One Little Minute

Mar

Easy Honeycomb Candy

I love love love honeycomb candy (also known as seafoam candy, sponge candy, or angel candy). A hunk of dark-chocolate-covered honeycomb candy is my go-to choice when I visit a new candy or chocolate store. There is just something amazing about the burnt-sugar, crispy, melt-in-your-mouth flavor and texture. It’s divine. Dave grew up loving it, too, as his mom made this amazing angel food cake with whipped cream frosting, then covered it with crushed honeycomb.I had never even thought about making it at home because it seemed so tricky, but last week I got the Easter edition of The Friend magazine, and saw this recipe. The feature mentioned that after Christ’s resurrection, the apostles gave him some fish and “of an honeycomb” which ties the treat into the holiday so beautifully.

Since it was nap time, I immediately whipped up a batch, then went on to eat about half of it before the boys were even awake! Needless to say it is delicious, and surprisingly simple to make. It takes four ingredients and about ten minutes. Then you might want to dip the candy in chocolate, which adds a perfect melty, deep flavor to the crunchy sweet of the honeycomb.

In a saucepan over medium high heat put 3/4 sugar (mine is sugar in the raw, but normal sugar works perfectly), 2 Tablespoons water, and 2 Tablespoons honey, and let simmer. Don’t stir the mixture, just let it heat and simmer for 4-5 minutes, until it looks like caramel and reaches about 300F. I don’t have a candy thermometer, but mine worked okay. When it’s hot and ready, sprinkle on the 1.5 teaspoons of baking soda and stir until it’s combined. The mixture will foam up quickly, so have a sheet of parchment paper ready to pour it out and let it dry.

I had a little trouble getting the baking soda to mix in all the way, so my candy ended up with some tiny bits of powder. Once dry it was easy enough to dust off with my fingers. (I put my candy in the freezer for quick drying.) Once dry, the candy will be super brittle and easy to break into pieces.

For some added decadence, melt 1 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave by heating for 20 seconds at a time and stirring in between until they are melted and smooth. Dip each piece of honeycomb int the chocolate, cover completely, then pull out and set onto a second sheet of parchment. Let dry, then enjoy! (Again, I put mine in the freezer for quick setting.)

I’ll definitely be making another batch of this chocolate dipped honeycomb for sharing with friends on Easter Sunday. And now that I can make it myself, I may be whipping up some honeycomb whenever I get the hankering.

Other fun Easter things?

These DIY Wool-Felted Chicks I made for designmom.com

The easiest No Sew Felt Bunny Ears

My Big Bow Dress Pattern, or for locals come Sew a Bow with me (now discounted to just $75, which just covers the costs!!)

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Posted in: Easter, Sweet

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Mar

Sew-vivor Season 2 begins!

If you were reading this blog last year, you’ll remember the four crazy weeks that I participated in the Sew-vivor online sewing competition hosted by Rachel at Family Ever After. It was a completely unexpected experience, since I had never heard of it before the night I somehow stumbled upon the audition page, spotted the awesome prize packages for the winners, and decided to enter with the wedding dress I had made a couple months before.

The time for Sew-vivor Season 2 has rolled around, and I am thrilled to be participating again this year, but as a judge instead of a contestant. Whew. You can head over to Family Ever After and link up your entry until Monday, March 12th. It can be anything you have made yourself and posted about on your blog (you don’t have to make something new to enter!)

I loved participating last year, and really stretching myself with the projects I completed. I learned a lot about myself (competitions stress me out to the max), developed some great new skills (I made my first clutch out of leather!), and most of all enjoyed getting to interact with other sewing bloggers from around the country. My four projects were all a good reflection of my skills, and I was honored to Sew-vive all the way until the end!

It’s also been fun to look back at the work I created for Sew-vivor and see how I’ve changed and what I’ve learned over the last year. So, bear with me as I do a little reflecting:

The Summer Chevron Dress was a big hit, and I thought it was cute, but truth be told, it’s really not my style at all! I don’t know if if maybe was my style back when I made it and I’m just sort of over the chevron trend, or if I was trying to make something that was totally on-trend even though it wasn’t me. I had intended it to be a maxi dress, but the knit ended up being too heavy weight for that, so I cut it off to knee-length. I love the cut and shape, and even the detail of the seam down the front, but if I did it again today, I would either use a more neutral stripe (maybe grey and cream?) or go with a solid instead. Even not being totally in love with it, I hung onto it for a while, but I think I finally gave it away in my last closet de-clutter. I do still have the pattern I made for it, so I will probably make a new one for the summer using fabric that feels more like my style.

My Sweater Sleeve Puppets were a fun exercise in creative sewing. I really loved the way I way I gave each animal some personality and details and it was so fun to sew something totally random. I need to do that more. And I probably should take these out of the box in the closet so we can actually play with them!

Emmy’s Maternity Outfit turned out just as I had planned, but I’d change a couple things these days. Although I totally dug the top, the material I used wasn’t super high quality, and the silky texture totally isn’t Emmy’s style. I would do it these days in a lightweight linen, or a cotton double gauze, for a softer feel. And, after making the Archer Button Up, I think I’d actually like the tunic even better as a button up. So, that’s totally different! The leggings were awesome, though, and I’m happy to know that even post-baby Emmy wears them a lot. There’s just something about leggings, right? Those were the first pair I had ever drafted from measurements, and I do it all the time now, so I’m glad I took that first step.

My Pleated, Striped Dress is still a favorite. I think I was really being true to my style, and actually this is the only one of my project that I had thought about making prior to the competition. That extra planning time helped the dress concept settle into existence in my head, which made a big difference. I would love to go back and tweak the pattern a little bit. But when I made this dress, I draped the fabric itself, rather than using muslin. If I wanted to make another one, I’d have to start from scratch again! That’s one big thing that has changed this year, I am a lot more meticulous about making patterns and keeping track of them. Before I would just bust out projects but have no way to recreate them. That’s a crazy way to sew, and I’ve sure wasted a lot of time re-making things! I guess I’ve learned a lot along the journey, too.

So, if YOU are up for the challenge of Sew-viving this season, link up your entry for a chance at the craziness!

Aaand, if you’re local and want to learn to improve your sewing skills, come Sew a Bow with me on March 23rd!

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Posted in: Sewvivor

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Mar

The Archer Button Up Shirt

The week before Eliot was born, my mom was in town to help with the baby. And, well, since he was taking his sweet time in arriving, we had a lot of time to hang out. I took her to my favorite local fabric store, G-Street (where I am teaching a class this month!!) to wander the huge selection of awesome materials. The place is a giant basement warehouse of fabrics and notions, with more apparel-specific fabric under one roof than anywhere else within reasonable driving distance (I’d guess the NYC garment district would be the next closest place?) All of the fabric is great quality, but also somewhat pricey, so if I don’t have a specific project in mind, I often find myself at the $2.97/yard table, digging for something special.

That trip, I found this cotton shirting with a random tiger print, and I loved it. Something about the old-timey, random graphic, with the little ’56′s happening, as if I should understand the significance of tigers and 1956. I’ve searched for some meaning, without much luck. The Detroit Tigers played in 1956, but came in fifth in the American League. Not exactly fabric-worthy. And then there was the Baldwin Locomotive Company that released a new engine, the “Tiger” in 1856. I don’t really see that history tied into this print. Regardless of the origin, I was drawn to the design. And it was $2.97/yard. No brainer.

(** Update** Due to a comment from a reader, I discovered the origin of this print! It was created for the Princeton Class of ’56 Reunion! Apparently the reunions at Princeton are a really big deal, and the materials they use for their jackets are really special. This article says more. How this bit ended up on the table at G-Street is a mystery, but I’m pretty excited it did!) One Little Minute Blog Archer Shirt for Summer The Archer Button Up Shirt

I snatched up the yard and a half that was left, thinking maybe I’d make the boys something with the cool, novelty print. Somehow, though, every time I tried to pull it out for a project it didn’t quite fit! Either the project in question wasn’t quite special enough for this awesome, random fabric (like pj pants for Milo) or the yardage requirement was way more than I had on hand (like a fun dress). It wasn’t until I saw Jen start posting teasers of her newest pattern, the Archer Button Up Shirt, on instagram that I knew what this print would become.

As soon as I saw the pattern was released, I snatched one up. Then I printed, taped, traced, cut and sewed this baby all in a few hours after bedtime. Because I was anticipating the release, I already had the fabric washed and ready! I barely barely sqeaked the pattern out of my short yardage, making concessions like short sleeves and contrast under collar, yolk and collar stand facings to make it work. Of course, those two things are some of my favorite details now that it’s all done. I used Laura Gunn’s mustard Painters Canvas as contrast, and I was a little bit worried about the under collar and collar stand facings being too much, but now I really love the subtle brightness.

Archer One Little Minute Blog The Archer Button Up Shirt

This was the first time that I’ve made a button-up, collared shirt. Jen made it pretty easy on me! I am a huge fan of Grainline Patterns (here are some of my others: Scout Tee, Maritime Shorts, Moss Mini Skirt) so I am really comfortable with her style. It is really an intermediate pattern, because not every step is illustrated, and basic sewing terms are assumed to be understood. There were only a couple places that had me scratching my head a bit, but after a couple read-thoughs I think I got it. I mean, it looks like a button up to me! After finishing the top I did discover that the button holes were supposed to be sewn vertically, and all of mine are horizontal…but that’s no biggie. Ahem.

I’m a little reckless when it comes to sewing, and if I can’t figure out what the pattern means, sometimes I just make it up myself, so I had no problem just jumping right in with this one. But if you’re a little more hesitant, make sure to check out Jen’s Archer Sew Along happening later this month. I’ll definitely be sewing along, since I want to make a few more of these and Jen’s tutorials are impeccable.

I love a great button up and this one turned out just right. I made this one a size 8, which is a size larger than I measured, but I wanted it to be a nice, boyfriend-style top. The size was right on. Other than shortening the sleeves and omitting one pocket (by fabric shortage necessity) I didn’t alter the pattern at all, and the length and fit are perfect for me.

I can see this tiger top going into high rotation. I made it on Friday and have worn it twice, if that’s any indication of how I feel about it. I’m so happy I hung onto those tigers, because I needed them for this top! I can’t wait to figure out what all of the other piles of beloved fabric in my stash are simple meant to become.

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Posted in: For Me

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Mar

Local Sewing Class // Come Sew a Bow!!

I’m so excited to announce that I will be teaching a hands-on sewing class in a couple weeks, just in time for Easter!

Ever since I released the pattern for the Big Bow Dress, I wanted to put together a local class on how to make it. I love teaching, and over the last couple weeks finally pulled together all of the details to make this limited-seat class happen. If you are driving distance from Northern Virginia, and want to make your own darling Easter dresses this year, come join the fun!

The class will be one full day session, with a delicious lunch in the middle. We will start by talking about fabric choices and actually shopping for the materials and notions. Then we will cut, construct, and finish dress before the day is through! This pattern includes some cool techniques and I can’t wait to add my own tips and tricks for making it. Not only will you learn how to make this darling dress, but all of the sewing instruction and theory taught will be applicable to future projects!

There are only 10 seats available for the Sew a Bow class, so sign up quickly if you’d like a spot! The cost for each student is $75 and includes:

The Big Bow Dress Pattern (printed for the class, and emailed PDF file)
All fabrics and notions to make the dress (we will shop the huge selection at G-Street Fabrics during the class!)
A delicious lunch and snacks
Five hours of hands-on instruction
A swag bag of local goodies

Sew a Bow is intended for experienced beginner and intermediate sewists. The skills taught will include: sewing a buttonhole, grading and under stitching seams, sewing a sleeveless dress with a lining, and inserting an invisible zipper. Students will bring their own machines to set up in the class room. Other than the machines, the class is all-inclusive.

I just love the Big Bow Dress, and think it makes a perfect Easter Dress! Here are some of the many versions that have been made with this pattern:

1. chambray 2. polka dot 3. yellow with ruffle leggings 4. color-inspired 5. interchangeable bow 6. bow baby

Big Bow Easter Dress One Little Minute Blog Local Sewing Class // Come Sew a Bow!!

I can’t wait to meet you, and share some of my love of sewing with you as we make the Big Bow Dress. Sign up HERE to come Sew a Bow with me!

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Posted in: Good Ideas, Refashion Swap

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Mar

Birthday Week // Birthday in a Bag Party Favor

I’ve had a blast putting together some fun birthday-themed posts for this week, and want to finish it off in a traditional manner, with party favors!

One Little Minute Blog Birthday in a Bag Favor Party On Birthday Week // Birthday in a Bag Party Favor

Party favors are such a fantastic detail to include at birthday parties. I always have a blast coming up with ideas for useful, simple, and inexpensive favors to send home with guests.

For my mother-in-law’s birthday brunch last month, I drew inspiration from Melanie’s fantastic “in-a-box” series over at the beautiful blog You Are My Fave, and put together a pile of “Birthday in a Bag” party favors!

Each favor contained a few colorful salt-water taffies, two or three balloons, a pinch of birthday confetti, and a classic, striped birthday candle all stacked into a pretzel bag and tied with bakers twine. The cost for each favor ended up around 75 cents, and working in an assembly-line, the forty favors took around twenty minutes to put together.

We piled them up in a cool galvanized pail with a sign that said “Party On!” with an invitation for guests to take one home.

Not only is this little “birthday in a bag” cute, but so useful! Your guest will be able to use their favor to throw together a last minute celebration for a friend or family member using the goodies inside. It is amazing how quickly a few balloons and confetti can change a moment into a special occasion!

I hope you’ve enjoyed Birthday Week here at One Little Minute.

Here’s a short re-cap of the fun we’ve had:

Becoming Thirty

Money Origami Shirt Birthday Cards (with printable cards)

Local Cupcake Tasting Party (with printable score sheet)

Birthday Trip + Guide to Seattle

Party On, friends! Have a fantastic weekend.

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Posted in: Birthdays, Celebrate, Craft DIY, DIY

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Feb

Birthday Week // A Birthday Trip + Seattle City Guide

When my older sister turned thirty, she wanted me to go to Paris with her to celebrate. Although that sounded like a dream, it just wasn’t in my student budget, so I came up with a different idea. I planned a girls’ trip to San Francisco, complete with a full itinerary of shopping, eating, and sightseeing. We were to browse, eat, and enjoy everything about the city that we could squeeze into a weekend! The weekend was such a hit, we decided to make a tradition of it. For each of the four sister’s thirtieth birthdays, we will take a girls’ trip (except, because the caboose is so young, we’ll do her girls’ trip in two years, when she turns 16!)

As I approached my thirtieth, the anticipation built, and I was excited to find out where we were going, and what we’d be doing for my birthday trip! About a week before I left for Alt Summit, I got a packaged invitation to join my sisters and mom for a weekend in Seattle!

The first morning of the trip, we all awoke to gift bags filled with goodies patterned after those I had put together for Chelsea’s birthday trip. Each favor had a tag with a characteristic of “Thirty”: Charming (charms on a necklace), Festive (materials to create a wool felt garland), Sweet (candy), Smart (umbrella), and Stylish (a hand-stamped infinity scarf)! The bag also had a Girls Guide to the Emerald City, outlining all of the fun places we would be visiting.

The whole trip was a blast. I think a birthday trip is an amazing way to celebrate! I’m excited to share the list of restaurants, shops, and sights we visited, so you can take on Seattle with as much vigor as we did! ( A special thanks to our cousin Stephanie of Stephmodo, who was a huge resource in the planning for this trip.)

I think it’s easier to look at a list, so I’ll list all of the spots first, then expand on those I have photos of. If I don’t have a photo, I’ll expand a bit at the top. Sound good?

Where to eat:

Pike Place Market*

*Seattle Bites Food Tour

*Daily Dozen

*The Crumpet Shop: Have you ever had a crumpet? They’re delicious. I like mine with lemon curd.

*Turkish Delight

*Quintessential Gourmet: This specialty Olive Oil and Vinegar shop was one of my ultimate favorite stops in Seattle. I was blown away by the flavors and varieties! I brought home Persian Lime Olive Oil, and three types of Balsamic Vinegar: Coconut, Cinnamon, and Lavender. It’s all we’ve been using to dress our salads lately, and is delicious!

Serious Pie

Bakery Nouveau

Walrus and the Carpenter

D’Ambrosio Gelato: amazing, amazing gelato. There are a few locations, so be sure not to miss one!

The Pink Door

Trophy Cupcakes

The Seattle Bites Food Tour was one of my favorite parts of our whole trip. We spent a couple hours on a guided tour of the market, sampling several shops and learning a ton about the history of Pike Place. The market is such a Seattle institution, and I loved hearing about it’s beginning. I would highly recommend the tour for anyone visiting.The $40 price was quickly made up in tons of great food (I was full by the end), and rich history.

The Donuts are delicious, and I learned this time that I like the Turkish Delight more because it’s cool than because it’s delicious. But I still think it’s delicious.

The gourmet pizza at Serious Pie was really great, but the homemade root beer was off the charts!! If I lived in Seattle this would be a regular stop (pizza is my favorite food…after cheese and chocolate.)

Bakery Nouveau was a great stop for lunch. Everything looked and tasted amazing! I hear the croissants are to die for. I’ll have to try them on my next visit!

The Walrus and the Carpenter was such a fun and delicious stop. It’s a hidden gem off of Ballard Street (a super fun shopping area) and we were lucky to sneak in early and get a table. The place is an oyster-lover’s paradise. I tried (and enjoyed!) my first oysters. The other dishes we ate were inventive and fresh. But my very favorite thing was the super crusty house made bread and fresh churned butter. I’m a sucker for good bread.

The Pink Door was our last dinner out, and my very favorite food experience in Seattle. The restaurant doesn’t have a sign, just a pale pink door off an alley way near Pike Place. The cozy, cool atmosphere was dimly lit and filled with eclectic decor. Apparently there is a trapeze show on the weekends?! We started with the cheese board (big surprise) and some roasted flatbread. The cheeses came paired with fitting sides: nuts drizzled with honey for the comté, dark chocolate shavings with the bleu. After the starters we were all completely satisfied! And then the entrees were equally as delicious. For me, this place is a must-stop when in Seattle. Get the cheese.

Since it was a birthday trip, I thought we should celebrate with some local cupcakes! I didn’t go to the trouble of organizing a tasting, but instead took the recommendation Jenny gave me to try Trophy Cupcakes. They were delicious, and completed the trip.

What to do:

Local Honey scrub at Salish Lodge

Fashion Exhibit at Wing Luke Museum

Alki Beach in West Seattle

The Great Wheel

Chihuly Garden and Glass

The Salish Lodge is perched atop a cliff, next to a river that suddenly drops into a spectacular waterfall named Snoqualmie Falls. The location picture perfect, and the lodge itself fits the dreamy scenery. We spent a morning in the spa, getting scrubbed down with sugar and honey from the bees that are kept at the lodge, soaking in the private hot tub, and relaxing by the fire. I’m typically not a spa-goer, but after this experience, I believe every girls’ trip should include a spa date.

Outside the lodge on the sidewalk, they had cemented metal letters into the path: meandering, rumbling, tumbling, crashing, etc. I loved the subtle whimsy. This is an idea that I’d love to include in my own house or yard someday.

Birthday Week Seattle Guide One Little Minute Blog Wing Luke Museum Birthday Week // A Birthday Trip + Seattle City Guide

The Wing Luke Museum tour was fascinating. We learned all about the Chinese and Asian history in Seattle, and walked through the old hotel adjacent to the museum that used to house families of Asian immigrants. My favorite part of the museum (and the reason we visited) was the Special Exhibit about fashion. The exhibit showed the progress of Asian designers from sewing factories to the runway. I loved seeing the industrial side of garment creation, as well as the showroom of high-fashion looks by Asian designers such as Vera Wang, Andy South, Luly Yang, and Josi Natori. I just swoon over creative fashion, and this exhibit was so inspiring.

One of the days of our trip we were so happy to have my little brother Taylor come up from Portland to hang out with us. We spend some time on the picturesque Alki Beach to take photos. The day was pretty gray (as were all of the days), but the scenery was gorgeous.

This guy has a film camera in hand all the time. He took a killer polaroid of the girls (that I hope to see in my inbox sometime soon.) That old camera was my grandfathers, and still works beautifully.

The Great Wheel was a fun little outing. We ended up nearby one of the evenings, so hopped on for a ride. The views are pretty, and I mean, how often do you get to ride a giant ferris wheel? We crammed all six of us into one little box and we got a little loopy. I think this would be such a fun date, with a cup of hot cocoa and a blanked to snuggle with.

Everyone agreed that the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum was a must-see. The exhibits and gardens were spectacular. I loved learning a little bit about Dale Chihuly. What a talented guy.

Where to shop:

Watson Kenedy : This vintage-inspired boutique would be the perfect place to find accessories for home, or gifts for friends. I loved wandering, and could have spend hours ogling all of the beautiful things.

Nube Green: Filled with refashioned, repurposed, and recycled goods, this little shop was a unique stop. I loved the kids section.

Totokaelo: Possibly the most inspiring, though wildly expensive boutique I’ve ever set foot in. The displays were spot-on, I wanted to move the entire home design section into my apartment, and the racks and racks of designer clothing had my mind spinning. If I had a million dollars, this Rick Owens jacket would be the first thing I bought.

Meadow Boutique: We didn’t make it over to this little shop, but it came highly recommended and looks darling.

Butter Home: This was another one we missed, but it is definitely on the list for next time (and I’m so happy I can order online!)

Lululemon Outlet: The Burlington outlets are about 2 hours outside of Seattle, but if you love Lulu, it’s worth the drive. I kind of joked with my sisters about this stop, because I’m not totally on the bandwagon with spending more on exercise clothes than I do on my regular wardrobe, but this outlet helped to convert me a bit! It is not a factory store, but instead receives the actual unsold retail items from the previous season. I found several pairs of running shorts and skirts for $19 each (normally $70-100). I’m still not above wearing my old buddha tee and leggings to the gym, but I sure feel cute in my new digs.

Drygoods Design

Seattle Fabrics

Drygoods Design is a darling little fabric shop and workroom nestled among the fabulous shopping on Ballard Avenue. The selection of quilting fabrics was super well-curated. I noticed a bunch of fun japanese prints that I hadn’t ever seen before. They also have a smaller selection of knits and apparel fabric, as well as some gorgeous bolts of Liberty. I wished I had a project in mind, because I’m sure I would’ve found just what I needed! I did bring home a couple darling prints that I can’t wait to use. Also, for locals, the class selection looks awesome!

I loved walking into the outerwear fabric mecca of Seattle Fabrics. Immediately I imagined myself whipping up parkas, fleece vests, sleeping bags, and sails…you know, for our someday-sailboat. I just adore fabric, and this place has a lot of it. Most of the bolts are pretty specialty (think: Marine Grade Awning Fabric and Weathermax 65). I did find some great waterproof rip-stop nylon to make Eliot a windbreaker, and lovely yellow fleece that already became fleece vests for both boys.

The three-day trip was filled to overflowing with tastes, sights, inspiration, and relaxation. On top of all of the going going going, it was so awesome to spend time with my sisters and mom, who I don’t see often. I’ll tell you, they are pretty cool.

Having a birthday experience, rather than receiving a bunch of birthday gifts will always be my first choice.

Do you ever go on birthday trips? If you could choose a new city to explore, which would it be?

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Posted in: Birthdays

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Feb

Birthday Week // Local Cupcake Tasting Party

On my birthday earlier this month, Dave and I took the boys on a spontaneous dessert crawl in the hip DC neighborhood of Georgetown. We first stopped at Dolcezza Gelato, then grabbed a cupcake at Sprinkles, and finally rounded out the short hop with a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity II. The outing was so much fun, and later we shared the experience with our good friend Steve (who was also babysitting the boys while Dave and I went on a birthday dinner date). Steve mentioned it would be cool to do a cupcake-only crawl, since there are so many shops around! We all loved the idea and as we brainstormed, it became a solid plan: we would host a cupcake crawl the next weekend.

Cupcakes used to be trendy, but over the last five or so years, they’ve morphed into a true staple for parties, special occasions, and every city’s local food scene. How many cupcake shops are there in your city? In and around Washington DC, where I live, there are over 20 shops, all boasting the best, most delicious cupcake ever.

For our cupcake crawl, it made the most sense logistically to assign out cupcake shops for each of the four participating families to visit and choose a cupcake to bring to our house, rather than to drive all around town together to taste them. It would be more fun to taste them side-by-side, and more comfortable to hang out at a home, rather than in a shop. (We also thought the kids might go to sleep and leave us to taste in peace, but they ended up playing and sampling with us until far later than bedtime!)

I looked up the top eight most interesting and nearby shops to include in the crawl (which became a tasting when we took the driving piece out), and invited each couple to buy two of the same flavor from each of the two shops that they visited. The plan was to cut each of the two cupcakes into quarters, allowing each of the eight adults a couple good bites! With eight shops in the running, we would each eat two full cupcakes by the end of the night, which seemed reasonable.

The setup for the tasting was simple. I used my chalkboard tablecloth as a hand-written display, writing the names of the eight cupcake shops in alphabetical order around the table. As our friends arrived, they added their two cupcakes from each shop onto the table in the designated area, and then took a seat. We had milk and water on the table, as well as knives for quartering the cupcakes before passing them around.

Every tasting party needs a score sheet, so I whipped one up and personalized it to include the eight specific shops we were going to taste, in alphabetical order, as they were set up on the table. The scores themselves weren’t standard (I used a scale of 1-5, one friend chose to use 1-10) but there was a space to score frosting, cake, and overall (which might include size, decoration, flavor combinations, price, etc.) and then a place to write the total score for each cake.

We started with Alexandria Cupcake (first on the list). As it was cut and passed, the couple that had brought it shared what flavor they choose, and any little tidbits of information they may have gotten at the shop. It was fun to compare comments and thoughts about each cupcake as we tasted and scored them, moving around the table and down the list in an easy, orderly fashion.

The goal of the tasting was not to choose a winner for the best cupcake in the DC area, rather invite everyone to discover what their OWN favorite cupcake was! One of my very favorite cupcakes of the night received the lowest score from almost everyone else at the table! Likewise, my least favorite was someone else’s number one pick. Everyone loved a little something different, and we all had a great time analyzing what they liked and didn’t like about the cupcakes we tasted.

I edited the cupcake tasting score sheet to be customizable to any location, and am sharing it as a free printable so you can host your own local cupcake tasting. It is such an awesome, unique way to spend time with friends and learn a little bit more about the cupcake scene in your city.

Don’t you think this would make such a fun birthday bash? Add a candle and a song to one of the cupcakes and make a wish!

In case you wonder, the eight shops we tasted were: Alexandria Cupcake, Baked and Wired, Cake Love, Crumbs Bake Shop, Georgetown Cupcake, Hello Cupcake, Red Velvet Cupcakery, and Sprinkles. Also, if you’re local and would like the DC area score sheet, including these eight shops, let me know and I’ll email it to you!

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Posted in: Birthday Parties, Birthdays

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Feb

Birthday Week // Money Origami Shirt Birthday Cards

I absolutely love birthdays. Unlike all of the other holidays, your birthday is a celebration just for you. YOU are the reason for the season! Dave and I both agree that we want to teach our children the true meaning behind the celebrations of Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, etc. In addition, we want them to feel that their birthday is thouroughly special. Whatever curbing of distracting extravagance we may enforce during the other holidays, we want to make up for with thoughtful and meaningful celebration on birthdays. So, even though our Christmas morning gifts might intentionally never rival our neighbors, our birthdays will bring the kind of magic and excitement that our kids (and we ourselves) deserve!

One concrete way that I tried to share extend our birthday love outside of our immediate family was by resolving to send every member of our family birthday cards in 2012. Last year I shared how to make a Birthday Book where all of the birthdays, cards, and addresses can be easily accessed at the begining of each month, and I letterpressed about 60 birthday cards to send throughout the year. I also created simple and silly origami cupcakes from five dollar bills to include in each card that we sent.

All of the advance thought and planning helped me succeed in my goal. I didn’t miss a single family birthday (although I was a little late once or twice!) I loved getting an email from Dave’s sister Amy who had taken her daughter to get ice cream with the $5 we sent. When Suzanna asked for the super huge sundae with whipped cream and sprinkles, Amy hesitated briefly then remembered it was Suzanna’s birthday money, so she could get what she wanted! Attatched to the email was a darling photo of little Suzanna smiling next to birthday sundae the size of her head! It was just the celebration we hoped.

As I looked forward to 2013, I decided to design a birthday card specifically around the five dollar bill that would remain our small birthday gift to everyone in the family. After coming up with a design, I once again letterpressed the whole years worth, enabling myself to be as efficient as possible in my card sending, thus increasing my overall possibility of success.

One Little Minute Blog Birthday Card with Origami Money Birthday Week // Money Origami Shirt Birthday Cards

This year’s card is a little cheeky, and I love the way they turned out. You can’t return that money shirt, but it is “easily exchanged for an ice cream sundae, bag of licorice, bottle of cherry soda, or a yo-yo.” I mean, what’s a birthday without a cherry soda or a yo-yo, amiright?

Actually folding the money shirt is a lot more simple than it looks! Once I got these basic steps, I could fold one in about one minute. Add a bit of double stick tape to the back to “hang” the shirt up inside the card, scrawl some best wishes and drop in the mail!

I designed the hanger to fit the origami shirt exactly, and love the way the card looks with the little empty hanger after the money shirt is removed (and hopefully spent on something as cool as a head-sized sundae!)

Although I letterpressed my cards, they would be equally cool printed at home, so I’ve provided a free PDF in three different colors for you to use! Because the card is two sided, you will print it once, then feed it back through your printer to print the other side. Every printer feeds a little differently, so you may have to experiment a tiny bit! Each letter-sized page will become two birthday cards that fit into standard A2 sized envelopes.

I have had so much fun with these birthday cards, I think I’m going to make our money birthday cards a tradition. I’m already scheeming ideas for next year’s greeting!

Do you send birthday cards? What would you buy with your $5?

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Posted in: Birthdays, Celebrate, Letterpress

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Feb

Birthday Week // Becoming Thirty

Welcome to Birthday Week here at One Little Minute! I’ve prepared a post each day that is centered around a birthday theme (sort of like Reindeer Week without the antlers and on a more toned-down, personal level).

Today I’m sharing some thoughts on my experience with turning thirty. This post and it’s accompanying, upcoming “Becoming Thirty” series has been stewing in the old pot for months. In fact, I’ve been sort of freaking out about turning thirty for a couple years. Maybe because I felt so weird about it, I thought asking friends to share their experiences with turning thirty would ease the pain. Then, surprisingly as my birthday got closer and closer, the anxiety started to melt away, and the remaining emotion was peace. I’m excited to share my feelings with you, and would also love to hear about your own personal experience with Becoming Thirty.

Two weeks ago I turned thirty. It was a long-anticipated milestone; a date that, for whatever reason, I felt deeply. Last week a friend asked “So, do you feel different now that you’re thirty?” and the truth is I do! I really truly do feel different. I feel grown up. I feel comfortable. I feel happy.

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you may remember back when I turned twenty-seven, I had a moment of realization that my thirtieth birthday was coming. I made a couple silly goals back then: learn to walk in high heels, and begin to wear lipstick. I was really digging deep, as you can see. I’m happy to report that I have accomplished my goals. I have not one, but three pairs of high heels that I love and wear, if only on special occasions (and still somewhat uncomfortably after an hour or two.) And lipstick is now a regular part of my beauty regimen, and sometimes even a bit of a crutch. On days I don’t do much else, red lips make me feel pulled together and ready to take on the day.

In addition to these two significant accomplishments, I have also come into my own in a way I didn’t anticipate. I have thought about what it would be like to “become thirty” since that big ah-ha three years ago. This continual checking-in with who I was and who I was hoping to become brought me to a new and unknown place in my life. It’s a place where I am finally able to accept myself for who I am, in all of my many strengths and many many weaknesses.

I wish I could pinpoint what experience or thought process pushed me over the edge. It would be really fun to share a secret to this freedom from expectations and comparisons. Really, though, I think the process was a slow getting to know myself. Really caring to understand what makes me tick, what makes me smile, and what makes my soul sing. Through a lot of trial and error, when my life was too full of projects and commitments for my own good and I had to prioritize, I learned to chose well for myself and for my family. Not for anyone else.

And all of the sudden, it didn’t matter what anyone else said, or did, or wore, or accomplished, because none of the success that anyone else achieved took away even a tiny sliver from the success that I achieve. No one else is exactly like me, and so how silly it is to expect that I could or should need to measure up to anything by my own goals, hopes, and aspirations. The more I accept myself, the easier it is to truly accept those around me. When the wall of comparison and competition is removed, there is nothing left but support and love.

I feel like I’ve calmly settled into my shoes and finally empathize with myself. I have good days and bad days, great opportunities and huge challenges, moments of deep faith and moments of despair. I feel liberated knowing that not every good intention will produce a successful outcome, and not every good idea will create a brilliant product. But some will, and that is reason enough to continue doing my best at the things I choose to do.

Becoming thirty meant making myself happy. It was a simple resolution to do more of what I like, and also accept the responsibility for my own joy. No one else has to create a good life for me, though so many wonderful people play huge roles in it. This is my story! I write the pages day in and day out by the adventures I choose, and also the way I respond to the circumstances that are outside of my control. Together with Dave, I can plan for the future that I want, and chose each day to make my way in that direction.

If I want a birthday full of balloons, I can drive to the store at ten the night before my big day, buy three hundred, and spend a couple hours pumping them up while watching Friday Night Lights and eating licorice. Then on my birthday, I can wander around kicking the colorful globes through the air, watch my boys squeal with delight, and feel fully satisfied with the accomplishment of a simple festive celebration turning out exactly as I had hoped.

Becoming Thirty Balloon Fight One Little Minute Blog Birthday Week // Becoming Thirty

I can look back on my life and feel at peace with the choices I’ve made, the goals I’ve accomplished, and the person I’ve become. I am living the life that I want and it is wonderful. Every day brings new challenges and lessons, but that’s what I’m here for; to learn, to apply that knowledge, and then to share it to enrich the lives of those around me.

Throughout this year, I will be sharing the stories, experiences, and advice about “Becoming Thirty” from friends and readers. It has been such a milestone for me, and I know turning thirty feels different for everyone. I would love to hear about your experience! Email me your story at miranda@onelittleminuteblog.com.

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Posted in: Becoming Thirty

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Feb

Red Clouds Collective // tools for your creative life

Every once in a while I stumble across products so high quality, unique, and useful that I can’t seem to get them out of my head. Today I’d love to introduce you to the coolest new-to-me company whose products, energy, and motivation blow me away. One Little Minute Blog Red Clouds Collective Tool Roll and Good Book Red Clouds Collective // tools for your creative life

Red Clouds Collective is a Portland-based company founded and run by artists and craftsmen. I discovered it last summer when I noticed the hearty leather iPhone case my little brother Taylor was using. He told me that a bunch of his friends in Portland had started a leather-and-canvas goods company. These were the same good friends that had come together over eight years ago to bike around Portland, calling themselves “Red Clouds” after Taylor’s beloved cat Chief Red Cloud, who had sadly passed away. The Red Clouds were creative people. A group of artists, photographers, sewists, and carpenters who lived the dream swimming in the river and rocking out in the garage.

Last year, they came together again to bring some of their dreams of real, useful, inventive, and enduring products to life.

The iPhone case that first drew me in is called theGOODbook. Not only is it a phone case, but a wallet and sketchbook as well. I mean, what more could you ask for?

TheGOODbook comes in three colors, and brown leather is warm and classic. I love the feel and quality of real leather. I chose theGOODbook 4 for my iPhone 4 (remember when Dave gave me his?) and theGOODbook 5 for Dave’s iPhone 5. Each case fits perfectly, and I am so happy about the added protection for our phones.

Dave was super excited about the wallet inclusion, because the less stuff he has to remember to keep with him, the better. I love the wallet, too, but was even more thrilled about the sketchbook feature. A few months ago I began really trying to sketch more in an effort to think through my projects before I jump in (which has gone really well!) and I much prefer writing on paper with a pen than trying to doodle in an app. With two kids, sometimes I also need to WRITE things down to remember them (rather then type them into my phone). It’s been really nice to have paper and pen nearby all the time.

The thoughtful design of theGOODbook allows space for a pen to slide right in the fold. I’ve been on the lookout for a shorter pen, but am pretty picky about the type (must be extra-fine point and felt-tip) so thus far I’m using just a basic one I found. Surprisingly, I haven’t minded it sticking out the end as much as I thought I might.

A notebook-type phone case is so different than the regular iPhone skin I had before, I wondered how easy it would be to get used to. The first couple days I fumbled a little bit trying to work my fingers around the front flap, but I soon figured out what worked for me, and now feel like a pro.

I thought you’d like a visual to give you an idea of how I do it: Scrolling through Instagram (where you can find me as @livefreemiranda) I hold the case like a book and use just one hand to scroll and select. When texting I hold the phone at the fold and use both thumbs to type. When I need to pay for something I hold the case sideways and slide my card out. (I still have a bigger wallet that I carry in my diaper bag, but I have found theGOODbook indispensable for shorter, solo trips. I just tuck it into my pocket and have everything I need!) When I sketch, I fold open the notebook and draw. It’s easier to draw on the left page, because the phone sticks out under the paper on the right, but I’ve been successful sketching on either page. (I’ve also found that the book-type case works wonders as an impromptu tripod to take selfies with my boys.)

The other thing I do with my phone is…well, talk on the phone! After the leather loosened up a bit, I found I love holding the phone with the front flap folded behind. It makes the phone a little bit thicker, which helps it stay in my hand easily. The flap also makes this nice shoulder pad when I tuck the phone in between my ear and my shoulder to talk hands-free, like when I’m rounding up children or carrying groceries. It’s super comfortable.

I’ve been using theGOODbook for about a month now and it has improved my day to day life. It’s amazing how much we use and rely on our phones these days, and I really appreciate the thought and craftsmanship that went into theGOODbook.

As I browsed the extensive collection at Red Clouds Collective, another product that caught my eye was the Apron-Tool Roll, which my brother designed as part of the Signature Series. In this series, Red Clouds Collective invites other crafters and designers to collaborate with them to designa and produce products useful in everyday life.

Taylor works on a vintage Harley Davidson (tons of cool pics here), which I imagine inspired his design of this canvas apron with pockets and pen-holders in abundance. Once finished, the apron can be folded down and tied up into a portable tool-roll, allowing you to keep everything you need in one useful location.

While I don’t have any motorcycles in my own life right now, I immediately recognized the Apron-Tool Roll as a product that would be amazing for any creative person who hauls tools around. Can you imagine how fun and easy sewing-nights with friends would be if you could stash and store all of your sewing tools in those pockets and just tote them along? What about getting ready for a party or event and automatically having scissors, twine, tape, safety pins, pens, pencils, magnets, balloons, confetti, etc. all on hand and ready to go?

For me, the most clear and immediate use was for my letterpress and screen-printing hobbies. Because I rent space at a local studio to print, I have to travel with all of my tools. It was so nice to gather them all up, find pockets for them in my Apron-Tool Roll, and know that there they will stay. I always wear an apron to print, anyway, but now my apron also holds the pens, scissors, masking tape, and rulers that I am always scrounging around the studio to find!

And, let’s be honest. This is the best-looking apron I’ve ever seen. I love it.

I am so impressed by not only theGOODbook and Apron-Tool Roll that I own, but the wide array of bags, leather goods, and even apparel that Red Clouds Collective offers. This leather travel case would be a perfect gift for a globe-trotter. This backpack makes me dream of an adventurous day-trip (summer, come already!) And, if I ever actually try to learn to play my guitar, I’m going to get this guitar strap to celebrate.

As a person who shops pretty seldom, and values quality and longevity of the things I buy, it is easy for me to support Red Clouds Collective. The products are thoughtfully designed and handmade. I can’t wait to see what else this inspirational group of creators comes up with next.

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Posted in: Product Review

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Feb

The Flip Vest Pattern // Review and Giveaway

The week after Alt Summit, I spent a couple days in Seattle with my mom and sisters on a girls’ trip (for my 30th birthday!) One of the stops we made was to Seattle Fabrics, a huge warehouse filled with bolts upon bolts of high quality outerwear and marine fabrics! Swoon. Most of the fabrics were pretty pricey, so I wanted to makes sure I had a project in mind for what I bought. I dug around in the remnant bin and found this hearty mustard-yellow polartec fleece and immediately saw it as fleece vests for my boys.

I grew up in Utah, where fleece vests and jackets are second-skin in the winter. I remember my dad being especially fond of vests because , as he explained, he could wear just a tee shirt underneath, then layer with a jacket or shell if he needed one. I learned a lot from my dad, including the value of a fleece vest, and have always had one as part of my wardrobe! I bought an itty bitty Patagonia fleece vest for Milo when he was just months old, and he wore that until he grew out of it in toddlerhood. Then I bought him a new one at REI, and baby Eliot inherited the original. When I spotted that yellow fleece in Seattle I remembered that by now Eliot had almost outgrown the toddler-sized vest, and soon both boys would be vest-less. I couldn’t let that happen!

I bought the remnant yard of fleece (along with some rip-stop nylon, and about 30 discount metal zippers) and planned on some vest-making. It was about a week later that I received an email from Dana about testing her newest pattern for…you guessed it: a fleece vest!! The Flip Vest was exactly what I needed.
Flip Vest Pattern Review One Little Minute Brothers The Flip Vest Pattern // Review and Giveaway

You know what’s better than making each of my boys one fleece vest? Making them each two (in one)! The Flip Vest is fully reversible, which means twice the fun for the same amount of work. That’s my kind of pattern. Above, check out one side of the vests I made (along with some pretty great faces). Then flip…

One Little Minute Blog Flip Vest Boys The Flip Vest Pattern // Review and Giveaway

…and check out the second side!

Along with their basic fleece vest, now Milo and Eliot both each have a second addition to their wardrobes, chosen just for their personalities. I thought the black and white Ikea stripes would fit in will with Eliot’s young wardrobe. Toddlers can pull off anything, and the stripe has the added benefit of being really easy to spot in a crowd or on the playground, so he won’t get too far without me knowing where he is. For Milo I chose a dark denim. It feels a little western and also channels an outdoorsy vibe that fits Milo’s adventurous personality. I also love that the denim is durable and stain resistant, and it will only look better and better with wear.

One thing I really loved about the Flip Vest pattern is that it is a perfect base for fun customizations. Not only can you choose different fabrics, ribbing, and closures, but because of the simplicity of the pattern, you can play around with details. On the denim side of Milo’s vest I added some cool reflective piping across the chest. The pattern blocking and piping was sort of a happy accident because I didn’t have enough of this denim on hand to cut all of the size 4-5 pattern pieces as designed. But, if I chopped the front pieces in half and added seam allowance, I could squeak the whole vest out. Milo’s only 3.5 years old, but I wanted some room to grow and I think the fit will be great for a long time. Gotta love creating frankenclothing from fabric remnants (I seem to do it often…)

My boys have both inherited my love of pockets, and I couldn’t wait to double the fun by adding pockets on both sides of their vests. For both vests I added patch pockets to the cotton sides. Milo’s are diagonal, and Eliot’s are square. On the fleece sides, I tried my hand at the inset zipper pockets that I learned to make at Sewing Summit last year. They are so cool! Some of the discount zippers I picked up in Seattle were actual “pocket zippers,” which I had never seen before. They are closed on both ends. The boys can unzip and zip them by themselves, and use them to store all types of treasures (aka the candy bribe I gave them for taking pictures….ya know.) I totally eyeballed the placements, so they aren’t completely perfect, but I’m not a perfectionist.

I thought the stripes would be cute on Eliot, and I was right. They are completely heart-melting. He’s such a funny little munchkin, always making me laugh with the silly and random things he does, somehow this print fit him perfectly. He’s only 20 months, but I made him the 2-3T size and just like Milo’s vest, it has some room to grow, but doesn’t look too big right now.

You can see that the pocket placement on Eliot’s vest was a little low. The bottom just barely sits inside the hem. I made this vest first, and corrected the alignment by raising the pockets up a bit on Milo’s vest. Also, After making Eliot’s vest I re-learned a lesson I learn all. the.time. PRE-WASH! The cotton shrunk just slightly and the fleece did not, creating just enough size difference between the two that the fleece doesn’t lay perfectly flat. I don’t mind, especially since Eliot never stays in one place long enough to notice, but I will remember to prewash everything in the future. (Or I’ll just keep rushing to start and finish projects that shrink.)

On both vests I chose to use heavy-duty snaps as closure. The pattern teaches the technique for both buttons and velcro, but I avoid buttons at all cost and wanted the vest to have the technical look of hardware. In order to make them totally reversible, I just used the brushed-metal caps for both sides of the snap (Eliot’s are bronze and Milo’s are silver). The size #24 snaps actually went in quite easily, even through the layers of fleece and denim/canvas. I kind of love snaps.

I had such a great time with this pattern. Both Milo and Eliot love their vests (Milo prefers the fleece side, and I put Eliot in stripes more so far.) I learned a couple new techniques making these, but the pattern was still simple enough I could finish them each in one sitting. I can rest easy now knowing that everyone in the family has a fleece vest to his/her name. The DC area seems to just be flirting with the idea of spring, so being able to layer a tee with a vest, and then a jacket (if needed) is a perfect system. My dad sure knew what he was talking about!

I’m so excited that Dana has offered to give away a copy of The Flip Vest pattern to THREE of you wonderful readers! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below before Friday. I’ll randomly pick the three winners then, and Dana will email over the prizes. Good luck!

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Posted in: For my Kids, Product Review

Feb

K.I.D.S. Challenge // Paint-Your-Own Artist Tee

Have you seen the Kids Inspiration & Design Series (K.I.D.S) over at Me Sew Crazy? Cute Jessica came up with the idea to begin creating actual, wearable clothing from the drawings her girls were making. She invited a bunch of sewing friends to play along, creating something from one of their own kids’ drawings! The first round of the series was awesome, and I loved seeing what the kids came up with, and how the mom’s interpreted them into reality. This week kicks off the second round of the challenge, and I’m so excited to participate!

Today at Me Sew Crazy you can read the (sort of funny) story behind how I came to this idea for a Paint-Your-Own Artist Tee. It was so fun, I thought I’d share the details of the DIY so you and your kids can make some, too!

This project could be done with a ready-made tee shirt, if you’re not a seamstress, but I had the boys paint on totally blank canvases: white cotton jersey. If you choose to use an already made tee-shirt, make sure you tape off the parts you’d like to remain tape-free (like the sleeves) unless you’re going for an all-over paint look.

Artist Tee One Little Minute Blog DIY K.I.D.S. Challenge // Paint Your Own Artist Tee

The paints we used are these really amazing Jacquard Textile Traditionals. They are like a paint/dye hybrid because they are thick enough to paint on with a brush and stay in one place, but they are lightweight enough they don’t change the texture of the fabric at all! Regular fabric paint ends up sort of stiff, but using these textile paints, the tee shirts remained soft and comfy. In addition to the fabric and paints, we just used sponge brushes.

It helped to have this great easel for the painting, but laying the fabric out on a table would work well enough. I squirted a little dollop of each color of paint onto a plastic plate for each of the boys, suited them up in their painting smocks, and let them go at it!

I’m so excited about how much Milo likes to paint. He has always been so busy, this is one of the first tactile activities he will engage in by himself for more than a couple seconds. He is fascinated watching the colors blend together, and did such a good job making his painting!

Artist Tee Shirt One Little Minute Blog Fun for Toddlers K.I.D.S. Challenge // Paint Your Own Artist Tee

Haha, oh Eliot. He loves getting in on the painting action, too! After his whole plate of paints was mixed together, some of it made it up onto his fabric and made some really awesome graduated color streaks. I couldn’t have done it better.

Once the boys were finished, we let the paint dry on the fabric and cleaned up. The whole painting piece of the activity took about 15 minutes, then we headed out to hit the gym and run some errands. Once back, we had lunch and I put Eliot down for his nap and settled Milo in for quiet time. By then the paint was dry and I was ready to sew during naptime. Perfect. First, I heat set the colors by ironing on high on the back side of the designs, then I pulled out my new favorite long-sleeved boy pattern and got to work.

I folded the shirt in half on the grain, making sure to include as much of the painting on the front as possible, then lined up the pattern piece. I cut the back of the tee from unpainted cotton jersey, and decided (after much deliberation) on black for the sleeves and neckband because it felt artistic to me. I used yellow thread on my serger for fun contrast stitching.

The tees turned out better than I imagined they would. I love them! Luckily, the boys love them, too. Milo wore his to pre-school the day after I finished them and as soon as he saw his teacher in the car line he told her “Look at my shirt! I painted it myself!” It was pretty awesome to be able to encourage his creativity with this simple tee shirt.

Eliot seems to like his, too, although he’s not quite old enough to tell anyone so. One huge practical benefit of these shirts is that if they get a spill down the front (inevitable with my boys…especially Eliot) no one will know!

I had so much fun helping the boys paint-their-own artist tee shirts. I’m sure we’ll do it again! (It would also make a really fun birthday party idea, if using ready-made tees.) Bringing an idea to life has always made me really happy, and including my cute kids in the process just makes it all the more fun. Thanks for such an inspiring series, Jessica!