RSSArchives: Natalie Zee Drieu
Anna Maria Horner's Folksy Flannels
I'm drooling over the new Anna Maria Horner line of flannel printed fabrics called Folksy Flannels. Anna's put together a few bundles in precut stacks that are perfect for upcoming holiday projects.
From the site:
Good Morning & Good Night are the two cozy palettes that make up the 16 piece collection. Printed on your favorite Westminster cotton flannel this warm and wonderful collection is perfect for pajamas, blankets, soft toys and more!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 21, 2009 07:00 AM
Fabric |
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How-To: Bake a Turkey-Shaped Cake
Bake a Turkey-Shaped Cake
By Cathy Callahan
How about cake instead of pie this Thanksgiving? I don't mind pie but am really more of a cake person. This turkey-shaped cake is a fun way to introduce a cake to the dessert table and is also fun for kids to make for Thanksgiving. And if the "pie people" turn their noses up at it? At least it can also double as decoration for the table.
With the big holiday just around the corner I'm sure many of you are starting to pour over your favorite cookbooks in search of recipes. I really don't own many cookbooks and am an advocate for just having a few really good ones on hand. There's been a lot of talk about classic cookbooks lately. Of course we all love Julia Child's The Way to Cook. The Joy of Cooking has been a staple in kitchens for many generations. On many people's lists of "must haves" are The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, How to Cook Everything, Beard on Food and the list goes on.
But to me an overlooked classic is Baker's Coconut Cut-Up Cakes (1956 edition). Why not have a little fun in the kitchen? It was updated in 1959 and retitled Baker's Coconut Animal Cut-Up Cakes. It was published by Baker's to promote their "Angel Flake Coconut" product. At any given time there are usually a few listed on eBay and there is oftentimes a bidding war to get the older ones. You can sample some pages of the book in charm and poise's Flickr set.
Cut-up cakes are all about the reconfiguration of the standard layer or sheet cake. Following the illustrations, the cake is cut into shapes and arranged to resemble things like boats, bunnies, witches, etc. and then iced, sprinkled with coconut, and decorated with candy; the boat eveb gets Lifesavers for the portholes. And they all have cute names.
I have made the "Ella Elephant," "Fanny the Fish," and "Dear Santa."
I just made the "Gobble-Gobble Gobbler" as a dry run for this Thanksgiving. I tried to follow the recipe as best I could but I have to be honest that a little more explanation would have been helpful. I did have a couple of mishaps and had to approach this project like a small scale construction project. So here I've adapted the original directions in hopes that it will make it a little easier for you. Make sure you wear an apron because it's a very messy, but fun, undertaking.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 20, 2009 05:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Food, Holiday projects, Super Crafty Kidz |
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CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Katalin Möbius Wrap & Wristlet Set
This week's CRAFT Pattern Podcast is the Katalin Möbius Wrap & Wristlet Set by Shannon Okey of knitgrrl, featured in CRAFT: 10. This cozy pair knits up fast and looks best in any multicolored yarn you like.
Catch up with Shannon on the Knitgrrl blog and check out some of her beautiful fiber, spinning tools, and patterns in the Knitgrrl shop.
Download the Pattern PDF | Subscribe in iTunes
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 20, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Patterns, CRAFT Podcast, Fashion, Knitting |
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Appliqué Your Way Events with Kayte Terry in SF
Our pal Kayte Terry will be having a couple events in San Francisco to promote her new book, Appliqué Your Way. Check out her upcoming book tour dates online. Next up after San Francisco, is Portland on Nov 23rd.
Museum of Craft & Folk Art
Friday November 20th, 6-8pm
Celebrate the release of Appliqué Your Way
Wine & Sweets will be served
51 Yerba Buena Lane SF, CA 94103
The Curiosity Shoppe
Saturday November 21st, 1-4pm
Appliqué Workshop with Kayte Terry
Learn how to make Kayte's adorable felt ornaments
855 Valencia Street (between 19th & 20th)
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 19, 2009 08:00 PM
Books and Magazines, Events |
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Book Review, Giveaway + Project: The Sewing Bible By Ruth Singer
The Sewing Bible By Ruth Singer
If you are a crafter who loves to sew or are just starting out this book, The Sewing Bible: A Modern Manual of Practical and Decorative Sewing Techniques by Ruth Singer must be in your crafting library! This hard cover book is like a modern sewing encyclopedia with detailed step-by-step instructions and accompanying photos on techniques for hand and machine sewing. The techniques covered in the book are really extensive such as pin tucks, smocking, hems, adding snaps, princess seams, frills and ruffles, quilting, and embroidery. The close-up photos are great and guide you even better on all the steps. Masterclass techniques, such as mitered corners, help refine your sewing skills. The machine-sewing ones are particularly helpful for me personally as I always need to know if I'm using the right presser foot or not. This book is a sewing companion at it's finest!
The Sewing Bible also comes with 20 beautiful sewing projects. I love the Circular Skirt (p.270), Book Bag (p. 111), and Gathered Scarf (p.220) that can be worn in a variety of ways.
Book Giveaway Time!
Three lucky CRAFT readers will each receive a copy of The Sewing Bible. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Monday, November 23rd. The lucky winners will be announced later on the site. Good luck!
As a special treat, we've got this Stripy Apron project for you! It's a cute apron you can sew up by recycling two men's shirts.
Download the Stripy Apron PDF
(right click and download to your computer)
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 19, 2009 03:30 PM
Books and Magazines, Contests, Sewing |
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Homemade Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
By Jennifer Perkins and Chris Boehk
Every fall my husband Chris whips up a batch of his world famous pumpkin pie ice cream! This year we served it at a Halloween party and are planning to take it to a Thanksgiving potluck! Since this is his special fall creation, I let him write up the instructions and I took the pictures!
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 19, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Food, Holiday projects, Super Crafty Kidz |
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Apple Face Mask
Apple Face Mask, excerpt from The Natural Beauty Book
By Anne Akers Johnson
Mask are intensive treatments and should be limited to your once-a-week routine. Choose one that is well suited to your skin.
Facial Mask Basics
1. Before applying a mask, find a place where you can lie back without being disturbed. Spread a towel out where you will rest your head in case your mask drips.
2. Choose and prepare a recipe.
3. Pull your hair back off your face. Pull long hair back into a ponytail.
4. Wash your face so it's nice and clean.
5. Run a washcloth under warm water, squeeze it out and hold it over your face for a few seconds to dampen your face. If you've just had a steam, skip this step.
6. Apply the mask all over your face and neck (if you like), avoiding your eye area. Lie back and let the mask work for 10-15 minutes. If it starts to feel itchy or uncomfortable, less time is OK.
7. If your mask is particularly chunky (like oatmeal) use your washcloth to gently wipe it off your face, shaking the bits of mask into the trash (this is the trick to avoiding clogged drains). Once it's mostly off, rinse your face in warm water.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 18, 2009 03:00 PM
Beauty, CRAFT Projects, Super Crafty Kidz |
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Thanksgiving Feast: Pumpkin Pie with Caramel Pecan Topping
Thanksgiving Feast: Pumpkin Pie with Caramel Pecan Topping
By Katie Goodman
I have had so many failures with pie crust — too sticky, too dry, full of cracks — that for a while I just resigned myself to buying either frozen crusts or those ones you roll out and shape yourself. But that's really not my style. I love homemade, not store-bought. When I found this recipe from Simply Recipes, it seemed so easy and straightforward that I thought it was worth another go. With such great results on my first try, I felt the confidence I needed to never look back at those store-bought crusts again.
If you're trying to save time on Thanksgiving, you can make the recipe up to Step 5 and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to make the pie. Just let it sit out on the counter for about 10 minutes before you roll it out.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 18, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Food, Holiday projects |
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Me, My Scarf and I Contest: Faux-y Lady Scarf
More entries are coming in for our Me, My Scarf, and I Contest where the Grand Prize Winner will receive a Singer ProFinish Serger! Ooooh! I am loving this Faux-y Lady Scarf by Marigold of the blog Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky! (Flickr user mr. huckleberry & the milosaur.)
Marigold writes writes:
How can something so elegant and sophisticated be so silly at the same time? In my Faux-y Lady scarf, I tried to capture that strange juxtaposition inherent in the vintage fur pelts that have always fascinated me. If this scarf is a reflection of my personality, I hope it comes off a little bit quirky and unconventional, but with a great sense of humor, and somehow still a teensy bit debonair.
There's still time to enter the Me, My Scarf, and I Contest. Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PDT November 23, 2009. Each entry will be judged based on the following criteria: creativity of design, description of how the scarf represents the creator, and the use of a sewing machine in the creation process. Please see Official Rules for more information on the Winner selection.
If you're joining in on the contest, here's the code for the badge to display on your site or blog.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1229922@N20/"><img src="http://cdn.makezine.com/make/craft/badge_singer_scarfcontest.gif" width="150" height="144" border="0" alt="CRAFT: Singer Contest - Me, My Scarf, and I" /></a>
See more entries in the Me, My Scarf and I Flickr Group.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 17, 2009 03:00 PM
Contests, Sewing |
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Knifty Knitter Loom-Along with Vickie Howell: Alice Wrist Warmers
Shh! I have a secret. I'm completely obsessed with the Twilight series. I first heard about the books from Kim Werker. Then, it was around this time last year when I got a hold of the first Twilight book from a fellow crafter Nancy Flynn of Belle Epoque. I was weeks from giving birth and on maternity leave so I thought what the heck, I'll give it a try. A week later, I was on the third novel in the series. The movie premiered on the day I gave birth to Chloe so I never got to see it until it came out months later on DVD. Yes, I admit have a crush on vampire Edward Cullen (not Robert Pattinson the actor, mind you) and the fog laden, damp locale of Forks, Washington is a perfect backdrop for showcasing knits. Because dear crafters, I know we have a lot in common. I see Twilight pop up in your Facebook feeds, in your Good Reads lists, and yes, it's a topic of conversation among us on Twitter, no?
(Photo: Summit Entertainment)
Enter in my one of my many email conversations with Vickie Howell, a knitting/crochet queen and fellow movie buff. In September for our "Cozy Up to Yarn" month, she had a brilliant idea to tie in her Movie Monday post with a knitting pattern for Alice Wrist Warmers. (Alice Cullen is also a teen vampire and Edward's sister.) With the movie premiere happening this Friday, we thought it would be fun to do an "Along" tying in our favorite thing -- knitting and a movie.
To celebrate the premiere of New Moon we are presenting the Knifty Knitter Loom-Along (LAL) with Vickie Howell! Vickie will be showing you how to create her Alice Wrist Warmers inspired by the movie using a Knifty Knitter Flower Loom Kit. You'll probably be able to find this at your local Jo-Ann's or craft store. It's an easy way to knit if you don't know how or a fun thing to try out even if you do know how. I'll be joining in on the fun as a new loom knitter.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 17, 2009 10:00 AM
Knitting, Loom-Along |
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