Isn’t this a lovely way to store food? I may have to create a place for this! This amazing design was found on Ana White’s website. She offers all kinds of plans for home projects and furniture – lots of free ones too! You can search by skill level, room, even materials cost. This sweet little tent was a freebie plan that I found. What are you gonna make?
I am very excited about the addition to my extra-tiny backyard. It is a retractable clothesline. I love the idea of clothes drying in the sun and breeze. Plus, saving money by not using the dryer can’t hurt. It is just starting to be warm enough here to hang the clothes outside. However, if it is still too cold where you live you can save money another way…
These felted dryer balls keep your clothes moving around better in the dryer and will save you money. You can also put a drop or two of lavender on the balls and make your clothes smell really pretty. There is a great tutorial on One Good Thing by Jillee to make your own dryer balls. It only requires one skein of yarn that you can get at JoAnn’s. This is on my list to create when it is too cold to dry outside.
We have finally gotten all of the parts of Malcolm’s workspace put together. There may be a few more tweaks but it is good to go for creating. The desk is a little table from a garage sale that Jeff refinished and we added little shelves above and a set of plastic drawers full of crayons, markers, pencils, etc. We even went to the dollar store to get a new trash can. After it was all put together he got out his book on drawing military vehicles and we put a aircraft carrier video from Netflix on his Kindle (won by selling tons of Cub Scout popcorn) and he went to work. Here is the finished product:
He started with a carrier but then added planes coming in, a dock for the carrier, an awards viewing stand and a place for the carrier to park after all this was done. I don’t think he could get his ideas on the page fast enough. He probably sat and drew for an hour and a half. It was wonderful to witness.
We have an issue in our house with nosebleeds. I know, kinda gross, but Malcolm gets them every time it gets really dry. As soon as it happens we try to dry it up and then put a little bag of ice on the bridge of his nose to try to keep it from continuing. It is wet and messy and uncomfortable for him to try to go back to bed with that on his face (yes, it almost always happens in the middle of the night) but we do it because it helps. I was looking through Pinterest the other night and came across these hot and cold bags from Bee in My Bonnet. Se uses them for handwarmers but I knew they were perfect for Malcolm. So I took her basic idea and put my own twist on it. I couldn’t just create bags with one fabric so I freehand pieced (nothing was measured, I just cut about the right shape and sewed them together) knowing that they could be squared up later.
I used a really cute bug fabric called Beetle Boy which, unfortunately, is no longer available, a cute colorful stripe, and an orangey linen that was a skirt purchased at Goodwill because I liked the fabric. You can see how simple the piecing is – just cut and sew.
The next step is some kind of very thin batting to keep the bag soft. I got a little carried away and used wool felt on both sides. It turned out to be too thick. I would recommend flannel. It is much thinner.
I am usually not much of a pinner but for this project, with layers and fabric with nap, I highly recommend it. So pin layers together and stitch all the way around leaving an opening to turn bag inside out.
The next step is filling the bag with rice. I set the bag on end and scooped it in or you can use a funnel. I filled the bag up about halfway so that when it is flat it will mold to Malcolm’s face easily.
I could have just stitched the end closed but I decided to add one more bit of striped fabric over the end. You can do either. And now… the finished product:
The finished size is about 4 inches x 7 inches and it is already in the freezer for the next time we will need it.
I am so disappointed in the pictures. I am really trying to use more of the manual features on my camera and understand all of it but I am not there yet.
While I was making Malcolm’s Hot/Cold Bag I decided that I could use a warm cozy bag for my neck while I work and watch TV so this is what i came up with for me. It is approximately in x in and is really comfy! I made it the same way but I used flannel on the inside and the pink on the outside is corduroy since I want this only for warm. Finished size of this one is about 4 inches x 16 inches. If you try one I would love to see a pic!
I have owned a Canon Eos Rebel for several years now. In fact, it is really getting obsolete but I love it. Unfortunately I have never truly learned how to make adjustments. It was just so easy to point and shoot! It takes great pictures in the default settings.
I finally decided it was time to start working on taking better pics so I have been perusing the web and Pinterest and have found a few great guides. A great one for getting moving ASAP is this Kickstart Guide from PhotoTuts. It is easy to understand with pictures of the screens and buttons/dials you may have on your camera. The photos pictured show the difference achieved in depth of field. Thanks to Jeffrey Kontur for creating this great help!
(See Table Spruce-up #1 here.) Once again, I am enamored with the latest blog project from the Purl Bee from PurlSoho.com. There simple, yet elegant designs are something I am very drawn to. Also, because they are simple, most of these projects are not things that take forever. Another plus! If you need something new and different for your everyday or holiday table try these. They are now on my list!
We have been doing some decorating around the house and my goal is to get everything done before the holidays. One of the things I thought was lacking in the dining room was a little more color. The curtains are not yet done but I know which fabric I’m going to use so I figured that a table runner was a quick project I could do. I love crossing things off my list. Don’t you? 
I am a freestyle quilter so I just cut some different widths of the main fabric and some thin strips of the gold contrast fabric. No measuring just sew as I go.
And that is what I did. I just started putting pieces together in a sort of random order. I made the width about 14 inches so that I could leave the edges uneven and then come back later and trim.
I just kept adding pieces until it was long enough. I was really mathematical – I laid it on the table until it was long enough. See, freestyle!
As soon as it was long enough, I layered the top,some cotton batting, and the contrast fabric backing and stitched around the edges. Leaving a hole to turn the runner. Pressing the edges is next and then a row of top-stitching around the edge to keep everything nice and flat. Easy and colorful. What do you have on your table?
These lovely little baskets are created with packing twine! So beautiful and utilitarian – a perfect combination. This lovely blog is written in German but can be translated easily with Google Translate. Find the tutorial here on Les Tissus Colbert.
I have been away from my little virtual home for a while and have so much to catch up on. I want to start with these sweet little cups. I went to the Southside Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning and found several wonderful ceramics and lovely jewelry offered by Bea’s Market. Bea is at the Farmer’s Market most Saturdays and is very sweet and talented. Her work is very earthy and natural which is right up my alley. See you there on Saturday bright and early at 9:00 am!
Dana Persels is a wonderful artist and poet. (See some of her poetry here.) I am so proud to have some of her hands, hearts, and (very soon) crosses in The Studio. These lovely ornaments would make great gifts for friends, teachers, pastors, etc. Let that important person in your life know that you are thinking of them.
Hi, I’m Susan and this is Malcolm.
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