Been Sewing Not Stitchin'

Lately my sewing machine has been getting used more than my scroll frames.

I've wanted to start cutting down on some of the higher priced disposable cleaning products I have been using, so I decided to start with the Swiffer Duster refill's I was always buying.

I found this great tutorial here: Sew much ado  and had to try it.

This is what they looked like after being stitched up and before washing.

As you can see from the one on the handle, they picked up dust pretty well, even then.

And here they are after washing, they picked up the dust even better at that point. 

In my opinion these are better than the disposable version since.....
1. You can shake them out and re-use them several times. 
2. You can then wash them and re-use them.
3. They will last for years (Eco Friendly).
4. You can make them in pretty colors. ;)

SIDE NOTES:
I made a bit of a change to the cutting part, I cut: 2 - 7" x 7", 2 - 7" x 6", 2- 7" x 4", and 2 - 7" x 3" pieces to save on fabric waste.

Consider making enough of these to fill a small laundry load, as they are very messy when washed, especially the first time around.
Also, I don't have a dryer so after washing I took them out side and shook them really well then hung them in the bathroom over the tub and used the blow dryer on them to fluff them up, then let them air dry the rest of the way. It worked out real well. 

NEW SIDE NOTE: (4:30 pm)
I just finished cutting the last of the flannel I bought and was able to get a total of TEN dusters from two 1 yard pieces of flannel. Nine two color dusters and one solid color duster. Not bad for $5.08, the flannel was on sale at Jo-Ann's for $2.99 a yard and I had a 20% off coupon on the total.

WARNING!! WARNING!!
 I just found out the hard way that you should put these dusters in a laundry bag to wash them. My hubs had to take our washer apart and remove the pump so he could remove this from inside the pump!!!!

 A two inch mass of threads from the flannel.  
There was no warning on the website for this problem.

Take Care & Happy Stitchin'

 Hugs, Sandy

2015 Smalls SAL Update

Time to post my February 2015 Smalls SAL update. 

I designed this piece for Valentines Day.

"Love & Roses"

Designer: Sandra D. Longan

Stitched on hand-dyed 28 count Lugana using DMC threads and Mill Hill Petite Seed Beads. It will eventually be framed or made into a pillow, just need to find a frame or coordinating fabric.

Take Care & Happy Stitchin'

Hugs, Sandy

2015 TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long) Update

It's that time of the month again, for the 2015 TUSAL update of course. And I'm on time believe it or not.

the-totally-useless-stitch-long-2015

So here are my threads for this month.

Some fabric and batting snips along with the threads.

Take Care & Happy Stitchin' Everyone

Hugs, Sandy

So Very Late

Seems this is the month of being extremely late for me.

First I forgot to post about two give-a-ways I won, then I forgot to post about my January Smalls SAL and lastly I failed to post a Valentines gift I've been working on for ya'll.

So, I'll start with the give-a-way's.

Back in June I won these hand-dyed Cluny Lace trims from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe love the colors. Then in December she was having her 25 Days of Christmas Give-A-Way and I won a trims package.  I got hand-dyed buttons, loads of metal charms and some hand-dyed Chenille trim. Just love it all.

 Lots of brass charms.

Little button charms.

On to the second forgotten item on the list. My January 2015 Smalls SAL entry.

Stitched up this freebie from Samplers and Santas she has so many cute primitive designs.

I used 28 count evenweave and DMC threads, still need to add my initials and the date. I coffee stained the piece after stitching. Might turn this one into a pillow or small hanging pouch, don't know yet.

And finally the last item on my list of forgot to's....

"Valentines, Wedding, Anniversary Heart"
Designer: Sandra Longan (ya, that's me)

Size: 51 x 40 stitches or 3.64 x 2.86 inches

Pick your own colors, I only designed it with two, it's charted for 14/28 count. The black lines are for word or name/initials and month placement and should not be stitched. I put the Valentines sentiment there for the holiday and added an alphabet so you can add your own. You can add "Love One Another" that fits nicely for a wedding or anniversary. Would make a cute first Christmas ornament for newlyweds or baby too.

Still slowly working on the kitchen. I've gotten a new range, range hood/exhaust fan and dishwasher. I was so happy when the range got here I sat in front of it and cried. 

It's been almost a year since I had a properly working oven, that when it came on without being lit by hand and actually stayed on and would relight, that simple little thing we usually take for granted just made me extremely happy. 

The hoods great, no more smokey house and it has a light so I can see what cooking, and the dishwasher is great too, but I miss doing most of my dishes by hand, strange I know, but it was just calming in a way for me with the hot water. At least I'll still get to was the cast iron by hand. Well, that's it for now, so until next post.......

Take Care & Happy Stitchin'

Hugs, Sandy

2015 TUSAL for January

Wow, this one snuck up on me out of nowhere, so I'm a day late.

Here is my gleanings for the January addition of the 2015 TUSAL

If you would like to know whats it's all about and join in on the fun, stop by here:

The Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long

A Bit of This and A Bit of that and 2014 Smalls SAL Update

(Started writing this post on December 31, 2014)
2014 is coming to an end, it seems way to soon. The year just seemed to fly by.

Well, I thought it was great to see my yard again, but it started to snow on Christmas Eve and didn't quit until late Christmas Day and again yesterday so we added another 9" of that annoying white crap a.k.a. snow to the yard.

This is the dogs yard and the top pic has a 12" ruler sticking out of the top.

The snow wasn't bad enough we also got hit with single digit temps and Wednesday our furnace decided it has had enough of heating the house. Thank God for my hubs and I being prepared for emergencies, we have the choice of two Kerosene heaters or six plugin heaters or the wood stove to heat the house. I chose WOOD STOVE!! toasty warm. Hubs trouble shot the heater on Thursday night and it's up and running again.

We started re-doing our kitchen the day after Christmas and have a new range and a couple of cabinets being delivered on Monday. The cabinets couldn't fit in the jeep. We put up half of the ceiling, the upper cabinets and a new ceiling light. I'll get before and after pics up after our new range is delivered.

Last but not least, and it is definitely late, here is my final 2014 Smalls SAL update for 2014.

"Prim Christmas Wishes"
Designed By: Me, Sandy Longan
Stitched on 28 count white Monaco (Lugana) using DMC threads then Coffee dyed and distressed using instant coffee granules. Added some country fabric, coffee dyed Cluny lace and ribbon to finish it off.

Well that's it for today, I'm off to do a ton of dusting and then rearranging my craft room so we can fit the bar cabinet in here since it can't be in the kitchen anymore. It looks like it might turn into my new sewing cabinet with an added fold-down table when the hubs gets around-to-it. So until next time....stay warm (were expecting low temps and more snow for the next three or four days), be prepared for emergencies, and have a very Happy and Prosperous 2015.

Take Care & Happy Stitchin' 
Hugs, Sandy