NewProject-Simplicity 8362

Started a new project for my youngest today since the last dress for her went to the older sister.  This is a cute, simple jumper (view 1) that a friend at church just gave me on Sunday.  It looks to be the right size, so we will see how it goes.  I am going to measure the length to make sure I don't need to add some for my TALL 12 year old.  I don't want it to be a mini-jumper.  I am using a really cute pink seersucker with flowers that I bought at Hancock this summer.  Will keep you updated on the progress.

Circle Skirts All Around

Tapestry Co-op moms--I have 2 multi-sized patterns for circle skirts that I will bring and here are all the fabrics I have that you can use if you don't want to buy fabric. Several are part polyester. Most are cotton based. Some are heavier than others. The one shot of multiple fabrics together is a bunch of lightweight materials that the girls can use for neck scarves if they would like. The red polka dot would also be for scarves or belts. Please email me and let me know if you are interested in any of this, so I can be sure to put your name on it. I have oodles of thead in every color of the rainbow, so you won't need thread. The colors may be a little different in person due to lighting. Bear in mind these will be worn in January most likely.

I have also included some pics of costume jewelry that I inherited when nanny passed away. I can not post all of it, for there is way too much. I will be glad to share this for dress up purposes though. All the earrings are clip on.

How much zucchini do you have?

Do you find bags of zucchini and summer squash in your car after church? Do you see baskets of it to be given away? These plants are usually bountiful and what do you do with all of it? One of our favorite recipes is Zucchini Bars.

2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup oil, 1/2 cup applesauce, 3 heaping tbsp drained crushed pineapple, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 - 2 cups shredded zucchini, 1 cup all purpose flour, 3/4 cup coconut, 1 tsp soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Beat eggs. Add sugar, pineapple, oil and applesuace-mix well. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add zucchini, coconut and pecans-mix well. Bake in a greased 13 X 9 for 30 minutes. Cool and ice with cream cheese frosting.

1- 8 oz pkg cream cheese softened, 1/4 cup butter softened, 1 ib powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla

Beat together cheese and butter until creamy. Add sugar a little at a time to avoid wearing it. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.

These are amazing and pretty healthy. One of the BEST ways to eat your green veggies!

Honey, do I look fat?

Well I just found out that I won the health giveaway from Jessica at Kusine.com. She had many neat giveaways and while I was hoping for the little cozies pattern book, God has sent a digital jump rope my way. It must be a sign. Giveaways are so fun. Stick around this week because I am going to be giving away a few things myself.

Enough thread already!

I have spent the day ORGANIZING! Whoa baby!  My scrapbook area is super tidy and I made it easy to find all my materials.  I used my 8 1/2 X 11 paper organizer to house gallon size ziplocks in hanging folders that are labeled with titles of topics I scrap frequently like family, holidays, boy/girl, etc.  I can easily put new stuff in and take stuff out.  I also color coded all of my paper.  Huge task for me.  I organized embellishments and buttons and it makes me feel so good.  My next little project tonight is to organize my embroidery floss.  My mom gave me this cream organizer and also a big Danish Butter Cookie tin FULL of floss.  I am trying to number and wrap them all so that it will be easy to find what I am looking for.  All these projects that I never have time to do during the school year are finally getting done!
On another note, I weeded and watered the garden this morning and it is really coming along.  I have blooms on my tomatoes and pepper plants.  The corn is about 10 inches tall and all my zucchini/squash and melon plants are growing.  Hopefully we will have a great harvest this year.  I am looking forward to putting up tomatoes.  I have been putting mowed grass around the plants and that is helping to keep the weed growth down-YES! Will have some pics soon.

Built by Wendy book

I was in Barnes and Noble and found this book "Built by Wendy-How to sew Knits" and it was a bargain for only $5.98.  It comes with patterns in the back of the book and is full of tips on how to sew knit projects.  Hope to turn some white with large red polka dot material into a cute sundress for the beach!

Kusine.com Giveaway

Check out all the great giveaways on this blog!

http://kusine.com/blog/2010/06/20/100th-post-blogstravaganza-giveaway/comment-page-2/#comment-598

End of June til who knows when projects-HA

I have a few projects going on right now that I really have no idea when I will finish. I bought some great Fisherman's Wool yarn at Micheals with my 50% off coupon. I have started a scarf for winter. We will see if that gets finished by the time cold weather gets here.

I am also working on some applique quilt squares for my mom. She has these cute 9 patch squares with yellow flowers and ladybugs. I brought these home from the retreat to work on. I really like applique. I will take these with me on vacation so I don't have to give up all sewing for a week and a half.

I am also working on making some soft books for church kids. I haven't taken any pics yet, but I have made some carrots and tomatoes for the book. I will take some once I get the basic book together.

Colette Sencha Blouse

I made this Saturday and the Colette pattern was really easy to work with. I bought it when they had their summer coupon-30% off. It is my first Colette pattern. I used a very soft, lightweight shirting material in a soft pink that I bought at Hancock. It was very inexpensive and I have never done button holes, so I didn't want to ruin any good material. It is a bit thin to wear alone, but I will wear it under suit coats or with cardigans. The only thing I had trouble with, was the overlap in the back. It showed pics of sewing the side that would have the buttonholes, but not the side for the buttons. I assumed you did the same thing to each side, but I really wasn't sure. It turned out okay. A few of my button holes are a little large, but not too bad. I cut the pattern out on the wrong line (size 6) when I thought I was cutting an 8. It fits, but I would like a little more ease in the hips. The top part is roomy around the neck. I think I will adjust it some when I make it again. Overall this was very easy to make. The pattern pieces match up perfectly and the instructions are pretty thorough. I will definitely make this again and I might make view 3 that has a keyhole neckline and a tie. I used some of the vintage buttons I had from my husband's grandmother. He didn't really like the cream buttons with the pink, but I can always change those.

Happy 16th Birthday Thomas!

My son turned 16 yesterday, so of course today he is going to get his permit. That will make teenage driver #2 in our house. Wow! We gave him tickets to the August-RUSH concert in Ohio. He loves RUSH. He is both a drummer and guitar player and he really likes their music. So dad is taking him at the end of August to see them live in concert. He is pretty excited. Concerts are not something we typically do, but nobody else really likes one particular music group so much. We had a great dinner yesterday and then a little different birthday cake. I made a German chocolate chip bundt cake. I found several recipes, but I ended up modifying it a little. This recipe only has 1/4 cup of oil in it. It is very moist and has great flavor. It looks pretty and it is super easy to make. Try it!

1 German chocolate cake mix- I used Duncan Hines

1 can coconut pecan icing- I used Betty Crocker

3 eggs

1 cup water

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup applesauce

6 ounces chocolate chips-I used minis

Mix together everything but chips and icing. Once combined, add in icing a little at a time until incorporated thoroughly. Add chips and mix well. Spray a bundt pan well. Bake at 350 for 40-60 minutes. My oven cooks fast, so mine baked for 43 minutes and it is so yummy! You can taste the coconut and pecans from the icing, but if you really want more you could use another can of icing as a glaze. Enjoy!

My mom always sends me the Kraft newsletter, but I don't always take time to look through all the recipes.  She sent me one the other day and this yummy little surprise was in it.  I made it this week and it is gone!  It was easy and ssooooo good!  If you want to know how to make this great summer frozen dessert-go here and enjoy! http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/oreo-frozen-peanut-butter-116603.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-rbe-_-20100608-_-1021&pf=true

Leeya Engel Tea in the Garden Guest Giveaway

Leeya Engel Tea in the Garden Guest Giveaway check out the neat giveaway at Grosgrain!

Simplicity 7655-House Dress Pattern 1968

I finished this Simplicity pattern today, which happened to be printed the year my husband was born-hee hee.  I was going to finish weeding the garden, but we had a lot of rain last night.  So it gave me a little time to sew.  This was a pretty quick pattern, even for me.  It was the first time I had ever done a collar.  Not so bad, but room for improvement. My 20" zipper went in pretty well.  Maybe they get easier the more you do them.  I still really don't like putting in zippers.  I just serged the edges of the pockets and zigzag stitched them on.  This isn't high fashion, it is for practical use. I wanted something to put on in the morning when I walk out to check the garden and the fruit, etc.  I didn't want to be in pajamas even though we live out in the country.  Sometimes you do see a car go by and I am sure they don't want to see me in my jammies.  My son wanted to know why I was making myself a hospital gown????  I showed it to him finished and he still hates it.  Oh well, he doesn't have to wear it!  I think I will enjoy it.  It is made of lightweight salmon pink cotton with tiny white polka dots. A nice breeezy house dress for the summer!

Butterick/New Look Almost Done!

This is the wackiest dress.  It would never fit my youngest, so before trashing both bodices, I let my older daughter try it on.  IT FIT!  So now she will wear the dress.  I switched the bodice of the vintage Butterick for a New Look 6966 size 6 bodice.  This is actually smaller than my youngest by bust size, but it still gapped at the front.  My dress form is really too large for both my girls, but it is closer to my older one's size.  I had to undo some of the back seam that I had already sewed in order to accommodate a 14' zipper instead of the 22" the Butterick called for.  This is all getting way too advanced for me and my piddly sewing skills.  I sewed up the tie belt today from the Butterick pattern and it looks really cute.  Alli wants me to hem it right above the knee and add eyelet trim to the bottom.  Maybe I will get that done tomorrow if she brings home the trim tonight. Here are some pics.