FELT LEAF GARLAND - MY PB KNOCK-OFF

Well, I'm back. I knew I couldn't stay away for two weeks.  I will say, though, that I did need this past week's break from blogging.  As much as I enjoy blogging and reading my favorite blogs, having one less thing to think about was really needed.  

I did manage to get some things done.  Of course, not as much as I really wanted.  And I did knock out a couple projects.  One project being my version of
Pottery Barn's Felt Leaf Garland.  

Pottery Barn Kids

You know when you see something and you just have to have it, or just have to make it?  That's how I felt when I saw this felt leaf garland sold at PB's Kid's site.  

Pottery Barn Kids

But with a price tag of $50, I knew for sure I wouldn't purchasing the real article.  

Fifty bucks???!!!  I don't think so.

So, I broke out my stash of Kunin Felt and got busy.  Kunin Felt is a wonderful, high-quality, washable felt (you can order here).  When I worked in a quilt shop eons ago, we sold it by the yard.  It was used a lot in craft and doll patterns.  

I found some leaf templates on the net I liked, printed them out and traced them to the paper side of fusible web.  The fusible web is ironed onto the felt, and then the leaf shape is cut out.  Once the paper backing is peeled off, I then ironed the cut shape to another piece of felt to create the layered leaves.  Of course, the leaves with cut outs were made before they were layered and ironed.  

The cost of this project . . . zero, zip . . . just my time, as I had all the materials on hand.  It's not exactly like the Pottery Barn garland, but I'm super-pleased with the results.

Thanks for visiting! 

Leave a comment so I can get to know you.

TAKING A BLOGGING BREAK

Kinda funny that I'm announcing a blogging break when I've been such a bad, neglectful blogger recently!  I have other priorities right now on which to focus, and I think my humble little blog's gonna have to take a far back seat for a bit.


I hope to get back into the swing of things in a couple weeks . . . maybe sooner :o)



Thanks for visiting! 
Leave a comment so I can get to know you.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

The air is crisp, the leaves are turning . . . 

It's the perfect weather for soup.  

I love soup.  

I could eat it almost every night.  I'm not sure my family are big soup fans.  I think it's psychological to them that an entire meal must be spread out all over a plate, not neatly combined in a single bowl.

Picture from "Back To The Cutting Board"

Anyway, it was chilly the other day, and I was in a soup mood.  But really wanting something different and quick, I found a great recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup at one of my favorite online recipe sites, All Recipes.  I'm sharing it because, not only was it totally delish, but it was quick and easy and everything was already in my pantry.  I like last minute meals like that - you know, when I actually have everything on hand that I need!

I should have taken pics of my own creation, but, as mentioned above, I was in a hurry to get dinner on the table, and just didn't take the time to grab the camera.  I did, however, find a few pics on the net that very much resembled my yummy finished product.

Picture from "Food Nework"

I'm sure if you try it, you will not at all be disappointed in this recipe's ease and tastiness.  And hopefully you're family will enjoy it as well!

The Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp dried oregano

1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes (I used tomato sauce)

1 (10.5 oz) can condensed chicken broth (I used boxed chicken stock)

1-1/4 cups water (I omitted the water, but used extra chicken stock)

1 cup whole corn (I used frozen)

1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 fresh chopped cilantro

2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite sized pieces

crushed tortilla chips (I used tortilla chip strips)

sliced avocado

shredded Jack Cheese

chopped green onions

The Directions:

1. In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat.  Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft.  Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth and water.  Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes
2. Sir in corn, chilies, beans, cilantro and chicken.  Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Ladle soup into bowls and top with crushed tortilla chips, or strips, avocado slices, cheese and chopped green onion.  

I also added a dollop of cream cheese and squeezed some fresh lime over the soup.

Picture from "Shine from Yahoo"

See!  

Quick and easy and good!  

This will definitely be a repeat performer in my kitchen!

Thanks for visiting! 

Leave a comment so I can get to know you.

TRICK OR TREAT!

This year I joined in on some grown-up Trick or Treating hosted by Christine at

A Work In Progress

What a fun swap this was!  We were to send two "treats" and one "trick" to Christine.  Two items were to be handmade, one could be store bought {I choose to make all three}.  Christine asked that we not label our pieces with our names, keeping them anonymous, only labeling which two were the "treats" and which one was the "trick".  Once she received everyone's goodies, she randomly put together two of the treats and one trick per person and sent them back out.

We were to take pictures of the treats and tricks we were sending out so we could post them on our blogs today as well.  Silly me, I totally forgot to take pictures of what I made,  so Christine kindly took a few snaps of my items when she received them.  But when I downloaded them from Christine's email, and tried to upload them here, I kept getting a "server refused" message.  Anyone know what that's about?

Now, here's where the fun starts.  Once we all received back our tricks and treats, we had to wait until today, All Hallow's Eve, to post pics of the ghoulish goodies we received.  Then, we go to Christine's blog where she has all the participant's links posted and we visit each other's blogs, "Trick or Treating", seeing who received the items we sent out.  Pretty neat, huh?!

I received some really great things!  I was like a kid on Christmas morning when my box arrived.  Pulling each adorable little goodie out . . . oooo'ing and ahhh'ing over each one.

And if coordinating, distributing and hostessing this swap wasn't enough, Christine included a gorgeous Halloween vintage-image pendant necklace as a thank-you for participating.  Oh, Christine!  It's so adorable.  I've loved wearing it.  And it's us who are offering you a big thank-you for putting this swap together.

Thanks for visiting! 

Leave a comment so I can get to know you.