SUPER Simple Headband

My daughter is really into headbands right now so here's an EASY one that anybody can make.**

First, cover your headband with ribbon. I used a hot glue gun but you can also use Fabritac - a versatile fabric glue that works on anything. Glue one color first, then the second color if you're using two strands of ribbon.

You don't have to tuck it in around the sides because when it's on the head, you won't see anything but the ribbon. Just tuck the ribbon at the bottoms of the headband like you see in the picture.

Then, with whatever ribbon you're using, secure everything in a circle with your glue.

With a small piece, wrap it around the front of the bow and tighten it in place in the back. Glue one end first and then wrap tightly the other piece around and secure everything down with your glue.

Here's the back:

Here's the front:

Glue the bow on the headband and you're done!

**NOTE: For a baby, instead of wrapping a plastic headband, you'd have to use some stretchy, lacy elastic. Measure the baby's head, giving plenty of slack because you don't want it too tight. Glue the elastic together and glue the bow right where you pieced the elastic together to hide your edges.

Not Enough Time...

I swear - there just isn't enough time, is there? I think that I could get more accomplished if I were to awake early, but I'm not willing to sacrifice precious sleep. So what's a girl to do?

Instead of nest-feathering all week, I chose to read a good book instead! I finally started a project today, but only out of guilt and the desire to rid myself of this bulky box full of parts.

I found the coolest kids' table & chair set at Ikea a few weeks ago and the only hitch is that I have to paint it myself. NO problem, I say to myself. Three weeks later, after kicking the box around in the closet, I'm dragging myself to Home Depot for paint only to discover that because I want a red color to match my boys' room, I have to FIRST apply a gray primer to the entire thing. GRRRREAT. So this "simple" project is going to take me a lot longer than I anticipated.

So this picture shows how far I got today with a 2-year-old "helping" me. He was driving me nuts so bad that I had to pack it up for a while - hopefully returning when he's napping.

Oh, and did I mention that since I'm not busy enough, I decided to potty train the 2-year-old this week? He has no choice in the matter, really, he has to. I am not buying anymore diapers. I'm all done with diapers. He tells me every time he needs a diaper change, therefore he's smart enough to know how to do the deed in flushable fashion.

So day #2 - only 3 wet undies and 2 successful trips to the toilet! Bring on the liquids!

The Simplest Pleasure

One of our family's most favorite treats is the simplest thing ever - Berries & Cream. Sliced strawberries with a dollop of whipped cream served in a cute little dessert bowl makes them all feel like they're the most important people in the world! (Well, to me they are...) This is an EASY, even sort of healthy way to celebrate something special!

Mix it up a bit and use other kinds of fruit like fresh peaches, or straberries and bananas go together nicely.

(I found these adorable little dessert bowls at an estate sale last year - I got about 20 of them for $8.00. Sweet.)

Tartlette

If you love to bake or, if you're like me, you love to eat, then this site should be on your favorites list! It's called Tartlette and it's loaded full of the most delicious bakery desserts - and their recipes. WOW.

I'm In!

Even though it's NOT that big of a deal, I applied and was accepted to be featured on "Delightful Blogs." So now I need any of you to follow this link to the site and score my blog listing there! How fun, eh?

In the meantime...it's back to work for me. I'm working on a couple of things.

New Onesies & Booties

I couldn't resist sharing my latest creations. We've got a new baby boy in the family so I put together these little sets for him. I LOVE how it all turned out! I especially love that my fleece rectangle is so imperfect looking - as strange as that sounds. I think that's what gives this little shirt some character. (Good...because I'm NOT perfect at anything!!! My stuff just has "character".)

These are SO simple to make - and the end result is something beautiful and hand made. Here are the instructions again:

Onesies

Booties

Sewing 101 - Buttons

While finishing a gift for my new little nephew, it occurred to me that not everyone knows how to sew on a button. Well, some might argue that I don't know how to sew on a button...but that's not the point!

Here is MY basic instruction on how to sew on a button!

NOTE: Buttons are NOT a good fashion accessory for children who can put things in their mouths. This shirt is going to a newborn who could care less about eating buttons.

You'll want to thread your needle like this - by taking one long piece of thread, fold it in half, and thread both strands through the eye of the needle. This gives you a loop at the bottom and that's how you're going to secure your thread.

Hold your button EXACTLY where you want it and these little guys like to travel and move around so be sure you have a firm grasp on it. (And make sure the button doesn't twist, making the holes go diagonally.)

Come up from the bottom of the button without pulling your thread all the way through. You want to leave a loop in the back. Then take the needle down through the diagonal button hole and turn the fabric to the back where you can see - STILL HOLDING YOUR BUTTON FIRMLY. It will still travel.

You should still have a loop there from where you started.

Put your needle through the loop and pull on it, creating a secure knot. Well, I don't really think it's a knot - but your thread is VERY secure this way!

You can't see the little, teeny, tiny knot thing very well, but that's what it should look like. (Nevermind all of the other stitching - just part of the shirt.)

Now criss cross your stitching inside the button holes, making an "X" formation on top.

Keep holding that button in place for the first few stitches because it will still move! (very frustrating)

To finish off your button, you're going to come down in between the threads and grab some with your needle like this and don't pull the thread all the way through - just make a loop like we did before.

So with this loop, you're going to put your needle through it coming from the left and pull tight.

Then repeat the step above - take the needle back down into the threads and up again, creating another loop.

This time bring your needle through the loop coming from the RIGHT side and pull tight. You should have created a little knot. If you need to, repeat the last 3 steps and make another knot.

Your button should be secure and it wasn't even that difficult!

Abby's Pouch

Well I'm kind of embarrassed to post my version of this cool zipper pouch I featured from the Purl Bee! It was easy enough to do, but I didn't use the bias tape maker they suggested (remember, I'm a seeker of simple). Instead, I just used some twill tape I had in my supply and my twill tape ended up being too thick because the insides are a little bulky.

SO...I'll just throw this in my daughter's purse collection and practice some more because I REALLY like these simple little purses!

Mari's Bias Tape Purse with Zipper

I found this amazing set of instructions from one of my favorite blogs - the Purl Bee.

I kind of figured out the general idea of how to make a little zipper bag...but anything with bells, whistles, and (gasp) zippers make me wince like a scared schoolgirl.

HOWEVER...the girls at the Purl Bee did an amazing job of simple instructions and photos for this little bag and I think I'm going to scrounge up some old scraps and make one of these today.

You can use these bags for your sewing room, or I use mine that I bought here in my purse for my lipsticks and cell phone. You can attach a little handle and it's a cute bag for a child to carry pencils, crayons, and those special little treasures.
These would make great little party favors, too, since they're SO easy and can work up fast.

Cooking 101 - Double Chocolate Pudding

EVERYBODY has got to try making their own chocolate pudding once in their lifetime! (And I'm pretty sure that you won't want to eat the boxed kind anymore!)

One of our family's favorite desserts after a nice Sunday dinner is a warm piece of chocolate cake smothered with warm chocolate pudding. You can cheat on the cake and make it from the box if you want - but NOT the pudding! Here is a sinful, homemade pudding that's easy to make:

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE PUDDING

6 egg yolks
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. cornstarch
3 T. very good cocoa powder
Pinch salt

2 c. milk
1 oz. very good semisweet chocolate, chopped (unless you're using chocolate chips)
2 T. unsalted butter
1 1/2 t. pure vanilla extract
2 T. heavy cream, half-and-half, or more milk will work, too.

Beat the egg yolks and sugar until light yellow and thick in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a hand mixer if that's what you have). On low speed, add cornstarch, cocoa powder, and salt.

Then, bring milk to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly. While mixing chocolate mixture on low speed, slowly pour the hot milk into the mixture. Combine well, then pour the entire mixture back into the saucepan.

Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk, until thickened. IF THE MIXTURE BEGINS TO CURDLE, REMOVE IT FROM HEAT AND BEAT IT VIGOROUSLY WITH A WIRE WHISK. Remove the pan from heat, add the chocolate, butter, vanilla and heavy cream and mix until everything is all melted.

This pudding ends up being thick. If you like it a little thinner, you can either scale back on the cornstarch or add more milk at the end.

Pour into serving bowls, place plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding to prevent a 'skin' from forming on the top. Chill thoroughly or serve warm.