God Will Show You

October 30, 2021 / Frugal Fish / 3 Comments

“Although brain development is subject to significant individual variation, most experts suggest that the brain is fully developed by age 25.”
https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/02/18/at-what-age-is-the-brain-fully-developed/

If your brain is not fully developed until you are 25, then you are not an adult until then. If you live to be 100, you are not middle-aged until 50 to 75 years.

I had a birthday this week, and as much as I hate to admit it, I am middle-aged. At my yearly physical, I found there are perks. I will never need to take another pregnancy test, LOL! I am grateful to report my mammogram was clear. I will not be undergoing another lumpectomy. It was all good news

I wondered if there was something new, I should be doing. My daughter-in-law has more faith in me than I have in myself. She approached me last weekend and asked me to make a penguin costume for my grandson.

Saturday…

She sent me a link to look at the costume she wanted. After I agreed to make it, she ran to Hobby Lobby for supplies. She dropped them off that evening. There was no pattern!

To make the job even more difficult, my sewing machine stopped. I oiled it but it would only run for 30 seconds and then just stopped. Luckily, my daughter Laura lent me her sewing machine.

Sunday…

I was up at 4:00 am reading the directions and looking for shortcuts – Velcro dots instead of a zipper! Zigzag stitch instead of bias pieces to reinforce the openings.

Gideon thought I was crazy when I measured him from hairline to the end of his nose, shoulder to fingertip, shoulder to the elbow, shoulder to knees, around his elbow, and his ankle. To confuse him further, Rachel took off his shoe and I outlined it on the back of the instructions. Then I measured the hole in the shoe!

Monday…

I said a prayer, and using a pair of his pajamas as a guide, I cut out the front piece and two back pieces. I cut out 2 left sides. (Sigh.) I cut a right side out.

I cut out the center white panel and tried to sew it to the black, front piece. Laura’s machine was temperamental. It sewed a straight stitch no matter which one I selected. It has one speed – slow. The flannel kept folding over. I had to stop every half-inch to move the presser foot! I stuffed the white panel and called it a day.

Tuesday…

My confidence was lacking. Then I read today’s chapters and saw this:

Exodus 27:8, “…You are to make it just as it was shown to you…”
Christian Standard Bible

I said another prayer and asked God to show me how to make the costume. I put a piece of paper over the shoe outline and held it up to the sliding glass door. I traced the outline of the shoe. Then I measured out 2 inches around it. I cut out the oval. I folded it twice lengthwise and made an angled cut. When I folded it flat, I had a pattern for the webbed feet.

I cut out four. I folded the pattern in half and found the center of the shoe hole. I cut out 1 1/4″ to make a 2 1/2″ hole. I sewed one bootie together and stuffed it.

I used the measurement from the nose to the hairline as a guide for the length of the beak. I sewed it together. God nudged me to a drinking glass that was the perfect size opening for the whites of the eyes. Then he reminded me of the cookie scoop that was the size of the blacks of the eyes. I cut out patterns and laid them on the beak on top of the knit hat Rachel had provided.

Derek brought Gideon over after work for a fitting. Everything worked! He even liked the large eyes.

Wednesday…

It’s my birthday and I am determined to finish the costume. I sewed together the flippers, second bootie, and sewed the beak and eyes to the knit hat before lunch. I started to relax.

After lunch, I hemmed the body of the penguin. I didn’t leave enough room for the elastic in 2 places. I had to rip both of those sections out and stitch them again. Then I threaded the elastic in. I sewed the flippers on with three rows of stitching. The final touch was a small bow tie that I made and sewed onto the front.

I took it to Rachel after church. She said “Happy Birthday! What did you do today?” I looked at the costume.

Thursday…

God reminded me that I am appointed by name, filled with His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft. I can design artistic works and am a wise, skilled artisan, see Exodus 31:1, 2. That is why, with His help, I was able to make a penguin costume without a pattern! His Holy Spirit guided me.

Like Moses, I had to cut out the pattern to the back twice, see Exodus 34:1. But I look forward to what He will have me create next, see Exodus 38:23.

I Turned My Gold Swag Light into a Chandelier…It Only Took 28 Years

November 15, 2019November 15, 2019 / Frugal Fish / 1 Comment

The year was 1991. We received a gold swag light from my in-laws. That is why the picture us blurry and grainy. They didn’t have digital cameras back then. I had two children and we made Christmas cookies with two of the neighbor’s children. (Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of each step.)

Swag light over mom making cookies with kids

1999 – Replaced the globes with larger ones.
2008 – Painted the globes cobalt blue with glass paint.
2012 – Spray painted the metal and chain a matte black. Then I dabbed matte brown paint and antique gold paint on it to mimic “oil-rubbed bronze.”
2013 – Installed a white snap-on, cord cover to hide the chain.
2014 – Turned the metal arms to point up instead of down.
2015 – Painted the raised features antique gold to highlight them.
2016 – Added Christmas ornament drops.
2017 – Added Star Christmas ornaments.
2018 – Moved the light up to the ceiling and tightened the chain.
2019 – Added oval, faceted Christmas ornament drops and round, faceted Christmas ornament drop to the center.

Chandelier with valance behind it

My point is…ask yourself, “What can I do to make me love you?” Don’t dispose of it – DIY it! I dreamed of a chandelier and made my own.

The Most Sentimental Gift I Have Ever Given

December 22, 2017December 23, 2017 / Frugal Fish / 2 Comments

“It was on my bucket list – paint a memory.”

Several times, I gathered my paints and tried to do just that! The problem was I could not settle on a memory. Also, I am not an artist. But last summer, I went to a “Coffee and Canvas” with my Mom and sisters. We had fun! I didn’t think the painting went well, but I ended up decorating around it!

My friends, Ken and Jill, spent most of this year traveling. During last winter, they went to the southernmost point of the United States and in the summer, they went to the North Pole! I do not get to travel and I enjoy the pictures and updates they send by email. They sent one picture of mountains in Alaska reflected in a lake that was just gorgeous! I downloaded and saved it.

Meanwhile, my friends Mike and Paula were buried in tulle! Two of their children had weddings three weeks apart! I don’t know how they survived. Ken and Jill were able to attend the one out-of-state, (I could not), and they made a video and took a lot of pictures. One picture, in particular, stuck out to me. It was the pond with a bridge that was in the background of one of the weddings. I asked Ken to send me a copy.

I picked up 2 – 11″ X 14″ canvases on a half-price sale. I made an inventory of the acrylic paints I had on hand and bought 6 more to have several shades of the colors I would need.

Then I got nervous. What was I thinking? I’m not an artist!

In the middle of the night, I started to regret my decision. The party where I would give these gifts was only a week away. I worked hard getting all the tasks for the next two days done and cleared a day to paint.

It was a bright, sunny day. I painted the most difficult one in the morning. After a long lunch, I painted the second one. I used 5 shades of blue and 4 shades of green on these two paintings. I enjoyed every moment of it – even if my island looked like a pickle!

My friends loved them! I captured my impression of one of their memories of 2017.

It’s true; it’s the thought that counts! I spent less than $15.00 and under 4 hours painting. Here are the paintings with the inspirational photo above them.

My frugalfish tip is: “If you make it, they will love it!”

Next week will be the end of my 8th Year of Blogging! I am going to share my “Top Ten Posts” from the last 8 years!

Priceless Gift for Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles

December 8, 2017December 9, 2017 / Frugal Fish / 1 Comment

It started with this picture of an angel. I bought her during a really rough year, (11 funerals), and her expression matched what I was feeling. But the grieving process is over and I am no longer sad!

I am slowing purchasing frames at Goodwill and framing my children’s artwork. There was one picture I framed that my daughter drew during a rough year in her life. The drawing was not what I thought it was. When I found out what she really drew, that picture made me sad. I took that picture out of the frame and gave it back to her.

Earlier, I framed 6 pieces of artwork based on the piece that looked the best in the frame. My youngest son pointed out there were 2 of my oldest son’s pieces, 3 of my daughter’s pieces and only 1 of his. I decided to correct that.

Using the frame from the piece I returned, I tried to find one of my youngest son’s pieces to put in it. They were all too large. Then I noticed one torn piece.

I took the mat out of the frame and put it over an undamaged portion. I cut the artwork to fit in the frame and disposed of the rest.

I taped it to the mat, put it back together, and taped the backing paper down.

This was the picture before…

…and this is the picture after. Wouldn’t it make a great gift? It’s an original!

I took the backing paper off of the angel print and found the print, matting, and cardboard were all stapled to the frame. I cannot reuse this frame. I taped it back together and put it in my box for Goodwill.

My frugalfish tip this week is to frame a piece of your children’s artwork in a frame from artwork you no longer like. It is inexpensive, but “priceless.”

Next week, I will reveal my 2017 Christmas theme. Have you guessed it yet? (My sister-in-law found out that Google is no help!)

2017 Christmas Tour

December 1, 2017December 2, 2017 / Frugal Fish / Leave a comment

Once again, I based my Christmas theme on a Christmas Carol. But I believe this will be the most difficult theme to guess! I will only respond to guesses posted in the comments below because I’m ornery. (Sorry, Facebook doesn’t count!)

At the front door, a cardinal is sitting in a nest on my wreath. An angel presides over the bird and there are musical ornaments on the sides. I made it by wrapping garland around my grapevine wreath and then wrapped red bead garland and lace around it. The poinsettias on the top are two napkin holders! Under the angel is a red ribbon with a bell tied to it that jingles merrily when the door opens.

As you hang your coat on the hook in the entryway, you will see two lamps. One is a Tiffany lamp with a tea light and the other is a Victorian lamp.

You will notice Cardinals on this Victorian lamp. I have now given you three clues.

The Christmas Tree is the first thing you will see when you step into the living room. I am only showing you the top because I have several more ornaments to add. There are angels, instruments, wreaths with cardinals, beaded fruit, and homemade Victoria cones on it. (Someone didn’t get the Christmas boxes down until late Saturday night.)

We made the cones after Thanksgiving dinner, by unrolling some music scrolls. We rolled them into cones, taped them, and added lace and buttons with a hot glue gun, and filled them with multicolored lifesavers. We made the smaller ones from paper doilies. We painted the tips and around the top with gold paint. (Shout out to Melinda, Rachel, and Olivia for helping!)

We also painted the tips of large pine cones, but there was something on the cones that caused an allergic reaction. They are now in the garage. (Sorry, Rachel, I know you spent a long time painting them.)

Oh, yeah, Luke and Derek helped by pulling out my retractable clothesline and hanging the ornaments as we painted them. (They made sure to use the one in the walkway to give us gold highlights in our hair.)

It was this quilted throw that confirmed my theme for this year.

I tried to include all the colors of the stockings in the swag on the window between the kitchen and the living room. I used the kissing ball a few years ago and just added lace to it. The beaded plums represent “sugar plums dancing in their heads.” (Shout out to Melinda who made the candy garland out of lifesavers my daughter left here months ago!)

I found the singing Cardinals at Goodwill. I used them in place of the glass block. There is a glass angel next to them.

I wired a wreath to the bottom of the swag light and decorated it with cobalt blue beads and ornaments. I tied burgundy bows to the beads at the points of the window valance and to the top of the light.

The centerpiece is a wreath on top of a plate. Inside is a gold angel and on the other side of the decorations are more cardinals.

As you walk down the hall, you will see the “JOY” candlesticks that I painted. Three years, well worth it!

In the bathroom are more cardinals and another angel. (Shout out to Laura who made the angel in Girl Scouts!) I picked up the white decorated towels on clearance last year and the red towels at a Black Friday sale. The decorated French horn is a brooch.

The dining room is lit with my Christmas village and a lighted garland. I wrapped red beads around the garland and used it to hide the cords from the lights. The lights brighten the cake stand and punch bowl on the buffet. There are several baskets and other decorations mixed in on the bookshelf.

I put three angels in the center of the table facing out. That way an angel is facing every direction. There are cardinals sitting around their feet.

In case you missed them, the three clues are:

Angels
Cardinals
Victorian

My frugalfish tip for this week is to pick a theme for next year now. You can pick up Christmas decor on clearance after Christmas and you can shop at consignment shops and garage sales for the items you want all year.

If you have the cash in your pocket, it is okay to splurge every once in a while. I found the quilted throw and Victorian Lamp on my trip to Virginia with my mom and sisters. My younger sister had to talk me into buying them, even though I had enough cash on me. My husband loves them. He’s a St. Louis Cardinals fan. (I’m not and that is not my theme!)

I am so convinced that no one will guess the theme this year, that I am going to wait 2 weeks to reveal it! Next week, I will show you a priceless Christmas gift to make for grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

Kid Tested, Mother Approved Hot Chocolate Mix

November 24, 2017November 25, 2017 / Frugal Fish / 1 Comment

How are you spending Black Friday? Have you been up for hours? Did you stand in line in the cold?

I’m decorating for Christmas! I chose this year’s theme last December! There is no way you will guess it! (Actually, in the last three years, only one person guessed my theme correctly and he found a clue I left in a pretty obvious place. Go, Luke!)

Whether you are just getting home from shopping or are in the middle of your decorating, you need a cup of hot chocolate!

I have a recipe for “Hot Chocolate Mix” that every kid will love and every mother will approve. My kids still love it!

“Hot Chocolate Mix”

7 Cups Nonfat Dry Milk
2/3 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 1/4 Cups Dry Coffeemate
1 – 2 pound can of Nestle’s Quick

Mix all ingredients together and store in a sealed container. Use 1/3 cup of mix for each cup of hot water.

Mothers love this mix because each cup is a cup of milk! Kids love it because it is sweet from the powdered sugar and creamy from the Coffeemate!

You can top the hot chocolate with one of the following:

Marshmallows
Crushed Peppermints
Whipped Topping
A Scoop of Ice Cream

My frugalfish tip is – homemade is always better! Make your own!

Next week I will reveal my “2017 Christmas Theme.” I’m so excited!

“2017 Thanksgiving Home Tour”

November 10, 2017November 15, 2017 / Frugal Fish / Leave a comment

When you walk to my front door, you will see my Thanksgiving wreath. I made it by wrapping a gilded leaf garland my sister gave me around a grapevine wreath. All I needed to add was a plaid bow!

Before you knock, you will see a Pilgrim Bear greeting you from the windowsill. He’ll leave the lights on for ya!

Stepping into the living room, the lights from my glass block will draw your eye. I filled it with river rock and copper cookie cutters. It brings out the copper wire on the lights wrapped around the glass block. Next to it is my humble coaster stand. The cork and wood fit in with the autumn decorations. I decorated it with an artificial leaf and twine that came wrapped around Angie’s wedding invitation. (Congratulations Angie and Brock!)

On the couch is my new pillow cover that says, “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound.” The braided burlap trim says, “Autumn” to me! I love how the black and white lettering plays off of my black and white music quilt.

The centerpiece on the kitchen table inspired my scheme for this Thanksgiving. You may remember I used it on my dining room table two years ago. I folded it in thirds to make it the proper size for my kitchen table. On top are my turkey napkin holder, candlesticks, and salt and pepper shakers. (Yes, Rachel, I did fill them.)

There are various vegetables around the base of the turkey napkin holder. I decided to use vegetables in my decor. I put a pumpkin basket and a glass pumpkin in my china cabinet.

Using the colors from the table runner, I layered towels in the bathroom. I kept the autumn print I got from a link at theinspiredroom.net on the wall and pinned a turkey pin on one towel. On top I put a turkey I made with washcloths.

My frugalfish tip for this week is…

“Buy Pillow Covers, Not Pillows!”

Last week the clocks turned back one hour. In the spirit of changing times, I am going to “fall back” 7 hours next week! I will publish my post at 5:00 p.m. CST instead of 10:00 a.m. Come back to see my Thanksgiving Table!

How I Improved My Glasses

October 20, 2017November 6, 2017 / Frugal Fish / 2 Comments

I have long eyelashes.

How long?

When I got my first pair of glasses in second grade I trimmed them!

(It broke Mom’s heart.)

My lashes are long and curly and Mom always said they were my best feature. But, when I got glasses they got in the way. I kept ripping the glasses off to remove the spider I saw only to find it was just my eyelashes.

The problem got worse when I started wearing makeup. If I didn’t allow the mascara to dry completely, I would find myself looking through bars! Contacts solved that problem for several years until the ophthalmologist told me I could never wear them again because of allergies!

I had a terrible time picking out glasses frames. The first pair I chose had an opening between the front and sides of the glasses. My hair kept getting trapped in the opening. Ouch.

The next pair was too small for the dreaded bifocals. I tried semi-rimless frames, but they magnified any dark circles under my eyes because I am near-sighted.

The last time I purchased frames, I made sure they would mask those dark circles. I forgot that I had to have a nose piece on my glasses because of my long eyelashes. (The spiders were back.)

At the beginning of the summer, I went back to the eye doctor and asked for help. They tried adding little nose pads but they were flesh-colored and my glasses are black.

We found silicone nose pads in a larger town but they didn’t stay on! I went back for more and they told me they no longer make them! My glasses cost $500.00 because of my prescription and I did not want to buy another pair.

Then I had a brainstorm – Bumpers!

I had a package already that I used to keep the keyboard pedal from slipping away. They are larger than nose pads and they pushed the frames away from my lashes. The silicone keeps the frames from sliding down my nose on warm days. I have several more in the package and don’t worry about losing one. They keep my glasses firmly in place and that helps me to look out of the correct part of the glasses.

My Frugalfish Tip is to look around, you may have just the thing to solve a problem already on hand.

Next week is my birthday – I may take the day off – or the month. Lol

pamela.frugalfish@gmail.com

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Daybed for Less Than $135

October 13, 2017November 6, 2017 / Frugal Fish / 2 Comments

The need for a daybed did not get critical until our granddaughter graduated from the “Pack and Play.” We tried an air mattress on the floor but it was up so often that the seams on top pulled apart.

I also wanted a daybed in my office to use as a couch and for a place to spread papers out. I did not want it too low or too high. When I received a coupon in the mail for a single size mattress we decided to check it out.

We looked at consignment shops before we went to the furniture store. I also looked in my storage room to see what was available. (We did not want a daybed with a frame because it would block the window.)

We did buy the $75.00 mattress at the furniture store but picked up a new bunkie board at a consignment shop for $20.00 less. I found an adjustable frame at Goodwill for $5.88 and a set of bed raisers in my storage room.

We put the bed together and found it was not high enough to store boxes underneath. I picked up some castor cups and put them on top of the bed raisers. They also keep the legs of the adjustable frame from sliding around.

Last fall, I bought a reversible comforter for our bed. It was not as long as I liked but I kept it because of the navy color. I put that comforter on my “new” daybed and let it drape to the floor hiding the boxes.

I had three, bed pillows and one pillow my daughter made as a gift. I put my extra, light blue shams on two of them and we bought some navy colored shams for the other two.

Since the daybed does not have a frame, that left one problem. I didn’t want to place it completely in the corner because it would block an outlet and crush the floor-length drapes. In the storage room, I found a box used to ship Derek’s latest guitar. I covered it with a fabric shower curtain that I no longer use. It made a nice spacer and left access to the outlet. It keeps the fourth pillow from falling on the floor.

My granddaughter approved of the new bed! Derek had a friend over when we were out-of-town and he said it was very comfortable.

Daybed cost:

Mattress $75.
Bunkie Board $40.
Adjustable Frame $6.
Bed Raisers Free.
Comforter Free.
Pillows Free.
2 Pillow Shams 12.
Headboard Spacer Free.
Headboard Spacer Cover Free.
Total Cost $133.

My Frugalfish tip is to make your own daybed by getting some of the parts at consignment stores.

Next week I will show you how I improved my glasses!

pamela.frugalfish@gmail.com

Twitter – @frugalfishorg

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JOY Candlesticks

September 1, 2017November 6, 2017 / Frugal Fish / Leave a comment

I bought these candlesticks at Goodwill.

I love painting figurines and decided to paint them.

It took three years! (This is why the stores have Christmas Craft projects in July. These things take time!) Now I have one-of-a-kind Christmas Candlesticks painted in colors that match my decor.

Take advantage of the Labor Day weekend to look through your projects. Your favorite, new Christmas decoration may already be there! (Yes, I have my Christmas decorating theme already!)

pamela.frugalfish@gmail.com

Twitter – @frugalfishorg

Facebook – Frugal Fish

Pinterest.com/frugalfish/

frugalfish.org

Using what's on hand.

Make It

God Will Show You

Saturday…

Sunday…

Monday…

Tuesday…

Wednesday…

Thursday…

I Turned My Gold Swag Light into a Chandelier…It Only Took 28 Years

The Most Sentimental Gift I Have Ever Given

“It was on my bucket list – paint a memory.”

Priceless Gift for Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles

2017 Christmas Tour

Kid Tested, Mother Approved Hot Chocolate Mix

“Hot Chocolate Mix”

“2017 Thanksgiving Home Tour”

“Buy Pillow Covers, Not Pillows!”

How I Improved My Glasses

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Daybed for Less Than $135

Subscribe to Blog via Email

JOY Candlesticks

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Saturday…

Sunday…

Monday…

Tuesday…

Wednesday…

Thursday…

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“It was on my bucket list – paint a memory.”

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“Hot Chocolate Mix”

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“Buy Pillow Covers, Not Pillows!”

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