Fabric Tablecloths

For years I have used a plastic tablecloth purchased by the yard at Jo-Ann Fabrics. It worked very well, but stained very easily.

A couple of years ago I found a fabric tablecloth at a thrift store for a dollar. It was the first time I ever considered using one and was amazed at how much I liked using it and how easy it was to keep clean.

 Finding a used tablecloth for a good price has been a fun challenge. The cheapest one I've found to date, was 75-cents at a garage sale. It is a blue cotton gingham with large print and the fabric has a nice body.

Recently I was shopping at the thrift store and came across this maroon cotton gingham shower curtain that was just like my blue tablecloth. It was under 2-dollars, so I decided to buy it in hopes of making it into a tablecloth.

 After measuring, I noticed the shower curtain was too wide on the long side of my table and too short on the end. After trimming off the sides, I added this extra fabric to the ends, even though it was impossible to match the plaid stripes, and now I have another tablecloth.

An added bonus to using a shower curtain for a tablecloth? I now have a dozen very nice clear buttons for a future sewing project!

 The same day I found the shower curtain, I also found a cherry print tablecloth trimmed in red gingham.

It was way too long for my table, so I simply folded, stitched, trimmed and top stitched one side. 

 

This one just may be my new favorite.

While searching for a tablecloth big enough to fit my table, I am buying anything that is too small and turning them into more kitchen towels (like these).

The striped towels were a round tablecloth and the rust colored towels were a small rectangle. Both of these tablecloths were purchased at different places and on different days, so it was exciting to discover they coordinated very well.

Pencil Bag

This year I bought a fun adult coloring book planner.

 Not wanting to carry around my colored pencils in the plastic box, I decided to make a pencil bag.

 After digging in my scraps, I chose a Joel Dewberry fabric.

 My bag is lined inside with a black and white damask fabric about the weight of upholstery fabric.

The pencils fit perfectly inside; including the pencil sharpener.

 

The whole bag fits nicely in my purse.

Now I'm ready to color anytime I need something productive to do while out and about.

Fred and Barney

Meet Fred and Barney, two adorable Chihuahua puppies that have stolen our hearts.

We lost their mother, Penny, a few days after they were born. Apparently she had another puppy that didn't come out and by the time we got her to the vet, it was too late.

 Fred, the bigger puppy, and Barney, the smaller puppy, love each other and we are so grateful they are both alive. We spent many, many hours feeding them and almost lost Barney several times.

They are now 5-weeks old and so far it looks like they are going to be okay!