The Friday 15

The other day I was going all KonMari on my daughter as I was helping her organize and tidy her den. (So proud of kiddo - six big garbage bags of things left their home!) As I was working with her as she culled her books, it occurred to me I had forgotten about some books at my own home.

Just a couple weeks ago I bragged about going from all these books and bookshelves:

down to just these few books:

But I forgot about all my kids books and teaching materials. When I left the classroom years ago I got rid of hundreds and hundreds of books. But I kept a couple containers of books and materials. Things I thought would come in handy someday when I had grandkids. 

Well, no grandkids yet. And a realization that even if and when grandkids arrive, I really didn't need everything I had kept. So the other night after hubby had gone to bed I went through the closet and the containers. I did keep a few things (can't get rid of that set of Dr. Seuss books - that's an order from my daughter), but I can happily report today's Friday 15 is actually a Friday 101. Yep, 101 books and materials that had been important to me over the last 30 years will no longer be mine. 

I just noticed something about the picture. Since less stuff = simpler life = more free time it seems pretty ironic that the last book I put in the stack was Teacher Tested Timesavers.

Make Fabric Covered Buttons and Magnets - Tutorial Tuesday Flashback

In the spirit of simplicity I'm continuing to offer up some of my simple crafting projects from the past. Today's video is from my first official Tutorial Tuesday on August 2, 2011. Back then I could never have predicted that more than 36,000 people would be interested in this 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.

Click on the step-by-step tutorial video and learn how to make your own homemade fabric covered buttons and magnets.

Sewing for Good Sunday

First up, I did NOT mistake WD-40 for compressed air like I did last Sunday. Woo hoo. Second of all, I neglected to mention an important piece of information last week. The quilts I am working on will be going to the Quilts for Kids organization. It's a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming fabrics into patchwork quilts to comfort children facing serious illness, injury or trauma.

Let's see what I got whipped up for Quilts for Kids since last Sunday's Sewing for Good day.

Last week I finished this quilt top:

 And put together these blocks.

I still have more work to do with them, but right now those purple blocks are resembling a quilt top looking like this:

I also cut and did some stitching of these three fabrics:

 And they too now resemble a quilt top looking like this:

 I also sewed some kitty cat fabrics and white fabrics into strips. I think I'll be adding some white strips to the top and bottoms of them.

 And I also put together these two fabrics:

To make even more blocks:

Which I think I will use with this panel:

 It appears I now have five quilt tops in various stages of completion. It might be time to start to get the completion completed!

Cruising the Mexican Riviera

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Take a look at what else you can find here at Deb's Days!

The Friday 15

I'm an organizer. Anything I have in the house is placed just so. Straight lines, edges matching, labels facing out. I'm also a paper goods hoarder. I used to be, that is.

Just look at my basement from 2014.

While I don't hoard paper products anymore (don't have the space), I do tend to buy consumable items on sale in large quantities at rock bottom prices. I usually stick to tried and true brands but occasionally will branch out and try something new. Clearly this new brand of soap I purchased wasn't our favorite because look how many we still had that hadn't been used. It was almost enough to fill up my entire 15 for the week. My, oh, my.

I'm finally getting rid of them after way too long. How long have I had them? Well, here's the embarrassing part...I found my order from Amazon with a purchase date of June 2014. They've been sitting around here for four and a half years. Yikes!

No more though. Goodbye to 15 things that no longer serve a purpose!

Encouraging Words Project Excitement

I knew it was coming. The time was almost here. The February edition of Woman's Day magazine was coming out.

If you've been around here for a while you know the Encouraging Words Money Pocket Project is a biggie for me. I drop the little pockets everywhere I go. I’ve left them in restrooms and airplane magazines and sugar containers. I’ve left them in windowsills and tip jars and hotel room drawers. I’ve left them on buses and taxis and trains and cruise ships. And in shopping carts, store shelves, and doctor offices. Sometimes I place one somewhere once a day and other days I drop them off multiple times.

Why?

Because I know we all need a little encouragement at one time or another. I know that sending positive vibes out into the world will come back to me many times over. And I know in my heart that the world would be a better place if we fill it with positive ideas, words, and actions. 

This week was one when more people would be learning about what I do. But I had to go to the store to find out for sure. 

Yep, the February 2019 edition of Woman's Day was on the shelves.

I read through the Kindness Project deeds. Yep, mine is there.

Which makes today a day more people just might decide to try their hand at bringing kindness and joy to the world.

It also makes it a day that at least one person in Boise was in the right place at the right time, reading the right magazine on the right page.

Of course I left one in the magazine for someone else to find.

Want to know more about the Encouraging Words Project? Check it out here!

Make Scrap Fabric Christmas Tree Ornaments - Tutorial Tuesday Flashback

Like I mentioned last week, in the spirit of simplicity, on this month's Tutorial Tuesdays I will be sharing some of my most popular sewing and crafting videos of all time. (Don't worry, I'm still working on filming new ones for later.) Today's tutorial is from December 2011.

It was the day I talked about why live Christmas trees were so problematic for us. (Here's the original post from that day, in case you're interested.) It's the second most viewed tutorial I've filmed with over 77,000 views on YouTube.

For this project you will need:

• fabric scraps
• backing fabric
• batting or felt
• ribbon
• sewing machine
• matching thread
• Iron
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat

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 templates, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more Christmas sewing and crafting projects? 

Looking for more fun Christmas projects?

Check out some of my other patterns and tutorials!

Christmas may be over, but here is something for those wanting to get a jump start on next year. Click the step-by-step how to video and learn how to make your own homemade fabric scrap Christmas Tree ornaments: