Update. Upscale. Upcycle.

I love taking old things that aren't pretty and doing a little work on them and making them pretty.  It is even better if I can find something for really cheap and with a little sweat equity, turn it into a cute addition to my home!  Here is one of my favorite projects that would be super easy to repeat in your own house. 

I found this very cheap (read $10) headboard at a 2nd hand store.

But, I could see it's hidden potential, hiding under a hideous 70's shell!  I sanded the head board, then primed it with some Kilz. 

Next, I spray painted it in white with a smooth satin finish.

Lastly, I hung it on the wall with some L brackets.

After I made the bed, it looked fabulous!

Cheers!  Jaime

Rotini Rhapsody

Out of Magical Meatballs in your freezer?  Need a quick dinner for screaming children?  Try our new Rotini Rhapsody! 

Ingredients:
1/2 Box of Barilla Plus Rotini
1lb 93/7 Ground Beef
1/2 cup  Diced Yellow Onion
1 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese**
2 cup  Mozzerella
2 tablespoon Parmasean
4 cup Red Sauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cook pasta to al dente and drain.

Add onion and ground beef to a saute pan and cook over medium heat until browned.

Reserve 1/2 cup mozzerella cheese and 1/2 red sauce.  Combine remaining ingredients with pasta and beef in a large bowl.

Spray a 9" x 13" pan with nonstick spray.  Place mixture in pan.  Add reserved sauce and cheese.

Cover and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbling. 

**If you don't care for the consistency of cottage cheese, either substitute ricotta or blend 1 cup of cottage cheese in a food processor. 

Cheers!  Jaime

it's not easy being green

In an effort be more environmentally friendly, I began to take stock of my life to see how I can take better care of our planet.  Recycling:  check!  Carpooling: check! (I make Jennifer drive me around as much as possible)  Reducing Water Consumption: check! (no sprinkler system for my grass, I only use the water God decides to give me).

So, I generally think of myself as pretty environmentally friendly. I donate used clothes to charity, I recycle pop cans, and I dispose of chemicals the right way.  But, as I was watching television one night with my crochet hooks and yarn close by, I had an epiphany-- reusable cotton balls!  I use the cotton pad variety to take off make-up, put on toner, and take the nail polish off my nails.  So, I took some white yarn that I had lying around and tried a few different patterns.  Here is what I came up with: [for those of you dear readers who don't know how to crochet or don't want to, we will soon have them available at our Etsy Shop]

Reusable Cotton Face Pads

Materials:
100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn (I used Lily's Sugar and Cream in White)
Size J Hook


Abbreviations
Ch: Chain
DC:  Double Crochet
St:  Stitch
Sl st: Slip Stitch


Instructions:
Row 1:  Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.
Row 2:  Ch 3, 11 dc in circle, join with sl st  to top of ch 3.  12 dc.
Row 3:  Ch 3, 2 dc in next st and each st around, dc in joining st, join with sl st to top of ch 3.  24 dc.


Weave in ends.


I use these for all my make-up needs.  After I am done, I can throw them in the washing machine with some bleach and they are good as new.  The only task I don't use them for is taking off nail polish.  If you would like to use them for nail polish removal, I would suggest using a very dark color yarn when you make them. 

Cheers!  Jaime

..... aaannnnddd we're back!

Dear Readers,

We have all been super busy for the past week, darn those "real" jobs.  But, we are back in full swing this week!  Check back in the morning for a new crochet pattern!

Cheers!  Jaime

Secret Weapons [Shhhhh, don't tell NASA]

Dearest Reader,

I am about to share with you a tip I once got from a dermatologist that revolutionized my life.  I don't throw the word "revolutionized" willy-nilly either.  This advice has saved me HUNDREDS of dollars in my quest for a clean face.

About 6 years ago [right around the time I was studying for the bar exam], my dermatologist gave me the following recipe for washing my face:



1. Wet your face.
2. Put 2 pumps of original clear Softsoap in your hands and lather.
3.  Use the Softsoap to clean your face.
4.  Continue to use your hands to scrub while you sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself twice.
5.  Rinse.



[the music swells and angels sing]



I have to say that my dermatologist was GENIUS!  The Softsoap is super cheap and very mild on my skin.  Making sure to use it for the entire song of Happy Birthday TWICE really makes sure that my skin is clean.  So, no more expensive face washes for this girl!  It is very important that you use the colorless, clear version.  You can even get the generic version (that's what I use to save even more money).

Happy face washing!

Cheers!  Jaime

Magical Meatballs

I have been known by many in my life as a great baker.  I'm good at cakes, sweet breads, cookies, some pies, casseroles - you get my drift.  It has recently been pointed out to me that while I am a good baker...I'm not a very good cook.  So I have started a personal mission to claim my kitchen much like Columbus claimed the new world in the name of Spain! Of course hoping no one dies in the process. ;-)

 I decided that logically I should start with "easy" recipes.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are several cooking websites that will rank the recipes and let you pick from the appropriate level.

Of course if you know me at all you know I can never be TOO logical so of course I had to MacGyver my own first recipe.  Well, I actually took one of the recipes I thought was good and make it better!

 

I have been making meatballs and pasta for a long time.  I recently had them as an appetizer at a restaurant close to home and confirmed THAT is what they should actually taste like.  So...my journey began.  I could easily share with you all the "failed" attempts, but who really wants to re-live a failure?  Instead here is my Magical Meatball recipe.  Enjoy!!


Magic  Meatballs:

Ingredients

2lbs lean ground beef

1lb Italian sausage

1 cup crumbled cracker crumbs  (buttery crackers are best!)

2 large eggs

3 table spoons of Italian pasta sauce  (I like the thick part at the top of the jar when you first open it)

1 tabl minced onions

1 tabl Italian seasoning  (in all honesty I just put in several shakes of basil and oregano if I dont have Italian seasoning)

1/2 teas pepper

1/2 teas salt

Instructions:

1. Put it all in a bowl and mix the heck out of it!  Seriously I mix for a full1-2 min (which is a long time if actually counting)
2. Roll into balls.  I usually make mine between the size of a golf ball and a gumball.  Put them in a greased pan (class or metal) to bake.  They can be close enough to touch but not squished together.
3. Bake at 400-425 for approximately 8 mins.  Once they start to firm up, roll them over for even cooking and bake for another approx 8 mins.
4. You want them cooked through before putting them in the sauce - at least I do because by that time I'm starving and ready to eat!
5. Once cooked add to your sauce and have a magical moment!

I like to only put half of the balls in my sauce and then freeze the rest.  They are so quick and easy to get out for a quick snack OR a tasty meatball sub!

go dtí go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís

Elaine

RISK, anyone?

I've always wanted to have a risk tournament. What is Risk, you ask? I honestly have no idea. I've just heard of full out wrestling matches incited by some land takeover in a friendly game of risk. I think this is the perfect way to offset the love and ridiculous holidays February has to offer.

To give a bit of background, I have always been mildly obsessed with minor holidays. It was my dream and obsession for the greater part of my youth to travel to Punxatawney, PA to see the prognosticator or prognosticators predict the end of winter. It may be no surprise that my awesome husband made that dream come true. As proof:

You may also not be surprised to learn that every valentine's day I pass out valentines to everyone in my office. Last year was awesome robot valentines I bought off etsy. This year, in the spirit of Kansas' 151st birthday, I went with the Wizard of Oz.

I also bake cookies for Kansas day (January 29th for those following), and I even have a cookie cutter in the shape of our great state, conservatives and all.





I have a fantastic Ides of March party/dinner every--you guessed it--Ides of March (March 15), and I serve up a fantastic meal of corned beef and cabbage for whoever will have it in the spirit of celebrating st. patty's early.




My roommate and I used to have an annual Bikini Martini party, and at one point had the best Cocktail Party ever--tails, tales and you know what were entirely welcome. I believe this will mark the second year of our Fool Proof April Fool's Day Party. However, to date, I have not found a way to celebrate leap year. I'm a big fan of numbers and timing and it occurs to me that February 29th, in all of its limited glory, should be celebrated.




So here is my suggestion: Risk is an apparently appalling, terrorizing, and awful game to play. It can take all night. Weeks. And I hear it is entirely responsible for breaking up the former soviet union, and god knows how many marriages. For that reason, as well as others that I will share with you all sometime, my husband will not be playing with me. HOWEVER! I propose a full on, leap-tastic risk tournament to take place on leap day. If it only happens once every 4 years, what's the fear that we'll even remember the hatred we brewed for the occasion? We'll leap over it every year, and then duel it out every leap year. Perhaps all wars should be fought this way.

So there you have it. Please view this as an official invitation to my risk tournament. Once I find out what it is.

Exit, pursued by a bear, Christy.

calling David Letterman

I started knitting about a year ago.  Christy and I bought a Groupon to an awesome shop here in Wichita called Twist.  Along with a couple other friends we we took our first knitting class and were purling like crazy!  [A special thank you goes out to our instructor, Lindsey, who put up with our constant interruptions, very loud conversation, and Christy's intermittent (or not really so intermmittent) swearing-- WE LOVE YOU LINDSEY!!!]

Christy and I then dragged Jennifer into our expanding web of yarn and we took then next knitting class from Lindsey.  (Elaine has been knitting all her life and has no need for pedestrian classes like the rest of us).  The past year has brought 3 dead fish hats, 10 ruffled scarves, 4 placemats, 1 baby Harry Potter Hat, 3 Griffyndor scarves, one dog scarf, a stuffed rabbit, 3 Christmas Stockings, 4 Gap-Tastic Cowls and countless scrubbies, but we finally feel like we know what we are doing with our needles and yarn.

We like knitting so much, we want the whole world to knit with us.  So, if you haven't learned yet, take a class at a local business.  And to help you out at your new venture, we have put together a little list to help you get started in your own knitting revolution!  So, without further ado, here is my Top 10 list.

Top 10 Websites for New Knitters

1.  Learn how to knit with KNITTING HELP for free!

2.  Ravelry is like facebook for knitters and crocheters. Find friends and free patterns.

3. Knitty

4.  High Quality, Low Cost Yarn at Knit Picks.

5.  Planet Purl: After you learn how to knit, you will want to visit yarn shops all over the world.  This site helps you do just that!

6.  Purl Bee is great for a daily dose of creativity.

7.  Knit Purl Gurl

8.  Knitting Fool has over 2300 stitch patterns and counting.

9.  Knitting Lemonade

10. the knotty krafters :)  Check back for new patterns!

Cheers!  Jaime

I double dog dare ya!

In the old west [and especially on the playground] these were fightin' words.....crafters also have fighting words.  They usually come in the form of "Too bad you don't know how to make_______"  Or  "I wish you could make ________"

As you may remember from my prior post my sewing machine gave me a HUGE feeling of a major power trip.  I was Wonder Woman and MacGyver all in one (throw in my iPhone and I could dang near rule the world!) - I was basically just waiting to be dared to make something!

And of course it happened......"Too bad you can't make Christmas Stockings...."   :-O  Excuse me?!?  OF COURSE I can make a silly little Christmas stocking!!!  Geesh!  I thought you were going to ask me to make something hard!  In fact I'm going to the craft store right now for supplies!

So this started my Christmas Stocking adventure....  I literally went to the craft store the same day....bought material, went home and washed it, ironed it (of course my favorite part!) and then stood looking at it...for a long time.....Just how the heck does one MAKE a Christmas Stocking?????

So back to the craft store I went.  I purchased a cheap stocking, brought home, and ripped out every seam to use as a guide (or what actual "sewers" would call a "pattern"!)

Then I went to work!  Even with a "pattern" it took SEVERAL times to get the shape enlarged correctly...but thankfully I live close to the craft store so if I had to go buy more material so be it!  I was dared after all remember?!!?!?!

The first one was for the dog (please do not let this make you think I don't love and care for the dogs in my life!  Because I DO!)....it wasn't bad....but I knew it could be better!  So I did what every knotty krafter would do....I'm tweaked it and improved it!!!!  By the time I had the 3rd one done I would have been willing to let anyone watch my happy dance!  I HAD DONE IT!!!!!  You can take that dare and drown it in a cocktail!  I RULE!

And then I remembered I needed to put a cuff and a loop to hang it by on...... BUT I put on my big girl pants and my pearls and went back to the craft store!  I got some $.99 white fat quarters and came back home and went to work!

All in all they turned out GREAT - especially for my first time!  I might even get brave enough to make a new batch next year.... ;-D

Materials

Christmas Fabric 

Coordinating Fat Quarter for the Cuff (I used white so you could see the names)

Pattern (There is a great one here from Prudent Baby-- we LOVE Prudent Baby)

Pins

Thread

Sewing Machine

Red (or coordinating color) Glitter Paint

Sequence in the same color as your paint 

Instructions

1. Wash and Iron material

2. Lay the "pattern" piece on the backside of the material and use a nifty frixion** pen to draw the outline one the material approx. 2 inches bigger than the pattern (because I just got a small cheap sock to tear apart LOL!)

3.  then I cut it out and flipped it over to the other side of the material and traced it and cut that out

4.  Pin both pieces together inside out and sew 1/4 in seams along the bottom and both sides leaving the top open

5.  For the cuff,  cut the fat quarter into pieces long enough to go around the top of the sock and then wide enough to be doubled

6.  Put the cuff inside the sock pinned it to sew 1/4 in seam and then roll the cuff out.

7.  Take red glitter paint and write the first letter big and outlined with large red sequins (using the paint like glue) and then finish the names with smaller letters.

8. Viola!  Your stocking is complete!

**Frixion Pens by Pilot are the BEST new invention for quilters and crafters.  They completely erase with heat.  There is an eraser on the end of the pen which causes friction and erases the mark.  You can also use an iron to erase the markings from your fabric, as I learned the hard way!  I buy mine at Target, but you can also get them here.

STAR WARS. PERIOD.

As I'm sure you have read from my fellow-bloggers, my husband and I left work Thursday and drove-dogs and all!-to Kansas City to see Episode I in 3D at midnight. For those non-dorks, Episode I is NOT the one with Princess Leia. Chewbacca, Han, Luke, Darth Vader--none are in this movie. I'm not quite sure WHY Mr. Lucas opted for THIS movie to introduce 3D to the force, but I'm sure he has a plan. The man always has a plan.
For fellow Wichitans, I will explain that my husband and I have been stalking the Warren theater for several weeks now, trying to buy our midnight tickets. I personally stopped at least twice at the theater to try and purchase tickets, or coerce the high school student behind the desk into letting me know when they would be on sale. To our utter surprise and disappointment, as of the day before the midnight showing, no theaters in town were showing the movie at midnight. Therefore, as true followers, who obviously need a bit of ridiculousness in their lives, we traveled 3 hours to Kansas City to see the movie. I'll spare you my husband's mild explosion over the theater not giving out the Darth Maul 3D glasses at the midnight showing, since I'm sure that matter has been covered in countless OTHER blogs. Needless to say, we only had to stop the car once because of the meltdown.

I will confess, that before meeting my husband, and even a year into our relationship, I'm not quite sure I fully understood his love of Star Wars. I had seen star wars when it returned to theaters in high school. My husband informed me this weekend that he had been loving Star Wars longer than I have been alive. As we're currently in the middle of a "How I Met Your Mother" marathon, I don't think you can fully understand how important Star Wars is to some of these people until you attend a Star Wars convention--to my friends, known as one part of dork fest (Harry Potter World completes the festival), or until you watch the movie when you're at home sick. I confess that I have attended such a convention. If funds allow, I totally intend on returning in costume. I also confess that this week, while at home with an awful ear infection, I did in fact watch the original trilogy. And driving all the way to KC for the re-release of a movie in 3D was totally worth the sleep deprivation that I exhibited the next day at court.

I could spend an hour dissecting why the original trilogy is better than the prequels, or why Luke and Leia are not incestuous, or how it is that I have a three-panel painting in my living room depicting wookies in trees on their home planet of Kashyyk, but you'll never understand. And I think I'm alright with that.

My husband is right--every once in a while, you need a bit of ridiculousness. I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't tell him, but I think I'm starting to enjoy this stuff :]

Exit, pursued by a bear, Christy

Star Wars... Knotty Style

Dearest Readers:

I will confess, now that we are talking about knotty little secrets, that you will not find me being responsible for several things on this blog amongst which are:  tutorials, quilting, cooking, sewing, canning, crotcheting (although Jaime is trying to teach me), and/or technology (I'm still trying to figure out my Iphone). But this post will show off a couple of things that I can do and that I can do well.  I can knit (just can't show you how I did it because it just happens) and I can draw. 

Yes, folks, it may come as a big shock to you that my day job does not involve illustration but, I tell you truthfully, it does not.  Nope.  Nada.  But, here, on our humble little blog, I can really let my artistic talents shine.  So, join with me now as I take you on a little adventure called Star Wars... Knotty Style. 

Would you believe that, until about a month ago, I had not watched the Star Wars movies?!  Yes, I know - according to some of my friends, it is an outrage since it is my generation's version of Harry Potter or Twilight or so they say.  So, in honor of my friends Steve and Scott (fellow Knotty Krafter Christy's husband), I determined that I needed to watch ALL of the movies...  in about the span of one week.   I do think that my friends were a little worried when I asked "When does Spock show up?"  I was completely joking ... um... ya.. I was COMPLETELY joking. 

Because Mr. Lucas is rereleasing Star Wars:  Episode 1 in 3-D (read:  making an assload of money), I decided to dedicate this blog posting to my version of the main characters in Star Wars via my detailed illustrations...  Don't be jealous of my drawings - we all have our talents, you must simply find yours and not covet my natural, God given talent.  Without further ado, Star Wars... Knotty Style.

C-3PO:  "I am a pain in the butt who gets into trouble and constantly needs saving."

R2-D2:  "I am the brains of the operation.  I plug myself into crap and save the day.  Dee do.  Dee Do.  Beep. Beep."

Yoda:  "Make Sense...  I do not."

Luke Skywalker:  "I am into incest."

Princess Leia:  "What a coincidence - Me too!"

Chewbacca:  "Raar!  Seriously?  What in the hell is he saying?  Give a girl some subtitles."

Darth Vader:  His Match.com ad:  "I have a lightsaber that I enjoy.  Must be into heavy breathing!"

But, seriously, in honor of the movie series, the rerelease, and my dear friends (Steve and Scott), I decided to knit a Yoda hat and here is the result:

And, asked two of my faithful companions, Chloe and Rawley, to help by modeling it for you:

All in all, not a bad series.  I tip my hat to you George Lucas - you marketing genius!  And, I am strangely attracted to Darth Vader...  Weird? 

And that my friends is Star Wars... Knotty Style.  Have a great weekend!

- Jennifer

Felix and Oscar (Episode 1: Felix has some Knotty Little Secrets, too!!!)

We have all read about how I am possibly a hoarder (it's a disease, people!), thanks to Jennifer.  Jennifer is one of the most OCD organized people I know.  Her house is clean, her deadlines are met, and she never starts one project without finishing the next.  And that is why we all love her here at The Knotty Krafters!

Fellow Knotty Krafters Jennifer, Christy, and I  were all invited to a Superbowl Party on Sunday.  Part of the invite was to bring a snack to share and we would all stay afterwards to watch Chris Mann on The Voice.  I made my newly discovered Crack Dip (see previous post).  Christy made a delicious cherry concoction (I'm sure if you asked her nicely she would share the recipe with you).  Our hostess made a fabulous taco soup and pork tenderloin sandwiches.   If you notice, dear reader, the operative word in each of these sentences is made.  There was quite a spread!

Here is what Jennifer brought:

Here is Jennifer "making" her dish:

Here is Jennifer showing off her jugs tubs of frozen custard.  (Isn't she pretty?)

So, my friends, I just wanted to let you in on Jennifer's Knotty Little Secret.  She doesn't actually make things for parties.  She buys Freddy's Frozen Custard.  It's shameful really, but I thought you should know the truth.

Cheers-- Jaime

One Dip to Rule Them All

Last weekend, I was at a friend's birthday party and I must admit I spent most of the party right next to the BEST DIP EVER.  I saw this bowl of creamy goodness sitting on the counter calling my name with a large bag of Frito's Scoops sitting next to it.  After taking my first bite, I can only describe the dip as a *crack!  I sat transfixed.  So bright... so beautiful... ah, Precious. 

I started asking around the party to see who brought the dip and discovered a blond girl, whose name I still do not know.  I asked her how to make this wonderful concoction and she gave me all the details.

So, this weekend when it was time for me to decide what to make for the Superbowl Party, this dip popped into my mind (or to be more precise it has been in my dreams since last Saturday when it first touched my lips).  Remember, Blond Girl Whose Name I Don't Know-- imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. 

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:  

1 Package of Ranch Dip Mix

16 oz of Sour Cream 

1 1/2 cups of Shredded Cheese (I used Mexican Blend) 

Frito's Scoops

Directions:

Combine sour cream, ranch package, and cheese in a bowl.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Serve with chips.  

NOM NOM NOM NOM

Cheers!  Jaime

*I do not, dear reader, actually believe this dip to be made of crack cocaine.  I only use the term in jest to describe how addictive this dip can be.  We here at The Knotty Krafters do not condone the use of actual crack cocaine, or really any form of cocaine.  

VDAY 2012

Last night, I went to see fellow Knotty Krafter Christy in "A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer" as part of the V Day Movement. She was taking a stand against the violence facing women.  According the the UN, 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped in her lifetime.


Christy absolutely KILLED it in the monologue "Fur Is Back" by Eve Ensler.  She was the perfect combination of poignant and funny. Christy is my hero. [SSHHHH: don't tell anyone, but she totally stole the show.]

To take a stand with Christy to end violence against women, join VDAY's ONE BILLION RISING campaign.  Join ONE BILLION RISING, FEBRUARY 14, 2013-- a global day of action for women and men across the planet to gather and dance to end violence against women and girls.  You can sign up at vday.org/billion or text BILLION to 50555.


To find a VDAY event in your area click here.

Cheers, Jaime

We have a Mann Crush!

Last night several Knotty Krafters went over to to our friend Becky's house to watch her brother CHRIS MANN on THE VOICE.  He was absolutely amazing and will now be moving on to the next round on Team Xtina!  We officially heart opera.

Becky with her Chris Mann Poster

You can check out Chris here:
http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/video/chris-manns-because-we-believe/138312/

Cheers,  Jaime