Everything's Coming up Roses/Free Rose Petal Masque Recipe

Rose Bush

Spring in North Texas, what can I say?
Tornadoes, rain, wind, sun and roses....

Pink roses, red roses, yellow roses, I have them all.
I like to clip a few to bring into the house,
so pretty arranged with a sprig or two of rosemary.
But so short-lived, in a day or two the petals are falling off.

Let's put those petals to use.
I collect the petals and place them into my bamboo steamer basket to dry.
Once they're dried, they go into a large jar and live in the fridge.
Mixed with some old fashioned, rolled oats,
and put into a muslin bag, they make a wonderful soak for the bath.

OR.....
Perhaps a facial masque.

Rose Petal , Oatmeal and Honey Masque

 

Ingredients:

1 cup dried rose petals

½ cup of old fashioned rolled oats

¼ cup of local honey (farmer's market)

two teaspoons of rose water (recipe below) or distilled water

Equipment:

food processor or blender, bowl, jar, rubber spatula

Method:

1. Put the rolled oats into a food processor. Using the "pulse" feature, grind the oatmeal for a few seconds until it resembles a coarse flour.

2. Add rose petals to the oatmeal in the food processor. Pulse again to break up the petals.
Remove mixture to a mixing bowl.
3. Add the rose water or distilled water, and the honey to the rose petals and oatmeal mixture. Mix well. (Add more or less water to form a paste).
4. Apply the rose petal mixture to your face and allow it to stay on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and gently towel dry your skin.

Store any remaining masque in a covered jar in the fridge.

 

Rose Water

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh rose petals

2 cups distilled water

Equipment:

tea kettle, bowl, jar, strainer

small pump bottle (found in the beauty travel section at most stores)

 

Method:

In your tea kettle, bring the distilled water to a boil. Place the rose petals in the bowl.

Pour the boiling water over the petals, cover the bowl and let the mixture come to room temperature.

Strain off and compost the petals and pour the rose water into a jar. Keep covered in the fridge.

The rose water can also be used as a facial spritzer, just pour a little in a pump bottle and spritz away.

 

I hope you give these recipes a try,

and feel free to share your own handmade beauty recipes.

 

~~~AND~~~

thanks to my sister Jamie for reminding me.

Love and miss you Jamie.

 

Till next time, enjoy God's gifts!

Bonjour

 





Little Girl Apron/Mom Apron and The Dress Form

Where to start?

 

Little Girl's Apron

We had a super show last weekend.

Sold lots of aprons, baby stuff and of course, soap and bath products.

 

WOOHOO!!!

 

 Since I lost my job, I've had more time to focus on my sewing abilities,

and it seems to be paying off.

The little girl aprons are a big hit with the Grandma crowd

and the little boy's/matching Dad's BB-Q aprons seem equally as popular.

The Mom aprons and the garden aprons went over well also.

 

 

~~~~ As to Miss Mannequin ~~~~

 

 

She is un-molded and awaiting her PVC pipe innards.

 

Till next time,

happy creating!

Bonjour

 

Making Link Sausage

Stuffed Sausage Casings

This is how I spent my day.
Started about 8am,

Un-supecting Turkey

Meet Casings!

Added some bacon ends and pieces,

 

 

 

 finished!

How was your day?

 

Till next time,

Bonjour

Free, Bicycle Pouch Tutorial/Gift For Heather

Bike Bags

 I was tooling around the net one "very early" morning

and found this post showing how to make a pub bag.

I liked the idea as a bicycle bag, to loop over the handle bars.

My daughter Heather does a lot of riding so I decided to make one for her.

 

I couldn't make the original instructions work for me,

 so I had to rework the idea.

I didn't like the first one I made, it seemed to long and not wide enough,

so I re-did the measurements to get a shorter, wider bag.

I think this bag would also be super for the farmer's market or thrifting.

 

Here's the re-worked version if you would like to make your own.

So here goes, my take on the pub "bike" bag.

 

Materials

 

 

2 ~ 5” x 8 ½” rectangles for main body (fashion fabric)

2 ~ 5” x 8 ½” rectangles for lining

1 ~ 10” x 5” rectangle for strap (fashion fabric)

2 ~ 4” x 7 ½” rectangles fusible interfacing

1 ~ 12” zipper

 

Method      
(¼” seams unless otherwise stated) Finished size is 4” x 7”
 
Strap
With wrong sides together, fold strap in half long ways, press on fold.
Open out and press each long side in to meet the fold, press. Fold in half and press.

You will now have a piece that is 10” long x 1 ¼” wide. Stitch along all the edges.

Fold in half so you have a piece that is 5” long x 1 ¼” wide. Set aside.

 

 

Body
Press interfacings to wrong side of fashion fabrics, centering it in the middle.

 

Zipper
Lay fashion fabric right side up, lay zipper tape face down with teeth to the inside and "zipper butt end" to the right and pull to the left. (right side of pull will be facing the fashion fabric).
Lay the lining fabric right side facing down over the zipper tape,

align edges and pin in place making a sandwich.

 

Sew in place using the zipper foot.

Open fabrics to right side, exposing other half of zipper tape.
Flip fabric to lining fabric side.

 

 

Place fashion fabric right side up, under exposed zipper tape, place lining fabric right side facing down on top of zipper tape, align edges and pin in place making another sandwich.

(This time the "zipper butt end" will be on the left and the pull tab on the right).
Sew in place making sure you keep the first two sides out of the way.

Trimming
Open out and press fabric away from the zipper. Open zipper halfway.

On your cutting table, line up one fashion fabric and one lining fabric to the left, wrong sides facing and the other two pieces to the right, with wrong sides facing

With your rotary cutter, trim off the excess zipper and true up your fabrics.

 

 

Sides
Lay the two fashion fabrics, right sides together on the left and the two lining fabrics, right sides together, on the right, with the zipper in the center. Sew down each side, parallel to the zipper, leaving a small opening for turning, on the lining side.

Top and strap
Open out your lining fabric so that the seam is in the center, do the same with the fashion fabric.

Center the strap under zipper top edge, between the two fashion fabrics, with the loop to the inside and raw edges even with the edge. Pin all layers in place. You will have a sandwich, two lining pieces and two fashion fabrics on either side of the zipper, ( four layers on either side) seams to the center, with the strap centered in the middle.
The strap should be mounted on the top of the pouch where the zipper pull tab is. That way, when you’re carrying it, the zipper opening will always face up.
Sew through all layers, sew again in a 3/8” seam.

Bottom
On the bottom end of the pouch, line up the fashion fabric on one side, and lining fabric on the other, so seams are in the middle.

Pin and then sew across bottom edge.

 

Finishing

Trim corners and turn right side out through opening in lining.
Push out corners through lining opening with a chop stick. Open zipper all the way out and give each piece a good press, tucking the raw edges of the lining opening to the inside. Stitch opening in lining closed.
Push lining to the inside.

Fill with essentials, hook onto your bike handle and you’re good to go!
No need for that shoulder bag, and where is her helmet? Wait I think I see it....







Thank you to Paula Storm for the great idea.

What have you been sewing?

Till next time,

Bonjour



DIY Craft Show Banner

SEW.....

Time is being spent preparing for the up-coming shows.

Making soap, sewing, all the things that come with running my own business.

This is the latest....

 

I needed a more detailed banner and

funds being what they are, I decided to make my own.

 

craft show banner

 Found the letter templates at

http://chubbiecubbie.com/abc123printables.htm

 

I bonded the letters to my fabric panel with wonder under

and then stitched them down as an added precaution.
 

I outlined the panel with bias binding and

added loops on the corners and in the center top and bottom.

 

 

The fabric panel was what I had left over from making my kitchen curtains.

 

 

The fabric flowers were free from my local thrift store.
The whole project was constructed with things I already had on hand.
 It was a bit time consuming but, worth the effort.

What great projects are you into?

Till next time,
Bonjour

 



What I bought at the Dallas Farmer's Market, + recipe

Farmer's Market veggies

 

OK, so I didn't go straight to the sewing machine yesterday.

Instead, I decided to use some of what I bought at the farmer's market.

I purchased,

 1 big bag of spinach $2.00

(shared about half with daughter #2)

1 bunch celery $2.00

1 basket (4) bell peppers $3.00

1 green, 2 red, 1 yellow

(gave daughter #2 1 red)

medium bag brussels sprouts $2.00

 

I made up a couple of "salads" using some of the spinach and peppers, 

for the hubby's lunch.

Sautéed the sprouts in olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon juice,

also for the hubby's lunch.

(Thank you daughter #1 for the fresh lemons).

 

Then I made a casserole/savory bread pudding,

that I adapted from all recipes.com

Here's the recipe if you're interested.



Ingredients:

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 small chopped onion

½ each, chopped green, red, yellow bell peppers

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 or 3 handfuls of spinach, chopped

2 tbsp. crushed dried rosemary

1# sausage (I used hubby's homemade chicken sausage)

9 slices cubed bread

5 oz. hard cheese, shredded (I used Colby jack)

4 eggs

1 cup milk

 

Method:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add the chopped onion, peppers, celery, spinach, rosemary and sausage.

(Hubby's sausage is on the lean side, if you're using purchased sausage you might want to cook it first, drain some of the fat and then add your veggies).

 

  

 

Saute until meat is cooked and veggies are tender. Take off heat.

Mix in the bread cubes.

Spoon into a lightly oiled casserole dish, mix in ½ the cheese.

In a large measuring cup, measure out your 1 cup milk, add the 4 eggs and whisk.

Pour into the casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.

Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes at 350°

Unfortunately I let mine bake at 375° for 40 minutes, (forgot my oven runs hot).

Still tasty though......

 



 

Next time I'll use homemade bread and be more mindful

of the timer:-)

 

 Till next time, happy cooking.

Bonjour



The "New", Used Sewing Machine

Dallas Farmer's Market

I was looking for a used sewing machine on Craig's list

the other day and found one for $29.00.

A singer touch and sew, circa early 1970's.

Not a bad price for a machine in a cabinet, plus the matching chair.

 

The only problem?

 

It's location was in Dallas, about an hour away.

I might not even want it...

Maybe it wouldn't sew properly...

Maybe it would need work...

Maybe this was one of those Craig's list scams...

 

You can let the maybes deter you or just go do it!

 

So, off we went to give it a test drive.

 

It was a fine machine with bells and whistles,

 plus a few extras thrown in for good measure.

 

 

We tarped and tied her into the back of the pickup

and headed over to the Dallas farmer's market.

~Couldn't waste the fuel doing just one thing!~

 

Well, I have some sewing to do and soap to cut...

Hope you have an excellent day!

 

Till next time,

Bonjour

 



Out For A Sunday Drive, Corsicana, Texas

 

Hubby wanted to go to Gander Mountain in Corsicana to

check prices on sausage casings.

I was like, yeah, OK, sure.

 

 

The ride in was on the interstate, lots of cars going way too fast!

 

 

When we got finished at the Gander,

we headed into town proper to hit the local Walmart.

 

 

My suggestion for the ride back was to take the back roads.

Out came The Roads of Texas Atlas.

(I love that atlas).

 

These photos were taken on FM 1126, just outside of Emhouse.

A beautiful drive back home, wouldn't you agree?

 

How was your Sunday?

 

Till next time,

Bonjour

Jalapeno, Paprika, Sea Salt, White Chocolate Candy Recipe

Jalaoeno white chocolate candy

 

~~~~SO~~~~

 

We're making candy for Christmas....

 

~Again~

 

We did the normal menu of flavors and threw in a few oddballs too.

 

Chocolate covered cherries/peanut butter cups

Pretzel letters/jalapeno white chocolate

Red hots

 

Melting chocolate/crushed candy canes

 

I use my electric skillet as a double boiler, (just add water to the skillet, and pop in your jars). I put the chocolate in wide mouth mason jars and got started. (When I have chocolate left over I just cool, cap and it's ready for the next candy making session. No muss, no fuss, plus this way I'm more apt to make candy at non-holiday times)!

 

The jalapeno thing just hit me, sounded good so I went with it.

 

If you're adventurous here's the recipe.

 

Ingredients:

4 or 5 finely diced jalapenos, depending on size, mine were BIG

½ block or so of roughly chopped white almond bark

a Tsp. or 2 of vegetable shortening

Paprika

Sea salt

 

Baking sheet

Parchment or wax paper

 

Method:

Put some water in your electric skillet and turn her on.

Roughly chop up the almond bark,  put it in the mason jar and set the jar into the simmering water to melt.

 

Meanwhile.....

 

Wash the jalapenos and drain well.

Remove the stem end from the jalapenos, slice, and then finely dice. I didn't de-vein or seed mine. I wanted all the fiery goodness! Set aside.

 

 

Check on the consistently of the white chocolate, I wanted a wafer type candy so I added veggie shortening to thin it out.

Once you have the white chocolate to your desired consistently, spoon rounds onto the parchment lined baking sheet.

Sprinkle/spoon on the jalapenos, a little paprika and sea salt.

Set in the freezer or fridge to chill.

Once set, place in plastic bags to give as gifts/ or eat them all yourself.

Continue on, making as many or as few as you desire.

 

I wasn't sure how these would turn out,

but,

me being me, I had to try.

 

They are super yummy!!!!!

 

The flavors work very well together, they're not overwhelming hot, I would say rather medium-mild.

The addition of the paprika and sea salt brought the whole recipe together.

If you decide to give these a try, please let me know what you think.

 

Till next time, happy cooking,
Bonjour





 

 

Here's the link to the peanut butter cup recipe.





Free Baby Blanket Tutorial/What I've Been Sewing

~~~~~~SEW~~~~~~~

 

Handmade baby blanket, bibs and burp cloths

The Great-grand-baby's 1st birthday is coming up,

so I decided to make her a few cute, but useful gift items.

The weather is turning cold here in Texas,

and when I saw this cute fleece at the fabric store,

my mind went to baby blanket.

I bought 1 ½ yards of it, plus some quilting cotton for a ruffle.

The bibs were made out of fat quarters.

 

The thought was,

the blanket could be used length-wise in the crib as a normal blanket,

or, used width-wise to put over the baby seat/carrier.

 

It was quite easy to make, and,

if you would like to make your own, here are the specs.

 

Keep in mind....

It is near impossible to get a decent photo in this house,

the fleece fabric is a pink, brown, blue, yellow and white paisley/floral print, and the quilting cotton is a brown background with pink flowers.

I did my best!

 

Supplies: 

1 ½ yards - 45 wide lightweight fleece/main body
1 ½ yards - 45 wide quilting cotton/ruffle
thread, scissors, cutting mat, rotary cutter, ruler, sewing machine, ETC.

 

Method: 

1. Using the cutting mat, rotary cutter and ruler, square up/trim the raw edges of the fleece.

Trim off the printing on the selvages.

2. Cut 5 - 8" strips of the quilting cotton, selvage to selvage.

Trim off the printing on the selvages.

You will have about 14" of the quilting cotton left over, set aside.

3. Using a small plate as a template, trace a curve in each of the four corners of the fleece. Cut on traced lines.

4. On the fleece, cut down the length-wise fold line so you have 2 pieces. Using a ¼" seam, with a normal stitch length, stay stitch each piece separately, around the edges. Set aside.

 

Rounding corners/cut strips

 

5. With a ¼"  seam, using a normal stitch length, with right sides together, sew 2 of your quilting cotton strips together ( on the 8" side). Continue adding the strips until you have them all attached to each other. You will have a long circle.

 

Joining strips

 

6. Press the seams to one side. Now, fold your joined strips, wrong sides together, making the width 4". Press.

7. Using the longest stitch length, baste ¼" from the raw edge.

(This will be your gathering threads to form the ruffle).

Since this is such a long piece, I chose to break up the gathering threads into 5 sections, starting and stopping between the seamed pieces..

Just be sure to leave yourself enough tail ends.

8. Lay out your ruffle piece around one of the fleece pieces and start gathering.

Make sure you leave extra fabric at the corners so it lays right, I

didn't leave enough, and the ruffle wants to curve inward and not lay flat! Lesson learned...

 

Basting the soon to be ruffle/fitting to the blanket front

 

9. Once you have the ruffle gathered, with right sides together,

start pinning the raw edges of the fleece and ruffle together. (The finished side of the ruffle will be facing the inside/center of the fleece). Use lots of pins!!!!

 

10. Once you have the ruffle pinned in place, take it to your sewing machine and sew ¼" from the raw edge, using a normal stitch length. Take out the pins as you go, you don't want to run over them.

11. Now lay the other piece of fleece on top of the ruffled piece, right sides together, with the ruffle to the inside, and pin in place.

12. At your sewing machine, in a ½" seam, using a normal stitch length, stitch the front and back pieces together, leaving 3" or so un-sewn on one long edge for turning. Again.... Take out the pins as you go.

13. Trim the raw edges, except where you left it open for turning. I like to leave that section alone as it leaves you more fabric for turning under later. 

Give the blanket a few stiff shakes to get rid of any stray threads and turn right side out.

 

Fitting front to back/ turned right side out

 

14. At your ironing board, turn under that 3" raw edge and press.

Press the whole top, pulling the ruffle away from the fleece to get a good flat edge.

15. At your sewing machine, using a normal stitch length, topstitch, on the fleece, ¼" away from where the fleece and ruffle meet. This will close the 3" opening and give you a crisp, clean edge.

Clip away any stray threads, give it few stiff shakes and you're done!

16. Use that leftover, 14" piece of quilting cotton to make a bib or two, or to run down the center of some diapers to make burp cloths.

 

Well there you have it, easy birthday present for baby.

If your in a colder climate you might think about adding some quilt batting also.

 

I hope this tutorial is helpful and if you have any questions/directions weren't clear, let me know, I'll be glad to help. 

 

Till next time, happy sewing.

Bonjour