Except for a small fire, yesterday was a better day than the day before. The trouble began, as troubles often do, with a project in an old Martha Stewart holiday magazine. It involved making adorable little handwarmers out of felted sweaters. (The project also is on the web site, but for reasons that will soon become obvious, I'm not providing the link. You're on your own.) I thought they would be the perfect fun yet practical gift for my daughter and her friends at the stable where they ride. To make the handwarmers, you make felt pouches, fill them with ceramic pie beads and sew them shut. These are popped in a microwave to heat up, and voila! warm hands.
I ordered some ceramic pie beads, which arrived via UPS at the same time as Harry, the guy who comes every year to clean the pellet stove. You need all of these facts (except Harry's name, which is an extraneous detail) to understand how everything happened.
Before going to the trouble of sewing the pouches, I thought it would be a good idea to give the pie beads a test run in the microwave to make sure they would work. I wrapped the quantity specified in a dish towel, put the bundle in the microwave for the specified time, took the packing box down to the recycling bin, and came back upstairs to check on Harry's progress. Harry was making quite a mess, it seemed to me. There was a haze in the room, and something smelled very hot. "Harry, what's that smell?" I yelled to him over the sound of the hand-held vacuum he was using.
"Smells like something's burning," Harry said.
"Is it the vacuum?" I asked.
"It's not me," Harry said, and he seemed a little hurt. (Later, he would say that nobody had ever accused his vacuum cleaner of smelling bad.)
It suddenly occurred to me that maybe the pie beads were getting too hot, and even though the time wasn't up on the microwave, I popped the door open to check on them. That's when the dishtowel burst into flames. Well, you can kind of picture it all from here - the barking dog, Harry yelling to see if everything was OK, the smoke detector. The towel is a total loss. The jury's out on the microwave. It works, but if you think a microwave smells bad after you burn popcorn in it, try setting a dishtowel on fire in one. Obviously, the handwarmers are not a go. Call me overly cautious, but a gift that has the potential to burst into flames doesn't seem like the best idea. (In Martha's defense, let me say that maybe there was something wrong with the pie beads, maybe my microwave is super-powerful, or maybe I'm just on a bit of an unlucky streak.)
Anyway, the little houses I made last weekend were more successful. These are new houses, about 10 inches tall, with a light that fits in the back. I got them for 75 percent off at a sidewalk sale in our village last summer, with the intent of making them look vintage. I sanded off the existing glitter, then painted them up and sprinkled on some of my precious glass glitter while the paint was still wet. The windows and doors are a cellophane and tissue paper combination, and I got the brick paper for the chimney by scanning in one of my vintage brick houses. (Thanks for all of the good ideas on that!) I used only a few vintage trims on them. These are on the dresser in the bedroom, and they make nice nightlights.
I'm hoping for a disaster-free weekend. It's a modest goal, but I've learned to lower my expectations.
I am glad you and your home made it through the fire. Poor Harry...Kara
Posted by: Kara Ward | December 12, 2008 at 05:55 PM
The houses are beautiful and I love today's vintage wrapping paper. Take care~
Posted by: Ann | December 12, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Just a little reminder, it's CHESTNUTS roasting . . . ;) glad this story had a good ending!
Your little houses turned out adorable!!
Posted by: Crystal | December 12, 2008 at 06:33 PM
Just a little reminder, it's CHESTNUTS roasting . . . ;) glad this story had a good ending!
Your little houses turned out adorable!!
Posted by: Crystal | December 12, 2008 at 06:38 PM
sorry about that fire,
those houses are adorable
Posted by: Lady of the Mote | December 12, 2008 at 06:49 PM
sorry about that fire,
those houses are adorable
Posted by: Lady of the Mote | December 12, 2008 at 06:54 PM
what a shame that the pocket warmers did not work. Could you maybe use rice like in those neck pillows?? Maybe less flammable...
The houses look very sparkly and sweet :)
Posted by: Heather | December 12, 2008 at 07:49 PM
Dang! You are having a totally crappy week! I hope your weekend is much better and that next week starts off without any incidents either!
Lori
Posted by: Vintage Whimsy | December 12, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Maybe you oughta just buy a BOX of wine, and stick a straw in that! No cork mess, and a bigger dosage.......Oh well, at least the houses turned out great :)
Posted by: MagiaMia | December 12, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Sorry about your handwarmers. I made some years ago and we are still using them. Your houses are very cute.
Posted by: Rabecca G | December 12, 2008 at 09:02 PM
I had something happen similiar, and it was a Martha Stewart plastic container.
I was heating up something in the microwave, I don't know if I left it in too long, but I started to smell smoke. The plastic container melted in the microwave. I haven't bought
any Martha Stewart containers since. LOL
Sorry for your bad experience. It must have been scary. Your houses are adorable!
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea | December 12, 2008 at 09:36 PM
I love love love the houses!!!!
Peggy
http://pegslifeinthebuttonjar.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Peggy | December 12, 2008 at 10:34 PM
I love love love the houses!!!!
Peggy
http://pegslifeinthebuttonjar.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Peggy | December 12, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Bummer! I wonder if your burned microwave smells worse than my dryer did after I exploded a feather pillow inside...while I was out picking my son up from school? Fortunately, I ran no extra errands that day and didn't burn the house down.
I'm sorry about the handwarmers. I hope you find a suitable substitute.
I thought about you the other day when I was out shopping with my husband and he lingered longingly at the Dept. 56 display. lol
Posted by: Tina in Duluth | December 13, 2008 at 06:55 AM
Wow!! After the week you have had, you need a drink!! Spiked eggnog anyone???
Posted by: Jenny | December 13, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Wow!! After the week you have had, you need a drink!! Spiked eggnog anyone???
Posted by: Jenny | December 13, 2008 at 09:30 AM
Oh my! (At least there were batteries in the smoke detector! I am bad about that.)
Posted by: Sarah | December 13, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Hahaha you crack me up! I love it when things happen at YOUR house and you write about it. But of course I do hope with you for a disaster free weekend! So sit still, close your curtains and enjoy!
Posted by: LiLi M. | December 13, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Hahaha you crack me up! I love it when things happen at YOUR house and you write about it. But of course I do hope with you for a disaster free weekend! So sit still, close your curtains and enjoy!
Posted by: LiLi M. | December 13, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Hahaha you crack me up! I love it when things happen at YOUR house and you write about it. But of course I do hope with you for a disaster free weekend! So sit still, close your curtains and enjoy!
Posted by: LiLi M. | December 13, 2008 at 12:45 PM