Microwave Bowl Cover

 I made my first microwave bowl cover!

I used Connecting Threads 10 inch squares

and Warm and Natural 100% cotton batting.

I attached a 10 inch fabric square to a 10 inch square of batting

by sewing an X from point to point diagonally.

I  chose two different fabrics because this is reversible.

Do this for both fabric sides.

Then you fold the individual fabric/batting pieces

in half and add darts (for this size)

one inch over from the fold and 2 inches down,

drawing an angled line on the batting.

Do this on all sides to make the bowl shape.

Make sure to watch the tutorial at the link below 

for specific instructions.  It provides sizes to make

a variety of bowls from large to small.

Then you sew each of the fabric/batting pieces together

(fabric right sides together). Sew around all sides leaving a 3 inch  opening.

When complete, turn it inside out and stitch around the edge to finish.

You can't use anything that may catch fire so be very careful

about the materials you use for this.  It should be used only

in the microwave and never leave it unattended while heating.

This was my practice piece.  Now that I see how it is constructed

the next ones will go much more quickly.  I will make sure to either

back stitch or put a knot at the end of my darts to strengthen them.  

You can watch a You Tube tutorial here.  

They use a ruler to measure the darts in this video but 

you could use your grid square and go over one inch

then angle towards the edge until the 2 inch mark is 

on the side.  See the tutorial here. 

I would recommend watching and reading both of these if you have not made these before.  I think these are a really great gift idea and you could give a set of 

three or four different sizes that will nest inside each other for storage.

Turned Bottle Stoppers, Pens and Seam Rippers

 Wood turning is fast becoming my husband's favorite

activity.  He has been working on bottle stoppers

and additional seam rippers this past week.

The designs are one of a kind, no molds or templates

to follow other than purchasing the pre-made metal parts.  The wood

ranges from cherry, mahogany and exotics.

This is a tall stopper, better for a larger bottle.

Smaller stoppers with a mushroom design.

Pens in all shapes and wood types.

He has sold a few of the bolt action pens,

they are popular with hunters, people in the

military and collectors of unusual pens.

He is starting an inventory of seam rippers.

We've had some interest in these and have

come up with a price for local sales but

I have to understand shipping for anyone outside

of our area.  I have two on order at work.

You remove the tip, turn it around and 

reinsert into the wooden handle to use the 

ripper.  For storage, reinsert into the wooden handle.

That's is what is happening in our neck of the woods.

I've been playing around with material of course and

made my first quilted bowl holder for the microwave.

I'll be showing you that in the next day or so.

For those in the areas hit by snow,

Stay Safe!

Stay Warm!

Turned Seam Ripper

 I received a surprise gift from my husband.

 He is particularly fond of turning wood on his lathe, 

creating beautiful pens from chunks of wood.  When I 

arrived home he had created a special something for me.

      

At first you may wonder what sort of contraption this is,

I certainly would have if I didn't know it was my special

present to go along with all that fabric I 

have stocked up in the Girl Cave.

Pull out the metal tip

Insert it into the wooden handle and it becomes

a seam ripper!  With the clip you can hook it on to your

 pocket or smock while you are sewing so you know 

where it is at a moment's notice.

These are some of the wooden pens he has been making.

The most popular are the one with the bolt action

(click to enlarge), favored by men so far since they 

are a little heavier and thicker than some women prefer.

I love the cigar pen (middle one) with its swirls !

 The image below on the left is more of the collection

and the pen on the right is mine.

More Savings- Price $269 Paid $29

YOU SAVED $ 239.85!

Another big win!

I have been watching the after Christmas sales

for great opportunities, much better than 

fighting through the Black Friday crowd.

Excluding tax:

Total $268.85

 Cash Payment $ 28.95 

My last post discussed paying $40 for $400 of merchandise

during a 90% off sale at Three French Hens.

Friday and Saturday I caught the $1 Simplicity Pattern sale

at Hancock Fabrics, in addition to finding nice remnant fabric.

While I quilt, I am not a seamstress

but I can only quilt so many quilts 

so expanding into other crafts and clothes

is a logical step but with patterns 

at $15-18 a piece, it didn't make sense.

But at $1 each?  You bet!

Here I have some holiday patterns,

organizers and adult bibs.  I thought

it could be a good project to make for

nursing homes and  maybe one for a messy

Kathy.  I can always count on spilling if

I am wearing something nice!

  Here I have some kitchen items and 

simple clothes.  The New Look was not on 

sale but their prices are less than $4 and

I did like the top.

Some animal patterns for kids.

Toys and organization patterns.

You can purchase a total of 10 patterns at a time 

so I made two trips, 5 during my way home from

work on Friday (since I pass it anyway) and 

then a separate trip today for another 10

plus the one not on sale. 

A couple of flannel squares for $0.69 each.

The best thing about the patterns is that

you can use them over and over again!

Fleece remnants for several patterns I have.

All this for under $30.

If you go to the link, you will see the sales.

Fleece is up to 75% off through January 28, and if you

have a Hancock near you, you won't pay shipping 

but if not, there is a promo code for shipping now too.

I did make a big purchase at Goodwill  

which was next door to the fabric shop.

I like to find discount books and if there is a 

thrift shop with a nice collection I try to stop in.

I did pick up a couple books at $0.79 each but

came across this ceramic bird that looks much

prettier in real life than in this photo.  

At $6 it was my big spend of the day.

All this sewing will come in handy with the new

wood turning item that my husband made me.

I'll save that for another post.

Bargain- $400 of gifts for $40

It is Christmas all over again in January!

I have been waiting for the 90% off sale at

Three French Hens, an upscale antique/gift shop

  in Wildwood, MO, a suburb of St Louis.

This little shop is off the beaten path, you

would have to know where it is to find it,

or by reading the local Who's Who magazines.

They have amazing furniture, kitchenware, dinnerware

and accessories for any occasion ranging from country French

to Farmhouse, Lodge and traditional pieces.

If you time it right you will arrive during their after Christmas

sale where everything is 90% off.

Yes, you pay only 10% of the retail price.

I saved $400 .  

Just so you don't think I'm blowing smoke, here is my receipt.  

Discount $194.85 + $199.22.

I paid just a little over $40 + tax.

The ticket didn't take into consideration that all

ornaments ($5-7 each) were pre-discounted to $1 each.

I purchased three ornaments and saved at least $15.

I have a deer duo pictured on my coffee table 

so you can see the larger one is good sized.

It started out at $64.95 (I saw it Monday at that price)

but on Thursday it was $6.50 with the smaller deer

originally priced at $12.95, currently $1.30.

An entire collection of future gifts at deep, deep discount.

Frasier Fir Potpourri originally $39.95 at $3.99.

The same holds true for the rest

pull toy horses sale price $1.30

Beautiful glass soap dishes and plates

currently  $1.50 and $1.90. 

Wall hanging now $1.70.  

   Mitten plates for $ 0.79 each.

Metal pocket holders currently $1.90

Ornaments originally $5-7 each are now $1.00.

I purchased the two items below last year 

to give as office gifts this Christmas.

They were originally $18.95 and I hit the $1.00 sale

so I was able to get all 10 people in my group

one of these. $ 189.50 for $10.

(and a set for myself)

I happened to stop by on my way home from work

on an extremely cold day.  The parking lot had only 

three or four cars in it so I knew it would not be crowded.

It turns out that I hit the first day of the sale!

There won't be much left after today, maybe

a lot of (very nice fabric) ribbon, larger tree ornaments, 

the fonds that you can stick into the tree branches and 

they feather out, etc.  The actual gift items are going fast!

It's an amazing sale if you time it right.

I'll tuck most of these away for next year.   

Vacuum Sealed Chicken Thighs $0.99

Our local grocery had chicken thighs on sales 

for $0.99 per pound, a pretty good price on chicken.

We typically stock up during these sales

but in earlier years found that we ended up with 

more freezer burn than meat.

We then invested in a vacuum sealer, 

this one is for home use, it will be 

different if we begin to process our own chicken.

It eliminates the freezer burn so we can

keep meat much longer than in the past.

There is an option for pre-made bags but we

choose to use the roll so we can determine our

own size plus I believe it is less expensive

but takes an additional step. 

You cut the bag to size and place an open side on the

 edge of the sealer, snap the latch and  press Seal.  

Once it seals the light turns off and you can remove the bag. 

Fill the bag and place the open so it overlaps the

suctioning area. Press the vacuum and seal 

button.  It should quickly begin to remove air

and shrink around the meat.

When the  the suctioning sound stops and the light turns off,

you can open the sealer and remove the bags.  Label and freeze.

Of course you can vacuum seal all sorts of things, 

not just meat intended for the freezer.

Here I have three to four thighs in vacuum sealed

bags and two regular storage bags for the thighs 

we will use immediately.

We do the same when we pull pork or purchase hamburger

in bulk. So far we have not had any problems with the 

meat quality.  It is well worth the money, especially when

I hear my co-workers talking about throwing away $20 worth

of meat they forgot in the deep freeze.  

The drawback is that the sealer, being home use,

will not perform well if you are trying to process large batches.  

Most will require a cool down period after so many seals.

At some point we will have to upgrade, particularly if we beging

to process meat birds.