Goodbye Summer

Summer is coming to a close. Well, sort of. School has started and the neighborhood pool is closing, but we are still having ninety degree days here in South Carolina. With the closing of the pool imminent, we wanted to make sure we could get to the pool one last time and savor it as much as we could. In fact, we have been to the pool three times recently and each time I thought it would be our last chance to swim for the Summer. The forecast improved one time, and then we found out the pool would stay open one more week than we thought it would. But each of our three last times, I made a point to enjoy it and stay as long as we could. It is going to be about nine months before we can swim again. And I realized that because I had made a point to enjoy it, I really did appreciate it more.

Things are more precious when we know they are going to end.

Shouldn't we live every day like we know it is going to end? Enjoying things to the fullest, choosing to be happy? One day we will look back. And I hope that we remember that we did great things and had wonderful fun and did not sweat the small stuff. Some day my kids will be bigger and I will wish that I had played with them more.

I was going to mention, as part of my "saving money" theme, that when you don't buy stuff as often, that it is more enjoyable when you do. Scarcity being what makes things special. But I will just leave it at that.

Goodbye Summer.

Of course, I am excited about Fall.

Dyeing on the train tracks.

Did you know that you can use fabric dye on wood? I thought my sons' train tracks would be a little more fun if they were blue instead unstained wood color. You can dye any wood that is small enough to fit into your largest pot. It doesn't take as long to dye wood as it does to dye fabric. (I'm not very good at dyeing fabric). And dye is cheaper than stain.

Just stir it in the pot for a few minutes, fish it out with stainless steel tongs, rinse it in water, and dry it on paper towels.

Dye doesn't affect the plastic parts.

When you paint or stain, you have to do one side, let it dry, do another coat, let it dry, flip it over, repeat, repeat, make sure you don't get any paint or stain on the plastic. With dye, you can do ten at one time and you're done.

It's too bad I didn't have a pot big enough for this.

Look at that adorable chubby hand! Is it just me, or does Thomas look a little creepy?

I'd like to try dying wood for this project. Except I would use something larger than coffee stirrers. Something about the size of paint stirrers, but not paint stirrers, because I don't think the paint people would appreciate me absconding with that many paint stirrers when I don't have paint stirring in mind. Anyway, as I've mentioned, there's a better way to stir paint.

Bunting!

Ready to celebrate Memorial Day! (You don't mind this was three months ago, right?)

 I love bunting. I read a long time ago in Better Homes and Garden magazine that you can get the kind of plastic lined fabric that is made for outdoor tablecloths, cut triangles, and sew it to a line of fabric without even having to sew the edges. That is a great idea, but my fabric store only had that plastic fabric in two ugly colors. So I had to use regular cotton. Since I like things to be different, (and easy) I made some rectangle bunting instead of the usual triangle bunting. This is easier because you just fold a rectangle in half and sew up the sides.

Do you know about assembly line sewing? When you finish sewing down one side of your fabric, instead of pulling it out, cutting the thread and putting the next piece in to sew, you just leave a small space without pulling the fabric out, or cutting the thread, and start sewing the next piece. Do one side of every piece, then do the other side. They will all be hooked together like a ladder. Just cut the thread between each one when you're done. This will save a lot of time on this sort of project.

Here's a good example of assembly line sewing:

Just kidding. Here it is:

I sewed the top with half inch wide double fold bias tape. So much easier than cutting thin strips of fabric and ironing it and sewing it together.

I changed it up by making some wide and some skinny.

Then my friend was having a baby and I wanted to make something special, so I tried the triangle bunting. I cut out a piece of cardboard in the shape I wanted so they would all be the same.

I laid this out to figure out which color I wanted in what order with what color letter.

Some of you may have fancy machines that cut out letters, but since I don't have that, I printed out some letters in the font I wanted. I carefully cut the paper letters out, pinned them on to the fabric, and then cut the fabric. I'm not gonna lie, that took a while. But I really like making things. If I wasn't spending my time cutting out letters, I would have been spending useless time on Facebook. 

I ironed on the letters with fusible webbing and then sewed them on applique style before I sewed the triangle halves together. Sew the bottom two sides of the triangles (right sides together) and cut off the point at the bottom so the extra fabric isn't bunched up inside.  Turn it inside out and use a knitting needle to poke it out extra pointy. Iron it and sew around the edge for a more professional look. Sew the top to some double fold bias tape. Make sure you leave enough room on the end in order to hang it up.

We had the baby shower at my house, so we hung it up as a decoration and a present, which is not the usual way of doing things. But I don't feel bound by tradition.

I'm pretty sure I put those toys away before the shower started.

Here's a funny picture of my two year old for no reason.

How to organize your thread

Not too long ago, my craft room was covered with plastic drawers full of yarn, fabric, batteries, paint, coloring books, and all kinds of craft supplies. I had my eye out at the yard sales for a big solid wood cabinet with lots of drawers. Eventually, I'm sure I would have found just the right piece of vintage furniture, but we ended up buying something new and very heavy. It was my anniversary present. We had to ask the neighbor to come over to help us get it out of the van. Thanks, neighbor!

When we got rid of the plastic drawers, I wanted a pretty way to get organized. So I found a thrift store frame. You might have a good one in your closet. It was a pink frame, and obviously we can't have pink frames hanging about, so I spray painted it. I found two and a half inch finishing nails. Husband told me they were called finishing nails. It means they have a very small head and you can easily fit your thread on it. Depending on what the back of your frame is made out of, you might need to add a piece of cardboard, or a thin piece of wood. I got a pretty piece of scrap-booking paper that it turns out, you can hardly see, and then I hammered the nails on top of it one and half inches apart. I didn't need a large frame since I don't have that much thread. Each spool takes up about two and a half inches square, so you can figure out how big a frame you need.

This would look prettier if all my thread was the same size and shape.

I put all of my tiny spools in a jar.

What kind of fictional character would your name represent?

I've noticed more and more in my reading that character's last names often correspond to the type of person they are or the role they play.  This probably happens more in kids books, which is what I usually prefer to read. For example, in the Forgotten Garden (a great book) Mrs. Swindell steals from children and Miss Makepeace attempts to play the role of a peacemaker. So I got to thinking, what if our last names indicated the kind of people we are? With a name like Wood, what would I be? Wooden-headed? A wood worker? Perhaps a mysterious maiden who lives in the wood. Maybe someone who would do anything, as in: Charlotte Would. Take my maiden name, Paris. I think a character with that name would probably be stylish, but maybe promiscuous, which is not what I would want my character to be. In case you were wondering.

So I went through my facebook friends, and if they/you had a name that evoked a quality, I wrote about what sort of character they/you would be in a book. (I'm not saying this is what you are, just what a character with your name would be).

Mr. Abraham - An old man with biblical wisdom.
Mrs. Bell - A musical friend (which is true).
Mrs. Beman - A second-rate friend (which is untrue).
Mrs. Sotelo  - With a name like Sotelo, you'd be a gossipy lady in my book, which doesn't fit you at all.
Mrs. Boozer - You know what character you would play. :)
Mr. Clapper - A yes-man, perhaps, or maybe someone who is encouraging and cheerful.
Mr. Conner and Mr. Connors - the con men.
Mrs. Cravens - Would be someone who is never satisfied.
Mr. and Mrs. Crews - Would either be characters who don't take anything seriously (just cruisin') or would be militaristic in their organization and discipline.
Mrs. Crossley - You would be thwarting the hero at every corner.
Miss Daly - A reporter, perhaps.
Mr. Dupin - Always fooling people.
Mr. Fawcett - Would never stop talking.
Mrs. Fender - Would be the great defender. Or the great offender. :)
Mrs. Finley - Someone with attention to detail.
Miss Gallman - Impudent bad guy.
Mrs. Goshorn - Would have to dramatically sell all of her hair in order to survive.
Mrs. Goodyear - Would bring wonderful things to the story.
Mrs. Hite - A rock climber, or someone who thinks herself above everyone else.
Mrs. and Miss Hunter - Searching for something.
Mrs. Jarchow - Would be a gluttonous bad guy.
Ms. Joy - Would bring joy.
Ms. Key - Would be the answer to the mystery, but you wouldn't find out until the end.
Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood - Would try to keep Ms. Key from discovering her secret.
Mrs. Love - The heroin who falls in love with and marries the hero.
Mrs. Luckie  - Miss Luckie would be a kind friend.
Mr. Lynch - Obviously a bad guy.
Mrs. Markey and Mr. Marks - Might be marked for an early demise.
Mrs. Marsh - Mrs. Marsh would be a simple woman, living off the land.
Mrs. Maxwell - The mean rich lady. Or the generous rich lady.
The Family McBride - Would end up getting married, but you couldn't be sure that he/she would until the last chapter.
Mrs. McCann - Can do anything.
Mr. and Mrs. Moody - I suppose they would be moody.
Mr. Mounts - Tends the horses.
Mr. Noble - The noble hero.
The Family Paris - I already mentioned that you would be stylish and possibly promiscuous.
Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes - You have a long journey to make.
Mr. Peacock - Would think too highly of yourself.
The Family Pope - Would be evil papists.
The Family Pugh - What can I say? You would have to be a bad guy that smells bad. But in real life, you all smell very nice.
Mr. and Mrs. Purtle - Would be slow.
The two unrelated Quinns - Would be writers, because I am reminded of quills.
Miss Ransom - Would be the kidnapper.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray - Would bring sunshine. Good thing you aren't a Pugh anymore. :)
Mr. and Mrs. Read - Would be the smart professors.
Mr. Reuter - The plumber?
Miss Riggles - Either a two year old or a dancer.
Mrs. Snow - The winter queen.
Miss South - The exotic beauty.
Mrs. Strange - Would be a shadowy character of mystery.
Mr. Stump - A pirate!
Miss Summers - Another exotic beauty.
Mr. Swales - Drinks too much.
Mr. and Mrs. Toothman - either a dentist, or a bad guy with ugly teeth.
Mr. Waddell - Short and fat and frantically waddling.
Mr. and Mrs. Walker - Never give up.
Mrs. Weeks - has to wait for something.
Mrs. Wellman and Mrs. Wells - Doctors maybe?
Mr. and Mrs. Westa - Pioneers.
Mrs. White - A pure character. Although, in China, white is the color of death, so maybe a character who gets killed off.
The Family Wiles - Characters employing the wiles of the devil. :)
Mrs. Witcher - a bewitcher.

Your names have inspired some interesting characters! Maybe I will get started on writing that book.

Reusable Containers

Do you ever buy these things? I like to keep these sorts of containers on hand in case I am sending some food home with someone. Then I don't have to worry about getting the container back from them. Although, if it was this container, at least they would know it was mine.

But I don't buy these Take Alongs. I noticed the sandwich meat I usually buy comes in same kind of containers! Walmart brand has the same kind. I guess I forgot to take a picture. So I wash them and keep them.

I like to keep some glass jars on hand too. They're good for sending soup or some other hot food home with someone. Sometimes you need a small container for paint.  That's what I'm keeping those small bowls for.

Sometimes you need something to organize your craft supplies.

Sometimes you need something for your home-made cappuccino.

You know I'm a big fan of most things Walmart brand, but I recently bought this more expensive spaghetti sauce, because I like that little Atlas jar. I'll put something pretty in it.

I think it's great to reuse stuff when you can. But don't go overboard. If you have a lot of plastic grocery bags, you can just recycle those. You don't have to crochet a grocery bag purse. Although, I suppose you could do that. Just make sure it's a pretty one.

How have you reused containers?

Sewing mistakes

I have made many mistakes while sewing.   It may be that the only way to avoid these mistakes is to make them yourself, and then learn from them. But in case you can learn from my mistakes, here are some of the blunders I have made.

Meet my friend, Seam Ripper.

1. Sewing the top of a pocket closed. I made a lot of aprons for Christmas one year, and I definitely sewed a pocket closed.  On this subject, I hate it when they sew pants pockets closed. If I had wanted pants without pockets I would have bought them that way.

2. Letting fabric get folded and sewed. I am happily sewing along, full speed, when out of nowhere, from underneath the fabric something gets folded up and sewn in.

Where'd you come from, little guy?

3. Sewing the wrong sides together, instead of the right sides.

 

4. Sewing one right side and one wrong side together.

5. Running out of bobbin thread and not noticing. This usually happens when you are sewing something complicated, and it often takes about two feet of fabric before I notice.

Have you made any good mistakes?