Peg People

Once I saw these online, and especially some of the beautiful ones online at etsy.com, I knew I had to make my own...


I didn't think I could make some as cute as some of those that sell for higher prices, but knew I was creative/ crafty/ talented enough to make some that were cute enough for me... and I'd read from other blogs that having/ making/ collecting these little buggers was addictive, so I bit the bullet and bought sets in bulk (which is totally the cheapest way to, strike that, the most economical way to buy.).
These aren't sealed yet, which I plan to do.

Also, when I was looking at them online, Matthew spotted a Batman and Robin set and flipped a lid with excitement... so, I'm sure some super heroes are coming soon, along with princesses, and extended family members...

coffee cozy

I made this to give to Erik's sister, Elissa, for her birthday. We visited her this weekend so we could go see her show, Forbidden Broadway. I made this for her for her birthday so we could gift it ala noodlehead.

see the iced coffee in the cup that's modeling?-I made that too...YUM!

night dress

I made this night gown for Sophia out of a pilow case from our old sheets that were oh so soft, and/ but loved so much that the fitted sheet wore through.

I just used one of her dresses as a 'pattern' and some homemade bias tape... nice and soft and great for sleeping... though tight to pull on over her head.... she won't get to wear them for long....

making stuff

I've been keeping myself pretty busy this week making stuff for upcoming summer trips. like the other day, I started and finished one travel pillow cover (that followed us home from WV) and started another that was finished the next day.


it really is amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it... and when the kids play well together- with scrap fabrics nonetheless!!
Not perfect by any means, but I'm a sloppy seamstress....

hair bow organizer

After seeing Carrie's bow organizer, I decided it was time Sophia had one too. I was glad that Carrie thought a larger one would work, because I had this 16 x 20 frame in the basement. I'd already painted it white, though I don't know what I'd previously planned to do with it...

I cut wood for the back of the frame and then layered batting and fabric on top, because it was what I had on hand and because it would match Sophia's room (I've previously made curtains and a cushion for a little seat for her). I then evenly spaced ribbon down the length of the board and attached it to the frame with the prongs that were intended for the back of the frame (missing, along with the glass). I think this look would also be adorable with a few small frames with various fabric hung together as a collage...

no pictures of the process or it hanging with bows on it because my camera is broken. nice huh? Luckily my sister has her old camera that shes going to let me use until we get a new one (Susan, I need to get that from you), which will be... Christmas maybe?

again- I'm linking up... because that cupcake tower looks awesome.

I hemmed my pants

granted this was in the begining of October, but still a notable achievement.

Thank you Frances!

A star is EXACTLY what the plate needed.... I LOVE it.

I've been really busy trying to get Erik's party together, and now gettin ready for a craft show at Erik's work- really excited and nervous... :)

candy corn

Done! and before Halloween week even!
Granted I don't think it turned out as cute as it looked in my head, but I'm happy I tried something new.
Found the shirt on clearance at Target for about $1.50- and though I wish it were white, plain t- shirts are hard to come by, especially in the fall- so I went with it. Only used what I had on hand (awesome!) and had it started and complete within the evening (even better.). Seems large on Sophia- but maybe she'll be able to wear it next year too.... if she decides to stay where she's at for a while and quit growing so much bigger than she "should" be. :)

hair bows

Erik bought me some clips so I could make some hair bows for Sophia... this is the latest bow... what do you think?

here are the others:

as I thought up the clip with the buttons, I wondered why I'd never seen anything like it before- as I was gluing the buttons on though, I realized that it would be a HUGE choking hazard- maybe I can use it in my hair.... I'd look very fashionable, no?

I think that the orange and black bow will need a few more curled ribbons added to it, or at least that future bows of that style will have more ribbon.

what do you think though, 'cuz that's what really matters.... :P

ps- don't let that picture up top fool you, although Sophia normally does 'request' that bows be put in her hair, she wont keep that one in- she just can't keep playing with it and trying to figure it out...

baby booties

I made some of these booties just now, while Sophia was sleeping...something she rarely does on her own latley...
they turned out really cute, but I don't think there's any way that they are going to fit her chubby feet.... I didn't enlarge the pattern large enough I think... I should have had the forethought to have the pattern ready before she napped and to test the sole on her foot- oh well....
now I have no more wool felt, only craft felt- and so no more booties will be made before Easter at least.... :(

Rag bib

Sophia can sit- sort of. She forgets that she can and goes to grab a toy and then she loses her balance and falls over. She's been doing this for a while- since before she started eating solids- but she's much better at it now- she can sit for longer periods of time with no help.

her bib you asked about? Why yes, it is cute, thank you... I made it for her out of an old towel that we brought home from West Virginia... it was in Mary Jo's rag pile!! Got any more of these "rags" Mia? I Do think it makes a cute bib! It'll be even cuter once I am able to embroider it on my new sewing machine!!

Happy Turkey Day!

turkey plates, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

Hope your's is delightful!

Parmesean Chicken

Parmesean Chicken, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

Baked Parmesean chicken with Spaghetti and sauce as a side.
Not too difficult to make- though you have to make it while your chicken is 'fresh' and not been frozen yet as this is a marinade type dish. Pretty yummy and healthy feeling.

chocolate mug cake

chocolate mug cake, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

This recipe was sent ot me as the most dangerous chocolate cake in the world- since it only takes about 5 minutes to make it.

I made it in one of the largest mugs we had, and used the chocolate chips, since I had some....

I do not think it would be all that great with out the chocolate chips, and as Erik pointed out, it would be much tastier wild still warm when served with a scoop of ice cream.

chocolate mug cake, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

yum.

MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

1 Coffee Mug

4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons baking cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well .. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake may rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share!)

*PS. I tried the recipe with out the cocoa too and it made a decent white cake, though the cake stuck to the sides of the mug a lot.

5 minute batman shirt

5 minute batman shirt, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

Another project while Mia visited- the 5 minute batman shirt.

While we were out shopping for Matthew's fall clothes, we found a black batman sweater- and of course, when we got home and Matthew woke up from his nap, he was DYING to wear it...

I had a white undershirt leftover from a 1st birthday project, and some iron on transfer paper left over from making two men and a smoker shirts- so in about 5 minutes, I was able to make this shirt for Matthew. he was thrilled- he wore it for 2 days, and wanted to sleep in it... then it had to be washed... and he forgot about it.
Oh well- it was good while it lasted. :)

baby cupcakes

baby cupcakes, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

here are the cupcakes my mom and I made for the baby shower. Lindsay helped finish up the baby blankets. I got the idea from JustJENN. They were a hit. I made 2 dozen, not 3 like her... (how to here)and I did have people helping me, but it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Hey- I had to do something to keep up my 'Martha Stewart' like party throwing skillz... (right Teresa?)

Over all I think the mom to be was surprised it was a shower for her, and not an end of summer bash... She was told that the guys just needed another reason to smoke (some meats). We had a few surprise visitors too- and the big sister to be was sure to point that out to her mom (before she got in the door to see for herself!!). Oh well... I remember being young and excited too.... besides, she'd already made up for it by being such a big helper in getting things set up for the party before her mom arrived. :)

And what did we give as a gift?

baby gift, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

What else? a pint sized smoker shirt.

$3 window mistreatment

$3 window mistreatment, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

Inspired by Nester, here are my $3 window mistreatments... $6 for the pair.

I'd wanted to put something on our kitchen windows for a while... my sewing machine doesn't like me though, and then the baby was born... how on earth was I going to sew a "curtain" under those conditions? (think I can cram any more links in there??)

Using free fabric leftover from a school project (a group of us were put in charge of designing a porch area for... some event here in town- I was somehow put in charge of sewing up all of the pillows and cushions), a glue gun, fabric tacks, 'L' brackets, and wood that was here at the house- I created these in a day.

my mistreatment tools, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

Granted the fabric isn't exactly what I had in mind... I'd wanted something that had a white background- with designs in red, blue, green and yellow/orange (never could find it)... I still like the mistreatments quite a bit.

little how to:

I glued the hem with hot glue

nailed the fabric to a piece of wood that was 4 inches wider than my window, folding it like a present in the corners

screwed the "L" brackets to the wood

screwed the treatment to the wall

baptismal gown

IMG_3549, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

My sewing machine is on the fritz- and while it could be a user error, I'm suspecting it's the machine... I've tried EVERYTHING I know how to fix it... any how- since my mom's machine had wonky stitch length, and since she hadn't used it in quite a while and couldn't find the instruction book... we ended going to my aunt's house to make this dress again- though slightly modified.

IMG_3560, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

It's much longer than the pattern originally specified- but that's because it's a baptismal gown...

IMG_3558, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

the top was made from fabric leftover from my First Communion dress

IMG_3536, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

and the bottom was actual fabric from my First Communion dress. It was a difficult decision to use the fabric from the dress- a dress my grandmother made for me. But in the end, it makes this little dress more special and uses something that would otherwise have been sitting in the closet turning yellow, never to be used again because of it's frilly-nes and outdated style.

dream dinners

When we visited friends in Pennsylvania this summer- some of the meals she'd made for us were SO great- that I had to ask where she'd gotten them- they were all recipes that she'd made ahead and then put in her freezer, so that when we got there, all she had to do was defrost the meal the night before, and cook it when we were ready to eat. Wow. AMAZING! I thought- What a great tool for entertaining guests- and for preparing for a new baby!

So- When we got home, one of the first things I did was order this cook book 'Dream Dinners'.

While I have to admit, not all of the dinners have been a dream (We really didn 't care at all for the Lemon Chicken Asparagus dinner, or the Pork and Pears dinner), A LOT of them have been awesome- the Pesto Chicken and Ravioli? To die for. The Red Potatoes and Garlic Chicken are also a favorite for sure. This book also offers a lot of insight into freezing meals- the how to and practical information... and while before I was thinking I'd need a million and one glass baking dishes with lids- I found that their suggestion to line the pan with foil, freeze, then to take the meal out of the pan and wrap and re-wrap, not only saves you from having to purchase a ton of baking dishes- it saves freezer space as well. When you're ready to bake a meal, take it out of the freezer, un-wrap the WHOLE thing, place it in your baking dish and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator all day, or over night. PRESTO- dinner is ready after about an hour of baking time.

Thanks to this book, we've got a freezer full (and my mom has a freezer full too) of meals I've prepared ahead for us to eat when this little one decides to come.

The book gives you a recipe for a 9x13 dish- but I've found that often times we can use an 8x8 for our meal- which allows us to separate the recipe into 3... so that each recipe makes us one dinner for that night- and 2 dinners to freeze...

Now if only we had room for a huge deep freeze here in our house... :)

nursery curtains

nursery curtains, originally uploaded by SIMPLY.MADE.

yeah- finito!

They turned out pretty cute looking, if I do say so myself. I think I could have placed the ties a little closer to the edge, and it was obvious when My mom helped me hang them that I used too heavy of a fabric- the edges there had to be pinned up. I doubt that the Pottery Barn Kids window treatments that they were based on had to be pinned... (They don't sell that style any more...)

Now I just have to make a cover for the baby bumper and a fitted sheet and we're set for a July baby's arrival. Not that I'm hoping she decides to head out any sooner than she needs to (pun actually not intended...), I still have way to much other stuff I want to get done before I'm bombarded with baby sweetness.