Re-entry and re-invent

My last post was a vent about being an un-employed teacher...Pic to the left shows my recent gig, being a  long term sub, Family and Consumer Science position, for a maternity leave, in an urban high school.  From September to mid November, I taught Child Development and On Your Own; both subjects I enjoyed thoroughly, though I was challenged to create plans and activities around what was left for me.  I worked hard at it, in my usual way, throwing myself into the assignment, spending hours planning and grading, and putting personal life aside.  It is my way...does it pay? You probably already know the answer.  I continue to put myself out there in the hopes of a real full time gig.  This one didn't materialize into a job, but I did make connections.

Let me vent for a minute and then celebrate an anniversary...

Soapbox time!  I have been an "unemployed" Home Ec teacher for some years now, working for retail and substitute teaching.  Everywhere I go, I am reminded that we as a nation are experiencing a real lack of Life Skill education!  Simple comments at my store like, "oh, I could never sew on a button, or take up a hem", or when discussing GMO's in a biology class, explaining that you are already eating those...curious looks...I hear all about the trips to fast food, or spending big bucks at restaurants, and wondering why there is no money in the budget for car maintenance or groceries.  I wonder why common sense has become passe?  

A Memorable Memorial Weekend Visit

A handwritten map in a fancy note card arrived last weekend, from my dear friend Crystal and hubby Jim.  She made the map because their beautiful new home wasn't on mapquest yet.  Nestled on a pond stocked with fish, and shrouded in a thick wood, they pulled up stakes from our little village and relocated to their retirement home that they built and designed last year.  We were fortunate to have helped them sell their home, and quickly during a difficult market, and they in turn found their dream property, an hour and half drive from ours, in the middle of farm and amish country.

Freshness and Goodness!

Mothers Day Yesterday, a seasonably cool and fresh day, with enough chill to inspire a soup and bread menu.  And my day was meatless, though it wasn't our intent!  Daughter recently was at Panera and had her fav Broccoli Cheese soup and we searched and found a similar recipe online.  I put hubby to work making Italian Herb bread in the bread machine, and the last hour, we all worked to create a mom pleasing meal!  And to top it off, I am including a buttery Lemon Pound Cake, to top with some simple berries, this recipe from my Mom's archives.  She noted, she served in 1980 to her Allspice Group, a church ladies soirre, my mom was always a celeb in the baking department!
I hope you will try these recipes, with my variations, and real time pics.

Panera Style Broccoli Cheese Soup

Lace Crazed

Following up on my last post, I showed you how I spend my hours substitute teaching with little hand held projects I carry along.  I love to sew and craft, but I have to get creative to find take along projects that don't require alot of stuff.  In my sewing room, there is always a top or sweater waiting for something to take them from blah to rah!  Even though I work part time at a clothing store, I am always taking inspiration from what is in the stores, and trying to translate it to my closet.

 If you look on my Pinterest, my stylin collection features clothing with heavy lace influences.  I continue to see this in ready to wear collections.  You could pay alot, by why not DIY. 

Enjoy some of my other transformations here:  not tutorial needed, most are hand basted or in the case of this first one, machine stitched after carefully measuring and pin basting.

And a break from my lace craze, a little bit-o-life...

Today is the first day of spring, though in our town, you wouldn't know it.  Cold and snowy, and so gray.  We got a good dose of both on St. Patty's day, spending a good 3 hours in it to watch the parade.  A last minute plan to come to Cleveland, had us meeting my bro and wife for a little warm-up.  They had hotel points that had them upgraded for a grand view of the parade from their 10th floor suite and we enjoyed a little visit and a meal at a local restaurant.  Most of the revelers had moved on by then, so it was a nice night to catch up.  Daughter and I might just make the trip to their warmer climate for spring break.  We will see how things go.  I know I am really bored with winter and tired of being cold...

These long work days have me gaining major weight as I battle the urge to eat all day long.  As soon as the weather breaks, I am plan on walking and exercising more, and cutting back on the sweets.  My sis in law has had such great results on a low carb diet, she is a true inspiration. I watched her log in her foods on Fitday, even as we noshed on junk food! I use the app on my phone, but am bad about keeping up with it.   I need to pick her brain some more on how she lost over 100 pounds this past year.  Stay tuned, I will be sharing this journey too, if I finally decide to take it.

I leave you with a question, which lace should I embellish this plain jane silk tunic/shirt?  Left or right one, please leave me your choice, I will post which won on my next post.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Vintage and New Crochet Craziness...

From one piece of vintage crochet table cloth, inspiration to embellish springs forth!

  

You can find sweaters with thrifted elements all over crafty sites, but I love how unique you can make something with not any investment other than some satisfying crafting time. The Sharp Crochet Hook, helped inspire me to apply crochet in more places with more of my thrifted stuff. 

Another project with another shrunken sweater, already had some handcrocheted embellishment around the neckline.  I wanted to add some inches to the bottom, and thought this would be a nice project to use my new Sharp Crochet Hook I got for Christmas.  My smaller hooks would probably work as well, but I consulted the little pattern book that came with it and decided to add one of the borders and then I added a few more rows to it to give it some pizzaz.

You can see where the sharp hook pierces directly into the knit, and after a base row of single crochet, you build on it with your design.  Of course you could make your trim separately, and simply sew it on, but it is hard to get the right size and this design stretches with the movement of the knit, so this method is superior.  Any of you try crocheting directly into a garment or thicker material?  Post your successes with a link, I also put up some good links on my Pinterest. Stop on over, and follow if you want!

Switching gears, Cleveland weather keeps us indoors for weeks at a time, we had a first taste of spring yesterday, and to get us ready, we went to our Botanical Garden last weekend.  Here are a few photos from that little outing, such beauty under glass!

 

Post a comment!  Share your links and stuff!I will post some lace applications on my next post, using trims and simple whip stitch.

Valentine Casserole Cozy and my first BLOG HOP!!!

Hello, welcome to my blog, and welcome to the

Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop. 
Thank you Jane of Jane's Fabrics and Quilts for being our awesome cheerleader for the Hugs & Kisses blog hop and Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt!

Shopping your local thrift store for crafting materials...

I am an infrequent poster on other sites, but I just stopped by one of my favs, Going Green Crafters and Artists...and left the following post.  If you are just stopping by my site, for the first time, please leave me a comment!  I will reciprocate!

Thrift stores are great places to shop for the raw materials to craft great gifts!  This past Christmas season, I took a few trips to my local Goodwill.  There you will find the castoffs from households that can yield great fodder for unique ideas.

Christmas Memories 2012 and Craft Wrap up

Just a word or two about our2012 holiday, it was a quiet one in our house, and very modest. My family all live south, and hubby's family does celebrate with one big party.  Pics of the McM party here which was held at a local Community cabin...days before Christmas.

A little Santa Action!