I need a new fall wreath - maybe this would do...

Tutorial.

My favorite halloween corners this year

Amy's Curry Chicken

serves 6

3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
olive oil
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 c mayonnaise
1/3 c dry white wine
1/4 c Major Grey's Chutney
3 T curry powder
1 c medium diced celery
1/4 c chopped scallions
1/4 c raisins
1 c whole roasted cashews

Preheat oven to 350.

Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan and rub the skin with olive oil. sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast for 35-40 minutes, until the ckicken is just cooked. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove the meat from the bones, discard the skin, and dice the chicken in large bite size pieces.

For the dressing, combine the mayo, wine, chutney, curry powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until smooth.

Combine the chicken with enough dressing to moisten well. Add the celery, scallions and raisins and mix well. Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Add the cashews and serve at room temp.

The robe and the dress

I saw this towel robe on MADE and knew immediately that the kids had to have one for the lake this summer. Jamesy loves wearing his everywhere. Ian's is cut out and waiting to be sewn...


Here is the dress I made last month. I truly despise modeling clothing. Can you tell?

The kitchen desk area

I wasn't going to post this until I got the shelves decorated the way I want but that might not be FOREVER so I thought I would post a picture anyway.
BEFORE:

Middle:

After:

The wall behind the desk is corkboard and there is a light under the shelves (curt's favorite part). Now if we just had an IPad sitting there....anyway I think Curt did an amazing job - can't wait to see what his next project is.

Sewing like crazy

Just made these shorts from this tutorial for James today and he was so excited. (btw after I finished Ian asked me when I was going to start his shorts and also could I make him a whole outfit including underwear and socks?)


I made this tote as an end of school present for Ian's teacher. It actually has her name embroidered on it in white but you can't see it in the picture (and barely in real life - unfortunately).

And some birthday gifts for some of my favorite babies who will be having birthdays while I am in NY this summer.



And of course a few gifts that I can't show you yet....

Hey guys I made a shirt

I have actually worn it several times already - it looks cute with a belt too. I also made a dress but I haven't taken any pictures in it. Seriously I am getting addicted to making clothes - it is fun. The modeling part...not so much (obviously).

New Shirts

I was making a shirt for Luke for his birthday when I discovered that Make the Cut has a new search images button in the program and when I searched I found this: (image below)

So of course I had to make a shirt for ian. I think it is one of the best freezer paper stencils I have ever done. Ian was pretty happy about it.

Then of course I had to make a boba fett one for jamesy. His didn't turn out as well as I would have liked. I think it is the colors. But he thinks it is awesome. Can you tell?

AND.. curt finished building our built in desk in the kitchen. All the stuff on the wall is coming down and he is going to build built in shelves above it. Not sure what to do about the outlet in the middle of the wall - I don't know how to hide it. But I love having a desk and more storage in the kitchen.

Sewing

The last two days have been nothing but curtains. I forgot that I hate sewing curtains but I am pretty happy with them.

And I also made this pillow - with a zipper. That was kind of hard.

Yay for new house stuff!

next year valentines

downloads and tutorial here

The boys bags

In the colors they chose - Ian's is supposed to be a Sounders bag so I need to find a patch to sew on the front (but I did the soccer ball with my machine). If I haven't called you lately - now you know why. Once one is done the other is begging for theirs as well...
Since Ian's was third of these bags that I made, I did incorporate several changes to the pattern - like rounding the corners and using interfacing so it is more stable - so if you are going to make it let me know and I will tell you some tips.
BTW - check out the post today on Our Best Bites for lettuce wraps - they look delish!

Messenger bag

***updated: I added this SeaHawks patch to Grants bag with my embroidery machine - how awesome is that!***

I just finished this messenger bag for Grant's birthday present from the boys. I bought enough fabric to make each of them one as well. It was pretty easy and fun. All I have to do now is find a nice big SeaHawks patch complete it. Go check out the tutorial for better pictures of it.
I just finished another project that I am dying to post but have to keep it a secret until a certain someone receives it in the mail...

Cute Easter ideas from Martha

Bunny cake toppers or garland

Bunny box

I heart valentines day

Seriously, how cute are these FREE downloads from Twig and Thistle.

Latest Projects

I fancied up this sweater a little. Remember that post about making old things new and fun (here is the tutorial for this sweater)? I think that is a good idea. I also learned how to make sweaters fit better from the grosgrain blog, have fixed two sweaters and wear them all the time now.

This project has been sitting in my closet for about 9 months (the board that is). Ian and James kept fighting over who would conduct family home evening so I decided it was time to do it. I cut out the vinyl lettering on my cricut. If anyone is interested in making one I am happy to cut some out for them.

Also, I did my first project out of the One Yard Wonders book I got from ashley for Christmas. It was surprisingly easy and fun.



I've been working on Ian and James Valentines cards but you will have to wait for that. Lets just say I am pretty excited about how they turned out.

Cute Party decorating idea

Cupcake liners. How cute. Tutorial.

Stuff

Trying to post all the stuff I have been meaning to post but haven't had time to.

Like this picture for ash - it comes from one of the blogs in the sidebar called Cluck Cluck Sew - she is a quilter and I thought you might like it.

Or these funny pictures because they are hilarious. And for some reason I want to try to do it but I'm not sure what for.


And le papier studio is where I ordered Nicki's Christmas present from and I found she does some free downloads too. Cute.

Grosgrain

Since I got a new sewing machine for Christmas I have been thinking about what my first projects of the new year will be. One of my goals is to learn to sew some clothing - and I found this blog called Grosgrain and love it. Her things are all very anthropologie inspired and she refashions a lot of old things and makes them new. It is now in the side bar (check out the button on the side of her blog that says "embellish your knits month").




Not to mention a tutorial on how to make felt balls. Finally.