{almost new tie-backs}

A few years ago, I bought some material at a yard sale. There was a big piece of red gingham that had some cows on it, a piece with cows and "moo" printed on it, and this sweet little piece:

 I like chickens almost as much as I like cows. I made an apron out of the cow fabrics but I never quite knew what to do with my chicken fabric.

 And then as I was going through my material bin the other day {getting Christmas presents ready already!} I saw it and pulled it out and looked at it and thought, "That's it!" Fortunately, I didn't knock anyone over with that exclamation, unlike Charlie Brown. 

Curtain tie-backs. I had just enough for tie-backs for one of my kitchen windows. So I set to work. I cut it in half first.

 Then folded it long-ways and sewed one end shut and left the other open like so.

 I made sure to put in short pieces of lacy ribbon in the end I sewed shut, to serve as the hooks.

 I almost sewed them onto the outside, which would have put them on the inside which would have made them useless. Thankfully I caught that little bit of foolishness.

 Then I turned it inside out and flipped the ends in.

 And sewed the whole way around it at about an 1/8 '' or so. This closed the end and also gave them a nice pressed look. And a little professional, I hope.

  I put these little wooden button/ bead things on as a way to hook the tie-back onto the hook and stay put.

 And there ya have it! Two almost new tie-backs!

 I feel like my kitchen's a little more cozy. As an added bonus, I don't have to stretch way up there to move the curtains back on the rod. Oh, the life of short people.

 I finally got around to taking care
 of those apples. I froze enough for three apple pies, and made the rest into applesauce. We haven't tried any yet. I was going to bake an apple pie today {since it was rainy and cool} but something else came up and it looks like Mr. Mechanic Man and I may be going on an adventure soon...

But that's for another post.