Got a New Driver’s License Today

Had to get a new driver’s license today. My birthday is only a few weeks away and I didn’t want to wait until it was too late….extra fee if you’re late.

Well, this state is requiring all kinds of ID for a new license. Then you get a little star on your driver’s license which signifies that you are who you say you are.

I had to bring:

Old driver’s license
Birth certificate
Marriage License
Social Security Card
Voter Registration card
Passport
2 pieces of mail addressed to me

And after all that I am now OFFICIALLY me! Glad to know I’m not somebody else.

WHY DO I EVEN BOTHER WITH A PURSE?

I’ve reached an age where I get tired of carrying a purse everywhere I go. Why do I do it? Habit I suppose.

Just like all women, I learned at an early age that I “needed” a purse for all the little things I “might” need during any given time away from the house. It’s ingrained in me to carry one.

When I go to work, it stays locked away from prying eyes until I leave. So why do I bother to bring it? Heaven only knows. I don’t even get my wallet out or my checkbook for that matter. I have a little change purse that I carry some cash in, a couple of credit cards, drivers license, and a debit card. That stays in my pocket as well as my keys.

I carry the purse when I go grocery shopping. Again, why? I don’t use a check when I get groceries. I only use the debit card and I don’t subtract my purchases from the checkbook until I get home. That purse stays on my shoulder the entire time and I don’t use it.

I do keep a camera in my purse, but I don’t use that unless I am going someplace specific to take pics. So why is that there?

I’ve come to the conclusion that a purse is an outdated accessory that needs to be relegated to a history museum. I plan on giving mine up. Less possibility of shoulder or back injury or theft. Heaven knows identity theft abounds. But if I don’t carry a purse, then any potential thief won’t have anything to steal.

Maybe you should rethink your purse too.

P.S. Here’s some useful information about what NOT to carry in your purse or wallet.

http://family.wikinut.com/What-Not-to-Carry-in-Your-Wallet-or-Purse/1gmwvi7c/

Cutting My Hair

My hair was down past my waist and today I got it cut short.

There are several reasons why I did this. I’m not a spring chicken any more. Time for the long hair to go. It should be easier to deal with too.

Another reason is it can be used to make wigs for kids who suffer from hair loss due to medical reasons. I sent it to Locks of Love. So I feel good about that.

If any of you out there with long hair are considering cutting it short, please think of donating it to Locks of Love. They do have a website with their address and a donation form you can print out.

Changing Credit Unions, Unintentionally and the So Called Smooth Transition

We have banked at the same credit union for years. And I do mean years. I opened my first account with them when my kids were toddlers and they are now 27 and 30 years old. I even opened accounts for them when they were youngsters and they still have them.

Recently, we were informed that this small local only credit union would soon become part of another larger credit union. We were promised that the transition would be smooth and without much effort on our part.

Well, that was a joke!

First I had to pick up my new ATM debit card. Okay, no problem. Had to run by the CU anyway. Was told that we could activate the card at any ATM with the HONOR logo on January 3. Do you know how many banks/credit unions have the HONOR logo on their ATM’s???? NONE that I could find. I even went to one of their branch CU’s and they didn’t even have it there!

So I called my oldest and asked him what he did. He said to check the back of the card. There was a Cirrus logo on it and to use a bank/CU that had that logo on their ATM. Well I finally found one and activated the card.

Then, I had to check on my direct deposit. Well, thank goodness, that went through without a problem. BUT I was informed that I would have to change account numbers and routing numbers with my employer and any other direct deposits that we have. Also informed that any bills we pay online have to have the new account and routing numbers.

So I spent all of one morning online changing bank names, account and routing numbers. I had worked all night, so by the time I crawled into bed, I had numbers running through my brain even in my dreams.

Then hubby had to change the numbers for his VA check. He was on the phone more than 2 hours before that was accomplished. Next was his SS check. I figured I could do that online. NOT…at least not easily. We needed a passcode to change bank numbers and that would take 15 days or longer to get one in the mail. Our next best option was a trip downtown to the SS office. I was dreading that. It usually takes several hours to get anything done there and I really hate waiting. But, surprise, surprise. It took less than an hour.

This smooth transition was definitely a joke. But it is almost done. I still have to change things with my employer, but can’t do that until Monday.

Sad thing is we didn’t initiate this change, the CU did. They could have made it easier for us, but no use crying over spilled milk. What’s done is done.

Christmas at Oldest Son’s House

We had our Christmas at my oldest son’s apartment and it was great! He cooked all the food, except for the pies and truffles that I brought over. We watched a few movies and opened our gifts.

We got together and got my youngest son a PS3 and a couple of games. He knew absolutely nothing about it. It was the highlight of the get together to see the look on his face.

Oldest handed him a couple of small packages. He opened them thinking they were dvd’s but they were PS3 games. He looks up and says, “But I don’t have a PS3 player.” That’s when we all laughed and oldest opened the closet with the wrapped PS3 player in it. He was really surprised.

Of course, he says he will get even with us next year, LOL! I don’t think he can top that. It was just too much fun surprising him.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hope your day is blessed.

Twisted Ribbon Ball Ornaments Tutorial

I wanted to make something quick as gifts for the folks I work with. I began playing around with some ribbon and styrofoam balls. This tutorial is what I came up with.

Supplies:

2.5 – 3 inch diameter styrofoam balls
2.5 inch wide ribbon, about 10-12 feet per ball (I used wired ribbon as that is what I had on hand)
Dressmaker pins approximately 1 1/4 inch long (lots of them!)
Paper flowers (as used in scrapbooking)
8/0 seed beads (again something I had on hand)
Cord or thin ribbon for the hanger about 10 inches long for each ornament

Fold the end of the ribbon and pin it to the ball. I used the ribbon straight from the roll.

Twist the ribbon and begin wrapping in a spiral fashion around the ball. Pin as you go. Try to hide the pins in a fold of the ribbon. Push them in tightly. You may want to use a little Elmers glue on the tip of the pin. I did not use glue.

Continue twisting the ribbon and wrapping and pinning around the ball until you have covered the ball. Cut the ribbon and fold the end over and pin it down.

Cut a piece of cord or thin ribbon about 10 inches long. Fold in half and tie an overhand knot.

Pin cord to one end of the ball. Trim the ends.

Choose a paper flower. Load a seed bead on to a pin and attach flower to top of ball, covering the trimmed ends of the cord.

Viola! You’re done!

Thought I would add some pics of some finished ornaments for you.

Angel Doll Tutorial

Pattern:

http://judisdolls.com/napkindoll/index.html

Download and print pattern.

Supplies:

Sewing machine

Thread

Scissors (very sharp)

Upholstery thread

Yarn (Hair)

Rubberbands (hair)

Pigma Pens or marking pens or paint or embroidery floss

(facial expression)

Air erase marking pen (the purple one used in quilting)

2 large eyed needles

2 tiny buttons

2 Pieces of Felt (shoes)

Embroidery Floss or yarn (shoe lacings)

Hemostats (clamps for stuffing/holding thread in place)

Knitting needle or long dowel (for stuffing doll legs/arms)

Fiberfill

Muslin (doll body)

Fat quarter (doll dress)

Scrap fabric (dress facing)

1 chenille stem/pipe cleaner Gold (halo)

2 1/2 wide wired ribbon (wings)

Pins (holding fabric/body parts together)

Cut out the body, legs, hands and feet. Tape the leg section to the body section matching the little triangles and tape the hand section to the arm section . Do NOT tape the feet to the leg section. They will be easier to do the darts if they are kept separate.

Place the body section on the fold of the muslin. Draw around it with the air erase pen. Cut out approximately 1/4 inch from the drawn lines. You will need two body sections.

Do the same for the feet…draw around the pattern and cut our 1/4 inch away from the drawn line.

You will need to cut our 4 feet sections….a top and a bottom for each foot. Again draw around the pattern and cut 1/4 inch away from the line. Separate each foot so that you can mark the darts.

Using a piece of foam, pin the pattern to one of the feet. Place straight pins in each end of the top foot dar(the horizontal one) and the middle of the dart.

I know it’s difficult to see in this photo, you will be able to see it better in the vertical dart photos.

Gently lift the end of the paper pattern and make a dot with your air erase pen at the first pin you come to. Remove the pin and lift the pattern a little more. This should reveal the two end pins. Make a dot at each of these sites and then remove the pins. Do the same for the final pin.

You will need two foot sections marked with a horizontal dart (the top one on the pattern). These will be the tops of your dolls feet.

Mark the bottom dart the same way. Place the pattern over a foot section (one that has no marking on it) and place pins in the end and middle of the vertical dart. Lift the pattern and make a dot at each pin site.

Sew the darts:

For the top foot sections fold the top of the foot down, matching the dots. Sew from dot to dot, a half moon shape.

Sew the top foot sections to one body and the bottom foot sections to the other body.

Mark a straight line, about 2 – 3 inches on the back body section, the one with the verticle dart in the foot. Sew a rectangle around this line 1/4 inch away from the line on all sides. Use a very tiny stitch length.

Pin, right sides together. You will probably have to manipulate the fabric at each foot so that it fits together correctly.

Sew all around using a 1/4 inch seam and a tiny stitch length. Clip all curves almost to the stitching line. Trim the corners at the neck at an angle. Don’t forget to clip between the thumb and hand and the crotch area. Turn right side out with the use of your hemostats.

Stuff the doll body firmly with fiber fill. Use your dowel or knitting needle or hemostats. Use small amounts of fiber at a time. This will keep the doll from being lumpy.

Sew the opening closed using upholstery thread. Put your needle in the fabric just beyond the stitching around the opening.

This is the finished body.

This is a video tutorial on how to sew a dart. This particular dart is straight, wide end to pointed end, on a skirt. But this may help you if you have never sewn any darts before.

Now for the head.

Place your pattern on two layers of muslin. Trace around it with the air erase pen. Cut out about 1/4 inch away from the drawn line.

Take one head and place over your pattern. You can trace the facial expression using pigma pens, or markers or an ordinary pencil if you want to embroider or paint the face on.

I used pigma pens in black for the eyes, brown for the eyebrows, peach for the nose and red for the mouth.

With right sides together sew the head pieces together leaving an opening at the top. Stuff the head firmly making sure you have stuffed the ears too.

Almost forgot, before turning your doll’s head right side out, clip all curves.

Fold the top in about 1/4 inch and sew a running stitch (using upholstery thread) all the way around. Pull as tight as you can. You may have to use your hemostats to hold the thread tight while you knot it off.

Sew a “C” in each ear so that it gives shape to the ear.

Attach the head to the neck. Pin the head to the neck at ear level. Hand sew the head to the neck.

Now for the hair.

I used a 12 1/2 inch quilt ruler to wrap the sock yarn around. I wrapped until the width of the hair was approximately 4 inches wide.

On a sheet of paper, mark a 4 inch wide section.

Take the yarn off the ruler and lay it on the paper, between your two marks. Tape the ends down.

Now take your paper and yarn to your sewing machine and sew a line down the center of the yarn. Remove the tape and paper after you have sewn your line.

You will have to be careful so that the yarn does not get caught on your presser foot. Sew a straight line.

Place the hair on your doll’s head. Make sure the back of the hair covers the head/neck join. Hand sew in place. Make two pigtails and use rubber bands to secure.

Sew a few extra strands at the front for the bangs.

You will need front and back dress pieces. Then you will cut out two dress facings from scrap fabric.

Fold the fat quarter as shown above. Then place your pattern pieces on the fold of the fabric and cut them out. A 1/4 inch seam allowance is already included in the dress pattern.

You will have front and back pieces to your dress.

Now you will need to cut out two dress facings. Fold the scrap fabric as shown and cut out your two dress facing pieces on the fold of the fabric. Sew a 1/4 inch hem in the dress facing pieces.

With right sides together, place a dress facing on a dress piece. Pin in place. Sew from armhole edge up and around the dress strap, around neckline and back down to armhole edge. Do the same for the other dress pieces.

Clip all curves. Turn right side out using your hemostats. Iron the dress piece flat.

With right sides together, sew the two dress pieces together down the sides. Also sew a 1/4 inch hem in the bottom of the dress.

You will need to determine which side you want to be the front. On the front straps sew a small button hole and on the back straps sew tiny buttons.

The underwear/pantaloons you have made before. Place pattern on double layer fabric (right sides together). Cut out. Sew sides and crotch are, clip to corners at crotch area. Hem waist and legs. You will add yarn or embroidery thread later to gather waist area.

The shoes are a little difficult. You have to manipulate the pieces and pin to the bottom of the shoe. Sew the black felt curved pieces to the pink felt shoe back and top.

I pinned the back part of the shoe on first, then sewed it to the bottom. Then I pinned the front part to the shoe bottom and sewed it. I used pinking shears to trim around the base of the shoe. Then I turned it right side out.

I added lacing by using a long piece of sock weight yarn with a needle at both ends. They served as the stiff end pieces to shoe laces when lacing shoes. It was just easier for me to do it that way. I removed the needles and left the yarn long until after I had put the shoes on the doll and tied a bow with a double knot. Then I trimmed the lacing.

If you do not want to tackle making shoes, you may be able to buy them at JoAnn’s or Hobby Lobby or a toy store that sells doll clothing.

To make the wings, cut 2 strips of wired ribbon, 2 1/2 inches wide. These strips should be approximately 17 inches long. Twist them together in the center, and angle them downward. Trim the ribbon at an angle with the longer point/side being on the outer edge of the ribbon.

Sew them to the back of your doll.

To make the halo, bend one end of your gold pipecleaner in a circle and twist end to secure. Then bend the long end downward. Insert this into the hair at the back of the head. Trim the bottom of the pipecleaner and bend the end up just a little.

That’s it!

You are all done with your angel. You can use her in your holiday decorating scheme or add her to a wreath.

Thanks to Judi’s Dolls Free Projects for the pattern.

Angel Doll

This is my latest creation. She is a large doll, about 30 inches tall. I used muslin for the body, felt for the shoes, a fat quarter for the dress with scrap fabric for the dress facing, some scrap fabric for the underwear, sock weight yarn for the hair and shoe lacings, pigma pens for the facial expressions, 2 1/2 inch wide wired ribbon for the wings and a gold pipe cleaner/chenille stem for the halo.

The pattern can be found here:

http://judisdolls.com/specials.html

There are no instructions, so you must know something about sewing and doll construction. It is a free pattern.

Two Guys, A Roof and a Dog

Our roof has had a leak for awhile now. But we finally got all the supplies needed to repair it…shingles, plywood, roofing paper, nails, staples, sealant, and time.

Hubby and oldest got an early start, first ripping off the old shingles and tar paper. Then inspecting the plywood to see what needed replacing. While this was going on the dog was crying. The guys were outside WITHOUT her. She couldn’t stand it. Finally, I let her out for a bit. I got tired of the crying. Of course, that didn’t stop her from crying. They were up on the roof where she couldn’t get to them. She ran around the yard looking up every few minutes and crying. Poor baby!

During all this I was the gopher, getting them things they needed….staple guns, broom, caulking gun. Now the funny part to this was getting the items up to them. You see, I’m afraid of heights! There was no way I was climbing that ladder. So I threw them the items they needed. I am in no way a champion pitcher. Couldn’t hit a window with a brick unless I was standing 6 inches away from it. So it naturally took several tries before I actually got the items they needed up to the roof to them. And my guys know me all too well. They know my aim is “less than perfect”. So naturally they did not try to catch what I was throwing in their direction. Self preservation dictated that they stand as far back as possible and let the most recently needed item land where it may. Thankfully none of the items hit them. They did giggle and snicker quite a bit at my attempts. “Revenge” flickered across my mind more than once. But I’m sure I will have my payback day. hehehe

After all was said and done, the roof has new plywood and tar paper. The shingles will be put on today. I’m sure they will need more stuff tossed to them from this “world class pitcher”. We’ll see how it goes.