Finally... a Bumper Pad

I thought I could get away without a bumper pad in A's crib. I thought they were a marketing scam to get people to spend more money on bedding. I was wrong. Too many times now, I have found her crying in her crib with her head against the slats, and twice even with an arm through the slats. So it was past time for a crib bumper.

Had I know I was going to make one, I would have put the stripes as the skirt and the dots as the bumper. Oh well, whatever. I used the bumper pads that Jo-Ann's sells to make this, but their instructions had me making 6 separate pieces instead of linking them all. Unfortunately I had cut half the material before I realized this, but I was still able to connect the long side panels, like a typical bumper pad. That explains the many ties in the corners though. Pin It

My New Favorite Blog

They Draw and Cook, illustrated recipes. Doesn't get any better than this. I'm going to have to submit something!

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Anthro Scarf Cardi

So back in December, while Christmas shopping, I saw this Scarf Trick Sweater at Anthropologie, one of my favorite stores. To me, it was a little bit too literal. A scarf weaved through the button-holes of a sweater. (How dare I criticize Anthro, I know, but in person it really was!) Plus it was expensive...

So I decided to make my own version using an old satin belt sash I had, and a cardigan I found at Target on clearance for $5. Here is the result.

Basically, I loosly bunched the sash, pinned it down, and stitched all over in a random non-pattern. It's a little bit of a different look, but I still like it (though I prefer the shape of the Anthro sweater). Pin It

Recipe Share: Hearty Banana Pancakes

Inspired by Jack Johnson, one weekend I decided to make banana pancakes. I'm not a big fan of pancakes anymore, but these I do love. They are a great way to use up over-ripe bananas too. Here's how I do it:

2 c Krusteaz Wheat Pancake mix (trust me, they aren't nearly as good with white pancake mix)
1 1/2 c water (more or less, according to desired thickness of pancakes)
1 over-ripe banana, mashed to desired lumpiness
1/4 c flaked coconut
1/4 c chopped walnuts, almonds, or macadamias
spoonful of wheat germ (if desired, for good health)
maple syrup

Mix the pancake mix and water. Add banana, coconut, nuts, and wheat germ; mix. Pour/spoon batter onto lightly greased and preheated griddle (375 degrees/medium heat) and cook each side until browned, flipping only once. Serve with maple syrup* while listening to Jack Johnson's Banana Pancakes (In Between Dreams album).
* I like 100% pure maple, rather than the 2% maple plus corn syrup stuff. If you haven't tried it, you should. Pin It

Bibbing

Now that little {A} is starting to eat foods, she's making quite a mess and needing lots and lots of bibs. I thought I had so many, but I need more. I threw this together in about 30 minutes with a scrap of fabric, an old orange T-shirt of Ryan's (the reverse side), and some leftover bias tape. Bias tape is my new best friend. It's so much quicker than sewing something inside out and flipping it, stitching it shut, sewing around the whole thing again, blah blah blah. I didn't even pin it and it worked beautifully.

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Tutorial: Carseat Canopy

I hope I don't put anybody out of business by posting this. These are so easy to make, and I've had a few people asking for instructions, so here you go! I hope they make sense... let me know if they don't, okay?

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Pillowcase Dress

You may recognize this dress, since I've posted an un-modeled picture of it before. (See previous post here and here). Now you get to see it modeled. I guess I made the shoulders a little wide. How could I have known? She's my first baby. A lady at church told me she wanted one in her size. That made me happy.And isn't that a beautiful blanket she's on? Ryan's mom made it for her. Pin It