Oliver + S Backpack

The temperatures here have been over 100 degrees and the heat sucks the energy right out of me.  This may be the reason I haven't been up to sewing much lately.   I did recently take the time to make the backpack out of the book, Oliver + S Little Thinks to Sew.   I like the book but the only complaint I have with it is you have to trace the patterns because the ones in the book are double sided.  If you cut a pattern out of the book you will mess the pattern on the other side up.  Below are some pictures of my E's backpack.   It took me two days working a few hours each day to complete it.  The most time consuming part was tracing the patterns. The lining of the bag was made out of one of my husband's old shirts.

SnapShots Photography

A few months ago, I attended Ashley Ann's SnapShots Photography class.  Let me just tell you it was awesome.  She simplifies the techniques for using a dslr camera.  Ashley puts it in people terms and not professional photography terms and the class is hands on.  I have attended other photography classes that were mainly classroom teaching with very little hands on learning.  I'm a hands on learner and you can tell me something a hundred times but until I do it myself I will not learn.

I went to the class thinking we would learn about aperature, shutter speed and ISO's, but we learned so much more.  The best lesson was the very first thing she taught, rules of composition.  I knew a few of the composition rules but never had thought about the rest.  I think those rules can be more important to great photography than aperature, shutter speed, etc.

Our first hands on photography session was of Ashley's adorable children.

Thank you Ashley for a great class.

Yummy Recipes!

I want to share a few recipes from my Pinterest page that my family has tried and approved.

Smashed White Bean & Avocado Sandwich - Delicious!!!  I used fresh added fresh tomatoes from my garden, toasted the bread and left out the cucumbers.

Source: realsimple.com via Julie on Pinterest

Chicken Flauntas with Jalapeno Jelly

Source: fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com via Julie on Pinterest

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas -
Made a few with just cream cheese and cheese and they were delicious.

Source: bunsinmyoven.com via Julie on Pinterest

Cilantro Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas -
These were very good but next time I will leave out the jalapeno.  I used homemade salsa verde and it already had some heat to it so I suggest testing the salsa verde and adjusting accordingly.

Source: themotherhuddle.com via Julie on Pinterest

Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, & Chocolate Chip Cookies - All I can say is Yummy!

Source: browneyedbaker.com via Julie on Pinterest

 These are just a few recipes I have discovered on Pinterest.  I see so many yummy recipes and I don't know if my waist can handle trying them all. 

Felt Learning Board

Felt Learning Board

Supplies needed:
Stretched canvas
Staple gun and staples
Several pieces and colors of felt.
scissors

This project is simple to create. 

Trim your piece of felt leaving at least two inches

Staple around sides of canvas pulling felt tight.

After stapling the felt to the frame on the back of the canvas trim excess felt.

I cut out and sewed together the felt to create a heavier and sturdier letter and number.

  Felt sticks to felt.

This is a great project to be used as a learning tool or to play with. 

Another Homemade Gift

I made another homemade birthday gift.  Again this purse is for a four year old little girl.  She is one of E's favorite little friends and they get along great together.  We didn't get to go to the party but we dropped the gift off on our way out of town early that morning. The next morning at church we saw her walking in the front door carry her purse full of goodies.  She loved it! 

Zipper pouch with her intial "E".

Purse with small flower pin.

Large flower pin.

Purse with the large flower pin.

I love giving and receiving handmade gifts.  If I'm going to continue with the homemade gifts for Christmas I better get started because Christmas is right around the corner and I don't want to fill rushed. 

Dave Ramsey Envelopes

Very basic instruction will add more detail later.

Right sides together cut to 7 1/2 by 8 1/4.

Sew around leaving an opening on the short side.

 Turn fabric and press

 I sew the snaps on felt and then on to the pocket.

sew snaps on each side in the middle

missed a picture camera went dead, snap together and sew up the sides.

Designing your own fabric.

I just discover a site where you can design your own fabric and then order it.  This is a great thing because I am constantly get ideas in my head about what kind of fabric I want to use with different projects.  When I start shopping around at local fabric shops, online and some larger hobby/fabric shops I can never find the kind of fabric I dream about for certain projects.  Now I can just get online and design my own. The fabric maybe a little pricey, but in some cases and for certain projects it's worth it to me to pay a little higher price to get what I want.  If you would also like to design your own fabric try out Spoonflower.