Mary Hanks » My Heart’s Desire

Teflon Pressor Foot to the Rescue!

Mary Hanks — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:06:00 +0000

Dotty Diaper Tote Bag made of canvas and a similar tote in oilcloth.

My first three oilcloth bags! Two totes and a lunch sack.

On my long list of projects has been finding and making some items out of oilcloth. In the “old days” is was a canvas that was painted with linseed oil to give it a durable, waterproof finish. Now the products that I’m finding are more of a vinyl cloth…not the same as the tablecloth with the flannel on the back but not a linseed oil finish. Finding it locally proved to be impossible so I ordered some on-line from another etsy shop, oilclothshop.etsy.com. My first attempts at sewing on this material were rather frustrating as the stitches skipped & made an awful mess! I read several suggestions about tape on the presser foot, sewing between tissue paper, between notebook paper but none did the trick. My hunt was then on for a Teflon presser foot for my little Singer and it made all the difference in the world! So what’s next on the list of things to sew? Another rabbit pillow! The one shown in the previous post has already sold! Yeah!!! Time to make another….thank you Sara!

A Singer Spills Its Guts

Mary Hanks — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:47:00 +0000

There was a lots of sewing that I’d started and was ready to complete. Tuesday was going to be a super day of finishing up projects and beginning to list brand new things in my ETSY shop. Suddenly the motor locked up in this sound that I hate and it’s usually a zipper foot is on and I forget and try to zig-zag or perhaps I accidentally hit a straight pin with the needle. Not this time. Cleaning didn’t help although it was overdue. Slowly I began to disassemble, hoping I could fix it myself. WRONG! Called to see what an inspection, repair, etc. would run. Um, no thanks! So the fixer of all broke things, the computer guy, my husband, to the rescue!

He spent the rest of the evening gutting, cleaning, oiling (very important, by the way, trust me on that!), putting back together the part he’d taken apart. I worked the next day on reassembling what I had taken apart with only one little mystery piece. I’m sure that the right screws are not in the right place and the bobbin winder isn’t exactly right but it sews! And without strain now that it’s had a nice little dose of oil and a good clean’n!

This blanket, above, and burp cloth set, below, were already made before the sudden failure of said SINGER and I was able to take pictures and write new listings today. The most NEW listings in one day since, I can’t remember when. Here’s to getting back to business — now go clean YOUR machine!

Also new today, Pink Stripe Flannel Crib Sheet, Diaper Clutch, Sky Miles Bib and Burp Set.

Going, going, gone!

Mary Hanks — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:47:00 +0000

With the help of Craigslist, Goodwill, Men’s Warehouse Suit Drive, a weekend garage sale. You name it!

STUFF that has accumulated over the years is all finding its way out of here & boy does it feel good! I have had enough saving this & that. With Peter & Gloria married, Sara & Casey, married — beautiful wedding gifts & don’t need my old stuff. I’ve cleaned out closets, cupboards & cabinets, boxes of books in the attic. The fridge, the pantry, the freezer…scraps of wood from a variety of projects. More still needs to be done but I sure got things going & am on a roll.

I still have a few book boxes to go through — a HUGE box of personal trainer/fitness manuals that needs to go. My YMCA days are over. Retired from aerobics, personal training, etc. Any takers on these things?

Tiffany (warmfuzzies) made this great treasury today with my “Lemon Square Yo Yo Pillow” as one of the items. This fantastic collection of grey & yellow items made the Front Page on Etsy. Thank you to Jill in Utah for snagging my pillow!!! Be sure & check out warmfuzzies and her amazing shop. I especially am loving her Cathedral Window Pillow Covers .

What Shall I Be?

Mary Hanks — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:56:00 +0000

When I was growing up I had a board game called * “What Shall I Be?” ; designed for girls with choices you’d expect; nurse, teacher, etc. There was one that I always would pick but never ever did — “actress”. But the music lessons, choir, sewing lessons certainly shaped the things I do & enjoy today, as well as those jobs that I’ve had & “retired” from.

I’ve retired my aerobic shoes and microphone, the personal trainer clipboard…retired are the church organ & piano offertory, wedding & hymn books…

Some days now it’s my ladder, a paint brush & faux finishing tools. Other days, garden gloves, a shovel & pruners. Often it’s the sewing machine calling my name, something for my etsy shop. I need to spend MORE time working on new recipes, maybe a cookbook. For now, I hope you enjoy my shop, this blog & my other recipes!

PS…don’t miss my daughter Sara’s wedding pictures & blog!

*Object of the game is to the first player to become a Career Girl.
Players move around the board collecting School Cards, Subject Cards and Personality Cards.

Game ends when one of the players has collected 4 School Cards of one Profession and 2 Subject Cards and 2 Personality Cards that are good for that Profession.

Professions and their respective schools are:
College – Teacher

Airline Training School – Airline Hostess

Drama School – Actress

Nursing School – Nurse

Charm School – Model

Ballet School – Ballet Dancer

(No doctors, lawyers, designers….certainly not Vice President or President!)

Treasury Madness!

Mary Hanks — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:34:00 +0000

Type O!

buckcountryframes couragemylove 19Moons

photolena SuzanneClements FuzzyMemories

porkchopshow littlebrownsparrow alexandraleah

galleryoncentral FriendlyMade Allstrungoutjewelry

Photographs of typewriters, an actual typewriter or cool jewelry made of old pieces.

Labor of Love, Etsy Treasury

Mary Hanks — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:27:00 +0000

This treasury took me by surprise! Guess I was in the right place at the right time but then there’s that box, looking for a title…Labor Day I suppose…my birthday usually falls sometime during that weekend but this year the holiday came early but we’ll use the theme & found some CUTE maternity t’s in honor of my mom, laboring away — we won’t say how many years ago! The “Maker Maternity” shirt sold but another was relisted in it’s place so check out these great shops!

jennsphotography DripStick SunshineandRavioli

vol25 baileydoesntbark FriendlyMade

CarmelTurtle warmnfuzzies phippsart

rabbitsmoon misslo photobird

Lemon Square

Mary Hanks — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:21:00 +0000

I finished this little project this morning & hoped to have a new listing in my etsy shop by early afternoon. Problems uploading my images mean that I’ve got to wait until my technical help makes his way home for dinner. So….I’ll post here, just to show that I did something today! And, just so you’re not disappointed if you thought there might be a recipe? Keep reading! It’s here too!!!

Lemon Square Yo Yo Pillow
A bright modern lemon print by Alexander Henry combined with an old fashion yo-yo technique will add a cheery punch of sunshine to any room. Yellow buttons accent the center of each circle.

This is a 9.25″ little lemon square with finished edges of yellow rick rack & white piping. Back is finished with a flap and a removable insert for easy cleaning. Insert was made of super soft fiberfill and is included.

Creamy Lemon Squares

1/2 cup (1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for the pan

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus more for dusting

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)

4 large egg yolks

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with parchment paper leaving an overhang on two sides: butter paper.
Make crust: Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add flour, and mix on low just until combined. Press dough into the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan; prick all over with a fork. Bake until lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
Make filling: In a large bowl, whisk together yolks, condensed milk and lemon juice until smooth. Pour over hot crust in pan; return to oven, and bake until filling is set, 25-30 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
Refrigerate until filling is firm, about 2 hours or up to 3 days. Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface; cut into 16 squares, and dust with confectioners sugar.

Custom Canvas Banner or Sign

Mary Hanks — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:55:00 +0000

This is the second table banner for Carole Axium Designs & I’m so pleased with the way that it turned out. She has a beautiful jewelry shop! Used at craft shows, these are a great way to have your logo & name displayed. Each are hand painted (by me) on canvas & come with a canvas carrying bag that I make to store & transport. Below are 2 pieces for Tuscan Sun, a wellness center in Decatur, GA. A table banner that is used at health fairs & a large canvas mounted on board that now hangs in the studio. Contact me with any requests to have a custom banner for your shop!

If I were younger…and taller…

Mary Hanks — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:26:00 +0000

UPDATE: this item sold this week (April 1st) but I’ll be making this pattern again!

This is my latest etsy listing….Spring Fashion Ladies Mini Dress Tunic.

When I first bought this pattern it reminded me of Kelly Ripa & some of the oh-so-cute outfits you see her wear. If I were younger, taller then I’d keep this for myself!

The Mulberry Elementary School Mural pictures are now posted in a bit more organized way.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Mary Hanks — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:31:00 +0000

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.

Goethe

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.

They must be felt with the heart.

Helen Keller

This painting (above) I did a couple of years ago.

Can’t bear to part with this one but I’m posting as a Valentine’s wish to all!

Below, a Treasury dedicated to my husband on Valentine’s Day!!!

So looking forward to our Grand Cayman Islands trip next month!!!

X O x o X O x o X O