Family Recipe Book

I ran across these pictures of a project I did about a year and a half ago for my ex-sil. At that time, my daughter had moved in with her and her husband and I wanted to thank her for helping out.  When I was married to her brother, I had acquired a few recipes from some of their relatives.  But I wasn't sure if she had ever gotten them all.  So I made this recipe book for her.

I had gotten a themed pack of paper from Wal-Mart and used it for this project.  At first, I wasn't too crazy about the color combo, but, given the choices our small Wal-Mart offered, this was the best one.  After I finished the project, I really liked the colors and how it turned out. 

I made two of these at the same time because whenever I make something for someone and I end up liking it, I have a hard time giving it.  And I always think that I can make one for me, and never usually do. 

The front and back covers are made out of that really heavy press-board cardboard stuff you can get at Hobby Lobby.  I got it when I first got my cricut and it doesn't cut at all in it.  It does work well in my papercutter, so I use it for straight-edged projects.

I glued the paper to each side of the covers.  Decorated the front cover and distressed the edges.  I used manilla folders as my 'card stock' for the dividers.  Using my cricut and design studio, I made the dividing pages, decorated and distressed them, too.  I used the cartridge "From My Kitchen" for the labels.

For the pages for the recipes, I just used my paper cutter on the manilla folders, and cut them to the same size.  I decorated them up, printed the recipes out from my computer, and glued them on.  And Distressed all the edges......  Mr. Inspiring thought I was crazy when I was doing it, but really liked it when I was finished!!!

I punched holes on the side of each page and slipped a couple of binder rings through.  I tied a bit of ribbon onto the rings. 

And WAA LAAAA - called it done!!

Now, I need to collect recipes from Mr. Inspiring's family and make a few of them, too!!

Thanks for looking!!  Hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane!!  ha!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm linking to these parties!!

Drop Cloth Gardening Apron

Happy Mother's Day!!!

My mother-in-law got a greenhouse earlier this year.  She loves flowers and growing things and she's really excited about her greenhouse.  Tomorrow is Mother's Day and Monday is her birthday.  Mr. Inspiring got her some supplies for her 'Mother's Birthday'.  He got her a watering can, a spray nozzle for the hose, some gloves, seeds, some gardening tools and some starter trays.  Really personal, eh??  :-)   This morning, I decided to make her a Gardening Apron - nothing like waiting til the last minute!!  And - - I had NO pattern!!  (And did I mention that I have never taken a sewing class??)

I started out by sketching my idea out on paper.  I knew I wanted to use drop cloth (that has got to be the handiest fabric ever!).  I also knew that I wanted to double the fabric to give it some weight and durability.  I also wanted it to have deep pockets that held a lot.

First of all, I cut my drop cloth and trim according to my sketch.

I cut my main piece of drop cloth 22" x 31".  This will be folded in half to make the apron approximately
 22" x 15 1/2".

I cut the pocket piece at 29" x 21".  This will also be folded in half to make the pockets approximately 10" tall and will give me room to make it so that the pockets kind of pleat out.  (You'll get what I mean in a little bit).

I cut a piece of the trim fabric 60" long by 4" wide.  This will be the apron tie.  I also cut some yardage for the trim at 3" thick.  One piece needs to be at least 29" for the pocket tops, and then 2 pieces need to be at least 15 1/2" for the sides and the last piece needs to be at least 23" for the bottom.

I ironed the drop cloth and then folded it in half and pressed it to make sure it squared up ok.  I did that for the main part and for the pocket part. 

The first part I sewed was the trim to the pocket top.   I sewed the trim on the folded side, and then matched my cut edge of the pocket to the cut edges of the apron.   First I sewed the trim to the back by lining it up and pinning it.  I stitched it using approximately a 1/2" seam allowance.

I pressed it back and then folded the unsewn edge over, and then folded it over the pocket.  I don't think that the way I did it is in any learn how to sew book.  I just kind of eyeballed it and pinned it.  The finished trim ended up being approximately 3/4" on each side.  I did the trim similarly to how I've seen the binding done on quilts.  (I think.....)

I pinned the pocket to the apron on the sides only and stitched the sides.  Don't do the bottom yet, cuz they still need to have that pleated thing going.........



Now to make the pockets.  My plan was for the pockets to ......   well, crap.... how do I describe this one???

Ok - - Imagine the pockets as a box.  The back and the front will be approximately 7" each, and the sides will be approximately 1 " each.  The 'back' of the box is my apron, and the material that I just sewed the trim on and sewed the sides to the apron is what I will use to make the 2 sides and the front of the 3 'boxes'.  Therefore, each pocket needs 9" but the back just needs 7".  With the apron laying on the table, starting at the left side, I smoothed the pocket over.  I laid my ruler on the apron, with the edge of the ruler lined up with the edge of the apron.  I measured 9" of the pocket material.  I wanted an exact 'line' for the 9" mark from the top of the pocket to the bottom.  Since this is the front of the apron, I didn't want to use a pen or pencil to mark it and then have to figure out how to make it go away.  (I don't have any disappearing pencil things I've read about......)  So... I took my trusty blue painter's tape and taped it off.  Then I picked up the pocket piece, and moved the blue line to the 7" mark and pinned it.  I did the same thing from the right side.

I sewed right beside the tape, and I sewed from the top of the apron to the bottom.  I figured this would help the apron keep it's shape if my MIL ever wanted to wash it.

I removed the tape and laid the apron on the table again.  I made a pleat at each corner of each pocket.  However, for the end corner on each edge, I made the pleat about a 1/2 inch away from the edge to leave room for the trim.  I pinned it all in place and stitched it up.

The next step was adding the trim.  I put the trim on each side, just as I had done for the pocket top.  I did the same for the bottom, except I folded each end to give it more of a finished look.

I added the tie at the top the same way I did the rest of the trim.  (I guess I didn't take a close up of that.....)

I painted her initial on the middle pocket (it's SUPPOSED to be a "J" but Mr. Inspiring said it looks like a "T"........... dangit............   But do I get extra brownie points for painting it freehand?????)

The next picture shows what I mean about the 'box'. 

Here it is all finished!!  She's a quilter (does beautiful work!!) and I just hope she isn't too picky and examines my sewing (in)capabilities too closely.  But, if she doesn't like it, I'll have to take up gardening and change my name  "Ms. Jinspiring Creativeness"??   "Juz"???     Mr. Inspiring says she will love it!!

Please let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them for you!

Did you have a good Mother's Day???

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm linking up to these parties!!

Meet The Furballs!

Debbie over at Debbie Doos has a cute little put named Lucy.  Lucy has decided to have a party, so I thought I'd let my furballs join, too!!

First, please meet Pooey........  Mr. Inspiring adopted her from a friend.  Seems Ms. Pooey didn't much care for the little kids at her first house that pulled her tail and ears.  She is about 13 years old, and still acts like a kitten most of the time.  She's crazy and has a huge personality!

Her favorite job is the clean sheet inspector.  Whenever you change the sheets on a bed, she has to jump up on the naked bed and wait for the clean sheets to come down on her.  Then she goes crazy!!  She runs around and checks the corners and makes sure the sheets are nice and tight.  It's so funny to watch!!

Next up is Bubby.  The Bubs.   Bub-a-tude....  We've got lots of nicknames for him.  He is a quiet cat - - mostly his meows are silent.  His purr is super loud, though.  My youngest son found him by the neighbors truck right before Christmas in 2007.  That was the year my daddy died, so I figured this was my Christmas present from him.  Bubby was soo cold and so hungry.  And so tiny. 

He just showed up and we won't let him leave.  He sleeps under the covers with me every night.  When I'm blogging, he lays down on my arms.  He loves to torment Pooey.  He is the mellow-est, most easy-going, laid back kind of guy!  He loves open windows and watching birds and playing with my pony tail bands.  Actually - he's addicted to my pony tail bands.  He can't NOT stay away from them.  One time, he even tried to get the whole bunch out of my drawer.  And once he gets one in his mouth, he WON'T let go.  And he runs to go hide them.  Cuz he can never have too many.

And last, but not least, meet our Lucy!  My oldest son got her for free from someone that had been breeding labs, but was tired of it, I guess.  Lucy was an outside dog till our ice storm early this year.  She has adapted quite well to being an inside dog and tries her hardest to keep the cats in line.  She ADORES Mr. Inspiring, and he's just now getting over his issues with dog slobber and drool.  Too funny!!

Lucy is a Chocolate Lab and she'll be 3 at the end of this month.  She's a sweetie and she loves sleeping on our couches...........  or our bed, when we're not home.  She thinks she's sly. 

She got spayed this week (5/16/11) and man o man.....  she was still a little groggy when she got home.  When we eat supper, she usually sits on the floor, between me and Mr. Inspiring and watches us....  well, Monday night she just couldn't stay awake, and kept falling asleep while sitting in her spot...........

Now, she's licking the daylights out of her stitches.........  So the vet told us to put stick deoderant on her belly.  well......... that's not stopping her.........  her breath just doesn't have odor.......... and probably won't for 12 hours.......  and apparently deoderant does stop wetness cuz........  she drinking water like crazy!! 

She loves camping, especially when it's close to water. 

And she thinks the grandbaby is delicious............  She licks and kisses him all the time!!

Those are our babies!! 

I'm linking up to Debbie Doos!! (and Funky Junk, too!!)

Hugs ~~ Suz