Apple Festival Craft Booth

I'm back!  I am done with the craft booth I did with my friend this past weekend. I did alright I think.  I definitely don't think these type of things are huge money makers (especially when it's held in a tiny town) but I did make enough to buy a serger (a cheap one) or maybe redecorate my living room I can't decide which I want more!  I won't be holding my breath though because when it comes down to it I will probably end up doing something boring responsible like putting it towards student loans or something.  My husband is getting his MBA right now so we are still living the student life.

I tried to remember to take pictures of everything, but it didn't happen so here are the few shots I did get!

All of the adorable platters you see were made by my friend Jenna.  That incredibly cute pleated tablecloth was made by my mother a few years ago.  I got those huge antique barn windows for F-R-E-E! What can I say, one man's trash is my treasure.  The window with the wreath on it is mine, it's going up in my living room.  I had to bring it with the wreath attached so people could get an idea of what you can do with them.  It was funny listening to all the wives trying to convince their husbands that it would be cool to have an older than dirt, beat up window hung up on their wall, many of the men did not agree, kind of like the silly guy that gave us all those windows in the first place because he said they were junk and he was taking them to the dump!

  

Here is the left side of the booth.  I didn't even take a picture of the other side, sorry I got distracted and never remembered to go back to finish taking pictures.  I made all that crazy stuff including all the pants which will soon be available to purchase.  More info on them later.

  

I can't even tell you how many hours I spent on this stuff.  The night before the Festival I stayed up all night and never went to bed in hopes that I would finish everything I started.  I still didn't!  I have several half finished pairs of pants and a thousand half finished flowers and headbands, so needless to say I am going to finish everything and open an Etsy shop so all that work doesn't go to waist! ;o)

One of my favorite parts of this whole thing had to be finding and fixing up things to display all my stuff in.

 

 I already had this beat up, wooden crate.  I gave it a quick coat of some aqua colored spray paint and then put some leftover glaze I had on top to play up all the cracks it had it in it.  I didn't take an official "after" picture but you can see it in one of the pictures below.

 I found these stocking hangers at the thrift store for 50 cents each.  I am not a big fan of pure gold but I loved the design. I gave it a coat of white spray paint with help from my "assistant".

I thought they looked a little boring, so I scuffed them up to let some of the metal peek through.

I turned the crate I painted upside down and added the stocking hangers on top and it made the perfect place to hang the headbands.  You can kind of see it in the first picture.

I also found this tray at the thrift store for 50 cents.  I first spray painted it black and let it dry which I don't have a picture of, then I rubbed a candle on the edges to get wax where I wanted the black to show through.

Then I spray painted it white on top and let it dry.

After it was dry I took a rough sponge and rubbed it all over the edges.  Everywhere I had put the candle wax the white paint rubbed off, but left the black paint untouched, unlike what using just sandpaper would've done.  I used the tray to hold hair clips which once again I didn't take a picture of!  I'm sure there will be more of them to see in the near future as soon as I get all my half finished ones done.

and do you remember these little compotes (is that what they're called?) in the back of that first picture?  They made the perfect spot to hold some jewelry and now I use the one on the right to store bracelets at home.

I also found this thing at the thrift store for 75 cents.  What is it anyways?  I don't have a clue.  Anyways It was perfect to hold more headbands!  I wish I had close up pictures so I could show you all the stuff I made.  I will just have to finish up all the half finished stuff I started making and then post pictures of that.

Crepes

Sorry I've been m.i.a. lately.  I am doing a craft booth this Saturday at the New Harmony Apple Festival.  If you live near Southern Utah you should come take a peek.  I have been very busy.  After Saturday I should have some time to show you all the good stuff I've been making!  For now I thought I would share a quick recipe for these yummy things...

We had general conference for our church this past weekend and it's our family tradition to have a nice big breakfast and "juice bar" while we watch the conference on tv.  Crepes seem to be one of our favorite breakfast recipes.

Crepes are super thin pancakes that can be served with just about any toppings you can think of whether sweet or savory.  Some people use these just as you would use a wrap.  We go for the sweet variety for breakfast at our house. Some of my favorite combinations are strawberries with whipped cream and Nutella with sliced bananas.  I hope you like them!

Crepes

 1 1/2 c. milk

1 c. flour

2 T. sugar

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 T. oil or melted butter

  Mix everything together.  Lightly oil a nonstick frying pan and bring to medium heat.  Drop in batter (around 1/4 cup at a time) tilt and turn the pan in a circular motion allowing the batter to swirl around and coat the bottom of the pan evenly.  Cook over medium heat until the edges curl.  Turn once and cook for another 10-15 seconds until golden underneath.

When making savory crepes omit the vanilla and sugar and try adding your favorite herbs to the mixture.

The batter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours or you can cook them all at once and store them in the fridge for several days.  Crepes also store well in the freezer just place them in a resealable plastic bag and they will keep for up to 2 months.  When using frozen crepes allow them to thaw a little before attempting to peel them apart. 

Oooh chocolate, loads of chocolate!

Doesn't this look soooo good to all you chocolate lovers like myself? 

  Just imagine, decadent chocolate buttercream frosting sandwiched between two layers of moist devil's food cake completely covered by rich chocolate ganache and just to add the cherry on top, sprinkle on some toasted almonds!

 Sounds good right?  Too bad it looks better than it tastes!  I made it and I could've loved it if I hadn't burned it!  You know when you go to check a cake in the oven and it's not quite done so you think you will leave it in for just another 2 minutes?  Well, I remembered about those 2 minutes about 10 minutes too late.  I thought the cake could still be saved since it was going to be slathered in gooey, chocolatey goodness, but it didn't happen.  This was one crispy cake!  I don't know why I bothered finishing it.  I guess because decorating the cake is my favorite part of making it.  

This cake could be good.  It could be really good.  Just don't burn it.  Get the recipe here from Make it and love it.

 

Adorable Doll House

Ok, so technically my mom made this, but I thought it was too cute not to share!  She made the doll house for my niece's birthday.  These are pictures she emailed to me while she was making it in the basement so they are all a little dark and I don't even have a picture of the whole house completed, sorry.  She got the unfinished doll house at Michael's when they had a 60% coupon so she got it for pretty cheap!

She used scrapbook paper and mod podged it onto all the walls.  She used some furry fabric for carpet, painted the furniture and made all the bedding.

 She made decorations using my neice's names strung on some ribbon and put on the wall and also on the blocks on top of the shelf.  She also shrunk down a picture of all the grandkids and "hung" it up.  My McKinley is in there somewhere from when she was teeny-tiny.

She found all sorts of cute little knick knacks to put on the shelf.  She has a huge supply of all that type of stuff from custom orders she has done.  She makes custom scrapbooks,  guest books and invitations.  Check her out here, if you'd like.  If you can dream something up, she can make it!

Here's the living room. I love all the details like the ribbon "chair rail" and all the family photos.  She even made the rug!

This might be my favorite part.  She made this hanging fan using a pin wheel that was taken apart and then added some beads to make the pull chain.  She is one clever lady.

This is the "master bedroom".  I love the mirror!

and last but not least the kitchen!

I love that "window" and curtain!

Sorry I didn't have a picture of the whole house complete but I'm sure you got the idea that it ended up being ridiculously cute!  Wouldn't one of these be such a fun present for a little girl?  I can't wait to make one for Kinley.  I love obsessive projects like this.  Matt even wants to build the house so I am super excited!

When I was little I loved to decorate my doll house and my mom would even let me make the bedding  for all the dolls.  I guess some things never change.  By the time McKinley is old enough to decorate and sew her own "bedding" I'm sure the doll house I make for her will be due for a remodel so she can decorate as well!

So, is a year old too young to have a doll house? ;o)  Just kidding.  I'll wait a little longer...a year maybe! ; )

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Don't know how to sew? Want to learn?

Image Source

I know there are a lot of people that don't know how to sew but want to learn, but don't know where to start.  I just wanted to share a website I found yesterday that has a ton of great info and mini videos on all the sewing basics.  It is called Couturier Mommy.  It includes topics from threading your machine, to how to put in a zipper and much more!    Click HERE to check out the beginner sewing section.

Ruffles and Stuff also includes a Sew Basic set of tutorials as well.  Click HERE to check those out.

I wanted to share this because I didn't want anyone to feel left out on all the fun projects you can do with very basic sewing skills,  that is all I have and I seem to be able to find a million different things to make that doesn't involve much more than sewing a straight line!

I definately was not into anything "domestic" when I was younger despite my mothers attempts to teach me, so I didn't learn a whole lot until I got married, had a baby and moved away from my fabulous, seamstress of a mother (ironic, huh?).  Luckily,  you can always find someone online willing to share their talents and walk you through the very basic of steps!