Vogue 1068

I love this coat!

I decided to get it made before I started the next mini-wardrobe contest on PR. I am using this great orange upholstery fabric I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $2/yd!!!!!

To follow the grain when I was cutting the fabric out, I used painter's tape. I lined it up along the grain. Then, I measured from the marked grain to the grain line on the pattern. This seems to have worked great.

Now, I'm stuck. I'm at step 7 in the instructions which tell me to show the lower backs to the upper back. Then, step 8 tells me to stay-stitch the neck.

I'm thinking they forgot to tell me to stitch the front to back at the shoulder seams. And the side seams too!!! I've emailed CS, so we'll see what they tell me...

Book Review: What Not to Wear for Every Occasion

What Not to Wear For Every Occasion

by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine

Published in 2003

ISBN: 1-59448-050-8

Some Chapter Headings:
Work Wear
Work to Play
School Events
Summer Holiday
Underwear

I liked:
The book is full of wardrobe ideas! For example, the same pair of brown trousers is recommended 3 different ways: with a tailored shirt and long cardigan for a casual job interview, with a long coat and a Kelly bag for a smart work outfit, and with a great coat to wear to a school play. Plus, that tailored shirt would also work great with jean-style cords.

My dislikes:
Not really any, as it was exactly what I expected.

Conclusion:This certainly isn't a book I'd rave over. However, as I'm planning the garments I'll make for fall and winter, it does have some inspiring ideas.

Would I buy it for myself? No. And I wouldn't buy it for a beginner either. However, it is a reference I'd borrow from the library or bum from a friend.

Charlie Browns

I love church cookbooks. When you can't find a favorite childhood recipe anywhere else, it will always be in a local church cookbook. And the smaller the church--the better the cookbook.


Someone brought Charlie Browns (a wonderful chocolate-peanut butter oatmeal no-bake cookie) to Grandma's on July 4. I have wanted them ever since. So, tonight I hunted up the recipe. It wasn't to be found in my tried-and-true Betty Crocker cookbook. It wasn't in the local junior league cookbooks. It wasn't even in my mom's church's cookbook. I finally found it in my grandmother's church cookbook. (This church might have 100 members, but they've got some great recipes.)

Here's the recipe for Charlie Browns (Thanks to Mrs. Rogers of Beulah Baptist Church.):

1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, oatmeal, and vanilla. (At this point, I let it cool for a few minutes (7 or so). ) Scoop it out in tablespoons onto wax paper and allow to cool and harden.

Enjoy!