At Home DIY

Crochet a Linen Grocery Tote

2012-02-24T10:26:00.000-08:00

I've been crocheting a lot lately, and have been keeping my eye out for a tutorial for a nice crochet grocery tote. Well, this one by Pearl Soho fits the bill. Get creative and make this with linen or cotton yarn in any color you like! Get the Tutorial here:
http://www.purlbee.com/crocheted-linen-grocery-tote

30 Fabulous Reuses & Repurposes for Old or Recalled Cribs

2012-01-12T12:29:00.000-08:00

I once made a gate out of some old baby crib parts I found. Now I'm armed with some more imaginative ideas... just in case more baby cribs turn up — take a look:

30 Fabulous Reuses & Repurposes for Old or Recalled Cribs

What To Do With All Those Books?

2011-11-10T18:43:00.001-08:00

Every once in a while I open up the boxes of books I keep stored in the basement, and ask, "why do I keep books that I don't have space for?" Repurposing may just be the answer! Here are 5 ideas—and I bet you can think of a few more...
http://www.poetichome.com/2011/01/12/5-jaw-dropping-ways-to-repurpose-vintage-books

Hello Again!

2011-08-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

I've been away—not gone, but away from the blog and blogging. Lots more unexpected house projects came up: the short story is that we discovered some rot in the houseboat and we had to tear-off 2-ft of the front to rebuild. We took the opportunity to replace a window with a single french door. With 15 lights (glass panes) we have a ot more sunlight coming in and a new entry to boot. Next is to finish putting up flashing around all the eves that we had to cut back because water got in and rotted them too! Those of you who have real houses and real roofs should count your blessings!

In the meantime, I am trying to stay creatively inspired, came across this link for some pretty headboard ideas. While headboards are not #1 on my mind, I saw some nice ideas here for whenever we get around to re-building our bed frame... http://www.bhg.com/rooms/bedroom/headboard/pretty-headboard-decorating-ideas

Doug also rescued some chairs for me that were on the way to the dumpster—two matching Knoll chairs in a simple retro style I love! If we can clean them up they will be fine, but I may need to recover them if the stains don't come out. Or, just toss a nice trow on them!

Last night I made a delicious Honey Dijon chicken dinner. I will try to write up a recipe, and may need to recreate it again for a photo to post. Doug keeps telling me I should compete on one of the TV shows. I had a bizarre dream in which I had to compete in front of Gordon Ramsey, not as a chef, but as a dancer. So You Think You Can Dance meets Master Chef... lets just say my performance was a total embarrassment! What a shame.

Something is Missing

2011-07-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

Doug started the pot o' beans this morning. After he gets it going I always take over. Today it seemed like all the basic ingredients were there, but I just could not put my finger on what was missing. So I tried adding more chicken bouillon, a bunch of chopped parsley, some tomato sauce... but still something was awry. Finally the ah-ha moment came—I forgot the almighty chili powder! I added a heaping spoonful, and indeed we now have something edible for lunch—I will serve up with a dollop of yogurt and a sprinkling of cilantro. Right now.

Stress Begone the SF Etsy Way

2011-07-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

I was reading today's blog post on the SF Etsy Team blog, and thought, "Too bad I don't have a bathtub!" But for those of you who do, follow this tutorial for how to make soothing bath bombs yourself, and de-stress you and your loved ones!

Get the Bath Bomb Tutorial from SF Etsy Street Team Here

Cha-Cha-Cha! Dessert in a Cup

2011-07-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

Don't be surprised that the Mighty Mango makes another appearance—it brings me back to Mexico where mangoes drop from the trees, and we eat them almost every day with abandon. Here, mangoes are readily available in the summer, and we always have them in the house.

Which brings me back to the Cha-Cha-Cha! Just because you don't have ice cream in the freezer, or the will to whip up a batch of hot cookies, doesn't mean you can't party tonight. Take last night for example: after a humble bowl of beans for dinner, I was looking for some excitement. I found some dessert-friendly ingredients in my fridge, and choreographed a perfect combo! Most of you are familiar with fruit and yogurt, but I think it was honey and key lime that made this baby so hot last night....

What to do: Mix 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt with 1/2 cup plain yogurt, and a bit of honey—not too much because the vanilla yogurt has some sweetness already. Cut the fruit into bite-sized chunks, place in a mixing bowl, and toss with just a tad more honey to amplify fruitiness, and the juice of 1/2 key lime. Top 1/2 yogurt generously with fruit in a pretty glass or bowl. Get down.

Options: In Mexico, yogurt with are a popular snack, usually involving finely diced apples. Try yours sprinkled with chopped walnuts, macadamia nuts, shredded, unsweetened, toasted coconut, raisins, or granola... swap fruits in season; strawberries or blueberries are perfect... Also, this is almost just as delicious without the addition of vanilla yogurt, and you can vary the amount of honey as you like. This Meal is Diver Doug Approved.

How to Make Paper Fortune Cookies

2011-07-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

Emily from Sweetly Scrapped posted this fun and easy tutorial. She provides printable circles and fortunes to cut out for your first fortune cookie attempt. Once you get the hang of it, have fun and experiment! Try heavy fabric, oil cloth, or any other flexible but strong material. Paper or fabric fortune cookies would make fun ornaments, gift toppers, or party favors. Just punch a small hole in one edge and loop a string through it.

Get the Tutorial from Sweetly Scrapped Here

Upcycled T-shirt Rug

2011-07-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

"Heather, should I keep this t-shirt?"

~~"Noooooo! Look at all those holes!"~~

"Yes, keep it, and then make me a rug!"

I know there are many, many things one can do with a t-shirt, but they usually get thrown out before they have a chance to become something else. Thanks to DIY Life, I found a link that took me to Xoelle.com, where I found a tutorial for these soft shaggy t-shirt rugs. With your imagination - and I know you have one - you can create latch hook rugs with multicolored scraps, solids, shades of one a color... I think this has to take the cake for creating something really functional and wonderfully satisfying out of a shameful shirt. Kids and people of all ages can enjoy this project.

Get the Tutorial from Xoelle.com Here

Supplies needed / approximate cost
Latch hook: $3
Latch hook canvas: $6 or more depending on size wanted
Fabric dye if needed: $2 per box
T-shirts: $0 or more depending on your source/thrift shop
(see tutorial link for number of shirts needed)
Cheat if you must
If you are desperate, you can buy yardage of jersey knit fabric, dye it, and cut into strips. This of course means you are not making an 'upcycled' project, but no doubt you will still be satisfied.

Blueberry Pie Too Juicy?

2011-07-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a way to fix it: http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/detail.asp?docid=14947&Extcode=L1GN1AB00

Bake 'n' Take

2011-07-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

Do you ever crave pancakes but not the time it takes to make them? Bake your healthy whole wheat pancake mix with berries in a muffin tin, and then you can take your breakfast with you! I thought this was such a groovy idea, I had to share.

Get the Recipe Here

Lucky Elephant

2011-07-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jutta Hilpuesch for being featured on Martha Stewart's Dreamers Into Doers website this week! Jutta's thriving business, Lucky Elephant, is her collection of beaded leather wrapped bracelets, which she handcrafts herself in her home workshop. Having a home business myself, I am inspired by her success.

Leather wrap jewelry is a huge trend this year, so I recently did a Google search for "leather wrap bracelet tutorial" and eventually found some how-to videos on YouTube. The bracelets are best made with leather or waxed linen. However, the easiest way to get one is to visit Lucky Elephant on Etsy and get one made by Jutta herself!

www.theluckyelephant.etsy.com

Prepping for Painting

2011-07-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

On Socialfabric.com (an online forum for crafty types), this question was asked in the DIY Group:

"Did you have to sand down the [kitchen] cupboards before painting them?"

Some people answered "NO" but I say "YES" and here's why:

Kitchen cupboards get a lot of wear, so if the paint is not well-adhered, it will and probably will start to chip or peel off, depending on what paint you used and what surface you painted over. I am assuming here that there is a normal amount of oil and grease particles floating around and building up on your kitchen cupboards, and you can't be expected to catch all of this when you clean. So, keep your non-stick surfaces to your skillets, not your cupboard doors, and prep them right before painting!

The following tips go for any surface or furniture you are about to paint:

CLEAN - As always, you can refer to your paint can for specific details about the type of paint you use. Especially for kitchen cabinets I would definitely recommend doing a careful job prepping. I always clean the paint surface well before sanding or painting anything at all. Use mineral spirits and a clean lint-free rag. Mineral spirits cleans up dirt and oils and evaporates quickly so it won't sit on your surface, and you can move on. It is also possible to use acetone for particularly grimy spots, however sometimes it evaporates even more quickly.

TO SAND OR NOT TO SAND? - That is not the question! I say yes, sand before painting, even if you plan to use primer. Depending on how slick your original paint is, you'd want to use sandpaper with enough grit to give the surface some traction - something for your primer or paint to grab onto. Whether you use primer or not, sand the surface under your top coat of paint. As you get closer to the final coat you can use finer sandpaper, then wipe down (same way with mineral spirits) before painting to remove the fine sawdust.

PRIMER & 2ND COATS - Use primer especially if you are painting light over dark colors, or if you are painting latex paint over a gloss or semi-gloss paint and enamel paints. If you need a second coat, let it dry completely and lightly sand in the direction of the paint strokes before final coat.

LOVE YOUR BRUSH - Use a good quality brush. I love my Purdy brand brush, and will take care of it forever. A nice brush will give you a smooth finish which you will appreciate on a major piece of furniture or cabinets. FYI: You might want to take off your cabinet doors and lay them flat so your paint won't sag... this all sounds rather picky, but what can I say, I'm my father's daughter!

WHAT KIND OF PAINT TO USE - I like using Latex (water-based) paint, because they are easy to clean up and dry quicker. I would use oil-based paint for special projects that require a super-durable surface. Here are two links I found that explain some questions you might have about using oil-based paints:
1. http://homerenovations.about.com/od/painting/f/latexoveroil.htm
2. http://www.wikihow.com/Know-when-to-Use-Oil-Based-Paint-Instead-of-Latex

PAY HEED TO POTENTIAL PROBLEMS - My friend just had a nightmare trying to repaint her cabinets. They had been stained and coated with some kind of mystery wax or oil-based finish. She thought her primer would stick if she sanded the surface first. Her superior quality latex primer went on beautifully, but and never dried - it remained tacky. She had to have them professionally stripped, and learned a big lesson. This is one reason to pay close attention to instructions for special conditions.

Current painting project. I'm working on an old under-the-bed drawer unit that we converted into a fold-out couch/guest bed. In this case, its truly a piece of junk, and I'm using black paint to match what was already there so NO, I won't need to do a lot of prep - just slapping it on and calling it a day!

Mirrors to the Soul

2011-07-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

Speaking of great ways to dress up your blank walls, I created this Treasury on Etsy.com, featuring 16 great mirrors. Some of them will inspire you to create something of your own with a mirror you have at home. To create something like this, choose a mirror with a wide frame to decorate with buttons, shells or other small objects - even costume jewelry! Hot glue is perfect for DIY collage mirrors. You will notice that these creative designers used monochromatic color palettes. Subtle color differences in a busy piece make a statement without clashing with the interior decor of your room (unless of course you want to make a huge statement, then by all means go all out with the color!). If you make a mirror, send me a photo!

Easy Sewing Patterns

2011-06-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

I was on Pinterest.com this morning, when some kimono-style booties caught my eye. I followed the link and found a collection of charming sewing patterns. If you are a beginner at sewing, or just looking for some simple projects, ithinksew designs easy patterns to purchase for your DIY pleasure. Patterns include adorable baby booties, handbags and more. Here is the direct link: www.ithinksew.com

Japanese Fabric and Craft Supplies

2011-06-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

On my Gstudio blog, I posted this link for some funky fabrics you can order online. The collections here are great for kid's room projects, bag-making, quilting, or any other fabric project. Gstudio Blog: superbuzzy.com, Japanese fabric and craft supplies...: "Looking for playful prints for your holiday sewing projects? Check out this online fabric shop, full of cooky Japanese fabrics, origami kits..."

A Good Idea: Burlap Food Container Covers for Summer Picnics

2011-06-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

I thought this was a great tip for outdoor picnics; burlap food container covers. They're easy to make and provide protection from flies on hot summer days outdoors. I think I'll try it myself!
http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/blog/burlap-food-container-covers

What I Do

2011-06-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited that my home studio is shaping up so that I can get on with it in the next few weeks. In the previous post I tried to explain the odd scenario of having a sewing studio on a houseboat. I now have four work tables and lots of shelves for my supplies — just a little painting and organization left to do and off we go! Once I'm feeling settled I will post photos of the final result. In case you are wondering, I design and create handmade bags and home accessories. I typically use modern designer textiles, as well as 'upcycled' remnants. This fall I will be designing some new works with vintage fabrics and kilim rugs.

Studio in Limbo

2011-06-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

My Houseboat in Sausalito, CA

My home studio has been dismantled and is being moved to an other spot in the boat. Yes, I live in a houseboat, and yes, it is all very unconventional! When I started this blog, the moving of my stuff was just a blip on the radar, but quickly became a reality. I had high hopes of making and sharing projects here much sooner, but of course my latest 'project' is now getting things in order and getting my life back. We rented our boat out several times while we were in Mexico during the winters, and we still have photos of the boat online. Click here to see more of my humble floating abode. (Sorry, it's not for rent at the moment, but it might be again at some point down the line).

I Made an Origami Crane

2011-05-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Its been so long since I made an origami paper crane, I couldn't remember how to do it. Last night I had the urge and found a few tutorials on the internet. It took following several instructions to finally get it right, but by the third attempt I felt like a paper crane folding Master (aside from the obvious imperfections). With no origami paper in the house, I used a legal size sheet of printer paper, and was able to get 3 sizes of cranes from one sheet. Now, I'm thinking about what to do with origami cranes... I see some kind of mobile in my future (I will keep you posted).

I think origami is relaxing, and also a fun challenge for kids. If you would like to make an origami crane, try this Origami Crane Tutorial on My Digital Stash, where tutorial author Joana also has a clever idea for printing patterns on your own paper for custom origami. Also for some clearly drawn diagrams with a video see origami-fun.com. If you're interested in the art and 'science' of origami, watch this fascinating film, "Between the Folds" found on Netflix.

Ultimate Banana Bread

2011-05-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

Ultimate Banana Bread
by America's Test Kitchen

Today I'm talking bananas. I made this recipe, found on AmericasTestKitchen.com, and can attest that it really does have great banana flavor, so here it is (quoted from the website):

"Why this recipe works:
Recipes for ultimate banana bread abound, but because they include an overload of bananas for flavor, the bread’s texture is often soggy. We wanted a moist, not mushy, loaf that tasted of banana through and through.

To impart lots of banana flavor, we needed to use a generous amount of bananas, but we needed to rid them of excess moisture. We turned to the microwave to help us out. We piled as many bananas in a bowl as we dared and zapped them in the microwave. Then we drained the now-pulpy fruit and mixed the fruit into a batter. We didn’t want to toss the flavorful liquid, so we reduced it and added it into the batter as well. Like a mock extract, our reduction infused the bread with ripe, intensely fruity banana flavor.

With the flavor problem solved, a few minor tweaks completed the recipe: We exchanged the granulated sugar for light brown sugar, finding that the latter’s molasses notes better complemented the bananas. Swapping out the oil for the nutty richness of butter improved the loaf further. We also added toasted walnuts to the batter, finding that their crunch provided a pleasing contrast to the rich, moist crumb. Wondering if the crust might benefit from a little embellishment, we sliced a banana and shingled it on top of the batter. A final sprinkle of sugar helped the buttery slices caramelize and gave this deeply flavored loaf an enticingly crisp, crunchy top.

Makes one 9-inch loaf
Be sure to use very ripe, heavily speckled (or even black) bananas in this recipe. This recipe can be made using 5 thawed frozen bananas; since they release a lot of liquid naturally, they can bypass the microwaving in step 2 and go directly into the fine-mesh strainer. Do not use a thawed frozen banana in step 4; it will be too soft to slice. Instead, simply sprinkle the top of the loaf with sugar. The test kitchen’s preferred loaf pan measures 8½ by 4½ inches; if you use a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, start checking for doneness five minutes earlier than advised in the recipe. The texture is best when the loaf is eaten fresh, but it can be stored (cool completely first), covered tightly with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days.

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
6 large very ripe bananas (about 2 1/4 pounds), peeled (see note)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter , melted and cooled slightly
2 large eggs
3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup walnuts , toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)
2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8½ by 4½-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in large bowl.

2. Place 5 bananas in microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with paring knife. Microwave on high power until bananas are soft and have released liquid, about 5 minutes. Transfer bananas to fine-mesh strainer placed over medium bowl and allow to drain, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes (you should have ½ to ¾ cup liquid).

3. Transfer liquid to medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to ¼ cup, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas, and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth. Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla.

4. Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in walnuts, if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Slice remaining banana diagonally into ¼-inch-thick slices. Shingle banana slices on top of either side of loaf, leaving 1½-inch-wide space down center to ensure even rise. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.

5. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 55 to 75 minutes. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 15 minutes, then remove loaf from pan and continue to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Technique

Do the Ripe Thing
Don’t even think of making banana bread with anything less than very ripe, heavily speckled fruit—unless you’re fine with a bland loaf. As bananas ripen, their starch converts to sugar at an exponential rate. In lab tests, we found heavily speckled bananas had nearly three times the amount of fructose (the sweetest of the sugars in fruit) than less spotty bananas. (The exact percentage will vary from fruit to fruit.) But the impact of ripeness only goes so far: We found little difference in sweetness between loaves baked with completely black bananas and those made with heavily speckled ones.

TOO SOON - 1.8% FRUCTOSE
A lightly speckled banana has only a little fructose, the sweetest sugar in fruit.

JUST RIGHT - 5.3% FRUCTOSE
A heavily speckled banana has a lot more fructose.

Who Knew? Bananas Have Juice
Typical banana bread contains just three pieces of fruit. Here’s how we upped the number to five without turning the loaf into pudding.

1. EXTRACT JUICE
Microwaving ripe bananas for 5 minutes causes them to release “juice.”

2. STRAIN IT OUT
After straining the bananas, you should have 1/2 to 3/4 cup of liquid to work with.

3. REDUCE THE JUICE
Reducing the banana liquid yields a concentrated liquor, intensifying flavor without making the loaf wet.Technique

Shingle Your Loaf
Layering thin banana slices on either side of the loaf adds even more banana flavor to our bread (and brings the total number of bananas in the recipe to six). To ensure an even rise, leave a 1½-inch-wide space down the center."

My Notes:

1) I was short one banana so I didn't do the banana detail on top. Still great.

2) I tried this a second time, using bananas that were not ripe enough, and had not been frozen first. They really did not make any juice when cooked in the microwave. I needed liquid, so I used 1/4 cup of orange juice in place of the banana liquid. It came out OK, but was missing the big banana flavor.

3) There is nothing more bothersome than not having ripe bananas around when you crave hamemade banana bread! You should definitely keep a bunch of over-ripe bananas (dark brown/black) in the freezer so they are ready when you are.

A video is available at America's Test Kitchen's website if you sign up as a member there:

The New Blog

2011-05-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

Hammers, saws, paint, hot glue, paper, Xacto knives, fabric, sewing machines, cookware and my Mac are just a few of the tools I use around the house. I always made things by hand, so starting @HOME DIY is my way of sharing some of my favorite homespun endeavors with you, as do-it-yourself projects. Read more about me here. Subscribe by email (in the sidebar) to get my latest projects sent to your inbox.