Tis the season of gift giving, and if you’re anything like me, you like to gift handmade goodies for the holidays. Even if you prefer to purchase your treats from a local store or bakery, this tutorial will work for you, as long as you plan to place them in a mason jar.

Here’s a super easy tutorial on how to festively decorate a mason jar for gift giving.

Mason jars are great for so many holiday gifts: cake/cookie/bread mixes, granola, BBQ sauce, jam/jellies, and the list goes on. This tutorial will work with any mason jar, no matter the contents. Fill it with your choice of treats!

Last year, i made some pretty traditional holiday treats – Cookies ‘N Cream Bark (click for bark recipe) and…

Pink Salted Chewy Caramel Candy (click for caramel recipe). I put a little of each treat into a mason jar so my gift recipients got the best of both worlds.

But, if you just google “mason jar homemade gifts” (or something similar), you’ll find plenty of other options and other ideas.

On to the tutorial!

This tutorial uses simple and affordable materials:

• Mason jars (almost the same price as, if not cheaper than, those cute tins at craft stores)
• Scrapbook paper
• Kitchen twine
• Fabric

The style is reminiscent of old-fashioned jam jars, so you’ve likely seen similar jars. This is just how I ended up decorating mine.

Using a large scrapbook shape puncher of choice (I just used circle-shaped tool), cut out cute scrapbook paper for your gift tags. If you don’t have a puncher, you can really cut any shape you like, even a square or rectangle.

Punch a hole in the top of the gift label.

Write down the contents of the jar on one side of the paper. If you made your jar contents, you may want to add the word “homemade” to your label. Also, maybe pay better attention than I did when I was paper shopping and get one that doesn’t have lines on the back. Oops. Moving on…

Cut a square out of some fun fabric. You want the square to be a little larger (by about 1 – 1 1/2 inches on each side) than the mouth of the jar. Some of the fabric will be covered by the top ring of the jar, so when you’re measuring, be sure to take that into account. My jar is medium sized, and my fabric is about a 5 inch square. For your first jar, just cut one square as your test square, screw on the top ring and see if you like how it looks. Adjust fabric size if needed.

With the silver, flat-disc-part of the top already on the jar, put the fabric on top of the covered mason jar.

Use your fingers to keep the fabric from shifting too much and screw the top ring over the fabric.

Tie on some kitchen twine.

Then tie on your label.

And that’s it! You’re done!

Happy holidays everyone!

Reader question: if you like making them, what do you put in mason jars for gift-giving? If you like receiving them, what’s the best mason jar gift you’ve received over the years?

So…I may have been watching too many hip hop videos on Youtube lately, like the ones I featured awhile back on TCL, but I just love the style of all the dancers.

I wanted to bring some of that funky style into some of the Zumba classes I go to by cutting a new t-shirt into a hip hop inspired tank top.

I did a play on this video tutorial, which was fun to watch.

Materials:

• I started with an over-sized t-shirt from Michael’s craft store. It was on sale for only $2.50. Score!
• Very sharp scissors. It’s best to use a pair that have only been used to cut fabric (those used on paper will be more dull and won’t cut as even a seam).

Step 1: Cut lower seam off of bottom of shirt. I only took off about 2 inches, but the exact amount you’ll want to cut off will depend on your personal preferences. To estimate, put on the shirt, or hold it up at the level you plan to wear it and figure out how many inches to take off the bottom. Then snip away!

Step 2: Use sewer’s chalk to mark long lines down the side – from the top of the shoulder and down the side. The photo above shows where I cut, since the lines were too hard to see alone. Remember, you can always cut more off, but you can’t really put any more back on. Cut through both top and bottom layers, following chalk lines, to remove sleeves and some fabric from the sides.

Step 3: Put the tank top on and see if you think you need to cut more off. When I tried mine on, the top area was very boxy and masculine looking. I decided to trim off a bit more from the sides to get the shape I wanted. Remember, you will cut out some of the neck in the next step.

Step 4: Use sewer’s chalk to mark how much of the neck you want to cut out. Cut out neck area, cutting through top and bottom layers. Try on the top and see if you need to cut any more from the neck area. Note: you will be stretching out the neckline, so it will get a little larger.

Step 5: Stretch neck area and sides.

The finished product! I love this top because it’s comfortable and an understated way to be sexy. The long cuts in the side give you lots of breathing room, too. Be sure to wear a fun and colorful sports bra underneath (and you will definitely want to wear something under this tank top – it’s definitely not meant to be worn alone).

Can you believe this only cost me $2.50 and a few minutes?!?

I had so much fun wearing this to Zumba on Monday!

Speaking of Zumba, I just registered for Zumba convention 2011! I’m so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey friends!

I hope (if you’re playing) your Eat in Month is getting off to a great start! For us 9-to-5-ers, we have packed lunches to look forward to this week. Bah! lol But I’m sure we’ll come up with some yummy eats. I’m having leftovers of this…

But more on that in a minute.

We had breakfast hubby style – a rye bagel with a fried egg.

Shortly after breakfast, I got started on dinner. I made my mom’s slow cooker pot roast – a family favorite for years now. I subbed celery for the potatoes.

Out of curiosity, I wanted to see if I could get dinner prepped in under 10 minutes. So, I put 10 minutes on the microwave timer and took off! I had all my ingredients in the fridge or pantry, so no cheating here. I managed to get the pot roast in the slow cooker, cleaned, chopped and added the veggies, and opened and added the soups with 1 minute and 25 seconds to spare. Not too shabby!

Dinner ready in less than 10 minutes. I’ll take it!

Hot tea – mixed berry zinger.

Lunch was fab and so simple.

I had roasted tofu, bok choy and brown rice. I made the rice for lunch knowing I’d be able to have it with dinner, too. Gotta love efficiency.

More tea after lunch – this time Yogi Tea in Calming.

Yogi tea quote of the day – “The universe is the stage on which you dance, guided by your heart.” Gotta love a good dance-related quote.

A Bailey photo – since I know you guys love it.

Since dinner was already done, I used my newly found free time to get crafty with a sewing project.

I made a camera strap cover for Caitlin as a thank you for running my first 5k with me. Ok, not just for running with me, but for going above and beyond! She stayed at my pace, helped distract me with fun chit chat, and even tracked my stats on her Garmin. She rocks, right?

I also threw in a couple coconut macaroons.

Doesn’t she look fabulous with her new DSLR camera strap cover!?

After dropping off Caitlin’s gift, it was time to dig into dinner. Gosh, this meal never gets old! I love how tender the meat gets and the flavor is so nice.

Dough balls and macaroons for dessert. Mmm.

Possibly the best part about pot roast – leftovers. I already have lunch packed for tomorrow!

I put the pot roast and veggies on the bottom of my tupperware and the rice on top. Usually my rice gets soggy from the sauce, but I’m hoping this will help it stay drier.

I took a minute before blogging to turn my Christmas tree lights on again and play with some bokeh photos.

Yay bokeh!

Eat in Month

Pantry Tips – Ok Eat In Monthers – I’m sure you’re hitting up the grocery stores and stocking up for the month. Please be sure to check out my tips for creating the perfect Eat In Month pantry (click).

Recipe Ideas – Let’s collaborate on recipe ideas guys! I’ve started some discussions on my Facebook page where we can share recipe ideas and post questions and answers for how we’re doing each week. Please be sure to check out the Discussion tab of my Facebook page for some great ideas and inspiration. There are different threads for different types of recipes.

Not doing the challenge but have some recipes you think the challenge participants will like? Please go ahead and add links to your recipes in the Discussions on my Facebook page. Pimp your blogs people! I’m serious!

Running into any challenges or complicated situations and want some advice? Please post your questions (or answers to others’ questions) on this Discussion thread for the first week or Eat in Month (click).

Resolutions 2011

Establish Date Night – Once a Month

Plan and Host a Zumbathon for Charity

Pitch Idea for Invention or Create Prototype

Add Printable Versions of Recipes to Blog

Create a Budget

Use Budget

Spend Less Time on Computer / Establish Computer Schedule

Start doing photos for local restaurants

Enter a photography contest

Volunteer at least once a month

Go to church at least once a month

Execute ideas instead of just dreaming them

Execute ideas faster

Speaking of executing ideas, record those vlogs you’ve been meaning to do. Heck, maybe do 1 vlog per month?

Take cooking classes.

Do one new challenge a month. (I have big ideas for this friends…BIG! Challenges are being drafted and will be published before the start of each month.)

2011…BRING IT!

PS Check out my latest recipe – Irresistible Coconut Macaroons!

What’s your favorite resolution you made for 2011?

Thank goodness for being able to WFH. I took the opportunity to stay home today.

I love how WFH lets me enjoy HOT meals!

Oven-reheated Applesauce (Cranberry) Oat muffins.

Plus a fried cage free egg.

The return of Fresh Market Breakfast Blend! Hubby got more the other day…hoorah!

I also get to enjoy all the hot tea I can stand. Yerba Mate first up.

Dinner was thanks to the freezer,

my herb garden, and my farmer’s market find from the weekend.

Organic Sunshine burger, plus mayo and fresh dill from my garden.

I wanted to make a yogurt or tahini sauce, but since I had neither, I worked with what I had on hand – canola mayo.

Yay greens!

More hot tea – mate vana + rooibos caramel.

Sleepy puppy!

I got to use my mini handmade bowl! Galaxy Granola + vanilla rice milk.

I broke into those new bar samples I got the other day by Lighter Living. First flavor of choice – CHOCOLATE!

Pretty good ingredient list though Mr. Pollan wouldn’t agree. Way more than 5 ingredients and a 5th grader wouldn’t know a lot of them. Ups for organic and natural ingredients – and dates are #1! That may possibly make them a good pre-workout option.

I really liked the bar. It had a nice brownie-like texture and taste. In fact, the bar reminded me a lot of the PURE bars, which I also enjoy. I liked how the yogurt coating wasn’t over-the-top thick or sweet unlike some bars. This one was a nice compliment instead of stealing the show.

If the others are as good as this one, you may be seeing these bars in my OpenSky shop soon!

Post work, I did a quick DIY zumba top shirt by de-constructing a tank top I already had.

The finished result. Psst…I followed this video tutorial – very easy!

I’m currently stalking the ZIN forum for old, used tanks that I can play with. I can’t stop cutting my tops! I. need. MORE!

One+ fabulous dance fitness workout! I’m pooped, but looking forward to more tomorrow already!

I came home and cooked dinner in my PJs. Hubby was a great helper tonight. He had everything prepped by the time I got home!

Mmm…pasta.

Dinner was fab – served with focaccia (had 2 pieces) but something was missing – a veggie side! No salad, no sauteed veggies…nothing. Doh! I seriously need to get my arse to the grocery store! We have no fruits or veggies left! Some frozen veggies but ZERO frozen fruits. Gah!

I had a mini Vega health optimizer shake with vanilla rice milk as a quick fix / band-aid. I don’t think anything can totally substitute real veggies, but this is probably the closest I could come without going to the grocery store.

Do you feel your meal is incomplete if something is missing? I used to think a meal wasn’t complete without meat but now I think it’s not complete with a veggie! You?

Nothing like dancing in the morning to put you in a happy mood for the rest of the day, right?

I have some new songs I’d like to learn how to lead, so I try to practice them every once in awhile when I have a free moment. I thought going over one this morning to wake up and get my blood flowing was a good idea. I think it was! I’m doing Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz.

We need to do some serious grocery shopping, produce-wise. With a shortage of fruits in the house, I decided to make some energy bite oatmeal using an Energy Bite I had stowed away in the freezer.

Coffee + oatmeal

Other ingredients: 1/2 milk, 1/2 water, chia seeds, sliced almonds, flaxseed meal and Galaxy Granola (*).

So cozy, so perfect in the morning!

I got to WFH today, which means better than normal eats.

I made me and hubby Goji Berry Banana smoothies (2 frozen bananas, small handful dried goji berries, milk till consistency was to liking).

His was prettier because I added some green-colored Vega Health Optimizer in vanilla chai to mine.

Mine tasted darn good, though! I thought it tasted like frosting!!!!

I cooked up some tofu for lunch. Nasoya cubed – so you don’t have to press it.

I chopped up my marinated kale from yesterday (still too much marinade!) and set it on a paper towel to soak up some of that extra marinade.

I topped it with some steamed broccoli.

And I hoped the bland broccoli would help balance the overly flavored kale. It worked out pretty good, but I still prefer my broccoli with just some melted butter.

Lunch was pretty fab, though it was on the light side.

I carbed up with a couple handfuls of pretzels…

…a piece of orange marmalade toast…

…and a piece of Barney Butter toast with chia seeds. Yea…I like toast. A lot! It helps when you’re short on time and need groceries.

I also got to finish my Honest Tea today – this stuff is yum-o!

I got a cool sample in the mail today: Lighter Living Probiotic Bars (*). Neat-o! I like how these seem to be a non-dairy source of probiotics. I mean, Id need to look at the ingredient list again (I think they have a yogurt topping), because they might contain some dairy, but it’s not like you have to eat a cup of yogurt for the beneficial probiotics. The ingredient list is almost (if not) all organic and looks to have some good stuff, including dates as the first ingredient. I love dates!

I got 3 different flavors: Chocolate, Lemon Poppyseed, Apricot Coconut. They all sound amazing – I can’t wait to dig in!

DIY De-Constructed Zumba Top

I took a cue from my Z Life Magazine and decided to go a la Tanya and cut up a tank top. Since this would be my first cutting experiment, I decided to test out something on the cheaper side. Unfortunately, the cheapest thing I could find was an $8 tank top from Target…too much money to throw away in the event my cutting experiment failed, but it turned out okay. Woohoo!

I gathered my materials – tank top, scissors, rotary cutter, chalk pencil, mat, guide.

I actually put on my tank top so I could see how far up the side to start making cuts and where in the front to do the diagonal cuts. I eyeballed some marks with my chalk and figured I’d clean them up once I could use a straight line.

First, I cut some slits down the side. I made 5 cuts, each measured 1 inch apart.

I decided to convert the tank top to a halter top. You can check out this tutorial (click) to see how I did this. I basically went straight along the top of the back.

I did the diagonal cuts – drawing the lines, then making the cuts. I spaced these by an inch also. It seemed to be good spacing for the cut lines.

I did 2 rows of the diagonal cuts – a lower section of 3 and an upper section of 3.

Guess I should have gotten some photos in class, eh? Oh well, these will have to do.

Vega Sport Pre-Workout Drink Mix

I tested out my other Vega Sport Natural Plant-Based Performance Optimizer today. This one was the same as the other, but a different flavor – Acai Berry.

I actually have a really fun experiment/case study/test planned with this stuff…details soon!

Here are some photos of the packaging for the curious:

I swear this stuff really works! I think I need to buy a jug! Can’t wait to see how my experiment with this product works out.

Oh and I definitely prefer the Acai Berry flavor to the Lemon Lime. The Acai was less grassy and more berry-licious!

Hubby and I went out after my workout to see my friend Dana. I wore too-tall heels when I should have worn flip flops or something. I have more fun when I can walk easier. Though we didn’t stay out long, it was good to get out and see our friends!

Hmm…now…what to eat for tomorrow morning? Is it sad that I’m already thinking about what yummy things I can eat for breakfast? I think not!

Reader Question: Are you more concerned with how you look or how comfortable you are when you go out (with friends, for dinner, etc)? Which is more important – fashion or comfort?

Bonus reader question: Do you have any de-constructed DIY tops like my cut-up zumba top? Send me your photos! thechiclife at gmail dot com. The cutting bug has caught me and I’m itching to snip up another top soon…I need inspiration!

Not that it's all that complicated, but my secret fabric project was…

DLSR Camera Strap Covers!

Christmas gifts and matching/coordinated for my local food friends: Kath + Matt, Michelle + Ben, Kate + Nate, and Amanda + Justin.

Mostly this project was secret because the gift recipients also read my blog and that would be a total spoiler if they read about their gift before receiving it.

As this post is being shared with RSS feeds, I am giving the last two of these DSLR Camera Strap Covers away. And there's one for some lucky winner out there, too!

I'll be doing a tutorial at some point, but basically, this project involved lots of:

Fabric selection and shopping

Cutting

Ironing

Sewing

Turning

and then more ironing.

Since all my foodie friends roll in couples and within the last year they've all gotten Canon Rebels, too, I thought semi-matching camera strap covers would be a fun gift.

There is a matching fabric side that is guy-friendly (ok, it's sort of girly, but at least it's not floral!)

The other side is a coordinating pattern – this is the girl-friendly side.

By having two types of sides, I'm hoping each person per couple can take turns carrying the camera comfortably. The girls can wear the strap pretty-side up and the guys can turn the strap to the green side if they don't want the pink/floral/girly one showing.

I made one for myself, too. Mine was the prototype. I figured I'd the first production since the first version of something usually the worst (the one where you learn mistakes and figure out how to improve).

But the best part for you dear readers…

I made an extra one!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

If you would like to win this floral and mod patterned, handmade DSLR Camera Strap cover reinforced with fusible lining and made with beautiful Heather Bailey fabric, you have a few ways to enter:

1. Leave me a comment telling me the neatest thing you've seen at a party (esp b-day but maybe wedding or otherwise).
2. Blog about my contest linking to this post and leave me a separate comment telling me you did.
3. Tweet about my contest with the URL to this post and leave me a separate comment telling me you did.
4. Subscribe to my blog feed and leave me a separate comment telling me you did.
5. Add me to your link list and leave me a separate comment telling me you did.

Each entry must be in a separate comment to count. Winner will be selected a week from today – Wednesday, Jan. 21th, 2010. The winner will randomly be selected.

PS This strap is approximately 2 1/2 " wide and 25" long. You could possibly use it for other straps, not just DSLR straps.

Good luck!

I’m working on not sleeping in even though I’m on a stay-cation.

I couldn’t wait to break into our cinnamon chip bread.

I made a quick breakfast of oven-broiled toast with real butter and a fried cage free egg with coffee – 1/2 Christmas Blend + 1/2 Peppermint Creme.

How-to Multi-task Errands

I love to multi-task it when I’m doing errands. I feel like, when done correctly, I can get so much more accomplished than when I take things step by step.

Step 1 – create a list of tasks.

Step 2 – note whether a task takes a short duration or long duration and which ones need 100% attention (vacuuming) and which ones can be left alone (laundry)

Step 3 – start a long duration, no-attention-needed task. While Task 1 works, do some of the shorter tasks. When Task 1 needs your attention again, work on it or complete it, and repeat Step 3.

Continue till you’ve completed all the errands you’d like.

Example:

Today, I had the following on my task list:

• a load or laundry – long – no-attention
• groom Bailey – short – attention required
• find a recipe for my new blender – short – attention required
• lunch – short – attention required
• mop bathroom 1 – short – attention required
• mop bathroom 2 – short – attention required
• sew a fabric gift – long – attention required
• design business cards – long – attention required

I multi-tasked some of my errrands:

• I started by putting my laundry in my washing machine.
• While my laundry ran, I turned Food TV on in the background. I sketched out some ideas for business cards. I consulted my Martha Stewart cleaning bible to see the best way to mop my bathrooms. I groomed Bailey. I noticed a meal on Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller that used a blender to make a yummy tomato sauce. I printed the recipe (click for recipe).
• When my laundry was done with the wash cycle, I hung the hang-dry clothes, moved the rest to the dryer and got the dryer going.
• While my clothes dried, hubby surprised me by bringing a friend over to show them the house. I was utterly and completely embarrassed by the state of the house, but helped hubby give our friend a tour. After our friend left, I mopped both bathrooms. Next, I had lunch. I started pre-washing my fabrics for my craft project. I watched a blue heron fly across my yard and into my neighbor’s yard. I browsed my new cookbooks and selected recipes to try out in the next week, possibly for Eat in Month Challenge.
• Then, it was time to fold my laundry.

Next on the agenda:

• iron/fold cleaned craft fabric
• rug shopping
• basement furniture shopping
• plastic bin shopping
• sorting + organizing in the house
• maybe some other stuff…we’ll see how productive we are

Dear Bloggers…

Please…PLEASE…stop saying “Viola!” when you mean to say “Voila!” A “viola” is a musical instrument. “Voila!” is said when you want to express something like “Ta-da!” Not everyone does this, but I’ve seen it on so many blogs…you know who you are.

I love how the blogosphere brings together so many great people together and how the holidays let’s their paths cross.

I kept breakfast light today because I had a bloggie get-together planned for lunch.

I made one base batch of oats with 1/2 water, 1/2 2% milk, organic cane sugar, and flaxseeds for me and hubby.

We each got different toppings:

For hubby: a drizzle of maple syrup, almonds, chocolate chips, and fresh ground honey roasted PB

For moi: a drizzle of maple syrup, almonds, unsweetened organic coconut and a tee-niny dabble of that honey-PB.

After some blogging fun and checking emails, I got ready and headed out for my bloggie outing with Kristen of Eating RD who was in town for the holidays.

We hit up a local favorite – Toast Cafe where they serve breakfast/brunch all day! I love getting breakfast at other non-breakfast meals.

The inside of the restaurant was super cute. I loved the relaxed and casual vibe and friendliness of the staff.

They had snippets from local media where they’ve been featured next to the door.

Kristen and I had a tough time choosing between all the delicious items on their menu and their specials.

Kristen got the raspberry walnut pancakes with bacon. She graciously shared a bite with me so I can attest that they were veeery tasty!

I got the soup and 1/2 sandwich combo with a turkey reuben (sauce on the side) and chicken chowder. The perfect cold-weather combo! They were both very good.

(a photo with Kristen’s Rebel since my baby is still in the shop)

I loved that they used roasted turkey instead of just deli meat in their sandwich. I didn’t end up using any sauce – the sammie was delish without it!

The chicken chowder was nice and comforting and had big pieces of white meat chicken with lotsa yummy veggies.

After lunch, we did a quick photo shoot by the sign and front door.

Next up, we took a trip to Starbucks for some afternoon tea.

We both got the Zen hot tea (a green/peppermint/lemon mix) and split a cinnamon chip scone.

The tea was the perfect blend of flavors – we both loved it.

The scone was also quite tasty. I liked that it didn’t have too much glaze.

We even found two cozy arm chairs to lounge around in. Perfect!

(a couple more Rebel photos thanks to Kristen)

I had a fabulous time meeting and hanging out with Kristen! It was so refreshing and fun to hang out with someone who shares so many similar thoughts and hopes.

Kristen, I hope you can make it to zumba this week and please visit again soon! (and thanks for sharing some of your photos with me!)

You can check out Kristen’s recap by clicking here

After my bloggie adventures, I swung by a local fabric store. I thought I’d make it a quick stop to see if I could find some fabric for curtains. Of course me and crafty things are typically not short and I blew the afternoon browsing patterns and materials.

I’m considering making some valances for our formal living room with this beautiful Waverly fabric. It’s pretty pricey so I’d much rather make valances than full blown curtains.

I picked up some material that I may attempt to use to make a skirt…we’ll see. I have so many projects I’d like to do and not enough free time!

Time to get my dance on!

I did it!  I made the fabric grocery bag that I mentioned last week!  I fiiiinally made some time for crafting…

To start, I google-searched for handmade, re-usable, fabric grocery bag/tote tutorials.  There were tons of tutorials, but I decided this one, by Homemaking Dreams (thanks for sharing, HD!), one was the best and looked super easy to put together.  I also liked that the tutorial didn't use a pattern…you just had to cut a bunch of rectangles up.

Next, I had a hard time choosing which fabrics to use.  I have a bad habit of hoarding away my faves (of anything – fabric, beads, foods, etc.), but I decided that since I'm going to be using these bags quite often, I may as well use a fabric that I absolutely love so I can enjoy using my totes even more.  I picked one of my fave fabrics (the turquoise-y one above) that I've been hoarding for a couple years now. 

My next tough call was choosing the lining fabric, which could actually be an outside fabric, too, since the tote is reversible.  I wanted to use the green because it coordinated with the specks of green on the main fabric and would hide dirt better, but I thought the pink was a much better match color-wise, so I went with the pink.

After choosing the fabric, I got my work area ready.  My computer currently resides on our dining room table, and I decided that instead of printing out the tutorial, I'd leave it up on my computer, turn the screen so I could see it from the sewing machine, and save some trees in the process.  I also got a candle going to keep the mood relaxed.

The fabric cutting seemed to take forever!  Luckily, I had already pre-washed these fabrics, but they were all wrinkly because I neglected to iron them beforehand.  So, I had to mix my cutting up with some ironing to get them in the proper size.  I had a handful of these little 2 1/2" square leftover, so I think I'm going to keep these for another project…possibly a quilt!?

I had my computer screen positioned nicely so I could look up and double-check my work at any time.  The scrolling was more challenging since I left my mouse further away, but I still really enjoyed working from my screen vs a paper print-out of the tutorial.

Sewing the pieces together was a cinch – just a bunch of straight sewing!

Sewing the handle…

First Generation Organic
I had a nice phone conversation with my dad while I was working on this part of the tutorial.  We talked for a long time about why/how he got into being green and eating organic foods.  He even talked about how he ate organic foods "back in the day" before I was born and how he was part of some organic food organization in Atlanta, I think it's this one – Sevanada.  I didn't even know organic food existed then!  He went on (the man likes to talk!) to talk about subscribing to organic gardening magazines, keeping his compost pile, researching solar power for school, natural foods, taking my sister and me to local farms to pick vegetables so he could teach me when they were ripe and feed us natural foods, and even how he almost built our family a sustainable house with a mud roof and south-facing window for passive solar design!  Sounds like I'm first generation organic…just like Sara Snow!  How cool!?

I can't wait till Hubby and I finally get a house!  We can have my fam over to help us plant a garden and stuff and maybe make a day of it and grill out?  Could be fun times…Here's to hoping!

Oh, and I'm trying to talk my dad into starting a blog…hehe.  He has lots of great advice that I think could really benefit other people.  Plus, like I said, the man likes to talk!  If he could blog as much as he talks, I think he could have a good thing going!

After I got the handles sewn up, I had to pin them in place. 

I did this part veeeeeeeery carefully.  I'd done too much work to mess up now!

Once both handles were pinned in place, I could put the right sides together to prep them for the final streth of the project – sewing the top!  Doesn't it look like the pink bag is eating the turquoise one!?  haha

Once the top was sewn, I could pull the outside fabric through the inside fabric so I could wrap things up.  All I had to do was topstitch the top of the bag and then sew up the bottom of the liner fabric and I was DONE!

The finished product!

A different POV.

A closer look.

Overall, this tutorial rocked!  I have fabric cut already to make a second bag and am thinking of making another one that is slightly larger than the first 2.  The tutorial was very simple to follow and had tons of photos that were very helpful (I'm a very visual person).  This project would make an excellent sewing project for begginner sewers and would be super simple for those more experienced.  I highly recommend trying it out and if you do, let me know!  I'd love to see your finished work!

Since I had Monday off and had planned to spend Saturday out of town, I met up with bloggie buddy, April, and her daughter, Bella, Monday afternoon for some crafty shopping and a delicious lunch.

First, we hit up a fabric store where I was really good!  I latched onto a bolt of this yummy floral pattern with bright pinks, turquoises, greens, and yellows that were all toned down by a pastel pink background.  I carried the bolt around the store for about 15 minutes before finally caving into the realization that I was, indeed, going to buy some (been trying to not buy craft supplies lately).  I also picked up 10 fat quarters of some super pretty vintage-y fabric that I think will work well with the fabrics I'm collecting for my quilt!

Next, we hit up a glass shop where they sold stained glass, lampwork beads, and other glass craft materials.  I didn't buy anything here…phew!  I wanted to, though.

Next, it was time for lunch!  April and I both share a love for this home-town joint, Henry's, which will always have, to me, the world's best BBQ.  April and I got the same thing – Regular BBQ sandwich plate with cole slaw and french fries.  Mmm…

After lunch, we hit up ABC (Atlanta Bread Company) for some hot cocoa.  Bella was working on a hand-knit scarf.  I totally forgot about how I used to do this all the time when I was a kid!  I think the colors look great with her sweater and shirt.

April and I browsed her new collections of magazines – the new Knit Simple and a Quilting magazine with "lots of easy project".  We noted that these "relaxing" projects were far from what we would consider relaxing, but I've only ever made one quilt, so maybe they are marketing this towards die-hard quilt fanatics?  April worked on a baby hat for a friend and I worked on my scarf for my mom's b-day.  We got a lot of good work done and had a blast in the process!  Thanks, April, for the fun day!  Let's do that again some time soon!