hatch

How to make (last minute) ladybug wings

My daughter changed her mind about her Halloween costume 3 days before Halloween. I searched for ladybug costume ideas and came up with a few cute examples. I couldn't find anything that was quick and easy and used what I had around the house so I invented my own. This method could be used for any type of dress up wings and took less than an hour to make. Most of the materials were repurposed.

What you will need:

1 old red t-shirt (or red knit, felt or fleece fabric)

1 small piece of black fabric (or old t-shirt or sweater)

28" of elastic (I used 1/2" width)

Old cereal box

Heavy stabilizer, or something equivalent.

Wonder under or similar for applique

Making the wings

Trace the shape of the wings onto the cereal box. Cut out one wing then use that as a template to trace the other wing so they are exactly the same shape. My wings were basically a semi-circle with a bit of a change up at the bottom. You could use a plain semi-circle and be just fine though.

 

Then use your cardboard as a template for your fabric. Using a pen (a fabric pen is preferred but it really doesn't matter) trace the shape of your wings onto your fabric. I used a men's XL t-shirt and had plenty of fabric. I put the template's straight edge on the fold so I only had to make one cut for each wing.

DO NOT CUT ALONG YOUR MARKED LINE! Cut at least a half an inch around your marked line. You will be sewing directly on that line you drew.

Trace 8 small circles onto your wonder under. I used a kids' cup as my template. Iron the wonder under onto your black fabric. Cut out the circles and iron them on your red wing fabric. Note: The first time I did this I was not paying enough attention and put the dots on the front of one of the wings and the back of the other. Oops. Pay attention.

Sew around the edge of the circles with a zigzag stitch. I recommend using a tear away stabilizer on the back of the fabric if you are using knits to prevent puckering. If you don't have a stabilizer any old scrap of fabric will work. Just cut out a piece a bit larger than your circle and put it on the underside of the fabric. 

Next, fold the wing fabric, wrong sides together and put the cardboard sandwiched in between. I sewed the wings up around the edges, sewing on my marked line) and then trimmed the fabric.

Next cut 2 rectangular pieces of the red fabric and 2 pieces of the heavy stabilizer. In a pinch, lightweight cardboard could work instead of the stabilizer. It won't be as flexible but it will keep the wings from sagging. In reality, no kid would know the difference.

Put the stabilizer in between the red fabric and sew around the edges. Trim the edges close to the seam.

Next cut the elastic into two 14" pieces. I made a casing for my elastic but that isn't necessary. 

Now lay the wings down, dot side down and place this connector piece in between them where you want. Position the elastic and then sew it all together. This is how I placed mine.

That's it! You're done. Now you have ladybug wings!

a new pizza crust

I usually cook this pizza crust. It's a great thin crust pizza and even better on the grill. Today I decided to try a new crust because I was out of cake flour. This crust is doughy and thick and everything the other crust isn't. And, it's great for what it is! So, if you are in the market for a great pan crust dough, try this one. 

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tbsp oil

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the water and oil together then add to the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Kneed for a few minutes by hand or in a stand mixer with a dough hook.

Lightly oil a bowl, place dough in the bowl and roll it around to oil the outside of the dough. Cover bowl for 20 minutes for dough to rise. 

Spread dough out onto a 12" or 16" pizza pan. I use a 12" pan and this was a really thick dough. If you don't want it quite as thick you could use a larger pan or split the dough into two crusts. Oil the top, add your favorite spices, sauce and toppings. Cook on 450 for 11-15 minutes.  

best friends

for more pictures check out Wordless Wednesday

who needs a pattern

I used an existing dress to roughly make this pattern, the shape anyway. I improvised the straps. The dress is partially lined. The top is lined as well as the hemline. I think the buttons are my favorite part.

I'm imagining this with some gray tights and a black long sleeve shirt. Maybe black boots. I'm loving it.

a birthday shirt

She's 1!

apple oven pancake goodness

I love my apple peeler & corer. There is nothing quite like taking a delicious juicy apple and peeling all the skin off, coring it and slicing it into perfectly uniform thin slices in a matter of seconds. This little contraption makes me love kitchen gadgets. This is one of my favorites. It is always up to no good though. Seriously, what is it good for? Pies? Apple pancakes? Apple crumble? Yum, yum, yum.

I think the apple oven pancake is my favorite. Or, wait, maybe my apple blackberry crumble. In any case, the pancake is delicious and frequently eaten as a dinner around these parts.

Apple Oven Pancake

4 Tbsp unsalted butter
4 cups diced, peeled tart apples (3 medium)
2 Tbsp firmly backed golden brown sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon strained
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup whole milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
Confectioners' sugar for dusting (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Position rack in lower third of oven. In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt 2 tbsp of the butter. Add the apples and saute, turning as needed until just tender, 5-7 minutes. Sprinkle with the brown sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon and stir to combine, remove from heat. Place 9x13 baking dish in the oven to heat for 5 minutes. Remove the dish and add the remaining 2 tbps of butter to it. Tilt the dish to coat the bottom an sides with the butter. Spoon the sauteed apples over the bottom of the dish to make an even layer.

In a bowl (or food processor), combine the eggs, milk, flour, vanilla and salt and mix until blended (2 or 3 pulses in a food processor). Pour the batter over the hot fruit. Bake until puffed and golden brown 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and dust the top with confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

Regrettably I have terrible pictures that don't do it justice...

...but you get the idea...

a monster for a cutie

It seems that a friend of mine is having a baby every week lately. This little monster is for one of them. 

I think I need to make some more. 

It is just too cute.

By the way, it's obvious that the lines are supposed to be crooked, right?

still

I haven't been totally creativity free lately. I have a lot of things to write about when I ever get a chance. There are a bunch of things in the works! Most importantly, I've figured out my serger!! For those of you who asked, yes, I love it. Can't beat it for the price!

need I say more?

Happiness.

More happiness at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

birthday shirts

My girls like birthday shirts. There is just something fun about announcing to the world that you are another year older.

um...

Sorry for the fuzziness, but really, would it matter?

This is the dress I'm making. This is all the instructions... The pattern pieces aren't numbered (well, maybe they aren't but I can't read Japanese) but how hard could it be to find them.

Right. There are 2 giant sheets of patterns for this book and they each look like this. On the front and back.

These came today.

I'm quite certain they will frustrate me to no end and make me exceptionally happy.

This came in one of them. I can only assume it is a correction to one of the patterns in the book. Hmmm...

Once I get past the language barrier, I'm eying these.

Now, once I find my pedal I'm off and running.

homemade brownie mix

I can't describe how good these are. Really, really good. Really. And it really matters what kind of chocolate you use, so get some good stuff. I use Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa and chocolate chips. Highly recommended. Though I'm sure the really "good" stuff would be even better. Of course, this is meant to be an easy method to chocolate goodness. If you are looking for a long, drawn out method to chocolate goodness you'll have to keep looking.

I mix up the dry ingredients and store them for those days when brownies just sound good. Or those times when I realize I need to bring a dessert somewhere in 30 minutes. 

The dry mix:

3 cups of all purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

4 1/4 c. sugar

4 oz. unsweetened cocoa powder (by weight) a little extra is JUST FINE! Not enough is not great.

Sift all this together, getting rid of clumps. Store in an airtight container until use. You can also preportion them into individual containers for easier use. Each "portion" is 2 1/4 cups.

Baking Day:

2 eggs

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup water

2 1/4 cups brownie mix

optional: 1/2 cup of chocolate chips or chunks

Mix wet ingredients together. Add in dry brownie mix and stir until just mixed. Pour into a greased 8x8 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Do not over cook!

You're welcome.

the newest member of the family

We moved 2 weeks ago and my husband promptly skipped town for a weekend with his friends. I was so pleased with his decision that I decided to bring another member into the family.

I can't wait to find a PC so I can actually use the instruction CD! Many thanks to Costco for such a great price. Brother, get a mac compatible CD!

rice-a-roni alike

I really like Rice-a-roni. I know. There is an easy way to make it without buying the sodium laced box of mystery ingredients. This tastes good. Really good.

1/2 cup broken up thin pasta like vermicelli 

3/4 cup white rice

14.5 oz. of broth (I use chicken)

2 Tbsp. butter

Optional ingredients: garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, salt or whatever you want. I use about 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, a little salt, liberal parsley.

Saute pasta in butter, stirring constantly, until lightly browned. Stir in rice and spices until it is coated in butter. Add broth. Cover with tight fitting lid and simmer until broth is absorbed. Enjoy. 

from old to new. or that's the plan anyway.

Obviously it is fun making new clothes from the cast offs. I've been saving a lot for this purpose.

There is more, and it is probably too much. What have you made from old clothes?

a new dress with just 5 inches of fabric

A stained men's button up shirt isn't quite ready to be thrown out. After removing the pocket, cutting and sewing, voila.

She looks so innocent doesn't she. 

Ahh, there is the four year old I know and love. Eye roll and all.

Have you used picnik.com yet to edit photos? 

the blue eyes and makeup seem excessive. Maybe.

Don't mind the boxes. We're moving.

Dress inspiration: Made

organizing: recipes

I've been trying to find a way to organize all my recipes that I love so they aren't spread throughout many cookbooks, internet bookmarks, and ripped out magazine pages. Some people use delicious, or put them in 3 ring binders or recipe boxes. These are great ideas. So, of course, I'm taking pictures of all of our dishes and hoping to make a cookbook of our own recipes. 

How great would it be to have one cookbook to turn to? Of course, then you have the problem of what to do with new recipes, which I am sure to find considering I try at least one new one each week. I think this will force me to concentrate on the tried and true meals so I can focus on other things. Maybe. 

It is certain to make me hungry while cooking though! 

wish list

My sewing machine has been sitting, looking lonely lately. With our impending move this month I'm beginning to think of different things I'd like to sew for the new place. This is my wish list, we'll see if I can get any of it done!

The wall pocket tote: wouldn't these be great for laying out the next day's clothes? Or maybe for storing the library books so they don't get mixed in with your own?

A crate cover: Makes an old milk crate (or a new one from Target) totally suitable for storing all those train pieces or blocks.

This bean bag chair would be awesome but let's not count on getting that far...

enough for now...

for now...

I'm rethinking my strategy for this blog so you'll find this stuff back over here.

good, nearly

I decided to whip up a little pleated skirt and a simple shirt for Naomi this weekend. I had intended to put some buttons up the back of the shirt but with time short I just made a big neck hole. Needs more work...

I do like the skirt though. These pictures aren't the best. I really couldn't get her to stand still long enough to get a picture.

I really do like it all together though. I got a little tired of all the floral prints.

You Capture: Emotion

You'd think capturing emotion in a two year old would be easy. Well, it IS easy to capture SOME emotions. It is easy to capture joy, laughter, silliness. Other emotions are a bit tougher, like anger or fear.

As backstory to this photo, we've been spending some of our vacation at my parents' farm. This is Daphne. She was following my youngest brother when my mom called for him to come back. It was only then she realized she had wandered so far. This emotion is panic. 

with some worry and fear mixed in. Here she is up close. A bit fuzzy but so worth it.

For more emotions, visit I Should Be Folding Laundry.

cooking substitutes

Sometimes you want to make a recipe and are missing one special ingredient that can't be lived without. Like the egg. Or perhaps buttermilk? This can be solved! There are, of course, many ways to substitute for eggs or buttermilk but these are my favorite.

Buttermilk substitute:

1 Tbsp. vinegar + enough milk to make 1 cup. Stir, let sit for 5 minutes. Voila!

Egg substitute: (for baked goods, IF recipe includes baking soda or baking powder)

half banana pureed (1/4 cup) = 1 egg

It works for me! What substitutions do you use regularly?

My brother

This is Austin. He is named for Austin, the Backyardigan. Yes, he is.

He is my youngest brother. There is quite an age difference between us. 

the little things

We sold our house. It will be official next week. Now I'm selling a bunch of the contents. It is funny how the little things can evoke such emotions.

The breakfast table has a lot of memories. 

easy buttermilk pancake goodness

I've made a handful of different pancake recipes in the past few weeks and have settled on a tasty, easy recipe. I always look for a recipe that doesn't require separating eggs and isn't fussy. It also has to include ingredients I have on hand. This one fits that bill for me. We eat pancakes enough to be worth it to keep some buttermilk on hand. To make the next pancake breakfast even easier just mix up the dry ingredients and put them in a jar to be quickly mixed with the egg and buttermilk when you have a pancake craving. 

Easy Buttermilk Pancakes (from Recipezaar)

• 1 cup cake flour or all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Mix the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Do not over mix. It will be a bit lumpy, that's O.K. This recipe serves 4 people, if you are light eaters and there are other things to eat. I double it. I always have cake flour on hand. I've also made it with half cake flour and half unbleached flour. I'm sure it would be just fine with all unbleached flour.

Today we enjoyed ours with fresh strawberries. mmmmmmmm... 

smocking and ladybugs

I whipped up this little smocked top and diaper cover for little Maggie. I based the top off of Heather Ross's smocked sundress. I made up the little diaper cover according to "little" Maggie's thighs size.

I made the leg holes generous. This elastic won't leave marks!

I used small ric rac for the straps. I also set them fairly close together so they won't be tempted to fall off her shoulders.

Photo shoots are tiring.

flying

baby smiles

I couldn't resist

sneak peek

from scratch

I've been trying to make more things from scratch. There are many reasons to cook from scratch. My reason is because I like to know what is in the food and keep the ingredients list as simple as possible. And of course, I like to cook.

I've been trying to make most of our bread. We go through so much sandwich bread that we usually have to buy a loaf or two each week because I just don't get around to making enough (or I just get to busy, lazy, whatever). I found a few recipes for whole grain sandwich bread that I've enjoyed. I've found a few that I do not enjoy. 

I made my first attempt at noodles the other day. Not bad. I followed a recipe. Well, actually, I found a simple recipe that called for white flour and I substituted White Whole Wheat flour. Not bad.

I don't have any fancy pasta making equipment so I just rolled it out and cut it with a pizza cutter. It works fine. A bit time consuming but fine.

I thought the noodles looked beautiful.

I tossed them with some fresh marinara and some meatballs (from Costco, because they really are the best). Unfortunately, my rather picky little girls turned their noses up at the noodles. They tried them, reluctantly, but refused to enjoy them.

And of course, we had some bread.

Do you cook from scratch? What is your reasoning? Cooking up anything special lately? 

the lunch bag

I made a lunch bag for myself recently. It is so cute, turned out fairly well. I followed a tutorial that was a bit confusing for me but I made it work. My husband had been asking me to make him a lunch bag so I made an attempt at a manly lunch bag. I almost hit the mark. 

Unfortunately, the zipper didn't hold up. The seam didn't pop, the zipper fabric ripped. Very annoying.

Considering I'd have to take the whole thing apart almost in order to replace the zipper, I'm thinking of just cutting it out and adding a bit of bias to the top and a velcro closure. I'm a bit frustrated with the project so I'm not sure when I'll get back to it. He is still using it, even though he thinks it looks like a purse. 

why hatch?

hatch: verb. to bring forth or produce; devise; create; contrive; concoct: to hatch a scheme.

I'm not the most creative person in the room. I'm not the most meticulous person (quite the opposite). I don't have a masters degree in clothing design or a certificate from the Culinary Institute. In spite of these things, there is just something about creating, bringing something to life. This is where I hatch.