Don't Drop and Break Another Glass.

I finally figured this out after letting many a glass slip thru my fingers and breaking. Not only a mess of glass to clean up, but whatever was in the glass.  Sometimes it stained badly.

All you need to do is slip a rubber band around your glass.  It prevents your fingers from sliding down the glass.  A really easy fix.  I have not broken a glass in over 4 years since using this method.

I hope this is something that will work out for you.  Hugs, S 

Add Crisco or Peanut Butter to Cups Neatly and Cleanly

 I always dreaded cleaning up after making dough.  The measuring cup for the Crisco was always a greasy mess and hard to clean.  I have solved that problem by using clear wrap. Oh, yes, I tried using clear wrap by lining the measuring cup, but it was awkward and hard to get proportions correct.

I just place a blob of Crisco on a piece of clear wrap.  Make sure its large enuf to stick into your measuring cup.

With the weight of the first spoonsful of Crisco, you just place the blob into your measuring cup and presto, its going to be neat and clean.

Measure a couple of spoonsful of Crisco onto a large piece of clear wrap.

Place the wrap into your measuring cup.  Press your Crisco down into the wrap.  Now you can add more Crisco on top til you have the correct amount.

Top off the cup for the amount you need.  Now just slide out the clear wrap from your cup and plop the Crisco into your flour.  Nice and clean and easy to clean up afterwards.

I found that peanut butter works this same way. 

This idea made my day.  Enjoy.  Hugs, S 

My Touch-Screen Purse

 How do you handle having your cell phone nearby?  The ones made these days are larger than my old one and do not fit in all the pockets of my clothing.  Some are too small and the phone would fall out.  But I found the answer.

This is the perfect answer to having your phone with you at all times.  

At my age, I want one always by my side.  I had a smaller phone that fit in most of my pockets but these newer, larger phones that do everything but wash my dishes, they need something a bit larger.  I found the Touch-Screen Purse to be the answer to my prayers.

Its large enough that it holds my phone and there are slots for credit cards, driver's license, etc and you can put your grocery list in it as well.

You do not have to take it from the purse to use it.  Just touch or swipe the screen.  It works just fine.  I love mine and even wear it to bed.  It comes with an adjustable cord so you can shorten or lengthen it as desired. This way I can wear mine over my shoulder and under my arm.

 Now I feel safe all day long.  The only time I do not wear it is in the shower.  LOL.

This may be the answer for many of you that require having a phone near for health issues.

Its a Thumbs Up.

Helpful Covid Mask Information......

 Here is the latest regarding face masks and Covid.    I hope this is helpful to many.

Taking into account their study findings and the results of other studies, the Virginia Tech researchers recommended people wear a "three-layer mask consisting of two outer layers of a very flexible, tightly woven fabric and an inner layer consisting of a material designed to filter out particles," such as a "high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter."

The researchers also suggested that masks should be well-fitted and not have any gaps between fabric and the face. If all conditions are met, the study found that the mask's "overall efficiency would be greater than 90%."

Dr. Chris Beyrer, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, who was not affiliated with the new study, told TODAY that layers in a mask can contribute to its efficacy. "The layers do help, because they filter out the smaller aerosols," he said.

Should you wear two face masks to make them more effective?

It's important to make sure that your mask has enough layers of fabric to be effective, but some, including President-elect Joe Biden, have been seen wearing multiple masks at once. Experts say that this is an extra step that can help limit any "leakage" of air, but isn't necessary in most cases.

"For all the rest of us, a second mask may reduce 'leakage' and could be a reasonable thing to do, particularly for public-facing employees such as teachers, grocery cashiers and bus drivers," said Dr. Sten Vermund, dean of the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut, noting that medical professionals wearing fitted N95 masks should avoid adding an extra layer.

"There is no harm to dual masking unless someone were to have trouble breathing, but this is rare in mask use unless someone has prior respiratory limitations such as severe COPD."

Xmas Wall Hanging "OOPS!" is Finished

 Yes, I finished this latest wall hanging in the month of November.  I have done well.

"OOPS!" measures 15 1/2 inches by 17 inches wide.

I wanted to get this done so I could start a few more I have in mind.  One is a wreath, another is a bird on a branch, and maybe a penguin.  They await my pleasure.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving Day.  I had some family visit but only a few.  Everyone wore masks and did not stay long.  They had their own turkey to get in the oven.  It was a good day.

I wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season but stay safe and well.  

I Am Working On Another Wall Hanging

 This one is a reindeer with its antlers tangled in Christmas lights.  I think the title will just be "OOPS!"

In this photo its just tacked down but I was able to add some satin-stitching since then.  It should be finished this week so I will post the finished wall hanging soon.

Have a good day. 

"....And A Piece Of Cheese" WH is finished.

 I got my latest Wall Hanging finished today.

".....And A Piece of Cheese...." is finished and makes me smile.  Its 16 1/2" by 18 1/2 inches long.  It fits so nicely on my front door.

I think I will take the afternoon off from creativity and just rest.  I need the down time.

Have  a nice day.  S

"Not a Creature Was Stirring....." Wall Hanging is Finished.

 I am so happy today.  I got one of my latest wall hangings finished.

I just finished this one.  The title is "....Not A Creature Was Stirring...." as they wait for Santa Claus to come.  The mouse has his stocking hung up and the kitten is asleep.  A tiny fairy hovers near the mouse hole watching them.  This one measures 15" by 21" long and fits nicely on my door as a door hanging.

I have already thought of another wall hanging, this one Rudolf with a tangle of Christmas Lights in his antlers.  I will choose fabrics for that this week.  I will also finish my other mouse,  "......And a Piece of Cheese and...." with the mouse making out his Christmas list.

Have a nice day. 

  

Not A Creature Continues......

 I worked on my WH today, ".....Not A Creature Was Stirring..."

I worked on the satin-stitching today but more importantly, I chose a tiny fairy to add to my block.  I opted for a smaller child fairy.  Sorry, the pin is in the way on this photo, but I am too tired to take more pictures at this time and wanted to share.

I plan to shadow the mouse's hole and also add pink to the mouse's little ear.  The kitten is still not touched except for tacking it down in place.  This Wall Hanging which I make for my front door, should finish up around 15 inches by 17 inches unless I add some kind of narrow border.  Undecided on that decision yet.  

I also started my next Wall Hanging titled "....And a Piece of Cheese, and a..." of my little mouse making out his Christmas Wish List.

I am so happy that I have my sewing mojo back and my brain is thinking up so many ideas.  Too many, actually, but that's ok.  I will choose the ones I like best.

Have a good day.  Hugs, S 

Lest We Forget.....

 

For all of you, past and present, Thank You!

I Have Started "......Not A Creature Was Stirring" WH today

 Its a lovely day today.  Sunny and bright and nice out for Maine.  My windows are open for fresh air.  I am feeling in the mood to be creative so I started on my next wall hanging.

Its a beginning, and so far I have the Xmas mouse tacked down in his little hole   Its only a rough stitching to get the pieces in place.  The cat sleeping in her basket has not yet been started.  Probably will get to that tomorrow.   I like Xmas mice so this was inevitable.  

Have a good day.  S 

I Finished Another Wall Hanging, ELVES

 Today I finished my third Shadow Blocks quilted wall hanging.  This one was formerly named Toys, but each block has elves, so I renamed it.  It measures 17.5 inches by 30.5 inches long.

Here is "ELVES!"

  This is the third and last from this shadow block series and will go to my daughter for Christmas this year.  My son was given "JOY!" yesterday when he delivered my groceries for me.  He was pleased.

Now onward and upwards.  I have some Xmas mice projects that I have drawn and have been pulling some of the fabrics for those today.  I still am undecided on some of them.  Since its still early November, I still have time to get those finished.

Have a good day.  S 

I Finished 2 Xmas Shadow Wall Hangings Today, JOY and NOEL.

 I finished two of my ongoing Xmas wall hangings today.

This I have retitled "JOY" from Stocking.  It seems more appropriate.  This one measures 15 inches across and 32 inches long.

This is still named "NOEL."  It measures 15 inches across and 30 inches long.  They are so fitting for doors. 

I have one more to finish of these shadow-style projects, the one with the toys in each block, titled "TOYS.".  Maybe I can finish it tomorrow.  We shall see.  I have chores to do today and tomorrow morning so I may not get back to sewing again for a day or so.  Its OK, though, since I am ahead on my projects this year.

Have a good day.  S 

Working on Xmas Door Hanging 'Noel" Today

 I quilted the door hanging.  I just need to add binding all around and my label on the back.  It should measure about 15" by 29" when finished.

I also cut the batting and backing for two others and will get those quilted soon.

Here's "Noel" at this point.  Just needing the binding added and the label and it will be finished.  I think I can safely say that this week it will be ready.

Luckily for now its not yet Thanksgiving so right now my Thanksgiving wall hangings and welcome mat are up for this month.  I still have time to do a few more wall hangings before the Xmas Season.

Have a good day.  S

I Discovered A New Pinning Aid for Quilt Projects

 I have been reorganizing my craft corners and containers to make things easier to find.  Also to weed out things I no longer use and give them to my granddaughter who is crafty.

I needed to layer and pin a door hanging together but lo and behold, I could not find my box of quilt pins.  Finally after some re-organizing I found it.  But to my dismay, the little gadget that you use to hike up your pinpoint so you can close the safety pin was not in it.  What to do.  I needed to layer and pin a few Xmas door hangings I have ready to go.

I found the answer.  The backside of a teaspoon works wonders.

When you bring up the tip of the pin, you place the backside of the narrow end of a spoon against it and you can shove it closed.

Yup, I was able to get this door hanging pinned without getting nicks and holes in my fingertips.

I tossed that teaspoon right in my pin box so I can use it in the future.  Maybe, with luck, my gadget will show up soon.  I still have some boxes to go thru before my task is complete.  If not and its truly lost, I am happy using my teaspoon.

I hope this helps some of my fellow sewers who may be getting tired of sticking pins in their fingertips while pinning something together.

Have a good day.  S

I Worked On My Shadow Panel Trio Today

 Would you believe I haven't touched these since 2017 and packed them away after finishing the appliqued shadow panels.  It was originally going to be a quilt but since I already had it sewn in strips and I no longer tackle quilts on my sewing machine, I thought of a better use for them.  Today I worked on borders.  Got those all done.

I call this simply "Gifts' as a working title because of the gifts in the bottom block.  This will be a table runner I think.

This working title is "Noel" for the bottom banner.  A door hanging would work out fine.

This is 'Stocking" again so named because of the bottom block.  Another door hanging in the making.

Next step is layering and pinning and quilting, then adding the binding.  That will take a bit of doing.  First, though, I have to remove the stay stitches I have in some of the blocks.  I needed those to hold the layers together for the shadow effect.  I can do that while I sit and watch some TV easy enough.  The next steps take more effort and will take a few days to manage.

Its been a nice sunny day so my sewing mojo was back in force.  I also did so sketching for other Xmas wall hangings. 

Here's my latest sketch..... "...And A Piece of Cheese and...." 

I hope you are all having a good day.  Hugs, S

Today I Am Just Drawing

 Today is a lazy day for me.  Its dreary and rainy outdoors as it has been for the 2nd day.  I get a touch of SAD on days like this so the creative juices are hard to flow.  Instead of sewing today, I thought I would draw some ideas.

This is one that came from a coloring page online so I just sketched it out and then redrew it larger on this paper for my next project.  Title: "Twas The Night Before Christmas."

The following idea also comes from a coloring page.  You can get lots of ideas from those pages online.  I do not have a printer so I have to draw them by hand the best I can on 8 1/2 by 11" paper and then resize them by hand when it comes to the project I want to make.  I have several ideas on paper in my pattern box and enjoy adding more to them.

 I love Penguins, so I wanted another one but as yet I have no idea what other items I will add to this project.

I think Penguins are ideal for Christmas Time subjects. I may add another animal for Xmas or maybe an ice floe with a tree on it.  Who knows what I will get into my head for this one.

I made this one in 2017, a penguin delivering Christmas gifts.

This is Penguilly Penguin bringing gifts to friends.  Christmas is a fun Holiday for quilting projects.  I think I feel another idea coming on.......

Have a good day.  S 

Halloween's Door Hanging "Yikes, Its a Pumpkin!" Done and Done

 I finished this in time for Halloween this year and I am very happy.  It measures 12 1/2 inches wide by 14 inches long.  

He's finished and hanging outside my door, my latest quilting project, "Yikes, Its a Pumpkin!".  I am very pleased with him.  Now I have other things waiting.  I'm thinking a Christmas Mouse that is making out his Christmas Wish List.  I am also thinking maybe something other than gray or brown for my mouse. Something more festive.  I have to look in my stash of fabrics to get the right idea.  That project may get started tomorrow.

I am feeling pretty good and sometimes I have to push myself a bit, but I get things accomplished.  I have really missed being creative so I'm happy to have my sewing mojo back.

Have a nice day friends.  Hugs, S

More Stitching Done Today

 I was able to work on some leading on a stained glass piece I started 2 years ago, while our maintenance guy was here to remove my A/C unit until next spring.

It needs a bit of pressing, but as you can see, I have added some leading lines along the outside edge.

This one, "Yikes, Its a Pumpkin!" is smaller and will finish about 12 1/2 inches wide by 14 inches long, a good size for my door when its finished.  I have managed to add borders, layer and pin the piece today.  Next up is quilting it, which I hope to do tomorrow.  Little by little I am getting there.

Have a good day.

Progress on "Yikes its a Pumpkin!"

 I worked on my latest door hanging today.  I have satin-stitched the piece.

Its at a good resting point for now.  I see a couple of spots that need some extra tweaking but that will have to wait.

Right now I have to eat some lunch, then there's some chicken and veggies to bake and then even later some Chicken Rice soup to make to share with family tomorrow.

Tomorrow, if I have time after my son's visit, I will probably get to cut it to size, add batting, and quilt it.  Then the last phase will be to add the borders and finish it.

Its been a fun project and it nice to get my sewing mojo back.  With the Holidays coming, there are some other projects I hope to finish. 

A Halloween Door Hanging Idea Takes Shape

 I actually had this idea last year and made a rough drawing.  I thought it would work well on my door for this Halloween so I took it out of hiding and am working on it.  Its a combination of things I love......Ghosts, Pumpkins, and Birch Trees. 

I call it "Yikes, Its A Pumpkin!" where the ghost is frightened when he sees a pumpkin and jumps into a birch tree, hanging on for all he's worth.

Here's the sketch.

Here's the start with the birch trees against the background fabrics.

This is known as Replique.   Its sewing with an upside down method of applique.  You draw the picture, place your backing right side up on the backside of the drawing and sew down the pieces with a close stitch.  Then you will satin-stitch all the items you've added over those first sewing lines.

There's not much time until Halloween this year so I need to work on it daily until its finished.  I really enjoy working in Replique as you can see from these photos of other projects I've done in the past......

The blue butterfly I made in 2017.

I made this for Easter in 2018.

and this one I made for Xmas for 2017. 

This was my first Replique project in 2015 and it won a blue ribbon in the applique section in Texas.  From that moment on I have loved the method.  Oh, not because of the blue ribbon, but because it was such fun to do.

Yes, its a fun way to make wall hangings and door hangings.  I love the outlining in black satin stitching which makes the subjects stand out.

I am enjoying this project.  I hope to have it done by the beginning on next week.

Hugs to all.  

Hexagon Coasters in Photo Instructions......

 I made a couple sets of hexagon Xmas coasters for gifts.  This time I took photos along the way.  Here are the instructions.

Supplies Needed:

Fabric with subjects you can cut out and fit inside 3 1/2" hexagon.

Background fabric to suit

Batting or flannel for sturdiness

Adhesive fusible to glue the subject to the background bits.

Hexagon ruler that cuts different sizes for ease in making the patterns

A Pencil for tracing

Teflon ironing sheet to keep from gumming up your iron when you press

Here are the two sets of coasters I made while photographing the process.

Here is the hexagon ruler I used.  I place it over the subject I want to cut out.

Measure the subject from flat edge to flat edge and draw the hexagon around it.

See the pencil lines.  Now cut out the subject just a bit outside the drawn lines.  You want to leave a bit of fabric that you can cut off when you have the fusible in place so you get a smoother edge.  Set these aside for later.

You need to do the same for the background edges but this time you need to place your fabrics right sides together before you draw the lines and then you cut out again, just outside the drawn lines.  You will need batting or flannel inside these coasters for body.  You do not want anything fluffy.  You want something smooth and flat.

Cut a slit in the top one about 2 inches long for turning your piece after its sewn. Layer your fabrics on top of a larger bit of batting or flannel.

Sew along the drawn lines all around thru all 3 pieces, the 2 fabrics and 1 batting/or flannel piece.. 

Cut around the pieces trimming away the excess batting/flannel.

Turn your piece right side out thru the slit you made earlier.

Using a point turner of some kind push the fabric out smoothly and get into those points.  I do not trim the points away before hand like many do.  I find that I get smoother points without taking that step.

Press the background flat and smooth so the slit is no longer showing.  You want a smooth surface on which to place your main subject fabric. The main subject fabric will cover the slit.

The next step is doing the fusibles.  I used SteamASeam 2 for this project.  Whatever fusible you use, be sure to read the instructions on how to do it.  I placed my cutouts on the sticky side of my fusible and pressed with my fingers to just hold it in place.

Use a Teflon sheet for this next step or you could ruin your ironing board and your iron.  Press with your iron on the Teflon sheet over the subject pieces onto the fusible for about 3 seconds, just enough to get it to stick.  You can see some of the sticky stuff on the Teflon sheet.  Its easily removed from the Teflon, but not from your ironing board or iron.

Should you get any gummy residue on your iron, you can clean it off after it cools using a wet rag and table salt.  Just pour salt on the rag and rub it over and over the iron's plate until its cleaned off.  The salt is abrasive enough to remove the gummy residue.

Now you can cut out your main subject directly on the drawn lines to get a smooth edge.

Use the point of a common pin or needle to scratch a strip on the fusible from about an inch inside the edge to the edge.

Just lift one edge and then pull the fusible gently away from the back of your subject fabric.  It will be a bit sticky.

Align your main fabric on the background piece and center it, then press it down a bit with your fingers.

When its aligned how you want it, again using your Teflon sheet, press the top piece onto the background piece for about 10 seconds to adhere nicely.

To keep your main subject piece from falling off, you need to stitch it down.  Use whatever suits you.  I used a blanket stitch but you can use a blind hem stitch or even a decorative stitch of your choosing.

Here are my finished sets of coasters.  The top coasters I stitched with a blanket stitch set with a 3 length.  The bottom coasters are set with a 4 length.  You can adjust your stitches any way you like.  Its your project.

I just pressed them when I was done and they are ready for gifts for others.

I hope these instructions are clear and you have a good time making these little gifts for any time during the year and for any Holiday.  They are cute and simple to make.

Enjoy.

If you do not have any fusibles handy, you can do the same with a little tweaking.

When you draw your main subject, make sure you cut about a quarter inch beyond the drawn lines.  When it comes to setting the subject on your background, you can just press under the quarter inch of excess by turning it under on the drawn lines and pressing with your iron to give you a smooth sewing edge.  Center it where you want it.  Pin in place and stitch in place.  You can use your machine or you can do it by hand.  A blanket stitch by hand with embroidery floss is always nice.

Sometimes it feels good to just do some hand stitching while watching TV or waiting in the Doctor's office for your appointment or while waiting for your kids after dance class or sports.

Whatever pleases you, just enjoy the process.