Hats for Caleb {GOOD CAUSE}

Hi all,



I have a good friend, Emily who lost a son to Leukemia 2 years ago.  In memory of Caleb, she is getting together to make hats to donate to people who are affected by cancer.  I thought it was such a great idea that I wanted to make it a little larger.  Now she has no idea that I am even doing this and may get in trouble for this.

Here is what I am requesting:

Please if would be willing to donate your time and talents by crocheting, knitting, whatever you can do.    Any kind of hat will work; mens, womens, kids, ball caps, stocking hats, wide brimmed sun hats,  turbans, headbands, anything you can wear on your head, we will take anything.

We will also take any decoration to add to the hats; ribbon, flowers, beads, whatever would be great to decorate or embellish any kind of hat.

The event is going to be held on April 26th.  So if you could work feverishly this week and put them in the mail to me, I will the rest.

This is a really GREAT cause because probably each one of us knows at least one person who has been affected by cancer.  Emily will then take them to Hospitals and Care centers.  Please let us help those great people who perhaps need a little encouragement and something to make them the beautiful person that they are.

Please Mail all hats or embellishments to:

Brooke Crandall
390 Troy Ave
Idaho Falls, ID 83402

Heart Quilt: Sew-vivor Audition

The Heart Quilt



Here it is.. I am so excited for the Sewvivor Competition.  I get excited about little things like this.  This is my audition piece.  Here's for hoping..


 

Disney-ized Hoodie Towels

I know that you probably know how to make hoodie towels.  That's okay. I added a little customization to mine for some gifts. Here they are. I thought they turned out cute. 

It is a regular size towel and a hand towel.  I cut off part of the hand towel so it is not giant.  For the Minnie and Mickey towel I used felt.  The Daisy duck towel is mostly cotton and some flannel.  It was a lot harder to put together and I layered it together.  Fun, Fun and I hope the receivers enjoy.

Linking Up Here:

Sew Much Ado
504 Main

The recipe that I am going to share is a favorite.  My husband went on a mission to the Philippines for two years. While he was there he had Lumpia often.


Lumpia
1lb ground beef
1lb ground pork or sausage
1 medium onion diced
1 bell pepper diced
1 large carrot shredded
Salt and pepper to taste
1pkg won ton wrappers or egg roll wrappers

Mix everything together in a bowl.  Take about 1-2 tbl of meat mixture in wrapper and roll up. Once all are rolled cook in oil 4-5 min or until done. Serve with rice and dipping sauce.

Recipe for dipping sauce

1/3 cup sugar
2 tbl cornstarch
3 tbl white vinegar
3 tbl rice vinegar
4 tbl ketchup
2tbl soy sauce

Mix sugar and cornstarch together well so there are no lumps. Once mixed up add in all remaining ingredients and bring to boil. Let boil for a minute or two then bring off heat. Serve with Lumpia.

Heart Quilt

 It has been an extremely long while since I have posted.  I work full time and it is hard to manage all of it together.  In addition, my husband is in school and I have a 6 year old and a 4 year old.  I have decided to go back to posting a couple of times a week.  The posts will just be simpler. 

Here is the heart quilt.  I initially found the pattern for this quilt on Ucreate.  That was about 2-3 years ago.  I made this quilt right after that.  On Ucreate, the picture took me to a link of another website.  I apologize as I don't know where the initial pattern came from.  It was actually really easy.  The hardest part, I would say was cutting the hearts out.  The hearts are not appliqued on, just sewed on about a 1/4 inch inside the outside edge, so it will fray a little after it is washed.  I used all scraps in my stash.  I know that is a lot of scraps! 

On the back, I did a basic allover print, but wanted to add a little something.  I put a strip of contrasting fabric going both directions.  So on the back, it had two pink strips perpendicular to each other and offset from the middle.

The pink on brown between the hearts is gathered satin ribbon.  On the original pattern, it called for jumbo rick rack.  But upon my pricing of rick rack and finding it was a little costly, I just thought of something that I had on hand.  The ribbon was a little challenging to gather.

I have had this in my stash for a couple of years now wondering just who to give it too.  I thought about keeping it, but since I don't have a baby to snuggle, I gave it away.  I gave it to a girl in my ward, that just had her 4th girl.  I thought being the 4th girl in a family, she may wear hand me downs and I would want something just her own, if she was mine.  So now she has something just her own.

The bonus:  I still have more than enough scraps to make another in the same colors or different.  Believe it or not I am not a hoarder!

linking up here:
Nifty-thrifty
Skip to my Lou
Sumo's Sweet stuff

News of the day...I have decided to return to posting.  Nothing big, small and simple.  I will post three times a week, hopefully.  Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  One will be a sewing post, one will be a recipe post, and the other, I am not sure yet.  Any ideas?  It could be anything.. that I have some knowledge on.  I will begin next week.

Cowboy Table Runner

Here this is again.  Well, I got this crazy idea to enter a competition...a sewing competition.  It is over here.  It is called "Sew-vivor".  I entered this sewing project that I made.  We will see how this goes.  Next week they will post the Top 10.  I know, crazy, but a whole lotta fun.

This was something I made for my family reunion auction.  A little complicated but totally doable.  First, I found pictures that I printed off the internet in the size I wanted.  I then pinned them to a piece of white fabric and started cutting the outline.  I had to be careful on the small pieces to make sure I didn't cut them off.   I put wonder under on the appliques and ironed them on and then zig zagged around each piece.  Then I found red cowboy fabric in my sisters stash and made a border and a back.  I put a thin layer of batting between and pinned it all around.  I used my machine to do the stitching.  It was fun, but definitely my first time, and you can tell so don't look too close.  When I was done with that, I used bias tape for the binding.  Mostly because I was in a hurry.  But then I had to do it twice cause the first time didn't work to good, so I might as well have used my own bias tape.  Oh well, you live and learn right.  I really liked how it turned out.  It took a long time and only sold for $6.  Definitely worth more,  but it's a family thing, so I can't complain.

Playing Catch UP

When you work full time, it is hard to get things done.  Not necessarily the big things, the  little ones like laundry, homework, cleaning.  You know all those things.  Trust me, if I made sewing a goal to accomplish, I wouldn't have a problem getting it done.  It's the things you don't do that you have to work on.  Blogging is one of them.  I used to have lots of time to work on projects and blog about them.  Not so much any more.  I work on projects when I want to.  What I don't have time for is the pictures of every detail and blogging in a way so other people can understand it.  Are you with me?  The reason I haven't blogged for so long it just that.  It took me hours not only to make the project, but then to do pictures, and blog that it became a chore and not fun anymore.  So, I stopped.  I will still  post here and there but not tutorials, just pictures of the things I have made.  If you have questions, email and let me know I can always clarify.  I just don't have the time to be fully involved.  And the better thing about it.. I am okay with it.  Blogging is never my priority and probably never should have been.  It took time away from my kids and that is time that you can't have back.  So without further adieu...here are some pictures of things I have been doing over the last few months.

And gosh that is the only picture that I have.  I actually have been doing something, I just don't take pictures either.  Oh, well.  That what happens when life happens.

Time...

I am so behind on everything.  I have making shirts and shorts out of the hubs old stuff for the boy, dresses for the girl.  Blessing dresses for the babes, cleaning my sewing room, I don't so much have time for tutorials but I can show pics.  Just not today.  When I get back on top of things I will post something good.  It may be awhile.

Pink Ruffle Cake

Looking for the Sew into Spring Link Party?  It's here: Party

My Daughter's birthday is tomorrow and so on Saturday we had a cousin, family party.  I started making fancy cakes like a flower, a carousel, a butterfly when she was two. It doesn't matter how bad they turn out I still continue to make them.  I am really pleased with the results of this years cake.  I write this like I was in a contest.  Maybe in my thoughts.  Anyway, I saw this cake originally posted on The Pioneer Woman and the true link is from I am Baker.  She bakes and does some cool things.  But when I saw this cake I think I may have drooled a little bit.

See...Drooling a little aren't you.  Anyway,  here is my creation.  I couldn't go down as far on the plate as I would have liked because my cake plate had a lip thing on.  It was pretty easy as far as cakes go.  The one thing I did learn is that you can't have a warm house or your roses slide off the cake and melt.  A little time in the fridge fixed that though..

Without further adieu....

Linking up here:  Today's Creative Blog

It's Time to Party!

I am so excited.  April 15th has arrived and it is time to party!  I will be here and there posting some of the things I have been making for my kids.  I have had a few mishaps in my sewing lately but hopefully I can fix them and it won't be a big deal or noticeable.  So..without further adieu...

Here are the rules:

1.  Please use my button and post it on your site so we can spend the news.
2.  It must be a sewing item, preferably clothing but I am not going to be too picky.
3.  Please leave a comment on others items so we can all feel loved.

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BROOKE

Let's Party!!

Okay, late time I talked about having a party.  Let's do it!  Here are the rules.  It will start on April 15 and run until May 15.  We are going to call it Sew into Spring.  Here is what it is all about.

I am on a limited budget and my kids need summer clothes.  So I decided that I wanted to make as many clothes for my kids without spending tons of money.  So all of you sewers out there, get on your sewing cap and start sewing.  You can sew, glue, refashion, upcycle, really however you want to do it as long as someone can wear it.  No pet clothes. 

Let's get started.  Ready, Set, GO!

Busy, busy, busy

I just wanted all of you who ever check this blog, I have not forgot about it.  I do intend to post again someday.  I don't know how diehard bloggers do it.  If you know the secrets, let me know.

I work full time at a job outside my house.
I have two kids ages 4 and 2.
My husband had double hernia surgery awhile ago and is mostly recovered.
My husband also started school on the same day he had hernia surgery.
I can only park one of two cars in our two car garage.
We are finishing a master bedroom and bathroom above our garage.
I still have to cook and clean and do laundry for my family.
I am not a night owl, I like to go to bed by 10pm. Old huh?
I am not a morning person either. 2 pm is good, i think
I don't exercise, cause I am lazy, need to, people are wondering if I am prego

I am not trying to complain about my life in any sort of way.  I have a wonderful family who is very supportive and loving.  My life is good just a little cuckoo.  Sewing and crafting has really just become a thing of the side and not too often.  I am sorry to neglect this blog, however I have realized my priorities especially my top ones don't involve blogging everyday for hours.  They involve a 4 and 2 year old, husband, work, and making life work how we can.  Do our very best at it and learn to like it even though it is not ideal.

I do have lots of plans and ideas though.  When I finishing my cooking, cleaning, raising kids or lets just be honest.  If I have a spare moment when I don't want to do the other things I will sew.  I do have some before and after pics from our house remodel and some building projects and I had a thought to see how many clothing items I can make my kids for summer without spending a buck.  Do you think I can do it?  Would you be in if I had a party?  What should we call it party?  No names come to mind.  Let me think about it for a week or so.  Then maybe in mid April we can get this party started.

Thanks for stopping by those who are devoted or just happen across this blog.  I really do love my followers and sorry that you feel neglected.

Goals?

I think that we all make goals to one degree or another.  Many make resolutions but a goal and a resolution to me are really one in the same.  I make goals every year, probably every day.  My every day goal list really is called a to-do list but I jot down the things I would like to accomplish that day.  

Last year about spring time, I made this full page, typed out list of things I would like or needed to get done on the yard and house.  Some were little things like clean furnace room and some were very large like finish house.  Some got done (like furnace room once upon a time) and some didn't (like the house).  But it is really a list of goals I would like to work on to accomplish.  I hung that list upon the fridge and kept it there for about 6 months.  In that time period, a lot of those things did get done.  When I took it off the fridge not nearly as many go done because I no longer saw everyday, every time I opened the fridge.  When I saw that list, I wanted to cross off as many things as I could.  Deep down, to be able to cross one item off the list just felt so good.  

Since I am a list person and you all know I make lists, it feels good to be able to write those things down.  I make lists in my head all day long but then I forget about them and they get filed away somewhere up there most likely never to be found again.  

The whole point of this rambling story:

It is good to have goals or things you would like to accomplish, even if it is just for the day.  This way, I think I stay focused on the project at hand and am less likely to let the ADD in my brain take over.  

So for 2011, I want you all to pick one word that is going to sum up the year 2011 for you.  Think hard and it can be whatever you want it to be.  Leave it as a comment and then attach that word to the top of your goal list and put that goal list somewhere you can see it everyday, several times maybe.

My word:  FOCUS

Reminds of a story that President Uchtdorf told in a talk about a plane crashing into the Everglades and killing all those on it.  It going something like this:

There was a plane flying over Florida area when the pilot notices a red light started flashing.  They (him and copilots) were so focused on why this red light was flashing that they did not realize that the plane was slowly descending.  They did not realize how much they had descended until it was too late and crashed into the Everglades.  Sad story but the parallel to our lives is that we tend to focus on so many little things that we may not think are little that we miss the big picture of what is really happening.

For me, I am so busy doing all of my little things (primary, work, dinner, managing life) that I miss what I need to be focusing on (my kids, my family).  Get it?

Anyway.   My list of goals for 2010.  Not listing them all because you probably all don't need to know.  But keep me accountable on the ones I do list.

1.  Give my kids the gift of me

2.  Exercise and eat healthier for my family

3.  Read and study scriptures daily

4.  Attend temple regularly

5.  Be okay with who I am

That is good for right now.  I could add a million things onto that but start small and simple and add later.  And I know I have said this before, but everyone really should read "the Happiness Project".  Great book, I am not saying that you all are not happy but she really does have some great insights on a lot of things.  

Good Things:

1.  Goals

2.  Health

3.  Family who helps a lot

4.  Love

Sweet Potato Casserole

Here is a recipe from another sister, I am not sure where she got it from.  So good.  My husband hates sweet potatoes but he ate this and said it was good.  It is that good.

3 cups sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 T melted butter
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Topping
4 T melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:
Cook sweet potatoes, I put mine in the oven until they are well cooked let them cool and then peel off skins with my fingers no knife needed.  Put them in a bowl add rest of ingredient (minus the topping ones) and mix together with mixer.  It will be creamy.  Fill a casserole dish.  Then mix together topping ingredients and spread over sweet potatoes.

I probably use twice as much sweet potatoes as called for so I get more vegetable value and sugar.

Enjoy!

Once you make these, you will never go back.  Trust me.

Pomegranate Salsa

Here is a super delish recipe that one of my sister's made a year or so ago and I could eat the whole thing.  You can't judge until you try it.

3 T Fresh squeezed lime juice
2 T honey
1/2 tsp salt
2 med avocados peeled and diced
2 med oranges, peeled and sectioned
1 pomegranate seeded
1/4 c sliced green onions
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced

Here are the real instructions.
Mix lime juice, honey, and salt.  Dump avocados into this mixture.  In a separate bowl, peel and section oranges and then cut them into chunks.  Seed the pomegranate and put the onions, cilantro and jalapeno pepper into the oranges bowl.  Finally pour the lime mixture over the pomegranate mixture and toss.

Here is what I do.

Dump all into a bowl and mix until well mixed.

Serve with chips.

Hint:  Cut your pomegranate in half and fill a bowl of water and seed under the water.  It is much easier to get them all out under the water.

Enjoy in the delish!

Summer shirts to....Winter Shirts!

I am so excited about this one.  I have had this in my head for a long time and now it's out. 

Have any of you noticed the trends with long sleeve shirts lately?

What I am talking about is the sleeves.  They look like a short sleeve shirt with a long sleeve underneath in a different color, print, or fabric.  Will one day while I was out shopping for winter shirts I noticed this (it was actually months ago).  My son has a bunch of summer shirts that aren't quite too small yet and are still useable but next summer they will be too small.

The solution??
Make long sleeves.  This is so simple and you can do it no matter what size shirt.  Heck, you could do this to your husband's shirts if you wanted too.  Mine would be less than thrilled if I did this to his shirts.  But nevertheless you can always try.

Here are the directions:

First, pick out the shirt that you want to use.  Lay it out flat and measure the opening of the sleeve.  So layed flat, if it was 3 1/2 inches wide then you would need 7 inches wide.  Then using a long sleeve shirt as a pattern I measured how long I needed the rest of my sleeve.  For example,  if the sleeve on the short sleeve shirt from the shoulder seam was 4 inches and the sleeve from the long sleeve shirt was 12 inches then you would need to cut your sleeve that you are going to add 8 inches plus 1 inch of overlap for a total of 9 inches.

With all of your measurements ready it is time to start cutting.  I went to a thrift store months ago with this project in mind and found men's t-shirts in the the best condition as possible and for cheap as possible.  I got most of mine for a buck.  I made sure they had neck ribbing on in case I wanted to add ribbing to the sleeves.  With that done, I laid the t-shirt out and took my measurements of the sleeve that I wanted and started cutting. 

Make sure you cut your sleeve out on a fold so you don't have a seam on top and bottom of the sleeve.  I cut my sleeves from the bottom corners of the sleeves so I could use the hem from the bottom of the shirt as the hem for my sleeves.  I also tapered the sleeve so that it would be not as wide near the wrist.  You can make it the same width all the way down or taper it.  Be careful not to taper it too much or it will be too tight.

Once you have your sleeve cut out, turn right sides together and sew starting at the hem and going along the edge.  I used a serger.  The nice thing about knit is that is doesn't fray.  Once I had a sleeve looking thing, I pinned the long sleeve into the short sleeve and sewed around it. 

On most all sleeves unless it is not hemmed they have a hem line.  I sewed directly on the seam of the previous hem line in a matching thread so you would never know it was added later.  Once you have sewed your sleeve on you are done, unless you added the ribbing for the hem.  The sewing was a bit tricky and you had to maneuver it carefully so you don't sew the sleeve together.

These turned out so great and I saved money too.  Always a plus if you ask me.  A beginner could totally do this.  It took about 5 minutes start to finish.  Happy long sleeving all of your shirts!!

Note:  The lighting in my sewing room is really terrible.  Waiting for a new light.