Gap Dress Re-vamp

Got a great deal on a dress at the GAP.

I'm not a strapless kind of girl. Maybe I could just wear a shirt under it like January Jones.

MMMM...what could I do?

 

I opted for the skirt. Adding straps to make a jumper was problematic.

Here's how. Cut off the top edge to an even width.

 The waist band needs to fit to your body. 

 Rip out former dart lines, and pin in place.

Sew darts above the pockets, and on each side of the zipper.

 Time to try it on and see if it fits.

It was a little tight, so I ripped out 2 darts in the front.

I had marked the previous seam with tape (more accurate than pins, which fall out).

 I hand sewed the dart and tried it on again. Bingo!

Time to sew the dart and rip out the hand sewing.

 Tack the lining and the waist together.

Time for a break.

 Fold top edge under (width of one of the squares) and iron. 

Fold raw edge under 1/4 inch. Zig zag for a clean finish (do it now, not later like I did).

 Place on ironing board. Pull up lining as flat as you can get it. 

Cut lining flush with top of folded waistband.

Tuck lining up under folded waistband and pin in place.

I decided to secure the folded edge with a zigzag, so I had the unpin, sew zig zag and re-pin.

Add a few tucks to the lining so it will lie flat. No need to sew fancy darts. It won't show.

Hand sew using a hem stitch to secure lining.  

I didn't want any machine stitches to show on the front.

Since the zipper was too long, I folded it over and hand sewed it down.

 Voila! New high waisted skirt!

Mystery Gadget

I found this in my kitchen drawer. I must have picked it up at a thrift store or flea market. I never knew what it was. There was a clue on the handle but I couldn't read it:

Then one day I was thumbing through an old Cook's Illustrated magazine, and there is was!

It's a food grater. 

I finally cleaned it up and gave it a try.

 It took a little muscle to use, and most of the cheese sticks to the grater. I'd don't agree with Esther's comment below.

If I you need very thin, shaggy cheese shards for your creation, this is the grater for you.

It's available online at the Vermont Country Store.  Here's some reviews from their site: 

“My mother did use this type of grater. I had it until about 10 years ago, when the grater fell apart (after many years of use). I have been looking high and low to find it again. Every time I walk into one of the big "housewares" stores I check to see if they have it, but they never do. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it in your catalog!! Thanks!” — Deborah Jacobson, Gurnee, IL

“This is a the only grater I use. It's obviously for fine grating, but so much easier for bread and soft cheeses like mozzarella. Also flat, so easy to store.” — Cynthia Mason, Long Island, NY

“My Mom passed away in 1993. Naturally, as her only child, I inherited her prized "rehbahzen" (safety grater). It was absolutely ESSENTIAL to her potato kugel, latkes, etc., not to mention a variety of other fruits, vegetables, cheeses and other items. Since my mom had inherited the grater from my Bubbie when she died in the early 70's, it began to show signs of wear shortly after I happily received it. I've been looking for one since then. YOU GUYS MADE MY DAY!!!!!!!!!! and that of my kugel/latke loving family.” — Lynne Novack-Doig, Trenton, NJ

“Reading the other reviews, I now know why my mom liked this grater SO much—no sharp edges, no danger of cut skin at all! And—it's NOT electric (save money on electric bills!). Also, it grates BETTER, FASTER, and CLEANER than other graters, I guess because of the HUGE grating surface, and the large spaces between the "grating strips." I suspect that these large grating areas allow for even "hard-to-grate" vegetables (like celery) to be grated—I don't know if it can, but I'm sure if ANY grater can do it, THIS one will! I know it does a great job on carrots, potatoes, cheese....even grating liver for chopped liver! It's truly "the greater grater"...for my mom's time, for my time....for ALL time!” — Esther Nash, Denver, CO

Tater Tale

my brother gave me a bag of potatoes

grown in northern minnesota

1.75 pounds

so I baked it, cooled it and cut it up the next day

fed family of four

Let's Party Like It's 1785

It was a very pink year. Not the pink you think of, but a salmon-y pink. Pantone had a dirty salmon in its color preditions for 2010, but nothing bright like this.

I saw it in fabrics and in fashion, old and new.

In meat and in messages.

Near the King's palace.

In "just the right size" presents.

Or on just the label.

Fresh tulips from mom.

Even the compost pile can be pretty.

How Willy Wonka Saved the Cookie Exchange

Mom was really into ordering premiums from the back of cereal boxes when I was a kid.

My kit came with Wonka bar molds, my favorite cereal characters and few holiday shapes.

 It's even "Made in the U.S.A." How great is that?

Also included were illustrated instructions and Wonka Bar wrappers.  I remember not wanting to use them up. Maybe if they had color copiers back then I would have.

Looks easy enough. Right?

Wrong. It doesn't work with CAKEPOPS batter. 

I thought if I froze them, they would pop right out like ice cubes, 

as they had showed in the instruction book.

After cleaning out the 2-sided Oompa Loompa mold a couple of days later, I tried again with tinted white chocolate. 

Appetizing... huh?

Yippee! It worked. My cookie exchange bag included hot pink cake balls and my precious divinity. I also made Santa's Buttons (from refrigerated fundraising cookie sale batter, how lame is that?) as a back-up.

And how about a witch to spread that holiday cheer?

 What cereal is she from anyway?