BROWN COASTERS FROM SCRAPS
I made these coasters from some scraps I had. I’m sad I could only make three, because who wants a set of three coasters? But three is better than none. I’m going to give them to a co-worker who’s a guy; I hope they’re masculine enough.
Coasters are a super-easy way to use scraps. I cut squares 5 1/2” wide and 5 1/2” long. Then I fold the edges 1/4”, and press, and fold again 1/4” and press. I pin them, but it seems like an extra precaution that’s not entirely necessary.
Then I stitch all the way around, backstitching at beginning and end.
Voila!
Let me know if you have any questions about these directions!
DOTS IN TEA-LIGHT HOLDER
I noticed the dots from my Uchida LV-SJCP40 Clever Lever Super Jumbo Craft Punch, 2-Inch Circle
(Ay ay ay, that is one scruffy-looking tea-light holder.)
CARAMELIZED ONION DIP: SARA FOSTER RECIPE
Oh my gosh, this was the absolute best onion dip I’ve ever had! We served it on New Year’s Eve, with another recipe for Crispy Sweet Potato Chips from Sara Foster’s Casual Cooking: More Fresh Simple Recipes from Foster’s Market
The chips didn’t quite work; instead of being crispy, they were soggy. However, we learned afterwards that if you soak your potatoes in cold water before baking them, it gets rid of some of the starch and for some reason that helps them crisp better. Despite the fact that the chips were soggy, they were still DELICIOUS.
And the dip was unparalleled.
Recommendation: get this book! This is also the book we use for making fondue in the fall and winter. Mm…fondue…
ALTERATIONS: REMOVING DECORATIONS FROM GAP SLIPPERS
I had these generic Gap slippers with a little knitted flower on top, which I didn’t like because I thought it made me look like a kid. So I took off the flower with my handy-dandy seam ripper (if you don’t have one, seriously get one!). Now I feel like a proper lady.
CARDBOARD WALL ACCENT (continued)
Here’s the progress on my cardboard (toilet paper roll) wall accent. The fuller it gets, the more I like it.
WINE GLASS CANDLE-HOLDERS
I would like to have gotten a better picture than this…At my friend R’s wedding recently, she had used water glasses and wine glasses flipped upside-down to make candle-holders at all different heights on her guest-book table. It looked lovely! The results in my home don’t look as stunning, but I gave it a shot. Word of caution: if your glasses are high-quality, don’t use them, because the delicate edges could get chipped.
EVERGREEN CLIPPINGS ON MANTEL
Here was another project that made use of a recent windstorm’s downfall of evergreen branches. I cut some longer pieces and put them up on our fireplace mantel. A simple project involving a walk outside, an armful of evergreen, and some pruning shears (but regular scissors would have done in a pinch).
