Learn How to Make an Artist's Caddy - DIY Travel Project

In today's tutorial we will learn how to make an artist's caddy. It fits a 5” x 8” notepad and 12 pencils. Use it to take with you when you travel for notes, drawing, or anything you can think of. Great for kids and adults alike!

For this project you will need:

*Main fabric 
*Lining fabric 
*Heat 'n Bond Midweight Fusible Interfacing
*Hair tie or elastic for the loop

*Double fold bias tape
*Button with shank

*Marking pencil

*Sewing machine

*Matching thread

*Iron

*Rotary cutter

*Cutting ruler

*Cutting mat

*Scissors

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with the written step by step directions, color photos, and link to the tutorial video. Click to get it now!

Looking for more travel accessories ideas? Check out some of our other projects!

Otherwise, join us while we make this cute artist's caddy!

Learn How to Make a Reversible Apron - a DIY Kitchen Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make our own reversible apron. Get ready for baking, cooking, and BBQ seasons and keep all your supplies handy and close. You can use this apron in the kitchen, classroom or garden!

For this project you will need:

• fat quarters for main fabric and pocket
• fabric for the waistband
• Scissors or pinking shears
• Rotary cutter or scissors, optional pinking shears
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy store as a digital download with the written step by step directions, color photos, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more storage ideas? Check out our other projects here!

 

Otherwise, join us as we make this cute reversible apron!

How To Make Your Own Easter Treat Bags - a DIY Easter Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make these cute little bunny rabbit candy pouches. Print the template right onto paper or fabric and then sew 'em up and stuff them with candies and treats for Easter! They are great for gifts, Easter baskets, and classroom parties! 

For this project you will need:

• cardstock or light colored fabric
• freezer paper if printing on fabric
• ribbon
• printer
• tape
• Scissors or pinking shears
• iron and ironing board for fabric version 
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Template from here

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available as a free PDF digital download with the written step by step directions, color photos, printable bunnies, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for something else? 

Check out some of my other Easter sewing and crafting projects!

Otherwise, you can watch the how to video for directions on how to make the homemade Easter Bunny rabbit candy and treat bags project here:

How To Make Your Own Easter Egg Coasters - a DIY Easter Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to use fabric strips to whip up these quick and easy egg shaped drink coasters. It is a great project for beginners too!

For this project you will need:

• Piece of backing fabric
• Piece of cotton batting
• Contrasting cotton fabric for stripes
• Cotton fabric for top and bottom
• Cotton fabric for middle
• Package of rick rack
• Egg template downloaded from here
• Iron
• Rotary cutter or scissors, optional pinking shears
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Glue stick
• Template from pattern 

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy store as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for something else? 

Check out some of my other Easter sewing and crafting projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make these cute Easter egg coasters for spring!

How to Make Your Own Fabric Carrots - a DIY Easter Project

In today's tutorial, we will learn how to make our own fabric carrots for Easter. If you are looking for homemade spring sewing or crafting project ideas to brighten up your home? Then this project is for you! 

For today's fabric carrot project you will need:

• Pieces of fabric for the carrot 
• Green fabric for the leaves
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Hand needle, Matching thread OR jute
• Template from pattern OR your own triangle template

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy store as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable templates, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for something else? 

Check out some of my other Easter sewing and crafting projects!

Otherwise, join us as we make these cute fabric carrots for Easter!

How to Make Your Own Quilted St. Patrick's Day Coasters - a DIY Shamrock Scrap Fabric Project

In today's tutorial we will learn how to make our own quilted St Patrick's Day Coasters. This is an easy and simple way to use up those fabric scraps! Great for beginners, too.

 For this project you will need:

• Cotton backing fabric
• 1"-2" wide fabric strips
• Scrap fabric for the hearts
• Cotton batting
• Iron and ironing board
• Optional glue stick
• Optional walking foot
• Fabric clips or pins
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Printable template from the pattern

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to get it now!

Looking for other  coaster ideas? Check out other projects here!

 

Otherwise, join us as we make these cute St. Patrick's Day coasters!

Disembarkation Day

When I woke up we were already docked in San Francisco with a spectacular sunrise appearing out the door. Thankfully we weren’t in much of a hurry and I was able to be patient enough to see the sun pop over the horizon.

After a leisurely breakfast and some goodbye hugs, we took a taxi to the airport where we sat until our 4:40 flight. We both took little naps in the airport and on the plane (dang those pain meds) and before we knew it we were in Boise. Thankfully we drove to the airport this time so we could get ourselves to Walmart's pharmacy on the very last night they were open until 9. Reduced hours from now on, they say.

As to whether I can travel solo all summer? Guess I have some work (and healing) to do before I’m in a good enough position to decide.

A Couple Sucky Sea Days

Sea Day 1 started here:

Here, in the shower. But more specifically, here on the shower floor. See that little bath mat? See all those marble tiles on the shower floor not covered by the bath mat? Did you know even a tiny bit of soap from your body + a tiny bit of your foot off the tiny little floor mat will make you slip? Slip and fall hard? Oh, yeah. And that water that went every where on the marble bathroom will make it impossible to get up on your own without slipping again? See that red pull cord? You’ll then have to pull it for someone from the ship to come help you. You’ll be naked and wet and embarrassed beyond belief. 

And then you’ll wind up filling out one of these…

And you’ll wind up here with an IV of pain medicine in your arms and pills to pop…

while you are interviewed by a male security officer who asks questions requiring you to share the most intimate details of exactly which body part you were washing when it happened. (And “privates” wasn’t a specific enough answer for him.)

So plenty of ice and pills and more pills has laid me up for two full sea days. No leaving the cabin but for medical appointment. At least the view from my bed on both days were good ones. 

 

There have been a couple crew members who have been helpful during this time, but otherwise I’ve been caught up in a quagmire of excuses and inaction by other personnel that has left me questioning whether I really want to spend 120 days on another Princess ship this summer. It has been a disappointing and frustrating experience. Let’s hope things get better! 

Until Next Time, Cabo

For our last cruise port of Cabo San Lucas I was so very tired I did hardly anything but sleep. Could be my new medications, a stamina issue (vacationing is hard work!), or inconsistent caffeine intake. Or it could be because my days start early on the ship. 

As usual, I was up before sunrise…

and watched as the sun just made its way over the horizon.

Headed to breakfast in Sabatini's for their 7 am opening. (They open at 7:30 on sea days.) Had a bit of food and came right back to the cabin and fell asleep. Woke up at lunch, dealt with a little bit of work stuff, and fell back asleep. And awoke in the afternoon to this view out the door. 

I did force myself to stay awake as we left port before sunset…

and for the whale watching as we made our way out of the area. See you next winter, Cabo!

Searching for Joy in Mazatlan, Mexico

Hello from Mazatlan!

It was almost exactly three years ago on February 18, 2020, when I was last in Mazatlan. We had a day full of conversation and laughter and food and drink. And Jell-O shots and balloon hats. And joy. Pure joy. Life was carefree and fun, and I have a picture to prove it.

A face full of happiness in 2020

Then then the joy was no more. Mazatlan wound up being the last cruise port we visited before Covid shut the industry down. And sent us into our homes. Unfortunately, hubby and I never came back out and have been locked away from the world ever since. Shopping at the mall or grocery store? Amazon and Walmart grocery delivery takes care of that for us. Haircuts? Nope. I use the hair clippers to cut us both short. Going to the movies? Thanks to Netflix we’re just fine in front of our tv. Eating out in restaurants? Not until this week. Which makes this cruise our comeback tour and today's visit to Mazatlan our search-for-joy (and normalcy) day.

In the pre-pandemic years we did a lot of different things in Mazatlan. You can find that blog post here. But today we went to the place that kept us going through Covid, The Green Bar. It was the place we had held in our minds as the best last day we ever had. So today we ate, drank, had some Jell-O shots, and even got balloon hats.

  

While I think hubby found his joy, I struggled to find mine. Even though I left my assistant in charge of the business, a customer issue came up that needed my attention. (Can't have too much fun - or drink - when you’re trying to remain clear headed and professional!) Even after the issue was resolved I realized my mind - and old lady body - is just in a different place than it was back then. Hopefully the carefree joy will return someday. 

Guess today just wasn’t the day.

Still searching for joy in 2023