KCW Winter 2015 - Up-cycled Men's Shirt

This is the third and final item I completed for Kids Clothes Week. I know its winter but Hannah doesn't need anymore winter clothing so my current focus is to get a head start on warm weather clothing. 

This is little sundress is the free Popover Sundress pattern from Oliver+S. Honestly I have never been overly impressed when I have seen completed versions of this pattern (with a couple exceptions of remix versions). It's not because of how an individual has completed it but the pattern itself. I have always thought it is a bit boxy. Regardless, I still have had this pattern waiting in the wings to try myself.

The summary of how I chose this sewing project: KCW challenge: up cycle + I had the men's shirt to do over + I was running short on time = Popover Sundress.

This dress pattern is super simple and worked well for men's shirt make over. It is really basic and boxy just as suspected. This is not entirely horrible. Hannah will probably get a fair amount of playtime in this when the weather warms up.  Since I used a recycled shirt (no extra fabric) and I was short on time I used store bought double fold bias tape for the straps.

The fact that its so basic makes it a great pattern for newbies. I can see so many possibilities with this pattern. There are a good number of remixes of this dress out in blog-land. I have a few pin on my Pinterest boards. I particularly like this one and this one. 

Hannah thought it was really cool that she was wearing her Daddy's shirt. She liked the buttons and the bows on the shoulders but was a bit disappointed that it didn't twirl. I think the novelty of it being Daddy's shirt wins out over the lack of twirl though : )

I had hopes of doing something more than a simple sundress with a recycled shirt like a romper but time didn't allow for the pattern drafting. Maybe next time.

Thanks for stopping by the nest!
Darla

KCW Winter 2015 - T-Shirt Dresses

Kids Clothes Week has come and gone. I managed to complete three items this week. Two of which are t-shirt dresses. I am really surprise by the response I get when ever I make these. They seem to have that nice balance between comfortable, girly and dressed up. My daughter really enjoy's wearing them and I enjoy making them. However, these two are for other little girls whom I hope get hours of spin time out of them. 

I've been asked recently where I get my fabric. Most of it comes from my local Hobby Lobby and Joann Fabrics. Some come from on-line retailers like Fabric.com. For these dresses all the fabric came from Hobby Lobby. I find I like the quality of most of their fabrics. They don't have a huge selection but what they do is usually really pretty, like this light teal and lavender print. 

I have also received numerous email's requesting the patterns for the four different styles I make. I have been waffling back and forth on that one for sometime and finally decided that I should do that. I'm not sure when or how it will be available but I am working on it. If anyone is interested in doing pattern testing send me an email and I will add you to the list. I sell the dresses 18 months to 5T so that will probably be the same range of my patterns.

I am sure there is a good number of sewist who have no problem reproducing these dresses by doing some basic calculations. But for those not interested in doing the math I can understand why you would like a pattern. 

As I contemplate creating patterns for these dresses there are so many possibilities on how to use these basic skirt patterns. They can be added to virtually any bodice (pre-made or handmade) or a standalone skirt. And lets not forget the embellishment possibilities.

Again, if you are interested in doing pattern testing for the t-shirt dress patterns send me an email or leave me a comment with your email address.

Thanks for stopping by the nest!
Darla

Birthday Cards

I know this post is a bit unusual for me. I have never posted anything about the paper crafting that I do. So far most of my posts are about sewing and recipes. Well this is another craft I like to do when I am not being a wife, a mommy or a seamstress. I usually only get to do this when I "need" to since I am rather busy and in this case I "needed" two birthday cards. 

What inspired these cards was an outfit Lady Grantham was wearing during this seasons Downton Abby (am an addict!). It was during her trip to London. She wore a striking combination of deep blue green with a coppery orange. When you put those colors together they typically put me in mind of Morocco or India and places in between. I just couldn't stop thinking about it. When that happens I know I won't get it out of my head until released creatively. This did the trick. Sadly none of the pictures did the colors justice. (I really need to come up with a better lighting strategy for pictures.)

I used my Cricut and did all of the design work in the craftroom software.  I love the fact that you can sit in a comfy spot with your laptop and come up with a complete design all at once. The you just pick your papers, turn on your Cricut and just start cutting. I feel confident that the size of my cuts are just the right size too. No more guessing the size and holding your breath. I've wasted too many papers that I liked doing that.  All that's left is gluing it together and embellishing. 

I used the craftroom basic shapes for the card base and the rectangles I stamped, The Edge to Edge cartridge for the lattice work and the Elegant Edges cartridge (my favorite cart so far) for the base of my stamped pieces. The tree stamp is Flourish Fall Tree by Inkadinkado and the "Celebrate" is a clear stamp that came out of a bargain bin too long ago to remember. All of the paper came out of the core'dinations Super Assortment Nostalgia Stack.

Thank for stopping by the nest!

Darla

2015 Winter Kids Clothing Week

"To Kids Clothing Week or not to Kids Clothing Week?" that is the question of the weekend. I love to participate in the seasonal Kids Clothing Week and it feels like I have to miss out most the time. Whether or not that's true I don't know, I'd have to do the math. 

KCW (Kids Clothing Week) is a pledge to do at least one hour of sewing (for your kiddo) every day for one week. It is not the specifics of the challenge that I enjoy and miss when I don't get to participate, it is the community of sewist that interact with each other in a non-competitive personal challenge. I love seeing all the wonderful things people are completing and the supportive spirit. 

With just this contemplation I have decided YES! I am going to participate. It might be a little tight but I am going to enjoy the experience even if I don't produce as much as I would like. That said I am going to challenge myself to only one item for one of my kids. I guess that is the next thing I need to determine who am I going to make something for and what. 

The KCW crew as put out a challenge this time to make something up-cycled. I like this idea. Over the holiday's my husband managed to ruin not one but two of his dress shirts. One in particular that I really liked. So I think I'm going to do something that has been done a thousand times but I am going to make my daughter something with one of the casualties. Likely a dress but who knows maybe I will surprise you (& me) and come up with something never seen before. You will just have to check back and see what I manage.

Thanks for stopping by the nest!

Darla

Holiday Dresses

So here I am taking about the holiday dresses when it is almost February. Shameful I know but I just won't feel caught up unless I get these posted.

I originally posted about Hannah's Thanksgiving dress here but didn't have the pictures of her in it at the the time. Seems I am very behind in all things again. Sometime in this life time I hope to be more timely. I've been told once my kiddo's are in full time school I'll be able to reclaim some time. I sure hope they are right.

Over the holiday's I was discussing with a friend how difficult it is to find long sleeve dresses for the holiday's. Seems like an odd thing to me that there aren't more. Because of this I gravitate to the sweater dresses (that are surprisingly short sleeve too)  that can be layered. I'm a crazy Mom who thinks her daughter should be warm during winter even if it's a special occasion.

I would have loved to make a more formal dress with long sleeves but it just wasn't in the cards between the typical holiday bluster, sicknesses and completing orders for others. Maybe next year I can plan better

At the last minute I put together more yo yo's (something nice to do while relaxing on the couch in the evenings) and attached them to some FOE (fold over elastic) I had on hand for a matching headband. I have to say the FOE is perfect for headbands, it is soft and has a nice gentle give. Hannah calls it her princess crown.

I realized when I went to put together a quick Christmas dress for Hannah that I have never made a tiered dress for her. I've made gobs of  tiered dresses for others and a few circle skirt dresses for Hannah but never a tiered one. 

I thought it was time to give her one. I have been hording Christmas fabrics over the years only buying the ones I really like (which there is usually only one of each year). I hope to quilt together some for stockings and tree skirt some day but this year I felt that this dress was worthy of depleting some of my stock. 

In the end I really wasn't disappointed not the having the shiny satin or velvet dress this year. Hannah loved it in all it's simplicity and I loved that she could wear it all Christmas Day comfortably. 

By the end of Christmas day it was well worn, covered in chocolate and what ever else she got in to that day. I tossed it in the washer with all the other clothes, no added steps and it came out like new. I did make her a matching yo yo headband to go with this dress too. It however, didn't fair as well. Her brother was using it like a rubber band to get a rise out of her (successfully) and one of the yo yo came undone.  Ah, sibling love : )

Oh I forgot to mentioned, the middle layer is sparkly. That made it all the more princess-y in her eyes.

It's a bit late but I hope you all had a blessed Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by the nest.
Darla

Detox & Garlic Salad Dressing Recipe

Well I wasn't to far off with my recent lentil soup recipe post. It fit my qualifications for a detox recipe. According to the reading I've done it contains a few cleansing ingredients. Lentils for fiber and garlic and onions for cell development and protection. Plus I had always heard that garlic is great for fighting general illnesses and bacteria growth. The next time I think I will try using thyme instead of oregano since it to has healing powers too according to those who are experts. I also read here how (beef) bone broth is excellent for brain cell development and health. So maybe next time try bone broth in place of the box stock. The rest of the ingredients are at least benign and aren't on the experts avoid list. And I am happy to say my family ate the soup with out complaint (well at least most of us, my daughter is going through that picky eater toddler phase).

Let me be clear I am not an expert in these matters, I am just an every day Mom who need to expedite feeling better after a horrible eating jag. I figured why not share recipes for healthy meals my family will eat that, according to experts, contain detoxifying ingredients to speeds up healing. From the looks of it I already of a stash of healthy meals that may need a little tweaking but fit the bill. I have put together short list of good and avoid foods for detoxing (according to experts, ie. not me). 

Good
seaweed
onions
garlic
ginger
turmeric
beans & lentils
beets
pineapple
broccoli
lemons
avocados
cabbage
cinnamon
thyme
cranberries

Avoid
dairy
grains containing gluten 
nitrates (found in most sausage, bacon & lunch meats)
animal fats
sugars
alcohol
caffeine

At the bottom of this post I included links to my source information.

I'm happy to see that my family already has the top two avoids under control. The caffeine is going to be a killer. I live on coffee. Got to say I don't see my family embracing the seaweed so don't plan on seeing that in any of my ingredients lists. I have read a lot of detoxing with smoothies, tea's and consuming random things through out the day. These are not for me and I can't imagine most family households that struggle getting a meal on the table that appeals to everyone is hard enough than to add in these new routines with things they don't already have in stock. However, from my perspective, that makes the avoid list all that more important. Plus it may take longer to reap the detox effects, which is OK with me, Its better than wasting money and food.

I am sure there are a lot of beneficial foods that are not on my list, like olive oil and coconut. This list is the most common I found across many experts detox lists. That doesn't make those foods bad they may just not be as detoxifying. Perfect example is the Bone Broth. It's very healthy for brain development but does not help or prevent detox. 

Alright enough with that lets get on with today's recipe. I call this recipe "Stacy's" Garlic Dressing since my awesome friend Stacy shared this recipe with me a few years ago. It uses several cloves of raw garlic with very little oil or vinegar. Its a good thing I have friends that love garlic as much as I do cause after eating this salad dressing you smell of garlic for day's but it is so worth it. My grandmother use to eat a raw garlic clove every day which I thought was weird but really when I think about it now this dressing isn't much different from that.  

Stacy's Garlic Dressing

6 cloves of garlic (fresh not bottled!)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp red wine vinegar

Mince garlic in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper. Whisk in oil and vinegar. Serve over your favorite greens. A little goes a long way.

I think this dressing would be great over shredded cabbage for a coleslaw or on steamed broccoli. If you try this recipe on any thing interesting, leave me a comment and let me know how it tastes.

Thanks for stopping by the nest!

Darla

Source information:
Dr. Oz
Alt medicine
BemBu
Care2
Eat Local Grown

Lentil Soup Recipe

In our house New Year's Day is the day where we get back to better eating after all our holiday indulgences. As I may have mentioned in the past for the most part our family is gluten and casein (dairy) free. However for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations I make exceptions. Well today I feel like crap and every aspect of my being reflects this: my energy, my mood and I feel like I am on the verge of a cold. It's a firm reminder of why we practice gluten and casein free eating. And for all you sceptics, no I did not drink alcohol at all this season, since I have a baby it just puts me to sleep.

You would think year after year of going through this I would remember and use better restraint. Since I am so stubborn I think I need to put together a new year's week long family friendly detox menu to use every year. Since I have not done my research yet I am going to start out with sharing my lentil soup recipe. It may not be detoxifying but it is pretty healthy so I will start there.

This recipe contains Worcestershire sauce which can contain gluten if the wrong brand is used. As with all gluten and casein free eating, read your labels to ensure they contain safe ingredients.

Lentil Soup

1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups/16oz of dried brown lentils, sorted and rinsed
8 cups beef stock (vegetable or chicken stock work well too)
1 14.5 oz can of diced or crushed tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Heat olive oil in a large pot. Saute onion, celery, carrots and salt till translucent. Add black pepper and garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add lentils, stock, tomatoes, bay leaf, oregano, parsley and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a bubble then reduce to low. Covered and simmer for 2 hours. Stir in vinegar and serve.

Sausage variation (pictured above)
If you are not looking for an overly healthy but yummy lentil soup recipe I like to brown a pound of a good smoked sausage or kielbasa, diced, in the pot first. Then I remove it from the pot and drain off all but 1 tbsp of the fat to cook the vegetables in instead of the olive oil. Then continue with the rest of the above cooking instructions. Add sausage to the soup with the vinegar. Simmer for a few extra minutes to warm through the sausage again.

I hope your family is having a wonderful Christmas Season and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for stopping by the nest and God bless!
Darla