Oddball Sunday Sewing :)
10-12-2025, 08:23 AM
#1
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Washington USA
Posts: 4,886
Oddball Sunday Sewing :)
We make Pour Over coffee, and I bought a big pack of fiters that seemed to break ever 3rd or 4th one. Today I sat down and stitched the bottoms 
Just takes a few seconds each, another appreciation for having a sewing machine!
Also made something new to me, hex coasters, for a lady who has a big bag of selvedges for me. Happy Days!!
and something new to me after all these years of quilting, a small rag quilt for the dogs in the pickup. it was fun, but wouldn't do with without an accuquilt rag die! edited to add: I had 25 leftover blocks from Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice mystery I used for this, and yellow flannel in the middle, and an insert of yellow chenille from an old bedspread for the back side. So these came out about 7"-ish blocks in the end.
and did something I haven't done in 55 years, marched with a sign. Can't believe we never learn from history.
Just takes a few seconds each, another appreciation for having a sewing machine!Also made something new to me, hex coasters, for a lady who has a big bag of selvedges for me. Happy Days!!
and something new to me after all these years of quilting, a small rag quilt for the dogs in the pickup. it was fun, but wouldn't do with without an accuquilt rag die! edited to add: I had 25 leftover blocks from Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice mystery I used for this, and yellow flannel in the middle, and an insert of yellow chenille from an old bedspread for the back side. So these came out about 7"-ish blocks in the end.
and did something I haven't done in 55 years, marched with a sign. Can't believe we never learn from history.
10-12-2025, 11:27 AM
#2
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,640
Too bad there's no way to predict which coffee filter will fail because you could not use those and keep them to stabilize scrap blocks. I've never done it but have ready plenty from people who have. My coffee machine uses the same filters but mine seem to stay together.
I really like your rag quilt. I've never done one using blocks like that. Always flannel top and bottom. They are not a quick project with all that snipping.
Hooray to you for marching. Don't put your sign on a stick. If I lived in the states, I'd be out there, too.
I really like your rag quilt. I've never done one using blocks like that. Always flannel top and bottom. They are not a quick project with all that snipping.
Hooray to you for marching. Don't put your sign on a stick. If I lived in the states, I'd be out there, too.
10-13-2025, 03:45 AM
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,260
What fun! Been thinking of you as I stare at my growing collection of selvedges for you, almost worth a trip to the postage.
On a side note, you will be glad to know that I have set up a mailing station now and have things like basic envelopes and tape available for my packaging. I still like the easy of the express mail flat rate services, but the price is starting to make even me flinch a bit at it.
On a side note, you will be glad to know that I have set up a mailing station now and have things like basic envelopes and tape available for my packaging. I still like the easy of the express mail flat rate services, but the price is starting to make even me flinch a bit at it.
10-13-2025, 06:04 AM
#7
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Washington USA
Posts: 4,886
I'm always home for selvedges
I used some of the filters for sirestarters, newspaper is no longer freely available, and the last decade it got harder to burn. We have a big papermill nearby and I asked one of the guys why it was so hard to burn and he said they put earth in it now, not just pulp. So for a present for Rob (we have woodstoves in both house and garage) I make him firestartes and bought him a big butane lighter. I did order some kind of cookie bags to use now though, easier to stuff, and I'm about easy if it isn't quilting.
I used some of the filters for sirestarters, newspaper is no longer freely available, and the last decade it got harder to burn. We have a big papermill nearby and I asked one of the guys why it was so hard to burn and he said they put earth in it now, not just pulp. So for a present for Rob (we have woodstoves in both house and garage) I make him firestartes and bought him a big butane lighter. I did order some kind of cookie bags to use now though, easier to stuff, and I'm about easy if it isn't quilting.
10-14-2025, 07:54 AM
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,640
Here is how to make the best firestarters you'll ever use.
Melt paraffin wax over low flame and remove wicks. Add some paraffin lamp oil.
Dip makeup pads so they are fully sealed and spread out on waxed paper to dry.
To use - poke a hole in the center, or twist to expose the inside before placing it on kindling. The idea is to create a volcano effect so it burns brightly and expose the fibres of the makeup pad for lighting.
Notes:
Candles from the thrift stores are an excellent, budget-friendly source of paraffin wax. Just remove the wicks when melted.
Non-woven makeup pads work better.
The paraffin oil makes the wax burn better. Too much and the wax won't set.
If they are completely sealed, the firestarter is waterproof.
These will burn quite a while.
Melt paraffin wax over low flame and remove wicks. Add some paraffin lamp oil.
Dip makeup pads so they are fully sealed and spread out on waxed paper to dry.
To use - poke a hole in the center, or twist to expose the inside before placing it on kindling. The idea is to create a volcano effect so it burns brightly and expose the fibres of the makeup pad for lighting.
Notes:
Candles from the thrift stores are an excellent, budget-friendly source of paraffin wax. Just remove the wicks when melted.
Non-woven makeup pads work better.
The paraffin oil makes the wax burn better. Too much and the wax won't set.
If they are completely sealed, the firestarter is waterproof.
These will burn quite a while.
10-14-2025, 12:04 PM
#10
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Washington USA
Posts: 4,886
re: fire starters, good recipe bzang! I am working at useing only what I already have in so many areas! I have a BALE of pine sawdust shavings left from my little hens, a huge jug of vasiline left from when radiation burned me, extra large cotton balls from when I did my nails.
First I started cutting junk mail envelopes in 1/2 and stuffing with my mix, but we don't get much paper mail at all any more, so then I tried the coffee filters, dried after use but felt like my MIL so only did a couple batches of those,, so I ordered 500 waxy cookie envelopes from Amazon going forward. All just ideas picked up from the web.
If we were outdoor campers I think your recipe would be super.
today I resewed a chewed dog leash and made another set of coasters to have on hand.
First I started cutting junk mail envelopes in 1/2 and stuffing with my mix, but we don't get much paper mail at all any more, so then I tried the coffee filters, dried after use but felt like my MIL so only did a couple batches of those,, so I ordered 500 waxy cookie envelopes from Amazon going forward. All just ideas picked up from the web.
If we were outdoor campers I think your recipe would be super.
today I resewed a chewed dog leash
and made another set of coasters to have on hand.