tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75836720227391050912024-03-05T04:34:39.248-05:00cakes & crafts, et ceteraCarrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-20749881092667270272010-09-07T17:21:00.012-04:002010-09-07T22:16:03.394-04:00Halloween Yard Witch and Cats<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">It's September and in my book, that means it's time for Halloween!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Or at least time for Halloween decoration making!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My mother and I have always been huge Halloween fans. Of course, it helps when your Mom can pretty much make anything you dream up for your costume. Per her sewing abilities, I have been a skunk, dragon, chicken (real feathers) and various cats, not to mention a gazillion others.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Since Martha Stewart became the Queen of Craft, Halloween has become an even bigger holiday for us. We are always trying to find inexpensive, yet impressive, decorations to create the spookiest Halloween!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Lucky for me, my best friend (Farrah) co-hosts her Halloween party with me every year I am nearby. Along with her ingenuity and belief that anything is possible when we attempt it, we have come up with quite a showing when it comes to Halloween decor. However, it did not happen over one year - it's been many years in the making!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Our first major Halloween project is still one of our favorites. Not only is it impressive, but it involves tools! The kind you have to plug in to use!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The idea comes from the aforementioned Queen of Craft: Martha Stewart. It wasn't actually up on her website last year to make, only to buy (more on that later). However, it is up there this year and I'm going to tell you how to do it!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjmST8gwvJ-yGFr_U14Dogm8rqVZwIVF_klDJxJmLyNXeMlqPgSotNbyNz_otLfcJv9zL3OdsutjUT3d0vzsRm6qRCT3xicZOKbPDHavRJoow5iKKRKZlyElXnndr7-hwdyrraxiABRSs/s1600/MS+witch+cats.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjmST8gwvJ-yGFr_U14Dogm8rqVZwIVF_klDJxJmLyNXeMlqPgSotNbyNz_otLfcJv9zL3OdsutjUT3d0vzsRm6qRCT3xicZOKbPDHavRJoow5iKKRKZlyElXnndr7-hwdyrraxiABRSs/s320/MS+witch+cats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514309003505693586" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/witch-and-cat-lawn-ornaments?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/halloween-witch-decorations#slide_1"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Witch and Cat Lawn Ornaments</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Tools:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- Jigsaw</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- 2 - Sawhorses (or other steady things to put your boards up on)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- Screwdriver</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- Hammer</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Materials:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- 1 - <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_12212-99999-LBR12212_4294815999_4294937087?productId=3176631&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_OSB_4294815999_4294937087_">4'x8' sheet of 1/2" (or more) OSB sheathing</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- 1 - 4'x4' sheet of 1/4" - 1/2" OSB sheathing</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- Black paint </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">(spray paint, latex paint, or whatever you have handy)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- <a href="http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-69241/1%22-Two-Hole-Strap/Detail">Conduit straps</a></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> (3 - 4 for the witch, 2 for each cat - use metal not plastic as it will break)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- Wood screws</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> (length short enough to NOT pierce through the wood)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- <a href="http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf1/1005_witch.pdf">Witch template</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- <a href="http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf1/1005_cat.pdf">Cat template</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- 6' length of metal conduit for witch</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- 3 - 3' length of metal conduit for cats</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Directions:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The first step of this project is the hardest: printing the templates at full size. When we first made the witch, I thought to myself "I have access to a big printer! Why don't I print it on that?" To answer my own question..."because Martha Stewart's templates are easy to print in single 8.5x11 sheets and just tape together." But then, after taping them together, you need to cut out the templates. Why not wait until you use the jigsaw to cut them out? Because, how else are you going to trace around the shape if the shape isn't cut out yet? Ha!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">So - first step - print templates, tape them together and cut them out (with scissors).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Next, tape the template to the OSB board and trace the shapes. Trust me, this is much easier than trying to tape the template onto the board and cutting around it. Not awesome. The jigsaw has a tendency to shred and tear.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Why OSB and not plywood, like Martha says? Well, because it's cheaper. You can use anything that you might have laying around if you want except MDF. MDF will just turn to mush in the rain. Also, be sure to use a thicker material (1/2" or more) for the witch since she's tall. She gets caught in the wind easily and can get knocked over or have her top half cracked if she's too thin.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Now a little info about using a jigsaw: it's very easy. Just remember to watch your fingers! Be sure the shoe (the plate on the bottom of the jigsaw that you set on the board) is always on the board otherwise there will be too much movement and you might cut off a digit. Or two. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Also, you can do curves with a jigsaw. However, you cannot do </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">tight</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> curves in one try. Only because the thickness of the blade will prevent you from turning The last thing you want to do is force the jigsaw and cause the blade to snap. Remember to always use sharp blades. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The beauty of the jigsaw is that it's fairly light and easy for us weak (ha, ha) little girlies to use. You can start and stop wherever you need to be with ease.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Wear goggles, girls (and boys). Mostly because of the sawdust in your eyes, but also because you might get a splinter in your eye and that would be bad. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Don't wear flip flops in case you cut something off and forget to catch it and it lands on your foot.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Both of these last two points were ignored by my mother and I, however, we were lucky. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Don't test your own luck.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Please note that in the pictures below, Mom and I used the witch and cats that we had a few years ago for our templates instead of printing them out. </span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYhCBrxKo4gXtyiMJ-fbHKJyrvIkBGxGvRV9ao8qrX5I4AfjQ24QtfEUMd1jFgy933O-zCOdkUn4r7Gl9dENhkry6teTwzcdnL2ihpqPDFYoCDVTyTdqvVwvCXzy1Xa_pXICC19dFpJdQ/s1600/100_1806.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYhCBrxKo4gXtyiMJ-fbHKJyrvIkBGxGvRV9ao8qrX5I4AfjQ24QtfEUMd1jFgy933O-zCOdkUn4r7Gl9dENhkry6teTwzcdnL2ihpqPDFYoCDVTyTdqvVwvCXzy1Xa_pXICC19dFpJdQ/s320/100_1806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514308629013781986" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12k3qCdbAfOWwKsBDbYyneYQ5jKUjsr8frYCoUgSQxWRRE2pXaFiRJmoynFc75YHnATnXUeghaR7-S0Aj47hVUKCTpttBkR1AkaeeyIfBgWWitBI5qoXnADPNbkVNzGmh9trMiAOF7MUX/s1600/100_1804.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12k3qCdbAfOWwKsBDbYyneYQ5jKUjsr8frYCoUgSQxWRRE2pXaFiRJmoynFc75YHnATnXUeghaR7-S0Aj47hVUKCTpttBkR1AkaeeyIfBgWWitBI5qoXnADPNbkVNzGmh9trMiAOF7MUX/s320/100_1804.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514308614266178610" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmX5ikTYI091IpVUIMID7bQVhZKp7IjH4MSfGcAYohIfT9Fj-AOM3JxS4u93euJxBSLDZyApyDHyjmAHzZoC4n4-_LIBGLIc9t6mnE4TYcewx-YL_QvWMHu-23R4_ptplgFuYX8Wmy_mN/s1600/100_1807.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmX5ikTYI091IpVUIMID7bQVhZKp7IjH4MSfGcAYohIfT9Fj-AOM3JxS4u93euJxBSLDZyApyDHyjmAHzZoC4n4-_LIBGLIc9t6mnE4TYcewx-YL_QvWMHu-23R4_ptplgFuYX8Wmy_mN/s320/100_1807.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514308635686007602" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKMIycBu_YcXmk32_DiESOQuzynCqDfA91r3NwCzSeskXt9_q_kZL__kDzhKN44YKqsX4S_xVTY_j9YEdgj1ybSb51a9kVmF-Npm7g8_3Ha_6k_L1QjJnywvL8u-QifKRifEw4hyUrEvk/s1600/100_1808.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKMIycBu_YcXmk32_DiESOQuzynCqDfA91r3NwCzSeskXt9_q_kZL__kDzhKN44YKqsX4S_xVTY_j9YEdgj1ybSb51a9kVmF-Npm7g8_3Ha_6k_L1QjJnywvL8u-QifKRifEw4hyUrEvk/s320/100_1808.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514308646267875746" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjJpdcdBpJmK05SJTe2sjMas-d6k857QCJSWbO_29ViPKppIcsXrrHpgaIdNh6TS9XCAkSVGxVP_VsHAwg3qGEEdlPgPd-Padd6ywRcR2KU_aM8kr4hPhw-PY5cEW-scGygorQ2UIEgN7/s1600/100_1810.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjJpdcdBpJmK05SJTe2sjMas-d6k857QCJSWbO_29ViPKppIcsXrrHpgaIdNh6TS9XCAkSVGxVP_VsHAwg3qGEEdlPgPd-Padd6ywRcR2KU_aM8kr4hPhw-PY5cEW-scGygorQ2UIEgN7/s320/100_1810.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514308981954197154" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After cutting out the lovely witch and cats, your next step will be to screw in the conduit straps to the back of the shapes. You should only need a screwdriver and some wood screws. Unless you like power tools, then you may want to use your cordless drill.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_fxiCQjBckb_-RJcZuuM2eXf9Sgbl2imATBrjslQZPxThfs86iUenOpmK8reKVJftpqqVfe1_3KNihUr37YFnkYvOYqwDL9v_xAFEiNs7V55Z5Di2VOkgYBS1JlML9joXPRJ3_kvCqaQ/s1600/MS+witch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_fxiCQjBckb_-RJcZuuM2eXf9Sgbl2imATBrjslQZPxThfs86iUenOpmK8reKVJftpqqVfe1_3KNihUr37YFnkYvOYqwDL9v_xAFEiNs7V55Z5Di2VOkgYBS1JlML9joXPRJ3_kvCqaQ/s320/MS+witch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514309009630641762" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPO9XVXfsUfC8_AkD73TrjifnHjFWokg-__bt1DDsqCvsC4haFWOY7spnuIj2GleniAdZA3YrOUyQDnIwdF7dbUblLJrRf5o5Slwufcx1Qgz6ijUhDZKx_TYp79qaD6rEz8vM_rH6Dzwg/s1600/MS+cat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPO9XVXfsUfC8_AkD73TrjifnHjFWokg-__bt1DDsqCvsC4haFWOY7spnuIj2GleniAdZA3YrOUyQDnIwdF7dbUblLJrRf5o5Slwufcx1Qgz6ijUhDZKx_TYp79qaD6rEz8vM_rH6Dzwg/s320/MS+cat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514308994874529746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Next, paint those cuties! Black, black, black! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">We used spray paint, but Martha's instructions say to use black latex paint. Whatever you want. Every year, we do have to touch them up a little here and there but the spray paint never peels. It takes more spray paint to cover the shapes than latex though. Be sure to paint both sides. You can see both sides during the day and no one wants to see the unpainted back side of a witch!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Don't forget the finishing details! Attach a cup hook for the lantern. We used a conduit strap for her broom so we can slip it in and out if we need to. The broom came from Walmart and we just spray painted it black.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Finally, use something to pound the metal conduit into the ground and slip your decorations in...then let the fun begin!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Oh. The back lighting....hmmm...we use some simple spotlights. Don't set the witch and cats up the same day as your party (or Halloween) because you will need to do a little adjusting with the lighting before getting the perfect spooky appearance at night.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Also, if you feel like you have no craft skills at all, you may order these silhouettes at </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.grandinroad.com/jump.jsp?item=32758&maincatcode=null&subcatcode=null&itemID=22160&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C2759%2C5794%2C5797&iProductID=22160">Grandin Road</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">. They are crazy expensive though! $149 for the witch and $59 for the three cats. Especially when one piece of OSB is only about $10!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The witch and cats look perfect in a cemetery yard setting. More on Halloween decorations coming soon!</span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-2763544621448308272010-08-03T21:11:00.013-04:002010-08-03T22:05:21.790-04:00Felt purse for Colleen!<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">For Colleen's Christmas present, I decided to make her a felt tote. Well, more like a small version of a tote.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I'm not going to go into the details on this one because I did use a pattern to start the design and then made some adjustments according to what I wanted my end product to look like.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Basically, I saw some other projects on the internet (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> to be exact) where a solid color color (like charcoal) is backed with a bright color (orange, lime green, turquoise, etc) that is exposed by cut outs in the fabric.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Here's an example:</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9fjrTViWHxAjjUc0I2r97J9DfStVP57BJoD2xMyYEJH_gt1hgDOlOBo9OY6eCp_VPlj0w5BeXXwmGYJbNG8D70V336fpPDM5NFPKFAkB0i6_pZ1DNQmgjDjcD1HH_pXwn8sIMkQv59Wg/s1600/il_430xN.69149999.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9fjrTViWHxAjjUc0I2r97J9DfStVP57BJoD2xMyYEJH_gt1hgDOlOBo9OY6eCp_VPlj0w5BeXXwmGYJbNG8D70V336fpPDM5NFPKFAkB0i6_pZ1DNQmgjDjcD1HH_pXwn8sIMkQv59Wg/s320/il_430xN.69149999.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501360780832042706" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv17i0Ein7-lcdSNTkoioAfKb6JNSgqIxCS9diW2eQ9AklvtTMXk2_aYFhXMbFumOl76Z8rMhNRSaKKLQBft4XlvTMTTwKpksDtolBM4QMLzQVdqDf6_q0vl2TQuYbWbBMU6NHHD4B6PVJ/s1600/il_430xN.50350501.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv17i0Ein7-lcdSNTkoioAfKb6JNSgqIxCS9diW2eQ9AklvtTMXk2_aYFhXMbFumOl76Z8rMhNRSaKKLQBft4XlvTMTTwKpksDtolBM4QMLzQVdqDf6_q0vl2TQuYbWbBMU6NHHD4B6PVJ/s320/il_430xN.50350501.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501360390792947186" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />I used pattern <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-1990-accessories.aspx"># 3715 by Simplicity</a> for the basic shape of the purse.<br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8Z6drh1RVeKFu69sg7xXExJ3zEQ1NUBdAvqwI4msKwLz6r17PBCUSrewSnXzWtARf2muCA-Xj9rrUCGmQgW2RWy2OXceWRmNESVrf7IzLDP0g0hYR8BS11dBBxPxdnyWuqCuEzCdwRei/s1600/simplicity+3715.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8Z6drh1RVeKFu69sg7xXExJ3zEQ1NUBdAvqwI4msKwLz6r17PBCUSrewSnXzWtARf2muCA-Xj9rrUCGmQgW2RWy2OXceWRmNESVrf7IzLDP0g0hYR8BS11dBBxPxdnyWuqCuEzCdwRei/s320/simplicity+3715.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501362736216012002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">For the purse basics, the decided to use a wool felt. Wool felt, unlike polyester felt, has a lighter color and doesn't stretch. So nice. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Because Colleen owns an orange Vespa and it's one of her favorite colors, I decided to go with orange felt. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">For the orange felt, I cut a piece the same size as the gray fabric. I used some glasses in a variety of sizes to make the circles on the gray fabric (I used a fabric pencil). After cutting the holes out, I hand-stitched the orange running stitch around the edges of the circles and then down to make the "stems." </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Next, I simply sewed the purse together using the instructions with one more minor change.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I wasn't too fond of the purses straps. Mostly because I sewed them together and it was SO HARD to turn the felt inside out. Instead, I just used a larger stitch on my sewing machine (more like a basting stitch) and sewed two strips of felt together with 4 equal stitched lines in them to make the straps stiff and sturdy. I used the orange thread on this to add that touch of orange color.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmWs3to9zZw7qCbP2o1tYy5BfYGufO2o009TQozje_5Jdk5qqjwNrJ1AJ4Qj-2uUG1bdkmVWrGiNR3Hi4SFfE2nt9zmB3lQSL9IAhmd3aLHJSpUKJznqCYUSis-Z0DNqQxEM4jOzZ80LC/s1600/Colleens+purse+closeup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmWs3to9zZw7qCbP2o1tYy5BfYGufO2o009TQozje_5Jdk5qqjwNrJ1AJ4Qj-2uUG1bdkmVWrGiNR3Hi4SFfE2nt9zmB3lQSL9IAhmd3aLHJSpUKJznqCYUSis-Z0DNqQxEM4jOzZ80LC/s320/Colleens+purse+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501360059240156514" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My final change was that I didn't like the closure on the purse. I ended up putting a magnetic piece inside of it (matching the turquoise of the flashy interior color) to hold it closed. Although it's a bit strong, it works like a champ!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">For the inside of the purse, I wanted something cute and flashy. I went to my favorite fabric store, <a href="http://www.sarahsfabrics.com/">Sarah's Fabric</a>, in Lawrence, Kansas. Sarah's has an amazing selection of cotton quilting fabrics. Perfect for purse projects!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuH1dmU8veBF6oXikSxVUIrqe0iscEAEOAbctXm8Ax13DSZG_YAdhhu1BBCz-sb4ORXwlxfvu2FICnqBl2Z6x03fRqlHdTS2t7ioSZj6wrsX0BdvkgtTYlYO7ynry8RWTU5FVXL0MUDt6/s1600/inside+colleens+purse.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuH1dmU8veBF6oXikSxVUIrqe0iscEAEOAbctXm8Ax13DSZG_YAdhhu1BBCz-sb4ORXwlxfvu2FICnqBl2Z6x03fRqlHdTS2t7ioSZj6wrsX0BdvkgtTYlYO7ynry8RWTU5FVXL0MUDt6/s320/inside+colleens+purse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501360069271855138" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I had two issues with the final project. Too OCD, I believe.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">First, I disliked the way the inside fabric met the outside felt. It wasn't sharp because of the thickness of the felt. I wanted it to be precise, not blurry.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Second, the purse has a tendency to slouch. Next time, I will add some stiffener to the sides (like I kept telling myself to do the whole time I was sewing it) so it will stand up on its own.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6MdHRnYqKjHxnabmzGi_zSYoObxENnKAp5DzHpT5OgK0qrQ5ktgvnAoDNwfi4XoLFA3hF7APwdr6ja7E5Us2PvVQVd7groyUGmDQ3R8XO-5C2hyHcjG2wH6Bn9wVI1qdlzvd0FAiNOJa/s1600/blurry+colleen+purse.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6MdHRnYqKjHxnabmzGi_zSYoObxENnKAp5DzHpT5OgK0qrQ5ktgvnAoDNwfi4XoLFA3hF7APwdr6ja7E5Us2PvVQVd7groyUGmDQ3R8XO-5C2hyHcjG2wH6Bn9wVI1qdlzvd0FAiNOJa/s320/blurry+colleen+purse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501360047547785298" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I think that overall it turned out really cute!</span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-39920770797247103192010-08-03T18:37:00.018-04:002010-08-03T21:06:36.374-04:00Baby Mobile - Hooty Hoot Owls!<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Earlier this year, I went with Farrah to our favorite little gift shop in Columbia, </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.thebutterflytattookids.com/">The Butterfly Tattoo</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">. They specialize in cute gifts for girlie girls and funky baby products.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Trent and Kara were expecting their first baby and Farrah had heard through the grapevine that Kara had fallen in love with a particular crib bedding at the boutique. It was the perfect solution to their office gift.</span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-GaQtLQtob5Lglprfbhhqni6ucO7ruzRrwzVpBbL9_YFpnwJDnNiQooUgLsGNmRvuksvPJdInU6RV_MEXghDlMQZKwINXwhu0-SsVlFzRwFG0xuUISzC_iqAGobP4gTUnTdwyXm_2vV5/s1600/littokidsbeddingsillyowl-2T.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-GaQtLQtob5Lglprfbhhqni6ucO7ruzRrwzVpBbL9_YFpnwJDnNiQooUgLsGNmRvuksvPJdInU6RV_MEXghDlMQZKwINXwhu0-SsVlFzRwFG0xuUISzC_iqAGobP4gTUnTdwyXm_2vV5/s320/littokidsbeddingsillyowl-2T.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501347414897657634" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Of course, as soon as I saw the print on the crib bedding, I was in love. Infatuated is probably a better word. </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.littokids.com/silly_owl.html">"Silly Owl"</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> by </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.littokids.com/index.html">LittoKids Inc</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">. is the bedding. And boy, oh boy! It is adorable!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Inspired by retro designs, it features this cute little owlie (I named him Arnold) surrounded by a kind of fleur de lis meets mid-century pattern in orange, white, gray and brown. It rocks. So super perfect for a little baby boy (or girl).</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjweCTIKnhi67QwavswBaBwx03ZXNQKAzeqPYf6Zn93K7mHGsGaBq5q0CXU3iCzvG3wdXy0nwN2MARQ-3K_OA9lUUzfawgXq7-oWHmsO277gWSmVYCBNqen-ccAC_5cKNAOkR6C5Qsi_Ka/s1600/owlies.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjweCTIKnhi67QwavswBaBwx03ZXNQKAzeqPYf6Zn93K7mHGsGaBq5q0CXU3iCzvG3wdXy0nwN2MARQ-3K_OA9lUUzfawgXq7-oWHmsO277gWSmVYCBNqen-ccAC_5cKNAOkR6C5Qsi_Ka/s320/owlies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501346276946142018" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">With that in mind, I decided to give them the gift of handmade: an owlie baby mobile.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The first step was to find a usable image of the owl. Harder than it seems, LittoKids has very few closeups of their bedding. Silly company. I finally found an image that some dummy like me had uploaded :) Yay for dummies!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The image had a few issues so I used photoshop to touch it up and mirror it to use as my owl pattern. Cute!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx0Pekcj0pRap2Y9zmSUYcfBp8l2VSmEEl_cHpmKlRiStbC4Qwa-yc0YRDEzuYS0W3fihRYRWvVsbw9NO8mP_B8_kawNKpTpgbNghQjDtdO59Kaz5ver3roQTdac7IjQEvJxhTQqcDuGx/s1600/owl+body+before+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx0Pekcj0pRap2Y9zmSUYcfBp8l2VSmEEl_cHpmKlRiStbC4Qwa-yc0YRDEzuYS0W3fihRYRWvVsbw9NO8mP_B8_kawNKpTpgbNghQjDtdO59Kaz5ver3roQTdac7IjQEvJxhTQqcDuGx/s320/owl+body+before+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318054629438002" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">When doing any kind of hand-stitching project with numerous matching felt guys, I advise you to make one first and figure out what you are doing before moving on. That's what I did!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Owlie Parts (Cutting):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My first step was to decide what kind of parts I needed, in what color and to make a pattern for those parts. After making the pattern from the original image, I cut out all the little owl body pieces. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Here's what I ended up having:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;">2 - full body - brown<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQR2JWRYcgsoys8-3j85ZC2a6x-Og0ckZyzi5iEc_by0go1KoXYqo5uY8xGELpED3lSbKD1BSTSZtMMyfLE-pdQWR4VgtrPSbf1AbTfvai3fxvyXA_WzY10NEwlP7ZU53RJMZkldY-0Mo/s1600/owl+pattern.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQR2JWRYcgsoys8-3j85ZC2a6x-Og0ckZyzi5iEc_by0go1KoXYqo5uY8xGELpED3lSbKD1BSTSZtMMyfLE-pdQWR4VgtrPSbf1AbTfvai3fxvyXA_WzY10NEwlP7ZU53RJMZkldY-0Mo/s320/owl+pattern.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501319133931582802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">1 - breast - orange</span><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn7rDpHh0-Rp3DcySh7jcp4NVT3tuR112tK2cS6fw4XjQ41TuXorgoDzLfQw7voqrdTrIXSraU2tg7PnzURS7kUWp2NbFOQGT975TZzydmB4dajR_R76XSM_q9fKFQxHrknWht1gC0iFk/s1600/owl+breast+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn7rDpHh0-Rp3DcySh7jcp4NVT3tuR112tK2cS6fw4XjQ41TuXorgoDzLfQw7voqrdTrIXSraU2tg7PnzURS7kUWp2NbFOQGT975TZzydmB4dajR_R76XSM_q9fKFQxHrknWht1gC0iFk/s320/owl+breast+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501319101009740594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">2 - wings - orange</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nk1ZTdTVESgxGGffKhN0vgMp0-bLFEOf2KNUnbtF4IRGQhAfthQaP1zUT9KiGUCIB9V2HDUjQpNApe33jgLTRgvlhs6Ip48QjnkKzUlPiN1nC2ney_uIG5C3U8FwfjAF4n21LtQP8AOZ/s1600/owl+wings+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nk1ZTdTVESgxGGffKhN0vgMp0-bLFEOf2KNUnbtF4IRGQhAfthQaP1zUT9KiGUCIB9V2HDUjQpNApe33jgLTRgvlhs6Ip48QjnkKzUlPiN1nC2ney_uIG5C3U8FwfjAF4n21LtQP8AOZ/s320/owl+wings+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318435934915426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">1 - eye foundation - orange</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1FVrsjxFVFfgt8jkxS5yGk4tkZOfS65YZMQLbELUz5l3R6EBd-jDhm1Wxx9aupt97P6CFbVGZLPqRjIfNsDXaulIfF0T07E4ZOR3_-v0ZcRDj-sX3jKxsz-30GonAxNeROoNhx6FDYFt/s1600/owl+hoot+eyes+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1FVrsjxFVFfgt8jkxS5yGk4tkZOfS65YZMQLbELUz5l3R6EBd-jDhm1Wxx9aupt97P6CFbVGZLPqRjIfNsDXaulIfF0T07E4ZOR3_-v0ZcRDj-sX3jKxsz-30GonAxNeROoNhx6FDYFt/s320/owl+hoot+eyes+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318458527881922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">2 - eyeballs - white</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW1y87qu3fLUfY-V9kwYDUIivy4PfKTsf02jt-Rh3CAemnIaX8GN6GWwoQ1wB871SKaXkwB0toHcGcKiPL8U0qQwsV5CtjaLgiNnWXI8xvTb6MwawxQDat7e1PEDpOX3SiRwhlR7f1NXp/s1600/owl+white+eyes+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW1y87qu3fLUfY-V9kwYDUIivy4PfKTsf02jt-Rh3CAemnIaX8GN6GWwoQ1wB871SKaXkwB0toHcGcKiPL8U0qQwsV5CtjaLgiNnWXI8xvTb6MwawxQDat7e1PEDpOX3SiRwhlR7f1NXp/s320/owl+white+eyes+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501351655301292418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">2 - owlie corneas - black</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(not shown)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">1 - beak - black</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLxeNi4FUDrTG1aYjwXU4K5aFEi5wIgtok6tOXfLlyfhE72AExdIHNxsPPHEHhvCWXfj5D482iDowGkDYBuOelgPKa9Jbkb7-o3T4t5MaWY7RzuQBbcYZh_Yso5IRviP_CZYhb0rtrMdF/s1600/owl+nose+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLxeNi4FUDrTG1aYjwXU4K5aFEi5wIgtok6tOXfLlyfhE72AExdIHNxsPPHEHhvCWXfj5D482iDowGkDYBuOelgPKa9Jbkb7-o3T4t5MaWY7RzuQBbcYZh_Yso5IRviP_CZYhb0rtrMdF/s320/owl+nose+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501351635039924642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">2 - feet - black</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWPLHb_fSLk9zbQL8sTrBAyDAtZfAhemY9On73OCi8_V_qfYj_Yjkft9tPBEHnJvPQJm7JH4aVKZ0h5MbFjMjwJ8x2sAjYLy31pd9xUA5voVZAu5zfLHefxx72CS5_I9OtjD5z2WjkUDE/s1600/owl+feet+before+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWPLHb_fSLk9zbQL8sTrBAyDAtZfAhemY9On73OCi8_V_qfYj_Yjkft9tPBEHnJvPQJm7JH4aVKZ0h5MbFjMjwJ8x2sAjYLy31pd9xUA5voVZAu5zfLHefxx72CS5_I9OtjD5z2WjkUDE/s320/owl+feet+before+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501319119974838898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">1 - heart - orange</span><br /><br /></div><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2cr85ShFbvgm23zamkuemtNBwGmHwC9XthxCnotL72do1KOh7VEGlTC8I6TJElPX3lzD6U-DBFZ3LT560-7xFoRp6tjzd1vASGvW-EnEJhUUGLR0UTyTC3bmNFXIyqprUZFx1cQJosuH/s1600/owl+heart+cut.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2cr85ShFbvgm23zamkuemtNBwGmHwC9XthxCnotL72do1KOh7VEGlTC8I6TJElPX3lzD6U-DBFZ3LT560-7xFoRp6tjzd1vASGvW-EnEJhUUGLR0UTyTC3bmNFXIyqprUZFx1cQJosuH/s320/owl+heart+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318465900206578" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Wow. That's a lot of little pieces! And a lot of little pieces leftover too! If you're a packrat like I am, you end up keeping all those little pieces for weeks until it drives you crazy!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6DTDyGA5gWoq-IQprAjLt3rHAJXrdou5vLx-mem65OvZreJfXldoZ7Trey4fOpMUymdRh8FiDfU8l294CCZrPKE1cGb58Emqp4WXsctAmJ-a2bvVFata7lDpC87K_ilVWkUcir2XIN6N/s1600/Owl+Guts.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6DTDyGA5gWoq-IQprAjLt3rHAJXrdou5vLx-mem65OvZreJfXldoZ7Trey4fOpMUymdRh8FiDfU8l294CCZrPKE1cGb58Emqp4WXsctAmJ-a2bvVFata7lDpC87K_ilVWkUcir2XIN6N/s320/Owl+Guts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501319115914329298" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After cutting out the little pieces, I assembled the front of Arnold's body. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Owlie Parts (Sewing):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">First, I added his little orange breast using a running stitch. I used 4 strands of a matching orange embroidery thread to attach the breast to his little brown body.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Next step, I attached the wings and orange eye foundation in the same fashion.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVrASTmW7WcCi3-Jk8Q_MnqlNL1C73SJxcEy4Vud_67wD4F9dqJ3Sb4uyrrulv4iNlTF6yAxVrxpav2xc1cYV61xSRWvLRuHlhO_hD25_Cv-TKOJj5rrQc_sVpn1Wl24XP2fhCqhHmYyL/s1600/Owl+Body+no+white.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVrASTmW7WcCi3-Jk8Q_MnqlNL1C73SJxcEy4Vud_67wD4F9dqJ3Sb4uyrrulv4iNlTF6yAxVrxpav2xc1cYV61xSRWvLRuHlhO_hD25_Cv-TKOJj5rrQc_sVpn1Wl24XP2fhCqhHmYyL/s320/Owl+Body+no+white.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318069702948626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Now for his eyeballs. I used the normal 4 strands of (white) embroidery thread to attach the whites of his eyes using a running stitch. </span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMvVFId8WoYFSTPwujfM6RkLAgZDm_ZOUWH4LjR7qyUi20lpVpRyir5qskBVjL2HH-il81U9sm7sU3eTGKGNltagSAbdJTPp8W5Mx7lXbfJUIBPAeIPhuBqxz_BB6hGJh5RZrDQqE5ncJ/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMvVFId8WoYFSTPwujfM6RkLAgZDm_ZOUWH4LjR7qyUi20lpVpRyir5qskBVjL2HH-il81U9sm7sU3eTGKGNltagSAbdJTPp8W5Mx7lXbfJUIBPAeIPhuBqxz_BB6hGJh5RZrDQqE5ncJ/s320/IMG_0387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501351644437800674" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Finally, add his little eyeballs with black! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I nearly forgot to stitch his beak and heart on last!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After I put Arnold's front pieces all together, it was time to give him some dimension.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Starting at his right owlie ear, I began attaching Arnold's back to his front using all 6 threads from a matching brown embroidery skein. At his bottom half, I had to remember to add his cute, little legs into the stitching. His legs are just single pieces of black felt.After binding Arnold together everywhere but the top of his head, it was time to add his stuffing.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The hardest part to stuff in the owlie was his little wings. I stuffed his bottom half, just a tiny bit of stuffing at a time. After he was pretty plump in his southern region, I added a little bit of stuffing into his wings. I had to use something (a pencil) to get that stuffing to the end his little wing tips.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After stuffing my owlie, I stitched up his head. Arnold the Owl's body is all done!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfPEaD76kgdeyK8W6Dp7c20Kf2NH04hWySib1LLGth7fUKBL2049XGJD-8TanuoctDsMAqziWmCE622KD4HfFQbqqQxxdRExz6DCF-qMpULKtR8e6P3dsz-YIpfBh08fRz0mdMVLqHOva/s1600/arnold+the+owl.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfPEaD76kgdeyK8W6Dp7c20Kf2NH04hWySib1LLGth7fUKBL2049XGJD-8TanuoctDsMAqziWmCE622KD4HfFQbqqQxxdRExz6DCF-qMpULKtR8e6P3dsz-YIpfBh08fRz0mdMVLqHOva/s320/arnold+the+owl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318051545094098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I was able to successfully add a ring to the top of Arnold's head for adding his hanging string. Yay me! I just used a couple of black embroidery threads and stitched in on there firmly. Finally, I added a string to hang him to the mobile!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Then I finished Arnold's 3 brothers!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I'm pretty sure little Clark likes them since in the picture below, I was told he fell asleep on his belly and rolled over to look at his owlies during the night! I'm sure that was the reason...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ppnIbCOV5CeeJ-QJ8z8Gi9H_H6m7hfISChmtaszbKjq6hggOVRpefTSFANoRwQpEEmD4ButGbgObvcRELas9nDtK-i0Z7NkDAEIst9rl3pbxx3IyDLZB3ymAWEA2Qsok8XoC1v1vK2e1/s1600/owlies+with+baby+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ppnIbCOV5CeeJ-QJ8z8Gi9H_H6m7hfISChmtaszbKjq6hggOVRpefTSFANoRwQpEEmD4ButGbgObvcRELas9nDtK-i0Z7NkDAEIst9rl3pbxx3IyDLZB3ymAWEA2Qsok8XoC1v1vK2e1/s320/owlies+with+baby+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501345624322782098" border="0" /></a>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-725771202700718112010-08-03T17:08:00.000-04:002010-08-03T18:09:16.609-04:00Creepy, Crawly Wreath<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Post started in October 2009</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I promised Christie that I would try to update the craft blog because even though neither of us have been mega-busy at our work (me having been laid off this work, her not having a ton of stuff to work on besides her typology class), we haven’t been motivated to blog. Funny how when you have tons of time, you use it for other things.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">However, I have been a craft maniac. I haven’t been a total craft loser.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I guess my first craft post back will be the Halloween wreath.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Over Labor Day weekend, Mom and I were wandering around Pier 1 when we came upon a really cool Halloween wreath. It was $25. It was super cute, but much too expensive. Mom and I took a picture and moved on.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Here are the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">list of supplies</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> you will need for certain:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- 1 - 12 - 14 inch wreath</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- black spray paint</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- 1 - black feather boa</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- hot glue gun and glue</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">- various creepy crawly plastic creatures</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The first thing we did was spray paint the wreaths black. We invested in straw wreaths for two reasons: 1) Spray paint doesn’t eat through straw and 2) Straw wreaths are much cheaper than styrofoam.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After the wreaths were thoroughly saturated in black paint (they don’t need to be perfectly covered), I wrapped the wreath with the black feather boa (mine was black with silver flecks in it). I attached one end of the boa onto the wreath with hot glue and allowed it to dry (be careful not to burn your fingers like I did!). Then I wrapped it around the wreath. It won’t completely cover it, but it’s fluffy and looks pretty good. Just attach the other end of the boa to the original end of the boa with hot glue.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I flipped the wreath over to the "back" side. I took some white embroidery floss (6 pieces) and hot glued the ends, criss crossing them to make a web. At the intersections, glue the crossings so it will make a stronger connection. Once again, don’t stick your fingers in the glue!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">When the hot glue has dried, attach your creepy plastic creatures onto the wreath in the bald spots. Mom and I bought a big spider and I suspended him under the wreath. Creepy!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I addition to the big creepy spiders, I added some middle spiders and some small spiders here and there. I also added some creepy critters ON to the web.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I have a wreath hanger that goes over my door. If you don’t have a hanger, hammer a nail into the very top middle of your door (I’m talking the top end) and loop a black ribbon over it to suspend the wreath.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">In addition to the wreath, I added some spiders I had left over to "crawl" up the door. Since I live in a rental and who wants the fear of chipping the paint on the door anyway, I used an old Farrah trick and cut up pieces of 3M double sided foam to attach to the spiders/door. When you are ready to remove the spiders, it should come right off the door without peeling any paint. Clever trick, Fe. Mine are arranged as if they are crawling up the door to the wreath and the door handle.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Please note that I am REALLY afraid of spiders. I could hardly touch the middle sized spiders when I put them on the wreath. Yek.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">All in all here are the expenses for the wreath:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Straw wreath $2.49</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Feather boa 40% off of $7.99 at Joann</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Bag of 100 creepy crawly critters $4.99 at Big Lots</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">White embroidery thread free leftovers from other projects</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Hot glue free leftovers from other projects</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">So all in all the wreath (we actually made two - one for each of us) cost about $10. Much less expensive than the less cute one at Pier 1.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5I0ll3SGNAhyphenhyphenu7OqQ65XwXkOKDOW-9mVcS0uxoCQm4oYNUv3UwHokqal4PBi3e4NXQrBgjibLcN9TnuVWpvd9bbuEQuz3SaJTke7-kVXDPci3f4tqpw9bXNothlfhWacveD7qPuOi0uL/s1600/spider+wreath.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5I0ll3SGNAhyphenhyphenu7OqQ65XwXkOKDOW-9mVcS0uxoCQm4oYNUv3UwHokqal4PBi3e4NXQrBgjibLcN9TnuVWpvd9bbuEQuz3SaJTke7-kVXDPci3f4tqpw9bXNothlfhWacveD7qPuOi0uL/s320/spider+wreath.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501308157236658274" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Sorry the picture isn't the greatest! This pic was taken before I got my new camera (that is now lost as of Saturday night).</span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-13564926615380231212010-08-03T15:00:00.002-04:002010-08-03T16:02:26.815-04:00Baby Mobile - Weiner Mobile!<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Super Lesley, a Columbia friend of mine, had a cutie patootie little girl earlier this year named Rosie Eileen. One of Super Lesley's many quirks (many, I say! - just like me!) is her true love of all things Dachshunds. Her and her husband, Don, own three little girl doxies: Lulu, Bird and Sheba.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Before Christmas, when I was doing all my felt creature research, I found a girl on Etsy who makes felt Dachshunds. I knew as soon as I saw them, I knew I had to make one. Or two. Or four.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Four because that's what fits on a baby mobile!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Puppy Body (Cutting):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I began by "borrowing" a picture from the earlier mentioned website to have a pattern to cut out my felt doxies.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-3cF_jfugO3k9bTg0n7vLji-lEH497dGr5xOmKJN7Boma68VwhifIXkfW-yscVujqx2IuuV6UndzvEDkdkdTv0eXPvof-i-Aw0cOxhAXNI6cYXog8B6Q_7g5TFThw9ckoYHBOrDl6AuR/s1600-h/puppy+body+before+cut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-3cF_jfugO3k9bTg0n7vLji-lEH497dGr5xOmKJN7Boma68VwhifIXkfW-yscVujqx2IuuV6UndzvEDkdkdTv0eXPvof-i-Aw0cOxhAXNI6cYXog8B6Q_7g5TFThw9ckoYHBOrDl6AuR/s320/puppy+body+before+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438939099946659682" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I cut two identical doxie bodies in a brown felt.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL1HtD5YfJ00vu_rlvGjhyphenhyphenSazBPKexD8Xx0hX6X7lboKrSoQEza54OIhRO5Kzu1-veDi4T17W67nuG7M6bYZL1O1KcNG2pS56jCAuCANP8BUnYwL1_QZZ7L4S2n_shvSYGAyn5gBBKJGy/s1600-h/puppy+body+with+pattern.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL1HtD5YfJ00vu_rlvGjhyphenhyphenSazBPKexD8Xx0hX6X7lboKrSoQEza54OIhRO5Kzu1-veDi4T17W67nuG7M6bYZL1O1KcNG2pS56jCAuCANP8BUnYwL1_QZZ7L4S2n_shvSYGAyn5gBBKJGy/s320/puppy+body+with+pattern.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438939113588996018" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHC28WzW0aeGy8b8HgkY53s2VB7pLQJx6hcA4HBk1AVwKJq3uUGMKx2BMXSO0Yv0ketgqfgykkN0FBpQbnxnR8wdKA0teuAW73N1L1nQYKRvvIlc7qbv533P7H6pYnX1pMvEVjJebLiCy/s1600-h/puppy+body+cut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHC28WzW0aeGy8b8HgkY53s2VB7pLQJx6hcA4HBk1AVwKJq3uUGMKx2BMXSO0Yv0ketgqfgykkN0FBpQbnxnR8wdKA0teuAW73N1L1nQYKRvvIlc7qbv533P7H6pYnX1pMvEVjJebLiCy/s320/puppy+body+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438939106095816834" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I also cut out two ears in brown and a square piece of light pink for under the ears.</span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdJxGW1vGy2_gHTzaE6m0jw8Ow8b5F1U4ltBHs6hv2h2B4jtRvCCIiaRelpG2hrVHq239mjmlUnBw7gM_6f_Sn1wsi6r4-O4ucDx9WsrfCy3ralK3C4iGhEnRsA94sXmlboW0F1h3eH6o/s1600-h/puppy+ear+before+cut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdJxGW1vGy2_gHTzaE6m0jw8Ow8b5F1U4ltBHs6hv2h2B4jtRvCCIiaRelpG2hrVHq239mjmlUnBw7gM_6f_Sn1wsi6r4-O4ucDx9WsrfCy3ralK3C4iGhEnRsA94sXmlboW0F1h3eH6o/s320/puppy+ear+before+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438939118105826130" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOstR_gJ2SoR9B_maR194p7S9SyslkLArzkW6bRRpWDdoz6bPUqlzCUNdlOOgOn4lIpXwXyr1ugjKA-wY0Bhes1-AWjrxHl4pQ-vb7QCkQ3sxl5wMRzGeO4c2EQm6J6biALHl8qTJ56DR/s1600-h/puppy+ears+with+pattern.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOstR_gJ2SoR9B_maR194p7S9SyslkLArzkW6bRRpWDdoz6bPUqlzCUNdlOOgOn4lIpXwXyr1ugjKA-wY0Bhes1-AWjrxHl4pQ-vb7QCkQ3sxl5wMRzGeO4c2EQm6J6biALHl8qTJ56DR/s320/puppy+ears+with+pattern.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438939125743672178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Later in this post, I will discuss Doxie tails, but for now, here is pic of the puppy's brown body pieces.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif74r396BsR-c4wVxVUsOohyxlAEjwcTDlttPoYRlEk83u2FurZMsbRKeFdTanTlR_ExPx6Tab-oheS-1sRJGGvzrTP-PazLbJ2rFAZXRAcWlM8AY56jGrFJjquOXN-K1AqwR13PGNbcsK/s1600-h/puppy+pieces.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif74r396BsR-c4wVxVUsOohyxlAEjwcTDlttPoYRlEk83u2FurZMsbRKeFdTanTlR_ExPx6Tab-oheS-1sRJGGvzrTP-PazLbJ2rFAZXRAcWlM8AY56jGrFJjquOXN-K1AqwR13PGNbcsK/s320/puppy+pieces.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438939555822293746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Puppy Ears (Sewing):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Using 4 strands from the embroidery thread (same color as the brown felt), I used a running stitch to stitch the brown felt to the pink felt. After knotting the end of the thread and snipping, I trimmed the pink felt closely to the edge of the brown felt.</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetdjIrFKyF87dPjQuEYNNXgXUMe16zZNVmqTdUSRcmGKVQa_-kqcDeBUPb4Jb6Ke1OrD96f30HNTnD5xwqNKdwQqEPNQjR8aglgFQRnZBsvoosuLeO7HfPlVQcn6I2ddN7OK8Qiu2UDAC/s1600-h/weiner+ears.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetdjIrFKyF87dPjQuEYNNXgXUMe16zZNVmqTdUSRcmGKVQa_-kqcDeBUPb4Jb6Ke1OrD96f30HNTnD5xwqNKdwQqEPNQjR8aglgFQRnZBsvoosuLeO7HfPlVQcn6I2ddN7OK8Qiu2UDAC/s320/weiner+ears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434884953097175394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Puppy Eyes (Sewing):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">For the puppy's eyes, I took the puppy body and lightly dotted in the outline of the eye because I'm a much better seamstress when I have a line to follow. Please note in the picture below that I used tracing paper...a luxury us architects keep around the house ;)</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaPbGpR1uXMuCSI5a5HX16Gk4f_F12L9r6PmqVNOpgDtx27qrr12b0duu-9Qe6R1jJUcG5j_Rg2g2jgmeAQq4wv6olWAu9lWiOYCtpyWj2BWKlPPbizpxXajp1WSqT4uFGzFUrKg1jqDt/s1600-h/puppy+eye+drawing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaPbGpR1uXMuCSI5a5HX16Gk4f_F12L9r6PmqVNOpgDtx27qrr12b0duu-9Qe6R1jJUcG5j_Rg2g2jgmeAQq4wv6olWAu9lWiOYCtpyWj2BWKlPPbizpxXajp1WSqT4uFGzFUrKg1jqDt/s320/puppy+eye+drawing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438939539318478610" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oaeDzzZBJHeYczqsxaJ4yihliRILnlH9alYa6gJz3ap3XtIDkz6JO-IfOXkdYodtlDBuByOe6ue1O-N8nf9m8-SoZNGOnInk14iuu9DGgRBBQmJaiBNBXna45UZWxddgja2TJSCLweNb/s1600-h/puppy+eye+line.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oaeDzzZBJHeYczqsxaJ4yihliRILnlH9alYa6gJz3ap3XtIDkz6JO-IfOXkdYodtlDBuByOe6ue1O-N8nf9m8-SoZNGOnInk14iuu9DGgRBBQmJaiBNBXna45UZWxddgja2TJSCLweNb/s320/puppy+eye+line.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438939541752704562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I then took 4 strands of black embroidery thread to make the line of the eye (closed). I used a simple back stitch, following the slight curve of the eye. I ended up doing two rows very close together to simply make the eye show up better. I then took 2 strands of the black thread and sewed on the eyelashes. You can make these as long or short as you wish!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My doxies are all girls, so I went for mid-length eyelashes.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Repeat for the opposite body side of the puppy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Puppy Tail (Cutting):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Let's just pretend that if you are making felt doxies, then you have been around doxies. Therefore, you should know that most doxies have skinny, long tails that curve slightly upward. I didn't use a pattern for my tails and just cut them out based on how the tail looks. It took a few tries for the first tail but once I got it out, the other three were much easier! I didn't do any sewing to the actual tail piece since I used only one thickness of felt.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Puppy Body (Sewing):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">For each puppy, I used pins to hold their cute, tiny bodies together while sewing them. I started around the ear area and worked to the tail then to the underside of the body and back to the tail. Once again, I used a simple running stitch.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Don't forget that when you get to where the tail should go, to add the tail! I forgot once and had to pull and restitch my puppy's behind!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Once I got the back foot stitched, I went ahead and stuffed it with some polyester filling. Otherwise, it would be too hard to get the filling deep down into the foot area as it's pretty tiny. As I stitched more of the puppy, I would add filling to the finished part to keep the filling more evenly spaced. It has a tendency to bunch up in a ball.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgmF7HNn_egc4s25NtGh7XwYSKmdsovRs7EZYbhjJwMA5pP1f1JtZsYzidAQvO-kRWimve7ElwB4YRb6-saYHfm0Cb88o-NXVxaYBImEUSy8JPlCYszaupXmFFr2VQGt23ab_u1guo2nS/s1600-h/weiner+without+ears.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgmF7HNn_egc4s25NtGh7XwYSKmdsovRs7EZYbhjJwMA5pP1f1JtZsYzidAQvO-kRWimve7ElwB4YRb6-saYHfm0Cb88o-NXVxaYBImEUSy8JPlCYszaupXmFFr2VQGt23ab_u1guo2nS/s320/weiner+without+ears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434884963129337170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Puppy Ears (Sewing onto Puppy):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My first suggestion for the ears would be to make sure that they line up perfectly on each side of the head.</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZEWh8oOwys7WQfXjtPDIbOq0P9uaWazTjBLYkb5mKpLVGZENiA_PhanS3E8ODXVYqoAN28BDelxgY9iQ21kUQJHryxBqZy729aFr-IlbW-2dXeF4WBeHIXIothbAeaMjq_WlzBcDCtsY/s1600-h/weiner+with+ear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZEWh8oOwys7WQfXjtPDIbOq0P9uaWazTjBLYkb5mKpLVGZENiA_PhanS3E8ODXVYqoAN28BDelxgY9iQ21kUQJHryxBqZy729aFr-IlbW-2dXeF4WBeHIXIothbAeaMjq_WlzBcDCtsY/s320/weiner+with+ear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434884954047615298" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Starting with one ear and 2 strands of embroidery thread, begin attaching the ear by hiding your knot under the ear. Once again, use a simple running stitch to attach the ear. Do the same for the other side/ear.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Puppy Nose (Sewing):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">For the nose, I used 4 strands of thread and used a stitch similar to a satin stitch. Beginning on one side, using future stitches to hide the knotted end, I basically looped the fabric over the end of the nose/felt and came back through near the original stitch from the backside. Do this several times until you feel you have a likable nose size!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Puppy Bow:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I used a different color 3/8" wide ribbon for each puppy. I simply tied the ribbon around the puppy's neck and trimmed it to my liking.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Adding The Puppies To The Mobile:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Using a tiny jewelry circle, I attempted to attach this to the back of the puppy's back and it just didn't work.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">In the end, I just used all 6 steins of the embroidery thread and sew it through the puppies. I tied a nice knot and then kept the length of the thread to use for the actual hanging part to attach to the mobile. After tying the thread around the mobile, I snipped off the extra bit! Don't want baby reaching up for that!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0BZWENXjH-W0a3iGY5kzaXs0gElnw4-U_VlRubrpsMG9OU4UTGBjzOc5CrenlJzx_zjz_Y8IxA5yGlV-uK55I8Kpr9-1QS9x4PdaAPlLaXY3WzEV0RmX6lUdpXzkSpeg8FbxYOo49mwZ/s1600/puppy+with+hanging+string.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0BZWENXjH-W0a3iGY5kzaXs0gElnw4-U_VlRubrpsMG9OU4UTGBjzOc5CrenlJzx_zjz_Y8IxA5yGlV-uK55I8Kpr9-1QS9x4PdaAPlLaXY3WzEV0RmX6lUdpXzkSpeg8FbxYOo49mwZ/s320/puppy+with+hanging+string.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501269357953498162" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4svhFK5NLvLlGMk3rRrikpNYBV76kVN8NqB9SP1yxwVTDPkHYTW9KTNTBqYu89wLxxu80KWqYWT0VZzcKelqPLjxlvnno9y8owqt2Rvo9WhsQrGQs1xii3KO6ItnCkzReCnAfedZxF0T/s1600/puppy+top+view.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4svhFK5NLvLlGMk3rRrikpNYBV76kVN8NqB9SP1yxwVTDPkHYTW9KTNTBqYu89wLxxu80KWqYWT0VZzcKelqPLjxlvnno9y8owqt2Rvo9WhsQrGQs1xii3KO6ItnCkzReCnAfedZxF0T/s320/puppy+top+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501269370457093314" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFfGuAtJ8PuWv0gxZCsZdWVBpa0xJNNNa1UgmY4FtsTbqntHtH1hHd48wX5_gnOZ9bf6nG5JpCiBaxiEMxFl6l6CRlrDLpIP9a3U5B2MDDVGUo47lt_rtcyFunj1cuhq1dCrhI1-GQ06N/s1600/puppy+installing+string.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFfGuAtJ8PuWv0gxZCsZdWVBpa0xJNNNa1UgmY4FtsTbqntHtH1hHd48wX5_gnOZ9bf6nG5JpCiBaxiEMxFl6l6CRlrDLpIP9a3U5B2MDDVGUo47lt_rtcyFunj1cuhq1dCrhI1-GQ06N/s320/puppy+installing+string.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501269352220896994" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmyjcyisZuEGbrqk2WGWEHasZQed19E8Q-wDDFM4oN2YEYFvNtEufU4q-S6oWls7WPHSYo6Ci29dsl1SfQ9CzcmYTOWhxqjNyTmtZL7L23uKZ4VM_1gDcFJWF8KbjlpfCtj5synnvk6wE/s1600-h/mobile+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmyjcyisZuEGbrqk2WGWEHasZQed19E8Q-wDDFM4oN2YEYFvNtEufU4q-S6oWls7WPHSYo6Ci29dsl1SfQ9CzcmYTOWhxqjNyTmtZL7L23uKZ4VM_1gDcFJWF8KbjlpfCtj5synnvk6wE/s320/mobile+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434884244341049458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Felt Flowers (To Cover Up The Sad Unadorned Music Box):</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Per my mother's suggestion, I checked out a link she sent me earlier this week for felt flowers. I ended up making three of them (purple, orange/yellow and red) with coordinating button middles to put on the music box of the mobile to make it prettier. I'll add some finished pictures but if you feel like making these cute and easy felt flowers, just go to </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.craftleftovers.com/blog/archives/1499">this link</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> and follow the directions!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After making the flowers, I hot glued them to the music box. Woo!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGfgVn6P_TGnWRRW65rg_BrJE3_gcOQ6B-sGD5hKuJA6cBl90xQ36aLTZVqCwqB4Fefyc4k7BJOHMNDS6VEXXMccJo1jX3I-IsK8mOcwjnuTd9gszBgIFXNw2aYEItGb0ul6tCuTi_Orf/s1600-h/flowers+on+mobile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGfgVn6P_TGnWRRW65rg_BrJE3_gcOQ6B-sGD5hKuJA6cBl90xQ36aLTZVqCwqB4Fefyc4k7BJOHMNDS6VEXXMccJo1jX3I-IsK8mOcwjnuTd9gszBgIFXNw2aYEItGb0ul6tCuTi_Orf/s320/flowers+on+mobile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434884225003982034" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">And then I sent those puppies out in the mail!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8witCx22mTbVxUQwL3e_6Ahyphenhyphen1YG5b06XGq9_lGEV0Rtmm4-JFnKTZhSlXvEtVS1cCvzz3FCob-AHKDhdp-tPB9MuCJvjFnYwqEo5Y3CJnM8sEjLXkhJ9OlWm-aGAGKnrz9KHxcSfER6T/s1600-h/mobile+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8witCx22mTbVxUQwL3e_6Ahyphenhyphen1YG5b06XGq9_lGEV0Rtmm4-JFnKTZhSlXvEtVS1cCvzz3FCob-AHKDhdp-tPB9MuCJvjFnYwqEo5Y3CJnM8sEjLXkhJ9OlWm-aGAGKnrz9KHxcSfER6T/s320/mobile+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434884230129482946" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">It looks like Rosie enjoys them :)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrStAK7i8bXlMBNbg2Pa6PqOf3w1uGEIregHEJav4UekbewHi_XNZRnpNpjW4g5_iNnT55nhkrts6zStLmlh3MW5mSCgKNAuQgDiCNBe7KNodg1jkgV24Ns7fkFgmHwC0Pmd1JcLERkQGI/s1600/IMG950045.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrStAK7i8bXlMBNbg2Pa6PqOf3w1uGEIregHEJav4UekbewHi_XNZRnpNpjW4g5_iNnT55nhkrts6zStLmlh3MW5mSCgKNAuQgDiCNBe7KNodg1jkgV24Ns7fkFgmHwC0Pmd1JcLERkQGI/s320/IMG950045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501275176845931522" border="0" /></a>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-22455073546402654372010-08-03T12:54:00.001-04:002010-08-03T15:17:56.012-04:00Dick Van Dyke makes a furniture comeback!<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">This past summer, I bought a chair for $4.98 at Goodwill. When it comes to ratty looking, sturdy pieces of furniture, I’m like the cat lady who lets in any old Tom. Instead of 50 cats and an overflowing kitty litter box (I’m down to one cat, thank you very much), I have an infinite number of places to sit, most of which have needed or will need a facelift. The "Dick Van Dyke" chair, as the Goodwill folks named it, was no exception.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The chair came in a yellow stain with a matching faux yellow leather seat. It was very…monochromatic. But underneath all the jaundice, I could visualize a colorful clothing catch all for my bedroom. My clothes needed a place to call home instead of the floor when I tried on 15 outfits in the morning before finally settling back on the first one I tried on and this chair would be that place.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My first plan of attack was to remove the seat. Be sure to save the screws! I put them in a plastic Ziploc sandwich bag for safekeeping. For some reason, the chair had a massive amount of extra screws where the arms meet the legs. None of them were actually holding anything together so I removed them. What was up with that?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After the screw removal, I had a number of holes that I had to fill. Unfortunately, my wood filler was DRY. No worries. Just add a little water IF you have a water based filler like I did. Not too much water, just enough to turn it back into a soft putty. Then I filled any gouges or holes (useless screw holes!) with the filler and a flat metal putty spatula.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">This is the part where I add that, while taking the chair down to southern MO to show my Mom my wonderful find, I pulled the chair out of the car and knocked off the edge off the top of the veneer. I taped it to the chair at that time so I wouldn’t lose the veneer. When I was doing my putty work, I simply added a small amount of wood glue to the veneer, taped the crap out of it to the chair so it would be secure and fit closely and let it dry. I filled the holes after it was completely dry.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">When the holes have all dried been filled and dried, take your chair either outside or to a well-ventilated room and sand it. I sanded the filled holes down to blend in AND I sanded the entire chair lightly to prep it for primer. I wasn’t about to restain this chair. Great find but not worth the staining effort. It was going to look much better in a nice shade of blue than a nice shade of walnut stain.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I used a spray paint primer on the chair. Outside. I used white. In hindsight, I should have used gray since I’m painting it blue, but the white looks so much more crisp.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGjs1VhGd7qnEtGoVaQk7Y2itRH7xFCTa3UJ9JlEuz-t_KgZb_U-xnp-xd4RuGNxLXLo7YMcjZMR0nxKrb_-nGIJZepV5Ab4EfNCxhvn2MrOGjcytVw_YeOgtcdnjDjiV2DPXYt58xpkB/s1600/Dick+Van+Dyke+chair+white.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGjs1VhGd7qnEtGoVaQk7Y2itRH7xFCTa3UJ9JlEuz-t_KgZb_U-xnp-xd4RuGNxLXLo7YMcjZMR0nxKrb_-nGIJZepV5Ab4EfNCxhvn2MrOGjcytVw_YeOgtcdnjDjiV2DPXYt58xpkB/s320/Dick+Van+Dyke+chair+white.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501238439242639138" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After the spray paint has dried, allow the chair to sit in the middle of your living room taking up space for over a month or so. Just because. That’s what I did. No point actually FINISHING a project.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">In addition to the fine painting cosmetics of the chair, you will need to recover the seat. My seat feels like a piece of hard plywood. Maybe that’s because it is. No matter what I did, short of creating a new seat with some sort of fabric bottom instead of plywood, it will always feel that way. Therefore, to ease the pain in my tailbone when I forget it’s hard and sit down fast, after removing the gross old fabric (only two layers) and a gross old batting, I covered the existing foam with a new quilted polyester high loft batting. You can find it in the "quilting" and/or "batting" aisle at the hobby store. I was going to replace the foam, but it appeared to be in fairly good shape and not too stinky. I used my trusty staple gun to secure the batting to the underside of the existing plywood chair seat.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The fabric I chose is a thin cotton Kona Fabric. I like the Asian influence Kona Fabrics embrace and it really goes well with my bedroom decor and colors. I didn’t feel like using an upholstery weight fabric mostly because of cost but also because I want to feel like I can change the fabric anytime I want. For some reason, I feel limited with upholstery fabric. I simply stapled the fabric onto the plywood like the batting.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">For the actual chair painting, I used Dutch Boy. It’s available at Wal-Mart and comes in these cute little easy pour containers. Plus, it’s fairly inexpensive. I just used an everyday interior latex in a semi-gloss (easily cleanable) for the job. To apply the paint, I used a mini roller for the large parts and a foam brush for the more intricate, hard to reach detailing on the back of the seat (Asian influence?).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">When the paint had COMPLETELY dried (another month in the middle of my living room, of course), I screwed the seat bottom back onto the chair and voila! A perfectly cute and useful new piece of furniture!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I think my total cost ended up running around $25 ($5 for chair, $10 for fabric and let's say $10 for the paint because I can't remember!) Not too bad! (I'll post a better picture soon!)</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWg0H5G9_DbpUcd5dF4qeF7Qjxnru92Jq8jlR7PbCESWk3i48GmWaZbzk_ok3n5oH5Sjs6y3U6ASEMuHV7yw0HLAvGiQHQclUB6i1yDp5auJz3UiRsw-Qj_tKT9mEi5lIvfWy-Jmwxd4V/s1600/1016092014.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWg0H5G9_DbpUcd5dF4qeF7Qjxnru92Jq8jlR7PbCESWk3i48GmWaZbzk_ok3n5oH5Sjs6y3U6ASEMuHV7yw0HLAvGiQHQclUB6i1yDp5auJz3UiRsw-Qj_tKT9mEi5lIvfWy-Jmwxd4V/s320/1016092014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501250832601742258" border="0" /></a>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-75492070367703283202010-07-17T17:00:00.000-04:002010-07-17T17:10:59.408-04:00Gocco Part II: How-to - Family Reunion Napkins<div><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Provided you’ve managed to acquire a Gocco printer and get your hands on the basic supplies -- Gocco flashbulbs (either 2 or 4 per screen, depending on your Gocco printer), blank Gocco screen, Gocco ink (either ink for paper or ink for fabric will work for the napkins), and of course a big stack of blank napkins -- you’re ready for the Gocco magic to begin. The images here are from some commemorative Family Reunion napkins Carrie and I made a couple years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">First off, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Making the Image</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To make your screen you will need a black and white printed image at least slightly smaller than the size of your screen (a good rule of thumb is to leave about ½” margin at all sides to assure proper printing). Consider whether you want your design printed square to the edges of the napkin or at a 45-degree angle. Also keep the crimped napkin edges in mind. It’s a personal preference, I guess, but I prefer to keep my image entirely off the crimped edge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#996633;"><i><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Black and white means black and white. </span></span></i><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When making your image, it’s important to remember there are really no shades of gray with Gocco. A graded dot pattern will give you a fading effect, but you should basically think of your screen like a stencil: either ink comes through, full color, or not at all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Equally important is to realize that you cannot print two different colors directly adjacent to each other (again, like a stencil). Different colors will either need to be separated by at least 1/2" of space (more is better) or printed with two separate screens. (This is possible, but it’s very tricky to get the screens to register exactly the same. For a “simple” project like paper napkins, I don’t think it’s worth the trouble.) So, for instance, for the Family Reunion, we started with this cute color image:</span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="color:#996633;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 206px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494198230222248866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqnszbfOFqD7qPB_GI1xdViFS5XbeLbAOA_2Ip9kFzebA0Pdxegq2jNWpAxwwB2UuXzfKp2PALzjqqFjIx0drJBlEa_EZubGJjCLkcP7ZRFNGFRm9imz5dIaEoncLGI8urBl-A0sQs6mT/s400/family+reunion+napkins+2008.sharp.jpg" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="color:#996633;"></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You'll notice these cute little chickens have several colors (yellow, orange, red, black) touching each other – a big NO for doing a single-screen Gocco print. I brought the image into Photoshop and made some adjustments to get it Gocco-ready. First the hen: I deleted the color from her head and feet, leaving a heavy outline at the edges. This means the head will be left the background color of the napkin, allowing the beak, comb, wattle, and eye to all stand out. Because the rooster has the same color for the head and body, I removed the color from his eye, beak, comb, and wattle (leaving an outline around the edges), as well as his feet. The little chicks mainly needed their eye-color deleted, similar to the rooster. I also gave them a little more definition by “cutting out” a partial outline under their little wings. Finally, I scooted the entire rooster further to the right, so it would be easier to use a different color ink for him than for the chicks. Here’s the resulting image, ready for the next step:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 206px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494198828453851250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-trUez7joh0Pbx0GWB1vtPcc65NG0hQqFvWIP5eNp-5qtOtJT5v3fmgOGcj3jpd9rbnsbbElE88wTfTkoTgtxhePxLOy1nSBb1CFxxjZij6cgvrN4C_-T73mvBAIlIioHTG1MYbXbztc/s400/family+reunion+napkins+2008.sharp.b%2Bw.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="color:#996633;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now, because the Gocco process relies on carbon-based inks to burn the image into (or out of) the screen, take your printed image to the nearest </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">black & white</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Xerox machine and run off a copy or two (one should be enough, but I’m a big believer in back-ups). Please note that it is very important that you use a black & white copier, NOT a color copier, or else you won’t get the carbon ink necessary to cut the screen. It may also be a good idea to make a copy a little bit larger than full-size and one a little bit smaller, so you can be sure you end up with the right size for your napkin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></b></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Making the Screen<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Before you make your screen, decide exactly how you want your image positioned on the napkin. I do this by cutting away the excess paper from the edges and laying the image on the actual napkin. (Here's where you can try out the various sizes you printed.) Now take the napkin and place it on the Gocco printing pad, with the image in its desired location on top. Mark the location of where to place the image. (I use a couple of strips of masking tape for this.) Insert a blank screen and four fresh flashbulbs into the printer lamp. You’re ready to cut your screen – almost. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This next step is more or less important depending on how “old” your photocopy is. If you’ve run it off within the past 30 minutes, you can probably go right ahead and burn your screen. If it’s been sitting around for awhile, though, take out a hair dryer and blow-dry your print (yes, seriously) for about two minutes. Somehow heating up the carbon ink helps in the screen burning process.</span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><img style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; cursor: pointer; " id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752700848172850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_n2pJWXBn66LPyFZ9jVNwVKjrHl_RI3BnNcAbitR1R6EiPY1Ifvdf1rB0fUvUHxCegALS_IZOUHN_W-v5O4GSyn6pgpoDoD34hBNz9CcH7RtW9KBAxqWYwetZvW3MYGdI8Ebb4V4FIQC/s320/dryer+trick.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now reposition your image on the ink pad, put the lamp on top of the printer, and press down until you hear (and see) a flash.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Close your eyes (they probably should have been closed anyway in anticipation of the flash) and pray. Remove the lamp from the top of the Gocco, and lift the lid. If all went well, your paper image should now cling to the underside of the screen, and the image should be "burned" out of the screen. To see if you got a successful burn, carefully peel back a bit of the paper. (Don’t peel it off all the way. You want to leave it “stuck” so that you can use the paper as a guide for where to put the ink.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Inking the Screen<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On to the fun part. If you plan to print in multiple colors, you’ll need some of Gocco’s handy foam ink-blocking stuff. This is like a large foam sticker that you can cut into strips and place between different-colored parts of your image to stop ink from running from one area into another. Make sure you ink the right side of your screen! The cellophane side should be face-up. Pull back the cellophane to expose the screen. Cut foam strips about ¼” wide and stick them in place as necessary, making sure you have a continuous wall between the different areas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="color:#996633;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752939416590754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxxrtEfpho26OvkPTMxg6K2vG-hA9qaIVskb_L88qdzK7wnzKgsZ02ZaBH8RopxYnEcf7yc_flW6Y15cWqYCfrWdBikFKHjlzYZsHLtcz3zTfVKbrm9Ib_ZvKsVrgXvfKVxvU9all8Zq6/s320/print+with+boundary+.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Keep in mind that once you start the inking process there’s really no stopping until every last napkin is printed. This is because the ink will dry out if left in the screen for too long. Also it’s very useful to have a helper for the inking process. It can be done alone (trust me), but it’s faster, and easier to avoid screw-ups, with a second set of hands. If you’re sure you’re ready, take your ink tubes and squeeze a generous amount of ink over the cut out portions of the screen (the black areas of your image). </span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231753074775471490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtAk8Z_cWbHeWBM2H4X9VjmlAUZv_hq5A4ZC-SvrcnGPkdnuyfphV73W9oUYQGGFVfRfCuriaiFZehGO_ac3ofc_Inu1DTg2Om2MiB3ZheaxM18Ze_xeLcf7gaVQfL_cd0U_6DkdFYugY/s320/putting+ink+on+screen.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The ink will eventually spread, but if possible try to keep it as far from your foam separator tape as possible. </span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752707897311474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8R957R86OywOW5ZlXv-p3cGrqaDz_4H5EavfbVzne_1QPHhFimLqtfBBC-vabaUQ1g7oGRr41eTh3zNkN_HvT0r3C-qGwBDV9itb8sf0MbMkLYzjsdbjYYSyJHrPw2l-w6I-_bggpi7s/s320/inked+screen+2.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Printing</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></b></span>When everything has been inked, fold the cellophane back over the screen, insert the screen back into the printer, and carefully peel off the paper. Before you waste ink on your precious (if inexpensive) napkins, it’s always good to do a few “starter” prints on some scrap paper. It usually takes a few goes to get the ink fully flowing to all areas of the image. When you feel like your tests prints are looking satisfactory, bring out the napkins. Now, bleed-through isn’t as much an issue with napkins as with t-shirts, but it remains a possibility. For this reason, I like to keep scraps of thin cardboard (cut-up manila folders are handy) to slip inside the napkin, just under the top layer. Slipping the cardboard in is one of the many little jobs you can have your helper do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The printing process itself is very quick and easy: insert napkin/press/remove napkin. </span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752497068100306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlsl23O_gi0zUqcVLqQxSnS8uaxBuU5nuBXpEpRqjBKOOj-hXLLp16lW37tFwciMTDsDPe9kifCJ1xkWLXhE-jNLrCBrX6GDXjdy0rhacNkE_uONITqTIpw8uEehT41fVJ1VRe4iwkcWg/s320/adjusting+napkin.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231753073186170834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhspFI6UgYxKAD_-xF2RmPIWZmiwH_BTM4kyKA9HC77eR2YQGp32aAunMwVOsEIEw9N2yXpu7bhHpzcMG3cU26v-UYjtFU2L9_gMdZUFprbQXbBxgP2M56deyoj-mxa8OoQ4dAx8sZkrxe/s320/screen+press.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The trickiest thing, in a way, is finding somewhere to put all the napkins until they’re dry. (Don’t want to stack them while the ink is wet.) A very useful tool, then, is a laundry drying rack. These will hold several napkins, and they make your house (apartment, whatever) look very crafty and productive in the meantime. </span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752704105694322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMwaHWHSTCIKCqb3IoDladfvfylto-IJXE5P8qSEZgzAFSVMir23GFTednOQpTYxib0AWr9gcEQ-TD-_17pt80UQfkNqMHzyRZwP6A8Yf7dIOjpMVcDKcKaYGVRqi7ihmJakELXFGv6yE/s320/drying+the+napkins.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Invariably, though, I end up using every horizontal surface available to me as well. </span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752934947682386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JYyRM5g4z3Et91l6lygOseHyoLGLjQMA-cHisjuBz93kzvM5wh4aPaXTgT0sI6h6CIfbPMGnBDeEDsaliIhHOmm6GgOslfpTjkDvN47PlgWbrgEL-OdjqdKb7ms2GP9wzQuN3exk88ii/s320/more+napkins.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">From time to time you’ll notice an area of the image that’s not getting its full color. Simply remove the screen, lift up the cellophane, and reapply ink to the fading areas, then get back to business.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752710061002466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzAdCsoVT0vH-vlRv7JKSEFi8Bva9cV6S_PvaSSSrg5IXuL6N2XE2hrZs4QPDpExJ8btyNi6FYswpT-mBSTp4Dj-xslCZUdzHX3sbiyjlMOZ0c4y7A957T1gKB0HQKMPAG3LV6c_GqhAk/s320/inked+screen.jpg" /></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And there you have it! Unique, personalized napkins for any and every occasion!</span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231752700784454962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZC8ysPFROcKBukIwI_QwFjFG9XhkVScikdKwryEwG3NH6YqwD__3pvQNtRoXc8lU_ITYnsKZLw_RJuMAPpRS8xUxNOoreDP_umEKfQYdaZx9vG-fOzAUEuRMn690L8wO54IAm15M3W9-/s320/drying+rack+napkins.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you think you might want to print your image again in the future (more napkins, t-shirts, whatever), make sure to clean the screen well. Using a rubber scraper or a scrap of cardboard, scrape off as much as the ink as possible. (The thrifty among us will store this in an airtight container for another day. The rest of us will toss it.) Then use simple soap, water, and LOTS of paper towels to remove as much of the rest as possible. (Don’t expect to completely remove all color from the screen – just make sure no ink is left in the cut-out portions.) You don’t want your screen to warp, so be careful not to get the cardboard edges wet. I typically lay the screen on some reliably sturdy scrap paper, and rub gently with a damp, soapy paper towel. You will have to frequently change the paper underneath. Cleaning the screen is the messiest part of the whole process.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you want a more thorough tutorial, with pictures, on how to Gocco, check out </span><a href="http://www.getcrafty.com/blogs.php?user=dilettantecrafter&entry=5305"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As mentioned in the <a href="http://definitelydifferentcraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/gocco-part-i-party-napkins-last-gasp.html">previous post</a>, these little gadgets are becoming increasingly scarce. I know there’s a new home-crafter screen printer out there called the </span><a href="http://whatdoyudu.com/default.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yudu</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, but I haven’t heard a lot about it. From what I can tell, though, the Yudu screen-cutting process is much more complicated and time-consuming than the flash-bulb burning of the Gocco. The scarcity of Gocco products (screens and bulbs especially) may have all of us looking for another way soon enough, but we can always hope another manufacturer resurrects this fun, if only marginally useful, technology.</span></span></span></p><br /><div> </div>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-36511507374537691082010-07-17T11:49:00.013-04:002010-07-17T12:06:27.879-04:00Gocco, Part I: Party Napkins - A Last Gasp for a Dying Technology?<div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Time for a little divergence into near-obsolete technology!</span></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gocco (rhymes with “cocoa”) printers, made in </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Japan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, are essentially a very easy way of making and printing from your own screens. They use flash bulbs to burn any black (carbon-based ink) & white image into a screen which can then be inked and printed onto virtually anything. Pretty cool, maybe, back in 1980. Now that everyone in the world has access to photo-quality inkjet printers, not to mention laser printers, it’s a little hard to know what use to make of Goccos. Yes, an inked print is longer-lasting and possibly more satisfyingly tactile than a standard inkjet print, but is the difference really worth the expense and trouble? To put it another way, what </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">can</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> you do with a Gocco that is </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">truly unique and otherwise impossible?</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Let’s examine the facts.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#996633;"></span></span></span></i></b></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><b><i><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gocco Negatives</span></span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Increasingly harder to find supplies (production appears to have ceased several years ago, and supplies are only available from online sellers (etsy, ebay, etc.))</span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Screens can only be made from carbon-based prints – meaning you have to seek out old-school black&white copiers<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Screen-burning process is incredibly finicky – make sure to have back-up bulbs and screens at the ready<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Screen-burning process is fairly expensive: 4 bulbs and 1 screen (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">minimum, see above item</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) = upwards of $15<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Multi-color prints only possible when colors are separated by at least ½” or so<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><b><i><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gocco Positives</span></span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Incredibly cool and gratifying, when it works<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Multiple, multiple prints from a single screen<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Very fast printing: you’ll be done in no time</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Unique projects (see below) to impress your friends and intimidate your foes<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I bought my Gocco in a triumphant ebay bid several years ago. The printers come in two sizes: the smaller can print an image up to 4”x6” and the larger up to 7”x10”. I knew I wanted the larger model, as my first line of Gocco endeavor was t-shirt printing. For a couple of years my roommate and I went crazy making t-shirts – snagging designs out of books, making our own out of thin air, or abstracting photos into posterized black & white images. The results were quite neat and unique, and we got the technique down pretty well (masking-tape markings for shirt positioning, cardboard inserts to stop the ink bleeding through, testing and re-testing on paper before printing on the precious t-shirt, etc.).</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Inevitably, though, there were a lot of throw-away shirts in the process – probably the biggest downside to t-shirt printing with Gocco. Either not enough ink would come through, or too much ink, or despite your best efforts the design was crooked. Attempting to print a design both on the front and back doubled the risk of disaster. I began to associate a queasy sensation in my stomach with the whole Gocco process and the terror of opening my eyes to see failure. (At least, thanks to H&M, we had a good source of relatively inexpensive shirts.) The t-shirts, at least in the quantities we were making them, also failed to take advantage of one of Gocco's greatest features - the ability to make so many prints from one inking.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A sampling of old </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">used Gocco screens from projects past:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyIYV3Ied7-EqZq_Fu2qv4Ipygrd9tlxH2wth45zkCV9pEZbY2PGif3wjv7PDcq9JMhtd6OvP8lEpGgZpC2gIN9b7GjGPjmGNoQqoBiTz9oKFfAF9_WNjdbepCc6-HHNa9fdOMjmynDxJ/s400/past+gocco+projects.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494575683594049122" border="0" alt="" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer; " /></span></span></p><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A couple of years into Gocco-ing, I diverged into what has become my favorite type of Gocco project. What else, besides clothing, is fun to personalize but impossible to run through an inkjet printer? Party napkins! Now, in my mind, these are the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">perfect</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> project for the otherwise obsolete Gocco printing </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">method. The issue of cost and waste is negligible; IKEA’s fabulous FANTASTIK napkins are four cents or less apiece, so no sweat over the odd screw-up. But aside from cost, I think the napkins are more unique and useful: how many weird little t-shirts do you really need? There are only 52 weekends in a year, and in </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Boston</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> half of those are in sweater season! Besides, the napkins make for great conversation-starters, depending on your design, and it’s more acceptable to personalize. (I don’t know about you, but I haven’t gone around with my name on a t-shirt since about age ten.) And of course the Gocco will let you print as many napkins as you need - tens, hundreds, thousands!!! (Yes, probably thousands, if your arms, and your ink, hold out.)</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sadly, and </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">stupidly, I don't seem to have hung onto samples of all my napkin projects (although, since I still have the screens, I suppose I could always print more). Here, though, are a couple of favorites.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This first one I did for one of my best friends' wedding - not the wedding itself, but a cocktail party the night before. (That meant it didn't have to be too formal.) I was stumped initially as to the</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">design, but she sent me an image of one of the fabrics they were using for the wedding (except they used blue, not red):</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNs0nDSJMYA5HqN9J_p5axe92jhzpyfr39h1orjvpRM41C6n3TMjM3qUMnzWbwyPkb02VroORHAY32kIPcVdZWNS5GCxnZrDXDvfJpRxtx-Hz40f_JJHlDsa-TcscsZY8eWUQAutt6nkA/s400/julieprint+-+red.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494567617536105378" border="0" alt="" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then I looked through their online registry for ideas, and hit on their champagne flutes (still </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=140&f=579">available</a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; font-size: medium; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); ">from Crate & Barrel, if you're interested):</span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJ5uAI9DoqRE7HvXz_oMgSxqX6muJ1GJr93mgVRjeVY1RxRgijrKLwn2hpQA2XYJyxJgPrlZq0eCWehg9AUIxkvPj_w3SSQ-ItAjE9OJ1b_at9sv_QidSqlZBRmRT2Cs60ANXHZEyCqcw/s400/flute.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494568881241536466" border="0" alt="" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 341px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer; " /><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I brought these two images into Illustrator, played around with them for a bit, and came up with this design:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw3fDu9cKfdlXZ6eJvfjZJsrFYCmGgxVJ8Vu4PiYFfjGmTk09eIponnbhS5Fa7g8ZnutqsoJdHLAv1wU-lJl5rshsjNnf0qttDC5RFc0Fuw5aJmZRtxPgwXxRkFecpDIa5eg2q5ToI8pw/s400/napkin2.jpg" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cute, yes? But not how the napkins turned out. Why, you ask? Because light-colored inks just don't show up well enough on dark colored napkins - the ink sinks into the fibers of the napkin and well, the resulting image wasn't as peppy and fun as intended. This is one of my many learned lessons of Gocco-ing. Napkins are cheap, though, so after a wasted afternoon of printing lackluster, faded dark-blue napkins, I woke up the next day and printed the following:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Front side:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494570816696520514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5RDqASf067OcLrTO60y7bbS4WUC2lyZIKF6uCEyKDbzDpcblj8fGfpLE9zOMDiLnhOGNh597Bm3Kt_gC_tqnm4CCoRcOwTlO3dElUvTfuAh2zUI-tBk7rnyaZ_Ox_8HpUNpV38SPPO2p/s400/M&J_front.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 385px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer; " /><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Back side:</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494570902789537810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkYLiabVFeKLxf9sNbE7x8zR9gb639DCW09d-wAhJltSoWW8ilN16kjQwKp8AGAJ71CXsQA0FOCdNf-DMQ52USNw3hA1JHwp76T_OcJ23oFzdAq4TR2UYq1-AQ6y1nBQW5ilO9yhjKR1_/s400/M&J_back.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 386px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And of course the entire thing unfolded:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494576167546575538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FDISi7Al3TrhPMxVIVLy7Dk1_GCN6hoqK1ktVd9luG39CzHLjAV1q6GZJi3f17mVs20KThvq5LjJ7kqsOIjl1cK2UroDw1niJRhgQZvw9phyphenhyphenTtobo1ulijGqnct5fdJZhCd-XaYkon0h/s400/M&J.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; display: block; height: 208px; cursor: pointer; " /><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#996633;"></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">MUCH better contrast, much better result. AND my first-ever two-ink, two-sided design! I was happy, Julie was happy, a good time was had by all, etc., etc..</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color:#996633;"></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:'Gill Sans MT';"><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This next napkin, for a birthday party, is simpler, but to me is just a perfect confluence of all the right ingredients: inspiration, color, design. </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For this one I found a favorite photo:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q-aJ4UTCD0fe5xq47THGk9ObIIsCwT7A2VSM2R1qmKtfPQvgDe0u39U2gIXleBD8enjyDinm-UXI38tYBNagHPGMBW7_PHtKuFeSA-QYseSk4P6Ic0tYu7UCjetdpWgN9DbrHBJkTJro/s400/1987+Hawaii.jpg" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Sunglasses pics are always a plus for this kind of thing as it gets around the problem of weird, ghostly eyes. They also tend to be flattering, so you're not likely to get a "Why did you use THAT picture?!!!" from the honoree.)</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, I brought the image into Photoshop, made it grayscale (you might want to play with the Brightness & Contrast a bit first), and posterized it with the minimum number of levels </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(2)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. I cropped out the part I wanted, then added in some text, courtesy of VH1):</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494574289610762562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikff7FPUYxNy-xGJJekDZkvdknvdcmA5q2VNG8pcDDam4glXKyiChOPJAsMJoXzQuDETwLoWmV2wqXuzoqVVTWYzbIelcJDL2fM4RxmyAXTwCk6pC-KNjt-RHU0X0gI321JASyY-2jibMx/s400/seventies_281x211.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 281px; display: block; height: 211px; cursor: pointer; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And here's the result:</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494565764284977090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxcPusyoMijyFB_VzuW52IrCorGwCDyTgXV5ngZAgJ_yO24odNDJHbvHyB2NNrB6ZaLQtn-iOnGnqCp3P5dP6rh26D4u7FcMasSY99J3l6nuhnOUrEYdO-5WtUOOsAtq6vwvU6Q29FGPI/s400/Luv_the_70s.jpg" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Yeah, it's awesome. You know it. I know it. Definitely my favorite so far.)</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family:Gill Sans MT;color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Stay tuned for some more specifics on how the actual printing is done, in </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gocco, Part II</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082550526117815246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-57560853051079540372010-07-15T16:07:00.039-04:002010-07-16T10:35:59.827-04:00We Are Climbin'....<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#000000;"></span><br /></span></span></span><br /><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">...Jacob's Ladders!!! </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A Jacob's Ladder is an old folk craft/toy that I've seen in the odd craft fair over the years but never paid much attention to -- until recently, that is. Typically a Jacob's Ladder is made up of several panels - traditionally wood - connected by strings or ribbons in such a way that each panel can flip backwards or forwards. It's actually kind of hard to explain how it works in words - in fact, it's hard to understand even if you're holding one in hand and watching it move. Here is a somewhat pedantic </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqU2BX1bIc4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">video</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> that nevertheless does a pretty good job of showing you what the basic toy does. (I especially appreciate the decorative wrinkled bedsheet in the background.) The more interesting </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A63DJPmv9Vs"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ladders</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, however, have pictures on both sides of the panels, so that the image switches from one picture to another as it flips back and forth.</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"Very interesting. So what?" you say?</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Well, they only became interesting to me last fall when I needed to make a book for my Typography class. The emphasis of the assignment was on the content of the book rather than the binding process, but we were encouraged to find a creative way to bind it, nonetheless. Because there were two different topics for the book - typography journal on the one hand, process documentation on the other - I initially thought of making an accordion-folded book, with process on one side and the journal on the other. Then I came across a mention of Jacob's Ladders in a book-binding book I have at home. Immediately I was intrigued. Fortunately in this digital age not only can you find videos of odd Australian men demonstrating how to </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">play with</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Jacob's Ladders, you can also find </span><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-350741330012453606#"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">videos</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> of scrapbook-obsessed women demonstrating how to </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">make</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Jacob's Ladders.</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Whereas the panels in wooden Jacob's Ladders, as in the first video above, are typically single blocks of wood with ribbon attached at the ends, each panel of the scrapbook-style Ladders is made up of two boards (typically mattboard or somesuch) sandwiched around the ribbons. (This makes more sense if you watch the video.) </span></span></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Unfortunately, the online tutorials I found only show how to assemble a Jacob's Ladder with blank panels -- onto which you apply photos after the fact. This might work OK for a scrapbook-y look, but I knew that for the look I wanted (perfect) I would have to mount my "pages" first, so that I could get them precisely even with the edges of my chipboard panels. A little trial and error was therefore necessary to figure out how to orient each board as I glued up my Ladder. (I loosely taped some trial pieces together until I got the hang of it.) </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The other major problem I had with the typical Jacob's Ladder was the obtrusive ribbon right in the center of the panel. True, I could design my pages around it, but there had to be a better way. That's when I noticed that the ladder in the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7583672022739105091"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">second video linked above</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> has not three, but four ribbons holding it together. In effect, the center ribbon has been split down the middle and pushed to either side, next to the outer ribbons. The physical phenomenon is the same, but the center of the Ladder is left unencumbered. Brilliant!</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The ribbon on that ladder was also much narrower than the others. How narrow a ribbon could I use, I wondered, and still have a functional ladder? Did it have to be ribbon at all? I went to the hardware store and looked at various options - fishing line, hemp, etc. - and finally settled on a decent-weight string, about 1/8" diameter: sufficiently flexible, yet strong, and not too stretchy. To accommodate the increased depth of the string (as opposed to a flatter ribbon), I used an Olfa knife to cut shallow little grooves in the back of each panel. This time-consuming step not only allowed the panels to adhere better to each other, but also provided additional surface area to allow for better adherence of the string.</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then it was just a matter of gluing/flipping the string/gluing/etc.. I allowed plenty of drying time in between gluing each panel, using heavy books to weight it down while it dried. It came out ... not </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">perfect</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, but, you know, acceptable. I was happy with the overall graphic style of the book, and there was a sufficient number of pages that it was very long (tall?) and made a nice clacky sound as it moved along. The extreme length also makes it more fun to play with - you can get it going both directions at once.</span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gill Sans MT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';" ><span style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here are some videos of the result. (No, that isn't me in the videos.) Sorry there are no process photos - it was difficult enough to get this finished by the due date without stopping to take pictures. If you have a quick eye you can also get a look at some of the projects I made for Typography class. Enjoy!</span></span></span><br /><object width="400" height="224" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/208843054518" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/208843054518" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="224"></embed></object><object width="400" height="224" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/208820404518" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/208820404518" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="224"></embed></object><object width="400" height="224" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/208878899518" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/208878899518" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="224"></embed></object>Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082550526117815246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-76655791780504045112010-04-25T22:03:00.008-04:002010-04-25T22:24:16.873-04:00Fun Birdhouses!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9qZE7TLduvtFPPuTN8Az_uzk5qkZYwgVIPmUQicn0JlAvaoP57ncwJO9x_6FiNRynNRvVDgc34Ahd37lDBcrVu3m9jEC-Hw8uAYFoaIjT1W9Ro2rc4ouVgMm-eFHWcn0zG1c8Eme1qRp/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9qZE7TLduvtFPPuTN8Az_uzk5qkZYwgVIPmUQicn0JlAvaoP57ncwJO9x_6FiNRynNRvVDgc34Ahd37lDBcrVu3m9jEC-Hw8uAYFoaIjT1W9Ro2rc4ouVgMm-eFHWcn0zG1c8Eme1qRp/s320/IMG_0605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464264223539588082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxja9s2PKFSvU6UXdjS6XrtQkfZlFIxmxUwQvRUl0G5D5cpphryvqaxw6cK7g3ab3ZTMVLlISZhjKIgKx56sGCgffU2prjOcNYwvTCsrg1oFGSVu_NnGPd9piBhItBIKJfRXsjXtl3MNSI/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxja9s2PKFSvU6UXdjS6XrtQkfZlFIxmxUwQvRUl0G5D5cpphryvqaxw6cK7g3ab3ZTMVLlISZhjKIgKx56sGCgffU2prjOcNYwvTCsrg1oFGSVu_NnGPd9piBhItBIKJfRXsjXtl3MNSI/s320/IMG_0604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464265592759683970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3SSAgk4lWimfLRuemThZxxp9QMwNDBXWRVNNt5Slds8jEXoBR0c6lopH8AycaIgN-MIgm_yuW7FTS9sDxS_aA9VP7OWMft6eeigXwI5ZfLDBVKA3FmoB3tCsN23OwXSiH8aYeTKDT6_b/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3SSAgk4lWimfLRuemThZxxp9QMwNDBXWRVNNt5Slds8jEXoBR0c6lopH8AycaIgN-MIgm_yuW7FTS9sDxS_aA9VP7OWMft6eeigXwI5ZfLDBVKA3FmoB3tCsN23OwXSiH8aYeTKDT6_b/s320/IMG_0606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464264226947154834" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Mom and I have been hitting all the local flea markets and junk stores for general JUNK. We got this idea for me to hang little bird houses on my screened in porch wall for color and funky fun! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Of course, you could buy a finished bird house at any craft store for $15 or more...you could also get an unfinished bird house for $5 or so. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">OR, you could be a junk store junkie and find some old and dirty bird houses at the flea market and junk stores for 50 cents - $1.50 and paint them yourself! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">That's what I did!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I don't have any before pictures because I completely forgot like a silly goose. At least I remembered to take AFTER pictures!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Thus far, I have finished 3 of them and am working on a 4th! I'll post pictures after I'm done!</span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59le1bUjGbhnsJlMEPm7ZO25NovSLZhuA-p4z9K4yEBsJ2oF1cYl2uGaU1HvrU4WoQukAOW6etQwhmsKq50k4sQ-brpGJdPF1GlQrwX_c6q3eS4l44Btb3zUa1Q3V3wYFcp4JmrqEEeTV/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVUaAuqgPKZvJMjfQJZbVV-dntKB57V-ICql_16CFxin0UC41PbCKNekfDIJK4raeKt_G1ory8PVvF9EwoQkl-0bhI17YhYIkLJWH9kMqrlHVWp27KdHz9IDKsu_YCQGlzRG9O1hhcGjq/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVUaAuqgPKZvJMjfQJZbVV-dntKB57V-ICql_16CFxin0UC41PbCKNekfDIJK4raeKt_G1ory8PVvF9EwoQkl-0bhI17YhYIkLJWH9kMqrlHVWp27KdHz9IDKsu_YCQGlzRG9O1hhcGjq/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464263393597896386" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_rQ7fhMrtpkZ9w9LaZ_wQd3KRo7MA6aJv8P7UsDaEHnA6xj8hWQflWCdXXKrDDqwYQuhNZYGmfjs0ZP9zWut2L7aXOcqtzUnbS-bD29iTx5_Krep-SRv-k9ZgIeqARD0F5fU_gRL_Rud/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_rQ7fhMrtpkZ9w9LaZ_wQd3KRo7MA6aJv8P7UsDaEHnA6xj8hWQflWCdXXKrDDqwYQuhNZYGmfjs0ZP9zWut2L7aXOcqtzUnbS-bD29iTx5_Krep-SRv-k9ZgIeqARD0F5fU_gRL_Rud/s320/IMG_0588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464263407843020866" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1atyJ4wZr4X-uK_HUZouaJ5Jumtue6VxaV1bpt3XecyyB1n-EHok8EVsj_IZj6ueQzTeSYRSDjbk3DPNGsMrxIfifFoqKF5RhLoHXgu0Zqj3q94gMVgKJBKvBCEmGEaS0c2y3y4F36Bkg/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1atyJ4wZr4X-uK_HUZouaJ5Jumtue6VxaV1bpt3XecyyB1n-EHok8EVsj_IZj6ueQzTeSYRSDjbk3DPNGsMrxIfifFoqKF5RhLoHXgu0Zqj3q94gMVgKJBKvBCEmGEaS0c2y3y4F36Bkg/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464263398830624290" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhp0xx01ab8SOuIPxQv1CvSSJdiHwYBGj9DULPE2G3NmyNql5r84OfQAy1SeIsh-_TzCQoA0Zf8xd3yqv2Y39HkNRvjw6XFPmnh85twuWdBFJWeOHZEWYPEXAZbZhOkqIuywLW6UW1yBG/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhp0xx01ab8SOuIPxQv1CvSSJdiHwYBGj9DULPE2G3NmyNql5r84OfQAy1SeIsh-_TzCQoA0Zf8xd3yqv2Y39HkNRvjw6XFPmnh85twuWdBFJWeOHZEWYPEXAZbZhOkqIuywLW6UW1yBG/s320/IMG_0589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464263411784194418" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"></span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-82447311234336066062010-02-05T16:44:00.005-05:002010-02-05T16:54:13.130-05:00It's a hoot! - Felt Camera Case<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I needed to figure out a way to protect my brand new camera! The reason for the new camera was because the old camera, after 5 years of pure torture, finally bit the dust after it made contact with a concrete floor. Therefore, it became obvious that the need to keep the camera well padded and safe were high on my list of camera priorities!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I decided to make a prototype camera case because I couldn’t decide what to make but I wanted to do something with my hands. I chose some leftover wool felt from Colleen’s purse. I cut out one single piece of felt and simply folded it over. I rounded off the two sides of the flap that would cover the opening, where the closure snap would go to give it a softer look.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Then, I made a HORRIBLE decision to add the embellishments after I stitched the bag closed. Like I said: prototype.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I used a blanket stitch to close the sides of the bag. If you are like me and have never done a blanket stitch, I would suggest practicing a couple times. It’s easy but a little confusing at first. </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://primrosedesign.blogspot.com/2006/11/stitch-school-blanket-stitch.html">Go here for instructions on how to do a blanket stitch</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">. I used all 6 threads of the embroidery skein for the stitch. In a contrasting color to make it pretty.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After completing the blanket stitch, I added the snaps to the bag. This is where I discovered that I had cut the bag a little too small. Once again: prototype.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I made a little owl that Jono named Oliver to put on the front. Overall, he was put together with felt and fabric glue with only 2 threads of embroidery thread in a running stitch on his cute, tiny wings.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1Ax_QfWpBHUbbCKv6K3olWeGex2CASDpWZsmYe_M7GY1T2zhgxRoNejR6x-GCMCtXVTGTvxP8062YRh04dG5PPnNnZcesWXI4eXLBLF57bJU_KmA5NL1CH-lnjBnxImTMxZAVBtr8aoJ/s1600-h/oliver+hoot+owl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1Ax_QfWpBHUbbCKv6K3olWeGex2CASDpWZsmYe_M7GY1T2zhgxRoNejR6x-GCMCtXVTGTvxP8062YRh04dG5PPnNnZcesWXI4eXLBLF57bJU_KmA5NL1CH-lnjBnxImTMxZAVBtr8aoJ/s320/oliver+hoot+owl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434879229124389474" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I also made a couple of felt flowers held together with fabric glue and a contrasting button as the center of the flower.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I added the flowers and the owl with fabric glue. Then, this is where my stupidity kicked in, I decided to add some flower lines using a contrasting back stitch.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Anyway, here’s some pics of the finished project. I will be redoing it in a few weeks to make it a little bigger and to add my flower and owl embellishments BEFORE I stitch the sides together.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF5TrOWpsH0bblScbWZpt6biLl0G46aTulYSjbcw1hkk7UAXb2iohtvsMEYxqN2CMwwnWDaOBmFvhwJVCQPENiYo_Cm2TRb-4QGw0IzJAHxmwlJRGsT3hAI3NZ4Ar7QqZljEQjFHaeygP/s1600-h/camera+case+front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF5TrOWpsH0bblScbWZpt6biLl0G46aTulYSjbcw1hkk7UAXb2iohtvsMEYxqN2CMwwnWDaOBmFvhwJVCQPENiYo_Cm2TRb-4QGw0IzJAHxmwlJRGsT3hAI3NZ4Ar7QqZljEQjFHaeygP/s320/camera+case+front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434879221225828594" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kgOMvthLir4-3ZE7VGN_prEcBGOcMFY7pzNGB1ijSyhvXmDk-6BN7k9uzLPRNPRJhmzD90mGEQZFYtMLwUqkGFkNHrK0TonkxlRyz6bAom8fX7IQoJGNfUNpuFF7UX8rnsYF02RAmHDQ/s1600-h/camera+case+back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kgOMvthLir4-3ZE7VGN_prEcBGOcMFY7pzNGB1ijSyhvXmDk-6BN7k9uzLPRNPRJhmzD90mGEQZFYtMLwUqkGFkNHrK0TonkxlRyz6bAom8fX7IQoJGNfUNpuFF7UX8rnsYF02RAmHDQ/s320/camera+case+back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434879226558199138" border="0" /></a>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-16922317844173748312010-02-04T18:27:00.007-05:002010-02-04T19:01:56.197-05:00Carrie & Martha - Streusel Cupcakes<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">These cupcakes are exactly what Martha says to introduce them: "all the features of a traditional coffee cake - tender cake base, crumbly streusel top, and simple milk-and-sugar glaze."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">They came out pretty yummy. I believe I over baked them just a tiny bit due to the fact that it is a bit difficult to tell by their tops if they are done. Be sure to use a cake tester to see if they are done in the middle.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">They are incredibly crumbly, which means messy. Very messy. Keep your dustbuster handy while eating them!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My big suggestion on these cupcakes is for the streusel topping. Although it was my first attempt at making these cupcakes and I haven't perfected them yet, I would suggest adding a little bit of extra butter to the streusel topping, possibly 1 or 2 Tbs. I felt that even after some crazy usage of my pastry blender (first time use!) and some finger squishing of the topping, I blended it properly with a correct amount of crumbliness. However, even after coming out of the oven, the topping simply looked like brown sugar clumps hanging out on top of the cupcakes. The butter seemed to have very little baking effect and didn't brown the brown sugar to my liking. I believe that it would help to make the streusel less crumbly and more baked to add a little more butter.</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Streusel Cupcakes</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br /><br />Ingredients:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour</li><li>1/2 tsp. baking soda</li><li>1 1/4 tsp. baking powder</li><li>1/2 tsp. coarse salt</li><li>1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature</li><li>1 cup sugar</li><li>3 large eggs</li><li>1 1/2 tsp. pure vanille extract</li><li>1 1/4 cups sour cream</li><li>Streusel Topping (recipe follows)</li><li>Milk Glaze (recipe follows)</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Directions:</span><ol style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder,and salt.<br /></li><li>With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scarping down sides of bowl as needed. Stir in vanilla by hand. Add flour mixture and sour cream; stir until just combined.</li><li>Divide batter evenly among lined cups. Sprinkle half the topping over cupcakes, gently pressing it into the batter. Sprinkle evenly with remaining topping. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes.</li><li>To finish, place cupcakes on a wire rack set over a baking sheet; drizzle evenly with milk glaze. Glazed cupcakes can be stored up to 3 days at room temperature in airtight containers.</li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Streusel Topping</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">(makes enough for 24 cupcakes)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Ingredients:</span><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour</li><li>3/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar</li><li>2 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon</li><li>3/4 tsp. coarse salt</li><li>1/2 cup plus 2 tsp. (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature<br /></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Whisk together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt; cut in the utter using a pastry blender, your fingertips, or two table knives until combined but still crumbly. Regrigerate30 minutes before using.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br /><br />Milk Glaze</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Ingredients:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted</li><li>3 Tbs. milk</li></ul><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Whisk together ingredients until smooth. Use immediately.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKEai2dMccialFQzySDRKYmd0GODZNTk78c0UsDDAeOrBd7ITA1iXGX6g6dS4t9P3ts8m10nkIPCOKxuHnrrKouOXu02SsLHZfU8nDbLHPTKZD4LrdCSe8gIX0B9-isXWCqYKnuCii_W0/s1600-h/steusel+muffins+with+sugar+topping.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKEai2dMccialFQzySDRKYmd0GODZNTk78c0UsDDAeOrBd7ITA1iXGX6g6dS4t9P3ts8m10nkIPCOKxuHnrrKouOXu02SsLHZfU8nDbLHPTKZD4LrdCSe8gIX0B9-isXWCqYKnuCii_W0/s320/steusel+muffins+with+sugar+topping.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434541133507944498" border="0" /></a>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-55911834813112697902010-02-04T18:07:00.005-05:002010-02-05T16:59:59.638-05:00Carrie & Martha - Blueberries-and-Cream Cupcakes<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Dear Martha Stewart,</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I love your new Cupcake Cookbook. I have to admit though that I noticed that only half of the recipes were actual cupcake recipes. The other half were muffins. That’s okay. I forgive you for leading one astray with the misleading name.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">In an effort to bake more, I have decided to attempt a Julie & Julia move and begin to bake each of your recipes from both the Cupcake Cookbook and the Cookie Cookbook. I began by making the Blueberry & Cream Muffins.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I followed the recipe to a "t" minus the part where I was on the phone with my mother and I completely forgot to add the 2 tsp. of vanilla to the recipe. Not so good. Also, after I realized that the homemade cream would only last about 3 hours, I chose to just buy some canned whipped cream. I know that’s blasphemy, but I wouldn’t be serving the muffins within three hours.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">So, even with the vanilla missing, the muffins turned out quite good. I would think that with the addition of the vanilla, they would even be fabulous. My fresh blueberries were incredibly delicious and fresh, even for being the dead of winter.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Overall, I would give this recipe a big fat </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">A</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> and will definitely make it again, this time with the homemade whipped cream. Mostly because I would be making it as a breakfast muffin and serve it immediately after baking it. The blueberries were so amazing all warm and yummy right out of the oven.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Thanks for being so great, Martha.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Sincerely,</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Carrie Ann</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Blueberries-and-Cream Cupcakes</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Ingredients:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour</li><li>1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted</li><li>1 Tbs. baking powder</li><li>1/2 tsp. salt</li><li>1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature</li><li>1 3/4 cups sugar</li><li>4 large eggs, room temperature</li><li>2 tsp. pure vanilla extract</li><li>1 1/4 cups milk, room temperature</li><li>2 cups fresh blueberries, plus more for garnish</li><li>Whipped Cream (recipe add end of post)</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Directions:</span><br /><ol style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard or mini muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together both flours, baking powder, and salt.</li><li>With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each in incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla.</li><li>Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until combined after each. Fold in blueberries by hand.</li><li>Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until pale golden, about 25 minutes for standard and 15 for mini. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored up to 3 days at room temperature in airtight containers.</li><li>To finish, dollop cupcakes with whipped cream, and garnish with berries. Serve immediately.</li></ol><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Sorry, I completely forgot to take pictures of these!</span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-89320893925274953362009-11-27T22:33:00.004-05:002009-11-27T22:54:53.560-05:00Holiday Greenery<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">As I mentioned in an earlier post, Mom and I made use of our country setting and ran around the farm and dirt roads acquiring various bits of greenery for our holiday decorating. We gathered pine cones, pine cones on pine branches with pine needles, dried red sumac, strange hot pink berries, thorny berries (those hurt when I cut them) and cedar branches.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Mom wanted to decorate her front porch with her old sled and bench. We used the greenery we found along with an oversized ornament (two for $1.99 on sale at Shay's in West Plains) and a couple little ones. We also used some of her existing outdoor decor (birds on the branch and wall vase) for some extra umph.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">So with a little imagination, some gloves and time, we were able to transform her porch into a winter wonderland. Oh. And some canned snow.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKuxIc6ygl10usmPv6r-3ZCOEPoWJGShcHMQdmHrUTqGyytQn1nImCHQHR4bsxPiEAQEqwWy4SVR59u7kMCMNhTSDNjcfQduYuQ6M78RcTL6kiQzuHr_7DDJc9QtUhL4tivANDiMxju1m/s1600/foliage+vase.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKuxIc6ygl10usmPv6r-3ZCOEPoWJGShcHMQdmHrUTqGyytQn1nImCHQHR4bsxPiEAQEqwWy4SVR59u7kMCMNhTSDNjcfQduYuQ6M78RcTL6kiQzuHr_7DDJc9QtUhL4tivANDiMxju1m/s400/foliage+vase.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408996956884627202" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKmWDDRMzw3mJ9wgcWU-VewNCpq_jzL1TAkTO055fWcfLCJmpPGMR0-6vyYcrHqvtSBNQFHyeL3FL0uqm5RIST1OASNkN6QshSw_jzEwAxdp-r7GTnDPH3Qsw5OH4eJWSEtnlE1zr2-0W/s1600/008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKmWDDRMzw3mJ9wgcWU-VewNCpq_jzL1TAkTO055fWcfLCJmpPGMR0-6vyYcrHqvtSBNQFHyeL3FL0uqm5RIST1OASNkN6QshSw_jzEwAxdp-r7GTnDPH3Qsw5OH4eJWSEtnlE1zr2-0W/s400/008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408996950742057106" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu662or85NQuLbKnjI7UnfR4hTDfdjUVYkznGO0tNAnWSdVPXVLTsovfBKE6YqgVfntiMC_YYhbmIadIdl297_s_nsoF4lqM-X7KSouhjgO_CuRpSsDaoEbmJG48gP-RP7EOtsJuOxb2DI/s1600/Christmas+Sled.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu662or85NQuLbKnjI7UnfR4hTDfdjUVYkznGO0tNAnWSdVPXVLTsovfBKE6YqgVfntiMC_YYhbmIadIdl297_s_nsoF4lqM-X7KSouhjgO_CuRpSsDaoEbmJG48gP-RP7EOtsJuOxb2DI/s400/Christmas+Sled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408996944622166162" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">More pics to come!</span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-38795761846499695112009-11-27T22:14:00.008-05:002009-11-27T22:56:46.290-05:00Holiday Candle Arrangment<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Mom and I went to a bunch of holiday open houses the first day of deer season. Apparently around here, it's the thing to do!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">We saw a TON of great ideas. Us being us, we took some pictures of our favorites and decided to make some of them.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Today's project for Mom was the candle arrangement we saw at one of the floral shops. I'm not sure how much it cost in the store, but considering that it can be used year after year, it's final price to DIY is much cheaper! And so easy!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ux5p8jq2Ct5sHOAsmZFekRQd1rARlztTLmr43BFeozsZENEc_ej3leDSt2OroKeq0ZDa1D4pA4HmwxEc_pqS5ri0hYA_NoCop61GPkeNSsUTzMQj4MP89fFm55iTKe6nK8ArwUu9KXi8/s1600/downsized_1114091156.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ux5p8jq2Ct5sHOAsmZFekRQd1rARlztTLmr43BFeozsZENEc_ej3leDSt2OroKeq0ZDa1D4pA4HmwxEc_pqS5ri0hYA_NoCop61GPkeNSsUTzMQj4MP89fFm55iTKe6nK8ArwUu9KXi8/s400/downsized_1114091156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408991173148944722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">Supplies:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">box or tray</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">candles in various sizes</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">candlesticks</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">greenery</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Mom didn't have a tray on hand and around here, without any kind of Hobby Lobby or Michael's, when you do find a tray for sale the price is somewhat outrageous. We found a shiny green box for $2.99 at Alco. The actual box was too deep but the lid was perfect. We chose green to offset the color of the red candles. You can buy an unfinished wood tray from a craft store and paint or decoupage it. </span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLLiOsE-Yk-djeYD-tbStbz-DRWznT3XRgBWEHms_ibF0K-MwINgLREgcnU-ESdCBU1UIStfnlp5XdK-797jgFHaCOaJFQkaq-KfzHT5eW-FuwcDtCWAydN3lUFbnA3YuxdS1gVzpu9RY/s1600/wood+tray.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLLiOsE-Yk-djeYD-tbStbz-DRWznT3XRgBWEHms_ibF0K-MwINgLREgcnU-ESdCBU1UIStfnlp5XdK-797jgFHaCOaJFQkaq-KfzHT5eW-FuwcDtCWAydN3lUFbnA3YuxdS1gVzpu9RY/s400/wood+tray.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408990841386401826" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Some of you may even have Holiday trays around with Santas or what not on them! Use those!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Mom hit both Dollar Tree (everything is $1!) and Walmart for her candles. All in all, she spent no more than $2 for each of them, even the bigger ones! She used candle holders she already had for the tapered candles. She arranged these on the tray to her liking.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Next, we took advantage at our setting in the country and took a drive around the farm and along the back roads. We found a good collection of dried, yet still red, sumac and pine sprigs we snipped straight from the trees. Mom then took some fun sprigs and sumac and arranged them around the candles on the tray.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Finally, for additional color and bling, she added some of the <a href="http://definitelydifferentcraft.blogspot.com/2009/11/glittered-pine-cones.html">glittered pine cones</a> I had decorated earlier in the evening.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">We think the final look is much more exciting than the version in the store!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_rA-K7WZrCCI7A_s6R4ViSaiAAt7I7ZLueBX4ML3XDfcPqZ72iItHhgmFR0zinRzzBzpm2D6LAlB1pIyKo571pszV0hgQwsPItpKqi4tfJ9du_7yPHy8nheFFSXiZqBjh04Swfs9rDmP/s1600/005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_rA-K7WZrCCI7A_s6R4ViSaiAAt7I7ZLueBX4ML3XDfcPqZ72iItHhgmFR0zinRzzBzpm2D6LAlB1pIyKo571pszV0hgQwsPItpKqi4tfJ9du_7yPHy8nheFFSXiZqBjh04Swfs9rDmP/s400/005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408990849482838578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAKZvuOytXnwtbYQxWgnbPRL_tJQsUYGBjzu3D9oxBiKDSpE9VA59k_RUFLRabMCW-jOuN6GXqBdh_gQpIsf-WUEQZ8yk7pvddgfOEuAMUNQpJWT1NRE3DMx1cyVr3N0gpxALhm42_50y/s1600/004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAKZvuOytXnwtbYQxWgnbPRL_tJQsUYGBjzu3D9oxBiKDSpE9VA59k_RUFLRabMCW-jOuN6GXqBdh_gQpIsf-WUEQZ8yk7pvddgfOEuAMUNQpJWT1NRE3DMx1cyVr3N0gpxALhm42_50y/s400/004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408990845580713842" border="0" /></a>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-64163114156664833492009-11-27T21:47:00.007-05:002009-11-28T13:45:17.098-05:00Glittered Pine Cones<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Today's project is incredibly messy and time-consuming but well worth the effort. Plus, it's very easy!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Supply List:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">pine cones</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">glue (Aleene's Tacky Glue is always my top choice)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">paint brush</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">glitter</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Optional Supplies:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">bowl</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">paper plates</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Directions:</span><ol style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>Brush the tips of a pine cone with a thin layer of glue.</li><li>Dip or sprinkle glitter onto pinecone (sprinkle over a bowl to collect glitter to be put back into container after use).</li><li>Allow to dry (paper plates work best).<br /></li></ol><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHoFetvSwOlsmNUaUf2Kfg3QcW_xfyDcgzv5vK6bbHT0ojh8P8oeEFjWnCCb6iAmnbDN_rE8SsTBko_xPS2vwrHRkrM5pxUlaokr7Y1x6ugJQRKTEOpkrNQlRJIZwaq37A14uok0l_-1O/s1600/002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHoFetvSwOlsmNUaUf2Kfg3QcW_xfyDcgzv5vK6bbHT0ojh8P8oeEFjWnCCb6iAmnbDN_rE8SsTBko_xPS2vwrHRkrM5pxUlaokr7Y1x6ugJQRKTEOpkrNQlRJIZwaq37A14uok0l_-1O/s400/002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408984868753085538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">See? Easy! Even Randy (hands shown in pictures) joined in the glitter fun! Now we have a ton of blingy, glittery pine cones for decoration! Woo!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VA1l4DSEUz7qAK14Gv-OWmr1djj6uhpSaKvQqAca1Di7hA7ubMZ1GQ0RHB5lxbTlq-uhSvF4R3pVXBfumQRhTEDlK7vn85b2WuH8_3DwhLmppRjV2M8z1NFxWz-fjUgETSeAy5YpXPUM/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VA1l4DSEUz7qAK14Gv-OWmr1djj6uhpSaKvQqAca1Di7hA7ubMZ1GQ0RHB5lxbTlq-uhSvF4R3pVXBfumQRhTEDlK7vn85b2WuH8_3DwhLmppRjV2M8z1NFxWz-fjUgETSeAy5YpXPUM/s400/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409226653733228802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivikYJCyqj6ezJTm9G6s8swOYTY7urbGfzvb5lEMIxHUxrlIfBc9LDN5yKMFzczJy8so4BkH1FaeUY5LK45hvZrSOZo26iVbGET-yhFu_IEv_04u7yuk6OqETAmii2R0EnUysasW1cslZN/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivikYJCyqj6ezJTm9G6s8swOYTY7urbGfzvb5lEMIxHUxrlIfBc9LDN5yKMFzczJy8so4BkH1FaeUY5LK45hvZrSOZo26iVbGET-yhFu_IEv_04u7yuk6OqETAmii2R0EnUysasW1cslZN/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409226660384388242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21TEnddYFrTwMRcpoXb8r0hcwohNacJLpFeEpaak6WA_y1H75RJCpMiehASwa7gDkrOImJVAXE01JHsWcJhyphenhyphen87ZGP37ow9gY6JKGu4mAhLK61L3LQw8gY9a9hauqJgxLZe5Ip5rNvDPm9/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21TEnddYFrTwMRcpoXb8r0hcwohNacJLpFeEpaak6WA_y1H75RJCpMiehASwa7gDkrOImJVAXE01JHsWcJhyphenhyphen87ZGP37ow9gY6JKGu4mAhLK61L3LQw8gY9a9hauqJgxLZe5Ip5rNvDPm9/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409226675021784322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsSsuairB8MA2XsnSPfRBxwCs_recxqzj3jWfOfKa4v5lrz5HiwtgxYJwWL5Jpyp_HmFCCgsOe1-X1vTC4p_a29E8ZaM0t4IL7Ocm1e_K7vOmZOlKgPn9oW779v0RG4gJjsnabxhk-BVe/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsSsuairB8MA2XsnSPfRBxwCs_recxqzj3jWfOfKa4v5lrz5HiwtgxYJwWL5Jpyp_HmFCCgsOe1-X1vTC4p_a29E8ZaM0t4IL7Ocm1e_K7vOmZOlKgPn9oW779v0RG4gJjsnabxhk-BVe/s400/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409226668138133298" border="0" /></a>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-46605805261293796022009-11-26T18:59:00.021-05:002009-11-28T13:36:35.256-05:00Holiday Wreaths<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Hi!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I don't know if you're excited about a craft post, but I certainly am!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I have been spending some time at my mother's house for the last two weeks. Of course, what do Mom and I DO when we get together? We craft!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Since it is so close to the winter holidays (i.e. Christmas) we've been working on various </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Christmas projects. We've been working on Christmas presents and decorations. This pos</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">t will be all about wreath making!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I actually stole my idea from an Etsy project that I fell in love with a few weeks ago. I have an adoration for owls and decided to look around for an idea incorporating owls and wreaths. I found this wreath by </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RedMarionette">Red Marionette</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> (for $55 - 75). Cute!<br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAnLSM-y9eWCXh6nlmKDPdev6rEQ2zuZQxessnxrzUX8pAb7HuDGINtYJy2EglELgYIf_YEucpC6UUe57amG2ynmAFKl25zHaV22-CjQqhyphenhyphen7cEaSlkF4KQ5JjtxVbSQ161GxfaENQLY5D/s1600/owl+wreath.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAnLSM-y9eWCXh6nlmKDPdev6rEQ2zuZQxessnxrzUX8pAb7HuDGINtYJy2EglELgYIf_YEucpC6UUe57amG2ynmAFKl25zHaV22-CjQqhyphenhyphen7cEaSlkF4KQ5JjtxVbSQ161GxfaENQLY5D/s400/owl+wreath.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408603779378181682" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Here is a list of what you will need for this project:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">12 - 14" styrofoam (rounded) wreath</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">yarn</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">hot glue gun</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">hot glue</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">felt</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">embroidery thread</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">embroidery needle</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">popsicle sticks</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Optional Items:</span><br />white pom poms<br />garland or ribbon</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">foam snowflakes<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;">holiday decor (bells, Poinsettia sprays, Holidays leaves, berry sprigs, flat ornaments such as snowflakes)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">First, unroll a whole bunch of yarn by winding it around your palm.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifRq4QpyAcUsipPCiTT2Ud4UNbYdj7UWfIqsMMSMRvIwtkYkW4BtD74SxubSxfE3tJhLIi9wihTr-mhQzWynskwk_Yf30qSUl7SsY9JLOABM5ooBMU_MfRpi2KIsYaz-Oyh6EiPf3O9if/s1600/001+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifRq4QpyAcUsipPCiTT2Ud4UNbYdj7UWfIqsMMSMRvIwtkYkW4BtD74SxubSxfE3tJhLIi9wihTr-mhQzWynskwk_Yf30qSUl7SsY9JLOABM5ooBMU_MfRpi2KIsYaz-Oyh6EiPf3O9if/s400/001+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408580039008222770" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Take one end of the unrolled yarn and attach it to either the back or top of your styrofoam wreath using a dab of hot glue. To keep from burning my fingers, I held each side of the yarn and pulled it down onto the hot glue, holding in it place until it was dry. Then I snipped off the extra.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Wrap the yarn tightly around the wreath until you run out of yarn and lightly glue the end.<br /></span><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIKFtNuhavHKiw0mtW-ebEtIcRK3sLm2yALrCB1b1d-J-QnjUOObIoMUPFEgoCEtuSn-_iowxT1QxYUrToJxcTWMnWkNOtjgfupN1X-DkI1D7VH7uP4Uic-WvVPoNPPauY3d66D0YZbTY/s1600/007+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIKFtNuhavHKiw0mtW-ebEtIcRK3sLm2yALrCB1b1d-J-QnjUOObIoMUPFEgoCEtuSn-_iowxT1QxYUrToJxcTWMnWkNOtjgfupN1X-DkI1D7VH7uP4Uic-WvVPoNPPauY3d66D0YZbTY/s400/007+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408590488822168274" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Yl_HV75HtD7pUDtZq7CJ_ATCNoACwsHqdAsJnzDExv4-Gnf0ikXDZB2uBNbUN8jNJ8vukk0BhjPymcG1k01rSlrkT4T1yx74NUfvqzW2UqrWVzQHaAb4WodvN_CmqgSKhyphenhyphen21y0tv5D3y/s1600/009+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Yl_HV75HtD7pUDtZq7CJ_ATCNoACwsHqdAsJnzDExv4-Gnf0ikXDZB2uBNbUN8jNJ8vukk0BhjPymcG1k01rSlrkT4T1yx74NUfvqzW2UqrWVzQHaAb4WodvN_CmqgSKhyphenhyphen21y0tv5D3y/s400/009+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408580564055278786" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFHgntvedM5uE6paD0Ssl3Ge6fVZrv1_MlpYLOVrMVZKlRNXo99JBGEW00S2kO9bkc1bxBivTVTJjnB3T7yX0pe1s79PhpgGhXvEowz3twoQS0882LbH6lAzK1AW4F3DJwk6uAV4GJBxu/s1600/005+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFHgntvedM5uE6paD0Ssl3Ge6fVZrv1_MlpYLOVrMVZKlRNXo99JBGEW00S2kO9bkc1bxBivTVTJjnB3T7yX0pe1s79PhpgGhXvEowz3twoQS0882LbH6lAzK1AW4F3DJwk6uAV4GJBxu/s400/005+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408580053670740258" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2khQ91x-QhaK7k-1oZYb4oAyb18OK3nzu4GpCM0QOFE8oqKXWZfuk2SRxosy412t4hypUnTfjdeAM9uEudhXsd_4QL1nJ-G3OAqDbEbnigB4KggCU91yUWa2zMsiPUUYl9Q7wXR7cBPt/s1600/008+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2khQ91x-QhaK7k-1oZYb4oAyb18OK3nzu4GpCM0QOFE8oqKXWZfuk2SRxosy412t4hypUnTfjdeAM9uEudhXsd_4QL1nJ-G3OAqDbEbnigB4KggCU91yUWa2zMsiPUUYl9Q7wXR7cBPt/s400/008+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408590493173651170" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb0E-Wp0eEpeOxWQ-M3McbaeuvgBduGjpcnnidr4IeJ7Z050orjMBP8IXD36jH5uVv_cG49ehbrhwWxJi6gl5L_3frK11v525WfDfjjlbolkMkEb8IjUcbOkHT_vnj8FKAG-gWKdZ7hRt/s1600/003+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb0E-Wp0eEpeOxWQ-M3McbaeuvgBduGjpcnnidr4IeJ7Z050orjMBP8IXD36jH5uVv_cG49ehbrhwWxJi6gl5L_3frK11v525WfDfjjlbolkMkEb8IjUcbOkHT_vnj8FKAG-gWKdZ7hRt/s400/003+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408580049181128450" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Repeat until the wreath is completely covered. It took me about 2 hours!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I'm sorry I don't have pictures of the finished yarn wrapped wreath!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The next step is to make your cute little felt guys. I chose the owls, as I stated above. I made a template so my owls would be similar in size (and symmetrical).<br /></span><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUJ8BinMyGlefrProcBk55N_a8Ds6hlgXRzmZ2ZuRX5wqoXeEbU2Pm4BLRo7cabNJsCYvBoGnLIdCUUyAv4_ht2IP8At1k4N3P6XuJuF7OgWS9HwoyyDOppG5eCtgib_IZovj98TPvDn6/s1600/029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUJ8BinMyGlefrProcBk55N_a8Ds6hlgXRzmZ2ZuRX5wqoXeEbU2Pm4BLRo7cabNJsCYvBoGnLIdCUUyAv4_ht2IP8At1k4N3P6XuJuF7OgWS9HwoyyDOppG5eCtgib_IZovj98TPvDn6/s400/029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408581367933108946" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">After I cut out the cute little felt owls, I sewed them together by hand using the embroidery thread (matching closely to the felt color) and needle.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I then took some fuzzy yarn and wrapped it around the bottom of the wreath where the owls would sit to make it look like snow.<br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSd1BmjrFQHkcITCo1wjFd6BlYM_w4EmB5jAMvYc3vBIm5060EZcT4YFlzlAz84Y5_YxETwsh9u88ZA6LOuD_sevLY2-AN1V2kMBWO1i7SF9jxhN2wSgZp8VVCxlkAwv8fxGLO4pndEiW/s1600/010+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSd1BmjrFQHkcITCo1wjFd6BlYM_w4EmB5jAMvYc3vBIm5060EZcT4YFlzlAz84Y5_YxETwsh9u88ZA6LOuD_sevLY2-AN1V2kMBWO1i7SF9jxhN2wSgZp8VVCxlkAwv8fxGLO4pndEiW/s400/010+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408580566941426050" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Before mounting the owls to the wreath, I wrapped silver garland around the wreath to add a little bling to it.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My next step was to secure a piece of the popsicle stick to the back of each owl by sewing them on. I then mounted the owls onto the wreath using hot glue.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvQ7hrLEINZJJZj_nb3mPhnoYN3_0yJUKXoj1KM0cwAoK4dJVq49GLiZHhwth4DVPetuJkd5gD0Sm3wIVQTxHnAl7smv9YKZVW7fxe5la9nS1Rsru9GXZYXCTb72FLXQzXVUKIDp4jNr7/s1600/001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvQ7hrLEINZJJZj_nb3mPhnoYN3_0yJUKXoj1KM0cwAoK4dJVq49GLiZHhwth4DVPetuJkd5gD0Sm3wIVQTxHnAl7smv9YKZVW7fxe5la9nS1Rsru9GXZYXCTb72FLXQzXVUKIDp4jNr7/s400/001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408986771814882034" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I then arranged various faux holiday flowers and stuff around the wreath until I looked like I wanted. I also added white pom poms around the owls feet to look like snowballs. I went a little crazy on mine. Oops. I also added some foam snowflakes for fun.<br /></span><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w1DP_lpqfNyR1Qbh5szK-3hYO-_vaRZzYSctFyKy_eAYXdfIujFRVOVH3q_NDI1d_qzcJuloIMAcI9Y6VeQCp-vgjtecAsUYSYAUhK_b3wLdHyAhQNpP9s2npN9NfE9ANUt3aP8eeF04/s1600/027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w1DP_lpqfNyR1Qbh5szK-3hYO-_vaRZzYSctFyKy_eAYXdfIujFRVOVH3q_NDI1d_qzcJuloIMAcI9Y6VeQCp-vgjtecAsUYSYAUhK_b3wLdHyAhQNpP9s2npN9NfE9ANUt3aP8eeF04/s400/027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408581097315776498" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">As you can see from the pictures, Mom made two wreaths with blue yarn and snowmen. She made a mini wreath (with a shorter snowman) and a larger wreath.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItfXlu5SuAGcD1uMJz-ab7XdQH9JO1gRJQD8W3Ry1ig437-UFCNgKsM99893WWf4tJ9T00duoP8NH02NbgX9xITdT_JOXJwfQ17U_oai8qRfVFtaaJqty3ZrN7EQkxpEABp3kz4h5VRZD/s1600/023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItfXlu5SuAGcD1uMJz-ab7XdQH9JO1gRJQD8W3Ry1ig437-UFCNgKsM99893WWf4tJ9T00duoP8NH02NbgX9xITdT_JOXJwfQ17U_oai8qRfVFtaaJqty3ZrN7EQkxpEABp3kz4h5VRZD/s400/023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408581080611234450" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87Dp7WieAMPJfWs-pZ11R03JsfkI7cDpItYEHFgqaUUSdB2KgvzV4286VXtW9X4tGwFKQ2zTYMR591YpDPbyj2lWpukg7BUkolwgGKPUHkQdYmiYrh83HQ1aZrfqRC6X3Jl4r-MBswVoO/s1600/025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87Dp7WieAMPJfWs-pZ11R03JsfkI7cDpItYEHFgqaUUSdB2KgvzV4286VXtW9X4tGwFKQ2zTYMR591YpDPbyj2lWpukg7BUkolwgGKPUHkQdYmiYrh83HQ1aZrfqRC6X3Jl4r-MBswVoO/s400/025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408581088610136866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaGdMO94LHIG_xUT8X4mMrrk-66CIhzVocY8xfxtd6kYrAJhwnEd3I_pRAPcjO1aAM-lQkysS7KWhGTdKjfZxjvk_op0awsCpkraXIp405hyphenhypheno9dMAl3uxRtbpohpDzO0rRAjmrOYL_s9L/s1600/snowman+wreath.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaGdMO94LHIG_xUT8X4mMrrk-66CIhzVocY8xfxtd6kYrAJhwnEd3I_pRAPcjO1aAM-lQkysS7KWhGTdKjfZxjvk_op0awsCpkraXIp405hyphenhypheno9dMAl3uxRtbpohpDzO0rRAjmrOYL_s9L/s400/snowman+wreath.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408986108684498034" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">We also made a wreath for Mema using red, gold and green. We made a red felt dove with a gold and red beaded tail and glittery feather wing.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8lJ9ghBe5Ly0nsYfcx6AlAeYVTPTFaPcgKcmNLPf2Y9qFXGZ23wk_j2zsn6mAPnBkK9QFXEgaANj6stLgOuYCkcPn76ZPiG8L1r-HOzo5COT0SwvCwrfMgJ4l-Ap7a7UzLXJeun6Uo8D/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8lJ9ghBe5Ly0nsYfcx6AlAeYVTPTFaPcgKcmNLPf2Y9qFXGZ23wk_j2zsn6mAPnBkK9QFXEgaANj6stLgOuYCkcPn76ZPiG8L1r-HOzo5COT0SwvCwrfMgJ4l-Ap7a7UzLXJeun6Uo8D/s400/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409224815585150322" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Oh. And my all green owl is Bernard. The green owl with purple wings is Gertrude. I can't wait to welcome them to my front door!<br /></span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-8814674786733362922009-07-10T15:47:00.032-04:002009-07-14T21:10:05.667-04:00"Freedom Fries" (and burgers)<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); ">Well, there's been much about which to post, but little time in which to do it lately. Let's start with something relatively easy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">A few weeks ago, the remarkable Bakerella astounded me once again with yet another beautifully-photographed, unbearably-cute </span><a href="http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html"><span style="color:#993399;">new take on the cupcake</span></a><span style="color:#996633;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj7rclLvXGzSa-tPj728qtpnmkTiVEBtbSX6dwlyzwAtYHAr4duqFV8y0dm8YtXCekGzfBYsf-3ipqcjPbxE7HPCXYuvzGUtbkPGcDCD0dj0Do1VLb9wqi5QdEqHrnKgWLJ3thCNgfe9P/s400/3623396491_8f16e7f1ed_o.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358461671422737874" /><div><span style="color:#996633;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">(If you didn't follow the link, here's a quick rundown: yellow cupcakes split in half for the "buns", brownies cut into circles for the "patties", and skinny sugar cookies sprinkled with sugar for the "fries".) Incredible, yes? I mean, the cupcakeburger on its own is cute, but pair it with sugar-cookie fries and put it in a handmade paper tray, and it becomes irresistable. Literally irresistable - as in, I was still in remission from my last insane cake-decorating project (post to follow), but still couldn't keep myself from making these for our little 4th of July party.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">Here's the result:</span></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FYGBZK3_lMFNUHGOQB9MhlWmk7LG10RJYkBW3BNPEtCHIVj9tFzAT3MNL06hRkwSO88s_-b-UQN2fKBT9F0uhZiKaDjJ-jKAhrFW3y3LtLg5Cx8rUl8gVjQYyN65EYhvw1YUbEQw9Ba-/s400/20090704_Cupcakes.DSC00509_crop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358469635688999746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px; " /><div><span style="color:#996633;">I'll readily admit this isn't nearly as perfectly-cute as Bakerella's version, but they (I made 8) were cute enough to bring smiles to my nieces' faces which, after all, was the object all along. Depending on how you define "easy", this is a pretty easy project - not too messy, not too technically demanding. The issue isn't <em>ease</em>, however; it's <em>time</em>. Because cute as they are, these cupcakeburgers are a complete, time-consuming pain to make. Consider the steps involved:</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">1) Make the cupcakes.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">2) Make the chocolate cake (or brownies).</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">3) Make the cookies.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">4) Print the little trays.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">5) Cut out the little trays.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">6) Assemble the little trays. </span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">7) Design the stupid little french fry holders.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">8) Print the stupid little french fry holders.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">9) Cut out the stupid little french fry holders.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">10) Assemble the stupid little french fry holders.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">11) Tint 3 colors of frosting.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">12) AND, assemble everything (which of course includes splitting the cupcakes, cutting out chocolate cake-rounds, etc.).</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">Hey! It's a 12-step process! </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;"><em>Anyway</em>, at least that 12th step is pretty gratifying, as you're left with amazingly cute & sugary little fast-food meals.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">I chose to make my life slightly more difficult (but make the project more rewarding) by making everything - cupcakes, chocolate cake, cookies - vegan so that my little 4-y-o niece could for once fully participate in the fun dessert. Not that at 4 my niece is already making life-choices about her eating habits. She's just still (hopefully) growing out of several food allergies that prevent her from having any dairy or egg products. Meat, she's OK with, but unfortunately most cupcake recipes don't involve ground beef (not even for cupcakeburgers!), so it's hard to take advantage of this.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">Fortunately - both for my niece and in this case for myself - the world we live in is fairly replete with nondairy options. For the "patties" I made what has become one of my niece's dessert stand-bys: Crazy Cake, a quick-and-easy chocolate cake recipe with none of the offending allergens:</span></div><div><br /></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;">Crazy Cake*</span></b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><b><br /></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>Mix together:</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>1 1/2 cups flour</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>1 cup sugar</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>1 tsp. salt</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>1 tsp. baking soda</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>3 Tab. cocoa powder</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>Add:</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>2 tsp. white vinegar</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>1 tsp. vanilla</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>5 Tab. oil</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>1 cup cold water</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>Mix well and pour into <b>greased</b> pan (8" or 9" - or whatever works for what you're doing).</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#663366;"><i>Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.</i></span></div><div><div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">I made this in a 9x13 baking pan so it wouldn't come out too thick and, when it had cooled, inverted it onto a cutting board and used one of my nifty Ateco </span><a href="https://www.atecousa.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=5407&Category_Code=csets&Product_Count=34"><span style="color:#993399;">circle cutters</span></a><span style="color:#996633;"> to make my cupcakeburger patties. (Helpful tip: Don't forget to grease the pan. I somehow neglected to do this the first time around and had to scrape the entire cake into the garbage and start over. Argh.) I ended up splitting each "patty" to make it thinner - otherwise they were too thick relative to the "buns".</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">For the "buns" I used a <a href="http://www.cherrybrookkitchen.com/"><span style="color:#993399;">Cherrybrook Kitchen</span></a> yellow cake mix that I picked up at Whole Foods. The cupcakes came out more like muffins than cupcakes in my opinion - both in appearance and in sweetness - but that's a minor issue, I guess. </span><span style="color:#996633;">I tinted a Pillsbury vanilla frosting - which contains no dairy products (though you should always read the label just in case) - for my ketchup, mustard, and lettuce (along with a <strong>LOT </strong>of red food coloring for the ketchup). And finally, I googled "vegan sugar cookies" and came up with a plethora of recipe options for my "fries". (I went with <a href="http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-recipes/desserts/holiday-sugar-cookies.htm"><span style="color:#993399;">this one</span></a> because it only involved one obscure ingredient - vegan maragine - whereas others also involved tofu or soymilk or somesuch. (OK, I guess they all also involve egg replacer, but I have that on-hand anyway, so I don't consider it obscure.))</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;">Bakerella very kindly posted a <a href="http://www.bakelove.com/bakerella_fathers_day.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">pdf</span></a> with templates for the tray, french fry holder, and liner paper. (I skipped the personalized liner paper since I was unable to find vellum.) Of course, her little faux fast food meal was made in honor of Father's Day, whereas mine was for Independence Day. Thus, I did a quickie 4th of July design on the blank french fry holder template that she helpfully provides.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;">Finally, I couldn't resist putting little American flag toothpicks into the burgers. Since I had none of these on hand, and couldn't think of a nearby store that was likely to sell them, I did a Google image search for the US flag, scaled it to about 3/4" high, made a horizontally-flipped version of it, and printed as many would fit on a sheet of 8 1/2"x11" paper - cut them out with an Olfa knife and used double-sided tape to wrap them around plain toothpicks. The extra step of making the flag-picks sounds like a pain, but it went pretty quickly (in comparison to, say, making the food trays) and added a really cute touch.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;">And there you have it - Fourth of July Burgers and Freedom Fries for the sweet-tooths (sweet-teeth?) among us. Don't worry, Father's Day and Independence Day may be behind us, but it's not too late to make these for Labor Day or any other summer get-togethers you have coming up. Just be prepared to spend some time, or find a helper to make all the paper products!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;">Oh, and, belatedly...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJirfxKikT9PjQyBX458JOIeGtHGHJEObbObRC_i3Mjxvz61WFz4s30G12NMb0V9eo9qvDqr1woCojbzyafkc4ozJGGvfeln1N6V_-93-UM2Q9UMenmw7sC-IvCmROx8daftJTwhVOrDi/s400/4TH+OF+JULY.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358485924220796178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;">*My recipe, copied from the original in my Mom's cookbook which was given to her by a former neighbor, spells it "Crazy Kake". OK then, but why not go ahead and make it "Krazy Kake" and at least be consistent? Though that reminds me of the old "Kleen Kar" carwash next to my old elementary school, which even as a first grader used to drive me crazy. (Or did it drive me krazy?)</span></div></div></div></div>Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082550526117815246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-21311602970775177452009-05-17T20:31:00.022-04:002009-05-25T20:11:05.412-04:00Summer BBQ Party<span style="color:#996633;">Sorry, this will have to be a picture-less post, but at least you'll get lots of links!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;">So, my boyfriend is an architecture professor at MIT, and his students had their final reviews a couple of weeks ago. Because their project was in Palermo, I got to know them all a bit when we all went over for the class field trip in January. I was therefore more excited than usual about having an end-of-the year party.</span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#996633;">Main Dish</span><br /></em></strong><span style="color:#996633;">Typically when he's hosted parties for his students, Mike will just order a bunch of Chinese or Thai take-out, but this year I suggested something a little different. Although he has no desire to actually <em>live</em> there again, Mike is fairly proud of being a native Texan, and in particular is a huge fan - and promoter - of Texas barbecue. So I suggested we order up some real Texas BBQ from one of his favorite Austin (or outer-Austin) places, the <a href="http://www.saltlickbbq.com/">Salt Lick</a>. We've done this a couple times before; they ship the meat frozen in a styrofoam box, and it arrives usually still frozen or very cold. Give it a day or so to defrost, and either heat it in the oven or on a charcoal grill. Because the weather has finally gotten spring-like, we opted for the grill (the extra flavor is definitely worth the extra trouble). We ordered two racks of ribs, a brisket, and sausage. One of the fantastic things about Salt Lick BBQ is the sauce - it's somewhat Asian-inspired (ok, a slight departure from the traditional Texas formula, but tasty), and has a nice but unusual kick to it.</span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;">But of course you can't <em>only</em> serve meat at a party, so while we left the main course to the Salt Lick, Christie got to take control of the rest of the menu......and went a <em>little bit</em> overboard - not so much in terms of the quantity of <em>food</em>, but in regards to the quantity of work involved.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;">First off, we needed a non-meat main dish for the non-carnivores among us, so I made up and froze several veggie enchiladas. I got into making enchiladas when I bought a <em>Cook's Illustrated</em> the other week - an entire issue devoted to make-ahead food, including a recipe for chicken enchiladas. This inspired me to check out vegetarian-friendly options, and led me to this <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=521853">recipe</a> for "Two Cheese Enchiladas" which in addition to the aforementioned cheeses include pinto beans, corn, and cilantro. I made the recipe pretty much according to directions, except substituting <em>Cook's Illustrated's</em> enchilada sauce (sorry no link - you have to subscribe to their webpage), and freezing according to <em>CI</em>'s directions. It's an amazing system in that you cook the enchiladas directly from the freezer - no defrosting required (aside from the sauce) - and they turn out amazingly well. </span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#996633;">Salads</span><br /></em></strong><span style="color:#996633;">So now we had a main course for both the vegetarians and the carnivores, now for some sides! First something starchy, this fabulous potato salad recipe from the <em>My Recipes</em> site: <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1182876">Potato Salad with Artichokes and Asparagus</a>*. I've made this salad before with great success. This time, sadly, I had limited success - mainly because I underboiled the potatoes and stupidly didn't notice until I had mixed them up with the vegetables and dressing. Another issue was that I used spicy brown mustard instead of the coarse-grain mustard the recipe calls for. You wouldn't think this would be a big deal, but the dressing lacked the kick it normally has. This was a disappointment, but I could live with it. What I could not live with was undercooked-potato salad. I tried microwaving to remedy the problem, but this just seemed to make the vegetables blander, paler, and still (in the case of the potatoes) underdone. I ultimately decided to pour the whole thing into a baking pan and roast it in the oven just before dinnertime - about half an hour at 400, and then another hour at 200 (we had to turn the oven temp down so we could keep the brisket warm while the ribs were on the grill). This seemed to solve the problem, but I wouldn't say it was one of those great discoveries like penicillin or Reese's cups or something. Next time, I will <em>check the potatoes</em> (by taste, not just pricking them with a fork) before I mix up the salad - and preferably before I pour out the boiling water.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;">The second salad came out perfectly, as always. This is a fabulous <em>Southern Living</em> recipe that goes really well with barbecue or hamburgers or just about anything: <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1611787">Toasted Pecan and Broccoli Salad</a>**. I have never served this salad without receiving rave reviews. It's simply delicious. A couple of notes, though. First, the recipe calls for only 1/3 cup of cranberries. I start with at least double that, and add more until I get a nice balance, visually. The other thing is to make extra dressing. I've doubled it in the past and had a lot leftover. This time I made an extra half recipe, and used most of it. I guess it's a matter of taste, but I don't like a dry salad. (Now that I've actually written this out, it occurs to me that perhaps the reason I always get rave reviews on this salad is because I double the tastiest ingredient and use lots of extra dressing. I guess that would yield rave reviews for just about any salad.)</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;">I chose the recipe for salad number three to compliment the enchiladas, knowing it would also be a nice match for barbecue. I got this recipe from <em>epicurious</em>: <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cucumber-and-Chayote-Slaw-352369">Cucumber and Chayote Slaw</a>. I first made this a few weeks back for Cinco de Mayo (paired with enchiladas, along with rice and beans). It's incredibly refreshing and tasty. To thin slices of cucumber and chayote, you add diced pineapple (in fact, I don't know why they don't call it "Cucumber, Chayote, and Pineapple Slaw", because the pineapple is just as important), and toss everything with a slightly spicy dressing. One nice thing about this recipe for my purposes is that it needs to sit for 8 hours or overnight - one less thing to do on party-day. </span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"><em><strong>Bread</strong></em></span><br /><span style="color:#996633;">Finally for the "meal" portion of the party, we needed a bread. And what better bread to have with barbecue than cornbread? OK, some places in Texas just give you several slices of white sandwich bread, but what works in Lockhart, TX doesn't necessarily go over as well in Cambridge, MA. The last time we did barbecue I just made up a Jiffy cornbread mix, but I didn't think it had a great flavor. This time I wanted to make something "from scratch". I found this <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Golden-Sweet-Cornbread/Detail.aspx">Golden Sweet Cornbread</a> recipe at All Recipes.com, and poured the batter into mini muffin tins. It was a very easy recipe, but the quest for the perfect cornbread recipe continues. I just didn't think the flavor was all it could have been - certainly not as good as what I've had at barbecue joints.</span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#996633;">Dessert</span><br /></em></strong><span style="color:#996633;">If I had stopped at making the above, party-day would have been busy, but evenly paced. But once I start thinking about cooking, I have a hard time stopping myself. For one thing, we needed a dessert, and mid-May seemed to me a perfect time to bring back <a href="http://definitelydifferentcraft.blogspot.com/2008/07/fourth-of-july-pie.html">Strawberry Rhubarb Pie</a>. I'll take just about any excuse to make this pie, it's so delicious, especially right out of the oven. Because we had about a dozen people coming I obviously had to make two pies. I briefly toyed with making a different second pie (leaning towards <a href="http://definitelydifferentcraft.blogspot.com/2008/09/say-goodbye-to-summer-with-this-simple.html">Key Lime</a>), but we decided things were complicated enough as is. I've graduated to a better pie crust than the method I posted about last summer - Julia Child's Pâte Brisée. I don't really know why I said I "graduated" to this recipe because in fact it's very simple. It just feels more grown up, I guess, to do things Julia's way. The dough goes together very quickly - no food processor required - and after chilling, rolls out very nicely. This occasion was not, however, my finest attempt at this pie crust. The kitchen was warm, and because I had forgotten to buy shortening the day before, I didn't end up rolling out the dough and assembling the pies until 20 minutes to party time, so I was more rushed than I should have been. This meant I ended up leaving the bottom crust a little thicker than the desired 1/8", my top lattice was a little skimpy and messy, and the edges were dreadful-looking. The best moment, though, in making these pies was when I went to mix up the filling and discovered we were low on sugar. I had bought extra flour in anticipation of making the crust, but completely forgot about sugar! To make a double recipe I needed 2 cups of sugar. The sugar cannister contained about 1 1/2. Pondering whether there was time to run to the store, or whether we could get by with a tangier pie, I looked up and saw the Alessi sugar bowl that sits,unused, decoratively on the counter. I tentatively lifted the lid to - Hooray! - discover plenty of sugar for my final half cup, with plenty leftover for spinkling on top of my inferior lattice. The pies were trouble, and stressful, but they were also a huge hit. Authentic Texas BBQ <em>and</em> homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Pie? Killer party, every time. </span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"><strong><em>Snacks</em></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#996633;">Finally, I turned to a couple of what-have-come-to-be-standbys for pre-dinner snacks. First, the always-delicious, always easy Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers, <a href="http://definitelydifferentcraft.blogspot.com/2008/07/goat-cheese-stuffed-peppers.html">peppadew version</a>. The self-contained nature of the peppadews is too good a bonus to ignore, so they've pretty much become my standard pepper of choice when it comes to goat cheese fill-ability. The only down-side of the peppadews is they tend to be a bit sticky to handle, due I suppose to the brine in which they're packed. This time I therefore drained the peppers into a collander, rinsed them thoroughly with water, and set them upside-down on a paper towel for about half-an-hour to dry. I bought and filled two jars of peppadews, and all but about 3 were eaten by the end of the evening. The pre-rinse seemed to take care of the stickiness factor.</span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><span style="color:#996633;">The other standby for us is Ana Sortun's amazing Whipped Feta with Roasted Red Peppers. If you don't live in the Boston/Cambridge area, or if you do but have other things to think about than eastern-Mediterranean restaurants, Ana Sortun is the proprietor and chef at <a href="http://www.oleanarestaurant.com/">Oleana</a>, an amazing Cambridge restaurant. (Watch out for that link - it comes with startling background music.) The Whipped Feta is one of the restaurant's pret à manger items, and it's incredible. The recipe is included in Sortun's cookbook <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spice-Flavors-Mediterranean-Ana-Sortun/dp/0060792280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243294001&sr=8-1"><em>Spice</em></a>. Not sure what the protocol is on reprinting cookbook recipes, but since, by comparison to the Whipped Feta, all the other recipes I've tried from this book are extremely complicated, time-consuming, and failure-prone, I don't feel too bad giving out the ingredients for one little starter dish:</span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">1 lb sheep's or goat's milk French feta, drained and broken into rough 1/2-inch pieces or crumbled</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">2 medium red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped, and drained of excess juice</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">2 tsp. Aleppo chilies plus a pinch for garnish</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">1 tsp. Urfa chilies plus a pinch for garnish</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">1/2 tsp. smoked Spanish paprika plus a pinch for garnish</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">1 tsp. lemon juice</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">1/4 cup olive oil</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">Place all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and combine so that the sweet and hot peppers coat the cheese.</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">Purée the mixture in a food processor for about 2 minutes, until very smooth and creamy. The mixture will be quite loose, but will set when chilled (at least 30 minutes).</span><br /><span style="color:#663333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663333;">Sprinkle with a pinch of all three chilies to garnish.</span><br /><p><span style="color:#996633;">I've found that a half recipe is <em>plenty</em> for pre-party snacking. Although I've tried oven-roasting bell peppers, the only <em>successful </em>method I have found for roasting them - sufficient to allow for peeling off the skin - is to set them directly on a (gas) stovetop flame and allow them to char for several minutes on all sides. (This also makes your house smell very nice and spicy.) When blackened on all sides, place the pepper(s) in a bowl, cover with plastic, and allow to steam for about 5 minutes. Remove from bowl, and peel/rub off skin.</span></p><p><span style="color:#996633;">I lucked into a very good spice shop in Inman Square where I can usually find both Urfa and Aleppo chilies - not sure about their availability elsewhere. The feta has <em>almost</em> a pimento-cheese flavor about it, but it's so much more. It's deliciuos on bread, but can also be served with celery, endive, or fennel. (I've personally never tried the fennel and wonder if it mightn't be too strong - not sure.)</span></p><p><span style="color:#996633;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#996633;">So, that's the story - that's our party. (Leaving out the customary olives, cheese, chips and salsa, etc.) Very good food - a little too much work to try to take on in one day, but each of the above recipes is perfectly doable on its own, delicious, and highly recommended. And don't forget Salt Lick next time you want a unique main dish for a big group.</span></p><p><span style="color:#996633;">Lessons Learned:</span></p><p><span style="color:#996633;"><em>#1 Better to have slightly overcooked potatoes than slightly undercooked - pretty much in all cases, but certainly for potato salad. Check the potatoes - with your teeth - before taking them off the stove.</em></span></p><p><span style="color:#996633;"><em>#2 Less is probably more, but if you can't resist making up all your favorite recipes, at least plan ahead enough so that you can make, or start, a few things the night before.</em></span></p><p><span style="color:#996633;"><em>#3 Always check your sugar - and flour - cannisters. Everyone thinks to buy strawberries, or apples, or what-have-you when making a pie, but when was the last time you checked your sugar supply?</em></span></p><p><em><span style="color:#996633;"></span></em></p><span style="color:#996633;">*The recipe calls for bacon, but I substitued soy bacon to make it vegetarian-friendly. I'm sure it's better with real bacon, but oh well.</span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;">**I left the bacon out altogether for this one.</span>Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082550526117815246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-17294307369139743862009-05-07T22:24:00.009-04:002009-05-07T23:16:51.040-04:00Deep Chocolate Cake<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Another long time no see. Write.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Tonight, I made a cake because tomorrow is our business manager's last day at work. Now, I realize that I have only been at this job for not even three months, but my loyalty is in my cakes. I guess you could say.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Dana requested a chocolate cake. Amazingly, in all the cakes I have made, I haven't made many chocolate cakes. I went all out and got a </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cakes/deep-chocolate-cake/">recipe</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> from Better Homes and Gardens and tried it out. I'll post the pics of the finished cake tomorrow.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The cake is a deep chocolate cake. It smelled</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> heavenly</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> in the oven.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Deep Chocolate Cake:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Ingredients:</span><br /><strong style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">1/2</span></strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> cup unsweetened cocoa powder</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />2</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> cups all-purpose flour</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">1</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> teaspoon baking powder</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />1/2</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> teaspoon baking soda</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />2/3</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> cup butter, softened</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />1-3/4</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> cups sugar</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />3</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> eggs</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />4</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />2</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> teaspoons vanilla</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />1-1/2</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> cups milk</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Directions:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>First (my own instructions) before you do ANYTHING, melt the unsweetened chocolate. Otherwise, you'll be waiting around for it to cool.<br /></li></ul><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>Grease three 9-inch round baking pans, three 8X8X2-inch square baking pans; lightly dust each pan with 1 teaspoon of the cocoa powder. In a medium bowl, stir together the remaining cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.</li></ul> <ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.</li></ul><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar; beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds after each addition. </li></ul> <ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>Beat in chocolate and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to chocolate mixture, beating on low speed until well mixed. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Batter will be thick.</span> - That's what they say - I say it looks like chocolate mousse! Yum!)</li></ul> <ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>Divide batter among prepared pans; spread evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">My cakes only took 17 minutes to bake. It was my first experience with this oven so that may be the reason...I have the world's crappiest oven. It doesn't even have a viewing window. Crapola-ish.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">While the cakes were baking, I curled some milk chocolate. It was warm in the house and the chocolate didn't want to curl nicely so I got mini curls. They look fine and taste even better, but for nice curls, just simply use a vegetable peeler along the length of a good quality chocolate bar. The longer the better. So pretty. I used parchment paper for the curls to fall on and then put them in the fridge until frosting time. Like I said, it was warm in the house and those little curlies melt fast.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Ingredients:</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">12</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> ounces semisweet chocolate pieces (2 cups)</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />1/2</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> cup butter</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />8</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> ounces dairy sour cream</span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />4-1/2</strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> cups sifted powdered sugar (about 1 pound)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Directions:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>Make sure to buy sifted confectioner's sugar. Most of the time, you won't need to sift it like I had to tonight. Which made my arm HURT and my frosting wasn't nearly as fluffy or light in color (meaning it was well beaten - with chocolate frosting, the lighter it gets, it usually means it is getting fluffier - but not always - I'll stop commenting now...)</li></ul><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>In a large saucepan melt chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring frequently. Cool for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. This frosts tops and sides of three 8- or 9-inch cake layers.</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;">Cake Assembly</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;">:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Optional Ingredients:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Chocolate curls</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Fresh raspberries</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Fresh mint sprigs</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Directions:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><li>To assemble cake, spread Chocolate-Sour Cream Frosting on tops of two of the layers; stack. Add top layer; frost the top and sides of the cake. If desired, while frosting is still moist, use a 4- to 6-inch wooden skewer or tweezers to lightly press chocolate curls into frosting around the bottom two-thirds of the cake. If desired, garnish top with raspberries and mint. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Makes 12 to 16 servings. </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I used strawberries. They are in season and raspberries aren't. So there, cake recipe people! Anyway, I hulled those tasty little guys and halved them and just arranged them nicely on the top of the cake. I sprinkled the top and the bottom edge with the chocolate sprinkles. It still needed a little pretty, so I added so malt balls - some halved - and strawberry quarters along the bottom edge. I would probably use more chocolate curls next time and more malt balls. They look cool in the picture on BHG's website.</span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhiK8e7UPcDmm6O2yAizi5moMYXmk1TzLH_bzseUg0UgOD1ALABU1MbuBwYtnHnhuwaOh8HS1Y3XdiC1jYJLbhCNjZ-p6hUmj3BtxjmLyw-HxraSEQzTRf0VNmIgziY3RAg_J834blp_d/s1600-h/chocolate+cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhiK8e7UPcDmm6O2yAizi5moMYXmk1TzLH_bzseUg0UgOD1ALABU1MbuBwYtnHnhuwaOh8HS1Y3XdiC1jYJLbhCNjZ-p6hUmj3BtxjmLyw-HxraSEQzTRf0VNmIgziY3RAg_J834blp_d/s320/chocolate+cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333285229322380018" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I hope it's good!! I'll let you know.</span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-13233991042815402772009-03-14T19:48:00.016-04:002009-03-14T22:41:43.733-04:00Super-Easy Peanut Butter Cookies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcWEj0sxqgVifhCbBvBGeT4sLeYT-kZlQDpO8JY-lwLcjl02r54sMY6WZYWYsvnsx2SxgEd4dmyNoFOr7h8yf9tFgpWqcuN72xyZE6vvvWXVu1MpG4crEMIgHfsPUvU_zPDCfUe_dJjwK/s1600-h/200903_Peanut+Butter+Cookies.P1010475.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313212972795447010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcWEj0sxqgVifhCbBvBGeT4sLeYT-kZlQDpO8JY-lwLcjl02r54sMY6WZYWYsvnsx2SxgEd4dmyNoFOr7h8yf9tFgpWqcuN72xyZE6vvvWXVu1MpG4crEMIgHfsPUvU_zPDCfUe_dJjwK/s400/200903_Peanut+Butter+Cookies.P1010475.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#996633;">Just a quickie post about yet another very simple but satisfying recipe.</span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><span style="color:#996633;">Last summer when I was moving, I promised a coworker of mine cookies in exchange for his box- and furniture-lifting skills. But not just any cookies, for this particular coworker is very finicky about what makes for a good cookie: not too sweet, not too doughy, no chocolate, etc.. Since I didn't want to be wasting my time making something he would scoff at, I asked him to bring me his mother's cookie recipes - his particular standard for what all cookies should be. He gave me three recipes: molasses, oatmeal raisin, and peanut butter. This recipe is for the latter, which is probably the easiest cookie recipe I've ever made. In fact, when I first saw the ingredient list I thought there must have been a mistake - that is, an omission - in the ingredient list.</span><br /><div><div><div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">Here's what you need for one batch of cookies (makes about two dozen):</span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;"><em></em></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"><em>1 cup sugar</em></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;"><em>1 cup peanut butter (your choice as to smooth or chunky)</em></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;"><em>1 egg</em></span></div><div><span style="color:#663333;"><em>1/2 tsp. vanilla</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">Only four ingredients! For cookies! No flour, no butter, no nuts, no chips. So simple!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">Can this possibly produce something edible? Keep reading...</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">The only sort of un-fun part of this recipe is what comes next:</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;"><em>Mix.</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">As we all know, peanut butter is a uniquely sticky, stubborn substance. It doesn't mix particularly well with our own saliva - a phenomenon I once tried to capture in song with a catchy little number called <em>Peanut Butter Stuff Me*</em> - let alone with sugar, egg, and vanilla. If you have the initiative to involve your mixer, then you're home-free. Personally, I hate to drag out the Kitchen Aid for a four-ingredient recipe. What's the point of simplicity if I have to wash my mixer when I'm done? So I opt for good ol' elbow grease. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">When you've got the ingredients reasonably well combined, roll the mixture into 1 1/2" balls, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. (Leave sufficient space between cookie-balls for the cookies to spread as they bake.)</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313213170352351890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4MMmrl1lOY5r59ba2sjhff3Bb38nQHXHcy8iKjeUiswBCxo5yzQ0rAP3gIOzkK0xUKfmPdRE_7d0Rn9qEgKuaoZe3WkmLTzD9wGkZvhnGwMRVO2l4N3947rxWzz0bTdPVJi1l0DIVsNN/s400/200903_Peanut+Butter+Cookies.P1010476.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">At this point the recipe just says to press with a fork, but if you don't mind getting another dish dirty, my Mom and I recommend pouring a little sugar onto a dish and first dipping your fork in that (you may have to press one cookie first to accumulate enough grease for the sugar to stick to the fork). <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313213096167489154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDYz3kL9qcVRdycPRJuHvX5bHGz7f9HtYWnjkkth0VrggKvowHRFbSAEJHulo96rRB-zwjVXykWVCJ2vmCoSAv54sT0u83Z6iQmy6OUkO00OuAM2Y_fRxOJsT5EbEShwjndwRNFHC-kVx/s400/200903_Peanut+Butter+Cookies.P1010478.jpg" border="0" />With your fork nicely sugared-up, press each cookie-ball with your fork in the traditional criss/cross pattern.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313215454810888450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLDYAip0OK-PVmQelGwMDkvsln0PxMQLBvJ5YPnG0E27nbkC9VmB1PDhu5pG5a6gpYpWeZx9vujGnb1m3APehGx_1OlPCqD6XuvyeOTI8KNK7G7Ln4B1oA98vP_Ut5lgDzJifGZTJAF3m/s400/200903_Peanut+Butter+Cookies.P1010480.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313213270257273490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkwDtXvK1I7kIHC2-LtlpsLmnr9mrhr1tfDhNgES6XQvnME4xPG_z_RZ18z26xINpHpscE1Gd2jpuVOUrNnKdBay0_6pAfDVh3e0pkMa_aC7mOUe2Fva_i6mpBZHRxJ5IUedHBW0OrqTf/s400/200903_Peanut+Butter+Cookies.P1010481.jpg" border="0" />Place the cookie sheet in a preheated 350-degree oven, and bake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, depending on degree on desired crispness, and keeping in mind that cookies will continue to bake (and therefore harden) after they're removed from the oven. I generally start checking them at about eight minutes, because an overdone cookie is not a particularly appealing cookie - to me, at least.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">And there you have it. Taste one. They're very yummy - not too sweet - pretty much just solid peanut butter, with a little sugar so you know it's a cookie, and a little egg to hold it all together.</span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313238963107744034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT5eq4zllm1TqpZJOVAUWPl8s6MzL9WgUUFUDLO-krEomFxUfzyE5fL0daFryG_gKPfCgmt0JrPgUXQ7Wu9zzQqjNOZr53NG_m6fZs2nVxOQTI5oea4-ROHbR2VFIJXs8WA0KH741Tdby/s400/200903_Peanut+Butter+Cookies.P1010475.jpg" border="0" /> <div><span style="color:#996633;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#996633;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#996633;">* This was followed by the lesser-known but slightly more tuneful <em>Eatin' Jelly with Mom and Dad</em>. I'll readily admit that at age 5 (or 6?) my song compositions weren't especially complex or clever, but both are catchier, if less didactic, than the annoying <em><a href="http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/p003.html"><span style="color:#996633;">Peanut, Peanut Butter - And Jelly</span></a></em><span style="color:#996633;"> </span>song. (Although one of my nephews used to love that song as a little kid, so I hold no grudge against its having made the big-time while my humble offerings remain in virtual obscurity...)</span></div></div></div></div>Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082550526117815246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-36382909427534485192009-03-01T17:19:00.006-05:002009-03-01T17:31:33.219-05:00Now broadcasting from Kansas City<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Why hello!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Okay, so I don't actually have any cool projects to post. I have done very little after my move to Missouri. Plus, my camera DIED. So terrible.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Anyway, I can't say that I didn't do ANYTHING. I helped my (step) sister's Mom reorganize and redecorate her basement office. I will post pictures of that as soon as I can get over there with a camera. The only thing I did crafty was to make her four curtain panels from a pair of curtains I bought at Target. We also did a great combination of black with brown and tan. Who says that black and brown don't go together? Ha!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Like I said, pics to follow.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Also, I am moving this Saturday so I can begin to post pics of the new place! It's pretty plain Jane but I am excited to get moved in and all decorated living in my own place in midtown Kansas City! Two minutes from work!! Woo!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Oh. And I bought this fantastic chair at Goodwill for $4.98 and we're hoping to make it even more fantastic in the next few months. I just love mid-century furniture (it's a Baumritter which in 1969 changed its name to the well-known Ethan Allen.)</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQHuoY2nI3CcsajUF636pewvqAO1b6DehePtQSP3pCyvUstQ2X3-XIWUw55cRurRGGXLVcK9SuD6feYaYDFwpgicjf2PfoVF43Ya7un-zUuTd5gug5kRUpkAugPGw-PRKGkPsL88JKF2c/s1600-h/cool+chair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQHuoY2nI3CcsajUF636pewvqAO1b6DehePtQSP3pCyvUstQ2X3-XIWUw55cRurRGGXLVcK9SuD6feYaYDFwpgicjf2PfoVF43Ya7un-zUuTd5gug5kRUpkAugPGw-PRKGkPsL88JKF2c/s320/cool+chair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308349048125335426" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">One more thing, Mom got my funky, swivel chair a makeover from an upholsterer over Christmas, so I'll post pictures of how good it looks (no more kitty scratching post!) when I get it up here!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Until then, see you and miss you all (especially Christie!)!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Man, that </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://definitelydifferentcraft.blogspot.com/2009/02/italian-wedding-soup.html">wedding soup</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"> looks AWESOME.</span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-46066198893603373952009-02-22T16:40:00.016-05:002009-02-22T19:38:54.099-05:00Pralines<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrdnjNMutgxuAzwCN9DXl6obVi9f9hVAbTtPph1iD9kq7nJWiUuYAvwNm2FNTGOy_r6A-gk-ged-fYlt_JWzBOalna7Ey16r80i_tD5n_481f6tXk0L3VjeeuL1lp92q-w7Y1typ8-dFX/s1600-h/2009.02_Pralines.P1010466.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305755735433460530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrdnjNMutgxuAzwCN9DXl6obVi9f9hVAbTtPph1iD9kq7nJWiUuYAvwNm2FNTGOy_r6A-gk-ged-fYlt_JWzBOalna7Ey16r80i_tD5n_481f6tXk0L3VjeeuL1lp92q-w7Y1typ8-dFX/s400/2009.02_Pralines.P1010466.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#996633;">Well, Mardi Gras is just a couple days away. I've never been to the various parades and festivities in New Orleans myself, but my Mom being from New Orleans, I grew up playing with boxes of Mardi Gras beads and dubloons. It's probably just as well that my family stopped going down for the parades before I was born, or I could have ended up in a picture like this, but at any rate, an appreciation for this particular holiday has always stuck with me.</span><br /><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305743424831190610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 396px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu_UH8_P0BMl4Br-61Pp-saulmXZx6_Jx25gr05n6slDnDP2pTehOCw2m3ZphfgQ6La28EeURk28cceu17xdoyzxKXrkUj6SvAO1lQ0_cxxLUwJutKxFf3VjO4ZHvU_E6RV1PUAoE1xGI/s400/1970.Mardi+Gras.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#996633;">When my old roomie Julie and I moved to the Northeast many years back, we were shocked and dismayed to discover that no local bars or restaurants seemed to acknowledge the event. So we began hosting our own mini-Mardi Gras, festooning our dumpy little apartment in purple, green, and gold, and serving up Central Grocery-style muffalettas, crab dip, King Cake, and other Southern delicacies to mildly bewildered coworkers. We got more creative as we went along, at our apex serving up color-coordinated pre-mixed cocktails (margaritas for gold, "leapin' lizards" for green, and I believe hurricanes for purple).</span> </div><div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">Without an equally-enthused cohost these days, and with considerably less energy myself, I can't say I'm up to all the effort of putting on a whole party, but I like to continue the festivities on a smaller scale. This recipe is from my Mom, and I think it's a safe assumption that she got it from her mom - above, far right - or from her wonderful aunts - above, far left and second (adult) from right. Praline recipes vary considerably - some are hard, some are sticky. These are the kind I grew up with and are therefore just right as far as I'm concerned. I love to break off a piece and let it slowly disintegrate on my tongue into sweet, buttery goodness. They're heavenly, and they bring back fabulous memories, if not of New Orleans, then certainly of our old house in Arkansas.</span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">The best thing about this recipe is how little time it takes, start to finish. Mom used to go into the kitchen and emerge 10 minutes later with a fresh plate of pralines. And when they were gone, she would (sometimes) pop back in and make another batch just as quickly.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">The second best thing about this recipe is how basic the ingredients are. If you have a reasonably well-stocked kitchen, you can probably make them right now. Probably at most all you need to go buy is some pecans.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#996633;">Before we proceed, however, it is vitally important that you know exactly what you're making - which is to say, that you know how to <em>pronounce</em> it. Repeat after me: "PRAH - <em>LEENS</em>". Can you say that? Very good. Make sure, too, to get the accent on the second syllable. You may have heard others refer to a Southern candy called "<em>PRAY</em> - LEENS." I have no idea what this could possibly be, but it sounds dreadful to me. Alright? All set to make some prahleens? Let's get going.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#663333;">To make approximately 16 pralines, you will need:</span></div><br /><div><em><span style="color:#663333;">1 cup sugar</span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#663333;">1/2 cup brown sugar, packed</span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#663333;">1/4 cup milk</span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#663333;">1 T. butter</span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#663333;">1 cup pecan pieces</span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#663333;">1 tsp. vanilla</span></em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305750230632098290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6NuUTfeCyScmwIpHhpTS0ODUvIGEaI_3thdZoAqtDyjLInjTntsjBMhb-sH0UEggSer9BcaChv_75l-SaywiKU-2q8Bkhxp4SMnU5wbM4igQa8npZHmYH8XQGylvRhLiH9JHOzRsUNPa/s400/2009.02_Pralines.P1010460.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#996633;">I like the pecan pieces to be fairly large - I break them by hand into the measuring cup, breaking each pecan half once at most, and leaving a few unbroken.</span></div><p><span style="color:#996633;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305750870483012690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hz2tcKDtjsCUA616RZWKIPK9AhbuGhyphenhyphenZK3r0bdzTdLjSeSofA4xU7UjLBNjOuzzIwRM3b5NA2Hp0x0ipPO9myB9s6v9yLF-igRzLVTeW2O2Sc55uzstYPvNyACdq1MHqMK8uUrxtZHc7/s400/2009.02_Pralines.P1010462.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="color:#663333;">Combine sugars, milk, butter, and pecans in a heavy saucepan.</span></em></span></p><p><em><span style="color:#663333;">Bring to a boil.</span></em><br /></p><p><em><span style="color:#663333;">Boil for 1 1/2 minutes.</span></em><br /></p><p><em><span style="color:#663333;">Remove from heat.</span></em><br /></p><p><em><span style="color:#663333;">Add 1 tsp. vanilla.</span></em><br /></p><p><em><span style="color:#663333;">Beat to a cream, about 3 minutes.</span></em><br /></p><p><em><span style="color:#663333;">Drop in spoonfulls onto greased wax paper and allow to cool.</span></em><br /></p><p><span style="color:#996633;">Once the process gets going, it moves quickly, so it's important to prepare your wax (or parchment) paper <em>before </em>you start cooking. For a candy recipe this is pretty simple (no exact temperature requirements); however, it's important to time things exactly according to the directions. For me this means resisting the urge to start tidying up while the candy is boiling.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305753447569174210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 376px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 376px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfdbC71tkEU9QmcpPeItoM5Wo2Q0wDBY0wr9AiP7AynQZEwWX_DoebKCdN5_o-IJjIW8vFhh9XQFMrIncw4hMIV3YivJNHlSS2KIzWzRhUU7f3R4Ax9s_wCfFuYsWa66iFv303PkH85Wu/s400/2009.02_Pralines.P1010464_crop.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#996633;">As you beat the mixture to a cream, you'll notice - probably after about 2 minutes - that it will start to thicken up quite quickly. The exact moment at which to stop beating and begin dropping is difficult to describe, but in general it's better to guess a bit early (when it still seems runny) than late (when you could end up with one giant praline stuck to the inside of your pan). The best thing to do is to test-drop when it starts to thicken and see whether the candy runs all over the counter or whether it sets up.</span></p><p><span style="color:#996633;">The longer the mixture stays in the pan, the more rough & sugary the consistency will be. This means the final pralines you drop may not be the prettiest. I like to drop the last dregs in small, coin-size pieces in between the larger pralines. These make great "tester" pieces for the cook or other "helpers" who happen to be standing by.</span><span style="color:#996633;"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305755380644843554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wbXvZ0rT7eKJFM8f-QAiLUs9fIFVadCjuz5IdXPaH6pk0nw2P66cFmak8Zjf5hQ0rI9an3L8e07VtRFvMRLxBzI2B-MkaNYx38qa2QMVgFsH3pk_deeo1VwKCPGDgx8PM2jwjO8UxHHK/s400/2009.02_Pralines.P1010465.jpg" border="0" /> If you end up waiting too long to start dropping and the mixture is un-droppable, no worries. Run some water in the pan, wash it out, and start again. Chances are you have enough ingredients to make another batch, right?</span></div><span style="color:#996633;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;">Finally, I can't resist telling my personal Praline Disaster Story. Everything was going smoothly; I timed the candy boiling perfectly, and added my teaspoon of vanilla just as I was supposed to. <em>Except</em>, at this point I noticed that the candy suddenly had a less buttery-sugary smell and more of a harsh-minty smell. What happened? As I continued to beat my mixture to a cream, I glanced down at my bottle of vanilla. Except it wasn't a bottle of vanilla. It was a bottle of <em>peppermint extract</em>. What else could I do but continue to beat the candy and eventually drop my weird praline mints onto the paper? Take it from me, this is was not one of those peanut butter/chocolate collision <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv7j-ZYULas">moments</a>.</span></div><span style="color:#996633;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;"><br />However, if you do have interest in trying some variations on the classic praline flavor, there's an old Southern Living article - no longer, alas, on their website - with several different flavor possibilities using a slightly different recipe. Some helpful person has transcribed the original article at post #15 on this <a href="http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/f10/pralines-por-favor-4365-2.html">page</a>. </span></div>Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082550526117815246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-49152251925718671152009-02-16T12:50:00.019-05:002009-02-16T19:46:46.447-05:00Italian Wedding Soup<span style="color:#996633;"><em>Let's pretend that this whole months-long blogging hiatus never happened and just dive back in, shall we?</em><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDplOmDBb3cawOxflLc84Gz9S84adY_eHAfdO0DRAv_B3QAk7z97cA0pBskCPcBCmgDqKSl-RzQFtcmFFDdojizEOQfXTBI-8ExvAVDJGxJDwQGxAb472FknCmvXWqK8A34qfchEsjfSF1/s1600-h/IWS+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303558517555416178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDplOmDBb3cawOxflLc84Gz9S84adY_eHAfdO0DRAv_B3QAk7z97cA0pBskCPcBCmgDqKSl-RzQFtcmFFDdojizEOQfXTBI-8ExvAVDJGxJDwQGxAb472FknCmvXWqK8A34qfchEsjfSF1/s400/IWS+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;">When my boyfriend had an unexpected dentist issue/visit the other day, I embarked on a quest to find a new soup recipe for dinner. My existing soup repertoire consisting of vegetarian chili, which isn't really soup, and one semi-failed attempt at potage parmentiere, perhaps this was a worthwhile endeavor regardless of the dental situation. As it was, the potage didn't seem filling enough on its own, and the chili had troubling spiciness issues. (It's also a bit time-consuming, or is if you do all the chopping by hand - something I always do with that recipe because the texture comes out much better that way. Sometime I should post that recipe, I guess.) </span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"><br />Seeking something simple yet filling, I somehow landed on the idea of Italian Wedding Soup. My first go-to recipe site is usually </span><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/"><span style="color:#996633;">epicurious</span></a><span style="color:#996633;"> because its recipes come from both <em>Gourmet </em>and <em>bon appetit</em>, which I consider to be pretty reliable and kind of more upscale, which I like. Oddly, however, there were no IWS recipes to be found there. Next I checked </span><a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipes"><span style="color:#996633;">My Recipes</span></a><span style="color:#996633;">, which accesses recipes from <em>Southern Living</em>, <em>Cooking Light</em>, and <em>Sunset</em>, among others. Again no results that had anything to do with what I consider to be Italian Wedding Soup. Finally, I hit on a recipe from Giada de Laurentiis over at the </span><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/"><span style="color:#996633;">Food Network</span></a><span style="color:#996633;"> site. Now, Giada doesn't look like she's ever eaten so much as one meatball, let alone a bowl-full of them, but who says being a good cook has to go along with being a big eater? Anyway, in her case I assume she inherited a trunk-full of recipes from a healthy-looking <em>nonna</em>-type who's not afraid of a little butter.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/italian-wedding-soup-recipe/index.html"><span style="color:#996633;">This recipe</span></a><span style="color:#996633;"> is much closer to the type of soup I had in mind: broth-based (chicken), with leafy greens, meatballs, and a little parmesan.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#663333;"><em><strong>Ingredients - meatballs</strong></em><br /></span><em><span style="color:#663333;">1 small onion, grated<br />1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley<br />1 large egg<br />1 teaspoon minced garlic<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />1 slice fresh white bread</span></em><em><span style="color:#663333;">, crust trimmed, bread torn into small pieces<br />1/2 cup grated Parmesan<br />8 ounces ground beef</span></em><span style="color:#663333;"><em><br />8 ounces ground pork</em></span><span style="color:#663333;"><em><br />Freshly ground black pepper</em><br /><em><span style="color:#996633;"></em></span><br /></span><span style="color:#663333;"><em><strong>Ingredients - soup</strong></em><br /></span><em><span style="color:#663333;">12 cups low-sodium chicken broth<br />1 pound curly endive, coarsely chopped (1 pound of escarole would be a good substitution)<br />2 large eggs<br />2 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnish<br />Salt and freshly ground black pepper</span></em><span style="color:#996633;"><br /><em></em><br /></span><span style="color:#663333;"><strong><em>Directions</em></strong><br /></span><span style="color:#663333;"><em>To make the meatballs: Stir the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the cheese, beef and pork. Using 1 1/2 teaspoons for each, shape the meat mixture into 1-inch-diameter meatballs. Place on a baking sheet.<br />To make the soup: Bring the broth to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and curly endive and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through and the curly endive is tender, about 8 minutes. Whisk the eggs and cheese in a medium bowl to blend. Stir the soup in a circular motion. Gradually drizzle the egg mixture into the moving broth, stirring gently with a fork to form thin stands of egg, about 1 minute. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper.<br />Ladle the soup into bowls and serve. Finish soup with parmesan cheese if desired.</em><br /></span><span style="color:#996633;"><br />A few things were unexpected. I hadn't heard of including egg, and I was expecting some sort of pasta. Also, whereas she uses curly endive for her veg, I'm more used to seeing something like kale or spinach. I guess because of these issues, I clicked over to the Comments page that accompanies the recipe. If you're willing to suffer through bad grammar and folksy parlance such as "Hun this is the BEST !!", there's a lot of useful information to be gleaned from the comments page.<br /><br />For starters, many people seem to have substitued spinach for the curly endive. I had been willing to try for endive or - her suggested substitution - escarole; however, Whole Foods let me down on this one, so I too opted for spinach. Another main comment was using sweet Italian sausage in place of some or all of the recommended ground beef and pork. Again I was willing to follow the recipe here, but finding no ground pork at the store I was happy to know I would be safe using Italian sausage instead. Also regarding the meatballs, many people said they had first browned them before adding them to the broth. I didn't read back through the entire comment log, but I'm guessing that if people are doing this, it's because unbrowned meatballs either fell apart in the broth or were undercooked. Either way, I was happy to take the time to brown them. (In fact, Mike browned them while I got the broth going. He was also helpful rolling the meatballs, which I believe would otherwise be the most time-consuming part of the whole recipe.)<br /><br />The one change - addition, I guess - I knew I wanted to make was adding some pasta. Not only does this increase the filling-ness factor, but it also jibes better with what I think of as classic IWS. Several commenters recommended a pasta called acini de pepe. I had to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acini_di_pepe"><span style="color:#996633;">wikipedia</span></a><span style="color:#996633;"> the name to determine that it <em>was</em> a type of pasta (as opposed to some type of Italian pepper?), but it's apparently a very small, pepperc0rn-size pasta that's often used in soups. Many other people, however, had used orzo, with which I was familiar. I was all set to go with the acini de pepe but, not finding it at the store, went with the orzo. Given the opportunity I think I'd prefer the acini etc., as its texture would be kind of fun in the soup and it somehow feels more Italian. One of the downsides of adding something extra to a recipe is you don't know exactly when and how to do it. One commenter said she'd used a cup of orzo so, making a half-recipe, I put in a half-cup right after the broth came to a boil and pretty much immediately added the meatballs and spinach. I don't know if this was really a mistake or not. It's definitely true that the orzo was not fully cooked within the 8 minute cooking time for the meatballs and spinach; however, I don't think the meatballs and spinach were particularly hurt by hanging out another 5 minutes waiting for the orzo to cook. I suppose, to do it over again, I could cook the pasta separately and add it at the end, but that creates another pan to clean (you're already adding one for browning the meatballs) and another burner to focus on. I think instead I would let the pasta cook a bit longer next time before adding the rest of the ingredients, although even here you have to be careful, because you certainly don't want to come out with mushy pasta.<br /><br />As for the egg, I think I could take it or leave it. We happened to have eggs at home, so I didn't mind adding them, but I don't know that I'd buy a carton of eggs purely for their inclusion in the soup.<br /><br />But, to get to the important thing, this soup was absolutely delicious and also very easy and relatively quick to make! We had enough for leftovers the next day, and it was equally good, if not better. To coin a phrase, <em>Hun this is the best!</em> I definitely plan to make this recipe a few more times while the weather stays chilly up here. However, my modified take on the recipe will be as follows:<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#663333;"><em><strong>Ingredients - meatballs</strong><br />1 small onion, grated</em><br /><em>1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley</em><br /><em>1 large egg</em><br /><em>1 teaspoon minced garlic</em><br /><em>1 teaspoon salt</em><br /><em>1 slice fresh white bread</em><em>, crust trimmed, bread torn into small pieces</em><br /><em>1/2 cup grated Parmesan</em><br /><em>8 ounces ground beef</em><br /><em>8 ounces ground sweet Italian sausage</em><br /></span><span style="color:#663333;"><em>Freshly ground black pepper<br /><br /><strong>Ingredients - soup</strong><br />12 cups low-sodium chicken broth</em><br /><em>1 pound fresh spinach, coarsely chopped</em><br /><em>2 large eggs (optional)</em><br /><em>2 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnish</em><br /><em>Salt and freshly ground black pepper</em><br /><em>1 cup orzo, acini de pepe, or other small pasta</em><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#663333;"><em><strong>Directions</strong><br />To make the meatballs: Stir the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the cheese, beef and Italian sausage. Using 1 1/2 teaspoons for each, shape the meat mixture into 1-inch-diameter meatballs.</em><br /><em>Heat 2 T oil in a large skillet. Add 2-3 T butter. When fat has melted to coat the pan, add meatballs to pan in a single layer (do half at a time if necessary). Cook until lightly browned, turning as necessary. Remove from pan and set aside.</em><br /><em>To make the soup: Bring the broth to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook one or two minutes, depending on recommended cooking time. Add the meatballs and spinach and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, the spinach is tender, and the pasta is cooked to desired consistency, about 8 minutes. Whisk the eggs (if desired) and cheese in a medium bowl to blend. Stir the soup in a circular motion. Gradually drizzle the egg mixture into the moving broth, stirring gently with a fork to form thin stands of egg, about 1 minute. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve. Finish soup with parmesan cheese if desired.</em></span>Christiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082550526117815246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-50386139824363697062008-11-12T12:19:00.007-05:002008-11-12T12:27:35.799-05:00Holiday Turkeys<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">So I have to admit that the following project was not made by me. Nor Christie. It was made by my coworker, Andrea, who has quite a few crafty tricks up her own sleeves.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">I couldn't just let this project go though - they're just too cute!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl5Y6TSrSrhEu1GAvp9ievzB6MxGPH3WClkpe9IUb8KhW-FLT75tzxsCqQJG2ZfXDcvd3lN9DFApl7efSxZ2BKfFiOkag-njB9zKoM8ZKRYo8wOwfUFIdqyWEWr_oEAqiJ4sVgFutS5NO/s1600-h/turkeys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl5Y6TSrSrhEu1GAvp9ievzB6MxGPH3WClkpe9IUb8KhW-FLT75tzxsCqQJG2ZfXDcvd3lN9DFApl7efSxZ2BKfFiOkag-njB9zKoM8ZKRYo8wOwfUFIdqyWEWr_oEAqiJ4sVgFutS5NO/s320/turkeys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267823286503220194" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">If you feel the need to make placecard turkeys for your loved ones at your turkey dinner, these turkeys could give you some needed inspiration! (she even made a mini turkey for her tiny nephew!)</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.marthastewart.com/article/pom-pom-tom-decoration?autonomy_kw=felt%20turkeys&rsc=header_3"><br />Holiday Turkey Project</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Enjoy!</span>Carrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.com1