Audrey's Reccomendations Part ONE~!

Hey there everybody! Today's a special treat from me, the daughter! My mother is too busy cooking for my brother's birthday to blog, so I decided to take it upon myself to post today~ If all goes well, I just might start doing this more regularly.

I like to wander around the internet in my free time, and while doing so I happened to come across Meredith Dillman's artwork.  She uses a lot of watercolours (my favourite medium) and has fantasy and Asian settings. Imagine my excitement when I found she has an etsy shop! She has a lot of great stuff featuring her artwork including prints, cards, pendants, pins, and even pocket mirrors! Here are a few of my favourites:

Feel free to check out her other online shop, blog, and deviantART gallery as well, found here, here, and here.

Cooking with Teens: Mexican Fudge Recipe

I know many of you enjoyed the Peanut Butter Fudge so next up is the super easy chocolate version with a few twists created by Audrey.
Ingredients:
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 package (or 2 cups)Chocolate Chips (the better the quality, the better it turns out)
2 tbsp Butter
1 tsp Vanilla ( we used Mexican Vanilla,found at local Hispanic markets)
**Optional** for Audrey's favorite version:
1 pinch chili powder ( we like the fresh stuff from the Farmer's Market,but bottled is also ok)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves

Tools needed:
Large glass or microwave safe mixing bowl
Rubber spatula
Can Opener
Measuring spoons and cups
Microwave oven

Step One:
Line your pan with either tin foil or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray or grease with butter. Always have the pan ready before starting on your fudge. If you wait until the fudge batter is warm, it will cool off too much while you are lining the pan.

Step two:
Cut off the two tablespoons of butter and add to the bowl.
Open the can of milk and scrape contents into the bowl.
Add the entire package of chocolate chips. Use scissors and not a knife!

Step 3: Cooking!
The contents will not be mixed yet! This is normal. It should look like the last photo. Just leave it like this and place in microwave oven.
Set timer for 1 minute and 30 seconds on high.

Now you have to wait. I realize this is very boring but Audrey felt it was the worst part. Waiting for chocolate is painful for her. ( She can be a bit silly)

After the timer goes off, check your contents. It should look similar to this photo with the butter completely melted.

If it is not melted, add another 30 seconds and keep adding at 10 second intervals until the butter is melted.
Step 4:
Mix it! Take it out carefully from the microwave and using your rubber spatula, mix it vigorously for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes very smooth and all the chocolate is melted into the mixture. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A CREAMY TEXTURE!
It is worth the few minutes to make this fudge super fantastic.

Step 5:
Adding Audrey's secret ingredients: the cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and chili powder.
Just measure them all and toss them into the mixture and stir in for about one minute. You will barely taste the chili powder but it adds a little extra punch to make this fudge spectacular instead of just good.

Your fudge will be very warm still and ready to pour into the prepared pan.
Use your rubber spatula to get every drop and spread evenly into the pan.

Now you are ready to put this into the fridge for a few hours to set. You will end up with about one pound plus a little more of delicious fudge. This fudge won the Blue Ribbon Award for five years running at the Monterey County Fair for Audrey's older Brother Carl. It was also a big hit at Boy Scout Auctions. It is so chocolatey that it was re-named "Industrial Strength Fudge" by its fans.

Cut it up carefully and try not to eat all of it before anyone else gets to try it. This was a huge hit at the last teen party along with the peanut butter fudge.

Teen Party 101

How to have a successful teen party?? That is a really good question. What parent wants to watch their teenager cry because no one showed up to their party. And one bad party can mean no one ever comes again in their entire high school career. I've seen it too many times. (Have you seen "Mean Girls"? they really do exist!)

My first rule is to let your child do the inviting and STAY OUT of it. Audrey's preference now is to use the Facebook "Event" application and send out invitations via Facebook. I miss the days when we made cute little party invites and gave them to the mom's but they are past. I try to tell myself I have saved a tree by doing it all electronically.

Next, have lots of food and make it fun!

Audrey had an Anti Valentine's day or Single Awareness Day Party.
The menu included:
Mom's homemade pizza with any crazy toppings imaginable.
Chocolate Fondue with dippables like marshmallows, gingersnaps, apples, strawberries,vanilla wafers, oreos,and more junk.
Fudge: both chocolate and peanut butter (we have blogged this recipe)
Crackers, salami and cheese platter
Lots of soda and water!

Activities like MUSIC, GAMING and MOVIES are great. Rockband or Guitar Hero are always popular. And everyone can bring their ipods to plug in and play their playlists. We have a "Garage Band" so usually they will jam a bit and the kids like that too. The drums are pretty loud but its worth it and we always stop before 10pm.

Most of all, be around just in case but kind of stay invisible. You get to hear the most interesting conversations because the teens forget your are there and keep an eye on things without intruding. Trust your child and their friends to hold to the values you gave them growing up.
Having a craft or other diversion is important in case the kids get bored. Our Anti Valentine Pins and Necklaces were a big hit even with the boys.

Twirly Skirts Rule! Upcycled Halloween Costume into a new skirt

My little seamstress, Monica is on a role with her sewing. She is not your average "new" student and for this second project she wanted to re-purpose an old Halloween Costume into a skirt. Quite an excellent but challenging project for a newbie.
This is the costume that we had to work with for this project. (not sure what it was supposed to be???)

Monica was lucky because this costume had a very full skirt and gave us plenty of fabric to work with for her creation. In repurposing anything, you have to take a look at the available material in the item before you can decide what you can do with it. If its a size 2, you won't be able to make it become a size 12 without some really strange additions.

UPCYCLING OR REPURPOSING SHOPPING GUIDE 101:

1. KNOW YOUR OWN MEASUREMENTS:
I like to keep a small index card in my wallet with the key measurements for my girls and anyone else I might be sewing for from Thrift store finds. Hips, waist, Torso length, skirt lengths,etc...are helpful
2. CARRY A MEASURING TAPE:
Keep one of the small soft tapes in your purse so that when you find a garment that would make a great project, you can check to be sure that there is enough to work with right in the thrift shop. Measure the width, length,etc..and compare it to the project. If you have a dress with a 45" wide skirt at the top and 60" at the bottom with 25" in length, you know that you can make that mini skirt for your skinny little daughter with 34 inch hips. ( always fun too!)
3.CHECK QUALITY OF FABRIC AND MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT HAVE STAINS OR SMELL BAD:
If it is badly stained,unless you plan to dye it later than pass on it. Most likely it was donated because of the stains or damage.
4. LOOK IN THE MEN'S DEPARTMENT:
Often overlooked but so many great shirts,jackets,etc...in that section.

Moving on with Monica's skirt, she laid it out to find what fabric she had to work with and using her own measurements, cut the existing dress into three sections for her skirt. Monica's design has three layers with the lightest color on top.

This was some super slippery fabric so we carefully pinned the tops of each skirt section together so that she could work on shredding the bottom. This fabric was perfect for shredding as it was already partially cut up and it was a nylon blend that would not fray.

Shredding is an art and I have to admit that it frustrates me a bit. I am not gifted at it one tiny bit and have spend way too much time drawing it out so it would look natural. But not my smart girl, she has the magic touch. As she expertly shredded the bottoms of each section, she commented to me that "it was like imagining this is the fire and you are cutting the shape of the flames"!

WOW, seriously this young lady is brilliant. I love that I am learning from working with her. I told her next time I need to shred a hem, I will hire her to do it for me.

Monica and I put all three layers of the skirt, one on top of each other with a gathering stitch. It was difficult to work with this slippery fabric and thanks to her mom going to the fabric store twice, we had everything we needed to finish in 2 hours.

A wide black elastic was used for the waistband. This is the trendy style now to have your skirt on 2-3" wide elastic in all the stores. Monica is a very fashionable teen. (notice the jaunty red beret in today's photos)

We gathered the skirt and attached it to the waistband underneath for a nice smooth finish.

We kept being a bit distracted by just how awesome this was turning out and in the middle of the lesson, Monica was up and sketching another idea for the future. Never one to stifle creativity, I love it when she grabs some paper and starts drawing. She has some gorgeous ideas for Halloween Costumes.

The finished skirt was exactly what she had imagined!

I think it looks FABULOUS!!!
and,

YES, we did this in 2HOURS!!!!

DIY Crazy Pillows, Great Project for teaching Kids to Sew

Lessons with my princesses are going well. It is amazing what they have learned and to watch them approach their sewing machines with confidence now instead of trepidation. Both girls chat away and giggle as they work and this week's lesson was no exception.

"Crazy Pillows", so named because of the crazy trims the students love to put all over the top. Its a great chance to practice using a zigzag stitch as well as working on pivoting, designing and just stitching in a straight line.

This is a wonderful chance to Up-cycle an old garment and some trims left from other projects. Don't be afraid to cut up that old dress you have not worn for 20 years. Believe me, it won't ever fit again! (or be in style)

You will need:
scrap of fabric large enough to cut 12"x12" x 2 or about 1/2 yard.
Fiber fill stuffing
Assorted trims
Thread ,ruler, scissors and lots of pins*

*A note on pins, I prefer the pins with the colored heads simply because I use the colors as a code with my students when their projects require them to stop and start,etc....For example, on this project, we used a pair of black headed pins to mark where to start sewing up the pillow and where to stop. If they saw black, it meant something important. With really young students, you can use red and green for stop and go also.

Step 1: Cut two 12" squares from your fabric.
Step 2: Find and measure the trims that you want to use on your pillow top.
Step 3: Pin the trims to just ONE pillow top. Set the other one to the side until you have finished with your design.

I used to sew for a Ballet Company in Carmel so I had some interesting pieces left from the bodices of the Snowflake costumes with lots of sequins. One of my little princesses decided to go with a "bling" theme and use two of these and some other metallic trims.

My more conservative young lady chose some vintage lace and other trims that matched her bright pink fabric very boldly. As you can see by the photos, they spent some time carefully considering where to pin all this trim. In tricky spots where trims overlapped or crisscrossed, we had to sew down one layer at a time.

The crossing piece was carefully pinned back and out of the way without losing her desired placement.

Step 4:Attaching the trims to the top of your pillow.

It takes some time to sew on all these trims. I would say in general that this should be a two hour project for your students. If they put too much trim, they may never complete the project. We came close to that and both girls had to sew the opening closed at home later.

I made the girls change the thread colors to match their trims for a more professional look. Ok...yes, no professional would be making pillows quite this "crazy" but its a great habit to start now. I told them that nothing screams "homemade" instead of "handmade" more than someone that did not bother to use correct thread colors. Sewing white lace with black thread would just be tacky!

I always love it when my children tell someone "mommy made my clothes" and the person is amazed! That is what we aim for when we create our own garments and I want my students to know from their earliest lessons about ways to make their projects more professional.

Step 5: Sewing the pillow together.
Place the back piece of your pillow with the right sides together on top of the trimmed half and pin all the way around, leaving an opening of about 4" to 5" for turning the pillow inside out.

Step 6: Turn the Pillow: Trim your corners carefully before turning the pillow right side out. Iron your pillow top before stuffing with the fiberfill.

Step 7: Finishing: Starting with the corners, grab a handful of stuffing and push it into the opening with your hands and fill up your pillow from the bottom to the top. Each girl used half a bag of stuffing. You can decided just how full you want your pillow. Slip stitch the opening closed.

Our finished projects! They are bright and colorful pillows, well deserving of the name "Crazy" pillows. The princesses did a fantastic job and are ready to start working on some more difficult projects. We can't decide what they want to do next but I am thinking of some pouches with zippers. The girls want to applique on jeans and get that trim out again.

We also tossed around the idea of pajama pants but one young lady claimed she only sleeps on old sweats and t-shirts. I was a bit disappointed as I had imagined her in a Princess Nightgown all this time! After all, isn't she royalty?