DIY Fabric Softener

I ran out of fabric softener today so, instead of running to the store, I decided to try making my own.  I already make my own laundry detergent, which I love.  There are many recipes for fabric softener, but I tried one I found on Food.com.

Very easy:

Stir 6 cups of water, 3 cups of distilled white vinegar and 2 cups of hair conditioner.  I used conditioner that I had purchased and hated, but couldn't get myself to toss out.

I then asked my artistic daughter to decorate an empty apple juice bottle to keep it in.  I'm so excited!

The instructions say to use the same amount in your wash as you normally would or spritz on a washcloth and add to the load in the dryer.

Thanks for visiting!!!!

Laundry Baskets

In my office, for each person's birthday, we have a lunch and we go in together to buy a gift.  The birthday girl gets to choose the menu, but doesn't have to bring any of the dishes.  This is a wonderful tradition, and since there are 7 of us, we get to do it often.

The ladies gave me wonderful baskets for my laundry room with Matt, Izzy's and my name on tags attached to the baskets.  They're perfect!!!  

Thanks ladies!

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Matt had a really long day at work yesterday so I decided to try one of the recipes I found on Pinterest for him.  Of course there are tons of choices, but he loves cinnamon rolls, so I picked the cinnamon roll cake from http://cookinupnorth.blogspot.com.  It only requires a few ingredients, was very easy to put together and tastes amazing!

My attempt at the Unpaper Towel

Since I have one child in college and one heading that way, I have been looking for ways to save money anywhere I can.  During one of my marathon Pinterest sessions, I found multiple pins for reusable paper towels.  So, here is my first public display of my pseudo-crafting abilities.

I dutifully put together a supply list (which I forgot) and headed to the fabric store.  I found the cutest fabric with fruit for the pretty side and diaper cloth for the business side.  Both of these I pre-washed and got started.  Since I purchased a quarter of each of the decorative fabrics, they split nicely into fourths.

For my first try, I used two layers of the diaper cloth for "super-absorbancy".  One of the wonderful bloggers that knows way more about sewing than I ever will, gave the great hint of starting your first stitch in the middle of one of the sides instead of the corner.  Well, of course I forgot this tidbit, which resulted in an ugly, bulky, uneven corner.  Please see Screw-up #1:

After finishing this piece, I went straight to the kitchen to test it's absorbency.  I have to say, it wasn't all that great.  Matt suggested the fabric needed be washed a few more times before use, so I tossed it in the washer and started my next attempt.

For my second try I decided to use part of an old bath towel.  This time I did remember to start sewing in the middle of one side, left an opening and turned it right-side out.  When sewing the outside, I found that the corners were way too bulky to sew.  I tried turning sewing angled corners, but it still didn't look so great.  See Screw-up #2:

#2 did pass the absorbency test.  Yeah!!!

For my third try, I went back to the diaper cloth, but added a middle layer of an old, stained, thin kitchen towel.  My sewing was much better (practice makes perfect), but it still wasn't very absorbent.  See Try #3 with old towel:

Before trying once more, I ran to Wal-Mart and paid $2 for their thinnest white bath towel.  I used this for my last try.  I also added one more step.  After I sewed the first go around (starting in the appropriate aforementioned spot) and before turning it right side out, I cut off as much of the extra fabric outside the seam as I felt comfortable with.  Then I sewed the outside seam.  This made sewing the corners much easier.  So here are the last few pics.  I am pretty proud of myself since I have never had anyone show me how to use a sewing machine.  I am obviously self-taught, but I had a good time with this one.  Thanks for visiting!!!

  

The history of me

I grew up with two older brothers.  The common theme of our interactions was "you can't because you're a girl."  This fostered in me a great desire to try any and all of those things my femininity was supposed to exclude me from.  I learned to change the oil in a car, I have my motorcycle license and can back up a trailer.  The list of "guy things" I have tried goes on and on, but it seems that the "girl things" have intimidated me.

My husband, Matt, and I started dating in January 1990, we got engaged in February, moved in together in March, married in June, became pregnant in July and I turned 20 in August.  What a year!!  Our daughter came along in 1995.  We just celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary, against quite a few odds I'm sure.  I have always worked outside the home and even though I envied all those women who seemed to be able to keep up with jobs, kids, husbands, household chores and then add in amazing gardening and crafts, I knew that I was not that talented.  So, here we are now that my kids are mostly grown and I have free time.

Most of these projects still intimidate me, but I figure that with the help of blog and YouTube tutorials, I can give it a try. In addition to my new found free time, I have discovered a plus of turning 40. I don't worry about peoples' opinions nearly as much as I used to.  I have (mostly) given up on the perfectionism that followed me through my 20's and 30's.  Who cares if my seams aren't perfectly straight?  Who cares if that flower dies a slow, painful death?  The goal is for me to step outside of my comfort zone and try.  My intent is to show my successes and my failures on this blog.  The internet has so many amazing blogs with tutorials, but where are the pics of the screw-ups?  I learn more from what I have done wrong that what I have done right.  Anyway, I hope that other "not so crafty" women can learn from my mistakes, and laugh along the way.  I know I will.

Thanks for visiting!!!!!!
Sherri