Altered Couture Magazine Fall 2011

It happened again - The Cottage Mama was published in the Fall 2011 Issue of Altered Couture Magazine!  I'm so thrilled to be part of this wonderful publication for the second time and I have to admit, I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing my work in print.  This issue of the magazine is full of all sorts of tutorials and inspiration for altering your fall wardrobe. Oh, how I love fall!

In the fall issue I have three pieces that are featured........

The first two pieces are combined into one article and they are my Shawl Collar Sweater and T-Shirt Shrug.  Both of these are easy fall pieces that can be made for next to nothing and both in under an hour.

The third featured piece is a felted wool coat I made last year for my oldest daughter, Savannah Rose.  The coat is made from several different felted wool sweaters as well as some felted wool yardage.  My favorite things about this piece are the leaves and the little mushroom button.  The coat will be too small for Savannah this year, but should be just right for Miss Matilda.

The fall issue of Altered Couture is on newsstands now, so if you love upcycled, recycled and repurposed fashions, I highly recommend you pick up the latest copy.  This is a quarterly publication so it should be available for the next three months.  Again, I'm so happy to be part of the Altered Couture family and I'm looking forward to sharing my winter piece with you in the next issue.

To view step-by-step tutorials for some of these pieces, visit my TUTORIALS tab for more information.

Summer Salads

Among my favorite things to eat during the hot summer months are yummy cold salads. Last Sunday, we spent the afternoon making several cold salads to eat during the week. 

Here is one of the salads we made, which is a favorite. Its ingredients are simple: whole wheat pasta, chopped spinach, feta and kalamata olives. 

So fresh, so tasty...we eat it as a side salad but it can also be served as a light main course. 

Recipe: 

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 

1 tablespoon balsamic vinaigrette

2 garlic cloves, pressed

7 cups whole wheat spiral pasta (cooled)

3 cups chopped spinach

1/2 cup pitted and chopped kalamata olives

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 

 Combine cooked pasta (cooled), spinach, olives and feta. 

Toss with the dressing, which combines the olive oil, balsamic and garlic. 

Crepe Paper Flowers

The crepe paper flowers that I made for Matilda's "Tea for 2" party were really simple to make and incredibly inexpensive.  I bought three rolls of different colored crepe paper and was able to make about 10 different flowers and a ton of ruffled streamers (and I still had some left over).  At $1.00 per roll, I would definitely say this was budget decorating.

Here's how to make your own crepe paper flowers........

Supplies:
3 rolls crepe paper (different colors)
Tape
Sewing machine

Directions: 

Grab your three rolls of crepe paper.   I chose two different shades of pink and yellow.  I purchased these at Walmart for $1.00 per roll and they coordinated with the napkins and plates as well.

Place your three different colored crepe papers on top of one another.

Set your sewing machine to the longest stitch length (mine is 5.0) and run a straight, gathering stitch along one of the edges of your crepe paper.  Do not back-stitch at the beginning or the end of your stitching or you will not be able to gather your crepe paper.

The length of crepe paper you cut is really up to you.  The longer the crepe paper length, the larger your flowers will be.  I used many different lengths for a variety of sizes, but you could do them all uniformly as well.  You might test one out first to see how long you want your crepe paper.

Pull one of the threads and begin to gather your crepe paper.  This will take a little effort, but keep pulling and sliding the gathers until you have successfully gathered the entire length of your crepe paper.

Here is what your crepe paper will look like after gathering.  You can see that it already starts to form the shape of a flower.

Work your crepe paper around in a circle and tape the back with clear tape to secure in place.

Above is your crepe paper flower before you fluff it out.  To fluff it, just seperate each layer of crepe paper from the other until you've achieved your desired look.

And when you have successfully fluffed your flower, you will have a gorgeous, full-looking crepe paper flower to use for your next party.  Try making these in a variety of colors and sizes to coordinate with any party theme.  These would also be really great for a baby or bridal shower as well!

Link Party No.64 / Thou Shalt Not Stay Up Too Late

Don't forget about the giveaway on my Sponsors' page by Lily Bird Studio.

Most of the times, the only time I can work on things (sewing and such) are at night after the kids are in bed. I try to do things during the day, but there is always something that needs my attention and I end up getting frustrated, so it's not worth it to even try.

Tonight, I came home from a church function around 8:50, tucked the kids in bed, straightened up the downstairs then I finally started working on my project. I was trying to design a quilt, and I was thinking about what to do and how many pieces to cut...

Then, this thought kept coming to me... I NEED CHOCOLATE... and the thought did not go away.

I scavenged through my pantry and decided to make chocolate muffins, but it didn't end there. When they came out of the oven, I heard another really seductive voice inside of my head..."Wouldn't it be taste better with freshly whipped cream and some drizzled chocolate and sliced strawberries?..."

So, I ended up with this in the end.


It was good, but what's bad is that I had two of them. Ahhhh...!
I must confess, because I stay up late all the time to work on things, I eat fourth meal at night. I know if I stop doing that I would probably lose the last 10 lbs. of my pregnancy weight (which I’ve carried around for so many years).

But, it was so yummy...

Ok, what have you been working on? Please share with everybody!

1. Please post something YOU made. It doesn't matter if it is crochet, quilt, clothing, anything would be fine. I want to see it! If you use someone's idea or patterns please give them the rightful credit.

2. Link to your specific post, that way it is easier for everybody to find and read it.

3. Please grab the "Tea Rose Home" grab button, and link back from your post. If you can mention the party in your post or place the button on your side bar, that would be great! I want more people to have a chance to come and show off their creation.


<center><a href="http://tearosehome.blogspot.com"><img border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462799092490427250" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 160px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqD2Vd0YEWWfW_JevA07K4_OWomfU7lSFZXBHspcGVRoVaexEOVPpQJj3QRfeDrXxLrc0VSBLINUdXmJx0aEnpBkhJBFyWX5aulRpCbQdmpicAtJkh2qCOcowwuHAunCyw2SpvLlb4ZI/s200/GrabButtonLinkParty.jpg" /></a></center>

THE LAST GREAT WILDERNESS

A sea whip found deep on the slope of the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: Aquapix and Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007.

The next chapter in our thinking about the oceans is analyzed in a new paper in PLoS ONE.

The deep sea—largest of Earth's ecosystems and its last great wilderness—has been spared much of what's befallen the rest of the ocean in the last century, thanks to its remoteness. But not any more.

Technology is rapidly undressing this veiled realm, allowing us to exploit its fisheries, hydrocarbons, and minerals at depths below 2,000 meters/6,562 feet. The authors write:

[T]he challenges facing the deep sea are large and accelerating, providing a new imperative for the science community, industry and national and international organizations to work together to develop successful exploitation management and conservation of the deep-sea ecosystem.

Anemone attached to a carbonate boulder at 1,500 meters/4,921 feet depth in the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: Aquapix and Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007, NOAA-OE.

 
The paper represents the combined thinking of 11 researchers from around the world—Spain, UK, Norway, New Zealand, Mexico, US, and France—including some of the biggest names in deep-sea research. Coauthor Lisa Levin, recently made the Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, was featured in my biodiversity article in MoJo, Gone.

Based on their own extensive experience, combined with published scientific papers, the authors provide a semi-quantitative analysis of the scale of of human activities past, present, and future.

Synergies among anthropogenic impacts on deep-sea habitats. The lines link impacts that, when found together, have a synergistic effect on habitats or faunal communities. The lines are color coded showing the direction of the synergy. LLRW=low-level radioactive waste; CFCs=chlorofluorocarbons; PAHs= polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Credit: Ramirez-Llodra E, et al. PLoS ONE. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0022588

 
They assessed 28 major anthropogenic impacts (above), grouped into 3 main categories—disposal, exploitation, and climate change. They then examined those effects on 12 deep-sea habitats (below). I've added links to explanations of the terms:

• Mid-ocean ridges, characterized by benthic sessile fauna and localised demersal and pelagic communities.
• Sedimentary slope (excluding other specific communities found on slopes such as cold-water corals, seeps, oxygen minimum zones), characterized by demersal fauna as well as epifaunal and infaunal benthos
• Canyons, with a high degree of habitat heterogeneity and diverse fauna varying with substratum: sessile benthos and demersal fauna characterize hard bottoms, while mobile epifauna, infauna and demersal fauna abound in association with soft sediments.
• Seamounts, characterized by sessile benthos and abundant localised pelagic communities.
• Cold-water coral habitats, including the frame building corals and associated species.
• Active hydrothermal vents, characterized by benthic fauna with a high degree of endemicity.
• Cold seeps, characterized by benthic fauna with a relatively high degree of endemicity
• Oxygen minimum zones abutting margins, characterized by specialized benthic fauna.
• Abyssal plains, characterized by mobile epifauna and infauna.
• Manganese-nodule provinces, specific habitat on abyssal plains, characterized by sessile and mobile epifauna and infauna.
• Trenches, characterized by demersal megafauna and infauna.
• Bathypelagic water column, characterized by mid-water species.

Deepwater Horizon oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010. (Top) photo of the oil being discharged in the water column; (Bottom) a coral in the deep Gulf of Mexico, with attached ophiuroid, covered with oil. Credit: Lophelia II 2010, NOAA OER and BOEMRE.

 
They conclude that a sea-change is underway:

Based on the current knowledge available in the scientific community and expert estimates, we suggest that the overall anthropogenic impact in the deep sea is increasing, and has evolved from mainly disposal and dumping in the late 20th century, to exploitation in the early 21st century...

During the remainder of the current century, we predict that the major impact in the deep sea will be climate change, affecting the oceans globally through direct effects on the habitat and fauna as well as through synergies with other human activities.

Unexploded ordinance on the seafloor in the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007, NOAA-OE.

  
The deep-sea habitats most affected at present are:

1. Sediment slopes, mainly affected by fishing—trawling, longlining, and ghost fishing caused by lost or discarded gear
2. Cold-water corals, which are especially vulnerable to damage from fishing gear that can destroy whole communities
3. Canyons, mainly affected by fishing 
4. Oxygen-minimum zones, most threatened by by climate change and significant increases in hypoxia. 

Macro image of tiny octocorals at 1,500meters/4,921 feet in the Gulf of Mexico depth. Credit: Courtesy of Aquapix and Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007, NOAA-OE.

The paper provides a valuable summary of protected deep-sea habits worldwide. And it describes the biggest hurdle in the life-cycle of any protected ocean area—the ability of slow-funded science to keep up with the big money of industry and development. Add bureaucratic foot-dragging into the mix and the race to protect the real value of the deep becomes even more lopsided.
 
They authors close with a call to arms, suggesting that human encroachment into the deep sea creates a new conservation imperative... and that effective stewardship will require continued exploration, basic scientific research, monitoring, and conservation measures—all at the same time.

Conservation in the deep sea offers challenges in the form of knowledge gaps, climate change uncertainties, shifting jurisdictions and significant enforcement difficulties. With time, technological advances can help address these challenges. It remains to be seen whether new approaches must be developed to conserve the biodiversity and ecosystem services we value in the deepest half of the planet.

Credit: wrobell at Wikimedia Commons.

 
The paper:

• ♥ Ramirez-Llodra E, Tyler PA, Baker MC, Bergstad OA, Clark MR, et al. (2011) Man and the Last Great Wilderness: Human Impact on the Deep Sea. PLoS ONE 6(8): e22588. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022588

♥ Open-access papers.

East End Profile: Before and After

BEFORE

This is what the east side of the house looked like when we moved in. As you can see, several quirky additions had been made to the original footprint of the 1923 farmhouse. 

AFTER 

We tore down the small appendage with the bay window and built a larger dining room in its place. Also, we tore down the 70's style front porch addition and added the wraparound porch. 

Two new dining room windows offer a nice exterior detail. 

I planted a hedge of Little Lamb hydrangea underneath these windows. They are a sun tolerant variety but I found (when they were planted in the front bed last summer) that they really do much better with some shade.  

The Little Lamb hydrangea look very similar to a new variety of hydrangea that I planted in front of the dining room. The new variety is called 'Bombshell' and is also sun tolerant. 

The berry garden is thriving! Though, so much so that the deer have come around to do some pre-harvest sampling... 

 Here's a glimpse of what will soon be a very delicious summer treat, blueberries... 

... and blackberries. 

HAPPY AUGUST!

{ Nesting } - Organization Overload

It's less than two months now until little man's scheduled arrival.  And when I say scheduled, I mean really scheduled since, unless I go into labor early, I have a c-section date already on the calendar (due to my previous c-section with Miss M.).  Anyway, I have since realized that there are 5000 things I want to get done before this little angels arrival and SO little time to get it all done.

Recently I went slightly crazy organizing the house.  I think my good friend, Lara, thought I had lost my mind when I was showing her all the insides of my cabinets.  Do any of you get crazy-organized before a baby arrives?  I have done this each and every time during all three pregnancies now.  I think it's my last ditch effort to have total control over my life until chaos ensues with life and a newborn.

I love feeling organized and I am feeling pretty good about the state of our house right now.  Here are just a few things I've been up to with my home organization.........

The Kitchen

Kitchen Cabinets:  I only did a little organizing in the kitchen cabinets, but I love having things placed in containers.  I think it makes the cabinets so much more pleasing to the eye.  I also think you can store so much more when you get rid of the bulky boxes.

Kitchen Drawers:  Ok, you might find this crazy, but I measured all of my cabinets, shelves, drawers, ect., before I went shopping for any containers.  I wanted to make sure I got the perfect fit and didn't over-buy or under-buy.  I headed to the dollar store (Dollar Tree) in my area for all these different drawer containers.  I find they have a great selection of organizing supplies, some even come in sets of three, and for $1.00, you can't beat it!

Corner Kitchen Cabinet:  This cabinet has always been a little awkward.  It's really deep and in the corner of our kitchen.  Things have tended to get lost towards the back.  I found these two shelves in my in-laws basement that they were using and I think they make the cabinet feel so much larger.  I've always loved having our cereal in these plastic containers.  It makes it easy to see how much is left and keeps it fresh longer.

Spices: I keep the majority of my spices in the double-tiered, lazy-susan pictured in one of the earlier cabinet photos.  But for the spices I reach for frequently, I keep them stored in this rack that is attached to our kitchen walls.  We found this one at IKEA several years ago and it has been great!

I keep all my cooking utensils in this tall white container (to the left) and our oven mitts in one of my favorite white woven stone bowls.  I always have a cookbook out and we keep our olive oil and white balsamic vinegar on the counter as well.

Kitchen Hutch:  This is one of my favorite additions to our kitchen - the hutch.  I bought this about four years ago from the JC Penny catalog.  It was not a very expensive piece, but it has provided us with so much additional storage that it was well-worth whatever the price was back then!

We keep our pasta stored in plastic and glass containers on the main shelf.  Baby bibs are concealed in that brown box and the little silver platter on top is a great catch-all for hair ties and little things that just end up out of place.  Our dinner plates are kept here and are easy to access.  I added a hook to the side of the hutch to hang all of our aprons (the girls each have one and I have one as well).

I keep some things we use less frequently in the bottom cabinet of the hutch.  I've got our salad serving bowls, decorative plate chargers, ramekins, creme brulee dishes, individual casserole dishes as well as some cocktail napkins and paper plates.

The Downstairs Bathroom

Downstairs Medicine Cabinet:  I kind of feel like we are getting personal here, showing you the inside of our medicine cabinet, but we're all friends, right?  Again, I got these sets of three little baskets from the dollar store as well as the one long basket.  Total cost of organization - $3.00 - totally worth it!

The Family Room

Media Storage:  I've stored all of our movies under our entertainment center.  I know it's hard to believe, but yes we still have a VHS player, therefore, we still have VHS movies.  Don't worry, we're not totally in the stone-age......we have DVD and all that other stuff too.  But if you are in the market for movies, I'm telling you, they are practically giving away VHS tapes at your local thrift stores.

I purchased these plastic bins at Wal-Mart and they fit the VHS movies perfectly.  We already had the photo storage boxes which work great for DVD, video games and VHS.  The one wicker-basket are pretty much all my husband's movies and the rest are all kiddo movies.

Someday when I'm being really organized, I'll use our DVD burner and burn all the VHS onto DVD, but who knows when that day will come.

Side-Board Storage: This is where my OCD measuring came in handy before I went shopping.  I found these three baskets at TJ Maxx and if I wouldn't have measured, I probably would have only bought two because they looked so big in the store.  But I pulled out my handy "Notepad Holder" and saw that three would fit exactly in our side-board.  We keep diapers and wipes in one basket and right now the other two are pretty open.  It's always good to have additional storage for the future so we're not constantly having to try to figure out where to put things.

Dining Room

Corner Hutch: I love this little corner built-in, in our dining room.  It's very reminiscent of the 1930's-1940's (which was when our house was built) and is original to the house.  I keep all our non-everyday glassware in here arranged by type.  I also keep some special occasion dishes on the bottom shelf as well.  It the bottom cabinet, I've stored our margarita glasses as well as some other special occasion tableware.

So that's what I've been up to lately........nesting, BIG time!  I'm trying to take full advantage of this amazing energy burst because I know it will soon be disappearing and I will be heading into the "I'm done being pregnant mode" during my final month.  I'll soon be showing your our "Nautical" themed nursery. It's not quite finished yet, but it's coming along.

What kind of crazy nesting activity have you all gone through?  Anyone else go organizationally crazy?