Sunday, December 30, 2012

T-Shirt Makeover for Lil Fashionista

Are you ready for yet another T Shirt Makeover ?
 
The Before Photo:


And The After Photo:


We purchased this T-shirt for Mr. Big Stuff at the Dallas Zoo a few years ago.


The zebras are painting the other animals!  How funny!



It's such a cute T, I just couldn't put it in the giveaway pile.  It became a dress for Lil Fashionista!  You might remember the  T-Shirt to Tank Top  makeover I did for myself.  This T-Shirt makeover is very similar. 


Begin by cutting away the sleeves, then cut straight across the top near the collar.  (A piece of the collar was actually left on this one.  I wanted to make sure the cute animals were not stitched.)  Hem the sleeves then sew a one inch casing across both the front and the back of the shirt.


For the ruffle, cut a four inch strip of fabric that is twice the length of the bottom of the shirt.


Zig zag one edge so it won't ravel, and hem the other edge.  Then use your longest straight stitch near the zig zag side.  Gently tug the bobbin thread to gather the fabric until it is the same length as the bottom of the shirt.


Attach.


Zebra ruffles are just so dern cute!


For the little straps, I simply cut 2, two inch strips, folded in half,


gave the edge a quick zig zag, then a straigth stitch and pulled them right side out.


They were threaded through the casing and tied at the shoulder.

For Winter, Lil Fashionista styles her dress with a long sleeved shirt, tights and boots.   
 
Lydia in Zebra Dress

 The dress will be breezy and cool by itself with sandals this summer.  Lil Fashionista makes ANY OUTFIT look cute!
 
If you have a favorite T that you can't wear, but hate to toss, consider giving it a makeover!  More T Shirt Makeovers  can be found on my Sewing Page!
 
;-)  -Marci
 
 

Friday, December 28, 2012

Stuffed Eggs

On a recent trip to our public library, Tasha Tudor's Cookbook caught my eye. 



I tried her recipe for French Dressing in order to try her recipe for Stuffed Eggs.
 

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It was a surprisingly savory recipe and we loved it! 
 
My family calls a similar recipe Deviled Eggs. 

 Six Hard Boiled Eggs
About half a cup of Mayonnaise
About half a cup of Sweet Relish

Cut the boiled eggs in half.  Pop out the yolks.  Smoosh the yolks with the mayo and relish.  Scoop the yolk mixture and place in the center of each egg white.

I made a batch of my family's sweet recipe along with a batch of Tasha's Savory ones.  It's always nice to try a new recipe, especially when it's a perfect compliment to an old one!

I'm curious about your family's traditions.  What do you call this kind of recipe?  Is it savory or sweet?

;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Blog Hop & Giveaway

Welcome to Wednesday's  Adorned From Above  Blog Hop 32.  I am co-hosting this week!  How exciting! 

Adorned From Above - Hostess

This is a blog hop, so when you share your posts on  Adorned From Above , they will also be seen *right here* on Stone Cottage Adventures.
 
So on to this weeks party. The rules are easy.
 
1. Follow both hosts in some way (GFC, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, or Linky Followers )
 
2. Anything goes with posts. ( recipes, parties, etsy shops, crafts, inspirational writing, absolutely anything. Just make it family friendly )
 
3. Comment on other posts. It is a party. Get to know your fellow bloggers. I have met some of the nicest people at the parties, including my co-hosts.
 
We hope you have fun at this week's party. We both love hearing from you, so we love your comments. 
 
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In fact, we love comments so much, I've sewn a super cute zippered pouch for a lil giveaway!  There will be a random drawing from the comments!  Please make sure you leave an email address so we can contact you about your win! 

Now let's party!

Have a great week.
Debi and Marci

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Merry Christmas

Wishing you days that are merry and bright... 

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Hoping your dreams reach beyond your expectations...

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Betting your favorite team wins...

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Praying you are surrounded by the ones you love...

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Sending our very best wishes to you this Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas!  ;-)  Marci

Friday, December 21, 2012

Quick Zebra Pouch

Are you looking for quick, simple and creative gift wrap?   Here are a couple of things that worked for me! 

It's such an honor to guest post at  Inspiration Cafe again!  One of my gift wrap projects is a guest over there today.  Take a look!

Here's the second gift wrap idea! 

ZebraPouch1

Do you ever get those freebie skin care kits that come with a small  FREE  zippered pouch?  Well, I do, too!

Zebra Pouch

Using a little duct tape, the freebie zippered pouch got a slick makeover! 

ZebraPouch2

There's only one little tricky part - cutting tabs.  I used the grid on the back of the duct tape to help keep the cuts straight.  Make sure you cut the duct tape neatly, then fold in those flaps to wrap the sides. 

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Next, fold the bottom part of the duct tape over the side flaps.  Add a little zip of color at the top and use a scrap for the zipper tab.

ZebraPouch1

There you go!  I'll be using this as gift wrap for unique jewelry found on Etsy! 

Thanks again to the girls from  Inspiration Cafe !  You really know how to make me feel welcome!   

Happy Wrapping!  ;-)  -Marci

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Guest Post at Homegrown & Healthy

One of my simple sewing posts is a guest today at
 
 
Zip over and take a look!
 
;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

December Update One Year, Twenty Wishes

Thank you, Kassi and Kayli at Truly Lovely , for hosting a wonderful link party all about one year of fulfilling twenty wishes. The idea is to make a list of what I WANT to do, not have to do, or need to do, but what I WANT to do next year!


Truly Lovely
 

So, what would I like to accomplish in 2013?  Click  HERE to see my original post.  A few things have already been accomplished!  Here's the update for December 2012! 
 
4. Increase my herb collection.  **I have added lemon grass and double mint!

7. Learn soap making.  **Aunt Linda's Soapmaking Class was wonderful!

 

8. Create my own herbal bath salts.  **Done!  Tutorial to follow soon!  

13. Learn Photo Shop... OK, so I bought the program last year and still have not opened it. EESH!  **Thanks to Kassi at Truly Lovely , I tried Photobucket and am doing a little better!  More practise is needed though! 

19. Learn bloggy, techy things.  I don't really know what those things are, but I would like to! Can anyone help?  **Thanks to Danni of Silo Hill Farm , I've learned how to make a button for my blog AND how to place buttons onto my blog!  I'm also using HTML without crying or freaking out!  'Definitely an improvement!  ;-) 

So, yeah, even though this list is for 2012, a few things are coming together.  'Kinda makes me feel like an over achiever!  ;-)   

What do you WANT to accomplish next year? Please join the fun at Truly Lovely !

;-)  -Marci

Saturday, December 15, 2012

My Email is Cuckoo!

Ummm...  'Not sure this is exactly a great forum for this kind of news, but, right now my options are somewhat limited. 

My email is currently cuckoo!  I contacted my provider and got a recording that they are aware of an email issue.   They are working to resolve it.  The recording also apologized for any inconvenience.  SIGH! 

So...  If you have sent me an email or a comment, and are wondering why I'm not responding, well, now you know.  My inbox can be opened.  All of my folders are visible, but there are no emails.  None.  SIGH!

My fingers are on the keyboard waiting for me to think of something positive and cheery to say... 

Yep

Well

 Hmmm... 

OK. 

That's all I've got to say about that.  

If you can't say something nice...    ;-)  -Marci

December Blog Angels

This is my second stint as one of Rosie's  Blog Angels .

Craftbotic

The idea which I love is to help another blog, expecting NOTHING in return.  Yeah!  Our world needs more of that, don't you think?  Being kind and generous just for the sake of grace and mercy.

How lovely!

So, I don't get to reveal who I am an angel for just yet, but would love to tell you about her.  She has the sweetest spirit.  If you read her blog, you will see kindness and generosity all over the place.  Her love for her husband and dedication to her children are evident, too.  Her blog exudes creativity.

Now you want to meet her, don't you?  ;-)  Introductions later.

If you see the opportunity to be kind, generous and merciful, by all means, be kind, be generous, be merciful.  Help someone, expecting NOTHING in return.  Our world needs more of that, don't you think?

;-)  -Marci

Gourd Jewelry

It was such an honor to guest post for Inspiration Cafe !  I love the diversity of their creative posts!  The question "What inspires you?"  is frequently asked at  Inspiration Cafe . 
 
I am inspired by my heritage and the craftsmanship of my Ozark Mountains.  Many of these skills are taught at  Ozark Folkways .  You might enjoy this post about it .


 Have you met my gourd decorating teacher, Linda Ashmore ?  I've written about her before  here !


  Let me show you why she is the teacher!  Here are some of her creations!


She participates in the Silver Dollar City Harvest Festival and also has space at a shop in Eureka Springs.


This group of spectacular gourds are available at  Ozark Folkways  near Winslow, Arkansas.


Today's class focused on jewelry made from gourd scraps and an interesting paint technique.

 
For the paint, Linda layered glops and sputters of paint on parchment paper.  Then she swirled this hodge podge of paint with a broken paint brush, just enough to blur any harsh lines.  The paint is allowed to dry a couple of days.


The dried paint is then peeled from the parchment paper.  It's pliable and can be cut with scissors, similar to wallpaper.  Have you ever seen anything like it?!


Linda also brought a table full of doo dads!  With her expert direction, we went to work!


Classmate Rebecca created this wonderful flower!  She kept her gourd project mostly natural with just a touch of bling.  It looks great against her red sweater!


She plans to wear it as a pin, but the glue was not yet dry!


I was able to finish three pieces. The one on the left incorporates turquoise and copper wire.
 
Gourds have naturally occurring freckles and dimples.  The round piece had an interesting heart shaped blemish in the center, so I painted it purple.  Then noticed a second, smaller heart.  So it was painted, too.  Next, I glued the dried paint wallpaper around the edges to frame the hearts.  That blurring of color is just fascinating to me.
 
 
 For the square piece, I simply layered the dried paint wallpaper for an interesting effect.  Using Loctite, pin clasps were glued to the back of each gourd scrap.
 
How you would style these jewelry pieces?
 
 
 
Spending time with Linda is always a treat!  While this class was not at all what I was expecting, it certainly brought new ideas, which brings new sources of inspiration! 
 
What inspires you?  I'd love to hear all about it!
 
;-)  -Marci

Friday, December 14, 2012

Blog Friend Package Swap

 
Autumn of Mrs in the Making hosted a super fun swap!
 
My assigned buddy was Esther of Esther Norine Designs ! 
 
In our "getting to know you" emails, Esther offered to crochet a scarf for me!!  How amazing is that?!  The scarf is absolutely perfect.  The colors blend earth tones with a soft denim.  It's nice and long so there are just gobs of ways to wear the pretty thing.  I love it!  Esther snuggled some tasty winter treats into the box, too!  There was caramel dip and chai!  Mmmm...
 
Thank you, Esther of Esther Norine Designs
 
Thank you, Autumn of Mrs in the Making !
 
;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

All Aboard!

The Great Blog Train - Coming Soon!

 
 The Great Blog Train Hop, by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com
 
A fun blog hop travelling around the world!

Hosted by 3 lovely bloggers:

Angie

025-Copy-1, http://godsgrowinggarden.com


Marci
Stone Cottage Adventures

Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog

Join us once a month - on the first Wednesday of every month -
starting in January 2013.

Everyone is welcome!  Toot Toot!
;-)  -Marci
 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Pouch Giveaway

Psst...  There is a fabulous giveaway going on at Sabje's Blog !  Zip over there and enter to win!
 
I'm giving away a super cute zippered pouch I've sewn using This Tutorial from Noodlehead !
 
 
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AND some of my handmade soap!  ('Remember my recent Soapmaking Class ?)
 
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'Not sure what color I'll be mailing to the lucky winner.  These  Zippered Pouches  are so much fun to make, I just can't stop sewing them!
 
 Zip over to Sabje's Blog and join the fun!  (Get it?  Zip! hahaha!) 

I'd love to send a pouch to you!
 
;-)  -Marci

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Gift Tag Feature


 
has featured my Stamped Gift Card !
 
What an honor!  Thank you, Pam! 
 
;-)  -Marci

Salad From the Greenhouse

One more reason to love our greenhouse...  Homegrown salad in Winter!  (Although, so far, this winter has been mild enough a greenhouse really hasn't been necessary.)

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Delicious cool season veggies were gathered again this week.  Lettuce was a special treat!  This is the first lettuce harvested since late Spring.  The seeds were free from  Songbird Garden's Class .  I planted them the weekend before Halloween.  The carrots continue to do well.

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A few small scallions were pulled from our garden to complete this lovely salad!

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Mmmm...  Tasty and nutricious!  Did I mention I love our greenhouse?  ;-)  -Marci