One Monthly Goal Finished

It's been a long time in the works, but I finally finished this wallet. It was inspired by Dave Ramsey and our desire to get our finances in better order. I know you can do that through apps and more techie methods, but as Dave says (and I agree) it's good to feel the money leaving your possession; it makes you think twice about a purchase.

I got the pattern here: 

The Colorful Chicken

 With some plastic that I had left from another project I was able to make little label pockets on each cash "envelope."

The pattern simply and clearly guides you to make six "envelopes" plus two more pockets which I'm using for my personal spending money and our family entertainment money.

A nice zippered pocket (don't worry it wasn't too hard to make, even if you've never done zippers) holds coins.

Of course I have a category for Books. Doesn't everyone?

I am especially eager to use this since my current wallet is ripped and the coins just go whereever their little hearts desire.

This pattern was quite well-written and easy to follow for an experienced sewist. I think a beginner could do pretty well, too, though the final few steps were challenging. Very worth it, though.

One Monthly Goal for September

Well, since I didn't make my monthly goal for August, I'm just going to keep that goal for September.

I want to finish up this cash wallet for my budgeting. I do have it started now.

Linking up to:

https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2018/09/one-monthly-goal-september-goal-link-up.html

Flimsy Finish

Well, I didn't work at all on my August goal. Big sigh! It's been a very rough month here with some family difficulties and I've alson been trying to get everything ready to start up homeschooling again on the 4th.

So, this weekend was a treat in that I did get to sew some. I got a harebrained idea to suddenly make a baby quilt for a baby shower this coming Thursday evening. Silly me!

It's not so hard to piece a flimsy (quilt top) in that little time, but it's qoing to be interesting to see if I can get someone to machnie quilt it in two days. Where we used to live, my quilter would slide in a little baby quilt for me between her big quilting jobs. Not sure if that will work here. And since today is a holiday (Labor Day), I don't want to try calling the quilter till tomorrow morning.

So, what is the gem that needs quilting? Here it is, just finished:

This is where I found the tutorial: Cross My Heart Quilt

The keys for me to be able to finish it so quickly were that I already had the 2/3 yard of white fabric and that I have a good collection of 2.5 inch squares right beside my sewing machine with which I use Bonnie Hunter's Leaders/Enders technique.

And I also have a box of those squares already sewn together into what I call "two-bies" so they can be grabbed and put into whatever I'm working on.

Yes, this is a Sky Flakes Crackers box. I grew up in the Philippines where these are made and they are a treasure to me.

So, wish me luck on getting this quilted and bound before Thursday evening. 😊

And wish me luck on finally getting my August goal (the cash wallet) done.

Linking up at: 

http://www.create-with-joy.com/2018/09/inspire-me-monday-week-346.html

http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/2018/09/monday-making.html

http://emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/2018/09/moving-it-forward.html

https://www.cookingupquilts.com/mcm-128-back-from-vacation-rested-and-rejuvenated/

Sewing Again

While I haven't had quilting time yet, I did get to sew something recently.

A summer dress. For me.

I hadn't made clothing in quite a long while because my kids don't like the homemade stuff anymore. So I  enjoyed making this for myself.

I got several compliments on it at church yesterday and my husband likes it, so I'm happy.

Here's the Simplicity pattern:

It's very simple. I did make French seams, though I want to learn how to make less ravelly edges around the zipper. So, I'm planning to make another one soon and will work on that.

The pattern envelope is cut open because I staple it to a regular file folder and use that for my pattern piece storage so I don't have to fold the pieces so precisely to make them fit back into the envelope. (That's my tip for the day. 😀)

Hope you've had some sewing fun.

Cement Leaf Candleholder

Last week I had fun taking my niece-once-removed and daughter to a local nature preserve to make a craft of cement leaf candleholders.

After mounding up a pile of sand in a box or aluminum tin, they sprayed a large leaf with cooking oil, front and back, and then placed it on the mound of sand with the veins up.

                             

Then they used the little tin candleholders to cut into the leaf in various spots, cookie-cutter style and upside down.

Then, using large tongue depressor-type craft sticks or paint stirrers, they spread some wet cement over the leaf, shaping the edges according to the edge of the leaf. The teacher compared it to spreading frosting on a cake.

We brought our creations home and waited patiently for two days before we tried to lift them from the sand. This is what it was supposed to look like:

This is what reality was:

We learned the hard way that you have to frost this cake rather thickly. We just didn't have thick enough cement for it to hold together.

But...now we know the technique and we can try it again if we want to. So, all is not lost.