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.

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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

MAKING QUICK, QUIRKY ACCESSORIES

 I guess at heart I am a true, dyed in the wool, southwestern style, feathers and bead loving old hippie and the hatband with matching earrings that I have made prove it.

I wanted something patriotic with feathers and beads and as the hatband began to take shape the song "Yankee Doodle" started going through what mind I have left.

 "Yankee Doodle went to town

riding on a pony

stuck a feather in his hat

and called it macaroni"

So that is how the Yankee Doodle Hat Band got its name. It is easy and quick to make.

I have yet to figure out what macaroni has to do with a feather or his hat, or his pony.

-THE YANKEE DOODLE HATBAND-

-MATCHING YANKEE DOODLE EARRINGS-

Surely, every self respecting Yankee Doodle Hat Band needs matching Yankee Doodle Earrings, don't you think?

Making jewelry is not one of my best ventures. I use beads to embellish my quilts and wallhangings so I do pick beads and findings that are of interest whenever I see them. You never know when you might have need for a spectacular focal point. Of course, that is the justification for all those lovely things squirreled away for future use and you never know, one bead could be the inspiration for a whole design.

At any rate, I hope you have fun with these if you decide to make them. 

Check out these and many other craft videos and tutorials @ http://favecrafts.com/.

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Since my maid has not showed up for work for quite some time now, I cannot spend all my time in my sewing room. For some reason, husband dear thinks there should be meals on the table and the house reasonably kept- not to mention a few clean clothes every now and again.  I keep telling him he can turn his underwear inside out and wear them another week but that doesn't work any more. 

As I've told you before, my domestic divadom does include cooking and am sharing some of my favorite recipes. The Hot Fudge Topping was in yesterday's post and today I am including my next fave, my Butterscotch Topping,  which is just as easy and quick. As with the Hot Fudge Topping, this recipe is doubled or tripled every time I make it-might as well get more done in the same amount of time!

BUTTERSSOTCH TOPPING

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1/4 cup butter or margarine

dash of nutmeg [optional]

makes about 1 1/2 cups

In 1 1/2 quart mixing bowl, combine brown sugar and flour. Stir in milk and syrup, then butter. Microwave at high 2 to 4 minutes, or until mixture boils; stir well. Microwave 3 1/2 minutes. Stir in nutmeg. Serve warm.

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Since we eat a lot of ice cream around here, we have a lot of those nice plastic containers. I use them for storing leftover soups, chilis and beans in the freezer and also for sending them home with the kids-my good containers would never be seen again if they went out the door. I also use them as organizers for my craft paints and things. You can see those in a former post where I show how to make a "Repurposed Organizer". 

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Happy Homemaking

Carolyn Wainscott

PARTS 3 & 4-FELTING APPLIQUED NO PATTERN, LINED SKIRT & TOP SERIES

My couture designs for housecleaning-oh, sure!

Here are parts 3 & 4 in the series for the "Felted Applique, No Pattern, Lined Skirt & Top".

The no pattern, self lined skirt was completed in Parts 1 & 2. Take your measurements according to directions in parts 1 & 2 to make your skirt.

A cream colored t-shirt knit is used for the outfit. The top was cut from a pattern that I have had and used for several pieces for quite a few years. I seem to wear the same thing all the time, just in different colors. 

 Appliques on both the skirt and top have been felted on with felting machine, then thread work done to highlight the motifs which were fussy cut from a floral fabric. After all embellishments were done, the pieces were sewn together and finish work done. 

If you would like more pizzaz, add hot set beads, glitter paints or whatever suits your fancy.  

You can see the following videos with tips and instructions on FaveCrafts.com. For all free videos, tutorials and patterns on many crafts and artistry, join us online at: http://favecrafts.com/. You will find crochet, knitting, needlework, kids crafts, beadwork, jewelry making and so much more that you just can't even imagine.

PART 3-EMBELLISHING YOUR TOP

PART 4-FINISHING YOUR TOP

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This is a different vein altogether but it still has to do with homemaking, craftsmanship, or however you want to put it. From time to time I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes that are quick, allow me to craft longer and still make me look good.

You will notice that most of them run in the same categories:chocolate, peanut butter and quick.

Grandson, Travis, was just in over the weekend from college and requested one of his favorites. Since it is so simple, I thought you might benefit from having the recipe. Now hang on to your seats, or your scissors, machine, glues, fabric or whatever it is you are holding onto-here is a recipe for the easiest [even easier than a mix], quickest, really good-peanut butter cookie recipe. 

you  will need:

1 cup of peanut butter

1 cup of sugar

1 egg

HONEST! THAT IS IT!

Mix all together in a bowl

drop by small spoonful onto greased cookie sheet, crisscross with fork, bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes

I have also made peanut blossoms by placing Hershey kisses onto each as they come out of oven-in fact that is how Trav wanted his.

Kids love 'em, they make the house smell great and only take a few minutes.

Happy Homemaking from

Carolyn Wainscott

the quilting granny

THE REALLY BIG, REALLY CHEAP SCOOP

No, I haven't completely lost it, not any more than usual anyway.

My "green" sense is kinda always in gear, I've just been toying with some things that we have in abundance around here and I hate to have so much plastic go into the trash.

Since I am a quilter, all those milk and distilled water plastic jugs could be used possibly for templates if the time is taken. I have been working with creating organizers but the water jug I was experimenting with didn't fill the bill. It did show some promise in another direction, though. Having spent enough quality time together to know it wanted to continue its life as useful and not be looked upon as just another piece of trash,  we came up with a design to allow the Plastic Jug or "PJ" as he wants to be called,  do just that. 

The magic marker  magically glided around "PJ" and when I followed the markings with my exacto knife, voila, a really large scoop came into existence. 

So from the job of holding one of our most important commodities, water, "PJ" still has a job to do. 

"PJ" has become  the really big, really cheap [mmm-economical] "Scoop", scooper of the dog food, the one scoop scoop. No more multiple dips into the bag, now you can do it with just one-"Scoop".

The following video was made to detail the process of PJ Scoop's metamorphasis from almost trash to useful treasure.

It can be seen at http://www.favecraft.com/, the online craft site that offers all free patterns, instructions, videos and tutorials in many crafts-crochet, knitting, jewelry making, paper crafts, kids crafts, recycling, and much, much more.

Who knows, you may have PJ's brother in your cupboard.

Happy crafting. Would love to see your "green" creations.

Contact me at: quiltngrin@blogger.com

Carolyn Wainscott
the quilting granny