Trying Tuesday - Repurposing

After my sister's visit last October, I found this old jean capri pants that she left.  I asked her later and she said it was too big for her and I could do anything I want with it.  So it sat in a bag and almost took it for donation.  But after watching the Great British Sewing Contest, I was inspired with one of the project they had on one episode.  They were given some type of clothing and they were tasked to recreate something totally different with whatever they wish.  It had to be a little drastic.  Anyway, here is what I had completed.  The transformation of an old jean capri pants to a sort of vintage skirt. I had asked my sister for her measurements and I am hoping she can make use of it when she visits us sometime in the summer.  A perfect comfy skirt for just lazying around the house. 

I removed the elastic waist band and zipper and opened the inner leg seam.

Then I added the zipper, flowery insert and a bow to cover the pleats.

After I measure the waist, I cut the front insert and sewed it.

I cut the waist band and sewed it on.

On the waist band I needed a hook and eye as they call it, but I use the hook and hand sewn this for the hook.

The finish jean skirt for my favorite sister.

Santa Fe Sunday - Loving the mini frames

Now that I am used up all my mini canvas frames, I decided to get more at the dollar store.  I thought if I have some of these done, it could be a nice gift for friends who are visiting.  Of course I will only give it to them if they want to put it somewhere in their home.  Some people don't like collecting stuff only to be placed in the box and never actually use it.  That is why I am just keeping them until some one ask me for any of these paintings.  So far I have done six and I have shared the two cactus one and the two flowery ones.  This time I did a couple that are more like southwestern.  It inspired me when I thought about my girlfriend from San Jose who moved to Albuquerque, NM.  The idea is from some of the pictures I saw that are from that part of the state.  I remember going through that area on our RV last year.  Anyway, my friend who lives in Kelowna has some type of southwestern theme in her kitchen/dining room.  Maybe she might like it.  Otherwise, I will just keep it until someone asks for them.

Flowery Friday - Calling for spring

When we visit Vernon a couple of years ago, most of the locals said that the snow is gone by the end of February.  Well, there's only a few more days left for this month and I cannot see the ground yet. Obviously they were lying.  Also they tricked us in saying that when there's a snow fall, it usually disappear in a few days.  Again, they lied as it snowed on November 1 and it never left.  But enough complaining because I am truly hoping the Spring will be here sooner than later.  In the meantime, I kept my self busy painting on those days when it's snowing outside and don't feel like going out.  I think that when you read the title of this post, you already guessed that it is all about flowers and flowers means spring.

Left is my version of Forget-me-not while the right are my Cherry Blossoms.

Wanting Wednesday - Cactus

Sometime last year, my daughter ask me to embroider a couple of white kitchen towels with cactus in a pot. I did, not sure if you remember that post.  Unfortunately I cannot find a photo but hopefully by the end of this post, I would be able to find and include it.  Yesterday I decided to paint my mini canvas again. I sat for a while and then I remembered doing that embroidery and thought it would be nice to do something similar. Hopefully my daughter would like to keep it, but if not, I'll hang on to it until she is ready for it.  I started getting all my supplies and began after dinner and both canvas was complete by 900 pm.  Wanna see them?

I knew if I took the time to find where the embroidered towels where, I will find it, and here it is.

Flavorful Friday - Desserts for a crowd

It is another busy day in my kitchen.  I am preparing for our first Progressive Dinner.  Luckily I got what I had requested to host.  The final meal of the evening - Desserts.  One of our neighbor who has been to many of this event, suggested that I make smaller portion because people will have their belly full by the time they get to our house.  A week ago, I planned my menu and here's what Jeff and I have made. I will definitely post next week which one of these sweet treats made the top of the list. 

Brownies with nuts and chocolate chips.

Pecan Bars using Martha Stewart recipe

Macarons with candy cane cream filling

Macarons with chocolate ganache filling

Granola bar

Jeff's chocolate chip cookies 

Cranberry apricot cake balls dipped in white and dark chocolate

In addition to above, I will also be serving an extra plate of assorted cookies and squares which I have made previously.  I know I have a lot of variety which would please almost everyone.  We are expecting 26 people in total. 

Wholehearted Wednesday - What is love?

Are you one of those people that still celebrates Valentine's Day?  Is it because you still believe in true love?  If you do, do you try to make it very special each and every year?  Maybe you are one of those who do not believe in celebrating this day because you are more into making any day special when you feel like giving or doing something extra special.  Anyway whatever you do or not do, today could just be a day when you show the person you love what is the meaning of love in your own special way.  We won't be going out to have dinner instead we will have steak an lobster at home.  After we got married, I told Jeff I don't need no stinkin' flowers since most of them just die in a couple of days.  I am diabetic so he cannot buy me chocolates. Honestly when I got my engagement ring, Jeff says not to expect any more expensive jewelry And as for Jeff, he doesn't need anything - that is his usual reply. Instead of all these commercialized stuff, we just treat each other nicely, lovingly and wholeheartedly.  It's hard to believe that it has been 15 years since Jeff and I met.  Five years of long distance relationship before getting married, then another 2 years of being apart before joining him. Maybe that is our secret - being apart for a long time. We are very proud to add that we have never had any big fight in all those years.  Why? because we both have been there, done that and now refuse to go there.  That is the secret of our very happy marriage.  Happy Valentine's to everyone.

Medium Monday - Acrylic only

Aside from watching a lot of Olympics, I was able to break away from the living room and started painting the wine bottles that I have been saving.  Before the weekend I painted the base coat for my bottles using the left over house paint that we found in our garage.  The previous owner left them so we can use them for touching up some of the areas of the house.  But lately I have been using them for painting bottles or canvas for my so called art work.  Please don't think that I have consumed all these wine. They are from the several parties we have had at home and of course empty bottles are left with us.  So I have saved only the ones that I like the shape.  I decided to do the before and after so you can see how I transpire them to what I call my decorative bottles.  Not really sure what I will do with them, for now it will be on display above our kitchen cabinets, just for show.  I started painting each one on Saturday and ended up finishing all the four bottles by Sunday afternoon. An to think that my brushes and acrylic paint are from the Dollar Store.  Can you imagine if I was using the more real acrylic and exceptional brush.  But then again, I don't it's the medium, I believe it's the artist. Medium materials for medium artist with medium creative mind. LOL

A little bit of a mixture of shapes and colors, just an interesting piece.

This one is more of a happy one as you think of Spring.

My least favorite as it is a bit scary. LOL

This is my favorite because I put so much work into it.

Simplest Saturday - Easy snacks

After the terrible loss of the Patriots last Sunday, I tried so hard to get over it and the only way I know how to get my mind off the topic is to get busy.  Each and every day I got busy with anything and everything.  First I did some baking and cooking and then I stayed in my room doing some creative projects.  I guess this is a better way to get over the loss of my team instead of drinking (LOL) and maybe eating and/or sleeping.  Anyway, enough talking and let me show you what I accomplished while mourning for the loss of my New England Patriots.

#6 Artisan Bread - it is our now go to bread with only 4 ingredients.

Bacon flavored roasted almond with sugar, salt and pepper.

Banana oatmeal muffins with walnuts and yogurt.

Samosas (potato, peas and seasonings)

Brownies - made by Jeff even the icing on top.

Just realized I do not have a garden flag for March - now I have one for St. Patrick's.

Trustworthy Thursday - A true friend

Today's post is all about my BFF, a true friend and someone you would want to have as your brother.  You know that expression "I got your back", well here's the meaning:

A person saying they have your back means they are there to help you out, they will watch out and take care of the things you're likely to miss, that they are a second set of eyes and hands for you.

This is the perfect description of Percy.  I am sure that I can speak on behalf of my former co-workers and the rest of all our friends .  He is not just a great friend, he is also an amazing father and a good husband.  If I am not mistaken, he has been married for at least 25 years - and yes, to the same woman.  So on this special day, I wish you a day that is as special in every ways as you are. May every moment of life be as wonderful and lasting as our friendship. Now let me take you back to some of the good times with some of our great friends.

Happy birthday to my BFF, aka Brother, favorite X-coworker, X-travelling buddy, 

X-designated driver, Spanish coach, etc.  

As the saying goes, "you will always be my friend, you know too much".

CHEERS !

Worthwhile Wednesday - Just need to be creative

As you know I love to keep busy and when I am in my Yellowknife Yardage aka my craft room, my mind is going faster than my hands when it comes to being creative.  While working on one project  it seems like my brain is already creating the next project.  So what have I done lately.  It will be an assortment of fabric being sewing into something.  Sometimes I need to use my glue gun and some other time I need to hand sew some items.  Since I have a few to show today I will go ahead and just post the pictures with an explanation how it came about. 

This is the garden flag for Wendy, our neighborhood party/event planner.

Just a mini scarf that was a left over fabric for someone with an A first name.

This fabric was the last bit of the garden flag roll - I made a mini cosmetic bag.

The fabric is from the hem of the pants I trimmed (too long).  A catch all kinda purse.

Meager Monday - Fend for yourself

Not even sure if I picked the right word for today's post.  But I don't think I have use this one so I will go with it.  The topic of today is really about food and our simple retired life.  Every now and then, after we have used up all our leftovers, I would say to my hubby "o.k. for lunch today, you will have to fend for yourself".  It makes it fun because we try to look for items we can make for lunch without having a big fuss.  At times will be as simple as my grilled cheese sandwich while he would have crackers with peanut butter sprinkled with sugar (Whaaat!!!).  Some days we have our home made soup that actually begins with some Ramen noodles aka cup-a-noodle.  What we add to it is completely up to us or depending on what is available.  And the results are shown below.

My soup with shrimp and baby bok choy.

Jeff's soup with ham, peas and corn.

Superbowl Sunday - Go PATRIOTS Go

Just a little upset because I prepared a truly nice post today and I was going to make a simple change and it all got corrupted somehow.  The only way I could work on the post was to delete the initial one and start over again.  So here am I trying to remember all the stuff that I had written down.  All I wanted to cover today is about cheering for the Patriots.  If your team is not in it, then the Patriots are in it to WIN it. We are hosting a small party with some simple dishes and yummy desserts.  Only 12 guest in total which is the number of Tom Brady.  Not superstitious but it makes sense.  So whether you are watching from the comfort of your home or at some bar somewhere or attending a party at your friend's place, cheer for my team, unless of course you are truly an Eagles fan.  Have fun today but be safe.  Let's get the party started. 

Flakey Friday - Napoleon vs Tiramisu

During the weekend we were invited to one of neighbors for dinner.  I offered to bring desserts since I love trying out new recipe.  At first I was going to try and make Napoleon.  I have never made it before and it didn't seem to be that complicated.  But after reviewing the recipe and looking at what I have in our fridge, I ended up making Tiramisu instead.  I was not comfortable bringing a dessert that is my first time trying the recipe.  Instead I made another dessert - Creme Caramel using the Martha Stewart version.  A few days before I was going to make all these desserts, I was watching her show and she was featuring custards.  Anyway, both my Tiramisu and Creme caramel turned out just perfect.  In addition to the two desserts, I also baked my #5 artisan bread.  I cannot stop but admire this bread as the recipe is very easy and it always comes out exactly the same as long as you follow every step of the recipe.  The main thing about this recipe is trying your patience.  You have to be able to just let it sit overnight and let it rise between 12 to 15 hours and I believe that is the key.  I have to thank the person who shared that recipe on Pinterest.  If not for that recipe, I would have never tried making my own bread because for many years I was afraid of the YEAST.  Now I have tried to make french bread as well and it also turned out just fine.  Almost forgot to tell you that my taste tester is my hubby.  I figured if he gives it a two thumbs up, then my job is done.  Since Tiramisu is his favorite dessert, I am hoping he might like the Napoleon too.  Until the next baking day, enjoy reading my post and maybe someday you will get a chance to try all of these treats.

#3 Tiramisu

#5 Artisan Bread

#1 Creme Caramel