Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Coffee.......My Favorite Part of the Morning



The best part of wakin' up is...


Picture me singing that first line and I bet you can finish the tune...


"The best part of wakin' up is Folgers in your cup"


I was born in 1981 and that little jingle was definitely a part of my childhood growing up. Even now, hearing it makes me feel all nostalgic, warm and cozy. I was recently asked by the folks at Folgers to write a blog post talking a little bit about coffee and my morning routine. Well, that's an easy one for me since coffee is kind of my life line throughout the day. For those of you who can go the day without drinking a cup of joe, you amaze me. With having three kids age five and under and running a small business, I need to stay on top of my game and coffee really keeps me going all day long.


Each night my husband sets our coffee pot to go off at 6:00am. Our little man, Caspian Finn, is like our little rooster and we hear him start talking around 5:45am. I know, it's a little early, but we've gotten used to it and the girls are usually up shortly thereafter. Typically my hubby will get the little guy out of his crib and we head downstairs to start the day.

There are some mornings that I am just so darn tired that the thought of coffee is the only thing that gets me out of bed. And the smell... oh, that wonderful smell. We bought these beautiful pottery coffee mugs from a local artisan earlier this year and they just make my morning coffee seem even more warm and cozy. I take my coffee with just a little bit of milk, no sugar (just in case you were wondering).

Once we've gotten downstairs, the kids get a morning snack and a drink (milk or water). Then we get comfy on the couch, turn on the news and have our morning cup of coffee. I check my email on the iPad and check in on a few of my favorite blogs. My husband then heads upstairs to get ready for work. While he is getting ready for work, I make breakfast. Once he heads out the door, it's all me for the next 12 hours (he has a long commute to the city). Our morning routine works really well for us and it's something the kids have come to expect each and every morning.



As the kids and I are getting ready for our day, we often like to turn music on the iPad to get us going. Sometimes it's something upbeat or sometimes it's something a little more smooth and mellow, like one of my favorite jazz singers, Diana Krall.


Music was a huge part of my life growing up. I grew up performing in musicals, singing, acting and dancing and attended Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music for musical theatre. And because music influenced me so much as a child, it's something I hope to pass on to my children whether it be through playing a musical instrument, singing, etc. I was really excited to see that Folgers is fostering the love and appreciation of music in others by hosting their very own annual jingle contest. The contestants have come up with their own original jingles about coffee. You have to go check out the top 10 finalists......I'm not kidding when I tell you that these folks are amazingly talented.

So that's a little bit about my morning routine, coffee and music... I think it's kind of fun to take a little look into someone else's morning routine. I hope you do too!


 Vote for the best Top 10 Finalist in Folgers' Jingle Contest! Meet the Top 10! Take a look at Folgers® Jingle Contest Finalists, and listen to the tracks that earned them a spot in The Top 10. Cast your vote once every day through June 19th. You could win exciting prizes, like free Folgers Coffee, iTunes® gift cards, signed CDs from Gavin DeGraw, and even a $10,000 Grand Prize just for voting! Before you vote, follow the Road to the Jingle on Facebook to see how they traveled the U.S. to track down the Top 10 contestants! Remember, you can vote once a day through June 19th! Click here for official rules.
Pin It

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The Cottage Mama's Sewing Basket: Tube Turners


Today we are back with another fun, little tool from The Cottage Mama's Sewing Basket. These tube turners may look like a simple tool, but they will change your life. And if you don't have them in your sewing basket, I'm going to recommend you pick up a set.


What does this tool do? Tube turners are kind of like they sound. They make it easy to turn tubes of fabric right side out. Have you ever been working on a long sash for a dress or straps for a tote bag and found it took forever to turn the fabric right side out? Well, these little tools make such fast work of this. Here's how.....


Simply place the blue plastic tube down inside your tube of fabric (or sash) that is currently turned wrong side out. Take the wooden dowel and push it up through the finished end of the fabric and up through the blue plastic tube.


Continue pushing the wooden dowel up through the plastic tube until the fabric appears at the top of the plastic tube and is right side out. At that point you can remove the wooden dowel and just continue to pull the fabric out through the top of the plastic tube.

And there you have it.......a quick turn tube turner! Yes, you can most certainly turn tubes and sashes with something like a chopstick, but let me tell you......these are even easier and worth the small investment. You can find Quick Turn Tube Turners in the notions section of your local fabric and sewing store. They generally come in a pack of three with different sizes. I have the Dritz brand, but there may be other brands on the market as well.

There is also another handy-dandy tool used for turning completely open tubes (with no finished end), but we'll save that one for another installment of The Cottage Mama's Sewing Basket.


*I was not compensated in any way promoting the products and tools found in The Cottage Mama's Sewing Basket. These are all tools, notions and things that I love and use.

Pin It

Monday, May 20, 2013

Winners!

So how about some giveaway winners? 

The winner of the $100 Home Depot Gift card is........

And the winner of the Riley Blake Designs 'Bake Sale' Fat Quarter Bundle is........


Congratulations, ladies. Please email me at thecottagemama[at]gmail[dot]com with your contact info. and we will work to get you those prizes as soon as possible.

Happy Monday!
Pin It

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Giraffe Love Top and Leggings


I have been so busy around here I can hardly see straight. I have four new sewing patterns that are under going pattern testing right now getting ready to release next month. It's very fun and exciting; however, it puts sewing for my own kids on the back burner for the time being.....or so it should.

I have had this giraffe fabric for about a month now. I ordered it for Miss Matilda since giraffes are her favorite animal. She was so thrilled when it arrived and has been wanting an outfit made out of it ever since she saw it. So, as I've been busily working on my new patterns, this fabric has been starring at me just begging to be made into something for my little lady.

So a couple days ago, I couldn't take it anymore......I just had to make this outfit for Matilda. Do you ever get an idea in your head that you just have to do right then and there? Well, that's where I was......I knew I would be thinking about Matilda's giraffe outfit forever until it was made. So I took a break from my patterns and whipped up this little outfit for Miss M in an afternoon. And I'm so glad I did.....she loves it!


The top is very simple. It's just a t-shirt cut off with fabric added to the bottom. I picked up a bunch of shirts on clearance last year for $2.00 each that have just been waiting for me to embellish them. I decided to use some knit and woven cotton for this outfit. My girls are all about comfort these days so I can see myself incorporating more knits into my sewing as they get older.


The skirt on the top was made from a woven quilting cotton, 'Giraffe Love' by Michael Miller fabrics. I made a ruffle around the bottom hem out of orange stretch knit (Heaven and Helsinki by Patty Young for Michael Miller Fabrics) and added woven ribbon trim on top (from Renaissance Ribbons).


The great thing about knit is that it doesn't fray, so you can skip finishing the edges if you are going for a more casual look. I used the Go-To Leggings Pattern with my own ruffle legging tutorial found here. And I also added a yoga waistband because I thought that would be more comfortable. Again, the knit fabric I used has a good amount of stretch to it and is 'Heaven and Helsinki' by Patty Young for Michael Miller Fabrics.


I'm really loving this outfit. It's perfect for play, but still cute and unique. And the most important thing is that Matilda loves it!


And I'll leave you with a picture of my little giraffe lover.

Have a great day!
Pin It

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Goat Cheese & Mozzarella Tomato Toast Recipe


I am a savory kind of girl. What about you? When it comes to breakfast, I much prefer something on the salty side rather than the sweet. This easy little breakfast or lunch is perfect for when you want something nice and satisfying to get your day started off right!


Goat Cheese and Mozzarella Tomato Toast
Serves 2

Ingredients:
4 slices multi-grain bread (good quality, grainy bread)
4 vine-ripened tomatoes
1/2 -3/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella (more, if you like)
Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Garlic salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Lay out your multi-grain bread on a cook sheet. Try to purchase a good, quality bread in the bakery section of your grocery store.....that makes a big difference. Drizzle your bread with extra virgin olive oil.

Slice four tomatoes. Place tomato slices on top of bread. There should be one full tomato per slice of bread. Season with garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of tomatoes and then goat cheese. You can use more or less cheese depending on how much you like. Season again with garlic salt and pepper and another little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Place in the oven for 10 - 15 minutes until bread is crunchy and the cheese is melty and bubbly. Once you've taken your toast out of the oven, feel free to add any fresh herbs on top.



 
Serve two slices per person for a hearty breakfast or lunch or one slice per person if you are serving this with eggs for breakfast or a salad for lunch.

Enjoy!

Pin It

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day


I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day and leave a special little note for the most amazing woman in my life, my mom.

I hope you all have a beautiful, amazing and fantastic day.
The blessing of children truly is one of the greatest gifts on earth.

Happy Mother's Day!
Pin It

Friday, May 10, 2013

The Start of Spring.......and $100 Home Depot Gift Card


It's finally Spring here in Chicago. It felt like winter was going to last forever, but we have finally thawed out and I think the freezing weather is gone for good (or at least until next winter).


I love the beginning of spring, don't you? I get all these great ideas of things I want to do in the yard, flowers I want to plant, landscaping to be done. I don't usually get around to all of it, but I always make time for planting flowers on our porch.



Several weeks back I was asked if I would like to try some new Premium Plants from Miracle-Gro that were being sold exclusively in Chicago Home Depot's. Well, they didn't have to ask me twice for that one because I was just about ready to go buy my flowers for spring planting anyway.




I always use Miracle-Gro potting mix for my window boxes and pots on the porch because I really do see a difference in the flowers in comparison to the years where I just used the regular stuff. These Miracle-Gro Premium Plants are supposed to have extra nutrients in the soil and be set up for a great growing season. And if I'm really honest, I always seem to do great with my gardening those first few months or so, but then the weather gets really hot and the mosquitos come out and I start to lose steam......so I can use all the help I can get. And since they have a 3-month money back guarantee......I'd say I'm good to go through mid-August.





So guess what I'll be doing this Mother's Day weekend? Planting my new flowers on our front porch. I'm excited to see what these plants do this season. I'll have to give you an update later into the summer. Will they still be going strong? I'm going to guess so, since Miracle-Gro always seems to do the trick, but only time will tell.......

How would you like to go buy yourself some Miracle-Gro Premium Plants (if you're in Chicago) or something fun for spring?
How about I give you $100 Home Depot Gift Card so you can go buy some of your very own? 

All I need you to do is leave me a comment and let me know what is your favorite thing to plant in your garden each year and what region of the country you live. 

There will be one winner selected and the giveaway is open until Sunday, May 12, 2013 at midnight (CST).


Pin It

Monday, May 6, 2013

Giant Fabric Match Up Giveaway ~ Win 24 Yards of Fabric!

fabric match up giveaway- win 24 yards of fabric from your favorite bloggers!

I am so excited about today's giveaway that I can hardly contain myself!

Have you ever wished that one of your favorite sewing blogger's would go fabric shopping for you?
Or seen a project on a blog and thought, "Oh, I NEED that fabric!" If so, today is your lucky day!

Eighteen sewing bloggers picked out a yard (or two!) of a fabric from their stash and we're giving them ALL away today to one lucky winner! 

To win this amazing stash of fabric loveliness, just match the fabric swatch to the blogger (*hint* - most of us have used the fabric we chose in a recent project, so our recent posts are your fast track to fabric matching success). The first person to correctly match all of the swatches will receive ALL of the fabric shown!

So what do you think? Want to play?
 
 fabric matching giveaway- win 24 yards of fabric from your favorite sewing bloggers! 

A- 1.5 yards, Mini Dot in Sunspray by Lotta Jansdotter
B- 1 yard, Paradise Garden in Periwinkle by Amy Butler
C- Florescent Pink & Gray Striped Jersey Knit
D- 1/2 yard Heirloom Tile Flourish in Garnet and 1/2 yard Heirloom Opal in Fuchsia both by Joel Dewberry
E- 1 yard, Houndstooth in black by Michael Miller
F- Pink/Orange Stripe knit
G- 1 yard, Orange and Light Heather Gray Stripe Cotton Jersey Knit
H- 1 yard, Light pink linen
I- 1 yard, Mustard and Ivory Stripe by Girl Charlee
J- 1 yard, Rally Cream/Grass by Dan Stiles
K- 1 yard Riley Blake Ombre Dots in Aqua, 1 yard Target Polka Dot Sheet Fabric, 1 yard Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet in Persimmon and Michael Miller Happy Tones Charm Pack,
L- 1 yard, Remix Triangles B/W by Ann Kelle
M- 1 Yard, Novella Rain Rayon in Aqua by Valori Wells, 1 yard, Lush Running Stitch in Purple by Patty Young, and 1 yard, Porcelain Tile Garden Wall in Olive
N- 1 yard, Mustard cotton sateen
O- 1 yard, Summer Totem in Grapefruit by Anna Maria Horner
P- 1 yard, Black and white chevron
Q- 1 yard, Parenthetical in Berry by Anna Maria Horner
R- 2 yards (1 yard each), ABC 123 by American Jane for Moda
 

Here is the list of bloggers (just in case you have a little research to do):


pattern bundle giveaway

And just to sweeten the pot a little, every reader who submits a guess will be entered in a fabulous pattern bundle giveaway.  

Here is the prize.......

~The Sugarplum Top + Dress pattern by See Kate Sew
~The Surfer Slacks Lounge Pant pattern by See Kate Sew
~The Casual Lady Top and Dress pattern by Go To Patterns
~Two "Winner's Choice" patterns by Blank Slate Patterns
~Pattern 5 Pack ("Winner's Choice") by Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop
~Riding Pants pattern by the Sewing Rabbit
~Roly Poly pattern by imagine gnats
~Ruby Ruffle dress pattern by The Cottage Mama 

WOW........I'd say that's a pretty sweet prize package, wouldn't you?

Ok, here you go.....ready, set, match!
 
Good luck!

*Giveaway ends at midnight MST on Friday, May 11, US residents only.
Pin It

Friday, May 3, 2013

Some Bunny Loves You: Easy Rag Quilt Tutorial



My mom (aka Grandma Jane) is here today sharing a tutorial for these adorable rag quilts she made for my little ladies. Mom made these quilts for the girls when we came to visit for Easter. She had each of the girls quilts laying out on the guest bed upon our arrival. It was SO sweet. Even though they have bunnies on them, they can be used year round. The girls have been sleeping with theirs nightly because they are so warm and cuddly.
You are going to love this easy quilting tutorial.......definitely a great beginner project, but a fun one for seasoned pros as well! And here's Grandma Jane....... 


The Cottage Mama and her family coming to Texas for Easter was certainly a reason to make a new quilt (or two) out of the darling AneelaHoey line, Posy, by Moda

(This line can be purchased from several blog sponsors here at The Cottage Home)

I love the cuddly, soft  look of a rag quilt and when you need a super quick project—a layer cake, 3 ¼ yards of flannel backing and about a  yard of 96 inch wide batting (or scraps) is the recipe for a very nice size throw—just right for our little ladies, Matilda Jane and Savannah Rose. (Caspian got his I Spy Animals rag quilt this past Christmas so it was the girls’ turn.) 
Easy Rag Quilt Tutorial
by Grandma Jane for The Cottage Mama
Instructions: 
Step 1:       Cut (42) 10” x 10”squares of backing flannel fabric.

Step 2:       If you are not using a layer cake, you will need 3 ¼ yards of fabric to cut (42) 10 inch squares.

Step 3:       Cut (42) 8 ½” x 8 ½” squares of batting (I used scraps and took care to use white for the light colored squares so the darker cream colored batting did not show through.) 




Step 4:       Lay a flannel square with wrong side up.  Center a batting square on the flannel and top with a layer cake piece-right side up.  You now have the wrong sides of the fabric together with the batting inside.  It’s a mini-quilt sandwich! Pin together with at least two pins.  Stack them up.



Step 5:       Sew an “X” across each square. I marked mine with a ruler disappearing fabric marker as I sewed each square to keep things straight. This is your “quilting” so you could get fancy at this point in time and quilt some other design on the blocks.


Step 6:       I substituted a white square with embroidery personalization on each quilt. If you do this, I recommend using a fusible batting or web to hold the batting in place for that square only as you do not have the secure “X” quilting across the block. This embroidery design was a built-in design on the Baby Lock Unity sewing and embroidery machine.

Step 7:       Arrange your blocks six blocks wide by seven down.



Step 8:       Stitch blocks in rows with backing sides together using a 5/8 inch seam.  Yes, you will have the unfinished edges on the front of the quilt. Adjust your seam allowance a little if necessary but you don’t want to catch the batting in the seam allowance. 




Step 9:       Stitch the rows together and then stitch all the way around the quilt 5/8 inch from the edges.


Step 10:   Now sit down in a comfy chair and get ready to do some clipping! These little spring-release clippers make clipping the seams much easier on your hands. Clip all seams and outside edge, evenly at about 3/8 inch intervals, taking care not to clip the stitching of the seam.  


Step 11:   I added an embroidered quilt label on the back and used the extra layer cake piece to frame it. Again, this was a built in font on my Baby Lock sewing and embroidery machine.

Step 12:   Washing a rag quilt is really important to get the exposed edges fuzzy and make it all soft and cuddly. Caution! The lint created in your washer and dryer is really significant so make sure you clean out the lint trap. (If you have a really large quilt, it might be a good idea to take it to a Laundromat and use a commercial washer and dryer.)






Enjoy!!! I think you will love how quickly a rag quilt comes together. There are some really great looking ones out there done with strips of fabric, too.  Note: Rag quilts are not the best quilts for babies and infants as the lint and fuzziness could be a problem for little ones. 
 
~ Grandma Jane

Thanks so much, Mom! You are the best.....it's so fun to have you come on the blog. I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial, if you'd like to check out more projects and tutorials from Grandma Jane, you can click HERE.
Pin It