Meet Eleanor

Hullo all! For today's post I thought I would introduce you to my sewing machine, Eleanor!

Ta-da! Eleanor was given to my mother by my grandmother in the 80's. I would use her occasionally but she mostly lived in the garage unused until I found a Singer dealer that could tune her up. Now that shes been to the sewing "spa" she is refreshed and ready for use! Ive already created a few things with her and I started going to a sewing class on base. I'm so glad she could be fixed! I was searching for a machine for YEARS but could never settle on one. I don't like how newer machines are all plastic-y, I feel like they would crumble after a few uses! Eleanor is a tough ole bird and all metal. The only thing she really needed was a face lift. She came with an AWFUL pink and cream case and I quickly decided it had to go. Rather than chunk it (it really is a very sturdy case,) I decided to spray paint it! Here's new and improved Eleanor!

You can't tell in the picture but I also sprayed the entire thing with glitter spray. I wish I had taken a picture of her before but I couldn't find my camera. She looks so pretty now!!! Just in case you are wondering she is a Singer Merritt 2404!

Try it Thursdays- An apple pie adventure

I must confess I LOVE to try new things! I've never been a "Lets read the instructions and figure out a plan" kind of girl, when it comes to new things. I want to jump in feet first and see how it turns out. I've come to realize that's probably the reason why I'm such a terrible cook. Having the attention span of a goldfish doesn't help either (it's a wonder I made it through nursing school!) How did the apple pie come in you ask? Here's how my brain works. I'm sitting around working on something, enter internal monologue.

Brain: Ello lovely! (did I mention my internal monologue is British? Well it is, and not modern British. We're talking Agatha Christie novel British.) For every ones sake I'll write it normally. I don't want y'all to think I'm totally bonkers.

Wow, this anime is great, I wish I had an outfit like hers, maybe I could sew one? Speaking of sewing I need to paint my sewing case. I wonder if that apple red is really the shade I want. I wish I could pick apples, it looks like fun. I can't wait until thanksgiving, then I could have apple pie. You know I've never made apple pie. I'm going to make an apple pie today!

Bam! The search for an apple pie recipe begins. I found a delicious looking one via Craftzine: Apple Pie Three Ways I cheated and bought pie crust mix instead of using Katie Goodmans pie crust recipe (if you haven't been to her blog Good Life Eats I command you to stop what you're doing and GO THERE NOW!) After gathering all the ingredients I set out to make the pie only to find out I didn't have a rolling pin. Since it was 10:00 PM and I didn't feel like going to the store I improvised and smooshed the dough with my hands. Word of advice, just get the rolling pin. I ended up running out of dough so my pie is more stripped then lattice. It tasted wonderful!! Who cares if its pretty, I made it and I didn't burn anything! Here's the final product.

See the ONE small sad "lattice" piece?

The Hubbs helped me finish it off even though he hates apple pie. So yeah, it was THAT good!

Epic Fail............

Sometimes when you try new things, well, they end up a burnt up blob. Enter my chicken enchiladas. I even cooked them two different ways and the end result was inedible. We had to resort to plan B fast food. I've never been much of a cook but I'm trying to improve my skills. Luckily I don't have a picture of the mess (that way I can deny it ever happened!) I do however have a picture of one of my (few) successes! Say hello to Blackened Tilapia!

I can honestly say it was delish! This recipe was added to the recipe binder and will be repeated soon! Now I have to attempt to cook tonight's dinner without burning the place down! 

They're Here! Mondays are for Etsy.

Oh Etsy, how I love the! I recently purchased these lovely beauties from MisNopalesArt

I LOVE THEM! I love sugar skulls, I have shirts, mirrors, bags but a sugar skull Batman?! Um YES PLEASE! I highly recommend their store. The bottom lovely was given as a first anniversary gift to the hubs, which he loved! They have prints, bags, shirts and stickers. They have images of Charlie Chaplin, Star Wars and anything in between! So what are you waiting for? Go check them out!

I am Thankful

It's so easy to look at other people's lives and put them on a pedestal. Especially these days with Facebook and other social networks. You keep asking yourself, Why can't I be like them? Why am I not as fashionable? Why is my house not as nice? You start to think that one picture encompasses their whole life. It's easy to forget all the things you should be thankful for. Today I decided to write a list of reasons why I should be thankful for my life.

1. I have a loving family and husband who support me and my dreams.
2. I have an amazing career that I love.
3. I am able to go to grad school to further my education.
4. I have amazing friends and no matter where I am in the world I know they would be there in a heartbeat if I needed them too.

I want to add a second list more specific to my current situation. I am between jobs which is very difficult for me. I've always been an "on the go" kind of person and I love to work. It's been hard to sit at home all day and sometimes I forget that every situation creates new opportunities.

1. I can use this time to work on craft projects that have been sitting idly by for some time.
2. I can practice cooking. (Trust me I NEED it)
3. I can take classes and try new things that I normally wouldn't have time for.
4. I can read all day if I choose.
5. I can workout more often.
6. I can actually decorate our apartment!
7. I can sit back, take a breath and reorganize my life.

There are so many more I could name but even writing down these few reasons makes me feel thankful and happier about my life. Sometimes its better to stop looking at other peoples lives and instead live your own.

It's Been Awhile.......

So here I am three years later, I've been terrible at keeping up my blog. I'm more of a pen and paper kind of gal. However I'm dipping my toes into the blogging world once again. I really want to use this blog to catalog my crafts and to connect with all the other crafty people out there! My goal is to post weekly and then move up from there, but who knows. I'm currently trying to revamp a dresser I bought from le Goodwill and I'll be posting pics of the process!

Love Love Love,

Freckles.

PS. Have you gotten your D*S book yet? I HAVE!!