June | 2012 | Earthtones Girl

Archive for June, 2012

BLT # 14

Posted in BLT Friday, Food, Sewing Tutorials on June 22, 2012 | 3 Comments »

Right on time this week…

I saw this blog & store on Facebook and it’s wonderful…it looks like a quaint little English shop where I could see myself spending many an hour (if I lived near by…have I ever mentioned that I whole heartily believe I was born and raised in England in another life?…oh wait I think I said that in my last BLT…)

BLOG:

That said…check it out

A Day In The Sewing Room

LOVE IT:

No scones this week! Actually I’m officially off dessert since I got on the scale this morning and literally gasped…that ain’t good! So I’m going light this week.

SUMMER SALSA

Summer Salsa by Be A Pot Stirrer

Doesn’t that look yummy and perfect for all this hot weather and much more waist-line friendly…(I’m really not liking my reflection these days…help May May!)

TUTORIAL:

Since I’ll be munching on that awesome salsa I won’t feel so bad sitting to make this for Kira.

BUTTERFLY DRESS

Butterfly Dress by A Day In The Sewing Room

It looks super easy and I can’t wait to give it a go. I have so many projects in the works right now I don’t even know what to do next….I really need some help….on lots of levels.

Have a great weekend everyone.

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Father’s Day Recap

Posted in Uncategorized on June 20, 2012 | 2 Comments »

I know I’m a little late with this post but my family (captured in the pictures and overseas) are dying to see them and this is the fastest way since the age of hard copies and snail mail seems so “dinosaur-ish”.

Here is how we spent Father’s Day….and as you can see we had a ball…

The day started with a little snuggle with daddy.

Daddy is the best snuggler EVER!!

Daddy and Auntie Ann!!!

My sister and her hubby Jeff…

My cousin Alex and my mum (without whom my dad wouldn’t be…)

Auntie Fay and sista!!!

Kira enjoying a little cake!! Actually only the icing!! I know I’m a bad mum…

Helping grandpa with this cards ”Let me do it”…

Isn’t my daddy handsome!!! Love you Papa!!

“I think you need some help daddy…let me do it!”

I came out from behind the camera long enough to take this picture…

Our lovely Father’s Day brunch was over and it was time for everyone to slip into a food coma…

Then after Kira’s nap we headed over a Ukrainian festival just a few blocks away and my girl sampled various kiddie rides for the first time. She and daddy had a blast, I had heart palpitations…

Yes, that’s a ferris wheel car….oh my gosh!!!!!

“So how this work daddy…?”

I couldn’t even look…Alex took this picture!!!

It wouldn’t be a festival without cotton candy…

“It’s too sweet…you have it daddy”

It was a sweet and perfect day.

We love you daddy!!

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BLT #13 The English Issue

Posted in BLT Friday, Food, Sewing Tutorials on June 15, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

This comment is from one of my readers and it’s one of the reasons I love blogging. Thank you Chante! I get SO excited when I hear from you all about something I’ve posted that’s inspired you.

“I read this post around eight this evening and I downloaded a sample of the first chaos book to my nook immediately after. It’s now eleven thirty and I’ve already downloaded all three books and I’m about four chapters in. I am totally addicted and now I have to recommend this series to all my friends so that I”ll have someone to discuss this with too. Thanks and I really love your BLT posts. I’m so glad you decided to bring them back. Now i’m off to find out what the eff the “quiet” is about.”

-Chante (one of my blog readers) and now lover of the Chaos Walking Triology

Just wait until you find out what the “quiet” is!!! You’re going to love these books. And I’d love to chat with you about them. I’ve been dying to talk to someone who’s read them…

Which leads me to this weeks BLT!!

BLOG/BOOK:

Got another book for you. I’ve been plowing through audio books lately. I wish I could just sit, read a book and sip a cup of tea but I think those days are over for a while. As soon as I sit down I start feeling guilty and thinking about all the things I should be doing (laundry, dishes, and other equally tedious house hold tasks). But I can do all the afore-mentioned and listen at the same time. Guilt Free!!! Win-Win all around.

So now I’m completely riveted to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows. It is the polar opposite of the Chaos books and exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for. My aunt recommended it and when she recommends a book I run to get it. I don’t know which of us has a bigger appetite for the written word. And this book is the word at it’s best. I was laughing from the first chapter. I’ll keep ya posted as I progress.

LOVE IT:

Since this book is set in England (I swear I lived there in another life) and the island of Guernsey I thought it fitting to have some appropriate munchies to accompany me as I listen. My rear end would love it if I skipped this part but who can resist.

TRADITIONAL ENGLISH SCONES by Bird’s Party Blog

Traditional English Scones by Bird’s Party Blog

What’s interesting is just after the war (WWII, the time in which the book is set) making these would have been very difficult. Food coupons, rationing, etc. And to have the clotted cream…almost impossible. For those of you who have never had clotted cream (sounds a bit gross, I know) you haven’t lived. It’s worth being the sole reason one travel’s to England.

TUTORIAL:

I’ve been inspired to create a tutorial after seeing this PERFECT BABY GIFT on Pinterest. I just fell in love with it, rushed to buy the PDF but it’s sold out. So I’ll get to work and see what I can come up with. No idea when that will actually happen but I can dream…you never know….

A BABY BATH APRON TOWEL by BLISSFULpatterns

Genius! A Baby Bath Apron Towel by BLISSFULpatterns

What mom couldn’t have used one of these at some point? Very smart…

So there ya have it!! Another BLT for a week filled with inspiration!!! Till next time.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

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BLT #12

Posted in BLT Friday on June 11, 2012 | 2 Comments »

This was supposed to have been posted last Friday but I was so busy, grooming and prepping for my 20 year college reunion that it just didn’t make it. But here it is…We’ll just have 2 this week. Oh and the reunion was awesome…

I still can’t believe I stopped doing this for so long. Anyway, water under the bridge…here we go. Happy Friday!!

BLOG/BOOK:

I don’t have a blog this week but I do have a book! Still a “B” so I’m going with it. A good change, alternating between blogs and book…sound good?

So my book this week is actually a trilogy, CHOAS WALKING by Patrick Ness. I can’t stop talking about these books. They were amazing, riveting and on some strange level almost believable, though sci-fi. Now I’m an audio book fan so I didn’t “read” these books. To be honest I can’t imagine reading them. There is so much going on at once that I think they may be challenging to read, however listening to them!!!! Some audio books are good, some are great and some win awards. These should totally win awards!!! The narrators are brilliant!! Can someone please listen/read them so I can have someone to talk to about them…

LOVE IT:

I just saw this recipe this morning. Guess what I’m having for breakfast!! I really love quick and easy!!

BANANA OATMEAL MUFFINS

Even my fussy eater enjoyed them..

They are so good!!

TUTORIAL:

Of course another Pinterest find. I’m kind of excited about this one. So simple, easy and highly personalize-able…A great Fathers Day gift from the kids, the grad (words of wisdom) or anyone for any reason.

The instructions are on the Pin itself, here. The link from there takes you to this Etsy shop. Try it for yourself or go shopping…choice is yours.

I’m firing up my oven first. It will already be on for the muffins.

Hope everyone has (had) a great weekend.

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LE LOVE

Posted in Uncategorized on June 7, 2012 | 3 Comments »

I GOT IT!! I GOT IT!! I GOT IT!!!

Isn’t it gorgeous!!!! I can’t wait to sample all the yumminess this baby is going to produce.

Bread first of course!!!!!

Thanks for the support everyone!!!!!

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You Don’t Need A Reason

Posted in Blogging on June 6, 2012 | 2 Comments »

…or rather you don’t need a “serious” reason to do something. It can be done just because it’s fun. June 1st marked five years that I’ve been blogging and you know what…it’s still fun!!

I started this blog in June 2007 right before heading off the knitting camp for the second time. It was so exciting to finally have a space in the world (if only virtual) to share my passion with others. I’d wanted a blog for so long but wasn’t sure how to even go about setting one up. One day at the yarn shop where I was working at the time, a woman (an amazing woman) walked in. The usual conversation started, “what are you interested in making?”, “where’s the sock yarn?”, the usual, but then I happened to mention knitting camp and the light went on. It was my second time, she’d always wanted to go…we couldn’t shut up. We decided to meet after work to talk more and the subject of blogging came up. She was a computer tech and offered to help me. The rest is history (as they say). A couple of weeks later Earthtones Girl was born.

My blog has gone though some changes over the years but at its heart it has always been a place for me to share the things I love. Knitting, sewing/quilting, cooking, baking, and especially my family.

Thanks to all of you out there who have shared this experience with me over the years. I hope you continue to visit.

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BLT Friday – The Return

Posted in BLT Friday on June 1, 2012 | 2 Comments »

IT’S BACK!!! And ya know what…I’m not going to worry about the legal stuff. I was told once in massage school that even if you don’t completely master all the techniques if your intention is to heal, you will have served well. My intention here is purely to share and pass along information. I hope the material of anyone I link to feels the same way. If they don’t and I “piss someone off” then I will clean up the mess then.

ENJOY!!

BLOG:

This is an awesome blog and amazing resource. I visit quite often. Great place for a beginner sewist…

Sew 4 Home

LOVE IT:

I was out shopping yesterday when I saw the dutch oven pictured below (but in a gorgeous orange color) on sale. Sale price $191.00 reduced from $265. I almost bought it on the spot but that’s still a lot of money….But I so want to make this bread and have it look just like hers…Maybe an early birthday gift. I had the store hold one for me…actually they offered. Which is not usually done with sale items. I’d say that means something…maybe the universe giving me permission. Please someone give me permission!!! It’s a Le Creuset…those don’t come cheap but I’ve heard they wear like iron (no pun intended) and are worth every penny.

CRUSTY BREAD by SIMPLY SO GOOD (picture by SimplySoGood)

Crusty Bread by Simply So Good

TUTORIAL:

If you have checked out my boards on Pinterest you know I have a serious problem. But I also have an excellent resource of tutorials for a ton of different things. My two favorite boards are my quilting tutorials and sewing tutorials. I know you have to support the authors out there but there is so much for free it does make it hard, especially when for once you want to buy something other than fabric (I really want that dutch oven)… I can’t wait to give this one a go! If anyone of you try it let me know.

Moda’s Half Moon Modern Sewing Room: Ironing Board Cover

Who hasn’t gone shopping for a new cover and thought how ugly they are. Now they don’t have to be. I’m going to make a mini version for my table top ironing board. I love that little board and use it almost every day. So time for a make over….