Those of you who have not been with me long may have missed this post...of course my blog is searchable if you enter a search term in the box at the VERY top left hand corner of the blog you can search for all my tutorials or anything else you wanna know about.
Anyhoo I wrote this post last March and it has got tons of hits so I decided to update it since it could use pictures or something, so I decided to add a video! Its in 2 parts cause I cant figure out how to join them yet LOL
Smocking tutorial Video
In the video I am making a dress for a plus size lady but you can apply this technique to a dress or top of any size person. Its mostly the basic technique I am trying to teach here. So enjoy! And be on the lookout for that smocked dress coming to my Artfire and Etsy shop soon!
My sewing blog..my soapmaking blog...my blog blog. Its updated regularly, and humorously!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
I decided to have a sale!
Well actually "life" made me decide to have a sale....
But for a limited time only YOU can be the proud owner of some new soap OR a discounted custom order on my awesome plus size clothing, if you BUY NOW before Sunday June 28th!
BUT WAIT THERES MORE!
With each purchase I ALWAYS give free samples. Anyone who buys from me during this sale can PICK 2 samples but ONLY if you send me a message on artfire or leave a note to the seller mentioning you seen it on the blog. Its like an extra blog sale ONLY mentioned here! YEAH!
For the best hot process vegan soap in town.
Click the pics to go to a fun fan site!
But for a limited time only YOU can be the proud owner of some new soap OR a discounted custom order on my awesome plus size clothing, if you BUY NOW before Sunday June 28th!
BUT WAIT THERES MORE!
With each purchase I ALWAYS give free samples. Anyone who buys from me during this sale can PICK 2 samples but ONLY if you send me a message on artfire or leave a note to the seller mentioning you seen it on the blog. Its like an extra blog sale ONLY mentioned here! YEAH!
For the best hot process vegan soap in town.
Click the pics to go to a fun fan site!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I think I have been blessed
Ever since I was 16 I dreamed of being a writer. I would read poetry by Jim Morrison, Jack Keroac, and Sylvia Plath, I would read philosophy books and DREAM of being a writer. I wrote lots of stuff, I wrote about what I thought about the world, poetry, short stories about funny stuff. I just LOVED to write, I have always been able to read very fast and comprehend all of what I read very very quickly I am better at remembering info I read VS info I hear. I am very text based...I used to dream in text when I frequented chat rooms a lot, no joke LOL
So I have a few friends on Plurk who got jobs writing for handmadenews.org. I was impressed and so happy for them all! I was on handmade news myself looking up info to share with my team members and I noticed they were still taking applications...so I felt like I NEEDED to apply. I felt like it would be success! So I applied...then I went to bed...then I thought about things I may have done wrong on my application...and I woke up a lot thru the night thinking about it..then yesterday I was sitting here minding my own business, palm rolling my dreads, and I get an email...they LIKE ME!!!!!!!!!!
They say they are "really impressed" with my work, I gave them many examples this blog being one of them, and they want to put me in the marketing dept. Well heck yeah! Thats where I belong!
I love the way life just works out and no matter how long you have had a dream it comes true. I am in awe of my life and all the little miracles in it that happen daily. This is just too cool! In the past 4 years I have had 2 major dreams come true, a successful business in the face of chronic pain and stiffness I am successful, and now I am a legit "writer". Before I became disabled my life sucked really I just didnt know. i have come to the realization that by me not letting my constant pain get me down I have managed to stir up enough positive energy that has propelled my businesses to what they are today. I have worked very very hard to get to where I am. I am so thankful I worked so hard in the beginning. A little voice kept telling me, "It will all be worth it soon, just keep going"
Now in my mind I am successful, no I dont live in a mansion by no means, my car dont even have a/c. But to me success is never measured by money.
I feel like a teenager right now with these big hopes and dreams being fulfilled....I never dreamed my dream would come true. I could always see myself in a "columnist" position, but I kinda never thought it would happen cause after all I have all these kids now and stuff, But its happened in a way that gives me the satisfaction of success and I can still stay home and care for my family, this is a job I can even do with my disabilities cause its not too time consuming (I HOPE!)
....I wish dad could see me now. He would totally brag to everyone that came within 20 feet of him. Dad this is for you. I am gonna keep making you proud, you watch me.
So I have a few friends on Plurk who got jobs writing for handmadenews.org. I was impressed and so happy for them all! I was on handmade news myself looking up info to share with my team members and I noticed they were still taking applications...so I felt like I NEEDED to apply. I felt like it would be success! So I applied...then I went to bed...then I thought about things I may have done wrong on my application...and I woke up a lot thru the night thinking about it..then yesterday I was sitting here minding my own business, palm rolling my dreads, and I get an email...they LIKE ME!!!!!!!!!!
They say they are "really impressed" with my work, I gave them many examples this blog being one of them, and they want to put me in the marketing dept. Well heck yeah! Thats where I belong!
I love the way life just works out and no matter how long you have had a dream it comes true. I am in awe of my life and all the little miracles in it that happen daily. This is just too cool! In the past 4 years I have had 2 major dreams come true, a successful business in the face of chronic pain and stiffness I am successful, and now I am a legit "writer". Before I became disabled my life sucked really I just didnt know. i have come to the realization that by me not letting my constant pain get me down I have managed to stir up enough positive energy that has propelled my businesses to what they are today. I have worked very very hard to get to where I am. I am so thankful I worked so hard in the beginning. A little voice kept telling me, "It will all be worth it soon, just keep going"
Now in my mind I am successful, no I dont live in a mansion by no means, my car dont even have a/c. But to me success is never measured by money.
I feel like a teenager right now with these big hopes and dreams being fulfilled....I never dreamed my dream would come true. I could always see myself in a "columnist" position, but I kinda never thought it would happen cause after all I have all these kids now and stuff, But its happened in a way that gives me the satisfaction of success and I can still stay home and care for my family, this is a job I can even do with my disabilities cause its not too time consuming (I HOPE!)
....I wish dad could see me now. He would totally brag to everyone that came within 20 feet of him. Dad this is for you. I am gonna keep making you proud, you watch me.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Crust Cake
So your thinking...peanut butter and chocolate crust?? But its a cake?? Yes!
Under the thick layer of uber creamy peanut butter icing is a decent layer of chocolate "crust" which is nothing more than some melted chocolate chips but they give a nice but of hard crusty-like goodness to the cake. I made this up myself. yep. THIS kind of stuff is why I am fat guys. There is a reason for this! LOL
So anyhoo, here is your supply list:
FROSTING:
Confectioners sugar - 3/4 of a bag
1 stick of REAL butter unless you enjoy eating something that was invented to fatten turkeys but ended up killing them
about half a jar of peanut butter, more or less depending on how obsessed you are with peanut butter. I used about half a 16 ounce jar (smiles)
CAKE:
Any kind of vanilla cake mix
Any kind of vanilla instant pudding
About 1/3 cup of soymilk or regular milk if you still use it
1 cup of water
3/4 bag of chocolate chips
3 eggs or egg substitute if you wish
1 small serving size cup of activia vanilla yogurt, or about 1/3 cup of sour cream or plain yogurt
THE FROSTING YUM!
Here is how to make the frosting. Put your stick of butter in the microwave and get it soft and kinda melty. Pour in confectioners sugar until you get a really thick frosting, add some milk if you like. Add in your peanut butter and taste to make sure the peanut butter taste is stronger than the sugar taste. I tested mine a lot!
When its thick enough you will know it cause it will be kinda stiff like frosting in a can you buy, but this is SOOO much better and really dont take no time to make, you can do it while the cake is baking if you like. Just to kill time cause your going nuts smelling the cake...
Next MIX UP THE CAKE!
Put your dry ingedients in a bowl, cake mix, pudding mix. The add the 1/3 cup of milk, and 1 cup of water and your 3 eggs. Mix it up good...taste the batter, go ahead you know you want to...I wont tell...
Pour the batter in cake pans of your choice, and bake on 350 till its done...about 15 minutes?? ovens differ so keep an eye on it.
While cake is baking make the frosting.
When cake is done take it out of the oven and let it cool for a little bit, maybe 5 or 10 minutes however long you can stand it and then comes the fun part. The chocolate crusty part!
Take the chocolate chips and put on the warm cake, as they melt spread them around with a knife or something. till you get a nice coverage like so:
Pop this in the freezer for half hour or so...maybe not quite that long. you just want the cake to hurry up and cool off, if your more patient just let it sit out till its cool. Then you spread on the delicious peanut butter frosting you just made and cut the pieces and eat it....then regret it...slightly.
This picture was taken after I ate a piece...sorry. i was so excited it was done I forgot to take a picture of the pretty frosting job I did, I just went straight away and cut it and devoured a piece THEN I remembered I needed to take a picture...oh well LOL It was so darn good I had to share with you guys. ENJOY!
Under the thick layer of uber creamy peanut butter icing is a decent layer of chocolate "crust" which is nothing more than some melted chocolate chips but they give a nice but of hard crusty-like goodness to the cake. I made this up myself. yep. THIS kind of stuff is why I am fat guys. There is a reason for this! LOL
So anyhoo, here is your supply list:
FROSTING:
Confectioners sugar - 3/4 of a bag
1 stick of REAL butter unless you enjoy eating something that was invented to fatten turkeys but ended up killing them
about half a jar of peanut butter, more or less depending on how obsessed you are with peanut butter. I used about half a 16 ounce jar (smiles)
CAKE:
Any kind of vanilla cake mix
Any kind of vanilla instant pudding
About 1/3 cup of soymilk or regular milk if you still use it
1 cup of water
3/4 bag of chocolate chips
3 eggs or egg substitute if you wish
1 small serving size cup of activia vanilla yogurt, or about 1/3 cup of sour cream or plain yogurt
THE FROSTING YUM!
Here is how to make the frosting. Put your stick of butter in the microwave and get it soft and kinda melty. Pour in confectioners sugar until you get a really thick frosting, add some milk if you like. Add in your peanut butter and taste to make sure the peanut butter taste is stronger than the sugar taste. I tested mine a lot!
When its thick enough you will know it cause it will be kinda stiff like frosting in a can you buy, but this is SOOO much better and really dont take no time to make, you can do it while the cake is baking if you like. Just to kill time cause your going nuts smelling the cake...
Next MIX UP THE CAKE!
Put your dry ingedients in a bowl, cake mix, pudding mix. The add the 1/3 cup of milk, and 1 cup of water and your 3 eggs. Mix it up good...taste the batter, go ahead you know you want to...I wont tell...
Pour the batter in cake pans of your choice, and bake on 350 till its done...about 15 minutes?? ovens differ so keep an eye on it.
While cake is baking make the frosting.
When cake is done take it out of the oven and let it cool for a little bit, maybe 5 or 10 minutes however long you can stand it and then comes the fun part. The chocolate crusty part!
Take the chocolate chips and put on the warm cake, as they melt spread them around with a knife or something. till you get a nice coverage like so:
Pop this in the freezer for half hour or so...maybe not quite that long. you just want the cake to hurry up and cool off, if your more patient just let it sit out till its cool. Then you spread on the delicious peanut butter frosting you just made and cut the pieces and eat it....then regret it...slightly.
This picture was taken after I ate a piece...sorry. i was so excited it was done I forgot to take a picture of the pretty frosting job I did, I just went straight away and cut it and devoured a piece THEN I remembered I needed to take a picture...oh well LOL It was so darn good I had to share with you guys. ENJOY!
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