of the pictures, the tops are very easy to get on and off as they are open in the back. This was yet another reason this really appealed to me. Both girls are great at getting clothes off of barbies and baby dolls, but they can never get them back on. I'm hoping this doll's clothes alleviate that problem. Anyhoo...I will be starting her boy companion, Paul, very soon.
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