SnappyShop

Sewing Class

2010-02-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

I started teaching sewing to my friends and their kids. I don't charge for sewing lessons, yet. I have gotten so many new requests from adults for sewing lessons that it's taking up a lot of time. So eventually I might have to get paid for it.

My Saturday morning class is 5 little girls. The first week we each made a simple tote. The Second time we made aprons with a gathered skirt. This coming Saturday I plan on having them do a pillowcase for their bedrooms. I will be happy that this coming week is a simpler project than weeks past.

My older students are two ladies. One of them made pajama bottoms with an elastic waist. The other gal made a tote with a lining and a zippered pocket inside the lining. Both projects came out perfect.

The fun thing about teaching all of these people to sew is that they are funny and fun to talk to. I also love to see how excited they are to sew! They all leave my house with a huge smile on their faces! It's the best feeling to make somebody happy by showing them that they can make something.

Sugar

2010-02-03T08:20:00.001-08:00

Sugar
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Wordless Wednesday

Stough Canyon

2009-05-27T09:11:00.001-07:00

Stough Canyon
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

wordless wednesday

Irish Dinner

2009-03-09T07:53:00.001-07:00

Dining Room
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Here's a picture of my dining room. Some friends came over yesterday afternoon. Since it's March, and My Irish hubby's birthday is this week, I made homemade corned beef! Yum. I like to make it with potatoes, carrots and cabbage. We also had rye bread & butter on the side. It was a small group, only 5 of us. But it was really nice, delicious and fun.

I cooked the corned beef in the oven. It's so easy. Here's how I did it.
Chop:
1 onion
3 small carrots
5 or 6 cloves of garlic

put these on the bottom of a large roasting pan

add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp each
whole black pepper
coriander seed
dry basil
dry oregano
celery seed
3 or 4 bay leaves, broken apart

I was experimenting with a few of those. The oregano, basil and celery seed aren't super important, but you definitely need the coriander, pepper and bay leaf.

Open two of those packages of corned beef with the salty brine. Place the meat on top of the spices and veggies, discard that salty brine. They say you're supposed to use it , but I think it's too salty. Also, if the meat came with a little packet of spices, add those to the pan too.

Now mix the stuff around a bit, place some of the veggies and spices on to the top of the meat.

Cover the roasting pan with parchment paper, followed by a couple sheets of foil to seal the edges of the pan.

Place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 3 hours.

At about the three hour point, add about 4 large carrots, cut in quarters. Cover the pan, and put back in the oven.
Now peel 6 or 7 potatoes, I leave some of the clean peel on, but get rid of the eyes and any dirt. Cut the potatoes in half, add those to the pan, put it back in the 350 oven, covered.

Now have a beer with your friends while those potatoes cook. About 1/2 hour 45 minutes later, cut a small cabbage up into big chunks. Open the parchment and foil one last time, take out the meat to rest on a plate, and add the cabbage. This only needs to cook for about 15 minutes more.
Once the cabbage is soft, you're ready to serve your Irish Dinner! Slice the meat across the grain. Serve with rye bread, butter, and stone ground mustard.
Enjoy!

McShane the Irish buck

2009-03-03T13:13:00.001-08:00

Green Deer
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

This guy is in a contest on etsy! If he wins, he'll be included in one of their Gift Guides!. Please vote for him if you are an Etsy member and you like him. If you like one of the other items better, then go ahead and vote for your favorite. I love healthy competition!

Here is the link to the contest:

Http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=34

Dolls

2009-02-18T09:09:00.001-08:00

Dolls
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Wordless Wednesday...

I love making toys!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-04T08:38:00.001-08:00

Puppies
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Wordless Wednesday

Squirrel Embroidery

2009-01-31T13:19:00.001-08:00

CU Squirrel Embroidery
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

My poor neglected blog!! I never write anymore. Sorry Mr. Blog. It's because Im so busy with my new hobby, embroidery. I love it. This is a pillow cover I made this week. My stitches aren't great yet, but I am working on them. I only know a few. I have lots of books and tutorials that I've bookmarked.
I am working on two kitchen towels right now to give my friend Betsy for a birthday gift. I think she will like them, I hope so. Then I have a pretty apron planned that might be one of the prettiest things I've ever made if it comes out the way I'm imagining.
I think the thing I love most about embroidery is that it's so old school. It is very slow and time consuming, but for some reason going slow and focusing on something small is very relaxing.

wordless wednesday

2008-12-31T18:00:00.001-08:00

white sweet peas
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Happy New Year Everybody!!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-24T06:36:00.001-08:00

christmas tree detail
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Merry Christmas!

Sunshiney Puppies

2008-12-04T06:47:00.001-08:00

Sunshiney Puppies
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-12T08:47:00.001-08:00

Lavender
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Chili Powder

2008-11-02T10:37:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I made this homemade Ancho chili powder. It's not hard to do, but takes a little time.

You start with those cellophane bags of dried chili pods from the ethnic aisle at your grocery store. Even though these

are dry chili pods, they are somewhat raisin -y and need to be dried further in order to grind into a powder. I used Anchos and New Mexicos.

When you take them out of the bag, inspect them to see if they are dusty of dirty. If they are, wipe them off with a damp cloth.

Turn the oven on low, appx. 260-300 degrees. If the heat is too high, they'll burn, and your

chili powder will taste bitter.

Put the chili pods directly on the oven rack, or you could use a cookie sheet. I like the rack, because they dry evenly that way.

When the pods come out of the oven after appx 15 minutes, they will be darker, but should still be somewhat reddish. If they turn black, you might have burned them.

The photo above is what mine looked like coming out of the oven.

Now take them apart

by cracking in half and breaking the stem out and shaking away most of the seeds. The reason I get rid of most of the seeds, is to have control over the amount of heat for different recipes. You can always add back heat by using cayenne, chipotle or a fresh jalapeno, in addition to the rich smokiness of this Ancho powder.

This is what I discard.

Warning, do not touch your eyes with chili

pod hands!

Wear a bandana over your face to avoid breathing the chili powder!

Now put the pod part of the crackly chilis into an old coffee grinder. My old coffee grinder lost it's on thingy from the lid, so I have to use a wooden skewer to get it to grind. At least I don't have to clean out the good coffee grinder after my spicy project. And I only make this about one or twice a year, so I don't mind the inconvenience.

If I'm ever rich I buy myself a fancy grinder just for chili powder making.

Here is what the three piles of chili powder in process, look like.

I dump out the finished powder on clean white paper and use it as a funnel to pour into the jar.

You can use this wonderful spice for all sorts of delicious recipes. Chili, of course, spicy rubs for grilling and cooking meat, smoky seasoning for corn and bean salad, dusting over oven baked fries or toasted pumpkin seeds. I also use it when I make tacos and enchiladas. Yumm-o-rific!

Puppylove

2008-10-28T07:33:00.001-07:00

Puppylove
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Here are my doggies, Jack and Sugar, getting along exceptionally well!
It's only been three weeks since we got the little one, Sugs, and Jack loves her now!
I am so happy about this because Jack is smart, and has a lot of sass. He guilted the heck out of me when I first brought Sugar home. He was super pissed off and wouldn't even look at me. He just needed reassurance and he needed his ass kissed. I tell him every day how much I love him and how wonderful and soft his fur is. I tell him he's a good boy and that I love him so. It works!

I type this, they are in the other room wrestling and playing. I can hear the jingley, jingle of their dog tags as they gently bite each other and play.

To Hell With Housework

2008-10-17T12:19:00.001-07:00

To Hell With Housework
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Here is another favorite picture I took of my sis. She is an awesome model! I am so lucky that she likes doing our photos.
I also really love that she is co-opting a picture of my Crabby Old Grandpa from years ago at a family party. My other sister took the picture, he was standing near the sink holding a knife and yelling at one of us kids. We all love that picture because Grandpa used to fight everybody at family parties. He would pick on something, say you're wearing pink shoes, and then bug you about it. I think it was his way of "paying attention" to the grandkids. Also, if my brothers were being lame, and not helping out, he would yell at them and give them a hard time. For all his crabbiness, I miss my Grandpa very much. He was a funny guy. He was generous. And he kept the family together by all the parties he and my Nana used to throw.

Sugar

2008-10-11T08:51:00.001-07:00

smidgey
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

This is my new puppy, Sugar! Isn't she the cutest little thing. I love watching her and my dog Jack play together, it's completely hilarious. He hated her at first and was very sad, but now they play and snuggle up together a lot.
Jack looks like he is crying in the background of this photo, he was actually doing a lazy bark. Somebody was in front of the house and he was doing his Perry Como lounge bark.
I'm glad Jack finally decided to love Sugar, she is very sweet!

Furry Punch in the Face

2008-10-07T09:37:00.001-07:00

smidgey
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

We got a new puppy this weekend! She is very cute, but very much a little baby and needs constant watching and training.
My doggie Jack likes to play with her, but he's also very jealous. He keeps looking at me with the saddest face. Sorta like, why did you do this? Did I do something to make you mad? Let me get this knife outa my back. That's my husbands joke.
They were playing in this picture, but it really looks like he's giving her a punch in the face.

Healthy Blueberry Pancakes

2008-10-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Today I'm going to make some blueberry pancakes using whole wheat flour and a little bit of ground flax seed meal. More to come including photos and the full recipe...

Ok I sorta cheated by using whole grain pancake mix, I do that because the mix already has the correct amount of baking powder and baking soda and all that stuff.

I followed the directions on the box. I cut the recipe in half cause there are only two of us eating and I am trying not to eat too much.

I used 1 cup of the whole grain pancake mix

1 egg

1 tsp melted butter

1 tsp of olive oil (the directions on the box called for two tablespoons of oil)

1 cup milk

2 tblsp ground flax seed meal

1 cup frozen blueberries.

mix all the ingredients in a bowl, blueberries last. Try not to stir the mix too much cause this will make your pancakes tough.

Heat a large skillet and make whatever sized pancakes you like. I made one giant one but it was hard to flip, so the next three were normal size.

I cooked some fake veggie bacon on the side. I love veggie bacon. I started buying it to be healthy, but now I really love the way it tastes.

The conclusion of this post is that it's official, I am a California Hippie. Yikes!! I thought I was just making a post about a delicious breakfast, but really, whole grain flax meal pancakes? and veggie bacon? I am officially a granola eating Cali Hippie.

Oh well, it's a nice day. I going out for a long walk in my pretty CA neighborhood!

Jack The Maniac

2008-10-03T13:49:00.001-07:00

Jack
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

This is my doggie, Jack. I love him a whole bunch. He is a real character. He has lots of opinions about lots of different things and growls, grumbles, harrumphs, barks, and generally lets you know how he feels about things. He thinks he is smarter than anybody else. Unless you have a treat in your hand. Then you become a genius in his eyes.
He was rescued from this organization, run by a very nice lady named Nancy.

Http://www.PerfectPetRescue.com

She told us that she has placed over 8,000 dogs in loving homes. If you click on the words "Jack the Maniac" it will take you right to her rescue web page, where you'll see lots of other cutie pie dogs available for adoption in the LA area.
When I saw Jack's picture on her web site 2 yrs ago, I knew he was a great doggie. He looked so sweet. I just never knew how hilarious he would be.

Craft Room

2008-10-03T10:42:00.001-07:00

after
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Here is a picture of my sewing room all clean and organized.
The problem with that is that once I decide to start sewing, it very quickly becomes disorganized because I have to pull out all sorts of fabric and supplies.
I spend a lot of time in here making stuff. I have some great new ideas for things to make for fall.
Little dresses for little girlies, big dresses for big ladies, and a couple shirts for some cute little friends who I owe birthday gifts to.

Girly Dresses

2008-10-03T10:31:00.001-07:00

New Girly Dresses
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Here is a shot of some dresses I made for my kids shop on Etsy. I took this in my back yard on an overcast morning in June. I like the way all the fabrics look together.

Passionflower

2008-10-02T09:12:00.001-07:00

passionflower
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

I love this flower, it looks like it came from outer space!
The vine this flower is growing on was recently attacked by a bunch of tiny, spiky red caterpillars. They chewed lots of holes through all the leaves and it looks pretty sad as a result.
I shooed them into a glass of soapy water to kill them, and will fertilize and change the potting soil.
Hopefully that will bring it back to life and give me more gorgeous flowers like this one.

Cleaning

2008-10-01T08:36:00.001-07:00

dish soap
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

I have to get off the computer and clean up a little. I love it when the house is clean. I don't know how it gets so messy.
I have to wash some clothes and fold and put away a ton of stuff. I also have to wash some fabric that i just got in the mail. I am excited to sew some new things!
Ther's a custom apron I have to make for a lady who is planning on doing some serious holiday baking.
First off, I have to give my doggie his breakfast and walk him around the block.
At least I don't have to go anywhere except places right in the neighborhood.

My Favorite shot

2008-09-30T10:53:00.001-07:00

funny
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

This is one of my favorite pictures of all time. My sister is my shop model and she is so funny. I love that she is holding my goofy dog and screaming, while he just looks at her like "WTF?" The really funny thing about this doggie is that he thinks he is in charge of everything.

Camera Pocket

2008-09-30T08:57:00.001-07:00

Camera Pocket
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

This is a custom apron I made for a lady who works in a photography studio. She has to wear black to work, so the main body of the apron had to be black. I love the silvery linen that I found to make the camea with. It has such a nice texture and sheen.
I looked at about a hundred pictures of old cameras before deciding on this one to make into an applique. It reminded me of a camera my parents or my grandma had a long time ago.

Spooky Fun Treasury

2008-09-30T04:21:00.001-07:00

Screen shot of my newest Treasury
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

This was a Spooky Circus themed treasury I made a while back. I love all the colors and the bears and balloons.
I have a new treasury ready to go but every time I try to get one it's all full.

So Nice to be HOME!

2008-09-29T08:53:00.001-07:00

Mid Century Living Room
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

I just got back a few days ago from a trip to Chicago. My hubby was with me for part of the trip but had to come back to CA earlier than me. I missed him and my doggie a whole lot.
Yesterday we cleaned the house. The floors, bathrooms, even the doggie got a scrubba dub dub. Then we watched the Bears game, which they won!
After that, my man made me the most delicious spagetti dinner.
It's so much fun to be home!

The Power of Good Photos

2008-09-28T11:43:00.001-07:00

Flirty Salad Apron
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

I have to make another one of these today to send to a customer in NY. I am very excited about my latest photo shoot. I had a flat, boring old picture of this same apron in my shop for almost a year. Once I took these new photos and jazzed up the contrast and color, I sold three of them within a month!

Photos really make all the difference in your Etsy shop.

To Hell With Housework

2008-09-28T11:39:00.001-07:00

To hell with housework
Originally uploaded by Snappy Shop

Here is a new apron design that I made recently. I was trying to go for the funny, kitchy, olde timey theme apron. I am excited to keep going with more corny slogans and sayings.

This one sold already so hopefully that means I'm on the right track!

My Dog

2008-09-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

This is the cutest puppy dog in the whole wide world! I love him so.

2008-01-29T11:44:00.000-08:00

Fresh Salsa

Here is a great salsa recipe that my sister taught me a long time ago.
In the food processor combine :

the sweetest tomatoes you can find, (such as cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or
1 can of whole peeled tomatoes)

1 crushed clove of garlic

fresh lemon juice from 1 or 2 lemons
process.

then gradually pulse (so they dont get too smashed)

a bunch of fresh cilanto, no stems
a small amount of purple onion
1 chopped jalapeno, no seeds
1/4 tsp chili flakes
salt
pepper
tablespooon olive oil
1/2 tsp sugar

This is the best, freshest tasting salsa in the world. People ask me to make it all the time for parties.

2008-01-21T10:12:00.000-08:00

Yummy New Recipe
Last night for Sunday dinner I made a most delicious Turkey Chili that I would like to share. It was the last night of football playoffs, so chili seemed like the perfect treat. As it turns out it's gonna be the New England Patriots Vs. the NY Giants in the superbowl. My friend Mike O'hara is probably very happy and excited cause he is a Giants fan. If the Patriots win, my friend Marion Grace will be all over it, and Boston proud.
I just wish the Chicago Bears were going to the Superbowl. But they're not. Not this year. Now we have to wait a whole 'nuther year to see them. Stupid Bears. Stupid, stupid Bears...(through teary eyes)...

This recipe could be made vegetarian simply by eliminating the meat, or by using the vegetarian soy meat crumbles from the freezer case at your store. If you use the soy meat, go straight to the browning of the onion phase of the recipe, and add the meatless crumbles at the end.

Turkey Chili

Ingredients:
I Lb. ground turkey meat, or 1 package soy meat crumbles
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 med onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, presseed thru a garlic press
1 large carrot, chopped
1 small zuccini, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 can whole peeled tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 can kidney beans, rinsed (but use a little of the clear juice from the top of the can, about 1/4 c. in the chili broth before rinsing, this thickens the chili nicely)
olive oil
1/2 bottle of beer
1 tsp Homemade chili powder*
1/2 tsp.paprika
1/4 tsp. celery salt
1/4 tsp. store bought chili powder
1/8 tsp cinnamon
dried basil
dried oregano
freshly ground black pepper

Step 1)
Brown the turkey meat with a little olive oil in a large skillet, adding a little salt and pepper as it browns. Stir gently to break up the meat into crumbles. When the meat is fully cooked, drain in a colander, if it has fat, or just set aside on a plate, if it's fat free.
step 2)
Add another tblsp. olive oil to the pan, add the chopped onion and chopped carrot. Stir. Add a tiny bit of salt and freshly ground pepper. Add chopped pepper, celery, and crushed garlic. Stir and gently sautee on med. heat for a minute.
When your veggies are cooked a little, but not too soft, add the cooked meat, the whole peeled tomatoes, sliced into slightly smaller pieces, the tomatoe sauce, the juice from the top of the kidney beans, the rinsed kidney beans, the 1/2 bottle of beer, drink the other half of the beer, add the chili powder, paprika, celery salt, store bought chili powder, cinnamon, pinch of dried basil, a pinch of dried oregano.
Stir and simmer. Add zuccini last as the chili simmers cause it cooks fast and will turn to mush if you add it when you add the other veggies. This is also the point where you would add the soy meatless meat crumbles if you like.
Simmer and taste. If it isn't to your liking, add a tiny bit more salt and pepper. Stir and taste. It gets sweeter and more flavorful as it simmers due to the carmelization of the tomatoes. Is it still not spicy enough? Add a little more chili powder and possible a 1/4 tsp cumin if you like it spicy. Add your extra spices a little at a time so as not to accidentally overdo it and ruin the batch.
Serve over any kind of cooked pasta with grated sharp cheddar cheese. Yum!! Lucky for me there are leftovers in the fridge for lunch, cause writing this made me very hungry.

Making Aprons

2008-01-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody. It's Saturday morning and I'm up early and decided to start this blog. I found it by searching through Joyful Abode, Tie One On and another blog site, whose name I forget at this second. However, I will come back to this and tell you. But the lady whose blog it is, is hosting an apron swap! Sounds fun! I have to go e-mail her to sign up. More later.
Visit my etsy store if you want to see what I'm making!
http://www.snappyshop.etsy.com
Thanks for reading!
Betty