Sewing curtains

Here I go, sewing... I really hope that these curtains (extra, extra simple) for my little Buddy's room will turn out!

I am very green at sewing. And actually, I have bought "Sewing for Dummies" a few years ago. This book would be handy right now except that it is packed away in the depths of our rented storage space! We just moved on July 1st and none of our books are at our new place yet...

So, tonight I cut my material (light blue cotton - bedsheet) and sewed my first three tabs, 7 more to go. Then I will sew up my panels (2 of them). It will take me a week to complete, I think... since I only have about an hour to work on it per night (after all the work is done and after Buddy is asleep).

Signing out,

patchwork apron

I am working on making an apron! It is a small project that will take me a while to do, only a little bit at a time! I am glad for the opportunity to make one. I have been wondering what to do with little pieces of materials left over from making my heat bags (comfort bags). So, the process begins: undo all the sewing in the pieces of material. This I am doing when watching little movies with my little Buddy. This apron will be patches of solid navy blue, solid tan, and brown corduroy! I will make a big pocket on the front (to hold the phone)!!

Holding the phone is the main purpose for my apron! I find that if I want to stay in contact with friends and family, I have to be able to talk and work at the same time. I have a headset for the cordless but I still have to hold it in my hands and that just doesn't work for laundry and dishes and Buddy's bathtime...

Hand made Christmas presents

Since Christmas is nearly (already) a month away, it's time to think about gifts to give (home-made) with lots of love and care!! This year, I will make cookies and candies to give away.

But here are some ideas if you are lacking ideas... I wish I had some time to make these but at the moment, I am loaded with school work...

- designer place mats, herbal tea mixes, bean soup mixes, coloured bath salts, hair bows, pressed flowers framed, bean bags, scrap books, dress-up box, treasure box, play dough, Gingerman cookies, draw string bag, aprons, wooden blocks, picture album, sock puppets, shell magnets, the memory game, flavoured salad vinegars, fancy jams and jellies, slic and bake cookie dough rolls...

Most of these are for kids, those wonderful kids in our lives...

Hand making articles

Hand making as many items used around the house (and gifts) as possible produces deep satisfaction and enables you to learn trades and craft skills that can be useful in other areas of life and to others. When we make something, we tend to take better care of it because of the time and money put into the materials. Sometimes, the item is cheaper to make than to buy (not including the time taken to make it) but the items and gifts become more meaningful and personalized. Making things and selling them can be a way to make money from home too! For example, if a person learns to sew, one can make basic shirts, pants, dresses, dolls, curtains, placemats, cloth napkins, bags, specialized storage spaces, etc. Learning basic carpentry, one can make bookshelves, chairs, tables, bed frames, storage areas, toys, etc. And, learning basic mechanics, one can perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on vehicles. Why not teach someone else to do these tasks as well, and include family members, etc.