It never fails; as soon as the sun pokes through the clouds for hours at a time, children’s laughter begins to emerge and mud begins to evolve. It is one of the best times of the year–and the tension of the anticipation of summer fills the air and everyone begins to stir. When you begin seeing brave soles bearing shorts for a run in 40 degree weather you too, can’t help but want to do something festive of spring!
I decided to celebrate the beginning of the thaw by making the perfect spring craft. I’m so in love with her, she is the cutest little rabbit–needless to say, I am way into felting as well. It creates such a cool texture and makes such warm crafts.
Enjoy!
For this project you will need:
1 egg shaped styrofoam ball for body
2 smaller egg shaped styrofoam balls for feet and arms (cut in half)
2 two inch styrofoam ball for tail and head
1 one inch Styrofoam ball for hands, (cut in half)
Different color felt squares to your liking, for dress, carrots, and shirt decor
White wool roving, and felting supplies for body
Colored wood roving, and felting supplies for sleeves
2 small black brads
1 bigger pink brad
toothpicks
fabric glue
scissors
blush
two flower shaped buttons
To assemble:
~ Cut smaller egg shaped styrofoam in half lengthwise for feet and arms.
~ Cover and felt the body, head, tail, feet and hands with white wool roving.
~ Make two ears by felting white roving into desired shape and attach to head.
~ Cover the arms with colored roving as desired.
~ Put toothpicks in the bottom of arms to attach hands, top of feet to attach to body, tail to attach to butt, and top of body to attach head. (Dip in glue for extra security)
~ Assemble bunny
~ Cut a strip from felt thick enough to cover bunny body plus two inches, using a wavy stroke
~Cut desired flower pattern from felt to attach to dress, and sew together using the flower button as an anchor.
~Attach flower to dress where desired.
~ Two inches from top, sew a thread across so you can pull it together and make collar at top, and attach dress to bunny by tightening it around the neck.
~After pulling thread taught around bunny’s neck, tie it tight to secure dress, and fold down collar as desired.
~make carrots as desired
~Place brads for eyes and nose.
~Put a little blush on ears and cheeks as desired.
ENJOY!
~use blu
February’s recipes were overall, great finds! However, in discovering new spices and flavors I learned that I am not a big fan of Thyme. Who knew!! Enjoy!
Mel’s porridge
(I have to try this recipe again without thyme—I learned that I have a fairly adverse reaction to this ingredient—so while I will include it in recipes I post—I will not be adding it to my meal! But don’t worry, the left-overs did not go to waste, thanks to Mel)
Ingredients
|
|
1 medium garlic clove(s), minced
|
|
1 medium red onion(s), chopped
|
|
1 large celery, rib, chopped
|
|
1 medium green pepper(s), chopped
|
|
15 oz canned kidney beans, dark-variety, rinsed and drained
|
|
14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes, undrained
|
|
9 oz cooked chicken sausage, andouille-style, cut into bite-size pieces
|
|
1/4 tsp dried thyme
|
|
1/4 tsp black pepper
|
|
6 cup(s) fat-free chicken broth
|
|
1 cup(s) uncooked white rice, converted-variety recommended
|
Instructions
- Place garlic, onion, celery, bell pepper, beans, tomatoes with their juices and sausage in a 5-quart slow cooker. Add thyme and pepper; stir well.
- Pour in broth and rice; stir again. Cover slow cooker and set on high power; cook for 4 hours. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.
Notes
- We recommend converted rice because regular long-grain rice can become mushy in slow cooker recipes.
To turn up the heat, add 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper with the thyme.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Oatmeal-Bannana Bread
Ingredients
|
|
1 1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
|
|
1/2 cup(s) unpacked brown sugar
|
|
1/2 tsp table salt
|
|
1/2 tsp baking soda
|
|
1/4 tsp baking powder
|
|
3 tsp canola oil
|
|
1 large egg(s), beaten
|
|
2 medium egg white(s), beaten
|
|
3 large banana(s), ripe
|
|
1 cup(s) uncooked old fashioned oats
|
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add oil and eggs; mix thoroughly.
- In a smaller bowl, mash bananas with a potato masher or fork. Add bananas and oatmeal to batter.
- Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan and bake until top of loaf is firm to touch, 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes. Flip out and cool on a wire rack for another 10 minutes.
Balsamic Chicken with Mushrooms
*For this recipe, instead of mushrooms I used onions. I’m not a fan of mushrooms!
Ingredients
|
|
2 tsp vegetable oil
|
|
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
|
|
2 tsp Dijon mustard
|
|
1 large garlic clove(s), crushed
|
|
1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, four 4-oz pieces
|
|
2 cup(s) mushroom(s), small, halved
|
|
1/3 cup(s) canned chicken broth
|
|
1/4 tsp dried thyme, crumbled
|
Instructions
- In a nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of oil.
- In a medium bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar, the mustard and garlic. Add chicken and turn to coat.
- Transfer chicken and marinade to skillet. Sauté chicken until cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer chicken to a platter and keep warm.
- Heat remaining teaspoon of oil in skillet. Sauté mushrooms for 1 minute. Add broth, thyme and remaining tablespoon of vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are deep brown, about 2 minutes longer.
- Serve chicken topped with mushrooms.
Amongst my frustration amidst my trying to figure out my statistics homework, I started browsing around looking at different photog sites as I often do. I stumbled upon a site called iheartfaces which hosts photo competitions weekly. Usually I am uninspired by the topics but this one came to me and it just seemed like it was meant to be.
A couple times this week I have been thinking about my Great Grandma Sheran. It’s funny; I used to HATE my middle name, Sheran. I was given this name as it was my mom’s grandma’s last name, and in this way it has been carried on. It wasn’t until fairly recently that I learned to embrace it and acknowledge the importance it holds in my life. Not just the name, but the lessons and love behind it. I don’t think a name really makes someone who they are but being constantly reminded of my great grandma through my name and the strength and wisdom she enveloped surely had to have some mention in who I have become today.
With the disaster in Haiti, I began to think of all the hardships my family has gone through and really how different life was when Grams was my age. Surely the Haiti catastrophe is insurmountable on a much larger scale than anything really that has happened to my loved ones…but it makes you reflect on the people you love, and the people you have loved, and the people you miss. For some reason my gut reaction on learning about the devastation is to think of my Grams. Perhaps its because she’s my closest farthest link back to really hard times in my family. Perhaps it is because between her and my maternal grandmother, Evelyn (her daughter) I know that lost spirits will be loved within theirs. Really I don’t know why, but I know they are missed.
When I saw that texture was the competition theme this week at iheartfaces This picture of Grams instantly popped into my head. I knew that the lines of wisdom in Grams face would be a perfect match. The texture of life, and knowledge is undeniable.
It’s mid January already. It seems like just a few days ago I was preparing for the holidays, and just a few days before that, dreading the weather change into winter and cold. As much as the bitterness of Wisconsin winters makes me cringe, the beauty of the season tends to warm me up inside. Here are a few of my favorite blustery photos from this year.
|
.png)
.png)
.png){kind=small}
