Thread-and-Butter

Carnitas Tacos

2010-08-04T16:25:00.002-04:00

Remember my Pulled Pork Recipe?

You'll probably have some leftover pork, so here's a delicious recipe to help you finish it up! If you are starting from scratch, keep reading and I'll share a recipe with you too!

Ingredients

Leftover Pulled Pork
Queso Fresco, crumbled
fresh cilantro
chopped onions
sliced avocado
small corn tortillas

Heat up your pork (the microwave is a great way to do this!)
Slap some pork in a tortilla, toss in the cilantro, a couple of slices of avocado, onions and cheese. Enjoy!

I serve this with black beans and rice! So simple and it's a great way to use up the leftover meat!

Now, if you don't already have the pork made, try this recipe for the meat and then follow the steps above.

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs or pork shoulder (Boston butt), cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 large onion, cut into 4 pieces

Toss pork in bowl of slow cooker with salt, black pepper, and dried oregano to coat. Place onion pieces atop pork. Cover slow cooker and cook pork on low setting until meat is very tender and falling apart, about 6 hours.

Using slotted spoon, transfer pork to cutting board. Discard onion pieces. Using fingers, shred pork.

Meatball (subs)

2010-08-04T15:57:00.003-04:00

Who doesn't love an occasional meatball sub? And I don't mean the kind that come from that sandwich shop that means 'underground train'.

I came across this recipe while browsing the web and thought I'd give it a shot. I really REALLY dislike store-bought meatballs. It never fails, I end up burping meatballs for 2 days. They're like the gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving.

Of course, here's the original recipe that I adapted to make me happy!

Ingredients

1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup chopped parsley
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 ground turkey (I used Jennie O's Italian Seasoned Ground Turkey) or ground beef
1 1/2 cups flour

if making sub sandwiches, you'll also need:
2 jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce
hoagie rolls
mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease the foil.

In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients together EXCEPT the meat and flour. Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes so the breadcrumbs can soak up the liquid a little bit. Add the meat and mix well with your hands until all the ingredients are combined.

Form golf ball-sized meatballs and dredge them in the flour until lightly coated. Place the meatballs on the baking sheet about one inch apart. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until the meatballs are completely cooked through.

When the meatballs come out of the oven, let them sit for about 15 minutes.

To make the sandwiches, once they come out of the oven, toss them into a pot with the sauce and let the sauce heat up. Then place desired amount of meatballs on sliced bread. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake in oven until cheese is melted.

I suppose you could use these meatballs with a simple spaghetti sauce too, which is what I plan to do with the leftover meatballs.

July's Top 5

2010-07-23T21:36:00.008-04:00

1. Mandolin SlicerThanks to this handy dandy gadget, I still have all of my fingertips! I always use this for cutting up veggies!

2. Cloud 9 Fabrics LOVE! My favorite collection is the Beyond the Sea collection seen here:

3. Shallots I've never cooked with these before, but I bought a bag for a recipe and have been able to use them in other recipes too. I think they're good for non-onion loving people (unlike myself!). They're very mild, but still flavorful.

4. King's Hawaiian Bakery BEST ROLLS EVER!! Just trust me on this and try them!

5. Seam ripper.

Sewers, need I say more?

img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4305927734_9b0c42d388_o.jpg"/>

Sliders with Shallot-Dijon Relish

2010-07-23T20:58:00.005-04:00

This is a must-make meal! DELICIOUS!!
The recipe came from the Cooking Light Annual Recipes of 2009 cookbook. Of course I changed it up a bit, so if you want to see the original recipe, click here.

And here's my version:

Ingredients

Crazy Jane's Mixed Up Pepper (if you dont have this, use salt and pepper to season the meat)
1 pound angus ground beef (we used 85/15)
3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons butter, softened
8 (1-ounce) King's Hawaiian sweet rolls (the small ones)
8 slices Jarlsberg cheese (you could probably get away with swiss, but you'd be missing out on the whole experience, so I strongly recommend the Jarlsberg!)
dill pickle chips

1. Divide meat mixture into 8 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/4-inch-thick patty. Season with Crazy Jane's. Place patties on grill rack; grill for 3 minutes on each side or until done. Top with cheese just before they're ready to be removed from grill.

2. Combine shallots, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and butter in a small bowl, stirring well. Cut rolls in half horizontally. Spread shallot mixture evenly over cut sides of rolls. Layer 1 patty and 2 pickle chips on bottom half of each roll; top with top halves of rolls.

These were absolutely delicious-just the perfect combination of flavors.

June Top 5...........................

2010-06-28T19:44:00.013-04:00

HAHAHA! I went to post July's Top 5 and I realized that I never posted June's Top 5. It has been written for well, a month now, but never got published! So, here ya go!

1. simple & delicious magazine
My grandmother gifts this to me every year. I find new recipes every month and I'm never disappointed!

2. Firefly Vodka
I have only tried the Sweet Tea flavor, but I can only imagine how delicious the others taste. If you're wondering how to drink the Sweet Tea Vodka, simply pour a 1:1 ratio of the vodka and your favorite lemonade over ice. Garnish with lemon, if you so desire.

3. Georgia Peaches
YUM! Need I say more?

4. Premier Fabrics I discovered this designer while searching for home deocrating fabrics. Make sure you check out the Christmas collection! There are so many to choose from, but here are just a few of my favorites...

5. Mixed Berries
I can't get enough of these berries!! I love to put them in a bowl and sprinkle some sugar on top and just go to town on them! Not only are they delicious, but they're healthy too!

Sloppy Toads

2010-06-28T19:25:00.002-04:00

I thought that since Todd helped make this recipe better, I would name the meal after him!

The original recipe came from Simple and Delicious's June/July 2010 issue. It was good, but needed a little somethin' somethin'. Enter Toad-wart....

Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey - or ground beef, if you prefer
10 oz can of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
6 oz can tomato paste
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp spicy brown mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
hamburger buns

1. In a large skillet, cook turkey (beef) over medium heat until cooked. Drain.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes or until heated through.

This was really tasty. I served it with a green salad and corn on the cob! Delicious!

Take that, Manwich.

Tomato Bisque

2010-06-05T21:10:00.003-04:00

I got this recipe from All Recipes, but I adapted it to make it easier for me. Todd swears I didn't follow the recipe, which is why it didn't turn out. On most occasions, that would be a truthful statement from him, but I really did follow it this time. I know, you're asking yourself why the heck I am posting this recipe if it didn't turn out. The taste was absolutely there. Being able to pronounce 'roux' got me nowhere with this one.

If you can conquer this recipe, more power to roux.

You liked that, didn't you?! I couldn't wait to use that!

Ingredients

3 14.5oz cans diced tomatoes. I used the kind that has basil, garlic & oregano. You could use plain if you'd like.
2 cubes beef bouillon, crumbled
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk

Place the tomatoes in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the bouillon, sugar, salt, bay leaf, basil and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in flour all at once to form a roux, cook 1 minute. Whisk in milk, a little at a time, cooking and stirring constantly until thickened. Stir into tomato mixture and heat through.

FYI-for the tomatoes, you could also use crushed, which is probably what I would do since I ended up blending the diced tomatoes in my handy Magic Bullet so it wasn't so chunky.

May Top 5

2010-05-30T11:36:00.008-04:00

I'm going to try something new. My mission is to find 5 things every month that make me so very happy and then tell you about them.

My top 5 picks for May are....

1. Vidalia Onions - my favorite onion of all times. Reason #46874 that I love summer!

2. Pecans - I guess you would have never guessed that, huh? If you haven't seen my recent pecan recipes, you're missing out! Check them out here! You won't regret it!

3. Immaculate Baking Company - I've tried several of their cookies and they do not disappoint. You should be able to find them in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. My favorites are the Chocolate Chunk and then Triple Chocolate, but the others will not disappoint!

4. Baha Fresh - Apparently this is a California chain that finally made it's way cross-country. I had the Burrito Ultimo with chicken. It was delicious as well as the guacamole and several different salsa varieties they had to offer!

5. New-to-me Appliances - We bought a dishwasher, fridge, stove and over the range microwave from a friend who was moving for $500. They're all Kenmore and only about a year old! Deal of a lifetime! I love them all, but especially the microwave and the oven that has a window, a light, a warming burner and a timer! Notice I've been posting much more since I've gotten my new stuff! Coincidence? I think not

Pecans, Pecans, Pecans!

2010-05-30T11:22:00.005-04:00

Remember those pecans I mentioned in my Sweet Potato Soufflé post, the ones my father-in-law cracks and I just take them home? Well, we're going to a Memorial Day party tomorrow. The hostess asked us to bring our cookies that she likes so much. Dare I tell her that they come from the grocery store's refrigerated section and I just pull them out of the package and slap them on a cookie sheet? Nah! I'll let her believe that I made them from scratch!

Anyways, in addition to "my" cookies, I'm bringing some Texas Glazed Pecans from AllRecipes.com! I've made something very similar before. The only difference is that 1. this recipe calls for vanilla extract and 2. I wont burn this batch...hopefully!

Edit: I didn't burn the pecans, but I burned the heck out of my finger tips trying to steal some off of the pan as I was turning them.

Texas Glazed Pecans

1 egg white
4 teaspoons water
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound pecan halves

1. Preheat an oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Beat the egg in a bowl until frothy; whisk the water and vanilla into the egg. Stir the sugar, cinnamon, and salt into the egg mixture. Add the pecans; stir to coat completely. Spread the pecans onto the prepared baking sheet.
3. Roast the pecans in the preheated oven, stirring about every 15 minutes, until the coating forms a glaze, about 1 hour. Allow to cool on the baking sheet at least 10 minutes before serving.

I just couldn't stop there. I said to myself: "self, I wonder what chocolate covered pecans taste like?" Well, allrecipes.com to the rescue again! These suckers are next on my list...

Chocolate Covered Pecans

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 cups pecan halves

1. Combine the chocolate chips and cream in a medium metal bowl, and set on top of a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Stir pecan halves into the chocolate until completely coated.
2. Remove a few pecans at a time with a slotted spoon. Separate pecan halves and place onto a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 10 minutes to set.

I'm just going out on a limb here, but I don't think those will even make it out of this house for tomorrow's party!

Sweet Potato Soufflé

2010-05-22T22:03:00.005-04:00

This is where it's at! Holy crap, this is good!

I had 3 bags of Georgia pecans in my freezer that I wanted to do something with. My father-in-law does the dirty work and cracks and shells them. I take them home when he's done. It's a great system we have worked out :) Anyways, I came across the website of the Georgia Pecan Commission and found this recipe. I've had some really good Sweet Potato Soufflé at our favorite BBQ restaurant, Smok'n Pig in Valdosta, GA, so I wanted to see if I could duplicate it.

3 cups cooked mashed fresh sweet potatoes (this was 2 REALLY huge sweet potatoes for me)
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping:
1 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup chopped Georgia pecans

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mash potatoes in a large mixing bowl. While still warm, fold in sugar, milk, beaten eggs, vanilla and melted butter. Stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.
Turn sweet potato mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish.

In a small bowl, combine light brown sugar, flour, melted butter and chopped pecans. Spoon this topping evenly over sweet potato mixture.
Bake about 40 minutes or until topping is crisp, pecans have toasted and sweet potato mixture is bubbling.

You will not regret this.

Pulled Pork

2010-05-22T16:50:00.003-04:00

I can't believe I have never posted this recipe before. Todd and I love this one because not only is it tasty, but it's EASY because it's done in a slow-cooker! If I'm making it on a weekday, I will put it all together the night before, throw it in the fridge and start it the next day.

I actually got this recipe from a Publix weekly ad. I have adjusted it to make it even easier. Here's the original:
Memphis Style Pulled Pork and here's my version of it:

1 medium onion (rinsed)
6 fresh garlic cloves
2 (14-ounce) cans reduced-sodium beef broth
2 (18-ounce) bottles Memphis-style barbecue sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 boneless Boston butt pork roast (about 3 1/2 lb)
6 Bakery French (or regular) Hamburger Rolls

I place it all in the slow-cooker (except 1 bottle of BBQ sauce) and set it for 6 hours on HIGH. Once it is complete, I take it out and pull the pork apart.

With the remaining bottle of BBQ sauce, we use that as extra sauce for the sandwiches rather than making our own BBQ sauce as the recipe suggests.

Just keep in mind that every slow cooker cooks differently, so adjust your time accordingly.

Kitchen Tools

2010-04-11T19:59:00.004-04:00

I feel like I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't tell you about my 2 newest and favoritest (yup, I just made up that word) tools to make my job easier in the kitchen...

1. The Magic Bullet

I'm sure you've seen the infomercial for it. I tell you with 100% confidence that it really is THAT awesome! I use it every morning to whip up my protein shakes. It crushes ice better than any blender I have ever used. I have recently used it for some other things too. Just this week, I was whipping up a (nasty) casserole. It called for me to use a food processer to make the cottage cheese smooth. I just used my Magic Bullet and within seconds, my cottage cheese was as smooth like butta! I've used it to chop herbs too. It's amazing!

2. Pampered Chef Crinkle Cutter

Ok, I lied, this isn't new. I've probably had it for 3 years, but I think today was the first time I've ever used it. I needed to chop up some lettuce. It was fabulous! I should have known it was going to be fabulous. It is Pampered Chef, after all.

Caramalized Onion, Canadian Bacon & Egg Sandwiches

2010-04-07T17:03:00.003-04:00

Long time no see!

A few weeks ago, I found a Cooking Light cookbook at Marshalls for $7. It's like the "Best of" for 2007. The pictures about had me drooling in the checkout line! I came across this egg sandwich and decided to whip them up last night for dinner. I'm sure glad I did! I suppose you could do it for breakfast too, but breakfast for dinner is much more fun!

Ingredients

2 teaspoons canola oil
2 1/2 cups thinly vertically sliced onion
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon tarragon vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 slices Canadian bacon ( I only used 3 - 1 for me, 2 for my swine loving hubby)
Cooking spray
4 large eggs
2 whole wheat English Muffins

Preparation

Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper; sauté 8 minutes or until golden. Remove onion mixture from pan. Add Canadian bacon to pan; cook 1 minute on each side or until lightly browned. Remove Canadian bacon from pan.

Wipe pan clean with paper towels. Coat pan with cooking spray. Reduce heat to medium. Add eggs to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Layer 1 Canadian bacon slice, 1/4 cup onion mixture, and 1 egg on each of 4 bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices.

As I kid, I didn't like canadian bacon, so I wasn't sure how I'd like it. Boy, have I ever been missing out! That's good stuff!

My grocery store did not carry tarragon vinegar. I started to panic, my heart started pounding and my hands sweating. No, not really, but thank the good Lord for creating cell phones with internet. How did we ever survive before them? Anyways, I Googled "tarragon vinegar substitutes" and ended up using apple cider vinegar and tossed in a pinch of tarragon with the onions. I really have no idea if it was even close to being like tarragon vinegar, but it worked for me.

I served this scrummy yummy sammich with grits and an orange! Delicious!

Oh and you know how according to Todd, I always screw up at least 1 part of the recipe, I think did this time too despite me bragging last night to him that I had done this one perfectly. Now that I look back at the recipe, I'm pretty sure I left out the black pepper. HA! Don't tell!

Shake It Up!

2010-03-08T15:33:00.012-05:00

I started the year trying something new to start my day. Instead of sprinting out the door to work with a granola bar that keeps me full for about 5.6 seconds, I'm trying to be (kind-of) healthy with protein shakes as a meal replacement at breakfast. The challenge was finding one that 1. tastes good and 2. is nutritious.

The first I tried was Shakeology. It comes in Chocolate and Greenberry. Like any normal woman would, I chose the chocolate.

I mixed it with water, milk, ice and some peanut butter in my Magic Bullet (like I mentioned before, you have no idea what you're missing if you don't have one of these!). Not only is Shakeology delicious, but it's FULL of things that are good for you. You can read about them here! I promise, I'm not getting paid to tell you how delicious it is. It's really that good. The best part was....I lost 2.4 lbs in just 2 weeks doing Shakeology!

The downside is that Shakeology is a little pricey. I wasn't willing to sacrifice my shopping habit for my breakfast, so I went on a mission finding a decent alternative.

So I tried Special K's Protein Shake.

Again, I chose the chocolate. My recipe this time was the shake, peanut butter and ice. Again, I used the handy dandy Magic Bullet to mix 'er up. It was pretty tasty. It was thick and kept me satisfied for a couple of hours. And it's affordable, about $5 for 4 bottles. The downside...it has 18g of sugar.

Next I tried EAS's protein shake. My friend Didi is a big fan of it and gave me several days worth so I could try it. I didn't pick the flavor this time, but again, it's chocolate!

My recipe...milk, ice and peanut butter (do you see a trend here?!) I found this one to be kind of bland. It doesn't have enough chocolate flavoring, in my opinion. In fact, one morning, I added Hershey's Syrup to make it more chocolaty (it didn't help)!

Then I found a bunch of samples at Whole Foods. GENIUS! I dont have to buy a whole month's worth just to decide on the first day that I don't like it!

This was the one I was most excited to try. It has so many of the same ingredients as Shakeology, so I thought to myself "It HAS to be good!"

I'm going to rename it the 'Not-So-Amazing Meal". I whipped up the usual recipe (milk, peanut butter and ice - just in case you haven't been paying attention). It was TERRIBLE! There's a reason why it has grass on the front - that's exactly what it tasted like - grass It was extremely gritty. So gritty, my lips were completely exfoliated by the time I was finished. Wait, I lied. I didn't finish it. I couldn't. At one point, I felt something funny on my tongue. I pulled out what actually looked like a single grass seed and a few specks of what appeared to be black pepper flakes. Your guess is as good as mine. There are some good things about this "Amazing" Meal. It is full of protein and fiber and lots of other good things for you. That's all I can think of right now!

Next up was Jay Robb's Protein Shakes
The first one was Whey Protein. It comes in several different flavors. Guess which one I chose!

It wasn't bad, but it wasn't "Best-Tasting Protein on the Planet" as the website claims. After the Whey Protein, I tried the Egg Protein. I admit, I was a little heebed out by the thought of drinking an egg, but it wasn't bad. Like the Whey Protein, it wasn't bad, but not fantastic either.

I tried a few more, but they obviously didn't leave an impression on me because I don't remember what brands they were. I had officially given up and was back to my granola bar.....until....

(cue the choir singing aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

It's AMAZING! I use about 10oz of milk, peanut butter and 9 (yes, 9) ice cubes. It's delicious! It has 14g of protein which, with the peanut butter, keeps me full almost until lunch time. I purchased it at my gym, 24 Hour Fitness. The best part...it was only $10 for a 14 day supply. The worst part...it's discontinued.

Pasta e Fagioli

2010-01-24T21:04:00.004-05:00

Todd and I had a big lunch today, so this was perfect for something not-so-heavy. It's from Cooking Light and was recommended by my friend, Dawn. She says she only shares the good recipes and she was right! This was delicious! I have a big bowl leftover for lunch tomorrow!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
6 ounces hot turkey Italian sausage
1 1/2 tablespoons bottled minced garlic
1 cup water
1 (16-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
1 cup uncooked small seashell pasta (about 4 ounces)
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans or other white beans, drained
Minced fresh parsley (optional)
Crushed red pepper (optional)

Directions

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage and garlic; sauté 2 minutes or until browned, stir-ring to crumble. Add water, broth, and tomato sauce; bring to a boil. Stir in pasta, 1/4 cup cheese, oregano, salt, pepper, and beans; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 8 minutes or until pasta is done. Let stand 5 minutes; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Garnish each serving with parsley and red pepper, if desired.

Due to my grocery store not carrying some of those things, here are my changes...
-I used sweet turkey sausage and added red pepper flakes while it was browning
-I used regular tomato sauce

and because according to my husband, I don't read recipes and tend to mess something up in every recipe (he's absolutely right and it has become comical), I used 1 tsp salt instead of 1/2tsp. Luckily, it was a harmless mistake!

Rachel Ray's Zucchini Spaghetti with Saffron Sauce

2010-01-23T11:35:00.004-05:00

One word: YUM! Todd and I love this recipe!

Ingredients

Salt
1 pound spaghetti
2 cups chicken stock
2 pinches saffron
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
3 small or 2 medium zucchini (about 3/4 pound), cut into small cubes or thinly sliced
6 tablespoons butter, cut into 6 pieces
1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Directions

Heat your oven to its lowest setting, then place a large pasta platter or bowl inside to warm. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving a ladleful of the pasta cooking water.

While the pasta is working, in a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock and saffron to a boil and cook until reduced to about 1 cup, about 10 minutes.

In a medium skillet, heat the EVOO, one turn of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Remove the platter from the oven and scatter the butter on it. Add the pasta, zucchini and saffron-infused stock, then add the cheese and toss vigorously for 1 minute to form a yellow, glossy sauce. Add the reserved pasta cooking water as desired if the sauce is too thick.

I recently saw a similar recipe that used yellow squash. I think we will try that next time in addition to the zucchini.

A New Bed for a New Dog

2010-01-23T11:15:00.004-05:00

Well, not really a new dog, but she feels like new again! On Jan 4th, Cali had to be rushed up to the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine for emergency back surgery. Cali had slipped a disc in her back and was essentially paralyzed in her back legs. While she was gone, we bought her a new crate to keep her in while we are at work to keep her from jumping on and off the couches and bed. And with a new crate, she needed a new bed, right?

Cali came home just 4 days after surgery and hasn't slowed down since! She has broken every rule they had for her! And the crate didn't work out either. She actually broke the crate by yanking off one of the metal bars. Yes, she basically ate through metal. And when she was done doing that, she destroyed this lovey new bed. I'm thinking she didn't like being crated. What do you think? I still love her!

Creamy Tomato Soup

2009-12-22T20:17:00.007-05:00

I woke up feeling under the weather, so what better than a warm bowl of soup?? I have tried several different tomato soup recipes and this is, by far, the easiest and the tastiest.

Ingredients
1 can (29 oz) tomato sauce
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 tsp brown sugar (I used light brown sugar)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp white pepper (I used black pepper)
dash of hot pepper sauce
optional: croutons, shredded cheddar cheese, quartered grape tomatoes or thinly sliced green onions.

Directions

In large saucepan, combine the first seven ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through (don't boil).

Garnish with croutons, cheese, tomatoes or onions. (I added nothing and it was perfect).

I probably let mine cook for about an hour on low as I waited for the hubs to get home from the gym. We ate ours with grilled cheese sandwiches, but in the future, I would prefer a simple loaf of french bread.

The best part...super easy clean-up!

Doggy Bed!

2009-12-06T20:36:00.005-05:00

Bailey is a pretty special fella! He and his momma graciously dog sit (i.e. tolerate) Cali for us when we're out of town. Since Bailey was going to spend Thanksgiving week with us, I decided that Bailey needed a dog bed!

I think he likes it! What do you think?

White Chicken Chili

2009-12-06T19:35:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, my husband and I hosted our 1st Annual Chili Cook-off! It was a great way to get together with friends during the busy holiday season! We challenged our guests to submit their best pot of chili. The attendees taste-tested the chilis and voted for their top 3 choices. After counting up the votes, my recipe for White Chicken Chili won! My mom made the chili, so technically, she won, but she deferred the prize to the 2nd place finisher!

This recipe came from Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Cookbook. It's a kid-friendly cookbook that contains recipes from several different celebrities. The profits from the cookbook go to camps that Paul Newman established for children suffering from cancer, leukemia and other blood diseases.

Head Em Off at the Pass White Chicken Chili

Ingredients

½ cup chopped yellow onions
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 ½ cups cooked chopped chicken
½ cup chicken broth
Two cans cannellini beans with their liquid
½ tsp celery salt
1 tsp oregano
1/2 cup Salsa (mild, medium, or hot) I use the 7oz can of Herdez Salsa Casera.
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (1 cup for the chili, the rest for the garnish)

Directions:

1. In a 2-quart saucepan, sauté the onion in the oil until translucent. Add the chopped chicken and mix thoroughly. Stir in the chicken broth, cannellini beans and their liquid, celery salt, oregano, and ½ cup of the salsa.

2. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to break up the beans.

3. Just before serving, stir in 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Serve in individual bowls, garnished with the remaining mozzarella and salsa.

My New Adventure!

2009-12-06T19:22:00.000-05:00

I had the idea of having a cooking and sewing blog back when I started Sew-and-Tell, but at the time, I was a little burned out on cooking. While I'm still not a huge fanatic of cooking, I tolerate it because I don't think my husband would eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner every night! I don't make anything fancy, so if you like quick and relatively easy recipes, without a million weird ingredients, you have come to the right place!

I Bleed Orange and Blue

2009-10-19T20:39:00.000-04:00

Well, another month and a half has gone by without me posting a project! I promise, I'm not holding back, I'm just not sewing. This one was well worth the wait though. I promise!

I bought this pattern and fabric back in August. How I waited this long to get started, I have no idea!! This is Amy Butler's Frenchy bag. I often sit with a pattern in front of me and a blank stare on my face (ok, I don't really need a pattern for the blank stare!), but her patterns are so incredibly easy to read!

I love how she turned out. And since I have transitioned from purses to totes (I seem to carry a lot of stuff!), this is perfect for me!

And just in case you were wondering who's orange and blue I bleed...WAR EAGLE!

Labor of Love

2009-09-07T15:05:00.001-04:00

Happy Labor Day everyone!! I'd say that sewing is my labor of love! I truly enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that I have after each project.

So, what have I been up to, you might be wondering. I mean, it's only been almost 2 months since I've posted something. What?! 2 months?!

While relaxing in Ormond Beach for a long weekend in July, I came across Byrds Nest Quilt Shop. I can usually be found shopping the $.99 pattern sale at Joanns, but this shop carries Amy Butler patterns. So, I splurged on this $12 Blue Sky Hat pattern. I'm so very glad I did. This was one of the easiest patterns to follow. Amy Butler has a new fan! I had some Anna Maria Horner fabric that I didn't have a project for, so I decided to use it. This hat was a blast to make! I wore it to the beach a few weeks later and it was perfect (even if my hubby told me I looked like I was going to the Kentucky Derby in it!)

My next project was a hobo for my boss, George. This was one of those fabrics that I wasn't too sure about until I saw it on the bag. It's gorgeous!! George picked it out from FabricPalooza. I'm pleased with how it turned out and I think George is too!

Next up were some birth cloths for my friend, Marcella, who is having her 2nd child next month. I picked these fabrics up at this FABULOUS fabric store, Fabric Warehouse in Lakeland (about 45 min from here, but worth the drive!)

And last, but not least, this hat is for Jenni, one of my besties. She loved my Amy Butler beach hat so much, she wanted one for herself. We went shopping at Fireside Quilts where Jenni found this fabulous batik fabric. She coordinated it to her new bathing suit!

Next up, the Frenchy Bag by Amy Butler (see, I told you I was a new fan!)

Summer Summer Summertime

2009-07-16T17:28:00.000-04:00

Remember my "oops"? Well, I couldn't leave my mom without a summer bag. I know, I know, summer is half over, but it really hasn't felt like summer up north anyways, so maybe she'll still get some use out of it.

I tried to get the same fabric as she previously picked out, but it was sold out. So, I picked up this Tommy Bahama fabric. I think it's fabulous! Since the fabric is so busy, I paired it with a solid light teal fabric for the liner.

Oh-and I had a little help with this bag! Here's Jeeves giving me his opinion. I think he likes it!

Before and After

2009-07-16T16:56:00.002-04:00

I love looking back at my projects from when I first started sewing. At the time, I was so proud. Now, I cringe a little, but like to see how far I've come!

For example,my thread catcher. It was really bad! So, I remade it.

Before: seams on the outside, uneven stitching, narrow opening, etc

After: You can't see the inside seems, still some uneven stitches, but the opening is wide so my fat hand can fit in there! :)

Oops!

2009-07-16T16:40:00.001-04:00

What's wrong with this picture?

This was supposed to be my mom's summer tote bag. It is now a bundle of fabric scrap :)

Welcome to the Jungle!

2009-05-31T21:24:00.000-04:00

I went to Joanns yesterday just to pick up some snaps. Well, I kind of came out with a little extra. I don't know how it happened, but it did. It was like the stuff just jumped into my cart (and no, I don't have a good excuse as to why I needed a cart just to pick up some snaps).

I have this thing that I need a new bag for every trip I take. Well, with our upcoming trip, nothing screams beach like............

zebra???

Picnic Time!

2009-05-30T16:43:00.000-04:00

My mom's co-worker's daughter (do you follow?!), Kelly, requested a hobo bag. She picked out this AMAZING fabric from Sew Love Fabrics on Etsy. The exterior fabric is called Picnic Rose and the interior is called Picnic Damask, both by Tanya Whelan. The pictures don't come close to doing the fabric justice.

I love the 2 fabrics together! Kelly, I hope it was worth the wait!!

This is why I dont get a lot of blogging done!

2009-05-30T16:32:00.000-04:00

Usually, he's walking back and forth rubbing all over everything. But I didn't think you wanted to see a picture of his hiney, so I caught him with his good side showing. Even as I type, Jeeves is nibbling and rubbing on my fingers. What you can't see is the drool all over the mouse. His drool, certainly not mine!

Beach Bag 2.0

2009-05-30T16:21:00.000-04:00

You remember the flip flop valance, right? Well, I kinda sorta overestimated a wee bit and had some extra fabric left. I'm too embarrassed to tell you how much I had left over because then you'd know just how BAD I am at math!

Anyways, Jenni, the valance recipient was also the recipient of a brand new beach bag, whether she wanted it or not!

She had a party last weekend unveiling her new beach home. You would think that I would have taken a picture of the valance on the window, but I didn't. No good excuse, really. Well, except maybe that the mai tai's were flowing and I'm not usually one to turn down a cold drink!

IT'S BEACH TIME!!

2009-05-16T16:16:00.000-04:00

My mom needed a beach bag for our upcoming vacation to Emerald Isle, NC. She picked out a very beach appropriate themed fabric and off I went! Her only request was to have some pockets on the outside for her sunscreen and ~~beer~~ water.

Gym Bag

2009-05-03T18:28:00.000-04:00

Todd and I joined a gym about a month ago. I've been using the 1st hobo bag I ever made. It just wasn't cutting it with only 1 pocket! I was constantly digging for ponytail holders, my ID, etc.

I decided to use some fabric I had laying around. You should recognize it. The beauty of knowing how to sew is that I can make it however I want and it's customized to suit my needs (and Lord knows, I have several)!

Check this out...

Yes, that's a button you see. And yes, that's a buttonhole it's peering through! How great is that? This pocket will hold my ID card and lock.

Here's a nice and deep pocket for my swimming stuff.

And another nice and deep pocket for my iPod and headbands.

My favorite feature...A velcro flappy-do-thingy (yep, that's what it's called) that holds my ponytail holders and bobbypins!! SA-WEEEET!!

So, the moral of my story, I may not look good while I'm exercising, but you better believe I'm going to look good walking in with my sporty new gym bag!

If only it was big enough to hold an oxygen tank. Sometimes I feel like I should carry one of those with me!

Flip Flop Valance

2009-04-03T18:32:00.000-04:00

My friend, Jenni, recently purchased a beach house in Ormond Beach. When she and her husband bought it, it was in rough shape (and that's putting it nicely!). They had vision and they have now turned the house into a really cool and comfortable beach home.

Jenni "hired" me to create a valance for her flip flop themed bathroom.

I have never made a valance before, but Jenni didn't care! She gave me an idea of how long she wanted it and I just winged it. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out! I hung it up on my window so I could take a picture. I can't wait to see it hanging in Jenni's bathroom!

Lots of Goodies!!

2009-04-03T18:20:00.000-04:00

My 92 year old grandmother used to be a fantastic sewer back in her day. She made me an entire bedding ensemble when I was younger. When I was in college, she made curtains for the kitchen. At the time, I didn't appreciate the time and effort that went into creating those things!

I spent part of my Spring Break up in NJ helping my parents clean up her house and getting rid of some clutter. My dad found several boxes of sewing stuff in the garage, so I picked through it. I was amazed by the amount of stuff she accumulated over the years! I found receipts from fabric from the 90s. These were probably projects that she intended to start, but never did. I can relate to that! There were patterns and books from the 60s with notes that she had written! I was most excited by the buttons, thread, needles, and zippers that she had stashed away! I have no idea how old some of these are and even though I'll probably never use most of them, I brought them home anyways to add to my collection!

I know she has some more treasures somewhere in that house! I can't wait to find more!

Small Tote

2009-04-03T09:26:00.000-04:00

I made this bag for a student at school. We have a tradition of adopting varsity sports players. Basically, we give them a bag full of goodies on the day of a game. I adopted Courtney, a lacrosse player. She has been my student for 3 years now, so she's pretty special to me. Instead of buying gift bags that just get torn and thrown away for each game, I made her a tote bag. It was really hard to buy a fabric for a high school aged girl! All I knew was that her favorite colors were purple and green. I found the fabric at Joanns and went with it. I love the bag and I think Courtney liked it too!

Noni

2009-04-03T09:04:00.000-04:00

Todd picked out this pattern. It's the Simplicity 2685. I decided to make the one on the bottom right.

This bag is named after MIL's dog, Noni. When Noni came home, she was the weenie they called No Name. No Name quickly turned into Noni. Since this bag doesn't have a defining style or name, I'll call her Noni!

This bag was excruciating at times. Perhaps it's just me still not uderstanding how to correctly read the pattern, but there were times that the instructions made NO sense at all. I can't remember how many times I put it down and picked up back up 2 days later to try it again. It was well worth the time and effort because I'm very very happy with how it turned out. It even has a zipper!

Bag Lady

2009-02-15T19:55:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid and saw a homeless woman, I called her a bag lady. I don't think I knew she was homeless at the time. I just thought she carried lots of bags. Nothing wrong with that, right?

Now, I aspire to be a bag lady. Maybe not the homeless kind, but the kind who makes lots and lots of beautiful bags!

After showing off (bragging, gloating, whatever you want to call it) my last hobo bag, I had 2 orders come in!

My friend, Angela, needed a spring bag. She entrusted me to go to Joanns to pick out the fabric. Talk about pressure!! I sent text message after text message of pictures of fabrics. No response. Finally I just called her. Her iPhone doesn't receive picture messages (it practically wipes your butt for you, but it wont receive picture messages?). Anyways, I was truly on my own.

I found this gorgeous home decorating fabric and just went with it. Here's the final result!

Isn't she gorgeous! I hope Angela loves it as much as I do!
I still haven't mastered how to read the back of a pattern envelope, so I had too much fabric cut. I conveniently have enough left over for a smaller version of the same bag!

And remember my labels? Here they are!

My second order was from Allison (the girl who made the labels). She wanted the medium size version of the hobo. She went onto Etsy.com and ordered fabric from Fabric Supplies. They have an amazing selection of beautiful fabrics at pretty decent prices! And they we were very fast with their shipping.

The fabric she chose is just perfect for this bag. And I think this bag is the perfect size for a purse.

Fabric Labels

2009-02-15T19:39:00.000-05:00

This is so cool! I ordered some labels for my bags. My awesome (and talented) friend, Allison, created them for me. I simply told her I wanted a tag to put on the inside of the bag and then a small tag that could go out the outside. And I told her to do something that relates to me (pink, hibiscus, alligator, etc.) and this is what she came up with:

the inside label:

the outside label:

I couldn't have asked for anything better! And I actually love the colors since my sewing room is lime green and turquoise. They couldn't be any more perfect!

Then, I ordered them from BellaMental's Etsy shop. The inside tags are 1"x2" and the outside tag is 3/4" x 2" with 1/4" seam allowance on each end so that when they fold in half, the "a" is on both sides!

Wait until you see them on the actual bag!

Bags!!

2009-01-18T16:37:00.001-05:00

My mom decided she needed a winter tote bag. Since I'll be seeing her next week, I decided to bring her one! She initially wanted a toile design, but I couldn't find one that wasn't dry clean only. So instead, I picked this:

Come to find out after I got it home, it's also dry clean only. Oh well!

My friend, Peach, (also a sewing debutant) used this pattern, so I decided to give it a try. It was so easy to follow! And I'm really happy with how the bag turned out. My mom hasn't even seen this one and she's already talking about the spring tote bag she wants!

Next up was a new bag for me! Since the Simplicity patterns were on sale for $.99 at Joanns, I picked #4117, more specifically, this hobo bag:

Next stop was choosing the fabric. Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE pink, especially hot pink! I found this fabric at Joanns and HAD to have it. You know what that's like, right?

This is the outside:

And here's the lining:

It took me longer than I thought it would, but it was worth it. I'm super excited about how it turned out! I can't wait to use it tonight when I go bowling!

I don't know about you, but I have to have pockets. I can't stand my cell phone and/or chapstick being at the bottom of the bag, so I digressed from the pattern a bit (and almost lost a finger in the process - those rotary cutters are sharp!) to add 2 pockets.

PILLOW TALK

2009-01-11T18:30:00.000-05:00

After I got done spying on MIL's former co-irker at the eyeglass place this afternoon (long story!), I couldn't help but swing by Joanns just a few doors down. (Can you pass a Joann's and not stop in? I can't!) Anyways, 1.5 hours later, I left with lots of fabric I didn't need, but HAD to have. While I was waiting in the 19 person deep line to have my fabric cut, I decided I wanted to make a pillow for the guest bed. I certainly don't NEED another pillow on there, I just wanted one. I had the stuffing at home (I sure don't remember why I bought it in the first place!), so I couldn't think of any reason not to make it.

I chose this fabric:

I came home and got busy. 20 minutes later, I had a new pillow! I even whip stitched the bottom of it (MIL taught me how to do that!).

Next up: Winter tote bag for my mom (she needs one for every season, don't you think?), a new bag for me and some travel stuff (eye cover, passport holder, etc.).

I'M BAAAAAAAACK!

2008-12-31T16:36:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, I've been MIA. I took some time off from sewing, not necessarily by choice, but because, like everyone else, I got really busy with the holidays. But I'm back in action and I've been busy!

First off, here's my "new to me" sewing machine. This is my mom's that my grandparents bought her, probably sometime in the 90s. I dont think it was used but a handful of times, so it's essentially a brand new machine! The dead giveaway that it hadn't been used...when my parents shipped the machine, they included the manual. I don't know what happened, but the manual was in rigor mortus or something! The thing was like a block of wood with the pages all stuck together. So, needless to say, I had to order a new one! It also needed a slight tune up, but now she's just like new again! Now I just have to learn how to use all of her functions!

Here she is...

So, I finally got back into sewing last week. Since the only thing I feel I have mastered is the tissue holder, so every female in the family got a tissue holder! Here are the ones I made for my grandmothers!

And then I found this fabric....

And my husband had this "great idea" for me to make blankets for my "brother-in-law and sister-in-law". They're actually my in-laws' wiener dogs. So here they are (Cali approved, by the way)

And then (I know, it just doesn't stop!!), I wanted to make something for my BFF's new baby girl. She lives in New Orleans and when I saw this fabric, I knew I needed it! So, I decided to make burp cloths using this tutorial and getting a little creative. I hope she likes them!!

HOLY CUTENESS, BATMAN!!

2008-11-27T21:46:00.000-05:00

Look at her! Don't you just love her fabric? She has an orange liner and a blue pocket inside! This was my Thanksgiving Day project (Happy Thanksgiving, by the way!). I love her and can't wait to carry her tomorrow!

BYE BYE FOLDING TABLE

2008-11-26T20:48:00.000-05:00

I got the desk!! $35! BARGAIN! I had great plans to strip her down and put a fresh coat of paint on her. Then I talked to MIL (mother-in-law). Yes, that's what I call her. We came up with it together since I couldn't call her Mom (that name is already reserved). I couldn't call her Mrs. LastName, that would just be weird! And my mom taught me better than to call her by her first name, Lynne. So, MIL it is!

I digress. I called to talk to her about my new desk and she think it might be an antique. It's made by Sears Roebuck and has a plaque inside that has a patent number and a model number: 5663401. Well, if it's truly an antique, I can't possibly refinish it. But if it's not, it needs an Extreme Makeover. I've googled it and I'm not finding much about it. I'll have to sit on this one for a while. But for now, here it is set up in the office.

GOODBYE SASSY CLUTCH. HELLOOOOOO SUPER SASSY CLUTCH

2008-11-26T20:39:00.000-05:00

I took the new clutch out on the town last night and it was a flop. Literally. It had no substance, so I took part of it apart today and added some interface and a sassy new red button. Oh-I can't forget about the button loop and handle! I think it's way fabulous now!

HELLO SASSY CLUTCH

2008-11-25T16:03:00.000-05:00

I'm going out tonight with some friends. We're going to Hamburger Mary's to play Bingo! Naturally, I NEEDED a new purse, right (as if I needed an excuse)? And I've already expressed my love of Houndstooth, so it was an obvious choice of fabrics.

I wasn't impressed with my button selection, but I put this one on since I was running out of time (I wont tell you how long this one took!) and I'm actually ok with how it looks! For some reason, I'm imagining a big bold turquoise button on it. But for now, this will do!

MY FIRST BAG

2008-11-24T17:29:00.000-05:00

Meh. It's ok. I think I'm just over it right now! It took me over 4 hours to complete. I dont love the black, but I love the black and white. I know I screwed something up because I think it should be much bigger, but I dont care enough right now to try to figure out where I screwed up!

I see lots of mistakes and things I would do differently (like use a heavier fabric), but quite honestly, I don't love the pattern design either, so I don't think I'll be using it again.

EDIT: I took her grocery shopping and she was too flimsy. I took her apart the next day and am now using her parts for scrap. I hated that pattern anyways.

EEEEEEEEEK! I DID IT!!

2008-11-23T21:55:00.000-05:00

**insert high pitched squeal here!!**

It's a thread catcher/scrap bag. I know it's not perfect, but I did it! And mostly without a pattern. The only part I needed help on was the bag. I didn't know how to get the square bottom, so I used this tutorial for assistance.

For the pin cushion part, my genius husband, Toad, came up with the idea of using rice. It's cheap and most importantly, we had some on hand (and it saved him a trip to the store!)

And best of all, I attached the bag with Velcro, so when it's time to be emptied, I can simply remove the bag, dump it and reattach it!

FABRIC HEAVEN

2008-11-23T16:16:00.000-05:00

I've been looking forward to this trip to Joanns all week! I was only there for 2 hours this time :) but I ended up with some FABU fabrics!

I plan on using these fabrics for an Auburn University themed something or other. It may be bags, it may be aprons, or if those fail, it might just be more tissue holders! I also got a matching orange and a matching blue. It was all 50% off!

This fabric, I got to replace the swirly fabric that I screwed up last time (see post #2!).

And these, I bought so I could make a thread catcher/pin cushion.

And this one...I am still swooning over this one. I love love love, like super puffy heart, love Houndstooth. I saw it sitting behind the cutting fabric and snatched a yard of it (at 40% off thanks to a coupon). I am imagining a gorgeous bag with this fabric. I eventually will have to get a black fabric to finish the rest of the bag, but I had had enough of that place for one day (and I wasn't sure just how much I had spent), so I decided I'd save that for another day.

Then of course I picked up a zipper (yikes!) and some thread and headed home. Now I'm sitting here not sure where to begin!

THE SEARCH IS ON

2008-11-22T12:05:00.000-05:00

I need a sewing table. My folding table just isn't working. It's like operating a jackhammer when I'm using the machine.

I found this beauty on Craigslist:

Ok, so maybe she's not perfect, but with some TLC, I could make her pretty. You know, kind of like Extreme Makeover.

I left a message for the owners. Hopefully they'll get back to me and still have her.

WORK IN PROGRESS

2008-11-19T20:55:00.000-05:00

Please forgive the blog layout not quite lining up.

My friend, Mandy, created this adorable header for me. Now I have to make it fit. Just like with sewing, my computer skills are always a work in progress!

IF, AT FIRST, YOU DON'T SUCCEED...

2008-11-16T18:36:00.000-05:00

...try again. and again. and again. And eventually, you shall succeed.

I needed more space, so I set up a temporary folding table in the office, one of my favorite rooms in the house.

While I would like to blame lack of space on my problems last night, I can't. It was simply user error. After repeated attempts, several minutes of chin scratching and maybe a few profanities, I mastered the tissue holder! Take a look!!

It's far from perfect, but I already have ideas to make it better!

Things I learned from my first solo attempt...
1. Read the directions. Read them twice. And for good measure, read them again.
2. Look at the pictures closely. The written directions provide some guidance, but the picture is what really shows you what to do.
3. Make sure the thread is through the eye of the needle before starting. Uh huh. I can't tell you how I know that.

Next up...the bag...

ATTEMPT #1 - FAIL

2008-11-16T08:25:00.000-05:00

I got a sewing machine! It's on loan, but I don't think, my friend, Jenni is in any hurry to get it back. Let's put it this way...I borrowed this machine in the summer of 2005 (another failed attempt) and the pink thread I was using then was still in the machine when I opened it back up yesterday.

Anyways, I spent a good 3 hours total at Joanns looking for patterns, picking out fabric, etc. etc.

I was all set. I had my pattern picked out (the bag on the top right):

I had my fabric picked out. I was using black as the main part of the bag and a green & black swirly pattern for the contrast. I read over the pattern. I got ready to cut. Here I go...

Enter Cali. She does not make cutting easy. She thinks that if I'm on the floor cutting, that's an open invitation to give kisses.

Then, enter Jeeves. He thought that paper cut out thing (yes, that's official sewing terminology) was for him to play cat and mouse with (minus the mouse, of course).

While I would like to blame Jeeves and Cali for my errors, I'm afraid that it was me not reading correctly (this is nothing out of the ordinary-I often mess up recipes due to lack of thorough reading). In this case, I messed up on the very first cut. It was supposed to be along the fold. I cut it along the selvage. At that point, I decided I wasn't ready for a bag. I didn't want to waste the fabric I already cut, so I decided I would make a tissue holder (bottom of pattern picture above). How hard could that be, right?

HARD! Especially when the directions say one thing and the picture shows something completely different. Oh, and let's not forget the 30 minutes it took me to get the bobbin wound with thread. Anyways, I tried 3 different ways to complete this tissue holder and ended up with nothing but two pieces of fabric sewed together, inside out. Finally, I decided I was getting too tired and my head hurt from banging it on the wall trying to get it figured out. I packed it away for the night.

DECISIONS DECISIONS

2008-11-12T21:39:00.000-05:00

I'm facing a very tough decision. The next Sewing 201 classes are Lounge Pants or Aprons. I'm torn! Lounge Pants, Aprons. Lounge Pants, Aprons. I would love to learn how to make lounge pants (read Christmas gifts!). BUT, I could add aprons to my repertoire. Such decisions. Maybe I'll just do both. There, that was easy!

SEWING VIRGIN

2008-11-11T14:49:00.000-05:00

Welcome! I decided to start this blog so I could share my journey into the sewing world. I just recently decided that I wanted to learn how to sew. A couple of my friends have recently gotten into sewing and have created some really neat things like bags, burp clothes, blankets, etc. Also, I recently bought some baby gifts from Etsy and decided that with a little help, I could create something similar and give them as gifts.

So, I found a Sewing 101 class at Joann Fabrics and signed up! Going into the class, I didn't even know how to thread a machine! My shopping list included muslin. What the heck is muslin, I thought to myself! After about 3 hours, I came out with my very own pillowcase!

Now, I find myself in stores inspecting everything made of fabric wondering if I can recreate it myself!

I have lots of ideas - bags, travel pillow cases, dog bed covers, fancy rubber gloves, etc. etc. My only problem is that I don't own a sewing machine just yet! My mom is gracious enough to loan me hers for now while I'm still learning. I just have to wait for it to be shipped from NJ to FL.

Thanks for visiting and stay tuned for updates!