The Cottage Mama Blog - Sewing. Cooking. Crafting.

Aug

Gathered Camera Strap Cover Tutorial

First off, I just have to say thank you! Your emails and comments in regards to my camera strap cover "show and tell" post were amazing. I absolutely love hearing from you guys. And because so many of you asked for it, here is a tutorial on how to make your very own, Gathered Camera Strap Cover. Make one for yourself, for a friend, or make multiple to coordinate with every outfit, or how about one for each season or holiday......shoot, the options are endless! Gathered Camera Strap Cover Tutorial Supplies: Two coordinating fabrics (1 for main body and … continue reading

Aug

Maple Pecan Coleslaw

So the title of this recipe may not sound 100% appealing to all of you; however this is one of my favorite coleslaw recipes of all time. Even if you don't like coleslaw, I think you will find this one to be a winner. The following recipe is my adaptation of a Nigella Lawson coleslaw recipe. It's the perfect mix of sweet and savory. A superb accompaniment along-side some smokey barbecue ribs or try it on top of a pulled pork sandwich - deeeeelish!!Maple Pecan ColeslawServes 8-12Ingredients:1 medium-size head of cabbage4 carrots3 stalks celery 6 green onions1.5 … continue reading

Aug

Grilled Corn Salad

It's corn season - yipppee!! I love a fresh, sweet ear of corn on the cob in the summer. Here's another recipe from Matilda's Summer Garden Party. This grilled corn salad can be changed up with the addition of different herbs and vegetables, but the base always stays the same - amazingly delicious grilled corn!Grilled Corn SaladServes 8Ingredients:6 ears of corn1 jar of roasted red peppers4 green onions, sliced1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 lemon, juiced4 tablespoons olive oil, plus a little more for brushing corn1 teaspoon sugarSalt and pepper, to taste … continue reading

Jul

Show and Tell: Gathered Ruffle Camera Strap Cover

Remember a month or so ago when I told you about my new baby (my new DSLR camera - Canon Rebel T1i)? Well, I have seen a gazillion cute camera straps around the internet lately and I thought "I want one!". So today I decided to make myself one for my new camera.I've seen a lot of great tutorials, but nothing was exactly what I was looking for, so I just decided to go for it and make my up my own little design with a little inspiration from here and there.I used fabric from designer Anna Maria Horner. When I was first introduced to this designer I was not … continue reading

Jul

Easiest 10-Minute Throw Pillow from Placemat

Today I'm sharing an Easy Throw Pillow Tutorial with you all......and believe me, it doesn't get easier than this! Would you believe me if I told you that the pillow pictured above was originally a placemat? Well, it's true! I got this placemat today at Pier 1 on sale for $3.10 (including tax). I turned this beauty into a pillow in less than 10 minutes, yes, LESS than 10 minutes. Even if you don't own a sewing machine, you can do this Easy Throw Pillow - just get out your seam ripper and hand-sewing needle. Like I said in my previous post, I have really … continue reading

Jul

Loaded Potato Salad Recipe from Matilda’s Summer Garden Party

So, I'm finally getting around to posting some of the recipes from my daughter, Matilda's Summer Garden Party that we had earlier this month. The first recipe I would like to share with you is my Loaded Potato Salad.I get weak in the knees for a good loaded baked potato. I mean I love the works - butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon, chives, salt and pepper - YUM. A good, loaded baked potato was my inspiration for this wonderful potato salad. Even if you don't traditionally like potato salad, give this a try - you might be a potato salad fan after all!Matilda's … continue reading

Jul

The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen

I was so excited to receive an unexpected package in the mail today. Isn't it exciting when you find a package at your doorstep and you have know idea what's inside because it's not your birthday, Mother's Day, Christmas or your Anniversary? Well, yes, that was me this afternoon.But of course, this lovely package was from my wonderful Mother. The Cottage Mama's Mama always knows how to put a smile on her girls face. I had mentioned last week that I wanted to get this book - The Farm Chicks In The Kitchen. And of course, being the amazing Mom that she is, she … continue reading

Jul

Marinated Fresh Mozzarella

I love fresh mozzarella. There really is no comparison to the stuff you buy in a brick or pre-shredded. I love a good piece of crusty bread with sliced mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with garlic salt - Yum!When I want to take fresh mozzarella to the next level, I love to marinate them in herbed olive oil. Have you seen the marinated mozzarella in the store? It's pretty expensive in comparison to the regular un-marinated variety - usually about 2 times the price (if not more). Marinated mozzarella is so simple to do at home at the fraction … continue reading

Jul

Sewing Refashion – A Simple Shirt Dress Tutorial

Refashioning seems to be a hot trend that is here to stay. With people trying to get back to basics, saving money and using what they have on hand, it's no wonder it's become so popular. Now this isn't exactly a tutorial for the following dress, since I got a little lazy with my picture taking, but I thought I would just give you a rough idea of what I did and you can make up your own version if you like. I got these button up shirts in the clearance section at Target. I thought they were a little bit much for a grown woman, but I thought these would make … continue reading

Jul

Sew Basics: Piping

I'm starting a new series and it's called, Sew Basics, and the first lesson is all about piping.....Sew Basics: Piping! I've realized, from the emails I've received, that many of you are beginning sewers and would like to learn some of the basic skills involved in sewing. So, for those of you seasoned sewers, perhaps you already know most of these skills, but I always think it's fun to see how other people do things, don't you? I'm sure many people have different techniques in adding piping to clothing, but here's how The Cottage Mama does it......so, here … continue reading