SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Fabric Therapy

It's been a rough week at work for me...today's lunch time fabric therapy really helped.  I've got a couple ideas of what I want to make with these. 

2 Is Better Than 1

I finished the pink backpack for Piggie's little friend. Aren't they just adorable?

I'm so proud of my handy work.

Initially, I was going to finish the seams by serging. However, it was not very "clean" on the Piggies, so I opted to trim with pinking shears instead on the pink pack.

I even considered using bias tape, but there's too many layers of my poor little sewing machine to get through : ( Maybe some day I'll upgrade my work horse.

Cinderella

Here's the beginning of what might be a Cinderella tutu for the Piggie to play dress up. She likes to pretend to be a Blue Princess. I saw this totally adorable tutorial on Samster Mommy Blog for a Cinderella Tutu and was inspired to make one. I really like the way it is now, so don't know if I want to add the wings/flaps on the side. I'll brew on it for a while and decide later...

There's also a great idea for a Snow White inspired tutu as on Double Equis. I'm in the process of getting my materials together for that one too. I guess eventually the Piggie will have one for each of the Princesses!

Toddler Pack Work in Progress

Here's a work in progress of my #2 pack. This one is actually the gift to a 3yr old.  I also managed to go back to the Purl warehouse today at lunch and picked up even more canvas for more packs to make.  I found these adorable prints. 

Straps

Today I made a couple strap covers during lunch. The one on top is a reversible camera strap for any standard Nikon or Cannon SLR. I used this turorial posted on Skip to My Lou. I made a couple modifications to the tutorial.  I used (2) 2.75 x 27 batting instead of fusable fleece.  I made this as a thank you gift to Susan Bible of Baby Bliss Photography to thank her for the wonderful family pictures she did for us. If you're ever in the Santa Barbara area, I highly recommend booking a session with her. She's great : )

This is my new seat belt cover. The one I previously made was a little to big so it slides down the strap and I find myself having to constantly move it back into place. This one is cut a little smaller 7.5 x 7.5.

Shrimp Dinner

I wish I took a picture of my yummy shrimp dinner, but I was too anxious to devour it!

I concocted this recipe last night and had a WOW dinner in less than 20mins!

1/2 lb jumbo shrimp deveined (I bought mine at Henry's already deveined)
1/2 package of linguine
1/2 - 1C chopped sundried tomatoes (mine was from a jar from costco. I use it for panini sandwiches too)
1 can artichoke hearts - cut into quarters
1 lemon
1Tsp powdered thyme
4-6 cloves garlic minced (i use a garlic press)
Salt & pepper
Olive Oil

1. Boil water for pasta.
2. Wash shrimp and toss with olive oil, lemon juice from 1/2 of the lemon, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Water should be boiling by now, cook pasta with salt and olive oil.
4. Chop sundried tomatoes and quarter artichoke hearts.
5. Heat large skillet with olive oil. When HOT, toss shrimp mixture and stir fry for approx 2min. Shrimp should be translucent pink, not cooked all the way through. Remove from heat and set aside in a separate plate.
6. Stir pasta, toss sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts in skillet and cook until warm. Return shrimp.
7. Pasta should be al dente, drain and add to skillet. Mix together until incorporated. Serve (garnish with fresh basil if you have some on hand).

I was very impressed with my mad cooking skills.

***Emeril's Braised Short Ribs recipe is also very easy and yummy. I made it twice in 1 week.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/braised-short-ribs-recipe/index.html

Productive Week

The Piggie has totally out grown her Disney Princess Minky blanket that was given to her. I have had to order one via ebay as a back up because she can't live without it. I made a LARGE "Minnie" blanket for her this week so that she can wrap herself in it for years to come. It's actually big enough for me, Piggie and her baby brother!

My previous post gave you a glimpse of what I was doing with the recent purchase of super cute Japanese canvas materials last week. I was able to carve out a couple hours today to give the pattern a try.

Here's a work in progress series of pictures. Cutting patterns have been much easier since I purchased a self healing mat and rotary cutter! Seriously, I was able to cut in less than 15mins.

Rae's instructions on incorporating piping also made it a lot easier to tackle. I did about 75% of this project using my zipper foot on the sewing machine. It works very well with piping.

I finished in under 2 hours, including taking time out to nurse my little man.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out. 

The piping gives it a nice finished look.

The interior seams are still unfinished.  I'll probably finish it off on the serger instead of using bias tape to cover them.

It's just the right size for my little Piggie, and probably good for another couple years.  I love that it's handmade by me :)

And we don't have to worry no matter where we go that it would get mixed up with another kid.

I'll be making another one with the same print in pink with blue piping for the gift in a couple weeks.  Hope her little friend likes it : )