Clothespin Bag Upcycle

Now that I have my own washing machine and clothesline, I've really been needing an easy to use clothespin bag. (The basket I was using was pretty inconvenient.)

I began searching through my stash of material until a light bulb turned on. I remembered this very unflattering blouse that I had just recently tagged and sent to the yard sale pile. I loved the print, but it just didn't work as a shirt. It had the potential to become the perfect clothespin bag! 

I pulled it from the yard sale pile with hopes of redeeming it once more.

With a little cutting here and stitching there it was transformed in no-time!

After searching through my button collection I found some matching buttons, adding the final touch.

It's nice to wear something cheerful and pretty, even when you're hanging clothes on the line!

Happy laundering!

~Clair M.

Soap Bag // DIY

My Husband had a soap bag growing up, and I've been meaning to make one since we've been married. They cut down on soap waste because #1 they hang instead of sit in a puddle of water in the shower and #2 they make using up soap bits and pieces so easy! After 3 1/2 years I'm finally getting around to it! It was super easy to whip out and I actually made three of them in no time. This project should take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes.

>< Soap Bag // DIY ><

Supplies: mesh material of some kind (I salvaged my material from a broken laundry sorter that I was throwing away. Think outside the box!)/ sewing machine/ thread/ scissors/ cord of some kind (it could be a shoe lace, pretty ribbon, etc. I crocheted a chain from cotton yarn)/ safety pin/ bead

Step One: Cut a rectangle roughly double the size of the bar of soap you will be using. (Refer to photo #1) (Err on the side of generosity at this point. If the finished product is slightly large that is perfectly fine, but if it's too small it will be useless.)

Step Two: Fold in half. (Refer to photo #2)

Step Three: Sew along the bottom and side. (Refer to photos #3 and #4) 

Step Four: While still inside out fold down approximately 1 inch. and sew for a casing. (Refer to photo below.) Be sure not to sew completely around, but leave a small opening for the drawstring.

Step Five: Attach the safety pin to the cord and thread through casing. Slide on the bead and tie a not in the ends of your cord. 

There you have it! Just five simple steps and voila', you have your very own soap bag!

Enjoy!

~Clair

A Washing Machine and a Clothes Line!

After nearly three and a half years of washing our clothes in my mother-in-love's washing machine (bless her heart!),  and vainly attempting to fix two other washers, I now have my own washing machine!

And.....

A GIGANTIC new clothes line!

As you can tell, I'm pretty excited!

What better location for a clothes line?

I have the best Husband! He always provides me with the things that I need. All week I've been enjoying washing laundry with my washing machine (that he fixed), and line drying our clothes. It is such a blessing to not have to leave the house to wash laundry. Thanks Mom and Dad M., for letting us use your washing machine for three years!

How has God blessed you lately through your Husband?

~Clair

From the Pages of My Life

    July 5, 2013    Friday 6:25 p.m.

    I can't believe that it is July!

    We've had a great Summer so far. In June we swam in the pond a lot, the weather was very mild, and Music Camp at Oil Belt Christian Service Camp went well. Trey led the String Ensemble again this year. He arranged two songs; Cambridge Short/Montgomery Medley (two very old songs from the 1500's) and Like a Lion, a contemporary song by David Bashta. They were both so good! Several people commented that it was the best String Ensemble so far! I was so proud of Trey and all of his hard work. Music camp was just another opportunity to serve the Lord!

String Ensemble

Choir

     July slipped in without much of an announcement until the 4th. We had a great Independence Day, celebrating the birth of our Country!

We've been busy, busy, but a good and productive kind of busy.

                                                                      ~Clair

Fun on the 4th!

We spent most of the day together at home, working on projects of various kinds. I love it when Trey is home working on outside projects while I'm inside cooking or doing something creative. It is so comforting to know that he is right outside and I can take him a glass of iced sweet tea, ask him a question,  (or run out and steal a kiss!). I love working on projects together, but there is something so peaceful knowing we are accomplishing the things that we each need to do individually, yet we are so close to one another. 

After supper we hopped into the car and headed to our little hometown for the grand finale of our day...

FIREWORKS!

I assumed that we would be meeting up with my in-loves and  packed enough snacks to share with everyone.

We parked just in time to get settled before the first burst of light filled the sky. I think fireworks are so beautiful!

What better way to end such a wonderful day than to lean back against my Husband on the hood of our car while watching fireworks on Independence day and singing patriotic songs!

America is a GREAT place to live!!!

~Clair

Happy Independence Day!

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their plows but to secure liberty for their souls

 ~Robert J. McCracken

I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery. 

 ~Author Unknown

May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country! 

 ~Daniel Webster

Have a Happy Independence Day everyone!

Clair