Wednesday, April 24, 2013

A Recipe for You

A some of you might know, I love to cook.
I also enjoy spending time with friends and chatting! So a group of us have been doing sort of like a food exchange, where we get together at someones house and bring a sample of food for that nights theme. We have had like cookies, dips, desserts, etc. as themes. We also bring the recipe of the food you made. It's a great night to chat and enjoy, then you end up going home with not only the yummy food, but you get the recipes too.
Well at the last desserts night we had, I received a cookie recipe for Samoas -Thanks Lisa!! YUM!! They are way yummy, so I decided to share this awesome recipe with you!!

Samoas
6 T. Butter
1/2 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Light Corn Syrup
1/2 of a 14oz. can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 t.Vanilla
4 C. Toasted Coconut (350 for about 8-10 mins. stirring every 2 min.)

In a 2 quart saucepan over medium-low heat, combine butter, sugar and corn syrup. Heat to a full boil, stirring constantly. Boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly pour in sweetened condensed milk, stirring constantly. Continue cooking over low heat until candy thermometer reaches 220-228 degrees. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Beat until creamy.

Immediately stir in coconut and mix well. Spoon mixture by teaspoonfuls into circular mounds onto buttered wax paper. Flattened slightly with the end of a wooden spoon. Cool completely.

Melt chocolate chips and drizzle thin stripes over cookies and let the chocolate harden at room temperature. Store in airtight container.

Note: They are a white-ish color. When I made them I doubled the recipe, mainly cause I didn't want to waste 1/2 a can of sweetened condensed milk. :) I also dipped the bottom of the cookie in chocolate too and then did the drizzle on top as well! (Got to get in as much chocolate as possible!!)


Untl next time....

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Just Getting it Done...

Ever have those times when you are really excited about making something and then life happens and it has to take backseat for a while....well, that has been me for the last week.
 
I have so many things running through my head like my ruffle maxi skirt. I got all my measurements done and a pattern all figured out. But thats where it stopped.
And my flared maxi skirt with inserts, same thing, all but the actual cutting and sewing of it.
A maxi dress for Lucy, not even a pattern drawn up.
Some super cute baby shoes and much much more have all been on the agenda, but apparently no one but me got the memo! :)
 
But hey there's always tomorrow, and I'll be happy I got some spring cleaning done when I actually get around to doing it too!! Right? Right.
Well, I'm off to start destroying each room and closet some more.....I mean get some spring cleaning done! :)
BTW what is your spring/ summer must haves?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Ruffle Bottom Legging Tutorial

So a friend of mine showed me a picture of some leggings, they were adorable, however they were $44.99!! Way too much in my book. I thought about it and decided I could make some WAY cheaper. I had seen several that were done like this...
 
 
...with the material just gathered and stitched on top. Although it's still super adorable, it wasn't the look I was going for. I wanted mine to be more flared, than gathered, and I didn't want a seam!! So after a bit more thought, this is what I came up with....
 
The Ruffle Bottom Legging Tutorial
 
 
First I took a pair of Lucy's leggings I had purchased back in Nov. for $3, and 1/2 yd. of scrap fabric.

 
They had a huge hole in the knee and therefore were in the "do something with them, or throw them away" pile!! (Tell me I'm not the only one with that kind of a pile.)
 
 
Since mine had a hole in them, I already knew where to cut them off. Choose how long you want yours and then cut away.

 
Then measure where you just cut. Mine is 6 1/4" across.
Then comes a bit of math...don't worry though, I'll break it down.... (if you have ever made a circle skirt, it's the same thing, just on a smaller scale.)
Take your measurement (above) and times it by 2, (since it's folded), then divide your answer by 6.28. That equals your radius which is what you need to do the next part.
For example my number was
6.25"X 2 = 12.5/ 6.28= 1.99" (I rounded it to 2")
Then with a scratch paper measure from one corner and go out 2" make a mark, then move up and continue until you reach the other side of the paper. Draw a line connecting the marks making a quarter of a circle. Cut out and set aside. This can also be done with a string like in grade school. :)
 
Then decide how long you want your ruffle. I did a double layer one 3" and one 4". So using that same technique, do one for how long you want your ruffle + the radius.
For example I did one 5" (3" + the radius 2") and one 6" (4" + the radius 2")
Cut those out as well, and set aside. Make sure you mark what size they are. :)
 
 
This is what they should look like. I have a 2", 5" and 6" quarter circle.
 
 
Then fold your material over just enough to fit your largest quarter circle on, then fold it again, just enough to fit your largest circle. (By doing it just enough, it saves on material, but you can do it any way you feel most comfortable!)

 
Place your largest quarter circle on the corner. (There should be no edges on either straight side of the quarter circle, just folds. 

 
Cut the curved edge and then you get this. Which if you have done it right it makes a full circle.

 
Fold back up and place your radius quarter circle (mine was 2") on the corner of the piece you just cut out.
 
 
Cut along the curved edge. Repeat this process for any other ruffle layers you are doing.
You can discard the center circle, or use it to make a matching bow!
 
 
So now you have your donut/ ruffle circles.

 
Make a narrow hem around the outer edge of your donuts/ ruffles. Then fold and pin the inner edges, fold again matching your pins, and mark the other sides. Does that make sense?? You should have 4 pins equal distance apart. (Since I am doing 2 ruffles on each leg, I placed my smaller on on top of the larger one before pinning)
Do the same for each leg of the leggings as well. (Note: the side seams of the leggings aren't always equal front and back, but since there is no seam on the ruffle, just mark equal distances like you did with the ruffle.
 
 
Then with right sides together, match pins on leggings and ruffle. Pin together all layers.

 
Then stitch. I stitched with the inside of the legging up and went around that way.
 
 
If you have knit leggings with a knit ruffle I recommend using a double needle which can be purchased at most fabric stores. You just choose the distance apart you want the needles. This will help the seam stretch a bit. I did not use a knit material for the ruffle so I didn't feel I needed it.
 
 
I really like that finished look, so to finish it off, I folded the seam up and top stitched around one last time. Repeat steps for other leg and you are done!!
 
 
TA-DAH!
 
Can you see the difference in the way the ruffle hangs? It's not a big difference, but it's just what I wanted and I really like it!!
 
 
And because there is no seam on the ruffle, they look the same front and back!! (And you thought I was just showing you her round little butt!!)

 
After my tester tried them on and danced around a bit, the verdict was in......

 
(not sure what she is doing here....)

 
(Or here...mid sentence talking maybe??) Anywho...she loved them!
 
As for extending the life of a $3 pair of leggings...SUCCESS!
If you have any questions, let me know!!


Until next time....


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

A Forgotten Post, and a New Fabric Find

So since I totally forgot last weeks post, this week I should have a totally awesome tutorial or a really great post for you today right?? WRONG!!
 
But I should have tutorial on those super cute leggings with the ruffle at the bottom for next week!!
 
Anywho....today I wanted to share with you this awesome place to get knit fabric....Let me explain...
 
So have you seen all these super cute maxi skirts that have been just about everywhere you look lately?? Well I have, and I have been collecting pictures!!
 
 
I love the huge chevron print!

 
Fun color and good flow!

 
Different take on a maxi skirt! So fun!

 
We all know I love ruffles!

 
Love the change in stripe direction!

 
Can we just say cute all over!! (probably not make out of knit, but still, it's cute right!!)
 
 I wanted to make myself one, but after much searching I just couldn't find cute knit fabric that I really liked. So I did what any reasonable person does...I called my expert friend (Thanks Elizabeth!!) and she referred me to Here.


They have some super cute knits, and the prices were even better than I thought they would be. Oh and the quality is excellent too!! So head on over and check them out!! You won't be disappointed!
 
 
Until next time...