Stuff that brings me joy. And a window that doesn't.

Christmas time is here.  Happiness and Cheer...

Cleaned the Dining Room/Library.  This was several hours of work as it had become, book-sorting central, N1D's play area, a photo-scanning studio, and safe haven for assorted lost items.

Got the tree up!

Decorated my new kitchen light fixture

Sometimes stuff just works.  I found a glass bottle of seltzer water at T. J. Maxx for $1.50.  N1D and I enjoyed experimenting with adding flavors to the water, and then I was just itching to find a use for this simple container.  Light bulb!  I hate how often my kitchen sink soap dispenser runs out of soap (this sink gets a lot of use!).  Maybe, just maybe I could find a pump lid that would fit it.  Crossed my fingers, grabbed the salon-pump top off a recently emptied  large bottle of Suave shampoo (I really spend the $$ of haircare as you can see), and VOILA!  The threads lined up perfectly.

Filled the bottle with Ivory Dishwashing liquid.  Added a few drops of tangerine essential oil.  And set it proudly beside my sink.

Yeah, my sink.  Located just below my leaky leaky window.  We just removed the trim so we could measure the rough in opening in order to order/find a replacement.  Of course it's now been raining for 36+ hours and will continue to rain for the forseeable future.  So my DH set up a press-n-seal-water-slide of sorts.  Now when drips come down from inside of the upper part, they drop onto the plastic wrap and then Wheeeeeee!--they slide down into the sink.

Yeah, the fascination ended sometime yesterday.  Looking forward to getting a new window.  One that doesn't provide so much scope for the imagination.

Felt and Fleece project (or what I did while my sewing machine was in the shop)

So N1D is going to be in our local town's parade.  She and other kids from her school are representing cultures and nationalities from around the world.  We're (she is, anyway) "Norway."  When I looked up the traditional dress, this is what I found:

A little beyond my ability.  Not to mention lacking in warmth.  So I decided to go with an easy cape design, made from soft, extra-thick, velour fleece (1.5 yards, only $9).  Add in some bright "embroidered" flowers and hearts (made of layers of felt stitched together and then pinned on so Noelle can take them off), and blanket stitched the edges.  Voila.

She'll also be wearing brown leggings and these:

Hat from T. J. Maxx (it's wool AND it's lined with fleece--score!) and boots from Old Navy.  I really want a pair of those boots in my size.

Yes, the blanket stitching took approximately forever.  If my pi calculations are correct, it was just over 157 linear inches.  13 feet.  Plus the neckline.  Haven't added in the time on the felt flower and hearts.  Let's just say I had several evenings of watching Frasier and Sports Night on netflix with DH.

Oh and my sewing machine is BA-AACK!  I missed her.  Only $30 to get Miss Viking all fixed up. Smile.

Sad tidings, warm hearts, and a camera strap

Well Miss Viking finally pitched her hissy fit and is off at the sewing machine doctor's office to get patched up.  Wonder how much THAT will set me back.  I miss her.

Camera Strap

Anyway, at least I finished the project I was working on when she hiccuped and then whirred down to silence: a camera strap.  Or make that two camera straps.  The first one demonstrated my inability to mathmaticate correctly and although it's a LOVELY little strap that's padded and comfy and the correct length; the pockets turned out waaaaay too narrow for my lens cap (the initial reason for making said strap) AND the pockets ended up on the same end.  And uneven.  So here's the result my second attempt.  It's reversible too!

And me demonstrating lens cap pocket.  Yeah, I'm easily entertained.

I'll post instructions if anybody wants them.  I initially planned to follow some instructions I found on pinterest, but they were a wee bit confusing, plus needed a serger (which I have, but still need to learn to use!). Basically you measure your strap for length, lens cap for width, add seam allowances, check that you've allowed for seam allowances, and cut out two strips from fabric, two shorter strips for pockets (and if you want it padded, flannel, felt, or crib pad material--what I used) and sew it up.

Heart-Warmers

N1D (Number 1 Daughter) has been begging for me to teacher her how to sew, so I got a project for her (which I stole from somewhere I can't remember now).  Heart-shaped hand warmers.

Craft felt, rice, and embroidery floss (or thread doubled over until you get 8 strands).  We made a pattern from heavy paper, measured to fit in an average pocket with space left for hand to be warmed.  Cut out 2 pieces of felt, pin together, stitch from high point of one side of the heart, down around point and back up to the middle of the other high point, fill with rice, then continue to stitch until closed.  Voila!  (Our research indicated that about 30-40 seconds in the microwave worked nicely for the right amount of heat).

Noelle's making these as Christmas gifts and has put her little heart and soul into them.  (So if you end up with one for Christmas, act surprised!)

Well, after a field trip with N1D's school to the Zoo, Jury rigging a Halloween costume for N1D, two days of N1D being home with a cold, loads and loads of laundry (plus several loads of stuffed babies washed up for our local chapter of Bags of Love), and quite a bit of cleaning and organizing--I'm counting down to the weekend.  Spending time with some girlfriends as the Man of the House will be away camping with a youth group.  Happy Fall, Ya'll!