Pocket Tissue Holder

 

@onlinefabricstore How to Make Pocket Tissue Holders #handmadegifts #onlinefabricstore #tissueholder #outdoorfabric #diyprojects ♬ original sound - OnlineFabricStore

DIY EASY TEAPOT COZY - TEAPOT COVER | SEW WITH ME

Recently while I was brewing some tea, my son came into the kitchen to prep some food. He looked about for the towel that usually hangs on the oven handle, didn't see it there and grabbed for what he thought was a wadded up towel on the counter. Whoa! My tea and the tea bits went flying as he grabbed to rescue whatever was tangled up in the towel...my brewing tea. Whew...he caught it! I guess my cute little teapot needed a cozy in order to avert another such accident. I found a simple video showing the method for getting a measurement for my 3 cup pot along with a quick sewing method. Here was the video I watched for measurement and method ideas. Here is another good one with a slightly different assembly method.

Below is my finished Tea Cozy using the ideas gleaned from video #1. I thought about upcycling something like jeans material but as I reflected on my kitchen I decided to use the green and white fabric previously used for the curtain topper you see in the picture since I also have a table runner in that same fabric. In the end, finding a teapot fabric print in my stash I had to use it. Also a blue print used for the lining had been in my stash for a very long time and being able to use it pleased me so much! 

I used a piece of 9x12" paper folded in half , 6x9". Ultimately my pattern needed to be 8 3/4 x 5 1/4". On the 8 3/4 x 5 1/4" folded pattern round the right top corner using a small bowl for the curve shape. 

I opened the pattern fully, then using it, cut 2 main fabrics, 2 lining fabrics and two batting pieces. The top tab used to lift the teapot cozy was lining fabric cut in a rectangle approximately 3"x 1 1/2". 

Optional Tea Cozy Tab: 

Fold both edges of the narrow side to meet in the middle, then fold edges to meet. Stitch about 1/8th inch in on both edges.  (Optionally ribbon could be used.)

For Tea Cozy, layer lining-pretty side up, batting, main print -wrong side touching batting. Do this for both. Stitch the sandwiched layers along the straight side, repeat for second half circle layer. Open and press seam.

Match the 2 liner pieces, pretty side to pretty side being careful to match the center seam. (Leave a 3" opening which will be used to later.) Match the 2 outer pieces, pretty side to pretty side keeping the center seam carefully aligned. The tab (if used) should be placed ends in the seam and loop section carefully centered on the pretty side main print. Stitch all around then finally turn the tea cozy right side out. 

Whip stitch the opening along the lining opening. I selected to expose the lining about 3/8"and stitch in the ditch between the lining and the main print. 

As I was putting this together I pondered whether it might be nice to quilt the fabric first...h-mmm?In the end I decided to proceed without quilting but for another day here is a video I watched with quilting being her focus. Maybe on the next Teapot Cover 😉  

I think my cute teapot cozy needs something to complement it, what do you think? Here are some possible ideas, which would you select?

• Teacup Coasters 
• Rope Coil Teapot Trivet

I may need to try out several other tea cozy styles. My thoughts are on a more snuggly and cinched in style that kinda looked like this.

or this. 

• Teapot Snuggler 

Of course thinking about sewing possibilities leads me to see what others have done. I liked this potholder because it looked like it could snuggle my small teapot nicely.

Maybe you would like a way to carry your teabags in your purse or luggage. Here is an idea #1 for that. Here is another variation on this idea and yet another. 

I loved this idea for a set of items,  DIY Coaster Set, Tea Wallet, Reusable Tea Pouch.

Do you take your tea with you when you travel? Look at this clever project! 

Do you prefer watching youtube videos for inspiration or perhaps reading articles or blogs. 

As with so many ideas, this has led me toward many more ideas and

as you can guess, my day ended with a desire to try a few more of these ideas plus a cup of my favorite tea and a sugar cookie too!

Best Hacks for a Stretchy Headband Tutorial

I had thought making a headband was a project I just did not need an instruction for but after I set down to sew I ran into a problem turning the headband right side out. Here are my two favorite videos so far for creating this so simple but curiously tricky project. This video shows a simple technique that eliminated my problem...Yea!! 

TIP: pay attention to sewing the seams in the order described. Be sure to leave the recommended 1", 2" openings as you sew the headband length.   

This video covers another hack for dressing up the simple headband with a hack that makes a headband but with just a bit of a twist. Cute!

🧵⏰ QUILT-AS-YOU-GO - USE YOUR SCRAPS FOR GOOD PART 1

Early on in life my sweet Nana instilled into me a desire to sew. She had this really cool treadle sewing machine in the bedroom where we also slept in when we came to stay overnight.There were almost always a stack of projects off to the left, from aprons in the works for a client to buttons to be fixed. When we visited Nana we'd sometimes wrangle her into making clothes for our dolls.She inspired me to try my hand at lots of different projects...Over the years I learned to make shirts, hats, dresses and more. Scraps that looked too cool to just toss have accumulated over time just waiting to be pulled into a new project. I love seeing how others systematize and utilize all their scraps. Karen Brown of Just Get It Done Quilts does a bang up job of doing just that. Join me and enjoy her methodology and how-to's.

Friendship Bread It's All About Relationship

Today I reflect on relationship and how it comes into play in so many areas of life.  My sister Kathi received a gift of some Amish Friendship Bread from someone in her life. Even though she is at a place in life where she does little cooking or baking she chooses to care for and share this bread starter... relationships will prompt us to take action. She shared this bread starter with me and I am planning to share this Amish Friendship Bread starter with some of my friends too as I have done with my Kombucha Scoby. 

This blog is about inspiration that originated from my Nana. One thing I learned at my Nana's house was that it's all about relationship. H-mmm you might say, why is that? Well when we went to my Nana's house it was not about "You kids just go outside and play", or "shoo, I've got a lot to do" or even "I'm too tired right now". All of those things were probably true as with so many of our lives but it never felt that way at my Nana's. Do I remember her lying down to rest, yes. Do I remember her life being full with church, friends, gardening, household tasks, projects, and more? Yes, that too. I remember my great Uncle Bobo driving quite a ways to pick us up even with their busy lives he was not too busy to do that. Thinking about this reminded me that we often exchange time to share in relationship. 

My friend Diane and her sweet husband Alan have been amazing examples of this. We did not know it at the time, but one evening in April of 2021 we said goodbye to Alan for the last time. He had been over at our home sharing relationship in the form of help to my sweetheart. They put up drywall for several hours after Alan had worked a busy day. We do not always know the impact of our actions, but this I know,"relationship counts". In hindsight his life was FULL of relationships that counted. 

So today is day 6 of the lifecycle of my Amish Friendship Bread starter so I am feeding the starter in preparation for more starter growth and eventually sharing. It reminds me that in life in order for us to have growth we must also care for our relationships consistently, keep it warm and happy, feed those relationships, then eventually we will have multiplied it and finally the sweet outcome is the ability to share it with others. Sometimes we share it fully mature like a loaf of this delicious bread...other times is is still in a stage where it requires much more maturity before it is ready to give and share. At each stage it is beautiful. 

I'm excited to create a delicious loaf of bread from this starter but even more excited to be able to share it again with another. 

Thanksgiving Trivet Time

 This year has gone by so quickly! My goal early in the year was to get familiar with the serger and incorporate it as I can. Sadly I haven't been able to find the standard serger foot for the Bernette 335 serger I purchased on Facebook Marketplace. It's original owner was using it for other purposes and no longer had that foot. Well it does sew...moving on.

I've been wanting to do some fun sewing projects I've seen on Youtube. This one seems sew (catch that play on words, ha-ha!) perfect. It is a fun mix of craft, sewing and function as well as using up this scraps that accumulate so-ooo fast! It is on Nancy's Notions channel. Remember Nancy?

I love Sewing With Nancy. Did you ever wonder what happened to her? This article on The Nancy's Notions Blog shares about Nancy's life, her program always inspired me. What wonderful content she shared in her lifetime. I'm so glad that her memory continues to live on! If you give this project a whirl please share yours, I'd love to see what you've done!

Making It Work; A Creative Makers Life

2020...Making It work is a creative makers mantra and certainly represents my thoughts especially as we experience uncertain times as we self quarantine and shelter at home. 

My Nana often started a sentence with "you go to work and..." For many, the word "work" has taken on thoughts of what we "have" to do rather than what we choose to do. I believe for Nana it was just daily living, it was life, it just WAS. I loved her practical no nonsense way. 

Today as we go out of our homes, we think of far different concerns than this time last year. Simple concerns...How do I shop for groceries safely, see the doctor when needed, get that part to fix the broken faucet and on and on.

Our world has experienced shortages of needed medical supplies as just on of the many side effects of this pandemic novel coronavirus. Because of this specific shortage of masks that help with viral spread,those of us makers, creatives and practical inventors do what my Nana did..."you go to work and...". There have been amazing solutions to making sure to be as safe as possible for all, safe as we go about the business of life. 

I have a beautiful and amazing granddaughter in law Angie who got her degree in fashion design. As my grandson and her began their married life she also began her business career and she opened her own fashion design business, Studio 93. We are so proud of the two of them!

Check her out on Facebook :) As with many, life for her has shifted from her physical business space to her new space...her home. With "shelter at home" directives becoming the norm many business owners have had to rethink how to offer their services... as has Angie. Last year an interview on internet radio sharing about women in business, led to her own radio show weekly. Today she shares her many talents mostly from home like many following worldwide health concerns. Angie hosts her radio weekly shows Fridays on Facebook Live. Now Angie is busy making face masks to assist the health community needs due to this virus outbreak as well. If you wonder how she happened to find herself so busy click here to read about how this came about. 

For all YOU amazing designers, makers, creatives out there I want to send my applause and appreciation for being problem solvers and so much more! 

Let's take a look at some others and their mask making solutions.

   

Lexie Saks from Good Housekeeping shares a simple solution most everyone can put together. 

Do you have a bandana or 22" of fabric? Done.

Another simple no-sew mask from Crafty Caboodle made from stretchy fabric like a t-shirt will also get you covered and on your way. 

But since this blog pays homage to my Nana who was a seamstress extraordinaire I would like to share with you a simple mask like my Nana would have come up with had she been living in this time of covid-19. 

Step 1 Find some newspaper for a surface to draw a pattern.

Step 2 Draw out a basic design for your mask wearer.

Step 3 Lay out your selected pretty fabric and pin to your pattern. 

Step 3 Cut out the necessary pieces for the mask.

Step 4 Sew! 

For those of us who find it helpful to see a video I thought this blogger 

at Treasurie and her patterns made two sewn masks that I think do a great job. 

I hope one of these makers solutions will serve you well and keep you and others safe and healthy.