What's Stitching with Susan

As I've mentioned several times, my mom is my biggest sewing influence and best teacher. If only I had learned more from her while still living at home!

Mom doesn't have a blog but is always busy in her sewing room, so from time to time I'll be featuring her latest projects. Since I just recently visited her, I have a few of her latest stitching endeavors lined up for you to enjoy. Look for the very first "What's Stitching with Susan" post tomorrow!

Homemade Hand Soap

Since sharing yesterday about homemade all-purpose cleaner, I thought I'd follow up with another way to use Dr. Bronner's castile soap. I'm a little skeptical of all the uses listed on the bottle (toothpaste, anyone?), but I'm willing to try using it for lots of other cleaning uses.

Hand soap is another area I wanted to experiment with. Paying $1-$2 per bottle wasn't that appealing to me, plus I loved the idea of a safer soap. This is even easier than yesterday's cleaner.

All you need for the hand soap:

• foaming soap dispenser. I bought some Method soap from Target just for this & am now reusing the bottle.
• castile soap in your favorite scent (I use Dr. Bronner's citrus scent.)
• water

Fill the dispenser about 2/3 to 3/4 full of water. Top with the castile soap. That's it! 

I've noticed this soap almost seems a little "sticky" when I'm using it, but my hands feel clean. 

Have you ever used castile soap? What's your favorite use? I'm always looking for more ideas!

Clashy Bright Mosaic

I am loving the mosaic contests hosted occasionally by Stitched in Color. The latest one features a clashy bright theme which is so fun for summertime! I had a blast picking out fabrics from Marmalade Fabrics for my mosaic.

First row

Carnaby Street King's Road Turquoise

Bright Pink Kona Cotton

Flirty Flowers by Robin Zingone Orange Dot

Second row

Simple Marks Summer Clementine

Simple Marks Summer Round Cheater Print

Dear Stella Confetti Dots Navy

Third row

Metro Living White Rings on Marigold

Spinning Stick - Red

a stitch in color Stripe Pear Acid Green

Fourth row

Water Kona Cotton

Urban Mod Triangularity Topaz

Canary Kona Cotton

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

Ever since the little guy's been around, I've been a lot more conscious of what kinds of things I'm using around the house. While vinegar is definitely a favorite cleaner & can do pretty much anything, I wanted to something a little different for our everyday all-purpose cleaner.

Enter Dr. Bronner's castile soap. A quick Google search gives you all kinds of amazing uses, but my first use of it was for regular, all-purpose cleaner. To make this cleaner, you need:

• an empty spray bottle. Mine came from The Dollar Tree.
• castile soap. Dr. Bronner's is reasonably priced & can be found just about anywhere.
• tea tree oil. A little pricey, but lasts forever.
• water

Fill your bottle about 3/4 the way up with water. Make sure you add the water first!! Otherwise there are too many suds. Top with soap & about 10-12 drops of tea tree oil. The soap & water are your cleaner & the tea tree oil adds antibacterial properties. Tada, you're done! 

If you use a scented soap, your cleaner even smells great. (The smell is a huge bonus if your husband, like mine, can't stand the smell of vinegar - one of the big reasons I was searching for a new cleaner.)

This is a frugal, simple, and effective cleaner! It definitely works for me! For more great ideas, be sure to visit Kristen's blog.

Beginnings of a Granny Square Quilt

Sometimes, I just get bogged down in my current sewing projects. Progress is slow, and I'm a little burnt out. So, what else to do but start a new project?

Sometimes something new, fun, and uncomplicated is what I need. Since I've been eyeing this amazing Granny Square quilt from Blue Elephant Stitches, I figured sewing up a block would be good medicine.

I'm pretty pleased with block #1! Didn't intend for those two flowered blocks to end up right next to each other, but it still makes me happy. :)

Then last week while visiting my mom, she let me cut lots of 2.5" squares from her scrap stash! I love poking through Mom's fabric!!

Here's block #2 all ready to go:

What's the plan for these fun blocks, you ask? Why, I think they would make a sweet little baby quilt. At least that's the plan for now, unless I'm not able to stop with just 9 blocks!