Show and Tell Tuesday...the Go To Drawer

First of all, I have to mention that my Craft Faire went very well last Saturday.  It was a lot of fun seeing all the fun treasures the vendors had to sell...I picked up a few items that I may share with you later.  And thank you to all my dear, sweet, friends who stopped by to shop despite the downpour of rain!  It meant so much to see you!

 

I have been sewing for many, many years.  Probably at least 18!  Not counting all the years before that that I was obsessed with cross stitching...which I did in college in between classes.  But, it just dawned on me a few days ago that I'm always searching in my sewing room for key tools that I can never find and I'm tired of that.  So I had a Light Bulb moment...! 

 

I grabbed a silverware orgnaizer that I had bought for a buck at a second hand store, stuck it in my sewing desk drawer and filled it with my 'essential' sewing tools.  Sewing machine feet, seam ripper, scissors, thimbles, rotary cutter, bobbins, pins, thread, etc...  Now all those tools that I need quickly while sewing are right by my side.  Yay! for good ideas. 

 

Now I'm wondering why on earth it took me this long to figure this out...

YOU ARE INVITED!

This will be a fantastic event! - This is the 3rd annual craft bazaar I've put on at my church.  There will be lots of great items for Christmas gifts offered by over 26 VENDORS!

You will find jewelry, doll clothes, Scentsy, bags, scarves, art, fire starters, pies, and so much more.

Stop by to shop and say HI!

 

Salem First Church of the Nazarene Holiday Craft Bazaar

Saturday, October 27^th, 2012

10am – 3pm

 1550 Market St NE

Salem, Oregon

 Lunch served from 11-12:30pm

Show and Tell Tuesday

 

It's Tuesday...and time once again to show and tell.

 

One of my friends came to me and said "I have this bag I love and it's coming apart, can you make me one to replace it?" 

Oh, I love a challenge!

 

So I set to work right away and made a prototype. 

 

 

I started by cutting out the pieces using 'painter's drop cloth' from the hardware store.  It's under $2 a yard so I don't mind if I make a mistake vs. using a fabric that cost me $14 a yard.

 

I stamped on the fabric using rubber stamps and a Fabrico stamp pad...heat set the ink with an iron.

 

I was soon on my way to a new bag.  I'm thrilled with how it turned out and can't wait to show my friend.

 

Happy Sewing!...janaé

Show and Tell Tuesday

In addition to sewing I love baking...

I wish you could smell the wonderful smell coming from my kitchen right now...I just pulled two loaves of bread from my oven and they smell delicious.  Few things compare to the smell of hot, homemade bread.

 

I have been baking whole wheat homemade bread now for a few months and we have cut out all white bread...what a yummy change it has been not to mention how much better we feel not eating white flour.

 

I make my bread using all whole wheat flour and I prefer King Aurthur's Flour...it's ground fine and does not make the bread heavy at all. 

A long time ago, during the summer's of my college years, I lived in Alaska in a little town called Hoonah.  I had the time of my life cooking for about 100 loggers.  Let's just say when I got married I cooked big portions and had to figure out that I was only cooking for 2, not 100!  Anyway...the camp where I lived put out this cookbook and I was lucky enough to get a copy.  It is priceless!  Dear, sweet people I knew put some of their very best recipes in this book.  And I want to share with you the bread recipe from Marge Smith.  It is the recipe for the bread in the photo above, it can be adapted to anything from cinnamon rolls to dinner rolls and everything in between.  It's so easy to add a little oatmeal, or steal cut oats, or flax and it won't change the recipe one bit.

THE BEST BREAD RECIPE

2 c. of hot tap water

2 pkg. of dry yeast (I use quick rise)

1/2 c. sugar

2 tsp. salt

1/4 c. salad oil

1 egg

Wisk these ingredients together then add:

3 c. of flour - wheat or white

Stir with a large spoon.

Using an electric mixer (such as a Kitchen Aid)

add 1 c. of wheat or white flour at a time until you have mixed in 2-3 c. of flour to reach the desired consistency of dough.

Shape into 2 loaves, let rise, and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

**Perfect bread dough should be mixed for at least 7 minutes after all flour is added.

 

Thank you, Marge Smith, for a super great recipe.

 

**Note: To cut perfect cinnamon rolls: Cut rolls with Dental Floss! Yes, I said Dental Floss. Take a long piece about 18" long and slide under the long roll and cross floss over the top of the roll and pull out to both sides and it will slice thru the dough like butter - thank you to my grandmother for that very helpful tip.