Updating my patterns and links

I realized that lots of my patterns and links were not here anymore thanks to Yahoo closing down Geocities...so I will be updating them as well as uploading my newest ones in the next week or so! Sorry to all those who have come and missed out.

Homemade bug repellent

We just mixed up a batch of oils that seem to be doing a good job against the TONS of mosquitoes around here.

We mixed:
2 TBS olive oil
6 drops eucalyptus essential oil
6 drops citronella essential oil
6 drops tea tree oil

I was nervous about putting this mixture directly on the kids skin, so we cut cotton knit strips and soaked them in the mixture, let them dry out a bit and tied them on wrists and ankles. Ended up being a fun project for Mia!

Love List 74 Tiny Tiny Tea Party Dinner

Menu:
App: Guacamole and blue chips
Main: Hard Boiled Eggs and Bird Bread with Goat cheese
Desert: Mini Green Tea Ice Cream Cones with Blueberries




and a tiny tiny clean up~!

Mom and me aprons

I made a few sets of these for Christmas presents. Super easy. Lots of fun. Adult Apron: One strip of fabric cut 4" by 64" for the top, rectangle 16" by 32". Child apron: 3" by 48" strip, 12" by 24" rectangle.

Pretty much just hem and attach, gathering the large rectangle to be the same width as length and centered on the waistband. Voila!

Compromising between Organic and Affordable Foods

We do, pretty much, try to eat locally, in season, or organic foods. Since we are on a budget and winter will be here soon, I have to compromise. I had jotted down this list a while back and just found it under the fridge. I do not really know the reasons for the classifications...probably that the ones recommended OG are most likely the ones which traditionally need more pesticides or do not have skin. I also do not remember the source, but am pretty sure it is trusted.

BUY ORGANIC:
strawberries
meat
rice
tofu
spinach
peppers
celery
grapes

OK TO BUY NON ORGANIC:
asparagus
avocado
banana
blueberries
broccoli
onions
garlic
corn

Cloth Grocery Bags

I saw an Oprah episode where they were "going green". She asked the audience which they should use, paper or plastic....of course everyone said PAPER!!!! Then she told them - neither -

Trees can be put to better uses than unneccesary bags. You can really use any big bag for your groceries but here is a simple grocery sack pattern from Jan Andrea. You can also buy them pretty inexpensively at most grocery stores.

Countour Changing Pad Cover and Crib sheets

Sewing skill: Beginner
Materials: 1 yard fabric 24+ inches 1/4" elastic



1. Cut material 43" X 29"
2. Cut four 6" pieces of elastic
3. Notch out corners by cutting 5.5" squares out of all four corners
4. With right sides together, sew each corner seam closed with .5" seam allowance
5. Measure out 5 inches from each corner seam in each direction and mark
6. Stetch and sew your elastic pieces at each corner starting at one mark ending at the other mark. Repeat for all 4 corners. Sew about 1/4" away from your raw edge and sew on the wrong side of your fabric.
7. Hem entire cover by folding fabric over 1/4" and then over again creating a finished edge. Your elastic will end up encased in this but be sure to stretch the elastic while you sew, or avoid sewing on it or else it won't stretch enough.
8. Finished!
9. Optional hemming method is to sew the whole hem as a channel leaving a small opening and then threading one long piece of elastic through with a safety pin, cutting to length, securing and closing your hole back.




Same concept, here are dimentions and instructions for crib sheets.