Whatever you celebrate this holiday season, may it fill you with Joy and Happiness!
Until Next Year,
Julie
A Little Something That Made Me Chuckle
lifeI ordered a package and it came in the standard brown cardboard box, or so I thought. I did not notice anything odd about the box until I was getting ready to dispose of it. When I turned the box over, I had quite a chuckle.
This box had quite the personality. Written on the outside of the box was the following…”I want to be a pizza box. Recycle me. ” How funny. These words somehow made my box come alive. I said to the box, “Don’t worry, you’ll be recycled.” I really do hope the box gets it’s wish and becomes a pizza box. Hopefully, the workers at the recycle plant will get the message…
As always, Find Humor in the Small Things!
Time to Celebrate!
lifeAs my followers know, I like to celebrate the milestones of my blog with a little cake. I checked the other day to see if I was anywhere near a milestone number. I was at 348 followers. Close but no cigar as they say. So I waited…
Finally the day arrived! 350 followers. Time to make a cake. I chose to make a “healthy” cake. It would be a flourless chocolate cake. Instead of flour, the recipe called for almond meal. The cake was a single layer eight inch with powdered sugar sprinkled on top. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I was all for having a lower carb version of a celebration cake. My family, however, had other ideas…
The husband was let-down by the frosting-less cake. My daughter agreed with him. Neither thought my “healthy” cake was any healthier and my husband set out to remedy the situation. His solution was to add a dalop of raspberry jam on top. My daughter followed suit. I was more than happy with my heavily-sprinkled powdered sugar topping.
In the end, we all enjoyed the celebration. I asked my husband when I should set the next milestone. He thought 360 might be a good number. I guess he doesn’t want to wait too long for another cake. LOL. Next time, I guess I will top the cake with some frosting.
A shout-out to all my followers. Thanks for following my blog. I hope that you are still enjoying Another Day With Julie. I love to hear your comments.
As always, Find Time to Celebrate!
Granny Square Cardigan
ProjectsWell, I have come a long way with my granny squares since my post https://anotherdaywithjulie.home.blog/2022/07/03/making-granny-squares-at-my-age/ . Not only can I make a granny square, I can make at least 78 of them. I know this for a fact because that is how many granny squares it took to make my latest project, a granny square cardigan.
I chose to make the Granny Square Cardigan Crochet Pattern by Originally Lovely https://www.originallylovely.com/crochet/granny-square-cardigan-crochet-pattern/ . I substituted the yarn for an all cotton yarn because I did not want to use acrylic. This meant that I had to use a different size crochet hook to get my squares to be 4 inches. That is why it is so important to make a swatch or a square to be sure the correct size is achieved. If the size is off, the sweater will not fit. I am usually a size small in knitting patterns. Asuming this, I made up the squares for the size small. However, when piecing them together, I realized it was not going to be big enough. No worries. I just whipped-up some more squares and I was back in business. The medium was a perfect fit.
Having never made a crochet project before, I spent quite a bit of time watching youtube instructions to get me going. After making this, I do understand the terms and techniques better, and will say that the pattern is simple enough for a beginner (like me) but a little guidance from youtube is VERY helpful. The cardigan went together really fast. I was quite surprised that I was able to finish it so quickly.
Not to toot my own horn, but I was so very happy with the way the cardigan turned out. It is always nice to accomplish something that has been a goal for so long. I really never thought I would be able to make one granny square let alone a whole sweater. I even have an order from my daughter to make her a granny square sweater. A pull-over this time, with a slightly different granny square pattern. I will be visiting youtube again. Stay tuned to see how it turns out…
As always, Happy Crocheting!
That Mailbox is a Real Character!
lifeI have come across some interesting mailboxes when out and about. Some look as though they might barely hold the mail. Some mailboxes are shiney and new. Some are wimsical. Some are bright, others dull. But it’s these latest characters that have caught my eye.
Minions! Not one, but two minion mailboxes standing side by side along the roadside in Maine. Needless to say, my husband turned around so that I could get pictures. Yes, I crossed the busy road and got my legs bitten-up by misquitos, while standing in the grass to get my picture beside these cuties. Of course, it was worth it. Love, love, love the Minions.
As always, Enjoy the Scenery!
Dress with Front Pockets
ProjectsHere is my latest look for fall. I made this dress using the VERY EASY VOGUE pattern V9022 and yes, it was very easy.
The pattern does not require buttons or zippers. This may be a bonus for many who fear these notions. It instead calls for a hook and eye closure. I love that there are front pockets incorporated into the pattern that are semi hidden.
The pattern also is made in panels and could be done in different blocks of color. I tried this using a center panel piece in a coordinating fabric. I later ripped the panel out, not caring for the combination, and, instead, made the piece of one fabric.
This dress can easily be made in one day and is flattering on. A simple dress for a simple occassion. I would recommend this Vogue pattern.
As always, Happy Sewing!
The Maine Wave
life, TravelWhenever traveling, there are always little “differences” that catch my eye. Things people do that are not the same as the area in which one lives. In Maine, it was the way people great each other with a wave.
I am used to waving to people by sticking my arm up and waving my hand back and forth, a little or a lot, depending on the occassion. In Maine, I noticed that people would always wave (as we drove by them walking alongside the road), however, there was no back and forth movement of the hand with the Maine wave. No, the Maine wave was simply sticking the arm straight up and then back down again, no movement what so ever.
At first, I thought it was just one person’s way of waving, but this style of waving quickly became a pattern. I then realized that when in Maine, one needs to take up the Maine style of waving. So, for the rest of the trip, I waved like I was born in Maine.
I commented on this style of wave to my niece, who lives in Maine, and she confirmed that this was the way to wave. She felt it would be too forward to wave by moving the hand back and forth. That type of wave would definitely be reserved for someone one knew quite well. It just was not done.
So, if planning a trip to Maine, give the old Maine wave a try. If planning a trip elsewhere, be on the lookout for how the locals do things. It is interesting how different the simplest thing, such as a wave, can vary from state to state.
As always, Happy Travels.
(photo: istock by Getty Images)
Thread Catcher Basket – DIY
ProjectsHaving done a lot of sewing projects lately, I was looking for a better option of disposing of cut threads. My option of choice lately had been to chuck them on the table where they found their way to the floor and left my sewing room in a state of disaster. Yes, I could have opted for a trash can, however, I don’t like the idea of feeling down below the table for the trash, slowing me down. What to do, what to do?
I came across this site https://mermaidsden.com/blog/2016/07/13/sewing-tutorial-thread-catcher-basket-free-pattern for a thread catcher basket. Genious! Just what I needed. I absolutely LOVE my thread catcher basket and it was SO EASY to make. Now I can reach over and place my threads into the basket and empty it whenever I get around to it (it holds a lot). It is also very pretty to look at and washable.
My thread catcher basket is made of scraps of material I had on hand, so it did not cost me anything to make. Well, of course it did, but I didn’t have to purchase any new items for it. Always wonderful to make a project with items from your own stash.
These wonderful baskets could have other uses other than catching threads. Make them in different sizes for different uses. The possibilities are endless.
As always, Happy Sewing!
B&W Bread in a Can – Review
CookingResearching an upcoming trip to Maine, I came across a unique food item. Bread in a can. These cans of bread are apparently sold on the shelf next to the Boston baked beans. It’s an East Coast thing.
My husband affirmed the fact that people on the East Coast do indeed eat bread in a can. It is meant to be eaten alongside Boston baked beans and hot dogs. He ate this bread growing up. He brought me back a can of the bread as a souvenir from his trip so I could give it a try.
The directions on the can say to open both ends of the can. This needs to be done so the bread can be given a little push out of the can. I did so and the bread popped out easily. I put it on a serving platter and set it on the table for dinner.
I must say, I was a little disgusted looking at this bread on the platter. It doesn’t look appetizing. It has the exact look of canned cranberry jelly that pops out of a can at Thanksgiving with the lines of the can marked into it’s sides. I also did not like how the bread rolls around.
The bread sliced easily. It has no crust. It was very sweet because it contains molasses. I would call it more of a sweet bread then a dinner bread. Almost more like a muffin really. Apparently, if the original flavor isn’t sweet enough, one can purchase the version with raisins.
While it tasted fine, I really do not see the point in purchasing this bread. I would be embarrassed to set it out for company as it doesn’t look appealing. It would be a good pantry staple for emergencies, however, I would prefer a fresh loaf of bread (homemade or store bought).
The bread in a can does bring up some questions for me. How does B&M get the bread in the can? How is it cooked? I looked into this and found that the bread is steamed in the can. https://www.mashed.com/270569/the-surprising-origin-of-canned-bread/ Martha Stewart even has a recipe to make homemade bread in a can. https://www.simplemost.com/make-boston-brown-bread-in-a-can-at-home/
It’s interesting how different regions have their own specific food items. I do not know of any stores in So Cal that sell bread in a can. I wonder what other unique food I am missing out on. If any of my readers have food specific to their region of the map, drop me a line and let me know what I am missing out on.
As always, Happy Eating!
Thinking of Making Burda Shirt Pattern 6326? You May Want to Read This First…
ProjectsI decided to make a simple looking shirt pattern from Burda. Being a somewhat experienced sewer, (I’ve been sewing since at least junior high) I did not think I would have any problems with this pattern. Think again!
But it seems I am not the only one who had problems with this pattern. A youtuber threw her project in the bin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mqjBTHHWFk Another reviewer found the neck facing pattern piece the wrong size (ME TOO!). https://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/164799 I only wish that I had seen these reviews before I bought my pattern. Thank goodness it was on sale, it is not even worth sale price.
The back neckline facing was way too short (we’re talking 4 inches too short!). I drafted another one to fit the back neckline, cut it out, attached the interfacing, and sewed in place to the front side facings. All was well.
Moving on to the the sleeves, I found another problem. Come-on Burda! Now the sleeves were too big to fit in the arm holes. No, things could not be stretched or made to fit the hole. I had to rip-out the sleeve stitches and re-sew the seam to make it a smaller diameter, trim, press and it fit. Ok, now everything should be fine.
After putting in the buttonholes, I tried the top on. The neckline looked bad. What! I should have tried this on before I did the buttonholes. Ugh! How on earth was this neckline supposed to be attached!!! It called for cutting two pieces of each neck facing piece. I was supposed to add an extra strip to the neckline otherwise there would be three layers to cut buttonholes through. But it looked horrible on. The neckline wouldn’t lay flat and was ugly. Luckily, the buttonholes did not go through the front shirt piece since the facing was put on in the extended manner. I ripped out the extra facing all around the left side piece with buttonholes, re-cut the side with the buttonholes, fused interfacing to it, re-attached it and watched the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjkUd9m_nMk where a similar neckline is put in without this extra facing piece. Just as I suspected. The extra facing went in the bin.
This was strike three for Burda in my oppinon. I did not toss the project in the bin as I liked the fabric. That’s the only thing that kept me going. “I must save the fabric,” I kept saying to myself. However, I won’t be spending my money on Burda patterns in the future.
Does Burda have a quality control department? Do they test their patterns? There are real pictures of the garments on the package, so they are making the pieces. Are these pieces made with patterns or are the patterns made from these garments? Whoever is drafting the patterns is not making them accurately and the directions are horrible.
There is also no size for the buttons. None that I could see anyway. I would recommend a size 1/2″ or 12mm button.
I finally finished my shirt! It shoud have taken a day. Instead, I honestly have lost count of the number of days spent ripping out seams, creating new pattern pieces, re-sewing, re-ripping, wadding things up, throwing things on the floor, screaming, complaining, etc…
So, would I recommend this pattern? It’s bloody well unlikely! I doubt that I will ever make another Burda pattern again. However, I will wear the shirt, as it did turn out fine with the tweaks I made.
As always, Happy Sewing! (And if it’s not happy, it’s the project, not you.)
Another Day with Julie 