Kick Your Feet Up and Have a Cup of Coffee

Our coffee maker broke recently, and we decided to get a Keurig.  The box it was shipped in is pretty sturdy. It's a box inside a box really.  So that got me to thinking.  We can always use another footstool.  I decided to use some rope that had been sitting around the garage since April to wrap around the box. Rope footstools are durable and match any decor.

I just used the box, some rope (Blue Hawk, 122lb) and a hot glue gun.

The hot glue worked like a charm.  The extra rope from the garage was used up pretty quickly.  I had to run to Lowes and purchase three more packs of rope.  

It took nearly 100 glue sticks, 250 feet of rope, three hours, and I can't forget, 1 pink glue gun.  I am so proud of my little $5 glue gun.  She was a real trooper.  

It was a bit tricky at times, and the rope lines are a little wavy, but all in all, I'm pleased with the result.

It's strong enough for me to sit on but too itchy to sit for long. The rope on top is level, except for the very center where I had to squish the rope tightly for full coverage. It's just a little more raised.  It will easily hold a glass.  

If you can find one for $30 or less, buy it!  This one required about $40 of rope.  I could have just covered it in fabric.  That would have cost a lot less.  But fabric shows dirt and wear quicker than rope.  This little treasure will last.

Reversible Wrap Skirt

I decided to make a reversible wrap skirt using continous fabric instead of the three panel version from the pattern in the previous post.  I have had this really cute yellow, gray and black fabric for many years and this project was a perfect opportunity to use it.

I used my previously made skirt as a pattern.  I added 5/8 seams allowance to each side but not to the hem.  I wanted this skirt to be a little shorter.

First I used a black band to make the tie.  I just didn't like it. So, I ripped it all out and made a gray tie instead.

I like the gray much better.

The floral side is my favorite, but the dots side is cute too.

One Hour Wrap Skirt (Yeah, Right!)

Wrap skirts are super easy to make, but don't be fooled by the 1 hour promise on the front of the pattern.  The one hour usually refers to the actual sewing time. It doesn't include cutting or tracing the pattern, cutting the fabric, all the pinning and repinning and let's not forget the ironing.  If you decided to make modifications, which I almost always do, add a little time for that too.

It may take longer than an hour, but it's totally worth it.  It is so cute and comfy!  I'll be making more.  I'll also be making more adjustments.  

Some people can just whip fabric into anything they imagine or desire.  I don't possess that gift and always rely on a pattern regardless of how easy the project is.  

Maybe one day I will trust myself enough to go all free style on some groovy fabric.

I'll just keep sewing until that time comes.  New school year wardrobe here I come :)

Just some pix fro Little and Big Talbot Islands

We had a great weekend hiking and biking on Talbot Island near Jacksonville Florida.  This place is a gem.  Just remember to bring the bug spray.  On Saturday we hiked.  The wooded dunes we beautiful, but the Mosquitos were a buzzin.  The beach was beautiful and the water was clear and cool.

The deadwood is spectacular.  

Someone had even created a hut using the deadwood.

We saw starfish and many stunning shells.

There were broken sand dollars every where.

Pretty!

We found many like this.

This section of the beach was unpopulated.  It was a bit of a hike for sun seekers.

The next day we biked to Boneyard Beach.

Most of the path is paved.

You turn off the paved path to a natural surface path and Boneyard is less than half a mile down.

Be careful if you're biking.  The trail drops off quick.

Our bikes on the drop off.

Dead trees are everywhere.

They are bleached and weathered.

There are loads of great shots.

It is a quite place. There were a few other groups of people there at the same time as us.

Every tree is a little different and interesting.

There is even an old rusty dingy.

I have lived in Jacksonville for over ten years and this was my first visit.

My husband and I will definitely go back.  We still need to bike and hike a couple more trails.  And we can't forget all the kayaking and paddle boarding opportunities!  I highly recommend this park.

Salt Dough

For some reason I have a hankering to play with salt dough today, but I can't remember which recipe I used to get the whiter finish.  The love tokens and the charms were both made over a year ago using different recipes.  

The charms came out a better shade of white.  They are thinner than the tokens, and they were allowed to air dry for many days.  The love tokens were place in a low heat oven.  Maybe that was the difference.

I want to make pretty salt dough bowls.  

I want to get good spring pastel colors when I make them.  Does anyone have any tips for whiter dough?  Thanks in advance :)