23
Jan

Stitched Whimsy by Heidi Boyd ~ Book Review

‘Stitched Whimsy’ by Heidi Boyd is one of the cutest sewing books I have ever been sent to review.  The projects throughout the book are just as the title states ~ whimsical!  If you are looking for a book to inspire creativity and create special, handmade toys for your little ones, look no further.  Think turtles, mushrooms, little birds, elephants, giraffes, owls, felt food and so much more!

‘Stitched Whimsy’ is divided into four different sections and contains projects involving needle felting as well as sewing.

~Needle Felt Fun
~Whimsy for the Home
~Lovable Plushies
~Felt and Fabric

I have always been interested in needle felting, but have never given it a try.  There are lots of hobbies that I think I could get into, but sometimes I feel like it’s best to stay focused on just a few so I don’t get overwhelmed.  But I could really see myself getting into needle felting if I ever gave it a try.

The fact that this book breaks down all the different types of wool felt is an invaluable resource.  The author goes through the use of 35% wool felt, 100% wool felt, felted recycled sweaters, and more.  In addition to categorizing the different types of felt there are also sections defining different types of fabrics, wool roving, stuffing, and embellishments (such as beads, safety eyes, buttons, ect).

The book contains very specific instructions on what types of tools will be needed to complete the different projects from sewing machines, needles, cutting tools, needle felting tools, adhesives and marking tools.  If you’ve thought about entering the world of sewing softies, this book is a wonderful resource.

Most of the projects I make for my children are clothing and the occasional quilt because that’s what I love to sew.  But this book has definitely inspired me to start sewing toys and softies for my kids.  The cuteness is almost unbearable and I just love all the little details in each project.  I really appreciate the author’s breakdown of embroidery stitches as well.

The step-by-step instructions are wonderful and easy to follow.  There are pictures as well as hand-drawn illustrations that are really charming and well done. I also love that many of these projects can be done with scraps of fabric.  And my goodness……..do I have scraps…….it’s ridiculous!  And I’m all about using up those scraps this year.

My only negative thought on this book is the fact that it does not come with full-sized pattern pieces.  Why do people do that? I mean I know why they do, because it saves money on the printing, but it is so frustrating for the buyer.  To be honest, I have not purchased books for this reason, but sometimes a book is work the extra effort of enlarging the pattern pieces.  You can enlarge some of the pieces on your home printer, if you have a scanner/copy model, otherwise, you’ll need to take a trip to your local Kinko’s or copy store.

The characters pictured above just make me smile.  Aren’t they so cute?
I sort of have a thing for stuffed little kitties and I love the vintage feel of the one pictured above.
If you are looking for adorable projects, with wonderful step-by-step instructions and inspiring photography, you’re going to want to pick up a copy of ‘Stitched Whimsy’ by Heidi Boyd.

No compensation was received for this post.  I simply received a copy of the book from the publisher for my review.  All opinions and thoughts are 100% mine.

21
Jan

On my mind…..Life, Love and Joy

For some reason I feel compelled to write today.  As I sit here in my bed trying to recover from a bad sinus infection and a double ear infection, I cannot feel sorry for myself.  I cannot feel sorry for myself because I am blessed beyond words.  I am blessed with overall good health, my family, the roof over my head, food on my table, my beautiful babies, my incredible husband, my friends and just life in general.

Ever since Ashley of Lil Blue Boo posted her ‘Right of Passage’ video on her blog, I can’t seem to get her, her family or the video out of my head.  Have you been following her ‘Cancer Chronicles’?  If not, I encourage you to visit her blog and start from the beginning of her journey.  I will let you read her entire journey for yourself, but whether or not you have been through anything like this, her attitude is awe inspiring.

I think her story speaks to me because that person going through cancer could very well be me.  We are of similar age, both with young children, both in the prime of our lives and the idea of what she is experiencing is unimaginable.  My heart aches for her.  I want so badly to jump through my computer screen and hug her.  The fact that Ashley manages to ‘choose joy’ during this difficult time is just amazing.  I can only hope that if I was dealt the same hand of cards, that I would ‘choose joy’ as well.  I love her positive outlook and her ‘can do’ sort of attitude.  With every challenge she faces, she continues to go through life looking at the glass as half full.

Ashley has received emails questioning her truthfulness about her experience because she is so positive.  Is she keeping it real?  They are wondering about her fear and her pain.  Maybe that is in the back of her mind, but she is choosing to live life and choosing to focus on joy in her current situation.  And I just love it!  I think we need more people in the world that focus on the joy in life.  What good does it do anyone to live in the negative?

I have often been criticized for living life in such a positive manner.  For not ‘keeping it real’.  I know that seems kind of weird (and it actually feels weird to write it), but it’s true.  People wonder……can she really be that happy?  Sometimes I think misery loves company.  Personally I choose to focus on the joy that I have in my life.  Yes, being a wife and mother and juggling a small business can be difficult and trying at times, but I do the best I can and I try to focus on the good rather than the bad.  Is that keeping it real?  For me, it is.

Have I been through tough times?  Yes, but I choose not to dwell on them and I do not let them control my life.  I have experienced a miscarriage and I have suffered through postpartum depression after the birth of my first child.  But rather than dwelling on the negative in both those situations, I choose to share my story in hopes that others can gain positive support and information through my difficult times.  I am in no way suggesting that if you are going through a tough time that you shouldn’t talk about it and share it with others.  We cannot control the cards we are dealt, but we can control the way in which we deal with them.

I do not know what the future holds for Ashley, I can only hope and pray that everything turns out for the best.  But I do know that God has chosen her for this path and journey for a reason.  I’m quite certain He has chosen her to inspire others, to help people not sweat the small stuff and to make us all focus and be thankful for the joy and blessings that we have in our lives.  I don’t know about you, but I know that she has caused me to hug my babies a little tighter, kiss my husband a little more and be thankful for the joy that is in my life.

I hope that the next time you are dealt with a difficult situation that you will think of Ashley and will rise up and find the joy that is in this wonderful life that we live.  We all have SO much to be thankful for.  If you know anyone going through a difficult time, share Ashley’s story with them……..she is such a true inspiration!

And if you are the praying type, I ask you to pray for Ashley………pray as hard as you possibly can.  I know, I am.

I know I don’t come on the blog writing about my personal thoughts and feelings too much, but this year is a little different.  I hope to be able to share some more personal things with you ~ I hope you don’t mind the change. 
20
Jan

Biltmore Inspirations Inspired Living Giveaway ~ $50.00 Gift Certificate

Have you heard of Biltmore Inspirations?  Well, today we have a fabulous giveaway for you from this new and growing business!  I was recently introduced to Biltmore Inspirations through my good friend, Danica.  She has signed on as an independent sales consultant with the company and is the sponsor behind today’s, generous $50.00 gift certificate.  Biltmore Inspirations is an exciting, new home-based party plan business from Biltmore. That’s right, Biltmore—as in America’s largest home, located in Asheville, North Carolina.

Biltmore stands for gracious hospitality, amazing design style, and the warm, welcoming feeling of being a special guest in the home of good friends. They want to share that experience with you through Biltmore Inspirations—an outstanding collection of exclusive tabletop products, chef-selected foods, home decor, wine accessories, and regional artist-inspired products, all inspired by the unique beauty of Biltmore.

Biltmore Inspirations hopes to inspire families to celebrate every day with style by embracing the Biltmore legacy of gracious hospitality, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. They also believe every home should be a welcoming retreat for family and friends. They achieve this by cultivating the passion and talents of sales consultants to build successful businesses by sharing products for today’s lifestyles, a collection inspired by Biltmore’s heritage of family, craftsmanship, and design.

Biltmore Inspirations offers a wide variety of products for the home and entertaining.

Here are some of my favorites:

I think the matching mommy, daughter and doll aprons are just too cute.  Any little girl would be in heaven with a set of these.  Also, these two beautiful urns would look great in any house.

How fun are these serving sets?  I particularly like the chalk board ones since you can customize them for any party.
These candle holders are just beautiful.  I can totally see the hanging ones in our cottage.

I recently purchased a set of these Lisa Conard Mugs through Danica and Biltmore Inspirations.  I am a big fan of pottery and I love their artisan collection.  Each mug is handmade and a little bit different.  The handles are nice and wide and very easy to hold.  Also, the mugs are microwave safe and the handle stays cool when heated.  As I’m writing this post, I’m using one of my mugs for my afternoon coffee and they are honestly one of my very favorite things in my kitchen right now.
So, do you want a chance to win a $50.00 gift certificate to buy some of your own products from Biltmore Inspirations?
Here’s how to enter ~ do one or both of the following (please leave a separate comment for each entry):
1) Visit Danica’s Biltmore Inspirations – Inspired Living Site and tell us what you would buy with your $50.00 gift certificate (click HERE).
2) ‘Like’ Danica’s Biltmore Inspirations Facebook Page (click HERE).
Giveaway open to US residents only.  Please make sure to leave your email address or have your blogger profile linked so that we can contact you if you should win.  Winner will be selected via random.org. 

Giveaway open until Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at midnight (CST).
Danica’s Biltmore Inspirations is offering an exclusive 15% discount off your entire purchase through the end of January to The Cottage Home blog readers.  To receive discount, please place order with Danica directly by emailing her at danikat[at]comcast[dot]net or calling her at 847.987.7367.
Also, if you are interested in hosting a party of your own or becoming an independent sales consultant with Biltmore Inspirations, please contact Danica at danikat[at]comcast[dot]net or call her at 847.987.7367.
19
Jan

Circus 1st Birthday Dress from a Repurposed Bridesmaid Dress

My friend, Danica’s, daughter, Aaralyn, turned one a couple weeks ago.  And for her party, I designed and sewed a dress as a gift from our family to the little princess.  Danica is a professional photographer (Flora Danica Photography), so she had definite visions for how she wanted this dress to look.  She had shown me a bunch of different ideas that she had, but she couldn’t quite pin down exactly what she wanted.  You know that feeling?  Where you know what you want, but you just can’t quite find a picture of what is in your head.  So with great faith, she allowed me to go to town with the design and trusted that I would come up with something that she loved.  Talk about pressure.

So here’s where the tricky part came into the mix.  Danica wanted to incorporate the bridesmaid dress (the maid-of-honor’s dress, to be exact) from her wedding into the design along with this adorable circus fabric she had found.  But let me tell you about this circus fabric, though the printed design is absolutely adorable…….it is upholstery fabric!  Yes, it was one of the most difficult fabrics I have ever worked with, but luckily it turned out.

 

The above pictures were taken by Danica of her little cutie patootie at the over the top girly circus party she threw.  There was a candy bar, circus food, games with prizes, and so much more.  Danica has become known in our circle of friends as throwing the best parties around!  No detail is overlooked.

As for the bodice, I used a basic peasant style silhouette.  I wanted to do puff sleeves, but I also wanted the little lady to be comfy, so I thought an elastic neck and sleeves was the best way to go.  I incorporated some trim that I had on hand into the bodice and re-used the little buttons from the back of the bridesmaid dress as well.

The pink fabric yo-yo was from a deconstructed vintage yo-yo quilt that I had picked up awhile back at a flea market.  The pink fabric just happened to match perfectly.  I covered a large button with the part of the fabric where there was a monkey since I knew Aaralyn’s big brother, Roaron, loves monkeys!

I did a double layer skirt to make sure there was plenty of fullness.  The under layer is fabric from the bridesmaid dress.  I made the top layer a little shorter and left it open in the front to add a little interest.  I also added a small ruffle around the bottom.  The circus upholstery fabric was so dense and thick that I couldn’t use a single straight pin constructing the dress.  Every time I went to put one in, it bent my pins in half.  For someone that pins everything, this made me really nervous.  But, by the grace of God, it all came together.

The sash on the dress is made from the bridesmaid dress.  I wanted it to have a big full bow in the back, but didn’t want the sash to be too long.  You should have seen this dress after I had cut it all up……..pretty sad, but it was so neat to be able to repurpose it into something new and special. 

I mean really, do we ever wear those old bridesmaid dresses again?

I gave Danica the dress the day before the party and just hoped that it fit and that she loved it.  
And thankfully, it did fit and she did love it!
I don’t know if I’ll be sewing with any more taffeta and upholstery fabric anytime soon, but I’m so happy that I could be part of creating this special memory and heirloom piece for Miss Aaralyn’s First Birthday!
18
Jan

Smoked Chipotle Pulled Pork Quesadillas ~ Recipe

As you might have noticed, I’m on a slow cooker kick lately and this recipe is no exception.  You make the Smokey Chipotle Pulled Pork in your slow cooker during the day and then make the quesadillas right before you’re ready to eat.  You can also serve this pork just as it is on a hamburger bun or use it as a filling for tacos…..it’s very versatile.

Smoked Chipotle Pulled Pork Quesadillas
Ingredients:
3-4 pound pork loin roast
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon oregano
1 teaspoon chile powder
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup chipotle salsa or 1 tablespoon of chipotle in adobo sauce (sauce part only)
Flour tortillas
Shredded Cheddar Jack Cheese or Mexican cheese blend
Directions:
Place pork loin roast in slow cooker and top with onions, garlic, cumin, oregano, chile powder, and chipotle.  Set on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 5 hours.  
Once pork is cooked, remove from slow cooker and shred with two forks.  Return the pork back to the slow cooker to soak up all the juices.  This recipe makes a lot of pork, so you will only use part of it for the quesadillas.  Freeze remaining pork for later use or plan your weekly menu around other recipes using shredded pork.  
To assemble quesadillas, sprinkle shredded cheese on top of tortilla.

Place some of the pork mixture on top of the cheese on one side of the tortilla.  Heat skillet on medium and melt a little butter.  Once butter has melted place tortilla, as pictured above, into pan.
When the tortilla is in the pan, fold the cheese only side over on top of the pork mixture.  We don’t want to fold the quesadilla before it goes in the pan because then we won’t have butter on both sides of the tortilla.
Cook for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.  Flip quesadilla and cook until other side is golden brown.  Once both sides are cooked and cheese is melted, remove from pan and cut in half.
You can make as many of these as you would like or as many as your family can eat!

I like to serve these with some chipotle salsa, but you could dip them in any salsa your family enjoys.  Would also be great with some sour cream or guacamole as well.
Personally, I think two quesadillas is a perfect dinner serving and one is probably good for lunch.  Feel free to get creative here and add in any ingredients you would like.  
This pork is SO delicious, give it a try……..you’re going to love it!
17
Jan

From Grandma with Love………A Christmas Quilt

So is it too late to share something from Christmas?  Well, maybe so, but better late than never!

My mom and Allen (aka Pepo) flew in from Texas to celebrate an early Christmas with us the weekend prior to the actual date.  We had such a lovely visit, though it’s always shorter than I would like, but it certainly makes me appreciate the time I get with my mom and Pepo all the more!

Mom made this gorgeous, twin-sized Christmas quilt as a gift for us this year.  I can’t even express how much I love it.  It’s big and cozy and can cover up our entire family snuggling on the couch.

Last year I had given mom, The Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman, so the pattern she used for our quilt was ‘Small Plates’ from this book.  The front is basically done using ‘Flurry’ charm squares (5″ precut squares), ‘Flurry’ jelly roll strips, Moda white solid squares and cut 2 1/2″ strips.  She also cut some additional pieces from yardage she had on hand.  This is a wonderful quilting book that ranges from beginners up to intermediate quilters.  If you are looking for a new quilting book to add to your collection, I can’t recommend this one enough.

Now for the backing, Mom had to do a little creative improvising due to the amount of fabric yardage she was able to purchase.  So, she came up with this (see picture below) backing that I almost love as much as the front!

Pepo helped Grandma Jane sandwich the quilt, so he got a little credit on this one.  Mom includes a label on each one of her quilted creations. These items will be passed down for generations to come, so I love that she dates each quilt.
I don’t know if you remember, but Grandma Jane made the kids Christmas outfits from the same line of fabric (click here to read more) ~ Kate Spain’s ‘Flurry’.  Even though the kids will eventually outgrow their Christmas outfits, we will have the Christmas Quilt to remember Christmas 2011.

This quilt will be pulled out each and every Christmas and will be treasured always and forever.  There is something so comforting about snuggling up in a handmade work of art made by someone you love.  It really feels like my mom is here hugging me even when she’s miles and miles away.
On another note:  Grandma Jane has agreed to guest blog this year with some quilting tutorials for everyone.  I hope you all will welcome her with open arms when she makes her first appearance on the blog.  SO excited that she’s agreed to share her talents!
16
Jan

A Little Announcement: Riley Blake Project Design Team

So, I have a little announcement to make……….
I’m an official member of the Riley Blake Designs Project Design Team!  

I am beyond thrilled to have been invited to be part of this amazing team.  The people behind Riley Blake Designs are incredible and I am so excited to be working with them on this new endeavor.

Riley Blake Designs is a fabric, notions and trim manufacturer based in Utah and they produce some of the most adorable fabrics on the market.  I have always been a huge fan of theirs, especially the amazing ‘boy’ fabrics that seem to be so much harder to come by.  Wait until you see some of the lines being released this year – To. Die. For.

What is the Riley Blake Project Design Team?  It’s a group of creative women bloggers who will be sharing free projects, patterns and tutorials on the Riley Blake Designs blog every Wednesday throughout the year.  Of course, we will be showcasing the new lines of fabrics that are being released, but you’ll find projects from quilting, clothing, home decor, and more. They have been keeping the new project design team under wraps, but the members of the team have officially been announced.

Here is the official team: 

Becky Vandenburg – www.ucreatewithkids.com/

Liz and Elizabeth- www.simplesimonandco.com/
Melissa Mortenson- www.polkadotchair.com/
Jennifer Hadfield- www.tatertosandjello.com/
Madame Samm- www.sewiquiltnow.com/
Char Coester- www.crapivemade.com/  

In addition to projects, we will also be doing fabric giveaways for the new lines that are being released throughout the year here on the blog.  Again, I am so excited about this new opportunity and I can’t wait to share more about all of this with you as the details unfold. 

13
Jan

The Cottage Mama on Pinterest

I am a huge fan of Pinterest.  ‘Inspiration City’ is what I like to call it. I’m not quite sure why it never dawned on me to mention that I’m on Pinterest, but I am.  Now I’ve mentioned it ~ The Cottage Mama is on Pinterest.

I usually only allow myself to login to Pinterest once a day because if I go on there any more than that, I will get carried away for hours.  However, I do ‘pin’ things throughout my day with the little ‘pin it’ button in my internet browser.  The amount of eye candy photographs, inspiration and ideas are mind-boggling.  I know I’ve said this before, but the amount of talent and creativity in this world astounds me.  I feel so lucky that a site like Pinterest has been created so we can all bear witness to this creativity on a daily basis.

Some people seem to think that Pinterest is a bit overwhelming, but not me ~ I love it.  When I’m having an non-creative, unproductive day, I can simply login and suddenly I have my mojo back.  Once you see all the amazing projects that are going on in the world it just makes you want to get into the studio and create.

Here are some of my pin boards:

So if you feel like checking out my pin boards, feel free, you can find them all here. 
I would sure love to check out yours!  
And if you’ve never been on Pinterest, you must.  You won’t believe your eyes!  
12
Jan

Slow Cooker Green Chicken and Rice Soup ~ Recipe

I have been asked by quite a few people recently about how I manage my time.  And you know what, that’s a really good question.  One that makes me stop and think, how do I manage my time?  I guess I just go about life doing what I love doing and don’t really think about how I make it work. Well, I’m going to give it some more thought and I’ll try create some posts on time management in the future. 

I’ll tell you right off the bat, I don’t get ‘it all done’.  I don’t think anyone does.  You can’t be all things to all people all of the time.  I just don’t think that is possible.  However, one of the very first things that popped into my head when asked ‘how do you manage your time?’ was my slow cooker (or crock pot).

The slow cooker is one of the absolute best inventions for the busy mom or for anyone, for that matter.  It allows you to prepare a home cooked meal, but it doesn’t put any time constraints on you in regards to when you get it done.  Feeling motivated in the morning?  Throw in all the ingredients and set it on low.  Have a few minutes while the kids are napping in the afternoon?  Throw in all the ingredients and set on high.  You can make dinner work for you whenever it’s convenient.  Plus it makes the house smell great all day!

If you like warm, comforting meals, you’re going to love my Slow Cooker Green Chicken and Rice Soup.  This soup can cook all day and through the use of ‘Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice‘ (I love this stuff), your meal can be ready in minutes when you are ready to eat.

Slow Cooker Green Chicken and Rice Soup
(Serves 4-6)
Ingredients:
3-4 chicken breasts (frozen or thawed)
1 box chicken stock
1 can white beans (rinsed)
1 jar green salsa (I used Frontera brand ~ Tomatillo)
1 cup frozen corn
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon chile powder
1 teaspoon cumin
Garnish (optional): Crushed tortilla chips, shredded jack cheese and sour cream.
Directions:
Place first 8 ingredients into your slow cooker (or crock pot).  I used frozen chicken breasts, but you can use fresh as well.  Set slow cooker on low and cook for 7-8 hours.

Before serving, remove chicken from slow cooker and shred with two forks.  Then return chicken back to slow cooker.  Cook your ‘ready rice‘ according to package directions (should only take 90 seconds) and add the entire contents of the package to the soup.  Stir to combine. 

Serve topped with shredded jack cheese, crushed tortilla chips and sour cream, if you so choose.  Soup is delicious re-heated the next day.
I have absolutely no affiliation with Uncle Ben’s or Frontera Kitchens, I just happen to like these products for super-easy shortcut meals.
11
Jan

Sodee Naturals Giveaway

Today I’ve got a really great giveaway from Sodee Naturals.  About a month ago I was contacted by this company and asked if I would be interested in trying out their products.  They specialize in all natural body care products that are safe for children and adults.  With having three children under the age of four, I believe that more natural the better. 

My daughter, Savannah, has keratosis pilaris which basically is just really bumpy skin on her arms and a little bit on her legs.  I had this a bit as a child and it is inherited.  It’s very common and isn’t too bothersome, but sometimes can be a little itchy.  She has always been incredibly sensitive to any skin care products we use on her, so I really liked the idea of trying out Sodee’s eczema cream on her arms.  Granted, she doesn’t actually have eczema, but their original formula has natural properties that are supposed to be good for other skin conditions.

Pictured above are the products they sent me to try.  They sent one of everything they carry in the scents of my choice.  They also sent me a sampling of the different eczema creams to find the best one to suit Savannah.  They are always willing to send out eczema cream samples to find the product that best suits your skin condition (which is really wonderful).  We ended up really liking the original formula and it has made her skin improve drastically.  And believe me, we’ve tried a lot of different products.

Aside from their eczema cream, the body butter was probably my favorite product.  I’ve tried body butters from other manufacturers, but what I really liked about this one is that it is whipped.  So instead of being really thick and hard to get out of the jar, it was nice and light, but still moisturized like the thicker body creams.  And the pink grapefruit scent……..just lovely.

Another favorite, the Speriment Eucalyptus Shave Cream.  This was wonderful to use in the shower, left my skin feeling really moisturized and the scent was incredibly invigorating.

I had never used a shampoo or conditioner in a bar form, but it was pretty much like using a bar of soap.  You just lather it up and wash your hair with it.  They also have many different types so you can select the one that best suits your hair type.

Sodee Naturals is a family run business and strives to make great smelling products with all natural ingredients that really work.  If you love natural skin care, I’m going to recommend you give them a try.  Plus, I love supporting small, family run businesses!

Today Sodee Naturals is giving one lucky The Cottage Home blog reader a prize package of one of every product that they offer in the scents of your choice.  You will be given a gift code so you can order directly from their site (a $77.00 value).  So what does that include?

~1 Body Butter
~1 Shaving Cream
~1 Soap
~1 Hair Shampoo Bar
~1 Hair Conditioner Bar
~1 Eczema Cream

Also, Sodee Naturals is offering an exclusive discount for The Cottage Home blog readers of 10% your entire purchase with the code: COTTAGE
Here’s how to enter the Sodee Naturals giveaway:
Visit Sodee Naturals website and tell us what product you would be most interested in trying (click here). 
Leave one comment below.

Giveaway is open until Sunday, January 15, 2012 at midnight (CST).