Christmas rugs

 Anyone who has been reading my blog for a long time knows I'm almost as excited by rugs as I am by quilts.  I want to make some rag rugs as Christmas gifts this year.  It's been way too long since I made a rug.  I've been thinking about the easiest and fastest way for me to create the rugs.  It occurred to me that every type of rug I make starts with strips of fabrics.  Sound familiar?  This is the same thing that's true for making quilts.  Many quilt designs start with strips which are then cut to shapes.   I also wanted to use up the many t-shirt fabric scraps I have taking up space in my storage.  I pulled out a bunch and started cutting strips.

I kept repeating to myself..... use it or loose it.  I will either use the scraps or I'll get rid of them.  I pulled out more t-shirt fabrics to cut strips.

Every type rug I make uses the same size strip.  Whether I make braided, woven, twained, crochet, knitted, shag, or other rug making technique, I always start with 1 1/2 inch strips.  So I pulled out more scrap t-shirt fabric and cut more strips. 

Ok, about now (two full days later) I'm getting pretty tired of cutting fabric strips.  But I keep going because I know I'm going to need all that I can cut.  Providing I have the time needed to get all the rugs made.  I pull out even more t-shirt fabric scraps and cut more strips.

Eventually, (three full days) I get all the t-shirt scraps cut into strips.  Aren't the colors pretty?

Even the box of whites look pretty.  I can see a white and cream color rug in there, can you?  Well, at least that's what my friend Martha is hoping for this year, a white and cream color rug.  Shhhhh.... don't tell her I plan to make her one.

When all the seams and hems are cut away (and the strips cut) the fabric takes up far less room in my storage.  I had a small garbage bag full of cut away parts.  At first I was tempted to hang onto those and possibly make a latch hook rug but then I came to my senses.  I let them go straight out to the garbage can for pickup.  I have enough scraps for my rugs.  If I find I'm going to run out of t-shirt fabrics I'll start cutting up some of my scrap quilt cottons.  Those make good rugs too. 

How about you?  Have you started your Christmas crafts yet? 

Stash busting idea

Is anyone looking for ideas to help with their stash busting?  Anyone doing a stash busting report on Judy Laquidera's blog?  How about this one for great stash busting?  Make sheet sets.  It's a great way to use large amounts of fabric.  If you decide later on that you really want the fabric for a quilt you can simply cut up the sheets and make a new sheet set from something else. 

It was after type-talking the other day about how my grandmother used to make her own sheets that it occurred to me, I can do the same thing.  Well, actually, I could have done this many years ago and didn't.  I always felt my quilting stash was just for quilts.  I would buy other fabric for other stuff.  I think much differently these days.  My quilt fabric does absolutely nothing just sitting on a shelf or in a box or in a bag.  It's better to make use of it.  Then when it's done it's work for a while, the fabric can be cut up to become quilts..... just like women did in the older days. 

The white fabric in the picture is actually pieces for my window quilts that I'm finally getting around to replacing.  The cream color fabric will be my sheets and pillow cases.  The burgundy fabric and the leaf fabric will be the trim.  I plan to make some sheet sets from more colorful fabrics too.  I just happened to have more of these fabrics than anything else right now. 

I used white fabric for the window quilts so I have the option to dye them later if I want.   My sheets will be flat instead of fitted.  I could make fitted because I do have a quantity of elastic.  I prefer to make the flat because they are easier to fold and store than the fitted ones.  Flat is also easier to use for quilts later.  I'll use hospital corner folds when putting the sheets on the beds.

I plan on using my fabric stash for other things too.  Lots of other things!  You'll see it right here on this blog as I get more done. 

Helpful hint for bobbins

I'm working on a quilt.  The thread I want to use is on a bobbin.  (It's left over from a "quilt upside down" project.)  I don't have a full spool but the amount on the bobbin is enough for what I need for this quilt.  There's no place on the machine to hold a bobbin so I can use it like a spool.  What do I do?  Repurpose of course!

I found these items around the studio.  Two empty spools and a nail should give me a good temporary bobbin holder attachment.

The nail will go this way in the smaller spool.

A bit of hot glue to hold it in place.

Be sure to hold it centered while the glue cools.

Now put the smaller spool, upside down, inside the small end of the larger spool, with the nail up.  Like this.

It fit perfectly and tight enough to stay in place without any hot glue.  Now the nail becomes the bobbin holder.  The flat part of the smaller spool become the platform for the bobbin to sit.

The whole thing fits right onto the regular spool holder of my machine. 

This is a great way to use left over bobbins of specialty thread as the top thread on a quilt.  Hmm... it would work to help empty some of those extra bobbins of thread colors too.  You know, the dozen or so of one color you wound because you couldn't find the ones already wound?

Plastic bag drying line

There was a time when backyard clothes lines would be seen with bread bags hanging and drying.  You know, back in the days when clothes lines were in every one's back yard.  Not many things came in plastic bags back then but bread did if you bought it.

Well yesterday as I was flash freezing meat I ran out of freezer bags.  Normally I just put the store package inside a freezer inventory bag but this meat came in large family size packages.  I had to make smaller one person sizes before freezing it.

It was only a couple of years ago I had sworn I wouldn't wash and reuse freezer bags.  I've since come to my senses and realized I need to reduce my carbon footprints.  I started washing and reusing my freezer bags a few months ago. 

The last few days I've been drying frozen vegetables and keeping the bags.  I thought, well hmm, the bags are made for the freezer so why not reuse them to package the meat?  I do double bag so these should be fine.  First I should wash them, but where can I dry them?  I have an idea for making a drying rack.  Nope, can't do that, I don't have the time right now because I have a fair entry quilt to finish.

So, I made myself a temporary plastic bag drying line.  I put two small nails just inside my cabinets.  One on either side of my sink.  Then found a piece of elastic to use as the line.  I thought about using bungee cords but mine were too short.  I needed something that could be stretched fairly tight but is temporary.  I want it out of the way when I'm through with it.

Here the bags are all washed and hanging from their very own drying line. 

 

The bags are now washed, dried, and used as the inside wrapping.  I used twist ties to close each bag.

Now it's double bagged and ready to list on my freezer inventory then return to the freezer.

Oops!  I just realized I didn't write down how many pounds I have so I can list it on the inventory sheet.  The original package is gone so I can't look at it.  Garbage was picked up already.  Hmm.... I think I should write "food scale" on my list of items to look for at the thrift store.  I've been wanting one for awhile. 

So how about you?  Are you doing your part to reduce your carbon footprints?  It could save you money.

Checking in

It seems like forever since I posted on this blog.  I haven't forgotten about it.  I've been busy getting my house back in order after my daughter and grand-daughter moved out.  I did start a new piece of cardboard furniture.  It's going to be a breakfast bar in my kitchen.

I will be posting the steps along with photos as I create it.  I'll create my furniture based on my own household needs.  A breakfast bar seems to be the most current need right now.   This will NOT be a quick project for me because I have many quilt UFOs to complete.  Cardboard furniture is a hobby..... quilting is my income. 

I hope to post a new step every couple of weeks as it gets made.  Those of you interested in how cardboard furniture is created.... so you can do your own.... this will be for you.  As you follow the steps you will learn the strengths of how cardboard furniture is created.  Once you know this.... you can design and create your own custom made furniture.

Hmm.... I guess I really should finish making the changes to this blog.  TIME!  Gotta find time..........

Making room

I wanted to organize this drawer.  It's been bugging me for quite a while now.  I really don't like my stuff to be this disoranized.  I decided it was time to fix the problem.  I can't believe I let it get that disorganized.

Ok, I found this at a thrift store a few days ago. 

I found this at another thrift store.

 

Still one more from another thrift store.

I washed them thoroughly and this is what I did with them.

I have very little working counter space.  I like things to be handy but at the same time I can't have a lot sitting on the counter.  The space behind my sink had a way of catching large things that needed to be washed.  That was another problem for me.  I think I've solved both problems.  When I find time I'll paint them a pretty color so they all match..... maybe.  I kind of like them as they are too.

Old phone books and wash cloths

I've removed the posts about the $10 a week grocery challenge. I realized it doesn't matter if I set a limit on my own spending.... what matters is the original focus of my blog. My blog is about telling my frugal story. It's the closest I will ever come


to being a real writer. With my blog I can talk about what I do to save money, regardless of the reasons. If a visitor happens upon my blog; all that I have written will be here to see.

Here is one thing I do to save money. I bought myself some el cheapo wash cloths. $2.99 for a dozen. I know these will shrink and go wonky when washed and it doesn't matter. I would have preferred to make my own out of something I already had around the house. I needed these in a hurry. I can look around for an alternative and make more later. Perhaps out of old night gowns or old flannel sheets? Hmm.... maybe left over t-shirt backs?





What do I need these for? These are a replacement for paper towels. These dry hands and wipe up spills just as well as paper. Actually, better. My daughter uses paper towels and I'm trying to convince her to stop spending money on paper to throw away. Think about the costs. A 6 pack of paper towels costs around $8. If you use 6 rolls a month then you are spending about $96 (not counting tax) a year for something you will only throw away. Do you really want to throw away nearly $100? I sure don't.... I'd rather buy quilt fabric with it.

Ok, what do I do about spilled icky stuff that must be picked up from the floor? Well old phone books work just fine for icky stuff. They are destined for the landfill anyway so why not give them a second life first?

What about soaking up grease from fried foods? Who says it must be soaked up into something? Are there grease police hanging around someplace? Isn't it enough to just drain the grease away? For draining grease from fried foods I use this. Actually, I have several different sizes. My favorite is a splatter screen because it's largest and it's flat.

If you are struggling to make ends meet think about what disposables you are buying that can be replaced. An extra $8 a month for food can go a long way.

Gift tags

I was thinking about gift tags yesterday. I knew I wanted something unusual for my grandkids so I did an internet search and came up with this idea.

I made one from a dollar bill just to get the folding right then I used magazine pages to make more. I could have used file cards to cut simple shirts (or dresses) and colored them with crayons but I like these better. Hmm... I probably could print something out on the computer too. Naw, I still like these better. The dollar bill ones will be for my grandkids and the paper ones will be for other people. I'll attach a piece of paper on the back with names.

Paper bows

Everyone knows about using newspaper as a free alternative for gift wrap... right? Why spend money on something that has nothing whatsoever to do with the gift inside? The money saved by not purchasing

wrapping paper could pay for something else. Maybe a gallon of milk or an extra pound of ground beef? Wrapping paper in most homes only lasts as long as the gift is still wrapped then it gets thrown away.
.
I'm going a step farther and making my own gift bows too. These are made from phone book and magazine pages. Who cares if the wrapping paper and bows come from free items? What's important is the gift inside.


Here is a good site with instructions for making bows. Simply change from ribbon to paper for your own bows.

Forgotten dreams revived

.

There is simple pleasure in spending time tearing up little bits of paper with a grandchild. Nothing need be said.... it's the joy of simply being together that matters.

There is satisfaction in seeing fruit of the season sitting on a table ready for anyone who wants some. It will be even better when I again see vegetables that are taken right from my own back yard.

There is happiness in a bag of hot chocolate mix I put together myself instead of buying a box of already mixed stuff.





There is something satisfying about looking at an item that is ready for the trash truck and coming up with a useful purpose for it.

Or maybe the other way around. There's something I need? I come up with an alternative. Sure, I could have bought a plastic container that would last a long, long time. It wouldn't have as much meaning as one I make myself from something I have laying around.

People must think I'm crazy giving up my quilting income when the cost of absolutely everything keeps rising. Gas prices keep going up (I think) which means that food prices, clothing prices, and just about everything else is going to cost more because of transport costs. Electricity and gas are higher, water is higher, rent is higher..... and so is unemployment.

.

It's simply not fair! The American dream of owning a home, having a decent paying job, and living comfortably depends on the price of gas. Or does it? Exactly what is America's obsession with so much stuff? We want cars, boats, tvs, and very big houses. Big houses mean much more room for all our accumulation of stuff. Run out of room for our stuff? Get a bigger house. Along with the bigger house comes bigger costs. Utility bills get higher to heat the extra space. Tax bills get higher to pay for the extra space. Cleaning and organizing time is longer for all the extra rooms. We must work more hours to pay for more which leaves no time for actually enjoying all our stuff.

.

Instead of starting out with a small house everyone wants to start with the biggest house they can get. Even taking the chance of loosing their investment later because it's more than they can reasonably afford. I'm so thankful I had the good sense to buy a small house when I bought this one. I had a choice of other houses. The real estate man and the mortgage company said I could buy a much, much bigger house but I chose this one because it was small. I wanted a house that would still be mine if the economy got bad in the future. Wow, was I psychic or what? Truthfully, I was really worried I might have a major illness and couldn't work. What would I do then to keep a roof over our heads?

.

I had such big plans when we moved out of a homeless shelter and into our own home again. That was 27 years ago and another story. 27 years??? Geeze, so much lost time! This house was perfect for the plans I made. I wanted to be as self sufficient as possible in a city environment. I wanted solar electric and solar hot water. I wanted a garden and lots of storage space for preserving my harvest. I drew up plans for everything. Heck, I even had plans on how to catch rain water to use.

.

I got caught up in the race to keep up with the Jones' and none of it ever got finished. Hmm... that's not the only reason nothing ever got finished. A lot had to do with muscle power. I had the ideas but not the muscle strength to make it happen. I could never find a handyman who believed as I did. I wasn't looking for romance.... I still grieved my husband who had passed away. I wanted a simple friend who believed in the same dream. I would share my skills of canning or sewing in exchange for his muscle power to dig and construct things.

.

My dream has just taken a lot longer to get started than I originally planned. A few months ago I gave up my quilting income so I can finally start doing the things I wanted to do so many years ago. It's time for me to get back to the things that really matter in my life. There are lots and lots of people who share the same vision.

.

To simplify and enjoy life again.

Refigerator magnets

.
You probably have some of these hanging around the house? Mine came on the front of phone books. Do you just throw them away? I don't. Magnets have some good uses around the house. Here's one.




Get yourself a strip of fabric and a strip of fusible web. They should be just slightly larger than the magnets.

Press the fabric to the fusible web. Lay the magnets, picture side down, on the fused fabric.

Cover with your pressing sheet.

Iron the magnets to the fused fabric. Then cut out a design if you want. It could be any shape or just left as squares. I cut wavy edges.

Now I have some handy coasters in pretty colors. It's easy to keep them conveniently ready to use by sticking them to the refrigerator.

Slippery templates and rulers?

I thought the quilters reading my blog might want to see more helpful hints for quilting. I wanted to come up with a catchy phrase like other blogs have. I've seen some like Tool Time Tuesday or Design Wall Monday. Lots of good ones out there. I just couldn't come up with one for me.

Since I hadn't been quilting (or anything else) for several days it was difficult to come up with a new hint for you. Well, the floors are done except for the bathroom / laundry room. Most of my things for the studio are moved back in. At least enough so I can function. I had also gotten side tracked with several other frugal living tips.

Let me ask you.... Have you ever gotten aggravated when you are cutting fabric with your rotary cutter and your ruler slips a bit? Have you used a plastic template for machine quilting and it just doesn't want to stay perfectly lined up? There is a plastic film you can purchase.... hmm, I can't remember what it's called... but it's clear and you cut it to fit the template or ruler. It keeps them from slipping.

Hmm.... I've bought that plastic film before and it didn't want to stay put either. Way too much money for something that only works part of the time. So here's a cheaper alternative. Rubber cement. This one is acid free, photo safe, and costs about $1 a bottle. One bottle goes a long, long way.

Simply coat the back of your template or ruler and allow to dry overnight. It dries clear enough you can see the lines and numbers. It won't harm the plastic and it can be easily removed by rubbing with your finger. It's a temporary fix for slipping. It will eventually rub off with use. When using this on your template or ruler just be sure to pick them up to move instead of sliding. Sliding will roll the rubber cement right off. Oops!

.

If you are putting this on very large rulers or templates it's best to put the cement in spots rather than all over. Put in just enough places to keep the ruler from slipping. Rubber cement doesn't dry completely. There's a stickiness to it even when dry. This helps with the slipping too.

Recycle? or re purpose and up cycle? Just words.

.

It's hard to be creative when new floors are going in and nothing is where it's supposed to be.

While at the same time there is equipment like this in my creative space.

I am always thinking thrifty even in the kaos. I've told you how I sometimes save money in micro amounts? Well here is one example. I bought two new pillows on my last shopping trip. How is that thrifty? It's not the purchase of the pillows.... it's what I do with the plastic bags. It's going into a landfill anyway so why not save myself a few pennies.....

by using it as a garbage bag?

I calculated that garbage bags in my favorite brand cost about .04 cents each. So from two pillows I saved a whopping .08 cents. But these are only two bags I will use for trash. Sometimes I get large plastic shopping bags which are the right size. I usually ask the clerk to double bag for me. That's another .08 cents. Multiply this by 25+ times a year and I get enough in savings to buy a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread..... or better still.... a fat quarter of fabric on sale.

.
I have other thrifty things planned for this blog as soon as the construction dust settles. I've managed to quilt some plain fabric for window quilts. Nothing fancy - just quilted. I'm going to do a tutorial on how to attach the quilts to the window so they go up and down like a shade.

I hope to do a video tutorial of how I practice drawing a design so I can stitch it freehand with the machine. I first have to remember the steps for getting a video into a blog. I've forgotten. I also plan to show how I take an old sweater and create gloves, a hat, and a vest from it. No knitting required. Just sewing. There are several other things too.

I've always used the word "recycling" but recently realized I should be saying "re purposing" or "up cycling" when talking about making something out of an otherwise thrown away object. Geeze, it's hard for an old person to keep up with the new trendy words. At any rate, I hope I don't loose any of my blog readers before I get back to posting regularly.

Got batting scraps?

If you are like me and have these small strips of batting scraps left over after quilting; here's a great use for some of them. Swiffer sheets.




Instead of cutting the batting to look like a regular swiffer sheet that is held by the push in X spots..... cut them longer and sew a pocket on the ends. This holds it to the swiffer sweeper much better. I cut them 5" X 14" and folded over 2" on each end to fit mine. It's always best to measure your sweeper before making them. 6 covers took me a total of 10 minutes to make including the set up of my machine.

The healing power of vinegar

Vinegar is a very versatile stuff. For some reason I seemed to have forgotten exactly how useful it can be until a few weeks ago. I guess I fell into the advertising media hype as I grew up. Instead of sticking with the tried and true I started buying ready made things the advertising media tells us we "must have".



Don't get me wrong, I keep vinegar in the house all the time. It's one of my favorite cleaning supplies. What I had forgotten was what a useful item it is for the body as well. What do I mean?
It's like this. A few weeks ago in my wandering around the net I came across some bloggers who were going poo-less. They were switching from shampoo and rinse to using baking soda for shampoo and vinegar as a rinse. DUH! How could I have forgotten this simple thing? We used these back when I was young. Actually we used baking soda, egg, and homemade soap for shampoo. We mixed one egg, a half teaspoon baking soda, and a bit of soap together right before washing our hair. But the rinse...... it was plain vinegar. No water was added and it wasn't rinsed out either. The smell goes away when your hair dries.

Anyone in this area knows the knot of hair on top of my head. When I unwind the knot, my hair goes all the way to the floor. It's thin from age which is why I can get it all in one small knot. I have extremely dry skin and that includes my scalp.

So a few weeks ago I decided to go poo-less too. I followed the simple idea I found on so many blogs. Here is only one place to read about it.... going no poo. You can do an internet search and find this idea in hundreds of places. For about 12 weeks now I've been poo-less. My hair feels great and has some of the youthful shine again.

Why did I decide to go this route? Well it was not about saving money but simply because I remembered I didnt have a dry scalp when I was young. I thought.... why not give it a try again to see what happens. Can't hurt. In the process I realized that my back no longer felt dry and itchy either. Because my hair would hang down my back as it dried. Getting the vinegar on my back as it soaked through my shirts.

Next I tried straight vinegar on my painfully dry elbows. I used a cotton ball soaked in straight vinegar. At first the skin formed a film, sort of like you have when you get sunburned, right before you skin peels. I kept using the vinegar for about a week. When the film peeled off by itself..... nice smooth soft skin was underneath. No more painful elbows!! I had tried just about everything to heal my elbows. Lotions, creams, soaps, vaseline, diaper cream, etc. You name it I had used it.

Now days I use the straight vinegar in a spray bottle after I finish my shower. I spray my whole body (except my face), stand there a few seconds to let it soak into my skin, then dry off as usual. Ta da! No more itchy skin. I also used vinegar to heal my dry cracked feet. Dry skin is troublesome for a diabetic. Especially on the feet. I use a cotton ball to apply vinegar to my face. The smell takes my breath away for a few seconds. Fanning my face helps it dry faster.

So why does this work? I'm not exactly sure. Something about the PH of skin I think. Vinegar may not help everyone with their dry skin. It's certainly worth a try; but, on a small place first.... like your elbows. If you don't get any adverse reactions to the small area then expand to other areas too.

Please note that the recommendation is to rinse out the vinegar from your hair. I don't. I also use regular vinegar but others say to use apple cider vinegar. Do a little research before actully giving this a try... ok? Start with the link I gave you above.

Aqua doodle eraser?

You may have heard about using an aqua doodle to erase the blue water erasable pen marks? Well I got frustrated having to refill that dang thing so often. I decided to find an alternative and this is it. A plain ol' glue pen that I simply rinsed out really well.



It has a marvelous felt tip just right for erasing the pen marks. I was surprised when the printing on the outside came off too. I do have to refill it eventually but this lasts a good long time.