Wednesday, September 12, 2012

A Preschool Busy Bag: Button Patterns

With Abigail as busy as ever I have been desperate to come up with things that I can do with her and more importantly things that she can do by herself while I need to do something else. I have started a collection of busy bags for her that she can pull out whenever she is feeling bored. To clarify a busy bag is an activity that can fit into a Ziploc bag, and generally they are quiet things that she can do without my help. I came up with one the other day that she likes and I think you will too.

Button patterns:
Materials: copy paper, laminate paper, markers, colored buttons that match the colors of your markers


The first thing I did was cut the paper into four long strips, I used 3 pieces for 12 total strips. Then I drew 5 to 9 squares across each strip of paper. I used different colors of markers to make different patterns in the squares, and I always left the last square empty. You can make the patterns as complicated as you want depending on your child's ability. Once that was done I laminated the strips with laminate paper. I would suggest working in small amounts. I was over expectant in my abilities and made a huge mess of my papers. Once that was done, with Abigail right in the action I trimmed all the edges down to make the strips as presentable as possible. And lastly we played the game together. We would say the pattern as we went, "red, blue, red, blue, and what goes next? Red. and Abigail would then put a red button in the square that was left empty. Simple as that.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

recovering a stool

Years ago I acquired a sewing desk and stool. I would not at all be surprised if it is over 60 years old. It still has, well now I should say had its original seat pad and covering. Because of its age, it was getting the funny old smell. I've been needing to redo it since I got it, and today I finally decided to accomplish it.


First I took the cover and pad off, it was stapled on so it was pretty easy to do. I then cleaned the stool and top thoroughly. I put the cover and the pad in a bag and took them to the store with me to pick out the batting and fabric that I wanted. I went to log cabin quilt shop. I used the old cover to measure out how much of the new fabric I needed and I just grabbed the smallest bag of batting that they had.

When I got home, I cut the batting so that it would be three layers thick. Then I rolled and sewed seams in the fabric to make the new cover. I checked the measurements before I sewed to be sure it was a good fit.
I should also note that I doubled my fabric over for extra protection, so I only seamed 3 sides since one side was folded over.

After the sewing I got my daughter to sit down and watch a movie, and I got my staple gun out. The last time I got my staple gun out I got a staple through my finger and I could not crochet for a few days. I was probably more cautious than need be. I put the padding on top of the stool lid then I flipped it over on top of the new cover. Then I put one staple in each side pulling it tight. After the four sides were done I went back and filled in the rest.

I'm so glad I finally got this project done.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Mini Pound Cake Loaves


I have a favorite pound cake recipe that is really simple and it tastes amazing, but it is on the large size. Since there are only three of us when I do make it a lot of it goes to waste, or I end up eating way to much of it. I stopped making it very often because of this fact. My husband wanted me to make it a few nights ago, and I decided there has to be a better way of making it without wasting it.

The original recipe asks for a large bunt or angel food cake pan. In the new and improved version I use half the batter and put it into four mini loaf pans...perfect.


Butter milk Pound Cake

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp lemon extract or almond extract depending on the taste you are wanting
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose floor
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325 F (165 C). Grease 4 mini loaf pans. Blend Butter and sugar together. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating the mixture well after each addition. Stir in lemon and vanilla extracts. Mix together the rest of the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture and the milk alternately with the milk in with the egg and sugar mixture. Pour the batter into the four pans equally, each will be half full. Bake in oven for 35 minutes, or until cake begins to pull away from the pan. Do not open the oven door till at least 25 minutes has past. (If you are wanting to use a bunt pan multiply the recipe except the baking soda.)