Here is my new address so you can find me:
http://marvelousthingswillhappen.wordpress.com/
It's not a decision I've made lightly. I've been deliberating about it all fall and all winter.
Pros for Blogger:
1- I'm used to it.
2- It's cuter
3-It's where all the crafty people are (unless they break the mold and go with typepad.)
4-Most of my friends and family use Blogger.
5-I love the widget that shows all of your blogs on the side and tells me the title of your most recent post so I know to go read it.
Pros for Wordpress:
When I make a comment on someone's blog, or if they comment on mine, WordPress shows me first thing with a little comment notification. I can immediately reply. If someone replies to a comment I made, WordPress tells me.
With Blogger, I have to either remember to check the box for follow-up emails (I never remember to check the box) or remember to keep checking back to see if anyone replied--don't remember that very often either.
So in the end, I've decided that WordPress allows for more of a conversation. That is what keeps me blogging--to stay connected to my families that are far away
I'll miss my RSS feed widget, but I'm hoping that I can figure out how to do the same thing in WordPress. In the mean time, I can use the Reader
<3 glowworm--="glowworm--" glowworm="glowworm">
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Scripture Cases
For their 8th birthday, we give the kiddie pies their own set of scriptures. I promised Pumpkin Pie a case to carry them in, and about 2 months after her birthday, I finally made it using this fun scripture case tutorial with great step by step pictures from PolkaDotChair.
I was making cases for a Bible and Triple Combination, soft paper bound, which together are larger than a mini-quad (what Melissa at PolkaDotChair was making a case for). I like my cases to fit pretty closely so the books aren't wallowing around in there. Also because my kids have a tendency to hoard bits of trash and I didn't want much room left for bits of paper. If you want to make your own case for scriptures like ours and don't want to do the math, here are the dimensions I used. (Also in case I decide to make more and want to remember the math.)
Denim:
1-- 9 3/8 x 8 inch for the flap
2-- 6 1/4 x 8 inch for the front & back
1-- 4 3/8 x 20 inch strip for the gusset
2-- 2 1/2 x 16 inch strips for the handle
It took a little bit more than a fat quarter for the lining:
2- 6 1/4 x 8 inch for front & back lining
2- 5 1/4 x 8 inch for front pocket
1- 9 3/8 x 8 inch for the flap lining
1- 4 3/8 x 20 inch strip for the gusset lining
I included a seam allowance of 1/2" everywhere except the handle- do 1/4" seams on the handle.
The first case I made was too tight. The gusset was 1/4 inch too narrow. I ended up unpicking all the seams and resewing them smaller so that there would be more room in the case.
**This is one of the secrets I've learned that has made me happier with my sewing. When it isn't right, I take the time to fix it. It's totally worth it. If you hate unpicking, check your seam ripper. If it is so rusty, it looks like you stabbed someone with it and left the blood to dry, spend $4 on a new one. Totally worth it.
**Secret #2 top stitch. It makes everything look more professional.
I adjusted the measurements for the second case and it turned out perfectly. (The measurements above are the adjusted ones.)
Here are the instructions from the tutorial because I found it confusing to go back and read her instructions with different measurements.
 |
| I made one for Cherry Pie, too. |
I was making cases for a Bible and Triple Combination, soft paper bound, which together are larger than a mini-quad (what Melissa at PolkaDotChair was making a case for). I like my cases to fit pretty closely so the books aren't wallowing around in there. Also because my kids have a tendency to hoard bits of trash and I didn't want much room left for bits of paper. If you want to make your own case for scriptures like ours and don't want to do the math, here are the dimensions I used. (Also in case I decide to make more and want to remember the math.)
Denim:
1-- 9 3/8 x 8 inch for the flap
2-- 6 1/4 x 8 inch for the front & back
1-- 4 3/8 x 20 inch strip for the gusset
2-- 2 1/2 x 16 inch strips for the handle
It took a little bit more than a fat quarter for the lining:
2- 6 1/4 x 8 inch for front & back lining
2- 5 1/4 x 8 inch for front pocket
1- 9 3/8 x 8 inch for the flap lining
1- 4 3/8 x 20 inch strip for the gusset lining
I included a seam allowance of 1/2" everywhere except the handle- do 1/4" seams on the handle.
The first case I made was too tight. The gusset was 1/4 inch too narrow. I ended up unpicking all the seams and resewing them smaller so that there would be more room in the case.
**This is one of the secrets I've learned that has made me happier with my sewing. When it isn't right, I take the time to fix it. It's totally worth it. If you hate unpicking, check your seam ripper. If it is so rusty, it looks like you stabbed someone with it and left the blood to dry, spend $4 on a new one. Totally worth it.
**Secret #2 top stitch. It makes everything look more professional.
I adjusted the measurements for the second case and it turned out perfectly. (The measurements above are the adjusted ones.)
Here are the instructions from the tutorial because I found it confusing to go back and read her instructions with different measurements.
1. Front Pocket:
Take your front pocket pieces of fabric and sew them right sides
together across the 8″ side. Press the seam open and turn right side out. Press
and top stitch along the top.
2. Place your
sewn piece over your front piece of denim. Baste around the edges of the denim piece to hold in place.
3. About 2″ up
from the bottom and in the center
of the fabric pocket, attach a magnetic snap. Make sure you only go through the fabric piece and not the
denim also.
4. Sew straight
lines through one end of the pocket to create some pen/pencil slots. Make sure
you backstitch at the top of the pocket.
5. Attatch gusset:
Take your denim gusset piece and pin it to the denim front piece that
has the pocket attached. Sew
around 3 sides.
Trim any extra denim (of the 3″ wide piece) off the top.
Pin your denim back piece to your gusset piece. Sew.
6. Repeat Step
5 with your lining fabric to form the bag lining.
7. If you are
going to add an appliqué to the flap of the bag, appliqué it to the denim flap
now.
8. Take your
denim flap piece and your fabric flap piece, place them right sides together
and sew around 3 sides (leaving the top open). Clip corners and turn right side
out. Press.
9. Top stitch
using contrast thread around the flap.
10. Take the other part of your magnetic snap and attach it
to the inside of the flap (the piece you just sewed). Place it in the center
about 1″ up from the bottom.
11. Place the right side of your flap inside your bag facing
the right side of the bag back. Stitch in place.
12. Sew the handle denim pieces, wrong sides together, using
a ¼” seam. Leave one end open for
turning. Turn, Press, and Top
Stitch.
13. Place the
handle in the bag and center it in the bag. Stitch it in place on both sides. (the handle).
14. Place your bag lining inside your bag (right sides
together). Pin. MAKE sure the bag lining and bag pieces line up perfectly, if
not adjust the seams on your bag lining piece until they do.
Sew 1/2″ down from the top of the bag beginning at the left
front corner and ending at the right front corner (you are leaving the front
side open for turning.)
15. Turn bag right side out and press. Turn under the open edges of the bag
along the front and press under.
Top stitch (to close the opening), starting at the bag flap on one side,
around the front to the other side of the bag flap.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
On the Menu this Week
I made a schedule. It is the mother of all schedules. It is a plan.
If I follow the plan, all my wildest dreams will come true.
My new year's resolution is to follow the schecule, follow the plan.
Part of the plan is to have biweekly menu plans and only shop twice a month for groceries. This will save me time for sure and probably money, as well.
Here is this coming week's plan:
You'll notice that Sunday-Friday breakfasts are actually made the night before. The crockpot mush recipes are actually steel-cut oat recipes from Monica at The Yummy Life. I'm trying them with cracked wheat. I think they'll work just fine. Lunches are simple. So that the Man-of-the-House can take leftovers to work for his lunch, Sunday-Thursday dinners are ones that reheat well. If for some reason there are no leftovers, He'll get salad with cooked chicken added.
I do serve an afterschool snack to my kids each day, which will be
veggies & dip, strawberry yogurt, popcorn, oatmeal cookies & milk, green smoothies, things like that.
At the beginning of every week I make a big green salad and a fruit salad and we eat those with dinner each night.
I subscribed to the Grocery Shrink's Weekly Menu Mailer for about four months, and the biggest thing I learned was to plan food for every meal. Previously, I have only planned dinners and bought the groceries for that plus eggs & milk. I never had enough food in the house and my plans never worked. I learned from Angela to plan lunches and snacks (especially on the weekend when everyone is home all day.)
If I follow the plan, all my wildest dreams will come true.
My new year's resolution is to follow the schecule, follow the plan.
Part of the plan is to have biweekly menu plans and only shop twice a month for groceries. This will save me time for sure and probably money, as well.
Here is this coming week's plan:
Menu for Week of January 6
Sunday
Breakfast:
Oven Peaches and Cream French Toast
Lunch: Tomato Soup & Melted Cheese
Sandwiches
Dinner:
Chicken Pot Pie
Monday
Breakfast:
CrockPot Eggnog Cranberry Cracked Wheat Mush
Lunch:
Peanut Butter & Honey Sandwiches or Leftovers
Dinner:
Puerco Adobo, Brown Rice, & Cole Slaw
Tuesday
Breakfast:
CrockPot Apple Cinnamon Cracked Wheat Mush
Lunch:
Sandwiches or Leftovers
Dinner:
Taco Soup, Bread & Butter
Wednesday
Breakfast:
Crock Pot Cracked Wheat Mush
Lunch:
Sandwiches or Leftovers
Dinner:
Freezer Raviolli, Alfredo Sauce, Steamed Broccoli
Thursday
Breakfast:
Apricot Ginger Refrigerator Oatmeal
Lunch:
Sandwiches or Leftovers
Dinner: Chicken Enchilada Casserole, Green
Salad & Ranch Dressing
Friday
Breakfast:
CrockPot Banana & Coconut Milk Cracked Wheat Mush
Lunch:
Sandwiches or Leftovers
Dinner:
Quinoa Broccoli Casserole, Garlic Bread
Saturday
Breakfast:
Applesauce Muffins
Lunch:
Pasta Salad
Dinner:
Garlic-Lime Chicken & Baked Sweet Potatoes
You'll notice that Sunday-Friday breakfasts are actually made the night before. The crockpot mush recipes are actually steel-cut oat recipes from Monica at The Yummy Life. I'm trying them with cracked wheat. I think they'll work just fine. Lunches are simple. So that the Man-of-the-House can take leftovers to work for his lunch, Sunday-Thursday dinners are ones that reheat well. If for some reason there are no leftovers, He'll get salad with cooked chicken added.
I do serve an afterschool snack to my kids each day, which will be
veggies & dip, strawberry yogurt, popcorn, oatmeal cookies & milk, green smoothies, things like that.
At the beginning of every week I make a big green salad and a fruit salad and we eat those with dinner each night.
I subscribed to the Grocery Shrink's Weekly Menu Mailer for about four months, and the biggest thing I learned was to plan food for every meal. Previously, I have only planned dinners and bought the groceries for that plus eggs & milk. I never had enough food in the house and my plans never worked. I learned from Angela to plan lunches and snacks (especially on the weekend when everyone is home all day.)