Baby Quilt

bSo to go with the bedroom theme for the nursery for my daughter JaNaes baby I designed and made a quilt for the baby.  I was inspired by the chevron design theme JaNae wanted as well as some block ideas I saw on pinterest.  Needless to say the quilt looks good from a distance but don't look close at the blocks.  I am still learning alot about quilting and have alot left to learn and I would definitely have done some things different and I will blog about how to do these blocks and this quilt later but I wanted to at least post the quilt.  The lady I use to machine quilt my quilts did a great job even though there were alot of imperfections by my piecing of the quilt.  In fact I think she made it look better.  Thanks to Janae Tanner my machine quilter.  She has done about 10 quilts for me and each one she put alot of thought into what design will make it look good. 

Car Seat Cover

So this is my latest car seat cover I made for my daughter JaNae.  I used chevron prints and polkadots because this is the fabric she picked out for the nursery.  I decided to make the cover reversible, so the rings the attach to the handle are not sewn to the cover.  Instead I created long button holes about 2 inches apart and parllel to each other.  2 on each side of the handle.  The velcro rings are put through the big button holes then velcroed to the handle.  This gives you a little more variety.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

I make this instead of chicken noodle soup whenever we're not feeling well.


Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Servings: 6
Difficulty: Easy

 

Ingredients:

• 1 12.5 oz can of chicken (or 1 pint of home-canned chicken)
• 1/4 c. dehydrated celery
• 2 T. dehydrated onions
• 2 1/2 c. water
• 8 c. chicken broth (or water mixed with chicken boullion)
• 1/2 tsp. celery seed
• 1/2 tsp. basil
• 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
• 1 tsp. salt
• Sprinkle of red pepper flakes (optional)
• 12 oz package of Barilla Tortellini
• Garlic, potatoes & carrots (optional-see notes)

Directions:

Bring the water and chicken broth to a boil. Add spices. Add chicken (cut it up small if you like smaller chunks). Add dehydrated celery and onions. Add tortellini after it returns to a boil. Cook according to your package directions (probably about 10-12 minutes). Enjoy!

 

Notes:

-This is supposed to be a shelf-stable recipe which is why everything is canned/dehydrated. You can use fresh ingredients to suit your taste.
-For the chicken broth I use the organic low sodium better than bullion from Costco. I omit the salt. I recommend using the dry tortellini, not the refrigerated or frozen ones. They hold up better in the soup.
-I added a fresh, pressed clove of garlic last time and it was really good.
-I add some peeled, chopped potatoes and carrots to mine because I prefer a chunkier soup.

Source: http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2011/01/15/shelf-stable-recipes-chicken-tortellini-soup/

Cuban Black Beans

I think my kids are pretty picky eaters and it sometimes gets frustrating trying to find healthy things that they'll actually eat. They don't always like or dislike the typical things. It may sound surprising, but this is one of the meals that I know they will chow down every time.
 
Ingredients:

1 T. olive oil
1 c. chopped onion
3/4 c. chopped green pepper
2 c. V-8 juice (or tomato juice)
3 (15-oz.) cans black beans, drained
1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
1 (15-oz.) can tomatoes, undrained and chopped

1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. brown sugar
 
4 c. cooked rice
1 c. cheese (cheddar, grated)

Directions:

Heat oil in dutch oven or pot and heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion and pepper, sauté until tender. Add all other ingredients except the cheese and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 to 25 minutes. Serve over rice and sprinkle with cheese.

Notes:

-This recipe makes a lot, but it freezes well. It easily serves a family twice.

-I chop my onion and green pepper in my Ninja so it's diced really fine. The kids are less likely to complain and pick it out and more likely to eat it if I do that.

-I use low/reduced sodium everything (V8, black beans, etc.) these days because my hubby has pre-hypertension. I think it still tastes good.

-I was using the petite diced tomatoes, but it was still rather chunky for the kids and me so I threw the tomatoes in my Ninja and blended them up a bit before adding them and we all liked it. I've tried using the crushed tomatoes too, but didn't like them quite as much.
-I use the brown sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes.

Roasted New Red Potatoes

Roasted vegetables are probably something pretty, simple and basic to most people, but many of the vegetables in our house tend to come from a bag in the freezer. I was looking for easy and healthy fresh vegetable recipes and came across this. My husband and I love it! The kids, not so much. My four year-old son especially hates it when it has grass (rosemary) on it. I'm not a big fan of rosemary either so I usually use thyme, but he still doesn't like that. Oh well, maybe someday.

  

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Servings: 8 servings

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds small red new potatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Thyme or rosemary to taste if desired

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Toss potatoes with oil, salt, pepper and thyme. Arrange, cut side down, on a large lipped cookie sheet or jellyroll pan.

2. Roast until tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes (check after 20 minutes). Transfer to a serving dish.

Nutritional Info:

Total Fat: 7g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 301mg Total Carbs: 27.1g Dietary Fiber: 2.9g Protein: 3.2g

Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-new-red-potatoes/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=roasted%20new%20red%20potatoes&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

Quilting

My biggest hobby lately has been quilting.  I bought a program called EZQUILT 7.  It is used to design quilts.  It allows you to design the quilt then take fabric jpg. files and import them into the quilt so that you can design the quilt and see what it will look like with the fabrics you have purchased.  It allows  you to see if the colors look good or if there is a balance to the colors. 

The quilt design program can print the pattern pieces when you are done designing and tell you how much fabric will be needed.  One of the quilts I recently did I purchased the pattern but did not purchase fabrics like the quilt pattern design because I liked the pattern but not the color scheme.  I cut out the quilt pieces with the fabrics I bought and had all the pieces layed out as they would go into the quilt.  I felt like some of the color design did not look just right.  I took the pattern and drew it in the quilt program.  I then took the fabric I had chosen and downloaded the jpg. Files into the quilt design.  It really helped me to make the changes I needed so that I could get it to look more cohesive and balanced.  I then recut a few of the pieces out of different fabric to achieve the design.  It turned out great and is currently at the quilters.  This program could save time and money. You won’t purchase patterns or prints that maybe won’t work into the quilt design.  I have found that I really like lots of color and big prints but big prints do not always lend themselves to some quilt designs because the large print pattern will not even show up when cut into small pieces.

Quilt Pattern I bought

fabric I chose and put into the pattern it totally changes the look

Pinterest has a lot of cute quilt ideas and I have been able to implement some of the ideas on pinterest into the quilt designs and then apply the fabrics I have purchased.  These are a few of my quilt designs.

this one is the design I came up with for JaNaes baby that is on the way 

This was an alternate design 

 I have this fabric and I thought that this would make a cute baby quilt someday for someone

This is another design I came up with and fabric I have already to go

This one I have already started cutting the pieces but have not totally decided on the border

Between pinterest  and the quilt design program I waste a lot of time.  When I design a quilt I do about 10 different versions and then print them off so I can see them side by side and then pick the one I like the best to actually make.  I have two quilts in progress that I have designed and about 4 more desgined and ready to implement. 

Purchasing fabric has also become an obsession.  If I can’t find it in the store the internet has plenty of companies that have what you need. 

Upcycled Buffet

So, I scored this hutch on Kijiji (like Craig's list for Canada) for $40, not bad. Do you think I can make it look good??? We shall see. . .

Pretty hideous, I know

 First thing I did was I sanded everything down to get rid of that nasty blue paint. I took out the dreadful fabric panels that were covering the glass doors. Next, I nailed some door casing onto the bottom to give it an updated look (p.s. I used the saw and nail gun all by myself--my mama would be so proud)! Then I primed it with Kilz 2. After 2 coats of primer, I sprayed it with Heirloom White (off white) spray paint. I debated whether or not I should use spray paint or suck it up and buy a gallon of latex. I thought the spray paint was a mistake at first, because I ended up using more paint than I thought I would and it gets a little pricey, however, for the stenciling, it is the only way to go. I tried other ways and it just didn't work out, but I'll explain that a little more in a minute.

My tools: Stencil I made (this particular pattern I didn't design but the one on the drawers I did), spray adhesive, off white spray paint, green sample paint from home depot, painter's tape, and my paint brush. 

To paint the drawers I bought a sample can of paint for about $5 from home depot in the color I wanted. I simply painted the drawer front the solid green. I looked all over for a stencil in the pattern I wanted and sadly it was a lot harder to find than I anticipated, so I made my own. I stenciled the drawers using a graphic that I created in Paint (that freebie program with Windows), then I used a program to cut it out onto cardstock using my Cricut. I only did this because I couldn't find the pattern I wanted anywhere and I'm not even sure what it's called, plus I'm not one to easily give up when I get my mind set on something. To paint the stencil on, I used spray adhesive to stick my stencil to the drawers (already painted solid green) and spray painted over them with the off white. . .worked pretty well. On the sides, I wanted more green, so I sprayed them solid white and I was going to paint over them, however after 3 failed attempts this just didn't work; the latex paint kept bleeding behind my stencil and since my stencil was cardstock, it also made the paper soggy. So after my failed attempts, I sanded the sides down again, painted them solid green and sprayed over them like I did on the drawers. What a headache.

Here is the buffet after being primed, painted, and all the stenciling done on the drawers. 

Now painting over the stencil that didn't work. 

The side now painted solid green.

Here is the finished product. I found the knobs at Hobby Lobby. They were just a little smaller looking than I hoped for, but I think the style is very fitting and they add a nice little touch. I know the buffet is a bit funky but that's what I wanted. I LOVE the way this turned out and even more, I LOVE having the extra storage space in my kitchen.

Close up of the knobs and stenciling 

Lessons learned on this project: ALWAYS use a good brush! It makes all the difference in the world. Take the time to mask off. . .it saves time in the end and looks WAY better. Don't try to brush on latex paint with a stencil. . .it bleeds behind the stencil no matter how hard you try. And last but not least. . .don't rush it, things just take time sometimes.

Oh and if anybody is interested, here are the stencils I used:

This is the one I created, and therefore, it isn't perfect. The circles line up pretty good, but not exact, just for the record.

The link for this stencil is: here but I actually modified it just a little so it would cut out on my Cricut better. 

Cute Onesies

Skirts for onesies

I saw this cute idea on Pinterest and had to try it out and give it as baby gifts.  I found the cute fabrics and ribbon from Walmart and the tulle I got from JoAnn fabrics.    I was also fortunate enough to buy some of the onsies for gifts at Walmart for 1$.  I love a bargain.  Some of the onsies I got at Carters on sale.  I never pay full price for anything.  I think it’s a sin. 

The hardest thing was trying to figure out what size the baby’s waist is.  I used my 9 month old granddaughter Abbey to figure out sizes and took a little off for younger sizes and added to make larger sizes.  I have always thought it was just as quick to make 2 or 3 of something as it was to make 1 so I made 6 little skirts 3 different sizes of  2 different fabrics. 

For a size 0-3 months I cut a piece of grosgrain ribbon 18” long.  Cut a piece of fabric the full width of the fabric and 4 ½ inches high.  Cut 2-3 pieces of tulle 5 ½ inches tall and the width of the tulle.  I did two pieces but I think it could have been a little more full.  Sew a tiny hem on the decorative fabric.  Gather the other edge.  I have a ruffle foot that I use on my machine to ruffle or you can gather with basting stitches by pulling the threads.  The ruffling foot will not gather certain fabrics such as tulle so you will have to run basting stitches and pull the threads and gather it yourself.  The tulle can never be too over gathered.  I think that it is what gives the punch to the little skirts.  I sewed the gathered fabric edge onto the gathered tulle edge with my serger.   I then sewed the grosgrain ribbon onto the serged edge of the fabric.  I finished the edges of the skirt by serging and then folding over the serged edge and top stitching.  I sewed Velcro the hook piece on one end of the grosgrain ribbon and on the other end of the grograin ribbon I sewed two pieces of the loop Velcro spaced about 1 inch apart so that this allows the skirt to be adjustable.  I created a bow out of the grosgrain ribbon and sewed it onto the front of the skirt to the side.  I also created another bow and sewed it to a stretchy head band.  So easy and cute.  If you get a plain onesie you can make a cute little flower out of the fabric and put it onto the lapel of the onesie.  A small yo yo with tulle behind it and a button in the center makes a cute flower for the lapel. 

Here are the measurements I used.

0-3 months-Decorative fabric 4 ½ inches high and the width of the fabric.  Tulle 2-3 pieces the width of the fabric and 5 ½ inches high. 1 ½ inch Grosgrain ribbon cut 18 inches long.

6-9 months-Decorative fabric 5 ½ inches high and the width of the fabric.  Tulle 2-3 pieces the width of the fabric and 6 ½ inches high.  1 ½ inches grosgrain ribbon cut 20 inches long.

12 months-Decorative fabric 6 ½ inches high and the width of the fabric.  Tulle 2-3 pieces the width of the fabric and 7 ½ inches high.  1 ½ inches grosgrain ribbon cut 22 inches long.

INFANT SEAT COVERS

I make a lot of things but never seem to find the time to blog about how to make them.  Recently there has been a baby boom at work.  Several of my coworkers or their spouses are pregnant including my daughter JaNae.  I love to sew and create, so this baby boom has spawned some original creations and some cute copies of things I have seen on pinterest.  I love love love Pinterest.  It makes me wish I was a young mom again but at least my grandkids get to reap the benefits. 

It seems that the new moms have a competition going on as to who can have the cutest cover for their infant seat.  I have come up with some original designs and enjoy making them as baby gifts.  The first one I made was for my granddaughter Brecklyn.  Then I made one for my granddaughter Elyse.  My daughter Christin is a good little designer and she had picked out the fabrics she wanted to use in Elyses room and I used the fabrics to create the infant seat cover.  It was a black and white damask with pink and black polka dot fabric on the back.  Christin wanted pink dingle ball fringe on the edge.  It turned out so cute and she said she got lots of complements on it. 
I never make the same one twice. The creating and finding different fabrics is

part of the fun.  The size I work with is approximately 33inches by 42 inches.  I decide how I want to finish the edge and this determines if I leave the corners square or round them off.  I buy two pieces of fabric.  If the direction of the fabric does not need to run the long direction then 1 yard each of two different colors of fabric will work.  If you are working with fabric that is directional as the damask fabric I used for my granddaughters cover then the yardage needs to be increased to 1 1/4 yards.  For the edge fabric for binding you will need ½ yard of fabric or 41/2 yards if trim like large ric rac or dingle ball trim.  The straps are made by cutting two pieces of fabric 5” by 8”. 

The 5” by 8” piece is folded in half right sides together so it is now 21/2” by 8 “.  Sew along one end and down the long edge.  Turn right side out and press the open raw edge to the inside.  Stitch the end closed.  I like to use Velcro to secure the ends together around the handle of the seat. I use large buttons or flowers to embellish the straps.  The straps are sewn onto the finished cover.  I find the location by finding the exact middle of the finished cover and place the middle edge of the fabric 21/2 – 3 inches from the middle.  The straps will be about 5-6” apart. 

The car seat covers can be embellished in a variety of ways.  I like to appliqué quilts so it is fun to use appliqué as a way to decorate the covers.  If you have a sewing machine that does embroidery this would look cute also. 

I love the argyle design.  So I thought this would be cute on a cover for a baby boy.  I decided to make the design using diamonds of two different sizes.  I stitched over the larger diamond with a big x out of a contrasting thread using a decorative stitch so that it would show up better.  I used grosgrain ribbon on the edges to create a border.  I stitched the grosgrain ribbon down with the same decorative stitch in a contrasting color. 

I have some more designs in my head and fabric already picked out.  So there are even more designs to come.

Gender Reveal Scratch Off Cards

I had seen some things on Pinterest on how to make scratch cards for various things, and I decided since I don't live near any family anymore, this would be a good opportunity to use that idea to reveal the gender of our baby in a fun way.  I made some little scratch cards and came up with a fun saying.  I included my due date on there too so that it's easier for people to remember.  I kept the card itself pretty simple because I was a slacker and waited too long to make the cards and I just wanted to get them in the mail ASAP.  Anyway, here is a little tutorial on how I made my card:

I wanted to use Photoshop to make up the cutesy card/words, however, I quickly realized I don't know what I'm doing, so back to Microsoft Word for me :)  I just typed up what I wanted and played with fonts as well as the size and color so it wasn't too plain.  I fit four on a page, just printed them up on cardstock, cut them up and ta-done with that step.  Then I found some cute gender-neutral baby paper to back the printed paper and cut it just larger than the printed paper, but just small enough to fit in my invitation sized envelopes.

To assemble the cards, I just layered the two papers, used a small punch to make a hole in both papers and slipped a button shaped brad to hold them together, easy shmeasy.

The next thing I did was make the scratch off stickers.  I would recommend doing this a day in advance so that the paint has time to dry.  Here is a list of the materials you need:

                                          *Clear contact paper

                                          *Metallic acrylic craft paint

                                          *Dish soap

                                          *A paint brush

                                          *Scissors

                                          *Tape

This is really quite simple to do.  Just combine some acrylic paint with the dish soap 2 parts paint to 1 part dish soap (I just guestimated but I would err on the side of less dish soap because too much makes it too tacky and it never really dries hard).  I laid out a sheet of contact paper on my table, taped down the edges, and just brushed the paint mixture on really thick.  Be sure to do it thick because I tried to add more later and it doesn't work very well, plus you don't want people to be able to see through--kind of ruins the point!
Once the paint dried I had good intentions of cutting the contact paper into cute shapes on my Cricut, but due to a time crunch I just used some good ol' scissors and went to town cutting out some rectangles.

Once I got home from the ultrasound, I just hand wrote the gender on the cards because I already had them cut up and pre-assembled; however, if you wanted to wait to assemble them you could always print it on there then do the assembling later.  Finally, I removed the sticky backing from the contact paper, placed my cut up rectangles over the gender, and ta-done!

That's it.  It really is an easy craft and you can do your cards up as fancy or as simple as you want.