Category Archives: Sewing Projects

Homemade Travel Toothbrush Holder


Many years ago, a fellow mom of many shared with me how to create a travel toothbrush holder from a hand towel. I was so thrilled, I quickly whipped up my very own and have been using it ever since.

It is perfect because you can customize how many toothbrush slots you need, it’s large enough for a large family, and it is washable!

I’ve wanted to share this easy sewing project with all of you, but kept forgetting to take photos. Recently, I decided to go ahead and make a new one that was a little larger to accommodate our growing family.  Perfect time to take photos and encourage you to make your own!

I think I had 4 children when I made the green one.  As you can see, the new towel I chose is much longer.  Now, the green one still fits us (barely), but with a new baby on the way, I thought I might as well upgrade while I had the chance.

Supplies Needed:
-1 hand towel
-1 30″ length of ribbon
-pins
-Sewing machine

Instructions:

1.  Fold hand towel about 2/3 of the way up lengthwise and pin in place.

2.  Sew along the folded edges to create a long “pocket”.

3.  Fold towel in half to find center of long side and put a pin in the center to mark your place.  Then, measure 1 1/2″ on either side of that center pin and pin there to mark.

4.  Sew a straight line up the pocket from each of these pins to create a 3 inch center pocket to hold your toothpaste and dental floss.

5.  Next, based on the size of your toothbrushes, sew more straight lines on either side of the center pocket to accommodate your toothbrushes.  I’ve found that 1 1/2 inches is just about right.

6.  Now you need to add a ribbon to one of the outside edges as a way to tie your toothbrush holder when it is rolled up.  First, cut 30 inches of ribbon.  Then, fold the ribbon in half and pin halfway up the back of the towel on the edge that seems most natural to you.  (I naturally roll my toothbrush holder from the right to the left, so my ribbon is on the left hand edge.)

7.  Sew ribbon in place and test drive your toothbrush holder!

Whenever we travel, we use this toothbrush holder and just throw it in my bag.  Because it is a towel, it soaks up any water that may get on it being near the sink.  Once home, we just pull all the toothbrushes and toothpaste out and throw it in the washer.  I truly think you will love yours as much as I love mine!

Easy Sew Chaps for My Little Cowboy

I have a cowboy.

And that cowboy has been begging for chaps for a very long time.

I couldn’t find a sewing tutorial that suited me and I just couldn’t justify the cost of what I was seeing ready-made online.  I finally decided to figure something out for myself that was both simple and practical.

I started with a pair of holey jeans that didn’t come from Sears (we use KidVantage for our boys’ jeans whenever possible).  They were a small size 6.

Since I was determined to only use what I had on hand, I chose fabric that I thought looked appropriate for little boys’ chaps.  The fabric was 44″ x 20″.  What you are looking for is fabric that when cut in half will be just a bit longer than each of the legs of your pair of jeans and keep in mind that the fabric needs to be just as tough as your boys are!

Ok, here is the part where you have to turn a blind eye to the fact that I was trying to do this project quickly since I had a little cowboy standing over me (and I was only taking pictures because I hoped it would turn out!)

First thing I did was to cut the jeans at an angle just below the pockets.

I cut my fabric in half so I had two pieces that were 22″ x 20″.  With right sides of the fabric together folded lengthwise, I laid each cut off jean leg on top of the fabric with the center seam of the jean leg laying along what would become the center seam of the chaps leg.  I then cut to fit.  (as you can tell no perfection needed here)

My daughter then sewed up the length of the inseam of the chaps leg while I cut out the other leg.

Next, turn the jeans top inside-out and the chaps leg right side out and put right sides together by putting the chaps leg inside the top of the jeans and matching up the outside edges and inside edges, working your way around and pinning as you go.  You will probably need to ease the fabric a bit, but try to do most of the easing on the back side of the chaps where puckers won’t be as noticeable.

Sew around the leg and turn right side out to admire your work. :)

Do the same for the other leg and then turn back inside-out and sew up a small hem at the bottom of each of the chaps legs.

The second these came off the machine, my cowboy was grabbing them up and trying them on, but since being a cowboy is serious business, you’ll have to imagine just how super-excited my little guy was.  In fact, he hasn’t taken them off since except for bed (and let me tell you, THAT was a struggle!).

 

 

I’m Selling Off My Diaper Sewing Stash!

I wasn’t planning on posting today, but as I was cleaning up around here, I decided to make good on something I told myself I would do several weeks ago…get rid of my diaper sewing stash of fabric.

For me, the season of diaper sewing has long been over.  Rather than hang on to that former season and feel guilty over all that beautiful fabric just sitting in tubs, I figured I could pass it along to someone who is in the season of diaper sewing.

So, if you are interested in buying up some cloth diaper fabric, CLICK HERE.

Mama’s Nursing Basket

Ever since my 5th child was born back in 2007, I have kept a basket in the living room filled with mama and baby supplies I want to have readily available following a new baby’s birth.  One of my lovely readers reminded me just the other day that I needed to get mine ready.

This summer, I purchased a rectangular basket for this purpose.  I had been using a much smaller square basket with graduated sides prior to this and had not been happy with how scrunched everything was in there.  This size of basket I am sure will prove to be much easier to find things in.

The contents of the basket vary according to what my needs are with each baby, but some staple mama and baby supplies are as follows:

*diapers – as you see in mine, I have both cloth diapers and disposable diapers available.  I also have sizes for both Micah and the new baby.  This makes it easy for anyone to change the baby and/or the toddler.

*wipes – need I say more? ;)

*nursing pads – even after 7 babies, these are a must for me.  My favorite kind are made by CURITY.  I’ve never had a leak with them, unlink all the others I’ve tried, cloth included.

*chapstick – my fave is the Peppermint Lip Balm from HardLotion.com.  It is actually going to the hospital with me as well.  I use it every single day and LOVE it!

*diaper rash cream – also a HardLotion.com product that I mentioned in this post. This rash cream is wonderful and soothes and heals very quickly.

*burp rag or receiving blanket – with my first child, receiving blankets were burp rags (he was one of those spitty babies!)  I like to have one handy for those times when you are caught off guard by a little extra spit or simply need to clean up a spill nearby (from a toddler who thinks your drink is his no matter how full it is and no matter how breakable the glass is).

*pen & paper – it never fails, I sit down to nurse and the phone rings or I think of something I need to do, but by the time I am ready to get up, mother-brain has taken over and I can’t remember diddly.  Having a pen and paper nearby takes the pain out of mother-brain!

*a book – although sitting down with baby tends to induce snoozing, I do like to have a book handy for those moments when I am coherent enough to read.  Right now I am reading Let Us Highly Resolve (can’t wait to share more of what I am reading about in this book!), but I imagine I’ll also be adding some Sonlight read-alouds to the mix in a couple of weeks.

And if you look closely at the photo above, you will see my rice pillow sitting on my chair. {it’s the camouflage looking thing}  This pillow is worth its weight in gold!  All it is is a twill piece of fabric, sewn up like a pillow, filled with long-grain rice, and stitched shut.  You can do this with a tube sock and simply tie it off, but I wanted a larger surface area.  I usually put mine in the microwave for 3-4 minutes and enjoy a good half hour of ache-soothing bliss!

So, there you have what Works For Me when it comes to nursing and taking care of essentials.  What little tips and tricks do you have for making mommyhood more efficient after the birth of a new baby?

Weekly Wrap Up – In Sickness and In Health

Monday: Remember how busy my week was last week.  Well, sometimes God has a way of slowing you down when you don’t seem to be doing it yourself. All of our weekend plans fell through because the stomach bug ran through our house.  Thankfully, it wasn’t a horrible one, but it was enough to keep us at home.  Which, honestly, was nice.

Dad declared Monday a holiday from school (something mom would NEVER do!) so we all just lounged around.  I even found my sewing room! I worked through several unfinished projects there: adding elastic to a crib sheet, repairing a skirt for Lia, redoing the elastic in a free-to-me diaper, and the ultimate find of the day:


This little number was cut out a year ago for the 4th of July to match the girls’ outfits.  The odd thing is I cut it out in an 18 month size!  Micah was only 6 months at the time!  Once I sewed it up, it fit perfectly!  I figured I was just going to have to chalk it up for a loss!

Tuesday: My turn to recover from the sickness.  Why does it take mom longer to bounce back than it does the kiddos?  Thankfully, Ty was home while I was sick and today was just spent relaxing.  I also attended the Sonlight Live Webinar to celebrate 20 years of Sonlight.  It was something else with over 1000 people vying for prizes and clamoring to hear speakers!

After the webinar was over, I did some Sonlight with my kiddos! lol  Still reading in Across Five Aprils.  It’s proven to be a difficult read for our family.  Hoping to be finished with it and on to Caddie Woodlawn by next week!

Tuesday night was spent in my new outdoor swing next to a lovely campfire built by my son and husband at the begging of my 4 year old. :)

Wednesday: Got up rather early due to a major backache; subsequently, I ended up dozing off and on during the morning hours.  I’d wake up, do a few things, herd a few children, and collapse back on the couch again.  Finally, by 11:30, I felt more myself.

We ate a quick lunch and crammed a ton of Sonlight in for the afternoon.  It felt soooo good to finally finish Across Five Aprils!  On to Sarah, Plain & Tall and Caddie Woodlawn! (In case you are curious, we are doing Sonlight Core 3+4. this year, hoping to finish up by September and move to Core 5.…I am really excited to move into Core 5!)

Thursday: Seems to be backaches that get me out of bed these days.  Nothing like pregnancy to make you long for sleeping on your stomach or back!

I did a few pages of Rod & Staff preschool book A with my 4 year old after his chores were complete, then moved to Phonics Museum with my Kindergartner.  So far, she’s learned the letter sounds for A, M, and B.  It’s so fun to see the lights come on in her little head!  So far, the price tag for Phonics Museum has been worth it. I think both of us needed the structure it provides.  Because Phonics Museum has a built-in handwriting course, I’m not using A Reason for Handwriting with her as I usually do.  Wish I had known this before I ordered her new book.  Guess I’ll have to chalk it up as a loss.

I’ve recently begun having coffee with my 9 year old daughter in the mornings.  There is a distinct difference in her attitude when we get to have this time together. I decided to start doing this for several reasons, but a major contributor was this quote from Michael Pearl’s article The Best Medicine:

When you become a source of pleasure to a child and they feel that they are your source of pleasure as well, they become dependent upon that relationship for their continued pleasure.  They don’t want to do anything to break fellowship with you.

I noticed quite some time ago that Megan does best with people she perceives to genuinely be interested in her and her thoughts.  It isn’t selfishness she is exhibiting, but rather self-consciousness.  If she knows those around her like her for who she is, she is the most loving, servant-minded little girl that ever there was. I knew I needed to make a better effort to bring her into fellowship with me, so that she would think twice about throwing fits over school work and balking at chores for fear she might be met with my disapproval.

I did get some attitude from my 12 year old son over doing school today…might need to have some coffee with him too. (Too bad he hates coffee!)  He is quite the self-corrector; however, and came to me later to apologize for his behavior.  Hoping to get some time alone with him today as well.

I did 3 English lessons with my 9 year old today as well.  She had been missing them due to Mommy not being fully recovered.  We do English almost entirely orally with her. Sometimes it is me who works through problems with her, sometimes Daddy.  Math and English frustrate her terribly and because of her particular needs, we’ve chosen to make it as painless as possible.  The Assignment Binders have done wonders for her so far, but still English plagues her.  It ‘s not that she has trouble learning the assignments, but she is easily overwhelmed and frustrated by little mistakes.  God gave her to me to learn patience I am convinced.

Friday & Saturday: I’ll be at a homeschool convention working some and enjoying the sessions as well.  It will be the first time in several years Ty has not been at my side during a homeschool convention, and frankly, I am sad about that.  He’ll be out being a mountain man, and since I am much too pregnant and warm-blooded to be a mountain woman, I guess I will just have to be content as a homeschool mom. ;)

Hope all of you have a lovely weekend!

To read other homeschooling Weekly Wrap Ups, visit Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers!

Top Ten Resources I’d Like to Own

There are several homeschooling/homemaking/life resources I’ve been drooling over lately, so I thought I would link up to the Top Ten at OhAmanda.com and let all of you see my Wish List:

1. The Girlhood Home Companion Back Issue Album from RemembrancePress.com

Actually, just about anything from this site would do, but after borrowing a copy of Girlhood Home Companion, I was so enamored I knew I wanted to own my very own.  The wonderful thing about this magazine is that it isn’t just for girls.  There is so much for us mothers to benefit from as well!

2.  Homestead Blessings 10 Pack

When these first started coming out, I wasn’t sure they were something I’d enjoy; however, after borrowing a couple from a friend, I realized my entire family was enjoying them and so was I.  The West ladies are contagious, and here’s a picture of Micah watching one of the videos to prove it!

This 10 pack is on sale right now for $99, but there’s several other gift packs and such to choose from that are less expensive.  I did end up buying this with some Christmas money I’d saved back.  I cannot wait for them to arrive so I can dig right in with my girls…and Micah. ;)

3.  VCHE Equipping & Encouragement Set

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that the homeschool support group I attend had their very own packaged bundle for sale through Grace & Truth Books!  It is an awesome set of materials that I hope to own someday soon!  Here’s just a taste of some of the books:
* Already Gone, by Ken Ham
* Let us Highly Resolve, by David & Shirley Quine
* Family Driven Faith, by Voddie Baucham
Just those three books right there made me want to jump up and down!

4.  Wall Words from vinyl-decals.com

I’ve had this site saved for a long time simply because you could enter your own quotes and have them made into decals that adorn your walls.  This makes me think of Deuteronomy 11:20 where it says to write God’s Word on your door frames.  I already have several verses posted in rooms of our home that are pertinent to that particular room, but to have some big ones would be so much fun!

5.  Patterns from Sense and Sensibility & the time to sew them all!

I have looked at these patterns over and over again ever since I saw Jennie Chancey’s post on a week in dresses (that was ages ago, by the way!)  We aren’t a dresses-only family, but her dresses make me want to be!  On the second page is a Regency dress she made that makes me sigh.  Oh, if only I had the time.

6.  A tortilla press


I know this isn’t actually a “resource”, but it’s still something I’d like to own that helps me to be resourceful, so I figure it counts! I’d like to start making my own whole wheat tortillas.  I think this would speed the process tremendously.

7.  Math Readers



I ran across a whole listing of books like this on homeschoolmath.net while searching for “living math books” for my 9 year old daughter.  She struggles terribly with understanding why in the world she needs math, and textbooks are the bane of her existence, so I thought these selections looked excellent for someone like her!

8.  LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0Nope, not for me…for my robot-loving son!  He really wants one of these, and he is saving up his little pennies to get one.  I’m so proud of him and think this would be a fabulous homeschooling tool!

9.  A Quiet Book based on the pattern at Homemade by Jill

The first time I saw this Quiet Book, I thought about how much fun I would have with it…I mean how much fun my TODDLERS would have with it!  What an awesome thing to have for church time!

10.  Adventure Boxes ala Heather @ Blog, She Wrote

Granted, I probably own everything I would need to put one of these together, but again, time is an issue.  So, if any of you would like to volunteer to come over and make some of these awesome summertime treats up for me, I’d be much obliged!  For those of you allergic to clicking on links, here’s a summary of what Adventure Boxes are:

Adventure Boxes- for the past three years we’ve embarked on summer adventures with each child. Each child gets to help choose an area of interest to pursue for the summer. I load a box full of books, crafts, activities that allow the child to make new discoveries all summer long.
~Heather at Blog, She Wrote

Pretty neat, huh?!

I’m sure if I sat here long enough I could come up with 10 or 20 {or more} resources I’d like to own in addition to these, but that would be a waste of precious time, and since time is money, I ought to be saving it up so I can buy some of these!