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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving Dress

I don't know about you guys but my family has been fighting off sicknesses left and right. I am just now getting over pneumonia. Nothing worse than a busy Mom being in bed for a week. Thank the heavens for a good husband. Sadly, it has put a delay on all things creative for a while. Fortunately, my family seems to be getting past everything so I have been able to start getting in the swing of things again. Just in time for the holidays.

Now that I am healthy again made Fall inspired paneled circle skirt dress. It's perfect for Thanksgiving. I have made this style before here. Like most sewist I have a bit of an addiction to fabrics and all of the glorious designs & patterns they come in. This dress uses four of those glorious fabrics. 

It's a full circle skirt so it has a lot a spin to it. Hannah has been pestering me to wear it every time she sees it. I am making her wait till Thanksgiving Day though.


As I pointed out in my last sewing post I have a new obsession with Yo-Yo's. I really liked how it worked out for the last dress I made for Hannah and it incorporates more of those fabrics I love so much so I couldn't resist.


I learned my lesson though, Yo-yo's don't wash well. This time I attached it to a hair clip so it can be removed for washing and bonus it can be clipped anywhere including her hair. 

I decided to add a little something extra this time. A simple zigzag stitch in contrasting thread on the skirt trim. When I think of Fall I think of zigzags for some reason. Must be jack-o-lantern mouths, scarecrows or something. I love how it turned out. I need to get familiar with my decorative stitches on my machine and start adding more accents like this to my projects.

Since we live in Ohio State Buckeye country I have been requested to make this dress in scarlet and grey for an OSU inspired dress. I have collected the fabrics and I'm looking forward to making it. I will post pictures when it is done.

Thanks for stopping by the nest.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Darla

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Recipe - Oatmeal & Banana Magic Bullet Pancakes

I adapted this from two other recipes. This one here and here. The recipe only feeds 2 people (or two toddlers & one grown-up). I love that this is super easy, gluten & casein (dairy) free and does not produce leftovers. This is a perfect weekday breakfast for me and the kids. They do have more of a soft custard quality rather than the bread like quality since they are primarily banana and egg. Going gluten free I much prefer this over the gritty results that most gluten free flour blends produce, I think the kids do too.
Gather the ingredients
Add the oats to a clean dry blender.
Pulverize Oats in Magic Bullet until ground.
Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and blend till smooth.
This is how it should look. I typically have to scrape down the sides once.
This is the oil I use in the pan. I just love this stuff. It never leaves a gummy coating on my pans and it is healthier than other oils.


Heat coconut oil in the pan over medium heat and cook like a regular pancake.
Serve with syrup, fruit or whatever you like on your typical pancakes and enjoy!


Oatmeal & Banana Magic Bullet Pancakes
Serves 2 (makes 8 small pancakes)

Ingredients:
1/2 c G/F Rolled Oats
2 eggs 
1 large ripe bananas
1/4 c Apple Sauce
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
coconut oil for the pan (I really like the coconut oil spray from Trader Joe's)

Instructions:
1.  Pulverize Oats in Magic Bullet until ground.
2.  add the other ingredients (all but the coconut oil) to the bullet cup & blend
3.  Heat coconut oil in the pan over medium heat and cook like a regular pancake.  

Serve topped with powdered sugar or syrup. 

Doubling the ingredients in 1 bullet cup would be too much and overflow or not blend properly (even in the biggest cup). I have doubled this recipe by using a second bullet cup (same blade). The key is to pulverize the 1/2 cup of oats in each of the cups before moving to on to step 2. Once the blade is wet or damp it makes it impossible to ground the oats.

I love the magic bullet I just wish you got more than one of the double blades or they made it possible to purchase a second/replacement one(s).

Another option is to use a large blender or food processor and double, triple or even quadruple the ingredients. I have not tried this however so I do not know how well it would work. 

Thanks for stopping by the nest!

Darla

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Trick-Or-Treat Bags

I'm a little ridiculous for all things fall. So when an opportunity presents itself to combine the two things, crafting and fall, I get a little giddy and tend to go over board. A couple years ago I made Samuel and Hannah trick-or-treat bags that received rave reviews. This year I decided to make a ton and sell them. I did pretty good and enjoyed the process as well. Both bags were originally inspired by Pinterest but I added some special details that my original bags are lacking. 

The first and my favorite is the ruffle bag. Its built on basic canvas bag. I add a ton of ruffles, a lining and a coordinating yo yo or bow. 
I have become a little yo yo obsessed now that I know how easy they are to make and I love how they add that little something.






It took a little work but I figured out how to get the liner to work just right.



This a girly version of the simple boy bag I made for my son. I rather like the ruffle up, it has a tissue paper in a gift bag effect. The following two are a more basic ruffle.



These are what I call The Simple Boy Bag. They are sturdy bags. My son literally drug his around the neighborhood through puddles and mud. I have machine washed it twice and it still looks great.























I have a few bags left in a variety of different styles and fabrics. I figured I will add to my Etsy's shop for next year. If anyone is interested before the shop is open, send me an email at littlequailcreated@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by the nest!
Darla