Learn How to Make Fabric Sunflowers - DIY Summer Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make fabric sunflowers on wooden stems. These flowers have pinked edges and raw edge applique and looks great in vases, window boxes, or flower pots!

For this project you will need:

• main fabric
• fabric for centers
• leaf fabric
• polyester fiberfill stuffing
• pinking shears
• hot glue gun
• wooden skewers , dowel, or craft stick
• fabric clips or pins
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• sewing machine and matching thread
• marking pencil
• optional: glue stick, lightweight interfacing, stabilizer
• printable template from the pattern

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital PDF download with step by step written directions, color photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more stuffed shape ideas? Check out some of out other projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make these cute fabric sunflowers!

#EtsyCreatorCo

Learn How to Make Easy Fabric Flowers - a DIY Spring Project

In today's tutorial we will learn how to make easy fabric flowers on wooden stems. These flowers have pinked edges and are a great project for beginners. Put them in a vase, a window box, or use them for a bouquet!

For this project you will need:

• main fabric
• fabric for flower center
• leaf fabric
• polyester fiberfill stuffing
• pinking shears
• wooden skewers
• hot glue gun
• fabric clips or pins
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• sewing machine and matching thread
• optional glue stick, lightweight interfacing, stabilizer 
• printable template from the pattern

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital PDF download with step by step written directions, color photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more stuffed shape ideas? Check out some of our other projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make these cute easy fabric flowers:

#EtsyCreatorCo 

15 Year Blog Anniversary

Happy Blogiversary to me! This was the day I was planning on celebrating 15 years of this blog. It was back in March 2011 when my first post began:

So the last 18 months have been rough.

So I was excited to make today's anniversary post all about how much more amazing these last 18 months have been. About the many solo adventures I've been on. About how hubby and I just got back from our third consecutive winter at sea and it was the best one yet. About how life has changed for the better over the course of all these years. And about how I was getting on another cruise ship tomorrow and heading to Hawaii. 

But life has a way of getting in the way of plans.

While we made it through three months on a cruise ship sailing back and forth to Mexico without getting sick (now that's a feat!) hubby wasn't so lucky when we got back home. He had two random falls on the same day necessitating 911 calls, with the second fall requiring an ambulance ride and emergency room visit. No bones were broken but the X-rays did show something else. And did those additional abnormal tests, unstable vital signs, mental confusion, inability to walk, and 103 degree fevers show something too? 

Pneumonia. And sepsis.

The boy was sick and has gone nowhere but isolation for the last couple weeks. Thankfully I was allowed to hang out with him and be the go between as he's been unable to process what the medical team tells him or asks him. While his mental clarity improved during week two, his legs did not. With some pneumonia still in his lungs, today he was transferred to a rehab facility. Just like when his kidneys shut down so many years ago, starting today he'll be learning how to walk again.

So instead of a quiet hotel room in San Francisco tonight I'm in the quiet house. Instead of heading to Hawaii tomorrow I'll be heading back to the rehab center. Instead of celebrating 15 years of the blog I am contemplating. Contemplating life, home, work, and even the blog. I thought I had a new direction for it all but it appears it was just a detour. A very long and winding detour and one that may just drain the gas tank.

Thanks for listening. And thanks for 15 years and almost 4 million views - now that's something to celebrate!

A spectacular winter sunset in Cabo

Until next time, whenever that may be...

Learn How to Make a Rubber Backed Cat Placemat - a DIY Pet Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make a rubber backed cat placemat. Use your fabric of choice to make your cat or kitten's water and food bowl stylish. This project is easy for beginners and makes a great gift too!

For this project you will need:

• fabric
• rubber shelf liner
• Telfon foot
• fabric clips or pins
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• sewing machine and matching thread

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital PDF download with step by step written directions, color photos, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more pet ideas? Check out some of our other projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make this rubber backed cat placemat:

#EtsyCreatorCo

Learn How to Make a Keychain Pouch - a DIY Travel Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make a fabric key ring storage pouch. This homemade recloseable pocket is a storage solution you can attach to anything you need to carry around everything you need!

For this project you will need:

• fabric for pouch
• fabric scrap 
• iron on interfacing
• hook and loop tape
• ring or swivel hook
• fabric clips or pins
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• sewing machine and matching thread
• optional glue stick 

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital PDF download with step by step written directions, color photos, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more travel ideas? Check out some of our other projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make this simple keychain pouch:

#EtsyCreatorCo

Learn How to Make a Fabric Matching Game - a DIY Kid's Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make a fabric matching game. This project uses scrap fabric and makes a great activity for kids to keep them busy and entertained for hours. It is also easy for beginners!

For this project you will need:

• pairs of matching fabrics for fronts
• Fat quarter of fabric
• cotton batting
• pinking shears
• fabric clips or pins
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• sewing machine and matching thread

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital PDF download with step by step written directions, color photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for kid's projects? Check out some of our other ideas!

Otherwise, join us as we make this fabric matching game:

#EtsyCreatorCo

Learn How to Make Christmas Light Ornaments - a DIY Christmas Tree Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make Christmas light ornaments. This project is a great way to use up your fabric scraps to decorate your home and tree for Christmas. These ornaments make a great gift on their own, or use them to give your gifts a little Christmas cheer!

For this project you will need:

• fabric for light bulbs
• matching felt for light bulbs
• clothesline cord or ribbon for hanging
• fabric clips or pins
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• sewing machine and matching thread
• marking pencil
• printable template from the pattern

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital PDF download with step by step written directions, color photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more ornament ideas? Check out some of our other projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make these cute Christmas light ornaments!

#EtsyCreatorCo

Learn How to Make a Santa Gnome Tablerunner - a DIY Christmas Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make a Santa gnome tablerunner. This project uses raw edge applique, mitered corners, and an easy foldover binding. It is a great way to get your home ready for the Christmas season and makes a great gift too!

For this project you will need:

• fabric for appliques  
• fabric for inside border
• fabric for outside border
• front fabric
• back fabric
• cotton batting
• paper backed fusible web like HeatNBond Lite
• fabric clips or pins
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• sewing machine and matching thread
• optional basting spray, stabilizer, walking or free motion foot 
• printable template from the pattern

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital PDF download with step by step written directions, color photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more Christmas ideas? Check out some of our other projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make this Santa gnome tablerunner:

#EtsyCreatorCo

Learn How to Make a Set of Denim Ornaments - a DIY Seasonal Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make a set of upcycled denim ornaments. This project is a great way to use up your old denim and your fabric scraps. With pinked edges and raw edge applique on the trees, hearts, and stars, this is easy for beginners!

For this project you will need:

• denim 
• fabric scraps for applique 
• cotton batting
• paper backed fusible web like HeatNBond Lite
• ribbon or cord for hanging 
• pinking shears
• fabric clips or pins
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• sewing machine and matching thread
• marking pencil
• printable template from the pattern

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital PDF download with step by step written directions, color photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more Christmas ideas? Check out some of our other projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make a set of denim ornaments:

#EtsyCreatorCo

Disembarkation Day

Well, that’s a wrap on my 34 day long Ruby Princess cruise adventure.

Goodbye, Ruby Princess. Until we meet again!

The ship is so small from the plane!

I took the Princess shuttle to the airport today because for one person the $44 price works out just fine compared to a taxi. Plus the folks running the show are nicer to a person on a scooter than other transportation people we’ve used before. I was on one of the first busses out and had plenty of time at the airport to consider getting something to eat but wow, prices have skyrocketed. Only when I couldn’t go without anything to drink any longer did I break down and pay $5.84 for a Diet Coke from Burger King. 

Hey Jenn, another See’s!

It’s always hard to do wrap up posts so I’ll keep this one simple. So would I do this trip again? Absolutely. I would not change one thing. Just a few highlights:

*It’s always special sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and I never miss being outside for it.

*I enjoyed discovering new things - and old things - in ports. And eating and drinking there, too.

Arcade museum in San Francisco. So fun!

San Francisco Sourdough to take
back to the ship? Oh, yeah!

Double margarita in San Pedro? Dang, that was a lot!

Mai Tais at Duke’s on the beach in Nawiliwili? Yes, please!

Hanging with the guys in Mazatlan? You betcha. And excited we’ll be with them every week this winter.

*I loved staying in ports after dark. Cabo is always pretty and I thought San Diego was gorgeous until I saw Honolulu during a full moon.

Cabo San Lucas

San Diego

Honolulu

*I also loved spending almost every single moment outside. Whether off the ship, on my balcony, at the pool, or in the back of the ship, the vitamin “sea” was just what I needed.

And the sunrises and sunsets? Amazing.

So what’s next? Looks like fall has now come to Boise so that means winter on the Royal Princess is coming soon.

Boise, October 11

Boise, November 15

Then I’ll probably head back to Hawaii in the spring. I figure why not. Wouldn’t you?

Thanks for joining me for another solo trip. Bon voyage and happy sailing! (And since I’ll have a little extra time during the next couple weeks, happy sewing!) Until next time…