Finishing stuff, straightening up, and a project folder

It was a busy weekend trying to get stuff done. The last 10 thread beds got their snaps. After that was cleaning up. I couldn't mow because it was raining.

I spent my time Saturday morning mending. I fixed two pairs of pants and a hoodie. Then I decided I needed another pocket on that jacket that I got during Women In Construction week. I covered the monogram.

I decided to use Ultrasuede so I didn't have to turn under any edges and just topstitch it on. I did add a zipper so I secure what I usually keep in that pocket.  Gosh that is a bad picture!  You can't even see the zipper!  LOL!!

The afternoon was spent working on sewing the back son smalls for stuffing. I am way behind on finishing my cross stitch. These are all ready for stuffing now.   I did some laundry and cleaning up since it was still raining so I couldn't mow.

Sunday I took apart that desk extension and hauled it upstairs. I forgot to take a picture of it in place with the plants on it - I post one tomorrow. The top was the heaviest part and I could only go up one step at a time with it, but I got it done.

I decided to play around a bit and try to make a project folder. I did a little drawing and made a cut list. It is similar to a thread bed only bigger so figuring out the parts I needed was quick. For the insides I used a piece of iron-on Bosal foam stabilizer to give it more firmness. It finished at 11" x 12 1/2" when it is folded in half. I had debated what fabric to use and I thought this Sugar Skull fabric would look good.

Here is the inside. There are two zipper pockets, three other pockets, and a pen holder.

I needed a button for the closure, and it dawned on me that I had a sugar skull button - somewhere! I had bought a towel a couple of years ago at a craft fair, you know one of those towels you hang on your oven door. It had a poor quality sugar skull towel but the button was fabulous so I bought the towel for the button. I had to look around a bit to find the button and I did! It was perfect for this folder.

I have seen these project folders on Etsy and they cost around sixty dollars. The rain finally went away and it was sunny on Sunday so I finally got at least the front and the one side yard mowed. Round out the weekend with some more laundry and that was it.

I have been busy!

The conference was a big snooze fest except for the keynote speaker who was mildly entertaining in his orange suite. Lunchtime couldn't come soon enough. The chicken was good and they had those little cheesecakes again. There were extra ones since all of the people at my company didn't show up. Three extra ones came home with me; I wasn't going to let them just get thrown in the garbage!

I did come home with lots of swag - a rut sack, notebooks, playing cards, pens, stress balls, a little can of popcorn, a little can of cookies, post-it notes, magnetic clips, mints, flashlight that is also a screwdriver with bits, hand sanitizer, a mini slinky, yo-yo, coaster, koozie, and a tree in a box for planting.

I finished sewing the last eight thread beds and they now have snaps.

I had a bit of a process issue with The Hulk. When I would go to place the snap into the die, I would have to hold it in place so the weight of the thread bed would not pull the snap out of the die

I decided I needed to make a little platform so the thread beds would lay flat. Three layers of cardboard and some tape - BAM - a platform!

After I installed the snaps in those eight thread beds, I did 9 for my sister. Some of the one's for my sister are for her and the others are for her friend. I got the box packed with my sister's Xmas gifts and her friend things which I will take to the post office at lunchtime.

40 of the 50 thread beds now are !00% done!  I could have never gotten these done if I would have had to use those pliers!  The Hulk made the job so easy!

Here are the last 10 that need snaps.

I made a mistake on one of the thread beds for my sister. I must have flipped my template and one snap was in the wrong place. I got the snap out, punched a new hole then everything lined up. To cover the incorrect hole, I cut a piece of Ultrasuede and glued it over the hole. It doesn't look too bad. I was careful the rest of the evening to make sure I had my template for the holes positioned correctly!

Today is going to be a struggle. Last night when I went to bed I heard a noise. It was some scratching coming from the attic. After about 10 minutes it did not stop and I could not fall asleep, so I headed down to the lower level guest room. Well, of course I had to put sheets on the bed first, then get the table light plugged in. I finally got settled and I still couldn't fall asleep. It was after 10 PM before I finally did fall asleep. Mind you I get up at 5 so the night was slipping away quick! I am looking forward to the weekend. It rained in hard starting around 5:30 PM so I couldn't mow the grass. I will have to do that sometime this weekend. Because of the rain I couldn't dig up some Lenten Roses I want to mail to Vicki so that job is still on the list.   Have a great weekend!

Crossing things off the list

I had a busy evening trying to knock off a few things on my list. Had to go to Menards and Macy's after work. Menards gets their dairy delivery on Tuesday. They carry the best cottage cheese ever! Last time I was at the store they only had one container. I asked at the front desk why they get only a few containers. Well, they called the dairy manager and told them to double the order from 4 containers to 8. They also told me that Tuesday was the delivery day so I went after work and bought most of the stock on hand. I will be set for a couple weeks. Laundry was the first item I tackled and then started on finishing up the last eight thread beds. I have six of the eight ready for final assembly.

I gathered all my snap installation tools and put the snap on one thread bed. I can't show you it because I am mailing it to someone. Once they receive it I will post a picture. After getting the snap installed I got it ready for mailing. BTY - the new snap press otherwise nicknamed The Hulk by me, works great! It is so much easier to use than the hand pliers!

While I was at Menards, I bought a cooler too.

The sunrise was so pretty this morning.

No posting tomorrow. I have to go to a conference; this was mandatory. I have to go every three years. At least it is local and don't have to get up as early.

Thread bed zippered pockets

I was tired last evening so I didn't get that much done. I put together the zippered pockets for the last eight thread beads.

After that I turned on an old movie on TCM and could not get myself to move. LOL!! This morning I had some time before work so I started taping the body of the thread beds to mark the quilting lines.

I started a list of things today already this morning so that I make up for goofing off last evening.

More thread beds, some coin, and a musical

My day so far has been filled with techinal issues so I will try and get my weekend activites posted finally. I got another 20 thread beds done except for the snaps.

So in case you have lost track, that makes 51 ready for snaps.

The pieces and parts are ready for the last 8 which will be table gifts for the retreat I am going to.  Right now this is it!  No more thread beds!

It rained on and off all day Saturday. Sunday I did get out for a walk and found 81 cents, a golf ball, a dice bead, and a bag of screws. I picked up the screws so they didn't end up in someone's tire.

Most of my Sunday was getting ready to go to a musical. I knew two of the participants. The high schoolers did a good job, but the story was so lame. The show was three hours long! by the time I got home it was just past 6:30 p.m.

TGIF and thread beds

It has been a long, busy week and I am glad the weekend will soon start. I did get four more thread beds done except for the snaps.

Wanda, do you recognize this fabric? I had just enough left from making tote bags to make a thread bed.

One of my goals this weekend is to get all the things I need mailed ready to take to the post office Monday. Package prices are going up April 26th so I need to get this done.

More thread beds and stormy weather

Six more thread beds are done except for the snaps!  I think the polka dots ones are so cute!

Going for a long walk was not happening last evening because storm clouds were rolling in

So I stayed close to home.  I got about 20 minutes of walking in just going back and forth up and down the cul-de-sac road. It has an uphill grade so I got both uphill and downhill walking in.  The rain started and it was a quick dash into the garage.