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Show It Makes Cents... By Vi Blake Dear Vi Use the containers that ready-to-spread icing come in for small painting jobs. The lid will keep the paint from drying dry-ing out between painting sessions. ses-sions. You can hang onto the container better if you put a'fair-ly a'fair-ly wide rubber band around it. To turn narrow sashes and belts right side out after stitching, stitch-ing, buy a small gun cleaning kit (or borrow your husband's cleaning rods, but wipe them off before using) The .22 caliber works well for narrow belts. For wider belts use larger caliber rods. Karla Hancock , Moab, Utah, I should have had this for last week's "Sew Simple" column, Karla. I've always turned belts with a safety pin, but doing this with a gun cleaning rod sounds much easier. Thanks for sharing. Always buy at least two pairs of nylons alike so that you can pair up the good legs when their mates go bad. You can even do this with panty hose. Simply cut off the bad leg of each pair just below the reinforced panty line and wear two one-legged panties, one for each leg, of course. Don't throw away the bad legs, though. Instead, convert con-vert them to knee-high or ankle socks. For knee-highs, cut about twenty inches (for ankle socks about twelve inches) from the parts of matching legs where there are no runs. Sew across one end of each by pushing the needle through from the underside under-side to the top, then back to the underside, repeating all the way across then back again for reinforcement. rein-forcement. The needle will automatically auto-matically turn under a small roll of fabric. Secure the thread. To wear: Make garters from elastic cut from the old pantyhose to keep them up, or use the twist method: With the stockings on, grasp the top about an inch down and pull it around your leg, first with one hand then the other. When the stocking feels quite tight, secure the twist by tucking the end underneath itself. When done properly, stockings will stay up well and you'll find your recycled knee- highs or ankle highs just as satisfactory sat-isfactory as new ones. Think of your teeth when you consider the value of small things. Although tiny, each one is a priceless pearl. Chewing on ice can crack the teeth. So can cracking nuts, pulling staples, tearing open plastic wrappers or biting directly on hard candy. Avoid sticky foods, brush and floss daily, and have your teeth checked at least once a year. Don't discard an old window shade. Rolled up, it will take up almost no room in the trunk of your car where it will be handy if you need a picnic cloth, a clean spot to sit on or to lie on when checking under the car. If you don't have an old window shade, watch for one at garage sales or second-hand stores. If your casserole or spaghetti sauce turns out too juicy, toss in some instant rice, cook a little longer, and let it stand a few minutes before serving Coil your heavy electric cord in a five-gallon plastic bucket you can carry to work with you. Leave the plugs on top so that you can reel out the length needed. Instead of covering the edges of piecrust with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning while baking, cut the bottom off a disposable dis-posable aluminum pie plate and lay the rim over the edges. It can be used over and over again. When you store away seasonal season-al clothing, tuck some scented fabric softener sheets between the layers and your clothes will smell fresh and clean when it's time to wear them again. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave. Readers: Thanks for sharing your good ideas. Send yours to It Makes Cents, 328 South 300 East 5, St. George, Utah, 84770 or by e-mail: viblakeinfowest.com. If used here, I'll send you $2. or a copy of my latest booklet: "What Else is it Good For?" I invite you to visit my web site (Infowest.comcents) for current and past issues of this feature. |
