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Archive for January, 2011

Carmen’s 6th birthday is just around the corner.  She and I thought a birthday dress should be next on my sewing agenda.  She loves just about anything cute, but particularly something pink and anything hello kitty.  Our local fabric shop had both!  Since she is growing faster than my poky grass in the lawn (gosh I really need to get out there with the plyers!),  I thought a pillowcase dress would be our best option.  That way, it’s a mid calf length now, then a shirt down the road.  I had the best of intentions to post instructions on making this dress.  After reading a few online tutorials, I definitely do it differently and promise to post instructions my next go around.  Unfortunately, I got really caught up in sewing and completely forgot to snap shots…what was I thinking?  On top of that, my beautiful canon was left in the Mr.’s SUV and drove off to work, which left me with nothing but my iPhone camera.  So truly, I own you better pictures and instructions!  Without further ado…

Carmen’s Birthday Dress

 

Something pink & Anything hello kitty with a Heart Pocket

My wonderful hubby bought me a new sewing machine last Friday, so I had the sewing itch.  After sewing Carmen’s birthday dress, she wanted more more more with the other fabrics in my stash.  I let her choose one combo and whipped in up last night so she could wear it to school today.  It’s honestly a blessing knowing how to take fabric and turn it into something special, loved, and able to make such an impact.  I remember hating my mom’s constant pestering to learn how to sew and now I am forever grateful for her teaching.  Many many generations of our family have sewn and I have been blessed with a step-daughter that I will hopefully be able to pass the tradition on to.  Now I get to be the pest…hooray!

 

Carmen’s Choice

 

Pink Poke♥A♥Dots & Cutie Elephants

Promise to pay back the IOU ASAP!

R

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The Stem Stitch

As you know, I’m working on another crazy patch baby quilt order.  The mama has chosen a dove applique in white.  She also wanted the baby’s name to be quilted on the quilt.  So I decided to stem stitch (yes by hand) her name, Hope – Anuhea, onto the dove.  I am considering adding some flowers too, but I need to think about it first.  The stem stitch is an excellent and simple way to embroidery names.  It can curve turns better than a viper in a high-speed chase.  Okay, maybe not, but you get the point.  I found this video online and it’s quite good at explaining how to stem stitch, so I won’t reinvent the wheel.  I’m here for help if you need it.  You won’t…it’s really easy!

Step 1.  You’ll need your choice of fabric, embroidery needle, and embroidery thread.  The thread will (normally) come as 6 strands of thread combined together.  Depending on the thickness you prefer or the look you’re trying to achieve, you’ll need to decide how many of the 6 stands you’ll need and separate them.  I will typically use 2 strands for names.  Note: I’ve had many friends get frustrated with embroidery because they didn’t realize not to use all 6 strands…pretty funny!  Get a disappearing ink pen, it’s marvelous!  Jot out your course.

2 Strands of Thread

Step 1

Step 2.  Set your marked fabric in an embroidery hoop.  You can get them at any arts and crafts shop.  They are handy & cheap!  I’ve recently seen some great wall art using embroidery & quilting hoops.   Refer to the video above and get stitching.

Step 2

Step 3. Patience.  Then badda-bing badda-bang…it’s finished.  Kidding, this was actually really quick coming in under 20 minutes.  However, depending on the size of your project and life in general, patience is a great thing to own.  You never know when you might need some.

 

Finito!

 

Have fun!

R

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do. Good Stitches Charity Bee

Every month I receive a new assignment.  December’s request came from Texas Freckles (how cute is that?).  Melanie is playing with warm and cool colors, hence the color play blocks.  If you feel inspired by her creation, check out the directions.  It’s a very simple and easy pattern to follow.  YOU CAN DO IT!

 

The Vision

My Contribution: Color Play Blocks

R

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I Love My Kids…Promise!

♥ 11 Step Program for Those Thinking of Having Children

 

Lesson 1

 

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

 

Lesson 2

 

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their…

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child’s breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

 

Lesson 3

 

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel…

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can’t get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

 

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

 

Lesson 4

 

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out…

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

 

Lesson 5

 

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this – all morning.

 

Lesson 6

 

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don’t think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don’t look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

 

Lesson 7

 

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week’s groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

 

Lesson 8

 

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

 

Lesson 9

 

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you’re thinking What’s ‘Noggin’?) Exactly the point.

 

Lesson 10

 

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying ‘mommy’ repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each ‘mommy’; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

 

Lesson 11

 

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the ‘mommy’ tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

 

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say ‘it’s all worth it!’ Share it with your friends, both those who do and don’t have kids. I guarantee they’ll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you’ll need when you become a parent!

 

YogurtLand ♥

They are worth almost every minute!

R

 

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Last night I made scrumptious homemade pizza, but the night before made it all happen.  I was doing my usual internet perusing, which usually consists of checking out new pictures from my flickr contacts, checking emails, fabric shopping, etc.  My tummy starting growling and that’s when I decided to check out Martha’s recipes for a quick dinner since she’s supposed to know how to cook.  Right?  I stumbled upon these Brown-Sugar Barbecue Chicken Drumettes.  I was pretty sure they did not comply with the pre wedding diet, but what the heck?  They just looked so yummy and easy.  Living in Hawaii allows us to grill all sweet year long.  So we chucked the baking and went straight for the grill thanks to the Mister.  Grilling is not in my repertoire of talents.  I’ll just stick to licking my fingers.  The drumettes are yummy folks.  I mean seriously yummy.  I did add chili paste because I need spice in my life.  I think that’s what did me over.  We had a lot of left overs…hmmm what to do?  Leftovers are great and all but I felt like reinventing.

So here’s what I did:

Homemade Pizza

Pizza Dough Recipe:

1 packet yeast

1 tsp sugar

1/4 c warm water

Mix all in a small bowl & let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.

5 c all purpose flour

2 tsp salt

3 T sugar

2 T olive oil

Mix above in stand mixer or large bowl until combined.

THEN…

Dump in yeast mixture and 1 3/4 c warm water to the flour mixture.  Mix well, then knead on low with dough hook for 5 minutes (or knead by hand 10 minutes).  Put the dough in large oiled bowl and let rise until doubled in size.

Portion out dough and hand stretch or roll to desired thickness.  Top with your choice of goodies and bake at 425° until brown and melty.

EAT!

We topped with canned spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, sweet Maui onions, mushrooms, spinach, tiny chunks for fresh pear , tomatoes, and deboned brown sugar barbecue chicken left overs.  It was sinfully delicious and I can’t wait for lunch time.  Can you say LEFTOVERS?

Enjoy,

♥ R

PS. Sarah K. passed on the pizza dough recipe.  She’s my friend and homemaker extraordinaire!

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Sweet Progress

Here it is.  I decided to hand stitch Hope-Anuhea on the dove applique.  It will take a bit longer, but worth the wait.  Until then…

 

::Dove Love:: Finished Top – Dove Applique

♥ R

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