Welcome!

Hi, I'm Deb, and welcome to my blog! I'm a former school teacher turned crafter/cruiser/kitten foster parent. On any given day you'll find me doing at least one of those things. I've been putting down my thoughts (and taking plenty of pictures along the way) here on www.debsdays.com for several years now. Nowadays you can find my daughter joining me as we work on sewing and crafting projects on the blog, but what can you find here?

• Digital Downloadable Sewing & Crafting Patterns in my Etsy shop. Yep, you can access DebsDaysDesigns patterns on your computer or device without needing to go into a store!
• Free Sewing & Crafting Tutorials If you're looking for free sewing and craft projects - especially quick and easy ones - this is the place for you. You'll find links to directions, supply lists, templates, and clear, step-by-step how-to videos to accompany every single project.
• Foster Kitten Resources Having been a foster parent for the smallest of kittens these last several years, I've got a pretty good grasp on the early lives of cats, bottle babies included. On Fridays I share some of those tips, hints, and plenty of cute kitten pictures.
• The Kind Words Project To encourage myself and others to recognize the power within each and every one of us, I've been anonymously delivering kind words of support and inspiration, along with dollar bills. Putting positive and grateful thoughts out into the world has come back to me ten times over.
• The Picture a Day Project This is where it all started, taking a picture every single day. The plan was to go for 100 days, but somehow it crazily wound up being for 1000 straight days instead. Now that's commitment. Even did it again for 100 days during the pandemic.
• Cruising Resources. You'll find general cruise information, live trip reports, and posts relating to specific ships and destinations. With over 800 days on cruise ships, the first hand experiences I share are helpful for both new and seasoned cruisers. Every penny spent on travel comes out of my own pocket so the opinions and recommendations aren't influenced by anyone else but me, myself, and I. 

Looking for something else? Try out the search bar over to the right. Or email me by clicking on the icon below.

Happy crafting, cruising, and catting!
Deb

The Friday 15

Every week I think it'll be the last time I can find another 15 things to get rid of. Yet here we go with another 15 (and then some) items heading out of here.

Learn How to Sew a Quick & Easy Corner Bookmark - Tutorial Tuesday

If you have some fabric scraps to use up and you need a bookmark, this project is for you.

For this project you will need:

• Cotton Fabric
• Sewable version of Heat 'n Bond
• Iron
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Sewing machine
• 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 store as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for a different bookmark? 

Check out my other bookmark projects!

Otherwise you can just watch video directions for this quick and easy homemade corner fabric bookmark sewing project here:

Sewing for a Good Sunday

Yikes. Here it is 11:00 at night and I just realized I didn't report the progress on the quilts for the Quilts for Kids organization for today's Sewing for Good Sunday.

I got three of the quilts basted and two of those three completely quilted. Woo hoo! But the biggest excitement for me came about because I was too lazy to change the lead color in my marking pencil. I really needed to mark some squares in something besides white.  As I was contemplating the work it would take in dealing with those teeny tiny pieces of lead, it occurred to me.

Painters tape.

Yep, it works great as a template you can use without marking. It's the first time I used it but definitely won't be the last.

5 Free Things to do on a Sea Day

For years I delayed ever going on a cruise. I just knew I didn't want to be cooped up with a couple other thousand people, stuck on a ship at sea with nothing to do. I wanted adventure and exploration.

Now I know a cruise can provide me with adventure and exploration when we are in port. But I also can find plenty to do when we are at sea. Free things. 

Here are five to consider:

1. Learn something new.
There are plenty of activities every day to learn something new. How about a crafting class or dance lessons? Maybe tackle pickleball or learn how to plan the steel drum. You can even learn about the inner workings of the production shows by taking a backstage tour of the theater. Or perhaps find out how food is prepared by taking the galley tour. Many voyages also have guest lecturers talking about the history of the region.

2. Hang out by the indoor, outdoor, or adults only pool or relax in a hot tub.
Many ships have a large movie screen out by the pool running movies during the day and into the evening. Princess Cruises even broadcasts NFL football on Sundays on the big screen.

3. Drink for free.
While you need to pay for most alcoholic drinks on the ship, there are multiple opportunities to score free drinks. Think free champagne at the art auction and rum tasting in the shops. Maybe you will be that someone getting to drink the martini the crew made at the martini demonstration. And many cruise lines have special cocktail parties (with free drinks) for their returning guests, too.

4. Work out.
Look to the fitness room for help in staving off those extra pounds that seem to appear on a cruise. Treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, stair climbers, weight machines, and free weights can be found in a ship’s fitness room. You'll be glad you made a trip or two here when you don't have to squeeze into your clothes for the trip home.

5. Relax and enjoy the views. You catch a sunrise from your balcony

or find a nice chair on the Promenade deck

and watch the ocean go by.

Or head to the back of the ship and watch the wake.

Or catch a sunset at sea.

Whatever you choose to do, know that cruise ships at sea don't equal boredom.