Day 18 - Sunflower Sewing on a Sunday

After putting the sewing room back together and after getting my fill of The Waltons on TV, I got to work on a new sewing project.

We've had an old wall quilt we picked up at the Idaho Youth Ranch Thrift Store years ago. It cost us no more than a couple dollars (cuz cheap is how I roll) so we didn't feel like we were wasting our money by hanging it outside. It has been on one of the walls of the front porch every summer, getting a little bit of rain and a whole lot of sun. Being it's now pretty well faded, Ed's been bugging me to make a new one.

I thought I'd only get so far as picking some bright new fabrics for a new one, but once I put on my headphones I really started to get to work. (Yay me for having batik fabrics to work with.) I knew I wanted to change the design so I looked at patterns in books and on the Internet. Even Ed got in on the action, sending me photos of ones he liked.

I went with none of those ideas and went with my own design. I still have more work to do, but I was able to make some good progress on a Sunflower Sewing Sunday.

Day 17 - A Leaky Faucet = A Messy Sewing Room

Well, what a topsy-turvy day it was. Or a mixed up room it has become. Or maybe it’s just a doggone mess I have on my hands. All thanks to the dang shower faucet.

This one...

The hot water side has leaked almost continuously for the past couple years. I’ve replaced it a couple times, had periods where I kept a screw driver in the shower so I could easily pop off the cap and tighten it (see the rust?) and even had a plumber come out to try and fix it. But he couldn’t get it. 

He did have a recommendation, though. A big expensive, $1,600+ recommendation. Thankfully today we were able to work around the high price tag, but not around the hard work. The day started with my sewing room being torn apart so he could access the shower - from the wall of my sewing room.

Since he was already tearing things apart in there to contain the leak we decided to upgrade to a single faucet handle. Pretty, isn’t it?

What’s not so pretty? The mess I have to clean up and the work I still have to do to make the wall look somewhat normal.

Oh yeah, and then I still have to put everything in the sewing room back in the right place.

What. A. Mess.

Day 16 - Back and Forth Sewing

It was a back and forth day of sewing. My mom and I did some back and forth texting about sewing, that is. Measurements, suggestions, and photos went both ways as we worked our way through our sewing project.

(Although I didn't send my messy photo. Probably shouldn't even show the mess I got myself into.)

What were we making? Face masks for ourselves for those times when we have to go out in public.

My mom used cotton fabric on the front and an old sheet as the lining.

I used the same fabric for both the front and the lining. My red and white floral one with the red binding doesn't fit as well so I'll give myself an F on that one.

I think I'll make a couple more of the good ones. If so, I'll turn one of them into an upcoming Tutorial Tuesday.

Stay safe out there. Wash your hands and keep those hands away your face. And wear a mask if you think you need to. Just don’t take them away from medical personnel and those who truly need them.

Day 15 - Do It Until You Can't Get It Wrong

A while back I heard a quote I really liked. I'm familiar with the practice makes perfect and practice makes permanent. This new quote made even more sense to me.

Do it until you get it right. Then do it until you can't get it wrong.

I searched everywhere today to find out who said it. I found several variations, but not the exact quote. (I'm thinking it was on an Oprah podcast but can't be sure.)

I wish I was getting close to living the quote when it comes to making throw pillow slipcovers for my daughter. I still have to measure and remeasure. Sketch and resketch a pattern. Turn the paper over and try again. Cut out paper patterns and arrange. And rearrange. And rearrange again. Sew seams and rip out seams. After the couple dozen slipcovers I've made her in the past year I should at least be able to get one of them right the first time through.

It still takes me most of the day to finally get two pillows done. Glad I have the time (and patience) to make pretty things for her house. I'm also glad I have a daughter who appreciates the work I'm doing.

Up next on the sewing machine is a project I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I'd have to make. But after seeing the doctor this week, it's one he thinks I should be wearing when leaving the house. 

Day 14 - The Longest Month Ever

March started out great. I taught my Cruising with Confidence class to a full house, only needing to spend a few minutes talking about Coronavirus. During those first few days of the month it was a distant issue on a distant ship in a distant country.

My, how things have changed.

I don't know about you, but March was by far the longest month of my life. The speed at which our lives were upended - and continue to be upended - is mind boggling. Exhausting, too. I'm afraid April won't be much better, but I am so very glad March is done.

I was expecting to end the month by finally getting myself to the doctor's office. I've been putting it off way too long, worried about being in a place with a bunch of sick people. With my primary doctor sharing space with the urgent care clinic my fear was warranted. They've just started sending patients with respiratory symptoms to another clinic so with March wrapping up I had to get in. As you can imagine, just like my grocery shopping last week, going to see the doctor was a surreal experience. Thankfully I came away with 10 more days of antibiotics.

As I was driving home from picking up my prescription I had a little talk with myself. I told myself I needed to really look around me. With traffic very minimal (at rush hour, no less), I could spend more time paying attention to the world around me and not the road. I paid attention to all the trees in bloom. To the spring flowers beginning to bloom in yards. I studied the dark clouds moving in.

Once home, after dinner and after dinner dishes were washed, I put my feet up in the recliner and we settled in for more episodes of The Waltons. I finally could relax, knowing March was about over and April would bring a fresh start. And that's when it hit.

The earthquake.

The 6.5 one, with an epicenter northeast of Boise.

As we each braced ourselves under the nearest doorways my only thought was we had picked the wrong doorways. I was on one half of the double wide and Ed was in a doorway on the other half. If our manufactured home slipped off the blocks he would go one one and I the other.

Thankfully the home stayed put.
Thankfully only a clock and picture fell.
Thankfully it was a rolling, not a shaking, earthquake. A movement like being on a cruise ship.
Thankfully our daughter was safe and her gas lines were intact.
Thankfully so far all the multiple aftershocks haven't required doorway protection.
Thankfully March is over.

I am working hard at going into April with a clear and calm mind, body, and soul. Let's start it with the colors of my world from yesterday. Yep, even the dark clouds. Because today is a new day and the sun is shining.

Let's keep it that way.

 

 

Make a Denim Heart Potholder - Tutorial Tuesday

Make Your Own Homemade Denim Heart Potholder in Minutes

For today's Tutorial Tuesday I'm up with another heart sewing project with recycled denim. We all need a little love right now so let's coordinate it with the heart coasters we made a while back.

For this project you will need:

• denim
• cotton batting
• Insul-Bright
• cotton fabric for heart
• cotton fabric for loop
• Basting spray or Clover Wonder Clips,
• Pinking shears
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Heart template from here

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.

Looking for something else? 

Check out some of my other Valentine's Day sewing and crafting projects!

Ready for the directions? You can find the step-by-step how to tutorial for the homemade denim heart potholder sewing project right here:

Day 12 - Slowing Down the Machine

As I was sewing along on my machine today, I realized I sew too fast. It’s not because I like sewing fast, but because I usually have set myself an unrealistic target date. Or I’ve gotten in over my head, trying to get too many charity kids quilts or stockings for soldiers sewn. (Remember the year I made 625 of them? Yikes.) But not today.

Today’s project was another one for my daughter. I regularly supply her with themed throw pillow covers for her couch. Slip cover pillow covers, if you will. Being I most likely won’t be able to see her until after the lockdown, I took my time with my sewing. In fact, I didn’t even do all four today - just the reds. The flower ones will have to wait. It was quite a nice feeling to be able to take my time and not feel rushed.

Slow and steady wins the race today.

Day 11 - Not Exactly Olivia Walton

Between the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and tending to the children, many times Olivia Walton could be found doing some hand sewing. But me today? Between the cooking and laundry and scrubbing of cabinets and washing of dishes I could be found with my feet up in the recliner, watching The Waltons marathon on the Hallmark Channel's free preview.

If you’ve never watched The Waltons, you should. It’s a TV series from the 1970's set during the Depression. The lessons they learned back then may wind up being relevant to our lives in these tough COVID-19 days.

Day 10 - Below the Clouds

Today should have been the day we would be looking at the clouds from above. We should have been on a flight to San Francisco on our way to join the Grand Princess tomorrow.  But as we know, not only were all cruises cancelled, the ship is still under quarantine and anchored off of San Francisco. Our crew member buddy is among hundreds still onboard, locked down in passenger cabins, with temperature checks twice a day.  Thankfully he’s stayed well (at least physically) throughout the ordeal. An ordeal with an unknown head-home date.

When I look at those I know around the world, I’m thankful I’m safe and sound in my own home. Whether I am able to see the clouds from above or below, I know I’m one of the lucky ones.

Day 9 - Cancellations x 2

As I mentioned on my weird Monday, the one where mayonnaise splattered everywhere at the checkstand (and on me) at the out-of-the ordinary grocery store trip, we had a plumber come out and take a look at our shower. We've had a leaky faucet for a couple years now. I've replaced it myself more than once and it seemed to help, but many months ago it started up again. Everything I knew to try (or read about on the Internet) told me the permanent resolution was above my pay grade. We've been traveling so much we're never home long enough to worry about a permanent solution. Since we're not going anywhere anytime soon it was time to tackle the issue.

The plumber tried. He really did. But even after running to the plumbing store for additional materials he couldn't get it. His only recommendation was a biggie, one we didn't expect to be such an expensive and time consuming solution. It would require working inside the wall behind the shower - from the other side of the wall. After being shell shocked at the $1,600+ price tag from the plumbing company we came to another arrangement. A plumber willing to work on the weekend, me doing some prep work beforehand, and a cash only job.

As much as we wanted the plan for tomorrow to go ahead, I had to cancel. I’ve thrown DayQuil and NyQuil and some antibiotics from Mexico at whatever it is making me feel not the greatest. As my symptoms don’t qualify me for you-know-what kind of testing I’ve decided to try and keep plugging along. And cancel any human interaction for now.

Cancel like the cruise line did on us earlier this month. (Which I completely support as the right decision, by the way.)  I check my account frequently to see if we've been credited for the cancellations. While no credit is yet showing, they really don’t need to be rubbing it in our faces. When I logged in today I see they are still showing the upcoming cruise on our account. Dang them!