Four Favorites Friday

Here are my four favorite finds of the week:

1. Extra's Strawberry Shortcake gum. I've seen this on The Biggest Loser, and I was skeptical. After eating my weight in Muddy Buddies this weekend, I decided a 5 calorie stick of gum wouldn't hurt--even if it didn't curb my sweet tooth. Thing is, it actually helps!

2. This amazing recipe for egg's Benedict. If I'm not successful... well I'm in Paris staying with a chef who's training at Le Cordon Bleu. Ooooh PJ! Feel like cooking?

3. The Le Pliage bag from Longchamp. I've seen these bags around & always thought one would look cute hanging off my shoulder; only now do I know what brand they are. I wasn't pleased when I saw the price, but a nurse I work with told me they're about 1/3 the price in Paris. Hopefully! I'll let you know. The tote is in graphite, and the folded up tote is taupe.

4. This pretty pillow is on my to-do list. I'm hoping to make two of these for my bed after returning from Paris. So feminine, simple & lovely.



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One lesson I learned this week: Don't be shy; people are quite interesting if you open up the dialogue.

Tea Cozy/Sleeve Tutorial

Frequent the local coffee shop? I do. Instead of using one of their coffee cozies (my name for the thing they put on so you don’t scald your hand), why not make your own!

According to the dictionary (definition number five under “cozy”), a cozy is: a padded covering for a teapot, chocolate pot, etc., to retain the heat. This will work for the thing that prevents burning of the hand too, I suppose. These make great gifts! Once you’ve made one of these puppies you officially have permission to hit up the local tea/coffee shop, and snuggle up to a piping hot cup of love (that will not burn your hand). I recommend an almond latté or a London Fog latté (which is Earl Grey tea, vanilla, and steamed milk… i.e. heavenly... or make your own). Don't drink caffeine? These work well for Crystal Cappuccinos (as my favorite Sisters call it) also (i.e. hot water). It’s still cold outside, so these are perfect, but don’t worry coffee and tea are good no matter the weather.

You will need:

2 pieces of fabric (you can use the same print or two different)

Sewing machine

Interfacing

Scissors

Cotton batting

Velcro/elastic/button (whichever you prefer; I love that vermilion button)

To make a hand warmer thingy, I based mine off of one that coffee shops actually use (i.e. I saved one from a previous drink). I placed the unfolded cardboard on some fabric and traced around it as a template. I then cut out this fabric & used it as a guide to cut out the interfacing, batting and fabric. I used one piece of interfacing ironed to my Robin Egg Blue fabric, cream fabric, and one piece of cotton batting. [I'm sure this would work with two pieces of interfacing and two fabrics, but I thought a little extra cushiness & fabric would put more layers between your hand and the hot cup. Your choice! I am going to try one without the batting.]

After cutting, iron interfacing onto fabric according to the directions on the package.

Layer the cozy with cream colored fabric, elastic loop side in, top fabric pattern side down, and on top batting [optional].

Sew around three edges (including the one with elastic).

Turn right side out using the open side.

Top stitch around. The loop should be sticking out of one of the sides now. Hand sew the button onto the top side of the fabric (the edge without the loop). Now attach to a cup & grab some Joe!

Here's how mine turned out:

This looks about as delicious as a cup of coffee! Enjoy!

Letter Writing Week: Reflection

Letter writing week 2011 has come to a close & here are my reflections on it. As I mentioned, Griffin & I relished in letters during the first few years of our relationship. Being in a long distance relationship, letters were tangible evidence of the abstract love we had for each other. We learned to love the adventure of dropping off parcels in the mail and unlocking our mailboxes in search of the next treasure. Sometimes we would include random tidbits in each letter. I remember putting some confetti in a letter to him from the AFC Championship game 2007 where the Colts beat the Patriots. He would include the heart from his favorite cereal: Grape Nut Flakes. It was endearing & I hope one day our future children will find them interesting when we show them how we managed to love each other from a far distance away.

Letter writing, like any relationship, takes time. In order to get something out of it, you have to put time into it, and that means making time. I learned that this week. After three & a half years of a long distance relationship, writing letters every week has been transformed into daily 10-15 minute conversations and occasional video chatting. I really had to plan for these lettters, make time to write them each day. It was time for Griffin & time for myself. Overall, this was a good reminder that 10-15 minutes each day isn't going to cut it. Letters are, in some ways, more intimate than phone conversations. You get to see pen on paper from someone who spent time carving out each letter individually; it's much more concrete than an email.

So, that being said, I will revert back to my snail-mail fetish and be a letter-writer once more. For me, it's easy to get lazy, but I'm really going to try. Those who will be receiving long overdue letters from me will be my college roommate, my four-year daily Mass friend from Creighton, and my grandma.

Long live letters!

Sleepytime Eye Mask Tutorial

Here's another lovely travel accessory that will come in handy on a long plane ride or during an afternoon nap. I love taking naps; just ask my college roommates! Here's a quick homemade project you can do with leftover material you have. I made pajama pants for my friends & family for Christmas, so I have plenty of leftover flannel, which seems like the perfect softness for the eyes.

Materials:
Flannel
Cotton batting
Elastic
Fabric marker
Pins
Sewing machine
Scissors
Optional: corresponding fabric to cover the elastic

To make the design of the eye mask, I used an old eye mask I had on hand & traced around it on the fabric leaving generous space. Cut this out of the fabric

Use this piece of cut fabric to cut the opposing side.  Place upside down on the right side up fabric and cut (this will ensure that the eye pieces match up perfectly). Cut out one piece of batting using the pattern.

The flannel I used was white, so I needed a dark fabric to help darken the eye mask. I used a dark blue. Lay the darkening fabric down first (if necessary), then the flannel, design up. Lay the second piece of flannel pattern side down. Place batting on top & pin. Sew around the top & bottom, but leave both the sides open (this will make attaching the elastic a bit easier). Flip right side out.

If you choose to cover the elastic, cut a piece of fabric that is double the width of your fabric + 1/2 inch and about 3 inches longer (this will create a bunched look). Fold in half right sides together & sew along the open edge using 1/4 seam allowance. Flip right side out. Use a safety pin to pull elastic through.

Stick each side of the elastic into the sides of the eye mask, pin & top stitch.

Grab a cup of Sleepytime tea, find a cozy place to cuddle up & get some zzzz's.

Here's the one I made my sister:

Four Favorites Friday

Four Favorites of the week Friday:

1. This recipe for fried goat cheese. So rich, so gorgeous, and teetering on sinful. I will make this recipe tonight. I will put it on top of a salad & dig in.

2. Working out with Beto. I've only done this in the comfort of my own living room. Not quite sure how I would fare at a live Zumba class. Ha!

3. Pushing Daisies. This lovely show was only on for 22 episodes before it got the boot. I love it & I know that it had a huge fan base. I ♥ Netflix because they have both seasons on instant stream & no commercials! (Only two episodes until I’m done watching the series… tres triste).

4. Savory Spice Shop. I bought some vanilla beans along with some delicious spices from this lovely place. I'm hoping to make my own vanilla extract using this idea. I'm excited!

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One lesson I learned this week: don't hesitate going to the doctor when you feel sick.

Luggage Tags Tutorial

More travel accessories! Our trip to Paris is only 8 days away! I can hardly beleive it! Here's a tutorial for some cute bag tags. One of my mottos is to use what you've got. I couldn't find my stash of interfacing so I used some cotton batting instead.

Thin elastic

A few different fabric scraps (size is up to you)

Canvas

Thin-tipped Sharpie

Scissors, a sewing machine

Interfacing/batting/old gift card/cardboard

So, here's what you do:

Cut 2 rectangles out of the fabric (fabrics 1 & 2). Cut a rectangle out of the interfacing that is just slightly shorter than fabrics 1 & 2.

Cut a smaller rectangle out of the canvas (use what you have on hand). This is fabric 3. Print all the information you want onto the canvas using fabric ink and stamps or a fabric marker. I used a thin-tipped Sharpie & it didn't bleed on the canvas. Turned out quite nice.

Cut about a 6-8 inch sized piece of elastic (this is what you'll use to attach the tag to your suitcase).

Sew fabric 3 onto fabric 2 using a zig-zag or other decorative stitch.

To assemble, place fabric 1 right side up on your surface, place the loop of elastic on top of fabric 1 (with loop facing inward), lay fabric 2 right side down on top, and interfacing on the very top.

Sew around three sides (including the elastic side). Sew back and forth over the elastic a few times to strengthen it.

Flip right-side out.

Sew a top stitch over the fourth side to close the tag up. Or you can top stitch all the way around. This is your finished product! Now go find a suitcase that needs some love. 

Passport Cover Tutorial

For Christmas I bought my sister (and myself) a ticket to Paris. We leave January 20th and are so excited to traverse the globe a little bit. Not to mention I will be catching up with a best friend from college who is studying there at Le Cordon Bleu!

So, what better reason to have a hand-crafted passport cover than a trip abroad! I'm crafting these cuties & will give one to her as a gift on the way to the airport.

You will need a few medium sized pieces of fabric (your chance to be creative, use two or three different patterns), a sewing machine, scissors & pins.

Here's what to do:

Lay out your open passport out and trace with 3/4 inch space all around.

Cut two pieces using this measurement. Place right side together and sew all the way around leaving a 2 inch hole. Turn right side out and press (don't worry about the hole, you will sew it up later). I like to poke my corners out a bit using my crochet hook.

For the sides the passport will slide into, measure 1/2-3/4 of the passport's length. Cut out four pieces with this measurement. Sew two pieces right sides together around three sides & turn right-side out. Repeat for the other two pieces.

Pin the sides to the larger piece you sewed earlier. Pin to the side you want to be the outside and put the inside face down.

Sew all the way around. Flip the sides in & slide your passport in!

Bon voyage!