It's That Time Again

I can't believe that it's that time of the week again. Diet Challenge check in time! Well, I am down 1-1/2 pounds this week. I have lost a total of 5 pounds since starting the challenge 2-1/2 weeks ago. Although my loss isn't as great as last week, I am very satisfied. To reach the goal that was recommended by my doctor, I need to lose another 17-1/2 pounds. It won't be easy, but I know that I can do it!

Here is an easy Sloppy Joe recipe. Who doesn't love Sloppy Joes, right? This recipe is only 457 calories per serving and will serve 4.

Easy Italian Sausage Sloppy Joes

2 tsp. olive oil
1 chopped bell pepper
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 lb. lean Italian hot or sweet turkey sausage
1 cup prepared spaghetti sauce
1 tsp. dried basil
4 (8-inch)toasted French bread rolls
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Heat oil over medium heat. Add bell pepper and garlic, cook 3 minutes. Remove sausage casings and crumble; add to skillet. Cook until no longer pink. Add spaghetti sauce and basil and cook about 10 minutes or until thickened. Spoon on top of rolls and top with cheese. Enjoy!

On an entirely different subject...Remember when I told you how much I love makeup? Well, I recently got this bright idea of mixing up my own mica powders to create mineral eyeshadows since I love mineral makeup in general. I had been reading about how to do it online and had also viewed several clips on YouTube about it. Well, I've had my supplies for over a month now (ordered it from TKB Trading) and I still haven't tried it yet.

I purchased a ton of little jars with sifters (well, not a ton but 500) with high hopes of mixing up every conceivable color imaginable. Possibly a little over ambitious, eh?



I also purchased their Matte Texture Base. This is a blend of natural ingredients that the company put together for the purpose of making eyeshadow. Since it is already mixed for me, I just need to add it to the mica's to create the eyeshadow.


I ordered a total of 100 mica powders. The color's are all so beautiful. The mica's can be combined to create any color that you can think of.





I know, who needs 500 eyeshadows, right? Well, maybe I don't NEED it but I surely WANT it. LOL Now I just have to find the time to sit down and do it. I'm sure it will be loads of fun. At least that's what I keep telling myself anyway.

Take care!

Aloha!

Tutorial---Fancy Facial Tissue Pocket

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

I would like to share my method of making a facial tissue pocket. This tutorial will also show you how to create "faux" seam binding at the opening of the tissue pocket. It looks almost like the real thing, I promise, only way easier.

There are very simple pattern pieces involved. It requires as little as two pattern pieces, three if you'd like to create a yo-yo embellishment.

Please do not let the overwhelming amount of photos discourage you from attempting this project. I wanted to provide complete details in case a sewing novice would like to try this. I would estimate that this project can be put together in approximately 20-30 minutes from beginning to end, depending on your sewing expertise.

Let's begin.

You will need two coordinating or contrasting fabrics to create this tissue pocket.

For the outside of your tissue pocket:
Cut a piece of fabric measuring 6-1/4" x 6-1/2". Because both of the pattern pieces are similar in size, mark the 6-1/4" side either by cutting a couple of small notches into the edge or by marking it with a pen. These markings will come in handy when attaching this piece to the lining.

For the lining:
Cut a piece of fabric measuring 6-1/4" x 7-1/2", notching or marking the 6-1/4" edge.

If you'd like to embellish your tissue pocket with a yo-yo, cut a 2" circle from the lining fabric.



Here are the fabrics that I have chosen. Each piece has been cut accordingly and notched on the 6-1/4" edge. I have also included a 2" fabric circle as I will be embellishing my tissue pocket with a yo-yo.


With right sides together, pin the outside fabric to the lining on the 6-1/4" edge. Be sure that you have placed the correct edges together by referring back to the notches or marks that you previously made.


Sew a 1/4" seam.


Pin opposite side in the same manner.


Sew a 1/4" seam.


With an iron, press both seams open.


Turn right side out. With lining side facing down, center the outside panel so that it is equally bordered by the lining on both sides; press flat with an iron.


With the lining side facing up, bring one side of the finished seam up toward the center. Pin in place approx. 1/8" over the center mark.



Fold the other side to the center, also overlapping 1/8" over the center mark.


We will be making a French Seam to encase all raw edges to keep them from fraying.

Sew a 1/4" seam from the raw edge on both sides.


Trim seams on both sides very close to the sewn edge.



Turn inside out (lining will now be on the outside)



Sew 1/4" seam on both sides.


This is what your tissue pocket will look like with both sides sewn.


Turn right side out.


I am sure that most of you know how to make a yo-yo so I am not going to demonstrate it here. Embellish your Fancy Facial Tissue Pocket with a yo-yo and a button and fill it with your favorite facial tissue.


Enjoy!

Signs and Tags

Signage is a very important element to a craft fair table. Many people use computer generated signs. They're clean and easy to read. I choose a more cutesy, handmade approach to sign making as you will see in the pictures below.

To create my signs, I use 110 weight cardstock. I have used acid free scrapbooking paper (expensive) in a pinch but this is not necessary. Regular old cardstock (cheap) will do the trick.


Once again, Heat 'n Bond Ultra comes in handy. This stuff is not only great for bonding fabric together, but it works for paper too.


Use your paper punches for the decorative elements on your sign. You can also use a scissor to cut your shapes.


I normally cut the Heat'n Bond to the same size as a sheet of cardstock. I use an iron to adhere the Heat'n Bond to the cardstock. If you have trouble with the cardstock warping due to the heat, place the freshly bonded cardstock onto a flat surface and pile some books on top of it. When the cardstock has cooled, remove it from under the books. It should now be flat and easy to work with.

Do not remove the paper backed Heat'n Bond from the cardstock until after it has been punched. The backing has a waxy finish to it that will help it to glide easily through the paper punch. Removing the paper backing prior to punching will make the cardstock stick to the punch and make punching more difficult.


The following three photo's will show you several sign designs that I have used in the past. All elements have been attached using Heat 'n Bond. Eliminating liquid glue also eliminates the mess. Use your iron to attach each element to your sign.

This sign is a snowflake design that I have used for fairs done during the winter months.


This is a simple circle posy design that can be used all year. Notice that on this sign I have used clear contact paper over the face of the sign to protect it from over handling and also from the elements.


All you scrapbookers out there will recognize this peppermint candy design. It is made using round paper punched pieces that have been cut apart and then reassembled into a delicious looking peppermint candy. Hmmmm....wish I had one now! LOL


I also make my own hangtags. I use these types of tags on large items such as handbags. The following is a sample of some that you can easily assemble using paper and other elements. You'd be surprised at how many customers appreciate creative and interesting hangtags.

Some of you may already have paper punches in the shapes of tags. I don't, so I just cut pieces of cardstock, nip off the top corners, punch a hole in the center top, add the decorative elements and some string for hanging.

This tag is completely made from paper, Heat'n Bond and a hot iron.


Fabric yo-yo lovers have atleast a gazillion of these beauties hanging around just waiting for a project to be used on. Topped with a button, these make an interesting and eye catching tag.


The next 3 tags show you that you can use any shape to create a tag. Who says your tag cannot be round or perhaps a flower or triangular shape. Use your imagination and create something pleasing in design. Your customers will love that you've taken the time to add one more interesting and thoughtful component to your handcrafted pieces.

The paper elements on this tag have been fused using an iron and Heat'n Bond. Hot glue a button to the flower center for added visual appeal.


Scrapbooking elements, like these that were given to me by Lorraine, can also be used to create an eye catching design.


How about small silk flowers? They add a very boutique feel to your tags.


Remember, the items that I have shown you are just a few of the things that you can add to your signs and hangtags. You can use crocheted flowers, flower trims that can be purchased by the yard and then cut into individual pieces, natural things such as pressed flowers and leaves, even shapes cut from fabric. The possibilities are endless.

Thank you, everyone, for your concern and well wishes as I went through the colonoscopy. I think that anytime we go through procedures to see if everything is in good working order, we experience anxiety and fear. I know my imagination goes wild and I start thinking of all of the bad that a test can reveal. Thankfully, everything went very well. A small non-cancerous polyp was removed and I am fine. After returning home from the hospital, I dove into bed and slept the anesthesia off until the next morning.

I have to say that the worst part of the procedure is the prep. Drinking a gallon of salty liquid (the drink from hell, according to Stephanie.) within a 4 hour period wasn't pleasant at all. Stephanie's recommendation (she's an RN) to use a straw is spot on, and is exactly how I did it. Whenever I have something unpleasant to drink, I always reach for a straw. Just be very careful when putting a straw into the back of your throat as the tissue there is very soft and can easily be injured due to the straw's rigidness.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Aloha!

It's Check-in Day!

It's Diet Challenge check-in day and I am happy to report that after a week and a half, I am down 3-1/2 pounds. Yeah me!!! LOL Thank you all so much for your support regarding my weight-loss journey. My doctor has said that she would like me to lose 15% of my body weight. She says that the loss of just 15% has been proven to reduce blood pressure and lessen the onset of diabetes and heart disease, none of which I presently have. The one thing that I still need to do is to start walking more. I have always hated exercise and physical sports (I'd rather be sewing!) so this will be the biggest challenge for me.

Today's recipe is for Chili. I love, love, love chili. This recipe will serve 6 and is only 282 calories per serving.

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 onion, diced
2-3 cloves of minced garlic
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cans (14-1/2 oz.) regular or salsa-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 (16-oz) chili beans, drained
1 green pepper, diced
3/4 cup salsa

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Crumble turkey into pan, add chili powder, cumin and salt. Cook 5 minutes longer. Add tomatoes, beans, bell pepper, and salsa. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. Serve.

I will be on a liquid diet today as I am prepping for the dreaded colonoscopy early tomorrow morning. I clearly remember the horror stories told by friends and family when I was growing up. I have been dreading it ever since. Well, the time has finally arrived and I have to admit that although I am a bit anxious, I want tomorrow to be here already so that I can put this thing behind me.

I am a huge news junkie. I cannot believe that after countless months of following the election, I am going to miss the Presidential Inauguration. Oh, phooey. My hubby will be taping it for me. By the time I get to watch it, it will already be old news. Darn it! The doctor doing the procedure insisted that I do it tomorrow because he had an opening. I had forgotten at the time of scheduling that it was Inauguration Day. No wonder he had an opening, no one else wanted it! On another note, doesn't it make you wonder why a person chooses to become a Gastroenterologist? Yuk. Yuk. Yuk.

Since I am on a liquid diet, I made myself a nice hot pot of tea this morning. The tea that I am drinking is made by Teaposy and was given to me by my son's very sweet girlfriend. It comes in a cute colorful box and each posy is individually wrapped and named. Cute names like butterfly, calendula, heart of love, falling water, and lady fairy make me love it even more.

Each posy is tied into a little flower-like bud before it is individually wrapped.

When placed into hot water, it slowly blooms into a pretty flower. Fun.



I would like to take this time to thank all my readers for stopping by each day. Thank you so much for your comments and emails. It is very gratifying to know that my blog is a friendly place to visit and a soft spot to land on after a busy day.

Take care!

Aloha!

Tutorial--'Sweetheart Suzy' Flower Pin

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

For this project, you will need a small piece of cardboard for your pattern, 2 pieces of contrasting fabric for flower petals, green fabric for leaves, button, pin back, fabric bonding agent such as Heat 'n Bond, iron, pencil or disappearing ink pen for tracing, hot glue gun, sewing needle, and thread.


These are the dimensions of the pattern pieces that you will need. They are simple shapes and are easy to replicate. Cut each piece from cardboard to make tracing easier. (Click on the photo for enlargement and better detail).

*Pattern Piece #1: This is the inner flower petal. At it's widest point, it measures 1-1/4" with a base of 3/4" and a length of 1-3/8".

*Pattern Piece #2: This is the outer flower petal. At it's widest point, it measures 1-1/2" with a base of 7/8" and a length of 1-5/8".

*Pattern piece #3: This is the inner leaf which is a basic tear drop shape. At it's widest point, it measures 2-1/8" with a length of 3-1/4".

*Pattern piece #4: This is the outer leaf which shares the exact measurements as the inner leaf except that there is an addition of a half-circle added to it's base. The circle length is 3/4". The total length for the outer leaf measures 4".



I prefer to use Heat 'n Bond Ultra for this project. I seem to have minimal problems with fabric fraying when using this product.



Bond the contrasting fabrics together following manufacturers instructions. At the same time, bond the green fabric together for the leaves.

Trace 5 inner petals onto one side of the contrasting fabric. Turn fabric around and trace 5 outer petals onto the opposing side of the fabric. Doing it this way will allow you to have two different color choices to work with. Any left over tracing marks will also be hidden.

Trace one each of the inner and outer leaves onto the green fabric.

With your scissor, cut out these shapes.




With needle and thread, take a running stitch along the straight edge of an inner petal.



Slide each of the 5 inner petals onto the thread, one after the other.



After all 5 inner petals are on the thread, tie both ends of thread together to form a circle of petals. Clip thread close to the knot; set aside.



With needle and thread, take a running stitch along the straight edge of an outer petal.



Slide each of the 5 outer petals onto the thread, one after the other.



After all 5 outer petals are on the thread, tie both ends of thread together to form a circle of petals. Clip thread close to the knot; set aside.



Gather all components together. You are now ready to assemble.




Using your glue gun, glue the inner leaf at an angle, onto the outer leaf.



Place a small dime-sized glob of glue onto the center front of the lower petals. Position your upper petals onto the lower petals, holding it in place for a few seconds until the glue sets.
Glue a contrasting button to the center of the flower.


Turn flower over with it's back facing up. Glue leaves onto the center back of the flower. Glue on a pin back.



Voila! You're done!

*Please note that you can sew the components together instead of using glue. Use whichever method suits you best.

Enjoy!

Aloha!

Memo Pad to the Rescue

I am forgetful. I believe that I have a disease called CRS (Can't Remember Sh*t)... hehehehe. It gets worse and worse with each passing year. I must write my thought down the very moment that it comes to me or it will sink into that deep dark hole and be lost forever. I even keep a memo pad in my handbag at all times. They're just small 4 X 6" memo pads, but they have saved me more than once. Now, an off-the-rack notepad cover is usually very blah (a.k.a. ugly). In order to make it a little more special, I have created interchangeable covers for them. I change them out whenever the mood strikes me. Here are the three that I have been using.




I own a set of individual alphabet rubber stamps which I like and frequently use. I have trouble lining each alphabet up when spelling words and they usually turn out all wonky. I know that they sell all kinds of devices to help you with stamp alignment but I was looking for a simple and easy alternative.

I purchased this rubber stamp from Stampdango. It is a very basic alphabet stamp and each letter is only 1/4" high. The stamp is based on the old-fashioned stamps that merchant's use to stamp their received and paid dates onto their invoices. This stamp allows you space for up to one 10-letter word or a couple of short words by turning each of the belts to your desired alphabet. I find it much easier to use than the individual stamps. The downside of this stamp is that the text is pretty generic looking and each of the alphabet's are quite small. I guess you can't always have everything, right? LOL


I have spent the last several days in front of the computer making airline and hotel reservations, ordering winter wear and accessories, and doing research about touring Washington DC. This should be a very interesting trip, not only because we'll be in our nations capitol, but because this will be the first time that we will have to deal with 10 days of freezing temperatures. I'm excited and can't wait to see how this will play out for us.

All you snow bunnies out there, I know your weather has turned frightfully cold over the last day or so and that you are probably freezing your patooties off. Please stay safe and try to keep warm.

Have a good day!

Aloha!

A little of this, a little of that...

I'm sorry that I've been so scarce lately. January is my usual time to kick back and relax after the hectic holiday season. I also use the time to regroup when it comes to creating items for my craft fairs.

I would like to thank all of my snow bunny friends, Sweetiepie, Catherine, Annemiek, Michelle, Laila, Shelley, JenniferW, Rowena, Suze, ConnieW, Kansaswx, Sandi, Red Geranium Cotage(Sharon) and Angi for your input. You gal's have been a tremendous help to me. Thank you for the invaluable information and for helping me to stay warm during my trip to Washington,DC. Hugs to all of you!

My diet is going okay. I do need to get off of my behind and get onto the treadmill to get my metabolism moving again. For me, weight loss is slow-going without it. I am also thinking of doing the Richard Simmons Deal A Meal once again. His program has helped me to lose weight in the past.

I would like to share a recipe for corn chowder with you. It is a very simple recipe to prepare. At 325 calories per serving, it is a pleasing meal for anyone watching their weight.


Corn Chowder

1 pkg. Turkey Bratwurst or Smoke Seasoned Lean Sausage
1 cup onion, chopped
2 cups half-and-half
1 15-oz can cream-style corn
1 cup kernel corn
1/3 cup red or green bell pepper, diced finely
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup seasoned croutons

Crumble sausage into pan (without casings). Add onion and cook over medium heat for approx. 10 minutes, breaking up sausage into chunks. Add cream and kernel corn, bell pepper, black pepper and hot pepper sauce. Simmer uncovered for approx. 20 minutes, stirring it occasionally. Top each serving with croutons. Makes 6 servings.


Here is a sneak peek of something that I'm currently working on. It is just one of a series that I hope to complete.



Take care, everyone!

Aloha!