Froggie Hat - Simplicity 1953

So a while back during lunch at work I was cruising Pinterest ( I know, shocker) and I saw this cute frog hat someone had done. Another girl I work with said how she liked it and wanted one. I did not pin that post at that time but tucked that into the memory bank for future reference. 

Well her birthday was within this last week and I made a frog hat for her using Simplicity 1953.

I gave it to her today so I can share it with y'all now. She loved it :)

Of course the little man LOVED it and wanted to model it for me!

Here is my review of the pattern:

Pattern Description:

Misses' and Child's assorted animal hats, each in three sizes.

Pattern Sizing:

S,M,L for adults and children.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Pretty much, I changed the mouth to be a wavy frog mouth.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Dunno LOL Didn't use them; It is so easy you do not need them!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Easy and goes together very quickly. I also like that the hat is lower in the back and covers the ears, it will be super warm.

Fabric Used:

Fleece for the hat and felt for the eyes.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

Just the mouth like I said before.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I have sewn from this pattern before for my son but I did the monkey for him. I probably will make him another one some day. 

 

Here is the monkey hat I made for him a while back, probably a year or longer ago.

Simplicity 2156 - Little girl leggings

Pattern Review:

Simplicity 2156

Pattern Description: Child's & Girl's jumper, jacket and knit leggings and dress or top sewing pattern. I made the leggings only.

 Pattern Sizing: Girls 3-14

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes it did.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy only two pieces for the leggings.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that they were so easy and quick as I had to make three pairs in three different sizes for three different little girls.

Fabric Used: Some kinda knit I got off the clearance-red tag rack at JoAnn's. I saw it and knew that it would be perfect for these girls ages 6-10

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I really did like the leggings but I would like to make the jumper or the jacket. The jacket has an adorable little ruffle detail at the back!


I really struggled with where to photograph these leggings! Plus I had little man jumping up and down in the background yelling "Take my picture Momma! Take my picture Momma!!"

I couldn't argue with that...he was beggin' me after all:)

I have one other thing I have sewn up recently (and it is adorable too!) but I can not share it until sometime tomorrow because it is a present for someone I work with and she might be reading this right now!!

EEEKK! Giveaway is almost over!

I am helping out on a fabulous blogger giveaway over at Dawn's Disaster.

 

There are two lovely prize packs valued at over $100 each.

In the giveaway set I am in I am offering a crayon roll in your choice of boy print or girl print.

You can check out the giveaway that is only open for 5 more hours here :

GIVEAWAY !!!!

 

Radio Silence

My bad.

 

It has been just crazy here but I beg your forgiveness!!!

 

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving and successful Black Thursday/Friday shopping:) I know I did.

 

We had 20 or so people at our house for Thanksgiving and everything turned out great. Everyone brought a dish to pass and we had to make the turkey and ham. I also made an AWESOME Spinach and artichoke dip in the crockpot. The recipe can be found at the bottom of this post:)

 

Yesterday we took the little man to a parade with a marching band and a horse drawn sleigh with Santa! It was FREEZING though so the little guy was all bundled up! He was waving to everyone passing by, it was just adorable.

Then we went to Kraynak's in Hermitage, PA. Again we had to stand in line outdoors to walk through the Christmas land. It is basically display after display of Christmas tree's.

Then Hunter got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. Can you guess what he said??

 

 

Toys.

 

I have not done much sewing/crafting until today. I had to tear down my sewing room to turn it back into the dining room which it really is. Big man was happy to have his dining room back-until I started bringing stuff back down today.

 

 He was hoping to have it clear until Christmas but I told him No Way, I have Christmas presents to work on!

 

I'm doing three pairs of super duper easy leggings in a hot pink and black houndstooth knit for three little girls. I love this pattern, so many cute peices to make later; if your wondering, I am using Simplicity 2156. I only worked on them for about 2 hours and have one pair done and the other two just need the waistband/elastic casing made. Told ya they were easy-peasy:)

 

Also--Little man is THISCLOSE to being potty trained. All on his own too. I think he just wants the skittles he gets as a reward. No going #2 but pee-potty all day long!!! YAY!!!! I know your as excited as I am. The day your kid is completely potty trained is a glorious day!



Spinach and Artichoke Dip

2 10oz frozen chopped spinach
2 8 oz cream cheese, softened. Regular or Low fat, NEVER fat free-it doesn't melt right.
1/2 cup parmesean cheese
3/4 half and half
2/3 cup shreadded monterey jack cheese
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 tbs finely chopped onion
1 15 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

Mix all together in a crockpot except  for 1/2 of the monterey jack cheese. Cook on high for a couple of hours. Top with remaining monterey jack cheese and cook on low for another hour.

Too Early For Christmas?

Christmas gifts

Is it too early?

I hope not because this is my second post on presents with that homemade touch.

Today I am sharing the three wristlets I made for my niece and my brother's girlfriends' two girls.

I started with these wristlets I got at SCORED at Goodwill for 50 cents a pop! Paired with my trusty yo-yo maker by Clover and some scrappy fabric (recognize the blue crepe back satin from little man's Halloween costume?) I know that these wristlets originally came from JoAnn's because of the labeling.

I made 2-3 yo yo's for each bag and used the Scribbles fabric paint. I stole borrowed two wooden blocks from the little man for the letters. I used a paintbrush to apply the paint on the block as well as painting on my designs. I really stink at hand painting and was pretty much holding my breath the whole time.

What?? Too much Christmas up in your face with the colors above? LOL Well get ready Black Friday is right around the corner and all the stores are playing the music already.

Pinspiration #1

Pinspiration Post #1

I'm sure that we have all seen something that we just loved on pinterest that we wanted to replicate.

I saw this one recently and I just knew that my little guy would love one. Seeing as how you can not buy just one glove my nephew will be getting one for Christmas as well!!

After A LOT of searching the internet I have discovered that the original maker is ( at least I believe it is) Miyako Kanamori. She is a crafter who lives in Tokyo and she is also the author of Happy Gloves. If you check out her website gallery there is an ADORABLE panda that I am sort of in love with.

Any how I replicated this pattern using the pictures above and nothing else. What I found is this:

 

There is very little "waste" after you cut our your pattern, 

which I really like.

Throw a scrap of fabric under the glove when stitching up and trim up after your done. 

Well unless you like hand sewing the whole shebang.

Stuffies are a little bit creepy when they are headless.

I sewed up the back of the heads a little different. Rather than pulling it down as shown in the original I pulled it up to the ears. Right or wrong it was easier for me to do it this way, it just didn't look right to me the other way when I did it.

I also opted to use buttons rather than sewing eyes and nose. I chose green eyes for my nephew and blue for my little man.

I also omitted the pipe cleaners inside the legs and tail. I didn't have any and I don't think it is a necessary part of construction.

Well it was suppose to be a Christmas present but he has already seen it and has claimed him as his "Quirl". He had to have it at nap time this afternoon (don't you just love nap time?) and tonight at bed time.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

So totally random post today!

I made Broccoli Cheese soup today I thought I would share my "recipe"

 I have to preface this by saying:

I am a fly by the seat of my pants kinda girl when it comes to soups. I change it up regularly and always change it up!

Ingredients:

1/4 c Butter

1 onion, chopped

1 bunch of fresh broccoli <--This is one thing I NEVER substitute. It has to be the real thing.

3-14.5 oz cans of vegetable broth <-I prefer Swansons or Cottage Inn

8 oz give or take shredded cheeses

1 tbsp minced garlic 

1 can Campbell's condensed broccoli cheese soup-you could use cheddar soup, chicken, or whatever

 Directions

 Melt butter and add  chopped onion. Cook until onions are softened-starting to brown. 

Add chopped broccoli and cover with broth.

Simmer 10-15 minutes.

Add in cheese until melted. Today I used some mixed extra sharp Adams reserve cheddar and regular mild cheddar as well as a few oz mozzarella and for fun 4oz cream cheese softened. Be warned though do NOT use Fat free cream cheese it doesn't melt at all.

 Do I have more than 8 oz of cheese here? YOU BETCHA! I love cheese:)

Add in your cream of whatever or broccoli cheese soup base.

Warm thoroughly and enjoy!

UFO's and WIP's

We all have them...right?

I technically do not have WIP's (work in progress), I have things that I started that I haven't touched in over a year. Well except to move it out of the way.

So UFO's they are. UFO's are UnFinished Objects in the crafty world if you did not know. Not Unidentified Flying Objects (haha) although I'm sure we've thought about throwing them out the window. 

This is one of my UFO's I intend on working on this week.

I literally started it last September. 

 

It is a 1600 quilt on the front with a border and a pieced back. It literally just needs quilted and binding thrown on it. . . but I just can not seem to get motivated to get 'er done. 

What are your WIP/UFO's?

I have a few others...but we won't talk about them.

at least not until this one is done.

If you have not heard of the 1600 quilt here is a link to the YouTube video that got me started!

Jelly Roll Race 

Yes there are video's out there now that are not as wobbly but this is the one I saw first. I opted not to miter the corners obviously. I don't personally like the mitered strips but that is me! 

This was originally to be a Christmas present last year lol guess someone is getting it this year---ASSUMING I FINISH THE DARN THING!