Personalized Appliques

So it has been quite a while since I was able to post. I forgot how much joy it brings me to share ideas with others. For a while I contemplated deleting the blog but am glad that I talked myself out of it. I gain so many helpful tips, recipes, and DIY ideas from other blogs so I hope that me therapy is helping someone else.

Wow, I just opened another window to see what my last post was and realized it was the cinnamon swirl bread I made in February. I was so busy this semester I thought that post was in late March. While since then, I got a promotion at work, assistant designed the costumes for our musical Caroline or Change, and finished my second to last semester of my undergrad.

Note: Stitch Witchery can be found in the interfacing section of your craft or fabric store. It is similar to iron on interfacing but has the heat activated adhesive on both sides. The paper is peeled off of one side and then applied to the detail you want to add. Then the paper is peeled off the second side and iron onto the final garment or piece of fabric.

Instructions: 

1. Start with preshrunk fabric or garment, if the garment does not say that it is pre-shrunk, wash and dry the garment and always wash and dry fabric after bring it home from the fabric store.
2. Make a pattern with paper if you are creating a custom applique.
3. To help anchor felt or flat details, it’s helpful to apply Stitch Witchery to hold everything together before it is sewn. See the note above about Stitch Witchery. Often the paper it comes on also has instructions on how to apply it. I will warn you that if you are using felt or another plastic based material that it will melt when ironed so be careful and use a towel when ironing.
4. After the applique is applied to the garment you can then stitch around the edge to finalize the anchoring and ensure that the edges will not fray. Though there are hundreds of  ways to achieve this, the three most widely used techniques are a basket stitch by hand, zig-zag or wide machine stitch.

Though it is hard to tell, in the picture below because of black on black, I used the method depicted in white to apply the body of the butterfly.

Dragonfly Onsies

Tie Onesie

Enjoy!!!

Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread

This past week I had the urge to make bread and was going to be in my room working on homework all night so I decided why not. The only problem was I forgot that bread has to rise twice, then bake, and cool before the process is done so I will say that I had to stay up about an hour and a half past my bedtime, but it was well worth it in the end.  This recipe makes 2 large loafs or 6 mini loafs. I chose to make one large loaf and 3 mini loafs.

***Note: I apologize for the picture quality. My fiancée borrowed my memory card to record his conducting class assessment and currently misplaced it. So all of these pictures I have taken with my phone’s sad camera. ***

Ingredients: 

2/3 c Lukewarm water

1 c + 2 tsp Scalded milk

4 tbsp Honey

1 pk Yeast

2 Eggs

5 tbsp Butter

2 1/3 c Whole wheat flour

3 c Bread flour

Pinch of salt

1/2 c Purple Raisins

1/2 c Golden Raisins

2/3 c Dark brown sugar

1 1/4 tbsp Cinnamon

1/4 tsp Nutmeg

Instructions: 

1. Combine water, scalded milk, and honey in a large bowl. You will want it to be lukewarm, so if needed allow it too cool.
2. Then sprinkle the yeast over mixture and set aside for ten minutes.
3. While the yeast is activating, whisk the butter and eggs together.
4. Then combine the butter and eggs into the yeast mixture.
5. Combine the flours and salt in a medium bowl before stirring into the wet ingredients.
6. When the dough as almost come together fold in the raisins.
7. Turn out the dough onto your floured work surface and knead for 10 minutes, adding in flour as needed. Though be careful not to add in too much flour.
8. Once you are finished kneading, form the dough into a ball and place in a large greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place.
9. Allow the dough to raise for an hour and twenty minutes.
10. Punch down the dough and turn back out onto your floured work surface.
11. Flour your rolling pin and roll out the dough into a rectangle. Most recipes have a specific measurement to roll out to but I prefer to do it by feel rather than use a ruler.
12. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl.
13. Use a pastry brush to brush a thin layer of milk over the dough.
14. Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over the dough until there is none left. This is similar to the process for cinnamon rolls.
15. Gently roll the dough up from the longer side of the rectangle.
16. Pinch the roll closed and turn the pinched side down to the work surface, this help cut the dough into loafs easier.
17. Butter your loaf pans and cut the dough into loafs and placing in pans seam side down. This recipe makes 2 large loafs or 6 mini loafs.
18. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to raise another 40 minutes.
19. Preheat the oven at this point to 350* F.
20. Once the dough has risen a second time, bake for 45 minutes. I suggest for the last 25 wrapping the top with aluminum foil to help the top not get over brown and hold in moisture.
21. Allow to cool in the pan for ten to fifteen minutes, before removing from pan and cooling completely. I also light to place a clean towel over the loaf as it cools to help hold in moisture.

*** See Note Above About Picture Quality***

Ingredients ready to go

After kneading the dough for 10 minutes.

 Dough in loaf pans, before covering and allowing to rise a second time.

After cutting into the laof

Again I apologize for the picture quality and hope you enjoy!!!

Sorry About the Wait

School as always is forever taking up most of my time, and over Christmas break things didn’t slow down. For the longest time I wanted a post every week then I stretched it to every two weeks. Well that has become impossible to keep up with, I had decided, a few weeks ago, that I would explain how time consuming keeping up with schoolwork is on top of being required to give up countless nights and weekends for theatre obligations. To make things even more complicated I am cramping my free time with a second job and am excited to announce that I am now engaged. So over the next year or so, as I finish my last year of school and plan a wedding, post will be fewer and it saddens me but instead of the blog being another stress I want it to be a stress-releaver where I can come to unwind and share recipes and crafts with you.  

Italian Wedding Soup

I wanted to make something this past weekend that I could enjoy quickly in between studying sections this week, being Finals Week. Late last week I made a batch of meatballs with the intention to use half the batch in my soup. This soup is simple but delicious.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb worth of meatballs

1/2 c Sweet onion

3 cloves Garlic

2 medium Carrots

1/2 a rib of Celery

1 tbsp Flour

2 tsp Parsley

1 tsp Thyme

Pinch red pepper flakes

2 c Spinach, Kale or Escarole

1/3 c plum tomatoes (chopped, fresh or canned)

4 c Turkey or chicken broth (I used 2 cups turkey stock from Thanksgiving and 2 cups chicken broth)

1 c water

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Chopped vegetables and garlic.
2. In a medium soup pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat.
3. Cook onion, carrots, and celery for about 8 minutes.
4. Add in garlic and cook for another minute or two.
5. Then add in the flour and stir until completely dispersed.
6. Then add in leafy green for another two minutes or until it has slightly wilted.
7.  Ladle in broth, water, and tomatoes, and bring to a low simmer.
8. Then add in meatballs, cover, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes.
9. Season to taste and enjoy. The vegetables in this soup are simple and often on hand – onion, garlic, carrots, and celery.

Cook the vegetables first before adding in the garlic because garlic can burn very quickly.

Allow it to simmer and stir every so often, once everything is combined

ENJOY!!!

 

Turkey Meatballs

Phillip and I made meatballs for dinner a few weeks ago and they turn out okay but not as well as he had hoped. I prefer using dry breadcrumbs to soaking bread. I find it harder to keep the meatballs from falling apart, because the moisture added with the soaked bread. So after having problems with his recipe I came up with my own using some turkey that I had in my freezer rather than using ground beef. The other factor that prompted me to make meatballs is that they are vary versatile, and I can split the recipe in half using them for two different things. In my case I used half the meat balls for Italian Wedding Soup and the other half for Spaghetti & Meatballs.

Ingredients:

1 lb Ground Turkey

2 slices – White bread (toasted and crust removed)

3 cloves Garlic (minced)

1/4 c Sour Cream

1/4 c Parmesan cheese

1 Egg

3 tbsp Flour

1 tsp Oregano

1/2 tsp Basil

1 tsp Thyme

2 tbsp Parsley

1 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Olive Oil (to coat pan)

Flour (for dredging, secret method)

Directions:

1. Using a food processor or a  box grater, make coarse crumbs from the bread.
2. Then combine all of the ingredients, minus the olive oil in a bowl.
3. Using your hands mix well.
4. Then more 1 inch balls from the meat and place them on a plate.
5. Heat to medium-high heat, just enough olive oil in a skillet to coat the bottom of the pan will a few millimeters of oil.
6. Dredge the meatballs in a light coat of flour. NOTE: This is a secret I came across a while back. It helps hold the shape of the meatball better until it has cooked long enough to better hold its shape.
7. Cook in batches the meat balls, cooking for a few minutes and turn, a few times until cooked through.
8. Remove to a plate with a layer of paper towel, and allow them to drain off any extra oil.

The ingredients are: ground turkey, sliced white bread, parmesan cheese, an egg, oregano, basil, thyme, parsley, salt,pepper, and olive oil. Note pictured: garlic, sour cream, and flour.

Mix meat until it is well combined. I suggest going ahead and getting your hands dirty, it makes it easier and quicker.

For most recipes using meatball 1 inch balls works best though you could make them large if you like.

Cook them on a few sides until mostly brown and cooked through

ENJOY!

Coffee Dyed Newspaper Wreath

In high school, I coffee dyed a shirt for our dance Summer Intensive Performance. Our finally was Pirates of the Caribbean and I did not want my shirt to be bright white, though the mistake I made was that I did not give myself time to wash the shirt afterwards, so I had to wear the shirt smelling like coffee.

Though I dyed fabric, you can also dye paper and other things. For this wreath, I coffee dyed newspaper. Then I cut it unto leaf shapes and applied them to a base that I made from cereal box base. Some of the other apartments around mine decorated for Halloween or Fall and I wanted to made a wreath to put up from Halloween through Thanksgiving.

Instructions: 

1. Brew a pot of strong dark coffee.
2. Then lay out the newspaper on a work surface that you are okay getting coffee on, I used my kitchen counter.
3. Then there are tow different methods for applying the coffee, one is with a brush, this works best with one of the sponge brushes or gently drip the newspaper directly in the coffee.
4. Allow it to air dry, if it wrinkles more than you want, you can gently iron the paper once dry with an iron on low and the steam turned off.
5. Cut the paper leafs or strips.
6. I would suggest adding a way to hang up the wreath before applying the newspaper.
7. Using a hot glue gun to apply the newspaper to your base.
8.  Add any decoration or ribbon.

I suggest that you use a sponge brush rather than a bristled brush

I found that soaking the newspaper is the easiest

My newspaper drying on the counter

I used different strengths of coffee to create different shades

I cut the box and compressed the inner side and expanded the outer side.

I then applied a larger layer on the outside and a small layer on the inside

I then rolled up newspapers and applied it in between  each layer of strips to add dimension

Once I got to the middle I apply a little center layer

ENJOY!!!

Decoupaging With Found Materials

Growing up, my neighbors decoupaged anything and everything. I specifically remember a small table in their kitchen covered in vegetables from either tissue paper or paper towels, so my first experiences the decoupage was a little scary, but since then I have learned that it doesn’t have to be scary or tacky.

Decoupage can be made with anything from paper to plastic to anything somewhat thin. You can buy glues made specifically for decoupage, like Mod Podge, or you can mike 2/3 liquid glue, like Elmer’s, and 1/3 water. What can you decoupage? Anything from cards, to picture frames, and books and furniture.

 

Directions:

1. Start by cutting or tearing whatever medium you will be using into manageable or desired sized pieces.
2. Using a brush, apply a thin layer of glue to the surface you wish to decoupage.
3. Gently layer on the pictures or whatever you are decoupaging with, into the glue.
4. Then bush a layer of glue over the top of you project, sealing down any edges and giving a smooth unified look.

 

An old print canvas and a Disney Store shopping bag

I cut apart the the bag around Mickey and the comic strips

ENJOY!!!

Nutella Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

Yet again school and life have been crazy and I haven’t had a free moment to post. I made these weeks ago when I was on my rice crispy kick and posted a few other rice crispy treat recipes (Traditional Rice Crispy Treats & Cake Batter Rice Crispy Treats). I also have Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats coming soon! Over the past few weeks my work load has increased and I had to complete my Production Credit, where I built four 1940′s dresses from start to finish by on my own, in about a two week time frame, for our production of Three Sisters.

**Note: I made half the recipe, that is why my proportions appear smaller, the recipe is the full recipe** 

Ingredients:

1 bag of Marshmallows

3 tbsp Butter

1/2 c Nutella

1/4 c chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or dark)

5 c Rice Krispies

Cooking Spray

 

Instructions:

1. Spray a cookie sheet or pan with cooking spray. ***Note: Half the recipe works well in an 8 x 8 inch pan, full recipe works well in anywhere between 11 x 7 to 13 x 9***
2. Melt butter in a large pot.
3. Before adding the marshmallows to the pot, I suggest spraying the sides of the pot and a wooden spoon with cooking spray as well.
4. Melt down the marshmallows, over medium-low heat.
5. Once the marshmallows are almost melted, add in the Nutella and chocolate chips, stirring constantly until melted and combined.
6. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the rice krispies.
7. Pour out the mixture out onto your cookie sheet or pan and lightly press together. You can use the back of the spoon or what I like to do is spray my hand with cooking spray and gently press it together.
8. Allow to cool for about an hour before cutting them with a serrated knife into squares.

Melt down the marshmallows slowly, making sure to stir it every minute or so because it will stick to the bottom and burn. One way to prevent the marshmallow from sticking to the sides of the pot as much is spraying it with cooking spray.

Stir in the Nutella and chocolate chips until melted and combined. Make sure not to let it burn, over heat, or stick to the bottom of the pot.

Fold in the rice krispies to the marshmallow mixture, trying not to crush or break up the cereal too much, while still mixing the sticky mixture completely

I prefer rice crispy treats that are not packed too tightly like the ones you buy at the store, which is one of the advantages of making homemade treats over buying them from the store.

ENJOY!!!

Too Much Cleavage or Neckline Too Low? How to Fix it With a Hook

Ever have a blouse or dress with the neckline too low or do you have a problem with too much cleavage and do not want to wear a camisole under your top? The easiest fix without sewing the neckline closed is to use a hook and eye.

You can purchase hooks in many different sizes and colors at any craft or fabric store. It’s better to use a hook and eye that is smaller rather than larger, and darker in color rather than lighter. Most stores carry at least black, white, and silver. When choosing a thread choose a thread that is the same color as your fabric or darker, never lighter.

Directions:

1. Start by threading your needle and tying the ends together so that your needle is double threaded.
2. Then line the edge of the hook up with the edge of the fabric.
3. Sew around each hole on the hook 4 to 5 times, only going through the inside layer of fabric is there are more than one layer of fabric. On the last stitch, anchor it with than single stitch going through both layers.
4. Then move over to the other hole and repeat the same number of stitches.
5. Then anchor the head of the hook so that is does not flap in the same manner. Knot it off and cut your thread.
6. Then line up the eye with the hook on the other side of the opening and repeat the double threaded whip stitches like with the hook, remembering to anchor the last stitch before tying it off.

This is using a small hook and eye loop to close the the front of a wedding dress for a friend.

Enjoy!!!

Cake Batter Rice Crispy Treats

As I said in my original Rice Crispy Treat Post, one of my favorite homemade sweet treats are Rice Crispy Treats. So when I came across pictures of Cake Batter Rice Crispy Treats, I had to try them. They are just as easy as Traditional Rice Crispy Treat, but have just two more ingredients, cake mix and sprinkles. The type of cake mix is up to you but I used the traditional yellow cake mix.

Ingredients:

1 pk of Marshmallows

3 tbsp Butter

5 c Rice Krispies

1/4 c of Cake Mix (of your choosing)

1/4+ Sprinkles ( you can add as little or as much as you want)

Cooking Spray

Instructions:

1. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
2. Melt butter in a large pot.
3. Before adding the marshmallows to the pot, I suggest spraying the sides of the pot and a wooden spoon with cooking spray as well.
4. Melt down the marshmallows, over medium-low heat.
5. Once the marshmallows have melted completely, add in the cake mix.
6. Remove the pot from the heat immediately and stir in the rice krispies.
7. Then fold in the sprinkles, revering some to add on top.
8. Pour out the mixture out onto the cookie sheet and lightly press together. You can use the back of the spoon or what I do is spray my hand with cooking spray and gently press it together.
9. Sprinkle on additional sprinkles to the top of the treats.
10. Allow to cool for about an hour before cutting them with a serrated knife into squares.

Melt down the marshmallows slowly, making sure to stir it every minute or so because it will stick to the bottom and burn. Also note that I tried to sure a spatula because my wooden spoon was dirty but that is a bad idea because after scraping the bottom of the pot for about ten minutes or more while the marshmallows melted, which called the spatula to start to melt. Once the marshmallows look like marshmallow fluff out of the jar, add in the cake mix and remove from heat.

I like to press them into a pan but not as tight as the packaged one you buy at the store, but the nice thing about making them yourself is that you can be in control of things like how tightly they are packed. Then add additional sprinkles to the top of your treats and allow to cool completely before cutting.

ENJOY!!!