Angie Pedersen's The Blog of ME

Project Linus: Crafty Goodness and Crafting for Good

This past weekend I attended "Summer Fleece Extravaganza", hosted by the local chapter of Project Linus. In case you haven't heard of this charity:

Project Linus provides love,a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children of all ages who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade, washable blankets, loving created by volunteer "blanketeers."  Blankets can be knitted, crocheted, quilted, woven, fleece, or whatever, and are distributed through local hospitals, shelters, and agencies that deal with children.

Before this event, I was familiar only with the usual knotted-fringe edging to "finish" polar fleece blankets - I'd completed one like that for my daughter, and have about half of another done for her, but must admit it's most likely a "UFO" (UnFinished Object) at this point.  I'm so OVER tying all those little knots! 

So I was looking forward to this event because the coordinator had promised to demo how to make several types of edgings for fleece blankets. And she did not disappoint - I had no idea there were so many options!  Looped fringe, braided edge, "Picket Fence"/"Bunny Ears", and Faux-Rag Style, as well as using crochet for edging - around the whole blanket, or around blocks, then joining.  They looked great, and all appeared to be pretty easy.

One of the benefits to crafting in a group is getting to try out all sorts of useful tools you didn't even know you NEEDED, as well as learning lots of useful "Best Practices" kinds of tips.  The coordinator had this HUGE rotary cutting mat - easily 50" long, about the size of a typical "church basement" table.  There were piles of various sizes of acrylic quilting rulers, and several sizes and brands of rotary cutters.  The cutting mat and rulers made prepping the fleece for edging soooo neat and quick, and made the finished projects look really professional. 

The coordinator helped me cut the selvages off my fleece yardage in one quick zip of the cutter (the trick is to fold the fleece into quarters, so you only have to cut once.  Very slick!)  Then, since I was planning to crochet around my edges, she whipped the fabric out all smooth, and showed me how to use the Skip Stitch rotary cutter blade to essentially 'perforate' the edges - pre-cut little holes to attach the crochet!  No more punching my way around the edge by hand with an office supply hand punch!  I knew I had to get me one of those!

Fortunately for me, the national Project Linus group sells the Skip Stitch rotary blades in their online store!  One is winging its way to me as I type. I'm a happy crafter.

After all the prep was done, I just picked a table and set to work crocheting.  It was so nice to just sit with a bunch of other crafty types and just work.  They were a very welcoming group - this was the first event I had attended with them.  Many of them appeared to know each other, but were very friendly and helpful.  We just worked and chatted and shared ideas and tips - the morning was full of crafty goodness.

I could stay only a couple of hours, so I didn't get to finish a blanket, but I got a good start on one, and sweet-talked the coordinator into helping me prep another one to work on at home.  The blanket edging went really quickly and I was able to finish it last night - so maybe 3-4 hours from start to finish?  And I used up some of my Red Heart stash, so more the better!  I've already started on the second one, and know there will be more in my future.  What a quick easy way to craftily contribute to a charity!  Using my crafting powers for good - FTW!

Do you do any crafting for charities?  What charities?  Do you craft solo, or meet for events like this Extravaganza?

And for your crafting pleasure, some fleece blanket edging links:

• The Boise/Southwest Idaho Project Linus chapter offers instructions and picture tutorials for different fleece blanket edging techniques, such as Picket Fence/Bunny Ears, Jungle Grass, and how to get nice even fringe.
• The Montgomery, PA Project Linus chapter offers a 7-page printable PDF of techniques.
• June Tailor's Fancy Fleece with ribbon-laced edging
• Edging with bias tape - advice from Vanilla Joy
• Check out the many edging examples at the EdgeryDoo piercing tool homepage

And finally, some pictures of the first blanket I finished.  It turned out so sweet.

 

 

Recipe: Strawberry Almond Awesome Salad thing

Geez, it seems like I post only recipes these days!  But I keep running across all these winners, and just have to share.  I give - I'm a giver.

The recipe I'm sharing today was triggered by my husband.  I tweeted about it:



And when it showed up in my Facebook status, the requests for the recipe came flooding in.  (Okay, not FLOODING - but at least three people asked.  THREE.)

One of my close personal friend's served this at a recent girlfriends-scrapbook retreat, and we all completely swooned over it.  I don't know that I've ever swooned over a salad, but this one is really good. Tangy, and creamy, and crunchy, and just so fresh tasting.  My husband requested it to serve to his friends at a LAN (local area network - computer gaming) party, so you know it's passed the most rigorous taste test around.

My friend got the recipe from another scrapbooking friend, but it wasn't so much of a recipe, as a list of ingredients:

Spinach salad mix
sliced strawberries
feta cheese
Ranch flavor sliced almonds
Homestyle blush wine Viniagrette dressing by Brianna's (has strawberry on label)

Basically you just mix everything together "to taste".

Fortunately, I found a 'real' recipe that looks like it should create the same result.

Strawberry and Feta Salad (aka Strawberry Almond Awesome Salad thing)

• 16oz package Spring Mix (I use Earthbound Farms Organic Spring Mix)
  
• 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup Almond Accents, Ranch style
• 1/2 cup Brianna's Homestyle Blush Wine Vinaigrette Dressing
  

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix the greens, strawberries, feta cheese, and almonds. Toss with the vinaigrette salad dressing to serve.

Enjoy!

Recipe: Mushroom-Topped Pork Chops

My family really likes this recipe, but I don't make it that often because of the chopping/prep and cook time (when I get home about 6:45pm, a 40-min bake time is just too long for my hungry savages!) But since I had the day off for Memorial Day, I decided to pull out this recipe.  Smells SO good!

Mushroom-Topped Pork Chops

POINTS® Value: 5
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 lean boneless pork chops
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 1/3 cup red onions, finely chopped
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp table salt 
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Brown chops on both sides. Place in casserole dish.
3. Saute mushrooms in oil. Cool slightly.
4. Mix mushrooms, parsley, onion, egg, salt & pepper. Place on top of chops.
5. Bake at 350 deg. for 30 min.
6. Remove from oven; springle with cheese.
7. Return to oven for 10 more minutes, or until done.

Photo credit: VirtualErn

Recipe: Cranberry Chicken

This recipe has made it past the food critics in my family, and has been invited back to our family crockpot.

Cranberry Chicken
From Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook, edited by Dawn Ranck & Phyllis Pellman Good

3-4LB chicken pieces (I use a bag of frozen boneless/skinless chicken breasts)
1/2t salt
1/4t pepper
1/2c diced celery
1/2c diced onions
16oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
1c BBQ sauce

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.  Cover & bake on HI 4h, or LO 6-8h.

My slight adaptations

2.5LB bag of frozen boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1/4t salt
1/4t celery salt (instead of the diced celery - my family isn't big on the 'crunchies')
1/4t pepper
1T minced dry onions
16oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
1c BBQ sauce

I nuke the cranberry sauce in the microwave for 2 min to make it easier to combine with all ingredients - Cook on HI 1min, stir, then cook another min.

Made with 2.5# of chicken breasts, the recipe serves 5, at 9 WW Points each.

Recipe: Spiced Tea Mix

This is a great mix to have ready for quick gifts-in-a-jar or sick days at home.

1c orange instant breakfast drink powder (aka Tang)
1c instant tea powder (I use lemon flavored)
1/2c sugar
3oz package pre-sweetened lemonade mix
3/4t pumpkin pie spice
red hot cinnamon candies (~1/2c, or to taste)

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients.  Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.  Good for up to 2 months.

To serve:
Stir mixture before measuring.  Place 2T-4T (to taste) of mix in coffee mug.  Add hot water & stir well.  Resulting tea will be slightly cloudy, but tasty.  ;)

Note: I have experimented with making this as sugar-free as possible, with SF Tang, and SF lemonade mix, and Splenda, and it turned out pretty nasty.  Stick with the regular-sugar version.

Mini Book Review: Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse Mystery #6)

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have to say - I didn't like this one as much as I've enjoyed the other five books in the series. Not to say it's not worth reading - it definitely is, especially if you're working your way through the series.

But the book started with mention of an event, speaking as if it was an already known fact. A friend of mine commented that she actually thought she'd missed a book in-between, because it was kind of abrupt - just kind of off. I thought the same thing later, during the battle scene near the end - I was like, wait, why did a war just break out? I had to rewind the audio (I listened to the audiobook, downloaded from NetLibrary) to see if I missed some instigating event, but I hadn't.

I also didn't like the revelation Bill made in the middle of the book. I didn't think it was necessary, at least at this point in the story arc. I'd rather think well of him, and don't care to have Sookie's feelings color my impression of him. So there.

Other than that, I did enjoy the book, simply for its place in the series. We got to know Quinn a bit, which is a good thing. I think I'd quite like to see his big grin "in person" - I'm sure it would be entirely disarming.

Have you read the 6th Sookie book?  What did you think?

View all my GoodReads reviews.

Housewarming Gift: Crochet-topped dishtowel and washcloths

A friend of mine is going through a divorce, and just got her own apartment, so I thought I'd make her a little housewarming gift.

I got a set of kitchen washcloths, and did a crochet blanket stitch across the top of one, poking the holes through with a tiny steel crochet hook.  I made up the topper pattern, based onTheresa Grant's "Oh So Soft Baby Washcloth" pattern.  I just decreased by one each side until I decided it was 'time' to make the loop. I'll admit, it didn't look that great close-up, but when I hold it up now, the decreased sides just fold back behind on their own.  Thank goodness for unexpected crafting miracles!

I adapted the top loop from Marlo's Lacy Kitchen Towel pattern.  Sewed on a button, and elle est finie! (she is finished!)

I packed the formerly-washcloth-now-towel with the rest of the washcloths in a cute little tin bucket I picked up at Target.  Pretty cute little housewarming gift, I'd say!  And QUICK!  Finished the towel topper while watching Heroes on DVR tonight with the family, about an hour and a half total.  Just enough to let her know I'm thinking of her during this rough time of transition.

Charity Baby Hat Makin' Machine!

I have kept myself very busy making baby hats for a couple of charities over the past month or so.  I made two for Operation Top Knot in February, then five for Newborns in Need in March and April.  They are just so tiny and sweet to make.  And since they're preemie/baby size, they just fly together.  Very gratifying to use up some stash AND complete a project in an evening or two!

Granny Skull Cap pattern - crochet

Rolled Brim Preemie Hat - knit

Windowpane Skull Cap - crochet

I also made a sweet bunny hat for my 7-month-old niece for Easter - which her 3-year-old sister promptly placed on her doll, of course.

Lil Bunny Cap - crochet

And some bunny toys for the 3-year-old niece - two finger puppets and an amigurumi bunny egg cozy (though I just stuffed mine with cotton balls).

What fun projects have made you smile recently?

Digital Scrapbooking Layout: Joker & Son

I took some time to actually do a layout this weekend - for no 'good' reason other than I felt like it.  What a novel idea!

I recently made a challenge to myself to 'delete' the time-consuming behaviors I often associate with scrapbooking, and just scrap.  I took my own advice - I found a digital scrapbooking quickpage I liked, chose an appropriate photo, slapped together a few elements, journaled, and was DONE. 

I'm pretty pleased with myself - sometimes just doing something all it takes. Forward motion. The easier you make it on yourself, the more likely you are to do something.  Take out the guesswork and the time-sucking nature of a chore, and suddenly it's not so much of a chore.  And each successful completion of the task encourages you to get more done.

That said, here's the layout.

DIGI CREDITS
Comics & Bubbles QuickPage by Pouyou Designs
Comics & Bubbles add-on by Cardamome
Collage Edge Layer Style by Debra Tope
Serious Wordart by Elegant WordArt
Font: SF Wonder Comic

Scrapbooking Simplified

F+W Marketing Manager Ginger Rohlfs recently sent me Courtney Walsh's new book, The Busy Scrapper, to review.  And the book has me thinking.

While I'm only on page 36 (of 128) so I can't offer a real review at this point, I wanted to comment on what I've read so far.

Courtney's tips encouraged me to consider why I don't scrapbook often.  Sure, one reason is *probably* being disorganized and not being able to see the worktable surface in my scraproom/office.  Another reason is undoubtedly time - a full-time job, two kids, a husband, and a horse of a dog do eat up most of my waking hours.  But another reason, I'll freely admit, is self-paralysis.  I know many people suffer from this, in various forms, and not just related to scrapbooking.

The self-paralysis has to do with expectations and assumptions, I think.  Assuming that you have to do something a certain way, and all at one sitting.  Assuming that your results should turn out as well as someone else's.  Expecting those results to be just-so.  Expecting everything to go smoothly in each step of the process.  And honey, that's just not the way Real Life is.  Whether we're talking about scrapbooking, or knitting, or organizing your closet, or dealing with co-workers.

OK - end Life Lesson.  Paging through Courtney's book has me excited about scrapbooking again.  Has me thinking, "I can *do* this!" Because her tips and comments are empowering, yes, but also reminders that have the ability to slap you upside the head, even in their simplicity.

Like this tip from the Making Art Faster chapter...

Fortune True Re-Usable Bags

Over the past year or so, I've become more interested in reusing and recycling. I've blogged a bit about various related activities, such as experimenting with 'plarn', and crocheting a sturdy re-useable grocery bag.

So I was quite pleased to see digital designer Clara Wallace's new venture, Fortune True Re-Usable Bags "of delightful design".  I was even more pleased when she sent me a handful to 'test drive'. 

The bags came out of the package in a rainbow of color was indeed delightful.  The pink, blue, and green are so bright and vivid - just make-you-smile springy colors.  The black zebra print is very cocky and sassy, while the black damask is very stylish and classy.  Clara's bag designs are just as happy and professional as her digital scrapbooking design work. (her chick graphics are legendary!)

The bags are very sturdy, with strong straps that can handle a good yanking.  They are obviously suited for carrying groceries, but I also use them for corralling knitting supplies, and toting my "digital scrapbooking ambassador kit" to crops.  Very roomy, with an extra little pocket on one of the outside side panels, great for a spare key or cell phone.

I'm thrilled to add these bags to my reusable arsenal - I'm armed with 'delightful design'!

(will edit to add photos as soon as I can!)

International Talk Like William Shatner Day - 3/22/09

This instructional video will give you tips on how to Talk Like William Shatner more effectively.

Recipe: Grandma's Hot Cocoa Mix

I made a big batch of my grandmother's hot cocoa mix yesterday, so I thought I'd share the recipe here.  I really need to make a digital recipe card for it, since it's a family staple.

My husband adds it to his coffee every morning for his version of Cafe Mocha.  If we're out of cocoa mix, he doesn't have any coffee (or he goes to Starbucks - but I think he just goes there to flirt with the coffee girls).

I have fiddled around with different substitutions, like Splenda for part or all of the sugar, and sugar-free Quik instead of regular Quik, and the result is 'adequate', but my husband always goes back to the original recipe.

Grandma's Cocoa Mix

5-3/4c dry powdered milk
1c sugar
1c powdered creamer (I use fat-free)
2c powdered chocolate drink mix (like Quik)
2-3T baking cocoa powder

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, and store in tightly lidded container.  Makes about 10c mix, or about 40 servings.

Use 1/4c mix to 6-8oz hot water (or coffee) to make hot cocoa (Cafe Mocha).

photo credit: ikkoskinen

April Sketch Duet artist at Scrapbooker’s Club House

Thought I would mention that I am the Sketch Duet artist for April's kit at Canadian community site, Scrapbooker's Club House, as recently announced on their Scrapbooker’s Club House Blog.

This past weekend I created two exclusive sketches for them - a 4¼x5½ card sketch and a square layout sketch.  They will be included amongst the contents of each creative kit shipped out.

Twitter Roundup for @AngiePedersen: week of 3/8

• Via @WoodenHorsePub: STUDIOS must have tested well in 2008; it is a quarterly this year. Details on our home page, www.woodenhorsepub.com.


• My daughter & I like the Weight Watchers Just 2 POINTS! Snack Bars in Mint cookie crisp - Really chocolate-y.      


• I wonder if there are any scrapbooking Page Flippers floating around anymore?


• Just tried WW's new Cappuccino Cream Melts - 10 candies/1PT.  Hard cappuccino candy shell w/ creamy center. Not quite as good as they sound. They are available at the meetings, like the Fruities. Anyone can buy WW food from meetings, even non-members during biz hours


• Via @dannybrown: This always makes me smile: go to Google and type FIND CHUCK NORRIS and hit "I'm feeling lucky"


• Another neat idea from Scrapbookers' Club House - Paper-crafted "Bag-a-lope" #craft


• Neat idea from Scrapbookers' Club House - Texture Photos for Scrapbooking


• I'm the only one at the crop on a laptop - brought #digi scrapbooking evangelism kit: printed layouts, recipe cards, hybrid album.  On-site education.


• Crocheted some pet mats to donate to @WaysideWaifs next week. Patterns from http://www.snugglesproject.com


• "Your fears are not walls, but hurdles. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquering of it." -- Dan Millman


• OMG could this be any cuter?? Crochet Lil Bunny Cap pattern at youcanmakethis.com


• Via @CraftTestDummy via @CraftCritique: Attention crafty people... when tweeting about craft use #craft. Genius!


• I not only fell off the WW wagon, but got run over by it. Up 4 lbs after 2 weeks no weigh-in. Ugh. Bringing health lunch & snacks to crop today.