sincerely yours, dena

I make a mess of myself when I cook. I usually have 2 dishtowels nearby to wipe my hands. That got me thinking, why not tie the dish towel around my waist as an apron. Pefecto, kitchen dish towel aprons was born. Clean up is the real benefit. When done cooking, pop the apron in the washer machine just like you would do with a normal dish towel.

You’ll Need:

• Kitchen dish towel (pick a size that will be a comfortable length)
• 1.5 yards ribbon (shorten or lengthen depending on waist size)

Here’s How

1. Wash and Iron the dish towels
2. Fold the ribbon width-wise and iron to set crease
3. Sew the ribbon lengthwise on to the apron making sure the apron end is snug with the crease
4. Sew the ends of the ribbon into triangles to avoid fraying

What do you get if you mix knitting patterns together using the following formula: one half pumpkin and one half tulip… an apple! Again referencing my, Itty Bitty Hat book, I knitted the rolled edge and the stitch pattern from the basic hat pattern. I used the decreasing stitch & leaf pattern from the pumpkin hat. Then I used the I-cord pattern from the tulip hat to create the stem. This little hat did turn out cute if I do say so myself.

Another baby hat from my Itty Bitty Baby book to join the ranks with the pumpkin hat and the classic version with a rolled edge. I needed a model for my latest creation, so I told Rubbles I would give him some pepperoni if he would sit still. The stem of this hat is made with the i-cord stitch. This “i” is short for idiot because this stich is idiot proof.

Here’s How:

1. Using a double-pointed needle, cast on 2,3 or 4 stitches depending how thick you want your cord. Knit these stitches using another double pointed needle and do not turn the work.
2. Slide the stiches to the other end of the double-pointed needle. The yarn will now come from the last stitch.
3. Bring the yarn around the back and knit the stitches. Do not turn.
4. Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the cord reaches the desired length. Bind off. Cut the yarn and pull it through the last stitch.

A few of my girlfriends and I decided to retire our binding party clothes Saturday night and turn in for chick flicks and singing 80’s ballads. I thought it would be fun to decorate our drink of choice for the evening with customized wine labels to celebrate the lack of men in the house. Customized wine labels are easy to make using Avery full sheet white labels.

As favors for the party I continued to play off the girls indulgence theme and made “ho made” facial & foot scrubs for everyone. I spent a lot of time trying to find a treatment that didn’t contain ingredients that required refrigeration. I finally found a recipe for facial fruit scrub & foot sugar scrub on thriftyfun.com.

“Ho Made Fruit Facial Scrub”
You’ll Need:
1 c Dried orange and lemon peel
1 c Oatmeal
1 c Blanched almonds

1. Remove the peels from 8 lemons and 8 oranges. A quick and easy way to do so is by 1.) Slice off both ends. 2.) Scar the peel using a knife. 3.) From the sliced end, pull back the peel. A quick way to dry the peels is using a food dehydrator. It should take approximately 2 hours.
   
2. Place peels, oats, and almonds in food processor and whirl until mixture is a fine powder.
   
3. Bottle the powder in a shaker (I used a pepper shaker) and adorn with personalized labels that let the user know what it is, what is in it and how to use it.
   To Use: Place as bit in the palm of your hand and moisten with a few drops of warm water. Rub paste onto face with a gentle circular and upward motions. Rinse with tepid water and pat dry.
   

“Ho Made Foot Sugar Scrub”
You’ll Need:
1 c Brown Sugar
3 tbsp Baby Oil
1 tbsp Olive Oil

1. In a bowl, combine brown sugar and oils.
2. Bottle the mixture in a glass or plastic bottle that can reseal tight.
3. Adorn with personalized labels that let the user know what it is, what is in it and how to use it.