Sew Sweet Little Purse Tutorial

It was such a joy to make these sweet little purses for two sweet little girls. 

Followed the directions from my Toddler Purse Tutorial by Getting Crafty and it worked like a charm.  

I've actually made four purses that match three girl (ages 4, 6, and 11) outfits AND coordinating American Girl Doll outfits.  Sharing those photos in upcoming post.  

The materials I used are all from Hobby Lobby:

Cream cotton twill

Purple polyester lining

Purle grosgrain ribbon 

Fusible interfacing

Lacy pink stretch elastic

The other two purses (not shown) are done in black and white houndstooth and hot pink, black, and white  Paris Eiffel Tower print with black stretch lace elastic and plastic black and silver chain (for the purse handle).

Rust Stains on Carpet and Metal - Rust Remover Product Test and Review

A few years ago, our office had a water leak.  We thought it was a leak in the roof, but discovered that the gutters were stopped up.  What a mess!  The office nearest the problem gutter had the biggest problem.  A lot of water soaked the carpeting, and it happened more than once.  Eventually, the gutter was cleaned out and the carpet finally dried.  No one paid any attention to the once-soaked carpet until a file cabinet in that office had to be moved.  

The file cabinet was emptied, the drawers were removed, and two people tried to move it. But, it just wouldn't budge. Why?  It was so severely RUSTED on the bottom that the rust actually adhered to the carpet. What a mess!

After a lot of work, the rusted-to-the-carpet file cabinet was moved.  Again, WHAT A MESS!  What to do?  How do you clean rust on carpet?

We purchased a product from Home Depot called Back to Nature Ready-Strip Rust Remover.  The words on the bottle are: "Safely removes rust stains like magic from virtually any surface!  Odor-free - Environmentally safe"  and "Works on: Removes most rust spots and stains from interior and exterior surfaces, including concrete, toilets, sinks, bathtubs, appliances, refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, clothing, carpets, upholstery, autos and rv's, fiberglass boats, rigging and sails, bicycles, metal, wrought iron fences, tools, stainless fittings, antiques, and furniture, house siding, sporting goods, and more."

Wow, could it be true? Was there something that we could use to remove the rust from the carpet?

I'm happy to tell you the answer.  After testing the product, I give it a big thumbs up.  It worked!

I really wish there were photos to share of what it looked like right after the file cabinet was moved.  What a MESS! Trust me.  In the photo above, the lower half of the area was treated using the rust removal product, and the upper half of the area was not yet treated.  What a big difference!

Just for fun, I'm also sharing a photo showing a large steel beam in our parking lot.  It is VERY rusty.  The white stripe in the background is a parking lot stripe.  The photo below of the beam clearly shows, before treatment, during treatment, and after treatment.  

I used a soft wire brush to scrub the carpet AND the steel after the product was applied. It took a LOT of scrubbing for the carpet, but the steel only took about 30 seconds of scrubbing. 

NOTE: I don't know if it is truly environmentally safe as it claims to be or not. I just know that it works on carpet and metal.  The active ingredients are citric acid and oxalic acid. This is not a sponsored or paid review.  All opinions are my own.  This stuff works!

Job Interviews Are Like First Dates - Free Printable Quote

To me, being interviewed for a new a job is a lot like going out on a date with someone for the first time.  I find both equally unappealing.  What do you think?

Sharing my original quote as a free printable.  Enjoy!

Potager Cafe in Arlington, Texas - Delicious Slow Food Prepared With Principles and Served On The Honor System

Next time you visit Arlington, Texas, go downtown and enjoy a real "slow food" meal at Potager Cafe. Why?  There are SO many reasons, but let's keep it short and simple.  How about 10?

Top 10 Reasons To Dine at Potager Cafe



REASON #1

You deserve better. 

As a true opposite of the typical fast food franchise, Potager Cafe offers something better. Folks, this is the good stuff.  They call it "Slow Food". You will like it. Trust me. 

This definition for Slow Food  is from a link found on Potager's site:

Why the name Slow Food?

It’s a way of saying no to the rise of fast food and fast life. Slow Food means living an unhurried life, taking time to enjoy simple pleasures, starting at the table.

REASON #2

Potager has tasty food prepared with principles.

Try the green salad and some tomato soup.  It is lovely.

Okay, so the food is good, but food with principles? 

Yes, it has principles. 

The proprietor has principles that shine brightly through the food on each plate.  Her menu is full of "local" varieties and options. Here is a quote from the homepage:

"Get to know where your food comes from.  As much as possible, what we serve you comes from small, local farmers and ranchers ... our friends.  Get to know them too ... they are very loveable!"

REASON #3 

Potager Cafe has fair prices.    

The Price List is given only as a suggestion for payments. Each patron determines the price to be paid based on his or her own assessment of fairness. What a splendidly unorthodox concept.

REASON #4

Potager has friendly, talented chefs.

Even though they serve "slow food", you'll have a plate filled with it in a jiffy.

REASON #5

The atmosphere at Potager Cafe is mellow and relaxing.

WiFi, television sets, blaring music, and self-service soft drink machines are NOT part of your dining experience.  

 

Their standards and principles are so high that Potager doesn't allow soft drinks on the menu. In their own words, this is why:

Yes, we are BYOB, but please, no nasty soft drinks!  We want you to be healthy!!  

I fell in love with this groovy lighted peace sign over the door.

Is it possible that they value people more highly than profit?

REASON #6

The menu is easy to read and has plenty of options.

For me, eating at Potager almost like going back in time and enjoying a meal with Nanny and Papa. 

Please note that the menu changes daily.

REASON #7

They have a working garden.

The exterior of the cafe surrounded by a garden.  Seeing it will make you smile.

Some of the lovely herbs and veggies in these photos will become part of future menu selections.

Did you know Potager is a French word that means kitchen garden?  

There is something very comforting about eating food that is freshly picked from the garden - another little reminder of happy times spent with Nanny and Papa.

REASON #8

You need a reality check. 

Potager offers:

REAL water (the kind that doesn't come from a plastic bottle)

REAL glass water pitchers on each table

REAL glass glassware

REAL metal utensils

REAL cloth napkins

REAL food

REASON #9

Siri says so. 

Yes, Siri suggests dining at Potager Cafe. In fact, she introduced me to Potager.

This is how it went down:

I was driving around during lunch break using Siri to search for an eating establishment where a suitable meal might be found.

Me: Siri, I'm hungry.  
Siri: These 5 restaurants are fairly close to you. 

She offered me McDonalds, Wendys, KFC, etc. I didn't really want any of those options, so I  drove a bit further, pulled over, and tried once again.

Me: Siri, I'm hungry.  
Siri: These 5 restaurants are fairly close to you.

Once again, she kept offering me no choices other than fast food franchises.  

Not to be dissuaded, I drove a bit further, pulled over, and told her I was hungry.

Finally, she broke her streak of corporate food chains and suggested Potager Cafe.  Push Siri hard enough, and she'll show you the good stuff.



REASON #10

They follow the Honor System.

Potager did away with the need for outdated cash registers and credit card machines.  Those relics were replaced with this handy Watering Can.


See the payment slot in the top?    

Because your remittance is done with the Honor System, there is no need for a cashier.  They trust everyone to pay fairly.


After you're finished eating, select one of these sweet little handmade envelopes from the bowl, tuck the payment inside, and drop it in the slot. 

I hope you try Potager Cafe.  Just remember to bring cash or a check.  They don't accept plastic payments. Here are the details on location and hours from their website:

Our Hours:

Tuesday and Wednesday:  11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday:  11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (limited menu between 3 and 5)

Sorry, we don't take Credit/Debit Cards.  Cash or Cheques only. 

Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention - Free Printable Infographic

Hey y'all, did you know that May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month? Like many of you, I've known dear friends that suffered with Osteoporosis.  The effects of this terrible disease are known to be debilitating and can be deadly.  I hope ALL of you are taking care of yourselves.  

For more information on this important health issue, please visit http://www.recallcenter.com/hip-replacement/

Help us spread the word by sharing this post through email or your favorite social media sites.

For those readers in the USA, I wish you all a happy and HEALTHY Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Free Printable My Heavenly Father Loves Me

My favorite song in the Primary Childrens Songbook is My Heavenly Father Loves Me by Clara W. McMaster.  I'm so happy to share a free printable with the entire first verse.  

I sing this song (out loud) to myself whenever I need to cheer myself up.  If you want to listen to it or download the sheet music as a pdf, just click here.  It is free:)

DIY Mother's Day Flowers - Handprint Paper Lily Tutorial

Happy Mother's Day!  The grandkids and I made these lovely Handprint Paper Lilies for their Mom and Great Grandmother.  

You wouldn't believe how easy and fun they are to make!

I found this Handprint Lily Craft on Easy Preschool Craft and followed it, making a few changes in order to make use of materials on hand. 

Easter/Mother's Day Handprint Lily Craft

Materials:

Plain white copy paper (for lily petals)

Green construction paper (for leaves)

Bright colored construction paper (for heart label)

Yellow solo cups (for center of lily)

Any other color of solo cups (for vase)

Small wooden craft dowel rod (for stem)

Green paint

Scissors

Glue dots or tape

Pencil

Crayon

1. Using the pencil, trace the child's handprint onto the white paper.  (If you want to make 2 handprint lilies, fold the sheet of paper in half and trace on one side.  Cut both sides together to make 2 handprints.)

2. Using the pencil, draw leaves onto green paper.  Make them as long as you want, and make sure the centers are wide enough to accommodate the center hole needed for inserting the painted dowel rod.

3. Paint the dowel rod(s) green.  The kids love this part!  

TIP:  To avoid making a mess in the house, do this step outside on the porch and use washable paints.

4. Cut a long yellow rectangular strip from the yellow solo cup.  Shape it a bit, making the two tips fat and round and the center a bit more slender.

5. Poke or cut a hole in the center of the leaf and insert the painted dowel rod.  Secure in place with glue dots or tape.

6. Attach yellow flower center, folded in half and curled a bit on the tips, to the top of the dowel rod with glue dots or tape.

7. Curl fingertips of handprint a little.  Wrap handprint around dowel rod and yellow flower center, and use glue dots or tape to secure in place.

8. Make a construction paper heart and put the name Mom or Grandma on it.  Use glue dot or tape to attach to solo cup vase.

9. Poke a hole in the bottom of the solo cup and insert your lovely flower(s).

NOTE: We had three kiddos ages 18 mos. to 4, so we made three different size lilies.

I hope you enjoy making some of these beautiful Handprint Paper Lilies for Mother's Day.

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All Things With Purpose: All Things Thursday Link-Up #31

Vintage Lace Trim Jeans Tutorial - One Hour DIY Boutique Jeans

Do you have any blue jeans in your closet that are too short?  They're still like brand new because you never wear them. We used to call them "High Water Jeans" because whenever you wore them people asked you if you were expecting a flood.  In other words, short pants won't get wet as quickly as pants that are longer when the water starts rising. 

I've had a pair in my closet for about two years now.  They shrunk after being laundered.  The hem barely touched the tops of my ankles, and when I sat down they showed quite a bit of leg.  Honestly I was so embarrassed about the length that I barely ever wore them....until yesterday.

It was one of THOSE days. Procrastination changed the entire meaning of "Doing Laundry" and not in a good way.  It had evolved in from a normal item on the "TO DO" list to an absolute NECESSITY. All the blue jeans that actually fit me were in the hamper waiting to be washed. The hairdo was beginning to look frumpy and unkempt, too. The tell-tale gray roots were much too obvious.  

Well, I wasn't about to wear sweat pants to the hairdresser.  I grimaced and tried on my "high water" jeans.  Looking in the mirror, I could see my ankles peeking out from beneath the jeans hem.  Perfect.  Just perfect.  High waters are the perfect jeans to wear..... IF YOU'RE EXPECTING A FLOOD.

What to do, what to do? Why not add some lace trim to achieve the desired length on the jeans legs? I've seen lots of DIY blue jean projects over the years. Never before had it occurred to me to use my old tablecloth to make my jeans prettier and longer.  

DIY Vintage Lace Trim

I had quite a bit of the lace tablecloth leftover from making DIY Vintage Lace Trim .  My high water blue jean makeover was a surprisingly quick and easy project.  I love the way they look now.

FYI, here is a link to the tutorial for creating repurposed lace trim from tablecloths, curtains, etc: DIY Vintage Lace Trim just in case you need it. 

Vintage Lace Trim Jeans Tutorial



Supplies 

Lace Trim
Scissors
Tape measure
Fabric marker or chalk
Sewing Machine
Thread
1 /4" to 3/8" width ribbon


Directions

1. Cut off the hem on both legs of jeans as close to the edge as possible.  

2. Machine stitch around each leg near raw cut edge.  This will help prevent fraying.

3. Measure circumference of bottom of one jean leg.

Multiply x 2.  Now add two inches to that number.  This number is the length of lace needed to attach to jeans.

4. Cut lace to desired length. Fold lace in half and cut again to achieve two equal lengths.  Each one will be about an inch longer than the circumference of the jean leg.

5. Cut two pieces of ribbon to be the same length as the lace.

6. Machine baste ribbon to each lace piece about 1/2" from top edge.  

NOTE: The orange grosgrain ribbon basted on the lace is shown as an example because it contrasts nicely in photographs.  When choosing ribbon for this project, try to match the color of your lace or the color of your jeans as closely as possible. 

7. Fold raw edge of lace over ribbon.

8. Stitch folded over lace to ribbon.  The ribbon adds stability to the lace and makes the top edge of lace more even. This is the part of the lace to be stitched to jeans.

9. How much above the raw edge of jeans do you want the top edge of lace to be sewn?  How much length do you need?  How wide is lace?  Knowing the answers to these questions gives you the right guidance on where to attach the lace.

Locations of dashed blue ink pen lines atop lace edge are indicated by red arrows.

10.  Measure desired distance between raw edge at bottom of jean leg and top edge of lace and mark jeans with a little dashed line ----- using a fabric marker. (Because my blue denim jeans were quite dark, I used a blue ink pen to mark the dashes.)  Move your tape over an inch or so and make another mark. Repeat all the way around both jean leg bottoms.  This is your guide.

11.  Put folded-under edge of lace against right side of jeans, place lace on jean so that top of lace just touches bottom of dashed lines starting at inside jeans seam.  Machine baste lace to one jean leg.

12. Try on jeans.  Do you like the finished length? If the answer is yes, then machine stitch lace to both jean legs.  If the answer is no, then remove basting stitches, adjust lace accordingly, and then machine stitch.

13. Allow lace to overlap itself up to 1/4" or so after you stitch around full circle of jean leg and come back to inseam. 

NOTE: Stretch lace may overlap at the top first before it overlaps at the bottom as shown in the photo below. If this happens to you, simply adjust the amount of overlap accordingly.

14. Machine or hand stitch top layer of lace over bottom layer at overlap.

15.  Trim any excess lace on top near stitching.

Now you have some cute, boutique-style jeans.  Wear them and enjoy the compliments.

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The SITS Girls Saturday Sharefest February 22, 2014



Chic on a Shoestring: Flaunt it Friday  194




Sewlicious Home Decor: Saturday Showlicous Craft and Recipe Showcase February 22, 2014

Threading My Way: Threading Your Way - Pants for Women

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Valentine's Day Tech Gift from HUBBY Scores Big with This Blogger!! Gateway NE 52219u Notebook PC Review

Happy Valentine's Day!  I am the luckiest gal in the .  HUBBY is so good to me.  Every year, without fail, he brings home my favorites - long stemmed red roses and gourmet chocolates.  Who could ask for more?  

This year, HUBBY went all out to give me something that I really wanted and needed.  A new Gateway NE52219u Notebook Computer! 

I know most people replace their desktops and laptops every few years.  We are NOT most people. Wanna see our tech history?  Read the very first Fresh Juniper blog post. The last NEW computer we purchased was in 2004.  It was a Dell PC running Windows XP with a Pentium IV processor.  HUBBY has kept it working fairly well.  He upgraded the monitor, the RAM, the hard drive, etc.  The Dell still works, but the 5 year old flat screen monitor finally crashed.  It was a big tech reversal for us.  HUBBY hooked the DELL up to an old-school monitor.  Remember the ones that were bigger and heavier than a microwave oven?  Yep, that's the dinosaur now occupying a major portion of the dining room. 

Thanks to my dearly beloved HUBBY, today I enter the blogosphere with a new and modern vehicle.  FYI don't judge me or my ability to write a laptop review by my former lack of tech advances at home.  HUBBY is certified A+ Comp Tech.  I work in a modern office with plenty of PC power.  

I love the new Gateway Laptop.  For those of you who need specs, here is the label.  

  
 As I said, it is a Gateway NE52219u. It has:

OS: Windows 8.1  OS
Pr3 Loocessor: AMD Quad Core A4 5000
LCD: 15.6 WXGA Acer Cinecrystal LED LCD
Memory: 8GB DDR
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 8330
Hard Drive: 1 Terabyte
Webcam
Bluetooth
Microsoft Office

and so much more.

This baby zips through tasks like a hot knife through butter.  It is so lightweight and easy to handle.  I'm finally learning the Windows 8.1 OS.  

Wanna know how I got it?  FlexPay.  Yep, that's right.  I am a big fan of Home Shopping Network, aka HSN.  Don't judge me.  Remember my introductory blog post. We still don't have cable television.  Rural life, right!

There are only SO many channels available to regular free TV viewers.  HSN is one of my favorites.  I'd been watching them show this laptop off and on since just before Christmas 2013.  I lusted after the 8G RAM and everything that came with this package.  

FlexPay is HSN's way of letting a customer pay out the purchase over time with no credit card and no interest.  It's kinda like layaway, but you get the merchandise immediately with the first payment instead of waiting till it's paid off to bring it home.  Pretty awesome of them, I know.  

Another thing - their unbeatable 30 day money back guarantee.  Try it out for yourself.  If you don't like it, send it back.  No need to invent a reason to return it, just tell the truth and send it right back. They stand behind everything they sell.

FYI this post is not sponsored by anyone.  I just wanted to share something wonderful with you.

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The SITS Girls Saturday Sharefest February 22, 2014