A while back my niece Jenny decided grand niece Vivien needed flamingos embroidered on all her ballet outfits. Well now I know why flamingos start with an F! With my creativity, determination, lots of patience, and the Bernina Artista, I got them done. They turned out great! I think they really make the fun dance outfits stand out. Only Vivien had flamingos helping her with her pirouettes!
LiveCreative: Macrame’ Chair
Do you have an outdoor chair with a great frame, but the seating area is gone? I did and wanted to make it fabulous again. With some time and patience, I made the chair even better than it was new!
I removed the rattan from this frame and had a great shell. I did a search on Macramé chair and found some great directions, see link Macramé Chair
You will need:
2 big plastic 19mm crochet hooks, I got these at Michaels
approximately 2 skeins of the 6mm craft cord, I used the Bonnie craft cord in the Jute color.
I had these really great chairs that had given up the rattan. I removed it and had a great form for the Macrame’.
Tie a square knot in one corner, then start weaving. The video does a great job of walking thru the weaving.
The first layer of weaving is one direction, then once done you start weaving between the two strands of each first pass. Use the crochet hooks to hold the loops of the strand you are working on.
The hardest part is getting everything tight enough. After a few rows use the hooks or something else to push all the rows tight. Do this tightening throughout the weaving process.
Once the seat is done, move to the back. The ends will be looped thru in a knot, and then burned with a flame to ensure the rope does not ravel. Then the seared end can be tucked into the weaving.
I wove two chairs and am thrilled with how they turned out!
LiveCreative: Silver Leather Jacket
I wanted a silver leather jacket, but did not want to spend much money. Sometimes Goodwill has nice stuff for reasonable prices. It took a bit of time shopping at a few different locations, before I found one I liked the style and fit, and got it for $5! If you are not in a hurry you can find really wonderful things!
The leather jacket I chose was black with a silver lining.
I cleaned the leather with alcohol one day and dyed it the next to ensure it was dry.
I used a pewter and silver dye mixed together to get the color I wanted.
It took a bit of trial and error and since I started with a black jacket, it took 2 coats, but I am super happy with how the jacket turned out. I wear it a lot and get many compliments.
Remember to take some extra time around the seams and stitching, to ensure the dye gets in all the crevices. The underside of the zipper leather will show when you are zipping and unzipping, so remember this detail. You can also dye the fabric of the zipper, if needed. Especially important if you are changing colors of a jacket. Underneath the collar is very important. The leather in the pockets can show, and the leather inside the sleeves and inside the jacket. Between the layers of leather on the edge of the collar will take some extra care but it will be worth the time.
I love my results. I have worm the jacket several times and love it. The leather is still soft and pliable. It is a great jacket.
Recipe: Veggie Smoothie
Smoothies seem to be the rage right now. When I first heard about it, I was not interested in trying them. I had no desire to drink my food. Then I was doing some research about tightening up my diet. I would love to have an amazing muscular stomach, which means I need to be leaner than I am currently. My neighbor then started telling me she was juicing her breakfast, feeling great and dropping weight, without changing anything else. I thought ok, if I need to add more veggies into my diet and I am not interested in eating cups of veggies for breakfast, maybe I need to think about the juicing or smoothie option. I started looking for veggie smoothie recipes online. All the recipes I found online had lots of carbs- fruit and strong flavored veggies I do not want for breakfast.
Necessity is the mother of invention!
I started with favorite mild veggies that pack a good veggie punch, and I came up with my recipe. This has become my breakfast most mornings. I can put it together on the way out the door and drink it at my desk while I am working. I am aiming for about 300 calories, and relatively low carb. I do not want to take a ton of insulin for breakfast. Net carbs = 17 – I am having to take 2-3 units.
- 1c unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 c fat free greek yogurt
- 100g zucchini
- handful of greens
- 2 cups cauliflower
- 1 scoop protein powder
1 cup or 240grams of unsweetened Almond milk
1/2 cup or 115 grams of plain greek yogurt
100grams of zucchini, about 1/2 a cup
1 handful of greens. I like the Aldi mixed greens with baby kale and baby spinach.
I have used both vanilla and strawberry protein powder. I like them both. I buy whatever is reasonably priced, with minimal carbs. 25 grams of protein, and less than 150 calories per serving. 
1 scoop = 33 grams of protein powder
I add the protein powder on top of the greens so it does not get wet too soon and stick to the side of the blender cup.
I then cut up and fill the blender cup with cauliflower. About two cups or so of chopped cauliflower
Once the blender cup is full, screw on the blender blade lid. Blend until super smooth.
I then add the secret morning ingredient, coffee!
Since the smoothie is somewhat thick to start with, and I drink cold coffee anyway, I add black coffee to the veggie smoothie, which thins it out, ads a bit of flavor along with my morning caffeine. I love it. I get 3 cups of vegetables, along with the kick from my coffee, and plenty of protein for my breakfast. It takes me a couple of hours to drink while I am working, so it keeps me full all morning until time for lunch.
I have made this for my mother and my husband without the coffee and they both really like it, so it is kid and mother approved! Husband=kid!
Please let me know what you think of the Pamtastic smoothie…
LiveCreative: Sandals New and Improved
I was shopping at my favorite store a few weeks ago, and found a pair of Style and Co sandals for $1! Yes a new pair of sandals for $1!
The gold color on the straps was flaking and peeling in a few places, but for $1 I can get out some paint, and do a mix and match to achieve the right color to update the straps.
I found a few gold, taupe, cream paints in my stash. I mixed them together to achieve the same gold as the sandal straps.
I was to lazy to get a brush, so I just applied with my fingers and I am happy with the result. I did not touch up the gold paint on the tag in the sole of the sandal.
I am quite happy with how they turned out. I have worn them several times since my refurbish. Always look at a bargain to see if it is worth the time, and if so you have a new item for a great price, a fun project and a story. It is up to you if you tell the story, or just say thank you when you receive a compliement!
LiveCreative!
LiveCreative: Bronze Leather Jacket
I was given a really great leather jacket, fun style, but an ugly finish that was very scratched and rough, as well as a color I would never wear. I love the metallic leather finishes, so I decided to upcycle my leather gift and make it fabulous!
I shopped around on ebay and ordered some metallic leather dye/paint. I choose a metallic bronze color that would match the original color of the jacket as well as the lining.
To clean the jacket and prep it for dye, clean it with alcohol or lemon juice. The acid prepares the leather to accept the dye. Make sure the leather is dry before starting. I cleaned on one day, and dyed the next. I used a sponge to apply the dye. I also dyed the zipper fabric, the top stitch thread, the leather folded in and sew to the lining, the leather turned up into the edge of the sleeves, as well as the edges of the leather – everything so it looks like it was always the beautiful metallic bronze. I applied the dye, let dry a bit then added a second coat to even out the color to be uniform in color and texture. I then let it dry overnight before wearing. I have gotten a ton of compliments on my upcycled jacket. Admirers have no idea the jacket was not always this color and effect!
If you do not have a jacket in your collection that needs a new finish, just go to a resale shop and see what you can find. Goodwill has nice stuff for reasonable prices. I wanted a silver jacket, did a bit of shopping before I found one I liked the style and fit, and got it for $5! If you are not in a hurry you can find really wonderful things to personalize and make your own one of a kind creation!