Thwarted!!

So upon going to yonder Grocer, I find that all the delicious goodness I had originally chosen to use as preserved treats are all out of season!! I thought at least there would be pumpkins!! Maybe I'll have to try a different Grocer. I did notice however that there is an UNREAL deal on Kiwi's. With 6 kiwi's in each package, they were 10 for $10!! I'm sure I saw a recipe for some delicious kiwi goodness.. I'll have to look again. I did however get some delicious tamari seasoned pumpkin seeds and some Black Tea for work. I try not to drink too much coffee as it makes my already anxious tummy even more so. EVEN though I love everything about coffee - from berry to green bean to roasted goodness. I even had the delightful opportunity to roast some myself! 

But that was in another life long past. Well I should get to searching out a recipe for either kiwi or pineapples. Have a wonderful day, hopefully with out any Thwarting!!

Melissa*

Master Preserver

Me? Not yet, Mom on the other hand is at Expert level. I can remember her canning tomatoes and making pickles when I was a little girl. I was finally able to narrow it down to 3 or 4 recipes for my Handmade Christmas GIFTS!! They'll be so lovely wrapped up all willy nilly!!

The first: Pumpkin & Orange Spiced Jam

This orange-scented jam has a great color and subtle, spiced flavor. It's as tasty served with savory foods, such as tangy blue cheese, as it is spread on toast. Choose smaller pumpkins with smooth flesh and good flavor.

The second: Rhubarb, Pear & Ginger Jam

A combination of flavors and textures makes this jam a little bit more special than most. The soft stem ginger (available in Asian food shops) enhances the jam, which tastes lovely in a tart or spread as a filling in a sponge cake.

Third: Mango Chutney 

This classic, versatile chutney is as tasty in a cheese sandwich as it is served with a curry or some cold meats. If you want to spice the chutney up a little, add a finely chopped red or green chili peppers. Choose fair trade or certified mangoes. 

Fourth: Apricots & Almonds in Amaretto

Apricots seeped in almond liqueur is a marriage made in Heaven. If you want to preserve them whole, prick with a darning needle and poach in a single layer in the syrup for one to two minutes, shaking the pan to turn the fruit. Serve with ice cream.

There's a tie between 1 & 2 and each depends on whether or not I can find 1: sweetie pie pumpkin, 

OR 2: small balls of stem ginger..

I plan on making at least one batch this weekend. So excited, we're gonna JAM  out!! 

I'll keep you updated on which ones I make & how it turns out. 

My Vow to Gift ONLY handmade this year!

Last year I made the decision to give only handmade gifts this Holiday season! I am so excited to get started! I just found this awesome tutorial over on Sweet Verbena. Its for a charmed pencil pouch.

I love her choice of fabric here!! 

Its really similar to this one I made over here.

 Zippers are a must for this pouch though!! Especially if its for cosmetics. But can also be used for toothbrush/toothpaste & floss, or Q-Tips/cotton pads with travel sized makeup remover, Pencils, receipts, or really whatever your heart desires! They are so popular I saw a similar version on the Nate Berkus Show today!! 

She also has this tutorial for making your own Lip Balm!!

I just love her tin! So cute! I think it would go excellent with this other tutorial 

This is from the ThreadBanger Channel on YouTube.com. In it there's a recipe for making your own Sugar Scrub! YUM :)

My Mom gave me this book for my Birthday this year.

Click here to Purchase it from Amazon.com.

I found some great recipes in here which I think will be delicious hostess gifts!! Gotta find some air tight jars.. Something like these I found on Etsy.com

I love the colored glass!! Just beautiful. You can find them and more info on the seller here.

And for the Super Special Guy in my life.. and maybe some select friends I found this perfect tutorial on how to make a brimmed beanie!! 

Its So easy!! Now I can create some personalized head gear. Been thinking about a Bob Marley inspired beanie or hoodie.. 

Looks like its time for a trip to the Thrift Store for cheap materials!! I love refashioning! 

Have you started your Christmas Gift Giving List?? Are you making anything special this Holiday Season? Or is it hectic enough this time of year, that purchasing something is just easier? 

The Twilight Saga..

How neat is it to watch all the movies within one week of each other. having never read the books or even really been interested in such, I found them to be quite interesting. and I've enjoyed watching each of the actors grow into their characters. My sister, who is the real Twilight buff - she read all the books, but never watched the movies. Her and I went to see the latest of the Twilight series The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I. Now I can't wait to see the next one, which doesn't come out until the summer. Spoiler alert: the wedding scene is straight out of my brain - its how I want my wedding to be!! watch the movie and you'll see what I mean! LOVELY!

Here you go Santa, My Christmas wish list!!

Well peeps, here it is, my Christmas wish list. There's only one thing on it for me. and its pretty much all I could need other than some materials for my business venture :)

Minnetonka 5 Layer Fringe Boot Black Suede

This is it. All I ask for for myself. Oh wait, just a few more things.. Lately having good quality makeup has been very important. I mean if I eat organic, why am I not letting my skin have organic?? which leads me to 

Whoa! Even the packaging looks like it grew outta mother nature's bosom. Meet Physicians Formula 

Organic Wear 100% Natural Lash Boosting Mascara

Now there's another 100% natural mascara that's not lash boosting, but honestly I haven't met a woman who didn't want plump long lashes. And this stuff is awesome, you can read all about it here. and then I accidently clicked on this..

Mineral Wear™ Talc-Free Mineral Eye Liner Pencil

Specially designed for sensitive eyes this puppy even has a built in sharpener cap and antimicrobial smudger!!

Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Compact, Mirror & Brush 

Bamboo Wear™ Bamboo Silk Bronzer Refill

So these are sold separately, which is kind of cool because they are refillable, and or recyclable. You can use either bronzer or face powder. Now ladies and gents, that's it on the make up. That's all I wear, and I thank the good Lord above for allowing me to have a great complexion. 

 Other things I ask for will be solely for business purposes. That list is from www.Fabric.com who has some of the best prices for jersey knit that I've been able to find. 

A lovely stretch jersey material with silver glitter dots. 

Another of the same this time in slate.

this one is for a tee or loungy pants for the hubbie. shh don't tell :) its really in homage to his, well our favorite show Psych.

There is almost always a pineapple of some sorts in each episode.. HA!! One episode Shawn (the guy in the blue shirt) was trying to bake pineapple upside down cakes in an easy bake oven! Funny enough, they always tasted like, well not good.

There's also a stretchy black sparkly/shimmery jersey fabric in there too, but for some reason the pic they have up on the Fabric.com website doesn't show it in the glory it should. 

Then they show me this sensual coral!

I know its just a plain jane jersey knit, but that color reminds me of lazy days on the beach with an ice cold brewski in one hand and a string attached to a kite in the other. 

  

Ahh bliss! 

Now I'm not picky (as she says with a smirk) I like all kinds of gifts, especially ones made/or thought of from the heart. 

What's on your Christmas List this year? More importantly what's on your Christmas List to GIVE this year?

Warm beachy breezes and golden rays of sunshine

Melissa*

Can my Dreams Come TRUE?

So I gotta know.. Is it possible for me to see my dreams and goals come true so soon? My goal.. for now :) is to make and sell the items i make. But what i was wondering is if all or most of you readers are doing your passion, or do you also need to have a 9-5er? Can your passion for example, sewing, crafting, designing etc. does it pay the bills? Please i don't mean to intrude and ask personal questions but most of you that i read your blogs, you seem to be so happy where you are, or it seems to be a huge part of your life, that i only wondered if it was also your job. curiosity enlivens the kitty!

may all your dreams come true

Melissa*

Whoa Nelly there Blog readers!!

Hey there all! I'll bet you're wondering what wagon i fell off! Since y'know i haven't been on here much lately. Well i tell you LIFE! Life my friends can be quite abrupt sometimes, and everything you knew gets turned on its head and you find your self dealing with a mother who has skin cancer and a father who somehow needs his gallbladder removed!! WHAT?? yeah, well short story of it all, mommy's doing fine, small surgery and her basal carcinoma is gone, few weeks later full body scan says she's fine and healthy. Thank you Lord for that one. and daddy, well he's a bit of a hypochondriac and blew it outta proportion.. it was just a gall stone and pretty much every person in there 50's and beyond has em, and most of the time pose no threat. besides, you don't need to get your organs removed because of that!! just use ultrasonagraphy it breaks apart instantly! easy peasy. now readers this is all in the month of October, well also at the end of September. But every one is healthy and can go back to their normal lives. But my sewing and other fun crafting and creation was put on hold for a bit to help heal the family. oh didn't i say, i'm a proponent for healthy living and juicing for life! Which funny enough when their lives were "potentially" at stake, they still refused to admit some of the things they do could be causing their problems. But hey enough about that. they are doing fine and they did finally start cutting down on the sugar. Hey every little step helps.

Ok on to the fun stuff!
When i had time i was doing my thing!! You know.. well here check out what i was up to.

Aside from gluing or stitching on the back pocket detail these jeans are pretty much ready. I had planned on gettting some silvery embroidery thread and doing accents around the front and back pockets but we'll see. 

Aside from that i hand dyed, designed, and sewed my own Halloween costume.

bodice top with red lining. 

Turmeric bath!! 

me as a bumble bee! hope to get better pics soon.

I used the Sew Retro Bombshell bodice top pattern for the top, it has no boning or waist stay as i didn't have much time. the skirt has 6 layers of ruffles and has a built in "stinger". I just basted the striped fabric to the bodice top as i have other plans for that baby. i was thinking of adding a LONG eyelet ruffle to the bottom and have a "peplum style" top. And if you have made this pattern you know that the bodice length pretty much goes to your NATURAL waist. so yeah, if its just the top you want gotta add some length :) i think mid drift tops were outta style in the 90's. Although things do come back in style. 

Ahh.. what else have i been working on??

Well if you remember back when i did the September 18, 2011 post, i described all my plans for the Fall Palette challenge. i, for myself have extended it to the end of the year and am having fun with it all. and if i don't finish everything on my list its ok. So yeah back to the post. i had mentioned the jeans refashion, and also the tee shirt refashion. well here are the silks i picked out for them..

i thought about making a dolman or batwing top. and having the sheer scarf in the back. mind you these will be spring/summery tops! and after making that bombshell bodice top i now know i really wanna use a fabric with some stretch! Just try gettin your bumble bee groove on in a corset! its hard to breathe. :)

Honestly i'm thinking of postponing the shirt refashion for a bit, as Christmas is right around the corner.. literally! and i've only got 1 gift finished! they're super cute feather/leather earrings. for the sister. she's usually pretty conservative, but sometimes the crazy comes out. these earrings are for then! 

Alright, i believe thats all for now. but i'll leave you with a treat. 

For your viewing pleasure and for your tummy's sake i've included an easy peasy recipe. 

Sweetbird oven baked french fries

Ingredients:  about 5-7 Red potatoes or 3-5 yukon gold 'taters

splash EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) enough to coat 'taters

spices of your choosing

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. wash 'taters, cut julienne style, put on bowl. splash enough evoo and seasonings of your choice and toss to coat 'taters,. spray baking sheet with nonstick spray. spread 'taters onto baking sheet. bake 45 - 60 mins tossing every 15-20 mins until golden brown. 

Yields: 5-7 'taters equals about 3-5 servings. these are really good. and the serving sizes are bigger when it comes to sweetbird french fries! A great after school snack. ENJOY!