Laundry Thankfulness

Two Little Girls...



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I get fed up with some of the laundry. Maybe frugality can be carried too far. Or maybe being 'green' can be carried too far. Maybe it is because homeschoolers don't have to go buy "school clothes" every year at a set time. My grandparents went through the Great Depression-- I have inherited the "scotch thrift." Whatever reason, the clothing around my house stays around my house until it is completely worn out, and cannot be patched or revised or borne any further. 
I found myself today almost singing over a package of new socks, and they weren't even for me! The song went something like 
"Oh, I don't have to wash 
those old crummy socks 
any mo-re! 
I can put them 
in the gar-bage!"
That's right; I can now toss those socks that retained their "new" look for only  a few days before they became encrusted in dirt that never, ever let go!

But that is not to say I throw everything out when it is time to, oh no. I actually look at the fraying, beaded up knit shirt to see if there is something I can salvage from it. Most likely it will become a rag. Anything that cannot become a scrap, or a rag, can also be given to someplace that takes fabric for recycling. Still, I am sooo happy when I can finally say goodbye to something worn out, and replace it with something soft and new! Perhaps it sounds trivial, but since everyone on earth has to (or at least ought to!) wash clothing, is there anything wrong with finding something in it to sing about?

Teacup Thursday: Golden

Today for Teacup Thursday, I have to show you a very rich and elegant looking gold-encrusted tea cup and saucer.

A rose graces the inside of the cup, and underneath on the saucer as well. 

The marking gives no company name, just letters and numbers. I wonder where it came from, and if it could be part of a bigger set?
Joining Teacup Thursday

Child's Church Bag

By our Sewing Room Editor, Miss Thread

Using some scraps of coordinating quilter's fabric, I made up a quick bag for a child to take to church. I enjoyed utilizing decorative stitches on the sewing machine when hemming and top stitching. 

It is just the right size to hold a notebook and a small Bible, and has a pocket that serendipitously turned out to be just the right size for a box of crayons. 

This is the back. The bag construction is loosely based on these wall pockets which I enjoy making (if you have a sewing notebook, print the tutorial out and put it in there!). I was going on the size of my scraps so mine is smaller, has no lining, and I added two handles. 

Shopping Observed

This may not be true for all, but it is for some I know!

Guys out shopping:

"May as well get what we need while we're here" 

They proceed to put it two or more of everything, 

so they won't have to come back in a long time

(they do that with groceries, too, on a bigger scale). 

Two big packs of socks, 

two shirts the same style, same color, 

two pants the same color, 

etc. 

One trip to big store in town= maybe a couple gallons of gas.

Gals out shopping:

"Oh dear, I'd better not spend all that money;

 I should be frugal;

 I'll go home and think about it." 

They drive home,

think about whether they really need it or not, 

go back the next day to take another look. 

Can't make a decision.

Go home to think about it some more. 

Go back again and buy the item, 

but only one. 

Then after a week of wearing it or living with it, they say "I think I may get another..." 

Drive back to the store to see if there are any left.

Buy one in a different color. 

Four (or more) trips to big store in town= empty gas tank.