The Sunday Soup

Chopping up what's left in the fridge.

Every Sunday, if you were to stop by my home, you would likely find a chicken carcass simmering away on the stove with a few potatoes, carrots and onions.  I leave it there on low for a few hours to make the worlds best broth. 

Some celery, carrots, green beans and peppers,

My husband Ian likes to take a chicken sandwich for lunch and a bowl of soup.  I think I have been making soup every Sunday since – forever. 

This will simmer away for hours

There is no recipe for chicken soup.  Or should I call it ‘clean out the fridge’ soup?    Typically, the soup is a mix of the veggies in the fridge, any left over pasta or rice.  I mix it up, put it in my crock pot and leave it to work its magic.

Ian rarely gets sick and I am sure that a weekly serving of homemade slow simmered soup is just what the doctor ordered.

Do you make soup?

Live High,

Heather

Spring Purses

I have taken a few months off from the blog.  I haven’t been too crafty since breaking my tailbone on New Year’s Eve.  Readers of this blog know that there is not a good story to go with that little accident.  I have a brand new pair of glasses to make sure I don’t fall again….


I have been wearing glasses for almost 30 years, just now they include ahem, bifocals....

Recently, I was cleaning out my sewing and crafting space and I came across a number of WIPs (Works in Progress).  I have a few crafts to complete – a poster with some Jason Mraz lyrics, and some Easter decorations.  I have too much crocheting to complete – there is a wrap for me, a blanket for my good friend who just had a baby (maybe I will complete it before her son turns a year!!) and a blanket for my niece.  That blanket needs at least 18 roses on it and they are going to take a while.

On the sewing pile, there are the two black to grey ribbon skirts, a ruffle blanket, curtains for my living room and two spring purses.  The purses were embarrassing, they are almost done and I can’t remember why I did not finish them.

When catching up on projects, it’s so satisfying to have some easy wins so the purses where the first things I completed. 



Here is a close up of the fabric.  So pretty.

This blue purse is a from a pattern found on the pattern pile website and I can't seem to locate the link.  The purse was almost done, it needed a good iron, installation of the snaps and to sew the lining in.  I think it took me an hour. 

The second purse was something I just made up, my own design.  As someone who admits to reading a lot of blogs, I am sure I just made this pattern up from some purse I had seen on any number of blogs.

It has wooden handles and a floral lining.  I think the outer part of this purse is boring and I may add some fabric flowers to brighten it up.  Its spring so why not have some fun!


A nice purse to go with bright summer clothes.



This is the inside of the beige purse

I guess next up will be the ribbon skirts, or maybe a summer dress or that red wool skirt…..sigh.

Let me know if you like the purses.

I'm sharing here:
http://www.sewcando.com/

http://www.niftythriftythings.com/link-parties/

http://www.thegirlcreative.com/link-party-diy-inspired-no-44/

Live High,

Heather

Christmas Angel

This is my Bronwyn from a few years ago.

 

Bronwyn is my youngest child and she still believes in Santa. Given that she is my baby, I am loathe to have that part of her childhood disappear into memory.  This year she has been asking 'Is Santa real?" "How does he deliver presents to everyone?" and so it goes.

We were driving the other day and Bronwyn was wondering what colour mittens Mrs.Claus was going to knit for her this year.  This filled me with mild curiosity.  I asked her more and she informed me that Mrs. Claus had knitted her a nice pair of lavender mittens last year.  Interesting.  I wonder when I had bought her lavender mittens and I could not remember telling her who made them for her.  I'm sure I am not the only parent who buys stuff through out the year and forgets...
 



The well worn and much loved lavender mitts, knitted by Mrs. Claus.

 

Bronwyn's desire for a new pair of hand made mittens caused me a panic.  I knit and I crochet but I certainly do not make mittens.  Also, given the late date, most craft fairs were over and I don't know anyone who I could call in a favour.

 

Crap.  Double CRAP.  Profanity Friday CRAP.

 

 

I did a search of kijiji and found a person who knits hats and scarves - no mention of mitts.  I sent an email anyway.  It turns out she did knit mitts and would happily sell me a pair of them.  Astonishingly, she knit me mitts in a few days.  I paid her extra because she was charging too low and she also donates her hats and scarves to her church.  The extra cash could pay for some more wool.

 

Here are the mitts she made for me:

 

 



So nice of her to make these mittens for me.

 

Pretty awesome right?!  This may be Bronwyn's last year of believing in some of the magic of Christmas, and this is one of those special things she will remember.  I made a little card from Mrs. Claus saying she read the request in Bronwyn's letter to Santa.

 

 

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and you have a chance to do something special for someone this holiday season.

 

Live High,

 

Heather

 

 

I'm linking here: http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2014/12/take-look-tuesday-16.html

An Infinity Scarf of My Own Design

A few years ago, Rebekah rejected all things made by mom.  No pajamas, no scarves, hats or any crafts.  She has come around again and I couldn't be happier.

She was at Michaels recently where she spied this wool:




Just wait, it makes a beautiful scarf!

She immediately asked for an infinity scarf.  These scarves are easy to make to be sure, but Rebekah's discerning taste made me nervous.  I needed to find her a good pattern.  I sent her the link to Ravelry and asked her to find a scarf that she liked and I would make it for her.  She never went there and just asked me to make something simple that she could wrap around her neck a few times.  This made me nervous.

I am currently working on a blanket for an occasional reader of this blog so I will not show it.  But I thought it was a nice enough pattern to turn into a scarf. 

Here is a run down of my pattern in case you want to make one yourself:

Crochet hook used: US I 9/5.50MM or desired hook to make it look nice.
Chain 278 (more or less depending upon how many times you want to wrap it around your neck)
Row One: Double crochet in third chain and double crochet all along, Chain three and turn.
Row two: Double crochet in next stitch, chain two, skip two, 2 double crochet along row to end, chain one
Row three: Single crochet along row, chain three,
Repeat row two: Double crochet in next stitch, chain two, skip two, 2 double crochet along row to end, chain three, repeat entire row
Repeat row one: Double crochet all along row
Repeat until reaching the desired width, fasten off.



Am I right?! Beautiful!

You now have one massive scarf, to turn into an infinity scarf, join ends, either stitch along seam to join together, I prefer a single crochet along the seam to finish it nicely.  Weave in ends and you are done. 

Rebekah 'voguing' for me...

Rebekah loves it! Let me know if you make one!

Live High,

Heather

I'm linking here:
 http://www.skiptomylou.org/2014/12/22/made-monday-7/

http://diyshowoff.com/2014/12/21/holiday-diy-party/

http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.ca/

Clothes Pin Snowflakes



2013 Christmas Craft

Every year I challenge myself to find some new Christmas craft.  Last year I made sock monkeys and clothes pin snowflakes.  My daughter recently asked me for instructions for making some snowflakes as she wants to whip up a few for her friends.  I am updating the instructions and thought I would share this with you.

Purchase a package of old school clothes pins.  I got mine at Walmart for $2.00.

Pull them apart and hot glue them back to back.



Arrange them in a snowflake pattern

Once the hot glue has set, lightly brush the front with white glue and sprinkle Epsom salt and glitter.

Let dry completely.

Hot glue ribbon to the back and hang on tree or package up for gifts.

I hope you make some.

Live High,

Heather

I'm linking here: http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.ca/

Finishing up Crafts

Rather than clean it, I'm just going to finish it!

This is what my craft room looks like.  I rather suspect that most crafters have rooms that a filled to the rafters with a stash of projects.

My work life is busy and can be stressful.  I sew, crochet and do other crafts to release stress.  After a while it seemed that I had more projects on the go than I had completed.  For the last few weeks I have been finishing a few things off my list.

Mason Jar Snow Globes


Snow Globe Supplies Gathered

Hand Warmers





These babies are made with flax seed, microwave for a minute, will keep your hands warm for an hour.
 

Bird Nest Necklaces

It has been fun completing some things and making room for new items for the stash.

Live High,


Heather

linking up here: http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/

Bed sheet jammas

Hello!  Bronwyn is still young enough to want me to sew for her.  She will let me make anything - shorts, dresses, and jammies.  Recently, she went through my fabric trunk (I have a FABRIC TRUNK!) and she picked out some fabrics for jammies. 

This is a vintage bed sheet

Cutting out some jammies.

I learned through my addiction to blogs has lead to various discoveries that makes sewing so much easier.  I no longer pin my patterns pieces, I went to home depot and got some washers to weigh down the fabric for cutting.


The sewing room needs a bit of cleaning, this is the factory of Bronwyn's jammies.

I have almost finished making all the jammies. 



Live High,

Heather

Updated Front Entrance

I love my little house.  The front entrance and the main floor living space have not been painted in about ten years though.  Time for a change.  For those of us who have busy lives, redecorating an entire main floor - front entrance, living room, dining room and kitchen all at once is a big undertaking.  I decided to tackle each section a bit at a time and finish it before moving on to the other parts of the main floor.  First up was the front entrance.  As you can see from above, the entrance is tiny, mircoscopic even.  I knew this space was something I could handle on my own without too much help from Ian.

 

Rebekah took this photo on our vacation.

I repainted the green with some nice new grey.  It was pretty easy to put together a new set of accessories for the new entrance.  Rather than purchase a new light switch, I repainted the old brass one to match the picture frames.

I found this metal M at Michaels, this is the first letter of our last name.

 

 

I made this wreath and I love it!

I made this board to add some interest, the rocks in this mason jar were from my favourite beach.

I love the front entrance.  It is neat, clean, rustic and relaxed.  I hope you like it too.

Live High,

Heather

Finished Table

In June, I had posted that I need found a table for Rebekah's bedside.  Here is a photo of the table I found on kijji.




Cute little table, made of walnut?

I wanted to paint it in a colour that would go with this bedding - Rebekah found this and she loves it.  I do too.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the finished table:

 







Nice right?!

 

I did not varathane it to seal it, I just used some wax to make it nice and soft.   Rebekah likes candles and I love Art Deco, I found a cool glass candle holder and sprayed it with looking glass spray paint (can't find it in Canada - My Mom brought it back from Florida!) and now the candle holder has a lovely Art Deco feel.  You can't put a candle directly in it, the candle will ruin the finish, but you can put one in a glass container in the sprayed on.

 

 

I like it, how about you?

 

 

Live High,

 

Heather



A Line Skirts - New Addiction

 

Remember this fabric?

I needed to do something with this fabric because we had bought it with the intention of using it for the lining of Jennines book bag.  When that did not work out what was a sewing addict friend to do?

We surfed blog land until I found these wicked cool skirts.  I could see Jennine in it instantly.

While we did not follow the blog examples exactly, I created a lovely little A line skirt for her for summer days.  There were some problems with the waist band.  Some one may or may not have sewn it up side down.  (DUH) but after at least one sleepless night, the skirt was completed and looks good as long as you do not stare too long at the waist band.

I did save some of the print to be used at a later date as an accent bit for a brown linen A line skirt. 

What do you think of this fabric?

There was a mere metre left of this and I had to have it.

In the mean time I discovered this fabric and it turned into a rather nice little skirt.  See the waistband?  Sewed it correctly. 

I know right?!!  Jennine HATES it when I make her pose.

I found this other skirt that I am pretty sure is up soon for Jennine.  Yeah I got issues....

 

Live High,

Heather

Side Table

I love me some scraps that I can turn into masterpieces.  (Hence the name of the blog...hello...)



My oldest daughter got a new bed a few months ago, a nice black and silver bed from IKEA.  She needs a side table and I saw this on a blog not that long ago that would be rather nice beside her bed in turquoise.

http://forchicsake.com/diy-campaign-chest/

 

I found this side table on Kijji for $15.00.  It needs a real quick sand and then some turquoise paint.  I have purchased the corners already.  I am going to spray paint them silver.  Also, I had mentioned that her bed is black and silver, so I think I am going to dip the legs - half black, half silver. 

 

As you can see from the pink dresser, the handles are gold to match.  My side table has an inset handle, I think I am going to silver leaf it to match.

 

Check back to see how the finished product looks.

 

 

Until then,

 

Live High,

 

Heather 

Maps and Leaves

This weekend's spring weather left me sidelined with bad allergy symptoms.  My husband calls me 'bubble girl.'  I am allergic to everything. 

Trees and grass are my undoing.  I love them, love the spring, love the summer.  My body, however, reacts like I am being attacked.  I have been getting allergy shots for almost ten years and each year I hope that I will be cured, that I will not have a bad reaction, that everything will be normal. No such luck!

Friday night walking the dog almost killed me with my eyes running and my chest wheezing.  When we got home, I washed all the pollen off me and sighed a little sigh acknowledging that my allergies just may never get better.

An upside to being stuck inside, it left me with some project time for this wreath that had been in my head for some time.

It involved cutting skinny leaves out of my vintage map book.  Gasp! Yes, I used one of my books I got at the annual library sale.  It has great patina and the leaves make it look interesting.

Here is a close up of the leaves:

Okay so there may be some camera shake...

See the leaves have all this interest from the maps.  Pretty cool.


So you get a sense of the wreath.

 

 

Here is a picture of the completed wreath.  It turned out smaller than I had wanted.  My intention is to put it in my tiny front entrance when I repaint it in a few weeks.  The smaller version may just work fine in that space.

 

 

 





Finished Wreath.  Neat idea.

Now that the weather is better and everyone sans me can go outside, I have a few more pages left in this map book.  Okay.  So who wants one?


Live High,

Heather

First Made by Me in May

If this weather does not get warmer, I will be wearing all my scarves for Made by Me May....


Throughout the month of May I am taking the pledge to wear something I have made at least two days a week.

Today is casual Friday and I have a few meetings with community members and I think I can risk the uber casual outfit.  I can't be the only person who is dog tired on Fridays?

Here is my comfy crocheted sweater.  It is big, cozy and perfect for a spring that just won't start:

Cool.  I am super cool.

I made this sweater twice, last year I made it much larger.  I like to forget I am only five feet tall and made the original for someone closer to six feet. I pawned if off on one of my staff.

 





Here is Esinam, much taller, younger and prettier.  I hope she wears that thing!

 

So here it is, done my first Made by Me May. 

 

 

Live High,

 

Heather