How to Make a Throw Pillow Cover in 10 Minutes

I've been dragging around Christmas fabrics for years.  They do get used pretty much every year but one of the things I wanted to do with them for years was to make throw pillow covers.

This year, I was determined to get them done.  I've been super busy, but I knew that they would really set the mood for the holidays, so I got out the scissors, eyeballed and cut out a pattern (of sorts) and sewed it up on the machine--I didn't even iron the fabric.  Then I made a second one and timed it.  10 minutes.  Not bad!

Here is a step-by-step tutorial for making throw pillow covers in ten minutes.

Step 1.  
Cut a piece of fabric about 1.5 inches wider than the width of the pillow on each side and long enough that it overlaps about 5 inches (the fabric in the photo to the right is folded in half under the pillow).  If you have an extra fluffy pillow, make sure the sides of the fabric reach half way up the side of the pillow

Step 2. 
I worked with the fabric right side up since I was working without a pattern.

After the fabric is cut, place the pillow on the fabric so the fabric on one end folds a little more than half way over the center of the pillow.

Then on the other end of the fabric, fold a piece inward. You want to make sure that when you fold the folded piece over the pillow there is enough overlap that when the pillow is stuffed inside, it won't gap. So wrap the fabric loosely around the pillow. Then pin the folds in place. I used only two pins (I was in a hurry) but you can use more.

Step 3. 
Turn the cover inside out. And sew the two sides only.

Step 4. Turn the pillow cover right side out and stuff the pillow inside.

Voila!  New decorative pillows fast and cheap!

I also made a round throw pillow cover.  I did everything the same, except that when I turned it inside out to sew it, I then cut it into the round shape before sewing.

Let me know if this tutorial was helpful, or if there is something I can do better with these tutorials.

It's Only Tuesday?!

It is only Tuesday but it feels like it should be Friday.

I just finished a story for my day job--WOO HOO!  Now I can get the bubble lights on the tree so we can start hanging the ornaments.

I got a garage door opener for a steal Thanksgiving weekend and it is still not up.  Maybe by this Friday I won't have to manually open and close my garage door.  It's not so much the opening and closing it, but having to lock it and unlock it from the inside that makes it a pain.

New rack and pinion steering for the car (cha ching).  I used to understand what rack and pinion steering was and why it was a big deal when I sold cars, but it escapes me now...just looked it up.  I guess I didn't really know back then either and after looking I still can't remember the benefit, but I know I talked about it.  I think it was one of those items that every car had, but because most salespeople don't sell every aspect of the car and if you are the only one actually "selling" the car, yours sounds like it has more features than others--like those triangles bent into the body in the engine compartment that are there so the car folds like an accordion in a front end crash, absorbing a portion of the impact so occupants are safer.  Now that is a cool safety feature.

I knew I needed new tires--they weren't impressive tires in the first place but the steering really wreaked havoc on them--but now that the steering is fixed and aligned I have to get new tires so I can tell that I have new rack and pinion steering.  I had to order them to get a good tire in my price range. I hope the product matches the good reviews.  I wonder if you can return tires if you don't like them?   I got them at Costco.

I have a tutorial that I have been wanting to post.  "How to Make a Throw Pillow Cover in 10 Minutes".  Super easy and fast--I didn't even iron the fabric.  Will try to get it posted in the next day. Here is a little preview.

Till the next time...

Bridge to Nowhere - I'm a Billy Goat

Not Sarah Palin's Bridge to Nowhere, but the one on the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Azusa in California that used to go somewhere, or was supposed to-the road that led to it was washed out before any cars could drive over the bridge.

Lauded by Modern Hiker magazine in 2007 as "one of southern California’s best hikes – a 9 mile river-hopping trip along an abandoned, flooded out roadway. Plenty of mines, swimming holes, and a giant bridge in the middle of nowhere."

This was an intense hike, in a good way, for me, the beginner backpacker who is learning to trust her knees again--legs really--and getting back in shape!  It included frequent climbing over rocks,  a small section of trail that was barely the width of my boot, and several river crossings.

Yup, those rocks are the trail.

This was the Billy Goat section of the trail.  Scary!

I really feel like I accomplished so much on this trip; and, that had much to do with the Meetup group I was with--Los Angeles Backpackers Club--they were very encouraging and helpful.  If you are interested in something, I would suggest checking out the meetups in your area--it really is a great way to pursue your interests with people who are like-minded.

It was long (longest I have done so far--9 miles round trip) and beautiful (I love hiking along rivers).  I'm beginning to really appreciate the chaparral (a shrubland community), and I saw the biggest Yucca plants I have seen thus far.  Oh!  and the rocks, beautiful striated rocks.

I was testing out some new gear (new tent, different sleep pad, clothing in prep for the possibility of 45 degree temps, and a new alcohol stove) and my pack ended up being top heavy on the way in.  At one point, climbing up and away from the Billy Goat area my pack was pushing my head forward and I couldn't see where I was going and it was terrifying.

Very pleased with my new tent.

The trip organizer was patient, calm (either I was not as panicked as I thought or he was angel--I think angel), and supportive, as were the other members on the trip.  Everyone on the trip was willing to put out their hand, or trekking poles, to help me up or over, or carry my pack, on what I perceived as a particularly hairy area--and I was worried I would pull them down as they helped me.

I tossed my pride twice and let someone take my pack so I could survive!  It truly is mind over matter.  Someone commented on one of the river crossings that if the log was a painted line on the street, it would be no problem (and I kept chanting that to myself as I "walked the line"), and another reminded me, "momentum is your friend" (just keep going and don't stop to think about it).

There was shocking amount of trash above where we camped.  There were tents,  piles and piles of cans, bottles, and other trash.  The worst was the "bathroom" that someone (or many someones) had made above the camp--they didn't even bury it--and there was toilet paper everywhere. I just don't get it.

In the morning my legs were wobbly and I felt generally shaky all over.  I hoped that the Mountain House bacon and eggs would fix that, but it didn't. At the first stream crossing, over a log, I was sure that the organizer could see my legs shaking during my several false starts, but at least in the still pictures, I didn't look shaky.

It was a great trip and I would definitely do it again.  I was almost too tired to notice the clean house (with mopped floors!) that I came home to, thanks to my daughter.

Photo Booth Fear & Apron Envy

I have no idea why it took so long for me to make my photo booth (light tent)--I've had the supplies for at least a month now.  It was really very simple, maybe it was all the "instruction" up front that made it seem complicated--maybe it was...aw who cares, it's made and in use.  The step-by-step was easy to follow and here is the link to the tutorial.

I'm almost done photographing the pendants (and other stuff) that is slated to go up on the Etsy site which still doesn't have a shop name.  Any ideas?  Anything I pick is already taken or seems cheezy and picking a name seems so permanent and I want to do it right the first time.  Like, I saw someone on FB that markets his pottery as Speckled Dog Pottery--that is original.  Heck, I can't even decide which last name I want to use--I've had three.

After the photos it's on to organizing the shots and pricing, but what I really want to do is to make myself an apron.  I have been wanting to make myself an apron since last December when I made them for others and since I had the sewing machine out for one of my 365 Discards project, I figured why not?.

But the boss of me said I had to do the light box and photos first since I was already behind schedule.  So, a little more photography and then I can craft myself a cute little apron to protect my clothes from kitchen stains. Woot!

Backpacking!!!

This is info from my 2nd backpacking trip--I've now been on 4. This trip was to Cedar Glen Trail Camp via Icehouse Canyon Trail.

You know what I think about when I am backpacking or hiking?  Just that -- backpacking or hiking -- and I love that!

I watch the birds and think about mountain lions, and snakes and bears.  I look for game trails and observe scat (a couple weeks ago I would have said animal poop).  I even notice the scars on trees, and I know what it looks like when a bear makes those scars.  I look at foliage and wonder if it is friend or foe.

I listen to, and observe, the other backpackers, even if they are newbies like me, because it teaches me.

I was utterly surprised at my excitement level when I committed to the trip.  I can't remember being that excited about anything in a very long time. I was even brave enough to hitch a ride with two other attendees.

I was excited to try out my vintage Kelty backpack that some kind soul, from freecycle, passed on to me.  It was a little top heavy on the way up making me a little off balance (especially near the top) and it bonked me in the head a few times.  But I packed it better on the way down--no knocking me over and no bonking me in the head.

More than 3/4 of the way up the trail I began to wonder if this really was for me.  Not because I was miserable, but because I felt bad lagging so far behind the group.  The trip leader backtracked from time to time to check on me, and reassured me that my pace wasn't a problem.   I did get my first blister (from hiking/backpacking.  It happened maybe half way up the trail and I kept going because tending to it would have made me even farther behind, but it was getting worse so I stopped to fix it up and was bummed I hadn't stopped as soon as I felt it.

I drank half of my water going up and stopped at a creek that crossed the trail to fill up.  This was my first time getting water from a creek to drink.  It was ice cold.  Now I had to decide whether to boil it or to use my pills.  Some of the group drank it straight from the creek and others treated theirs.  I would treat mine this time just to be safe.  Next time, I might try it without treating it. Boiling it meant no aftertaste, but if I were on a longer hike, fuel should be for cooking and I should find start.  experiment so I can see what works for me.  have to have an aftertaste

I felt like a slacker when I opted out of the day hike so I could nap--was 2.2. miles really all I could do? But when 2 others came back to camp shortly after embarking on the day hike I didn't feel as bad.

I discovered a saying , "hike your own hike," (HYOK), and it was one of those moments when you just "get it". I may be slower, but that is okay. I have to find my own groove.

I can't wait for the next trip!

365 Days Project....Again

I believe that I have discovered a project that I can live with, and hopefully follow through.

Since I have been seriously contemplating the idea of full time RVing, I have thought about what I would take in my RV, what I would store (yes, I would have a {small} storage unit somewhere), and what I would give away, sell or toss.

That is when I came up with the idea of getting rid of something everyday.  Certainly there are 365 things in my house that I can get rid of.  It isn't very artistic and I had the idea that when I was on vacation it would be hard to get rid of things, so I thought on those days I would have to make art of something that you would normally get rid of -- a paper napkin for instance.

Then my daughter came up with a more artistic twist of this 365 Day project, saying that I should have to do something artistic with it before I got rid of it.

I haven't set any rules for this, yet.  I know that getting rid of a single pen would be cheating in my mind, and not everyday will be the 'cleaning out the closet' kind of day.

Since I don't like to throw away usable objects, I will put some up on my local freecycle site or drop at Goodwill or Salvation Army once a week.  I'll keep a bag in the garage and whatever I am getting rid of has to leave the house--that is a rule, I guess.

I will start today on my 365 Days of Discarding, and I already have a target--the old makeup in my bathroom under my sink!  I'm already thinking about artistic ways to use it!  I'll post a pic tomorrow.

Why Women Stayed Home Back in the Day

I cooked a great Eggplant Parmesan the other night with homemade tomato sauce.  Yes, homemade with 4 lbs of tomatoes!  I was so busy cooking that I didn't think about taking pictures. Then I was going to take a pic of the leftovers, but we shared with my neighbor and I totally forgot again and now it is all gone. Must have been pretty good--a whole 10x15 pan gone.  I like when grown ups enjoy my meals, but there is nothing better than watching a little one (17 months) really enjoy the food you are feeding them.

This fresh, healthy eating thing is time consuming.  The prep was fairly easy--not as easy as opening up a can.  Cutting and seeding the tomatoes took the longest and peeling the skin was easy; but the clean up!  Geez, I felt like I was in the kitchen all night cleaning!

No wonder women stayed home back in the day--fresh cooking is time consuming work.  I think we've been "sold a bill of goods".  This working and doing the cooking and the housework is a bad deal.  I enjoyed the process of making the meal, and next time the clean up will be easier.  In fact, the whole process will be easier next time. We do have some advantages that women long ago didn't have--like blenders and food processors.

Next time I am not seeding the tomatoes and I will puree them in a blender as well.  I need to find a way to reduce the amount of time fresh cooking takes and the clean up too.  I will also use more cutting boards.  I used way too many bowls for peeling and seeding the tomatoes.  Cutting boards are easier and faster to clean and dry.

I really enjoyed making the sauce, but I think to make it more of a habit than buying the sauce from the store, I will need to make larger batches when the prices of tomatoes are good and learn how to can.  I'll talk about canning soon.

Here is how to make homemade tomato sauce: Click here for a printable copy.

1 medium pot or stock pot
4 lbs of Tomatoes (I got the tomatoes that were on sale)
Boiling Water
Bowl of ice water (I hear you can use plain old cold water too)
4 T olive oil (or any other oil you prefer)
1 onion
2 carrots
4 cloves garlic
2 stalks of celery

Slice an X in bottom of the tomatoes (practically makes the tomatoes peel themselves).  Put tomatoes in water for 30 seconds to a minute (I split it in three portions).  Take the tomatoes out of the boiling water and put them into the ice bath.  Peel the skins from the tomatoes.

If you want to remove the seeds (I hear they can be bitter--but I am trying it without seeding next time) slice the tomatoes in half for oblong tomatoes and in quarters for round tomatoes.  Then pull out the seeds over a strainer and bowl to capture extra juice (I got between a half cup and 3/4 doing it that way). I also used a cutting board that had grooves around the edges to capture juices.

Heat the oil.

Puree the onion, celery, carrots and garlic (you can use half the seasonings that I did) and put them into the oil to saute for about 10 minutes. (You can also add other spices as you would a finished sauce, but I did it at the end. Next time I will use the sauce in my chili and will add some Jalapeno, Serrano and Habanero (1) peppers with the puree.)

Then add the pureed or sliced tomatoes and the salt.  (You can mash them with a masher in the pot too for a chunkier sauce.)

Cook for 45 minutes (could be as little as 30, but I cooked mine for an hour) over medium low heat.

Eat away!