Bubble Tea

{Bitstop}

A couple of weeks ago I "met" Christine (aka MiniMak) from MiniMak Makings.  She gave me a Beautiful Blogger award and has been so supportive ever since.  Her blog is really great.  She is very talented and I always feel inspired when I read her blog.  You should check it out. 

In her Beautiful Blogger award post she mentioned that she loved bubble tea.  I didn't really know what bubble tea was so I asked...and then she did the sweetest thing ever and wrote a blog about it just for me!  I had to see what it was all about, so I decided I would go try bubble tea for myself and write a blog about it.

This one's for you, Christine! :-)

{Kaboodle, Cafe Press, We Heart It, FanPop}

What is bubble tea?  I really have no idea (except for Christine's blog) so I decided to do some searching online to see if I could figure it out. 

This is what I found...

Bubble tea is a sweet drink that usually has a tea base and a flavoring in either powder or syrup form.  Some are fruit based and some are milk based.  Small tapioca (or boba) pearls sit at the bottom of the drink. 

I found a recipe for how to make bubble tea, but it seems like it's really time consuming so it's probably easier to go buy it.  :o) 

{Cafe Press}

When I finished helping some of my friends at The Well sort through donations for Caritas today I set out on my adventure to try bubble tea.  I looked up places online to see where I could go to try it.  Most of them seemed to be close to the UT campus so I drove to a place in north Austin to avoid having to drive on campus.  I really dislike driving anywhere downtown.  One way streets and lack of parking does not equal a happy Marci.  I went to a place called Short N' Sweet Cafe.  It was pretty cute inside and it was in a shopping center called Chinatown Center.  I had no idea that was there.  It was kind of cool!

I went in with absolutely no idea what I was doing so I just went up to the cash register and asked if they had taro bubble tea.  Then he asked me if I wanted the milk base or smoothie.  WHAT???  I told him I had no idea what that meant because I had never tried this before and let him pick for me.  He picked the milk base.  Okay.  Sounds good to me!

I gave him my debit card to pay and he said there was a $10 limit on credit cards.  NOOO!!!  I could not go home without trying bubble tea after I drove that far to try it!  Luckily there was a bank in the same parking lot so I could use the atm and get cash.  I did not want $10 worth of bubble tea and I don't know where anything is in north Austin!

I finally got my bubble tea and it was time to taste it.

It looks kind of cool

It has to have that huge straw for the tapioca pearls at the bottom

I thought it tasted pretty good.  I enjoyed the taro flavor.  It was very, very, very sweet.  I had to take a minute between sips because of the sweetness and I wasn't able to finish the whole thing because it was so sweet.  :o)

If I ever try it again I will probably not get the tapioca pearls at the bottom.  They didn't really have a flavor but it was a little weird to take a sip of my drink and then have to chew something.  The texture was strange, too. 

I may try a different flavor if I ever have bubble tea again.  The fruit flavors seem like they could be yummy.  I probably won't make any special trips to North Austin to have it again but if I ever come across it somewhere I may be brave and try a new flavor. 

Overall I think this was a fun little adventure!  Thanks for telling me about it Christine!  :o)

Fun with Felt - Funny Face Tissue Case

A-CHOO!!!!!!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of year again.  The time of year we all dread (well, for some of us it's pretty much year round).  I'm talking about allergy season.  Watery eyes, itchy noses, yucky headaches.  It's miserable!!  And, it seems that no matter what kind of medicine we take, there's just no way to cure the allergy blues!  We're doomed to suffer!

If you're like me, during allergy season you carry around a big box of tissue with you everywhere you go.  It's not too cute.  Well, now there's no need to sacrifice cuteness just because you don't feel well.  Try carrying one of these little cuties around with you! 

They may not cure your allergies but they are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face every time you sneeze.  :-)

I got this pattern from the Aranzi Cute Stuff book.  I love this book!!! 

It really lives up to its title!

This was a really simple and fun project.  It didn't take long to complete once I had time to sit down and work on it.  The hardest part was sewing the eyes on.  I still have to work on my hand sewing skills.  My stitches are not very even.   

I think I'll give these to my friends who are fellow allergy sufferers.  They deserve a little something special for all those miserable days.  And they might as well carry around some cuteness, too!

I think this baby panda could really use a funny face tissue case.  What do you think?

Sneezing Panda-watch more funny videos

Mission Impossible: My Quest to Find the Un-Findable Ponytail Holder

~Ponytails Everywhere~

When I started this blog I set an unofficial goal for myself to complete at least one craft project a week.  So far that hasn't happened.  I'm making progress.  I have to figure out how to manage my time better.  I will get there eventually.  I just have come up with a good schedule for posting. 

This week I was all ready for my project.  I planned everything ahead of time so that I could get it done and hopefully still have time to get another one started.  I wanted to make these cute little felt ponytail holders from the Aranzi Cute Stuff Book.

I went and bought all of the supplies I needed last week so I could work on them over the weekend.  I just needed to check a couple of stores for ponytail holders and I was set.  Everything was going great! 

Until...

I could not find the ponytail holders anywhere!!!  They are the little colorful terry ponytail holders that pretty much every store on the planet sells.  Well, not anymore...apparently!!  Now everyone only sells the little elastic ones. 

I went to 9 (yes, I did say 9) stores and couldn't find them anywhere!

1. Target
2. Walmart
3. HEB
4. Justice for Girls
5. Claire's 
6. Ulta
7. Sally's Beauty Supply
8. Beauty Store and Salon
9. I even went to Bed, Bath & Beyond because I thought it was the one with that weird health and beauty section...it wasn't!

At this point I was too frustrated to look anywhere else so I gave up and went home feeling extremely bummed out that I couldn't do that project.  I was going to give them to the girls I babysit next week when I stay with them and now I can't.  Frustrating!!!

I went home and looked on the internet.  I found a couple of options but none of them are exactly what I was looking for.

• Amazon had some like what I wanted but you have to buy six packs of them.  There are 24 to a pack!  That's a lot of ponytail holders!
• Then I found these at Southern Distributors, Inc..  I can buy one pack of 21 but they are a little too wide.   

I saw a picture on a blog where someone used the the little elastic hair bands and it looks okay, but it's not quite what I had in mind.  I may have to just suck it up and go with those. 

I know I'm being too picky.  They don't have to be the exact same thing but I know what I want and I don't want to sacrifice making what I want if I don't have to.  I'm going to keep looking for a little while longer.  I have plenty of other projects to work on until I find what I'm looking for.

In the meantime, I chose another project from the Aranzi Cute Stuff book for this week.  It may be delayed until the end of the week because everything was closed on Sunday so I couldn't get my fabric until Monday.  I'm just happy to be working on something!  :o)  It seems like a pretty simple project and I cut the fabric last night so hopefully I will get all the sewing done today and Thursday so I can have it up no later than Friday.

And the hunt for the elusive ponytail holder continues...

p.s. If anyone can tell me where to find Goody Pony-O's ponytail holders I will love you forever!!!

Tools of the Trade - Cutting Tools

When I told my friend Noemi that I started a blog and was working on some sewing projects she asked me if I would write a few posts about the tools I use. I really don't have any idea what I'm talking about but I thought it could be interesting to take a look at some of the options out there. I will be talking mainly about the tools I use personally, but I'll throw in a little bit from some sources who actually know what they're talking about, too.  ;-)

I'll start with the cutting tools since that's the starting point of any sewing project...once you've picked the pattern and fabric, of course.

There are so many options out there for cutting tools - scissors, rulers, cutting mats, rotary cutters...The list of supplies is endless!!!  This quilting site has a quick overview of some of the basic tools you will need for cutting fabric.

Cutting Mat

Let's start with the cutting mat.  I have a big 18" x 24" mat for cutting out my fabric and a small 6" x 8" mat for trimming edges and small things at the sewing machine.

They all seem to have different measurement markings but they serve the same purpose.

Rotary Cutter

Rotary cutters come in many sizes.  The most common sizes are 28 mm, 45 mm and 60 mm.

My favorite is the one is the 45 mm Olfa on the left.  It's the perfect size for cutting out fabric and it's a comfortable shape.  It's reversible, too!  This is important for me because I'm a lefty!  The Fiskars is for the left or right hand, too, and it's a little easier because you don't have to worry about switching the blade for either hand. 

We bought the 18 mm by mistake.  We bought it for a curvy ruler but we needed to buy the 28 mm.  Oh well.  Now we have a tiny one if we ever need it.  For what?  I have  no idea!

The Purl Bee has a great tutorial on how to use a rotary cutter for a beginner who doesn't really know how to start.

Here is a short video on how to use a rotary cutter for all of you out there who are visual learners like me.

Scissors

Sometimes a rotary cutter isn't really the appropriate tool to use and you have to use your trusty old scissors.  Well, there's a ton of those, too!!!

These are my scissors.  The green pair is a cheap pair I bought at the grocery store for cutting out paper and patterns.  The large Gingher scissors are called dressmaker shears and they are only used for cutting fabric.  If you use them to cut paper it will dull the blades quickly.  The smaller embroidery scissors are used for small things like trimming threads.

Rulers

I can't believe how many different rulers there are!!!  They come in every shape and size you can imagine.  And it seems that every project I do requires a special ruler.

And now, boys and girls, it's time to learn our shapes...

Rectangle

Square

Triangle

I don't know what this shape is.  I just call it evil!

Extras

These are some helpful tools that make cutting fabric a little easier.

This handle and these little sandpaper dots help to keep the ruler from moving while you are cutting with the rotary cutter.

These vinyl strips are reusable and can be used a couple of different ways.  You can put them on your ruler on the line you are measuring and bump your fabric up against it.  Then just cut it with the rotary cutter.  It gives you a little added security that your fabric won't move while you're cutting it.  You can also use them on your sewing machine to mark your seam (like a scant 1/4"...if you can ever figure out what that means.). 

If you are interested in sewing (quilting in particular) I highly recommend buying the book Complete Guide to Quilting (Bettter Homes and Gardens).  I think it is a great book for beginners.  It gives an overview of everything from choosing supplies and fabric to actually completing the project.  It has been extremely helpful when I have had questions while working on projects.  I think this is the second time I have mentioned this book.  This should give you an idea of how good I think it is. 

So, this is what I have so far.  If you have any other tips or tools that I haven't mentioned, please feel free to list them in the comments.  Helpful hints are always welcome here!  :-)

Jenny Jenkins

The girls I babysit love this song!!  Every time I go over there they ask me to play it over and over...and over! 

I have a little secret...I love it too!

This is what happens when I get a song stuck in my head...

Jenny Jenkins

{Lisa Loeb}

{Press play before you continue to read.}

BLUE

Will you wear blue

oh my dear, oh my dear

Will you wear blue Jenny Jenkins?

{Teclur}

{Rainbow Swirlz}

{Hookaholic Yarn Design Studio}

No, I won't wear blue

cause blue won't do.

I'll buy me a foldy-roldy, tildy-toldy

seek-a-double, use-a-cozza roll to find me

Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

GREEN

Will you wear green

oh my dear, oh my dear

Will you wear green Jenny Jenkins?

{My Mango Pop}

{Cocoricooo}

{Well of Creations}

No, I won't wear green

It's the color of a bean.

I'll buy me a foldy-roldy, tildy-toldy

seek-a-double, use-a-cozza roll to find me

Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

{music break} 

ORANGE

Will you wear orange

oh my dear, oh my dear

Will you wear orange Jenny Jenkins?

{Larime Loom}

{Recycled Ts}

{A Quad Shot Yarn Creations}

No, I won't wear orange

cause nothing rhymes with orange.

I'll buy me a foldy-roldy, tildy-toldy

seek-a-double, use-a-cozza roll to find me

Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

GREY

Will you wear grey

oh my dear, oh my dear

Will you wear grey Jenny Jenkins?

{Zoe Chen}

{Awkward}

{Sea of Tales}

No, I won't wear grey

It's like a rainy day.

I'll buy me a foldy-roldy, tildy-toldy

seek-a-double, use-a-cozza roll to find me

Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

I'll buy me a foldy-roldy, tildy-toldy

seek-a-double, use-a-cozza roll to find me

Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

I  Etsy!!!

Fun with Felt - Felt Flower Notebook Cover

This is the tale of a lonely little felt flower and its journey to find friendship with other little felt flowers and a home on a notebook.  :o)

Once upon a time...

Long, long ago in a far away land (well, January in my living room) I decided to learn how to make felt flowers.  I tried a few different patterns and one of them was this cute little flower from Feeling Stitchy.  The only problem was that I didn't really know what I wanted to do with it.  So it sat in a little box patiently waiting for me to find my inspiration. 

Then, while I was searching around the internet for ideas, I came across these cute felt notebook covers.  I have said it before and I'll say it again...I love felt!!  It makes every project so much cuter!  And, a whole project made out of felt??  It's almost too much cuteness!!! 

I knew I could probably figure out how to make a notebook cover on my own but decided to find a pattern to use for my first one.  I found this pattern at Craft Stylish and thought it was pretty fantastic so I decided to start there.  I love the little pen holder!  Plus, it had buttons all over it!!!!  Have I mentioned that I like buttons?  Oh yeah.  I have. 

I thought this would be a good pattern because I would learn a new sewing technique as well.  I learned to hand sew a blanket stitch!  I really don't know how to do any kind of hand sewing so I was excited to learn.  The pattern had a link to a great blanket stitch tutorial at Future Girl.  It was really helpful!  I kept getting confused about how to end the stitches but I got a little help from my mom and finally figured it out.  I'm so excited that I learned something new on this project!!!

This is my practice piece.

I loved the idea of having the buttons on the front but I wanted to try to make it my own.  I thought about it for a while.  Then I had a light bulb moment and remembered my lonely little felt flower!  It would be perfect for this project!  So,  I made two more flowers to give it some friends and drew some leaves (I cannot draw...urgh!  But I think I can handle a couple of leaves.) and cut them out of felt.  Then I went through my button stash and found three little white buttons that were perfect for the middle of the flowers (and to attach them to the notebook cover, of course).

There was a great tip in the pattern about how to attach the buttons (or flowers, in my case).  Glue them down with fabric glue and let it dry before you sew the buttons.  This will ensure that you end up with the pattern you designed when you sew them onto the fabric.  So smart!

If  I do a cover with flowers again I will probably use embroidery thread to sew some little lines on the leaves or something.  They seem kind of boring.  I ended up just hot gluing the leaves on so they wouldn't fall off.  Regular fabric glue wasn't working so great to hold them permanently. 

Then I just followed the pattern.  It was pretty simple.  It took me some time because I had to learn the blanket stitch.  But once I got that figured out it was easy peasy! 

I think it turned out pretty cute!

I needed to give a little extra room for the notebook.  It's kind of a tight fit.  I was a little worried for a minute when I started to put the notebook in there.  EEKS!!  But, in the end, it worked out okay.

I will definitely make more of these in the future.  They are so fun and easy to make!  I already have an idea for what I will put on the cover for my next one.  Of course, I will still be using lots of felt and lots of buttons! 

I think I'll keep this one just for me.  It's going to be my blog inspirations book where I will keep track of all my ideas for future projects and posts for the blog.  :o)

And the little flower lived happily ever after.

The end.