Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Black Raspberry Ripple Baby Afghan
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Bracelets for National Girlfriends Day
Did you know that August 1st is National Girlfriends Day? I didn't either. Not until I bumped into it on a calendar of weird holidays. It also just so happens to be a night I'm going to see The Little Mermaid at the arts center in Nashville with two of my girlfriends. Since one of them was awesome and bought the tickets (and got us invited to the opening night reception, thanks to being a season ticket holder), and the other friend is driving, I decided to make gifts for these two lovely ladies as a thank you.
Each bracelet features a Swarovski crystal ring, with stainless steel charms, crystal heart links, and gunmetal chain and findings. While they all match, each one has a different charm.
'She's like whiskey in a teacup' for Heather
"She believed she could... so she did' for Jena
'Though she be but little she is fierce' for me.
Each bracelet features a Swarovski crystal ring, with stainless steel charms, crystal heart links, and gunmetal chain and findings. While they all match, each one has a different charm.
'She's like whiskey in a teacup' for Heather
"She believed she could... so she did' for Jena
Calhoun Peach & Sweet Basil Jam
This past weekend my husband and I headed up to his parents home in southern Illinois to visit friends and family. Each summer when we go up, we pass roadside stands selling Calhoun peaches. When I inquired about the signs a few years ago, my husband told me that the peaches grown in Calhoun county are famous for being extra sweet and delicious. Apparently the area they are grown in is between two rivers, the Illinois and the Mississippi, where moisture from the waters and the limestone bluffs seeps into the soil to make the peaches much more flavorful. So on our way out of town on Sunday we stopped at a roadside stand so I could get some peaches to can. This was the result! The clean herbal flavor of the basil balances the bright sweetness of the peaches. It made 7 half pint jars, plus 1.5 freezer jars leftover for me. I enjoyed it equally on toast this morning, and on vanilla ice cream last night.
Ingredients
7 cups sugar
4 cups finely chopped, peeled Calhoun peaches (or whatever peaches you have locally)
1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
1 pouch liquid pectin (3 oz)
3/4 cup finely snipped fresh sweet basil (I like to roll it up and snip it with kitchen sheers)
Prepare a hot water bath canner & 7 half-pint jars.
In a 6-8 qt pot combine the sugar, peaches and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved.
Quickly stir in the pectin. Return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute.
Remove from heat. Skim foam from the top with a metal spoon, and stir in the basil.
Ladle the hot jam into hot sterilized half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4" head space. Wipe the jar rims, adjust lids, and apply screw bands until fingertip tight.
Process filled jars in the water bath for 5 minutes. (Start timing once the water returns to boiling.) Turn off heat and remove lid from canner, leaving jars in the water an additional 5 minutes. Remove the jars to a folded kitchen towel, and allow to rest away from drafts for 24 hours.
Calhoun Peach & Sweet Basil Jam
Ingredients
7 cups sugar
4 cups finely chopped, peeled Calhoun peaches (or whatever peaches you have locally)
1/4 cup bottled lemon juice
1 pouch liquid pectin (3 oz)
3/4 cup finely snipped fresh sweet basil (I like to roll it up and snip it with kitchen sheers)
Prepare a hot water bath canner & 7 half-pint jars.
In a 6-8 qt pot combine the sugar, peaches and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved.
Quickly stir in the pectin. Return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute.
Remove from heat. Skim foam from the top with a metal spoon, and stir in the basil.
Ladle the hot jam into hot sterilized half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4" head space. Wipe the jar rims, adjust lids, and apply screw bands until fingertip tight.
Process filled jars in the water bath for 5 minutes. (Start timing once the water returns to boiling.) Turn off heat and remove lid from canner, leaving jars in the water an additional 5 minutes. Remove the jars to a folded kitchen towel, and allow to rest away from drafts for 24 hours.
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Sandwich Wrap Tutorial with Fusible Vinyl
While watching Star Trek TNG on Netflix the other night, my husband sighed and said, "I kinda want a Star Trek lunch box to take to work. I would be all about that." Since he's a software developer, working at a somewhat eccentric software company, this would fit right in. So, being an awesome wife, I pulled up eBay, and flipped around until I found a brand new, never-been-used Star Trek TNG lunch box from 1988. Sold! Best part, since it's brand new, the thermos doesn't even smell like old milk.
All this got me thinking. I already pack him a healthy lunch every day, consisting of a sandwich, cup of fruit, and bell pepper strips. I put it in a reusable snap top plastic box rather than paper bags, and put the fruit in a silicone muffin cup which can be run through the dishwasher. In the last few years I've been getting away from products that are bought simply to be thrown away, such as paper napkins, but I've still been wrapping his sandwiches in plastic wrap to keep them dry. When I saw fabric sandwich wraps popping up all over Pinterest a few years ago, I thought I should make some for Jim, but never got around to it. Ordering the lunch box was the push I needed to finally make some. The fun part about this project is that the wraps can be made with any printed cotton fabric you like, so you can make them tailored to each family members interest. They wipe clean, can be thrown in the washing machine, will last for ages, will keep plastic wrap out of landfills, and will save you money since you won't be buying a product that you're just going to throw out!
Materials:
Printed cotton fabric
Fusible Vinyl (I used [url=http://www.joann.com/vinyl-fuse-15-in-x-2-yards/11385135.html]Pellon Vinyl Fuse[/url], but Heat'n Bond Iron-On Vinyl also works)
Velcro
1/2" Double Fold Bias Tape in a coordinating color
Polyester Thread
Ruler
Rotary Cutter or Scissors & Pencil
1. Start by cutting a 12" (30 cm) square of your fabric, and a 12" (30 cm) square of the Fusible Vinyl. This is easy with a rotary cutter & mat, but easily can be done with a ruler, pencil & scissors if that's what you have on hand. I didn't take a picture of this step, because if you have not learned to use a ruler to draw a square, then you aren't old enough to use a hot iron. ;)
Note: I'm going to give directions using Pellon Vinyl Fuse, but be sure to check the directions that come with whatever brand fusible vinyl that you've purchased. Pellon also has a great video on their site showing how to use the product. You can see it HERE.
2. Set your iron to a medium heat/wool setting. Lay your fabric square with the printed side DOWN on your ironing board. Remove the backing paper from your square of vinyl. (Hang onto that paper!) Lay the vinyl down onto the WRONG SIDE of your printed cotton, with the shiny side of the vinyl UP, and the sticky side DOWN.
3. Place the paper on top of the vinyl, with the shiny/waxy side down against the vinyl. Gently run your iron over the whole space quickly, to get the vinyl partially stuck, then starting at one side, place your iron down and leave it in place for 8 seconds. Then pick up the iron and move it over to fuse the next segment, slightly overlapping your areas. Leave for another 8 seconds, and repeat, until you've fused the whole area. You will need to move your backing paper, in order to get every bit.
4. Now flip the bonded fabric & vinyl over, and replace the backing paper. Iron again from this side, holding the iron in place for 4 seconds, before moving on to the next area. Voila! You've successfully bonded your fabric and vinyl.
5. Starting partway down one side, slide your bias tape over the raw edge of the cloth. Instead of pinning through the vinyl, use quilting clips, hair clips or paper clips to hold the bias tape in place. (Using pretty rainbow paper clips isn't necessary, but highly recommended. Because, well... rainbows!) If you're using scraps of bias tape, you may need to seem them together. For tips on that check this tutorial.
6. Set the stitch length on your sewing machine to the longest possible setting. On most machines this is a 3.5 or 4. On my Viking that's a 6. Stitch along the first side, stopping when you get to the end.
7. Remove the piece from your machine, and fold the bias tape along the next side, mitering your corners as you go. I was not able to use the paper clips to hold my corners in place, so I used a quilt pin for that area. Start stitching again, and repeat around the remaining 3 sides.
8. When you get back to the beginning, cut your bias tape about 1" (2.5 cm) longer than where it would meet, the fold under the raw edge about 1/4" (5 mm), and sew it closed.
9. Now it's time for velcro. Cut a 2" piece, and separate the male and female sides. (With velcro the 'male' half is the harsher, plastic side and the 'female' half is the softer, fuzzier side. No, I didn't decide that. It's a holdover from using snaps in sewing, where there is also a designated male and female side.) Take the female side and lay it perpendicular to the corner, about 3/4"-1" (2-2.5 cm) down from the point on the RIGHT SIDE of your fabric. Hold in place with paper clips, then stitch in place.
10. Take the male half and lay it diagonally across the corner, on the opposite corner from your female velcro, on the WRONG SIDE of your sandwich wrap. Hold in place with paper clips, then stitch in place.
11. Make a delicious sandwich, and wrap it up in your awesome new reusable wrap. Be the envy of all your friends when you go into work with a kick-ass Star Trek lunch box and matching wrap. Accept compliments graciously.
Bonus: You can use your wrap like a placemat to enjoy your lunch on.
All this got me thinking. I already pack him a healthy lunch every day, consisting of a sandwich, cup of fruit, and bell pepper strips. I put it in a reusable snap top plastic box rather than paper bags, and put the fruit in a silicone muffin cup which can be run through the dishwasher. In the last few years I've been getting away from products that are bought simply to be thrown away, such as paper napkins, but I've still been wrapping his sandwiches in plastic wrap to keep them dry. When I saw fabric sandwich wraps popping up all over Pinterest a few years ago, I thought I should make some for Jim, but never got around to it. Ordering the lunch box was the push I needed to finally make some. The fun part about this project is that the wraps can be made with any printed cotton fabric you like, so you can make them tailored to each family members interest. They wipe clean, can be thrown in the washing machine, will last for ages, will keep plastic wrap out of landfills, and will save you money since you won't be buying a product that you're just going to throw out!
Materials:
Printed cotton fabric
Fusible Vinyl (I used [url=http://www.joann.com/vinyl-fuse-15-in-x-2-yards/11385135.html]Pellon Vinyl Fuse[/url], but Heat'n Bond Iron-On Vinyl also works)
Velcro
1/2" Double Fold Bias Tape in a coordinating color
Polyester Thread
Ruler
Rotary Cutter or Scissors & Pencil
1. Start by cutting a 12" (30 cm) square of your fabric, and a 12" (30 cm) square of the Fusible Vinyl. This is easy with a rotary cutter & mat, but easily can be done with a ruler, pencil & scissors if that's what you have on hand. I didn't take a picture of this step, because if you have not learned to use a ruler to draw a square, then you aren't old enough to use a hot iron. ;)
Note: I'm going to give directions using Pellon Vinyl Fuse, but be sure to check the directions that come with whatever brand fusible vinyl that you've purchased. Pellon also has a great video on their site showing how to use the product. You can see it HERE.
2. Set your iron to a medium heat/wool setting. Lay your fabric square with the printed side DOWN on your ironing board. Remove the backing paper from your square of vinyl. (Hang onto that paper!) Lay the vinyl down onto the WRONG SIDE of your printed cotton, with the shiny side of the vinyl UP, and the sticky side DOWN.
3. Place the paper on top of the vinyl, with the shiny/waxy side down against the vinyl. Gently run your iron over the whole space quickly, to get the vinyl partially stuck, then starting at one side, place your iron down and leave it in place for 8 seconds. Then pick up the iron and move it over to fuse the next segment, slightly overlapping your areas. Leave for another 8 seconds, and repeat, until you've fused the whole area. You will need to move your backing paper, in order to get every bit.
4. Now flip the bonded fabric & vinyl over, and replace the backing paper. Iron again from this side, holding the iron in place for 4 seconds, before moving on to the next area. Voila! You've successfully bonded your fabric and vinyl.
5. Starting partway down one side, slide your bias tape over the raw edge of the cloth. Instead of pinning through the vinyl, use quilting clips, hair clips or paper clips to hold the bias tape in place. (Using pretty rainbow paper clips isn't necessary, but highly recommended. Because, well... rainbows!) If you're using scraps of bias tape, you may need to seem them together. For tips on that check this tutorial.
6. Set the stitch length on your sewing machine to the longest possible setting. On most machines this is a 3.5 or 4. On my Viking that's a 6. Stitch along the first side, stopping when you get to the end.
7. Remove the piece from your machine, and fold the bias tape along the next side, mitering your corners as you go. I was not able to use the paper clips to hold my corners in place, so I used a quilt pin for that area. Start stitching again, and repeat around the remaining 3 sides.
8. When you get back to the beginning, cut your bias tape about 1" (2.5 cm) longer than where it would meet, the fold under the raw edge about 1/4" (5 mm), and sew it closed.
9. Now it's time for velcro. Cut a 2" piece, and separate the male and female sides. (With velcro the 'male' half is the harsher, plastic side and the 'female' half is the softer, fuzzier side. No, I didn't decide that. It's a holdover from using snaps in sewing, where there is also a designated male and female side.) Take the female side and lay it perpendicular to the corner, about 3/4"-1" (2-2.5 cm) down from the point on the RIGHT SIDE of your fabric. Hold in place with paper clips, then stitch in place.
10. Take the male half and lay it diagonally across the corner, on the opposite corner from your female velcro, on the WRONG SIDE of your sandwich wrap. Hold in place with paper clips, then stitch in place.
11. Make a delicious sandwich, and wrap it up in your awesome new reusable wrap. Be the envy of all your friends when you go into work with a kick-ass Star Trek lunch box and matching wrap. Accept compliments graciously.
Bonus: You can use your wrap like a placemat to enjoy your lunch on.
A special thanks to FiberAlchemist for her help & advice on this project!
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Bad Ass Bitch Necklace
I recently had the great fortune to partner with kittykill in the Feminism & Diversity Swap. I knew that I wanted to create a piece that felt like donning armor when putting it on; something with weight to remind her of her own innate strength while fighting for equality. The result is almost a gorget in size and area covered on the body.
I made the chain from large individual gunmetal links and Swarovski crystal 'cosmic rings' in jet black. Each individual element was chosen to reflect intersectional feminist principals, or to reference kittykill specifically. I'll list a few of them... The central eye pendant to help us stay woke, and keep an eye on The Man. The pink crystal hearts represent one of her favorite songs, Rebel Heart by Madonna. A large claw shaped stone to remind her that sometimes we need to use our teeth and claws to grab and hold onto our rights. A Mexican coin to represent the 'Bad Hombres' among us, working as allies in our fight for gender equality. A Queen Bee bottlecap as a reminder of 'who runs the world'. A resin pendant that reads 'elusive', as reference to the fact that after decades of bold suffragettes and women's libber's alike fighting for equality among the sexes, that equality still eludes us in the pay gap, in stereotyped gender-based marketing campaigns, in how we treat the victims of sexual assault, in what toys are marketed to our children, and so many other issues.
There is an antique key gifted to me as an extra in a Craftster swap, to remind her of the strength found in friendships among women and the communities we create for ourselves. A 'P', for kittykill's first initial; a wing to soar on; a playing die for luck in the game of life. I'm really thrilled with how it turned out, and hopefully it will bring her as much joy as I had making it.
Smash the Patriarchy & Frida Kahlo Tea
While crafting for the Feminism & Diversity Swap recently, I chatted with my partner kittykill, and she lamented we live far apart, or else we'd each love to have the other over for tea and crafting. It inspired me to create a tote for her. I purchased the frame image from the Silhouette Design Store, then altered the size & shape of it, before adding in the text with a typewriter font. It was cut out of black glitter htv on my Silhouette. I was going for the feel of captions to old silent films. Very happy with how it came out.
kittykill also mentioned that Frida Kahlo was one of her feminist icons so I knew I had to create something inspired by Frida for her. I started with a candy pink tee from Target, and did some google image searching to find a simple stencil or icon of Frida, and added a heart around it in my Silhouette Design Studio software. Once I was finished it felt like it needed a little extra something.... So I added a rose on the back of the neckline. All the images were cut out of black glitter htv. As I've been working with my Silhouette, I think I've come to like working with the glitter htv best of all as it seems to stick the best and cut & weed well.
Harry Potter LOVE Tees with Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl
I recently had the most amazing opportunity to meetup with 3 of my favorite Craftsters, down at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Since I was going to be meeting and hanging out with some pretty amazing crafters, I knew I had to bring handmade gifts to share with them. I purchased an svg file on Etsy that said LOVE, with the L & O being above the V & E to form a square image. After a minor setback in which I lost my head and accidentally cut out the transfers backwards, I decided to go back and play with the image in Photoshop to make it one word written out straight across instead of the square placement, mostly to make the image work with the amount of silver glitter htv I had left. I actually like my re-arranged version more, because it's clearer to read. I apologize for this picture being a bit dimly lit. We were in a Steampunk Chocolate Emporium, and it was the only pic I got of all of us in our matching shirts.
Left to right: FiberAlchemist, Abbeeroad, myself, edelC, & her daughter.
And just for clarity, here's a pic of them lined up, with the text more clearly visible.
Left to right: FiberAlchemist, Abbeeroad, myself, edelC, & her daughter.
And just for clarity, here's a pic of them lined up, with the text more clearly visible.
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