Thursday, December 24, 2009

Dog Sweater

This is a Christmas present for my Mother-in-law. She likes to take her dog for a walk in the evenings and this should help keep them warm. My husband and I originally looked to the internet to find matching sweatshirts. And what a Void there is. Note to anyone looking for a niche, with all of the pet apparel available we could not find people/pet clothes. S0-oo you know how the story goes, buy 2, rip 1 apart and sew it back together.

T-Shirt Pillow Case

Basically fabric stores have zilch that would inspire a 16 year old boy, and after searching far and wide for something to cover the new pillow that my son is getting for Christmas, I decided that this t-shirt was what I was needing. I snipped off the arms, stitched some fabric into the neck hole and closed up the sides.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Purr-fect Apron

This is the purr-fect apron for child #3 being modeled by child #1. I wanted to make a matching oven mitt and towel but I have to move on because it IS December 23rd and I have more to make..........................

Lurking Softy

Something is lurking around my sewing room. ............Its a finished present for a man child!

Whole Wheat Bread with Flaxseed

2 TBS. yeast
2-1/2 cups warm water
4 TBS. honey
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup oil
1/4 - 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 - 1/2 cup whole flaxseed
6+ cups whole wheat flour

mix warm water, tsp. honey and yeast. Let set for 10 min or so. Add oil, honey and salt then add 3 cups of flour, I mix well for about 5 minutes, then add the flax, mix well for a few more minutes ( I find that all this extra mixing/strengthening the gluten holds the bread together better ) the flax tends to make the finished bread fall apart when you slice it. Add more flour and knead 10 min. I let my dough rise for 1 hour, punch it down and rise for 1 more hour. Place in loaf pans and let rise (about 30 min). Bake 350 for 35 minutes. makes 2 loaves. I usually double this recipe for 4 loaves and freeze it. This is the staple bread in our house, once I started adding the flax seed the family would not let me make bread any other way. I think you could add it to any bread recipe, It will just use a little less flour.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Food Freak

I think there are a few people who think I have lost my marbles because I have stopped making my cookie trays and started finding healthier alternatives. This year I made jam and bread (whole wheat with flax and local wildflower honey). Click Here to see the vast array of sweets from Christmas pasts. But.... My marbles are all there, well at least all the ones I started out with anyways. I remember a few years ago (before I got serious about eating better) coming across people who were strict with thier diet and anal about what they would put in thier body..........I believe my reaction was something like P-f-f-t *food freaks*. Well I have willingly signed on to that bandwagon.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Proof of life

When I scoot past my blog to get to my dashboard I am constantly reminded that I have NOT posted anything since last month. I like to keep myself updated so I have a visual of all I have been doing. Since most of that has been top secret and I cant post pictures, here is a note to self: Coffee mug on corner of table = .50 thriftstore find of the season and when filled with coffee a reason to get out of bed in the a.m. Cream colored paint on wall freshly done (Caution to self = dont wait till December to paint the living room). Jar of "purple goop" = failure to make grape jelly on the first try, although if anyone ever wants a grape gummybear recipe I think I found it.
Jelly-Jam-Preserves Success! as well as tags and bows for all and I feel a little less guilty about having NONE of my Christmas shopping done.
And the icing on the cake...........I won good stuff at the SewMamaSew giveaway day! I won these Moda Charms as well as some other goodies over at D is for Dovey . I will be daydreaming about what I am going to make whilst I prepare for Christmas.