|
Walking in Sonshine
Nov. 11, 2008
Tightwad Tuesday with Canada Girl
I have missed a TWT or 2, but the garden needed to be put to bed for the winter, and the kitchen garden needed some expanding and cleaning, so getting out there and pulling up the dead plants, tilling, expanding, stacking rocks for my water fall in my kitchen garden and transplanting broccoli has drained my energy. Saturday after the Making memories TAL I went to bed, I had hit a wall.
*
So, for my TWT post I want to share elbow grease in motion with you. Earlier this year a friend called and said a tree (huge tree) had fallen in their yard and wanted to know if my hubby would help out. They had insurance and between the tree and some very minor repairs we were paid well over $500 to haul off a tree. We have a wood burning stove....... We stoped having the gas man come and fill that huge tank 2 years ago and have not regreted it since. We use our gas grill year 'round for cooking, and we just were given one that has a side burner too, so I use that often.
*
So to burn off excess steam for my 12yo son and heat the house we are burning that tree.
*
Here is a picture of my 12yo son burning off excess steam.
|
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Oct. 28, 2008
Tightwad Tuesday with Canada Girl
What is Tightwad Tuesday? Hop on over to Mary's to find out....
*
My tip is a pattern for a broomstick skirt, I so love these and the Bohemian Skirts. No don’t get me wrong, I am not a hippie, even though I am a product of the 60’s and a result of the 70’s, I am just me and I love flouncey, graceful, swirly skirts. I was the girl who wore big skirts and blankets on my head, the blanket was my long hair. Even though I was mostly a tom-boy type, I did love those “hippie” skirts and a plain tee. I still do, they clean easy and they just look nice. Now the broomstick skirt is a favorite of mine because I hate ironing, no I loathe it. I love those skirts and dresses that you wad up in a ball when you remove them from the washer. Oh and traveling with these things, man is that easy, wad it up and pack it. I have even put these things in my shoes when packing to keep them wadded up. Doing this makes more room for shoes. No need to go any further with the shoes, let’s just say I like to buy them, not wear them, now boots, that’s more my style!!!
*
Okay, now for my pattern, the first skirt in the pictures is not one I made, I bought it for $10 on a shopping trip 10 years ago, yes 10 years. I just put a bleach spot on it today, I almost cried. This is my fall skirt so it does not get too much wear, but I love it so, it is so soft. Well, anyway this is from memory of a skirt I bought and copied so here goes….
The Fall Skirt that started it all....
First copy attempt.
You really cannot tell from the picture, but this is black background with holly leaves and colored Christmas ornament balls on it, goes with just about anything.
*
Measure your widest spot on your hips, add 4.
That will be the length of your first tier.
To get the width (or height) measure from hip to desired length add 4 and divide by 3. Example: 35" +4 / 3= 13. so teir 1 is 25" long by 13" wide (height).
*
So if your first tier is 50", the next should be 75", the next tier should be 125". You can divide these tiers into pieces. Okay so here we go, my hips are 40" (aprox) I like a fuller skirt so I make that first tier 50" around. Or just make 2 strips 25" for the first one, 3 strips 25" for the 2nd one and 4 strips 25" for the 4th one. Sew your strips together and then connect the tiers. If you have an old sheet this would be good practice. Make your elastic casing and do a hem.
*
Now if you want a fuller skirt add another 2-4 inches to the first tier and so on.
*
You are using a 3/4 “ seam allowance here and allowing for a hem and elastic casing, so if you use a serger adjust accordingly.
*
Take your sports elastic and just wrap it around your waist like it was a tape measure, that is what you want no stretching it, this skirt gathers so no need to stretch the elastic.
*
I know my details are short, and this is like reading Greek to a new sewer, but if you need more details email me and I will take the time to get them to you.
*
I usually get clearance material for these and can make one for about $3-$4 a skirt. Now that is way better than the $20-$70 I see online. That does not even include shipping and handling.
*
Here is another link to another pattern at Erica’s, and a very, very, very, (did I say very?) funny story that I am sure most of us can relate to. I know I can. Please take the time to read her story!!! No drinking or eating here people, it will end up all over your lap and computer. I tell people my serger either has it’s very own personality or it is possessed. Not sure which yet. All I know is if it is not in the mood to sew, I need to just pack that thing up and quit before it eats my material and puts a huge hole in it.
|
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Oct. 21, 2008
TightWad Decorating
What is Tightwad Tuesday? Head on over to Mary's place and get all the details.
*
Part of this post is from last weeks post, can you guess which one?
Actually this was writen last week, which is actually this week now, but will be posted next week. HEHEHE!!! In other words, I got an idea wanted to try it, and then wanted to share it, so I wrote this up on the 14th saved it to draft so it could be posted on the 21st. Not that I am organized, just had to share this with you and did not want to add more to today's TWT, and knew that if I did not save it, I would forget all about it.... You know the old saying "I have slept since then".
Anyway, I have had almost everything her for awhile now, the candle is new, oh, and smells of pumpkin spice, MMMMMM, the stringy beady thingy was a gift from my mother a few years back (free is good) the glass heart shaped candy dish was on clearance at Wal-Mart for 50 cents about 5 years ago, the glass candle holder was from a candle that burned out, yep, I dig out the metal wick holder soften the wax and re-use the glass container. Throw this together with one of last week's (or this week's to be posted next week which is actually this week now) items (find it yet???) and all total it cost me $3. Not bad huh? Pretty too, not that I am bragging, and that smell, MMMMM. Let me know what last weeks tightwad item is.
VALERIE |
• Comments
(6) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Oct. 14, 2008
TightWad Tuesday
|
Thank you Mary for sharing you home made napkins, they are beautiful!!!
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/604412/
These are some pot holders I made last month, I have started a crochet lap afghan, and am also starting to work on some crochet dishrags. Sounds like alot at one time, I tinker on the afghan in the evening and work on the dishrags in between everything else. Although I love doing the 4-strand, rug hook, afghan (can make a complete one in a weekend), I have an alergy to acryllic yarn (yep cotton sweaters only), so I have to do a little at a time. Having this allergy though has taught me to be extra careful with my cotton sweaters, so that saves money with buying less winter clothes.
In honor of my Friend Mary, here is a Maple Leaf....
Oh Canada, Oh Canada,
How lovely are your people....
(sung to tune of Oh Christmas Tree)
Next is a pumpkin, it is from an Apple pattern. I have a book that has a pot holder for each season and October's pattern is the Jack-O-Lantern... Not my thing, so I just used orange yarn, added a leaf and a vine.
Last is my Sunflower, yes I do use these, that is what I made them for. My husband was afraid I would go off when he needed to set a hot pan down the day I finished these. (HHHMMM maybe I need to work on attitude EH?) I just smiled and said sweetly, "Honey, that is what I made them for", took the pan and set them on the potholder myself.
Thanks for looking, please leave me a comment......
Valerie
|
• Comments
(6) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Oct. 12, 2008
Tightwad Tuesday
I met Mary on a Talk-A-Latte talk one weekend a few weeks back, really got to know her this past weekend (Oct. '08). She is such a talented woman, she can listen, read, chat online, knit, sew, iron, AND take care of her family all at the same time. I don't know about you....but I am looking forward to sharing TWT with these fun ladies....Here is Mary's page and how she does it... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
|
