Whipstitch

Fudge Made Easy (Recipe)

2011-12-14T13:38:00.004-06:00

I just made this delicious, no-fuss fudge that totally screams "Christmas is HERE"!!

My mom used to make fudge every Christmas season, from scratch. I mean, watching the pot like a hawk with a candy thermometer out and a minute clock on stand-by. I've tried it before. Once. That was enough for me. I do not have the knack for on-the-stovetop fudge making.

So recently, I made this triple-layer mud pie and decided that the bottom layer was decidedly fudge-y. And made of TWO ingredients and a microwave. What?! That's right. So for this year's fudge, I scoured the internet on using only Sweetened Condensed Milk and Chocolate Chips as fudge ingredients. The closest I came to was this 3-minute, 3-ingredient Mint Fudge recipe on Made's blog. But her recipe calls for special Ande's baking chips, which I don't have on hand and probably cost more than I like to spend. What to do? Come up with my own recipe, of course!

What I noticed about other fudge recipes labeled "simple", were that they all called for a third ingredient at the very least, butter. Easy peasy addition to the layer of the mud pie that I am basing this off of. Additionally, I have a small family and I'm not actually supposed to consume carbs, so I reduced the quantity of ingredients to suit. The result is:

Fudge Made Easy
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chocolate (I used a combination of 1 cup Semi-Sweet morsels and 1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate)
3/4 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 TBSP Butter
1/2 cup chopped Walnuts (Optional)

Directions:
First, prep your pan. Put a large piece of plastic wrap over a small baking dish (I used a 10x5"ish dish and still had room to spare after pouring the melted mixture in).
Mix chocolate, milk, and butter in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on High for 1 minute. Stir. If clumps remain, microwave 10 sec. longer, stir, and repeat as needed until mixture is smooth and glossy.
If using nuts, stir into mixture. Spread mixture onto prepared dish to desired thickness (about an inch, don't worry if it doesn't span the entire dish). Cool in refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Lick the bowl clean in the meantime.

Early snitchers (like me) get a cut-able, but soft fudge. If you are really patient though, you'll reap a smooth, firm fudge reward!

Sesame Street Birthday Party

2011-08-13T20:11:00.001-05:00

Mae's husband here. We recently threw a "Sesame Street" party for our son and wanted to post some pics in case anyone out there is looking for ideas. Here it goes:

1. The invites: (names, date, and location removed)

I didn't think anyone would actually wear sesame-street colors. But they did, and it was awesome.

2. The decor: bright colors!

3. The food! Again, bright colors, and deviled eggs with little eyes to look like big bird!

And super bright cupcakes!

4. The favors! Hand-painted boxes (full o' goodies) for the kids, and monster cookies in colorful wrappers for the adults.

5. And finally, the games! We had lots of games, but this one was particularly creative. We had oscar in a metal trashcan, and the kids could throw colorful toys into the can.

Hope this sparks ideas!

Party Dip (Recipe)

2011-08-12T18:21:00.003-05:00

I know, there are a lot of recipes for layered taco-dip dishes out there, what makes mine special? ease.

Ingredients:
-------------------------
1 can Refried Beans
Taco Seasoning (I have a big jar of it)
.... after spreading beans in pan, dust with taco seasoning and mix
1 can Spanish Rice (it exists)
1/2 small Onion, chopped fine
1/3-1/2 jar of Taco Sauce
1 medium Tomato, diced
1/2 cup Lettuce, chopped small
shredded Mexican or Cheddar Cheese to cover

Layer in an 8x8 dish in order listed. If making ahead, leave cheese off until serving time. Serve with plenty of tortilla chips or pita chips.

Gourmet Ice Cream Treat (Recipe)

2011-08-12T09:30:00.003-05:00

I love me a good twist on vanilla ice cream, and this one reminds me of a Ben & Jerry's I once had.

Ingredients
-------------------------
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Pretzel Twists, broken
Chocolate Syrup to taste

I can't think of a better sweet/salty combo involving ice cream, can you?

--UPDATE--
I just substituted my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and it was equally amazing if not more so!

Feta Salad (Recipe)

2011-08-08T12:51:00.002-05:00

My first recipe?! {gasp}

It's so simple, it'll blow your mind with goodness. That is, if you are in love with Feta as much as I am. As well as home grown vegetables.

I barely stopped eating to snap a photo

2 Cucumbers, medium, sliced
4 Cherry Tomatoes, quartered
Feta Cheese, piled on top to taste
pinch salt
pinch pepper
dash Olive Oil

Mix all in a bowl and enjoy yourself a fresh, healthy middle-of-your-kids-nap treat!

~Mae

Nursing Cover Pattern

2011-08-08T10:17:00.003-05:00

Materials:

1 yard of fabric

Thread

1-inch D rings (2)

13 inches of boning (1/4 or ½ inch)

Loop turner

Step 1: Cut fabric (green– right side of fabric; white—wrong side of fabric)

**if using woven fabric, simply make a snip at the edge where you need to cut, and pull the fabric apart at the snip, you’ll get a perfectly straight edge without having to use your scissors. SUPER EASY!

Cover: Straps:

26x38 inches

31x3 inches

10x3 inches

SCRAP: A 34.5”x11” rectangle and a few small pieces (long thing strip, and a 4”x5.5” rectangle)

Nursing Cover (Pictorial)

2011-08-08T09:55:00.003-05:00

LoLo herself designed a simple pattern/instructions for a nursing cover, and I decided to test them out for my brother's expectant fiance. Look at this post for instructions.

the finished product


the supplies: D-rings, matching thread, boning, tape, and scissors

if you have woven fabric, you can simply snip at the edge, then pull the fabric apart and get a straight edge.

the pull-apart method

measure 25 inches and snip and pull

small piece for strap, we will add D-rings to this one.

Fold straps in half (the long way) and iron, then sew along long edge with 1/8 to 1/4" seam allowance

On the long strap, one end must be sewn closed. I snipped the corner off (opposite of fold) to remind myself.

Turn straps right-side-out. I used a long knitting needle.

Once long strap is turned, top stitch along rounded end to add stability

Fold short strap in half and add 2 D-rings. Sew a square as close as possible to the D-rings.

This is as close as I could get, and I added an X for style

Now to the main piece, fold three edges in (2 short, one long side) about a 1/2 inch, press, and repeat.

Sew the 3 edges in place. I made 2 lines, 1/4 inch apart.

Prepare your pieces of boning as instructed on package. My package had me cut the boning a little shorter than the casing, and sew shut to keep the boning from pushing out. I also cut 2 pieces of boning for added stability.

On the unfinished long edge, fold edge in a 1/2 inch, press, and fold in again- a whole inch this time, and press. Insert boning under first fold, concave down so that when folded again, the boning will be curving upwards so that you can "peek" at baby while nursing. DO NOT SEW YET. Add straps first as shown below.

Place ends of straps near edge of boning, and underneath the last fold. Sew edge down as close to boning as possible, with straps laying flat as pictured above. You should also add some short lines at the edges of the boning to hold the boning in place. In the next picture, you can see that I added 2 lines of sewing along the edge.

Next, fold straps up and press in place. Sew a square with optional diagonal. I just think the diagonal gives it a finished look.

~Mae

Really Fun Game for Bridal Shower

2011-08-03T17:19:00.001-05:00

You may have seen/played this game before, but this was my first time. The goal of the game is to "dress a bride" using ONLY toilet paper. The dress I worked on was the totally awesome one on the right. The one on the left "won" the game for their "80's theme", but I suspect it was mainly because that was the actual bride-to-be. ;-)

Other team's design, and the bride-to-be

Team Mine... waaay classic.

The 90 Minute T-shirt (Pictorial Review)

2011-07-20T12:24:00.002-05:00

I made this for my son's 2nd Birthday party. It was Sesame Street themed and all the guests were asked to arrive in the color of their favorite character.

All of the separate pieces, ready to be stitched together.

It was my first time making The 90 minute Shirt from the blog MADE, and it is a very good tutorial. I understand t-shirt construction so much better now, and plan to make more for my little guy in the future. The thing that takes the longest is coming up with a pattern (separate tutorial), and after that is finished, it really can be a 90-min project!


The front and back patterns were only slightly different.You can see I used one adult shirt to make one toddler shirt.

Make sure you remember which is front and which is back!

These are the pieces for the arms, the fabric on the left was a carefully cut arm-piece from the original shirt-sleeve, and the one on the right was the leftover shirt bottom. Just line up the pattern so the hem matches the old and you don't have to worry about hemming at all.

For bias tape to trim the neckline, I cut two 1.25" strips of fabric from an old white t-shirt that had a very small ribbing to it. Here it is folded in half (with the bottom peeking out a bit) and pinned, then pressed.

All of the shirt pieces, and a color-check with a cookie monster book (perfect!)

Carefully pinning the bias tape, you need to stretch it a little to follow all of the curves, you don't want it loose at all

I don't have a serger of any kind, so I sewed two lines on the bias tape. After this picture was taken, I used white thread and a zig-zag stitch to edge the white- it adds extra style and takes down the edge of the tape to keep it from fraying (it also covers up some of the bumps where I couldn't get the fabric to stretch perfectly).

I picked up an assorted pack of sheets of felt, and hand stitched these pieces on. I cut the mouth out by following the look of Cookie Monster on this book. I love it!

Once all of the pieces were cut and the bias tape sewn on, I went to my friend's house and used her serger to put it all together. The serger adds a nice touch, even though it can only be seen when the shirt is inside out, but it just makes it seem less home-made. I added a zig-zag stitch with white thread around the hem of the shirt and edge of the sleeves to add further interest and match the eyes.

All-in-All: The 90 Minute Shirt tutorial was very thorough and her step-by-steps are flawless. I encourage you to give it a try!

Project Binge

2011-07-04T20:44:00.003-05:00

Hey ya'll! I have spent the past week crafting, and crafting, and dreaming up more crafts to do! Here's the rundown of what I've been up to. Some of these will be pictorials for y'all!

1) Toddler Racer Shorts- from a tutorial by Dana Made It
* I upcycled a pair of my jeans that had worn out, and also created #2 from same jeans
* The longest part of the process was weaving in and out of her site to do different parts of the project, but it worked out and I am pleased that my toddler now has some jean shorts to wear.

2) Booty Shorts
   * I am not a shorts wearer, mainly because I find it impossible to find a pair that fits me just right. So when I realized I just had the upper part of my jeans to upcycle from #1, I grabbed the chance. They're pretty short for a mom, I think, but hey, work it.

3) Toddler Shirt- The 90 Min. Shirt Tutorial by Dana Made It
   * This project took way more than 90-min, which Dana warns about for first-timers, but it was way worth it. The final outcome is going to be revealed at his 2nd birthday party this week, it's so cute that I don't want to ruin the surprise!
   * The hardest part was making the pattern - but once that was done, it was all downhill. That said, after following all the steps, I ended up with a 3T/4T shirt instead of a 2T, but at least I know he'll get good use out of it.

Pic from Dana Made It

4) Throw Pillow Cover/Sham - from this tutorial by Cottage Magpie
* I was in Joanns to buy some bias tape for #1, when I walked past a "50% off Remnants" bin. I could've spent an hour dreaming up what I could do with each piece! I ended up finding this killer pattern that I just knew would look great covering one of my boring tan throw pillows. I couldn't have been more RIGHT!

5) Flower Rings - from a book called 200 Creative Crafts for you and your home
* I made these with a friend, and I think they are cool just because of how over-huge they are! I don't really wear flamboyant jewelry, so I'm pretty excited for the debut. These are made out of toasted squash seeds.

6) Toddler Pillow
* My son is turning 2 and my husband thought it was time for him to have a real pillow. Ever since he has been able to control his limbs, he has been stuffing his blankie under his head, and for the past week it has been 3 blankies. Yes, three. Anyway, he likes the concept of a pillow, but he is unwilling to let one share his crib space, and kicks it out every night.

T-shirt Alteration FAIL

2011-06-29T11:14:00.000-05:00

I found this book at the library called ReSew, and was totally inspired to makeover one of my t-shirts into a cool tank. I have this bright yellow shirt that my mother in-law gave me, and it was a little (okay, a lot) long for my shortso torso... So I thought, why not make it into a cool summer tank for our vacation coming up. I tried, I failed.

Problem #1.
The "ReSew" pattern used a sweatshirt and turned that into a tank. I think T-shirt material stretches more as it is sewn, my first attempt at the "sleeve edge" of the tank came out this squiggly smushy mess once I finished.
Problem #2.
I accidentally nipped a few holes in the shirt underneath the armpit as I was cutting off the excess fabric, so I had to make the arm-holes bigger. I don't really wanna go walking around the city with extra big armholes showing off my bra... so I have resigned that this failed project is now going to the SCRAP bin for a future project.

Sorry I couldn't post a super awesome tutorial for ya, I was on my way... but hey, if you have any tips on sewing t-shirt material (this shirt was from OldNavy, kinda delicate) so that it doesn't smoosh when you hem, please add a comment so I can learn from my mistake! (and yes, I even released some of the pressure on the pressure foot)

Amazon Mom/ ECO Diapers

2011-06-23T21:17:00.008-05:00

Oh. My. Gosh! I feel like I've found the holy grail!

I had been telling other people about Amazon Mom, but not using it myself. In the words of Julia Roberts, "Big mistake... HUGE!"

If you don't know about Amazon Mom (A-Mom), any parent can sign up and the perks are:
      - discount off baby items,
      - an additional 15% off for "subscribing" to an item - like getting diapers every month,
      - and FREE shipping!

So fueled by a desire to switch to ECO-friendly diapers, I signed up for A-Mom, found what I wanted (Nature Babycare Eco-Friendly Chlorine-Free Diapers, Size 5 (27-35 Pounds), 23 Diapers (Pack of 4) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]), and ordered a "used" package for $22.99! <NOTE: I think the "used" category is utilized for items with damaged packaging, they aren't really used.> Which is only a margin more than I spend for a similar amount of Huggies, without a trip to the store.

To sweeten the deal even further- I chose for 2-day shipping, and was told to expect my package on Saturday... instead, they came TODAY, less than 24 hours after I ordered! Score, score, score!

I have to admit that LoLo was the one who convinced me to give it a real try, and she only has a one month old! And I never would have bought from the "used" category if I hadn't seen the package she ordered.

I'm just blown away by the convenience of it all! Better yet, we've gone thru 3 of the new ECO diapers and so far, so good! They are "completely unbleached, contain no latex, fragrance, or TBT (tributyltin), and are hypo-allergenic." Why is no chlorine important? no dioxins released in the breakdown of the diaper. They also make a claim that they are 60% biodegradable. So, if you aren't using cloth, give these a try. The environment is worth the extra $, and you'll feel proud of your investment.

.mae.

Baby Kimono Shoes (on 'to-do' list)

2011-06-21T17:22:00.001-05:00

check these out!

Baby Kimono Shoes By Homespun-Threads.

Are you going to give them a shot?

.mae.

Cloth Diapering- Wash Tutorial (Feature)

2011-06-21T12:19:00.007-05:00

Through TipJunkie's Tip Me Tuesday, I discovered this awesome tutorial by the mombot on How to cloth diaper: A step-by-step (Part II).

There are a lot of new momma's in my sphere and I wanted to share my love for going green by cloth diapering. Washing cloth diapers is a process, but it really is easy once you know how {especially after you view this tutorial}. We did cloth diapers for the first year, until we moved to a place without a washer and dryer in the unit :\...

Please share your tips for keeping your cloth diapers fresh and clean! Do you do something differently than the mombot?

A diaper sprayer is a necessity!
Sprouting Change Diaper Sprayer (White)

.mae.

---------- <<UPDATE>> ------------

After doing some major research on the cloth diaper offerings of Amazon.com, I have some recommendations to share. And Dear Reader, please submit your suggestions and tips for type/brand of cloth diaper you have used and why we should or should not try it.

* All-In-One (AIO) Cloth Diaper - Charlie Banana - $99.99 when you buy a 6-pack.
     - compare to FuzziBunz at $119.70.
   - link: Charlie Banana 6 Reusable Diapers 12 Inserts Set, Unisex, Small
     - this price may decrease when more are in stock
* Hybrid Diaper (Reusable outer, reusable OR disposable inner) - gDiapers - $79.99 when you buy a 6-pack ($13.33 each)
   - link: Gdiapers Everyday G's, Small, 6 Count
     - when using the disposable inner, a wet diaper can be composted (yes, composted!), and a soiled diaper can be flushed or trashed
     - biodegradable refills made in the USA
     - part of CradleToCradle

Shirt Skirt (put on 'to-do' list.)

2011-06-21T11:09:00.002-05:00

After coming across this tutorial multiple times, I decided it was a sign (for me AND for you).

The Shirt Skirt

My hesitation lies with the elastic thread and shirring, but on the site above, she listed this tutorial as well:

Shir Madness Tutorial

So, I have no reason to escape this project anymore, but I still feel frightened by it!

+ Have you completed this project? Comment below with your tips, please!

+ Any of my craft-loving friends want to have a craft-date and figure this out together? Comment below (or call me)!

The Mattress Stitch (Pictorial)

2011-06-20T19:36:00.002-05:00

It's easier than you think, and kind of fun too!

1) Using same yarn as project, thread a length of yarn onto a darning needle. Secure the yarn to the wrong side stitches, at the end of the seam you are stitching up.
** I have used a contrasting color in the following pictures so that you can follow clearly.**

2) Turn work over so that you are looking at the right side. Find the 2nd "column" of stitches - it will be the column where you can clearly see the loops, the edge stitches do not have consistent loops for this method.


This pic shows the yarn through the 2nd row of stitches and following up the "column". The needle is going through the 1st. I've had very bad luck with mattress stitch on the 1st row.


Here, the needle is pointing along the column that should be used.

3) Pick up the first two loops, they will look like a ladder on your darning needle.

Pull the needle and yarn thru.

4) Move the needle to the other side of the work you are seaming, and pick up the two loops that should match up with the previous side. Continue in this way until you have finished the seam.

Yarn thru first stitches and move the needle to the opposite side of the seam.


Pick up two loops and pull tight.

Push the needle thru the loop where the yarn exited the last time, then...

Pick up the next two loops.

A bridge forms between the two sides.

The seam is invisible when pulled taut.

Simple, 2 Skein, Felted Tote (Pictorial)

2011-06-20T15:08:00.003-05:00

I got tired of using random reusable grocery bags to carry my projects from place to place. So I came up with this "pattern" to create your own fun tote. ;-)

I doubled the strands to make this project go faster and to have a more rigid bag after felting.

1) To start, I bought two skeins of Patons brand Classic Wool (223 yds ea). Any 100% Wool yarn will work. Choose contrasting colors (A and B) OR a multi-color and solid that match.
2) Find both ends of yarn A. This can take 30 seconds if you're lucky, or 20 min if you have to take out all of the "guts" of the yarn and untangle that bird's nest to find the end. Repeat with yarn B.

**It'll pay off in the end, I promise. You will be using two strands of yarn for each color, which helps this project knit up faster and adds strength to the bag. {However, you can choose to use one strand and create a larger tote!}**

3) Using size 10.5 knitting needles, and two strands of yarn A, cast on as many stitches as needed to cover the length of your needle.
**This turned out to be about 52 stitches for me.**
4) Knit the first row, purl the second. Alternate knitting and purling the rows (stockinette), adding in yarn B when desired.
**I varied the width of the stripes throughout my bag, but if you are just learning to knit with 2-colors, I suggest changing colors every 2 or 4 rows.**
5) Continue in Stockinette Stitch until you are left with a fist-size amount of each yarn color and one big rectangle.

6) Using Mattress Stitch, sew up the side seams. {See: Mattress Stitch Pictorial, posted later today}
**I began by stitching the ends of one side together, working toward the middle... I wanted to be sure I had a uniform edge at the top of my bag, but you can sew up your seams by folding the rectangle in half (wrong sides together) and begin your seam at the bend.**

White thread shown here for contrast. Use double stranded wool.

7) Tuck the bottom corners of the bag to the inside, and sew down the resulting triangle. This creates a flat bottom for the bag.

8) Add a handle if desired and follow felting instructions on this site: http://knitting.about.com/od/felting/ss/how_to_felt.htm

.Mae.

Finished bag, to be felted.

Bottom of finished, unfelted bag.

Upcoming...

2011-06-13T14:28:00.001-05:00

I know, I know... I keep saying things like "look forward to". I went on a little vacay and was absent from blog world. But here's what I've been working on:

1) Pictorial- Felted project tote, simple, striped (knit)
2) Pictorial- Embroidered Booties (knit)
3) Pictorial- Nursing Cover (sew)

Hopefully I'll be able to post all of these in the next few days, so prepare for inspiration!

I've also found a few more amazing blogs to follow. Check my profile and visit the amazing sites these women have put together. I can't believe it has taken me so long to discover the talent that exists in blogging [shame]. I avoided this sphere of the web for so long thinking that it was all about peoples feelings and thoughts and public diaries. I am happy to find that this is not the case!

To satisfy your inner snoop-monster, here are a few pics of unfinished projects-

Simple, 2-skein, Striped Tote {to be Felted}

Ribbon Wallet

I have a purple ribbon that I am going to use to attach these three pieces and to border the outside of the wallet. I used scraps of fabric that I had because I just wanted to get the hang of it for this first time. I'm still trying to decide how to make the inside {for dollar bills, or for credit cards}. It is so kiddish, it will only be used in my diaper bag.

Tutorial Review - Yoga Pants

2011-05-27T10:49:00.002-05:00

Tip Junkie - Hot Yoga Pants

These pants are so easy, they are great for anyone new to sewing. I don't do a lot of sewing myself, I consider myself a novice. I've made 3 pair of these pants, they are just so comfortable. I made a 4th pair into faux-leggings! I just love to be green, and recycling old T-shirts makes me feel like I am really doing my part!

I suggest -
+ Use an elastic inside the waistband, I highly recommend it. It adds a little more complexity to the project, but otherwise, the pants just slip down as soon as you bend over.
** I actually had to do an emergency repair at a fellow craft-lovers house because they just wouldn't stay up! **

Tutorial Review - Ribbon Wallet

2011-05-27T10:17:00.003-05:00

LilBlueBoo - scrap ribbon wallet/clutch tutorial

I love these cute wallets designed by Lil Blue Boo! This is one of the first inspirational craft tutorials I read that gave me the crafting bug. Ironically, I didn't have any scrap ribbon to make one with so I had to run to the store, and my project still isn't finished. In the meantime, I used scraps from my son's dinosaur hat, so it looks like it belongs in a diaper bag - but I really just wanted to get the hang of it first anyway.

I suggest -
+ Use WonderUnder as suggested. The iron-on interfacing that I used seemed to be pretty weak in terms of bonding.
+ Make sure each ribbon is laying on the interfacing itself, and not on another ribbon. Logically, if most of one scrap is laying on top of another ribbon (or across multiple ribbons), it will not adhere to the WonderUnder. Where this does need to happen (to cover up ends), make sure you have a double sided fusing tape on hand to tuck under the strip of ribbon that does not touch the WonderUnder.
** To get over the fact that I didn't have double-sided tape, I top-stitched over nearly each ribbon to make sure it was secure! **
+ I cut out my clear-ID window out of a clear gift bag I received at Christmas, I swear by re-purposing!

I'll finish my diaper-bag wallet during my son's nap today, and post the pictures this afternoon. However, I mainly posted this as a kudos to LilBlueBoo and to encourage you to check out her blog post. Let me know what you think!

Knit Booties (Brag post)

2011-05-24T12:55:00.009-05:00

I love these booties I made for my little friend who just made it into the world. Unfortunately, I have no tutorial for you because these were made from a published pattern (which is copyright protected). All you can do is stare and enjoy, and maybe go out and get a copy of this amazing book: Easy Baby Knits by Claire Montgomerie. I've made several pieces from her collection.. ;-)

I will say that my gauge is extremely loose compared to Claire's, and the first pair I made were the light blue. I made adjustments using my gauge ratio, yet I had no clue how the stitches were supposed to decrease, and the light blue pair ended up a little funky, but still usable. May I suggest, if in question, always make a pattern with the numbers suggested FIRST, no matter what your gauge. The dark blue pair were made by following the smallest numbers provided exactly, and I understood so much more about knitting up booties afterward!

My special touch - I added the starburst on the bottom of the dark blue to give the booties added interest. I followed simple embroidery techniques while using my darning needle.

Here you can buy a copy of this book while supporting my blog (for free on your part!):
Easy Baby Knits: Clothes & Accessories for 0-3 Year-olds (See all Fashion Craft Books)

Welcome!

2011-05-24T10:18:00.001-05:00

Thanks for visiting my new blog! I intend to publish my completed projects, which primarily consist of sewing and knitted projects. A lot of my inspiration comes from other craft-blogs, there are so many good ones out there! I hope my projects inspire you to try your hand at crafting, however busy your life may be! What do I plan to add to the blog world? I have found that I prefer picture tutorials and projects that are easily customizable, particularly in terms of size. I like to do projects that give a sense of immediate gratification, that don't require more than basic tools and supplies that I may already have at my disposal.

Most of my crafts are done during the daytime, while my son runs around me in circles. So all projects can be completed by stay-at-home moms, with interruptions galore. It's half the fun, right?

So, what can you look forward to in the next days?
+ Yoga pants and leggings created from T-shirts (Tutorial)
+ Double-sided sun-hat, for 1-3 yr. old (Pictures)
+ Double-Breasted Knit Coat, for 2 yr. old (Pictures)
+ Felted Project Tote, in the works (Tutorial)
+ Links to my favorite TipJunkie posts
+ Plans for my son's Sesame Street party, to be thrown July 2011