Tea Bag Wallet

I love hot tea.  There's nothing that warms you better then a mug of hot tea.  My favorite is green tea.  It is a mild tea but is so good for you!  I also like any kind of herbal tea, and they have such great names like "Lemon Zinger", or "Wild Berry".  A while ago I came across a pattern to make a tea bag wallet.  While the same blog no longer exists, I found the directions on the new blog, http://blog.christyscreations.com/tea-wallet-tutorial/.  The directions are easy to follow, and the wallets  turn out great even if you are new at sewing.  Thanks, Christy for a great project.  I made the tea wallets and gave them as gifts, but I didn't get one.  I really need one because I am always carrying tea bags around in my purse in plastic baggies.  So, with my Goodwill fabric, I whipped up two yesterday.  One for me to keep and one for me to give away.  They are also great to carry sugar packets if you use Truvia or Splenda and they can be modified to fit a hot chocolate packet or whatever else you can come up with.

Serendipity Bag

Today I worked on a bag using some of my Goodwill fabric.  I found it at The Sewing Republic website, http://www.sewingrepublic.com/projectIdeas.html#/serendipitybag/.  The designer is Kathryn Goodman and her blog is here:  http://handmadekate.typepad.com/handmade_kate/.   Kathryn's directions were easy to follow; she did a great job!  When I first saw the pattern, I was a bit discouraged because I didn't have any canvas or flannel.  When I went to the basement to let Isabear out the back door, the artist canvas I had leftover from an art class was staring me in the face!  I decided I would try that and see what would happen.  Well, the bag is quite sturdy but was a bit difficult to maneuver when I had to turn the fabric.  I think it turned out ok, though.  I didn't realize the bag would be so big.  I was kind of hoping for a purse size, but it holds my folders, books, and my computer!  The fabric makes it look like a jean bag but it has a light blue pattern running through it.  The inside was a coordinating yellow with navy blue flowers and a pocket.  It took me most of the afternoon to do it.  I will be using it for school tomorrow.  On to the next project!

Lavender and Flowers

I love the smell of lavender.  It's fresh, crisp, and clean and it just makes me feel good.  Today I did my first Goodwill fabric project.  I made 3 lavender dryer sachets and 1 small sachet for my dresser drawer because I had just a little bit of lavender left.  Fortunately for me, the fabric was already cut in strips and with nice straight lines!  A benefit of "used" fabric!
 Here's what I did:

Cut one 3 1/2 inch strip to make it 3 1/2 inches x 6 1/4 inches.  Folded the fabric in half and sewed a 1/8 inch seam on all three sides leaving a space in the middle of one long side for an opening to turn the fabric and stuff it. I double stitched everything to make sure it was nice and sturdy.  I then trimmed the corners, turned the fabric and ironed it.  I took a funnel, inserted it into the opening and filled the pillow with 3/4 cup of dried lavender.  Then I sewed the opening shut.  The little sachet was done the same way, but the measurements were 3 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches.

I wish you could be here to smell how wonderful it is.  I love this idea!  Mike is not to thrilled with the thought of his clothes smelling like lavender.  Maybe I can just use them on my sheets and towels?!  Next Goodwill fabric project:  A purse/bag.

I also wanted to share a picture of the beautiful Amarylis we are fortunate enough to have.  Mom Schreck gave us this beautiful gift for Christmas and they just started blooming on Friday.  I hope they brighten your day like they do mine!  Thanks, Mom.

Frugal Living

So, it's the New Year and while I don't make resolutions, I have decided to try to live more frugally in the new year.  Part of this is due to circumstances, and part is that I just want to see if I can use and or reuse, or as the new term seems to be "upcycle" things I already have.  You know the thrill of getting something on sale?  Well, I got something for free that I just love!  I have been perusing craigslist and scored this incredible free chair!

It rocks and is leather.  This picture was taken before it was cleaned up.  It cleaned up so well, I thought about just keeping it the way it is, but my original intent was to have it recovered so I will probably do that.  What do you think?  Should I keep it the way it is or recover it?  Anyway, I was so excited with my find that I have been checking craigslist out everyday.  It is amazing what people are giving away for free.  My next frugal option for this year was fabric.  Before we moved, I cleaned everything out, including my crafts.  I had tons of fabric that I just got rid of at a yard sale.  I haven't been crafting very much for the past several years.  I used to do it a lot when the kids were little and I really enjoyed it.  However, as the kids grew up finding time to craft just wasn't an option.  Well the kids are pretty much gone now, and my fingers are itching to get back to sewing and projects.  I found several patterns online that I wanted to try, but I didn't have any fabric.  Soooo, I went to Goodwill yesterday to see what I could find and guess what?  Low and behold, a huge bag of quilting scrap fabrics for $2.92 and another bundle of fabric for $2.12!  I am so excited!  I now have some great scraps. 

 The first project I want to make is a lavender dryer sachet.  I found the directions online here:  http://backyardfarming.blogspot.com/2010/08/dryer-sachets-diy.html

  Josh and Alli sent me a bag of lavender for my birthday, so once I get the fabric washed, I'm set to go.  When I get it finished I will post a picture.  You would be amazed at all the free projects there are online.  I also want to make a tea wallet, bag, regular wallet; the list goes on and on!  I will try to post all my endeavors once they are finished, but only if they turn out:>

Do you have any suggestions, directions, or ideas for fabric scraps?  Let me know, I might want to make whatever it is.

Happy New Year!

Our new year started with an extended Christmas break!  We are now working on day 5 of the snow event here in Loganville, GA.  School has been cancelled for the whole week and while it has been nice to sleep in every day, I am getting quite stir crazy!  The roads have been difficult to clear as the ice doesn't have much chance to melt due to the extreme cold temperatures.  Mike has been getting lots of time to study for his Bible classes and I have been filling most of my time up with the internet and watching the birds at the bird feeder on my deck.  Isabear has not really enjoyed the snow to much as she just slides on the ice when she gets out.  We are hoping to make it out of our little world today or tomorrow to buy food.  Anyway, last night we were hankering for a dessert and since we didn't have many ingredients on hand, it was difficult to find something.  I have also been trying to stick to a gluten free diet so that limits the selection of desserts quite a bit.  What I found was a recipe for peanut butter cookies that only takes 3 ingredients!  Apparently, on the internet, alot of people are aware of this, but it was new to me so I thought I would share it.  It happened to be a great recipe for being snowbound:>

1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup granulated sugar
1 egg

Mix all the ingredients together.   Drop by rounded teaspoon on to a greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.  Enjoy!

Yummy Peanut Butter Cookies

If you want to be creative you can add any kind of chocolate chips, oatmeal, vanilla, substitute white sugar for brown, etc.  We cut up pieces of chocolate but probably didn't put enough in!  I found this recipe on the All Recipes website, but it was all over the internet at many different sites.  Give it a try, they are yummy!

Lots of birds at the feeder