Not Quite Vintage

my frugal yet fabulous holidays plan

I have to admit the holidays have me a bit nervous this year. I'm not in my typical holiday spirit but I am really trying. What has me nervous? Well money, the sheer number of gifts I need to make and my lack of creativity among other things. The world is a bit different this year (for everyone - another person I know lost their job yesterday) and I want to work past the challenges and get to the good stuff - the celebration, the joy, the sharing, the gratitude -  but like I said, I am struggling. So, I am going to look at this similarly to how I approach other challenges in my life, I am going to come up with a plan.

 

I call it my Frugal Yet Fabulous Holidays plan. It ties together my need to watch my pennies and my desire to have a wonderful time preparing for and experiencing the holidays with my hope to be a better more consistent poster on my blog. Expect posts on everything from my December grocery challenge, to how I am going to use supplies that I have on had to make and package gifts (yay for my craft supply and fabric stash), to finding holiday inspiration (and just plain old inspiration) in the every day. I think I have a lot of good things planned - and if you have any ideas along the way please share, I would love to hear about them.

And if you want to participate, feel free, there is a button in the sidebar if you like.

Thank Columbus for pattern sales

I am not lucky enough to get a day off or anything for Columbus day, but there is one really good thing happening this weekend – huge sewing pattern sale at Hancock’s. Yep, today through Monday, McCall’s and Butterick patterns are  99¢ and Vogue patters are $3.99. Plus for just Sunday and Monday, Simplicity patterns are 5 for $5. Wow, such great deals.

I know we (I) all have patterns upon patterns that we (I) have bought at sales just like this one that we (I) WILL use someday, so we (I) really don’t need to go. But, if I were to pattern shop this weekend, here are some patterns I might consider picking up.

I am looking for a perfect jacket or two for work. I have to dress up for work – jackets are pretty much required. To explain our dress code a little more, just recently the dress code was updated to allow open toe shoes and give us the freedom to not wear hosiery – so we are still behind the times. Jackets get expensive, so I am always on the lookout at sales, but lately I have been thinking that it might be nice to make my own. Good for my sewing skills and would allow me to be a bit creative with it. I have been inspired by a jacket I saw on Assorted Notions. It is a cropped gray wool jacket with pockets and nice big black buttons (about half way down on the left if you click the link). I haven’t had much luck finding exactly what I am looking for, but I am liking:

Simplicity 2958: This one looks pretty good – pockets, one button. It is more of a spring pattern, but in the right fabric might look pretty good. And it is unlined. Not sure about that, I like linings in my jackets. I do like that the back of this one doesn’t have any gathers or pleats.

McCall’s 5715: View B is another option. It has the buttons, some seaming and a nice collar, but it does have pleats in the back. I just wonder if it has too much fabric back there. The picture of the mode on the site makes it look like I may just have to try this one.

Simplicity 2938: Not at all like the inspiration jacket, but it might be fun to make it in a patterned fabric. It would have to be more lightweight, but might be good for layering.

Simplicity 2760: This one is different. It isn’t cropped like the inspiration jacket, but there are buttons and pockets. I like the scoop neckline. I might try view D or E.

McCall's 5711: And if I really get inspired, maybe I could do a light weight coat in a bright color – sapphire blue or red maybe.  I loved this pattern the moment I saw it.

I also have a list of other patterns I have been collecting.

Simplicity 2854:  When you have to wear jackets, you need shirts for underneath... And they don’t necessarily need to have sleeves. Sometimes sleeves just get in the way and make you uncomfortable. I am thinking view C or D for this one, but without the little flutter sleeves. A mini plaid shirting material would be great for this.

Vogue 8532: If I were to need a special occasion dress, this would be it – the neckline is very flattering. I would probably make it in classic black, maybe textured. A gray tweed would be nice too.

Vogue 8533: I imagine this one more for spring, made out of two contrasting patterns in bright colors. I would say green and white, but I need to expand my color palette – I have too many green pieces right now.

Simplicity 4112: And just because I have to have the Wendy patterns... This top would also work under jackets. I might need to take a little fullness out of the sleeves.

Simplicity 2925: This one reminds me of a Wendy pattern. I like View C, but maybe with long sleeves like on the dress. It  could be fun with jeans for fall/winter.

Now, we all know I really don’t need any of these patterns – my crafty to do list is already long enough. But, if I happen to drive by the store on Sunday, I may have to stop in.

What patterns are on your I want list this Fall?

And if you need a little place to write down your patter wish list, check out this post.

a yummy Easter dinner

Happy belated Easter everyone!  Hope you had a nice visit from the Easter Bunny... Even if it was cold and flurrying extra huge snowflakes all day. St. Louis weather has not caught up with the recent “SPRING” designation, but I didn’t let that get in the way of having a nice Easter. I was expecting guests and there was lots to do.

I knew Pops and Miss Molly were coming over for dinner all week and I went into planning mode. Planning mode got interrupted by water in my basement (thank you Midwest rain... But thank you even more that my house is far away from the flood plain, so I can’t complain to much about a little bit of water in an old city basement) and a fender bender, but I made it through. Menu planning was fun and I came up with a pretty atypical Easter meal – fried chicken. I can’t tell you how many time over the past few months I have heard my Pops say “I wish I could find a good fried chicken place.” See his favorite restaurant for chicken closed and he just hasn’t been the same since :)  So, when I saw a recipe in the March issue of Cottage Living for Oven Fried Chicken that included hot sauce and paprika, I knew I had to try it. The recipe was accompanied by steamed asparagus and lemon dill potato salad recipes that looked good too... The next step was to choose a dessert. And after some thought, I decided on Mom’s Rum Cake recipe.

Saturday I went grocery shopping and got a hair cut (yeah, I needed that). Then I took a little break to watch the movie No Reservations. Pretty cute. A nice American version of Mostly Martha. Watching it totally put me in the cooking mood. Perfect. I even pulled out my white chefs apron yesterday and folded and tied it like in the movie. Dorky, I know, but it also kept my clothing safe of grease splatters! And I set the table. I pulled out a white restaurant table cloth and layered it with a vintage printed cloth. I mixed it with my everyday scarlet and white Fiesta. My dining room is one of my favorite rooms, although I use it mostly as a hallway through the house. I wish I was able to use it more for guests. My dining room set was my Gram and Gramps and it fits so perfectly in my house. They were the same era. It feels right... And I set Pop’s place where Gramps would have sat. Perfect.

So yesterday morning, I started with Mom’s Rum Cake. I love this cake. I have eaten it more times that I can count, but I have only made it once... About 5 years ago with Mom and somehow, it flopped. I think we messed up the proportions for the glaze and when we poured it on, the cake just turned to mush. So, I was worried as I attempted it yesterday. I didn’t want to mess it up for a number of reasons. And my go-to girl for cooking questions wasn’t available, so I just talked to the air and asked her to watch over me. It all turned out fine... It was way yummy. What is really nice about this bundt cake is that it comes out of the pan so easily. I have had pretty bad luck de-panning cakes in the past, but with this one, the glaze makes it pull away from the sides all on its own.

With the cake out of the way, I was able to tackle the potato salad and the asparagus before Pops and Miss Molly arrived. I love when I can prepare most of the food ahead of time and then get a chance to relax with my guests. It is so much less stressful. And why have guest over if you can’t spend time with them?  Even the chicken lent itself to this plan. I had to excuse myself for about 20 minutes to pre-fry the chicken before putting in the oven to back the rest of the way. It was much easier and a whole lot less messy than I expected it to be. And the majority of dishes were done ahead of time, so after dinner clean-up was easy too.

The meal went over very well. Pops loved the chicken and gave me his seal of approval. His “your a good cook” touched me more that he can know. All I can say is I had a great teacher!!

Just in case you want to give the cake a try, here is Mom’s recipe:

For the cake

• 1 butter recipe golden cake mix (it really needs to be this cake mix)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 4 ounce package instant vanilla pudding (packaging may have changed for this one, so I found a 3.1 oz and a 5 oz. So, I bought the 5 ounce and estimated)
• 1/2 cup light rum
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs

Grease and flour bundt pan (I used Baker’s Joy to do this in one easy step). Preheat oven to 350. Crumble pecans into the bottom of the pan. Place cake and pudding mix into a large bowl. Add rum, water, oil and eggs. Mix for 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into pan and bake for 50-60 minutes. It will be golden and toothpick will come out clean. Remove from oven immediately. Pour hot rum glaze over the cake. This will cause the cake to settle and shrink a little.  Cool cake for 30 minutes and then remove from pan.

During the last 5 or so minutes of baking the cake, start the glaze

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter (real butter, not margarine)
• 1/4 cup rum
• 1/4 cup water

Place ingredients in a small sauce pan. Stir till melted and then boil for 2-3 minutes. The glaze with thicken only slightly.

oh brother...

Okay, so I really wanted to show this to all of you almost 2 months ago, but as you know, life sorta got in the way... So I am finally going to share my most favorite Christmas gift with you: My new sewing machine.

Yep, I was totally surprised. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting for Christmas from my parents. All I knew was that Mom keep telling me it was going to be “good” and for some reason that scared me a little. Oftentimes, our tastes didn’t quite mesh, even if the intentions were always the best.

After all the other presents were opened, my Pops got up and said he forgot something. He was gone a couple minutes and walked in with a 2-wheeler and a huge box wrapped in construction plans (my Pops has a heavy-highway construction company, so his wrapping paper has always been construction plans. I secretly love it. Pretty crafty and environmentally conscious I think). After ripping off the paper, I found a Brother Innovis 2500D. Wow.

I guess the story goes that Pops drove back and forth to a sewing machine shop (pretty far from home), asking questions, bring home brochures to Mom, talking it over and then back to the shop to ask more questions. They had planned to get me a primarily quilting machine until they noticed all the hand-embroidery I was doing, so they had a change of plans – find a machine that will allow me to quilt bigger quilts and do embroidery too. This was a couple month process for them and so out of the box for my Pops. He new it was important for Mom, she really wanted to get me something special, so he did everything he could.

On a side note, the more I think about this, the more I wonder if sometimes people who are ill have a sense of the future. Mom really wanted me to have the tools to explore my creativity more – this was important to her, so she made it happen. Plus, she had a great Christmas. For the first time in 3 years, she was able to make it to the family Christmas party. And she had a very good Christmas day with Pops and I. I am blessed to have been able to share this time with her. She once told me a story about her Dad. He was able to visit all of his four children in the days before he passed away – something that hardly ever happened. And he finally gave her a rooster figurine she had been asking about for years (not sure why, but she loved it... and it was in our kitchen for years). It feels sorta like that.

Anyway, I really love my sewing machine. Honestly, I have only been able to play with it three times so far. Once to just try it out, once to make my Mom an embroidered shirt while she was in the hospital (for which I received a huge, huge smile and a request for one in every color) and once this weekend. I was able to have a quiet day at home on Saturday – I didn’t even leave the house except to get the paper.  I cleaned up my craft space and practiced a bit of embroidery (yes, with Snoopy designs... I knew Pops would like them... And me too).

This machine can do so many cool things. On the sewing/quilting side, I can now try free-motion quilting. And for my venture into clothing, it has a side-cutter foot... It does a straight stitch combined with a zig-zag type overcast stitch and trims the excess fabric along the way. So cool since I don’t have a serger yet. Oh, and it has a drop in bobbin and automatic needle threader which I love. For embroidery, I can hook it up to my computer to store or transfer designs – the sewing machine just shows up as an external drive. That was a wow to me.

I am not sure what all I can do with this sewing machine yet, but I can’t wait to find out. Now the key is just finding the time to play around and try things out. I am thinking my family needs to expect a lot of monogrammed gifts this year...

on holiday

Taking a little break to enjoy the holidays - hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. See you soon.

holiday tradition: toffee

Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without Pop’s toffee. I can’t believe it, but I think I have been making a tin of toffee for Pops the past 9 or 10 years. Crazy, but worth it.

I remember being at my Grandparents as a little kid. In Colorado... Or even when they visited us in St. Louis for Christmas. Gram and Gramps always brought a box of special toffee. It was from somewhere in Colorado, Colorado Springs maybe? It was extra thick and crunchy – really dense. I can’t even describe it. All I really know is Pops loved it.

So when Gram and Gramps were no longer around to give the wonderful box of toffee, I decided to step in. I tried to locate the company that made the original toffee, but had no luck. So, in an issue of MS Living, I found a recipe for toffee. Not exactly the same kind – not as thick or crunchy, but the sentiment was there.

Now, years later I am still making the toffee and Pops still enjoys just one piece a day until it runs out. If I could enjoy only one small sweet treat a day – I just don’t know how he does it. The extra, not so perfect pieces get packaged and given as extra gifts – or this year to my bosses at work.

If you haven’t made candy before, the recipe may seem a bit overwhelming. But really, once you try it, it is pretty easy. It takes a lot of time, but not much work. You have to wait for the main mixture to reach 280 degrees, which means you have to wait for at least 45 minutes. Then you wait for the mixture to harden in the pans, another 45 minutes. Then you melt chocolate and cover with pecans and wait 24 hours to break it apart. But honestly, it is just a lot of waiting and not too much work. Give it a try.

Oh, and after the first year, I stopped trying to cut it all nicely like in Martha’s picture on the website. Never worked for me. I just have fun and break it into fun pieces. So much easier!

gram's skate ornament how to

A couple posts back, I mentioned a mini-ornament swap my friend Dawn and I did this holiday season.  It took me a really long time to decide what to make. I had no idea... Until one night while I was trying to fall asleep, it came to me - Gram’s Ice Skates. I got out of bed right then and headed to the basement to search them out. Of course, the ornaments were in the very back of the storage room! Sorta how it always happens, right?

Gram’s ice skates were perfect inspiration. These skates are older than me and are in pretty good shape for their age. From these skates, I updated the pattern just a little – rounded out the edges a bit. Nothing to big that I think she would mind...

Want to know how I made them?  I took pictures along the way, so I figure it will be just as easy to write a little tutorial as I describe them.

Supplies:
• Wool Felt
• Large paperclips
• Embroidery thread
• Sequence
• Seed beads
• Quilt batting
• Ribbon

Gathering all my supplies would have been really easy if I didn’t have to wait in line for 30 minutes at the fabric store for 1/2 yard of fabric (1/4 yard gave me enough for 12 sets – yes, I started out planning to make just one set, but then I decided I might need to make one for everyone in my family too).

I traced my pattern (you can download it here) onto the felt and the batting and cut them out. On the batting, you will then need to trim about 1/8 or so off the edges... Or probably smarter, trim inside the line the first time you cut.

Gram’s laces were sequence and beads. I liked her style, so I matched them completely. On one side of each skate (remember, each pair has on right and left, so be sure to bead on correct sides) add 4 sequence, bead combinations. First place the sequence, add the bead and then take the needle back through the hole in the sequence.

Now it is time to put the pieces together, scoot the felt through the paper clip, so the clip is in the middle of the pattern. I like the double end of the paper clip to be the toe-pick. Place the batting in the middle and fold the felt. I then pinned it together with a long quilting pin. It really only needs one and I even tossed that one aside once I got going on the embroidery.

To stitch, I used two strands of matching embroidery floss. I started my thread inside the back of the skate so I could hide the knot. Evenly space your stitches around the skate and about 1/8 inch from the edge. Before you get to the top of the skate, add a length of ribbon by poking it inside between the batting. When my stitching got there, I did a backstitch to tack in the ribbon. You can hardly see it in the picture...

When I finished both skates, I tied the ribbons together so that one skate was higher than the other. This is so much like how I used to carry my skates as a kid... Just without the skate guards.

Pretty simple... Unless you are making 12 pairs!

one for me, one for... pajamas

I know, I know, I am a little late with this In-Stitches Along project – almost 8 months late. Way back in April, I even bought some pretty pink fabric and green ribbon for my embellished pj pants... And yes, the fabric is still sitting nicely in one of my fabric bins. Instead I opted for some cozy flannel. It is so, so soft and seemed a bit better suited for a winter holiday gift.

My Momma is very hard to buy for. She never really used to be - I could always get her something for the kitchen... a new cookbook or fancy utensil. But these days, mom tends to sit around or sleep most days. We blame it mostly on all the medicine she is taking. The one thing that will get her motivated to get spiffed up and ready to go is shopping. But as much as we may wish we could shop every day, it just isn’t a reality. Anyway, because of this, I thought how can I make her days more cozy? I already made her a quilt for Christmas last year and she loved it. Pajamas was just one of the many littler gifts I could think of. And since she insists I “make her something,” store bought just wouldn’t do.

So, I thought, what a great way to sneak in another In Stitches Along project. I started out the year on a roll with the projects... And ended by missing the majority or months. Oops. Hopefully when Kelli and Finny pick a new book, I will be more successful next year.

The pants were extra easy to make. I did take a little time to zig zag and trip my seams – this made them look so much more professional. And it also made me wish for my own serger! The legs are really wide, but I love them. So cozy. I remember reading people’s comments that they were so big – I am hoping that they were only talking about the wide legs, because I didn’t find the waist and hips to be extra big on me. I am going to move forward believing it was only the legs that were big... Because if I don’t, I might get a complex. I opted for simple twill tape for the draw string. I really didn’t want to spend the time making it out of the flannel – too much folding and ironing for me.

I hope they fit Mom. She is a bit shorter and a little bigger than I am... If they don’t, I have some back up flannel and a week off over Christmas to make another pair.

Oh and this is another instance of one for you, one for me. The blue ones are for momma and the pink ones are for me :)

pretty, pretty, fun, fun

Holidays are so much fun!!  Well, at least when you take a moment to breath and do a little celebrating amidst the mad rush to finish our our handmade gifts, shopping and baking. Last night I took a break - went to a nice holiday dinner with Dawn. The food was yummy, the waiter and host were pretty cute and friendly... and best of all there was lots of girl talk.

Oh, and there were presents too! Presents bring out the kid in me... and goodness was I lucky this year. Dawn crocheted me the prettiest green clutch and embellished it with great vintage buttons. I really can't wait to use it (too bad I carry to much with me to work or I would be using it today).

In addition, we exchanged ornaments... we both weren't sure we would have enough time to join the big ornament exchange, so we created our own. Too bad I didn't pay attention to the instructions... I only made one for Dawn and she made two for me.  This weekend, I will be adding a crocheted snowman and an embroidered owl to my tree. I can't wait... the new ornaments have renewed my desire to fit in tree decorating this weekend. Goodness, I will be busy.

Pictures of the ornament I made are coming soon... and  I may just get to an extra ornament this weekend. I have an idea.

yes, another scarf! but for good reason.

I really don't think I have knit enough Uptown Scarves this holiday season. Three total. One for me, one for Renee and now one for Shannon.

I have talked about Shannon a few times, so I wont get into a ton of background, but I will shout that she graduates from college this week. Actually, today is her last exam!  I am so proud. Her path has been a bit zig-zagged, but I always knew she would make it.  And you know what is even better about this week?  She and Ben are sneaking (not really sneaking because we all know about it) away to Breckenridge, Colorado this weekend to get married.

Seriously, what a great week for one of my very favorite people!!!! 

So, knowing it will be a bit cold in Colorado, I thought "I have to knit her a scarf." And the Uptown Scarf pattern was once again there to rescue me from a time crunch. They are so easy, but I really do love how they look when they are finished. This time I went to my LYS for some nicer, softer yarn - Blizzard in Red. It is soooo soft. I want to make this hat out of it for myself.