Dealing with a crisis

Sorry, I haven't been here for awhile.
We (hubby and family) have been dealing with my father in law's death.
I'll get back to it real soon. I promise. Until then..... be kind to your family and friends. Never go to bed without saying I love you. And remember to give other family members a call to to check in with them.
The finally happens in a blink of the eye.
As we have learned this week losing Ed McManhn, Farrah Fawcet and Micheal Jackson and loved ones.

Bibs and Bears

You got to love bibs and bears. Bibs that look cute and also protect those so expensive baby clothes. Bibs can be really cheap and so it doesn't matter if you have to throw them away after several or several hundred uses. On the other hand they can cost a small fortune, depending on the name brand or the store where purchased. You can get bibs just about in any store that has a baby section. But I decided to make them for all the baby showers I get invites for.
Okay, I wanted something else to go with the little bib so I drew out this little 6 inch bear. Used matching fabric and embroidered a little face on the bear. Yes, I know the thing is not perfect but did you know that the Amish create a flaw in everything them create. It is their way of remembering that no one is perfect except the Lord.
Well anyways I think it's an adorable set for gift giving.
I've made at least a half dozen of them so far. All in different fabric to match the bib of the moment. I actually have 3 showers coming up really fast. Of course I will be giving other items too. But some of the things I've made have actually been passed down from friends and family children to their children.

Baby Talk

I've been busy this week getting some things done for the fall craft show. Several pair of felt booties. These are called Chinese Slippers. I hand embroidered around the top and straps with a purple embroidery thread and added velcro for closing. I designed the little bonnet from pictures and it was really easy after I got the correct measuremnets. The baby socks are a bit tricky to hold as you're sewing and I got the ruffle too long but I can fix that. I think the pdf file came from The Ribbon Retreat but I will have too double check it.

I got some instructions for the boutique style bow from Girly-Things and then did my own design. The little slippers came from doing a google for baby booties and then I altered the pattern a bit.

Lost in Cyberspace

I've been lost in cyberspace for days now. I went to one site to look for a particular pattern and started clicking on the links that were there and have been so caught up in all the blogs and the talent available. It is truely amazing what is out there for all the crafters and non crafters. If you need a purse pattern, something for a baby shower, a wedding gift, birthday gift. Just need something to do. Do you need to know how to fix something, make something. Need a good recipe? Just do a search and you will find hundreds if not thousands of links. If you have been searching for certain craft instructions, you begin to recognize certain sites and peoples regularly.
I have been on here all morning checking out http://blog.craftzine.com
Hundreds of things to look at with alot of directions.
You may have noticed I have added a link section on the right hand side of my blog.
I thought it might be useful to you as well as me.
I have also went to several sites that are in a different language. I have just found out that if you get the url then go to google translate and put that url in, it will translate it into your language. Now that is an awesome tool.
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I am suppose to be sewing today. I have been making lots of baby things for the fall festivals. I have gotta to be quite fast at making baby bibs with matching toys. Burp cloths and baby booties. My next project will be hair bows. But I need to go to Walmart and JoAnn's to get some supplies. I'll be posting pictures of some of my things early next week.

Fire Roasted Corn Soup

Did I ever tell you I have won awards for my cooking. At the regatta each year here we have a cooking contest. All the local restaurants pick some of their best items and show them off at the civic center. People come from all over the country for our regatta so Thousands of people show up for the "Taste of Charleston".
For the last couple of years my hospital cafe has entered the contest. Since I'm the cafe cook and caterer, it is my food. Anyway I thought you might like the recipe for my soup that won in 2007.

Fire Roasted Corn Soup:
2 cups of fresh or frozen corn
1 cup each of diced celery,onions,carrots
1 can of diced pimentos
1/2 cup of diced red peppers
4 oz. solid pack chicken base (boullion)
1 TBSP. cumin
1 tsp. garlic
1 tsp. cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp. cayenne
salt and pepper to taste
*note: go light on the salt since boullion is salty anyway.

Place all ingredients in large stock pot cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 2 hours.
If you have a cream soup base add this to soup using a whisk and following container directions and simmer for 15 more minutes.
If you donot have cream soup base (starter) you can make your own
1 cup milk and 1 cup of flour whisk together and then whisk this into 1/2 cup melted margarine or butter.
Then whisk this roo" into the soup same as if you were adding the cream soup base.

Make a salad and serve with mexican or regular corn bread.
Yummy!!!!

A Good Place To Rest.

My hubby and I went visiting recently. We went to our son's camp up in Clay,West Virginia.

He own's a bit of land with a very small cabin on it. Such a beautiful, quiet place to visit when things get a bit too stressful. This picture was taken from a small deck over looking the Elk River.

The over hanging trees lent an aura of seclusion. We watched a few fish swim past as well as a snake slithering through the water. We saw deer tracks along the river bank. By the time we left I felt at peace. Boy we're gonna have to do that again real soon. Hubby wants to go fishing there soon. Fine with me. Although I do fish some. I'll take a book and maybe some type of small craft to do and he can fish all day.

New Mother's Day Purse

Got up this morning and made this small purse. Along with the change purse and travel tissue cover. It took me an hour to draft the pattern and another 2 to make it.
It was fairly easy to make. Cut 2 panels of fabric 11 x 9 for the outer purse and 2 of the interfacing (rounding off the bottom corners). Cut 1 strip 4" by 25" for the gusset and 1 for the interfacing. Cut 1 strip 3" x 24" for the handle and 1 for the interfacing.
This will construct the outer purse. For the lining I cut 2 lining pieces 11 x 9 , 1 strip 4" x 25". And put them together like I did the outer pieces. I did add a pocket inside and a magnetic snap for closure. The tissue pack cover I found at about.com and the change purse is just two squares of fabric with a zippered opening.
I finished it and sat down. Dumped all my things out of my old purse and began filling my new one up. But even after down sizing the new summery purse was still too small for all my things. Such a shame! I guess, I'll be making a larger purse for my self after all. My little Mother's Day purse will be going into my craftshoww bin for this coming September Fall Festival.

Bitty Baby Shoes

I made another pair of baby shoes. I like making them and think they are really cute but I need to figure out a way to make a lining for the inside. I don't like the way the seams show inside. But they sure are cheap to make. I bought a 9x11 sheet of felt at Walmart for about .39 and made the little flowers from a bit of yarn I had laying around. If you would like to make a pair or two. Simply google your browser "How to make baby shoes", you will get dozens of instructions free.
I believe these were called Chinese Slippers. Although I didn't add the straps to the top.

The Color Of Ribbons

I was browsing the net today and came across this interesting tidbit.
I had no idea that every color of ribbon meant something.
So for those who didn't know either. Here ya go. Although if you look at the yellow...
I thought it meant something else. And Red means Heart Health.
Also add Red,White and Blue is U.S.A.

Another Outfit

Made another outfit for the youngest grandbaby. I used the same pattern as the previous picture of outfit. Just changed it up abit. She is growing so fast. My daughter can hardly keep her in clothes. So I went to Walmart and bought several yards of cotton fabric for $2.44 each. So the outfit cost me 2.44 plus tax. Not bad and it took me about 3 hours to make it. I wish I had more time in my day. Like everyone else I guess. I am also trying to work on some craft show items. Every year the fall craft shows sneak up on me so I'm up to midnight crafting for about 2 weeks before. Well, I decided that was not going to happen this year. But you can bet that.... I will be up to midnight every night for about 2 weeks before the shows any way. No matter how much I get done, it would be enough or I'll think it's not.

Making Gifts

I love making gifts for people. Here is a gift pack I made for a friend. She is all about animal prints. This tote has a hot pink lining with 6 pockets inside and 2 outside. I find it funny how people like different things. Some people would not carry this tote bag if their life depended on it. While others would find this the perfect tote. Fun and wild!
This tote is rather easy. Simply measure 5 inches by 12 inches cut 2 for the top. 6 inches x 12" for the bottom (you then cut out 2 inch squares from either corner on the bottom). The black strips between the zebra print are 1 1/2" x 6" cut 4 of these. The zebra print measures 4" x 6" cut out six of these. Next you would follow the placement of all by looking at my picture.
The lining is made by laying the tote panel down on the lining fabric and using it as a pattern cut out the lining. Add interfacing if you like to make it a bit stiffer. Handles get sandwiched between the outer tote and the lining. This is the accessories I made to go with the tote. A checkbook cover, a large change purse and a travel tissue pack cover. The inside of all also has the hot pink lining. The pattern for the change pursre and the checkbook cover are my own. How hard is it to measure a checkbook cover and copy the dimensions. The change purse was basically measure your zipper and add length to the bottom. The tissue pack cover came from doing a google search. There are tons of free directions for all 3 items on line. Google and search. It sometimes takes a bit to look through a lot of sites but it is always worth the effort.

You Gotta Love Aprons

I needed an apron. Or did I just want one?

Anyway I decided to make one. I used 2 different but matching fabrics. I cut the apron panel on the fold 18" wide by 20" long. I cut 5 pieces from contrasting fabric the length of fabric by 3 inches. I then started at the left hand corner and measured up 6" and across 6" then rounded the corner off. I did a gathering stitch on the top of the apron panel. Hemmed together 3 of the strips and ran a gathering stitch across that strip. I then hemmed the apron panel and attached the gathered strip around the hemmed bottom. I then sewed the 2 other strips together and pinned and sewed this strip to the top of the apron panel. Folded it over and made my belted tie.

I also added a small pocket to the front of the apron.

I think it turned out really cute but I think next time I will make it shorter.

It turned out looking like a longer version of a french maid apron.

Kinda retro and kicky.