Sunday, April 8, 2018

Sunday Sew-In

“I hate Sunday, and I don't think I'll ever get over it. But I'm going to try.” 
― Frank D. Gilroy, The Subject Was Roses

I used to hate Sunday. Sunday meant Monday, and Monday meant work. Now Sunday means I get to sew. And Monday means I get to sew some more. Or cut fabric. Or film a tutorial. Or write for upcoming books. In other words, not work.

Today's Sunday was filled with two projects. Actually, four. Two from an upcoming travel crafts book and two cute little black and white foster ones from Simply Cats.
Cutie patooties Cami and Sami.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Cruise Ports - Tendering


It's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about tender ports.

“To reach a port we must set sail –
Sail, not tie at anchor
Sail, not drift.” 
― Franklin D. Roosevelt

Unless your ship is at a port that requires tendering.

In some ports the ship may not be able to dock at the pier. The channel may not be deep enough for the ship or the piers could be full with other ships. The ship instead anchors offshore. Passengers are then shuttled back and forth from ship to shore in tenders. The boats used to tender are typically the ship’s lifeboats and in some cases, local boats.
Lifeboats are quite safe and stable.
Tenders, being small boats on ocean waters, can bump and move. The crew does a great job in assisting passengers with entering and exiting the tender. Follow their instructions. The movement felt on the tender will be more than is felt on the ship. Tendering can be a challenge for people with physical difficulties as tenders require steps to enter and exit and are not wheelchair accessible. Passengers with collapsible wheelchairs and foldable walkers and scooters who can navigate steps may be able to access the tenders. Full sized mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs are usually not allowed.

Don't want to take a tender to shore? Stay onboard the ship. Some of the most peaceful and quiet times can be had when everyone else is off the ship. While onboard shops are closed the pools are open, the buffet is empty, and the decks are clear. It’s like having your own private yacht for the day.
A private yacht day.
Excerpt from Cruising with Confidence: How to be a First Time Cruiser without Looking like One, 2nd edition.

Friday, April 6, 2018

The Friday 15

“Friday's a free day. A woman's day.” 
― Neil Gaiman, American Gods

Or a good day to get rid of a Woman's Day magazine!

And another magazine,
and four spools of thread,
and a placemat,
and four pieces of fabric,
and two tutorial projects,
and two things on eBay.

Friday is a free me day for me. I'm free of 15 more pieces of stuff.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

5 Things to do in Ensenada, Mexico

Today we're talking about what to do in Ensenada, Mexico. Learn five different activities you can do when you're visiting Ensenada on a cruise ship.

5 things to do in Ensenada, Mexico

The first time we ever took a cruise to Mexico we stopped in Ensenada. Just a couple hours south of San Diego but a world away. Actually, we didn't know if it that was true because we didn't get off the ship. And the next trip we stayed on the ship, and then the next. Yep, we were fearful American tourists who never stepped foot on shore. But then one of our crew member friends was celebrating his birthday in Ensenada and invited us to go along. Only then did we venture out.

Fast forward to now. How many times do we stay on the ship when it docks in Ensenada? Like, never. We've found lots to do - and found our fears about safety were unfounded.

If you want to venture out a bit either by car, bus, or taxi you can visit:
  • A winery? In Ensenada? The nearby valleys of San Vicente, Santo Tomas, and Guadalupe produce 90% of Mexico 's wines.
  • La Bufadora, The Blowhole.  The spout of ocean water is created when waves and air are pulled into an underwater cave and spit back out.
If you want activities within walking distance of port you can visit:
  • Hussong's Cantina is Baja's oldest bar still in use. It's also where the margarita was invented in 1941.
  • The Malecon is a nice waterfront walkway. The Malecon starts just past the ship's secure areas. We frequently see families out and about walking and sitting and playing with their kids along The Malecon. (We enjoy watching locals with their families.)   You'll also see Mexico's second largest flag there. (Although you can easily see the flag from the ship - it is huge.)
Large Mexican flag in Ensenada, Mexico
Walking The Malecon will take you to #5, the fish market.
  • Mercado de Mariscos - Fish Market. Northern Baja California 's largest seafood market, you can find all kinds of small and large fish here. Don't be surprised if you see a fisherman bringing a shark to market - using a wheelbarrow.
Shark meat for sale at the fish market in Ensenada, Mexico
Also near the fish market are lots of restaurants. Restaurants that just go next door to the fish market and purchase the fish for your meal.
Preparing red snapper at a restaurant stall in Ensenada, Mexico
Ensenada is home of the original fish tacos. With fish straight from the market you can't get much fresher. Cheap, tasty, can't-be-beat fish tacos. Yum.
Baja fish tacos in a restaurant stall in Ensenada, Mexico
Fish tacos in Ensenada is our top pick for what to do in Ensenada.
5 things to do in Ensenada, Mexico

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

How to Make Flower Button Magnets - Tutorial Tuesday

"When buttons came in, about 1650, people couldn't get enough of them and arrayed them in decorative profusion on the backs and collars and sleeves of coats, where they didn't actually do anything. ”
― Bill Bryson

And this week's project doesn't have buttons doing much of anything either. Except maybe holding up papers on the refrigerator. Buttons + scrap fabric + magnet + hot glue = super quick and easy spring project.


Homemade Fabric Covered Button Flower Magnets Craft Project

In addition to the standard crafting supplies, for each flower magnet you will need:

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 sewing and crafting content.


Looking for more craft ideas? Check out these projects!

Check out the step-by-step how to tutorial to make your own handmade flower button magnets:

Monday, April 2, 2018

MY BOOKS

Get your copy HERE
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Now an Audiobook

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Note: Some of my links are affiliate links. 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 the blog and allows me to continue to provide free content. I only recommend products I use again and again. Thank you for your support!

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Making Spring Flower Placemats and Table Runners - Sunday Sew-In

“We need solitude, because when we're alone, we're free from obligations, we don't need to put on a show, and we can hear our own thoughts.” 
― Tamim Ansary, West of Kabul, East of New York: An Afghan American Story

I like my Sundays. Actually I like my Mondays and Tuesdays and Wednesdays and .... These days - all of these days - are my alone times. I go to the sewing room in the morning, put on my headphones, and work. Every day. And it's great. (Actually, I'm not technically alone as I have kitties running around my feet and table and shelves. And that's great, too.)

Back to today's Sunday Sew-In. It netted two projects, a spring placemat (you can find the tutorial video for the spring flower placemat here) and a still-in-the works project table runner. (You can find the spring table runner tutorial video here.) My daylight is waning and prime photo taking and video recording time is coming to a close for the day. Alone time is done for now.

Sewing Room Storage

Want to know what kinds of products I use for storage in my sewing room? Here are my favorites.


ClosetMaid Stackable 15-Unit Organizer I have three of these.
Sterilite 3 Drawer Unit I have six of these.
ArtBin Super Satchel 1-Compartment Box I have four of these.
IRIS 6-Drawer Scrapbook Cart with Organizer Top I have two of these.
ClosetMaid Cubeicals Organizer, 9-Cube I have two of these.

Note: Some of my links are affiliate links. 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 the blog and allows me to continue to provide free content. I only recommend products I use again and again. Thank you for your support!


Disclosure

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 crafting, cruising, and foster kitten content.

Remember, I only recommend products I use again and again. 

Thank you for your support!

Essential Sewing and Crafting Supplies

Essential supplies for sewing projects

I get lots of questions about what tools I think someone who sews or crafts needs. I have plenty of supplies in my sewing room. Some I like, some I love, and some products are ones I'm brand loyal to. The only products on this page are my favorite, brand-loyal products that I use. You could walk into my sewing room now, 10 years ago, and 10 years from now and find these products in there.

So what supplies and materials (besides fabrics, of course!) does it take to make all the sewing and craft projects you see here on Deb's Days and in DebsDaysDesigns Etsy shop? It's a big list. 

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.

Sewing Machines 
I have the Singer 9960
My backup machine is the Singer 7285
My daughter has the Simplicity SA2400L
All have served us well.

Sewing Machine Accessories
Coats & Clark Dual Duty Thread

Friday, March 30, 2018

The Friday 15

“Simplicity is the peak of civilization.” 
– Jessie Sampter

If I had my way I would live off the grid, away from everyone and everything. Only own 100 things and have no extra of anything. While we've done a good job with cutting out the excess, every time I film a tutorial I wind up with extra "stuff". 10 years ago I probably would have kept everything I made.

But not now. The items either go to my mom, my daughter, or to the donation box. Sometimes it is hard to let them go because I really like what I've made but other times it is easy. It does get easier every time a Friday 15 comes along.

1 eBay item
1 big pile of extra elastic
1 big pile of extra hook and loop tape
A whole big bunch of tutorial items
Some miscellaneous things I used for patterns

And that makes 15. Easy peasy!

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

5 Things to do in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Today we're talking about what you can do when visiting the cruise port of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on your Mexican Riviera cruise.

5 things to do in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is frequently one of the ports cruise ships stop on the Mexican Riviera cruises. It's also a port where boats are plentiful (and busy). There is a lot to see.

1. Take a boat out to see The Arch (El Arco). This southernmost tip of Baja, California is where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet.

On your way you'll be able to see colonies of seals and sea lions sunning themselves. (Fun fact - did you know sea lions have ears you can see but seals don't?)

2. Take a water taxi to Medano Beach (Playa El Médano). You'll find plenty of beach vendors and places to eat. Or keep it low key and just hang on the beach. Be aware of water conditions, though. Swimming can be dangerous so keep an eye on flags posted on the beach (red is danger) to determine if it is safe to go in.

3. Stop by one of the numerous restaurants and bars for some food and drink. Cabo is a tourist town so English is spoken, water is purified, and U.S. dollars are accepted. (But change is often returned in pesos.)
Red snapper anyone?

4. Go snorkeling. You'll find fish here that aren't present in the Caribbean.

5. And if you're coming by cruise ship...Since Cabo San Lucas is a tender port, you'll have to take a boat from the ship to shore for your Cabo adventures. The Cabo port stops are frequently a half day so sometimes it might make sense to just stay on the ship. You'll have nice views of the town - and of the other ships anchored along with yours.
A couple other things to  know:
*Public restrooms aren't always free. You may be expected to give the attendant a dollar or some pesos. 
*No food or drink is allowed off the ship. No sandwich, no apple, no cup of coffee. Dogs check every single bag, backpack, and purse when you arrive from your tender. It will be confiscated.

5 things to do in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico



Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Fabric Covered Plastic Easter Eggs - Tutorial Tuesday

It was a couple weeks ago when it hit me. Easter is coming up fast. Which meant I needed to get a movin' on an Easter project. I've been working with some plastic Easter eggs and fabric trying to come up with something cute. My first attempt was a long, drawn out, messy failure. Then it hit me - time to go back to the old stand by, Mod Podge. 

Plastic Easter eggs + fabric scraps + Mod Podge = today's project. Just in the nick of time for Easter.


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 sewing and crafting content.

Looking for more sewing and crafting projects? 

Check out the tutorial to make your own scrap fabric and plastic Easter Eggs craft project:

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Sunday Sew-In? Snow-In!

“Snow in April is abominable," said Anne. "Like a slap in the face when you expected a kiss.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Ingleside

Well, it's not quite April but it's close enough. Close enough to April not to be snowing around here. But it is. So while I work on my typical sew-in projects of figuring out patterns, cutting fabrics, filming tutorials I also get to watch the snow fall. And you get to see a couple photos I snapped.
That's a band of snow hanging off my car's roof rack. Weird.
You also get a short video of the baby kitties. They don't weigh four ounces each anymore!

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Embarkation - Boarding a Cruise Ship

It's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about embarkation.



The day you get on a cruise ship (embark) is the same day the previous cruise’s passengers get off the ship (disembark). The ship must be cleared of every single passenger before new ones are allowed to board. A delay in the ship’s arrival, in customs, or in passengers not disembarking when advised can change the timing of when you can board. Bring your patience. Processing and loading 2,000+ people is not a quick nor easy process despite how many staff are present. Whether arriving earlier or later, there is usually a line. Getting to port too early will have you waiting at the terminal. Arriving too late may have you missing the ship. Arrive no later than two hours before departure.

The specific check-in procedure varies with the cruise line but the process generally follows an order:

1. Luggage Handling
One of the first things happening at the port will be the passing of luggage to one of the numerous porters. Keep the carry-on with you. Don’t hand over anything containing medications, passports, or cruise documents. The porters will load your luggage onto a cart. The carts are then transferred into the terminal. The luggage is scanned to check for weapons, alcohol, and other prohibited items. Bags will arrive at your cabin sometime in the afternoon or evening.

2. The Long Line
Around the same time luggage is dropped off the line begins outside the terminal. Lines can be long. Very long. Thousands of other excited people will be checking in within the same few hours. Sometimes you will be able to check in and go straight to the ship but other times you may be directed to a waiting area to sit until being called to board. Many times there is a backup somewhere, whether at the security line or at the check-in desk or in the waiting area. While being in line behind hundreds of other people might be enough to make you decide never to take another cruise don’t let it. The process may not appear smooth and it may not be fast and it may not seem efficient but it works.

3. Security Screening
A security screening occurs inside the terminal. As at the airport all items – keys, bags, phones, computers - are placed on the belt for scanning. Unlike the airport shoes aren’t removed and there isn’t a concern about all liquids fitting within a certain size clear bag. Passengers walk through a metal detector with additional screening occurring if necessary.

4. Health Questionnaire
At some point in the line or while at the check-in counter you will complete a short health questionnaire. It’s important to be healthy when traveling on a cruise ship so passengers are expected to be honest when answering the questions about gastrointestinal and cold and flu symptoms.

5. Checking  In
To expedite the time at the check-in desk have passports, cruise documentation, and health questionnaires out and ready. You may have to provide the representative with the payment method you plan on using for onboard expenses.

6. Cruise Card
At check-in each person is issued a magnetic strip card similar to a credit card. Your picture will be taken for the card. Your picture isn't seen on the card but when cruise personnel scan it they will see the photo on their device. Keep that card handy. It is your cabin key and your onboard "charge card".  It also helps in keeping correct counts and determining specific passengers missing after a port stop and is used to account for passengers during the muster drill and during a real emergency.

7. Boarding Photograph
One of the first of many photo opportunities happens before stepping on the ship. The embarkation photo is usually taken in front of a ship-themed background. There is no obligation to purchase this or any of the photos the ship photographers take of you. If not interested in having the picture taken give a simple no thank you and walk on by.

Once on the ship, it's time to enjoy!

Friday, March 23, 2018

The Friday 15

“The more material we lose, the less we have. The less we have, the more we win.” 
― Anthony Liccione

This week's Friday 15 was a breeze.

3 items sold on eBay.
9 leftovers from tutorials
1 flubbed key fob project
1 bag of leather making supplies. (At least I think that's what they are.)
1 pencil that lost its eraser went into the trash.
Another week of 15.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Golden Circle Tour, Iceland

It's Wanderlust Wednesday! Today we're talking about the Golden Circle Tour in Iceland.

“The problem with driving around Iceland is that you’re basically confronted by a new soul-enriching, breath-taking, life-affirming natural sight every five goddamn minutes. It’s totally exhausting.” 
― Stephen Markley, Tales of Iceland or "Running with the Huldufólk in the Permanent Daylight"

Being the travel planner/booker/arranger/idea person in my family, a cruise is actually the best chance I get at having a vacation. My work is done ahead of time and the ship does the rest. But there are times we like doing land vacations.

Iceland is one of those places. While cruise ships do go to Iceland, those voyages are expensive. And I'm cheap. So when the price over Thanksgiving Break dropped to bargain basement prices, we jumped on it.

Thank goodness. We soaked in the Blue Lagoon. Spent time in the cafes and restaurants in Reykjavik, saw the Northern Lights, and took a Golden Circle tour.

It was full day tour around Iceland's Golden Circle.
We checked out Crater Kerid where the blue water contrasted with the red and green walls.
We climbed hundreds of icy wooden steps to get great views of the Gullfoss Waterfall. We've heard new steps have since been installed.

Got sprayed by the Strokkur geyser. They don't rope those things off like they do in the US. Get too close and you'll get wet.

 Got to hang with some Icelandic horses. I called this one Tina Turner.
 Made a stop at Ãžingvellir National Park.


Which one thing was the best? Well, all of them.

As we saw the sunset over Greenland on our flight home, we knew we'd have to get there someday, too.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Make a Garden Apron - Tutorial Tuesday


For today's Tutorial Tuesday we are making this quick and easy gardening apron. Not a gardener? Turn it into a sewing apron, teacher apron, or a gift for someone else. It's a simple project great for anytime of year!

Handmade gardening apron

Makes an apron measuring approx. 11” x 21”

For this project you will need:

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 sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, and link to the tutorial video. 


Looking for more storage ideas? Check out these other projects!

Otherwise, you can just view the gardening apron tutorial right here:

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Sunday Sew-In

“Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” 
― David Allen

My thoughts are running rampant. Actually, not so much thoughts but ideas for projects. It seems Sunday Sew-In days have become Sunday ideas day. Ideas and measuring and figuring patterns and cutting fabric days.

Now I have another whole slew of projects to get going on.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Cruise Ship Onboard Medical Center

It's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about the Onboard Medical Center.

“Each patient carries his own doctor inside him.” 
― Norman Cousins, Anatomy of an Illness

Cruise ships have medical centers for urgent and not-so-urgent needs. The number of staff depends on the number of passengers and crew, with a larger ship having multiple doctors and nurses. The medical center typically has office hours with access to emergency services outside the scheduled hours. Services range from dispersing medications to cleaning wounds to running blood tests to taking x-rays. There may also be an intensive care room as well as a space to conduct surgery. (Performing surgery on a moving ship is not ideal so if it can be delayed it will.)

Medical treatment is not free. It will be billed to your stateroom account and you will be responsible for the payment and claim submission to your insurance company. Shipboard doctors are usually general practitioners so you may be referred to a specialist in an upcoming port for further consultation. Off-ship services aren’t billed to the shipboard account but are paid in cash up front to the onshore provider.

There is no guarantee your health insurance policy will cover the cost, but purchased travel insurance may be able to offset the expense of medical visits. It only takes one incident to realize the additional few dollars for insurance on a 10-night cruise is well worth the peace of mind to be had when sitting in an orthopedic surgeon’s office in Aruba instead of on the beach.
Not a beach.