Lots of sewing -gift bags and curtains

Hello everyone, 

I had a good size stack of Christmas themed fabric, so for the last few weeks,  I’ve been sewing up reusable, fabric gift sacks, to wrap future Christmas gifts in.  

I used only fabric and trim I already had.  

They are assorted sizes, since some of my fabric was scraps, I let the fabric decide what size each bag should big,  

I think there are 27 finished bags, from small to extra large.  

When I put gifts in them,  I will tie them shut with ribbon or twine.  

Tuesday morning,  this is what our breakfast nook and..........

Living room looked like.    

I started with these older Waverly Vintage rose tablecloths.  

And by Wednesday evening, the rooms like this..........

I used the Vintage Rose to make curtains, a short table runner and 2 bench covers.  

The new prints on the wall were free printables found via Pinterest.  

The dining room got a new curtain, sewn with a huge length of sheer fabric.  (Most of my fabric stash was gifted to me, either from my mom, from some friends and some from my Dad’s yardsale purchases.  I’m guessing this sheer fabric was in a fabric lot my Dad bought) 

It was kind of pain to sew with but it made such a full curtain that it is fairly private even though the fabric is sheer.  

In the living Room,  the big white tree was packed away.  The heavy curtains were swapped out for the muslin ones that were hanging in the dining room.   

I added a table top white tree with winter themed ornaments

We still have wrapped presents, because for several reasons, our big family Christmas will be here this weekend.  

While I was swapping things around,  I put these 2 pictures that my mother embroidered about 60 years ago in the Living room.   The deer and horses are all satin stitch with embroidery floss and just beautiful. 

Little Ducky is just fine.  He’s grown a little but not much so I’m guessing he may be a small dog even when full grown.  

He is very fond of his toys and amazes us that he already plays fetch with that big taggie ball.  

My father in law thinks we should of named him “two socks” 

Digital coupon deals, cooking and sewing

Hello everyone, 

I went to Dollar General today and did some super simple digital coupons deals.  The coupons can be added to your account either on their webpage or the Dollar General app.  When you check out, just put your cell phone number in the keypad and the coupons subtract, no paper or clipping needed.  

We needed both vitamins and trash bags so I made sure to go this Saturday, when there was a $5/25 Coupon.  

I found this deal, spelled out by Greg, the Coupon Dude (his blog is on my sidebar) and I did it just as he said.  

My total cash spent was $13.71

And I submitted my receipt on the CheckOut51 app and got back $4 for the Centrum vitamins.  

If you have a Dollar General near you and you need household supplies,  I think DG is the best place to get good and easy deals.  

Last night for supper, we had traditional crunchy tacos and a homemade chocolate pie.  

I don’t normally make pie, let alone 2 pies in 1 week, but 2 pie-crazy grandsons were here that evening and I thought I’d just make  second one.  

This one approved! And the other one did too but I didn’t get his photo.  Grandpa liked the pie too.  

Sewing

Ducky got a second fleece sweater, inspired by another grandson who is crazy about Captain America. 

I’m not sure Ducky loves it.  He seems to be saying “ are the kind of owner that is going to dress me up in silly costumes” 

I also sewed up 4 pillow shams for my son from a quilt with a hole in it.  

See the hole?  

Make it do, wear it out, use it up or do without.  

Baking, cleaning, sewing

Good evening everyone 

I’ve done very little baking this holiday season except for Christmas cookies.  

My husband mentioned he would like some pie.  There were still 6 Homemade crusts in the freezer made around Thanksgiving.  So I thawed out 2 and used the last 2 cans of cherry pie filling in the pantry and baked 1 cherry pie.  

I’m so glad I baked it on a foil covered cookie sheet.  That bubbled over juice would of been a mess in the bottom of the oven.  

Below are AFTER photos of the laundry room clean up.  

All the cabinets were wiped down with wood cleaner and the appliances got spray cleaner and Majic Eraser as needed. 

The clothespins were just loose in the black chicken rack on the wall.  I had a few extra mugs so I filled them with clothespins and 3 of them just fit on that little shelf.  

We have an assortment of lightbulbs,  once I removed them from their packages, they all fit in one basket.  

I laid down the spray cans which makes them easy to see what’s there and they are held in place with a heavy bag of craft rocks.  

Baskets of candles for emergencies

Brown paper sacks and jigsaw puzzles

Cleaning rags and clothes hangers 

This cabinet got some much needed new shelf paper 

And so did the drawer-

  I bought the Zote soap quite awhile ago.  I don’t like homemade laundry detergent so I’m not sure what I’ll do it with it.  

The other side for the laundry room- the clothespin bag on the wall is used as a trash can,  I put a plastic store bag inside and put dryer lint, etc in there.  There is no room on the floor for a regular trash can as this laundry room is narrow and a pass through from our garage into the rest of our home. 

And that’s our laundry room,  all 15 or so square feet of it.  It’s not big but I’m very thankful to have it ❤️

It’s so cold here! Ducky needed a sweater so I sewed up a super quick and simple one with a fleece scrap.  It’s just a tube, one seam on the underside that I finished off flat, and 2 slits for his front legs.  The bag end is rounded off so it doesn’t get in his way when he’s doing his business.