Tuesday Time to Tackle: 25-Cent Kitchen Towels

One of the local thrift stores regularly receives donations of fabric. I always make a point to look at what is hanging up on the racks, and I have been known to purchase fabric with no idea how I'm going to use it. I just can't seem to pass up the bargain price--fabric is always marked at $1 a yard, no matter what kind or quality! (Unless the tag is the color of the day, of course, and then it's only 50 cents a yard!)

Anyway, I while ago I had purchased a piece (about two yards) of a beautiful, heavy, yellow cotton material with a blue-flowered print. Last week, I received an invitation to a bridal shower. When I looked at the bride-to-be's gift registry, I noticed she had some yellow and blue kitchen towels on her wish list. I knew what I wanted to do with the fabric!

First, I washed and dried the material, to preshrink it. Then, using a rotary cutter, I removed the selvedge edge, and cut the fabric into 8 equally-sized pieces--roughly 17 x 26 inches. With a hot iron, I folded over 3/8 inch on each long side, then folded it again. Then I did the same with the short sides. A simple stitched line, pivoted at the corners, completed the towel.

Who knew that making kitchen towels could be so easy and affordable?

Thanks for simple projects, using materials on hand.

Ten Things of Thankful: 39 Years Edition

A political map of the world circa 1987. The Soviet Union takes up a sizable portion. A lot has happened in the last 39 years. The Berlin Wall came down. The Soviet Union collapsed. The Twin Towers fell. Technology has changed: landlines and phone booths are practically extinct, and random questions can be answered in seconds by asking Google, Siri, or Alexa. No longer do drivers keep the Thomas Guide in their cars; navigation systems will give turn-by-turn directions, and recalculate when the driver doesn't follow the directions. Some cars don't even need drivers. While many shoppers do their shopping in-person, some simply log into Amazon and have their item show up on their doorstep--sometimes within hours. I've seen pieces of the Berlin Wall. I've traveled to places that used to be behind the Iron Curtain. I've been to Ground Zero. I no longer have a house phone, and have looked up the answers to countless questions using my cell phone. I do not miss the stress...

Ten Things of Thankful: April Showers Edition

A red peony bud prepares to open fully After an incredibly dry winter, we had a bit of precipitation this past week, in the form of falling snow. We didn't have much, and it didn't really stick, but we'll take water however it wants to come. Fortunately, my peonies seem unaffected by the cold snap, and are ready to put on a show here soon. 1. I'm thankful for moisture. 2. I'm thankful the flowers are still going to bloom. I don't know how the colder temperatures will affect the fruit crops. The strawberries look like they are still planning to set fruit. We'll have to see what happens with the peach, apricot, pear, and apple. (The apricot only bears heavily every other year anyway, and I think this is an "off" year--though I could be wrong.) Strawberry plants in full bloom 3. I'm thankful for anticipated berries. We continue to clear out and otherwise prepare John's parents' house for sale. I've been going through old photos and...

Tuesday Time to Tackle: DIY Swamp Cooler Pump Replacement

Yesterday morning, despite having the swamp cooler on all night long, we woke up to 81 degree temperatures inside the house. John went outside to inspect and announced that the swamp cooler pump had stopped working. Fortunately, replacing the pump is a quick and simple do-it-yourself project.

Thankful Me

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