tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54845934872046436552024-02-19T15:51:41.128-08:00The Peasant HousewifeOnicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-4973339884236259772011-05-17T13:09:00.001-07:002011-05-17T13:09:49.080-07:00You made that out of what?<div><p>So my computer is on the fritz and I'm attempting to blog from my phone. Its slow going but gets the job done. </p>
<p>You know those uber popular things people are crocheting these days out of plastic bags? They are a lot of work. You have to cut them and you're them together and not to mention still crochet your item. Its a pain.</p>
<p>But as I was cleaning out the garage last week with my husband we came across some old vhs tapes. My brain did this little flip and I said "i think I can crochet this". My husband rolled his eyes.</p>
<p>I did it anyway.</p>
<p>I made the whole bag with one tape and there was still some left on the reel. It worked great. But its very shiny and only comes in one color. Lol.</p>
<p>The flower is made out of duct tape. Tutorial to come soon.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QfnaiAxC_rjHl2tV0u3ivpoc9zi7pn67YZ53kq-RH6YY7KM6sSCr9PvsbXScSIIUoHAsan1x9EJPlFpXpYRVnmlJHGlvbOcm-V7Snu0vcD7PyfZxKeAlkza9jk0CpVeBptRVty-aW60/' /></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-18943487766766672822011-05-14T09:04:00.000-07:002011-05-14T09:04:01.346-07:00Seriously? No great Easter Pictures?THIS my friends is the only picture I have of our kids on Easter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH72KGlRXM-S8qRVuYPPjESVOl0t7lcnOMxMsW9lXOaha0J9mxb0oBT3eViIzWH-cLbzBxhUH36DvMl_phyxk2SiJJ6PpjWd8br5zwiu42k7cfaGEapbx5UCCbMDL-CD-sky47xyvxHV8/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH72KGlRXM-S8qRVuYPPjESVOl0t7lcnOMxMsW9lXOaha0J9mxb0oBT3eViIzWH-cLbzBxhUH36DvMl_phyxk2SiJJ6PpjWd8br5zwiu42k7cfaGEapbx5UCCbMDL-CD-sky47xyvxHV8/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I blame 9am church.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we DID get a little crafty this year. We tie dyed our easter eggs. It was an interesting technique and not sure if we will repeat it again as everything turned a greenish brown. Not the pretty effect I was going for. But what can you do?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqDmIHEv3vIl5GL9Z8zADPuMZ_uKs-Rn6pL3urE2stoT76QhKmD0K3c3x8yhmAwvjjzAxkOFGKKI_0_S5oy7nOrPEP2CCZG5q8ZuDQml8zEZidVmZ-MH-zXdXCSqkXPvXPeMB-aesuEc/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqDmIHEv3vIl5GL9Z8zADPuMZ_uKs-Rn6pL3urE2stoT76QhKmD0K3c3x8yhmAwvjjzAxkOFGKKI_0_S5oy7nOrPEP2CCZG5q8ZuDQml8zEZidVmZ-MH-zXdXCSqkXPvXPeMB-aesuEc/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You mixed a bit of food coloring in 3 T of vinegar. Then take a wet cloth and wrap your egg. Drip dye in random drips around and remove cloth. That's it. Pretty simple. </div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-46237733378729575982011-04-12T16:38:00.000-07:002011-04-12T16:38:35.193-07:00Tutorial- Flower FairiesI came up with the idea for these cute little fairies in September for my daughters birthday party. They were such a hit and so cute! A few readers have emailed me how I made them so I decided to do a tutorial. They are super easy and if you don't put a face on them there really isn't anything to mess up!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DGdeOc58-ww/TaTdEB1ImXI/AAAAAAAABF4/QXJbtRfCZ-E/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DGdeOc58-ww/TaTdEB1ImXI/AAAAAAAABF4/QXJbtRfCZ-E/s320/026.JPG" width="215" /></a></div><br />
For each fairy you will need:<br />
<br />
A wooden bead head. I found them in the doll making section at Joanne's. While your there grab:<br />
Darice Doll Hair<br />
2 pipe cleaners<br />
2 large artificial flowers<br />
1 very small artificial flower for the cap<br />
1 flat backed crystal or jewel<br />
Glue gun<br />
Glue for the glue gun<br />
Skin colored acrylic paint<br />
Paint brush<br />
Felt for the shirt and wings<br />
Scissors<br />
<br />
To start you need to paint your dolls head. Since I was making a bunch I stuck them all on one pipe cleaner so I didn't have to paint around my fingers. It worked like a charm. Let it dry. It takes all of two minutes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnkYEkThEZk/TaTc-QW8cDI/AAAAAAAABE0/dmQnM8h9FjY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnkYEkThEZk/TaTc-QW8cDI/AAAAAAAABE0/dmQnM8h9FjY/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Next fold one pipe cleaner in half and cut the other one in half. Like so:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uo1JXLkEBWw/TaTc_-tRvjI/AAAAAAAABFE/mpFO-wxtS7A/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uo1JXLkEBWw/TaTc_-tRvjI/AAAAAAAABFE/mpFO-wxtS7A/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Put a spot of glue on the folded half and stick on the head. Have I mentioned this was easy?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zE60srdTAw/TaTdANp6xfI/AAAAAAAABFI/pdAw_yG2R1s/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zE60srdTAw/TaTdANp6xfI/AAAAAAAABFI/pdAw_yG2R1s/s320/009.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">To put the arms on you simply wrap it around the body. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtUrfheW03U/TaTdAYAMGLI/AAAAAAAABFM/mP619IMr378/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtUrfheW03U/TaTdAYAMGLI/AAAAAAAABFM/mP619IMr378/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For the fairies shirt and wing you simply cut the wings out of felt. I took a piece roughly three inches square folded it in half and cut them out. Sorry. No pattern. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tyVbsjTgDv0/TaTc--IEczI/AAAAAAAABE4/32SfpV7bzY4/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tyVbsjTgDv0/TaTc--IEczI/AAAAAAAABE4/32SfpV7bzY4/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The shirt is a tiny half inch or so rectangle with slits for arm holes. So technical, I know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4JnOIn5nEac/TaTc_LkmBrI/AAAAAAAABE8/VkwztwZuluY/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4JnOIn5nEac/TaTc_LkmBrI/AAAAAAAABE8/VkwztwZuluY/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yes, I realize that the pictures of the closeups of the fairy clothes are in a different color. It's been on of those months. Anyhow it's time to glue the shirt on. Start by glueing the bottom half on first. Like so...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SeHZ_JdE4nw/TaTdA1cOjAI/AAAAAAAABFQ/VxCBz3Fm9FI/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SeHZ_JdE4nw/TaTdA1cOjAI/AAAAAAAABFQ/VxCBz3Fm9FI/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Then cross over the top part in a V on the back. Don't worry how it looks. The wings will cover it up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgsMJrIHJp0/TaTdBNQKyeI/AAAAAAAABFU/3drp1Mk9sjQ/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgsMJrIHJp0/TaTdBNQKyeI/AAAAAAAABFU/3drp1Mk9sjQ/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Take apart your artificial flowers: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cPJ0FwSgAgI/TaTc_WrIvpI/AAAAAAAABFA/BcrZYtDnk_A/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cPJ0FwSgAgI/TaTc_WrIvpI/AAAAAAAABFA/BcrZYtDnk_A/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And slide them upside down in whatever configuration you want (small, big, medium or big, medium, small). Play around with it if you want. You want it to look like a skirt. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aqMoD-WhPZo/TaTdBd1kL9I/AAAAAAAABFY/tR6Jtze9D8w/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aqMoD-WhPZo/TaTdBd1kL9I/AAAAAAAABFY/tR6Jtze9D8w/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now for the fun part. The hair. I cut mine in two inch pieces. Although truthfully you could probably just glue a glob on and cut it to the shape you want. If a piece looks out of place just trim it off or glue on more hair. I love this stuff.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYNXz9qJNp0/TaTdB_sN5_I/AAAAAAAABFc/vGevJV5hsX4/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYNXz9qJNp0/TaTdB_sN5_I/AAAAAAAABFc/vGevJV5hsX4/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A tip: Work from the outside in. Trust me. Oh and don't glue the wings on yet. It just gets in the way of the hair. Ask me how I know.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IhWYR1hgMN0/TaTdCEbwjPI/AAAAAAAABFg/OeyaS2g5cb4/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IhWYR1hgMN0/TaTdCEbwjPI/AAAAAAAABFg/OeyaS2g5cb4/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Psx9xK6H2jw/TaTdCcfXjbI/AAAAAAAABFk/mwC5RDdZLQc/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Psx9xK6H2jw/TaTdCcfXjbI/AAAAAAAABFk/mwC5RDdZLQc/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_uSLm3M6VX8/TaTdCjKMb0I/AAAAAAAABFo/Bng-Y8pzf20/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_uSLm3M6VX8/TaTdCjKMb0I/AAAAAAAABFo/Bng-Y8pzf20/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Once you've got the hair on like you want you can glue on the wings.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7BBmJimbRI/TaTdC-lYctI/AAAAAAAABFs/6aFWVMW7gxE/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7BBmJimbRI/TaTdC-lYctI/AAAAAAAABFs/6aFWVMW7gxE/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Glue on the small flower so it's facing down towards the head. This makes it more cap like. Glue a jewel on the top. Pause and marvel at the cuteness.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtr1CWx8sis/TaTdDVBTGWI/AAAAAAAABFw/Ir-C6iHzI2c/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtr1CWx8sis/TaTdDVBTGWI/AAAAAAAABFw/Ir-C6iHzI2c/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And then take pictures! Because you are done!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0SEnm_Zertg/TaTdDiCcYpI/AAAAAAAABF0/2dcnxC3wmg8/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0SEnm_Zertg/TaTdDiCcYpI/AAAAAAAABF0/2dcnxC3wmg8/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I purposely leave the faces off. If you want this as an outside fairy for your fairy garden I would suggest maybe a quick spray of clear over the head before you start putting it together. So go on... what are you waiting for? Get thee to the craft store!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-38686636201441501342011-04-04T09:29:00.000-07:002011-04-04T09:54:34.294-07:00TWO finished knitted articles of clothing. Holy cow!I love when I have a finished project. It makes my heart pitter patter and I get to feel the sense of true accomplishment. And brag. I really like to brag. Especially when it's something wearable like this...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8xP9t5hoIk/TZVgE7LgsSI/AAAAAAAABDw/Xraeywe4_ng/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8xP9t5hoIk/TZVgE7LgsSI/AAAAAAAABDw/Xraeywe4_ng/s320/021.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTmIgRwKKYw/TZVgEduBZKI/AAAAAAAABDs/QcRXEFaZsIE/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hTmIgRwKKYw/TZVgEduBZKI/AAAAAAAABDs/QcRXEFaZsIE/s320/017.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite part about this wrap is that you can wear it a gazillion ways. And it's so pretty. For my fibery friends you can <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/PrincessOnica/every-way-wrap">see more on the rav page</a> for it. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kBXnC7OCdqk/TZVgFDr38wI/AAAAAAAABD0/36n0SKhwldQ/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kBXnC7OCdqk/TZVgFDr38wI/AAAAAAAABD0/36n0SKhwldQ/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">AND not only did I finish one wearable adult sized item this last month but two. FOR ME. I know, the shock almost killed me too.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WZ89mYintmw/TZT-64d5CsI/AAAAAAAABDI/pn09RNEGiww/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WZ89mYintmw/TZT-64d5CsI/AAAAAAAABDI/pn09RNEGiww/s320/006.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sKDA1bsINs/TZT-7bjPlTI/AAAAAAAABDM/mc7pUrE34Ek/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sKDA1bsINs/TZT-7bjPlTI/AAAAAAAABDM/mc7pUrE34Ek/s320/008.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Oh man, I need a hair makeover. Stat.Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-14843414195075493362011-03-28T08:30:00.000-07:002011-03-28T08:30:38.895-07:00THREE WEEKS?Ok, so I will admit that having a blog is a lot of work. And apparently it was more than I was willing to do in the last month. We are still in the waiting game for Spokane. I've been doing a lot of spinning and knitting. And I made some of these cute things... <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5DkXRoGTMQ/TZCoxxBT-8I/AAAAAAAABCA/Ckq-xregQqA/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5DkXRoGTMQ/TZCoxxBT-8I/AAAAAAAABCA/Ckq-xregQqA/s320/006.JPG" width="318" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkmlA0xNGM4/TZCoxhuYbaI/AAAAAAAABB8/LNM3Tt4YS_0/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkmlA0xNGM4/TZCoxhuYbaI/AAAAAAAABB8/LNM3Tt4YS_0/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Which btw are ridiculously easy and totally cute and addicting. You just buy the flower cabochon and the ring base and glue them together.<br />
<br />
If you don't want to do that you can just buy one on my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/onicahanby">etsy</a> store. :)Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-35315791710401159512011-03-08T08:07:00.000-08:002011-03-08T10:41:28.468-08:00I have this friend...So the last few weeks have been a bit nuts. My oldest son turned 8 and got baptized. My husbands work announced that they are opening a Trader Joes in Spokane. My best friend in Spokane (Misty) sending us links to houses and referrals to agents. Then there is the non stop perusal of Craigslist and Realtor.com.<br />
<br />
You see, we are on the short list of possibly getting transferred there. And in the non-stop perusal of Craigslist we realized something. The rental market in Spokane is nuts. You see something nice and it's gone a week later. Or less. Then we realized something else. OWNING a house in Spokane is cheaper than renting. :|<br />
<br />
So we may or may not have gotten pre-approved to buy a house. Ok. We totally did. ROFL. So this weekend we are loading up the car and driving to Spokane. Now, granted we are going because it's Misty's baby shower and I have loads of boy clothes to pass down to her. But that's like the icing on the cake. We are going to look at houses.<br />
<br />
The smaller the better.<br />
<br />
SAY WHAT?!?!<br />
<br />
You see, I have this friend and she lives in a 256 square foot cabin with her husband and their daughter. Purposefully. I never really understood it until she posted on her facebook a link to this video.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LJLSoUkh1Vs" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
And while living in less than 100 square feet is just not possible for a family of five (and maybe more) it did start us watching and reading online a lot more about small house living. Ok, so I still want one of Jay's tiny houses... it would make a great guest house. And a very portable cabin for when my husband goes hunting! <br />
<br />
We have been married 9 1/2 years and have always rented. You should see our "dream house" list. It's insane. And would probably require 5k square feet just to fit it all in. There's a few problems with that thinking though. 1. My husband doesn't make enough money for a 5k square foot house. 2. I don't want to clean it. 3. Can you imagine the utility bills on that? 4. Do 5-6 people really need all that space? REALLY?<br />
<br />
And while yes, having a screening room would be ten shades of awesome (heck that's what basements are for, right? So it stays on the list) we'd rather travel and give our kids experiences instead of stuff to fill that 5k sq. ft. house. Or at least buy them ultra awesome small stuff. <br />
<br />
Some reasons why my brain shifted gears so quickly:<br />
<br />
1. We want to be debt free. Including our house. It will take a whole lot less time to pay off a 150k mortgage than a 300k mortgage.<br />
2. We have a lot of stuff we just don't use. If we have to live in a small house that stuff's got to go!<br />
3. We want to travel.<br />
4. The utilities alone would kill us. What if someday we want to go off-grid (or at least partially off grid) outfitting a 3k square foot house would be expensive. Outfitting a 1800 square foot house would be do-able.<br />
5. Granite counters, awesome cabinetry, millwork, radiant heating... heck yeah I'm going to do it! I can have all these luxury finishes if my house is smaller. It will cost less!<br />
<br />
Do you see where I'm going with this? We currently live in an 1800 square foot rental. We fit amazingly into it with plenty of room to spare. And as my dear friend Shawna pointed out to me yesterday 1800 square feet in most parts of the world is a fantastic luxury.<br />
<br />
At least my bedroom is not our living room and I don't have to fold my bed up in the wall every morning. See, it's all about perspective.<br />
<br />
Small will be awesome.Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-75272638996497385502011-03-01T09:31:00.000-08:002011-03-01T09:31:10.339-08:00A now for something new...I am a copycat. Truthfully. Very few of the things I do are actually my own idea. When I do come up with something I feel like it's a small miracle. So as I'm perusing the blogosphere and seeing all theses amazing crafts/projects/recipes/ideas something hit me. Let's do what I do best... and copy them! So, I've made a cute little button so that if "I Copy You" you can grab it and link from your project to my copy.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty proud of my button. I've just started using my design software (thank you <a href="http://paint.net/">paint.net</a> for the freebie). After finally figuring it all out I think I've got the basics. I might tweak it or change it up but for now it's not too shabby!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepeasanthousewife.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqQcQAMmIeRrI2QInZ-R5GZfp1e4huncTrpT5RI2nB8QYmGwE4ntCf2xzLz4J44LysznGtFN_L2QPsfkQxDnblw8gpPII3T85ex2542oiXnvshSPGvHtmNx_9uRoU0jBtq6iZxmUhuqo/s128/ICY.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, I've been planning this for awhile but the whole month of February was one craziness after the other. And March is shaping up to be equally as nuts but you know, I really want to do this so I refuse to put it off any longer.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We were at my parents house at Christmas and my sister handed me her cashmere sweater and asked me if I could fix it. As you can see there were these in a few places on the sweater. Bummer! And totally not fixable. So I asked if I could cut it up and make it into other stuff. Good thing I asked. But she was nice and said yes. Squee!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7yTxyKYrkN0/TW0eJGERSYI/AAAAAAAAA-o/Owh6Ut1O4KM/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7yTxyKYrkN0/TW0eJGERSYI/AAAAAAAAA-o/Owh6Ut1O4KM/s320/018.JPG" width="218" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FLEc7THJwfU/TW0jhXB2dPI/AAAAAAAAA_w/7DX-BHZ6jds/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FLEc7THJwfU/TW0jhXB2dPI/AAAAAAAAA_w/7DX-BHZ6jds/s320/017.JPG" width="269" /></a></div><br />
So the sweater landed in my project pile. And by chance a week or so later I came across Melissa Esplin's totally cute blog (which by the way when I get pregnant again I'm going to copy every single maternity outfit she wore) and her <a href="http://melissaesplin.com/home/2011/01/cashmere-mittens-pattern-for-grown-ups/">Cashmere Mitten Pattern for Grown Ups</a>.<br />
<br />
Melissa Esplin... come on down because I Copied You!!! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hELJ_F8KbjM/TW0eZ_BIjKI/AAAAAAAAA_E/v5Zcewy8tes/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hELJ_F8KbjM/TW0eZ_BIjKI/AAAAAAAAA_E/v5Zcewy8tes/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>They are just a tad different. I was sleep deprived when I made them and cut them too short. On her blog you can see that she cut them nice and long and wore them scrunchy. And it's an Old Navy sweater and I'm pretty sure they did some sort of chemical treatment on it because no matter how hard I tried that thing would not felt. So these are unfelted. But still totally cute and warm.<br />
<br />
Here are some pics of the process...<br />
<br />
I cut them out of the sleeves. I plan on using the main body for a cowl and ear warmers. Projects forthcoming. Promise.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fplRm85kEUI/TW0eJWw1Z8I/AAAAAAAAA-s/fh5llFlzEOg/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fplRm85kEUI/TW0eJWw1Z8I/AAAAAAAAA-s/fh5llFlzEOg/s320/023.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See the problem? By the time I hem them they would have been WAY too short.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F2vI440kAek/TW0eJ2vLC2I/AAAAAAAAA-w/JmggpMIAnyI/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F2vI440kAek/TW0eJ2vLC2I/AAAAAAAAA-w/JmggpMIAnyI/s320/028.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
So I cut some more of the sleeve to make a ruffle band. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QzQk_dJn21I/TW0eKlDHGTI/AAAAAAAAA-0/FdGPhNsXUmo/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QzQk_dJn21I/TW0eKlDHGTI/AAAAAAAAA-0/FdGPhNsXUmo/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Folded it in half and pinned it right sides together and put some pleats in there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gmTJecEBgP4/TW0eKzRjHoI/AAAAAAAAA-4/j2S5OmdqcZ8/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gmTJecEBgP4/TW0eKzRjHoI/AAAAAAAAA-4/j2S5OmdqcZ8/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-189ztHIxnbE/TW0eLelybfI/AAAAAAAAA-8/eDUp0Klv4AU/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-189ztHIxnbE/TW0eLelybfI/AAAAAAAAA-8/eDUp0Klv4AU/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I sewed it there and called it good. I used some scraps and made rolled flowers and glued them on. Yes, hot glue baby. That's the way I roll.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qI84Tyjwcdg/TW0eZbbOa3I/AAAAAAAAA_A/oDdVXZS-71s/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qI84Tyjwcdg/TW0eZbbOa3I/AAAAAAAAA_A/oDdVXZS-71s/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So totally cute. They look amazing on. I'm so bummed to part with them but maybe now I'll have to hit up the thrift stores for an old cashmere sweater for myself.<br />
<br />
<br />
Also a huge shout out thank you to <a href="http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/2009/05/how-to-create-a-button-code.html">Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife</a> for her amazing tutorials on how to make a blog button and how to make codes. And her blog rocks as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-11575788866988041702011-02-18T13:25:00.000-08:002011-02-18T13:26:19.208-08:00Chipotle Veggie-Bean Taco's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chipotle Veggie and Bean Tacos</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-modified from a recipe in the Vive le Vegan! cookbook</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TV7e3N63V-I/AAAAAAAAA8A/McxVcPIxlQY/s512/shot_1298062072333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TV7e3N63V-I/AAAAAAAAA8A/McxVcPIxlQY/s320/shot_1298062072333.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />
So, after the advice of my doctor we have started eating less meat and more veggies. I kid you not I would eat meat three meals a day. Bacon or Sausage for Breakfast, meat sandwhiches for lunch and dinner was usually roast chicken, beef or pork. Seriously! EVERY day! Now, this is not unusual for most Americans but even the bible says "Everything in it's Season". Pretty sure it's not hunting season at every meal.<br />
<br />
Gradually we have made the transition. I cook only two meals a week with meat products. TWO. And we have our usual family dinner at my in-laws. So three meals per week with meat. That's it. I asked my husband today how he's liking it. He says it's ok. Not bad. And there have definately been some less than awesome meals involved. (I apparently can NOT make lentil soup.) But there have been ones that even my kids will beg for. This is one of those.<br />
<br />
You will need:<br />
<br />
1 28oz can diced tomatoes, drained (if you want a smokier flavor use the roasted tomatoes)<br />
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil<br />
1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped<br />
2 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed* <br />
1/2 teas salt<br />
pepper to taste<br />
1 tsp chipotle peppers very, very, very finely chopped or just the "sauce" from the can*. <br />
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon chili powder<br />
1/2 to 2/4 teaspoon cumin<br />
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard or mustard seed<br />
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano<br />
1/2 teaspoon dried basil<br />
1 cup green bell pepper, diced<br />
1/3 cup celery, diced<br />
1 cup cooked beans (I use black or kidney)<br />
1/3 cup frozen corn kernels<br />
1/2 teas honey or agave nectar<br />
<br />
corn or flour tortillas<br />
favorite taco toppings (Mine are red lettuce, tomatoes and avacado"<br />
<br />
Press the drained tomatoes to remove as much excess liquid as possible. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper, chipotles and all the dried herbs and spices. Stir and cook for 5-6 minutes, then add the green pepper and celery. Stir and cook for another 3 minuts. Add in the remaining ingredients and cook until heated through.<br />
<br />
Heat up your tortilla's how you like them, and enjoy with your favorite taco toppings.<br />
<br />
* I no longer mince garlic for any recipe I make. I use my garlic press. It is awesome. I think I use it at least four or five times a week. I also buy my garlic peeled either from Costco or from Trader Joes. Yes, I use a ton of garlic. :)<br />
*(I freeze the leftover chipotles from the can and when I need it take it out of the freezer and cut it while frozen. No thawing needed and you get just the small amount you need for recipes)<br />
* You can make this less spicy by omiting the chipotles or turn it up a notch by upping it to 1 Tbsp. I like it spicy, my kids... eh, not so much.Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-53343353106706017702011-02-18T09:52:00.000-08:002011-02-18T09:52:27.025-08:00Madrona- For My Fiber Friends!As my good friend Gwen eloquently stated on her <a href="http://shesthegoldenegg.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/madrona-marketplace-on-opening-day/">blog post</a> we have been saying for forever that we need to collaborate and just DO something. So we did! LOL. It was a total spur of the moment thing yesterday at Opening Day of <a href="http://www.madronafiberarts.com/vendors.html">Madrona</a>. We grabbed her camera and did some interviews. I'm trying to find the time to go again before the weekend is through so we can get some more done. There are so many amazing artists there sharing their crafts in classes and workshops and of course in their booths! <br />
<br />
I love Madrona. This was my third year going and waiting outside the doors of <a href="http://www.hotelmuranotacoma.com/about-hotel-murano-tacoma/">Hotel Murano</a> was like waiting outside of Target on Black Friday. I kid you not. And usually when the doors open there is a mass filing over to the <a href="http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/">Blue Moon Fiber </a> booth. And people still did high-tail it over there. But this year... this year it was a crazy full on run over to the Goth Socks booth (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RainyDaysWoolyDogs#">Rainy Days and Wooly Dogs</a>). I've never seen such madness for yarn before! (I was very impressed. Man, don't I wish I had a following like that!)<br />
<br />
My Snagless Stitch Markers are once again in <a href="http://lollipopcabin.com/">Lollipop Cabins</a> booth. The tins are so cute but aren't selling. They sell amazingly online. Weird. I know. <br />
<br />
Anyways... here's what Gwen and I did. Yep, we made a video. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20081715" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/20081715">Madrona Marketplace on Opening Day</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5126882">Gwen Gyldenege</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-19375193916133770202011-02-15T15:59:00.001-08:002011-02-15T15:59:54.897-08:00Chirp, chirp...Still here! Still extremely busy getting ready for Madrona and a birthday party and a baptism!!!Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-31235822849023450842011-02-13T14:52:00.000-08:002011-02-13T14:52:00.692-08:00It's not a shameless plug if there's only one, right?The other day I was cutting vinyl for my knitting friends and made a super cute one that said "Knitting is Magic." I stuck it on a 3 ring binder to show it off. But there was a problem. The binder was just BORING. So off to the scrap store I went.<br />
<br />
Now, mind you I have avoided the scrap store pretty well for the last four years. I think I've been in there only a handful of times. Because my scrap stash was seriously huge. And I never scrap anymore. Which is sad.<br />
<br />
So, today I remedied both the boring binder problem and the haven't-scrapped-in-a-million-years problem and made this...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IWC4auN07Rc/TVhaQO6R2lI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/-AkRgq5aWk0/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IWC4auN07Rc/TVhaQO6R2lI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/-AkRgq5aWk0/s320/085.JPG" width="222" /></a></div><br />
LOVE this HP paper. It's a good solid heavy weight double sided bit of awesomeness. And I really love the browns. <br />
<br />
For the back I cut out the crests by hand. LOVE them. I want them everywhere. Why did I only buy four pieces of paper? LOL.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4cpK_qqydw/TVhaRFVdGaI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/kKjaZQHq2tI/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4cpK_qqydw/TVhaRFVdGaI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/kKjaZQHq2tI/s320/088.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><br />
The side features the original vinyl. I think it's one of my favorite knit quotes ever.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQr2ElsI4RM/TVhaQiHXPDI/AAAAAAAAA7U/1l5lm2ZxqXk/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="156" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQr2ElsI4RM/TVhaQiHXPDI/AAAAAAAAA7U/1l5lm2ZxqXk/s320/086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here's the whole thing all spread out. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MmEPeLRyORw/TVhaRg8etzI/AAAAAAAAA7c/njvl2x5i04E/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="167" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MmEPeLRyORw/TVhaRg8etzI/AAAAAAAAA7c/njvl2x5i04E/s320/089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And a close up of the quote on the front.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELIxl9OlejQ/TVhaSB2RBtI/AAAAAAAAA7g/atkVRFGpWqA/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELIxl9OlejQ/TVhaSB2RBtI/AAAAAAAAA7g/atkVRFGpWqA/s320/091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I also figured out why I haven't scrapped in a bit...<br />
<br />
<strong>IT.TAKES.FOR.EVER!!!</strong><br />
<br />
(And next time I need a plan! LOL.)Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-22470002551715746202011-02-10T08:33:00.000-08:002011-02-10T08:36:52.731-08:00Just Stop and Take a Picture.<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm not going to lie. The next week and a half is going to be ten shades of crazy as I'm gearing up for <a href="http://www.madronafiberarts.com/">Madrona</a>. (For all of you non-fiber nerds... it's a knitting thing. LOL.) On top of that it's Valentines and I'm the Party Parent at Gabe's school. And in all this craziness I thought it would be fun to start selling <a href="http://vaultdenim.com/">Vault Denim </a>(Seriously... 50% off retail DESIGNER jeans... no knockoffs or seconds. Ok, I'm done shamelessly plugging that for now. Email me for more info. LOL.) A new business enterprise which I'm having an open house for tomorrow, the stitch markers, the general hubub of kids. Sometimes I wonder if I'm ten shades of crazy. (The answer is yes.)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So this morning imagine my surprise at having a second consecutive day of beautiful sunshine. Which is rare in these parts. It's still winter so it's a bit frosty. I opened my blinds and saw that the horses are in the front pasture at my neighbors. I had to try to capture the early morning sun and the beautiful frost.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I grabbed my camera and threw on my scarf and jacket. Notice I didn't say get dressed. Yes, I admit to taking this in my pj's. Don't judge. It's 8:30am. I don't have to get dressed for another half hour. Anyways out into the chill morning air I went. And it is beautiful. Sometimes life gets so harried I forget how beautiful just being is.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So here's a challenge for you. Just stop. Take a picture. Blog it. And post here so I know that you did it!</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kvTNJoJ2r15TSmUkXqCGN-4d6U2Z-oO357MNUvcq5BBMd-StotSPwXaElGlCqEbLavxESp0ToZfZYCgDpVI_UaTS57Irhi4TeeD8rS7z9W1HW57KJ308dfvKqzGtqf1D3WtQr7McvWk/s1600/025.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kvTNJoJ2r15TSmUkXqCGN-4d6U2Z-oO357MNUvcq5BBMd-StotSPwXaElGlCqEbLavxESp0ToZfZYCgDpVI_UaTS57Irhi4TeeD8rS7z9W1HW57KJ308dfvKqzGtqf1D3WtQr7McvWk/s400/025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><br />
</a></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-17810247234545368512011-02-07T15:48:00.001-08:002011-02-07T15:48:54.393-08:00I'm not dead!Just working on organizing my house so I can be more productive in my studio and online! That and I'm working on something big and fun (no it's not a baby). Stay tuned!Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-26050586965823965422011-01-31T16:57:00.000-08:002011-01-31T17:10:40.133-08:00Crochet Heart Garland<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">What's that? You say Valentines Day is fast approaching and you need something cute to decorate with?<br />
<br />
How about a Crocheted Heart Garland?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5mD2mIl_D6HixyCzzHtuJpDublnNjjCgyGGniAnCFj1tp0dg6lUlkp1CKcwiYUKuSJPxYPcZw35qnSSTH6IA-0_VCEMAREcNsMA4oxjewy82B-2jqjbT2NLB1gA4b2KYzYLA_fi50tU/s1600/019.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5mD2mIl_D6HixyCzzHtuJpDublnNjjCgyGGniAnCFj1tp0dg6lUlkp1CKcwiYUKuSJPxYPcZw35qnSSTH6IA-0_VCEMAREcNsMA4oxjewy82B-2jqjbT2NLB1gA4b2KYzYLA_fi50tU/s320/019.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
Now, I wish I could claim this cool heart pattern as my own... but I can't. Instead I will gladly direct you to the pattern which you can find at Cocoa Cream's blog. It's called the <a href="http://cocoacream.wordpress.com/pattern-place/american-folk-art-heart-motif/">American Folk-Art Style Heart Motif.</a></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDuBIDMPYIfMsWHIRhY9C2RvfW5t4ke4l4R9xj5a26v1ywA-oNHt883XIlQZC53WO0GnHpBm12wdIQ4FuXnDlFkJ2WDItvxypLfoLAWw-v_RDzcUjLxQ4XhQCti-VQXxOILBWKCXPDmY/s1600/028.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDuBIDMPYIfMsWHIRhY9C2RvfW5t4ke4l4R9xj5a26v1ywA-oNHt883XIlQZC53WO0GnHpBm12wdIQ4FuXnDlFkJ2WDItvxypLfoLAWw-v_RDzcUjLxQ4XhQCti-VQXxOILBWKCXPDmY/s320/028.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I sewed them down to some felt to give them stability and used some really cute scrapbooking brads from Making Memories to the brown ribbon. I love how they turned out! I wish I had more of the yarn I used (Soy Wool Stripes) because these would have made the cutest scarf!</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-60171933604085308892011-01-27T07:00:00.000-08:002011-01-27T07:00:01.119-08:00Stitch Marker Insanity!Last year I made stitch markers to sell at Madrona. My friend Ialiuxh (Lollipop Cabin) is an indie dyer and has a booth. She graciously lets me set up a little display. This year I am super excited because well... my packaging rocks! I love it. More than love. I'm over the moon about it!<br />
<br />
It's very tongue in cheek. It's a little sassy. But best of all the packaging is 100% reusable. Right down to the tags they are on. Have I mentioned how pleased I am with it? I am. You wanna see?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8ivBzQGLI/AAAAAAAAA4k/3qDUjswVQ2M/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8ivBzQGLI/AAAAAAAAA4k/3qDUjswVQ2M/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And yes, the red and turqoise blue. I can't get enough of it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8iurJ2R9I/AAAAAAAAA4c/7fXcmc6FVHs/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8iurJ2R9I/AAAAAAAAA4c/7fXcmc6FVHs/s320/012.JPG" width="306" /></a></div><br />
The tag is hand stamped with this cute bird.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8iuR0_IwI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/AwuJ0hQsLPo/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8iuR0_IwI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/AwuJ0hQsLPo/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It just all makes me smile!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8iuwABD1I/AAAAAAAAA4g/LVIxHUq5mRQ/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8iuwABD1I/AAAAAAAAA4g/LVIxHUq5mRQ/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And in case you were wondering... this is what my counter (aka staging area) looks like...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8fpK6y4II/AAAAAAAAA38/wIGgNiIcfnE/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8fpK6y4II/AAAAAAAAA38/wIGgNiIcfnE/s320/010.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Such pretty things for the knitters! (If you don't knit... I can direct you to several resources!)Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-8098319765563793522011-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:002011-01-26T07:00:11.645-08:00WIP Wednesday and a Finished Item!I'm trying to be more consistent with documenting my knitting and crocheting projects. On the needles right now is a pretty cabled wrap that is two sided. Yep, TWO sided cabling. Sounds a lot harder than it is. Trust me. The only bummer is that this is a BIG project. There is no way I'm going to finish it by the end of the month. But you know, that's ok.<br />
<br />
The pattern is called the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/every-way-wrap">Every Way Wrap</a> and it's from the Fall 2009 Interweave Knits magazine. The yarn is a delicious Punta Yarns Merisoft Space Dyed. I love it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8fanHDegI/AAAAAAAAA3s/1U6pTFbt4Sg/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8fanHDegI/AAAAAAAAA3s/1U6pTFbt4Sg/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8faRQyvAI/AAAAAAAAA3o/z5UD9QjgklM/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8faRQyvAI/AAAAAAAAA3o/z5UD9QjgklM/s320/007.JPG" width="232" /></a></div><br />
I did get something finished this month! The Traveling Woman scarf for my mother in law is DONE. And I suck at blocking. LOL.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8fojkjUtI/AAAAAAAAA34/KBZBYgRSOFk/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8fojkjUtI/AAAAAAAAA34/KBZBYgRSOFk/s320/003.JPG" width="194" /></a></div><br />
<br />
See... this is a classic example of poor blocking. And probably the fact that I should have used bigger needles to bind off with. But it looks ok when your wearing so... eh. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8fn8QouwI/AAAAAAAAA3w/0SyANhYtD3Q/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8fn8QouwI/AAAAAAAAA3w/0SyANhYtD3Q/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
A close up of the edging. LOVE that part. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8foDRwD-I/AAAAAAAAA30/CdIotKvcwAo/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TT8foDRwD-I/AAAAAAAAA30/CdIotKvcwAo/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-13050500095647452162011-01-25T11:01:00.000-08:002011-01-25T11:01:31.228-08:00How Many Pots???<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br />This my friends is what my stove looks like when I make pasta at my house. A pot for the green beans, a pot for the gluten free pasta, a pot for the regular pasta and a pot for the sauce.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlfYRA4bIG4gGEu6ikIzofdgVVLLgq5m1uUjPI5CiY1-6Q-UXkonWHMxDDq6qP_WThToEzBoKImdm0a5eYXpka25Kfta_x-s7nTm7Bb2ktS_Ravs1BzMD0poaZzNSJhlTXgRVOUu-dB8/s1600/004.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlfYRA4bIG4gGEu6ikIzofdgVVLLgq5m1uUjPI5CiY1-6Q-UXkonWHMxDDq6qP_WThToEzBoKImdm0a5eYXpka25Kfta_x-s7nTm7Bb2ktS_Ravs1BzMD0poaZzNSJhlTXgRVOUu-dB8/s320/004.JPG" /></a> </div><br />Have I mentioned how much I hate to hand wash dishes? Well, I do. So therefore the above doesn't happen often. Much to the dismay of my pasta loving children.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-6002320510423069452011-01-18T11:38:00.000-08:002011-01-19T14:20:37.446-08:00Recipe- Fruit Glazed Chicken with Mashed (Not a) Turnip and PotatoesOk. I will admit it. I've never eaten a turnip before (well, at least to my knowlege). That's got to be weird, right? How does one go thirty years with never having eaten a turnip? So I bought one. And then I was stumped. Just how does one eat a turnip? Well, apparently you can mash it. And if you mash it with potatoes it's very good. Not sure my kids were impressed but I thought it was rather tasty.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>ETA- Well, come to find out folks what I made was a PARSNIP. And not a turnip. I'm still a turnip virgin. ROFL. </strong></em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoF3gPsoI/AAAAAAAAA3A/1yzZgdMkjzE/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoF3gPsoI/AAAAAAAAA3A/1yzZgdMkjzE/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And yes this is a picture of my dinner. And yes I did already take a bite. I was really hungry. When I'm really hungry I tend to either be incredibly snarky or I forget to take pictures. I would guess that I was somewhere inbetween those two last night. Oh, and taking dinner shots in the Pac NW and having them look good is... nigh on impossible. But I digress. Here's how I made my dinner last night. It was super easy.<br />
<br />
You need potatoes and a turnip... <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoEStjPCI/AAAAAAAAA2s/QLJnE5irDCE/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoEStjPCI/AAAAAAAAA2s/QLJnE5irDCE/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I'm nearing the end of my food supply so it's regular old bakers. Peel, cube and throw into a pot. Cover with some COLD water and boil until tender. Here's an action shot...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoEmdliLI/AAAAAAAAA2w/L7E60WKNN-E/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoEmdliLI/AAAAAAAAA2w/L7E60WKNN-E/s320/010.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
At the same time as all this is going on you need to get your chicken in the oven. Start by lining your broiling pan with foil and preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Then you need to make a rub. I used 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoDlujUdI/AAAAAAAAA2k/pQ3-35_EYjg/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoDlujUdI/AAAAAAAAA2k/pQ3-35_EYjg/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Stir it up and rub on your chicken... I used one whole chicken cut into pieces. But this would work for chicken breasts as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoDwrroDI/AAAAAAAAA2o/ZU9EmJRokNM/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoDwrroDI/AAAAAAAAA2o/ZU9EmJRokNM/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Put your chicken in the oven and bake for 25 or so minutes until done through. Melt in a saucepan over medium low heat about 1/4 cup of your favorite jam. I prefer blackberry but you know... the plum might have been good as well. (All our jam is 100% local grown and homemade!) I was going to take a shot of this but blackberry jam in a black saucepan... it didn't work.<br />
<br />
Glaze your chicken using a brush... mmmm looking good already!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoFMToAiI/AAAAAAAAA20/ERYnUySyRQE/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoFMToAiI/AAAAAAAAA20/ERYnUySyRQE/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Now the fun part... back in the oven it goes! This time about 4" under the broiler and for about 5 minutes. While that's cooking you can mash your potatoes and turnip.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoFV8rDvI/AAAAAAAAA24/njBquwc7ZKw/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TTXoFV8rDvI/AAAAAAAAA24/njBquwc7ZKw/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I mashed mine with about 1 tbsp of brown sugar, 1/2 stick of vegan butter and 1/4 cup of Almond milk. If your not on a gluten/dairy free diet feel free to substitute with the real stuff. Season to taste with salt and pepper.<br />
<br />
Remove the chicken from the oven and let rest for about five minutes. You should always let your meat rest before cutting it. Serve with your mashed potatoes and turnip and a side of beans. <br />
<br />
I will not lie... my kids... eh... well... hmmm... <br />
<br />
BUT I LIKED IT!Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-6506113976142961432011-01-14T16:48:00.000-08:002011-01-14T22:15:36.639-08:00Recipe- Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">A few months ago I had the pleasure of attending an open house wedding reception for a good friends daughter. Served at the reception where these delightful appetizers of water chestnuts wrapped in bacon. Here's the thing. I love bacon. I especially love things wrapped in bacon. I think I must have eaten at least 20 that night.<br />
<br />
<br />
Fast forward to yesterday. A bunch of ladies where getting together to celebrate the January birthdays. I was asked to bring some finger foods. So I whipped up a batch of these...<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB9pDIY_VFwhg0D8jUmULWWTaKYnd8ESr3gKos2-n6huaHSunW1sa112X06M9oN6zvrF2IBwb5PHirl_XsGrp6_0EmPG4xwmt8D8mEZ9zbzqbL_n9XWMDZQ_jkFMhbMVijmjA2CvO2nU/s1600/004.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB9pDIY_VFwhg0D8jUmULWWTaKYnd8ESr3gKos2-n6huaHSunW1sa112X06M9oN6zvrF2IBwb5PHirl_XsGrp6_0EmPG4xwmt8D8mEZ9zbzqbL_n9XWMDZQ_jkFMhbMVijmjA2CvO2nU/s320/004.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
... they are sinfully delicious. And you can't eat just one. You can't. Unless you don't like bacon. In which case you are weird. And if you think you don't like water chestnuts... well, you might change your mind after trying these! The secret? You have to marinate those water chestnuts!<br />
<br />
Here's the Recipe. Enjoy!<br />
<u><b><br />
</b></u><br />
<u><b>Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts</b></u><br />
<br />
1 pound bacon<br />
2 or 3 8oz cans of Water Chestnuts, drained (winco has them super cheap)<br />
1/4 cup worchester<br />
<strong>3 Tlpsp Brown Sugar</strong><br />
2 Tlbsp Water<br />
2 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1/8th teas. ground ginger<br />
1/2 teas. chili oil (optional)<br />
<br />
1. In a bowl combine everything but the bacon. Cover w/ plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to marinate for at least two hours. I stirred it a few times. This could also be done in a ziploc bag.<br />
<br />
2. After your done marinating the water chestnuts the fun begins! Cut your bacon slab into thirds. Wrap 3-4 slices in a bacon piece and secure with a tooth pick.<br />
<br />
3. Using a broiling pan (or the good old trick of a cooling rack over a foil lined cookie sheet) place them under the broiler in your oven until the bacon is cooked. Roughly 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
Serve and Enjoy!<br />
<br />
ps. If you read this before... I forgot to list brown sugar. That's what happens when you have kids. You forget things. Sometimes important things. Like brown sugar.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-742099782982246412011-01-11T10:22:00.000-08:002011-01-11T10:22:52.729-08:00Tutorial- Zipper Flower and Feather HairclipSo I realize that I'm a tad bit late in the game with this whole zipper flower thing but I had these feathers hanging around that I really wanted to play with. And some tulle. And a button. And a ribbon bow. See...?? What does one do with all this?<br />
<br />
Why one gets out ones glue gun of course! And some felt and an alligator clip.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybhdGr08I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/iNmx2QaU1lg/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybhdGr08I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/iNmx2QaU1lg/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cut your zipper in 2 1/2" lengths and glue the overlapped ends together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybhhZbpwI/AAAAAAAAAyU/M2vV0ctH0Nw/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybhhZbpwI/AAAAAAAAAyU/M2vV0ctH0Nw/s320/010.JPG" width="149" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't like how you can see through it and that it didn't lay flat(ish)... see what I mean?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybiXRyOkI/AAAAAAAAAyY/H7ySfW48tRw/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybiXRyOkI/AAAAAAAAAyY/H7ySfW48tRw/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So I folded over that back bit and glued it down like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybihwCqzI/AAAAAAAAAyc/7HxfKeIsVHw/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybihwCqzI/AAAAAAAAAyc/7HxfKeIsVHw/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It makes the front of the flower petal look better as well. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybi9j_6eI/AAAAAAAAAyg/0aBKaQ8xQW0/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybi9j_6eI/AAAAAAAAAyg/0aBKaQ8xQW0/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now it's time to glue the petals to the button in a flower shape. One petal had a little too much glue. Oh well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybjR7BZAI/AAAAAAAAAyk/XjHi0v9Tt10/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybjR7BZAI/AAAAAAAAAyk/XjHi0v9Tt10/s320/014.JPG" width="236" /></a></div><br />
Glue a ribbon bow to the front of the button to hide the button holes. You could be done here and call it good and attach it to your hair clip. But then what would you do with that tulle? And the FEATHERS!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybj8FH_0I/AAAAAAAAAys/GEgN1Py5xjs/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybj8FH_0I/AAAAAAAAAys/GEgN1Py5xjs/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get your felt and cut out a piece. I thought an oval would be nice. It doesn't really matter what shape since you won't see it. Oh, and it's about an inch or so big. Yep, I'm super technical today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybkNtjJwI/AAAAAAAAAyw/alpBSTSTSZM/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybkNtjJwI/AAAAAAAAAyw/alpBSTSTSZM/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take your tulle and fold the edges in towards the middle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybke818iI/AAAAAAAAAy0/gFfQL7CKRgE/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybke818iI/AAAAAAAAAy0/gFfQL7CKRgE/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I forgot to take a pic of the next step but here you would see a picture of me glueing the ends of the tulle into the middle of the felt piece. <br />
<br />
Now glue the feathers on. Space them out and overlap them a bit. Trim the ends so they don't poke out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybk4vs9UI/AAAAAAAAAy4/Y-v8XbGbOlA/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSybk4vs9UI/AAAAAAAAAy4/Y-v8XbGbOlA/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Glue the zipper flower over the ends to hide them. Then glue the whole thing to your alligator clip or a headband. Wear and enjoy. I love it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSyblfiXP2I/AAAAAAAAAy8/JNQaWAQASvA/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TSyblfiXP2I/AAAAAAAAAy8/JNQaWAQASvA/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yes, I'm wearing it right now. In my pj's. So what. It's pretty.Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-25274075567722743572011-01-07T11:19:00.000-08:002011-01-07T11:23:07.747-08:00Knitting: A work in Progress<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">I'm not much of a shawl person, but the current trend in knitting are these smaller shawlettes. You get all the joy of knitting a lace shawl but a more modern size. Wear it as a shawl or wear it as a scarf. Or wear it backwards like a bandana. I'm telling you the shawlette is a perfect accessory. Currently I'm working a pattern called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/traveling-woman">Traveling Woman</a> in a delightful sockweight yarn by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlinaShea">Alina Shea</a>. I'm really loving both the pattern and the yarn.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuhkot_r1kQfrPusep3iPSMG7miNhTbeKWhs4jTTTPNO5SuN3RjV5-4q5wuZ4WP-M_lS79uHIXG1hQajDeUm-ApYPdD4zJXCVKciIlDvYAOrjEq-4tX-FTdPtNYvq0Y3R0w-574AfdWs/s1600/003.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuhkot_r1kQfrPusep3iPSMG7miNhTbeKWhs4jTTTPNO5SuN3RjV5-4q5wuZ4WP-M_lS79uHIXG1hQajDeUm-ApYPdD4zJXCVKciIlDvYAOrjEq-4tX-FTdPtNYvq0Y3R0w-574AfdWs/s320/003.JPG" /></a> </div>It's a much quicker knit then I thought it was going to be. I'm hoping to finish it by tomorrow. It will only have taken me a week if that's the case! And that's with making stitch markers and doing the whole mom thing.<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjipoj1n_1ZwVitJw0OeT1F-MuXGHWyAkiOyAxN4wY1BqkhYLz40brVSFS3qghA8NoR_7dG0UBaZulTjwUpwPpXu7QhMK1nOaWQvvu5wnxAAsTEWEq7nceLEk-UEBOwm5twtig-wFI9jw/s1600/004.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjipoj1n_1ZwVitJw0OeT1F-MuXGHWyAkiOyAxN4wY1BqkhYLz40brVSFS3qghA8NoR_7dG0UBaZulTjwUpwPpXu7QhMK1nOaWQvvu5wnxAAsTEWEq7nceLEk-UEBOwm5twtig-wFI9jw/s320/004.JPG" /></a> </div>In the ball the yarn looks like a purplish grey mass. But once you start knitting it you can really see the color variations. You just don't see that pink in the ball. LOVE it! <br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrNdTm7lp5kpxp_hMjo51KJR1Ez3STUxpgx6sUwMsGocRLh5Q3Yn_kZ_6lOsX9Yp1PkFXkA5kvx2dE3CEUoMCs0Q4LNaEP0i5x2cXQRRT7HzTDnS5zxlZI8vuTuoyvuEq8estRmSaQHo/s320/006.JPG" /><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-62292682939616539062011-01-05T15:01:00.000-08:002011-01-05T15:03:23.679-08:00The Ornament TraditionOne of my favorite Christmas traditions is getting a new ornament for each family member every year. This year I got the kids these ones... note the bulldog. (The youngest was nicknamed this his second week of life and it's stuck around.) I'm a bit bummed I didn't get any other pictures of these before I took Christmas down. But oh well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TST1K5SZzxI/AAAAAAAAAw4/8jFdmxQux4E/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WivQXnykuUk/TST1K5SZzxI/AAAAAAAAAw4/8jFdmxQux4E/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I mark each ornament with their name or initial and the year it was received.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3mY2VxFrAjOUAuBmc_nFPEoeyPqK-HRLkzy4pMyZf5YeTbut002CVIbSDHbNEuu_4MZzZDB-JufLmKKine6exFUwPrUKW5zGxHIM4ZB-C00dtsIvaX5iekDjlBb0brRLrLkglU61j18/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3mY2VxFrAjOUAuBmc_nFPEoeyPqK-HRLkzy4pMyZf5YeTbut002CVIbSDHbNEuu_4MZzZDB-JufLmKKine6exFUwPrUKW5zGxHIM4ZB-C00dtsIvaX5iekDjlBb0brRLrLkglU61j18/s320/004.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
I also do one for James and I. Because I love ornaments. And this is how I control the after Christmas clearance decor shopping that I would do if I didn't already pay full price for 5 new ornaments. I'm already up to a gazillion boxes of Christmas decor.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then when the holidays are over all the ornaments are removed from the tree and separated into their own boxes. Each of the kids has a little box with their name on it. This way each year they can put THEIR ornament on the tree. And one day should they move out of our house they will have ornaments for their first Christmas tree. </div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQyYT_BkSvC6K5EVJ1ITdk2gcX_N0s8hZak2TEGmaLGM3hxxk6P45K5bTYo1TzADPXwr3qzfwsO1yxAItrOKMARZNdsG2Us-uw7AqJc1G1kWf8D2xsGmmrGttP9rHIbRng18NMjV1XdY/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQyYT_BkSvC6K5EVJ1ITdk2gcX_N0s8hZak2TEGmaLGM3hxxk6P45K5bTYo1TzADPXwr3qzfwsO1yxAItrOKMARZNdsG2Us-uw7AqJc1G1kWf8D2xsGmmrGttP9rHIbRng18NMjV1XdY/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, it's probably one of my better ideas!</div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-27912094020220409782011-01-03T10:22:00.000-08:002011-01-03T10:24:33.522-08:00A Modern Heirloom Baby Blanket<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">Sometimes crochet can be downright... well, ugly. I'm not going to lie. For most people the word crochet conjours up mental images of old afghans done in horrendous colors. Like orange and brown. (But this color combination is very much ok if you happen to be a Oregon State Beavers fan. Not ok otherwise. Trust me.)<br />
<br />
But this baby blanket. It's pretty. It's soft. It's very feminine and I really hope that it's appreciated. Because I love it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpIZOy6znVBFOKDfC5hbJncYW18UIXfyRI48231oh3U_LyKnUishFSZYjj2VK1NjNBPWRAUp6O-TpplMm7wK-Lrhklz_DIv2reSyY-8DPKvCuySm3nQPmrfHDZd4GzRtmOX4YAWAP6Zc/s1600/056.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpIZOy6znVBFOKDfC5hbJncYW18UIXfyRI48231oh3U_LyKnUishFSZYjj2VK1NjNBPWRAUp6O-TpplMm7wK-Lrhklz_DIv2reSyY-8DPKvCuySm3nQPmrfHDZd4GzRtmOX4YAWAP6Zc/s320/056.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
For those of you who are pattern and yarn nerds this is a Terry Kimbrough pattern. When I first looked through the book I was skeptical. All of the blankets are made in that horrid boucle baby acrylic. Not a pleasant thing. Plus, for "baby" yarn it's not soft. So if you are a knitter/crocheter and you need to use some acrylic (which unless your making it for yourself or another like minded fiber nerd it most definately should be acrylic) you really need to try Jo-Anns Sensations Cuddle. It's soft and not shiny. The lable says it's perfect for baby and kids. And it is! I loved working with it. And I have huge sensory issues. I give this yarn 5 stars. It's great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjSzH2rS4hIteoWJWY8JYXFBkLUep4KcJIOnJzPaF81DOeH-auryX6KJCZpqDgH2eZR_j6hDsG7bwt1OrWaCGdeWGdJ_XLjzWTsOnoGcxsRGjjz4d8whBsL4S7aS7zDMIp7Iiwnr6uSQ/s1600/043.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjSzH2rS4hIteoWJWY8JYXFBkLUep4KcJIOnJzPaF81DOeH-auryX6KJCZpqDgH2eZR_j6hDsG7bwt1OrWaCGdeWGdJ_XLjzWTsOnoGcxsRGjjz4d8whBsL4S7aS7zDMIp7Iiwnr6uSQ/s320/043.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Here it is all laid out. The blanket is the perfect size. Not too small and not too big. I love the colors. I'm really liking the two of them together and it just gives the blanket that special something. Much better than if it was all the same color.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYirFCu7ep6mx3ckjoph65vw4NMfBaddOm81JTe1bUtNerXJvHRwejLMvgHoc9oLypu77gsponQNFPNuo3ymp3QTcZbXq5DG9c_CMk28Eqx9ismZ_jtWbu5ezhIISZvjk8VeAPQXNydgw/s1600/046.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYirFCu7ep6mx3ckjoph65vw4NMfBaddOm81JTe1bUtNerXJvHRwejLMvgHoc9oLypu77gsponQNFPNuo3ymp3QTcZbXq5DG9c_CMk28Eqx9ismZ_jtWbu5ezhIISZvjk8VeAPQXNydgw/s320/046.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
The ribbon adds a feminine touch. That and I love bows. </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ysney9wCFlcyahCY19nH-yCws0j1yJGHmmU_RvbNBRntjkr1IwfQG1O0acs-dcYBbCr1KBh-4IQ35VPWekvYC026-jm-ss2WMmUWuhm7ijVj-i7EuLrtCKYDZcNZcLu703SCQ5fLpo0/s1600/048.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ysney9wCFlcyahCY19nH-yCws0j1yJGHmmU_RvbNBRntjkr1IwfQG1O0acs-dcYBbCr1KBh-4IQ35VPWekvYC026-jm-ss2WMmUWuhm7ijVj-i7EuLrtCKYDZcNZcLu703SCQ5fLpo0/s320/048.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-51292717771544867182011-01-01T10:24:00.000-08:002011-01-01T10:26:30.271-08:00The Obligatory New Years Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cardsforcauses.com/media_archive/catalog/item-5632_1_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" n4="true" src="http://www.cardsforcauses.com/media_archive/catalog/item-5632_1_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I still can't believe it is 2011. I'm pretty sure 2010 was the fastest year known to man. It seemed to just fly by. I made a lot of personal changes the last half of the year so I don't really feel the need to have any new resolutions to make. Just a continuation of them. <br />
<br />
But mostly I want to strive for a<span style="font-size: large;"><strong> little less procrastination and a whole lot more consistency</strong></span>. I feel like we have some good things going for us. Now to be a little more consistent with them. Here are some changes that have been made in the past few months...<br />
<br />
Budgeting and working on getting OUT OF DEBT!!<br />
Blogging <br />
Reorganizing the House<br />
Give Gabe Piano Lessons<br />
Work with Aidyn to possibly test her into Kindergarten in the fall (her birthday is Sept. 12th)<br />
Setting and keeping a schedule that works for our family. <br />
Updating and filling the Etsy store<br />
Scripture Study<br />
<br />
It's a big list and sometimes I wonder if I'm going through some sort of mid-life crises. But it's probably because I just want a better way of life for our little family. I don't know what it is, but I feel it's really important this year that I get these things working well. Maybe then life won't be as chaotic as last year! (Because it was non-stop crazy with THREE kids, a craft blog, the HPKCHC, church, J's insane work schedule... you get the picture.)Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5484593487204643655.post-27014561404558270432010-12-24T13:21:00.000-08:002010-12-24T13:23:24.704-08:00Invasion of the Flowers!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">The only problem when you make fabric or felt flowers is that you can't just make one.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJy6UaynkqBWb4NkwgPTpuoTiPmeIZBXddS-A3eL0vrmlh4naEALhMDP41zsJLh7hT8wOpL6oaZ0bVtdrWHeb1w6__IWYyW5HnSB6dSlqaf3medPodQB1Lk1Z7f2wUEZWnuhoB3_9Ji5I/s1600/007.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJy6UaynkqBWb4NkwgPTpuoTiPmeIZBXddS-A3eL0vrmlh4naEALhMDP41zsJLh7hT8wOpL6oaZ0bVtdrWHeb1w6__IWYyW5HnSB6dSlqaf3medPodQB1Lk1Z7f2wUEZWnuhoB3_9Ji5I/s320/007.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
I tried to limit myself to just the fabric flowers. Obviously that didn't go as planned.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaO0h5mYsLAGz7l5sddyAOcMRdrDGXKfZYt9Qrfwd6JXtOGwK3FNW7LjScJvd732wynTRzqdoJyoQPg5L4a6dgQW0pocTfMA1MNOu1QgaTmj7wcvhqCDCLszOCJ-YFWz5PEVm-bw7AXs/s1600/009.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaO0h5mYsLAGz7l5sddyAOcMRdrDGXKfZYt9Qrfwd6JXtOGwK3FNW7LjScJvd732wynTRzqdoJyoQPg5L4a6dgQW0pocTfMA1MNOu1QgaTmj7wcvhqCDCLszOCJ-YFWz5PEVm-bw7AXs/s320/009.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
See these super cute rosebuds? By far the easiest and least time consuming to make. Therefore they are my favorite!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlGXle79O_hHSWTJXTCnGzX8ostoc-KxMvPegeep0ndNlCWw45ay4Sjdns265Rqtig5xFo-Vl1DbppJFAkcMmEwVMcpYAiUsJzDbSMnWqqsANlziYWpwettIsjD9yGX_QsWLfjxmvVt0/s1600/010.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlGXle79O_hHSWTJXTCnGzX8ostoc-KxMvPegeep0ndNlCWw45ay4Sjdns265Rqtig5xFo-Vl1DbppJFAkcMmEwVMcpYAiUsJzDbSMnWqqsANlziYWpwettIsjD9yGX_QsWLfjxmvVt0/s320/010.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
I think the pinwheels are cute. Next time I make them I will use an interfacing to sandwhich the two colors together. I think it will make them look a bit neater. </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13E0KAeRbLqkoxzYq2gsZiNbxvz6VH9RDt-OpACljVEKwqtQkQX3J5x4OqDOKBznmZJQkTshdoUg8juEOnrqgk7ne9lbrFrjT7bwXXDNF4fG7T9aeUKYayiICZWKs2sFmkzUz9AsWGSA/s1600/011.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13E0KAeRbLqkoxzYq2gsZiNbxvz6VH9RDt-OpACljVEKwqtQkQX3J5x4OqDOKBznmZJQkTshdoUg8juEOnrqgk7ne9lbrFrjT7bwXXDNF4fG7T9aeUKYayiICZWKs2sFmkzUz9AsWGSA/s320/011.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
Now to attach them all to hairclips/bands/GLOVES! And then wrap them up!</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Onicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140148560819096556noreply@blogger.com0