Password Binders and Making a Book Cover

I've been looking for a Password Tracker with key features for a very long time. I see so many available through local stores, online stores and lots of handmade ones too. Each time I think "Oh, this is the one!" I've hesitated upon closer examination. 

Ultimately I feel like I simply need to put a cover on my 3x5 two ring binder...it looks a bit old, raggy and could use a spruce up.My inspiration came from Stacey Lee Creative. Here is a video sharing her way of doing it. If you prefer blog articles, here is her blog ;)

 

OK.Here are the key features I want for my Password Binder.

• Refillable pages
• Decorative cover...please no "Password Keeper" 
• Ring binder style to enable adding/removing pages
• Durable tabbed alphabetical pages
• Small size ie 3x5, 4x6 preferably

I searched high and low looking for something that resonated with me. Here were a few I saw that almost checked all the boxes.

• Etsy Seller
• Etsy Seller

These products would basically give me a similar notebook to what I already had.

• Ebay Seller
• Amazon Seller

Thinking about just updating my current ringed binder I could purchase supplies like these refill supplies.

• Tabbed Index Cards from Amazon
• Etsy Refill Cards

Here was a Youtube making an Adjustable Cover for those who may be interested. What is the feature about? 

When you fold the back flap over the book..then flip the elastic band over and it will self adjust to the book... Helpful if most of the books you read are the same outer dimension but different in thickness.

The possibility that emerged (as I noted above) was to make a cover for an old black 2 ring index card holder I already have. I could update the index tabs or make some new ones like the Etsy seller created. I have also contemplated creating a template for the index cards, which I did do on Cricut Design Space.I haven't cut them out yet but they seem like they will work great.

There are also printables for sale on Etsy like this one or this one for folks who prefer not to DIY them. 

Ultimately, I made my cover by measuring my book like Stacey Lee instructed and then sewing my project as shared. My book cover is shown below.

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!

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. 

I'm a Pinterest Food Fanatic

Today as I was surfing Pinterest I came across this very cool presentation for a basic bread dough. Sadly as often happens the site had been tagged as a spam site but I loved the idea so much I just had to share this so I added it to my blog. This blog was originally started in honor of my wonderful Nana, she was my best woman role model, and I loved spending time with her...especially in her kitchen! This recipe can be adapted to so many different things! Here are some ideas I am thinking about. Egg Salad, Shredded veggie, Mini Meatball Mozzarella with Marinara, Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, oh my! I'm excited to whip up some variations!

Beautiful Bread Cones

Ingredients

Dough:

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

3 Tbs vegetable oil

1/4 cup sugar

1 beaten egg

1-1/2 tsp salt

2-1/4 tsp instant yeast

3-1/2 to 4 cups flour

Egg Wash:

1 egg

1 Tbs milk

Instructions

Heat water and milk in microwave to scalding (not quite boiling)

Pour into mixing bowl, and allow to cool slightly so you don’t kill the yeast.

Add oil, sugar, and salt. Mix until well blended.

Add in beaten egg and 2 cups of the flour, mixing well.

Add in instant yeast and mix well.

Allow to sit about 10 minutes uncovered.

Now, start to slowly add in more flour.

When dough starts to clear the sides of the bowl, allow it to mix for about 8 minutes. (or knead by hand at this point)

Add a tablespoon of oil to a clean bowl, tipping to coat bottom.

Place dough into bowl, flipping to coat both sides with oil.

Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest till double in bulk – about 1 hour.

Remove dough and knead a few times to release bubbles.

Cut the dough into 8 – 12 pieces (depending on the size you desire)

Allow to rest about 5 minutes.

Take each portion and roll into a rope from 24 – 36” long (depending on the size of your tubes)

Roll ropes around the greased cream horn tubes (or make your own form as shown), starting at the bottom as shown.

Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment (or silpat liner)

Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for about 30 minutes.

Brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with sesame seeds and/or poppy seeds if desired.

Bake in a preheated 350° oven for between 18 to 22 minutes – watching closely for overbrowning.

Place on wire racks to cool completely before removing tubes.

Fill cooled bread cones with sandwich filling as desired.

Some of My Favorite Things

When I began to use the internet one of my favorite discoveries were the newsgroups. A person could find nearly any interest being talked about and not only talked about...I met new friends all around the globe who liked to share thier interests by exchanging whatever it was that they created. Last year I came across an exchange that was rather unusual, these folks liked to sew and had set up an apron exchange. It sent me on a search for different types of aprons and I especially wanted simple ideas. Here is a delightfully simple apron...so versatile. http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/02/25/simple-apron-tutorial/