Welcome back me!

Hey Everyone. Life has been insane! It's been good and bad, and everything in between. Since I've been gone I've gotten a few more followers (thank you!) and doubled the amount of views. I remember one of my lasts posts was talking about how I hit 1000 views and a week or so ago I hit 2000. It took 6 months to get to 1000 and only another month to get to another 1000. It amazes me still that anyone actually looks at my little slice! I know it's Sunday, which usually means Vlog day, but my camera is dead and I just wanted to get something up for ya'll!  My birthday week vacation turned into a month of no blogging and while it was nice not to have to plan things and worry about making sure that I took enough pictures, I totally missed it and couldn't wait to pick up were I left off. So much has been going on that painting my nails and wearing makeup hasn't been the first priority. 

     My Birthday was awesome. I love going back to Sacramento to visit and I have a great time. Turning 27 wasn't anything crazy, but we did alot of fun stuff including, I bought my first Luchador mask! I'm pretty scary now, so don't mess with me!!

    I've been doing a lot stuff for Oh SweetHenry. I've been a cutting, beading, gluing machine! We now have the Etsy store as well as we are selling in a couple shops locally. I've been working hard on creating a brand for Oh SweetHenry. I want there to be a cohesive look when you buy something from us that it's packaged properly and has a signature style. 

 A couple of weeks ago the pipes in our house backed up due to tree roots in the pipe. We had to dig up the driveway and replace the pipes. It was a week long process that wasn't pretty. Thanks to our great friends who lent us their restrooms and laundry facilities! We also had some amazing friends helping us dig and repair, that was a huge help. 

     I enrolled in school to start classes in the fall. The community college were I live offers a program called :Baking for entrapanurs , which is exactly what I need! Perfect!

     I'm helping a friend out who is in hair school. I'm going to be a hair model for her first fashion show! I'm excited and a little nervous. I don't want to fall on my face!

 Tiny Mr. Cameron came home last week. (If you missed that post, my closed friend in Sonora had a baby 2 months early). He is doing great and is up to 4 pounds now! Last week was the baby shower, so a few of us went to set up early and make sure everything ran smoothly. Cameron came home Monday Jim and I have been over there a couple times this week. We made them dinner one night and Emily called the other day and asked if I would come over so she could take a shower! Her husband is out of town for a couple days (always perfect timing!) so I'm on call right now! 

     The huge news that I waited to tell you guys is that I have been hired by the Girl Scouts to work at a summer camp this summer. I'm going to be a lead councilor (supervisor) of arts and crafts. When I got the job offer I was amazed that I get to play with kids, craft and I GET PAID for it!!!!! I'm going to write a whole post about camp stuff so I won't go on much further about it now. 

P.S. These are pictures from my instagram, which you can follow me using the name Elocininabox

I just wanted to update everyone on what's been going on with me and why I've been M.I.A.  I'm excited to be back and I have lots planned! Thanks for sticking around and being patient. I luv you all!

DIY Peter Pan Collar

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

I love the idea of being able to put a collar on anything you want, so I thought I would join the masses and make myself a Peter Pan collar. Here is my take on this super cute and dainty fashion trend.

SUPPLIES

• NEWSPAPER (OR PLAIN PAPER)
• SCISSORS
• SCRAP FABRIC (OR A FAT QUARTER WILL DO)
• INTERFACING
• SEWING SUPPLIES/MACHINE (OR NEEDLE AND THREAD)
• HOOK AND EYE
• OPTIONAL: IRON

To get started take your newspaper and fold in half. Draw a template for your Peter Pan collar on the fold so that it will be symmetrical. I've seen a couple of different styles of the collar, so I leave the design up to you but you could also print out my photo and enlarge and use the one I have made :) To make it a bit easier on you here are a few pieces of advice... I took my neck measurement and divided by 2 and x pi. Just like making a circle skirt. Then for the outside, I free handed the shape I wanted and I had to try a couple times before I got the shape I wanted. also once you have your pattern make sure you try it on and then cut what you don't need in the back off.

Next take your fabric and pin your pattern. When you cut out make sure to leave plenty of seam allowance. You will need two pieces (a front and a back).

After that you will need to cut out two pieces of interfacing (one for each side). Use the fabric as your guide to cut out the interfacing because you will need the seam allowance. I got fusible interfacing and it added another step for me, but I find it easier to work with. If you are using the fusible kind you will iron it down to the wrong sides of each piece. P.S you iron shiny side down. 

Once you have all your pieces it's time to assemble (News Teams Assemble!), sorry that was a lame Anchor man reference. You want good sides together, so it should interfacing, fabric, fabric, interfacing. Pin your fabric sandwich together. As a guide I traced the original pattern onto one side so I could use it as a reference. It actually helped a lot. 

Next grab your sewing machine or needle and thread and sew around your lines, making sure to leave both ends open and and one end a two inch slit so you can turn it right side out.  I started sewing at the scallop point and I triple stitched right there to ensure that it would make a crisp point. 

Once you have sewn completely around (except the ends and the slit) it's time to turn this bad right side out. I did not leave a two inch gap and let me tell you this was a pain in the ass! This was single handily the most time consuming part of the whole project! Put on some good music and start pulling. 

Once you have it all turned, you may need to iron it flat, mine was pretty wrinkly from all the torture! It's time to attache the hook and eye. Now this is were you can get creative, if you don't want to use a hook and eye you can use ribbon or even a necklace chain. It's all up to you. I didn't have a hook and eye but I had pants closure so I used that. Attach your choice of fastener and your done! I like a dumb ass forget to take a photo of the finished product, but I will be in an upcoming outfit post. 

If you make your own Peter Pan collar I would love to see it. If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line! Have a great Wednesday y'all and don't forget to subscribe!

Donut you need a pin cushion!

I've been re-organizing my crafting stuff and realized that I don't have a pin cushion and am in much need of one. I found this cute idea online and decided to share with you...
 

Ingredients:

• 2 pieces of felt (one color for donut, one color for icing)
• 1 pair scissors
• thread in the same colors as your chosen felt
• lots of stuffing
• 1 sewing needle
• 1 beading needle
• seed beads

 I chose to use a yellow-ish/ beige-y color felt (that photographs super orange) for my donut part. I used a dvd as a guide for the size I wanted. I traced the dvd and cut out about a half inch outside the pattern for seam allowance. For the middle of the donut hole I traced my spool of thread and left a seam allowance for that as well when I cut out the hole.

Put good side to good side and sew around the dotted line. Once you have sewed the circumference  of your donut, flip it right side out.

Stuff your donut extra full and then sew the middle shut. I just whip stitched the middle because I decided that I was going to "ice" the middle of the donut. (I sewed the middle and didn't like the way it looked so I decided to cover the middle with the icing color) 

Use the same dvd pattern for your icing. I decided to use a purple color felt for the icing. Cut out in a squiggly/haphazard way.  Before you attach the "icing" sew your seed beads on.  Then whip stitch the icing onto your donut!  Then ENJOY!!!!

Pin away!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!

Have fun and be safe. :)

Champagne Cupcakes

These turned out so good. I loved the strong champagne flavor accompanied by the sweetness of the frosting, it made a really good combo. 

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 large egg whites (3/4 cup)
• 3/4 cup Champagne
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup champagne

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 to 5 drops red food color 

Makes 18-ish cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Bake for 20-25 minutes until a tooth pick pulls out clean.

Enjoy champagne while you wait!!!

Let cool on rack completely, then ice. I chose to adorn with some white candies that reminded me of bubbles. ENJOY!!!!

Happy Friday everyone! Have a good weekend and I will see you on Sunday. 

Don't forget to subscribe. :)

Houston, we have landing.... Etsy store is up and going strong!

My poor chubby fingers have been hard at work, typing, photographing and blogging about THE NEW ETSY STORE!!!!!! It's finally up and running and we have a decent amount of stuff. This partnership  with lovely Mrs. L is going swell. She picks up where I lack (grammar big time) and comes up with witty descriptions when I have a brain fart. I'm still off work, which gives me ample time to craft, especially when I don't feel good and imprisoned to the couch. At this moment though, I'm super happy with how this has all turned out. Our little shop is getting ample amounts of views without any marketing too. Once we sell a couple things we will start thinking about marketing and adds and google words and all that fun stuff. Other then that not to update on, and my brain is a little fried right now so I will leave you with some Outfit of the day photos and will try to chronicle my baking adventures tomorrow.Oh here is the link to the Etsy store.

Oh SweetHenry Shop

OOTD-

Dress and boots- New Look

Sweater- Ross

Leggings- Target

Fascinator- Etsy shop!

OOTD with a side of Cheesecake!

Cheesecake bars are the bastard child of lemon bars and cheesecake. They are possible the most delicious thing I have ever put in my mouth.  An added bonus is that they are pretty easy to make as long as you have a mixer. The first time I make them I did not have one and creaming cream cheese is not easy with an old vintage crank hand mixer. So I made a wise investment and broke down and bought a new electric hand mixer. It makes things so much easier. Ok so on with the tutorial....

you will need...

5 Tbsp butter, softened

1/3 c brown sugar

1c flour

1/2 c sugar

1 (8ounce) packet cream cheese

1 egg

2Tbsp milk

1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 Tsp vanilla

1. Heat oven to 350

 2. Blend the butter, brown sugar and flour in a bowl. mix until it is the consistency of course sand. Set aside 1c of this mixture for the top of your bars. 

3. In a 8 x 8 inch pan, spray non-stick spray or coat with butter. Press the remaining crumb mixture into the coated pan.

4. Bake for 15 minutes.

5. While crust is baking combine the sugar and cream cheese into a bowl. Mix until cream cheese is smooth again. 

6. add the egg,lemon juice, vanilla, and milk into the cream cheese mixture and blend until all ingredients are combined.

7. pour cream cheese mixture over your baked crust and top with the remaining crumble. 

8. Bake for another 50-55 minutes until, toothpick come out clean from the center of bars.

 9. Let stand for an hour to set up all the way, then enjoy with friends and family or indulge by yourself! 

On a side note, Jim managed to score a vintage kitchen aid mixer and has been restoring it for me for Christmas. I'm so super stoked and my baking aspirations have been boosted to the next level!  We have been re-arranging our house and making it more "grown up", honestly it feel so good to have a house that is ours and not some place we live. 

On a side side note , I took a couple pictures of what I wore the other day to run errands. I love this skirt and try to wear it as often as possible without people thinking "didn't she just wear that?"

This ring is from New Look , I always get a million compliments  on it when I wear it.

OOTD-

Sweater and leggings- Target

T-shirt- Wal-mart

Lips Skirt- Forever 21

Flats- Payless

Bow- DIY, soon to be on my Etsy store!

 

Have a great day everyone and Etsy updates should be comin' up real quick!

MIxing Business and Pleasure! --OOTD--

     Ok, so I love a good craft. I mean what's not to love, turning boring ol' things into fun pieces of art to display/wear?! Well I've been making felt flowers for years. When I got married, all of the bridesmaids bouquets were made out of felt flowers and buttons (4 bouquets). After the wedding I went on felt strike and wanted nothing to to with felt or flowers or even crafting for that matter. Within the past couple of months I have started doing more and more projects and now with all this extra time on my hands (the doctors have me off work until Jan. 15th) I having been crafting my little heart out. I've been making felt bobbles, adorned with hand sewn beads. I'm loving the whole process of making them and beading all of the colorful felt accessories. I've been making hair doo-hickeys and rings, but plan on branching out and making all kinds of things once I can figure out what customers will like. An amazing friend and I are starting an etsy store. (I know, everyone and their mom has an etsy store, but this is my chance to make my little slice of the Internet that much fuller and well rounded... like me!) When we have the site fully set up I will make sure to share the link with everyone. 

     I went back to the doctor on Wednesday. It was as usual a guessing game. This time though the doctor seemed pretty certain that we are on the right path. Apparently the bone in my ear is grown into my ear drum and my inner ear is no longer vibrating. This could be something I was born with or some sort of trauma caused. If it was caused by trauma that could be what is causing my headaches and dizziness. The specialist (ear, nose and throat specialist) will be able to determine this and then tell me were to go. The boy and I have been researching this and it's called surfer's ear, and the treatment is surgery were they cut off your ear and chisel the bone away and then re-attach the ear. I'm hoping that it's an easy fix and  not surgery, but in all honesty I just want to know what's going on and for life to go back to normal-ish. 

     Other then my ongoing broken-ness and crafting, I've been baking alot. Miss kaelah beauregarde at little chief honeybee. has an awesome recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie! Also I found an awesome recipe for Cheese Cake Squares, it's like a mixture between lemon bars and cheese cake. I will be doing a tutorial on those tomorrow! They are so good and pretty easy. I will say the hardest part is mixing the cream cheese because my mixer broke (hint hint x-mas!), so I have an old school mixer that you hand crank, not electric at all. I'm getting pretty buff from this baking stuff though!

Navy flower with beads and vintage button

unedited- purple felt flower with opal beads and pink vintage button

OOTD-

Dress- Kohl's

Sweater and leggings- Target 

Boots- New Look

OUTTAKE!!!!!

     Ok Jim is getting restless and wants dinner so I'm off to make homemade mac'n'cheese and meatloaf burgers. Hope everyone had a good thanksgiving. Till tomorrow, fancy shmansy... tootels!