Handmade Knitted Purse

Have you ever wanted to create something useful? I had an idea in the back of my mind to create something useful, with a little flash. I have really gotten into knitting lately so I thought I would design my own purse. I was thinking  more of a clutch type of purse instead of the big diaper bag type, that I use to own in the 70's.
I decided to place beads on the outside of the purse for decoration. I placed a button in the front for closure. I lined the inside with fine material. and used cardboard for structure. Do you like my handmade knitted purse?  Let me know.

Supplies
150 yards thin sock yarn 75% acrylic 25% wool Encore D.K color of your choice
Size 4  circular knitting needles
1 large button
1 blunt large hole needle
Card board
Tacky glue
Glass beads your choice of color.
Regular needle, and thread
Material for lining the inside of purse, matching your out side color

Cast on 15 sts. Work Seed st (k1, p1 ) all the way across.
Next row  (p 1 , k1) knit this way till it measures 2 inches.
Cast on 25 st at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Work  the 65 sts till the body measures 5 1/2 inches.
Next row bind off 6 sts. from the beginning of the next 2 roads.
Knit till it measures 2 inches.
Cast on 6 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Work the 65 sts til it measures 51/2 inches.
Bind off 25 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Work on the 15 sts until  it measures 2 inches.
To make tab for button closure. Cast  8 sts
Knit for 12 rows
Next row button hole, knit 4 bind off next 2 sts finish rest of  of sts.
Next row knit all 8 sts. for next 10 rows.
Next bind off first sts at each end of the next 6 row to form triangle.

This is the finished purse body.

The purse handles are wooded capital D's. I sanded them, and painted them a dark brown, and sealed them with glossy clear varnish.

This is where the fun begins for me. I sewed the brown glass beads on every other row.

Cut card boards 5x9 1/2 inches.Middle board  2x10 inches. these will be glued later on to lining material.

Sew end of purse close, leave L shape open.

Then sew the L flap closed. This will give the purse a flat bottom on which to stand up on.

This is the purse sewed, before the lining is applied.

Glue the cardboard with tacky glue to the lining.

I picked a lining with navy blue, and light browns, and beige color that is in the yarn color.

Sew the lining into the purse with light beige thread.

Sew the wooden handles, and the tabs on to the purse.

Sew the closure button. Enjoy your purse, I'm thinking I might want to add more beads, but I don't have the right one right now. If I add more I will add the picture later for you to see.

Homemade Mexican Style Fish Fajita recipe

We use to do a lot of lake fishing when my boys were younger. We would catch large mouth bass, small bass mouth, and Crappie. I was looking for a alternative way to prepare the fish besides just frying them.  I came up with a idea to make homemade Mexican style fish fajitas. My family just loved the fajitas, it disguises any fishy taste that the non fish lovers would object to. Let me know if you enjoy my homemade Mexican style fajitas as much as my family does.

2.5 pound bag Kirkland Frozen Tilapia Fish (5 of the individually wrap fish out to defrost.)
1 packet Lawry's Fajitas Seasoning
1 red peppers sliced
1 green pepper sliced
1 yellow pepper sliced
1 medium onion sliced
Olive oil 2 tablespoons
Corn tortillas
1/4 cup water
Toppings
Sour cream
Fresh diced tomatoes
Salsa
Shredded lettuce

Lay out 5 frozen individually wrapped fish to defrost on the counter.I have tried other frozen brands, that come with a gray strip down the center, stay away from those brands the tilapia is fishy tasting.

Chop into 2 inch chunks.

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, fry on medium high heat. It will only take about 6 minutes for the fish to cook.

Set to the side, while you fry the vegetables.

Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil in frying pan, on medium high heat stir fry the peppers, and onions.

Move the fish, and the pepper mixture to the sides of the pan. Empty the fajita seasons in the center of the pan, adding 1/4 cup of water. Stirring quickly until mixture starts to thicken, then stir into rest of food, and incorporate well.

Heat corn tortilla, add  fajita mixture, adding you favorite toppings, and enjoy. I think you will be pleasantly surprised how good it tastes. Here you go guys homemade Mexican style fajitas, mmmmm. Let me know what you think.

Valentines Day Heart Shaped Pillow

I was looking for an fun project for Valentines Day that me, and my granddaughters could make.  We came up with this cute pillow after watching a Ni Hi Kai Lan  cartoon from Nick Jr. Bianca my 4 year old granddaughter really liked it, and she was really excited that we were gonna be able to make something that we saw on tv. If you like this let me know how yours turns out.

Supplies
1/2 yard solid red flannel
Iron on butterfly
Iron on flowers
Red thread, sewing needle
Polyester fill batting
Cut 2 heart shapes, iron flat.

 Look at the smiles on these little faces.They are so proud of themselves.
The instructions for the iron on required a hard board, and a hot iron no steam. An adult should iron on the decals for the children. The children placed the decals where they wanted them.

I did a running stitch by hand. My granddaughters are too young to handle a needle at this time.

The children filled the pillows with the stuffing. Sew the pillow shut, and there you have a present that a child is proud to present to their parents.

Valentines Day Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

The look on Bianca's face says it all.

I got this Valentine's Day  Idea from my son who wanted to order chocolate dipped strawberries for his wife on Valentines Day to surprise her. He bought her some chocolate dipped strawberries for their anniversary last year, and she really enjoyed them. The nice thing about doing this project yourself besides the creative aspects is that it is about one half to one third the price, if your like me you probably already have most of the ingredients in your cupboard anyway. So that gave me the idea to surprise both of them for Valentines Day, and get my granddaughters involved in a fun and easy on the wallet project.

Ingredients
1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips melted
1 teaspoon shortening
1 package the fresh strawberries
1 square  white almond bark melted for decorating on top of chocolate

First you want to wash strawberries,  dry them and set to the side. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler, if you don't own one you can make your own by placing a large frying pan with water on low heat on stove, place glass bowl inside. Make sure the bowl has high sides, you don't want water to touch the chocolate, or it will curdle.
Add the teaspoon of shortening stir until incorporated.

Next grab the strawberries by stem, swirl in melted chocolate, place on some wax paper in refrigerator to harden.
After the chocolate hardens then you add thin swirl of white melted chocolate for cool designs.

Valentines Day Brownie Cheesecake Hearts

Ok now.. who doesn't love brownies, and cheesecake.  Brownie Cheesecake hearts are a great Valentine's Day goody that I like make with my granddaughters. You don't always have to wait for Valentines Day for this delicious recipe, give it a try and let me know what you think. The recipe tutorial Dessert homemade brownies from scratch will be a benefit to you.


 (Ingredients for brownies

2 unsweetened squares chocolate
1 stick butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour all purpose
1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tub Philadelphia's ready to eat cheesecake filling
red sprinkles
chocolate sauce for drizzling

Bake brownie recipe at 300 degrees for 25 minutes, in a large 16 inch cake pan. Butter bottom.

While still warm use a heart shape cookie cutter, cut as many heart shapes as will fit on your brownie cake pan.

Lay on tray to cool.

                                 ( Here is a picture of my granddaughter Marrissa helping me out)

Frost with cheese cake filling, on the heavy side, add sprinkles, and place cake shape brownie on top.

Churros Mexican Food Style Dessert

Just think of something warm, crispy, and comforting. Churros right? For me this a easy to go to recipe, the ingredients are usually all ready in your pantry. I remember my grandma, making these when I was a child, even though desserts wasn't her specialty, she was always able to make awesome Churros. Mmmmm, I still remember how the smell of cinnamon, and sugar would fill the air...Yummy.

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 stick butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all purpose flour
3 eggs
Oil for frying
Frying pan
1/4 cup sugar,  2 tablespoons cinnamon for topping
Thongs for turning churros
Pastry bag with large tip

Bring water, butter, and salt to a boil.

 

Add flour and immediately start stirring with large spoon. The mixture will clump into a mass. Keep stirring.

Add eggs one at a time, stir rapidly once more until egg incorporates in to flour mixture.

It will be a little resistant in the beginning.

Place pastry bag inside a glass to give you a hand. This makes it easier to fill with this stiff dough.

Bring  1 inch of oil to medium hot temperature in a skillet. The dough should start sizzling at once, when placed in the hot oil. Fry til the strips turn light brown, turning over as needed. Place on a paper towel to drain, and cool off.
Place sugar, and cinnamon in plastic bag, adding cooked churros to cover with sugar mixture.
There you go guys a simple way to make Mexican style Churro, let me know how yours come out. Enjoy!

Knitting - Free patteren for Knitting a Little Red Dress

                        Here are some after pictures of the Little Red dress project.( Bianca and Marissa)

 I made these red little dresses for my granddaughters, they look so adorable in them. I chose a 100% acrylic yarn, it takes the wear, and tear more readily. The pattern is made in pink in the original pattern. I found the free pattern at http://www.lionbrand.com/   titled "Easy Baby and Kids Lacy Tank Dress Knitting Pattern" They have some great free patterns, and lovey yarns, I can find most of there yarns at Micheal's, JoAnns, or even
Walmart. I happen upon this yarn at Greenberry, a local knitting shop, Leslie carries acrylic yarns, and natural homespun yarns, like wools, alpacas, angoras.and mohair's.
I enjoyed making this little red dress, the feather ridged stitch looks so dainty and feminine, it's like no other that I have ever seen.