Camera Strap for My Nikon D90

I found this cute little tutorial on Pinterest.

(CLICK HERE) for the tutorial.

It was really easy, I made it in a little under an hour.

I did it in the usual FLYLADY WAY:  15 minutes sewing, 15 minutes cleaning.

Here are some hints I would use the next time I make one.

1.  Make a pattern first.  I do NOT sew, so I do not have the fancy cutting boards, etc.  Plus, it will make the next strap so much easier.

2.  Use FUSIBLE batting.  I did not.  Mine rolled a little.  I might even sew top stitching the length of the strap to give it that quilted look.

3.  The pocket was too small for my lens.  :(  I guess I would have to measure my lens to make sure I made the strap a little wider for the lens pocket.

4.  Use contrasting fabric for the pocket.  I did NOT do this and think it

would look so much cuter.

5.  Use "attaching a camera strap the Nikon way" video on YouTube so you

don't have little strap flaps.  It really makes me look like I know what I am doing.

Thank you Little Big Girl Studio for the great tutorial!!!!

Total Project Cost = $2.00

My 15 Minute Dress....Simplicity 2591, Recycled.

A few weeks ago, I embarked on an adventure of sewing....not to mention
that I've only sewed using a pattern ONE time in my life...and that was back
when I was a freshman in high school.
To read about dress #1, CLICK HERE.
To see dress #2, CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom of the post.
Dress #1 cost $30.00
Dress #2 cost $5.00 because it was vintage material. 4 1/2 yds. $2.00.
Keep reading to find out about the cost of dress #3.

I like going to thrift stores for sheets to use on my west facing patio....I use them for curtains.
After making my first dress, I began to see the sheets as DRESSES....GO FIGURE.
I found this lovely sheet for a whopping #1.00!
I already had the pattern & thread....just needed a zipper.
I did read where a lady chose not to use the zipper and it worked out fine for her....I however, was not that brave.

I really liked the pink trim....and that got me to thinking that it would really look nice on the bottom of the dress.
Of course I worried about it making the dress look more like a dress made from a sheet....
I threw caution to the wind....and used the trim....

Here is what it would sort of look like without the trim....

A close up of the fabric pattern....there are pink flowers...the picture makes it look like just green leaves.

TA DAH!!! Here is Plus Size Polly modeling the finished dress!

The adorable fabric flowers are really just pins I got on clearance and can be removed and used elsewhere.....

I have to share this bit of 411 I learned about my sewing dummy...the more I work with it, the more I learn about her secret gadgets.
I was desperate to stick the pins in the pin cushion...but it was too far away....
so, I stabbed them in right there....
GUESS WHAT?
It is really meant for that....oh how handy!!!
Yah, keep laughing...remember I DO NOT SEW!!

So, what did you think? Does it look like a sheet? Oh well, it only cost me $3.00 to make....YES! $3.00 whole dollars.....I did it in less than 8 hours.

The reason I call it a 15 minute dress is because I worked on it 15 minutes at a time. I set the timer for 15 minutes and cleaned something in my house...when the timer went off, I reset it for 15 minutes and would sew. I did this ALL DAY and just about finished the dress in ONE DAY. Not to mention, the house got a really good cleaning that day....I cleaned out an entire room.
I got the timer idea from The Flylady...ever heard of her? www.flylady.net
Try it and tell me it doesn't work!!!

A Little Thriftin' Brings Simple Summer Joys!

This picture is for the college girl...

I thought she would like this dress and I can't show it

to her unless I post it on her Facebook page or on my blog.

I decided on the blog because...well, I haven't posted

in awhile.

I love the extremely retro look of the dress....please note that the model is suffering from a massive sunburn from the holiday weekend. I honestly think the sunscreen companies are putting less protection in their products, because if we don't reapply every HOUR, we get burned. Has anyone else noticed this?

Back to the dress, can't you just see a cute little can-can under it???

Add a cute pair of white sandals...some very retro sunglasses...oh why wasn't it in my size....sigh...

Anyhow, a college gal who enjoys dresses would really love this and could pull

off the look and not look weird....I know she could.
The dress was a whopping $2.00 and it is HOMEMADE!

This beautiful basket was $3.50!

Won't this make a wonderful market basket?

The handle is very sturdy and thick....I can load this baby up and

no problems!

Say "HI" to Daisy Doodle! For some reason, she is so much less camera shy

since I've started blogging.....

Get ready....Here is the next item....
Here is the PURPLE RIBBON of BARGAINS!!
A malt machine!! I made a very quick run through a thrift store
that is mostly clothes....one thing I've learned about thrifting is be consistent
about going to them so you can spot something new when it comes in.
I stopped and automatically hit the shelves that are around the perimeter of the room.
As I walked toward the shelf, I noticed something yellow.....way to the back of a shelf. I got closer....
I bent down....
Ok, I actually got on one knee...
I moved three bulky items....
It was then, that I heard the chorus of angels...really, I did....
they had music playing on the radio....
IT WAS A MALT MAKER!!!
Either I let out a little squeal or someone stepped on a squeaky toy!



It isn't a heavy duty one...not like the ones in the restaurants....but it is YELLOW and retro.....HAVE YOU SEEN MY KITCHEN??? It is YELLOW and RETRO!!
I plugged it in to make sure I wasn't getting excited over nothing.....
It took a bit to figure out the safety feature on it....then it WHIRRRRRRED.
WOOHOOOOO!


Soooo, I did the next expected thing.....
I TWEETED & FACEBOOKED about my FIND!
When my friend, Brownie, who has been looking for one also found out....
she text me and said.....and I quote, "I HATE YOU."
Yes, my friends....sometimes finding a bargain means you have to
lose some friendships!
Seriously, all was made good, when Mr. Manly Man made some after dinner shakes! Did I mention that "hates me now" friend is lactose intolerant???
Also, I think we found her one on Craigslist for $10.00 if I hear back from them...
Malt Maker....$3.00!!


I have a feeling I had better keep an ample supply of ice cream around this summer....He is the MASTER of the MALT SHOPPE!!

Even "SUNBURNED" gal said it cooled the burning.... :)

I am Getting a TRICKED OUT Name Tag!

I have a friend who says I remind him of FLO, from the Progressive Insurance commercials. He (he being the one I can't put pictures of on here anymore due to someone might RECOGNIZE him...hint, he did my spoons on my cabinets) said the one where she has the tricked out name tag....

So, Magpie Ethel made me one!!

I sent her a picture....she altered her stuff and TA DAHHH..

I now have a tricked out name tag!

Thanks, Magpie Ethel!

Stop by and take a look at her BLOG or even her ETSY shop.

Oh, and don't forget to drool over her fridge and stove....I stop by just to say hi to them...the fridge and the stove, yes, you read that correctly.

Homemade Fire Pit for Practically NOTHING

For at least 2 years, I've been pestering my husband to make a simple fire pit in the backyard. I just wanted to sit around a fire in the cool evenings and RELAX.

Our backyard faces the west and we see some beautiful sunsets.

Back in November, we visited a cousin who had a simple one in their backyard.

This finally inspired my husband!

I knew I needed an edge in the ground or our lovely dogs would think we just started a hole for them to continue until they found China.

My husband can weld, so he checked prices of metal.....OUCH!

So, I did the next best redneck thing.....TRACTOR WHEEL!

Thanks to Dennis for finding us a super cheap ($24.00) NEW rim....hee hee...heard it even has a warranty. Think if it burns, it will count in the warranty?

We live near a lake. People who build their homes near the lake have ROCKS...a lot of rocks free for the picking.

So, we headed to the nearest "pick your own" rocks place...aka Shorty and Angie's and picked our rocks.

I really need to start drawing my ideas, because no one really understood how simple I was trying to make this fire pit. They thought I was going to make an elaborate patio of rocks.....I THINK NOT!

They thought we wanted BOULDERS...which they would have gladly supplied.

I just wanted platter sized rocks to "hide" the redneck tractor rim that was sticking up out of the ground.

Did I mention that we pretty much dug the hole deep enough to fit TWO rims in?

So, we got to add the dirt back.

We have had terrible wind conditions lately.....we had to seize the moment of no wind before we could start a fire!

We left a birthday party early just so we could rush home and see if the fire pit would work....

IT WORKED!

We made S'mores!

LIFE IS GOOD!

Are You Looking for a VINTAGE Refrigerator?

I am soooo excited to show this to you....

While at the Oklahoma City Stockshow which lasts THE ENTIRE SPRING BREAK, I take some ME time and head to the wonderful area antique shops.

A blog friend, OKLACOOKIEMAKERQUILTS, turned me on to this WONDERFUL DIVE!

THE RINK in Bethany, OK.

As soon as I walked in the door, I fell in LOVE with this 1950's refrigerator!

This thing was in such great shape that I thought it was RETRO!
I think I might have SQUEALED when I opened it!

I didn't even know they had rotating shelves! Why oh why did they ever quit doing that to the refrigerators?

The ONLY thing I could find remotely wrong with this thing was the gasket had some rust and wear from age on it. Seriously, even the warranty book looked NEW....yes, it has the original warranty book with it.

I don't think anyone has ever actually used it!

Does anyone know if these can be re-wired so they don't pull so much electricity?

What was the price on this you ask?

Before I tell you, I must tell you that I would have this pretty baby in my house had I found it 3 years ago!!

It is priced right at $1600.00! Have you looked at the RETRO versions of these?

We are talking $5000.00 and up!

When you enter the store, if you make it beyond the vintage fridge, you will be greeted by these lovely little darlins'! After you run amok like a kid in a candy shop.....looking at the price tags....you discover there are NO price tags!

So, you will find the nice gentleman who knows something about these chairs and tables....then he will ever so sweetly smile, look at the direction of the tables and chairs....I took this tiny opportunity to wipe the drool off my mouth while he wasn't looking at me.....then he says...."Oh, those AREN'T FOR SALE."

WHAT??? Did I actually call him KIND?

Apparently, at some point they are going to have a coffee shop in here...arrrggghhhh!

I started feeling my bottom lip purse....my chin began to quiver....

Quickly, I started batting my eyelashes.....I tilted my head....I turned on the charm!

I was still told NO!! I slumped....I was devastated because LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!

An IDENTICAL match to MY vintage dining chairs!! I found TWO identical matches!!! WAAAHHHH, and they weren't for sale!

Every 5 minutes, I wandered back to just stare at the chairs....

then I would hit on the guy again....

He was still telling me NO!

Finally, he referred me to THE BIG GUY...no, not the "scurty"...

I felt 'pecial.

When I met him, I didn't even say hello, I just blurted out a price for the chairs....

He looked at me, looked at the chairs, looked at me....I think he spotted the tear in my eye....saw my pouty lip....saw I was packing a gun....and said SURE!!!

I AM NOW THE PROUD OWNER OF 2 MORE VINTAGE CHAIRS FOR A TOTAL OF 6 CHAIRS!!!
Click here to see my table and chairs story.

Here are some more pictures of various items in the shop.....

Oh LOOKY!! It is ME! I have a stalker....that is MOM...everyone say HI MOM!

This is daddy-o looking for The Phantom of the Opera book...first edition...'cause he does stuff like that.....even with old man knees!

No, this is not a stove to go with the vintage fridge...it is a TOY!

The prices were really great for quality stuff!!!

A very vintage bubble blowing MONKEY!!!

This is very unusual....I always thought they wore WHITE corduroy jackets....

Yah, an old TV turned into a CAT HOUSE...had this been a dog house, I just might have bought it!!

These are the pictures I am looking for....if you find any for $5.00, give me a holler! I have a sneaky suspicion that they are catching on....hard to find them under $15.00. I do have a budget and won't pay over $5.00 though.

Yep, I would be the proud owner of the cowboy one and the Williamsburg one!

I really LOVED this booth.....

I am looking for a WORKING pink or turquoise phone like this....

Love this coffeepot....unfortunately, I have a really cool one already...had to let this one go.

Lovin' the lamp....and that little radio on the bottom shelf....

Yah, so this picture is about 6-7 ft. tall!

If I hadn't worked so hard on the chairs....I might have worked on this poster....LOVE IT. It is NOT for sale....pftttt....as if!

Gotta love some old finger chopping fans......

Did I tell you I am looking for one of these phones in pink or turquoise?

So, here is where I started my all day search for some gaudy cowboy boots....NONE of them were in my SIZE!!!

...and if you read my previous post, you would know that I found some elsewhere.....and LOVE THEM TOO!!!

Make sure you stop by this place if you are anywhere close to Bethany!!!