Tute Tuesday: Tea Wallet

I wanted to make a special thank you gift for someone...(I'll tell you why on Sew Saturday!)...so I decided to make a tea wallet! I mostly followed this lady's tute...with a few variations of my own.

You need two 5"X7" background fabrics...one 5"X7" piece of interface...and here's where mine's different....I carefully cut two antique hankies...careful to use their intricate lace edge when I cut two 5"X7" pieces.  I also have a long piece of grosgrain ribbon.  Save your hanky scraps...you'll see why.

Iron the hankies (wallet pockets) in half.  Pin the hankies intensely cuz they slide all over the place.

Iron the interface to the wrong side of one background piece.  Sew the top of the pockets.

Measure one inch up from the bottom and attach your first pocket by sewing along the bottom...only...not the sides.

Then align the second pocket with the bottom of the wallet...and again, sew the bottom only.

If you are using 1/4 inch seams and you've been measuring properly...Measure in 3 1/2 inches and mark with pins or fabric pencil. Sew a vertical line to form two sets of pockets. I backstitched slightly at the top of each pocket so it could withstand use...and because the hanky fabric was thin.

Pin your ribbon to the side...and gather it up and pin it so it's not flapping all about.

Put your other background fabric face down on your "sandwich"...so right sides are together and ribbon pile is inside. Sew all the way around leaving an opening at the bottom so you can flip it inside out. I put those two yellow pins facing the left so I know not to pull them. I've sewn things shut before. I'm just sayin...

Flip it inside out...

Iron the lips of the opening and then top stitch all the way around the edge of the wallet.

Remember those scraps you saved? Make a tea bag tag...You will need to thread a needle and handstitch a bit...but the end result is worth it.

VOILA!

Fill with tea...

...Give it to a friend!

Merry Monday Memories...

Sew Saturday: Jazelle's cover

Yes, in case you missed it in the comments...I named my new machine...JAZELLE!  

You need to flip your hair when you say it...Jazellllle!

I played with my new free motion quilting foot and had such a good time...

I even wrote my name...

I LOOOVVE Jazelle...she's such a schnazzy Stylist! 

Next week...I have someone to introduce you too...

Flower & Fitness Friday

My 2 tone irises are blooming and I picked some cilantro and made fresh salsa for lunch. Yummo!

Thankful Thursday

After studying Genesis this year...at our favorite Bible Study...Caleb needed some special gifts for his teachers.  We took two, 6" painters' canvases...and one world map.  Pick these up for free at any roadside rest stop!  I traced his hand over two "colorful" parts of the map.  Also, two places I know the leaders have been praying for as a bible study group.  China and the Middle East, if you're curious.

Cut them out...Then, a little bit of glue to stick them on well...and a blue sharpie to write Caleb's favorite verse (from the week he got saved!) It was very appropriate for his teachers too, I thought!

I am so thankful for these two ladies...who volunteered their time...to teach God's Word to my child. God worked mightily through them this year...and touched my son's heart...and brought him to Himself! I am so thankful to them for their faithfulness and to God for His mercy and grace!

Hurting Hodgepodge

  

1. May is National Blood Pressure Month...what sends yours soaring, either literally or figuratively? What calms you down? When did you last have your bp checked?
Traffic raises my blood pressure...sooo I don't drive in it...hehehe!  Yes, I love doing errands in the early morning.  I had it checked about a year ago.  All's well...
2. You just found $1-what do you spend it on? How about 10$ 100?
Found money...as in not allocated into the budget yet?  How do you spell....GARAGE SALE!!!!
3. Mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food has been proposed, but not enacted in the US. How much attention do you give food labels before you buy? Are you in favor of labeling if it means an increase in food prices? Is this an issue you've been following and feel strongly about, or is this the first you've heard of the controversy?
Since our son has major food allergies...and I've had major GI issues over the years...I do read labels carefully.  The GE issue is interesting.  I think we could probably figure it out without the labeling and hike in prices...ya know, when in doubt don't buy it.  I'm all for buying organic beef...it's having the funds set aside ahead of time that's needed...and a good freezer.  Oh, and a neighbor with a generator so you don't spaz when the power goes out!! ;-)
4. May 15th marks the birthdate of Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz. At this point in time, are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain.
Courage. Solo Mia!!
5. "There's no place like home" is an oft repeated line from Baum's book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement?
The hum of activity has been intense lately...I feel that way when I get a quiet day like today...to just do mountains of laundry and chill with my little man...ahhhh.
6.  Steak...yes please or no thank you? What cut do you prefer and how do you like yours cooked? Sauce or no sauce? Besides your own kitchen, where's a place you like to go to get a great steak?
Steak...*drool dribble*  I love steak...hands down my favorite meal.  I like Organic Sirloin.  Medium.  No sauce (tsk tsk...the very idea)...Besides my own kitchen...I really enjoy a place called The Brown Derby near my parent's home in Canton, Ohio.  My folks have sent us there on a couple of dates while they watched the grandkids.  :) 
7. When was the last time you were in a genuine hurry?
Sorry...I'm perpetually early...because I flip out when I'm in hurry situations.  Since I don't relish the joys of being that kind of awfulmeannasty person...I make sure I give plenty of leeway.  Unless I oversleep or something drastic it won't happen.  Praise the Lord!  Phew....It happened once in college during student teaching and I still get heart palpitations thinking about.  It was so traumatic I still remember what I threw on wore that day!
EDIT:  I lied...I'm so sorry.  I just remembered....I few months ago I forgot my yearly physical exam.  I needed an insurance form signed and when my phone reminded me 5 minutes til...I had home hair dye in...my son with me...raced there...it was the yearly lady exam (ahem)...and then I forgot to get the stupid form signed.  Yeah, that one was so traumatic I momentarily blocked it from my memory.  Great...well, I'm not going back up to answer number one again but I'm betting all this hurried recall has elevated mine a bit!  Sigh...
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Funtimes...as I begin yet another solo stint without the Loverbrains (til June)...I somehow hurt my neck and shoulders...I could hardly move yesterday but today I'm a bit better.  I think my body ganged up on me...my stress filled weeks are coming to an end so my body thought it'd be fun to seize up all those muscles I've been clenching.  I weeded my perennial garden and that tipped me over the edge.  Thankfully, my new neighbor is a massage therapist.  I've watched her kids a few times so she could work on patients...and when I told her I was in pain she very sweetly told me to come right over.  Praise the Lord...for her healing hands.  She was afraid to work on me for more than a half hour because it hurt me so badly...so I might have to go back again...but what an answer to prayer she was to me!  God is so good even when I'm in pain.

Tute Tuesday: Before & After

This is the way we go to a garage sale...find a credenza for $5...haul it home...

...lightly sandpaper it...

..spray on some black spray paint...
(On the drawer only...layer turquoise, green and black and scrap it for fun bit 'o color)

...have neighbor help you haul it into the house...

...VIOLA!...

...my New Printer Stand...Sturdy storage (holds a whole box of printer paper)...and looks nice too!