DIY

Incredible Quilt/Crochet Project Everyone Will Envy

https://www.facebook.com/share/1ACV9so1Rn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I am definitely making this!

Cute Crocheted Belts for Your DIY Pleasure!

I made these cute crocheted belts for a friend. Each took less than 2 hours and cost nothing. Both were made from scraps in my yarn and craft stash.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=bHq83DVtZAk&si=umflW8KRbtCli5Qv

Follow this link to find easy pattern on youtube. I did simple adaptation for blue belt with D rings. If I were selling these, what should I ask?

Battery Socks

My brother was an avid deer hunter. That Christmas Mother bought him a gift of battery-powered heated socks. This seemed like a great idea, since deer season fell during cold weather. Bill was up long before dawn, dressing for the hunt. Sadly, the Christmas budget hadn’t extended far enough for the purchase of hunting boots. Never fear. His new socks would keep his feet warm. He layered his clothes down to his fine, new battery socks. To ensure his comfort, he pulled plastic bread bags on over his shoes.

He set up in his deer stand, knowing he’d be comfortable. All went well for a few minutes until the heated socks encased in plastic bread bags made his feet sweat. It felt like ants were eating him up. Frantically, he stripped of bread bags, shoes, and his fine, new battery-powered socks, leaving him standing on the cold, cold ground with his sweaty feet. What a treat for a frosty morning!

Sew and Sew

In the years after my big 4-H apron failure, I had little interest in sewing. Mother did take time to show me how to use her “new” second-hand electric machine enough to sew up rips. She was a barely adequate seamstress with only the basic skills to show me, even though she made most of our clothes. She avoided challenges steering away from fussy details.

Mother rarely took time for mending, so if I got a rip, I was on my own. Of course, I mastered sewing on buttons. I think one afternoon she guided me through making a simple gathered skirt on a waist band. The button at the waist had a wide overlap, making it ok without a zipper. The waistband had no interfacing to make it hold its shape. My stitching wavered. All in all, it was tacky and amateurish. It screamed homemade!

In the eighth grade, all girls had to take home economics. I made a flannel robe with a snap front. All went well till I had to sew braid down the front panel, covering the snaps. I had trouble keeping the braid lined up over the snaps. I broke several sewing machine needles by sewing too close to the edge of the snaps. I think the department was running out of needles, so my teacher did the last few inches. The robe was an improvement over the skirt I’d made at home with Mother’s help.

I was delighted to get a B on it, but I think the teacher had had enough! I wore that robe till it shredded. I felt like I’d learned quite a bit.

Sewing

I am so glad I learned to sew. From the time I can remember, I was fascinated with Mother’s sewing machine, an ancient treadle machine. It sits in my house today. It is still functional. It is the best machine to use for heavy jobs like hemming jeans.

My first dismal attempt was in 4-H. I chose a sewing project, a simple project I was supposed to enter in the fair. One of the initial instructions in the booklet was “Ask an adult for help.”

Let me preface this with, the fact that my mother was definitely not a helicopter parent. My project was MY PROJECT! The project instructions didn’t have any advice for a situation where Mother had a newborn, a severely overburdened budget, and no time or interest in teaching a nine-year-old to sew.

The prize-winning apron the agent showed us was of a heavy fabric like denim with perfect seams. It looked exactly like the one in the project guide, even down to the color. I imagined my perfectly executed project looking exactly like it with a big blue ribbon at the county fair.

As Mother held the colicky baby, I told her, “We need to go to store and buy material for an apron. For 4-H.”

She answered crabbily. “No we don’t. I have a drawer full of material Grandma sent.” She was always crabby when the baby cried.” I’m busy now. I’ll find you some later.” Though I asked three more times that day, I didn’t get fabric for an apron. The second time I asked, she sent me to dist the living room furniture. The third time, she sent me to hang out a load of diapers. I gave it up for the time being.

To be continued

DIY Kitchen Window Squirrel Feeder: A Step-by-Step Guide

Squirrel Friend

Bud made this feeding shelf for my kitchen window. I load it with sunflower seeds for the critters. This young squirrel is the first of his clan bold enough to take advantage of it. I was glad he tolerated my presence well enough to get this picture. Of course, it was built with birds in mind but I like squirrels, too.

The tray is 9×14 “ with a 3/4 ledge wrapped around. It is anchored by a strap cut from a milk jug that runs from base of tray. The other end is wrapped and stapled around a dowel rod that extends inside window. Closing the window on strap with the dowel inside holds it securely. Bud intends to go back today and add additional support.

DIY Vacuum Box to Decrease Dust When Carving with Dremel Tool

Wood Spirit carved out of wild cherry. It has a Tung Oil finish. I like the way it seems to have a missing front tooth.

Bud stained this one and treated it with Tung Oil. These make nice gifts.

Vacuum box sitting on his work bench.

While Bud really enjoys carving with his Dremel, the dust was extremely problematic. He solved this problem by building a vacuum box. It’s just a 12×12 box with a 7×7 inset with 49 holes in the top with the vacuum attached to the base. He places the object he’s drilling on top and the vacuum pulls the dust right away. He still uses eye protection but his vacuum box virtually takes care of the dust problem making his dremelling much more pleasant.