Lunch Bag--Tutorial

This bag can be made of any fabric suitable for carrying your children's lunches. If you homeschool, use it for field trips, or lunch at the park. If your children attend public or private school, they could carry their lunches to school.

Materials are your choice. I learned to make this bag from an on-line tutorial using oil cloth. You could salvage an old vinyl tablecloth--the kind with the flock in the back, or denim--as this one. (I made one for my DH in gray cammo denim) My instructions are for denim or duck fabric, which stand up to much use and many washes.

You will need 2 pieces of fabric 15 x 12 inches. On two of the corners, cut away a 2 & 1/2 inch square--this will make the squared bottom of the bag.
Sew the two long sides, and the bottom that has been made by the cutting away.

Meet one of the bottom seams to its side seam, repeat on the other side.
I top stitched all the seams for reinforcement. I cut the fabric with a pinking rotary cutter to avoid fraying. The top stitching can be done easily on the sleeve arm of the sewing machine.

Turn the bag right side out and seam all 4 sides of the bag to give it stability. Turn down a hem--about 1 & 1/2 inches at the top.

You may want to iron on patches. Use a piece of parchment paper for the best results. The parchment paper can be used over and over again until it browns with the heat of the iron and becomes brittle.

After you have applied the patches, sew around them with a narrow zig-zag stitch for extra stay-on power during the many washes.

I used a commercial pressing ham, inside the bag, it makes the job very easy.

Two patches on each side, representing the sports #5a likes.

The bag is empty, so you could see how well it stands with those narrow seams.

Close up of the hem.

This one is 'toy bag' for #5c (almost 3yo who asked for a bag to carry his Thomas the Train trains)

* I employed the same pattern, with a couple of changes.

* I used a double sided pre-quilted fabric--just because I liked it--no technical reason.

* I serged all the raw edges.

* I did not sew the 'stabilizing seams' to make it stand.

* I turned the hem outward so the inside of the fabric could be decorative feature.

* Also used red seam binding tape to hide the serging. The resulting casing was convenient for the 'rat tail' rayon (slippery for easy draw) handle/draw string.

Here it is standing open.

The inside. (the little squares are the cut aways from the bags, they will be #5b's dollhouse rugs and 'bedspreads')

Here are both of the bags. They do not look like they were made with the same pattern.

I appreciate multiple and varied applications of the same pattern.

Not much else to report.

I'll leave you with this:

"A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" Ecc 3:7

In His hands, ^__^

Question about the peaches

Paula asked where I got those peaches.

I must tell you that the average peach from the grocery store, has the texture of a raw turnip and very little, if any, peach flavour. (maybe I've dramatized a little)
The last time we had peaches this good was over 10 years ago. At that time I bought a bushel (55lbs) and froze them, just like I did last week.
We had a very wet and cool summer and that type of weather makes very good peaches.
I think that the entire Midwest (of the U.S.) has had a bumper crop of very good peaches. We are praying for the apples and pears to do the same. I will let you know.

Tonight I found that our blogger friend and homekeeper extraordinaire--Jewels, of Eyes of Wonder--is back on line. I am delighted. Jewels has inspired hundreds of women (no exaggeration here) to be better Moms, and better housekeepers/homemakers.

Made a couple of lunch bags today, Lord willing I will post tutorial pictures tomorrow.

I'll leave you with this:

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Pro 25:25

In His hands, ^__^

Hail, peaches, to-ma-toes, who's not ready holler, I

Aaand, we're offff! (Lap top all repaired, now DH's--too full--has some hitch, he's changing hard drives.)

Using Susan's idea of making a hat sideways, I knitted this hat-to-be for #3b (he loooooves green) While I was knitting it I noticed that one of the needles was revelling and did a sort-of tuck stitch, which I will leave alone.
It will be a 'design' for his hat. But, I will have to change the needle for knitting other garments.

I have an Electroknit 930, and will be trying the patterns soon.

Next, the contents of my bag.

One crocheted pink thing (another hello kitty) Oh, by the way. I finished the first one and gave it to #5b and she was very surprised. Also made her a lunch bag with some real Lee jeans cut aways, all pink and pretty (found that at a garage sale. the lady used to work for Lee jeans and had several cast aways that the employees got to keep--all for me!)

You can also see the darker mauvy pink sweater for #2c who snagged it, it has to be repaired.

Here is a full view of the bag. Another cast away that was given to me. It is tapestry fabric, from a 'book' of samples. I had to trim the holes and areas that had been glued. With the rest I made this tote. I had the strapping in one of the colors--God knew.

I sewed the bag and topstitched every seam for finishing and reinforcement. It is unlined as the fabric is quite heavy.

I really like the Jacobean designs of flowers and bugs, without care to the proportions.

Went to the farmer's market on Saturday and bought some eggplant. I like to 'pickle' it, and eat it with meat, or chicken. It is very yummy--if you like eggplant.

Recipe

Here it is sliced and resting (salted) in a colander to extract much of the water. Place the colander in a large pot to catch the water.

After 24 hours, discard the water, rinse the eggplant slices a little.

Into the rinsed stock pot, pour about a quart of white vinegar, some (10) pepper corns, and 3 large bay leaves. Bring to a boil and add the eggplant slices, bring to a boil again and simmer for about--but no more than--5 minutes.

Let it cool to 'warm to the touch' temperature.

Using pint jars, layer, 1/2 a teaspoon of olive oil, two or three cloves of garlic, a small pinch of crushed red pepper, and a small pinch of oregano. Keep doing this layering, over and over again until the jar is full. Push the contents down to eliminate all air bubbles. Most of the olive oil will find its place, but be sure that all is covered with the oil. Let it come to room temperature, cover with a lid and keep in the refrigerator. Wait at least 2 days to eat, but I'll be eating it tonight.

This is how they look just before the lids were attached.

Peaches, I got over 30 pounds of the most delicious peaches I've had in many years. Was able to freeze 15 quarts, and DH and I ate the rest. (shared some with my Mom--she loves peaches also)

How could anybody have resisted these. The were--still are--sooooo sweet.

Here is the last batch before processing [wash, cut away uglies, quarter, and pit, and bag]

If you try, maybe you can smell them, actually, remember how they smell. So peachy!

Some of our tomatoes. They look yellow on the side where the sun shone on them. Although we took several pictures, they all had the yellow glow. They are perfectly red. We have been getting about these many every two days. Enjoying every bite.

Now: Practical stuff

When you pierce your rubber gloves, what do you do with them?

I got a couple of ideas for you.

Slice the parts thereof. From the cuff to the thumb, it will become large 'rubber bands'

The thumb and fingertips can aide you in pulling a needle when sewing or quilting. (keep one in your sewing box) You could count your money efficiently--like the secretary's fingers from the office supply.

The rest of the thumb and fingers can be little rubber bands, or lid grippers for opening your water bottles. (keep one in your purse)

The cuff, as I said can be used as a long lasting band for the kitchen.

For example, If you don't use a whole bag of chocolate chips, or Heath sprinkles, etc. How do you put them away? No need to reach for a zip bag (.04c wasted) Try the recycled dish glove.

When you've used a little.

And when you've used a lot.

I might as well tell [show] you know, the huge hail we got last month. This one being held by #5a, it was the biggest one DH found--got pelted big time while doing it.

These are in a bowl with a penny and a quarter for comparison.

This is how it looked coming down.

And they all came from these clouds.

Finally sent off one box each to #1 and #3. Finished all those things I was making for them and placed them, each thing in its box. DH was finishing the taping of the second box for shipping and I remembered that I had not taken ANY pictures of the finished things. Oh, well!

I also forgot to take pictures while making the Jacobean bag, the lunch bag, and the finished hello kitty purse, sorry. Still working on the yellow-whatever-it-will-be cuddly doll.

I'll leave you with this: [a favorite of mine at the top of this blog]

"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you" 1Th 4:11

In His hands, ^__^

Laptop got invaded by a phoney security page

Yeah! Dummy me.

I was looking for a place to buy a Kombucha Scoby and narrowed my search to somewhere near me. I clicked on a page that had an alleged video that proportedly would explain how it would be shipped.

When I cliked the play triangle, a window appeared telling me that I needed an 'active x' update or something like that. I have seen those before, and although we have all the necessary stuff, I thought this was some new update. I clicked and there it came! Immediately put a toolbar that had only two places to click and I did not want to do any more damage. It invaded my (DH's) laptop. It looked legitimate enough, but I just sensed that it wasn't.

Called #5--our computer brain--he did the remote thing and got rid of the toolbar, but upon restarting the computer I noticed it had left me two icons I had never seen before. #5 was very busy and could not do any more right then. When we went shopping we dropped off the laptop at #5's, he can 'fix' it when he has time.
The REAL alert program that we have, said that it had changed my default search engine, and who knows what else. Also it warned that the bad guy invader was capable of taking all necessary information out of my computer 'guts' Forbid it, Lord!

Boo hoo!

This is a mixture of a frustrated rant, and a head's up.
Just wanted to let you all know to be cautious, and if something doesn't seem right, leave it alone.

By the way, if any of you know of a LEGITIMATE Kombucha scoby source, leave me a comment.

I'll leave you with this:


"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence."
Psa 91:3

In His hands, ^__^

This one, we gotta call in...

I am still grinning...

DH and I went for a drive after dinner since it was so nice and coolish--low 80s and dry.

I, as a good wife, (when he drives) do not make comments on his driving: i.e., "you're too close" or things of that nature. I've learned (figuratively, kicking and screaming)--to hold my tongue; however, (you knew there would be a 'however' coming) I, ever so slightly, brake with my feet when it seems to me that he is too close to another car. It is an *involuntary* action, sometimes done with both feet, as if the extra traction would do any good. I am certain that all of you have done this at one time or another--no need to raise your hand.
Ok, so, tonight we are driving behind an out-of-towner who is going way below the speed limit and also hitting the brakes waaaaayyy too much. (One would wonder if they had something illegal on board, but I digress.) We were third, at the red light, and as it the light turned green, the first car started and DH took his foot off the brake, but the 'suspect' ahead of us did not move, his brake light still on, so...I, instinticly pushed *both* my imaginary brakes at once. The 'suspect' ahead of us finally 'came to' and started moving.
All was well and I relaxed again and admired the very green lawns--it has rained much and every lawn is green.
Right then, DH began to hum the Twilight Zone tune, and then said in a deep and ominous voice: "You have lost control of the car, Mwaha, I have control of the car now"
I laughed and laughed, even still laughing as I type this. Needless to say, I have chuckled the entire evening.
I hope all of you laugh at trivial and silly things...and make your DH husband laugh also.

I'll leave you with this:

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Pro 17:22

In His hands, ^__^

UFO crochet and Alpine goats

I have a couple of unfinished crochet pieces. This one will be a 'hello kitty' purse for one of my baby girls. I got this great idea from "my" new teacher She is in Brazil, and I do not speak Portuguese, but she is very thorough and if you know a little about crochet, you will 'understand' her--rather her instruction YouTubes. She has lots and lots of things that she shows how to make and lots and lots of stitches demonstrated. She also has her CDs for sale (don't know how to buy internationally)
The handles of the purse are made of the Romanian Stitch from Sunshine's blog, she also has a teaching video on her blog--I really love her stuff.

These are the parts to a dolly/ducky--have not decided yet--and the arms and the legs are my first attempt to making the Romanian Stitch {which I did not get until I was finished and checked the tutorial again} But this pleases me well, and works for arms and legs since it is more flexible than the real thing.

We went 'garaging' last Saturday and I found this baking stone with its own trivet....25c...could not pass it up. Maybe some of my people will like to have it, since I already have one. These work great for making Nan (Indian flat bread--sort-of-like pita) to make mini pizzas or dip in Hommus, or peanut butter and jelly, or tuna salad with tomatoes...you decide.

The tomatoes are finally ripening. I love home grown tomatoes. Especially with Hellman's Mayonnaise and tuna salad. So yummy. We are staying ahead of the squirrels this year (Thank you, Lord!) One of them had a squirrel bite which began to 'decay' I'll cut it off.

Last week I took #4a and #4b to see 'my' goats (from whom I get my milk every week) and took some pics of the kids and the children. This is Cally (the nanny) and #4a

This is one baby girl peeking at another baby girl--Sammie the baby goat, and #4b the baby girl.

The 'goater' in blue is my friend Mrs. M with Samantha and her 'momma' Mattie and her 'aunt' Millie

It seems that the humidity has been overcome by a dry front. It feels so much nicer. We've had the most humid summer that I remember. (The 'weather guy' says that the hottest part is over) I hope he is right.

I'll leave you with this:

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Gen 8:22

In His hands, ^__^