Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Sew a Fabric Lanyard - Tutorial Tuesday

Homemade Fabric Lanyard Sewing Project

Tutorial Tuesday sometimes becomes more difficult than planned. On days like today when one of the kitties is sick and has to go to the doctor, on the same day when hubby had his home visit from a doctor, on the same day the three garbage trucks come through the neighborhood for the composting can, the recycling can, and the regular can. Trying to record a video and voice over is downright hard on days like these.

Today's project was a lanyard. Quick and easy.



Looking for more quick and easy ideas? Check out these projects!


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.

Find the step-by-step how to tutorial for making your own homemade fabric lanyard right here:

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Sunday Sew-In: Project Preparation

“I feel like every project I work on is a dream project, so long as I am learning.” 
― Simeon Kondev

Today's Sew-In wound up being a preparation day. I sketched out measurements and directions for eight different projects. Even got the fabrics cut for them! Guess Tutorial Tuesday is going to be a busy one.

Why so many different projects each week? Because I have some new books in the works and I need some step-by-step photos and videos to accompany them. A fun time!

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Cruise Ship Muster Drill


t's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about Muster Drill.

“I am repeating... It's not a drill,... It's real....” 
― Deyth Banger

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requires all passengers attend a muster drill within 24 hours of sailing. Like practicing a fire drill in school, a muster drill is a practice for an emergency. All passengers are required to attend. No matter how busy you think you are or how young your children are. No matter whether you are in a wheelchair or walk with a cane or dislike crowds. No matter how many times you’ve worn a life jacket in your life. No matter how many cruises you’ve been on before you must attend the muster drill.

Muster drills are held in the muster station, an area on the ship where passengers gather in case of emergency. Muster station information is located on the back of stateroom cabin doors and is printed on cruise cards.
Green signs around the ship indicate the way to muster stations.
An emergency broadcast alarm is sounded to call passengers to the muster stations for the drill and for a real emergency. This piercing alarm consists of seven short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship’s whistle. Upon hearing this alarm go to your designated muster station. Some cruise lines have life vests in cabins and require you to bring them to muster and some do not. Be familiar with the muster drill procedure on your specific ship by reading details in the first day's paper and listening to the directions of ship personnel.

When entering the muster station cruise cards are scanned by muster personnel. Scanning of cards by the electronic system assists crew in determining the attendance of passengers. At muster a presentation is made on what to do in case of an emergency. Do not even attempt to get out of the muster drill. We have had real-life emergency situations happen on cruise ships. In case of evacuation it is crucial for you to know where to go and what to do. It is in your best interest to take the muster drill seriously!

Other things to know:
  • Elevators cannot be used during the muster drill or during a real emergency.
  • If assistance will be needed in a real emergency let your cabin steward or the passenger services desk know so arrangements can be made. Special personnel are designated to assist passengers needing additional help.
  • Depending on the ship your muster station may be located outside by the lifeboats or somewhere inside the ship. Some muster stations have no seating and others have limited seating. If you are unable to stand for a long period of time let personnel know. If yours is being held indoors consider going to the muster station a few minutes before the scheduled time so you can secure a seat. The elevators will also be working beforehand.
  • Ships have enough lifeboats (and then some) to accommodate all passengers and crew.
  • Cabin stewards are responsible for checking each cabin. Don’t dawdle in your cabin during the drill.
Muster drills are something to be taken seriously. What would you do if the captain came on the loudspeaker and told passengers there was a fire in the galley and ordered all muster crew personnel to the muster stations? Would you know to get back to your cabin and dress warmly and pack a small bag with your medications like we did? Would you then know where to go to evacuate the ship? Would you know how to put on your life vest?  Every cruise we see people talking to others, texting, taking pictures, and even sleeping during muster. Don’t be one of them. We’ve sailed enough and had enough emergency situations happen on the ship to know how important the drills are.

Friday, March 2, 2018

The Friday 15

“That’s the only thing you can do with a mess. Start cleaning it up, a little at a time.” 
― Lisa Wingate, The Sea Glass Sisters

I certainly don't have a mess. But the fact that I still can find things to get rid of on Fridays tells me I still have too much stuff.

Today's 15:
Three eBay items.
Four stuffed fabric carrots.
One clipboard.
One bag of embroidery floss.
Five packs of candlewicking thread.
One box leftover from slides.

See ya later, stuff!

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Yukon Suspension Bridge, BC, Canada

It's Wanderlust Wednesday! Today we're talking about the Yukon Suspension Bridge in Canada.

(If you would rather watch a video instead of read this posting, take a look at this video here.)

It might seem strange to get off a cruise ship in Skagway, Alaska and wind up in Canada just a short time later.


Why come all the way to Alaska to just go into Canada? To conquer a fear of heights.

The population of Skagway runs around 1,000. During the summer season it doubles, but back during the height of the gold rush the population of Skagway was as high as 30,000. (I love the days when there is only one ship in town.)
A lot of passengers take the train trip when in port. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad – built during the Klondike Gold Rush – is an “International Civil Engineering Landmark” and shares honors with the Eiffel Tower, the Panama Canal, and the Statue of Liberty. 
Since we’ve ridden the railroad more than once we now skip it and do other things.

On this particular day the other thing involved a passport to get into Canada. A Klondike, suspension bridge, and salmon bake tour. As our bus headed into the Yukon Territory we had beautiful views.
Our close up glimpse of a bear was so close I couldn't even get the whole thing in the picture!
While I did enjoy the scenery and wildlife, I really was taking this excursion to the Yukon Suspension Bridge to conquer my fear of heights. It certainly was the best place to do it.

See that bridge over the canyon? That's where I'm headed.

As I got closer, my heart started beating harder. I was scared.
 Once on the bridge you can look down and see the water through the bridge. Even scarier.
After making it across the bridge you'd think my fear would have abated. But I have to walk back across it.
I talked to myself all the way. What did I say? Oh God. Take a step. Oh God. Take a step. Oh God. Take a step.

This afternoon was the time to overcome my fear of heights. I walked all the way to one side of the suspension bridge and all the way back across the same bridge. No one to hold my hand, no one to cheer me on. Just me and my fears. (Did you know suspension bridges move when people walk on them? Yikes.)

The trip was worth it. Fear conquered and just look the view from the middle of the bridge. Spectacular! Would I do it again? Absolutely!

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

DIY Fabric Carrots to Sew - Tutorial Tuesday

Need a quick and easy sewing project to decorate your home for spring or Easter? Make your own homemade fabric carrots!

Homemade Stuffed Fabric Carrots Sewing Project

My eyes have always been bad. Since fifth grade when I got my first pair of glasses, my prescription keeps changing for the worst. I can't see a darn thing without glasses. You'd think that at some point in my life I would have started eating carrots to help with the eyesight but I don't do carrots.

Eating carrots are a no-no for me, but sewing carrots is a yes. A nice and easy springtime project.

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.

For today's fabric carrot project you will need:

Looking for something else? 
Check out some of my other Easter sewing and crafting projects!

Otherwise, you can find the step-by-step how to tutorial for the homemade fabric carrots sewing project here:



Sunday, February 25, 2018

Sunday Sew-In: How to Make a Scrap Fabric Potholder

“She replaced her phone, closed her eyes, and forced herself to begin measuring flour, sugar, and butter. For some reason mental baking usually sent her right to sleep.” 
― Roisin Meaney, Semi-Sweet: A Novel of Love and Cupcakes

I love to bake. Cookies and cakes and fancy desserts. But I can't eat any of those things anymore so no baking here. Heck, I don't even cook. Breakfast? Yogurt. Lunch? Pepperoni stick, string cheese, and three crackers. Dinner? Usually a TV dinner or pizza delivery. We've gotten very, very, very lazy. It's cold, it's windy, and there is snow on the road. These are the days we go nowhere and do nothing.

Being today was a Sew-In Sunday, and being that hubby burns potholders on the heating element of our oven, I decided it was time for a new one. A potholder, that is. (Although a new stove is going to have to be not far behind.)

For this project you will need:
*all fabrics need to be 100% cotton

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.

The written pattern contains step-by-step how-to directions, photos, and a link to the video tutorial to make a 9" x 9" quilt-as-you-go potholder from fabric strips It's an instant digital download PDF pattern so you can get started on your project right away.

Looking for something else? Check out some of my other kitchen sewing and crafting projects!

I also made a zippered pouch, watched NASCAR on TV, and fed the baby kitties every three hours. A busy, not-lazy Sunday.