Today's Costco Find

I needed a new yellow rose -- And direct from the Rose Capital of Texas, Tyler!

"Midas Touch" An everblooming hybrid tea rose. The fragrance is fruity-floral, and practically neon-yellow! The 3-gallon container was only $12.29. Had my cart not been overflowing with my regular stock-up run of items, I'm sure more would have come home with me. (There's still a good chance later on this week. They had an incredible selection.)

How To Make Cool Ties

Our neighborhood group decided to make Cool Ties for our soldiers as our community service project last week. The grand total -- 91!


Juanita had a stamp made for this and our other service sewing projects.


These were easy to make, especially if you do assembly-line style sewing. I could handle it in groups of three.

You'll need:

100% cotton, cut in strips 5" x 39" Or you can just tear across from selvedge to selvedge -- 44" or 45" does not make that much difference.

We had a discussion about the different fabrics -- muslin, camoflauge colors, fun quilting prints (don't you just love the Snoopy comic strip, bluebonnets and the John Deere tractor prints?) I found the washed muslin was a booger bear trying to get the pellets down the tube, but the prints had a nice finish and they just slid right down. If there are any restrictions about the color, the military can sort them. My husband is a former Marine and he said they would all be needed and appreciated...the prints could be used during training in the hot weather.

Root Watering Crystals

One brand is Agrosoke. You can find this at Lowe's, Home Depot, even Wal-Mart. Their 800# is 1-800/880-2476. These little pellets EXPAND into a gel. A little goes a long way. Believe us!

Sewing machine, serger

Thread, scissors, pins

Measuring spoons, specifically - 1/4 teaspoon

Directions:

1. Fold strip lengthwise, wrong sides together. Fold under short ends 1/2"

2. Serge long edge, leaving short ends open for the pellets.

3. Find center of strip and sew down the middle, backstitching beginning and end.

4. Put 1/4 teaspoon of pellets down each side of the tube. Shake 'em down so they are next to the stitching. Sewing machine needles do not like the pellets.

5. Mark and sew 4" away from center




6. Repeat with another 1/4 teaspoon of pellets on each side. Sew another seam 4 inches away from previous stitching so you now have 4 pockets of pellets.

7. Sew or serge ends of tubes closed.

There are other versions and variations of these ties, but we found that having the 4 pockets helped distribute the pellets/gel more evenly.

We all had a good time doing good. I know you will, too, and they will be really, really used and appreciated.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Songs

Duran Duran, "New Moon on Monday" 4:16

Greatest Hits

Montgomery Gentry, "Hillbilly Shoes" 3:12

The Dukes of Hazzard Soundtrack

Today's stats: 2.76 miles, 45 minutes, 290 calories

Bunny, Hop!

Introducing Miss Jelly Bean Bunny 2007...

...And the runners up!

Quick to make and just in time for Easter! This is a free pattern from Hancock Fabrics.

(Tail side view)

If you can't find it, I've photographed the pattern piece - (click it) you could eyeball it and make your own.

Cut two pieces on fold, 1/4" seam allowance included.
Ear ribbon bows are 9" long, neck ribbon is 15"

Tie a bow around unstuffed ear, stuff the head about 2" from ear base. Tie bow around neck, finish stuffing body and sew base opening closed. Stitch a 1/2" or 3/4" pompom at center back bottom edge.

Miss Jelly Bean's finished size is 5" x 6 1/2"

You could easily enlarge the pattern and make them bigger or smaller to create a bunny family!

Oatmeal Brownie Drop Cookies

Another favorite from this cookbook, with our changes --

Oatmeal Brownie Drops

A little less than 3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, minus 1 tablespoon (you won't miss it)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1/2 cup Hershey's Cocoa

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup quick cooking oatmeal

1 cup chocolate chips (original called for mini, but who doesn't want more chocolate volume per bite? Besides, if you buy them in bulk, you already have these on hand)

Heat oven to 350. In large mixer bowl, beat together sugar and butter until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla, blend thoroughly. Add flour, cocoa and baking soda to the butter mixture, blending thoroughly. (I just add to the big bowl, the directions say to stir together in a small bowl and then add. Less time, less cleanup) Stir in oatmeal and chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7-8 minutes or until cookies begin to set. Do not overbake. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Netflix Stars - Casino Royale

The new James Bond with Daniel Craig - Casino Royale. We'd give it 2.75 stars. It was OK, the typical James Bond formulary...its redeeming value was Daniel Craig. He makes a very hunky 007. A good change!

Sandra Betzina Pattern Recall - Vogue 2913 & 2948

Sandra Betzina announced on her website her two most recent pants patterns - 2913 and 2948 - have been recalled and pulled from the stores and Vogue's website. The new corrected versions will be available after April 1. Evidently the Vogue patternmakers tried to "Vogue-ize" Sandra's Today's Fit better fitting crotch curve. It says to call Vogue's Customer Service 800 number and ask for Meg, but good luck getting through. I was able to leave a voice mail message. A fellow SB fan, another Peggy, already called earlier today and found out you need to return the pattern/s to Vogue - The McCall Pattern Company, 11 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001. (I indicated on the envelope's left side corner "Sandra Betzina Vogue Pattern Recall," to make it easier to expedite my replacement copies.) Vogue will replace the pattern/s with the new version and send you a coupon for a free McCalls Stitch and Save or Butterick Sew Easy pattern to cover your postage costs. Be sure to include a note with your address and specify a McCall's or Butterick coupon.

Interesting to note, Sandra must have some clout with Vogue! They've screwed up other patterns before, but I don't recall any of them being recalled.

Update April 2 -- I do give Vogue credit, Meg did call me this afternoon, confirming this same information.

Brad Pitt on Dallas!

If you ever catch the reruns of "Dallas" on Soapnet, Brad Pitt had a recurring guest star roll as "Randy," Charlie's boyfriend in the 1988 season. In fact, he was on again today, the episode called "Farlow's Follies," in case you have the series on DVD. Check out that 80's hair!

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Kim Wilde, "You Keep Me Hangin' On" 4:14
The Best of Blue Eyed Soul

U2 & B.B. King, "When Love Comes to Town" 4:14
iTunes, U2, Rattle and Hum
Good towards the end song

Today's stats (powered by Allegra!): 46 minutes, 2.81 miles, 324 calories

Cool Ties

Our ASG Neighborhood Group made 55 "Cool Ties" last night in about an hour and half! 56, if you count the one we wet for demonstration purposes. I brought home the rest in various stages of completion to finish, since I forgot my camera and I wanted to increase our total! Since I'm confined to the great indoors during the high pollen counts, I might as well make myself useful. As I sew each one, I say a little prayer of protection for the wearer to be. They really are easy to make. It's fun sewing which doesn't require alterations or wondering if it will fit.

Poor "Putt-Putt" Part 2

For those of you playing along with the home game version, if you guessed FUEL PUMP, you win! I lose - about $710.55 Wah! But on the gratitude side, instead of giving up and giving it back with the possibility still out there it would happen again, they were persistent and got the Putt to throw the computer code again. For those who know something about Ford Escort fuel pumps (and props to you if you do!), the pressure is supposed to be 35 something, and it dropped below 31 something. We were very lucky - a fuel pump which suddenly stops working is not a problem you want to have.

Yesterday's Favorite iPod Workout Songs

Allergies way too bad today, almost making breathing optional. Sneezing and wheezing on the treadmill, no way. So here's yesterday tunes --

Howard Jones, "Life in One Day" 3:39

iTunes, Howard Jones: Best Of

Poison, "Talk Dirty To Me" 3:44

iTunes, The Best of Poison

Good beat and funny lyrics, really!

Stats: 46 minutes, 2.78 miles, 290 calories

Can't put it down!

Here's a fun escape book, I started it this afternoon at the doctor's office and have been sneaking pages ever since I got home -- "The Devil in the Junior League" by Linda Francis Lee. A native Texan, she actually was a Junior League member in real life. Snarky!

Closing Hancocks and ASG discount

Your mileage may vary, but depending upon who is ringing at the registers, you may or may not get your 10% ASG discount. Even though last week I was able to flash the card, yesterday a clerk said they are no longer Hancock's but a liquidation store and they don't have to follow Hancock's policies for discounts. When she asked the other clerks nearby, they didn't know anything about that. Grudgingly she gave it to me, as if she was doing me a wonderful favor. Sorry but, your pre-closing fabric sale prices were better than the 20% off what I bought. That extra 10% at least put it in the same ballpark.

At least give it a try!

More fabric added to the stats?

Yes, this afternoon I bought 4 yards, 20 inches (gotta love Jo-Ann's preciseness to the inch -I took what was left on the bolt, couldn't they just have said 4 1/2 yards? Jeez!) of 100% cotton muslin. Tomorrow night our Neighborhood Group is having a sew-in making "Cool Ties" for our soldiers overseas. I'll post the directions by the week's end.

Poor "Putt-Putt"

"Putt-Putt," our 1999 Ford Escort (giggle if you must, it gets 30+ mpg!), stalled yesterday without warning, and after 5 minutes, was able to restart and drive home without incident. That little voice in my head said, uh-uh, take it in to get it checked. We turned it over to our mechanic today and learned the computer had two error codes - one for the electrical circuit, the other for the fuel circuit. Cross your fingers it was something minor that made it throw the codes, and not a $$$ repair. I'll take cheap offers of the battery, a fuse, etc. Though in an attempt to make us feel better (?!), Jeff said better to fix something now than face an even major-er future failure. Sigh. . .

New Vintage Vogues

Another $3.99 Vogue Pattern sale at Jo-Ann's last week --



1944's 2858 (left)

1948's 2787 (right)

From the big pattern purge earlier this year, I think I'm now at the break-even point for regifted patterns and new purchases. My pattern stash is a static stash...

Netflix Stars - The Holiday

The Holiday 5 stars! Jude Law! Ever so appealing even in dorky glasses will still make your heart skip a beat or several. It was one of those movies you wish could go on, but it seemed the writers may have thought the same, too. Great story lines, but the ending seemed like - whoops, slam on the brakes, we missed our turn. Other than that, very entertaining and a great chick flick!

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Songs

Are You Jimmy Ray? 3:23

iTunes, Jimmy Ray

It's in the Way That You Use It 4:10

iTunes, The Best of Eric Clapton

No stats, I had to switch treadmills about halfway through!

Happy Birthday, March 22!

Birthday horoscope: Learn to walk way from problems and sometimes spoil yourself in order to recharge your batteries. Remember you are a good cause and an excellent investment. Do for yourself more often.

Is this not a sewer's perfect horoscope?!


OK! And done!


Look what arrived in the mail today, kismet! From Nancy Erickson and the March/April Fashion Sewing Group Newsletter fabric selections --Black and white wicker weave..."London Plaid" in blue...and a slice of the blue faux leather.

I got the black and white wicker weave to make the Sandra Betzina Vogue skirt (8204), View D, the green skirt. Both sides are really neat and I'll use one side for the hem ruching. I thought it would be a cool skirt for summer. Let's face it, these birthday legs are better covered above the knee now!

Then the Burberry, ahem "London Plaid," in blue reversible to black with a 1/4 yard of the blue faux leather. I was thinking about making a small purse/tote, maybe even the Sandra Betzina shoulder bag (7862) and then using the "leather" as trim or to make a flower accent. There were also some cute bags in the book I bought yesterday. But I also bought enough of the plaid to change my mind. And for sure I'll use every inch of it somehow, someway!