What to Make with Boutique Yarns

After a trip to the local thrift shop I found myself well-stocked with boutique yarns, read Sashay and Boutique Ribbons. After a while I sat and thought "What does one do with this gorgeous stuff besides making scarves?" Here's a few ideas I found around the web:

Ribbon Remix Scarf uses 1 skein of Red Heart Soft, 1 skein of Red Heart Boutique Sashay, 2 yards of grosgrain ribbon, 1 1/2 inches wide, 5mm (size H-8) hook, and a yarn needle.

 Knit a Lei Scarf designed by Anneliese Anneliese. There's an easy to follow tutorial or print out the downloadable instructions.
You'll need:

• One skein Red Heart Boutique Ribbons yarn (I chose "Fire")
• Size 8 circular knitting needles, 32 inches long
• Sewing needle and thread for finishing
  
  
  How about a crocheted ruffled skirt? This pattern is sized for the little ones, sizes 2-4, designed by Amy at Crochet Creative Creations.
  
  
  
  Crochet Hook: I/9 or 5.5 mm hook

  Yarn Weight: (4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

  Click here for crochet pattern

  
  
  How about a purse? This is so cute.This is from Dearest Debi. She has a written pattern and a tutorial. 
  
  
  
  You'll need a skein of Bernat Satin and a skein of Boutique Sashay Yarn, a size I (9) hook and a size J (10) hook. 
  
  
  So, there's a few things to do with this beautiful yarn I think a pillow would look good. Maybe flowers to add to a headband. How about a few ruffles on a little girl's skirt? So much to do. So much I want to do. Sleep is so over rated. 
  
  
  Post by Eileen
  
  

How to Make Chunky Chocolate Soft and Chewy Cookies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

 We had our cookie exchange at work last week and I brought in my old standby, Double Chocolate Chocolate Chip Chunky Cookies (now that's a mouthful). I use a cake mix cookie recipe to make the soft, chewy cookies that have become a family favorite. I like to add lots of "stuff" to them, chips, nuts, raisins, craisins....whatever I have on hand (I usually keep lots of stuff available) so the cookies will be reminiscent of the Chunky candy bar I loved so much as a kid. The family loves them so much I thought I would share the recipe, so here it is.

You'll need:
2 Fudge Chocolate Cake Mix (any brand will do but I am partial to Duncan Hines)
4 eggs
1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks), Softened
1/2 cup nut pieces, shelled
1/2 cup raisins
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a mixer cream the butter on a low speed. Add the eggs one at a time.  Add the cake mix (make sure the mixer is off or there will be a cloud of chocolate dust in the air...trust me...). After the mixture is well-blended add the nuts, chips, and raisins. Spoon (tablespoon) the mixture onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 9 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cookie rack. Makes about 6 dozen cookies.


The recipe is child friendly...a good way to get the kids involved and let them create their own masterpieces. I have used yellow cake mix instead of chocolate cake mix, put some in a bowl for each helper (aprons on, thank you), with bowls of nuts, chips, and raisins. The children made their own batches of cookies. While the cookies baked the children drew pictures on brown paper sacks that would hold the cookies. After the cookies were baked they got to take home their masterpieces to share with their families.

The picture shows a batch made with butter pecan cake mix.

Pecan Soft Chewy Cookies

Have fun and have a Happy Holiday Season.
Eileen

More Vogue Lovelies!

I love Vogue patterns. Here's some recent additions to the shop.

Pillowcases Challenge 2014 Sewing for Jessica's Joy

Every year I read about sewing challenges and projects. There are so many that my poor easily-distracted brain can't keep up. They all sound worthy and good but for whatever reason I come up with I can't seem to do it.....that is, until now. 

Recently a friend posted a cry for help on Facebook...a sewing cry for help. She runs a ministry called Jessica's Joy. It is a legitimate charity and best of all, it's local. The charity provides food at the Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville, gifts for nursing home patients in Cross City, Fl, and pillowcases for the children at the UF at Shands Oncology unit. When she told me about the pillowcases I knew I finally found the right thing for me...the perfect fit. Something with a needle and thread that I can do at my pace and fit into my crazy schedule.  

I had a pile of holiday fabric I was planning to make scrub tops with but, hey, I'd rather make a pillowcase to comfort someone with, ya know? Much better.

2 yards makes 2 pillowcases plus trim for 3 more. Mix and match. Good to use odds and ends of lace and ribbons, too. 

I love the pink striped fabric! Girly girl stuff. 

So, with a tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Company (I love their roll-up pillowcase tutorial), I made a few pillowcases. Eleven to be exact.  Next project will be neck pillows and walker caddies.  

If anyone wants to help, add a comment....or if anyone is doing a challenge or sewing for a cause, give it a shout. It's good stuff.

The frog fabric is too cute. 

Pillowcases from new and old holiday fabric. 

A pile of them!

Post by Eileen Patterson aka GoofingOff

Waiting for the Caring Moment

Last night the hubby and I had a Saturday night date....pizza and a movie. We finally got to watch Captain Phillips...the movie about the tanker that was captured by Somalian pirates and its captain who was held hostage. Not a bad movie, pretty good, in fact. I did my usual, watching with one eye while the other eye kept track of my handiwork (which was crocheting a kippah for my Pomegranate Guild chapter).
I half followed along until the captain was rescued by the US Navy and safe aboard ship. He was in the sick bay and being examined by the nurse. The nurse's actions stopped me in mid-stitch. She was efficient, very smart, doing what she should do....except she was too efficient. The captain was just rescued and shaken up splattered with blood and brains from his captors. Every time she touched him he jumped. She very efficiently asked him if he was in pain, told him she was putting a sensor on his finger to measure his oxygenation....all the right things, but it was without caring. It wasn't until he asked her if the blood on him was his that she had any comfort or caring to her voice. She was well into the exam before she reached her caring moment.
It made me wonder if during the course of the day if I get so caught up in "getting it right" or being efficient that I delay the caring moment a patient needs. It also made me promise to myself to be sure to get into the caring moment as soon as possible. A soft voice and a kind word goes far, especially if the patient experienced a traumatic event....

"New" Vogue Listings

These wonderful Vogue patterns arrived recently. Some are designer patterns, others are Easy and Very Easy to Sew.

Vogue 1848 Geoffrey Beene Designer, UNCUT

Vogue 1895 Tom and Linda Platt Designer, UNCUT

Vogue 1960 Donna Karan Designer, UNCUT

Rare Military Style Jacket and Skirt, State of Claude Montana Designer, size 20-24 UNCUT

Vogue 9460, UNCUT

Vogue 9496, UNCUT

Vogue 9629 UNCUT

Vogue 9721 UNCUT

Vogue 9669 UNCUT

Vogue 9431 in size 6-8-10

Vogue 9546 UNCUT Sizes 12-16 and 18-22 available

Vogue 9296 Maternity Uncut Sizes 6-10, 12-16, and 18-22 available

Post by Eileen Patterson aka GoofingOff.

Winnie the Pooh in the Nursery Plastic Canvas Pattern Books

Here's a cool find I came into recently. Winnie the Pooh and his friends in Plastic Canvas needlepoint books. Perfect for the nursery, a baby gift, day care wall.

Pooh Wall Decor Plastic Canvas Pattern Book

Winnie the Pooh Tissue Box Covers in Plastic Canvas

Tissue Box Covers in Plastic Canvas

Pooh So-Quick Long Stitch Pattern Book for Plastic Canvas

Post by Eileen Patterson...Miss Eileen Vintage and GoofingOff Sewing

New in Stock Counted Cross Stitch Patterns At Miss Eileen's Vintage

Merry Mug counted cross stitch pattern with Amaretto Cocoa Mix Adapt this pattern  and make napkin rings,  kitchen towel tops, coffee mug sleeves.

Pat Rogers' Counted Collection The Strawberry Sampler

With My Needle by Just Nan....includes beads and silver thread, Counted Cross Stitch

Ivory Hearts Sampler Pattern by JBW Designs

Fruitful Mugs for Counted Cross Stitch

Pat Rogers' Counted Collection The Lily Sampler

Pat Rogers' Counted Collection Alphabet Garden 

Alphabet Garden

New Plastic Canvas Listings

Here's a few new plastic canvas books and leaflets. Some are for spring and Easter crafts. All are in very good condition.

Quick Count Plastic Canvas Wind Chimes 

Cute 'N' Clever Coaster Sets by MizFitz

Boutique Bouquet in Plastic Canvas by Ann Townsend Leisure Arts Leaflet 1514

back cover of Boutique Bouquet

Plastic Canvas Magazine May, 2002

Plastic Canvas Magazine, March 2003. Lots of Easter and spring projects.

Smyrna Cross, Plastic Canvas Magazine, March 2003

Spring project, Plastic Canvas Magazine, 2003

Quick Count Kitchen Brights 

Post by Eileen Patterson....Miss Eileen Vintage aka GoofingOff