Uber Domestic

Wonder Woman!

2011-10-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

I've entered my Wonder Woman costume in the Bernina Halloween costume contest! To vote for me, and check out more awesome pictures click here. Voting starts 10/25. :)

Macaron-eee

2011-07-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

I made super cute pandan flavored macarons using this recipe. They were WAY easier, and turned out much better than I expected. You know you want to make some!

Alleusion won the custom diaper giveaway!

2011-07-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to see which fabrics she chooses!

I also popped over to her blog and found a really cool tutorial on dyeing wool yarn in the crock pot! You know how I love dyeing yarn, dontcha? Muuuusssstt ttttrrrryyyy! (That's my yarn dyeing zombie impersonation...)

The Cobblestone Quilted Rug.

2011-07-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

What can you make with an old towel and some scraps from your fabric stash? This sweet rug! I sewed this up yesterday and I LOVE how it turned out! I am working on the pattern, so you can make your own.

ADDED BONUS: You can make this with Jelly Roll Strips!

Custom Diaper Giveaway!

2011-07-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

One lucky winner will receive a custom NykiBaby One Size pocket diaper with embellished tabs. The winner have tons of cute fabrics to choose from!

To Enter:

Go to http://www.pinsandneedlespatterns.com/ and check out our new site. Then come back here and leave a comment or suggestion below, for Pins & Needles Pattern Shop. Tell me what you like or what you'd like to see in the shop! Make sure your contact info is accessible, so I can tell you if you won!

Get Bonus Entries:

"Like" Pins & Needles Pattern Shop on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pins-Needles-Pattern-Shop. Then come back here and leave another comment.

"Like" Fancy Cloth Baby on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/FancyClothBaby. Then come back here and leave another comment.

Only comments left on this post will be counted as valid entries. Contest closes Friday, July 15th, at midnight Pacific time. Winner will be announced on the 16th. Good luck!!

Open for Business!

2011-07-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

My shop is officially up and running! We have so many incredible pattern designers selling with us. If you haven't already, check out the site here.

You can help out by sharing our shop with your sewing friends. :)

Adventures in Draping.

2011-06-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

I've done a tutorial on Instructables, for making this Hand-Dyed Draped Silk Dress. Check it out! It is entered in the Burda Fashion Contest, So don't forget to vote after June 13th.

My new pattern shop is open!

2011-06-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

I've just launched my new digital sewing pattern shop! If you are a designer, and you have PDF sewing patterns, you'll like carried in the shop, just e-mail me. Drop by and visit us. I'll be adding lots more patterns soon!

Make Handmade Chiffon Flowers

2011-05-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

For the full article and slideshow instructions, click here.

Lazy and Non-artistic People, Rejoyce!

2011-04-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

My semi-award winning play mat has been released as a PDF sewing pattern. It now includes all the templates needed to make your own! Check it out here.

My Entry for the Instructables Quilting Contest!

2011-03-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

For a full tutorial, check out the Instructable.

Don't forget to vote for me after April 10th!

Cute office storage!

2010-11-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

Scrapbook paper + old baby formula and peanut cans = Cute office storage!

Play Silks!

2010-07-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

I dyed up some super fun play silks for the kiddos. Silk scarves from Dharma Trading Co., dyed with food coloring and vinegar...mucho fun!

Dino Action!

Yay for Green Beans!

2010-06-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

I picked our first green beans today! There are a million little tiny ones on the plants. In a week or two it will be green bean city.

In other garden news, we have tomatoes! (and zucchini, and squash.)

Make better Fitted Diapers with your NykiBaby One Size Diaper Pattern!

2010-05-11T23:38:00.000-07:00

Here are a few little goodies to help you make better fitted diapers with my pattern:

*Single row of snaps. Fewer snaps to set is a good thing!

Snap placement for a single row of snaps

*My pattern directs you to not trim off any fabric in the leg elastic areas. I've started trimming of 1/2", just like I do through the rest of the diaper. I am liking this way better.

* New contour templates. These fit the diaper so much better. You can trim off up to 1/4" on these when you serge, if you like. I just barely skim them.

New and improved contour soaker templates

Performance Fleece You Won't Find at Old Navy.....

2010-05-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

Old Navy might make a mean fleece vest, but they've never done THIS! To all the Kiki Pad fans out there, this is for you...

How to Make Fleece Kiki Pads

Click the picture for a larger image.

Garden Update!

2010-05-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

Our lovely little patio garden.

Our yellow squash plant is large and in charge.

This zucchini plant has been named "The Boss." He is accompanied by his trusty sidekick, Rogue Butter Lettuce. The wind killed off all the other lettuce. This little guy is a survivor. Soon he will be a salad.

Gettin' figgy with it, is our dwarf fig tree. In our little herb garden, I've got rosemary, itty-bitty parsley and basil, and The Pho/ Tacos container with green onions and cilantro.

Early girl and Brandywine tomatoes. Don's ask me which is which.

My poor, poor little eggplants. They refuse to grow. I went to Lowe's today to get more eggplants, but they didn't have any Japanese or Chinese eggplants. :( Boo!

Another 'mater. He is huge compared to his peers. I've also got some green beans and wax beans in there with him.

My tiniest tomato plant. He was homeless up until last week when I picked all of our spinach, and tossed it into a delicious Tuscan chicken soup. He also has some beanie buddies.

"The Replacement." The pepper I started from seed was not growing, so I bought this guy.

I actually got to sew something!

2010-04-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

After MANY, MANY interruptions, I finally finished a diaper bag for my shop!

Living Room Update.

2010-04-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

It's still looking pretty bare, but I've added a few things...

What's new:

AMAZING sheepskin rug!!!
Embroidery hoop wall swatches over the dining table
Table runner
Fabric panel over TV stand glass (Yay! No more ugly DVDs!)
Bookcase for kids' books and puzzles

What's Next:

A big plant to go between the TV and table
POUFS!
A stack of vintage suitcases as an end table
Some big, fluffy fabric pom poms to hang in the corner near the bookcase
The "Mum" throw pillow, since you know, I really need more pillows on my couch.
A couple of bright Moroccan lanterns for the top of the bookcase. I may convert them to actual lamps, depending on how motivated I get.
I need to put something on that wall by the door, I just don't know what yet.
I may put a few more hoops on the wall.

Yay for Clean, Chromatically Organized Closets!

2010-04-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

It's things like this that put a smile on my order-lovin' face. Yes, my hubby owns an excessive number of polo shirts. Yes, that is a Viking helmet...

A big thank you to my honey for hauling a metric ton of stuff to Goodwill this morning, in the rain!

Fat (Quarter) Skirts.

2010-04-05T23:16:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you ate WAY too much Easter candy. (I found Cadbury Cream Eggs that we forgot to give to the kids...OMG!) Time to make some Fat (Quarter) Skirts!

Elastic waist? CHECK! Unlimited ass expansion room? CHECK! This skirt is about knee length on me (I'm SUPER short, barely 5'. In case you don't know me in RL...lol) and fits about a size 6 (Pre-Easter) to about a size 10 (Post Easter). Just gather the elastic tighter if you ate like a rabbit, or looser if you went savage on a case of Peeps.

Click the image above for a larger picture.

Lovely!

2010-04-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

One of my testers made this lovely bag from my new pattern. She did such an awesome job! I am waiting on photo permissions from some of the other mamas, so I can show off their gorgeous bags too.

Go Mama!

2010-03-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

It's done!! My new pattern is done! It's available in my Hyena Cart Shop, and my Etsy Shop. You know you want to sew one up!

Warning: Extreme Cuteness Ahead!

2010-03-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

I just stocked some major squish-a-licious-ness in my shop.

Super Exciting Stuff!

2010-03-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

My fourth pattern is finished! The "Go Mama!" diaper bag pattern went out to testers today. Hopefully, if they don't discover some huge, glaring mistake; the pattern will come out in the next couple of weeks. This is my first pattern that's more about design and not just function, so I am nervously awaiting feedback. I can't wait to post pictures of the testers!

Hmmm...Now that this pattern is done...What should I do next?

Building a Better Desk

2010-02-23T00:27:00.000-08:00

I want this desk...like now. There are even PDF instructions for it! I totally need another project to do right now...

nOm NOm NoM!

2010-02-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

You may have heard of the awesomeness that is Hungry Girl's Chocolate Cake...If you haven't, listen up! It has two ingredients, and it will change your life. I modified the original recipe by using chocolate fudge cake mix (in place of Devil's Food), and adjusting the cooking temperature and time for cupcakes. I promise, you can not taste the pumpkin. These suckers taste just like the cake in Ho Ho's! They are dense, moist and uber chocolicious! Hubby and Jayson both ate two as soon as they came out of the oven. Minor tongue burns may have been sustained.

Bonus: They contain no raw eggs, so you can lick the beater without getting Salmonella! Yay for not getting Salmonella!

Easiest Semi Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes Ever

Ingredients:

1 box Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix

1-15 oz. can 100% Pure Pumpkin

Directions:

Pre heat oven to 375 F. Mix together cake mix and pumpkin until well combined. This mixture will be super thick. It's OK! Spoon into cupcake cups, filling about 3/4 full. The batter will keep it's shape, so you may want to smooth out the tops. Bake for 20-23 minutes. Enjoy.

129 Calories

1.5g Fat

2g Protein

2g Fiber

per cupcake

Spring is Springing!

2010-02-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

If you live in Canada, New England, the Midwest or anywhere in Northern Europe, you are going to hate me for this! It's the middle of February, and in the lovely San Fransisco Bay Area, Spring is upon us. The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming , and my flip-flops are out of hibernation! My container garden is also off to a good start.

My zucchini plant is soaking up the sunshine. Yellow squash and green onions are planted as well.

Early Girls, Brandy Wines, Japanese Eggplant, Bell Pepper, Cilantro, Italian Parsley, and Basil are still in their seed starting trays, but they are outside during the day.

Butter Lettuce, Green Beans, and Wax Beans will be started outside, once I finish my planter boxes.

Our Calamansi tree is loaded with blossoms and itty bitty fruit.

A humming bird built her nest in our tree! It's sooo tiny and cute!

Did I mention the flowers were blooming?

Woooork it!

2010-01-24T15:07:00.000-08:00

I just finished up a custom order of 10 diapers. Busy Busy Busy.

Elefun!

2010-01-20T12:37:00.000-08:00

A Little Something for my Fellow Diaper Sewing Divas

2010-01-19T00:45:00.000-08:00

*UPDATE* New and improved soaker templates can be found here.

I finished the pattern for the one-size contour soaker!! This is designed to fit perfectly on all size settings of the NykiBaby One Size Diaper. You can use it to make All-in-2's, Fitteds with snap in soakers and inserts for pockets.

* You will need to download the PDF file from Scribd (Below) and make sure the page scaling is set to "none" when you go to print it.

*this soaker is very full coverage and meant to completely fill out the diaper. you can trim off 1/4" to 1/2" while serging, for a trimmer fit.

*I FOUND A LITTLE MISTAKE IN THE PATTERN....When making a diaper with a snap-in soaker, the sockets should be centered along the pocket opening line.

ENJOY!
NBOS_Soaker

Meet Big n' Fluffy

2010-01-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

I was digging around in the boys' closet yesterday, and I found an extra big, extra fluffy pillow. Big and fluffy is a good thing for pillows. It's not a good thing when it's taking up tons of space in an already packed closet! Big n' Fluffy has been in hiding because it had no cover. I figured I could clear out a little bit of fabric and closet space by making a pillow cover and putting that mass of squishy, feathery goodness onto my couch. This is what I did:

Disclaimer: The tree with scrappy leaves design is not mine. I've seen it somewhere before, but I cant find it at the moment.

I cut out the leaf and trunk shapes from various fabrics in my stash. (The trunk used to be part of my viking Halloween costume!) I then used a washable kid's glue stick to stick everything in place.

I used some micro fleece as a backing, then stitched around each piece about 1/8" from the edge. I threw it in the washer and dryer to fray the edges. I finished off the cover by using two overlapping pieces of the main fabric to make a quick sham back

Here's Big n' Fluffy chillaxin' with his new buddies.

Lazy Girl Pandesal

2010-01-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

This morning, I made pandesal! With my bread machine! These yummy little rolls baked up soft and tasty, which lead to me eating way too many of them... I used this recipe, but used the dough cycle on my bread machine to make the dough. Super easy. It turned out well, but I found that it needed to be baked quite a bit longer than the the recipe specifies. It also seems like the amount of sugar in the recipe could also be reduced a little bit. I will try that next time.

How to Make a One-Size-Fits-All AIO Diaper!

2010-01-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

Large

Medium

Small

This super cool soaker design grows with the diaper, that grows with your baby!

First things first: What is an AIO? AIO stands for "All in One" Diaper. These diapers combine absorbent materials with a waterproof outer cover for ultimate cloth diapering convenience. This tutorial will show you how to adapt your NykiBaby One Size Diaper pattern to make an AIO. You can also use these instructions to make fitted diapers with sewn in soakers.

Materials:

NykiBaby One Size Diaper pattern.

Diaper Body
1- cut of PUL, plus more to reinforce snaps
1- cut of your inner fabric (you can use a "stay-dry" fabric like microfleece or suede cloth, or a natural fabric like bamboo or cotton. I have used cotton velour with no wicking, but natural fabrics are more likely to wick.)
Snaps and elastic as called for in the pattern.

Soakers
10 1/2" x 4 1/2" pieces of your absorbent fabric. The number of layers needed will depend on the absorbency of your fabric. You will be making two soakers, so consider their combined thickness when choosing the number of layers to use.
You can top your soakers with the same fabric as the diaper inner.
2- 2" x 6" scraps of fabric to reinforce the areas where the soakers are sewn.

Directions:

Make the soakers. Stack up each set of soaker fabrics in the correct order. Pin. Serge around, rounding the corners.

*Use your pattern to mark the two, top, center snap placements and the center of the pocket opening. These will help guide you in placing the soakers.

Attach the soakers to the inner fabric piece. Line the top edge of the front soaker up with the dots marked on the front of the diaper in the previous step. Pin. Place your reinforcement fabric on the opposite side of the fabric. Stitch across, one inch from the top of the soaker. Pivot and stitch close to the edge around the top of the soaker.

Repeat for the back soaker on the opposite end of the diaper.

Place the outer layer snaps as usual.

Stitch the inner and outer together, right sides together. Leave a 3" opening in the center front for turning.

Apply elastic as usual.

Turn and Topstich. Closing up the front opening.

Apply wing snaps.

Done!

*For pictures of the outside of this diaper, check out the previous post.

Make Your Diapers Even Cuter!

2010-01-01T15:50:00.000-08:00

Here's an easy way to add cute prints to your diapers without causing wicking or spending $13+ a yard for print PUL. The best part is you can use ANY fabric! Cotton, poly, woven, knit, minky.... Since the fabric doesn't touch the inside of the diaper, even absorbant fabrics like cotton wont cause wicking. Also, since this technique uses a small amount of fabric, cut in a simple rectangle, you won't waste any of your expensive, cute fabrics.

Materials:

Your trusty NykiBaby One Size Diaper Pattern
1- cut of PUL from said pattern
1- cut of inner fabric from said pattern (suedecloth, microfleece, whatever floats your boat.) + your pocket facing
1- 5 3/4" by 19 1/2" piece of decorative outer fabric. This will be the strip down the middle of the diaper.
Snaps and Elastic as called for in the pattern.

Directions:

You will apply your decorative strip BEFORE marking the snap placements for your diaper.

Turn all 4 edges of your decorative fabric under by 1/4" and press if the fabric allows.

*If you are using a fabric that cant be pressed or wont stay turned under, you can use a washable glue stick to stick those stubborn edges in place. Don't worry, the glue will wash out and no one will know your secret.

Center your decorative fabric on your PUL diaper cut, 1/2" from the front and back of the diaper. You don't want your decorative fabric to get caught in the seam allowances. This could cause wicking. You can use pins at the front and back ends, to keep the fabric in place, but not through the middle. You don't want to poke too many holes in your PUL. Your best bet is to use your handy-dandy washable glue stick to stick the fabric in place.

Now that your fabric is in place, stitch it down close to the edge, using a medium-long straight stitch.

Proceed with your diaper as usual.

There have been a few reports of leaking along the seam where the decorative fabric is attached. To prevent leaks, make sure you use 100% poly thread, and the finest needle that will work for the fabric. Setting your stitch to a longer length may help as well. If you still have leaks, try using a little seam sealer (like for tents) on the inside, along the seams.

Doooooone!

2009-12-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

After a few setbacks, our stockings are all finished! I didn't have enough wool yarn for the name band/ toe/ heel, on mine, so I had to use some yucky white acrylic. It was the yarn equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard, or maybe knitting with cotton candy. Eew. At least it's done, and now Santa can bring me lots of goodies! Did you hear that Santa??

Frosting and Sprinkles with Some Cookies Buried in There...Somewhere...

2009-12-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

Jayson got to make his Christmas cookies today. He may have eaten his own body weight in frosting and sprinkles. That's why we only do this once a year...

In Da' (Gingerbread) House

2009-12-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

Here is our little gingerbread house! I've got icing in my hair, and my kitchen looks like a hurricane just blasted through Candy Land, but it's done! I don't really bake, but Jayson has been begging to make a gingerbread house since Halloween. So, I really had no choice. I used this recipe for the dough, but designed my own template. The dough came together really well and I didn't even burn it. It's a Christmas miracle!

I was disappointed with one thing though: Safeway had no old school, cheap candy! No peppermints, no gumdrops...WTF Safeway?!

Mama's little helper, except for the 350 times he bumped my elbow while I was piping on the icing.

Melted Jolly Rancher window!

Creepy Gingerbread Man.

Our Frosted Mini Wheats roof and coconut snow.

Getting Festive.

2009-12-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

I finished my banner this morning. It's made from gift wrap and scrapbook paper, and attached to yarn with clear tape. Its not fancy, but it's cute. Jayson and Kyle were tons of help while I was making it. They were beating on each other and everything in sight with cardboard gift wrap tubes. Boys...

Take 2.

2009-12-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

Here is my second and final attempt at Jayson's stocking. The first one was complete disaster. And no, there are not, and nor will there ever be any pictures of it. ever.

One more to go....

Three Words.

2009-12-03T19:35:00.000-08:00

coolest. yarn. ever.

Hecka Canadian.

2009-12-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

I just finished hubby's stocking, complete with Canadian flair. Because you know, he's all Canadi-ish and stuff.

Just Wrappin' Yo!

2009-12-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. We've stuffed ourselves with turkey and pumpkin pie; then swore we'd never do it again. We've participated in the insanity that is Black Friday; and swore we'd never do THAT again. Now, here we are on the first day of the craziest, busiest, most fun month of the year; and I am so ready!

I have to give a shout-out to Target for offering some seriously cute wrapping paper this year! And another Wo0t! w0oT! for Amazon.com and Overstock.com, I am completely finished with my Christmas shopping!

Just for a little extra motivation, here is my holiday to-do list:

Re-knit, yes...RE-KNIT Jayson's stocking. The colors bled when I wet-blocked it, ruining the whole thing. An absolute disaster...
Finish Jay's stocking. I'm waiting for yarn to dry right now. I'm at the heel right now, so it'll be done in another day or two.
Knit my stocking. Of course, I am making my own last. How mom-ish of me.
Make a gingerbread house with Jayson.
Make and decorate cookies with Jayson. I'm not super into cookies, so these will be prefab dough, sugar cookies, gobbed with icing and obscene amounts of sprinkles...Just the way Jayson likes them.
Wrap 5 or 6 more gifts when they arrive.
Mail Christmas cards
Make a cute banner to hang behind the tree.

Upset of the Century.

2009-11-24T01:54:00.000-08:00

This is my angry face.

Last weekend, my sister and I entered the Mountain Mandarin Festival recipe contest. And, we. were. robbed.

Someone who had a food booth at the festival won the side dish category...With SALSA. Have you ever eaten salsa as a side dish? What kind of food booth did they have? You guessed it, SALSA. Let's just invite Bobby Flay to an amateur barbecue contest....
One of the winners turned in a handwritten recipe, when it said right on the rules that handwritten recipes would not be accepted.
Another winner was friends with the judges. HHmmm....
Frog Eyed Salad placed.

How dedicated were we? We were almost late, so we drove there with the gas light on. Then we (I) had to book it across the muddy fairgrounds in high heels. (I think I was the only person in Auburn that day who owns a pair of heels.) Did I mention it was RAINING?

Yes, we came home empty handed, but we will be back next year. Just you wait.

Without further ado, I present to you, our non-prize-winning recipes:

Nyki's Recipes

Mandarin Baklava

Ingredients

1 package Phyllo Dough
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
3 mandarin oranges, peeled, chopped, and drained
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar

Sauce:
Juice of 3 mandarin oranges
1/3 cup honey
1” of vanilla bean
Zest of one mandarin
2/3 cup Snow’s Citrus Court Mandarin Orange Syrup and Desert Topping

Directions

Prepare sauce: In a small sauce pan, combine the sauce ingredients, except for the Snow’s Citrus Court Syrup. Before adding the vanilla bean, slice it down the middle and scrape out the contents with a knife. Add this, plus the bean to the pan. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place the sauce in the refrigerator to cool.
Butter an 11” x 7” baking pan. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Mix the walnuts with the sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
Layer the ingredients: The dough sheets should be the same size as the pan. Place 2 layers of phyllo dough in the pan. Use a pastry brush to evenly coat dough with melted butter. Repeat 3 more times. You should have 8 total sheets. The top sheet should also be buttered. Using half the walnut mixture, spread an even layer over the dough. Add two more sheets of phyllo, and brush with butter. Spread the chopped mandarins evenly over the phyllo. Sprinkle the remaining walnut mixture evenly over the top. Top with 6 more sheets of phyllo dough, buttering every second sheet, as before. The top sheet should be buttered.
Cut the baklava into triangles, cutting almost but not completely to the bottom.
Bake for 50 minutes.
Remove the sauce from the refrigerator. Remove the vanilla bean, and stir in the Snow’s Citrus Court Syrup. Pour the sauce evenly over the hot baklava.
When the baklava has cooled, cut completely and serve.

Spiced Mandarin Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes
Zest of one mandarin
2 mandarin oranges, peeled and sectioned
¾ teaspoon Caribbean Jerk Seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar.

Candied walnut topping:
1 tablespoon butter
½ cup chopped walnuts
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon Caribbean Jerk Seasoning
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon white sugar

Directions

Make candied walnut topping: Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts and sprinkle with the salt, Caribbean Jerk Seasoning, and sugars. Cook, stirring constantly until the sugars are melted. Remove from heat. Stir occasionally as the mixture cools to coat the nuts.
Boil the sweet potatoes until fork tender. Remove the skins and cut into 1” cubes.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Toss together the sweet potatoes, zest, mandarins, and Caribbean Jerk Seasoning.
Place mixture in a baking dish.
Top with small pieces of butter, and sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Top with walnut mixture.

Charity's Recipes

Lucky 7 Mandarin Bread Pudding

7     mandarins
1   large loaf of day old French bread, cut into one inch squares (6-7 cups)
2½ cups of milk
½    cup heavy cream
1    cup sour cream
3     eggs
1     cup sugar
½    cup brown sugar
½    vanilla bean
2    tablespoons dried cranberries, finely chopped
¼    teaspoon ground cloves
½    teaspoon cinnamon
3    tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 baking pan.
Zest and juice 4 mandarins. Soak the dried cranberries in the juice while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Peel and section the remaining mandarins. Chop the sections into smaller pieces, 3-4 pieces per section.
In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, sour cream, and milk. Split the vanilla bean and scrape the inside into the milk mixture. Whisk until the vanilla is evenly distributed.   Add the cubed bread to the bowl and stir gently so all the cubes are saturated with the milk mixture.
In a separate bowl, gently beat the eggs and add the melted butter while whisking continuously. Whisk in the sugars, spices, and mandarin zest and then gently stir this mixture into the soaking bread.
Drain excess juice from the soaking dried cranberries and the chopped mandarins and gently stir into the bread cube mixture.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until set. The bread pudding is done when the edges brown and begin to pull away from the edge of the pan. Serve warm or cold.

Sweet and Spicy Mandarin Chicken Wings

2.5 pounds chicken wings, disjointed

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 mandarins

4 tablespoons honey

½ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes

Line 2 baking sheets with foil and preheat oven to 400 degrees
Lay wings on baking sheets and pat dry with paper towels
Brush wings with vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the skin is crispy
Zest and juice the four mandarins. Boil the juice, zest, and remaining ingredients in a large saucepan for 3 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat.
When the wings are finished baking, remove from the baking sheets and put them into the saucepan and stir gently to distribute the sauce.
Using tongs, return the wings back to the foiled baking sheets and broil for 3 minutes. Enjoy!

Digital Inspiration.

2009-11-20T16:46:00.000-08:00

Click for a larger picture.

I've been wanting to make an inspiration board for a long time. Instead of going the old cork board and thumbtacks route, I decided to get my geek on. I have been collecting photos of things I like for a long time, so I had loads of material to work with. To organize my photos, I used Picasa 3 since it is free, and it has an awesome collage tool. I just tossed all my favorite pictures into an album, picked the collage style I wanted and BAM! Instant inspiration. It is my new desktop backgound, so I can get inspired every time I turn on my computer.

The Little Table in the Corner.

2009-11-13T02:14:00.000-08:00

So, here is my little table at the TVAM Holiday Event. Somehow, my table ended up wedged back in a corner; nearly hidden from view. But that's OK. This was my first time selling at an event. I usually just hide out on the internet. So, I learned a lot from this experience:

If people keep asking you the same question, over and over again, make a sign that answers that question.
Get some packaging for your stuff, so you don't look like a no0b.
You will look and feel dumb when your table is the only one without a tablecloth.
If you bring four tutus, bring four hangers, not two.
Plan your displays beforehand. Don't rely on your years of retail sales experience to get you by.
Don't eat 3/4 of a Chipotle Burrito bowl intermediately prior to the event; making you feel too fat to wear the outfit you had planned on.
If your are a blogger, don't forget your camera, or else you will end up with crappy phone camera pictures.

These things are easily remedied. My big challenge right now is to create a more cohesive look and better define my niche. My craft ADD is really showing.

Ending on a good note: my banner totally kicks ass.

Mmmmmm...Yarn.

2009-11-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

Here's all my delicious knitted play food for The TVAM Holiday Event! What makes it even cooler? All but the Brown, Black and White yearns were hand dyed by me, AND everything except the donuts and apples were knitted "freestyle," That means no patterns, people! I have had so much fun making all this awesome food, that I am now working on knitted food patterns using chunky yarn, so they knit up twice as fast! (I am impatiently waiting for more yarn to arrive from WEBS.) This also means more fun experiments with dye!

Super Bonus!: What doesn't sell at this event will be available in my Etsy shop on Friday. This also goes for Diapers, Lotion Bars, Sewing kits, Tissue pouches and Zippered pouches.

When You're This Awesome...

2009-11-05T19:03:00.000-08:00

When you're this awesome, you NEEEED a massive banner with your name on it.
Don't I wish... This is actually the sign for my craft fair table.

Kyle Gets a Haircut.

2009-10-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY cut Kyle's hair. This is my first attempt at cutting hair since I gave Jayson that Dumb and Dumber haircut...

Snappy Travel Tissue Pouch Tutorial.

2009-10-26T19:04:00.001-07:00

Today I made some cute little travel tissue pouches. They keep your travel size tissue packs from getting completely destroyed in the bottom of your bag. They were so super quick and easy, I thought I'd do a little tutorial for you.

Start with 6 1/4" by 7" pieces of your outer and lining fabrics.

Place the fabric right sides together. Using a 1/4" seam, stitch along the two shorter ends.

Flip right side out. Top stitch along the two seams. Add snaps in the center, close to the edge. One snap should be facing up, the other down.

Snap the pouch inside out. Sew a 1/2" seam along each side, or serge, cutting off about 1/4".

Turn right side out, and place a travel pack of tissues inside. Done!

The Breakfast Bandit

2009-10-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

This morning, Jayson got out of his seat only to have Kyle jump into his chair and finish his breakfast. Kyle had no interest in eating his own breakfast, and obviously thinks that highchairs and plastic forks are for no0bs.

In other news, This is my 100th post!!!! Wooooo0t!

Fun with Pointy Sticks

2009-10-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

I just knitted up these Fall inspired longies/ MC Hammer Pants for Kyle.

It's WHAT? PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME!

2009-10-18T19:37:00.001-07:00

Kyle's Halloween costume. I can't look at this picture without laughing.

Takin' Care of Business.

2009-10-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

I ordered some super cute new business cards today! W0ot!

More Goodies for my Booth.

2009-10-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

Today, I whipped up some lotion bars for the TVAM Holiday Fair. As far as bath and body products are concerned, lotion bars are some of the easiest to make. They are awesome for super dry skin, and they last a long time. And the ones I just made, smell...scrumtrilescent!....Half are Cucumber-Melon-Kumquat and half are Sage and Lemongrass. Here is my super easy recipe:

1 part Sweet almond oil
1 part Beeswax
1 part Coco Butter or Shea Butter (or a mix of the two. That's what I did)
Fragrance oil to desired strength.

In a microwavable glass bowl, combine the beeswax and the butter(s). Microwave on high until melted, stirring occasionally. Mix in the almond oil and the fragrance oil. Pour into molds.

Once your lotion bars have cooled and hardened, they are ready to use.

Double Sided Tape and Earthquakes.

2009-10-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

We had our first storm of the season this week. What better time to do some crafting with the kiddos. (OK, kiddo...Kyle doesn't craft, he mostly just destroys stuff.) Jayson is my crafter, if it involves paint and glue, he's there! For our wreath, I just had him go wild with red and yellow paint on a paper grocery bag. I figured the orange would just sort of happen, and it did. While he took his nap, I cut out the leaves. When he woke up, we got to constructing the wreath. I used a paper plate as a base. I just put double sided tape on the back of each leaf and let him stick them where ever he pleased.

But, that's not the end of this crafty story...

We had a pretty good earthquake last night, and our poor wreath fell off it's shelf and broke into a million leafy pieces. I will be reconstructing said wreath with my glue gun. Double sided tape and earthquakes suck.

Fluff-o-Rama!

2009-10-09T12:17:00.001-07:00

8 PUL Pocket, and 6 knit, fitted diapers for your viewing pleasure. These dipes will be coming with me to the holiday fair being put on by my moms group. What doesn't sell there will be listed in my Etsy or Hyena Cart Shops.

Labels for your NykiBaby One Size Diapers!

2009-09-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

My tags are here! They are available in my Etsy shop as well as my NEW Hyena Cart Shop.

MMMMM....Fruity...

2009-09-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

The left over yarn from Kyle's Christmas stocking has been magically transformed into delicious play fruit! I am having so much fun knitting food, that I am dyeing more yarn RIGHT NOW, so I can make more food. I will be selling it, along with my diapers and other goodies at my mom's group holiday fair!

A Big Sock for a Small Boy

2009-09-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

I finished Kyle's Christmas stocking on Saturday. What does that mean? It means that I cranked out that sucker in under a week...Mad skillz....

It is the "Mix and Match Stocking" from the "Knit Christmas Stockings!" book. Unfortunately, the book is pretty much useless except for that pattern. The sock features a "peasant heel" which I am now a major fan of! It's so much easier than all that heel flap and gusset business. Google it, you'll see what I mean.

The argyle and stripes were not in the book, but I liked them so I drew up a chart for the argyle and put it in. A little argyle never hurt anyone, right?

Happy Yarn

2009-09-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

I went to JoAnn's to pick up some yarn for Kyle's Christmas stocking. Unfortunately, the selection was even lamer than expected! I had the choice of white, brown or brown yarn...yay...

So, I thought this might be a good time to try dyeing my own yarn. I picked up a couple skeins of Paton's Classic Wool, since it was on sale. When I got home, I found these super easy instructions for dyeing wool with food coloring.

I love how it turned out! I will be dyeing lots and lots of yarn in the future!

Ardenwood Ren Faire

2009-09-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hubby doesn't do ren fairs, so I went with my brother and sister, and enjoyed a toddler free couple of hours.

Pros:

*I was charged the "teen" entrance fee. The guy didn't even bother to ask my age. I will be 27 next month.

*The jousting was awesome.

*The mango lemonade was good.

*We didn't get lost driving there, or lose the car in the parking lot.

*The crazy dragon costume guy.

Cons:

*No shade= Wicked sunburn.

*Not enough vendors/ shows/ activities.

*Too many people in regular clothes. Seriously, why go if you are not going to dress up?

*Weak belly dancing.

*REALLY disorganized layout.

Crazy Dragon Guy

The Ultimate Upcycled Renaissance Costume

2009-08-27T23:15:00.000-07:00

My costume is finally done!! Every single bit of fabric on this thing either used to be something else, or was a scrap from another project.

Dress: Hideous sofa slipcover from Goodwill
Sleeves: Leftover from sewing a corset
Chemise: Playpen cover
Partlet and hair covering: Old sheer curtains
Velvet ribbon at waist: Drawstring from old yoga pants

The only part of the dress that is new are the buttons. So I paid $15 for the whole thing.

For the geeks out there, this is a 1490's Florentine merchant class costume.

Behold the Awesomeness.

2009-08-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

My new diaper pattern is OUT! (Check out my Etsy shop.) Get 'em while they're hot! I am also accepting license applications for those who want to sew and sell the diapers.

The Countdown has Begun!

2009-08-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

My Super-duper, coolest diaper pattern ever will be out on MONDAY! They will be stocked in my Etsy shop and ready to rock and roll! My testers did such a great job! I am so excited, this diaper officially fits babies and toddlers from 8 to 40lbs!

Beating the Heat (in the smallest pool ever).

2009-08-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

You would have a really small pool too, if you had no hose, and had to fill it up with a pitcher!

Kyle has no idea...

Jayson enjoying his luxurious pool.

Kiddie pool yoga, the newest fitness craze.

Un-Fancy Cloth Napkins

2009-08-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

I am really making an effort to used fewer paper napkins and paper towels in my house. I hate spending money on things that will end up in the trash. I could be saving that money for an embroidery machine! (or just blowing it on fabric.) Anything is better than just throwing it in the trash!

The main consumers of paper towels around here are messy little faces. So, I came up with these fun and kid friendly cloth napkins. They are made from cotton quilting fabric and simply serged around the edges. Obviously, you could press and hem them, they would actually look nicer. But, I don't have that kind of time (or motivation). They are 8 1/2" square. Just the right size for little hands. And, since they don't take much fabric, they are a great stash buster.

Crazy Train?

2009-08-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

It's going to be 100 degrees today...what do you think we should do? Hhmmmmm, I know, let's go for an hour long ride in a really old un-aircondtioned train! The train was actually really interesting. It ran from Sunol to Niles (it's actually part of Fremont), and back, on the Niles Canyon Railway. We rode in a 1949 car for the first half of the trip and a 1911 car for the second half. The conductor provided a fact filled tour, while the vinyl seats provided buckets of sweat!

When we got back to our car, it said it was 103 degrees, and we parked in the shade!

I <3 California!

4 tickets for the surface of the sun, please!

Meet Kyle, the sweatiest kid ever!

A Few Small Steps for Kyle, One Giant Leap Into Toddlerhood.

2009-08-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my baby is walking! Waaaaahhhhhh!

Sweet.

2009-08-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Vintagey Deliciousness

2009-08-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

I made these "vintage-esque" tea towels for my sisters birthday. Now that she has them, I can write about them without spoiling the surprise! The embroidery pattern is vintage. The red ric-rac is also vintage, out of my great-grandma's stash!

As I started to stitch, I realized, "Crap...you can see the back." Yep, nowhere to hide mistakes on a towel. I was worried that it was going to look really bad, and everyone would point at the back of my embroidery and laugh, hurling insults ad rotten fruit. Somehow, I managed to get over my ugly-embroidery-back anxiety, and kept working.

I worked the outline of the fruits in chain stitch, the stems in stem stitch (duh.),the green loopies in cable stitch, and the writing in split stitch.

I have to say they turned out really cute and no one has thrown a single piece of rotten fruit at me.

It's Done!

2009-07-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

This is only my 800th experimental diaper...I am FINALLY happy with the pattern! As you can see It is a one size fits all deal.

Kyle is rockin' it on the medium setting. I did put my wing snaps too far from the edge on this one though. So, there is a minor flappage issue, but no biggie...

For all the diaper sewing geeks out there: this is a welt opening pocket with a bamboo fleece inner.

Bento Picnic.

2009-07-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

Today, I packed up a cute bento picnic lunch for the boys, and we headed down to the little park behind our condo. The park sits between our place and the BART Station("Bay Area Rapid Transit" for you non-northern California readers). Jayson loves to watch the trains go by, so it's always a fun little excursion.

I made some PB&J sandwiches with the awesome pomegranate jelly my grandpa makes every year. On a side note: He also makes an apple pie that will change your life! I still need to get his recipe and do a post about it.

Grandpa, if you are reading this: We are running low on jelly. Hint, hint.

Cookin' with Kyle

2009-07-27T14:49:00.001-07:00

Shake it Like a Polaroid Picture.

2009-07-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

Jayson has been asking me if he can sew. So, I came up with this little project for him. It's the paper plate shaker that we all know and love, with a stitchy twist.

1: Have your lovely and well behaved child, decorate two paper plates. You can get MUCH more involved in this step than we did. You can get crazy with glitter and paint and all kinds of stuff. Jayson was OK with just coloring it. Take note of his time-saving technique.
2: Here are your fabulously decorated plates.
3: Add some dry beans/ rice/ macaroni to one of the plates.
4: Glue your plates together. I used hot glue, because I love my glue gun.

5: It should look something like this.
6: Poke or punch holes evenly around the edge.
7: Have the aforementioned well behaved child sew around the edge with yarn and a blunt-tipped needle.
8: Ta-Da!

Redneck Macaroni Salad.

2009-07-26T17:51:00.000-07:00

Macaroni salad has a way of showing up at nearly every family get-together we have. My mom and sister both make a mean macaroni salad. My salad skills in no way compare to theirs, but here is my attempt at the ever-present side dish.

Redneck Macaroni Salad Recipe

1 lb. elbow macaroni, cooked, drained and rinsed.
5 sweet pickles, finely chopped
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
about one cup sliced or chopped black olives
6 boiled eggs, peeled and coarsely chopped

For the dressing, mix:
1 cup mayonnaise
dash paprika
salt & pepper
sugar to taste
dill pickle juice (brine), to taste. Yep, that's the secret ingredient...pickle juice.

You will need to adjust the seasonings to your taste, as NO ONE knows the exact proportions. It's more secret that the KFC chicken recipe. Maybe some day, someone will actually write down the exact amounts of stuff they put in. Until then, you will just have to do what we do and gain 10 pounds by testing, and re-testing mayonnaise laden dressing every time you make the salad.

Directions:

In a massive bowl, mix the macaroni, pickles, onion, eggs, olives and dressing.

Makes enough to feed about 100 hungry rednecks.

Charity: If you have corrections to this, let me know. This is how I made it yesterday, and it was pretty good. But, it wasn't as good as the one you made on the 4th of July! That was legendary macaroni salad.

Good Things Grow On Small Trees.

2009-07-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

We got a calamansi tree! I've been wanting one forever. I decided last weekend that I absolutely needed to have one NOW! So, we drove down to Fremont in over 100 degree weather, and picked one up. It's just the cutest little tree ever! It even came with fruit and blossoms on it. INSTANT GRATIFICATION!

Git 'Er Done!

So, what's the big deal about calamansi? Well, what other fruit makes an awesome dip for lumpia/seafood/anything deep-fried AND cures the common cold? ...Yeah, that's what I thought.

Super Dip
soy sauce + a squeeze of calamansi juice.

Lime-onade AKA Best thing ever, when you have a cold.
calamansi juice + honey + hot water

Carnivorous Plants: Fun for the whole family.

2009-07-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Jayson and I wanted to make a puppet. We originally wanted to make a T-rex. That didn't go so well....Then I thought, "you know what would be awesome?...A Venus Fly Trap puppet." Not only are Venus Fly Traps super cool, they are also WAY easier to make than a T-Rex!

You too can make a Venus Fly Trap puppet with the quick tutorial below. Fire up your glue gun and dig out those googley eyes!

1: Cut out an elongated circle with wiggly edges. This is the "head" of the fly trap.
2: Run a line of hot glue about 1 1/2" from the center line, then fold in half.
3: It should look like this.
4: Cut a half circle from the folded shape. Your hand will have to fit through here, so make it large enough.

5:It should now look like this.
6: Cut a rectangle, so that when it is rolled into a tube with a 1/2" overlap, it will fit into the hole you just cut in your wiggley shape. Add glue and roll into a tube. This is the stem of your fly trap.
7. Cut another piece of felt to fit the inside of your fly trap. Glue down just around the edges, as you will need to be able to get your hand in here.
8: Cut out a leaf shape like this.

9: Run a line of glue down the center of the leaf.
10: Fold the leaf in half. Press together along the crease. When the glue has cooled, open it up.
11: Glue the leaf to the bottom of the tube. Glue at the bottom only.
12: You should now have something that looks like this.

13: Cut out pieces for a fly, and get some googley eyes.
14: Make a fly
15: Glue the fly into the mouth of the fly trap.
16: Hand sew the head to the stem. Make sure to sew the little flaps down to the sides of the stem.

Enjoy your new super awesome puppet.

Click on any of the pictures for a closer look.

If I were Hank Hill, I would say: I make cloth diapers and cloth diaper accesories...

2009-07-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

I've done some cloth diaper related posts, but today, we are going to talk cloth wipes. If you are already using cloth diapers, using cloth wipes is a no-brainer. Even parents who use disposable diapers may opt for cloth wipes, as they are much better for baby's skin. Disposable wipes generally contain loads of chemicals that have no place on a baby's butt.

There are two major ways of using cloth wipes: 1. Wipes are placed in a container or wipes warmer and pre-saturated with wipe solution. 2. Wipes are stored dry and then squirted with wipe solution just before use. I do the latter, as homemade wipe solutions don't contain any preservatives, this could lead to things getting yucky. I mix up just enough solution for a few days, to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.

After use, wipes are just thrown in the diaper pail and washed with the diapers.

How to make your own cloth wipes:

Wipes can be made with one or two layers. They also come in a variety of sizes. I like 7" x 7". You may also choose to round off the corners or leave them square. There are also many ways to make wipes, depending on the equipment that you have available to you.

Regardless of your sewing method, you will start of by cutting your fabric into squares. Pin your two sides together if making double sided wipes.

Serged Method: This is a quick and durable method, and my favorite. Just serge around your fabric squares, and BAM! wipes!

Sewing machine method: I am really not into turning and top-stitching wipes. It's just to bulky and labor intensive. Here is what you can do instead: Stitch around the wipe, about 1/2" from the edge. You can use a straight stitch, or any decorative stitch. Then use pinking shears to trim the edges.

Hand sewn method. Simply blanket stitch around the edge of the wipe, using embroidery floss. If you are using flannel, you should press your edges under, as it just frays like crazy. This is definitely the cutest method of the three. It does take a while, but it's a portable, little project, that you can do just about anywhere. You could actually use any edging stitch that would keep your fabric from fraying, so the options are limitless.

You can use two different fabrics on your two layer wipes. Good fabrics include:

Sherpa
Baby Terry
Cotton Knits
Flannel
Birdseye
Diaper Twill
Velour
Cotton or Bamboo Fleece

My homemade wipe solution:

There are a lot of different recipes for wipe solutions out there, unfortunately, a lot of them have like a hundred ingredients. Mine has three.

Fill a squeeze bottle with warm water. Add 2-3 drops of baby wash. Add a squirt of baby lotion or aloe gel. Replace the lid and shake until the lotion has dissolved. Done.

How to eat soup when it's 9 million degrees outside.

2009-07-15T23:08:00.001-07:00

This how you eat soup when it's flippin' hot outside. This is a hot soup, but eating it during summer won't make you want to die, like, say...beef stew would.

Chicken and Hominy Soup with Lime and Cilantro

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil
6 Green onions, sliced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 (49.5 oz) can of chicken broth
1 (14 1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes in juice
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cooked and chopped. (I like to season mine with chili powder and cumin, then toss them in the turbo broiler.)
Hot sauce to taste
1 (29 oz) can hominy in juice
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 Lime

Directions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add cumin and paprika, stir spices constantly for about a minute. Add broth, hominy with juice, green onions, tomatoes with juice, 1 tomato can filled with water and chicken. Add lime juice and hot sauce to taste; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro just before serving. Enjoy.

Tune in next week for a second installment of summer friendly soups. The lovely Penelope will be making us the Vietnamese beef noodle soup known as Pho. (Pronounced "Fuh"...like you almost said something really naughty, but stopped yourself, because there were children present.)

Aunt Flo Calling?

2009-07-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished stocking my Etsy shop with Kiki Pads! I must say, they are ridiculously cute...

Warm Weather Wear

2009-06-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

It has been HOT HOT HOT this week! So, I whipped up a little something to wear in this scorching weather. It is McCall's 5317. I actually snagged this pattern st Goodwill for 29 cents!...29 cents! What costs 29 cents anymore? The fabric is some slinky stuff from the dollar table at Wal-Mart. I've had it for about 3 years and am just now cutting into it.

So here is my $2.29 dress.

Fluff Fridays

2009-06-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Over at The Cloth Diaper Whisperer they run awesome weekly contests. This weeks prize is pretty sweet...NEED TO WIN!

Take me to the contest.

How Sweet Is This???

2009-06-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY got a sewing desk. And it's flippin' AWESOME!

A Naptime Miracle

2009-06-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever, we have both boys sleeping in their own beds, in their own room, at the same time!

Look Who's One!

2009-06-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick photo roundup of Kyle's first birthday party.

Before.

After.

Extra festive.

I didn't get a picture of the food before it got attacked. We did tons of Filipino food: Pork BBQ, Pancit, Lechon Kawali, Ukoy, Fried Rice, Lumpia Shanghai, Fresh Lumpia, Siomai, Ube-Coconut Cupcakes, and Halo-Halo.

Kyle gets help from the present opening experts.

Choli Moley 2.0

2009-06-12T01:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a much better shot of the choli, on it's actual owner.

Wee Woolies

2009-06-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

I finished Kyle's woolies. By the way, short rows and stripes don't mix.

Ye Olde Ren Faire Update

2009-06-09T01:17:00.000-07:00

The basic construction of my dress is done...You'll notice that I opted for a front instead of side lacing dress, as shown in a previous post. After looking at many more paintings, it just seemed more historically correct.

Extra foufy sleeves...check.

I still need to dye the over dress, and apply the trim. And of course I will get some more appropriate lacings. The following image is simulated. Badly.

Overall, I'd say its not too bad for a sofa slipcover from Goodwill...I didn't even use a pattern...totally winged it. Wo0t!

Why is laundry never this much fun for me?

2009-06-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

Choli Moley, Batman!

2009-06-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I have a secret identity as a belly dancer. I also LOVE to make belly dance wear. This is a choli I whipped up for a fellow dancer. And yes, the awful photography was done in my bathroom mirror, MySpace style.

Cardboard Box + Marker = Instant Playhouse

2009-06-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

Wearing a Batman outfit while playing in a huge cardboard box...The joys of childhood.

Big Ass Dinosaur

2009-05-29T21:27:00.001-07:00

We bought a big ass dinosaur today. He was on clearance at Toys R Us...Who can resist a huge animatronic dinosaur....ON CLEARANCE!.....

Woolies in Progress.

2009-05-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

Do you like my redneck paper clip stitch markers?

May Diaper Roundup

2009-05-23T23:24:00.000-07:00

Here are the diapers I've made this month. All are variations on the pattern I have been slaving away at. The pieces are all drafted and scanned. I just need to digitize it. But the best thing is...This is only part one...Part two is a ruffled leg version! It will be super cute, but it is a lot more complicated. So, we will see if part two happens!

Mr.McCrazy Tongue Does Laundry

2009-05-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

R.I.P. Scrappy

2009-05-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

Scrappy was a good computer...for a machine that was rescued from a dumpster. So he wasn't as fast or reliable or "fully functioning" as other computers, at least he tried. I could tell he was trying because his little fan sounded like a jet engine taking off. After 3 magical years, Scrappy has left us gone back to that big dumpster in the sky (ok, more like environmentally friendly E-waste recycling facility in the sky.)

Anyways, hubby built me a sweet new rig. So, I'm happy. I can totally open more than one picture in Photoshop now. We had to drive all over heck (ok, Hell, as in Silicon Valley. San Jose, how I loathe you.) Fry's was having a super good sale on the parts we needed. We made a "quick trip" down to Fremont to pick everything up. Of course they didn't have everything we needed there. We had to go to the San Jose Fry's, then the Sunnyvale Fry's...Finally we had all the parts we needed.

By this time I was hungry and grumpy. Only Sushi O Sushi can cure such a condition. The sushi was super good. Unfortunately, Jayson was a total nighmare! He is not coming to sushi again until he is old enough to properly eat with chopsticks. I've never hired a babysitter before, but I am STRONGLY considering it!

Best Can Opener. Ever.

2009-05-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

I just got the Oxo Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener...and OMG...I never thought I could be so in awe of a can opener.

Very Plate-y.

2009-05-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

Sooooo....Hubby bought me 2 sets of Thomas Paul Dinner plates for Mothers Day. Mmmm...modern graphic art deliciousness!

I'll also say that working around those outlets was a PAIN!

Knitty Gritty.

2009-05-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

I've been scoping 2-at-a-time Socks for a while. Two socks on one circular sounds awesome. DPN's drive me nuts! Does anyone have the book? Is it worth my $$?

In other knitting news: I just bought a bunch of bamboo circulars off of Ebay. (I can't hold on to the metal ones I bought!) And I ordered some wool yarn to make the Curly Purly soaker(a wool cover for cloth diapers). Its going to be turquoise and brown striped with brown cuffs and waistband. Super cute! I can't wait until all my stuff gets here!

Here's an example of some Curly Purlies from Bear Toes.