Wedding Gifts

One of the main reasons I didn't get my Christmas post done sooner was the weekend before school started back up I had two receptions on the same day.

One I was friends with back at WSU, so I found out their wedding colors and made a double knit potholder with the Seattle Temple on it (where they were sealed) and their last name.

 Names blotted out to protect the innocent.  :D

Sadly my "angel" Moroni didn't turn out quite as I expected

The other couple I know from church here and since one is a teacher, I went with a very useful jar, to put things in.  I wanted to attempt glass etching, but I didn't feel like spending $30 on etching cream that I may use once.  Instead, I used paint.  First I found a script I liked from my Cricut and just printed it off the computer and taped it inside the jar.

Then, I painted it over it.  I used a couple layers to make sure it was thick enough.

Finally I sprayed it with a satin sheer sealer.  Along with the lid.

Both couples received some washcloths, as those are pretty quick to whip up.  The general pattern I use is this one.  I also found this really neat one with interlocking rings that I made up as well.  I use the Sugar 'n Cream yarn by Lilly.  It's 100% cotton, perfect for washclothes!

Close up of the ring pattern

As a final touch, I decided to add a few clothespins to the batch.  Clothespins?  Why clothespins?  I like to use them in the kitchen to seal open bags.  You can attach magnets and use them on the fridge.  So many wonderful uses, I figure why not.

I got a bunch of clothespins as a white elephant gift, so I wasn't too sad to give away a few.  For this set, I used Chambray Blue and Metallic Silver.  I prefer AmeriDream Coat, but any acrylic brand will do really.  I also really like spray on sealant, it just makes everything so much easier.  It goes on evenly, just make sure you put down newspaper or something if you don't want an outline of your project on your outside porch.

I plan on painting clothespins for my classroom, so when I do this again, I will disassemble them, but I was in a bit of time crunch when I got to this point, so I just painted them as is.  I also dug through my box to find pins that needed little to no sanding, again due to time.  Another benefit of disassembly, sanding will be much easier.

Next, I used my Cricut to make some cute labels and then wrap up everything nice and neat.  Hopefully they like them.  I always try to aim for usefulness and practicality.

Christmas Gifts 2013

Now that Christmas is over and gifts have been received by the desired recipients, I can now safely post them on my blog.  The goal was to have this post done before I went back to work after the New Year, but obviously that did not happen.

Last year I made a baby toy for my master teacher as a baby shower gift.  My mom always made blankets for friends and family who had kids.  While my knitting is improving with each project, I am nowhere near as fast as my mother was, nor do I have as much free time as she did.  I wanted to make something for my MT, but I didn't have 6 months to make a blanket.  Searching through Raverly.com I found this adorable pattern. Made it up in about a day!  Find a board book version of the story and TADA! perfect baby shower gift!

MT's baby shower gift

Another friend saw the picture and working on another project.  She would often mutter how much she wished she had an older sister to make stuff of her and her daughter.  Since she was moving soon, I had to be quick anyways.  Plus, with some help from my dad, I managed to make it a baby safe rattle too!  ^.^

After I wrapped it up, naturally I discovered I technically did the eyes backwards.  Oh well, it makes it unique!  I'm not sure who will it enjoy it more, mom or baby.  :D

Also for Christmas I attempted some photo transfer techniques I saw all over Pintrest...was never very satisfied with the results.

The project I had the hardest time keeping quiet was the quilts for my nephews.  I was organizing the uniform room at WSU over the summer and found a ton of old band shirts.  With permission, I took home 24.  I was initially planning on 4x3 square design, but while I was laying it out, I felt it looked too big, so I cut it back to a 3x3.  I also tried two different battings.  I definitely like the low loft better, at least when it comes to the quilting.  But, the nephew with the thicker quilt lives in colder place, so it all works out.

Someone likes to play peek-a-boo with his new quilt.

The best part of all this, is my brother is a die-hard UW Husky fan.  I think the main reason my nephew seems to like it so much is he knows that it's his.  Hey, maybe if I had access to Husky band shirts I may have made a Husky one...maybe.  Not really.

Adventures in Canning

I've been canning jams, applesauce and apple pie filling for years.  I feel very confident canning with my hot water bath canner.  :)  I have always been interested in canning other foods too, like vegetables and such, but would get scared when I would read up on it and see "pressure canning required".  I've always had visions of the canner exploding or something.  I remember canning green beans with my mom once and everything went well.  But when it came to doing it on my own, I was terrified.

A couple weeks ago, I got the strange idea to can chicken noodle soup.  Homemade is SO much better for you, especially when you feel crummy.  But it can be tiresome to make repeatedly, especially when you're the one sick and/or you don't have all the stuff on hand.  I scoured the internets for recipes and recommendations from the USDA until I found one I liked best.  Crystal has some other great canning recipes that I'm interested in trying in the future.  And she's rather quick to respond to questions.

So, I finally decided to face my fears and ask a friend if I could borrow their pressure canner...then I discovered mom did have one...buried in the depths of the stairs closet.  I was hoping to get this done earlier, but stuff can up and didn't have a large chunk of free time until today.  That and I didn't have all the jars I wanted either, until my grandmother mentioned yesterday she had a ton for me and a couple stockpots too.  Jackpot!!

Unlike Crystal, I still don't have a 14-quart stock pot, so I didn't feel comfortable letting the chicken simmer overnight.  However, after 2 hours today it still feel apart as I took it out to cool.  I chopped up 2 lbs of carrots and a whole thing of celery, along with 4 small/medium onions.  I hot-packed the jars about two-thirds full and filled them with hot boiling stock.

 Then came the moment of truth.  It took a bit for me to figure out how to regulator worked with my stove, but everything processed as it should.

Yummy!!

I managed to get 19 pints of soup!  Now all that is left is to assemble the "herb packets" that I will tape to each jar and add the label.  I found some removable labels that are meant for use on glass jars, woot!!  I'll let the jars cool overnight and probably put the packets together tomorrow.  And, yes, I am now more comfortable working with a pressure canner.  Now all I need is to get my garden to produce and canning can become a little more commonplace.  :D

A map and the TARDIS

Every once in a blue moon I get the chance to work on a project for me.  I love making stuff for people, but it's nice to treat yourself.

Awhile ago, I found a world map panel at JoAnn's and just couldn't pass it up.  I mean, I'm an elementary teacher, hello!!  I was also still a real noob at quilting, and figured it would be a nice follow-up to my t-shirt quilt.  Naturally it was pushed off to the back burner so I could finish up baby blankets.  But here it is.  I can either use it as a wall hanging, or for "carpet time", depending on what classroom I end up in.

Starry patterns have been really big this year, I've noticed.  So I figured that would be the perfect backing material...till last week when I found solar system fabric.  Still, I like how this one turned out.

I debating between quilting around the countries and the continents before deciding to use the longitude/latitude lines.  Less distracting and more even quilting.

Also, a few weeks ago, I went to the local ceramic shop with a friend.  It was place where you can pick a ceramic piece and paint it however you like and they'll do the final steps of glazing and firing.  There's always so many choices, but I eventually decided to make another hot pad to go with the Superman one I did about 8 years ago.

It's just a simple 8 x 8 tile.  After firing I realized I should have painted the S shield first, then the blue, but it still looks pretty cool.  In fact, the lady at the store had a hard time giving it up.  The store in Moscow puts selected pieces up for display until the owner comes to pick it up and they got a lot of compliments.  And it makes a great hot pad for the dinner table!

In honor of a very special anniversary, I appropriately made a TARDIS hot pad.  While the Doctor may not be able to take me on his adventures through time and space, he can at least save my dinner table from hot dishes.  :D

I would hoping the "glitter" paint would have a bit more glitter, but at least the shading turned out.

Now, if I were to make a third....what should it be??

Cleaning the Kitchen - Day 1

A year ago my mother passed away and my dad decided that it's really time to sell the house.  Now that I'm home, I have been tasked with the wonderful job of cleaning out everything.  I have been doing small things here and there, jumping between the inside and the outside of the house.  My biggest job has just been trying to catch up on dishes.

Today I had a friend come over and help me as we tackled the "spice cupboard".   We realized halfway through we should have taken before pictures, so instead we have "mid-way through" pictures and after pictures.  The cupboard doors were damaged years ago and things were just never cleaned so they could be replaced properly.

The spice cupboard after clearing off the first shelf.

I decided it was just easier to dump all the spices that were in Tupperware containers and run the containers through the dishwasher.

All the spices that were pulled from the first shelf.

It took M and I about two hours to scrub down the shelves and wipe down everything that didn't get tossed.  Hopefully this will encourage dad to get the doors replaced.  If anything things will be a little easier to wipe down since it won't have so much build up.  At any rate, here is how everything looks now.  "White" space is good.

 The cupboard above the stove minus some storage containers that are currently in the dishwasher.  Though I may find another place for them.  

The spice cupboard with a clear shelf denoted for cooking and a shelf for baking supplies.  Plus room for miscellaneous extra stuffs.

I'm debating if I want to go back to the Tupperware spice containers.  I prefer the spice bottles and then refilling them from the bulk section at Winco.  I don't know, I'll see if any of my siblings want them first before I start making a yard sale box.

Sólás Caomh

Several months ago, a friend posted a pin on Pintrest asking if any of her friends could make this blanket for her.  Naturally I volunteered.  It was quite the challenge, but still fun to do.

Here is the finished blanket.

And here is a close up of the weave pattern.

I definitely plan on using this pattern again.  Though I may use a smaller weight yarn and not a color that is only available on a limited supply online.

SitRep: Plants

Wow...haven't posted since April.  Yeah, the end of the school year just got really busy with end of term projects and graduation.  Found out I had to redo my PACT which was more stressful than it needed to be. (Yes, I did pass it the second time around.)  Then moved back to Dad's, went to a regional Young Single Adult conference then spent a week in Maine for the Hobbs family reunion (more on that later).  Plus remembering to transfer pictures from my iPod (better camera) to my computer...I know, I know, excuses, excuses.  But, hey, I'm back and here's the situation with my plants...

Raspberry plant:  dead...methinks it got over-watered, or too much sun or some combination of the two.  I'll try again next season with a fresh plant.

Herbs: I give up!  Two years in a row and complete failure!  I was just sent an article about herbs, I'll read that and see if it will give some insight to what I'm doing wrong.

Garden plants:  So the garden spot at my dad's needs a little more work than I originally thought and there is no way I could get it done before I needed to transplant my starters.  In fact the entire yard needs a lot of work, so that is my project for the summer.  Get the weeds out and re-line all the beds, maybe even plant a few bushes.  Basically get it back under control and then I can focus on planting a garden.

Flowers:  I think there was something wrong with the bulbs because they did not look right once they started to really sprout.  Unfortunately the pot was knocked over and broke so I will have to start all over with those.  No biggie.

However, my Peruvian Lilly has bloomed it was absolutely gorgeous!!

 Still waiting on the Orientals to bloom though.  So there was some success.  Hopefully next year I'll get even more!