Divide and Conquer...

Recently I came across a GREAT deal on "bandaids".  While 300 pieces may seem like a lot for most families, for a home with a very "hands-on" geek, a food service manager and an almost 8 year old boy...this will probably only touch the tip of the iceberg!  While the deal was terrific, having that many bandages in one spot wasn't practical.  I could easily store the bigger box in the linen closet on the second floor, but the majority of our "boo-boos" happen on the first floor...and there was no room in our tiny powder room for such a big box.  So what did I decide?  Divide and conquer!

Using the copier function on my printer I made a color copy of the front of each box.

These copies will fit perfectly on the front of "Invitation" size envelopes.

A swipe of my glue stick and they are neatly attached to the envelopes.

I separated the contents of each individual box, leaving half in the original box and putting half in the corresponding envelopes.

They fit perfectly in what I believe to be an old Ferrero Rocher candy box.

Which fits PERFECTLY inside the wall cabinet in my powder room.

Not every bulk purchase is a great deal.  However, the large size does not have to preclude the purchase, as long as you can "divide and conquer"!

Toodles...

No More Wrapping Paper!

Years ago I sewed up some Christmas gift bags for my family.  This past year I purchased the above fabric and added to my collection of holiday bags as our now-larger family needed more!

Last week,  as I contemplated Dear Grandson's upcoming birthday, I decided that our family needed additional cloth bags that could work for birthdays, Father's Day, Mother's Day, etc.  I am tired of spending money on paper wrapping that will only get ripped to shreds and thrown out, especially now that we are on a fixed income!  I searched and searched online for some type of "celebratory" fabric in Blue (grandson's favorite color).  The fabric I liked was all EXPENSIVE (at least in my mind).  On Friday Dear Hubby took me to my favorite quilt store.  I found this fabric.  It is "celebratory", check.  It is "blue", check.  It is "patriotic" which will work for all members of this family! 

It was a little higher priced than I would have liked, but it was PERFECT!  I also picked up some cording for the ties.  I still have to finish the ends of the cording with shrinkable rubber wire wrap.  For now they are kept from fraying with tape.  Unfortunately I only had enough fabric and cording for 4 bags!  Dang, I REALLY under-estimated!

Dear Hubby has volunteered to take me back to the quilting store some time this next week.  This time I will look for cheaper fabric, even if it isn't blue!  I have enough "celebratory blue" for Dear Grandson's birthday and can always use other colors of fabric for the rest of the family.

All in all today was a GREAT sewing day!

Toodles...

REPURPOSING...

AGES ago my dear daughter-in-law asked me to use an old pair of sweat pants to make her a bolster type pillow.  She said, "Just cut the leg off, stuff it, and sew it shut."  No.  I just can't bring myself to do that.  The leg tapers, and once she begins using it how will she clean it? 

So, as you can see above, I cut the applique off, squared it up, added fabric to top and bottom of it and added a zipper on the back! 

Here it is all finished!  For stuffing I tore apart an old pillow.  I made a "sock" type bag out of some interfacing I was given for free.  When I tried to stitch it closed the interfacing began to shred with the pressure of pulling it tight.  What is the mother of a MacGyver type geek to do?  I grabbed masking tape (not duct tape, sorry Mac) and wound it around the form!  I've taken it in and out of the pillow twice and it is still holding it's shape nicely! 

The pillow is the perfect combination of support and squish.  I've already wrapped it up for her birthday at the end of the summer.  I sure hope she likes it!

Toodles...

Book Bag Caveat...

Dear Hubby and I took our grandson to the public library for the first time on Saturday.  We allowed him to get three books.  However, there was one condition.  I would give him a tote bag and all of his books were to be kept in the bag unless it was physically in his hand being read!  That way, if the books needed to be returned on a day when he was at his bio-dad's house, we could find them to return!  He agreed to this caveat. 

While I could have given him one of the bags Dear Hubby collected over his working career, I felt a new "library user" should have a new, age appropriate, book bag.  I found a piece of fabric left over from his camping quilt and some black web strapping.  Perfect!  In about 30 minutes I had a finished book bag.  I was going to go with the traditional "longer than wide" tote, but could visualize him dragging it on the ground, ripping the bag and damaging the books in the process.  So I made the bag wider than longer.  Even the big books fit comfortably lying on their bindings.  The straps are short enough that he can carry the bag in his hand or on his shoulder if he has read lots of books!  Now to get him into the habit of reading, somewhat difficult in this age of electronics!  Even though his electronic time is limited, he would rather do a thousand other things than pick up a book.  How I hope I can change that preference!!  Maybe the new bag will help???  Fingers crossed!

It was a quick project and he seems to love it!

Toodles...