Tutorial : Fabric Flowers

I first stumbled across this brilliant tutorial when I was wedding planning.  I thought it would be great to make fabric flower center pieces (which go wonderfully with the vintage theme) and have them double as favors.  This could have been a possibility if 1. I had much longer to plan than four months and 2. lots of people willing to help out.  So if you want these to be part of your big day, or just want to add a little something t your home decor, these little treasures are sure to make you swoon. 


Materials
Cute Fabric (mismatch or coordinating) 
Thread
Sewing Machine
Glue gun
Iron
Fabric Scissors
Sticks (I collected them on the last hike Matt and I went on...don't tell the forest ranger!)
Glass Jar/Vase
Yarn (optional)

1. Cut fabric in 5" x 45" strips.  

2. Fold strips in half lengthwise and iron flat. (Your strip is now 2.5" x 45")

3. Open up strip.  Sew a gathering stitch along the pressed seam. Fold back into  place.

4.  To cut the petals,  scallop the open ends of the strip.  Each scallop is approximately 2-2.5 inches.  If you make a small mark at the open end every 2-2.5 inches it will help guide you as you cut.

5. At one end make a tail.  It's about one inch wide by at least 4 inches long.

6.  To make things easier, use the first one and place it on top of another strip and use it as a pattern to cut the scalloped edge.  These don't need to be perfect.

7.  Sew the scalloped edges together.  Contrasting thread adds a little pop of color, but you can do what ever you please.

To get the rest of this tutorial, visit Snowy Bliss! 

For the vase, I used a glass jar and wrapped white and yellow yarn around it. 

I absolutely love how they turned out!  Now I will always have beautiful flowers at home :]

  

<3 Saleena

 

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Tutorial: How to Paint a Still Life

Since I have started school, blogging has been placed last on my priorities list.  I've missed the cooking and DIYing, and of course, I've missed hearing from my readers. Then I came up with a great idea...why not bring my school work to my blog? Sounds fabulous!  Remember the painting class I was so excited for that I made a bag to hold all of my paint brushes?  Well, it's going wonderfully and I am having a great time learning how to paint.  I'll show you basic steps to start you on your still life, and let me know how it goes!  It is very relaxing, and the perfect escape from a busy schedule.  It does take a while to complete, but you don't have to complete it in a single day.  I would encourage you to give it a shot :]

Materials:

Oil Paint
Canvas
Brushes
Palette for your paint
Solvent Mixture (1/2 part stand oil and 1/2 part mineral spirits)
Piece of paper
Pencil & Eraser
Paper towels (to clean brushes)
Easel or surface to paint on
Light source (I used a desk lamp)
Apron (optional, but recommended) 

Step One: Set up your display

Keep in mind that you want a pleasing composition.  A light source adds shadows, which will give your painting dimension.

Step Two:  Thumbnail sketch

 This will allow you to decide where exactly you are going to place your objects on your canvas.  (Landscape vs portrait layout, fitting everything the frame vs cropping)

Step Three:  Sketch it on your canvas

Make sure to include the shadows! (I know my vase is shorter than it is supposed to be, but I didn't want to crop it out of the frame.)

Step Four: Refine

Use Burnt Umber to outline your sketch, but be sure to refer back to the display.  (Your sketch drawing may not be completely accurate.)

Step Five: Fill in shadows

Use Burnt Umber again to fill in the shadows, applying the solvent mixture to thin out your paint.

Step Six: Paint your darkest darks and lightest lights

Step Seven: Cover your canvas

Step Eight: Blending and Details

The thing I love about oil paint is that it takes a while to dry, unlike acrylic.  So blending is much easier to do. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! You don't have to have a fancy set up to do this (I covered my ironing board and used it for my materials). Just have fun :]

<3 Saleena

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Veggie and Chicken Stir Fry

So, first off, I have to apologize for the lack of posts. Since I started school and work, I haven't had much time to cook, which means no recipes to post!   Despite my hectic schedule, however, I have managed to throw together some quick and easy recipes that take less than 30 minutes to prepare (Who doesn't love that?) Stir fry is always great because all it consists of is rice, chicken, and veggies.  When I made this, I had lots of veggies in the fridge, but you can just use what you have.  

Ingredients:

2 inches ginger rooted, grated

1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced

1/2 can corn

1 bell pepper, chopped, 

1 cup bean sprouts

2 carrots, sliced

1 squash, sliced

1/3 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cups chives, chopped

1 1/2 - 2 lbs. chicken

1 1/2 cups rice

2 TBS Veg Oil

Directions:

Start rice in rice cooker and set aside. Put the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok.  Once the pan is hot, add chicken and place lid on skillet.  Let chicken fry for about 3 minutes and add onions.  Stir.  Once chicken is cooked, add carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms.  Let cook for another 3 - 4 minutes.  Add remaining veggies to skillet and cover. 

When rice is done, scoop some in a large bowl and top with stir fry. 

For added deliciousness, add Nori Komi Furikake, which is a japanese rice seasoning.  If you like sushi, you'll love it.  I'm slightly addicted. ;]

<3 Saleena

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