Bitter Betty Recommends Fun

I have had a bit of a precocious midlife thing going on this year. I just turned 42 this month and I'm coming to terms with trying to live a bit more intentionally... Less reactionary, Less waiting for things to work out.... More grabbing life by the collar, with both hands, and forcing myself to look it in the eye. What have you got for me, Life? How are we doing here?

Now, this is, of course, relative... I am not switching to working on curing cancer or volunteering for the front lines... But I am trying new thing and putting myself out there more. ( Studio, Fashion Show, stuff like that....)

One of the most surprising, slightly oddball, but genuinely fun things I have done is I bought myself a high quality, adult size hulahoop and started learning to Hoop Dance and a few tricks.

Of all the ways to spend your life... I have to recommend fun. Have as much as you can. Play harder.
 and just Quit Worrying about showing that soft white underbelly... Life is short and no one cares about it but you.

xxoo,
Betty

TGIF....

I'm really busy sewing today. I'm working on a project that I started almost 2 years ago and I'm really excited about the way it's coming together...

In the meantime I hope you will enjoy this musical interlude from Andy Combs and The Moth...



Have a great weekend...

DIY Couture Give Away and The Cloak I Made in an Afternoon!

Recently, after I sold out, I was contacted By Rosie Martin at DIY Couture.
She asked if I'd like to check out their books and I said "Yes, Please! Shall we do a give away!?"
Of Course, she said yes, or the title of the post would be totally different.

I got her first three books in the mail so fast. SO fast, all the way from England. It totally blew my mind.

They are great. Well written step by step  instructions and full of excellent graphics so if you learn better from reading, or from looking at diagrams, they have you covered. It's basic sewing without patterns; just using geometry and  borrowing lines from garments you already love. It works great.  I made a lined cloak in less than a day.

Not an invisibility cloak, not a visibility cloak, 

just a nice summer wrap.

This came out so much better than the caplette I made from a pattern... In fact I may remake it, using this system. The books look great and there is a bit of surprise art in the back that gives them a fun Zine-like vibe.


So here's your chance to comment and win a set of  these 3. Make sure I can get a hold of you, (all you anonymous commentators, email address please, or a code name...something!), and a link back to this post gets you a second entry. Just be sure to mention your intention, so I can come see your sweet little blogs. I found some fantastic new reads the last time we had a give away! Not a blogger? A Facebook link will work too!

The 4th of July Weekend has me hoppin',  so I'll draw the winner next Tuesday, July 6th!
Good Luck, all you wannabe DIY Couturiers! And a Big Thanks to Rosie, for sharin' the love!

Gotta Fly Like A Superhero!
Betty

WIP Wednesday: Peaches Loves Basil

"Oh Peaches, How I adore you!"
"Oh Basil, you make me blush!"

It sounds like a 1920's Love Affair. Peaches and Basil sitting in a tree....
But it isn't. It is this years Experimental Jam Recipe winner! (Yes, I ran my own personal jam contest. I'm eccentric that way.)

I met and schmoozed with a lovely farmer at farmer's market yesterday and got 12 pounds of jam peaches. Jam peaches are like jam strawberries. They are mostly good (the funky bits are easily trimmed away) and very ripe. They must be processed within the next 24 hours or they will quickly become overripe and then, almost instantaneously- compost. But they are the most reasonably priced locally grown organic produce I have ever found. These were a 1.00 a pound! And often they are not advertised or displayed... Hence, the schmoozing with the farmer.

I decided it was affordable enough to experiment with!

I made 2 types of jam in 2 Quart batches. (That is 2 quarts of pre-processed fruit, in case you were wondering.) One features a yummy vanilla, cinnamon style peach jam and the other is my favorite, peaches with lemon and basil infused.

Peach Pie Preserves:

• 2 quarts of peeled sliced peaches
• 5 Cups sugar
• juice from one lemon
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 vanilla bean opened and scraped
• plus vanilla seeds from pod

Cook peaches and 1/2 the sugar for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add remaining ingredients, mix and mash with a fruit or potato masher while boiling. Continue to stir increasingly as fruit cooks. When fruit starts to seem to adhere to pan bottom between stirrings, the jam is ready to can.

Peaches Loves Basil Jam

• 2 quarts of peeled sliced peaches
• 4 Cups sugar
• juice and zest from 2 lemons
• 8-10 fresh basil sprigs ( mine were 4-5 leaves per sprig)
• 3 fresh lemon balm sprigs

Cook peaches and 1/2 the sugar for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add remaining sugar and lemon, mix and mash with a fruit or potato masher while boiling. after another 5-10 minutes put in the herbs. I tied mine with a kitchen twine to make it easier to remove. For a more intense basil flavor I also rolled over mine with a rolling pin to slightly bruise the herbs. Continue to stir increasingly as fruit cooks. When fruit starts to seem to adhere to pan bottom between stirrings, the jam is ready to can. Pull out the herbs, and can as usual.

Basic Jam Canning:

• Sterilize jars by boiling for 10 minutes.
• Heat canning lids and rings but do not boil these.
• Put hot jam into hot jars.
• Wipe jar rims and place a lid and ring on each jars, tightening slightly.
• Process all finished jars in boiling water bath (2 inches of water should cover each jar) for a quick 5 minutes,
• remove with canning tongs and cool.

My 12 pounds of peaches yielded 13 1- cup jars of jam, plus enough extra peaches for a yummy peach and blackberry crisp.

I know.. You want to come over for dinner now.
Well, Okay. Come on Over Already!

Love your Peaches, Wanna Shake Your Tree,
Betty

PS: The Lovely and Talented Jen of the Austin Craft Mafia/Naughty Secretary Club/CraftLab mentioned that suitcase project in a really great round up she just blogged about. ( Um.. Now I need to make a minibar...hello?)
Thanks Jen!

And to those I have forgotten to thank before... Thanks now and I apologise. Flakey like a croissant, but deep down grateful to every one who links, comes by or comments. ( Like, Molly, for instance...)I really love you guys. I'd be lost without you.

Workbasket Wednesday: Coffee Tea or Me?

Sorry for the long sign off... I switched to Postum and I haven't been able to get out of bed for a week.
I kid, of course. They will be prying my coffee cup from my cold dead hands.

I actually have been sewing like a veritable fiend. I am almost done with a dress for myself and I finished a little dress for a sweet little Muse from New York, both out of fantastic vintage fabrics.
I just love working with vintage fabrics! I used new patterns in classic shapes from the new Burda Magazine I picked up last Monday, so the dresses still look "vintage-y". I liked using the magazine patterns. It was my first time with a Burda Magazine and I have to say.. It was Well Worth The Money. In fact the stuff in the new issue is looking so yummy, I may have to subscribe or something. It won't keep me from sewing true New Vintage... but it might help me work through this stash!

It's finally sunny today so I hope to get a couple of quick snapshots to share.

Oh and I have a Thrift Thursday Tutorial tomorrow. Wooo Hooo.

And I have made a cute little crop of mushroom babies.

Busy, busy, busy.
Thank You, Caffeine. You poor maligned darling.
You are my best friend.

Tutorial Tuesday: Bowling Bunnies

yipes! are they aiming for us?

This is a fun present idea made from two rather famous online freebie patterns.
It was great, not too hard, didn't take long, (In fact- choosing the fabrics was the hardest part!)
and such a great handmade holiday present!


The Wee Bunny (x3 or x10, if you are feeling really crafty today!)
and The Purl Bee-ch Ball.

The modifications were minimal.
For the ball, no modification. I just made the 7 inch ball... It seems quite a nice size.

I multiplied the rabbits (which they were predisposed to do anyhow)
I did put beans in the bunnies bottoms to properly weight them.
I also changed their orientation ( I basically turned the finished rabbit around)
and I changed the facial designs, adding the eye buttons, for a look of mild alarm.

bunnies flipped around, and buttoned up.

But really this is a great way to use up stash and make a great wintery sport toy for the kids (mine was made for my littlest niece) or any childish grown up that you love. Frankly, I am tempted to make a set for us here, at Chez Betty... But, I think the pup would love them all to bits.

looks like a split from here...

Well,
I am still working on my Kreativ Blogger post... Amazing how time flies this time of year, what with the housekeeping, gift crafting and assorted festivities.., My bloglife just hits that back burner !

I am going to have a few great ideas to share, including the gifts my 13 year old son is crafting for his lucky recipients.

Yup, dude-craft.

Thrift Thursday With a great Big Thanks

My new toy...

I am long over due for sharing some serious Blove (you know blove right?... Blog+Love= blove)
Last summer I got to have an amazing day with other bloggers, most whom I knew pretty well from swaps or their close proximity...
But there was another blogger who I did know of (her blog, Scissors Paper Glue , is just lovely) but hadn't made that extra connection with. That day she was so nice and open and fun and it turned out I knew her sister from a favorite crafting experience . It was so fantastic to get to know her better.
She inspired Jacob and shared her camera with him. She was so kind.

He instantly became interested in Polaroid and I found one for him (not as photogenic as mine though...) an he got it for his birthday.



She sent him a birthday present too. Precious discontinued Polaroid film. And a beautiful Polaroid that she took. But above all she gave the present of showing a young man the kind artistic respect that can only inspire, not just creativity but something more...
"But, Mom," he said, " We only met her Once! Why is she so Nice?!"

And she sent a present for me.



It now hangs where I can see it every day and it makes me so Happy.

But that wasn't all. She also wrote a post that made my week and his week too.

Jen, you are so very special. I am so glad we met!

New Vintage Wardrobe: The Anniversary Dress

Simplicity 4257: The Anniversary dress.
The dress that took me out in San Francisco in style with my man.
( Love Ya, Chuck! Lucky 13, Baby!)

This simple dress gave me fits. It was the perfect size, so that wasn't it. I sewed it up all twisted at one point. Had to take it all apart. Why? because I was really excited. This was a dressier dress than I have tried before. And I wanted there to be all sorts of fancy details. Well, I tried to add on that removeabale collar at 3 or 4 points... but at the last second I cut it off becase it just looked much better without it. So I had to make do with what it did have:

I did make the belt with a thrifted vintage bet kit and I added covered buttons on the sleeves. The fabric was vintage and thrifted, as were the trims. I even did a nice couture finished touch and made thread covered hooks and eyes,* and made those knotted thread belt loops*...
I learned how in a vintage sewing manual and it did make me feel like a really truly seamstress, after all.

( *look for that a week from Tuesday in tutorial form!)

Bitter Betty Industries would like to thank our sponsors and supporters:
especially
Little Lovelies for the pattern donation, and
Becktress for the superior shoe shopping services.
Thanks, Ladies.

* with Vinyl Brought to you by Thrift Thursday!

Maker Faire: Fashion 2

Oh, I can't believe I forgot 2 of my favorites... Original and handmade.

The wet felt maker. I love the dress, the garters, the hair... and she was about as nice as a person could be. She said she thought maybe there was 4 lbs of roving in her dress.
That's cool. Or warm.. or what ever.

... if they got their hat at Target... I will eat one of mine.

There was tons of Steampunk stuff too... all will be on Flickr someday soon.

Maker Faire: Fashion

Hey gang! Was at the Maker Faire Yesterday. Man, I love the Maker Faire. There really isn't anything more crowded, more controlled chaotic, more over stimulating (in a good way) than a day spent with 12,000 creative and curious people and the inventions that some of them have made.

Here are some prime examples of Maker Faire Fashion:

You know it is all good when a girl can coordinate her top, her handbag and her beverage, thereby employing my current favorite styling technique.

Best friend share hair dye.
80's.. it still looks cute on young people.
Not on me.

well coordinated neutrals... cool indy t.
(edit: oops! apparently Target t.. but cute and well matched.)

sparkly member of the bike dancing team.
She does bike tricks in a sequin mini.
Props, people. Give her props.

I like a couple that is coordinated without being matchy-matchy.
These guys have their own indy clothes company...
Bunnywarez.
I am considering a kitty hat. But am not sure where I'd wear it,
as the club scene is over for me,
unless you are talking Garden Club or Lawn Bowling Club.

arm warmers and a tank... over-alls and cute hair. I liked it. I like it.

and this guy? he is my new modeling super hero.

People watching supreme... and there were robots.
But more on that tomorrow.

And Up Came her Head and it was Tuesday Already.

Tuesday! (email me, Tuesday! .. Blogger is providing me zero info on you, mystery lady.)
You are the shoe winner! (Just to clarify: I bought them (the only pair, on sale) hoping my feet would suddenly be smaller and it sadly never happened.. And they were never ever worn.. But hurrah for a second chance!)

Kirsten Schueler will also get a present because she has the same birthday as my son..
She was the first to comment ... And I like that about her.

Well, I spent the weekend with a bit of a migraine on Saturday (indulged much? hmmm..) and the last crafty thing I did was make some "slightly bigger than change purses" from the photo tutorial on Practically Necessary by Kerry.






Not only is Kerry just a real fashionable member of the New Vintage Wardrobe crew.. in her bike riding apron ensembles.. She makes the cutest hats anywhere too. Another birthday treat for me? Stay tuned on that one for sure!

The pouches are a really great way for me to make something cool and practical with some of my Handprinted Fabric Swap fabric that I got from Micha over at Baking with Medusa. I am making cool pouches to hold a little bit of embroidery gear or a tiny felt animal that needs hand-stitching.( I like to have a porta-craft or two at the ready, as I am spending a great deal of time in the offices of expensive dental professionals these days. My darling son gets his braces on in 7 days...... duh da duh! Just 3 days before HIS birthday.. wah wah wah.)

But back to Micha. She has a new blog project that I just LOVE. Handmade Family. Check it out. I am tearing through the old photos to find something to send her. I must have a zillion things, back from mom and grandma's crafty days of yore.

And speaking of love.. Meet Milo.





We got him from the "pound" on Sunday. Critters aren't "presents" so I won't call him that.. but I have to say this wild little guy makes every morning a party... so hence, another celebratory event in our Birthday Season.
He flung himself at the bars of his little cage and begged us to please pick him. He was very convincing. And we are all head over heels with Captain Charisma.

OOH.. More give aways coming up:
A fantastic handblown glass cocktail ring by artist Karen Carston.. runs really big. size 8, I think.
Photos coming soon.

So Dawns The Birthday Season..

And I begin to give myself everything I fancy..
My birthday is a couple weeks away but I started celebrating already.

What do I give to my self, that has everything?

First some jewels from Susan of Sulu Designs. How Gorgeous these are! Her Original Intent posts are some of my favorites...
She spoiled me a bit and I just couldn't be more thrilled. (One pair of these is for my sister...But the rest are Mine! All Mine!!!!) And thanks Susan!
(I might add that her new Portland digs are "sponge-worthy"... Design Sponge, that is!)

Also I downloaded a new CD from Lily Allen, because I saw this video
and I was smitten with the ska and the sass. The lyrics on the album are "parental advisory worthy" but boy, can the pretty girl sing.

Off I go to stitch up some goodies, hopefully cross off a few clingers to the Craft Guilt List and get ready to milk this celebration for all it's worth.

Starting on Monday, I am handing out Party Favors.

The first one will go to some one who wears a size 8 shoe...
Cinderella, Are You Out There?