How many of you drink out of canning jars?

Screenshot

I spotted a link to this page today - apparently people are drinking from canning jars - perhaps it's a regional thing? How many of you drink from jars on a regular - or even occasional - basis?  I had no idea that said jars and contents benefit from being kept cozy, and that the hands of the people drinking out of said jars need to be warmed as well :D

I think I'll stick with glasses and cups for drinking, and save my canning jars for food storage - but to each their own!  If you're going to drink from a jar, then it might as well be pretty, and keep your hand warm!  ;)

Going to Portland ...

Not really - but it sounded like a good title for a post containing a Portlander tote, lol.  I finished this tonight - the pattern is from the fabulous book Everyday Handmade :)   Very easy to make - I've made one before so that may be why it went so quickly, but it's quite a simple project - I think even beginners would be able to create a pretty bag :)

Here are a few more stash-busting bags, which will go to Blue Hills :)  Deb, you should recognize the fabrics for the last 2!  ;)

My tablet takes pictures - I had NO idea, lol!

I was trying tonight to figure out how to clear out my old emails from the email program of my tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab, a present for my 50th birthday!).  I never did figure that out, and I don't even know the name of the email program to be able to Google it, lol.  I frequently click the wrong icon and the tablet takes a screenshot, but tonight I realized it could also take actual photos, when I spotted this little (not such a) treasure!

That was what was sitting behind my tablet, so that's when I realized it was an actual photo, not a screen shot, LOL!  And it takes really good quality pictures too - that photo is right out of the box unretouched and not set up in any way!

Oh - here's another photo - for ****s and giggles --- there's a "recipe" all over Pinterest for making hard boiled eggs in the oven (325 for 25-30 minutes).  I did it once and it worked out not too bad (except for burn marks on the eggs where they sat in the oven).  I tried again yesterday with less than stellar results - won't be doing THAT again - YUCK!!
That was after 30 minutes in the toaster oven - it took me 10 minutes to peel the little buggers - I was ready to throw them at the wall!! 

A few pictures :)

It's been somewhat crazy around the house for the last little while - we're having some work done and things have been upside down!  New windows (for the kids' rooms), painting (kids rooms), masonry repairs, parging, some aluminum siding around some doors - you wouldn't believe the amount of dust that's created by the parging - HO...LEEE...CRAP!  Anyways - most of the work is done so now things can start to get back to normal - with FAR LESS DUST!

Here are a few projects I've gotten done recently - all (or most) of these items will be going to Blue Hills :)

Use-up-scraps zipper bags :)

Shark pillowcases - shark fabric from Joanns!

First attempt at a triple zip pouch :) (Pinned then made)

ME tote bag - fabric remnant from Fabricland :)

Purse frame coin purse - Susan taught me how to make this!

Tall pouch :)

My 2nd monster bib :)

S'Mores tall pouch :)

This is why I separate my scraps by colour :D

I spotted some adorable quilts (check here and here) a while back and thought that I might try something similar :)  These blocks are 9.5" unfinished - I'll look for some red and pink fabrics to use for the sashes/backing/binding :)  The blocks are all wonky and everything is positioned to use up the scraps I had :D

Here's a tutorial I recently found and decided to try.  I got started but wasn't able to find any fusible batting @ Fabricland, so I'll use fusible interfacing instead, since I already have lots :D  Here's my start :

Outside pieces and zippers

Lining pieces

 I cut out the interfacing tonight and will iron it on tomorrow, then get started sewing.  I've never made a triple zipper pouch before - now that I've posted my plans, I'm either going to sink or swim - publicly, lol! 

How long was I asleep??!!

Source :)

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Insert witty title here :)

 A few small finishes - a tall pouch and a zipper bag ...

... another tall pouch and a large zipper bag :)  All of these bags will go to Blue Hills :)

Bucket list ... no ... bucket HAT!

I pinned this project a while ago - I have the book and the pattern is available online as a freebie.  I decided to do a trial run this morning - I've never made a hat before, so I was sweating buckets nervous :D  My worst problem was that I needed a lot of pins for the curved areas, and I kept pricking my fingers, lol.  It took 2 hours and 15 minutes from the time I got the pieces cut out, to the time I finished.  Add another 15 minutes for cutting, so say 2.5 hours start to finish.  Probably the next time around it'll be quicker ;)

I don't have littlies around to model, but my 23 year old happily stood in for a 3-5 year old (which is the size I made, lol) :)

The hat is lined, with no raw edges anywhere, which required much pinning and pricking.  But it worked out perfectly - I didn't even get any little tucks anywhere.  I think the next time around I'll have more fun with it! 

Added to the Oliver + S flickr group here :)



My construction notes:  notch out the notches - don't just snip.  The middle section of the hat should go on the outside when assembling it with the top, and with the brim --- it needs to be clipped almost to the 1/2" seam allowance to make it stretch enough, so it's easier to have it on the outside.  (Next time I might baste just inside the 1/2" mark so I know how deeply to clip)  After the brim is stitched to the assembled hat piece, don't trim the seam to 1/4" like the instructions note - it's easier to have the bigger seam.  That's it - her instructions are quite good!

More "pinned then made" projects :)

Hedgie pouch :)

Hedgie = cute, but hedgie pouch = even cuter, lol!  I found the project here ... and the pattern for the hedgie is here (there's no picture, just look for the text) :)

Tutorial here :)

This morning I popped onto Pinterest to have a look around, and spotted this pin.  Hi, Wendy!!  I repinned it right away because - well - damn it's CUTE!  I don't remember a time when I found a new-to-me project and made it right away - usually I hem and haw and drag my feet and have a confidence crisis and study the pattern for 3 or 86 weeks until I have it straight in my mind.  This time I came - I saw - and I conquered :D  Thank you to Lisa for a fabulous and fun tutorial!

ETA:  Added to the Artisania Patterns Gallery flickr group here :)  Check out the other projects made with Sonja's adorable patterns!  She's Canadian, you know ;) 

3 more "cousin bibs" :D

Cousin bibs :D

I made a bib last week using denim (from a pair of DS2's worn out jeans) with scrap fabric.  Today I finished 3 more, using the same denim and scraps - these ones will be going to a second cousin of the denim donator, so I've decided to call them Cousin Bibs :D  

Here's what the set looks like :)  After I took this picture I tied them together with the last bit of heart ribbon from the bibs - so cute! 

2 more pins completed :D

I pinned this one a month ago - I boxed the bottom on mine - I like the bigger bags to have the boxed bottoms :D

I've made fabric baskets before, but I pinned this one as I liked the folded down cuff on hers :D  As I was stitching it I decided to add handles instead ... but when I finished it WITH handles, I decided I would have preferred the folded edge instead, LOL!!  I have another one cut out and will try it her way :)  My one other change was to add batting and quilt the outer layer before cutting the pieces down to size :)

reBib :D

I finished this up today - it's another "Pinned then made" project - so far I've completed one each day of August (yesterday's is on my sewing table, which is too messy to be anywhere near a camera, LOL).  Finally getting some pins DONE and finding some fun new projects!

The denim was reclaimed from a pair of my youngest son's worn out work jeans - this is a Ms. Electrician bib!  :)  The idea was inspired by this tutorial, and the bib pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby book :)

Flex frame bag - another "pin" completed :)

I recently bought some purse frames from a new-to-me seller on Etsy --- Tania @ frameyourbag was lovely to deal with, and delivery from Portugal was only about a week!  I tried one of the flex frames today on a bag made from this tutorial :)  The pattern printed out a bit smaller than it was supposed to, and I didn't measure the "this should measure 3.75" warning, so I had to throw out my first attempt as the body was just too small for the casing.  OOPS!  :D

Tutorial here :)

I photocopied the pattern at 115% to make it a bit easier to work with and this is the result - pretty cute!  I can't wait to make it in some fun fabrics - I have 9 more frames to play with, lol! :)

Take a stained and shredded vintage doily ...

cut it up and turn it into something new!  I pinned this project thinking it would make a great upcycle for my small collection of old doilies - and it is :)

If you have earbuds ...

Tute here :)

make one of these and use it, lol!  I finally got around to trying this pin - it's quite small (just over 4" in diameter) but it was easy to stitch. It would be perfect with a carabiner, some $ and a house key for walks (if you don't take a cellphone).  I don't use earbuds, so wouldn't use it for that :D   I enlarged the pattern by 15% and 25% and will try it in those sizes as well - I think it might be more useful if it was a bit bigger.  Overall - a definite SUCCESS!  :)