Jazzi's Gift Exchange!!!

Jacque got his gift from Jazzi's gift exchange today!! He was so excited to open the box! He got 3 squeaky balls, a cool bone, a card that's edible and some yummy biscuits!! He also got a lovely card, the first one! 

Sweet Pippen

Hi Friends!!!

What's on your face Jacque?

Dear guacamole, why did I not like you before?!

I think I'm growing up. I would present as evidence that now I actually like guacamole and mushrooms! Things I used to hate with a passion when I was younger! Oh my, if only I had known what I was missing! Remember back when I posted about the jam I made from the items I get from the nice people at Mrs. Wages (it's delicious, by the way!)? I also got some nice guacamole mix. My husband's birthday was a little over a week ago and also the first full day of college football so I took the opportunity to make this guacamole as part of his mini taco / enchilada fiesta birthday dinner! It was so easy to make! Just smoosh up two ripe avocados and stir in the mix! It was super yummy, even more so in my adorable Butterprint little Pyrex bowl.

At least someone is cool......

There's an AC vent somewhere under that fluff....

Great Scotts, Jacque Approved

Last week I was innocently checking my reader list and looking at all the cool new blog posts out there when I came across Scottie Watch on The Plaid Scottie and my whole day came screeching to a halt! There, in that wonderful post, was a new fabric line featuring Scotties!! 

Oh my! It's called Great Scotts by Benartex!

Isn't it perfect?!?! Of course I had to buy it! I got the fat quarter set from the Fat Quarter Shop! This is the first time I've ordered from them and I am super impressed! Shipping was so fast, definitely a good thing because you can only imagine how anxious I was for these little cuties to show up at my door!!

Look! Jacque approved!!

Happy Pippen

I might have shared this before somewhere, but I came across it while looking through my photos and it made me smile!

Washi Dress!!!

Oh man! I love this dress! It's an awesome pattern by Made By Rae! It's the Washi Dress! From the moment I saw the original Washi Dress I knew I had to make this dress! I even ordered the correct yardage of Washi fabric (lucky guess on my part!). I waited patiently and just last week the pattern became available to purchase! YES!!  I bought it right away and this last weekend I made my own Washi Dress! I made it sleeveless with a scoop neck. It fits so perfectly! I love it! It has pockets, is a great empire type waist and is so comfortable! It was quick and easy to make, I didn't need to make any alterations!  I did make a muslin of the top, just to make sure the darts fit....and they did! Man, I am in love! There is also a tunic version that I will definitely need to make! I see many Washi dresses and tunics in my future!!

If any of you out there are looking for a great dress pattern, check out the Washi Dress! It is worth every penny!

New Obsession.....Pyrex

I know, I know....you're probably all like - duh, Pyrex rocks, where have you been??!!!  Despite my best efforts to not get pulled into collecting Pyrex....I have succumb to it's awesomeness and the thrill of the thrift. There really is nothing like sifting through people's junk just to find your own little treasure! It started when I went to a local church sale and my mom and I saw a set of bowls. I bought it after some convincing from my mom, but I'm so glad I did! It's been about a week and here's what I've got so far.

Here's the original set! Three turquoise Butterprint. I think this might actually be a set of four, but I only have these three. I'm still trying to figure out what everything is! Thank goodness for Pyrex Love to reference!

The first trip I made to Goodwill in search of Pyrex I found these. A Forest Fancies little bowl and a Butterfly Gold butter grease bowl thingy! Pippen is using it to eat out of now.

My mom brought me this one from her stuff! She showed me all the ones she has today to see if I wanted any! I just don't have room, good gracious! She has a couple really pretty casserole dishes! The same day she gave me this Snowflake divided dish, I found....

....this at Goodwill! I searched up and down the aisles a few times and found nothing, then when trying to find my husband I saw this sitting Verde divided dish on an endcap! The lid has a small not quite chip on one of the handles, but it's hardly noticeable. At first I wasn't sure if these really went together (my mom has a casserole with this lid), but after some Pyrex Love research I think they do go together.  

I got these today. I waited for the Goodwill color to change to get the Golden Honeysuckle casserole (need to look for a lid) and was hoping this lime green square casserole dish would still be there, but it wasn't. Oh well, because I found these two Autumn Harvest round casseroles! The small one was missing its lid, but luckily I also bought some lids last weekend knowing that people mentioned a lot that they found pieces missing lids, and sure enough one of those lids fits this little dish perfectly!

I'm really hoping someday I will find a piece in pink that isn't too much. My mom found a set of three mixing bowls at an antique store at the beach, but they wanted $72. I found a set of four at a local vintage store but they weren't perfect and they were still $65. Just a bit too much for my liking. I think I will stick to thrift stores and estate sales. Hopefully I will be able to find some cool pieces and have some fun with this new hobby!

Hello? Hello? Who's in there?!

Mrs. Wages and fresh Boysenberry freezer jam

Last year I saw a post from Mrs Wages asking for people who would be willing to sample their products and write reviews. Mrs Wages is a maker of canning supplies. I jumped at the chance and sent a message right away! I didn't hear back and was disappointed, but months later realized there was a message from them in my "other" messages on Facebook! I didn't even know that folder existed. I replied, but at that point it was too late. I was delighted to receive an email about it this year and said YES right away! I got a lovely package a few weeks later with pectin, freezer jam mix, guacamole mix, spiced peach mix and salsa mix! I will posting my experience with them all!

Here we go! I went to my local farmer's market  and found some lovely Boysenberries. I picked up 3 pints and came home to make some freezer jam.

Mmmmm....look how pretty these are!

All washed and ready to go!

I smooshed them all up with my potato masher thingy. 

I got almost exactly 4 cups which is what the package calls for! 

I  mixed the package of freezer jam mix

and 1 1/2 cup sugar and then added the mashed berries in.

I mixed it all together for 3 minutes.....

Then spooned it into those little plastic containers.

 I got 6 containers, 8 ounces each.

Here they are! After sitting 30 minutes they are all nice and set! They're in the 

freezer right now just waiting for a little late night toast snack or a yummy

lunch PB and J! YUM! 

Stay tuned! I've got some cherries to make some jam with! 

Lunch Bag

I made this adorable little lunch bag the other day and I am in love with it! It was a very quick and easy sew, even with putting in the zipper and using Insul Brite for insulation. I used Erin's pattern from her blog Dog Under my Desk! Check out her blog and her adorable little doggies! She has a pattern for a dog tie!! Jacque has one!

Ok, back to the pattern! I know, I know...I made it exactly like the pattern picture but I assure you I made this bag! It's a nice size to hold a drink and a few containers of food. Making it out of all cotton makes it washable, which is really nice. There are so many possibilities for fabric! Who doesn't want to carry around an adorable lunch bag?! I definitely need to make one for myself!

Sunshine Award

Wow! We got a great award from our friends over at Groucho the Wonder Westie, head on over and check out what a cutie Groucho is!!! Thanks for the award! 

1.Favorite number? My favorite number is 4, going back to my high school volleyball playing days!

 2.Favorite non-alcoholic beverage? Definitely water for my doggies, otherwise Ginger Ale!

 3. Facebook or Twitter? Both have their positives and negatives. Facebook is nice for pictures, but sometimes Twitter is just easier!

 4. Your Passion? Sewing and crafting and just creating overall!

 5. Favorite Pattern? Polka Dots!

 6. Favorite Day of the Week? Saturday! No work and that's when most college football games are on!

 7.Favorite Flower? I am loving the Bleeding Hearts in my front yard!

Homemade Body Wash

Since I've started canning and sewing more I've found that I seem to be seeking out more things I can make myself. I think I've blogged about making my own laundry detergent, but I recently decided to make my own body wash! I was running out and a bit annoyed at the cost when shopping around so I did what any good DIYer would do....I headed straight to Pinterest! I found several good tutorials, like this one, and this one, but I most closely followed this one.

I used vegetable glycerine, one bar of Dr. Bronner's Castille soap and some distilled water. I found the glycerin at New Seasons and they only had a bottle that was much bigger than I need, but I guess that means I won't need to go out and try to find it again for a while!

I used an old knife to chunk the soap up and mixed it with 2 tablespoons of the glycerine and a half gallon of the water. I forgot to take a picture, but I basically just covered it and let it simmer until the soap had melted. I will admit that I was pretty certain I hadn't done it correctly. The result was clear and very watery looking. I decided to let it sit overnight, and sure enough in the morning it was opaque and a darn snotty mess! I put it in jars and added it up, I had just made 56 ounces of lovely lavender body wash!

I bought a plastic squeeze bottle in the trial section at Target and filled it from the smallest jar. I used some the other day and it worked like a charm! It smells lovely and lathered pretty nicely!

Lets add this up.....$1 for the gallon of distilled water, $7.99 for the glycerin (16 ounces, $.50 an ounce) and $4.50 for the bar of soap. For this batch that's $.50 for water, $.50 for glycerin and $4.50 for soap = total $5.50. Aveeno body wash is $5.99 for 16 oz. So for less than I could have bought 16 ounces of body wash at the store I made 56 ounces! Pretty darn good! Oh, and the little plastic container cost $1.29. But I will continue to fill and use it. I looked all over my house for one that I could use, I'm sure I'll find a whole stash of these little travel bottles now but oh well!!

This was such a quick and easy project and I'm so happy I did it! Once I get through all the shampoo I have stocked up from my crazy couponing year, I will be making my own shampoo too! The possibilities are endless!!

Everyone, and I mean everyone, loves raspberries

Scottie Love

Whenever I find Scottie material I get so excited! Usually this happens around Christmas, but this year I had the pleasure of finding some awesome non Christmas Scottie material! My friend actually saw it online and then at a local quilt shop Cool Cottons! I've bought some in a few different places over the last year or so! I think I made the cutest thing last night from it.....

Yea!! I used an awesome tutorial by Kaelin of The Plaid Scottie ! Check out her site and look for her adorable Scottie Whiskers!! What a cutie pie!!! You can find this lively little Scottie zippered box pouch in my etsy store

Bye Bye Fluffy Pippen

Pippen went to the groomer today! She was getting so fluffy, I could tell she was uncomfortable and she needed a little haircut. Here is her before:

See?! Very fluffy! So off she went today to her groomer Wendy at Portland Pampered Pets. They are super nice and do a great job. When I picked Pippen up Wendy said she was so good as usual! Pippen just loves the attention! What a silly Scottie!! Here is her after photo!!

Plus, some outtakes!

Frankie Furter Day!!

Hi all! It's Frankie Friday! Thanks to Frankie and his people for being great blogville friends!!!!

Look how handsome those two are!!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!

I won! I won!! I'm so excited! I had a super lucky week last week and won 2 blog giveaways! So exciting!!! 

First I won this awesome fabric from Contemporary Cloth on Fresh Lemons Quilts! I won 1/2 yard of 9 different fabrics from the Flyaway and ReMix line!! Each fabric is so cute and I love polka dots! See those adorable little birds and butterflies?! I might make a little quilt or maybe a few little bags or maybe both!!  

I also won the weekly goal giveaway on Michelle patterns, formerly Keyka Lou. I love Michelle's patterns and blog! I won a $10 credit her pattern store and got myself some purse hardware as well as a couple of the semi retired patterns! 

I feel so lucky I should play the lottery! Ok, maybe I won't push my luck. Hopefully I still have some luck left because it's Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway week and I've probably entered 50 other giveaways!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

My family went to a nice brunch, here I am wearing my new dress with my mom!

Afterward we went to a local butcher shop and my dad bought Jacque (below) and Pippen (above) little smoked bones! They are happily chewing on them as we speak! This is the first time they've ever had bones like this before and I am watching them carefully.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Sewing for me

Since I've started my etsy store most of my sewing has been for items to list and I haven't gotten to sew much for myself! Well, I decided to take some time and just make a few things for me!

I love looking at pictures of other people's projects on flickr and kept seeing beautiful bags made from noodlehead's 241 tote! You can find the pattern here. I've bought so many purse patterns, I didn't know if I wanted to buy another but was convinced by so many of these pretty bags! It's also a bit bigger than most of the bags I've made in the past. I used some floral Moda and paired it with some green leaf, brown and pink polka dot and some plain brown fabric I had in my stash. Yea for stash busting projects!! Just an excuse to buy more to replace it!!

The pattern is really awesome, with plenty of pictures and well written directions on how to do each step. There are instructions for 2 different totes, one have the zipper pockets and one with the side pockets. I like having lots of pockets, so I added both! I didn't have 2 of the same zipper in my stash, so I mixed it up and used different colors!

There is also an inside slip pocket and a magnetic snap closure!

I made the strap adjustable, the pattern doesn't call for this.

The side pockets are great for cell phones and keys!

For this project I actually used the interfacing called for, Pellon SF 101. Why didn't I do this before?! It was a little more than I normally spend on interfacing, but so worth it! I might invest in a bolt with a coupon or sale at Jo-Ann!

I also finished a dress for myself to wear on Sunday out to brunch with my family! I love this gray and white polka dot, it's by Riley Blake. I used Simplicity 2209, a Lisette pattern. This is the second dress I've made from this pattern and I realize it's not really my favorite. It is a cute dress and, with some minor adjustments, fits nicely and is pretty fast and easy. 

It has some interesting dart details in the front. I have to shorten the bodice, so the detail probably gets a bit distorted.

I put in a lapped zipper because I didn't want to go to the store to get an invisible one! It is ok and was fairly simple, I used this tutorial. It could be a little tidier, but it works and you can't tell when I'm wearing it.

See the zipper in there?! I get my zippers from zipit on etsy! She has an awesome selection and is super friendly and ships so fast! Love it!

Stay tuned for a picture of me actually wearing it!

I'm excited to share more sewing projects with you!!