Tool Time Tuesday...Scissor Cord

E.T. can't phone home...because I stole the phone cord!!

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This may look silly, but I really do use this. It prevents little sticky fingers from stealing my scissors, because they are always attached to my ironing board. If it's a hassle for anyone to remove it, they'll pass it by.

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Sometimes I use my ironing board as a work surface...not just ironing. I always have a pair of scissors there, ready and waiting. Now if I had the necklace on with the scissors attached or the apron with the scissors in one of the pockets, this phone cord wouldn't be necessary. However, I need scissors everywhere!

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In this era of cell phones and cordless phones, I'm sure a lot of you still have a couple corded phones stored somewhere in the house. As a little side note: did you know you really should have one corded phone hooked up somewhere in your house. If you lose your power, cordless phones need the power at the base unit so there won't be any service. If the power goes out for an extended time, you won't have the power to recharge your cell phone. Ok, sorry I was side tracked with that public service announcement!

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Back to phone cords...steal one from one of your old phones or you can also buy just the phone cord at the hardware store for a few dollars. You will also need 2 large key rings that open up, not the ones that you have to twist the keys around.

Here is the cord. At this point you can decide whether or not to cut the little plastic plugs on the ends. If this is the cord you'll be using when the power goes out, don't cut it, because your husband will be some ticked at me for these crazy Tool Time Tuesdays. If you do cut it, then he can't call me, so I'm safe!
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Open up the rings...
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and thread part of the cord onto the ring.


Do that to both ends.

Hook one end onto the handle of your scissors and close the key ring.

Take the other end and attach it to your ironing board. I have one of those metal things that holds your iron and water bottles, so it hooks on there. If you don't have one, it will hook somewhere underneath on one of the legs.

This picture is of the metal rack that I have at the end of the board. I had to drag this up from the basement where my sewing room is. It was a little brighter upstairs for the pictures. It was gray and raining this morning, so the pictures aren't that great. See those cute little boxes on the floor...see the next picture for a close-up pic.

These boxes are from Harry & David. If you've never had anything from Harry & David, order something, anything...it's delicious. Their fruits are amazing and the food and candies are yummy. It can be pricey, but thankfully my sister-in-law sends them to my dad for all the holidays. (My dad lives with us and he has Celiac Sprue disease, which is a wheat and gluten allergy...so no foods containing any type of flour.) When she sends him fresh or dried fruits, candies, soup mixes etc, they come in the cutest gift towers. Different sized boxes from smallest to largest that are great for stacking, storing and decorating. They don't have any writing on them and they are decorated for each holiday. I have the prettiest set for autumn...great patterns and colors. These big boxes below had the biggest, sweetest fruit you'll ever have. I just love the vintage colors and design of these boxes and they match my bedroom. They fill in this little nook next to a small desk. Ok, side tracked again.

One more off topic...This is Annie, our 9 year old yellow lab. She is the sweetest dog ever and follows me around all day. She went with me to the basement to get the ironing board and up 2 flights of stairs to the bedroom to get these pictures. She was resting at my feet, so I thought I would snap a picture of her. We also have a tortoise-shell cat named Hallie, no picture of her yet, because that's like trying to take a picture of the wind. Someday I'll try and get a good one her.

Well, I hope this Tool Time Tuesday didn't bore you...it's simple but effective. You could probably hook the scissors or any other thing you want to keep it handy. So let me know your thoughts ladies, because remember...I'll post your ideas on "Friends on Friday".

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I also want to let you know that I try and answer all comments that I have received. The problem last week was I had a give away along with a TTT. It may take me a while, but I'll respond to you I promise!! I really appreciate every visit to this blog, they mean a lot to me...more than you'll know!

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Have a great Tuesday,

~Karen~

The Winner... and a TTT update

And the winner is....

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Sherri, from A Quilting Life

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Sorry it took me so long to pick the winner...crazy day. Thanks to everyone who left such nice comments about my great aunt and the fabric, she would have loved it! Random number was 15. 15th comment was Sherri!!! Sherri, I'll be emailing you soon for your snail mail address. Congratulations!!

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I also have a Tool Time Tuesday update.

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I never imagined it would become so popular...I hope I can keep finding things to pass along to all of you. Don't worry, I have a few more up my sleeve. I might have to expand my search to other types of stores!!

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Well, the update is another idea to expand on TTT. I am calling it "Friends on Friday". I have had a few friends show pictures of their TTT creations and others have given me such great ideas to go along with the posts. Here are a few:

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In the TTT were I used the eye bolt for a thread necklace, Karen from Journey of a Quilter, made the cutest necklaces with all different ribbons. You must go see them, oh my gosh...too cute!!! She sent me an e-mail with a great idea for them too. She is making one necklace for each of her different project boxes, so it will be there ready to sew with the matching thread...all set to go!!! So smart and such a time saver.

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Another great idea came from Kaaren, at The Painted Quilt, about the latest TTT with the little apron. Kaaren thought it would also be great tacked the apron to the front of your sewing table to hold all your "can't live withouts". She also thought you could attach a pincushion that was filled with sand, to weight in down, and have the little apron hanging from it. So cute, I can picture it now...You could also use some velcro too.

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and finally, a cute picture of someone wearing a eye bolt necklace. Go see Naoko's blog, Bear's Patch. The post is the second one down, I think, but I wanted you to see her cute dog Lucky...he's not feeling so good right now. Go see him and wish him well. Her blog is great too, beautiful quilts and wonder fabrics.

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Well, hopefully that's what "Friends on Friday" will be about. All my great blogging friends sharing pictures and other great ideas from the "Tool Time Tuesday" posts. So if you have any ideas or pictures of your eye bolt necklaces, aprons or from the first TTT the binding holder, just send them to me and I'll post them on Fridays and link to your blog.

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Thanks Karen, Kaaren and Naoko for sharing!!!

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Have a great rest of the weekend,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...77 Cent Apron Redo

Where I'll turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!

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well, it's really not extraordinary...it's just really cute and cheap.

just sounded like a good lead-in to grab you!!!

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Today's hardware store find is a 77 cent, 2 pocket canvas apron from...you guessed it, Home Depot. If you don't live near a Home Depot, I think most small hardware stores sell these with their name and logo on them. They are also on the Home Depot website, but they only sell the 99 cent ones on line. The 77 cent aprons are only in the store. (Ok, I just said Home Depot 4 times already...I think they need to pay me for this post!!)

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Here is the plain and boring apron...who would want to wear this, when you can wear.....

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This little cutie!!!
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All you need to do is finish (or hem) the edges of a rectangle piece of fabric to fit the size of your apron front. I sewed ric rac to the top edge of mine. Pin the fabric to the apron and sew, through all thicknesses, along the short side, across the bottom and up the other short side...leaving the top with the ric rac open. I also sewed down the center to create 2 pockets.
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The fabric serves 3 purposes...1) to cover up the store name, 2) to add more pockets and 3) to make it really, really cute. I added the matching ruffle to increase the cute factor.
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and this is what it looks like on...sorry the picture is so dark.

four pockets to hold your seam ripper (we all know the seam ripper always needs to be handy), eye glasses, pens, pencils, little post it notes to jot down a measurement...you name it.

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You can picture the scene...you're standing at the cutting table and there is crap everywhere (admit it, because there is) you are searching for something under fabric, patterns, books etc. Well, just keep all those things in your apron. You can move all around your sewing room and always have everything close at hand.

If you want to make it really handy, just add one of these babies. I found this package at Walmart for $1.88 for four. They are the clips that hold a name badge, but the have a retractable cord in them.

Here's the little red one, to match the apron of course!

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Here's an action shot of me hooking on my rotary cutter to the clip.

Store it in one of the pockets when you're not using it. Don't forget to close the blade though!!

When you're ready for rotary cutting action, just pull the cord out and you're ready to go. You can also attach little scissors. My retractable cord glides out very easily and at a long length. If you don't feel comfortable with your rotary cutter on a cord, it's still great just to store it in one of the pockets so you're not constantly looking under a pile of fabric for it.

I hope you enjoyed this third edition of TTT (thanks Kaaren for the abbreviation idea). I really do love coming up with crazy things to make everyone's life a little easier and a little cuter.

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Don't forget I also have a give away that ends on Saturday. See this post for details.

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Have a wonderful Tuesday!

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~Karen~

A Give Away...

In honor of my Great Aunt and the start of spring!!!

Last year, my Great Aunt Gloria gave me a large bag of fabric samples from a mill where her husband had worked. The mill was called Pontiac Mills and in the mid 1800's started producing bolts of cloth under the name of "Fruit of the Loom". There is little page of history about the mill here.

The fabric samples she gave me, that are pictured here, are dated 1963 and 1965. They still have their orginal "sample labels" and information label as well. You can click to enlarge the picture to see the words.

I would like to give away these 6 pieces of vintage fabric in honor of my Great Aunt Gloria who passed away last week. I'm not sure of her exact age, but I know she was close to 100. She is my father's aunt and he is 84! She was the cutest thing and still sharp as a tack. I think she would be tickled pink if she knew someone out there in the world was going to have some of her fabric!

The fabric is almost like shirting or material for sheets. The four striped fabrics are 18"x36" and come in peach, yellow, purple and pink. The purple paisley is 18"x43" and the blue flowered fabric is 36"x42". The last blue flowered material is kind of thin and has the most concentration of flowers at the bottom. They would make cute little aprons or finish the edges of the striped fabric for a set of napkins for Easter.
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All you need to do is leave a comment on this post to enter the give away.
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If you would like to have a second chance, just link this give away on your blog any time this week...then come back and leave another comment.
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That's all you have to do! I will pick the winner on Saturday, March 28th.
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Good luck everyone and happy spring!!!
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~Karen

Tool Time Tuesday...Sewing Necklace With Nuts and Bolts

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I'm nuts and you'd better bolt to the hardware store for these!!

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These little beauties are called eye bolts. They range in price from 83 cents to $1.49...or free if you steal them from your husband or boyfriend!! Did I say steal, I mean borrow. If you do borrow theirs, wash them first! These are steel, zinc plated. That little fact is not important, it's just there were some chrome ones that were more money, don't buy those.

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The eye bolts come in different lengths and different widths. For example, the first one on the left is 1/4" x 4" the middle is 3/16" x 2 1/2" and the one on the right is 1/4" x 2". They all come with one nut (no, not me) on the bottom.

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Here is a picture with the nut removed.
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This little doodad is called a fastener...I think. Bring this picture with you to the hardware store and tell them you want this thingamabob.


The loop slides off the metal stick with a spring like tension...nothing to unscrew. Why do you need all these things, well......

Tah dah! They all hold thread. Big deal you say, well look a little further.

They can hold three to four different colored bobbins if you're appliqueing different fabrics in one project.

or they can hold one little one too.

one long spool....

one long spool plus a bobbin.

But the cute part comes when you add an old sterling silver necklace!!! You are going to be the talk of the town. No seriously, the town will talk about you if they see you wearing this in public. This is for home use or at your guild. If you are a daring trend setter, well have at it.

Sorry for the dreaded self portrait in the mirror, but everyone was in school so I had to take the picture myself.

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Isn't cute. You can sew til your heart's content without searching down the couch cushion for your thread or have it rolling across the floor as it falls off your lap when you stand up.

You won't find it in the Tiffany's catalog, but if we all band together, maybe one day we can go out in public wearing one of these.

If you tie one end of a ribbon to the eye bolt and the other end of the ribbon to your favorite little scissors, you have another great necklace.

I had to remove the ribbon from my shirt it was fighting for attention with the necklace ribbon. Don't forget to match the ribbon to your outfit!

So, ladies there you have the second edition of Tool Time Tuesdays. Go forth and conquer your fear of the hardware store. Walk in there with your heads high and say..."I would like a 4" eye bolt to make a necklace for my thread" If you say it with confidence, they won't give it a second thought. If your voice waivers even a little, they'll call security!!! Just to be on the safe side, take a copy of this last picture with you and blame this crazy idea on me!

Here are a couple tips:

• bring your bobbin and spool of thread with you to make sure it fits over the bolt.
• every once in a while as you're sewing, tighten the nut on the bottom of the bolt.
• or even better, have the thread come off the spool in the same direction as the nut is being tightened so it won't unscrew.

Have a great Tuesday and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

~Karen~

Smoothie for smooth skin!

Summers are here.Fresh juicy fruits are here to quench our thirst but hey wait a minute ...did i tell you how to combine great taste with great health!Read on as I will tell you how a smoothie is a great drink for your skin.

We all need drinks other than plain water during the summers.If you are thiking of cola drinks already let me tell you they add only big calories...oh did you say diet colas ..well they don't give you even those and add nothing to nutrition...If you want to try maintain both your skin and weight this summer try some smoothie...It will quench your thirst and hunger (for the snack hours) and will give your skin all the benefits of real fruit.

If you don't know how to make a smoothie.I can tell you a really simple one first.
Take a bowl of yogurt and pot it in a blender.Now a cup of fresh juice..lets choose mixed fruit.Now add a banana and blend all these ingredients till you get a smooth drink.Now crush some ice separately in a blender and pour the smoothie on top of it.Pour it in a serving glass and garnish it with mint leaves and split almonds.Your smoothie is ready!

This is very basic recipe.You can add any fresh fruit and any juice you like and create wonderful variations of this basic recipe and your smoothie is ready.

If you have been reading my blog you already know that fresh and natural are the key words for a skin recipe.Smoothie gives you this benefit minus the calories.Hope you enjoy your smoothie today!

Tool Time Tuesday...Organized Quilting

Welcome to the first installment of "Tool Time Tuesday"

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What is Tool Time Tuesday? Every Tuesday I will bring you a new tool, gadget or doodad that will somehow help you with your sewing and quilting. I have scoured Home Depot, local hardware stores and even office supply stores, looking for that special item that catches my eye. My goal is to find you something that might make your life easier and a little organized. Hope you enjoy it!!! The bonus with Tool Time Tuesday is that it might inspire you to search hardware stores too. Ladies...your husbands, boyfriends and significant others will be wondering why you want to go to Home Depot with them all the time...shhh...don't tell them your looking for quilting stuff.

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For today, I'll be showing 2 items: a plastic cord storage wrap (96 cents Walmart hardware) and a plastic disposable paint tray liner (60 cents Home Depot).

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This is the cord storage holder. If you were normal, you would wrap an electrical or extension cord around it.

Close up of label
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This is what it looks like with the label off.

This is what it looks like when a quilter gets a hold of it. This one is about 2.5" wide. Just wide enough for me to wrap my binding around!! If you finish a quilt top, but won't get to the quilting right away, make your binding right when you finish the top. Wrap it on the cord holder, then store it with the quilt top, batting and backing. When you are ready to quilt it, all the items will be in one place, nice and neat with no wrinkled binding. See the next item below on where to store everything.

This is the plastic paint tray liner.

This is a quilt top begging to be quilted...sorry quilt top, no time...I'm addicted to blogging and shopping in hardware stores! I'll just store you in here for a while.

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Don't forget the binding wrap!

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Here's another hexagon project with my favorite Mistletoe Manor fabric from Moda. Sorry hexies your gonna have to wait to be worked on too.

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See how nicely they stack up and can be stored away. There are 2 trays in this picture below.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this first "Tool Time Tuesday". I have many more ideas to come, so stay tuned!

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Have a great day everyone,

~Karen~