MAKING QUICK, QUIRKY ACCESSORIES

 I guess at heart I am a true, dyed in the wool, southwestern style, feathers and bead loving old hippie and the hatband with matching earrings that I have made prove it.

I wanted something patriotic with feathers and beads and as the hatband began to take shape the song "Yankee Doodle" started going through what mind I have left.

 "Yankee Doodle went to town

riding on a pony

stuck a feather in his hat

and called it macaroni"

So that is how the Yankee Doodle Hat Band got its name. It is easy and quick to make.

I have yet to figure out what macaroni has to do with a feather or his hat, or his pony.

-THE YANKEE DOODLE HATBAND-

-MATCHING YANKEE DOODLE EARRINGS-

Surely, every self respecting Yankee Doodle Hat Band needs matching Yankee Doodle Earrings, don't you think?

Making jewelry is not one of my best ventures. I use beads to embellish my quilts and wallhangings so I do pick beads and findings that are of interest whenever I see them. You never know when you might have need for a spectacular focal point. Of course, that is the justification for all those lovely things squirreled away for future use and you never know, one bead could be the inspiration for a whole design.

At any rate, I hope you have fun with these if you decide to make them. 

Check out these and many other craft videos and tutorials @ http://favecrafts.com/.

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Since my maid has not showed up for work for quite some time now, I cannot spend all my time in my sewing room. For some reason, husband dear thinks there should be meals on the table and the house reasonably kept- not to mention a few clean clothes every now and again.  I keep telling him he can turn his underwear inside out and wear them another week but that doesn't work any more. 

As I've told you before, my domestic divadom does include cooking and am sharing some of my favorite recipes. The Hot Fudge Topping was in yesterday's post and today I am including my next fave, my Butterscotch Topping,  which is just as easy and quick. As with the Hot Fudge Topping, this recipe is doubled or tripled every time I make it-might as well get more done in the same amount of time!

BUTTERSSOTCH TOPPING

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1/4 cup butter or margarine

dash of nutmeg [optional]

makes about 1 1/2 cups

In 1 1/2 quart mixing bowl, combine brown sugar and flour. Stir in milk and syrup, then butter. Microwave at high 2 to 4 minutes, or until mixture boils; stir well. Microwave 3 1/2 minutes. Stir in nutmeg. Serve warm.

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Since we eat a lot of ice cream around here, we have a lot of those nice plastic containers. I use them for storing leftover soups, chilis and beans in the freezer and also for sending them home with the kids-my good containers would never be seen again if they went out the door. I also use them as organizers for my craft paints and things. You can see those in a former post where I show how to make a "Repurposed Organizer". 

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Happy Homemaking

Carolyn Wainscott

PARTS 3 & 4-FELTING APPLIQUED NO PATTERN, LINED SKIRT & TOP SERIES

My couture designs for housecleaning-oh, sure!

Here are parts 3 & 4 in the series for the "Felted Applique, No Pattern, Lined Skirt & Top".

The no pattern, self lined skirt was completed in Parts 1 & 2. Take your measurements according to directions in parts 1 & 2 to make your skirt.

A cream colored t-shirt knit is used for the outfit. The top was cut from a pattern that I have had and used for several pieces for quite a few years. I seem to wear the same thing all the time, just in different colors. 

 Appliques on both the skirt and top have been felted on with felting machine, then thread work done to highlight the motifs which were fussy cut from a floral fabric. After all embellishments were done, the pieces were sewn together and finish work done. 

If you would like more pizzaz, add hot set beads, glitter paints or whatever suits your fancy.  

You can see the following videos with tips and instructions on FaveCrafts.com. For all free videos, tutorials and patterns on many crafts and artistry, join us online at: http://favecrafts.com/. You will find crochet, knitting, needlework, kids crafts, beadwork, jewelry making and so much more that you just can't even imagine.

PART 3-EMBELLISHING YOUR TOP

PART 4-FINISHING YOUR TOP

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This is a different vein altogether but it still has to do with homemaking, craftsmanship, or however you want to put it. From time to time I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes that are quick, allow me to craft longer and still make me look good.

You will notice that most of them run in the same categories:chocolate, peanut butter and quick.

Grandson, Travis, was just in over the weekend from college and requested one of his favorites. Since it is so simple, I thought you might benefit from having the recipe. Now hang on to your seats, or your scissors, machine, glues, fabric or whatever it is you are holding onto-here is a recipe for the easiest [even easier than a mix], quickest, really good-peanut butter cookie recipe. 

you  will need:

1 cup of peanut butter

1 cup of sugar

1 egg

HONEST! THAT IS IT!

Mix all together in a bowl

drop by small spoonful onto greased cookie sheet, crisscross with fork, bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes

I have also made peanut blossoms by placing Hershey kisses onto each as they come out of oven-in fact that is how Trav wanted his.

Kids love 'em, they make the house smell great and only take a few minutes.

Happy Homemaking from

Carolyn Wainscott

the quilting granny