Mama Stellato

Swingset Tunics

2012-01-10T06:26:00.001-05:00

We are going to Florida again in a few weeks and I've been busy making Ava a few new outfits to wear while were there. -We're staying for 2 weeks this year instead of 1- ya hoo!! - I finished up a couple tops for Ava yesterday. I used the Swing Tunic pattern from Oliver and S. This is one of my favorite patterns right now!

This fabric is by Amy Butler. I believe it's called "happy dots"?

(back)

(front)

The fabric for this one is by Anthology.

Here's Ava wearing the one I made her last year from this pattern. I used the 2T size then and this year I made the size 4. I wanted to make sure it will still fit when Summer decides to rolls around- so sad to see how much she's grown :( my baby is growing up too fast!

There is one part of the instructions that are a tad confusing and the Oliver and S blog has a great little tutorial with a little more detailed instructions on how to attach the ruffle to the back bodice.

Although this is a tunic pattern it would make a really sweet little dress by just adding some length!

New Robot Blanket for the Wee One

2012-01-01T13:36:00.000-05:00

I have been working on this little rag-quilt for Eli this past week and just rapped it up this afternoon! All of the fabrics are from Joann's. I was inspired by this pin on Pinterest. I loved the idea of using the strips of fabric to make the quilt instead of the traditional squares. I also liked that the edges were binded instead of fringed. I wanted the quilt to be on the thinner side so I left out the batting.

I got a blister on my thumb after cutting all that fringe! If you make one, make sure you are using a good, sharp pair of scissors! I was too lazy to get up and get a different pair.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Christmas Stockings

2011-12-22T12:22:00.000-05:00

I have been telling my self for the past 3 years that I am going to make some Christmas stockings! Well 3 years and 2 babies later.. still no stockings. Just the boring, impersonal store bought ones. Since Christmas is now just days away.. it doesn't look like it's happening this year either. I have looked through tons of tutorials and fabrics and just can't settle on one that's perfect. And it does have to be perfect because they will be used for years and years to come! It never occurs to me the rest of the year to sew some up.. only in December when we pull all of the decorations back out and I have 100 other things on my to-sew list.

Here are a few tutorials I have bookmarked in case you were thinking of making some too!

Noodlehead

Moda Bake Shop

Cluck Cluck Sew

If anyone has seen any other tutorials for stockings floating around out there I'd love for you to share them with me! Just leave a link to the tutorial in the comments so everyone can see.

Only 3 more days until Christmas!... definitely no new stockings this year.. Maybe 2012 is the year! Can that be a resolution?

Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies

2011-12-22T11:36:00.000-05:00

I love making molasses cookies around the holidays! I used to make these with my mom when I was little. We used to cut them in all sorts of different shapes and used colored sugar on top! I went the old fashioned route for these and cut simple circles and used plain white sugar.

Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies

1 C Melted Crisco

1 C Molasses

1 C Sugar

1 Egg

2 tsp. Baking Soda (dissolved in 1/2 C boiling water)

6 C Flour

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Ginger

1 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Salt

Mix together crisco, molasses, sugar and the egg.

Add the baking soda dissolved in boiling water.

Add the dry ingredients (flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt)

Roll out the dough (use a bit of flour to keep it from sticking) and cut out your shapes. Then sprinkle the cookies with sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 mins and ENJOY!

I think they go great with a big ol' mug of tea! mmm

4 months already!

2011-10-12T11:49:00.000-04:00

Life has been pretty crazy the last few months ..4 to be exact.. :) Eli has been a very sensitive baby.. A few weeks after he was born we came to find out he has both a cows milk intolerance and reflux! I had to eliminate all dairy from my diet since I was breastfeeding which was way harder than I had anticipated!!
The pediatrician said I couldn't even substitute with soy because it's the same type of protein.
Because he has been so uncomfortable he only sleeps for very short stretches. The doc has put him on Zantac (terrible I know!) and he seems to be doing much better now. I feel bad that I have to medicate him already but the poor guy was miserable!
So anyway, I am slowly getting him on a sleep schedule now so my days are much less chaotic and stressful. Ava is doing so wonderful adjusting to having a little brother around -Thank goodness!

check out all that baby drool! hah

Introducing...

2011-06-24T11:13:00.000-04:00

Our new baby boy! Little Elijah was born last Monday (June 13th) at 12:30 in the afternoon. I was pretty pleased I only had 4 hours of labor! It took 12 1/2 hours with Ava.. He weighed in at only 6 lbs 15 oz and was 19 inches long - a little peanut but perfectly healthy! Ava has been adjusting surprisingly well and loves to "help" with the baby. Whenever he cries she say "baby saadd.." and brings him a toy.. It's pretty cute :)

Butterfly Pillowcase

2011-05-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

My 2 year old has decided she needs a pillow on her bed now in order to go to sleep. We didn't have any extras around the house so I gave her one from our bed. .. Unfortunately for my husband, I am 9 months pregnant and have been hogging all the pillows lately... leaving him with 1 (he usually uses 3!) So I bought Ava her own pillow the other day! I looked at the pillowcases at Walmart and they cost as much as the pillow! They were all just solid colors and the fabric wasn't very soft at all!

I made this butterfly pillowcase yesterday in less than an hour and I love how it came out! I even used french seams so there are no exposed seams (fancy, eh?) The fabrics are both by Michael Miller and oh so soft!

I think she likes it! :)

The Acadia Tee Pattern

2011-05-21T20:20:00.000-04:00

The Acadia Tee Pattern is now available in my Etsy shop!

I couldn't resist sharing this picture of Sarah's little girl (emmyloubeedoo.blogspot.com) modeling the top! Too cute.

MamaStellato Patterns

2011-05-04T22:08:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to share a few pictures I received in my inbox a while back. Thank you Andi for allowing me to share them! I love the fabric she chose and the coordinating outfits she made with the Amelia Top pattern!

(Amelia Top Pattern)

(Gracie Dress Pattern)

(Somerset Hoodie Pattern)

I get wonderful pictures from customers all the time and should really be posting more of them! I plan on doing regular posts highlighting some of my favorites. So if you have made something from my patterns make sure you take a picture and send it to me and I may share them on here! Feel free to include a link to your blog if you would like it referenced.

Pattern Testers Needed for New Unisex Pattern

2011-05-04T14:06:00.001-04:00

UPDATE!- I have all the testers I need for now.

Thank you everyone who responded!!

I have a new pattern almost ready to list! It is my first unisex pattern. The pattern is a loose fitting raglan style tee, sewn from interlock knit fabric. The sizes will range from 6 months up to 5T.

I need testers for sizes 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 4T and 5T.

You should have a child (boy or girl) who can model the top and currently wears the particular size.
You will obviously get the pattern for FREE as well as 25% off an additional pattern of your choice to thank you for your time and help!

If you are interested please e-mail me at mamastellato@gmail.com.

Baby Quilt.. Finished!

2011-04-26T20:51:00.000-04:00

I finished the quilt for our baby boy the other day. I love how it turned out! I would have personalized it with his name or first initial but we haven't settled on a name yet!

The fabrics are from Cloud 9. I decided to sew the binding on by hand this time around and I like the look much better than sewing it by machine. It's so much cleaner looking and you don't see any of the stitching. I'm still too chicken to try the swirly machine quilting so I stuck basic lines down the length of the quilt.

Easter

2011-04-25T11:48:00.001-04:00

Hope everyone had a great Easter!

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Cake Pop Tutorial

2011-04-23T15:16:00.000-04:00

I made these lovely cake pops the other day and they were yuuummy. I've made them a few times and I prefer them with chocolate cake and the white chocolate shell. The first time around I ran into a few road bumps so I thought I'd write up a little tutorial with a few tips that I thought would be helpful!

Ingredients/Supplies:
1 box cake mix (plus ing. to make the cake according to the box instructions.)
1 can frosting (you will only use about half of it)
2 bags melting chocolate
crisco shortening
gel food coloring
lollipop sticks
treat bags
foam (usually used for floral arrangements)

Most all of the ingredients (except for the cake and frosting) you can pick up at your local craft store. I got mine at AC Moore. Here are a few so you know what to look for:

Bake the cake in a 13x9" pan according to the box instructions. Allow to cool completely. Then crumble the entire cake into a large bowl with your finger tips.

Scoop half of the can of frosting into the crumbled cake. I like to do little dollops because it will combine better if it's not one big lump.

Now for the messy part! Use your hands and mix the frosting into the cake until it all holds together like this:

You may need to add more frosting if it doesn't stick together.

I use a cookie scoop to measure out the balls so the cake pops are all the came size. Roll them into balls in your palms, like so:

If you have trouble getting the the balls to stick together and they keep breaking apart then you need to add more frosting to the mix.
Place the balls into a pan lightly sprayed with non-stick spray.

Poor a small amount of chocolate into a bowl and add a tsp of crisco. Microwave for about 30 seconds then stir. Microwave a few more seconds if it isn't smooth and then stir again.
Dip the end of a lollypop stick into the melted chocolate about 1/2-3/4" and then stick into one of the cake balls (about 3/4 of the way in.)

This part is key!!! Refrigerate at this point for a least 30 minutes. If you don't do this the cake balls will fall off the stick when you try to coat them with chocolate.

After they've been refrigerated.... Melt more chocolate in a bowl (about 1 cup chocolate bits & 2 tbsp crisco). Use a spoon to cover the cake pop turning the stick and tapping on the bowl lightly to get off any excess.

Stick into a foam block to set while you finish the rest. I suggest getting a bigger foam block than I did so you don't run out of room!! If the chocolate starts to get too thick while your working just microwave for a few seconds.

Refrigerate again after you've coated them with chocolate. Melt more (white) chocolate and mix with some food coloring. Place in a sandwich bag and snip of the tip.

Now make some wide squiggles on top of your pops.

I like to use a couple colors.

Guess what? you need to refrigerate them one more time....

Put them in the treat bags and tie with some ribbon.

Yay! You're all done and you have some pretty little cake pops. People are always surprised when I tell them that I made them! ENJOY!

....and HAPPY EASTER!!

Unfortunetly NOT an April Fools prank

2011-04-01T14:21:00.000-04:00

THIS is what we woke up to this morning in Maine. Where are you Spring? We are tired of spending our days inside and want to get out and enjoy the outdoors and sunshine! Maybe next week? We are ready.

Sewing for Baby

2011-03-25T14:52:00.001-04:00

Our little boy will be making his appearance in a couple of months. I can't believe how this pregnancy is flying by!

Here are a few free tutorials I've found that I plan on tackling over the next couple of months..

Nursing Cover from Make it and Love it

Car Seat Cover from Cluck Cluck Sew

Diaper/Wipes Clutch from A Lemon Squeezy Home

I ordered these fabrics by Cloud 9 to make a little quilt:

Aren't the little birds adorable!? I hope I have some left over to make a top for Ava. I ordered the fabric here and I definitely recommend this little Etsy shop. She shipped out the fabric super quick!

Easter Dress

2011-03-22T15:40:00.000-04:00

I made this dress for Ava to wear on Easter. I used my "Lovely Dress Pattern". (You can find it in my Etsy shop if you'd like to make your own!) I left the snaps off this time around and just sewed both straps directly to the bodice. I would definitely use the snaps if you have a younger child for easiest on/off.

I used a fabric from Heather Bailey's 'Nicey Jane' line. All of the prints are so perfect for Spring!

Florida

2011-03-22T15:18:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pictures from our week in Florida. 1 week was so not long enough! We just got ourselves another 3 inches on snow on the first day of Spring. What happened to "..out like a lamb"?


This was the view out of the plane window just before takeoff (from Maine obviously)	.. Scary,yes?

We had a great time at Animal Kingdom. Ava was in heaven!

We went to Green Meadows animal farm again this year..

And of course Magic Kingdom to meet the princesses.

Swingset Tunic for Florida

2011-01-30T09:13:00.001-05:00

We have been in Florida for the past week and arrived back home in Maine on Friday. Apparently the temps here have been below zero for a good part of the week so we picked a good week to go! I will post more pictures from our trip soon.

I made Ava a top from the swingset tunic pattern from Oliver & S to wear in Florida since she has outgrown most all of her summer clothes --and it was a good excuse breakdown and buy the pattern. I've been eyeballing it for a while now!

I love love the results! It came together pretty quickly and fits her perfectly! I made the size 2 (She will be 2 next month.) The only part that screwed me up was when I had to attach the back bodice to the bottom. I'm sure I just didn't read the directions right and I was in a hurry!

(That is a sticker on the front. )

I used the button hole attachment on my machine for the first time to make the buttonholes and I'm a little peeved that hadn't used it for so long! It took me no time at all to make 3 perfect looking, perfect sized buttonholes! Make sure you put the thing on the right way and follow the instructions in your manual (I had it on backwards for the 1st couple of tries before I figured it out!-whoops.) I need to read directions more carefully and be a little more patient!

Better Late Than Never..Our Christmas!

2011-01-14T14:30:00.002-05:00

We had a nice Christmas at home for a change this year. We usually spend the holidays traveling around visiting family but this year they all came to us! It was a nice change and it made for a relaxing, no fuss day!

Christmas was day 1 of a nasty week long virus for me. Lovely way to start the day.. Especially being pregnant because I can't take any drugs! Luckily nobody ended up catching it and Joe was home a lot during the week to help with the babe.

Our good friend took this picture for our Christmas cards. I love how it came out!

aaaand then there's this one.. I can't help but laugh when I see it! :)

I bought the green dress on sale after Christmas last year for 2 bucks!- and I made the 2 in the other pictures.

We have a long awaited trip to Florida coming up so we are counting down the days! We just got another foot of snow dumped on us so I'm sooo looking forward to some warmer weather.

Chistmas Dress

2010-12-09T14:59:00.001-05:00

I sewed something! All I have felt like doing in my spare time lately is sleep so I'm happy to say I think my energy is back! I made this dress for another little girl. I love this fabric! I found it at Joann's..It's called 'Kay's Dancing Foulard'.. The red fabric is in the same line. You can't really tell but the waist is elastic. I still need to get crackin on Ava's Christmas dress, especially since we're having Christmas pictures done on Saturday.. That gives me.. barely 2 days!!

Oh Baby!

2010-12-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's right! We are expecting baby #2 in June. My little Ava is going to be a big sister and I'm going to be a mommy of 2!(Eeek!) We are pretty excited (and nervous!) about our new addition! I had a few weeks of icky morning (all day/night) sickness but am feeling pretty good now, thankfully!

Deck The Halls! (Tutorials)

2010-11-28T11:28:00.000-05:00

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us... It's time to start thinking CHRISTMAS!. Here are some fun and easy projects to get you started.

String of Lights Advent Calendar Pattern from Elsie Marley

"Be Merry" Festive Garland from Spoonful of Sugar

Chrismas Subway Art and Banner from eighteen25

Upcycled Gift Bow from Green Eyed Monster

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Pattern Organization

2010-11-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite blogs posted this great tip a few days back on how she organizes her patterns.

Genius! Mine are piled up in a corner in my sewing room...in no particular order. I have a ton of those clips too because I use them when I quilt..not to mention way too many unused hangers! Now if I just had any extra closet space..

She has tons of other great tutorials to check out too!

Fall Fabric Finds

2010-10-21T14:57:00.000-04:00

I was searching around on Hawthorne Threads for some Fall fabric. I discovered this website a while back and they have a great selection! Here are a few that caught my eye..

Willow Grove- Alexander Henry

Winking Owls

The owls are actually winking if you look close. Cute!

Standing Wildflowers-Cosmo Cricket

Eden - Michael Miller

Sprigs - Lourdes Sanchez

Tile Mosaic - Laura Gunn

This may be my favorite of the bunch.

Garden Butterfly - Samantha Walker

Flower Fields - Joel Dewberry

I love Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow line. I would by it in every color if I could! You may recognize this print on one of the Amelia tops I made for Ava.

*****************************************************************

By the way.. You only have a couple more days to enter the giveaway over at From an Igloo! If you missed it before.. The giveaway includes The Somerset Hoodie Pattern AND a $20 gift certificate to Fabric.com!

I do most of my fabric shopping at Fabric.com because I always seem to get the best deals. If you go to retailmenot.com and type in "fabric.com" you can always get a coupon code for 15 or 20% off your purchase AND if you spend $35 or more you get free shipping! Sweet deal, huh!?

Featured on SewMamaSew!

2010-10-20T11:48:00.000-04:00

My 'Sweet Baby Quilt' tutorial was featured on the Sew Mama Sew blog yesterday! It's under the "mama and baby essentials roundup." You can find the tutorial *here*.

There's a ton of other awesome tutorials to check out too! Here are a few I'd like to try..

'Itty Bitty Pants' from From an Igloo

'Vinyl Tablecloth Changing Pad' from Smashed Peas and Carrots

'Pack and Play Sheet' from Modest Maven

and 'Baby Boy Onsie with Binding' from Omi Creates

Giveaway at From An Igloo!!

2010-10-19T10:48:00.000-04:00

I'm having another giveaway over at From An Igloo! This is my best giveaway yet!- in my opinion. I'm giving away the Somerset Hoodie pattern AND a $20 gift certificate to Fabric.com for the fabric to make it! Christine added her own flair and made the Somerset Hoodie into a beautiful dress for her daughter. She was also nice enough to include instructions on how she did it in her giveaway post!

Head on over to From an Igloo and leave a comment under THIS post for a chance to win!

If you win the giveaway and already have the Somerset Hoodie pattern or would prefer different pattern, make sure you tell me when I e-mail you!

Giveaway Winner / Upcoming Pattern

2010-10-15T10:28:00.000-04:00

#6- Deb
who said: That is adorable. I would love to make this for my little girl!

Thanks Deb! I will send out your pattern this afternoon!

I have had tons of request for a dress version of the Somerset Hoodie Pattern so that is what I will be working on next!

Ice Cream Dress

2010-10-13T13:27:00.000-04:00

I finished the Ice Cream Dress! I ended up making the yolk twice because I screwed it up the first time around. It's a bad idea to sew when you're way overtired! This is the first Oliver and S pattern I have used and overall I like it, although I still think 16 bucks is a lot to spend on a pattern! Luckily it goes up to a 4T so I'm sure I'll get a lot of use from it. The fit is right on, if not a little roomy. I used Michael Miller's Meadowsweet 2 line by Sandi Henderson.

front

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100 Followers + New Pattern = GIVEAWAY!!

2010-10-11T14:47:00.000-04:00

What timing! The same day I listed my new pattern for the Somerset Hoodie, I also reached 100 followers! So I thought I should give one away to celebrate!

To participate you must first follow my blog (if you don't already) and then leave a comment including your name and e-mail address.

For details about the Somerset Hoodie, see the listing in my Etsy shop.

The winner will be announced Thursday at midnight! Good luck everybody!

Pumpkin Patch- Family Picture

2010-10-04T23:23:00.000-04:00

Adding Adjustable Elastic to Childrens Pants

2010-10-01T16:56:00.001-04:00

Ava seems to have the same issue with her pants that I do.. gaping in the waist! I found a great tutorial HERE on how to add your own adjustable elastic to childrens pants! The only bummer is no one locally seems to carry the buttonhole elastic so I would need to order it on-line.

(source)

Would it be weird if I did this to my own pants?

Dear My Kids Coat

2010-10-01T14:15:00.000-04:00

I finished Ava's DMK coat last week. I used corduroy for the outside and quilting cotton for the inside (both from Joann's). This coat would be great for dressy occasions. I am thinking of making another one for her to wear around the holidays!

Halloween Costume Ideas

2010-09-29T10:59:00.000-04:00

I am having the hardest time finding a costumer for Ava this year! I was thinking of a lion since she is OBSESSED with the Madagascar movies! I did find a pattern for a lion costume here, but I'm not a fan..

I bought the cutest monkey costume at The Children's Place last year so I figured I would go check out what they have this year. They don't have anything new! All the same as last year and Ava sure can't be a monkey again!

I saw this Simplicity pattern pack and I think I may make the little lamb costume(minus the bell). It looks nice and warm since the temperature in Maine will be in the 40's by the time Halloween comes around!

What is your little one going to be for Halloween??

Pattern Testers Needed!

2010-09-27T16:25:00.000-04:00

I am looking for a couple more people to test my new hoodie pattern. I need someone to make the 6-9 month size as well as the size 6. You will need to have a kiddo who currently wears the size so you can test the fit. If you are interested please e-mail me at mamastellato@gmail.com for the details. I will pick 2 people by Thursday, September 30th.

Your Lovely Creations!

2010-09-24T23:44:00.000-04:00

These pictures were sent to me from Lise. She used the Charlotte Dress pattern and added a big pocket! Cute! The coordinating necklace and the adorable sunflower shoes are the perfect touch! Not to mention those cheeks!

Tara made this from the Charlotte Dress pattern as well but she left the sash off. Looks like she's already planning for Christmas too!

And this was made by Christine from "From an Igloo". I sponsor her blog and she made this beautiful top from the Amelia Top pattern to review on her blog! (Thanks Christine!) She actually sized it up to fit her daughter and added a little ruffle to the bottom! Great idea!

If any one has made something from one of my patterns, I'd love to see it! You can e-mail your pictures to mamastellato@gmail.com. I will definitely check with you first before I share them here!

Thank you everybody!!

crazy week..

2010-09-24T13:41:00.001-04:00

This week has been so nuts. Ava came down with some virus and had a horrible respiratory reaction because of it. The nebulizer wouldn't touch it so we brought her into the ER since it came on all of a sudden late at night. They treated her with a duoneb a couple times and then gave her some oral steroids. We didn't get home until 4 AM the next morning! She will still really miserable and was having a hard time breathing so I brought her into her PCP who then decided to admit her to the pediatric floor at the hospital for the rest of the day and overnight. They finally got it under control and she was discharged yesterday afternoon. She is now on 2 types or steroids plus the nebulizer every 4 hours. Thank goodness we don't use daycare because the doctor said we shouldn't even put her in the nursery at church to prevent this from happening again until she gets a little older! Basically every time she gets a simple cold/virus she will have this awful reaction (AWESOME..)

So much for the DMK sew-a-long. I'm wayy behind now. I do have all the pieces cut out, but that is it. It looks like it will come together pretty quickly but I'm not sure how much time/energy I'll have the next couple days until Ava gets a little better. Oh well. She will have a lovely new coat soon enough!

Here's the latest hoodie I've made from my new pattern. (Available October 1st if all goes well this week!) I love this Michael Miller print!

Sarah's Applesauce

2010-09-20T11:18:00.002-04:00

Who is Sarah you ask? I have no idea, but she makes darn good applesauce- that's for sure. My husband is really less than thrilled. He likes his apples in pie form. I, however hate making pies. It's really the crust that bothers me..and takes foeeevverrr. A lady that volunteers in the nursery at church on Sundays with me told me she makes a ton of applesauce every year and then freezes it in separate servings. Great idea! I found this incredibly simple recipe on Allrecipes.com. It has only 4 ingredients, including apples and water, and it take only 20 minutes not including the peeling and chopping. Here you go:

photo from allrecipes.com

Sarah's Applesauce

4 Apples (peeled, cored and chopped)

3/4 C Water

1/4 C Sugar - (I put a little less.)

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

Throw it all in a pot and simmer about 20 mins. Mush up apple pieces with a fork if there are any that didn't cook down all the way. - I left mine a little chunky.

If you want to freeze a bunch I would double or triple the recipe.

Apple Picking

2010-09-20T11:09:00.002-04:00

Knit Owl Hoodie

2010-09-17T17:05:00.000-04:00

I made this hoodie for Ava last week. The adorable knit owl fabric and polka dot trim are from Joann's. The pattern is in the works, so stay tuned. aaand a pile of Michael Miller knits just landed on my door step! (ya hoo!)


See how much she likes it!! :)

Poppy Doll

2010-09-17T14:20:00.000-04:00

I made this little doll for Ava for her 1st birthday. I used the Poppy Doll pattern from HopSkipJump. It is a great little pattern and I will definitely use it again! I added little pockets and a button to the pants as well as a ruffle to the top!

I came across this post today on the HopSkipJump blog with instructions on how to add pig tails. Pretty cute, eh?

photo courtesy of hopskipjump

Now that Ava is getting a little older it will be fun to start making her some fun play things! I've been eyeballing the Wee Wonderfuls pattern book lately. I've heard nothing but good things about it!

Sew-a-longs!

2010-09-17T02:06:00.000-04:00

Christine from 'From an Igloo' is hosting a couple fun sew-a-longs coming up! The first is for this lovely little coat from Dear My Kids Easywear.

and the second is the Ice Cream Dress from Oliver & S. I ordered mine from 'The Needle Shop'.

I can't wait to get stated! I'm off to get my fabric tomorrow!

Yay for Jelly Rolls

2010-09-16T00:19:00.001-04:00

Vanessa from V and Co put together this awesome tutorial for Moda Bake Shop. I think I'm going to make it into a queen size for my bed! I love that she used a jelly roll to make the quilt top. Imagine how much time you save by not having to cut all those little strips!

I am leaning towards this color combo for mine!

And since the holidays are only a few months away.. (Am I the only one getting excited?) I'd love to make this tree skirt which was also made with a jelly roll! This tutorial is from Melissa over at Polka Dot Chair. I really like the red and blue together instead of the typical red and green.

Pictures courtesy of polkadotchair and modabakeshop

Popover Perfection

2010-09-11T12:04:00.000-04:00

Popovers are a great go-to weekend breakfast. They are simple and take no time at all to whip up since they require very few ingredients. If you are ever in the Bar Harbor area in Maine make sure you stop at The Jordan Pond House. They make the best popovers! We went just a couple weeks ago and sat outside looking out onto the ocean with our seafood chowder (also great!) and some yummy popovers with jam.

(photo from Jordan Pond House website)

The key to making great popovers is to make sure your batter is not cool when they go into the oven. You do this by bringing your eggs to room temp-I put them in a bowl of warm water for a while to speed it up- and microwaving the milk for about 40 seconds before mixing it into the dry ingredients. Another tip is to leave the oven door closed the whole cooking time and not cracking it open to peek before they are done.

Here's the recipe I use:
1 Cup Flour
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Cup Milk (warm)
2 Large Eggs (room temp/warm)

Mix all dry ingredients together in medium bowl. Add milk and eggs, mix until combined.
Poor into greased popover cups (3/4 full) .
Bake at 425* until golden brown -about 20-25 minutes.

I like to serve them with raspberry jam and tea. My husband likes his with butter and cinnamon/sugar which is also good!

Best Invention Ever!

2010-09-08T12:25:00.000-04:00

The TOILET LOCK! I can't believe it took us so long to buy one of these! Although I haven't had much luck with all the other child safety items I've purchased so far..

Electrical Plugs.. She pulls them all out
Door knob covers- Impossible for even me to open the door with it on
Car sun shade- It was supposed to cling to the window.. It didn't..
Oven lock- It didn't stick and fell right off.

The toilet lock on the other hand has worked great!! I no longer will be pulling everything I own out of the toilet bowl. I can't tell you how many NEW rolls of toilet paper that have ended up in there.
In conclusion.. If you are a mother of a child over the age of 12 months.. You need this!

Simplistic Decorating Inspiration

2010-09-07T14:44:00.000-04:00

We bought our first home last summer and we're slowly fixing it up. We've spent most of our time so far on the outside. We had to seal the foundation (from the outside!) because of a extremely leaky basement which was a HUGE job. We ripped out a ugly chain fence and leveled out, seeded..and reseeded the yard. The inside has been pretty neglected aside from some paint in a couple rooms.

The Lettered Cottage Blog is such a fantastic place to get some insight and inspiration for remodeling/decorating on a budget. I love how Layla finds most of her centerpieces and furniture at thrift stores and then adds her own flair. She makes it look so darn easy and effortless!

photos courtesy of theletteredcottage.net

The Amelia Top Pattern -Sneak Peek

2010-09-02T13:23:00.000-04:00

Here's a sneak peak at a new pattern coming out next week! The Amelia Top is great for layering or to wear by its self, which makes this top work for cooler and warmer months! The front has a flap with button closure and the bottom has a trim detail.

Look for "The Amelia Top" in my shop next week!

Pattern Giveaway!

2010-08-31T09:54:00.000-04:00

I'm giving away a couple more patterns over at Honeybear Lane this week! Just go over to my Etsy shop and pick any 2 patterns you would like and then leave a comment on this post at Honeybear Lane! The giveaway will end Friday at midnight!

Cute Kids

2010-08-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

Cortney from Gooey Knits purchased my pattern a few days ago. She sent me a link to her blog where she posted a dress she made for her daughter using The Charlotte Dress pattern. She made her dress from an old blouse which was a great idea! Thank you for the nice feedback Cortney!

( photo courtesy of gooeyknits.blogspot.com )

Nichole also sent me this picture of her daughter wearing a top she made from The Bella Dress pattern. She just shortened the length to make it into a top! I love the peace signs! She said she has made several outfits from this pattern! Thanks Nichole!

Giveaway at Crystal's!!

2010-08-27T15:29:00.000-04:00

I am sponsoring a giveaway of one of my patterns over at Crystal's Craft Spot and there are only 2 days left to enter!! So head on over and leave a comment under her giveaway post stating which pattern you would like. She has details on her blog on how to get more then one entry! The giveaway will end Sunday the 29th at midnight. Good luck!

Martha, You've Done It Again...

2010-08-26T16:55:00.000-04:00

I made these blueberry muffins this morning from a recipe on the Martha Stewart website. They were fantastic!! The best muffins I've ever made. Most all of the muffin recipes I've used in the past were either bland or really dense. These were the total opposite! My daughter even let a "Mmmm.." when she tasted one." I will definitely be making these again.. sooner then later.

( Click *HERE* for the recipe!! )

Beautiful August Fields

2010-08-26T11:16:00.000-04:00

I came across this baby blanket that Anneliese from Aesthetic Nest made.

(photo courtesy of Aesthetic Nest blog)

I so want one for my bed! She used Amy Butler's Wild Poppies fabric in tangerine and I'm pretty sure I'm in Love! The technique she used is quite interesting too. She actually cuts threw the layers of flannel after she quilts it then washes it to create the chenille effect. It looks like a lot of work, but I'd love to try it sometime!

Out Takes

2010-08-24T15:21:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd share a couple pictures from our little photo shoot the other day for "The Lovely Dress". They just crack me up!..

This was as she decided she should show us her belly button..classy. :)

Our cat trying to escape Ava's "hugs."

She doesn't talk yet which makes this last one funny. It looks like she's really telling me off! "Hey Mom! Get that camera out of my face!!"

The Lovely Dress

2010-08-22T09:02:00.000-04:00

Now Available in my Etsy Shop!

"The Lovely Dress" PDF Pattern

snap closure on one of the straps.

I purchased the fabric for the dress shown a while back from fresh squeezed fabrics and I must say it looks way better in person. It looks like they are out of it right now. It is by Erin McMorris from the Wildwood collection. I will most definitely be ordering more soon!

Brand Spankin New BUTTON!

2010-08-20T12:35:00.001-04:00

I finally have a button! I Love It! I will soon have a new banner to match. Nice and simple, but darn cute wouldn't you say?

New Dress for Fall?

2010-08-18T20:25:00.000-04:00

The Charlotte Dress PDF Pattern

is now listed in my Etsy shop!

Aiden's Appliqued Tie Onsie

2010-08-16T15:06:00.000-04:00

I made this cute little appliqued onsie using this tutorial from Char at 'Crap I've Made.' This is the only fabric I had on hand that wasn't pink or floral. I have quite a few white onsies that Ava never wore so what better way to use them up and give them as gifts!

This sweet little boy will be getting this one!

Check out my tutorial to make that baby blanket! ooh babies :)

2 New Patterns Coming Soon!

2010-08-15T12:40:00.000-04:00

Holy smokes, have I been busy! I have 2 new patterns in the works. One of which will be great for Fall...

(front)

(back)

and a lovely little sundress!

Throw a sweater over it and it too could be great for Fall! I'm really very sorry for even mentioning the word Fall... Is Summer really almost over already?!

If you noticed, my little model isn't wearing the dresses. She has been pretty sick this past week. We took her to the doc's a couple days ago and apparently she has a virus that started as upper respiratory but end up lower respiratory. We have been doing nebulizer treatments every few hours and it's really seaming to help! She still has an awful cough but her breathing is much less labored.

She is being such a good sport about the whole thing!

Sweet Baby Quilt Tutorial

2010-08-11T09:39:00.001-04:00

I love making baby quilts. This one takes a little more time to make because you need to cut and sew the the quilt top together instead of using 1 piece of fabric as the front. It's still so simple though! The appliqued letter makes the quilt extra special and adds a personal touch. You could also applique a butterfly or owl instead of the letter if the baby's name is still undecided.

Here are some great tips from Fabric.com's blog for working with minky fabric.

*All seam allowances are 1/4"

You will need:

30 6"x6" fabric squares

4 strips of white fabric for trim

(2) -2 1/2" x 32 1/2"

(2) -2 1/2" x 31

1 yard minky fabric
wonder under
card stock (to print letter on)
typical sewing supplies

Lay out your squares randomly in 6 rows of 5. Arrange them until your happy with the placement.

Start sewing the squares together by row.

Press the seams in the 1st row to the left, the 2nd row to the right, the 3rd to the left and so on. Sew the rows together and then press the seams.

Pin and sew on the trims, starting with the sides. Press the seams.

Lay out the backing and then lay your quilt top over it.

Cut around the quilt top leaving an extra inch of the backing all around.

Print your letter onto the sheet of card stock paper and cut it out. Follow the instructions on the wonder under for creating your applique letter. Iron the letter on being very careful not to melt the minky fabric. Try to only touch the letter with the iron if you can. Stitch around the edge of the letter.

Lay the backing and quilt top back out with the right sides together. Smooth out the lumps and bumps.

Cut around the quilt top removing the extra inch of the backing and making both pieces the same size.

Pin around the sides and sew leaving about a 5" gap for turning.

Turn the quilt right side out.

Turn and press the edges of the opening in 1/4" and then slip stitch closed.

With the front of the quilt up, press the edges of the quilt. Top stitch around the quilt and you're done!

This quilt was made with Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane line. I love the fresh, springy feel of it.

I hope little Miss Lyddie Ann likes it too!

Reversible Canvas Tote Bag - Tutorial

2010-08-05T16:49:00.000-04:00

You will need:
2 coordinating canvas fabrics
safety pin
typical sewing supplies

Cut:
from 1st fabric:
2 pieces for the main bag - 14" x 14 1/2"
2 pieces for inside pocket - 8" x 8 1/2"
4 strips on the bias for handle - 1" x 24"

from 2nd fabric:
2 pieces for the main bag - 14" x 14 1/2"
2 pieces for outside pocket - 8" x 8 1/2"
2 strips on the bias for handle - 1" x 24"

*Use 1/4" seam allowances unless stated otherwise.

Handles:
take 2 strips cut from the 1st fabric and 1 strip cut from the 2nd and put together aligning one of the ends. Sew 1/4" in across the end. Attach a safety pin to this end and attach to something secure. I used the ottoman. Braid the 3 strips together. It's important that the braid is tight to keep the fabric from fraying too much. When you reach the end, sew across the end 1/4" just like you did with the other end. Repeat for the other strap and set them aside.

Pockets:
Place the pocket pieces cut from the 1st fabric right sides together and pin all around.

Sew together leaving a 2-3 inch gap at the bottom. Clip the corners and turn the pocket right side out. Push out the corners and fold in the edges on the gap in 1/4". Press the edges.

Sew across the top of the pocket 1/4" from the top. Sew another row 1/8" below the 1st. Repeat for the other pocket.

Attaching the pockets:
Place the pocket cut from the 1st fabric centered and 2 1/2" from the bottom on one of the main bag pieces cut from the 2nd fabric. Pin in place.

Sew around sides and bottom of the pocket 1/8" from the edge, back stitching at each end. I like to sew in at the top 1/2" on each side to keep the pocket from gaping. Do the same for the other pocket on one of the main bag pieces cut from the 1st fabric.

Assembling the bag:
Place the 2 main bag pieces from the 1st fabric right sides together and pin.

Sew around sides and bottom. Pinch one of the bottom corners and sew across 1 1/2" from the corner. Do the same for the other bottom corner.
Repeat for other main bag pieces.

Stuff one of the bags into the other and align the seams and raw edges. The right sides should be together and pockets should be on opposite sides. Pin together at the seams.

Pick up one layer and pin the ends of one of the strap in 2 1/2" from each side, aligning the raw edges and pin. The strap should be sandwiched between 2 right sides of the bag.
Repeat for the other strap on the other side of the bag.

Pin the rest of the bag and sew around using 1/2" seam allowance. Leave a 3" gap to turn the bag.

Reach into the bag through the gap and turn right side out.

Stuff what ever side you decide to be the lining into the other. Fold the gap in 1/2" and press the top edge all around. Sew around 1/8" from the top of the bag...
...And you're done!

Blueberry Almond (or pecan!) Buckle

2010-08-04T11:07:00.000-04:00

I made Blueberry Almond Buckle this afternoon from a recipe I found in Hannaford's 'Fresh' magazine. I find the best recipes in there! I didn't have any almond extract so I omitted that and I used chopped pecans instead of the almonds because that's what I had on hand. It was deeeelicious!

Blueberry Almond Buckle

Topping:
6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 Cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 Cup flour

Cake:
1 1/2 Cups plus 1 Tbsp. flour, divided
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
6 Tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1/3 cup sliced almonds

1. Prepare topping. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat butter and brown sugar until blended. On low speed, mix in flour just until crumbs form and flour is blended. Be careful not to over mix- the texture should be very crumbly. Transfer crumbs to a smaller bowl and set aside.

2. Prepare cake. Preheat oven to 325*F. Spray an 8 inch square pan or a 9 inch round baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Sift 1 1/2 cups of the flour together with baking power and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, gently stir the blueberries and remaining 1 Tbsp flour together. Set aside.

4. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Mix in the eggs, vanilla, and almond extract until blended. Add half the flour mixture, and mix on low speed just to incorporate. Add milk, mixing until blended. Add remaining flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated and batter is smooth. Batter will be thick Use a spoon to stir blueberries into batter. Spoon/pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the batter. Sprinkle the almonds over the crumbs, pressing them gently onto the crumbs.

5. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cake thoroughly in the pan, about 2 hours. Serve at room temperature.

I have tons of fresh blueberries to use up so I'm on the hunt for blueberry recipes. Next up is my go-to blueberry scone recipe I posted here. Then a blueberry pie perhaps?

Mini-Vacation to NH/MA

2010-08-02T10:07:00.001-04:00

Can anyone believe the awesome summer we've had? The weather has been perfect up here in Maine. A little hot at times but I can't complain. We spent last weekend in New Hampshire visiting family. We discovered this sweet little farm just across the boarder in Mass called Parlee Farms. If you have small children you would love it!

There are goats to feed..

and a beautiful field of flowers for picking..

They had a really nice shop with homemade blueberry doughnuts(yum!), jams and jellies made from the fruits they grow right there on the farm. They had acres and acres of land which they grow everything from pumpkins to peaches. The price it right too(FREE!). You only pay to feed the animals which is 25 cents in one of those crank machines or if you want to pick some fruit or flowers.

Gracie Dress Preview

2010-07-28T14:02:00.000-04:00

I am so on the ball this week. I thought it would take me a good 2 weeks to finish up The Gracie Dress Pattern, but it's looking like I'll be able to list it with in the next couple of days!! yahoo! I decided to leave the pocket off of this dress below because I didn't want to cover up any of this beautiful fabric. Isn't this Anna Maria Horner fabric amazing? I love it.

Etsy Shop Sale!!!

2010-07-28T13:47:00.000-04:00

I am having a huge sale at my Etsy Shop! Since I am just starting out as an Etsy seller I decided to offer 50% OFF The Bella Dress Pattern for the first 15 customers!

The Bella Dress

2010-07-23T07:12:00.002-04:00

I've finally finished The Bella Dress Pattern! It was a lot of work but I am so happy with how it came out! My hubby was kind enough to trace the patten pages on the computer for me.(Thanks Hubby!!) It was a team effort. It is listed in my Etsy shop as of this morning and I've added a link to my side bar.

I was experimenting with knit fabric last week and wanted to get the hang of it before I tackled the Sienna Dress Pattern and destroyed all my t-shirts. I knew working with knits is a little tricky and I don't have a serger (yet.) Someday... So anyway.. I purchased some interlocked knit at Joann's on sale and I used my Bella Dress Pattern. It came out fabulous and looked soo darn comfy! I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was working with knit but you definitely need to take more time and be more cautious. I used my even feed foot (quilting foot) which helped and I sprayed some starch to help the knit behave.

Recycled T-Shirt Pattern

2010-07-19T13:44:00.001-04:00

I finally purchased the Recycled T-Shirt Sienna Dress Pattern from Lil Blue Boo on Etsy! I already know I'm going to love it since I've read a million great reviews! I have a few t-shirts I have been saving for some sewing project so they will soon be put to good use. I don't have a whole lot of experience sewing with knits but I found this article from Sew Mama Sew which looks pretty helpful. I can't wait to get started!

Day at the Lake

2010-07-11T23:40:00.001-04:00

I am loving all this beautiful weather!! We had another fun day at the lake. Ava loved splashing around in her new baby float. If you have a little one, I totally recommend you get one of these. I got this one at Target for about 12 dollars. I think the box said it's for ages 9 to 24 months.
I forgot to pack Ava's swim suit as you can see.. I remembered everything else though! Right down to the swim diapers and water shoes!.. I swear, my brain has gone to mush. She doesn't mind though. :)

FREE Diaper Cover Tutorial/Pattern

2010-07-07T23:59:00.003-04:00

I am always looking for ways to use up fabric scraps. A diaper cover is the perfect way to use up any scraps you have left over from a dress and lets face it.. when do you ever not end up with scraps? They are so easy to make and a must-have to go with any new dress. If you don't want to use scraps for the diaper cover you could make a few in neutral, solid colors so they will coordinate with any dress! The pattern includes sizes up to 24 months. It is just a basic diaper cover but you can embellish it with some cute ruffles if you want like this! Click the picture below to download the pattern! I included the instructions(with pictures!) in the PDF.

Delicious Tortellini Recipe

2010-07-07T23:09:00.003-04:00

This is a great recipe I came across a while back from Little Girl Pearl. We used to just cook tortellini in chicken broth but this is way better! It's very easy to make and best of all its kid (and husband) friendly!

(Photo from little girl pearl blog)

New Dress Pattern

2010-07-06T10:31:00.000-04:00

I made another dress from my new pattern just to make sure it's perfect! I'm going to make one more to sell in my Etsy shop. I found the fabric for this one at Joanns and I love it! I decided to change the pocket a little bit this time around and I think I'm sticking to this version for the final pattern.

It's Independence Day!

2010-07-05T11:59:00.001-04:00

What a beautiful weekend we've had! My munchkin and I spent the afternoon on the lake with some family. This was her first time in a lake and she LOVED it! The water was actually quite cold but it didn't seem to phase her. She just ran right in! She had a great time with this slide on the shore. Her Grammy and I finally tore her away so we could grab some food but were right back at it after! I definitely have a little water baby on my hands!

4th of July Sundress

2010-07-05T10:18:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I know.. it's not very patriotic. It really just happens to be the dress she wore on the 4th of July. I made it pretty quick last night from a sheet I picked up for less than a dollar at a thrift store a while back. I'm beginning to think all clothes should be made from sheets. They feel so nice and soft! I'm going to make myself some pajama pants from what's left of the sheet. I'm working on a tutorial on how to make this little dress, so stay tuned!

Strawberry Recipes

2010-07-04T13:10:00.001-04:00

It's strawberry picking time! so needless to say we've been eating TONS of them. They are great by themselves but you can only eat so many of them before you need to switch it up. This fruit dip is so delicious with any fruit but strawberries seems to be the only fruit that I end up with tons of and need to figure out creative ways to use them up!

It's very simple. You just mix 1/2 cup cream cheese, 1/2 cup fluff and 1 tbsp of orange juice together and that's it!... does that even qualify as a recipe?? It sounds like a weird combo, but trust me.. It's Yummy! I recommend using light cream cheese ;)
I also made a strawberry-rhubarb pie yesterday using this recipe. I used 6 tablespoons of corn starch instead of the tapioca and it came out great! I just mixed it in with the sugar and other dry ingredients before adding it to the strawberries.

HUGE fabric sale!!

2010-07-01T13:57:00.000-04:00

Fabric.com is having a huge sale on all Westminster fabrics (ie. Anna Maria Horner!!!!) Everything is 50% off PLUS if you spend $70 or more you get an extra 25% off! Just use this code: BLUE25, at the check out. Needless to say I should be set on fabric for a while!

So head on over while it lasts!

Grocery Bag Dispencer Tutorial

2010-06-27T22:19:00.001-04:00

You will need:
1 cloth napkin (the one I used was 18" x 18")
1/2 yard coordinating fabric for trim and backing
1/4" elastic (2 lengths of 8" each)

First, cut off the hems of your napkin on all 4 sides.

Cut:
Backing: Napkin width x napkin length plus 4"
Trim- Napkin width x 2.5"
Casing- Napkin width x 1.5"
**NOTE: Napkin measurements are measured AFTER you remove the hems**

Save the best looking hem piece and cut to 8" in length. This will be what you hang your dispenser from. Use a tight zigzag stitch and sew down the raw edge to prevent fraying.

Sew trim pieces to the top and bottom of the napkin. Zigzag in the seam allowance and then press the seam in (toward the napkin.)

Top stitch catching the seam allowance as you go.

Place napkin with trim over the backing, wrong sides together

pin all around the sides. I used safety pins to pin the middle to keep it from shifting during sewing, like you would a quilt!

Now sew a straight line from end to end every inch or so. This picture is of the back.

Press casing pieces in half, wrong sides together. Pin to the right side of trim pieces with the raw edges aligned.

Sew together and zigzag in the seam allowance. Press seams in. Fold the hem piece you saved earlier and fold in half. Position 1/4" in and 1" from side and pin. Top stitch on trim, just above casing, catching the casings seam allowance and attaching the hang loop as you go. I like to back stitch over the hang loop so it is more secure.

Attach a small safety pin to the end of one of the lengths of elastic and insert into one of the casing until the end is even with the raw edge of the casing.

Sew this end to secure the elastic and then continue pushing the safety pin through to the other side just until the end meets the other raw edge and pin in place. Sew this end as well. Do this to both casings.
Pin sides, right sides together. Sew and zigzag in seam allowance.

Turn right side out and stuff with your grocery bags!

Breezy Sundress Tutorial

2010-06-23T15:01:00.012-04:00

I love shopping for cute clothes for my daughter but I hate paying so much money for something I can easily make my self! Here's a simple tutorial for a sweet dress you can finish during nap time! Just make sure you get your measurements first!

Don't forget to make a matching diaper cover!! download my free pattern/tutorial under the tutorials tab!

Cut:

4 Straps- 1.5” x 12”

1 Chest Piece-8” x chest measurement, plus 1”

1 Main Dress - ON FOLD measure from armpit to 1” above knee for the length x chest measurement

1 Trim- ON FOLD 4” x chest measurement

*Seam allowances = 1/2" unless stated otherwise.
Fold strap pieces in half lengthwise. Unfold and press sides to center. Fold sides in again and press. (you are basically making bias tape. You could buy premade bias tape if you want to skip this step!) Fold in ends of straps and sew down the side. Do this to all 4 straps.

Fold chest piece in half so the shorter ends are together, right sides together and pin. Sew together and press the seam open.

Take the top edge of your chest piece and fold down to the bottom edge with wrong sides together.

Open back up and press edges to center crease. Now fold in half (the opposite way you pressed) Position the seam in the middle and flatten (don’t press). Make a mark on each side and then turn chest piece so one of the marks you just made is centered in front. Measure 1/2" in where you marked and make another mark. Take a regular size mug and place the edge 1/2" in where you marked, making sure it is centered. Trace mug and cut out. Do this to both sides. Now sew 1/8" around arm holes. Turn right side out, push out corners and press.

Pin trim piece to bottom of main dress piece right sides together. Sew together and press seam towards main dress. Top stitch just above trim. Make sure you are catching the seam allowance as you top stitch. I like to do another row of top stitching, just because.

Fold dress in half, right sides together, pin raw edges and sew . Zigzag in seam allowance to secure and press to the side. This seam will actually be the back of the dress.

Position chest piece so the seam is centered in the back and mark the center and sides with safety pins. Do the same with the main dress piece so you can line them up and make sure you have gathered the dress evenly. You don't need to pin the back, just line up the seams on the dress and chest piece.

Set your stitch length to the longest setting and stitch all around top of main dress piece starting and ending at the back seam, without overlapping the stitches. Pull the bobbin thread and adjust gathers until the dress is the same size around as the chest piece and the safety pins are aligned. Make sure all the gathers are even all around and pin inside the chest piece. Using lots of pins for this step makes sewing it together much easier. If you lightly press the gathers right before you sew they stay put better.

Now is a good time to try the dress on your child to determine where you want your straps. I like place the back straps a little closer together than the front. Pin straps 1/4" down on the inside of chest piece and top stitch all the way around the top of the dress, back stitch over the straps to make sure they stay secure.

TA DA!!

These are the measurements I used for my daughter who is 15 months:
-Chest measurement-19" (chest piece was 20")
-Main dress portion- 13" from armpit to 1" above knee.
-Strap placement- 2.5" from center in the front and 2" in the back.

The fabrics used for this dress were bought at Joann's from the Legacy Studio line.

New Dress!

2010-06-08T21:26:00.000-04:00

I have have been working on my very first dress pattern for the past week and I think I will be done with it soon! I am so excited about how it came out! I think the sizes will run from 12/18 months up to 4T. I prefer the patterns done on the computer so hopefully my hubby will help me figure out how! My poor Etsy store will soon have something in it! Maybe I will make a few more dresses to sell as well. The key is to not make them in my daughters size so they don't end up in her closet! Like this one did:

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

2010-06-04T11:46:00.002-04:00

Let me just say.. I LOVE scones. and Tyler Florance for that matter. (he's a hunky chef on the food network if you didn't know.) I haven't had cable for quite some time so I'm not even sure if his show is still on. I believe it was called "Tyler's Ultimate." He had an episode with recipes for foods you would eat a bed and breakfast and this scone recipe was one of them. I refuse to even try another recipe, these scones are that good! The lemon glaze is a fantastic combo with the blueberry and they aren't dry like many I have tried. So make sure you print this recipe asap before you forget!!
I copied it here. My comments are in bold:

Blueberry Scones
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut in chunks
1 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing the scones
1 cup fresh blueberries (I used frozen blueberries)
Lemon Glaze:
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 lemon, zest finely grated
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Sift together the dry ingredients; the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Using 2 forks or a pastry blender, cut in the butter to coat the pieces with the flour. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in the heavy cream. Fold everything together just to incorporate; do not overwork the dough. Fold the blueberries into the batter. Take care not to mash or bruise the blueberries because their strong color will bleed into the dough.
Press the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 12 by 3 by 1 1/4 inches. Cut the rectangle in 1/2 then cut the pieces in 1/2 again, giving you 4 (3-inch) squares(I cut them in 5ths). Cut the squares in 1/2 on a diagonal to give you the classic triangle shape. Place the scones on an ungreased cookie sheet and brush the tops with a little heavy cream. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until beautiful and brown. Let the scones cool a bit before you apply the glaze.
Technically you should make this simple lemon glaze in a double boiler (i.e. over a pot of simmering water with a heatproof bowl set on top) but it's even simpler to zap it in the microwave. Mix the lemon juice and confectioners' sugar together in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon zest and butter. Nuke it for 30 seconds on high. Whisk the glaze to smooth out any lumps, then drizzle the glaze over the top of the scones. Let it set a minute before serving.

ENJOY!

Asian Orange Chicken

2010-05-28T14:24:00.002-04:00

My husband loves orange chicken. He orders it every time we go out for Chinese. I've been saying for months I was going to find a recipe for it and I finally found one here! I actually think it's a lot better, not to mention a lot healthier, then the real deal! I've made it twice so far and I think it may become a weekly dish in our house. I think it's great because I usually have all the ingredients on hand already (except the oranges but I should probably have them on hand anyway. Can't have too much fruit in the house!) The recipe says to use fresh ginger, but I used ground because that's what I had and I thought the ginger root would be expensive. I looked when I was grocery shopping and they really aren't that pricey. Plus I think you can actually freeze them? It still came out great using the ground though! I have served it with rice and broccoli but it would be fantastic as a stir-fry too!

Here's the recipe. My comments are in bold.

Asian Orange Chicken
Sauce:

1 1/2 cups water

2 tablespoons orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup rice vinegar

2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root (or ground)

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

2 tablespoons chopped green onion (I left out the onion)

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

3 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons water

Chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut

into 1/2 inch pieces

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

Pour 1 1/2 cups water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce into a saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir in the orange zest, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, chopped onion, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and cool 10 to 15 minutes.

Place the chicken pieces into a resealable plastic bag. When contents of saucepan have cooled, pour 1 cup of sauce into bag. Reserve the remaining sauce. Seal the bag, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

In another resealable plastic bag, mix the flour, salt, and pepper. Add the marinated chicken pieces (drain marinade first), seal the bag, and shake to coat.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken into the skillet, and brown on both sides. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels, and cover with aluminum foil. (Make sure you don't crowd the chicken, the pieces shouldn't touch, or the breading won't stick. I usually cook it in 2 batches.)

Wipe out the skillet, and add the sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Mix together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water; stir into the sauce (Make sure you poor it slowly and stir/whisk as you are poring or it will clump up). Reduce heat to medium low, add the chicken pieces, and simmer, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. (be gentle so the breading doesn't come off! I just use a spatula and flip it over so the sauce covers the chicken)

YUM!!

Beautiful Summer Day

2010-05-27T22:36:00.000-04:00

The weather has been so nice this past week. Summer is finally here!
This afternoon Ava got to try out her new pool..

and enjoyed some time on her swing,,, of course she had to try out the big girl swing too!..

She just loves being outside! She would stay out all day if I let her!

duh!

2010-05-21T13:49:00.000-04:00

For years now I have been buying meats in bulk and then portioning and freezing them at home. I can never get the pieces into the Ziploc bag with out touching it on the zipper part. I always try to wash it off as well as I can but I'm always afraid of salmonella or cross contamination since I'm just throwing it into the freezer with everything else! I'm not sure why it took me so long to realize this..... but if you fit your ziploc bag over a container you can avoid touching the meats to the top at all because the sides are slid down over the side. Plus you have your other hand free since you aren't holding the bag open.

I only do this with the gallon size bags. If you're using the quart size, just fold the sides down like so:

This also works well if you freeze tomato sauces or soups. Perhaps everybody else already does this?

Keylime Goodness

2010-05-21T09:52:00.001-04:00

I found this recipe on-line a few years ago and I am so glad I did! We had just got back from Key West and we were on a key lime kick so I was in search of a good key lime pie recipe. I came across Emeril's recipe on foodnetwork.com for Key Lime Cheesecake. It's a little time consuming, but I think you'll agree, it's worth the wait!! I recommend using a fine grater for the zest so you don't feel bits of it in the cheesecake.

Key Lime Cheesecake

Crust:

5 tbsp butter, melted

2 tbsp sugar

1 C graham cracker crumbs

Filling:

1 1/4 cups, plus 1/4 cup sugar

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

3/4 C lime juice

4 eggs, at room temp

2 egg yolk, at room temp

2 tbsp lime zest

1 lb cream cheese, at room temp

2 egg whites, at room temp

1/4 tsp salt

2 C sweetened whipped cream

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, 2 tablespoons of the sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Mix well. Press the crust firmly over the bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan. set aside.

In a saucepan dissolve the gelatin and the lime juice, about 5 minutes. Add 1 1/4 cups of the sugar, eggs, egg yolks, and lime zest. Mix well. Over medium heat, cook until the mixture thickens and is pudding like, about 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth. With the mixer running, add the lime mixture slowly and beat until smooth. Remove the mixture and turn into a bowl and cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, stirring every 10 minutes.

In a bowl of an electric mixer with a whip attachment, place the egg whites and remaining 1/4 cup of the sugar. Whip on medium high until stiff peaks form. Remove the lime and cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Fold the egg whites into the lime mixture and blend thoroughly. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.

Remove from the refrigerator. Run a sharp knife along the sides of the pan and remove the spring-form. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the top of the cake. (I just plopped some on each piece.)

I hope you love it as much as we do!!

Simple Baby Blanket Tutorial

2010-05-16T22:43:00.001-04:00

I made this baby blanket for an upcoming baby shower. It is incredibly simple but I love the results so I thought I would share! I found the adorable animal fabric here. I have some left over so I'm going to make some matching burp cloths and maybe a changing pad! The animals are also perfect size to cut out and applique onto a onesie. I also really like this fabric!!

Materials for Blanket:
1.5 yards focus fabric (front)
1.5 yards minky fabric (back)
1.5 yards batting (I used warm and natural)
coordinating thread
template (I used newspaper, and it ended up being 30"x40". If you want your blanket smaller you could probably get away with only getting 1 yard of each fabric)

Wash and dry fabrics and make sure they are wrinkle free before you start.
Lay out the batting, Lay the back fabric on top with the right side up and then lay the front fabric on top with the right side facing down. Make sure everything is smooth and there are no lumps in the fabric layers.

Lay template on top and place fabric weights on top to keep template from shifting. make sure template is square to the fabric so the pattern on the fabric isn't crooked.

Cut around template and remove it. Pin around the sides to keep the fabrics from moving about while you sew.

Now you will sew around the edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Back stitch at the beginning and again in 10 inches then finish sewing all the way around. Place pins to mark where you back stitched so you can find it again.

Press the seam open in between where you back stitched. Doing this will make it easier to slip stitch the opening closed after to turn the blanket.

After you press the seam open, take you're seam rippers and take out the seam(in between where you back stitched and pressed open the seam).

Turn the blanket right side out. Smooth and press the edges. Now slip stitch the opening closed. This is where you thank me for having you press this seam open because it makes a world of difference at this stage (you can use this method on most things that require you to leave an opening for turning!!) just follow the creases where the initial seam was while you slip stitch. Top stitch 1/4 inch around the edge. I used my quilters foot but you don't have to.

Now you have the perfect blanket for your little one! Or a quick baby shower present!