A Gift

My dear mother-in-law requested a pin cushion for her birthday.  She found one on Etsy she liked (this one), but wanted different colors to match her sewing room.  


Here is my version (Karen if you are reading avert your eyes!):

I think it turned out cute, although I wish it was a little rounder and less square.  I knew I should have made a trial run, but with limited craft time it's hard to do so.

I thought this little patch was a fun touch.  It certainly wasn't placed there to cover up a hole...


Perhaps if I find myself with some spare time in the near future I will make myself a cute pin cushion.  I love the old school tomato ones (like here, or here, or here)!

Homemade Play Dough

Today I decided it would be fun to make something with and for Ellie--play dough! 

I plopped Ellie in the sling so she could help pour the ingredients into the pot and help hold the spoon while I stirred.  I used this dough recipe (cutting the recipe in half) and was happy with the result.  Nice silky smooth dough that doesn't turn your hands as dry as a regular salt dough recipe.  It's pretty close to regular Play-Doh minus the smell (which many dislike, but I oddly like).

I loved how sunny the yellow turned out.  Once Ellie gets a hang of playing with dough I think we will have to make a few more batches so we have color options!

Progress

This is record time for me.  It usually takes me months to get to this point.  Having a simpler quilt block certainly helps.  

I've got the blocks done, here they are arranged waiting to be sewn.  Kinda bold crazy patterns going on, but I like it.  

Corey starts school again today, I hope I'll still find time somewhere for sewing!

DIY Magnetic Pin Holder

Many moons ago I lent out my cheap magnet pin holder to someone when they were working on a sewing project and never got it back.  While I wasn't attached to that particular holder, I did miss the convenience of it.

Months ago I stumbled across a simple magnetic pin holder tutorial and made a mental note.  I never did find a dish that I liked that much, but I did run across two miniature enambled cast iron skillets.  

Lightbulb.  An even easier DIY Magnetic Pin Holder.

You will need a metal dish of some kind, magnets (I prefer the stronger small ones), and pins.  Unless desired, no glue is needed.  If you don't use glue whatever you choose to use can be used for something else later.  First step:  put magnets in dish.

Second (and last) step: add some pins and bon appetit!

Side tangent I love Julia Child!

Speaking of

...the header contest... I thought about using it on this blog, but it didn't quite fit.  It's not very "peachy" if you know what I mean.  I like it too much to do nothing with it, so...


Would any of you like the header for your own blog?

If interested leave a comment with your blog title and if more than one person leaves a comment I will randomly choose a winner next week (let's say next Friday)?  

Winning

Isn't everything.  I was ecstatic to see my little header went so far (it made the top 7!), but alas I did not make the top 3.  It was fun anyway, and it's brought me some new bloggy friends.


Last week my little family and I had a fun trip to Utah.  It was such a breath of fresh air to be "home" for a bit, and we loved seeing our families.



My mother-in-law gave me an awesome pattern/panel of fabric.  She's not really sure why she bought it, but who wouldn't want an apron with a pig head on it?  I'm thinking this will make a great gag gift for Christmas.  Question is, should I made the original apron, or applique the pig head onto something else (sweater, tote bag, etc)?

While I was at my parent's house I dug through some boxes looking for something, and found a few fun things to bring back.  One item I brought back was this little elephant my grandma gave me.  It's old and a little dirty, but I think it's charming.  Maybe I will hang it on our tree this year.  

Who is excited for Christmas?!  I am one of those nerds who is excited for Christmas in February.  I love it.

Coming into focus

I love when you have an idea in your head and you start seeing it come into focus. 

I still have more rows to sew (if I'm being honest I still have more cutting to do) before I can start sewing the pieces together, but it's so fun arranging newly finished blocks.  Here's a glimpse at what the quilt will look like.

Quilt Progress

My colorful quilt is in progress!  I've decided to make a zig zag quilt similar to this one.  I wish I had a walking foot so I could attempt the gorgeous zig zag quilting lines Rita did on hers.  Maybe some Christmas I'll splurge and get one.  

I'm attempting to clean out a large amount of my white/off-white stash and scraps inventory to complete this quilt.  I promised Corey that next time we move I'd get rid of some of my craft stash (since moving is a pain), so I'm eager to use up all I can before next summer.

Lace Headband

Here is a small project I made with some of my vintage notions, a dainty lace headband!

If you desire to make one it's so easy!  You will need scissors, lace (I would suggest using stretch lace), and thread (or a machine).  

Measure and cut lace the circumference of your head (for instance mine was 22 1/2 inches).  Put ends together and fold 1/4 inch twice (so raw edges are tucked in), then stitch in place.

Done!  Easy as pie.

And just because I thought the packaging was funny:

You wonder who decided that was the best tagline in their marketing department?

Carbonara

I want to document vague family recipes so when I'm old and can't remember I'll have something to reference.  

Carbonara (or perhaps more correctly Carbonara Americana) was one of my favorite dishes growing up.  Actually it still is one of my favorite dishes.  It's like a fancier macaroni and cheese.  My Dad is credited with making up this recipe, spun from a mission favorite when he was in Italy.

Ingredients for 4-6 people (Rough Amounts)

-4-6 strips of Bacon, Cooked

-1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

-1 Egg, Scrambled

-Spaghetti Noodles

-Salt & Pepper to Taste

Directions

1.  Cook Bacon.  When cool enough to handle, break into small pieces.

2.  Mix cheese, bacon, egg, and a good few shakes of salt and pepper and stir together until everything is coated with egg.

3.  Cook spaghetti noodles to desired tenderness (I like mine al dente!), drain but don't rinse--you want your pasta hot.

4.  Put pasta back in the pot and turn heat on medium low.  Pour egg mixture in with noodles and start stirring fairly quickly(I prefer to stir with a fork).  Stir until cheese is melted, and then keep stirring until you see the egg is cooked (will see small curdles on noodles).

I should note that your pot is going to be pretty caked after this, but soaking in soap and water followed with using a scrubber will take it off.

Serve your carbonara immediately, and add more salt and pepper as needed.

Enjoy!

MADE Contest

I am seriously no graphic designer, but when Dana from MADE announced she was having a little contest to celebrate her 3rd year anniversary I couldn't help myself.  I love MADE (and the lure of a fabric gift card helped too)!  I've made so many things from her blog, I've been following it for years.

Here is what I came up with:

If mine isn't chosen as a winner I just might have to use it for my own header (with an updated name of course)!  It's so cheery, I love it.

Thrift Gems

Occasionally while looking around thrift stores I find some gems.

This particular day I convinced Corey to go with me (he hates thrift stores) after we got a slushie.  I love slushies.  Anyway, back to the point I found a bag of what most people thought was junk (Corey may contend that it was junk, but never you mind).  It was full of vintage notions (seam binding, buttons in a Sucrets tin, etc)!  It was a pretty large bag and only a few dollars so I snatched it up.

The lady who collected all this must have had some fun projects!  There was loads of pretty lace seam binding:

Fun sewing gadgets (most still in the package):

As well it looks like she may have made some of her own jewelry, there were many beading needles and necklace thread (I love the packaging):

I've already used some buttons and zippers in a project and have plans for more.  Also, to whom it may concern if I am to pass away before using all my pretty sewing things I have let Corey know he is not allowed to dump it at the thrift store, it is officially bequeathed to my sisters.  I would be so bummed if I never got to use these fun things!