Renaissance Princess or Birthday Mini Hat Crochet Pattern has arrived

I apologize for not posting this on Tuesday, but I just couldn't stop making these.  Every time I picked up my hook, new ideas came to mind on how to accessorize these hats.  

This pattern I am releasing is  for a Renaissance or Birthday Mini Hat. Worked in your desired colors this will produce a hat that is approximately 6” in height and 3” in diameter, depending on how you accessorize. Great for Renaissance Fairs, Birthday Parties, You can even turn this upside down and with a simple chain stitch, slip stitch a handle to your cone to hold party favors, sweet treats and mini gifts, May Day Flowers. Accessorize with lace, beads, buttons, and sequins, to give it your own personal touch. 

I would love to see your creations.

You can find this pattern here.

Enjoy,

Debra

Sneak Peak Party Hat Designs

I'm still here.  Just wanted to give you a sneak peak of a party hat pattern I am working on.

Actually, this upcoming pattern will be multifunctional but for now I am making some small modifications.

Be ready for a release this upcoming Monday.

I do have to admit though, the cell phones these days can take a pretty good picture.

Hope your weekend is going well.

See you on Monday....

Debra

Jewel Cases Made Into Cubes Recycle Craft

Here is a great tutorial on making photo cubes out of jewel cases.  I used some of my motifs that I am currently working on.  I'm still trying to decide which pictures to use.  I'm kinda liking the motifs though.

http://paperjewels.blogspot.com/2008/06/cd-photo-cube-tutorial.html

At the present time, I am heavily involved in making a daisy motif afghan, but I did want to share this tutorial I found.

I also have a new pattern I am designing, but I am sticking with one project at a time, next week I should be back on schedule

Thank you for visiting,

Debra

Daisy Vanity Set Crochet Vintage Pattern

I love, love, love this motif.  Well written by the Designer, I bring to you a vintage crochet Daisy Vanity Set Pattern that is reformatted and digitally improved.

At the time of testing the integrity of the written pattern, I used a worsted yarn and fell in love with the design and decided to try my hand at making a small afghan.  I'm not one to work on projects of this size, but I absolutely love how the daisy flower is turning out on this.

Here is one of the motifs I have completed.  I have a ways to go, but I will publish when I finish the afghan.

It also gives me the opportunity to work with different color combinations, which absolutely scares me considering that I am colorblind.

I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I do.  The design on this motif gives it so many possibilities other then a vanity set.

Consider pillows, purses, afghans, valances, baby blankets, table runners with just a change of yarn, thread or hook size and you are well on your way to possibly creating numerous articles with this motif.

You can find this pattern here.

Thank you for looking and enjoy,

Debra

Vintage Jewelry

Today was about listing vintage jewelry.

My Daughter gave me yarn as one of my Christmas gifts this year, so I made a chain scarf and added a vintage piece to it.

What do you think?

I am addicted to making these chain scarves.

This particular vintage piece of jewelry, I decided to keep for myself.  I just think it is different and I can use it on an assortment of clothing.

Anyway, here are a few of the pieces that I listed today.





See you tomorrow,

Debra

Crispy Cheddar Chicken Recipe

In my opinion, this is just sinful.  I don't know any other way to describe this.  It is rich and defiantly something that I will serve on a special occasion.

Ingredients:


1 pound of of tenderloin chicken breast strips
1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2 pinches of pepper
1/4 cup of milk
1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning

For the sauce you will need:

5 ounces cream of chicken soup

1 tablespoon of sour cream

1 tablespoon of butter

You will need to crush up the Ritz Crackers so that they become similar to bread crumbs.  I just keep them right in the sleeve and smash, smash, smash with my hands.  Pour them on a piece of parchment paper.  

Add the salt and pepper to the crackers.  Mix with your hands and at the same time you can break down any of the large pieces that did not get crunched in the sleeve.  

Put the chicken strips into a bowl and add the milk.  Mix the chicken and the milk really well.  

I put the cheese on the parchment paper, in a separate area from the crackers.  I then take one of the strips and press it into the cheese very firmly, on both sides.  

Then I place the cheese covered strip into the crackers and coat really well.  Place the coated chicken into a well oiled casserole dish.  

Once you have all the chicken coated and in the casserole dish, sprinkle the top of the chicken with the Italian seasoning.  

Cover the casserole dish and place in a preheated 400 degree oven for 35 minutes.  

When the 30 is up, remove the cover and cook an additional 10 minutes.  

During the last 10 minutes that the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce.  

Place the cream of chicken soup, sour cream and butter in a saucepan.  Heat to medium and constantly stir with a whisk until the chicken is ready.  

Pour the sauce over the chicken and

Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy,

Debra

Adapted from the recipe of : http://jamiecooksitup.net/2011/10/crispy-cheddar-chicken/

Crochet Flower Motif Sneak Peak

I want to share with you a sneak peak of a current vintage pattern I'm working on.  I won't be done until next week, but I'm really pleased with how it is coming along.  I really like the color combinations of this yarn from Red Heart titled Grape Fizz.  Don't you agree this would be a lovely yarn to crochet petaled flowers with?

I am defiantly noticing the twist I have with my wrist with this stitch work.  Others have tried to work with me on it for years, and I have come to accept that is just a part of my M.O.

I just stopped in to wish you all a great weekend and give you a heads up for what's in the queue for next week.

Monday         A new recipe with chicken breast

Tuesday         A couple of new vintage jewelry pieces that I have listed

Wednesday   A vintage pattern release

Thursday       A recycle craft using cd cases

Friday           A sneak peak of a new pattern design I'm working on.

Until then, Have a Great Weekend!!!

Debra

Room Scents All Natural

Fresh herbs always taste so much better then the dried herbs.  Only problem is, when I buy them, I can never get them used up in time, and then they become such an expensive commodity because I am throwing out more then I can use.

This year, I am planning on incorporating some herb plants in my flower beds. I like the idea of stepping right outside of my door and snipping what I need for my recipes.

I still have the issue of keeping the plants healthy and trimming them back and what not.

I came across this blog with natural room scents.  I thought to myself, what a wonderful idea.  When I go to prune my herb plants, I can make room scents.

Since Rosemary is going to one of the herbs that I want to plant, I thought I would give this a try.

Not only do I save money growing my own herbs but I also save money by making my own room scents.

What you will need:

1 glass jar that holds approximately 2 cups
2 lemons
3 sprigs of rosemary
1 teaspoon of vanilla

I'm recycling, so I used a glass spaghetti jar that I saved.  Just remove the label. In case you don't know, the glue they use to put the label on, remove it easily by rubbing just a little bit of cooking oil  on the glue and it takes the glue right off, like magic. Just be sure and soap it down afterwards, to remove the oil.

Cut the lemon up.  You can cut them in slices, chunks, remove the pulp and use just the rind, it's really up to you.  I just cut mine in slices. If you use fresh squeezed lemons in your recipes, rather than throwing the lemon pulp and rind away, just cut it up and use in your room scents.

Then add your water.  I use very hot water, because I use my scents as soon as I make it, and it start working pretty much immediately with the hot water.

Add a teaspoon of vanilla, put the lid on and shake a bit to get the vanilla distributed evenly.

I put my glass jars on a coffee mug warmer.

As the water goes down, just add more hot water to replenish.

When not in use, you can replenish the water, put the lid on and store in the refrigerator.

This recipe has such a wonderful light , fresh scent.

Head on over to the link below to get more recipes and different ways to scent a larger room.

Adapted from: http://www.theyummylife.com/Natural_Room_Scents

Enjoy,

Debra

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!!

I'm one of those people that make Goals every year rather than New Year's Resolutions.

How about you?

I make a long list of goals, and I know I won't get them all done, but being able to mark off some of them gives the feeling of accomplishment, versus making a resolution and possibly feeling that I failed.  You know what I'm talking about.

After reviewing what I jotted down, it seems, that I have a need to be better organized.

2014 will be about developing new habits and getting organized.

Keep an eye out for:

new crochet patterns that can assist with organizing
lots of new recipes, as I go through oodles of clipped magazine recipes over the years
letting go, (I dare not say how many totes), of items in totes that I have saved for years and listing on eBay.
sharing a lot of recycle crafts

As you can see, I am eager to become more minimal.....

and last but not least, to focus on me......we need to pamper ourselves, don't you agree?

I hope you will join me on my journey and share your thoughts and ideas this year, because the monthly giveaways, will be all about You!!!

Don't forget about the current giveaway, go here, to get the details!!!

Wishing you a blank canvas, and tools of your choice, to create a magnificence year!!!

Debra