Monday Message

"Wherever possible, produce your nonfood necessities of life. Improve your sewing skills; sew and mend clothing for your family. . .Develop handicraft skills. .and make or build needed items." (President Spencer W. Kimball)

I have been stretching my sewing skills to the max this week. We were given three suits all needed something. Two needed hemming. That is easy. One needed taking out an inch less, easy. They make them with some extra to do that but then one jacket needed taking out and one taking in and the sleeves shortened... this all took two whole days and I was stressed I would ruin them. It required deconstructing, bad deconstruction.

It was very scary. My mother-in-law was the best seamstress ever and I sure miss asking her questions.  I miss her all the time already but this week I could have used her help, though at times I felt like she was answering me. Like when I would have to think on how to do something, I would think of a short cut and it was "no, you need to do it right"...grrr, so I did.

This is that splayed out suit pictured above. The pics are kind of dark but this is it after I took it out. This was the hardest one.

This is the suit I had to take in and shorten the sleeves after finishing.

It was all very hard and stretched my sewing abilities to the limit but saved us so much money and now he has them to wear to church.

So building sewing skills is a great skill to pick if you are looking for a skill to work at. I plan to keep working on building on what I already know on sewing.

I was able to get this little shelf that is an upgrade to the last one I got which my husband will now use in the workshop, trying to have nothing go to waste.

I wanted to put this in here to show that used things aren't bad. I know years ago they got a bad rap but remember that saying I like - second hand is not second class.

It is very helpful for our budgets and environment.

We have picked up things and restored or refashioned them for ourselves and for gifts. It's an especially good idea now that we turn our attention to the gift giving season. One time I picked up this stool someone set out to get rid of. I got it and noticed their garbage had blown around so I got the stool loaded and picked up their garbage. I knew what I wanted to use it for right away so I brought it home and cleaned it up and it is now my spinning stool.

It works well for me. One time I got a plastic kids kitchen one piece toy and brought it home, scrubbed it up, put a bow on it and gave it to the neighbor girls on Christmas, they loved it. Probably thought Santa brought it, only mom knew. So don't pass up things you could use or gift with a little love and care. This is just another tool of being frugal.

I watch a podcast where the gal goes to thrift store on Thursdays. This is her day out. She set an amount, like stay under ten dollars, and she said she only gets what is useful to her. Someone said if money is so tight why not just save that money up to get something you want. Giving herself the day out is something she really wants. I'm the same way, I prefer to spend less. That ten dollars goes further in a thrift store.  

I also hemmed a pair of pants for myself and I cut an old towel for cloths and surged around them.

It has been a busy week. I have also been tweaking things I moved last week. I still have one more tweak to do then I will put a halt to some of the fall/spring cleaning.

Even this cart was used and some in and on it as well but this cart works well with the drawers. I moved the plastic container in the top drawer so you could see under it, it has watercolor crayons in it. Under that is empty palettes for paint mixing and the altoid tin I made into my own little watercolor box. 

The next drawer has pens and pencils and erasers, the next watercolors and in the next I have even more watercolors. In the bottom I have paper towels and a container of tubes of watercolor paint. This means I moved the tatting thread to the plastic drawers.

So those are things I have done plus some vacuum sealing which helps lengthen the life of my food.

I encourage you to stock up on your storage as you can with holiday sales as the stores run some food sales at this time of year.

Think outside the box. When you are about to toss something stop and think what could I use this for...?

Try to be more frugal and think of more meaningful gifts rather than things that are costly.

Share what frugal things you are doing this holiday or just in general in the comments below.

Missy says being thrifty is a great way to stretch your dollars.

Tippy Longstockings says this is a stressful time of year so look for a bit of sunshine and stretch out in it.

Monday Message

"As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

Every time I get groceries the prices get higher and higher. I only go once a month so if I went more often perhaps it would not be a shock but they would still be higher. With insurance rates up, along with all prices rising, we really need to get creative.

We all have been through a lot in the last four years or so. I was thinking about hard times and how when you have a hard incident sometimes it is harder to climb out of then some others. Perhaps that is what is happening. We are having higher prices as a climbing time...it isn't easy and it takes time. We will all push on and do what we have to do. We can find more frugal ways of doing things. It is hard to find time but we need to give ourselves time to learn and research so we can help our families. Sharing ideas is one very good way. For example, Shepherdess55 shared in the comments on this post how we can even further stretch our yogurt making. I thank you for that. I just put one quart of yogurt into ice cube trays. We all need to help each other so keep sharing in the comments.

There are so many free things to learn...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCe0u88H4LU - she shows you how to make little gift bags.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5bNFAmtnWA - she is starting a learn to spin. Even though I spin I never really had lessons so I am able to watch for free. You may not want to spin but I use this as an example, it does not cost us to learn.

https://www.bethanylynnemakes.com/how-to-make-a-granny-square-vest-the-agnes-sweater-vest/ - you can get patterns for free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9D-CPdGi5A - learn to make mittens from recycled sweaters and get a free pattern.

https://www.thriftyfrugalmom.com/frugal-30-minute-dinner-ideas/ - frugal meals.

Past posts of this blog...

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2017/11/monday-message.html 

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2017/10/monday-message_30.html

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2016/11/monday-message_21.html

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2018/03/monday-message_12.html

I thought you would enjoy these older posts and some shots from around the house...

Missy says find time to learn new skills.

Tippy Longstockings says keep working on your storage.

Monday Message

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’ (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors, and support bishops as they care for others." (All is Safely Gathered In pamphlet)

The weather here has definitely changed to colder. Winter is coming, ready or not.

Somehow I am wired differently...I do my spring cleaning in the fall. As I was working, I thought I remember cleaning this time of year the past two years. I think if I go look in my journals I would see it has been every year. I don't know exactly why I do it in the fall instead of in the spring, except that I know winter is a cozy time but also a stuck inside time and I would rather be doing fun than cleaning and organizing during then. So if I get things all in order now, I can just be cozy then.

That said I have been deep cleaning and organizing and rearranging to make everything more cozy and uncluttered and a place ready for the fun things I do. This morning while listening to the news, snuggled warm and cozy in my blankets, I thought I pray for all but how can we actually change the awfulness that is everywhere it seems? I thought instantly that at least I can make my home a cheerful and happy place, warm and cozy, so that is my goal. The rest I pray, as that is something I can do. Everything is in turmoil, needless death and horrors of war. Right now I can make my space peaceful and uplifting, a refuge for all who come into it, and pray for all.

Concentrating on that, with peaceful things in mind, will be my plan for the winter.

So here are the pictures of my house I have been working on this week.

It started with straightening this bookshelf. I have sock yarn at the top, then watercolor books and paper on the right and needlework books to the left.

Next, I tidied up my knitting machines getting the one ready so I can review and learn it better. It is the Toyota, the longer one is the Bond. I am good with knowing it, no bells and whistles with it, basic. The far end is my bookshelf with knitting books. In front of that, bobbin lace. I am gearing up to make a little bird (more on that if I succeed).

Then the other bookshelf was next. At the top is Bond machine books. The next shelf is Toyota books and machine knitting books in general. Under that are binders and stamping magazines and my little drawers of tatting shuttles and such for tatting. That is a little tapestry loom in front I got at thrift a while ago (more on that in future).

Then this cart is my embroidery supplies. It is on wheels and can move wherever I need to work. This is a good spot to put it.

I had also changed the living room, moving my loom and little loom. (You can play I spy and find Missy in this picture).

I set up my spinning wheel here.

I left the rug loom here. It is in a good spot for it and is soooooo heavy to move.

This stayed put as well.

I think the dining room is the biggest accomplishment of all. I cleaned and rearranged my husband's art studio, claiming some wasted space and setting up a desk so he could work on it as he had been working on the table. I had him come and take breaks from his working in the workshop to have him give me his input on where he wanted things set. That freed up my table and I love having it back. He made the sculpture of the woman on the pedestal. The flowers he made are glass and light up, though they weren't on in this picture.

So that is what I had been busy with this week. What have you been up to?

I also added more cinnamon and oats to storage this month. How are you coming along with your stock ups?

Missy says put a little here and a little there as you can...with a little catnip on the side.

Tippy Longstockings says look out when you nap, furniture seems to move.

Monday Message

"Included in the year’s supply of basic foods should be life-sustaining foods that store well for a long time: grains (wheat, rice, corn, or other of the cereal grains); dried milk, dried fish or protein vegetables such as beans and peas and other fresh, canned, dried, or pickled fruit or vegetables; sugar or a sugar substitute such as honey; some form of fats; salt; and water. Fresh taro or sweet potato, and live pigs, chickens, or fish might be considered as a supply in some areas of the world where it is difficult to store food. Remember that regular use of whole grains is important in building a digestive tolerance for roughage." (Barbara B. Smith)

Well I hope you living up here in the north are all buttoned up for winter!

We found a few more things in the garden as we had to pick everything since we are in a freeze warning overnight and that will end everything. I am hoping it ends the allergies as well.

We enjoyed our very tiny last musk melon I put the pen in picture to show how tiny it was but big on flavor.

I ran across this soda and cake mix recipe and we were having company so I tested it out on them, they were a hit! 

Recipe here: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/soda-cake-mix/ I think those who have egg allergies could use this and have a cake or cupcake. I also think when cake mixes are on sale and soda, it could be something nice to add to the storage.

Here is the progress on strawberries. I will be transplanting to their own pots this week I think.

I brought in my geraniums. I have three and thought I would see if they would keep over winter. If I can't they would have died anyway so figured I would try.

The picture was drawn by my youngest brother who has passed now. He was a very good artist.

I had an odd mitten that I used as a cozy for my sock machine weights. It is kind of hard to see but a great frugal use for that mitten.

I am looking forward to some slow down time now that gardening is done

I have completed the advent bags for hubby and I so that is good. We tried them last year for the first time and he loved them so I started in January and added bag items into my grocery budget, a little here and there and bagged them as I went. It was easier to do a little at a time rather than all at once. Plus, mine are a complete switch. Last year I put together little kits to do one project each day. That was wildly hard. This year I changed to no kits or requirements so I will be free to do other things. That is the real gift to me on this round.

I have a memory of a goldfish so I can remember a few things for me that are in the bags, like the last one which is for Christmas and I think rubber stamps from clearance and the thrift store, oh and a mini pumpkin waffle iron from the thrift store. Outside of those I cannot remember. It will be a surprise for me as well...January was long ago.

Have you been thinking of Christmas gifts as well?

I am going to put up a couple sites that talk of frugal things people did in their weeks before Christmas. If you have some you follow put them in the comments, we would love to see them! Also, what frugal ideas do you have for a frugal Christmas?

https://theprudenthomemaker.com/category/frugal-accomplishments/

https://hyperjar.com/blog/money-management-frugal-christmas-guide-2022 - some good stuff here.

https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/frugal-christmas/ - I liked the crayon idea and hamper one which is baskets filled, pretty nice ideas.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/yyywkd/how_do_you_handle_christmas_as_frugal_as_possible/ - this is a list of people's ideas. I like the "curated basket" idea but people sharing ideas, I love it! The get a gift every paycheck idea is kind of like I mentioned earlier with every grocery day I got bag items two each as I only get groceries once a month.

https://www.frugalandthriving.com.au/frugal-christmas/

https://www.thecuriousfrugal.com/frugal-christmas-ideas/ - had me at pajama party!

https://www.pinterest.com/FrugalMomL/frugal-christmas/ - I love to be inspired.

Missy says keep working on your storage as you can, slow and steady!

Tippy Longstockings says well if you put your garden to bed, she too is going to bed in her bag! Find time to rest.