They're so cute I just may make some for myself.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Felted Brooches
My Mom is a crafting genius. She went to Value Village and bought a Grey wool sweater, then she took it home and washed and dried it until it looked like it could fit Catie. Out of that tiny sweater we made these cute pins. It was a lot of Grey so she pulled out some red fleece and it was a perfect compliment.
Here's a close up of the individual pins (except the lone red one, I must have forgotten a close up).
They're so cute I just may make some for myself.
They're so cute I just may make some for myself.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Baby Stroller Re-Cover
My friend Teddi called me up and asked if I was interested in working on a project for her, and was I ever. This little baby stroller is adorable. Not a little umbrella stroller like we're used to seeing, this stroller was very similar in design to the full size navy stroller I covered here.
It started out like this and it was in pretty rough shape. The fabric was torn in a bunch of places and it was really dirty and just plain boring.
I took the old cover apart and used those pieces as my pattern. I then cut pieces out of my new fabric and put them back together. The solid pink is broadcloth that I doubled up and I finished all the edges with narrow pink bias tape, it's secured to the frame with heavy duty snaps. The original had a seat belt for dolls but it closed with D-rings. I can't really imagine a child being able to use D-rings so I replaced them with the kind of clip you'd use on a high chair. I know all my nieces love clipping and un-clipping those so I think it's a nice improvements. I think this stroller is adorable so I'm going to show you a bunch of after photos.
I put a doll in this one so you can see the size and how the belt clips.
Love how the handle changes position.
Now all I need to do is find another one of these for Catie because she loves it. She won't stop pushing it around and she keeps putting random things in it.
It started out like this and it was in pretty rough shape. The fabric was torn in a bunch of places and it was really dirty and just plain boring.
I took the old cover apart and used those pieces as my pattern. I then cut pieces out of my new fabric and put them back together. The solid pink is broadcloth that I doubled up and I finished all the edges with narrow pink bias tape, it's secured to the frame with heavy duty snaps. The original had a seat belt for dolls but it closed with D-rings. I can't really imagine a child being able to use D-rings so I replaced them with the kind of clip you'd use on a high chair. I know all my nieces love clipping and un-clipping those so I think it's a nice improvements. I think this stroller is adorable so I'm going to show you a bunch of after photos.
I put a doll in this one so you can see the size and how the belt clips.
Love how the handle changes position.
Now all I need to do is find another one of these for Catie because she loves it. She won't stop pushing it around and she keeps putting random things in it.
Friday, January 7, 2011
New Food Friday - Lettuce Wraps
I like food. Really good food. I like to cook and eat yummy food but sometimes (and I hope I'm not alone here) I get stuck in food ruts. I cook the same things each week or month and the really yummy food starts to seem ordinary and mundane. In an effort to get out of this food rut I thought I'd try out a linky party. Since this is the first week I don't expect a whole lot of participation but here's your warning for next week.
Here's how it works, this linky is all about new recipes. I'm challenging you to try a brand new recipe every week. Blog about it and then on Friday's you can come here and link up. Tell us if you liked the recipe, what you liked about it, what you would change about it and if you would make it again. Give us the recipe and a picture would be nice but not mandatory.
I've personally been doing this for a couple weeks, I've made some really good meals, some really blah meals and one really un-edible meal but I've loved the challenge. It's made me go back through my recipe books and choose something I've been passing over for years.
Lettuce Wraps
This week's recipe was technically made for the first time last week but I made it again this week because we enjoyed it so much. The only change I would make had nothing to do with the recipe, this is technically an appetizer. We ate it for dinner and while it was lots of food we ended up not feeling satisfied. The first time we ate this it was New Year's Eve and we had tons of appetizers so it was perfect, make it for an appetizer, not for dinner.
1 tsp cooking oil
1 Boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced into 1/2 " pieces (I used some shredded chicken I had in the freezer)
1/4 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup slivered onion
1 Tbsp slivered green pepper
1 Tbsp slivered orange pepper
1 Tbsp slivered red pepper
1/4 cup water
1 pkg Ichiban noodles (chicken) broken into 6 pieces
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts
1/2 Ichiban seasoning packet
1 Tbsp Hoisen Sauce
1 tsp liquid honey
1/8 tsp pepper
1/16 tsp chili powder
1/16 tsp garlic powder (I used a clove of garlic)
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
1 head Butter Lettuce
Heat oil on medium. Add chicken, scramble fry until no longer pink. Add carrots, onion and peppers. Stir fry until veggies are tender-crisp. Add water and noodles, stir. Cover. Simmer for 2 minutes until noodles are softened.
Add next 8 ingredients, stir until heated through. Transfer to a small bowl, set bowl on platter and surround with lettuce leaves. Have person spoon about 1/8 of chicken mixture into lettuce leaf. Roll.
Makes about 8 wraps.
This recipe starts off so lovely and bright.
Here are my peppers all cut up. Confession... I didn't notice how little of each colour pepper this recipe called for before I bought all three. Had I noticed I probably would have stuck with one but I'm glad I didn't notice. The three colours were so pretty and tasty.
My carrot and garlic grated together.
So for my chicken, like I said I used some shredded, cooked stuff I had in the freezer so I skipped the fry step. Instead I started by frying my veggies.
Once they were tender-crisp I added my Ichiban. Now the recipe says to break into 6 pieces but I really wanted it broken up a bit more, I'd do that next time (sorry the photo is sideways, I couldn't bear to fix it).
Once that was done I threw in my chicken and everything else and it looked yummy like this.
This looked much prettier on New Year's Eve when I put it on my Mother-in-law's platter but I had to make do with a cereal bowl and dinner plate this time.
To eat you take a lettuce leaf and fill it with the yummy stuff.
Wrap it up and eat.
This recipe was a huge hit and everybody was wowed by it. I'm sure it would be the hit of whatever event you took it too.
Here's how it works, this linky is all about new recipes. I'm challenging you to try a brand new recipe every week. Blog about it and then on Friday's you can come here and link up. Tell us if you liked the recipe, what you liked about it, what you would change about it and if you would make it again. Give us the recipe and a picture would be nice but not mandatory.
I've personally been doing this for a couple weeks, I've made some really good meals, some really blah meals and one really un-edible meal but I've loved the challenge. It's made me go back through my recipe books and choose something I've been passing over for years.
Lettuce Wraps
This week's recipe was technically made for the first time last week but I made it again this week because we enjoyed it so much. The only change I would make had nothing to do with the recipe, this is technically an appetizer. We ate it for dinner and while it was lots of food we ended up not feeling satisfied. The first time we ate this it was New Year's Eve and we had tons of appetizers so it was perfect, make it for an appetizer, not for dinner.
1 tsp cooking oil
1 Boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced into 1/2 " pieces (I used some shredded chicken I had in the freezer)
1/4 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup slivered onion
1 Tbsp slivered green pepper
1 Tbsp slivered orange pepper
1 Tbsp slivered red pepper
1/4 cup water
1 pkg Ichiban noodles (chicken) broken into 6 pieces
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts
1/2 Ichiban seasoning packet
1 Tbsp Hoisen Sauce
1 tsp liquid honey
1/8 tsp pepper
1/16 tsp chili powder
1/16 tsp garlic powder (I used a clove of garlic)
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
1 head Butter Lettuce
Heat oil on medium. Add chicken, scramble fry until no longer pink. Add carrots, onion and peppers. Stir fry until veggies are tender-crisp. Add water and noodles, stir. Cover. Simmer for 2 minutes until noodles are softened.
Add next 8 ingredients, stir until heated through. Transfer to a small bowl, set bowl on platter and surround with lettuce leaves. Have person spoon about 1/8 of chicken mixture into lettuce leaf. Roll.
Makes about 8 wraps.
This recipe starts off so lovely and bright.
This recipe was a huge hit and everybody was wowed by it. I'm sure it would be the hit of whatever event you took it too.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
A Blog Year in Review
I'm not a bandwagon jumper, normally when a trend starts I hop off and try to do something unique but this time I'm jumping up next to everyone else. On just about every blog these days you can find a list of most popoular posts in 2010 and I've loved reading them. Since I already have a list of those on the sidebar to the right I thought I'd share my personal favorites. Now I do have a favorites tab and so most of these will be repeated but I'm doing it anyway, hopefully you'll enjoy.
10. Office Chair Makeover
9. Bouncy Chair Re-Cover
I feel like this bouncy chair re-cover was the project that started it all. I'd never re-covered anything before but I loved the end result so much that it made me look at baby items with new eyes. This project took 7 hours the first time, I've since done another and plan on doing 3 more in the coming months. My time has gone down significantly.
8. Quilled Monograms
I did three of these this year and I loved them all. If frames weren't expensive and heavy to mail I'd do giveaway after giveaway so I had a reason to keep making them.
7. Craft Shelf
Ana White makes us all feel like furniture building pro's, thanks to her plans my husband and I built this shelf to organize all of my craft supplies, 8 months later I'm even more thrilled with it.
6. Quiet Book
I finished this book so long ago and when Catie was little that I almost forgot to pull it out now that she can finally do a few of the activities. So far she loves to pull the apples off the tree and that's about it. I've made this a Sunday church activity only so we don't play with it during the week but if I forget to put it away Catie will find it and carry it over to me so we can play with the apples. It makes me feel like all that time was worth it.
5. Door to Headboard
This super simple project had problem after problem but the end result was beautiful.
4. Stroller Re-Cover
I felt like this project was my finest work until this point. I was really proud of the sewing and the quality of my work and the before and after is still surprising to me.
3. Art Bucket Tutorial
10. Office Chair Makeover
Our dumpster chair got a makeover and looks so chic and is comfortable. This project turned out so beautiful but gets the number 10 spot since the paint never did adhere very well to the plastic. I learned though and I'll be smarter next time.
9. Bouncy Chair Re-Cover
8. Quilled Monograms
I did three of these this year and I loved them all. If frames weren't expensive and heavy to mail I'd do giveaway after giveaway so I had a reason to keep making them.
7. Craft Shelf
Ana White makes us all feel like furniture building pro's, thanks to her plans my husband and I built this shelf to organize all of my craft supplies, 8 months later I'm even more thrilled with it.
6. Quiet Book
I finished this book so long ago and when Catie was little that I almost forgot to pull it out now that she can finally do a few of the activities. So far she loves to pull the apples off the tree and that's about it. I've made this a Sunday church activity only so we don't play with it during the week but if I forget to put it away Catie will find it and carry it over to me so we can play with the apples. It makes me feel like all that time was worth it.
5. Door to Headboard
This super simple project had problem after problem but the end result was beautiful.
4. Stroller Re-Cover
I felt like this project was my finest work until this point. I was really proud of the sewing and the quality of my work and the before and after is still surprising to me.
3. Art Bucket Tutorial
So many project I do are just ideas I found from another blog but I felt like this idea was fairly original and turned out just how I'd imagined it in my head.
These chairs speak for themselves, the stencil added just the right touch.
Every time I get in the car I see this and I'm still so pleased with it. I think the fabric choice was a great one and like the stroller the sewing was quality and it ended up looking very professional.
A Video for Grandma
Grandpops and Grandma Wiebe found this cute toy that all the little girls loved. When they picked it up their arms would vibrate and wiggle, so cute. It was the hit of Christmas Day.
Sadly, it appears there isn't any sound so you can't hear the cute noises that went with her actions.
Sadly, it appears there isn't any sound so you can't hear the cute noises that went with her actions.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
What Catie Wore Wednesday - #17
I really tried this week but with it being Christmas and me forgetting our camera at home it was extra difficult. Sorry it's so bad, let's be honest and just next week is going to be just as bad since we're still out of town, we may skip it next week.
Wednesday (I think)
Polka Dot sweater - Superstore
White onesie - Carters
Ruffle Jean Skirt - Children's Place
Tights - Sears?
Yeti Boots - Old Navy
Saturday (Christmas Day)
She did wear real clothes for some of today but since the marjority of it was spent in pj's this is what you get.
Polka Dot Sleeper - Sears
And that's it. Two crummy photos is all you get, sorry.
Wednesday (I think)
White onesie - Carters
Ruffle Jean Skirt - Children's Place
Tights - Sears?
Yeti Boots - Old Navy
Saturday (Christmas Day)
Polka Dot Sleeper - Sears
And that's it. Two crummy photos is all you get, sorry.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A Menu Board & Hand Stamped Jewllery
Now that Christmas is over I can share two of the gifts that I made and was pleased with.
They both went to the same person, the first was a menu board. I made one for me here, but I wanted this one to be a lot nicer so I had some vinyl made up and I pressed that onto the inside of the glass so when you're wiping you won't need to worry about wiping over the letters.
I think it turned out really cute and the sharpie is fancy, you click the top and the pen comes out, like a ballpoint. No need to worry about replacing the cap.
The second gift is this hand stamped necklace.
The initials are for her daughter and it turned out so cute with the square disc behind, thanks KD for making it happen. I love it so much I'm making one for me soon.
They both went to the same person, the first was a menu board. I made one for me here, but I wanted this one to be a lot nicer so I had some vinyl made up and I pressed that onto the inside of the glass so when you're wiping you won't need to worry about wiping over the letters.
The second gift is this hand stamped necklace.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Project List
This post is really just for me. I'm still away from home but I was starting to think about my upcoming project list. I don't want to forget anything so I'm going to post it here, I can transfer it to my project board when I get home after new year's.
- Mandy's Car Seat Re-Cover
- Carla's High Chair Re-Cover
- Jody's Bassinett Re-Cover
- Faux Chenille Blanket
- Bouncy Chair Re-Covers
- Onesie appliques
Thursday, December 23, 2010
4 Things
We've gone away from home this Christmas which means I'm not at home with my craft supplies meaning there has been no crafting and no fun blog posts. We'll probably be here until New Years so posting will be light.
Michelle posted this cute Christmas list on her blog and I thought I'd post it as some Christmas filler, enjoy.
4 Christmas shows I watch:
1. A Christmas Story (it's even better if I get to watch it with my siblings)
2. White Christmas (although I always end up being surprised how boring it is)
3. Christmas Vacation
4. This year I watched Garfield's Christmas Special for the first time and it was pretty special, perhaps I'll have to add that to the yearly program.
4 Christmas things I am passionate about:
1. Music - in our house we've been listening to Christmas music since October
2. Cornbread on Christmas morning
3. Spending time with family
4. Not getting so caught up in the stress of everything. I try really hard to be relaxed about things and not fit in too much, we only do the things we want to do.
4 Christmas phrases I say a lot:
1. Merry Christmas!
2. Brad, what do you want for Christmas? (He's so difficult to buy for)
3. I'm excited for you to open your present (When I finally come up with something to give Brad)
4.What are your plans for Christmas? (the small talk of Christmas season)
4 things I have learned from the past Christmases:
1. Brad is really difficult to buy for
2. I'm a decorating scrooge
3. When making treats for the neighbors deliver them earlier. This year both neighbors on either side were out of town by the time I was ready to deliver their gifts.
4. Taking a 15 month old to a live nativity that's significantly busier than you expected (meaning you have to wait in line for 40 minutes before you can see a 15 minute performance and you won't really get to see the performance because the over tired and cold 15 month old will start to cry and you'll go back to the car and watch Sesame Street on your iPhone instead) is NOT worth the trip and will not leave you feeling anything but angry and frozen. This was the lesson learned tonight that I will carry with me for some time.
4 places I'd like to go for Christmas
1. I'd love to spend Christmas with my entire family, it's been at least 15 years since we've all been together.
2. I'd love to go to Hawaii. Out of all the places I've vacationed that was my favorite so I'd love to spend Christmas there with my family.
3. Next year I'd like to be right were I am this year only in our own house, not guests at my in-laws.
4. One year we went to Disneyland for Christmas. We camped and woke up Christmas morning in our tent, opened stockings and then went and rode rides all day. That was a fun day that I wouldn't mind doing again.
4 Christmas things I did yesterday:
1. Went Christmas Caroling with family
2. Helped eat a massive Toblerone bar
3. Packed up to be gone for 10 days
4. Delivered treats to the one neighbor that hadn't gone out of town yet
4 Christmas things I am looking forward to:
1. Being able to enjoy Brad's gift with him
2. Christmas dinner with all the Hudson's
3. Giving Renee and Rhiannon their awesome gifts
4. Helping Catie unwrap her gifts
4 things on my Christmas wish list:
1. A tart pan. It's been on my wish list for the last couple of years, maybe this is the year.
2. New tweezers for my serger (the ones I have are real crummy)
3. A palm sander (I happen to know this one is under the tree and I'm so excited to own my very own)
4. An olive oil dispenser for my dish soap. I love the way they look and have been so tempted to go buy one but since it was on a wish list I had to hold off. If Santa doesn't bring one I'll go buy one.
Merry Christmas everyone, I hope your day is lovely and filled with family.
Michelle posted this cute Christmas list on her blog and I thought I'd post it as some Christmas filler, enjoy.
4 Christmas shows I watch:
1. A Christmas Story (it's even better if I get to watch it with my siblings)
2. White Christmas (although I always end up being surprised how boring it is)
3. Christmas Vacation
4. This year I watched Garfield's Christmas Special for the first time and it was pretty special, perhaps I'll have to add that to the yearly program.
4 Christmas things I am passionate about:
1. Music - in our house we've been listening to Christmas music since October
2. Cornbread on Christmas morning
3. Spending time with family
4. Not getting so caught up in the stress of everything. I try really hard to be relaxed about things and not fit in too much, we only do the things we want to do.
4 Christmas phrases I say a lot:
1. Merry Christmas!
2. Brad, what do you want for Christmas? (He's so difficult to buy for)
3. I'm excited for you to open your present (When I finally come up with something to give Brad)
4.What are your plans for Christmas? (the small talk of Christmas season)
4 things I have learned from the past Christmases:
1. Brad is really difficult to buy for
2. I'm a decorating scrooge
3. When making treats for the neighbors deliver them earlier. This year both neighbors on either side were out of town by the time I was ready to deliver their gifts.
4. Taking a 15 month old to a live nativity that's significantly busier than you expected (meaning you have to wait in line for 40 minutes before you can see a 15 minute performance and you won't really get to see the performance because the over tired and cold 15 month old will start to cry and you'll go back to the car and watch Sesame Street on your iPhone instead) is NOT worth the trip and will not leave you feeling anything but angry and frozen. This was the lesson learned tonight that I will carry with me for some time.
4 places I'd like to go for Christmas
1. I'd love to spend Christmas with my entire family, it's been at least 15 years since we've all been together.
2. I'd love to go to Hawaii. Out of all the places I've vacationed that was my favorite so I'd love to spend Christmas there with my family.
3. Next year I'd like to be right were I am this year only in our own house, not guests at my in-laws.
4. One year we went to Disneyland for Christmas. We camped and woke up Christmas morning in our tent, opened stockings and then went and rode rides all day. That was a fun day that I wouldn't mind doing again.
4 Christmas things I did yesterday:
1. Went Christmas Caroling with family
2. Helped eat a massive Toblerone bar
3. Packed up to be gone for 10 days
4. Delivered treats to the one neighbor that hadn't gone out of town yet
4 Christmas things I am looking forward to:
1. Being able to enjoy Brad's gift with him
2. Christmas dinner with all the Hudson's
3. Giving Renee and Rhiannon their awesome gifts
4. Helping Catie unwrap her gifts
4 things on my Christmas wish list:
1. A tart pan. It's been on my wish list for the last couple of years, maybe this is the year.
2. New tweezers for my serger (the ones I have are real crummy)
3. A palm sander (I happen to know this one is under the tree and I'm so excited to own my very own)
4. An olive oil dispenser for my dish soap. I love the way they look and have been so tempted to go buy one but since it was on a wish list I had to hold off. If Santa doesn't bring one I'll go buy one.
Merry Christmas everyone, I hope your day is lovely and filled with family.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
What Catie Wore Wednesday #16
This week I did much better and I managed to take a picture every day. Catie wore some cute things this week and I swear she gets cuter every day.
Wednesday
White Long Sleeve Onesie - Carters
Green Rainbow T - Superstore
Jeans - Old Navy
Thursday
Yellow Sweater - Old Navy
Embroidered Jeans - Esprit
Friday
White Long Sleeve Onesie - H&M
Argyle Sweater Vest - H&M
Jeans - Old Navy
Beaded Socks - Made by Grandma West
Saturday
Blue Waffle T - Children's Place
Skinny Jeans - Children's Place
Yeti Boots - Old Navy
Sunday
Christmas Dress - Walmart (altered by Me)
Cream tights - Sears
Brown Shoes - Walmart
Monday
She thought she was so clever for sitting in the bowl :)
Pink Leopard Onesie - Carters
Ruffle Zip Hoodie - Carters
Jeans - Old Navy
Tuesday
Yeah, she wore essentially the same thing today and she may have slept in it too.
Pink Leopard Onesie - Carter's
Pink Fleece pants - Carter's
This was a set that came with the ruffle hoodie and it was a Christmas gift from Grandma, she looks really cute in it.
I'm going to link to
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Wednesday
Green Rainbow T - Superstore
Jeans - Old Navy
Thursday
Embroidered Jeans - Esprit
Friday
Argyle Sweater Vest - H&M
Jeans - Old Navy
Beaded Socks - Made by Grandma West
Saturday
Skinny Jeans - Children's Place
Yeti Boots - Old Navy
Sunday
Cream tights - Sears
Brown Shoes - Walmart
Monday
Pink Leopard Onesie - Carters
Ruffle Zip Hoodie - Carters
Jeans - Old Navy
Tuesday
Pink Leopard Onesie - Carter's
Pink Fleece pants - Carter's
This was a set that came with the ruffle hoodie and it was a Christmas gift from Grandma, she looks really cute in it.
I'm going to link to
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