Perfect Pumpkin Seeds

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I mean to post this yesterday, but the day got away from me....imagine that!

I love pumpkin seeds.  

They are so yummy if done right...

I have had them come out a little chewy or under done in the past.  Not my favorite.

I found a trick a few years ago online...coupled it with a few of my tricks...and the seeds turn out perfect every time!

I didn't take step by step pictures, but it really is simple.

Perfect Pumpkin Seeds

goopless pumpkin seeds

salt

Season Salt

garlic powder

olive oil

parchment paper

cookie sheet

strainer

1.  Preheat your oven to 400 degrees

2.  Fill a sauce pan with water, turn the heat up and get the water boiling.

     I added about a Tbs of sea salt to the water - you can use more or less :)

3.  Remove the goop from your seeds.  I like to rinse them first in the strainer, but 

     it isn't necessary.

4. Once your water is boiling, add your pumpkin seeds and boil them for about 10 

     minutes.

5. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the contents of the pan into your strainer.

6. Run cold water over the seeds while they are in the strainer.

7. pour the seeds into a bowl.

8. add a tbs of olive oil to the seeds and stir around to make sure all of the seeds 

    are coated.

9.  I like to season mine with finer grain salt, a little garlic powder and season 

     salt.  Aunt Cora's Soulful Seasoning is hands down (IMO) the best!  I like to 

     add a little of each, then sir it around..and then add a little more to make sure  

     they are evenly seasoned.

10. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper  and spread your seeds out all over 

      then pan.  Make sure that it is a thin layer...if they are piled on top of each 

      other the seeds underneath will not roast. (I sprinkled a little coarse sea salt on 

      them once they were on the pan.

11. Stick them in the oven and bake them for 20 minutes.

take them out, let them cool a few minutes,  and enjoy your perfect pumpkin seeds!

Happy Halloween!

Jacki

I just want to make beautiful things - even if nobody cares

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Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of the day.

I am sure almost all of you can relate.

I love dreaming up ideas and figuring out how I can make something....but rarely have the time anymore to actually make it.  

That's why DeLynne and I work so well together.

I can dream up an idea or see something I love, figure out how to do it with an embroidery machine, digitize the files up and more times than not - shoot it over to her.  

We live in different states, so almost all of our communication is done through email.  Have you ever tried to describe how to make something that exists in your head over email?

 IT IS HARD  

Especially when there are a thousand things to do, a million "Mommy can I..."s being asked, and countless crazy interruptions. 

 She has an amazing ability to see my imagination and make it just as beautiful as it was in my head.

I love her for a million reasons....but that is definitely one of them!

Anyway, a friend of mine posted some word art on her page a few weeks ago - and I have been repeating it over and over in my head.

"I just want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares"

So I decided I would make my own little picture and turn this into an embroidery design really fast

just to remind myself why I do what I do.

Feel free to pin this,  post it on your page, share it with your friends, or stitch it out yourself to remind you everyday why we do what we do.

Have a great day!

Jacki

Beautiful twist and roll flowers ~ So easy and to die for!

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There is just something about beautiful accessories that gets me excited.  I absolutely could not live my life without them.  I have recently gained this new love for fabric flowers.  I know they are everywhere these days but, I just love them!  They can be fun, whimsical and absolutely beautiful.  There are so many millions of options and honestly, the sky is the limit.

 You really can't do it wrong but, here's a quick tutorial on these beautiful twist and roll flowers that I just made, to go on our amazing new ITH headband.  

Take a strip of fabric or ribbon.

(I used a piece of chiffon 2" wide x40" long)

Tie a knot in one end.

Hold on to the knot end with one hand and start twisting the other end.

All you do now is wrap the long tail of fabric around the knot as you twist it.  There is no right or wrong way to do it.  Every 1/2" or so you will need to add a little dot of fabric glue or hot glue to hold the fabric in place as you wrap.  You can wrap as tightly or as loosely as you want.

This pink chiffon fabric flower was wrapped pretty loosely and I love how soft and fluffy it turned out.

This is what it looks like once you have wrapped the fabric all the way around (gluing as you go)

It is perfect just like this OR...

I added a few pearls to the center using fabri-tac.

So pretty :)

Here's another one I made using some 2" wide Organza ribbon.  This ribbon was wired so I slid the wires out because I didn't need them.

I wrapped this one very tightly to show the difference.

Once you reach the end of the ribbon or fabric, just flip the flower over and glue the end to the back so it isn't visible.

And...Voila~

Beautiful, any way you wrap it!

The best part is you can use any fabric you like.  

I love how the lace flower turned out, burlap is fun too!

They are so quick, easy and absolutely gorgeous!  Not to mention, big or small, every girl looks a little more beautiful when they are accessorized.

So go get your craft on and start accessorizing!!

~DeLynne

How to Make Big Decorative Bows ~ a really easy tutorial

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 I'm kind of a freak when it comes to bows.

I LOVE THEM!!!
This beautiful wreath made with our new
Fall Leaves Applique set
is just what I needed to go with a big beautiful bow.

A lot of people are intimidated by them but, they really are simple to make.

I'll show you, anyone can do it.

Here's what you will need:

Scissors

Wire Ribbon

A piece of wire

(I actually just slid the piece of wire I used, out of a scrap piece of wire ribbon)

You can use just one ribbon or multiple ribbons to create your bow. I used two. If you are using more then one you will want to stack them like this, with the widest ribbon on the bottom.

Make a loop the width you want your bow to be.

Wrap your ribbon around the loop at least 5 times.

(10 times if you are using only one color)

The more times you wrap, the fluffier your bow will end up.

Press your loops flat

Trim all four of the corners off.

It will look like this after you trim.

Now, line up the two sided that you trimmed, like this. 

Press the sides together where they line up

Wrap your wire around the center several times then twist it off like you would a twist tie.

Separate your loops.  Twist them a little so they stay where you want them.

Flip your bow over to the back and add a long piece of ribbon for the tails.

Use the ends of the wire from the center of your bow to secure the tails in place.  Just twist the wire tightly around the ribbon for the tails, like a twist tie again.  You can use the same wire to connect your bow to whatever you need to embellish.

What will you add yours to?

I added mine to create this fun Fall wreath I made using our Fall Leaves Applique Set.

Happy Fall, Y'all

~DeLynne