Vacation is Here!

I am enjoying just staying home for my Spring Break!  I stayed up until the wee hours last night plotting and planning in my craft room and I have so many projects I want to do, it boggles the mind!  Summer vacation will be here before we know it so I will have plenty of time to work on all the things I have roaming around in my brain!

Just a nod to what I said in my last post about Spring weather coming-I spoke too soon!  It has been cold and windy and rainy/snowy here but I am not complaining because I really feel for the people who have withstood the destructive and dangerous Spring weather.  

The first thing I want to share with you this morning is a kick butt recipe that may sound a little silly but is awesome.   It is barbecue chicken pizza with a scoop of cole slaw on top.  I came up with this combo a couple of weeks ago and I must admit-it is a genius combo.  I start out with a Boboli shell, pizza sauce, barbecue sauce(it has to be Sweet Baby Ray's at my house), shredded Rotisserie chicken, shredded cheese of choice(I use the shredded Mexican blend I get in bulk quantity at Sams-I use this in all my cheese recipes) and shredded cabbage mixed to taste with mayo(I do this early in the day so it will be tastier and moister). 

I mix about 1/4 cup of the pizza sauce with a few squirts of the barbecue sauce and put it on the crust.  I must say this is not an exact science, I just eyeball it. In the same bowl, I mix some shredded cooked chicken with just the barbecue sauce and put it on the pizza.  Next I put shredded cheese to taste(I like alot!) and I put it in the oven for whatever the crust says.  All the components are cooked so you are just warming it.  

Put a scoop of cole slaw on it when it is warm and there you have it.  It is seriously yummy and addictive.  I love turning my favorite foods into pizzas.  I have quite a few recipes like that.  We usually have pizza every Saturday night and I try to make unique ones.  Last Saturday, we had this pizza and a white pizza with garlic infused olive oil.  I will share that with you next time. 

I also did some sewing last week that I want to share.  I whipped up a cute little pin cushion jar using a jar from some homemade strawberry jam one of my students had given me for Christmas this past year.  I used a scrap of fabric left over from my sewing machine cover.   You can never have too many pin cushions- I have them all over my craft room.  Plus, I think of Ava and her gift every time I use it! 

Now what is this you ask?  I made a cat tunnel for Mickey from Amy Butler's book.  I used minky instead of fake fur because she goes nuts for the texture of minky.  However she hasn't used it as a tunnel yet.  She has laid on it and dragged it around by the drawstring but she has yet to use it for its intended purpose.  I realize she may never use it.(yes I saw that funny look my husband gave me when I showed this to him!)  I am just a crazy cat lady who tries everything to make her happy.  Perhaps this phase

will end when I have grandchildren and I can make things for them-not that I am rushing things, my oldest is only 20! 

I hope everyone has a great week.  My husband mentioned a road trip perhaps Thursday and my favorite quilt shop may be a pit stop.  Here's hoping!  Happy crafting everybody and take care.  Nancy 

Beautiful Spring Weather and Some Sewing

It is early on this Monday morning and it is already 62 degrees!  Could it be we are finally putting Winter behind us?  I actually enjoy Winter but enough is enough!  Let's hope we turned a corner. 

When I first saw ruffled aprons in blogland, I was smitten to say the least.  Morgan at One More Moore did a tutorial on how to make one.  She gives great thorough instructions on her tutorials so I copied it off and planned to make one some day.  Well some day finally came!  I confess I am not the best gatherer(is that a word?) for making ruffles but I think it turned out cute.  I don't know if I mentioned it but my kitchen is all done in veggies-I have quite the collection.  I had these veggie fabrics and thought the vibrant colors would look really cool together.  I like it.  When I was arranging my craft room I found a kit to make a bug jar quilt that I had purchased off from ebay.  It has all the "I spy" veggie fabrics instead of bugs so it will look like canning jars with vegetables in them.  They are mini sized so it should be quick to make.  That may be something I could work on over my vacation-I have three more days to work(not that I am counting!) and I am off for a week and three days total. 

I also made this reversible tissue box cover yesterday.  The instructions are from Amy Butler and it was easy-I may make a few more!  My husband keeps the tissues on his bedside table because my side is always too full with pictures, remotes, hand lotion(you know the stuff).  So, for the last ten years or so, he had this large honkin box of tissues with a cardboard cover I covered with wallpaper samples.  It never covered the whole box and there was no reason not to down-size the box of tissues.  Well, it was time!  I change my comforter and curtains and pillows in my bedroom every six months.  I have a set for summer, and one for winter.  Now I can change the tissue cover too!  Isn't it funny how little things can make us giddy?! 

I think I finally took a picture of Mickey that doesn't look so stern!  She drags her toys all over the house and we frequently wake up and find them in our bed!  Shortly after I took this, she zonked out and I snapped this:

Isn't she something?  Pets add so much to our lives.  I just love her! 

I hope everyone has a great week and I hope it is getting warmer and Springy wherever you are.  Take care and happy crafting.   Nancy
  

And The Inspiration Continues...

Over the past week, I had plans-plans to make items from one of my favorite crafty books and even plans to make something from a pattern.  Well, I went where my creative daydreams were taking me and that is to blogland to try out more things I have read about from all of you creative and talented people!

For starters, I had fun making this ruffled scarf from MADE.  It included a technique I had been dying to try-smocking with elastic thread in the bobbin.  What fun!  It was easier than I thought it would be.   I was able to wind my bobbin with the elastic right on my machine-I didn't have to wind it by hand.  I didn't have to mess with the tension on my machine.  It just worked perfectly!  The most time consuming part was hemming the scarf before I gathered it with the elastic.  I didn't like the look my serger made on this fabric, so I hemmed it the old fashioned way.  I am wearing the scarf today.  It is summery and I would prefer to wear it with a dressy tshirt, but it is chilly and rainy here in the Northeast, so I am wearing it with a crew neck sweater. 

Another project I made was a mug rug.  I have read about these and they sounded so fun, I had to try one.  I found this "house version" on Fashioned By Meg.  It was so much fun to think about what fabrics would define me a little so this mug rug would be personalized.  I love toile so that was the roof fabric.  I used wood look fabric for the actual house so it would be like a cabin.  My sewing room shows through the window and the door is my shoe fabric because, as my husband will tell you, I am a shoe girl.  And let's be honest, Mickey had to be on there somewhere!  She is by the door.  I had a blast using my sewing machine's fancy stitches to put yellow tulips under the window.  It was a lot of fun.  I forgot the chimney though.  I had cute measuring tape ribbon all ready for it and I got so carried away with the rest, I forgot. 

One last thing I want to show you is this amazing Bloomin' Onion Bread I found on Your Homebased Mom.  It is crazy good!  I didn't have any green onions, so I put garlic powder in my melted butter that I drizzled on top.  Yowza!  I had a hard time stopping!  Luckily, I had made homemade beef vegetable soup to serve with it so there was some nutrition to counteract the butter, bread and cheese. 

I hope everyone has a great week.  All three of my guys have a head cold that is hanging on so I hope that will be leaving us soon.  I am counting down to my April break from school.  I am hoping to get to my favorite quilt shop, Mission Rose, during that vacation.  Take care of yourselves and happy crafting.  Nancy
   

Almost April

Hello everyone and happy Monday.  I am just coming off an incredibly awful case of the flu and I am still not 100%.   I came down with it last Wednesday and missed Thursday and Friday from school.  Just yesterday I was able to be on my feet for more than half an hour at a time! Talk about feeling like being hit by a truck!  I missed being able to attend my mother in law's birthday party Saturday night.  I was sad to miss it because I genuinely love her to pieces.  She has been like a Mom to me since my own Mother's passing 4 years ago.  Somehow, I was able to throw together an easy dessert to send with my husband and youngest son(my oldest had to work but stoppped by afterwards) I have been making these cakes for some time and they are easy, versatile and so good.  All you have to do is bake your cake mix of choice(this one was strawberry) in a jelly roll pan for 20-25 minutes.  Let it cool.  prepare either 2 regular size or I large box of instant pudding(this was banana) and set aside.  Cut up your cooled cake into small cubes.  Put a layer of the cubes in a 9x13 pan or 2 8x8 pans or a trifle bowl.  Layer the pudding in there finishing with cake cubes.  Take a large container of frosting(this was white) and transfer to a glass bowl or measuring cup.  Put in the microwave and heat at 10 second intervals until it is of a glaze consistency.  Drizzle over the cake.  Refrigerate and that is it!  Super easy and my favorite combo is the Boston Cream flavor-yellow cake, vanilla pudding and chocolate frosting.  Yum!     

Believe it or not,  I took advantage of feeling a little better yesterday by sewing.  I have had these pot pinchers prepped for some time to sew.  I finished them up yesterday.  I followed a pattern by Vanilla House Designs and they were not too difficult.  I made bias tape again with my bias tape maker.  I love that little machine! The sandwich of insulbrite(2 layers) and top and bottom fabric was a little bulky to bind with the bias tape, but I did as I usually do: I hid my mistakes with rik rak!  They turned out cute and they actually work.  They match a tea cosy I made last summer.   Don't they look like little scuff slippers?!!  Thanks to hubs for modelling-no those hairy arms aren't mine!!

I wanted to mention a few giveaways I am entering so you can check them out.  Moonlit Stitch has an adorable Springy prim giveaway.  Rusty Thimble is giving away a Spring chick-very prim and cute.  The Primitive Outhouse has a good old fashioned guess how many jelly beans in the jar giveaway-don't miss it, and Cedar Creeks Prims has a cute giveaway of prim eggs and carrots.  Everyone of these giveaways is exciting and best of luck to all who are entering.(please excuse the lack of links-I am putting it on my list to learn that whole"link up" blogging thing.  I have tried and I don't know if it is me or my blogging format that is resisting but I will get to the bottom of it soon!)

Dancing With the Stars premier last week was great.  I was blown away by Kirstie Alley, the Karate Kid guy and the football player.  It should be a great season-can't wait for tonight!  

I hope everyone has a healthy and happy week.  Take care and happy crafting.  Nancy   

Spring Has Sprung

Is everyone getting Spring Fever?  It sure seems to be on its way here in the Northeast.  My husband is deep into March Madness, watching many college basketball games.  He has been readying our four wheelers for the fishing trips coming up soon.   My 16 year old is learning to drive, courtesy of my husband who has nerves of steel!   My 20 year old got his basketball net out and filled the base with water, convinced he was safely past the freezing days of Winter.  And me, well I am contemplating how to lose these annoying extra pounds that make shorts season not as fun as it used to be.

I made a wonderful Beer Cheese Dip this past weekend and it was a huge hit.     

Soften 2 8oz. pkgs cream cheese.  Beat until fairly fluffy.  Add 1/3 cup beer(nonalcoholic if you choose) and 1 pkg ranch dressing mix and beat until smooth.  Stir in 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.  That's it.  Easy right?  Just serve with pretzels or raw veggies.  Yum-o!

I also continued on the path of getting to know my serger.  I made this cute quilted cosmetic case(I may use it for my sewing machine feet instead of the plastic zip-loc bag they are presently in!)  I had to cheat a little and use my regular sewing machine to put in the zipper because I didn't realize that I don't have the piping foot for my serger.  It didn't come with it and it is required for putting in a zipper.  It turned out cute and was really easy.  Next project is a pillowcase with or without a ruffled band-I may make both to get the practice.  I am enjoying the journey.

Many of you asked about the fabric I used on my sewing machine cover.  I purchased it at JoAnn Fabrics and I went back and asked them for the numbers needed to purchase or order the fabric.   It is called Vintage Sewing and is 44" and the number is:1040-7427.  The girl said you could order it at any JoAnn.  

My new Tempurpedic cloud bed arrived and is way firmer than I thought it would be.  The support is nice.  We wake without any aches and pains, but we desire a little more softness so we are in the process of purchasing a mattress topper to put on it for a little softness then we will have the best of both worlds.  

Dancing With The Stars premiers tonight and I am excited.  Kirstie Alley is who I am looking forward to see.  I hope she sticks around for awhile.  

Take care everyone and have a great week.  Nancy   

Following Tutorials from Blogland

I hope everyone is having a happy Monday and a great start to the week ahead.  I know, I know-happy and Monday in the same sentence seems like an oxymoron.  I'm with you on this thought, but I am trying to project a positive light on the start to my week(in hopes it will fly by!)

I made a couple of projects this past week.  The first one is one I have almost bought and decided to take a stab at making-a purse organizer.  I do like to change purses and find it difficult because I have too much stuff in my purse.  Also, my purse was becoming an embarrassment at checkout time in stores.  I was constantly digging for things.  Here is the before:

I know-crazy! 

Here is the after:                                                                                                                                          

I am hoping I can keep this up.  So far so good.  I think this will be even more effective in one of my slightly bigger purses.  I followed a tutorial from Hope Studios.  Jennifer used a pretty print for hers while I chose a khaki neutral.                                                                                                                                               

Thanks Jennifer for sharing a great project. 

I also made a scarf from Ruffles and Stuff.  I decided to use some plaid fleece I had on hand(that matches my camel tan coat) and I think it turned out cute.  Using fleece made it slightly more bulky to put buttonholes in so after 8 failed attempts(and some natural frustration), I gave up and put snaps on as the fasteners but I still used the buttons as a decorative touch.  What do you think?

I am loving how different it is.  I am always knitting my scarves and this is a change-up on my usual.  I like shaking things up a bit! 

Once again, I am so happy I have discovered all the wonderful blogs I frequent.  I have learned so much from so many of them.  It has been such an enriching experience.                                                            

My husband and I are excited that our new Posturpedic bed will be delivered this week.  As we get older, our aches and pains can prevent us from getting a good night's sleep.  Because we spend so much of our life sleeping, I felt it was a good investment to get a really good bed.  I will let you know if it is as good as they say.

Also, I don't know if anyone else is a fan, but Destination Truth has its season premier this Thursday at 7:00.  It is a special live event.  I have been a fan since the beginning and I am excited.
  

I hope everyone has a great week.  I hope you can take the time to do something you enjoy.   Take care.  Nancy                                                                                              

Winter's Last Stand

Well at least I am assuming it is Winter's last stand here in the Northeast!  I woke up this morning to a fabulous 2 hour delay at my school-a nice little gift that allowed me to actually feel like exercising when I could take the time to ease into it.  I enjoy the coziness of Winter.  My poor husband thinks that may because I am not in charge of the snow removal!  He may be right.  I think some nice Spring weather should be right around the corner which should boost everyone's spirits around here.

I have been sewing up a storm.  There are so many projects I want to do.  You know from previous posts how much I LOVE the One Yard Wonders book.  Well, there was a sewing machine cover in there I have been wanting to make.  I had the perfect fabric for it and this one actually would fit because I paid attention to that minor detail!  Here it is in all its one yard wonder glory!      

I love the pocket in it.  It turned out great and was really easy.  I am debating making one for my new serger.  The shape is really odd so I may actually have to calculate(oh no) but I may tackle it.  I have another yard of this adorable fabric so they would match.

                                                                                        

I also made this glasses case.  I found a pattern in the Pretty Little Cozies book.  I probably didn't need a pattern for this but I love looking through my books for inspiration and the fit is perfect(which it may not have been if I had winged it)  I used a chenille scrap for the lining so it would be super soft and I chose this small project to do something I have always wanted to try.  I dropped the feed dogs and did some free stitching on the tea pot applique.  It was fun.  I think I would practice quite a bit before doing a quilt like that but this was a perfect way to introduce myself to that technique.  I thought I had a special machine foot for it but I couldn't figure it out so I just went ahead and did it with no foot at all!  I don't know why but I am always so proud of myself when I do something different that I have put off forever.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.  Happy crafting and take care.Nancy