Thursday, October 31, 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Guest Posting At Sew A Fine Seam

I have the privilege of guest posting at Sew a Fine Seam today.

If you haven't had an opportunity to visit the incredibly talented Jill, you are missing out on a blog filled with beautiful home decor designed and created by Jill herself.

Sew A Fine Seam

A blog filled with impressive photography

painted chair 5
Sew A Fine Seam

and, a blog brimming with beautifully creations, of which she graciously shares in tutorials.

grain sack wreath (5 of 5)
Sew A Fine Seam




If you've never visit Sew A Fine Seam before, you are in for a treat.  Grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea and spend some time getting lost in the creative genius of Sew a Fine Seam.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Spider Barrette Tutorial

Looking for a fun and easy way to accessorize for Halloween?  Look no further than these spider barrettes.


The best part, this easy spider barrette can be made in less than 5 minutes. 

To make your own, grab a barrette, a spider ring and some hot glue.


Dissect your spider ring (cut the ring off the spider).


Apply hot glue to the end of the barrette.


Attach your spider. 


Once the glue has dried, clip it and proudly show off your adorable...I mean, spooky spider barrette.



Monday, October 28, 2013

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Chocolate covered pretzels are the perfect no hassle, easy and quick kind of baking that I enjoy.  Depending on the sprinkles, they can be adapted to fit any holiday you feel like celebrating. 


To make these very delicious chocolate covered pretzels, you'll need pretzels(!), either rods or a traditional pretzel shape, almond bark and... 


Decorative sprinkles.  I used Halloween sprinkles, black bats and orange sprinkles.  Of course, these chocolate covered pretzels can fit any occasion simply by changing up the sprinkles...planning a baby shower use pink and blue sprinkles, Christmas use red and green sprinkles.


Break the almond bark up into sections and place in a microwave save bowl.  Microwave the chocolate for 1 minute, on high.  Remove chocolate and stir.  Continuing microwaving the chocolate cooking for 15 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chocolate is fully melted.

 

Dunk the pretzels into the melted chocolate. 
*Avoid using the broken pretzels.  The broken bits will leave pretzel crumbs in the melted chocolate.


Remove the pretzels from the chocolate with a spoon or your finger.  Set the pretzels onto parchment paper and quickly cover with sprinkles.  It's best to have an assistant to help with this part so you can continue covering the pretzels with chocolate.  You need to work quickly before the chocolate starts to harden.


My assistant was quite liberal with her sprinkling.  


One package of almond bark will be more than enough to cover an entire bag of pretzels.

Once your pretzels are chocolate and sprinkle coated, you can enjoy them yourself or you can wrap them up and share them.


After we (Grace and I) ate more than we should, we decided to wrap some up to share with Grace's teacher. 

Into a Goodwill basket, we arranged a fall colored tea towel, chocolate covered pretzels and a few gourds.


Of course, my favorite part...the black bat gift tag, signed by the sous chef herself Grace.


Chocolate covered pretzels, sprinkled with bats and love.

Friday, October 25, 2013

This is Me Link Party

The optional self portrait theme for October was sharing your story in what you wear, through a self portrait.


 So, come out from behind the camera and show me who YOU are. 

While Wearing Heels


Thursday, October 24, 2013

This Is Me - My Clothes

It's fall y'all. 

The leafs are changing colors and falling.  The days are growing shorter and the temperatures are dropping.


Though part of who I am involves heels...


Tis the season for boots.

 

The boots are a rare purchase from an actual retail store. 

The rest of my wardrobe is mostly thrift store finds.  I love the hunt of discovering unique and frugal finds. 


Where once upon a time, I used to dress for a corporate lifestyle and I struggled to feel comfortable in casual outfits.  The life that I am living now, is all about casual outfits.

A sweater and a pair of jeans is how you'll find me scouring booths at a flea market. 


A pair of jeans, thick chunky brown leather belt and flannel shirt is my typical pick Grace up from school outfit.


We had our first parent teacher conference a week ago.  Part of who I am is someone who gets anxious over things like doctor's appointments and, apparently, parent teacher conferences.  When I get nervous, I will typically change my clothes at least 4 or 5 times.  I prefer to wear something 'nicer' when I am nervous.  And, I will typically fret over my hair, fluff, spray with hair spray and repeat until my hair practically needs it's own zip code. 

Leggings, a short sleeve dress and a long sleeve black shirt with a tie front closure is how I nervously marched off to meet Grace's teacher.  *Despite breaking out in hives during the conference, it went incredibly well and as I should have known all along, Grace is doing wonderfully.
 

So, this is me. 


Where I once worked...I now work hard at being a full time mom.  Where I once wore dresses...I now wear jeans and run around the park playing tag with my sweet daughter.

This is me.

I'd love for you to come back tomorrow and link up the story your clothes tell about you.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Embroidered Favor Bags

Fall parties are in the air and a party is not complete without goodies.  Why not set the tone for the festive goodies you plan on giving by putting them in a one of a kind favor bag.

Embroidery...it's not just fabric anymore.  These embroidered favor bags are made out of brown paper bags.


To make your own embroidered favor bags go grab some brown paper bags.  In pencil, draw out a design you like centered on the front of the paper bag.  Thread embroidery floss into a needle and knot the end.  Start embroidering with the needle inside of the bag. 

As I was embroidering the intricate spiderweb design, I grew weary...weary of all the detail and surprised at how time consuming it was.  So...


The second bag I embroidered had a more simple spiderweb design.  Inside of using small dashes to complete the intricate spiderweb, the simpler web took only 27 straight stitches and took less than 12 minutes.


The embroidered bags, though cute, were missing something...a spider. 

Folded the top of the paper bag over.  Punch 2 holes in the top of the bag.  String orange ribbon through the holes.  Tie the ribbon and then secure a spider ring to the bottom of one side of the ribbon.


Intricate spiderweb...


 or simple spiderweb...


these Halloween goodie bags definitely make a statement.


Brown paper packages tied up with ribbons and spiders.  That's how that song goes, right?

Monday, October 21, 2013

Swirled Faux Fur Cowl Tutorial

This Anthropology inspired swirled faux fur cowl is nearly an exact replica for a fraction of the cost.


I mooned over the Anthropology's swirled fur cowl until inspiration struck and I figured out a frugal way to make my own. 

'Swirled fur', well, that's exactly how I would describe some minkys...and I just so happen to have some left over minky fabric from Grace's pig costume I made last year.


The best part, I had enough minky left over to cut it down to 27 X 16.  The perfect cowl length.  I started measuring from the salvage end.  Typically, you would not want to use the salvage end of fabric but for this cowl, it helped give the cowl a finished look.


Once you have your faux fur (or minky) cut, fold it in half, faux fur facing in.  Sew the length of the minky. 


Turn the faux fur tube, you just sewed, right side out.  Tuck the non-salvage end of the tube into the salvaged side by about 1/2 an inch. 

Pin closed.  Head to your sewing machine and sew closed, following along the salvage line.


Once done, decide if you want to wear it for warmth...


Or for style.


For warmth or for style, this swirled cowl, is the perfect accessory for any fall day, for not only you, your little one or even their stuffed monkey. 


Macy, the sleepy monkey, was disappointed Anthropology didn't have a cowl in her size.  Fortunately, this pattern can be modified to fit even a stuffed monkey (while wearing bunny slippers or not).


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