Corner View: Cellphone Madness

This week's Corner View theme is "cellphone madness", which was described as a group of 5 pictures, taken with a cellphone camera at the time when the phone rang. My cellphone only rang once this week and that was when my husband called to say he was on his way to pick Blaze and me up from the Orlando Science Center. This is what was happening at that time:




I did make Blaze a cellphone related gift, though.

Blaze woke up one morning, really upset because he has misplaced the note card he had been using as a play cellphone. He was crying inconsolably until I promised to make him a new toy cellphone.

This is what I made:



It's not perfect, because it was my first time using a wood burning tool, but Blaze was happy.


To see more Cellphone Madness, visit Spain Daily and all of the links on the side bar there. I'm sure most of the other people make better use of their cellphones than I do.

Holiday Potpourri Jars

If you are starting to think about what your children can make to give as holiday gifts, these are very easy to make and are pretty gifts to give teachers and grandparents.



Materials Needed:
one glass bowl (found at Dollar tree, price $1)
one string of 35 white Christmas lights ( our were from the after Christmas sales at Target last year, price around $.85)
your choice of potpourri (found at Dollar Tree, price $1)
one crocheted doily (found at Jo-Ann Fabrics, price $1.79)
fabric ribbon of your choice

1. Start by feeding a few of the lights into the bottom of the bowl.

2. pour in a little of the potpourri and then feed in a few more lights. Keep alternating until all the lights are in the bowl and it is full of potpourri ( one bag of potpourri should fill about 3 bowls).

3. place doily over the mouth of the bowl and tie in place with a pretty ribbon.

large mason jars can also be used for this, just leave off the lid.

We're Not Home

I have no fun projects or pictures to post today. I'm sitting in a hotel room in Orlando and I'm the only one awake. I'm awake, only because my stomach hurts so bad. I started feeling sick around 1 a.m. and I'm blaming it on the lobster bisque DH and I had for dinner, although he's not sick (the soup was from one of those "help yourself" pots at the grocery store).
We are in Orlando because DH is attending the funeral of his oldest nephew, who died from the flu a few days ago. The nephew was in his thirties (DH is the youngest of 6 kids, so there is a big age difference between him and his oldest sister) and Blaze and I never met him, so our plan is to go to the Orlando Science Museum, while DH is at the funeral.

Down Town Art Show

Today and tomorrow Gainesville is having their Fall Art Festival. We went this morning, so here at some highlights:

Sewing Skirts Without a Pattern

For many years now, I have been sewing full skirts with elastic waist bands, without using a pattern. They have three tiers of fabric, each twice as much as the one before. They also last for many years. This skirt, which was hand-sewn back in the days of living in a van while tree planting in North Carolina, has held up remarkably well. The elastic now needs to be replaced, but that will be about a 20 minute repair job. The fabric is still perfect.

Here is a picture of the skirt, taken just yesterday:


Here is a picture of me wearing the skirt on the Winter Solstice in 1994, while holding the rope attached to the sun shaped pinata the girls and I had made, while little 3 year old Nika took her turn trying to hit it:


Not all of the skirts were made with just one fabric. This one has a different, complimentary print for each layer:



The instructions to make these are really quite easy. The top layer is two yards of fabric, 15 1/4 inches wide. The second layer is then 4 yards of fabric, 12 inches wide, and the third layer is 8 yards of fabric, 12 inches wide. The second and third layers are both hand-basted at the top edge in order to gather them and the pinned onto the bottom edge of the previous layer (right sides together) before sewing. The extra material in the top layer is because of the waistband. The top edge is first ironed down a 1/4 inch and then ironed down an additional 3 inches. The elastic casing is formed by sewing around the casing one inch from the top edge, leaving a gap of a couple inches. Next, sew another row of stitched 2 inches from the top, leaving the same gap, and sew a third row of stitches along the bottom edge of the folded material.



Cut three pieces of 1/4 inch elastic the same size as your waist. Start with the casing closest to the top of the waistband. Thread the elastic through the casing using a safety pin attached to the end of the elastic to help guide and pull it through the casing. Over-lap the ends of the elastic by an inch or inch and a half and sew the ends together. Pull out on the waistband to be sure that the elastic is properly in place. Then, sew up the 2 inch gap in the row of stitches that form each section of the casing.

To hem the shirt, iron the bottom edge over by a half inch and then fold that half inch over and iron again. Sew in place.

Two days ago I finished a new variation on this skirt. I made a patchwork skirt out of flannel for winter. It's a bit different. The patches in the first row are 9 inches by 13 1/4 inches. The patches in all the other rows are 9 inches by 10 inches. There are two rows that are 10 patches long, but the second row is covered by a 20 patch ruffle. Then there are two more rows that are 20 patches each, sewn to the second 10 patch piece. I also added tea-dyed cotton lace to the bottom edge of the ruffle and the hem. I had perfect timing, because cooler weather arrived yesterday.

Peanut Butter Fudge

Here are two very different recipes for peanut butter fudge. Both are recipes from my Mother. The first one is the recipe for the peanut butter fudge she makes for Christmas every year. The second recipe is the one she used in the microwave cooking classes she used to teach.

Stove Top Peanut Butter Fudge

2 Cups white sugar
dash of salt
1 Tablespoon flour
2/3 Cup cream ( half and half)
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 Cup peanut butter
1/2 Cup coarsely chopped peanuts

Combine sugar, salt and flour. Add cream and syrup . Cook until soft ball forms in cold water (234 degrees F.) . Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and beat until creamy. Stir in nuts. Pour into greased square pan and cut into squares before cool.



Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge

3 Cups white sugar
1 (5 1/3 oz.) can evaporated milk (equals 2/3 cup)
1/4 Cup butter or margarine
1 (7, 9, or 10 oz.) jar of marshmallow creme (fluff)
1 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix sugar, milk, and butter in a large glass, microwave safe, bowl. Microwave 4 to 5 minutes on "high" or until mixture boils, stirring 2 or 3 tomes. Microwave 3 minutes longer, stirring once. Stir in marshmallow creme, peanut butter, and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Spread mixture in buttered 13X9X2 inch pan. Cool, then refrigerate. Cut into squares when firm.

Corner View: Favorite Dish

Chocolate Fudge:

2 Cups of sugar
2/3 Cup milk
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate or 1/3 Cup cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Butter a glass loaf dish and set aside.
Mix the first 5 ingredients in a heavy sauce pan and bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
Continue cooking, stirring occasionally until it reaches 234 degrees F. Remove from heat and add butter.
Cool without stirring for 15-20 minutes. Add vanilla and stir for 5-10 minutes, until it thickens. Pour into the loaf dish and spread it smooth.

Cover and cool in the refrigerator. Cut into square to serve.




Don't forget to check out the other Corner View participants at Spain Daily.