Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Waste not, want not - selvage projects

I am always at a loss for what to do with the selvages from my projects. Scraps in general, really. I hate to throw away any scraps, convinced I will figure out something great to do with them. Unfortunately that means I have a growing pile of pieces that I have no idea what to do with. Sadly, I have neither the patience or time right now to figure something out. So, the pile keeps growing.

With that in mind, I have seen some great pieces on Etsy made with selvages. Here are a few of my favorites -

SELVAGE STAR Mini Quilt Made to Order Wonderful Gift for the Fabric Lover Made with Fabric Selvages Recycled trash to treasure
SELVAGE STAR Mini Quilt Made to Order by CAROLINASQUIRRELL on Etsy



Notebook with Selvedge fabric slip cover



































Notebook with Selvedge fabric slip cover by Mary Emmens on Etsy




LARGE Upcycled Selvage Bath Mat Rug
LARGE Upcycled Selvage Bath Mat Rug by The Quilting Violinist on Etsy

Hope this is some inspiration for you!

Happy Sewing,
Amy

The Best Oatmeal Cookies...ever!


I have never been a huge fan of oatmeal cookies. I prefer chocolate chip or snickerdoodle (YUM!!). But, one day my kids where asking for cookies. I had oatmeal in the cupboard, and figured  oatmeal cookies couldn't be that bad of a treat, afterall, they do have oatmeal right?

I  ended up using the recipe on the box of oatmeal.  But it needed something else. I tried to think of something that might actually make them yummy. I had raisins - added those. I even had dried cranberries, and added those too. But, it need something else. Ground ginger? Why not? I added that. And that it seems, turned plain old, bland, oatmeal cookies to something fabulous!!

So here is the recipe, straight from the Quaker Oatmeal box with a little added something...

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies:

1/2 C (1 stick) plus 6 Tbsp butter, softened
3/4 C firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 C granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
3 C Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 C raisins

Now, here is what I added:
•Instead of 1 C raisins, I did 1/2 C raisins + 1/2 C dried cranberries.
•I added the cinnamon, but also added 1/2 tsp ground ginger.

1. Heat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy.
2. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well
3. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt; mix well.
4. Add oats, raisins, and other dried fruit; mix well.
5. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfulls (I use a cookie scoop) onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Bar Cookies: Bake 30-35 minutes in ungreased 13 x 9 inch metal baking pan.