Indulging with Berries

This is what I do when I have berries on hand ... and time ... (rare combination, right?) ...

Merry Christmas Nativity

Merry Christmas! I made this little nativity scene this year to celebrate the reason for the season.

Signed, framed picture - a present from the primary

We gave this framed pictured, with signatures from the primary children, as a thank-you present to the departing primary president. I love how it turned out. 

New desk

New desk - perfect height for this window. Objective was to maximize on space in an attractive way so the table was as tall as I could find, yet still fit UNDER the window sill. I use a drafting chair with it, or treat it as a standing desk.

How to Hem Jeans (and Other Pants)

If you can operate a sewing machine, you can easily hem your own jeans. The professionals do this a bit differently but my way should last the life of your jeans and only takes about 10 minutes for one pair of jeans and 5 minutes for each additional pair.

You will need:
- the jeans you want to hem
- your pants that are the perfect length
- scissors
- iron and ironing board
- sewing machine
- thread

1. Align the crotch of your favorite jeans to the crotch of jeans that you want to hem. Notice in the pic below that when I do this, the jeans I want to hem are several inches too long.

2. Carefully cut your jeans about 1 inch longer than the length of the inseam of your favorite jeans.  I usually just keep the pair of jeans on top of the jeans I am hemming while I cut, but you could also mark the length an inch past the length of your favorite jeans. This is your most important step - using a reliable length from a favorite pair of jeans to decide how much you need to cut off the bottom. If you try to wear your jeans and fold them where you want to hem them while you are wearing them, you run a big risk of making floods.

3. Turn the jeans that you want to hem inside out. Now take that inch and fold them back. Your jeans should still be inside out. Iron this area so that you have a sharp crease where you plan to hem.

4. Sew your jeans at your new length. Jeans tend to be a mustard yellow thread color, but some are white, blue, etc ... if you want your jeans to look more professionally hemmed, match the color of the thread to the thread used in other areas of your jeans. Now, simply sew down your new hem using a straight pattern. Cut off loose threads.

5. Turn your jeans right-side out.

Look at the stars, Look how they shine for you - ( DIY necklace for the holidays )

I was gifted four vintage star brooches one Christmas. Individually, none of them are really my style, but together, they make a lovely necklace. I receive compliments whenever I wear this piece, and it only took about five minutes to put together!

How I did it

Supplies
Chain - I bought mine for about a $1 on a going-out-of-business sale at a craft store.
Brooches - Find them in vintage shops, in your jewelry box, or even online!
Ribbon

Instructions
1. Simply open the clasp and lock each brooch onto the chain. There's no alteration done to the brooches so you can pull them off at any time. Keep them close together, even overlap them a bit, so that the pins behind each broach don't show through.
2. Tie a ribbon through the opening at the end. This is your necklace clasp.

Done!

If you buy a smaller chain, you can always buy a jump ring and lobster clasp and actually turn your chain into a "real necklace," or just buy a necklace with big links. My way cost about $1 though :) 

Healthful Raspberry Mint Drink

I threw some fresh raspberries and mint in a glass of sparkling water, then let it sit in the fridge for a few hours. The water slowly turned light pink, and just had a super mild raspberry and mint flavor. So good!

This is overnight - not as pretty but even more yummy!