Blue Plaid Pencil Skirt

I finished my blue plaid pencil skirt last week and forgot to post about it.  This was another "make it up as I go" project because when it comes to actually following a pattern, I just wing it.  Pencil skirts should be the easiest thing to make, so really who needs a pattern? 

This material had other plans....or I should say I had other plans for it.  I was going to use it to make Simplicity 3673, from their 1950's Retro Line.  You can find the review of this pattern at PaternReview.com. There are some lovely photos along with the reviews, as well.

The plan was to make view "b" because I did not have high hopes of their being enough fabric for view "c".  I bought the fabric from a decond hand charity store, so it was "as is" and you really never know how much you will get.  The "roll" was pretty heavy so I was looking forward to at leaste getting enough for a straight jumper. 

Well, plans changed because as I unrolled the fabric, some of it had tiny holes in the middle.  This should be expected with vintage fabric, or just old fabric that has been in the garage, attic, basement, where ever....I did rescue enough for the pencil skirt, but had to peice it together.

What this ment was the back is made up of 3 panels instead of one.  This actually worked out better as I like for my pencil skirts to be a bit more "butt huggin" so I was able to taper it to do just that.

The finished product is kind of preppy cute, I think. 

Not a bad outfit for under 5 bucks.  The material for the skirt was 2.50 and with all fabric, that day, market at 50% off it came to 1.25.  The sweet sweater set was also a "second hand" shop find.  I got it JUST to go with this skirt so I was lucky to find the right color.  I bought it during their "Black Friday" sale (50% off EVERYTHING IN THE STORE!!!...wish I found more) so I think it was around 2 bucks.  Add in the thread, cause I did not have any blue that color....and it was WELL under 5 bucks....OH..the zipper was bought from a lady at Buckman's Vintage Flea Market for .25 cents.  I will pin on a broach from my "Great Ma" collection and it will be a vision from the Stepford Housewives. 

I am really into making and wearing the pencil skirts right now because of being on Kimkins. I do not want to invest too much money and time into a size that I do not plan to be in for long.  Kimkins is going slower for me this time around but as these skirts get too big, they are very easy to alter. 

Happy Crafting....

Tiffany

Hip Hip Horay....It's Laundry day and time for more Laundry Day Tips....

To Remove Ink Stains

Ink stain can be removed by dipping stain in hot tallow, then wash out tallow, and ink will be removed.

To Remove Ink Stains

Wet with spirits of turpentine; after three hours, rub well.

To Remove Ink Stains

Ink stains may be removed by covering spots with borax and saturating with peroxide.

To Renew Old Crepe

Place a little water in a teakettle, and let it boil until there is plenty of steam from the spout; then, holding the crepe in both hands, pass it to and fro several times through the steam, and it will be clean and look nearly equal to new.

To Soften Jeans And Cotton Sheets

Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt to the detergent when washing.

Powdered Starch for Stains

If applied immediately, powdered starch will take fruit stains out of table linen. Left on the spot for a few hours, it absorbs every trace of the stain.

To Remove Iron Rust

Lemon juice and salt will remove ordinary iron rust.

To Remove Mildew Stains Or Iron Rust

For mildew stains or iron rust, mix together soft soap, laundry starch, half as much salt, and the juice of a lemon. Apply to the spots and spread the garment on the grass.Laundry Hints Continued

To Remove Mildew

Rub the spot with yellow soap, wash, and while wet rub powdered chalk into it and cover with chalk. Lay article on grass in sun, sprinkle with clear water. Repeat if necessary.

To Remove Old Mildew Stains

Old mildew stains may be removed by rubbing yellow soap on both sides and afterwards laying on, very thick, starch which has been dampened. Rub in well and expose to light and air.

To Remove Candle Grease

Candle grease yields to a warm iron. Place a piece of blotting paper or other absorbing paper under the absorbing fabric; put a piece of the paper also on the spot, apply the warm iron to the paper and as soon as a spot of grease appears, move the paper and press again until the spot disappears.

Remove Grease From Clothes

Mix four tablespoons of alcohol with one tablespoonful of salt; shake together until the salt is dissolved and apply with a sponge.

To Remove Grease

Cut a very ripe tomato and rub material over a kitchen table. Tomato juice will also remove stains from and whiten the hands.

To Remove Wagon Axle Grease

Lard will remove wagon grease. Rub the spot with the lard as if washing it, and when it is well out, wash in the ordinary way with soap and water until thoroughly cleansed.

To Make Linen Beautifully White

Prepare the water for washing by putting into every ten gallons a large handful of powdered borax; or boil with the clothes one teaspoonful of spirits of turpentine.

To Remove Tar from Cloth

Saturate the spot and rub it well with turpentine, and every trace of tar will be removed.

To Clean Flat Irons

Beeswax and salt will make your irons as smooth and clean as glass. Tie a lump of wax in a rag and keep it for that purpose. When the iron is hot, rub it first with the wax rag, then scour with a paper or cloth sprinkled with salt.

To Soften Boots and Shoes

Kerosene will soften leather boots and shoes which have been hopelessly hardened by water and render them as pliable as new.

Would you like more tips?  These and others can be found at:

Laundry Hints - Learn Grandma's Laundry Secrets

Enjoy reading these old fashioned laundry hints. Hopefully, you will find a laundry stain removal tip that you can use to solve your laundry problem.

Always remember to use the old-time laundry hints with caution and common sense. There is no guarantee these household tips for laundry from the past will work on some of today's synthetic materials. But, it's often worth a try.

I found this ad while surfing.  I wonder if it was something that many people had or something that really never too off?  It would be like another piece of furniture or major appliance to filling up your home.  I, personally, have always enjoyed ironing...  I know, I am weird, but I always volunteered to iron the fabric and costumes in the costume studio of the Theatre Dept while I was in school.  It was always very quiet in that part of the studio and it also smelled good and clean.

Have a great Monday!!!!

Tiffany

Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes....

These Jello Recipes remind me of my MawMa and are some of my most favorite.  Super easy (I said WHO they reminded me of, duh?  LOL) and so yummy.  They do not fill you up and do not take the place of ANY other dish.  They are like a fru fru nonsense addition to your feast. 

COTTAGE CHEESE - LIME JELLO SALAD       1 (8 oz.) sm. curd cottage cheese 1 sm. size lime Jello 1 (6-8 oz.) can crushed pineapple 1 (8 oz.) Cool Whip Nut chips, if desired Mix cottage cheese and lime Jello (dry). Add crushed pineapple (drain off all juice). Fold in Cool Whip and chill 1-2 hours before serving.   and     Cherry Jello and Cool Whip GOOP.  (that is what Mawma called it and what we still call it to this day...) 1 box Cherry Jello         1 large container Cool Whip 1 large can fruit cocktail Walnuts / Pecans (optional) mix together and enjoy.   How easy is that?  How frugal is that?  And so yummy.                 And this one is just too cute not to include.  I found the photo at the Joys of Jello Blog.  There was no mention of HOW it is done but seems pretty self explanatory.  Just pour the lime jello in the pineapple can and let it "set".  I get a bit skeeved out by that so I would find some kind of suitable alternative to the can.

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Tiffany

OH...I saw this while searching for Jello photos....has the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special aired this year?  I seem to miss it every year.  Greatma (MawMa's mother) used to call me before they aired every holiday to remind me to watch. I do not think I have seen one since.

For those traveling for Turkey Day....

13 Things Your Flight Attendant Won’t Tell You

note:  The text was reposted from Shine on Yahoo!  The graphics were found by me on the internet.
1. “Want to start off on the wrong foot with me? Put your carry-on in a full overhead bin, leave it sticking out six inches, then take your seat at the window and wait for someone else (me!) to come along and solve the physics problem you just created.”
“Yes, passengers are incredibly rude, but stealing a beer, cursing out passengers, and jumping out of a plane the way Steven Slater did is not the way to handle it. You disarm an unruly passenger by introducing yourself, asking his name, and saying something like ‘I’ve been incredibly nice to you for three hours. Why are you treating me like this?’ Generally that gets the other passengers on your side—and sometimes they’ll even applaud.”

3. “We don’t have a boyfriend in every city. And our median age these days is 44.”

4. “If you’re traveling with a small child and you keep hearing bells, bells, and more bells, please look to see if it’s your child playing with the flight attendant call bell.”
5. “An all-too-common scenario: I hand you a cup of coffee and say, ‘Cream and sugar?’ You say, ‘What?’ I say, ‘Cream and sugar?’ You say, ‘What?’ Come on, people. What do you think we’re going to ask after we’ve handed you coffee? Your favorite color?”
6. “The lavatory door is not rocket science. Just push.”

7. “No, it’s not OK to come back into the galley to stretch and bend over with your rear end in my face while I’m in my jump seat during my only break, trying to eat a meal.”
8. “If you have a baby, bring diapers. If you’re diabetic, bring syringes. If you have high blood pressure, don’t forget your medication. That way, I’m not trying to make a diaper out of a sanitary pad and a pillowcase or asking over the intercom if someone has a spare inhaler.”
9. “Just in case you hadn’t noticed, there are other people on the airplane besides you. So don’t clip your toenails, snore with wild abandon, or do any type of personal business under a blanket!”

10. “If you’re traveling overseas, do yourself a favor and bring a pen. You would not believe how many people travel without one, and you need one to fill out the immigration forms. I carry some, but I can’t carry200.”                                                                                                                                         

11. “Passengers are always coming up to me and tattling on each other. ‘Can you tell him to put his seat up?’ ‘She won’t share the armrest.’ What am I, a preschool teacher?”

12. “I hate working flights to destinations like Vail and West Palm Beach. The passengers all think they’re in first class even if they’re not. They don’t do what we ask. And the overhead bins are full of their mink coats.”
13. “Do you really have to go to the bathroom right now, while we’re wrestling a 250-pound food cart down the aisle? You can’t wait 90 seconds for us to pass?”


Text Source: Longtime flight attendant, Los Angeles; John Safkow, a San Francisco–based flight attendant and creator of marthastewardess.com; and flight attendant Betty Thesky, author of Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase. Additional reporting by John Clark. 
2.

Hip Hip Horay...It's Laundry Day, AGAIN.

I think I am going to make Monday a "Laundry Day" tips post day.  Well, at least until I run out of tips....I mean, how many can there be? 

I do enjoy "Laundry Day".  I like knowing my clothes are clean, pressed, and haging in my closet.  That David and I will have something nice to wear all week.  I have friends that can not believe that I iron David's shirts, but if he goes out to work and looks like a bum, what does that say about me?  All I can attract to marry me is a bum with dirty, ratty, wrinkled clothes?  No thank you!!!!  I am a prize and can attract a well dressed and groomed man.  LOL.  While it is not ALL about me, a good portion is.

 

 

Household Tips For Laundry

Mending Tip

Never put away clean clothes without examining every piece to see whether they are in any way out of order.

Novel Dress Mending

A novel way of mending a woolen or silk dress in which a round hole has been torn, and where only a patch could remedy matters, is the following: The frayed portions around the tear should be carefully smoothed, and a piece of the material, moistened with very thin mucilage, placed under the hole. A heavy weight should be put upon it until it is dry, when it is only possible to discover the mended place by careful observation.

Worn Sheets

When sheets are beginning to wear in the middle, sew the selvage sides together and rip open the old seam, or tear in two and hem the sides.

Remove Bad Smells

Articles of clothing, or of any other character, which have become impregnated with bad-smelling substances, will be freed from them by burying for a day or two in the ground. Wrap up lightly before burying.

To Remove Grass Stains

A simple way to remove grass stains is to spread butter on them, and lay the article in hot sunshine.Laundry Hints Continued

To Remove Grass Stains

Wet with lemon juice, sprinkle with salt, and spread in sun. You might also try using soap and cold water.

To Remove Mud Stains

Mud stains on silk can generally be removed by rubbing with a piece of flannel.

Would you like more tips?  These and others can be found at:

Laundry Hints - Learn Grandma's Laundry Secrets

Enjoy reading these old fashioned laundry hints. Hopefully, you will find a laundry stain removal tip that you can use to solve your laundry problem.

Always remember to use the old-time laundry hints with caution and common sense. There is no guarantee these household tips for laundry from the past will work on some of today's synthetic materials. But, it's often worth a try.

Tiffany



Let's Talk Turkey....

I found the neatest blog post by 50sgal over at the The Apron Revolution.  She came across an article in one of her mid century magazines that takes you, step by step, in carving a turkey.

.

I know, I know...If you are anything like me, you think this is the "man's job" so you may want to print this out for your darling husband.  Go over to her blog and take a peek






I prepare all kinds of turkey dishes for David and I.  Turkey is a lower fat meat, it is versatile, and very tasty.   If a recipe calls for ground beef, I substitute ground turkey.  If we are in the mood for bacon or sausage, I keep it Kosher by using turkey bacon and turkey sausage.  Even our "hot dogs" are made with turkey franks.  I am hoping for lots of leftover turkey.

Here is a tip from Butterball's website of what to stock your kitchen with when preparing a Thanksgiving turkey.

Must-Haves

Get the right tools for the job. From holiday feasts to simple things that every chef should have, here is a list of tools to make your time in the kitchen easy and fun.

Seasonal Tools:

Here are just a few of the items recommended for preparing the perfect turkey for your holiday dinner:

Roasting Pan

Every great Thanksgiving meal begins with a sturdy, well-constructed roasting pan that helps retain the natural flavors of your turkey. We recommend a shallow pan that’s only 2 inches deep. This helps to ensure that the heat can surround the meat and cook evenly for a browned, thoroughly cooked turkey.

Meat Thermometer

A true necessity in any home during the holidays, a meat thermometer is an accurate way to identify whether your turkey is completely cooked or still needs more time.

Sharp Carving Knife

A sharp knife to carve your holiday turkey will help you to prepare plates efficiently and enhance your presentation. A good blade will allow you to carve turkey in well-proportioned, even slices that look professional every time.

Cheesecloth

Handy and convenient in the kitchen, this loosely woven cloth is perfect for straining and clarifying soups or sauces. Because of the way it’s made, it will not interfere with the flavor of your dish and has become a must-have item in many gourmet kitchens.

Flavor Injector

A quick method of injecting a desired flavor or marinade into your turkey and other meats. Perfect for giving your meal a little extra flavor for guests to enjoy.

Whisk

A whisk is a fairly dainty but extremely useful tool that comes in handy when mixing ingredients into a sauce. You’ll be glad to have one when Thanksgiving preparations are in full swing.

Gravy Separator

Also called a fat separator, this kitchen tool helps to maintain flavor in gravy by separating fat from pan drippings.

Gravy Boat

A staple on every holiday table, a gravy boat is a serving container that holds gravy or sauces and can be both functional and stylish on your holiday table.

Or you could just say forgetaboutit and warm up a TV Dinner.

Tiffany

A Very Spirited Thanksgiving

Good Saturday Morning.

Here we are, Thanksgiving Week....only SIX more cooking days till the BIG DAY.  Are you still thinking "oh, dear!!!  How will I dazzle them this year?!!!???"

Well,I found some really neat recipees in my inbox this morning and thought I would share them in time for Thanksgiving.  These are not for the tee-totalers, as they have a bit of spirited libations included.

Grand Marnier Roasted Turkey

Can you remember the first time you cooked the bird? What an awesome task that seemed to be. A marinade is a must on poultry, especially when the anticipated cooking time is over two hours. This Grand Marnier glaze will ensure a moist, exquisitely flavored turkey.

Ingredients

• 1 (15 lb. ) turkey
• 1/2 Cup Grand Marnier liqueur
• 1/2 Cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped  
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Salt & pepper

Directions

• If turkey is frozen, thaw overnight in refrigerator or in cold water.
• Preheat oven to 325F (165C). Remove plastic wrapping on turkey. Remove neck and bag of giblets from body cavities. Rinse turkey, including cavities, thoroughly. Rub salt and pepper inside cavities and on outer skin.
• Loosely stuff neck and body cavity with stuffing. Fold neck flap skin under turkey. Pull the wings back and place the tips under the turkey. Tie legs together and place turkey breast side up in large roasting pan.
• Whisk together liqueur, oil, chives, lemon juice, and 2 teaspoons salt. Brush mixture over entire surface of turkey. Insert a meat thermometer into thickest part of thigh without touching the bone.
• Cook turkey, basting occasionally, for about 4 hours or until the thermometer registers 180F (80C). During last half hour, loosely tent turkey with aluminum foil to prevent skin from becoming too brown. Let turkey stand for 15 minutes and then remove stuffing.
• Carve each breast on the bias, pull off the thighs, cut off the wings and arrange on a large platter. Pour the Grand Marnier drippings into a gravy boat and serve

Rum & Cherry Cornbread Stuffing

Not being a huge fan of celery, I am forever on the look out for stuffing recipes that omit this staple ingredient.

Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup dried cherries
• 3/4 Cup rum
• 3/4 Cup butter
• 1 large brown onion, coarsely chopped
• 3 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
• 1 ( 12-oz. ) package cornbread stuffing   
• 1 lb. turkey sausage
• 1 (15- oz. ) can creamed corn
• 1 Tablespoon anise seed
• 1 Cup chicken broth
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon pepper

Directions

• Soak cherries in rum overnight. Drain cherries and reserve rum.
• Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrots and cook until just tender, about 8 minutes. Add reserved rum and cherries and cook over medium-high heat until liquid reduces completely. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Stir cornbread stuffing until combined.
• Remove sausage from casings and crumble into a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Add sausage, creamed corn, and anise seed to stuffing and mix well.
• Melt remaining 1/4 cup butter and add to chicken broth. Stir into stuffing until thoroughly moistened. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stuff mixture into body cavity and neck of turkey. Place left over stuffing in baking dish and bake at 350F (175C) for 15 minutes or until top is crusty. When turkey is done, remove stuffing from bird before carving and spoon into serving dish.
• Note: Stuffing may be made 1 day in advance if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stuff the bird just before cooking.

To see these recipes and more, go to  the Celebrations website.  Be sure to sign up for their newsletter and emails.  They send out the most wonderful entertaining tips.

Have a wonderful Saturday!!!!

Tiffany

Easy Peasy Harvest Decorations

I just love decorating for fall.  It brings such a colorful warmth to our home.  This year, we are a bit behind because of remodeling a few of our rooms.  All of the overflow has been stored in our formal dinning room and a few spots in our formal living room.  I am finally going to be able to decorate next week and have been searching for inspiration.

I only had to look as far as "Martha's" website to find the inspirational answers.

Pumpkin Sconce

These bright-orange pumpkins glow even brighter when transformed into glowing light fixtures.


Read more at Marthastewart.com: Pumpkin Sconce - Martha Stewart Home and Garden

I just love these little pumpkins and the variety of gourds on the table.




Or howabout this darling wreath?  How easy would that be to make?  If you cannot find enough natural leaves, Micheal's or Hobby Lobby have all kinds of faux foliage.

Fall Foliage Wreath

Long after the last leaves on the lawn have been raked away, this autumnal wreath will hold on to its crispness and color.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Fall Foliage Wreath - Martha Stewart Home and Garden

 

Martha sure knows how to inspire a crafter was luscious eye candy.  Be sure to check out all the other ideas she posts on her site. And sign up for her newsletter so you never miss a new idea.

Here are a few of my own decorations from Fall 2009.  We had just got back from our honeymoon and I uses a few things from our Mocha and Pink wedding to add a bit of variety to the traditional fall colors.

I love. LOVE. L O V E!!! Pretty tables. I try to have my own dinning room table "made-up" and looking it's best, I love looking at it and creating the different looks. David really enjoys it, too. I rotate the settings and centerpieces regularly and match the decor to the holiday or seasons.

You do not have to break the bank to do this, use what you have and be creative. Take out grandma's antique linens and your wedding china (you registered for it, someone bought it...now USE it) and set up a formal look. Don't have enough wedding china to complete the table? Mix and match like you see at some tearooms. Thrift stores and estate sales always have an assortment of mix and match china that you can grab at a steal.

For a beautiful Thanksgiving table, Hobby Lobby and Michael’s have some great finds. Start with a gold table cloth and add a brown runner (buy some inexpensive satin brown, or color of your choice, cut to about 5 ft long and 1.5 to 2 ft wide, hem to finish and add tassels). Wal-Mart had some very cute brown leaf placemats this season or make your own mats with left over brown fabric, very easy to do. Add gold chargers on top of the placemats and ivory plates. Place a small pumpkin in the center of each plate. A cornucopia with dries leaves or seasonal flowers, small gourds and a mini scarecrow as the centerpiece completes the look for a festive Harvest tablescape. Oh, do not forget napkins, glassware, and silverware.

This table was affordable to set.  Most of the supplies were on hand from past years harvest decorations.  Plates were inexpensive and runner, tablecoth, and napkins were handmade.  Vases and votives were repurposed from other parts of our
home. 

Have a great day!!!!
Tiffany

Red Hot

I have finished two skirts this week and wanted to share the red one.  This one was really a re-do as it was a skirt that I took apart and reworked as a pencil skirt (or wiggle skirt as some call them).  I have never re-worked or altered anything but this skirt was way too big so I was not loosing anything for trying.  I think I still need to make a few tweeks and I also think I re-constructed it a size too small...but I kind of like the butt cupping effect (and David sure does not mind).

I do not know if it is the way I am standing but in person it does not "pull" at the thighs as it is showing here.  Also, I would like for it to fit a little tighter at the bottom but then it would really be a wiggle skirt.  David took me out for dinner tonight and the hostess sat up in an upstairs section of the restaurant, walking up and down the stairs proved to be a little challenging.

I will post the black one when I wear it.  The photos of it on the hanger just look like a big ole black piece of material.  I am going to try to make something out of the leopard fabric tomorrow but I am also going to shop a bit so hopefully I will  have some time to at least get the fabric cut.

Until next time....

Tiffany

Bowl-A-Rama

"Nothing did more for the popularity of bowling than the first broadcast of "Championship Bowling" by NBC in the 1950’s. Thanks to this show and many others including "Make that Spare", "Bowling for Dollars", and "Celebrity Bowling", bowling was thrust into the American public’s living rooms and hearts alike. The Pro Bowlers tour became hugely popular on ABC Sports Broadcasting after first being televised in 1961. These events all added to the popularity of Bowling but make no mistake. Bowling is loved in its own right because it is a sport of the people. It has come from its early forms to evolve into a truly enjoyable American past time." (from  http://www.essortment.com/all/historyofbowli_rkdx.htm).  While this might be true, historically, I think the cute colorful bowling shirts and wearing silly shoes had to have SOMETHING to do with people's love for bowling.

I found these darling retro inspired bowling shirts at a second hand store while piddling around earlier this week.

This one is a size large, so a bit snug for me.  Since I am back on my low carb WOE (way of eating) it will be ok, soon (I hope)

Please ignore the wrinkles, they are being laundered as we speak and then will be pressed crisp.

This one is a xxl, which it too big for me but looks suuuuuuuuper cool work over tight clam diggers.  As a matter of fact I gave it a good hot wash yesterday morning and wore it to take Dixie Lee to the vet.  (I thought a good HOT wash and dry would shrink it, but no luck with that...it is now being re-washed because Ms. Lee had to sit on my lap at the vet).

The next pic is detail of the cute little bowling pin embroidered on the sleeve. 

I have been lurking on Daddyo.com for YEARS wanting to buy some of these shirts but they are pretty pricey.  Can you believe I got BOTH for under 10 bucks?  Now that's a find!!!!  The only thing left to do is have our names embroidered on the front!!!!

Now that my chores are done I am going off to troll some antique shops.  With the holidays around the corner and one teenie boppers b-day coming up, I care hardly justify much spending but looking does not cost a thing.

Tiffany

Joy of all Joys, It's Laundry Day.

David just can not concentrate or relax if he even THINKS he will have a day without a clean and freshly ironed shirt.  To make his mind be more at rest we have decided that Monday is Laundry Day.

To celebrate this OH SO JOYOUS occasion, I am going to share some useful laundry tips.

Grandma's Household Tips For Laundry

These old-time laundry cleaning tips are taken from a number of vintage publications, including "Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping," "The Perry Home Cook Book," "The White House Cook Book," and "Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets."

Enjoy experimenting with these 19th-century laundry hints. You are sure to find an idea or two that will help you with a laundry problem.

To Remove Ink, Wine Or Fruit Stains

Saturate well in tomato juice; it is also an excellent thing to remove stains from the hands.

To Remove Stains of Claret Wine

As soon as claret is spilt, cover spot with salt. Let stand a few minutes, then rinse in cold water.

To Take Spots from Wash Goods

Try rubbing them with the yolk of egg before washing.

To Remove Fruit Stains

Fruit stains may be taken out by boiling water. Place the material over a basin or other vessel and pour the boiling water from the kettle over the stains.

To Remove Fruit Stains

Pour boiling water over stained surface, having it fall from a distance of three feet. This is a much better way than dipping stain in and out of hot water; or wring articles out of cold water and hang out-of-doors on a frosty night.

Would you like more tips?  These and others can be found at:

Laundry Hints - Learn Grandma's Laundry Secrets

Enjoy reading these old fashioned laundry hints. Hopefully, you will find a laundry stain removal tip that you can use to solve your laundry problem.

Always remember to use the old-time laundry hints with caution and common sense. There is no guarantee these household tips for laundry from the past will work on some of today's synthetic materials. But, it's often worth a try.

Tiffany

Clean Closets

Today was a rather busy day.  David decided to paint the smaller spare bedroom and turn it into his "den"...I forget what he called it...something about learning because he is always studying.  He is always reading one book or another.  Since he was busy, I felt obliged to be busy, too.  Started out with a good clean of the old closets in the master bedroom.  I did not MEAN to clean them....but I could not find any of my black tshirts, so instead of making a bigger mess out of the chaos that lives in there, I decided to tidy up a bit.  OMG, it just makes me smile to go in there now.  I got some things out of there that never got unpacked when we moved in about 18 months ago.  I had a large basket of things that need mending, so I boxed those up and now they have a waiting space in my sewing room.  Also...clothing tags.  You know how they always end up on the floor?  Well I must never get around to picking them up because when I was done I had a WalMart bag about full of those.  YIKES!!!!  I can now see the floor in both closets and just maybe I will not have to spend half the morning hunting for a top the next time I am getting dressed.

I would love to find some kind of inexpensive (because I change my mind ALOT) closet organizing system.  Something that will make it easy to see and get to my clothing.  I end up forgetting what I have the way everything is now.  I know I have WAY too many clothes, shoes, bags, belts, etc.  But I always seem to wear the same thing over and over because it is what I see.  I think this is an ever ending battle.

Tiffany

For the Boys....

Just a little eye candy and a big "Thank You" for your service on this Vet's Day.

When I was a Social Director at the Assisted Living community we went all out for Vet's Day.  We usually did something with the local grade school during the day and then we had a big program that night.  We invited the families, everyone had a flag, and our favorite entertainer of the elderly, Wynona, lead us in a patriotic sing a long.  It was really a fun time.

Now that I am a very happily married lady, spending my days as David's housewife, we celebrate differently.  We actually celebrate the founding of the Marine Corps the night before.  This year we went out for steaks.  Jordan, my sister Krystal, and her man Joe and his son Jonathan, and my mom all went out.  It was a lot of fun.


I actually spent the afternoon with Krystal and Jordan.  Jordan is having her bedroom re done to reflect a room of a teenager.  OMG so far it looks awesome.  They painted the room in pink and hot pink.  The bedding is black and white damask.  I will make some throw pillows and curtains for her, as well.  It really shows her personality.

I had an old file cabinet stored in their garage forEVER, it was from my college days.  We found some old photos in it, some were Glamour Shots.  OMG, they were from 1991 and IDK what went on there....I had pics  in some wind suit (glamorous, huh?) a sparklie jacket (getting better), and some black and  silver / gold lame fabric that the photographer tied in a big bow...LOL...and the best was me in some strapless red and white HORIZONTAL stripped tube top and a white jacket with red, white, and blue life preserver nautical liking appliqués.  I guess I was going for the patriotic angle with that one.  And the HAIR???  It was so big (ok ok...I wish my hair was still that big, I am a Texas gal, after all).

Here is a LO I did after visiting Pearl Harbor while on our Honeymoon

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The red, white, and blue tag leads to hidden journaling about the memorial and my thoughts.

Ok, then....I am off to sew a button back onto one of David's Aloha shirts.  Tomorrow is Aloha Friday.  LOL.

Tiffany 

Sew Retro

I have been consumed with finding the perfect retro inspired dress.  I have a few old fashioned threads, sweater sets, and curve hugging pencil skirts...but still I am not satisfied.  I decided the only way to have the dress is to make it myself.

How hard could this be afterall?  I designed and made very complicated  costumes while working in the costume studio at Texas A&M so surely I can make a simple dress, right?

 

I found the pattern, a nice easy one, actually turned out to be the dress I was searching for.   I chose Butterick 6015.  The rumor around the blogs is it is the "walk away dress" because it is so easy that you can "start the project after breakfast and walk away in it by tea time".  Well translate "tea time" to "happy
hour" and I am up for the challenge.

I did not want to spend too much on this since I am a little rusty on my sewing skills.  Also, a pattern?  I have not read or worked with a pattern since Home Ec in High School.  At A&M and after I did not really follow a pattern, they intimidated me so I designed and built my patterns with cheap fabric.  I ended up finding the pattern on the cheap and got some broadcloth at Joann's while it was on sale for 1.99 (and then I had a 20% off coupon for sale items...SCORE!!!!)  So after a few more trips to the fabric store for "forgotten" supplies, I was ready to go.

I carefully read the instructions on the pattern then made adjustments along the way.   I laid out the pattern and fabric, diligently placed the pins, and began to cut.  I chose to make the dress in the largest size, 2 sizes too big (according to my store bought clothing).  I thought this would give enough wiggle room in-case the sizes ran small and also because of cheap fabric, for shrinkage.  Plus, really?  This was a trial run and the most I would use it would be as a house dress for chores.

There were only 3 pieces, the back skirt piece was to be used twice.  Not hard at all.  After cutting, I pinned and attatched the peices. 

I could not wait.  I had to try it on.  IT WAS TOO SMALL??????  HTHeck?  I was either not careful enough with my measurements or the sizing was wonkie.  So I guess I have a cool dress when I loose more weight. 

I am not adding the finishing touches right now.  I am going to buy some better fabric and make adjustments and make one that will fit.  I saw some nice fabric that was not too costly at Hancock yesterday so I have an idea of what I will be using.  The dress is really more of a summer dress so I have plenty of time to figure this out. 


I am heading out today to figure out what I am making for Jordan's (my 13 going on 30 y/o niece) room.  While I am at Joann I am going to look for some fabric for a skirt I have my eye on.  I sure hope the sizing works out better.  it is another easy pattern so maybe I will have something new to wear by the weekend.  LOL

Tiffany

Curtains, FINALLY

So I never made it back with the big reveal of my new curtains / window treatment.  I am just not good at keeping my work when it comes to blogging.  I think it because I know there really isn't anyone reading my blog just yet...but on I will go.

So, as I posted, I could not find a pattern or even a photo of the kind of window treatment that I had so firmly planted in my mind.  I had to design, build the frame, and sew as I went.  Some things worked, other things worked better.  I started off making a "frame" out of wire hangers.  That worked just fine for construction but not for a permanent fixture, which is fine....when I was learning in the costume studio at Texas A&M's Theatre Dept (yes, we had a theatre dept, small as it was) we always made "mock-ups" and used those as a pattern for the final piece.  I then designed the cloth portion around the wire frame, sewing and pinning as I went.  I can not even begin to type out "steps" because it was so trial and error.  Whatever, the finished product makes me smile every time I walk into my room.

The window is also covered with oak stained blinds.  I do not really like these but looking from the outside, towards the house, I prefer all of the front windows to  have the same color.  Our formal living room, as well as our formal dinning room have the same blinds.  I am kinda stuck with em.  It works out OK since I have an old oak sewing table I am using for my sewing machine and it is right in front of the window.

Here is a close up.  I finished the curtains with some medium sized pom poms and pink ribbon (to hide the seam lines...the material was not wide enough and I had to add two panels).

I wanted a "awning" effect.  I think it worked out nicely.

I had some material left over so I made a chair cover to hide the gross blue of the office chair I have had forever.  The chair is comfortable and practical so I really did not want to replace it.  I am also making a cushion for Belle Starr with leftover material.  She has already claimed her piece of fabric and spot in the room.

Thanks for looking.

Tiffany

Off to Home Depot

My plans to "blog" more regularly got a bit sidelined last week.  I was off scouring the metroplex used furniture and antique shops, looking for a cute desk and something to put my TV on and had to cut it short because I started feeling a bit weird.  I do not know if I was really sick or just the side effects of my LC way of eating (that is a subject for a different post).  Anyway, for the rest of the week I was a bit bla and nothing got done.  I did loose 4 pounds, however :)

I am still making great progress on the new room.  Yesterday I started with my curtains / window treatment.  I could not find a pattern for my vision, so I designed, built the frame / skeleton, and sewed as I went.  I really like the result, so far, but the frame is a bit flimsy so I am off to Home Depot for another option.

I also started on a cover for my desk chair.  I got the top looking really cute but I ran out of fabric....so off to Hobby Lobby, too.  Good thing they have another 40% off coupon this week.

I think David will forgive me for going to HD without him since I would also be dragging him to HL.  He said he does not mind going to Michael's with me but draws the line at HL and Joann's.

I will post a photo of my super cute curtains and chair cover later today....well I hope.  I have to get them completed, first.

Tiffany