Pumpkin Pancakes

A new Halloween tradition for us are these Orange Pumpkin Pancakes With Black Cinnamon Syrup that I found on NotMartha Blog. I just wish I had purchased one of those plastic condiment squirt bottles so I could do stuff like this: 

image from notmartha.org - more pancake designs on her site

These pancakes were super moist and fluffy, and the cinnamon syrup was unexpectedly yummy. Husband said he thought they should be sweeter but then amended his statement after a few more bites. (He's just used to that sugary syrup he normally eats with frozen waffles.) Picky Presley ate two and a half! 

The syrup really does get thick enough to make designs on the pancake, which kids would LOVE. You could also do this for Thanksgiving and just leave out the black food coloring for the syrup. (Speaking of black food coloring, I went to four grocery stores before I finally found it at *sigh* Wal-Mart. Call your grocery store first.)

Kind of looks like oil

Grilled Root Beer Can Chicken

Even though summer is over and cool weather has begun, we are not ready to give up the grill just yet. We tried the "low & slow" method for the first time on this Root Beer-Can Chicken recipe. Yum, yum!

Before w/ the rub on

After - perfectly charred! 

I served it with Twice-Baked Spinach Potatoes from the same website. The whole family LOVED it, and the recipe wasn't difficult. I think this could probably be done in a dutch oven in the oven, too.

Home Makeover Kirchhoff Edition: P's Big Girl Room

Procrastination = Creativity

I was supposed to be researching journal articles for a group project and was totally unmotivated. It took being unmotivated to finally complete a project I've been unmotivated to begin for months - Presley's Big Girl Curtains. I've had the fabric since, I dunno, April???

I found these kind of difficult - mostly because I had no plan. I just started sewing, kind of like how I usually just start painting. But I'm happy with the results.

I thought the light shining through was kind of neat. 

Matches the bedding

 Notice the patchwork? It was my first time. I wanted to use a bit of all the fabric that came in the fat quarter bundle to bring in the pillows I've already done.

You can kind of see the yarn sunshine on the wall in the corner.

Those are ruffles at the top.

Thanksgiving Shirts

Our family is ready for Thanksgiving! Well, at least we know what we're going to wear. G is not thrilled about being coordinated, but he does like his silly turkey shirt. I used this circle fringe patch and this turkey face.

You can purchase a custom one through my Etsy site here.

Presley's shirt turned out super cute. I used non-traditional colors for her precious turkey.

 She was really excited about it.

You can purchase a custom turkey shirt here.

And for my shirt, I used the Gobble applique. I think I might add another "gobble" in simple embroidery underneath.

You can get a custom Gobble shirt here.

Embroidery/Applique Projects II

Presley's Oma bought her a cute pink velour light jacket for autumn. The front has pleated ruffles along the zipper and pockets, but the back was kind of blah. Good think I can fix that! This is Planet Applique's Whirly Bird design and Pat Bravo's Botanica fabric line.

I used another Planet Applique design - Dem Bones - for this spooky shirt for cutie-pie carter. I got this and three others free with a $10 order a few weeks ago. The font his name is in is from Kabo Designs - #191.

Carter's mama love his spooky shirt so much, she asked me to make a bulldog paw one for him to wear to his daddy's football games. (His dad's a coach, not a player.) I actually had the forethought to take a pic of this before I sent it off. (I have about half a dozen projects lately that were mailed off without me taking a picture first. :( Boo!) Back to the shirt...I really liked the gingham on this one.

Finally, Presley needed a dedicated bag for preschool. She has taken to carrying around one of those freebie bags I got with a magazine subscription. So, I personalized it for her, and now it's priceless! :P I'm totally loving this Star Studded Alphabet.

Diaper Bag

A long-time friend of mine (seriously...like elementary school) had a beautiful baby girl a week or so ago. Seriously, the newborn baby girl is beautiful! She knew I sewed and monogramed/embroidered, so she picked out some fabric and asked if I would make a diaper bag for her. Another long-time friend's mom asked if I would make a diaper & wipes clutch and blanket to match. I totally love how all of this turned out.

Bags are more difficult that I thought. You have to be very precise with measurements, especially when adding pockets inside, but this tutorial was a good starting point. I used light batting in between layers and sprayed Scotch Guard over the hole thing, but next time I will use that plus interfacing on all sides. And I'll make the straps thicker, too. Any thoughts on what I could use to make the bottom of the bag even more rigid?

Still loving my diaper & wipes clutch pattern. So convenient, slim, and won't crush the diapers to the bottom of the holder like the typical envelope style. I sure do need to make some for the Etsy store soon. In the meantime, just let me know if you want one. (The inside of this is teal/turquoise like the bag.)

Finally, I was able to practice applique on the Minky Cuddle Rose material. You DEFINITELY need that water soluble stabilizer on top as well as a layer of stabilizer on bottom. I still feel like the pile of Minky stuff seemed to "eat" the embroidery, but it still turned out pretty cool.

Congrats Kathy & Justin!

DIY Thread Organizer

Inspired by a friend of mine who used pegboard to create a Plunko board. (Yes, from The Price Is Right. It was a part of a way cool baby shower game.) I digress... 

So I bought pegboard, black lacquer spray paint, and these little 6" peg things from Home Depot (total $16). Spray paint the pegboard, tied a pretty ribbon through the peg board holes, slipped in the pegs, and had the studly husband hang it on a stud. Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom! Done.

 

Super convient. I was totally ruining my thread by letting it get tangled in a plastic bag. My husband and I share an office/craft space, so we're low on storage space. This was great b/c I could make it coordinate (sort of) w/ our decor. And I have room for more thread!