Purse with Flap

This is a really simple design and it went together in no time. I may make another one and make the flap slightly larger to cover seam to seam on the front of the purse.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I have been considering making my own laundry detergent ever since I came across a post on another site that mentioned it. That blogger was concerned with being 'green' and thus decided to make her own powder. Don't get me wrong - I am all for the green aspect of it, but my real motivation is money. I have always used Gain detergent (just the regular Gain - no Febreze or bleach or anything else added in) which is expensive. Until recently, I was happy with the results. I don't know if I have changed or if the formula has changed but suddenly Gain doesn't smell the same in my clothes. It smells chemical-ly (how's that for a word). So, my search for another detergent began. And I was in major sticker shock. I realized how much money I am pouring down the drain each month with these expensive detergents. And then I realize that they smell like chemicals because of all the chemicals they contain!

I am going to share the recipe for homemade detergent, which I have made and am using for the first time tonight. One of the ingredients is Borax. Some readers believe that Borax is dangerous and harmful to your skin, lungs, etc. There has been some major confusion regarding this in recent years. Mainly due to the fact that people confuse Borax and boric acid. Borax is an ingredient in boric acid but you have to add the acid to get boric acid. Even those that know the difference still claim that Borax is dangerous. You have to decide for your family what you think is best. Borax doesn't cause cancer, doesn't accumulate in your system, etc. I believe Borax in high doses can be dangerous but so can salt, water, baking soda, etc.

The recipe:
1 Fels Naptha bar of laundry soap, finely grated
2 cups Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
2 cups Borax (or baking soda if you don't like Borax)

Use 1-2 tablespoons per large load. Cold/warm/hot water - your preference.

I found all of these items in the laundry detergent aisle at the supermarket. The bar of soap was $1.29 (some people use Ivory), the washing soda was $2.89 and the Borax was on sale for $2.49. This total comes to $6.67 plus tax. This recipe makes enough for 80-140 loads depending on how much detergent you use for each load. There is enough washing soda and Borax to make at least 3 more batches of detergent, you would just need to buy a few more bars of laundry soap. For my first load, I used a coffee scoop which is 1.5 tablespoons. I decided to do a load of bath towels and kitchen towels. I will let you know how it turns out.

I grated the soap with a 'microfine' grater from Williams and Sonoma. Even if you don't have one, a regular cheese grater will work fine. It took me about 15 minutes to grate the whole bar of soap by hand. Once you have it grated, mix the washing soda and the Borax in. Put a lid on it the ingredients and shake for a minute to ensure it is mixed up well. Store in an airtight container.

I am curious to see if my son, who has sensitive skin, will have a reaction to this detergent. He has never had a problem with Gain (even with it's new chemical smell). When he was younger, I used Borax as an additive to my laundry and it never seemed to bother him so I doubt that would be the culprit.

There are recipes for making liquid detergent but I prefer powder detergent. If anyone decides to try it, comment on your results and let me know what you think.

GA Quilt Show

The Georgia Quilt Show is just around the corner and I can't wait to attend! Learning and shopping and getting ideas and did I mention shopping?

Fabric collection

I am always curious to see how fabric collections are organized. This is mine, as small as it is. I do have some larger pieces that won't fit or just don't look right on the bookshelf. I also have some smaller plastic totes that hold my strips and jelly rolls as well as scraps.

My house is over 110 years old and the bookshelf encloses what used to be a passageway to the room that was originally the front parlor (it is now a bedroom). After reading hundreds of tips and ways to organize fabric I decided this was the best way for me to utilize the space I have. I have curtains in the works that will hang on cafe rods that swing out and open all the way. When closed, the curtains will prevent the fabric from receiving direct sunlight. If left uncovered, the afternoon sunlight that pours in the windows would fade the fabric, especially where it is creased from being folded.

I would love to know how you have organized your fabric! Or do you have an organized mess that only you can make sense of?

Fall is nearly here!

Tonight I had a hotdog and marshmallow roast with my family around a campfire. The air is cooler at night and such a relief after the sweltering summer when it was still 93 degrees outside at ten p.m. Fall is my favorite time of year! It has become a tradition for me to make my grandmother's spice cake at the beginning of autumn each year so I will be baking it this upcoming weekend. Ahhh, a spice cake in the oven and a quilt on my sewing machine! Life is good.

Super cool paper bowl

How cool is this? Blow up a balloon, glue all of your paper 'spirals' to it and then once dried, pop the balloon! Don't throw your old magazines out - make a bowl out of them! We make Christmas presents in my family rather than buy them and I can see this as a possibility for my husband to make. It has all the things he looks for in a craft project:
1. Can it be done in front of the tv?
2. Is it cheap?
3. Do I have to learn anything new?
4. Can it be done in front of the tv?

See other cool things in my Etsy shop:  Sehosas

This is early for Halloween but I couldn't resist. I drove to Columbus yesterday and visited 'Sew Much Fun' and bought a new quilting book called 'Strippin Time'. It has the cutest ideas in it. I mainly bought it for the Christmas quilted mantel piece that I have plans to do later in the year but this little pumpkin idea is in there as well. The one in the book is a table runner but I thought a little wall hanging would be cute. It was fun making it and didn't take very long. My son likes it so it's a winner in my book.

JDRF Charity Quilt

Here is the recently finished JDRF charity quilt. A manager at work has an 11 year old daughter who has diabetes and all proceeds of the sale go towards finding a cure. Last I checked, the bidding was up to $70.

Accuquilt

My mother gave me an Accuquilt for my birthday last month (best birthday present ever! Thanks mom!). I love love love this machine! I had been trying it out with the die that comes with the machine and liking the result. Then, I logged onto Ebay. SO many choices and so many things to do with the different dies. I bought 15 of them. My DH nearly had a stroke when I told him how much I spent but no matter, what was done was done. Besides, it wasn't more than his new pressure washer and chain saw. Check out some of the things you can do:

Quilt finished in July

This quilt is one I finished a few weeks ago. Pink and brown and so girly.

Forgot I had this blog...

I forgot I had this blog until Google sent an email about transitioning my followers over before they were forced over. Not sure what all that hoopla was about.

I am working on a Vietnam War quilt for my second cousin. It should be done in a few days and I will post a pic. I just finished a quilt for the American Cancer Society and will soon be working on one being donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Later in the summer I will complete one for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. And somehow in the middle of all these quilts, I have a precious neice that is patiently waiting for her 'owl quilt' and more dresses and Barbie blankets and pillows.

In the midst of all this, I am still working on my ongoing stair project. Will post pics of that too. Too bad I didn't get photos of the stairs before they were ripped apart to practically start all over again.