Upcycled Men's T-shirt to Feminine Pillow

As good looking as I think my hubby looks in fitted undershirts, my husband does not like them tight, therefore, 4 brand new undershirt ended up in the rag pile. I thought it was a shame to put perfectly good t-shirts in the rag pile so I pulled them out for "a future project." Today it hit me like a ton of bricks exactly what I wanted to do with them because I remembered my friend Holly from 504 Main is having a All White Decor Linky Party (ending today) and I so wanted to be apart of it!! So here is what I came up with...

I am not going to lie. It was easy but time consuming.

Who would of thought a basic men's undershirt could look so feminine!!! Love it!!

EDIT: Tutorial is here!!

Put a feather in my cap- I made bread

Not just any ol’ bread…SOURDOUGH BREAD.  I would normally not write about recipes because truly I really do not like cooking.  I see cooking as a necessity for living not something I take pleasure in doing (most of the time.)  Don’t judge me that is just the way I feel.

The reason for this post, and why I am making such a big deal of Sourdough bread is back in August I got it in my head (thanks, Elizabeth) that I wanted/needed to make Sour dough Bread for my family.  Well, 2 botched batches and 16 cups of flour later, it was an epic FAIL!!  I normally don’t use 16 cups of flour in 2 years let alone in a month!   I had pretty much given up.

Then a couple weeks ago my friend, Elizabeth, posted about Sourdough crackers and it made me want to try it again, not to make crackers  (I am still a rookie) but sourdough bread.   This time I got help..I had Elizabeth give me a starter, I had her write me an idiot proof email, and I had my sister with me!! 

This is the email I received from E…

When you arrive, place the starter on the counter to warm to room temp...you may want to take the lid off and place a towel or dishrag over it so it can breathe a little.  Sometime between dinner and bedtime, feed the starter with 1 cup warm water, 1 cup flour and 1 Tbsp sugar.  Then, start your bread and put the remaining starter in the fridge.  I do the recipe below from Carl's..I added the bold and italics.  I used to make two loaves, but since getting a 3rd pan, I make 3 loaves from the recipe.  If Lauren's mil has a big kitchen aid, you can mix and knead the bread in there...stainless steel isn't a problem...metals like aluminum are though, so I stick with wood, plastic and glass.  My kitchen aid isn't big enough to do the bread, but I used it for the crackers.   
One of the other mornings you are there, you can make sourdough pancakes or waffles...just remember that you have to start them the night before.
Carl's   http://carlsfriends.net/
Recipe

Alaskan Sourdough BREAD

1 c Sourdough starter
4 T Melted lard (or oil)
1 t Baking soda
8 c Bread flour (approximately)
2 1/2 c Warm Water
1/2 c Sugar
1 T Salt

Combine starter, all the water, and 3 c flour the night before and place in warm, draft free place.

The next morning add other ingredients and knead till smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl in warm place (I sometimes put in the oven with the light on or in the garage when it is warm out to speed things up) and let rise to double (normally about 3 hours on the counter). Knead down again, shape into loaves, let rise to top of pan (about 90 minutes) plus a little and bake in greased pans in moderate oven - 375 for about an hour till done. When it is ready it sounds hollow when thumped. Turn out on racks, cover with dish cloth and let cool.

Yep, pretty much foolproof!!   Thanks E, you are the best!!!!  It is so nice to have such an encouraging friend!!!  Tomorrow morning I am going to venture out and try Sourdough Pancakes for the kids…wish me luck!!

The other bread I have made twice now is Friendship Bread, thank you Heidi.  Technically my sister made the first batch  (I supervised) and yesterday I made the second batch…Chocolate Friendship Bread (pictured above.)   It is so yummy, but I am not going to lie it is TIME CONSUMING!!  I plan on bringing one loft to my next MOPS meeting so it was worth the time.   It was good while it lasted but my friendship bread days are over.  If you want some Friendship bread I have 3 sitting right here waiting for you!!  Otherwise, I am trashing them!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  It should be beautiful here in NC!!

Brass doorknobs get a much needed facelift

I live in a old well-established house and for the most part I love everything about it, but some things just GET ON MY NERVES- like brass doorknobs. Most things about our home do not seem to get on my husband’s nerves and does not see the need to update anything. I blame the Y chromosome (not his fault) and since toothpaste all over the sink does not get on his nerves, he sometimes is not a good judge of what should be updated and what shouldn’t.

While he was away one weekend I took it upon myself to “start” a little project. Buying new ones is not an option (cost) but spray painting is an option. As the old saying goes “When the cat is gone the mice will play.” Well, I played and the results are fabulous!! Good thing I started it in the least obvious place, like our kitchen, to change out our knobs.

I can not tell you how much I love the results and actually my hubby loves it too!! Here is how I did it…

Supplies…Primer, Sand paper, Rust-Oleum Metallic Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint, Patience…

1. Remove the door knobs and sand in a well ventilated area

2. Wipe clean and Prime 2 coats…don’t forget to paint the tops of the screws too.

3.Wait…

4. Spray Paint with Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint 2 light coats (let dry between coats)

5. You should wait 24 hours before you install. I was on a strict schedule (hubby was coming home soon so I carefully installed)

Finished… I LOVE THEM!! They feel great and are holding up beautifully.

I love the look 1000xs better than brass and I love the cost. I would of proceeded to the hinges and taken off the doors BUT my doors are solid wood and HEAVY!! Luckily hubby loves the look so much he promises to help me…without griping! He is such a good guy!!

That weekend I got so excited I went on ahead and painted my bathroom and coat closet knobs…

Now I want to do all the brass knobs in our house…that would only be 13 more doorknobs and 54 hinges!! Piece of cake, right??

This project will cost me some time but my labor is cheap and my supplies (spray paint) will cost me a total of $24 when all is complete…Not bad.

If you have any questions email me!!!

I am sharing this here…

504 Main, Crafty Soiree, Black Kat Designs, Creation Corner, Creative Juice

Strictly Homemade Tuesday # 3

Welcome back to the third Strictly Homemade Tuesday. I am so glad you are here!! Hopefully you are here to show off some wonderful homemade goodies that you have made in the last week!! I can’t wait to see them all.

First, I want to share some awesome projects from last week.

For my mommy friends who can not work a sewing machine here is a No Sew Shopping Cart Cover by Little Rays of Sunshine. Brilliant. I will be making one of these for Cailyn!!

Then Laura from The Burke Lodge made a rug inspired by Anthropologie. Love the watercolors and the price…

These are wonderful inspirational no-sew projects. Great job ladies and grab a Feature Button from Strictly Homemade and display it proudly

On to this months linky party. The requests are simple

1. No Esty Shops, or giveaways

2. Post my button on your blog (if you feel like it)

3. Show some blogger love and comment on a few posts...it fuels our creative souls.

Handmade Easter Outfits for the Kids

This year I made it a priority to make my kids handmade Easter Outfits.  Check out my munchkins this year….

As luck would have it I had the material on-hand!  Back in 2009 I made my daughter a pillowcase dress (and ER from Katie’s Nesting Spot) out of the same material and purposely over bought because I loved the material so much.   Little did I know back then I would be making both my daughters a dress from this material!!

I small walk down memory lane. Here is Lawson in 2009 in a pillowcase dress!

Lawson and me in 2009

Today…Lawson in 2011.               

This pattern is from McCalls Easy Stitch n’ Save 6054

Then our newest addition, Cailyn, in a matching outfit!!

This pattern is New Look 6925.

Here I am Easter Morning with my girls!! You have no idea how happy it makes me to sew for my children!!

Then last but not least, you can’t forget about my son.   I made Wesley a matching bow tie. Who says boy clothes aren’t cute?? I will be honest, W was NOT a fan and only wore it for pictures.  Whatever…at least he looked extra cute for pictures!!

It was truly a homemade Easter!! I spent very little money making my children's clothes and that made me happy.  However, more then the minimal cost it was the pride I felt knowing I made them something so special on such an special day.  Jesus is risen! Jesus is risen indeed!!

Tomorrow is Strictly Homemade Tuesday Linky Party!!! I would love to see your crafts, sewing projects, recipes that you have made this week!!! Hope you will join me!

Today I am sharing this at Girl Creative, Creation Corner, Keeping it Simple, Crafty Soiree, All thingz Related

Strictly Homemade Tuesday #2 & Winner of Giveaway

First, I want to thank everyone who participated last week in my first Strictly Homemade Tuesday. I hope to make this party bigger and better each week so we can all be inspired by each other! So please stop by, link up, and create!!

Last week I really enjoyed every ones homemade crafts and thought they were all inspirational. It is Easter week so I thought it was appropriate to highlight some of the Easter Crafts!!

The ladies from Show Tell Share give an excellent tutorial on how to make a bunny hair bow! I made one with her instructions and it is adorable!

Ashley, from Simply Designing made this. One word...YUM!!

Last but not least, Pam from Pam's Party Blog shows us how to make the treat containers. So smart!!

Awesome job ladies!! If you would like grab a Featured Button on the right side. You deserve it!!

Also, I am happy to announce the Winner of the Chevron Pillow!! Jen from Craft-O-Maniac won the give away!!! Randomly picked through random.org. Thanks Jen for participating and becoming a follower!!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST!! The Linky Party!!!

RULES:

1. No Esty Shops, or giveaways

2. Post my button on your blog (if you feel like it)

3. Show some blogger love and comment on a few posts...it fuels our creative souls.

Homemade Chevron Pattern - Tissue Box Cover

I am hooked on anything Chevron these days. I love the clean pattern and the clean sharp lines (plus if you know me anything black and white as well.) As much as I love this pattern, I am not going buy chevron material when I can make it myself!! The possibilities are endless on the places I could use this Chevron pattern material and my most recent creation is this great tissue box cover for my Powder Room. I LOVE IT!!

I found directions on Made on how to make regular stripe material (left over from my daughter’s valance)

into Chevron pattern material. I am showing you’re the backside so you can see the configuration.

Then I found a great tutorial for a tissue box cover here. I mean why reinvent the wheel? No reason to show you a tutorial when someone was gracious enough to write them out already?!?!

Here it my Powder Room all put together!!

I am just taking two great ideas and combining them to work for me…and maybe inspire you!

Don’t forget about my Giveaway!! It ends April 17th!!

Also, I am entering into the One Month 2 Win it contest thanks to a little convincing from my friend Viv. Wish me luck!!

My Peep Family

I am really getting into the groove with my Silhouette!!

Check out My Peeps!

Everyone in my house is represented!!

It is pretty self-explanatory on how I did this. I first found and old tile (white would have been better but I don’t like buying stuff so I used what I had.) Then using the online Silhouette store I found a PEEP picture. I still have a $10 credit from when I received my Silhouette so it was free. Then I cut out some grass and the lettering.

I love it!! My Personalized Peep Family!!

To cover the back I used some Easter Material. A good crafter would of ironed the material before hand, but I needed to pick up my son from preschool so this will have to do…

Happy Easter!

Don’t forget I am hosting a Chevron Pillow giveaway that ends on April 17th and my first linky party! I would love for you to join me!!

Blogs Parties I am linking up too...