Learn How to Make Your Own Candy Cane Ornaments - A DIY Quilted Christmas Project

For today's tutorial we are learning how to make handmade candy cane ornaments. With pinked edges, this project is an easy way to use up your scraps and decorate for Christmas.

For today's project you will need:

• red and white fabric strips
• backing fabric
• batting or felt
• ribbon for hanging
• Rotary cutter, Cutting ruler, Cutting mat
• Scissors and pinking shears
• Iron
• Sewing machine and Matching thread
• Template from the pattern

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 shop 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 projects? Check out some of my other tutorials:

Otherwise, join us as we make these super cute candy cane ornaments:

#EtsyCreatorCo

Snowbirds at Sea

Happy November!

It’s been a few weeks since I got home from my Super Sensational Solo Summer Adventure and boy, it’s been busy. We’ve been getting in all our medical appointments, service appointments, and making preparations for winter. Things would have gone smoother if I hadn’t gotten oh-so-sick a couple days after getting home. I thought Covid was bad but this was much worse and knocked me down much longer. But I’m finally starting to feel better so I can now turn my mind to my next adventure, snow birding on a cruise ship! 

Hubby and I will be making Discovery Princess our winter home for 100+ days, bouncing mostly between Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlan, Mexico. We also have some port stops in San Diego, Ensenada, and even have overnights in Honolulu and Kona, Hawaii. All ports we’ve been to before, thank goodness, as we both are in desperate need of some R & R. 

I saw the Discovery Princess when I was in Alaska. She's a big one.

We're very much looking forward to a few months with as little responsibility as possible, and in the spirit of no responsibilities I’ve decided not to blog the trip. I may (or may not) do a wrap up when we come home in the spring. Depends how things go, I guess?

So instead of posts about cruising, kiddo will use the blog to post the sewing patterns she and I worked on this fall, over the phone, because neither one of us felt well enough to get together in person. They’re fun patterns and we're excited to get them published. 

Looks like my cruising and crafting slogan will really be happening…I’ll be cruising while my crafting projects get published!

Happy sailing and sewing,
Deb

The Last Glitch

On the first day of my Super Sensational Solo Summer Adventure I ran into a glitch, thanks to the airlines.

On the last day of my Super Sensational Solo Summer Adventure I ran into a glitch, thanks to the airlines.

After seeing my last sunset at sea

and seeing my last cruise port arrival

Hello, Vancouver!

I was ready to head home. Off the ship with the first independent travelers with checked luggage, I tipped a porter $5 to take my lone suitcase, zip me through immigration and customs, and get me to the accessible taxis in a speedy fashion. A quick Saturday ride through the streets of Vancouver to the airport had me through check in (always a hassle because of the scooter) and security (also a hassle because of the scooter) and relaxing in the Maple Leaf Lounge by 9:55 AM. Not a care in the world, as it should be on the last day of my four month journey. 

Until my flight to San Francisco was delayed to the point where it was guaranteed I wouldn’t make my connection to Boise. After almost two hours of standing in line (well, for me sitting on the scooter) and the agent trying to work miracles for dozens and dozens of passengers trying to get to places like Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas, and even London, I got myself a new connection from San Francisco to Boise. 

For the next day.

I made it to San Francisco on my original flight long after my Boise flight took off. 

Wildfires in Northern California

Looking for the positive in the situation, I figured if a four month Super Sensational Solo Summer Adventure was great, why wouldn’t a four month and one day adventure be even better? Although the two vodka and cranberry beverages I had on the plane probably helped me come to the conclusion…

After waiting in a long line at United’s customer service desk in San Francisco I was texted a voucher for a night at a nearby hotel (I think I had three or four choices) and two $20 food vouchers. It’s all electronic these days. Who knew?!

I had a quick light dinner at the hotel and was asleep in my hotel by 8:30 PM. My next day flight was uneventful and the plane even made it to Boise early. 

Hello, Boise!

Kiddo and her hubby picked me up at the airport (yay!), took me out to lunch (yay!), and helped me get situated at home (yay!). Guess I didn’t squeeze too much adventure out of the extra day but it seemed like a great day anyway. 

So…what’s next for me? We have a couple busy months of doctor appointments, service appointments, and winter preparation. Then there’s preparation for our next trip. It’s another several months long one, and this one will have hubby in tow. See you on Thanksgiving Day for my next adventure!

Ketchikan, Alaska

Hello from Ketchikan!

Wouldn’t you know it, the weather on the last port visit of this Alaskan cruise was rainy enough where Scooter and I couldn’t go out. Even after the rain stopped in the late afternoon the sidewalks and roads were still too wet for us. Remember when we practiced driving in the rain before going out in Isafjordur, Iceland? Well, we learned a lesson about a scooter on wet surfaces back then so we were stuck onboard the whole day today. Actually, stuck is the wrong word. I’ve adjusted my attitude after hitting the wall yesterday and I was back to the whatever happens, happens way of thinking. It was a bummer though because we were docked in prime territory for getting into town. Right there at the Ketchikan sign!

But it’s ok. I preordered Domino’s for Ed when he’s watching Boise State’s football game on tv. I took a nap. I put a peanut butter cookie and a chocolate chip cookie on top of each other and ate them. I watched The Little Mermaid. I listened to the rain. I made a quick video of Ketchikan.

I went to Crown Grill, the steakhouse, and ordered…fish. Specifically, sea bass.

And I put together a big grocery order to be delivered before I get home. 

Am I really talking about home now? Yep, I sure am. Tomorrow is a sea day and then Saturday we’ll be back in Vancouver and my four month journey will be ending. It’ll be disembarkation day for me and if all goes well I’ll be home in time to see the last few moments of the game. Go Broncos!

I’ll be back to post one last time once I get home. See you then, whenever then might be. Saturday? Sunday? Monday? Who knows, but I do know whatever happens, happens!

Juneau, Alaska

Hello from Juneau!

One day back in June when I was really sick with Covid on the Island Princess I broke down and cried. Today I was almost in tears as well. Over stupid stuff. Like I mentioned yesterday, this cruise has been stressful. It seems like everything that could go wrong for me has. I've had cabin steward issues, cabin maintenance issues, accessibility issues, passenger and crew issues, food issues, and lack of communication issues. I could go on and on about specifics (boy, it's a long list) but it felt like it all came to a head today with the testing of the emergency power system. 

Today I was going back to Juneau Drug to buy more of their warm popcorn. I learned last week I could taste the delicious buttery salt (yay!) and I wanted some for a movie day in the cabin. (Another yay.) I even skipped breakfast this morning so I could save the calories for the popcorn. As I was finishing getting on my cold weather garb for the day - short sleeve shirt, long sleeve shirt, hooded sweatshirt, hooded waterproof windbreaker - an announcement was made that the ship would be testing the power system, not to use the elevators, and once it was finished another announcement would be made. I finished getting dressed and sat back down for the next announcement.

And I waited. And waited. And waited. At the hour and a half mark I called guest services and asked if the elevators were available yet and was told no. Was told to wait for the announcement. So I waited some more. And more. And more. At the three hour mark I called. Nope, not yet, and wait for the announcement. Now I'm pretty certain guest services was mistaken but I couldn't check myself. You know those dang cleaning carts in the hallways my scooter can't get past? With no cabin steward around anywhere? Uh, yeah. Then the rain started up and I just wanted to cry. With an early all aboard time my window of popcorn opportunity quickly closed. Everything I've had to deal with on this ship these last couple weeks has been so very frustrating, disappointing (and exhausting) and I wanted a movie day with popcorn to escape from it all, by golly! 

I was mad enough I was considering cancelling all our winter cruises. But The Universe had a different plan. At the exact moment I was stewing about everything and those cancelling thoughts were going through my mind our winter ship, Discovery Princess, sailed by. Really, what are the chances?

I even got a better look at one of the umpteen cabins we'll be switching between.

While I'm still upset about not getting my popcorn (and a whole bunch of other things) I had to let it go, at least for today. So for the first time I ordered cheesy fries from the room service menu (dang, couldn't taste them) and had to call it good. Breakfast and lunch all in one.

Tomorrow we're in Ketchikan. To lessen any disappointment I've decided not to make any plans until the time comes. See you there!