GIRLS NEED BAGS!

i'm a girl and i'm a sucker for bags. i can't have too many and i seem to always be hunting for one. whether it be for yoga clothes, something to throw my sewing supplies in when i'm taking things on the run with me or something cute for work, i can't have too many bags. i found this pattern on verypurpleperson.com. i don't think i sewed the handles the right way but who cares, it's still functional and very cute. i used four different coordinating fat quarters and love the result. have a looksee!

FAT QUARTER BAG

I made this bag with 5 fat quarters. Two on the outside, two on the inside and one for the handles and trim. It's completely reversible and will become my yoga bag for a mat, towel and H2O. I love, love, love orange and this bag makes me oh so happy.

Men's PJ Bottoms

I've been threatening to make my man-fella a pair of pj bottoms but being just a beginner still, I was procrastinating. I feared cutting two yards of fabric only to screw it up. (Mind you, I was doing this free-hand with no pattern or instructions.) What I have found in sewing, though, is that if you think things through well enough, you can pretty much figure it out. And when you make a mistake, you probably won't make it again. Today I had some time on my hands and took the plunge. The verdict is still out as to whether or not they fit. When the boy toy gets back from his trip, he will promptly be ordered to put these on....hopefully I will neither laugh or cry at my handiwork.

I've been having so much fun making new pieces in my sewing class and this is my latest creation.

Spring-time Top!

When I see fabric that I just can't live without, I don't always know what will become of it but usually the design reveals itself to me pretty quickly. With no pattern, I just started cutting on this one and made the top last night. I was happy with the turnout as I'm still just a beginner. Whipstitch Fabrics has the best selection of unique designs and has become a disease for me. Fabric or mortgage?

HEAVEN IN A CUP!

my dear friends, have you not yet tried Chick-fil-A's peach milkshake? pre tel you're speeding fast down the road now, to try your very own. IT'S FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, FOLKS!

and they is oh so delish!!

Crispy Cheese-Stuffed Bellas

I just tried this recipe and it was so, very YUMMY!

INGREDIENTS:

• 16 baby portobello (crimini) mushrooms
• 1 pound ground chicken or turkey breast
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (1/3 palmful)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, gratedor finely chopped
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 cup shredded Asiago cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (a couple of handfuls)
• 1 box frozen chopped spinach (10 ounces), defrosted and wrung of excess liquid
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 1/4 cup pine nuts or chopped almonds

PREPARATION

Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp cloth. Remove the stems and finely chop.

Pre-heat the oven to 400ºF.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, fennel seed, onion, garlic, lemon zest, half of the cheese, the chopped mushroom stems, breadcrumbs and spinach and season with salt and pepper. Season the mushroom caps as well with salt and pepper, then brush them lightly with EVOO and stuff the mixture into them.

Arrange the stuffed mushrooms on a baking sheet or in a baking dish. Leave some room around each mushroom to prevent the caps from getting steamy. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and nuts on the caps and transfer to the oven.

Bake until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is cooked through, about 25 minutes.

Serve warm.

SPOONFLOWER!

Spoonflower makes it possible for individuals to design, print and sell their own fabric designs. It was founded in May 2008 by two Internet geeks who had crafty wives but who knew nothing about textiles. The company came about because Stephen’s wife, Kim, persuaded him that being able to print her own fabric for curtains was a really cool idea. She wasn’t alone.

The Spoonflower community now numbers around 70,000 individuals who use their own fabric to make curtains, quilts, clothes, bags, furniture, dolls, pillows, framed artwork, costumes, banners and much, much more. The Spoonflower marketplace offers the largest collection of independent fabric designers in the world. The site has appeared in the New York Times, Associated Press, Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, Make, CRAFT, ApartmentTherapy, Photojojo, and many other terrific publications and blogs.

Spoonflower is a start-up and a work in progress. Its growth has been made possible by the enthusiasm of a worldwide community of people who are passionate about fabric, design and making things. Along the way it has also received help, support and advice from lots of friendly people and organizations, including [TC]2, NCIdea.org, North Carolina State University College of Textiles, and Expand Systems. Suggestions and feedback are always welcome and appreciated.

http://www.spoonflower.com

Reversible Tote

Here's a reversible tote I just made. It's my first so I'm hoping they'll only get better with more practice. I fell in love with this fabric. It's called "Ducks in a Row" from Red Letter Day by Lizzy House, purchased at Whipstitch Fabrics and the green pattern is "Eva from Basic Grey, Extravagance Decadent in Green" also purchased at Whipstitch Fabrics.

UNANIMOUS CRAFT

Unanimous Craft is a tagable, sortable index of resources for crafters, artists and indie business owners. They submit their favorite resources and welcome the community to do the same. Once you become a member, you can submit resources you like, review and rate other resources and curate lists of your favorites.

Welcome Home Maids

Ladies and gentlemen, we all need more time in our lives and additionally, could always be doing more to assist in the protection and clensing of our environment, right? My wonderful friend, Vanessa, owns a company who offers the 'luxury of cleaning for the eco conscious'.

Welcome Home Maids offers a distinctive homekeeping service that's eco-friendly, biodegradable and non-toxic. Why not purify and pamper the air and space of your home? Even beyond their all-natural cleaning methods, they keep an eye on the details: from their kind and reliable staff, to the fresh clean scent you will come home to. They make sure your home is a healthy environment for you and your family, so you can breathe easy. And that's the greatest luxury of all."

Mama Bugg

Talk about the greatest woman in the world! This little lady makes the world go 'round and shares her life and spirit with so many others, never asking for credit or anything in return. She's one of the silent angels on this earth and graces so many lives with sweet and amazing gestures of love. One program that is near and dear to her heart is Project Linus. Project Linus is a non-profit organization with a two-fold mission:

1. It is their mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."
2. It is their mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Just wanted to give props to mom for being such a pure inspiration!

Whipstitch Fabrics

I've recently been taking sewing classes and have been loving every minute of it. Deborah, my oh so fabuloso instructor is simply the best! She's funny, smart, witty beyond belief and has made quite a name for herself. Check out her website here.

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Whipstitch Lounge is a modern stitch lounge in the heart of Atlanta. Our mission is to bring modern fabrics, essential sewing supplies, a wide range of sewing classes and workshops, and a hip sewing community all together right in the center of the city. Nowhere else in Atlanta can you find the tremendous selection of gorgeous fabrics offered at Whipstitch, and our sewing classes are second to none. With free events every month and a constantly revolving and expanding workshop schedule, Whipstitch offers the most robust, exciting sewing destination in the Atlanta area.

Deborah Moebes, the founder of Whipstitch, began teaching sewing classes at Atlanta's Beehive Co-op, located on Peachtree Rd., in 2007. Demand for great fabrics and more classes was strong from the very beginning; it's no secret that the big box fabric stores are either a million miles away, the most depressing places on earth, or both--plus, they really don't want you there, and the customer service proves it. With a wistful dream of someday correcting that travesty, Deborah launched Whipstitch as an Etsy shop in late November 2008. She fantasized that someday, when her fairy godmother finally granted all her wishes, she would develop a brick-and-mortar location to fill the void of fabric shops in Atlanta by offering chic, modern prints and sewing supplies inside the city. Dreams are a funny thing, and before she knew it, circumstances aligned to offer the opportunity far sooner than anyone would've imagined. By early 2009, plans were already in the works to create the Whipstitch Lounge as a part of Beehive Co-op, and Deborah's dream has become the hope of a whole city of stitchers. The support, enthusiasm and excitement have been and continue to be overwhelming and uplifting. Whipstitch has so much more in the works for the future--and we're so glad you're along for the ride!

Read more about Whipstitch on the blog, and follow Deborah's design blog to discover the stitcher behind the Lounge.

A friend's fight with chiari malformation...

My dearest friend in life was diagnosed with a rare but serious disorder called chiari malformation. Arnold-Chiari malformation is a malformation of the brain. It consists of a downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum, sometimes causing hydrocephalus as a result of obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow. The cerebrospinal fluid outflow is caused by phase difference in outflow and influx of blood in the vasculature of the brain. It can cause headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness in the head and face, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, nausea, impaired coordination, and paralysis. All in all, it's a hell of a disease and he's one hell of a survivor. Never have I admired one person's strength and willpower more than his. He's my hero! Listen to his story from NPR & Storycorps, here.

Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlets

I'm always looking for new and easy recipes. I found this great one from Real Simple magazine that's delicious and oh so quick! Enjoy....

Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlets

hands-on time: 20 minutes | total time: 30 minutes | makes 4 servings

2 large eggs
1tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional)
2 1/4 cups (9 ounces) finely grated Parmesan
1 cup dried bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon blackpepper
1 to 1.5 pounds chicken cutlets
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 head Boston or butter lettuce
1 lemon, cut into wedges

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and mustard (if using).
In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of the Parmesan, the bread crumbs,
salt, and pepper. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels.
Dip one of the cutlets into the egg mixture, allowing any excess to
drip off, then coat it in the bread-crumb mixture. Transfer to a plate.
Repeat with the remaining chicken, batter, and bread-crumb mixture.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high
heat. Add half of the cutlets. Cook, turning once, until browned and
cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Carefully
wipe out the skillet add 2 more tablespoons of the oil, and repeat
with the remaining cutlets. Divide the cutlets and lettuce leaves
among individual plates. Drizzle the lettuce with the remaining oil
and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Serve the lemon wedges
on the side.

Bailey Bugg the Yoga Dog...

One of the things that brings me the greatest joy is my pup, Bailey. She's no pup really having just turned 7 years old. But one day she came into my life and rescued me. She's a shepherd mix and frisbee champion. This morning she was being so sweet and cute and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap this pic. It's my new inspiration and goal for my yoga poses. How she's able to contort herself in such a way is beyond me. Though sometimes it does us no good to question things, rather just appreciate them at face value.

go green with re-usable grocery bags...

SAD FACT: over 1 million plastic bags are consumed PER MINUTE globally.

GUT WRENCHING FACT: marine wildlife mistakes these bags for food and die daily from ingestion.

FRUSTRATING FACT: supermarkets and politicians will take years to sort it out.

HAPPY FACT: you can make a difference by starting NOW! Use a tote lying around your house or it's a cheap investment to purchase one and can support many great programs.

Do your part!

The Amazing Jane Filer!

It seems that our worlds are so cluttered with chaos that often, it helps to sift and sort out the noise. I try to soothe my soul with colors, sounds, flavors, good vibes, sweet thoughts and little slices of life that may pass in but a moment before it's all gone. Today, I am especially inspired by a work of art by my beloved friend Jane Filer. She is someone I represent in Atlanta and her paintings just scream "joy!" There is soul and spirit in each of them; something a lot of us could use a little more of. Her work really reveals the human she is and the happiness comprised in her own life. I am in awe of her nature and moved by her talent. View more of her works at http://www.matregallery.com/.

She is a marvel!