Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Glass Etched Flour Canister


I like to bake bread and not just plain white bread.  I have a lot of different kinds of flour ranging from whole wheat, multigrain, rye, buckwheat, graham...the list goes on.  I use a lot of whole wheat flour and I needed another canister to store it in.  While rummaging around in the basement I came across a couple of huge, gallon+ size, glass pickle jars.  You know...the kind that food service and vendors have that their pickles and condiments come in.  That's when I decided to upcycle the jars into flour canisters.
 

The clear glass was perfect for trying my hand at a little decorative glass etching.

 
For the lettering I cut out my own lettering stencil to spell our FLOUR in a fun script.  Then I used a Martha Stewart floral design stencil beneath the word FLOUR.  I taped the stencils to the glass jar and applied the Martha Stewart Glass etching liquid with a foam brush over the letters and design.
 
 
Then being very careful, I removed the stencils, washed away the excess etching compound and...
Voila!
I created a canister for more flour. 

 
The lid is looking a little shabby covering the pretty jar so I think perhaps I'll cover it with either a pretty fabric or I'll paint it.  It's fun giving new purpose to discarded 'junk'.
 

Until next time,
Cheers!
 
Jennifer
 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin


Some of my favorite Blog Parties I enjoy attending:
 
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop Pure Grace Farm,   Worthwhile Wednesdays, Wake Up Wednesdays, Clever Chicks Blog Hop, FoodySchmoody Tuesday Tastings,  Delish Dessert Link Party, Share your stuff Tuesdays, Anyonita Nibbles Tasty Tuesday'sShare it One More Time, Much Ado About MondayFeathered Nest Fridays, DIY Vintage Chic FridayThe Style Sisters Centerpiece Wednesday, Sew-Off Saturday Sew Can She , Two Cup Tuesday , Shabby Art Boutique Shabbilicious Friday , Give Me The Goods Monday , Homestead Barn Hop , Whimsy Wednesday , Knick Of Time ,  From the Farm Blog Hop , A Peek Into My Paradise , A Delightsome Life , Share your Cup Thursday Have a Daily Cup, Homework , Green Willow Pond , A Stroll Thru Life , Work It Wednesday , Savvy Southern Style , I Should Be Mopping the Floors , Common Ground Be Inspired , Simple and Sweet Fridays Sweet and Savory Sunday This Gal Cooks Marvelous Mondays , This Silly Girl's Life, Living Better Together TGIF Linkparty , DIY Sunday Showcase , Dear Creatives Inspiration, Super Saturday Link Party




Saturday, September 10, 2016

A Wave From Mama

I received an Advance Reader's Copy of A Wave From Mama in exchange for an honest review.



A Wave From MamaA Wave From Mama by A. Robert Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A Wave from Mama is the second novel in A. Robert Allen’s series, Slavery and Beyond. An historical fiction novel that begins in the year 1863, following the Draft Riots, in Weeksville, New York where former slaves find refuge in the camp where they found refuge and yearned to start a new life. It is a history lesson in post civil war tense relations between Blacks, Irish immigrants, gangs and police corruption and incorporated in the story is the historic importance of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The reader is immediately introduced to the central characters, Venture Simmons who is a socially awkward and physical small but very agile boy who witnessed the rape and murder of his mother, and the man, Moses Brown, who would become Venture’s confidant and best friend. Venture promises his Mama’s memory to all with the shouts, “You killed Mama, and you’re all gonna pay!”

The story of Venture is touching with the love and friendship of the people who would become his family who take him in as their own family (Esther, Thomas, Mabel and Horace Washington), his friend Moses, the young girl Grace who would eventually become his wife, and John Singleton and most importantly Venture’s love and devotion to his Mama’s memory. This love and friendship all in the midst of the tumultuous time in history.

A Wave from Mama is a history lesson of events that I wasn’t aware of; that is the Draft Riots, the clash between the Irish and Blacks and the history and significant importance of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was immediately drawn in to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thank the author, A. Robert Allen, for teaching me about these aspects of post civil war history and slavery that I knew little about in a most captivating novel.

Historic fiction is my favorite genre of fiction and this novel did not disappoint.

Until next time,
Cheers!
 
Jennifer

Friday, September 9, 2016

Infant and Toddler Summer Sun Suit Rompers

Someone very special to me had her second baby girl this summer.  The newborn has a 2 years old big sister, so I thought it might be fun to make the little girls matching Summer Sun Suits.  

 
 I just love browsing digital sewing patterns on Etsy and I found this darling pattern that would fit sizes from Newborn to 24 months at My Childhood Treasures Etsy shop.

 
 The pattern does have a ruffle pattern piece, but I decided to use up some of my lacey ruffles, satin ribbons and satin rose buds and embellish in my own way.

 
These were so fast to sew up and I had just the best time making them. 

 
 Nothing more sweet than seeing little girls in ruffles and bows, ribbons and rosebuds.

 
 For the infant romper, since it was so tiny, rather than using three rows of the wider eyelet lace, I chose to use five rows of a narrow lace.


Of course I had to match the satin ribbons and rosebuds to the big sister version of the sun suit.

 
The fabric is from Tanya Whelan.  I just love her romantic fabrics. 
 
 

Until next time,
Cheers!
 
Jennifer
 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin


Some of my favorite Blog Parties I enjoy attending:
 
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop Pure Grace Farm,   Worthwhile Wednesdays, Wake Up Wednesdays, Clever Chicks Blog Hop, FoodySchmoody Tuesday Tastings,  Delish Dessert Link Party, Share your stuff Tuesdays, Anyonita Nibbles Tasty Tuesday'sShare it One More Time, Much Ado About MondayFeathered Nest Fridays, DIY Vintage Chic FridayThe Style Sisters Centerpiece Wednesday, Sew-Off Saturday Sew Can She , Two Cup Tuesday , Shabby Art Boutique Shabbilicious Friday , Give Me The Goods Monday , Homestead Barn Hop , Whimsy Wednesday , Knick Of Time ,  From the Farm Blog Hop , A Peek Into My Paradise , A Delightsome Life , Share your Cup Thursday Have a Daily Cup, Homework , Green Willow Pond , A Stroll Thru Life , Work It Wednesday , Savvy Southern Style , I Should Be Mopping the Floors , Common Ground Be Inspired , Simple and Sweet Fridays Sweet and Savory Sunday This Gal Cooks Marvelous Mondays , This Silly Girl's Life, Living Better Together TGIF Linkparty , DIY Sunday Showcase , Dear Creatives Inspiration, Super Saturday Link Party





Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Art...Soul...Life



It's been ages since I've inked up stamps and made a card or two and I've really missed it.   I decided to take advantage of this week's Mojo Monday #464 card layout shown below:




I was cleaning and putting away supplies in my craft/sewing room and discovered some very old supplies.  Do you remember the FASCINATOR stapler?  It was all the rage about 10 years ago.  I decided to put it back in use to attach the ribbon tape.  And the Designer Paper is some very, very old Anna Griffin paper.  I always have loved Anna Griffin supplies and this floral paper was one of my all time favorites.  I had a scrap just large enough to use for this card.  And the Sentiment Stamp I've had for years and years and....well, YEARS!


Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Hampton Arts
Ink:  Versamark, Versacolor in Green Tea, and Color Box in Cranberry
Designer Paper:  Anna Griffin
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Fascinator Stapler and Staples, Nestabilities Square Die cut and Embossing Folder



Until next time,
Cheers!
 
Jennifer