Tuesday, February 28, 2012

How to - 'Ladder' or 'Hidden' stitch

When finishing up a plush toy or doll you end up coming to that last seam where the stuffing is sort of puffing out slightly and you don't want to sew it up with an obvious frankenstein-ish stitch.  A 'hidden stitch', or the 'ladder stitch' is very helpful at this moment.  

Basically you are hiding your stitches inside the fabric, weaving directly from side to side.  When the thread is pulled tight it pulls both sides of the fabric together and hides the stitch.


To begin, pull your needle up from under the fabric on one side near the beginning of the open seam.  This will help hide your knot under the fabric.


Next you proceed to stitch the fabric from both sides.  Make sure to create each stitch directly across from the previous one so that it cinches up tight.


You should end up with a ladder effect.


When you pull the thread tight, it hides your stitches.
Proceed until your seam is closed, then make a knot on the end.

Hope this helps!


Sunday, February 26, 2012

three fast healthy foods

I've been looking for easier ways to get more fruits and veggies.  Here are a couple.


First up is frozen fruits.  I love berries, but winter is a rough time of year for them.  Pour a bowl of frozen fruit and microwave it for one min.  They will still be chilled and taste amazing sprinkled with sugar.  I should maybe point out that while I know sugar isn't healthy, I'm looking for ways to get more fruits and veggies in me, the sugar just helps.


The next is sauteed green beans (or whatever vegetable you like) with almonds in olive oil.  Just stir them around on medium heat for 5-10 min until the almonds aren't too crunchy.  Add whatever seasoning you like.


And last is cadbury mini eggs.  
Fast?  Yes.  
Healthy?  Yes.
Well, for my happiness and soul :)

Friday, February 24, 2012

Can I give you an idea?


A while ago I was at the craft store and I found this little wooden house for about $3.  I couldn't help myself, I brought it home with me.

I had been looking for a little bird house that I could modify in some way to be a home for little wooden peg dolls.  The bird houses are great prices but their tiny round doors are just too small, I knew that if my daughter poked a little doll in there she would never be able to get it out by herself.  This little house seemed to be a good substitute, plus storage!  


I've always wanted to try wood burning, so I finally invested in a wood burning pen.  I found this one at Home Depot for $15.  I've seen them at places like Joanns as well.  I wish I could compare the two in quality, but I know they are about the same price.


I've listed this under tutorials, but there isn't much to tutor really.  First I plugged in the burning pen and while I waited for it to get hot I drew my design on the house with a pencil.  

Next you just have at it.  Practice as you go, it is different than drawing with ink.  It took me quite a while to get used to.  Making fine lines is tough without it looking like connect the dots.  As I went on I decided that I liked making thicker darker lines because they were easier.  This is where I wish I knew the quality difference between different brands.  I still think it turned out okay.



I'd like to give out a safety warning as well, these pens get unbelievably hot.  I waited until after my children were in bed before I pulled it out for this project.  One time while working I accidentally touched my finger with the tip of the pen for half of a second.  It didn't hurt but it left a tiny white dot where it scorched the skin.  I can't imagine what it would do to a little person's hand if they grabbed it by the heated metal.
They could also be a fire hazard, they are meant for burning after all.
Please be careful.

So anyways, like I said I had originally designed this for our little peg family.



Unfortunately they didn't fit quite as expected.
Although they do store nicely in the tiny drawers.


In the end I decided the house better suited these tiny fuzzy bears that you can find at the craft store for under fifty cents.

And they sure are cute.

... because everyone want's a tiny house on their wrist...


Do you ever have an idea jump into your head and before you have time to analyze and think sanely you go into crazy tunnel vision mode and cast aside all priorities so that you can bring this brilliant idea to life.
Only to go through with it and think, "What on earth was I thinking?"
yeah, this was one of those times.


I found these in a box while organizing some of my jewelry supplies.  Apparently I had the sudden urge a while ago to make small bracelets with tiny houses on them.  I'm not really sure what they were for, but I can't imagine it now.  They wouldn't really fit in with the other jewelry in my shop.  So, who knows.

Does that ever happen to you?  Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

wooden camera


My boy and girl like my camera.
To avoid the inevitable breakage we made them their own.


We went to home depot and grabbed some scrap wood (the scraps they are going to burn) and cut two blocks by hand right there at the store.  Well, okay my husband sat there and sawed away.  I looked and enjoyed watching him work :)

We also cut two chunks from a dowel we already owned, and two tiny squares of masonite for the buttons.

My husband drilled a hole through for the eye piece and sanded the edges of the hole with a dremel.
He glued on the button and lens and added a screw to the lens for security.

Then I came in.
I painted.  
Yup, I was a big help.  My idea you know, and then I just kind of watched from a distance and pointed things out.
He's such a good sport.


Say cheese!

Valentine's photo-shoot


My best friend from high school recently found out that she and her husband are expecting a baby this fall and had the fabulous idea to announce it through a Valentine's Day card.  I was so honored to be able to take the photos for this super duper happy couple.

Here is a glimps of how they turned out.  You can see the entire photo-shoot over at Opal Dream Photography.



Thanks for dropping by, you make my day!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Cocoa Chocolate Chip Cookies



I have an all time chocolate cake recipe that I just adore.  I think what draws me to it is the cocoa flavor.  It is just so unique.  I wanted to try making a cookie that mimics this.  It doesn't taste quite like the beloved cake, but they were darn good cookies.  Here is the recipe.  Have fun!

Cocoa Chocolate Chip Cookies
by BeccaMarie Designs

Ingredients

3/4 cup + 2Tbs butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 T hot water
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Cream together butter and sugars until smooth.  Beat in eggs, vanilla extract, and salt.  Dissolve the baking soda and baking powder in the hot water, add it to the dough and mix well.  Stir in the flour and cocoa.  Now throw in as many chocolate chips as you want and stir it all up.  Drop by large spoonfuls onto a lightly greased pan.  It is sort of hard to judge how cooked chocolate cookies are but they bake for about 6 - 8 min.  Don't overcook and burn them!  
Let cool and eat a lot :)


They were good warm, and they were good the next day.  They stayed soft when sealed in a bag, and taste amazing with a glass of milk.


Go on, you know you want to.

Friday, February 10, 2012

like / dislike


Have you ever thought that maybe you'd save a bit of money and just trim those overgrown bangs yourself, only to think after the fact, "Oh gee wiz, I shouldn't have done that..."?
This exact same occurrence happens to me about every two and a half months.

like: 

-  Drawings by my three year old that depict a spider under a rainbow.  She told me it would be nice to me if I asked it to nicely.
-  Cocoa Chip Cookies (recipe coming)
-  Playing outside with two very short people who fight over trikes and balls.
-  Anticipating the BYU basketball game I'm going to tomorrow with my husband.
-  Finding a vegetable my one year old will eat willingly... but only if it's from someone else's plate.  He won't eat costco's sweet potato fries if they are his.  But if they are yours...

dislike: 

-  Substituting dinner for six cookies.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  It always seems like a good idea at the time with chocolate.
-  The type of sore throat that you can tell is only there because you haven't been letting yourself get enough sleep.
-  Self given bad haircuts.
-  The laundry pile that has taken up residence in my home.  It's alive.
-  Forgetting to water my plants.  Okay plant.  I can't even keep one plant alive.


Spilt Waffles


This is my brother's new puppy.

I'm kind of busy today brother, I don't know if I have the time.  What's that?  You say you bought a puppy?  Well look at that, my entire day just opened up.  Come on over!  ...but only if you bring the puppy.


They named him Spilt Waffles.
I guess my brother agreed to the puppy if he got to name it.  My sister-in-law is so patient.  She must of vetoed Conqueror, Warrior, and Tank as his first choices.  Then as they were driving to work together she dropped her breakfast on her lap.  "Oops, I spilled my waffles."  
"That's it!" he said, "Spilt Waffles."


They call him by his second name.  And it works too.  He is the exact color of perfectly toasted waffles.
And look, he still sleeps on his tummy with his arms all sprawled out like a baby.



I know my family won't be housing pets until we have our own place, but until then I don't mind borrowing my brother's.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

oh the dangers...

...of sending a hungry husband to the grocery store.
I sent mine to the store for some milk.


He brought home ice cream, nutella, and oreos.
All good things.
Therefore I will not complain.

But I have learned my lesson:  If I want someone to splurge on treats around here, send my man.  I usually can't quite make myself grab stuff like this when I know that I have a full cart of necessities.  But sending him to grab an ingredient right before dinner can be a good thing.  I love learning new things about our marriage :)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

two ways to tie a scarf

Lovely model is Lydia, my sister.

I love wearing scarves that are light and not too warm.  Here are two ways to tie a scarf that are kind of fun and different.


1.  Lay scarf on shoulders with ends towards back.
2.  Wrap ends around to the front.


3.  Tuck ends in and pull under the loop
4.  Repeat step three.  Depending on the length of your scarf you may want to wrap it several times.


Tada!  So easy.
The second wrap is one my family learned while in Italy.  A man was selling scarves and went up to my sister and lay the scarf on her shoulders and showed her how to tie it.  What do you do when an Italian man wraps a scarf around your neck?
Buy it.
So here we go.


1.  Fold scarf in half.
2.  Lay folded scarf across you shoulders.


3.  Pull one end through the loop.
4.  This part is tricky to describe, just look between the pictures a bit.  You twist the loop and then pull the other end through.


And there you go.
Now go be exotic!

Love you all, thanks for coming.  And if you like what you see please don't be afraid to follow.  I know that sounds kind of fussy, but I can't tell you how encouraging it is to see that at least one person has read a post.  

Okay, carry on.  Go be exotic.


Monday, February 6, 2012

b&w butterfly


The other night I was awoken by a little three year old girl with curly blonde hair.  She told me her foot hurt.  I unzipped her jammies so we could pull out the offended foot.  The heater hasn't been working properly lately so I had to pull off a little sock too.  Then she scratched the bottom of her foot.  And it was better.

Man those itches.

She wanted the sock back on but I was too tired so I assured her she'd be fine without one sock and she carried it with her to bed.
I then led her to her bed and tucked her all in.  As soon as all of the covers were tucked into the right places she told me that she had to go to the bathroom.
Figures.
So off we went to the potty.  As she was still on the potty she was trying to put that darn sock back on.  She was getting pretty desperate.  We were both really tired and not really with it.  Finally after some whimpers and squints the sock was on and hands were washed.  I went back to sleep as soon as she was in her bed.
An hour later I had a horrible dream about not being able to find a suitable bathroom even though there were a million in the house I was living in in my dream.  So this time I got up to run to the restroom.

An hour later baby boy woke up because he had kicked off all of his blankets and man it was cold.
Ugh.

Needless to say it was another very un-restful night.
But that morning, as I lay in bed after my good husband had already left for work the three year old curly blonde girl climbed into bed with me.  I awoke to find a beautiful pink face just inches from mine.  She was smiling and started to whisper things to me as we lay there in the waking hours.  When I decided to get up she offered to help and tried to lift me up.  It was heavenly.

It's so worth it.

.....

And because I can't help myself, check out this new video by OK Go

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

How To - make a bead link


The technique used for the necklace above is really simple.  I simply created bead links and attached them to the antique bronze chain.  Below is the video tutorial I made on making a bead link.  I filmed it over four times, and it's still not perfect.  Just goes to show how human we all are.  I wish I had paid more attention to rounder loops and snipped and tucked in edges.  Oh well :)



As always, please don't hesitate if you have a question!  I love feedback.

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