Our local quilt shop & quilt guild like many places all over the country have gotten many requests for face masks. I was apprehensive since these don't compare to the N95 masks that are needed to defend against Coronavirus. Then I personally got a request from an assisted living facility that simply needed to protect residents against the flu still going around and now pollen. I didn't have enough elastic for 150 masks so I needed to make ties. In researching I found the ties are preferred for long term wear. I also discovered many like different fabrics on each side so they can remember which is outside/inside. With my arthritis, turning a 9×6" rectangle inside out becomes painful after a while. So even though there are 100s of patterns, tutorials & videos out there, here is my tutorial with a few more tips to make the process faster and easier to handle. And besides, wouldn't it be a lot more fun wearing these than those boring blue masks? And they're washable for personal use & not disposable. So if you are lucky to be stuck home, dust off that machine and I've made both 9x7 and 9x6. Can't tell any difference. Turn inside out Press seams flat Fold along seam lines Press Each crease line line will be pulled up half way to next crease line. Stitch down pleats with 1/8 " seam on each end. Ties Cut in straight of grain, not bias. Easier to manage and they're not being sewn on a curve. Plus, it saves fabric. Meet edges to center to fold into 1/4 and press. You can press entire tie half then meet center to help fold. I eventually was able to hand fold as machine pulled the tie through. I did press in the beginning end to help start. Stitch right side of center of a tie to pleated end on the INSIDE with 1/4 inch seam. (Note you do see a bias seam in my tie because I had to piece fabric together to acquire needed length.) I love, love my edge stitch foot to sew the ties. Makes for super fast work. I hand tucked edges to center by pulling the tie taut and then folding in half. More info on EDGE STITCHING FOOT. After making about 20 of these, I found out I could save about 5 minutes and my fingers on each by not tying knots. Instead, press in the end on each end. No frayed ends visible. I also have requests from family and friends for 6 more. I see I hear people are dusting off their machines to help this cause. So think about it, some folks have a need just for standard masks. I simply remind them DO NOT let these give you a false sense of hope in defending yourself against COFID-19. *********

This song bird design has become a very useful card. It fits just about any occasion. This was my daughter's birthday card this year. This has become a favorite card to make, because the bird is so simple to cut from any scrap of fabric. What other quick design could be used? I'm looking for a new idea. Especially a scrappy one. Think about it.

Learn the antidotes to the four horsemen when to use them below. Luckily, for every Horseman of the Apocalypse, there is an antidote.

This is actually a tutorial, but I thought it belonged on Thoughtful Thursday and especially before Valentine's Day. You might like to have a thoughtful moment and make one of these as well with your fabric scraps? This site was discovered last summer on a quilting site found via www.quilterblogs.com . Its called "I Found a Quilted Heart". On their site you can find the history of the idea, the directions, the tags to print, the site where founders of hearts report their discovery and other info. Here is my process using the "Bottom of the Barrel" technique to make this quilted scrap heart. Note: I've applied my blog to the Quilter Blogs site probably 50 times? Still no approval. I've made sure my feed is working. Anyone have tips on how to become a part of that group? ****************** Tutorial ****************** Here is the fabric I made, following the procedure @ Bottom of the Barrel Gift Tag: Method 2. A paper heart for a pattern was cut freehand from scraps. Remember to think about seam allowance when making pattern. Not enough to make the back side of the heart. So I took the scraps cut off and sewed onto main piece to be big enough for another heart cut out. For the hanging loop I cut a piece about 4 inches long. Folded the end in then the long sides folded to the middle and folded in half again to meet long folded edge being sure to fold in the other end before top stitching along edge to end. Like I did for the face masks. Pin on an upper corner of the heart. If sewn in the middle, you won't be able to turn the "V" shaped curve. I place double pins to remind me where to stop and start to leave an opening to turn the heart inside out. Clip curves. I used a scrap piece of blanket to cut up to stuff the inside of the heart. A little decorative embroidery hand stitching was done to close a hole. A note when/if you print the tags. Be sure to print in Landscape view. The tags will be too small if printed in portrait view. It probably says this somewhere and I didn't follow directions? I started to punch a hole and decided because of weather, to directly stitch the tag to the loop. I also added another string to make hanging somewhere a bit easier. I hung the Quilted Heart on a tree about 24 hours ago. It's already gone! I hope it made someone's day. I'd love to know their thoughts. I hope they post their thoughts on https://www.ifoundaquiltedheart.com/ You can also do a search for "I Found a Heart" on Facebook where some foundings have been reported. Maybe you now have thoughts of making a heart? Mon Memory 128~100% Waste Free Heart for IFAQH

The Mug Organizer has been very popular. There was a question about the measurements in the example I gave. Turns out the example needed to be corrected, while yet the dimensions in the picture were correct. That information on that post has now been updated. Recently, I made another mug organizer and realized, as did a reader, that apparently there is a standard size for mugs. So I thought I'd give the standard measurements here so there is no calculating involving or trying to understand my calculations. This post also includes yardage instructions. ************************* This project is great for scraps as you see I have done. Only 5 pieces needed. Your quick reference guide. In original directions it said to fold the pieces in half 3 times which would divide the pieces into 4 sections. Not true. It will be 8 sections. However, you can change pocket sizes if needed, but be aware the pockets shouldn't be so wide they will gap open. Since I didn't have a selvage edge for the ties like I did with the original Mug Organizer, I did a double fold. The edge stitching foot was really helpful. After you have cut the ties piece into 4 equal sections, this would be the placement for the standard mug. *1 inch from bottom and *Just above the outside pocket ************** Now let's get even a bit more simple with the cutting. My friend found out the "outside pocket" unit can be used for the inside. If you have yardage, this could be a quick simple cut. You need 29 inches of yardage. Sorry it can't be 3/4 of a yard. Save the extra 1 inch piece for a tie for another mug organizer. Also, save the 11" piece of folded fabric for another mug organizer. It should be 8½" long. The inside pockets work out just fine. Still room in the very center for your pencil trimmer. The following were shots sent to me by my new friend that gave the tip to use the same pocket unit for the inside. She also had the great idea to make the organizer a bit reversible by using a different fabric for the other pocket unit. Love the blue and yellow together. Reversible! Thank-you Sandy! ************************************* Can you name someone who could not use one of these in some way? Desk, sewing, school, carpenter bench, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom........... Remember if you have a different size mug, or another container use the generic measurements on the Original Post. More Mug Organizers Go find those mugs you don't use anymore, or even consider using a tin can. Have fun using those scraps. *********************** ********************************************** Sharing at several Linky Parties. Adding these Linky Parties this week: Trash to Treasures Thanks to the FREE program Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo & other alterations to pictures.

Writing has been a tool that I have always used to help manage my depression and anxiety. Here are 50 journal prompts for depression and anxiety.