A FUN LITTLE CHALLENGE-CREATING FROM SCRAPS-MORE WINNERS

Back to the "Box of Scraps" challenge issued by Sissie's Sewing on Facebook in which entrants received scraps in the amount that fit into a box the size of a vhs tape. 

Yesterday's post featured the third place winner, Sammantha, who made so many pieces from such a small amount of fabric, I couldn't leave out any one of them. I thought what she accomplished was tremendous. 

In fact, after looking at the photos of her entry, instead of throwing away some scrap [and I do mean scrap] fleece left from making great granddaughters gowns and matching doll gowns as I had intended, I serged some larger fleece pieces and stuffed them with the scraps to make our tiny chihuahua puppy some thick pads for her box and she is loving them. Now I know these are no where near as inventive as Sammantha's creations but I did use up some scraps instead of garbaging them. Way to go me.

OK-Let's get on to more winners

Second place winner was Leann, who made picture frames from her scraps. I couldn't tell how big they were so contacted her and she said they were 8"x10". I was particularly drawn to them because Leann used some Native American prints that she had received. She also told me that this is the first challenge she had participated in and was anxiously waiting for the next one. She went on to say she had been wanting to make picture frames and this was the time. Maybe some time she would like to share the process with us.

  

The first place winner was Judy whose entry was a lace covered box. Additionally, Judy created a floral and a pin cushion that look as though they could be used as decor on a multitude of things including the box. They might be given to a Grandmother or favorite aunt to be worn as a corsage or on a Christmas tree. I think I will ask Judy if she would mind sharing her ideas also. Her use of the lace and the florals I thought were very Victorian looking. There was something for everyone in this challenge and so many different perspectives, even if the scraps received were not to the taste usually used.

  

Congratulations to Leann and Judy. Love your designs. Want to try them. I know your ideas will help others, too.

Will post the grand prize winner  soon along with some of the other designs submitted. This challenge by Sissie's Sewing sure got the creative juices going. So much diversity. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with next.

Happy crafting all and God bless you,

Carolyn Wainscott

A FUN LITTLE CHALLENGE-CREATING FROM SCRAPS

It is hard for me to realize that it has been almost 3 months since I saw  the "Box of Scraps" challenge issued by Sissy's Sewing on Facebook. It was a interesting concept-take some scraps, put them in the smallest USPS box, about the size of a vhs video, and send them to a fellow contestant whose name was given by the coordinator. It just sounded like a neat thing to do, and it was. I still can't get over looking forward to receiving a box of scraps when I have plenty of fabric-pretty fabric, nice fabric. Oh, well, we fabriholics are a weird lot, aren't we?

There were few guidelines-add no more than 1/2 yard of your own fabric to the scraps received and embellish to your hearts' content using whatever craft mode you wish:sewing, decoupage, quilting, etc

.  

Sissy was diligent to keep up with all of us entrants, to check and be sure we had sent out our scraps and then that we had all received them. We were reminded to think of the recipient, that we included all sizes of scraps-in other words-be fair, don't send itsy, bitsy strings, remember the Golden Rule [although not put in those words].

The deadline to have our photos in was December 14 and were posted on Facebook so we could all vote for our favorite. There were a lot of different projects from picture frames, to totes, to aprons, etc.-so much creativity.

The third place winner is Sammantha who created several items from the scraps she received.
I don't know which fabric Sammantha added or if she even added any. I really like the little lined apron [would like to have the pattern] she made with coordinating Christmas fabrics which she went on to use in other items here.

                          She went on to make a hat band and head band that matches a little skirt and              purse below.

Then there is this cute plaid skirt with pink lace that any little girl would be happy to wear. I wish I had thought to do this.

Another cap with roll up brim that again will match the skirt with rick rack above-I mean Sammantha was very diligent. There couldn't be more than a string left from the fabrics she received.

Another plaid skirt with matching hairband with bow-I mean, look what can be done with small pieces of fabric.

                                                A Christmas stocking from fabric as in the apron.

                                                            A small quilt maybe for a doll.

And an adorable skirt with ruffle and lace. How industrious can anyone be? I surely wasn't.

I think Sissy's Sewing has set into motion a new mind set of using up all that we can instead of running out and purchasing new fabric everytime we want to create something. How great to take a little and make a lot. I mean, really, 3 little girl's skirts, a Christmas stocking, an apron and a little quilt from scraps that fit into a box the size of a vhs tape.

 

I'm lovin' it. I'm waiting to see what the next idea she comes up with. I'll share the other winners shortly.

 

God bless you, Happy sewing and great job, Sammantha.

My Fancy Victorian Christmas Stocking Pattern

For some time now, as with a lot of things, I have intended on making some really fancy Christmas stockings. Even drew up some a couple of years ago and lo and behold, I found those drawings several weeks ago along with some other sketches.

Guess what? I finally, actually, got some done along with projects from sketches that were with the stocking drawings. I plan to post those also. I am on a roll. Wow! I really think the end is near.

The actual fun part is coordinating the fabrics and trims-matching what goes with what-does this look good with that? Will this trim be better? I finally had to stop designing and get to work so the stockings might get done before Christmas 2012.

I pulled out some beautiful home dec fabric that worked really well and gives the victorian look I was going for. Then there are some other fancy fabrics that I have kept small pieces squirreled back. It really doesn't take a lot to make these and they are a gift in themselves.

I am suggesting felt for the lining because it is so easy to work with, no raveling, no fraying, easy to cut, doesn't stretch and gives a padded, quilted look and feel without having to add a third layer of batting. I was so glad in my rummaging around to find enough cream colored felt to make linings for all the stockings and it blended well and complimented each one-it looked as though they were planned that way. Don't you love it when things turn out like that?

This is the stocking that I worked on in the video below. Beaded  and bullion fringe were added later along with a little angel ornament and some hot fix beads [hopefully, you can see them in the closeup]. The fringes were hot glued on because there was too much bulk to put through the machine.

I hope the following step by step video helps:

The Victorian Stocking Pattern is available in my Craftsy pattern store @  http://www.craftsy.com/user/43851/pattern-store along with my other patterns.

Have you checked out all the workshops and classes available online at www.Craftsy.com? Classtime is anytime you wish, 24/7 in quilting, sewing, crocheting, knitting, baking, fabric 

painting-you name it-you got it.

FOR A REALLY UNIQUE GIFT-HOW ABOUT A CLASS FOR YOUR FAVORITE CRAFTER!

Happy crafting

Carolyn Wainscott

Those Unsew Days

Do you have those days that  you have to take out more seams than you put in?

I had one of those days recently. Between the time I got from my design board to the sewing machine with the quilt blocks, they had turned themselves around and jumped under the presser foot-time after time to be sewn on the wrong sides-crooked-just off, way off.

The project hadn't started out well, to begin with. The thought of making an all gingham quilt had floated in and out and this seemed to be the project for it. There were a couple of glitches-the ginghams weren't in my stash, the nearest fabric store was rather far away and I wanted to get started. I had been bypassing some ginghams in the fabric area of the store where I get groceries because of their content and feel but I thought they would do since it was for a quick little quilt and the price was right.  Soooo-I broke down and got enough of each since it was just a little doll quilt and anything should work-right? Wrong!

 Now,  I haven't met many fabrics that I don't like till these five little ginghams made their way onto my cutting table. It seems they have a mind of their own. They ravel. They creep, crawl. There were always threads to be cut with scissors after going over them with the rotary cutter. My motto from now on is: when in doubt, don't. 

The aggravation I had with this fabric made the project take 3 or 4 times what it should have and I am very dissatisfied with the way the little quilt turned out even if it is only a doll quilt. 

I am sharing all of this for a couple of reasons. The first is, we have so much time and effort involved in our crafts that we should use the best we can. By the time the quilt was done, I don't think it would have looked ok to me no matter what. 

And second but the real reason I started this piece-a way to unsew those wayward seams-with a electric shaver or moustache trimmer.   My friend, Valerie, shared that tip with us in one of our sewing afternoons. 

In a fabric/notions online catalog, I saw a electric stitch remover which was no more that a shaver with a different name on the side and the price was almost $70. I found mine in the drug store for $19.99 and could have gotten a cheaper one but like the shape and feel of the one I am using in the video below.  It surely came in handy for the gingham day. You might also find one at a yard sale or something, or in your husbands shaving kit.

Hope this helps and makes your quilting and sewing more enjoyable.

Happy crafting and God bless you!

Carolyn Wainscott

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out my designs in My Pattern Store @ 

http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

 

MY PROJECT LINUS QUILT

The Project Linus  has donated almost 4,000,000 quilts and blankets to needy children and has almost 400 chapters. I have heard about Project Linus along the way but had never thought seriously about looking into it since my life is like most other people's, very busy with every day.  Maybe a fleeting thought of putting something together for the project, sometime, when the time is right, when there is nothing else to do-right!

Then the craft site, Craftsy, that I visit online put out a call for donations that could be given to Project Linus for needy children. Craftsy is trying to collect 1000 quilts by December-plus 1000 hats. I went online to research Project Linus and found just how much good had been spread by the organization. That is where the 4,000,000 figure came from-isn't that astounding?

Now, I have made many quilts for children in jeopardy on an as need basis when the call comes in and when I saw some of the photos on the site of children receiving quilts made especially for them by loving hands, I knew since there was never going to be a just right time when there is nothing else to do.

So in the middle of making things for Christmas for great granchildren [who are blessedly all in good health!!!], my Linus Quilt needed to be done. How much easier could it be? Craftsy provided us with an address to send our quilts and they will even deliver them for us. Good job, Craftsy! I hope we reach the 1000 quilts and hats.

The 1000 hat request was put out first and since I was already crocheting, whipped up some hats to send. Then came the 1000 quilt announcement.

So, if you would like to help these ventures here is the Craftsy address:

Keep A Kid Warm

c/o Sympoz Inc.

1553 Platte #202

Denver, Co. 80202

or

go to the Project Linus website. You may want to become involved in a local chapter if there is one near you. If you need any ideas or patterns, they are provided on the site.

Here is my Linus quilt:

 The angel fabric I had kept squirreled away for a special project was brought out.  The Linus Project children are so special, they deserve the best.

The feather fabric was chosen for the back to coordinate with the angel fabric. One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 91:4-He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shall thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

I always put a pocket on the back of every child's quilt that will hold a book or little soft toy. As soon as I get the pocket on this quilt and find the right book, it will be wrapped up with the hats and sent off to Craftsy.

Here are the little hats I made:

There are also several scarves that will be included in the package.

-------------------------------

The Linus quilt was made in a quilt-as-you-go method shown in the video:

The video along with complete instructions can also be seen @ http://www.FaveQuilts.com/Tips/Techniques. While you are there, check out other patterns, tutorials and videos that can be used for your project.

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

STILL WAITING FOR MY BOX OF SCRAPS

SSoooooooooooo

Sissy's Sewing Box of Scraps Challenge has become more interesting. Sissy liked the blog I wrote yesterday but she contacted me via Facebook and said that the box I had was way too big. She had specified the SMALL flat rate box so I am going to have to scale down the array I had in the bigger box. My senior mind just didn't remember. Sorry, Teresa [she is to receive my  box of scraps]. 

I had to go to the post office to mail a package to my grandson so I picked up the SMALL flat box [I already had the medium size box I had intended on using]-oh, my goodness! It is the size of a vcr cartridge about 6"x8"x2". Now this is going to be a real challenge. Sissy said that she wanted to keep the projects small and I can understand that. There was actually almost enough fabric to make a full size quilt I was getting ready to send out. Now, boohoo, I am going to have to take a lot out. 

Excuse me while I go take care of that little chore and take a picture to update.

While I am gone, you have time to go over to Sissy's Sewing on Facebook and look over the challenge. You still have until Oct. 8, 2011 to become part of all this.

If you don't sew, you can glue, felt, use any of the fusibles to create anything of your choice. There are a lot of crafts out there that don't require sewing. Christmas is coming up-what about ornaments. Go over to FaveCrafts.com and look at the 1000's of ideas for all kinds of things to sew, glue, bead, felt, tie, twist, crochet.

And by the way, I joined the challenge before I found out there were going to be prizes and several have been donated since. Things of interest-some classic fabrics, some gift certificates, a lot of different things but like I said, I decided to take part before there were any prizes like most of the other participants. You can take a look at them here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.255597114462616.63447.141477279207934&type=3  if this doesn't work, just go Sissy's Sewing on Facebook and click on the prizes photo album. I don't know Sissy, don't have any connection, I just think this is something that will be fun to do and maybe you will, too. 

Be right back.

 -----------------------------------------------

OK-here is the current box of scraps that will be sent unless I have messed up again. I will not be sending the scraps out in the post office box, though. It will be cheaper to send with my own wrapping. I just used the box for sizing and you know it just broke my heart to take out some of those fabrics. I did try to leave the ones that coordinate so Teresa won't be taking my name in vain.

This is from the original  box:

Like I said, Sissy's Sewing Box of Scraps Challenge has just gotten more interesting.

I'll keep you posted as things go along.

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

WAITING FOR A BOX OF SCRAPS

You would think I didn't have a yard of fabric to my name as I sit here anxiously waiting for someone I don't even know to send me a box of scraps and leftovers from her [his?] projects.

There are shelves of fabric in my sewing room-piles of fabric pulled with patterns assigned and in line for my next projects close to the cutting table-yarns and crochet hooks in the basket next to my chair with a book of downloaded and picked up patterns at hand to be worked on while watching tv. So it's not as though I had nothing to do or to work with.

Now, really! What is wrong with this picture? Waiting for a box of scraps for possibly my next project if I can figure out what to do with a hodge podge of fabrics I may not even like. But I am not alone. There are other odd ducks out there waiting for their boxes, too.

The gauntlet was thrown down by Sissy's Sewing on Facebook and some of us picked it up. We are going to see what, if anything, we can do with someone else's scraps. You still have til October 8, 2011 if you think you would like to join in the challenge. Just go to Sissy's Sewing and submit your name. I wish I had thought about writing this a couple of weeks ago but too much has been going on.

I'm wondering if anyone else had as much trouble getting rid of their fabrics as I did. I put something in the stack, take some out, put some in, grab that little piece-I might need that for something special. It was really pitiful. I'm glad friend, Mary, was not here to see me sneaking a snippet out like it was too precious to let go of. I know some of you understand, don't you?

I finally got the box ready to send and so help me, a few minutes ago, I went over and stole a piece of red from Teresa's box. I hope she won't mind. Teresa, in Tennesee, is the name assigned to me to send my box to. While I was writing this my daughter called me with a project for me to do for a friend and I really might need that fabric with the gold stars, sorry, Teresa, honey. It really is just a smidgeon.

My box of scraps, soon to be on its way to Tennessee. Stay tuned to the saga of the box of scraps. Become more acquainted with some of them in this video.

I am looking forward to this challenge. I have never participated in one before. I can't wait to see what everyone creates. I hope to have photos here of each creation with their permission.

God bless all of you,

Carolyn Wainscott

HOW TO MAKE DOLL SANDALS FOR YOUR AMERICAN GIRL DOLL

Doll clothes are something I hadn't intended on getting into until a couple of months ago. My granddaughter wanted to give her boyfriend's daughter accessories for her American Girl Doll but couldn't afford to buy them. I told her I would help her out and make a couple of outfits for the birthday-and that started the whole thing.

I downloaded some crochet patterns and started with those. I looked up the dolls online and ordered a catalog. I like the concept of the doll with its historical background and line of books and things to do. I just can't get around the cost of eveything so a lot of clothes are being made and put aside for Christmas for my great granddaughters. I love dolls and being able to share this with them.

I have crocheted some hats and bags to match some outfits, even some Mary Jane shoes for one dress that I got carried away with making such a swirly skirt but it looks like I wanted it to.

This is one of my favorite little outfits. I love the two tierred swirly skirt. The top is from one of the downloaded patterns. I couldn't find a top I liked so I used one of the dress patterns and just didn't crochet the skirt. The fabric at the waist is a Tinker Bell piece which is just perfect with the little calico print. The flower on the headband is crocheted.

Let me say something about all those downloaded patterns-I appreciate them so much because they have helped me a great deal and I will share the links at some point. I did find, however, that some of the patterns are not accurate. I am not a greatly accomplished crocheter but one pattern I started several times was just not right. I have made lots of things but this one would not work no matter what I did.

The talented people who create these patterns and then share on the internet are wonderful and I have been able to follow along with almost all of them. It takes a lot of time to create and write instructions. Writing crochet instructions is far beyond me.

So, I had some outfits piling up and wanted shoes to match. I came up with making sandals that are really quick and easy. Since the crochet brigade is so generous in sharing their expertise, I am sharing my idea for the sandals. You can make dozens in an afternoon. If you are going to craft fairs, they would make an inexpensive item without too much time involved that should sell well for you.

I first used some craft foam sheets that I had on hand using my hot glue gun and that worked well. But wonder of wonders, I found the adhesive backed foam sheets, in glitter, no less. Here is the sandal to match the Tinker Bell outfits I made.

Throw away nothing! Even little 1/4" snippets can be used as jewels for trims here and there. Make up your own kit as a gift for children to design and make their own doll sandals. They will have the best shod doll in town.

To help secure the adhesive on the foam, add just a dab of hot glue or other good glue at the ends to keep it from coming loose.

I had fun creating these from anything and everything, hope you do, too. Here is my video showing you how to put these together. 

So get some craft foam or felt sheets and have fun.
God bless you,
Carolyn Wainscott
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check out my reversible designs in My Pattern Store for doll clothes, quilts and other crafts on Craftsy.com @

http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

video tutorial for reversible doll cape @
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJzQkEVTTWk



video tutorials @
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Hp75xJHn0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZeoePfP0NE

GIVING FORWARD-DEBBIE'S HOPE FOUNDATION

It has been a long time since I saw the movie "First You Cry" with Mary Tyler Moore. I didn't remember until I looked it up to make sure who was in it that it was an account of news correspondent, Betty Rollin. I only remember seeing it once [it was made in 1978] but her turmoil stayed with me. That was 12 years before I had breast cancer myself in 1990.

There was so much going on in my life at the time, I couldn't take time to cry or concentrate on my own situation. Because of my faith in God, I had a calm and serenity that everything was going to be fine-and it was. After my outpatient surgery, I went back to taking care of everyone else. My children nor my mother were told because I didn't want to worry them. My doctor told me that my "wayward germ" as I called it, was cancer and not to be taken lightly. In   http://carolynscanvas.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-therapy-my-quiltsel-tigre.html I take you through my way of working through hard times with my faith and crafting as many others do.  

Now, we are dealing with breast cancer again only this time the "wayward germ" has to be taken very seriously. Niece, Debbie, was diagnosed with breast cancer in March but hers was not found as timely and she had to have a double mastectomy in May after much, much testing and all the other preparations that has to be done.

Shortly after Debbie's surgery, I wrote: http://cwainscott.blogspot.com/2011/06/family-being-sisters.html to tell of the great bond between sisters.  This photo of Debbie [left] and Cathy [right]  was taken at a fundraiser for Debbie and her family to help with expenses.

This hard road for Debbie and the whole family continues with a year of chemo and radiation but Debbie is so appreciative of all that is being done for her, she wants to give back. She was given a "cami" by the Cancer Society that held the drainage tubes she had to wear after her surgery. It was such a comfort and help to her, she wanted to learn to make some to donate back for other women. She says she will always keep the one she has, even though it is not the most beautiful thing in the world and instead of reminding her of the traumatic surgery she has gone through, it reminds her of all that has been done for her and her family and that God is with her.

Putting the shirts together was kind of a family affair-my brother, Larry and his wife, Delores, donated shirts. We originally planned to have a "sew-a-thon" all together but circumstances didn't allow that between all of Debbie's after care and chemo treatments for my husband for cancer discovered after Debbie's was diagnosed. My sister, Shirley, Debbie's mother, suggested this post be called "Between Chemos" and would have been rather apropos, don't you think?

The following video was done in our mother's room in the nursing home so she could be part of what we are doing. We hope to encourage others to "give forward" as Debbie is doing. Her sunshiny personality belies all she has been through-she is crocheting to give to others and being a great example for her twins, Summer and Sierra.

Just as Debbie was diagnosed the song, I Will Stand By You, came out and was taken by Cathy as her theme song to Debbie. It was played at a fundraiser and Cathy had a friend help her with the song since she didn't think she could get through it by herself. I thought it fitting to include.

Here is Debbie telling us about that cami that meant so much to her:

Please be in prayer for Debbie and her family and for all breast cancer patients. Let's pray for a cure for this devastating disease. Thank you.

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AND OTHER SOUTHERN COMFORT FOOD

I am so missing my garden this year because I love those daily fresh vegetables. A long time ago, my husband told a group that I could take a salt shake and go sit in the middle of a garden and eat. Since we retired here 11 years ago, we have had wonderful gardens that allowed me to have my ripe tomatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I guess that's what I miss most. We pretty well knew last year's garden would be our last because of my husband's deteriorating health. Three tomato plants in individual pots on my back deck are the only semblance to a garden that I have.

The first post here on carolynscanvas last year, "Hallelujah, Canning's Done",  was also about our garden. I don't think all the canning equipment had even been put away. Canning is not one of my favorite things to do so I am always glad to get it over with. There is a big payoff through the winter, though. 

A road side vegetable stand lured me in the other day. I was just going to get a tomato or two because I only had a couple of dollars with me and there they were-GREEN TOMATOES-really nice, big, round, firm green tomatoes. I hopped right back in the car to get home for more money before someone else got MY green tomatoes. My mouth was already watering for the supper I had just planned of fried green tomatoes with corn, cucumbers and ripe tomatoes from the stand. 

Now fried green tomatoes is an acquired taste and we all acquired that taste from the great down home cooking of our Granny Crockett. 

There are some rules that must to be adhered to for true Southern Fried-it must be done in an iron skillet and in bacon grease or lard. Green tomatoes are coated with cornmeal and the first ones of the season are always the best, the same for the season's first mess of green beans, the first corn on the cob, the first cucumbers, etc. My favorite tomatoes to cook, can, fry and eat fresh are Rutgers, ones that are so tart they almost turn my mouth inside out, yum.

Grandson, Travis, loves this green delicacy as well as anyone. He stands and eats the first skillet full as soon as they are cool enough and I have to keep frying and frying so the rest of us might get one or two but I love to see that boy eat.

This is my large iron chicken fryer that gets a lot of use for cooking and baking cornbread. That is another rule of Southern Comfort-really good cornbread must be baked or fried in an iron skillet. 

Ambrosia, Silver Queen and Peaches & Cream are our favorites for corn to eat fresh and freeze. To fix corn-fill your pot with water, put on stove on high, go pick your corn, shuck the corn as you run back to the house and put corn into the boiling water immediately for about 5 minutes-tongue swallowing good!

Grandson, Joey and his wife, Andi, brought us some more red & green tomatoes along with a couple of squash yesterday. 

Christina Cooks, on PBS, the other day was putting together an interesting concoction with vegetables over pasta. Now why I was watching a cooking show, I don't know, I am trying to unlearn so much cooking but was glad I didn't turn it off. Those squash Joey and Andi brought over were sauteed in butter with onions, adding a can of peas and Rotella tomatoes, then over some egg noodles-my own version of "Christina's" and very good. Maybe one day I will try her version also, like I said, it was very interesting with deep fried chick peas and a leafy green that I can't remember the name of.

Another craving at this time of year is- wilted lettuce. For this, fresh, crisp leaf lettuce is smothered with onions and doused with hot bacon grease. [How did someone think to pour hot grease over lettuce in the first place?] A necessity is either baked or fried cornbread with my wilted lettuce which I had last night. That was my supper. It is all I needed or wanted-wierd, huh? Just food I grew up with. 

Even though it seems pinto beans with fried potatoes and cornbread were on the table almost every night when I was growing up, it is still my favorite meal. I still have the iron skillet that my grandmother baked that cornbread in every night. The handle is broken off. It sits in the stove drawer beside my big iron chicken fryer. Her flour sifter sits on the counter. As I've said before, I hope thoughts of me bring comfort to my grandchildren and now my great, grandchildren as thoughts of my Granny comfort me.

Not everything I cook is deep fried, I am going to try some crock pot deserts that I downloaded. They seem interesting and they include two of my favorite things-chocolate and peanut butter. I'll let you know how they turn out.

By the way, does anyone have any suggestion for a husband who tells everyone at a church dinner that he knows it is time for lunch or dinner when he hears the smoke alarms going off?  Such a short memory, he forgets he had to eat cereal for a month for other such remarks.

God bless all of you

Carolyn Wainscott

  

HANNAH'S T-SHIRT DRESSES USING CUT OFF JEANS LEGS

Have I mentioned that I love making something out of nothing and especially so when it is almost free?

I found these cute, long sleeve t shirts for only a $1 each and bought several with the thought of turning them into dresses for great, granddaughter, Hannah.

When I saw school supplies already out last week, I knew it was time to get to Hannah's dresses and I kinda, sorta knew where the shirts were.

Stuck with the shirts were some jeans that I had cut off to add fabric for skirts and there were all these little jeans legs laying there so I began playing around with them and the dress that came from that mix is my favorite.

For Hannah's size 7-8 shirts, 2 pairs of the jeans legs go around the bottom. You may need more or less for the size you are working with. The ones I chose have a slight flare-just perfect for the skirt.

For the other dress, 2 panels were cut across the width of the fabric [42"-45"] in the length needed for the finished dress [mine were cut 12"]. Measure from the shoulder to the length desired, subtract the length of the shirt for the fabric needed. Sew the sides together, serge or hem the bottom of the skirt, gather to fit bottom of shirt and sew to bottom. Your dress is finished.

A flat felled seam, [used in jeans], was used to sew the jeans legs together for the skirt. The video shows  how to sew the seam, just in case you need a refresher, and other tips.

These little dresses are really cute and fun to wear but best of all, they are very economical.

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Since we are on the subject of children, I am including a recipe for playdough for you to make at home. I have made pounds and pounds of it since the ingredients are always available and again, very economical. My children, grandchildren, Sunday School and Bible School children have all enjoyed playing with the playdough. If you work with children's groups and haven't run across this recipe, here it is:

4 cups all purpose flour

1 cup table salt

1 1/2 cups water

Just mix all together until well blended, knead on a lightly floured board a few minutes and not sticky.

It can be free formed by little hands, cut with cookie cutters, let air dry or in a low oven. It can be painted. Food coloring can also be added as you are mixing.

Kids love it.

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Enjoy and God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

WORLD'S LONGEST YARD SALE

Yard saleing can be addictive as some of you well know. My friend, Mary, and I used to go quite frequently until my husband threatened to nominate me for the tv show, "Hoarders" because there was always something on our stops that I might need or could use or someone else could use and on and on. I have found some wonderful things and some great bargains along the way, though-collectible glassware, fabrics & trims, home decor.

However, I have wanted, for some time now, to start at the most southern end of the world's longest yard sale which starts in Covington, Ky. and ends somewhere in Alabama- around 600 miles-and head north along the yard sale's route 127. Simply a yard sale lovers dream. I've thought about going in a motor home with my other yard sale friends. If we had a motor home, we could pull over any time we wanted, have all our food and drinks with us and not have to depend on finding restaurants or restrooms. 

I have tried my hand a couple of times with setting up along the "127 Yard Sale" with a trailer of stuff in northern Kentucky and done pretty well. I couldn't believe my eyes when we were bombarded before the 8 a.m. start time on Thursday morning.

They came in vans, trucks, motor homes, car loads full-pulling trailers. Oh, and tour busses for crying out loud.

There were television crews filming along the way. HGTV [Home & Garden TV] has featured the yard sale several times.

High end decorators comb the route looking for special pieces for their clients. 

Being the chatty, curious person that I am, I asked where people had traveled from to attend and was told they were from almost every state and one even from England. They come from all over the world. This 600 mile yard sale is definitely an event.

When I go to the yard sale, my goal is to stop along the way and cruise quickly, hop back in the car to the next stop and keep going to cover as much territory as I can. I do ok until I reach M&T Country Collectibles just north of Owenton, Ky. Once I stop there, I just seem to stay because there is so much there including all kinds of collectibles, antiques, primitives, candles and lots of food and drinks. There are even old timey wood rockers on the front porch to sit a spell. 

 I always have my camera with me so here is a video of the shop with photos that I took of one of the yard sales. 

If you like yard sales, you are going to love this one.

 It is a yearly event on the 1st weekend of August so if you miss this year, maybe you can go next.

 

Have a great time, if you get to go, let me know if you find something fantastic

Carolyn Wainscott

  

HOW TO MAKE THE SHORT ATTENTION SPAN DRESDEN PLATE QUILT

I love traditional quilts but just don't have the patience to make multiples of anything so I have made my own version of the Dresden Plate, Grandmother's Fan and my fave, the log cabin. Now I have tried to get into doing things as others do but my all white log cabin is all strip cut and still in the basket it was put in so it can sit by my chair just in case I have a yen to do some hand piecing. I have picked up some strips from time to time and even sewn some blocks on my machine. It will be gorgeous one day, it has its own name since it is all white-"My Mansion In The Sky, Crystal River Running By". It has some watery looking fabrics that helped with the name. I gathered all whites for a time for the quilt, there are even some laces. Maybe, just maybe, one day.

I can make my 90" translations of the old favorites in not much longer than it takes to make one traditional 12" or 14" block then accessorize the quilt with a couple of blocks in the traditional version on a pillow sham or covering.  

I make the Dresden Plate Quilt for wedding gifts and they make wonderful memory quilts as my Hawaii quilt that I made with some fabrics that I picked up while in Hawaii. Now I can look at my quilt and remember my trip. It is one of the first that I quilted on my long arm quilter.

My patterns are available @ http://www.quiltingcarolyn.etsy.com/ and in My Pattern Store @ http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851 . The Dresden and Grandmother's Fan patterns with instructions for 2 enlarged sizes will be available soon along with the traditional 14" pattern for each. The dresden plate quilt featured is 90"  with the border.  

The matching pillow scarf will follow soon. I prefer a pillow scarf over a sham because it just has to be thrown over my pillows rather than wrestling the pillows into and then out of a sham. 

The fabrics in the Dresden Plate were purchased a while back and squirreled away for just the right project and this was it. I love the border all around. The quilt looked better to me by cutting the border's width in half but would have made a king size if the full width had been added. 

Cutting the border also allows the quilt to hang to the bottom of my mattress and just overlap the bedskirt that is in the works to complete the look I like for my bedroom. 

 A video tutorial for the bedskirt is also in the works and will be available @ http://favequilts.com/ along with the Dresden Plate Quilt and the pillow scarf.   Check out that site for all sorts of quilt patterns, tutorials, techniques and videos.

HOW TO MAKE THE DRESDEN PLATE QUILT-PART 1

HOW TO MAKE THE DRESDEN PLATE QUILT-PART 2

I hope you find these videos helpful.

God bless you,

Carolyn Wainscott

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You can find my Dresden Plate pattern along with my other designs in My Pattern Store @

http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

--Socksy Monkey Baby Quilt Pattern--

--Carrousel Baby Quilt Pattern-

--Hoodie Pattern for American Girl Dolls-

--Matching Separates for American Girl Dolls--