Sewing Ideas

So, in my organizing, I came across these Dear Jane blocks that my mother had made. (There's actually two more that aren't in this picture.)

There was also this block. It has just a smidge of appliqué that needs to be finished up. 2 petals need to be sewn down.
So, I was thinking.... what about a wall hanging? This is my sort of temporary arrangement.
The other two blocks (to the left in this picture) could be used as a label or something similar.

I also need to finish a wall hanging I started for my daddy LAST year. Since he's coming to visit me, I sure would like to have it finished before then.

Okay, I'm signing off now, so that I can go do the thing I like to do. And that's SEW!

Hugs,
Melinda

My Sewing Area

Okay, so you may or may not know that we've moved about 3 times since leaving base housing last August. So I went from a sewing room to a sewing area. Plus I've been battling major depression/hormonal issues that kept me from even unpacking some of my boxes.

This is my set of "before" pictures.

Help. I can't find anything. I feel swallowed alive by junk.

You mean, I have to clean my sewing machine off everytime I sew?

Not to mention everything is spread out all everywhere.


So, what made things change? I'm not exactly sure. It may have been the recent Oprah episode on hoarders, and all the conversation around it. Or it may be that I've been getting better with my hormones and depression. It might be that I've been cleaning up other areas of our apartment.

But I'm going to credit my SIL Marie calling me. She asked me to bring my sewing machine when we come for Christmas. I decided that I needed to be able to FIND my machine in order to take it.

Plus, I decided that I feel better when I am sewing. I feel better when I am part of a guild. So, I decided that the rest of the apartment can wait. My sewing area and ME come now.

The "after" shots.

Look! I have a sewing machine! And a table! :D

My completely clean and organized sewing area.

A better look at my fabric stash, and the containers holding my supplies

The big clear jar holds all of my buttons and the two packages of beads. I have a homemade ribbon holder. And the container next to the clear jar holds all 4 of my rotary cutters, all of my scissors, and the knitting needles I use as stilettos.

Here's a few drawers in my supply cart. This one has rotary blades.

Machine needles, measuring tapes, parts for my sewing machine (ie, the feet), and my smaller rulers and supplies for paper piecing.

Oh, here's where those drawers are. LOL I thought this picture was before the last two.

This is where I store my batting, and my projects I'm working on. (Current UFOs, not the ones that are still hiding.)


Well, that's it. That's the tour of my sewing area. :D I'm already so much happier. And I already have some plans for sewing. :)

Hugs,
Melinda

Snow Day

This is what greeted me when I woke up this morning.

Aren't they cute? :)

Oh, the outside was pretty too. LOL

But this was just awesome! I had no idea there was deer outside the complex.

Happy snow day everyone!
Hugs,
Melinda

Okay..... Happy Dance

So, would you rather have a happy dance instead of bah humbug? (It's one of the only times I'm skinnier than Dale. ROFLOL)

Merry Christmas. :D

Hugs,
Melinda

Bah Humbug

Bah Humbug....

By the way, if you've never read "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, you really should. It's not very long, and it is packed full with meaning.

Hugs,
Melinda

Works for Me Wednesday

Update: Yeah! I got the pictures loaded! :D

Well, apparently, I'm not going to be able to upload pictures yet. I'll try again later today.

My tip is on organizing your gift wrap. I have been so excited to share this with all of you.You know all of those camp chairs that have gotten so popular? You can get them at Wal-Mart. They come with their own carrying bag and in a wide variety of colors.

I never can seem to get the chair back into the bag. So I would have these chairs, and then a stack of bags. It hit me one day... those bags are PERFECT for storing long rolls of gift wrapping paper.
This picture shows how I have about 5 rolls of paper in one bag.
And the next picture shows another tip. Notice that there appears to be something wrapped around the big long tube of Candy Cane wrapping paper. When you are through with one roll of paper, don't through away the tube that it was rolled around. If it's a big thick tube, cut a slit down the length of it, and you can put it around another roll. It's better than a rubber band or tape. (You can do the same thing if it's just a thin paper tube, but it doesn't work as well.)
One last bonus tip: This is winter, the season of extremely dry skin. May I recommend Gold Bond Ultimate Healing? This stuff is fantastic, and it really works.

Well, that's it for now. Wrapping paper storage. It Works For Me.

Hugs,
Melinda

Bravo for Mike Huckabee

I'm not really good with politics. But this is a "must see." I hope that if I'm ever asked this question, I can defend my faith just as well.

Michael W. Smith and Sugar Cookies

So, do you remember awhile back that I posted about getting a free Michael W. Smith CD? I got the CD, and finally got around to listening to it while doing something "Christmasy." (We had already put our tree up, so that was out of the question.) My friend and her 2 kids came over, and we decorated sugar cookies.

The CD was not what I was expecting. I'm not sure what I was expecting, though. I guess I haven't really listened to Michael's newer stuff. I guess I wasn't really expecting the grand music in the tradition of Handel's Messiah, but more folksy music.

I mean, I forgot he played the piano! I'm sitting there, listening, waiting, thinking... where's the singing? And it dawned on me, OH YEAH! Michael W. Smith plays the piano and there's piano music, so that must be him playing. *duh* Not one of my brightest moments.

Well, at least the sugar cookies were yummy. :p Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures. But it was fun to spend time with my friend and to get to know her just that much better.

As for the CD, this might not have been what I was supposed to do, but since it was free to me, I wrapped it up as a present for the family we adopted at church. Now someone else can enjoy it, as well.

Hugs,
Melinda

Works For Me Wednesday

So, today's version of Works For Me Wednesday is to answer this question.....

It's 5:15 pm, the kids are hungry, you have a headache, hubby is almost home, and the pantry has three things in it. What is your BEST last-minute meal recipe?

Make white gravy, add a package or two of those cheap packages of thinly sliced beef lunch meat, put over toast. :p Yummy.

WHAT??? You don't know how to make gravy??? That's okay, I didn't either. So, here's the recipe plus my tips.

First, pour one cup of milk and put it in the freezer. Don't worry, it won't be there long, but you want it cold cold cold.

Next, melt 2 tablespoons on butter (or margarine, or whatever) in a saucepan. (I use high heat, but I move fast.)

When your butter is melted, and bubbling, whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour. Notice I said WHISK. If you don't have a whisk, get one. You will thank me for lump free gravy. :D

So, the flour is whisked into the butter, and you are letting it sort of bubble together. Grab the milk out of the freezer. Now the tricky part is pouring in the milk while whisking the butter mixture. Don't just "dump" the milk in, but if you are cooking on high heat (which I do) don't go slow, either.

Then... whisk it and whisk it and whisk again until the gravy is as thick as you like. Keep in mind that it will get thicker as it cools, too.

When the gravy is done, tear the lunch meat into bite size pieces and add it to the gravy until it's warmed up. This is so yummy over toast.

Oh... you need a quick dessert too. Do you have a package of chocolate chips and a can of icing? I'll wait while you check......

Okay, take the package of chips and melt them over low to medium heat. When it's all melted, add the can of icing. When they are all melted together and smooth and you know... together, pour the mixture into a pan. Put in the fridge for a half hour or so until set. Easy Peasy 2 step Fudge!

And no, it doesn't matter what flavor chips, or icing. An 8x8 pan is a good size, but 9x9 seems to be too big. (Pan prep is up to you. I line with foil, and may or may not spray with cooking spray. I have a friend who uses parchment paper.)

That's what works for me! Happy Holidays!

Hugs,
Melinda

Childlike Wonder -- reposted

I hope you don't mind, but I thought I would repost something from 2005. I thought it was important, since I have been a little caught up in "things" this year. Happy holidays.
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Childlike Wonder

My youngest slept from 5:30 this afternoon until 9:00. In that time, the oldest and I managed to set up our Christmas tree. It's a pre-lit tree, so we didn't have to worry about the lights. The pure joy and wonder on the baby's face when she saw the Christmas tree was just amazing. I wish I could have captured it on film. And it also makes me stop and think about what Christmas is all about. When I get nervous around all the holiday shopping crowds, and I'm overwhelmed with parties to attend, I'm going to try to stop and remember that precious little smile on her face. And hopefully, I'll remember what the true meaning of Christmas is.

Hugs,
Melinda