Florida Girl

Family Photos, Christmas Cards, and Sales

2011-11-13T12:47:00.007-06:00

I am trying to be on top of things this year (as far as Christmas cards and gifts) and take advantage of the early bird discounts. Today I ordered a number of gifts and our cards from Shutterfly: card2011. It has taken me several days to make a final decision on a design. It came down to which design our picture would fit on, and that wouldn't cost a small fortune! We had professional family photos taken in October -- by Amy Jacobs Photography (she is AMAZING, friendly, responsive, helpful, funny, and has great taste in music!) on location in Bell Buckle and the Webb School. We had a really nice time and the results are great pictures. I had to finagle some of the pictures since Shutterfly cards don't really work well with professional size (i.e., HUGE) images. In the end I am happy with our final product (plus I can't wait for all the other stuff I ordered!).

They are having a card sale (40% off -- use CARD40), 25% on photo books (automatically discounted), and free shipping on orders over $30 (SHIP30). These sales are only good for the next few days to the end of the month (depending), so move it!

Anyway, let's hope I can get these packaged, addressed, stamped, and mailed by December 15th! That might be a new record for me!

Here is a sneak peek!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

A sun hat

2010-05-13T21:30:00.000-05:00

I made this sun hat for my college roomie's daughter, Lily. The yellow bug fabric is an homage to Lily's dad -- he is an entomologist. I also used it in a quilt I made for Lily's older brother (Ben's Bug Blankie).

I have also made one for each of my two nieces. I hope to make one for Baby G this summer. If I ever get my sewing room back!

Baby Room before the baby came

2010-05-13T20:48:00.003-05:00

We haven't done much more to it because he arrived 4 weeks early! A year later and we still need to hang the curtains and art work. Geez!

This is the changing table and rocker/glider. I recovered the cushions on the rocker/glider. My grandma made the afghan.

This is the roman shade I made for the window. I love the fresh summery stripes.

Here is the sleigh crib for the little one. The sheet is various shades of green even though it looks yellow in the picture. The folded quilt is the one I am making for the baby. It will hang on the wall until baby is in a twin bed.

Under construction: Baby Room!

2009-01-09T18:04:00.004-06:00

Yep, we're having a baby in 2009!
We spent our two weeks of time off together in December planning, plotting, stratergizing, sewing, buying, researching, craigslisting, sawing, hammering, putting together, and debating all things baby.

Here is John working on installing a lovely set of closet drawers given to us by a very nice couple we purchased two strollers from.
I'll post more pictures as we progress. I hope to get the window treatments up this weekend!

Mardi Gras in the 'Boro

2008-02-20T06:19:00.004-06:00

In November I was the co-host of a Mardi Gras-themed baby shower. You can read all about the food on my food blog, vegaquarian.

Instead of silly games (per the request of the mommy-to-be) we had lots of good New Orleans music (jazz, zydeco), lots of presents, lots of food!, beads, and a mask craft activity. The main co-host provided blank masks, glitter, feathers, markers, glue, etc. We had a creative bunch and enjoyed laughing at one another behind the masks!
Group shot:

Done, well almost

2006-10-30T09:55:00.000-06:00

Our bathroom is functional and beautiful. We still have a few minor details, but for the most part it is DONE! I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

The bathroom remodel continued

2006-09-27T18:58:00.000-05:00

Well, we are almost finished with it. However, I found some more before and during pictures I thought I would post. Really, folks I am just trying to build suspense for the big reveal! :)

Look at all that oh so lovely carpet, wallpaper, and general 8Os decor!

Notice the tool belt ready for action!

How we spent our summer vacation....

2006-08-18T11:29:00.000-05:00

Well, to be more accurate, we are still spending it! We are renovating our guest bathroom, demo work started on Memorial Day, things really heated up over July 4th weekend, and are still rolling, although a bit slower. We are doing all the work ourselves (which is just our style!), and have hit a few minor snags. I hope to post on the progress over several days.

Here are a few before pictures. The catalysts for the renovate:

1. wall-to-wall carpeting (can you say "YUCK!"?)
2. 1980s flowery country-style wallpaper and awful border
3. vanity and sink that were so low, they hit me mid-thigh and I am 5'4"
4. toilet so low that you felt like you were falling when you went to sit down

Here is a picture from when I saw the house for the first time before we bought it. Decorations are not ours!

Here is a closeup of the wallpaper, and then the layer of paper underneath that I found during stripping.

"C" is for Caden.....

2006-07-13T14:02:00.000-05:00

My first entry for "Finish-what-you-have" month (yes, I know that was for June, sue me!). Actually, as an aside, the rest of my summer will revolve around a "finish-what-you-have" theme (including publications, research, reading, books on tape, cherries, painting, and cleaning the car).

Back to your regularly scheduled post....I made this very fun, albeit smaller than I wanted, quilt for our new nephew, Caden. Of course I had the idea of using his first initial in the quilt pattern somehow (so his older brother could not one day try to take it for himself...he has his own -- sans initial), but I had to wait for the official name before I could complete the task. I am happy to report that the only "new" thing purchased specifically for this quilt was the batting. All fabrics are either vintage, leftover from other projects, or recycled clothes and linens (madras plaid shorts, a stripey pillowcase). The madras plaid shorts really inspried the colors for this quilt. I like strong primary colors for late summer -- blue, red, yellow, and of course white (which goes with just about everything). I used a simple block pattern, and used solid red blocks for the "C."
The back is a soft flannel plaid in light red, blue, yellow on a white background.

I hope Caden likes it!

Market bags are in season...

2006-06-26T14:36:00.000-05:00

I have several market/tote bags ready to go. I am offering these up for sale so I can make room for more fabric, and well, stuff! Each is one-of-a-kind, with reinforced stitching. I have hauled lots of books in mine, and have no problems with the handles or the bottoms. I purposely make them strong to hold lots of stuff, 'cause I am always dragging around a lot of stuff!

Each bag is $25 which includes shipping (inside the continental US only). If you are interested, please send me an email for payment options. Thanks for looking!

First up: Pink Balloon Day Dreams

Next: Sunny Days

Spring Cleaning--Crafter-Style!

2006-06-13T15:24:00.000-05:00

Over at turkey feathers, there is quite a buzz about "Finish What You Have" Month. I am in for this. I have so many projects that have been cut out (like 20+ tote bags! eek!), a quilt that is half started, throw pillows, and of course lovely Pointy Kitty to name just a few....so I am gonig to concentrate my craft time this month to finishing stuff up (w/ the exception of a new table runner for K), so I can clean out some space. I have already resigned myself in the last year or more to not buying any new fabric (or yarn) until I use what I have. Of course, I don't hold myself accountable for any fabric/yarn/textiles to be recycled that might be found at a yard sale or thrift store. So, hopefully in a few days I will have some progress to report on!

If you are interested in "Finish What You Have" Month, jump on over to turkey feathers and give your "virtual" nod. Good luck!

Out of hibernation

2006-05-23T13:41:00.000-05:00

Finally! I found a few moments this weekend to whip up these very pretty throw pillows for the couch. All of the fabric is 100% thrifted and repurposed. I forgot to take "before" pictures of the garments, but they were originally an assortment of shirts, a dress, and a vest from a linen "suit." I have plans to make more (5 more to be exact), but not sure when that will happen. I am also proud to say that all of the pillow forms have been recycled from the existing pillows on the couch. Now if I could just find the time and energy to recover the couch....

Guest Crafter of the Month

2006-04-05T17:12:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if any other blogger out in the blogosphere does a guest crafter of the month series, but I thought I might start my own for now. I was inspired to do this because my mother-in-law, Gerry, (whom I love dearly) sent me a picture of a baby blanket she had knitted for her soon-to-be second grandson. I felt that it needed to be shared because it such a nice piece created with so much love.

Over Thanksgiving my in-laws came to visit, and on their last night at our house, I decided to do some knitting on a scarf (?) while we watched TV. My MIL sat next to me, watching, and remarked that her mother had taught her how to knit many moons ago, but she didn't know how to start because her mom had always done that for her. So, I got a spare set of needles and some "learning yarn" and taught her how to cast-on. Within mere minutes she had begun knitting in a number of different stitches, many I had never even attempted myself (Disclaimer time: I have been knitting since December 2004, and I pretty much use the "knit" stitch exclusively.)!

Well, she was hooked (gosh, no pun intended!), and for her Christmast stocking I hooked her up with a sweet pair of wooden kneedles from my LYS. She has been an avid knitter ever since, calling me once in a while to ask about an abbreviation in some pattern or another. I know how she feels when she said that knitting helps her feel close to her mom, who is no longer with us. When ever I am crafting I feel the invisible, ephemeral, yet strong bond that links me to my female ancestors that did the same stitches (either knitting or sewing) in their lifetimes. I think that is why I love making things so much...it helps to bond me to women that I have never met, yet know are such a part of who I am.

That sure is one lucky grandbaby!

******************************************
If you are interested in being a guest crafter of the month, please leave a message in the comments section.

2006-03-03T08:44:00.000-06:00

Not my craftiness displayed here, but one of my students. I just wanted to give a shout out to Tiffany, owner/artist-in-residence of Colorful Creations, because she is awesome at making tye-dye (and sewing as well!). Tiffany came to campus, sponsored by the Anthropology Society, to sell her tye-dye apparel, and give the society a cut of the profits. It was a win-win situation for everyone, and I think it worked out really well. It sure was a beautiful day for it!

As one of the anthropology students said..."This sure isn't doing anything to dispel the anthropologists-as-hippies stereotype!"

(Tiffany is to the left, her face hidden by the hanging tank top!)

Pointy Kitty in Progress...

2006-02-28T18:27:00.000-06:00

I am working on this sweet little "Pointy Kitty" from wee wonderfuls.
She is very sweet yet ready to pounce on your feet!
This is my first attempt at making a softie. It wasn't nearly as hard as I had
anticipated. I am looking forward to making more of these sweeties!
I will be adding her to the Pointy Kitty Gallery when completed!

2006-02-24T15:55:00.000-06:00

Buttons and patches
and the cold wind blowing
the days pass quickly
when I am sewing.

FOUND!

2006-02-17T16:55:00.000-06:00

I found my camera in a place that I must have thought "hmm...this will be a safe place will no one will look." Yep, so safe, even I couldn't find it (at least not for a week!)

Here are the flowers my sweetie sent me for my birthday!

Lost....

2006-02-16T15:42:00.000-06:00

I haven't been blogging lately because all of my recent pictures are still on my camera. "Why don't you download them?" you might ask. Sigh...because I cannot seem to find my camera. The last time I used it was January 28th. I saw it the week after that, but didn't have time to upload pictures. Now I cannot find it anywhere (home, office, lab, cars). What is a blogging girl to do??????
The more I think about, the more upset I become. Not good, not good at all!

This weekend I am going to find time to mend some clothes and either make a purse for me! or this sweet little Pointy Kitty from wee wonderfuls. Keep your fingers crossed that I find the time, and my camera!

woman with veil

2006-01-27T16:00:00.000-06:00

Florida Girl

I was going through some pictures on my computer this afternoon, and came across this one.
I had forgotten that I made a veil for my good friend LaLiz's wedding in May 2005. Since we were living in different states at the time, I made the veil, John took pictures, and then I emailed her the pictures to make sure she really liked it!

LaLiz is the one that named this picture "woman with veil next to barn" (or something like that!).

2006-01-27T15:59:00.000-06:00

woman with veil

No peeking Kristin! (but if you do, I hope you like what you see!)

2006-01-11T15:34:00.000-06:00

A bag for Kristin's birthday (which was in November!) is the topic of today's blog...

I asked K what type of bag she wanted, as I felt the need to outdo the bag I made for her last year (see this post). After a number of email "conversations" about the type of bag she might like (hey, I don't want to labor over something for someone and then have them not like/use it!), I compiled this list of traits: "pink and black would be perfect and my first choice, but I'm looking for something that's cute and professional at the same time. . .1) it be big enough to fit all my crap (you know I carry around too much), 2) that it be cute (okay, so that's #1), and 3) that it's wide enough to stand up when you set it down." So that was my mandate -- cute and professional, big enough for a bunch of girl stuff, and stand alone. No sweat!

She sent a link to a purse that she liked so I had some idea of what she was looking for, so I could have a visual. I went to the local fabric store and bought several patterns (luckily they were on sale!), so I could decide which bag I really liked when I got home (of course my standard pattern is still packed up in a mismarked box somewhere!). I also went to several thrift stores in Nashville with some friends, looking for the perfect outer material. I found this very 1980's woman's double-breasted suit jacket that I thought would be fantastic. I also picked up some new pink fabric, velvet ribbon, a rhinestone pin (the vintage pearl ear clip in the picture below is one that I already had and was going to try to incorporate, but in the end it didn't make the final cut).

Here are some of the materials I used for Kristin's birthday bag. Obviously this is a before shot!
"http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5073/1880/1600/IMG_2226.jpg"

Here I tried to catch the creative process in action!

I used a partial pattern for the bag's body, then added my own handles (the pattern called for purchased handles), and my own home-made flowers! These of course are detachable, as is the rhinestone pin, which is independent of the flowers, and all can be removed or used if Kristin so desires.

So, are you ready for the finished product?????

Drum roll, please............................................

Here is a stand-along shot of the "front."

Here is a shot of the "back." Note that I used one of the jacket's own exterior pockets to make a pocket for Kristin to put her keys or cell phone.

Here is an interior view:

2006-01-04T14:49:00.000-06:00

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Milk and Spinach

from A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen

by Jack Bishop

Ingredients

4 sweet potatoes (10-11 ounces each),scrubbed

2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for rubbing on the potatoes

2 tablespoons minced gingerroot

2 teaspoons Thai red curry paste

1 1/4 pounds flat-leaf spinach, stems removed unlessvery thin, leaves washed, shaken dry to remove excess water, and chopped (about 8cups)

salt (I used Atlantic sea salt)

1/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Move an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly rub each potato with a little oil.

Place potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake until the skin is crisp and a skewer slides easily through the flesh, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and set the sweet potatoes aside on a rack tocool for 10 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees.

While the potatoes are cooling, heat the 2 tablespoons oil in a largesaucepan over medium heat until shimmering.

Add the ginger and curry paste and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the damp spinach, cover, and cook, stirring once or twice, until completely wilted, about 5 minutes.

Add salt and set spinach mixture aside.

Using a folded kitchen towel to hold the hot potatoes, cut each on in halflengthwise. (If possible, cut so that the flat sides of the sweetpotatoes will rest on the baking sheet.)

With a spoon, scoop the fleshfrom each half into a medium bowl, leaving 1/4 inch of flesh and skin ineach shell.

Arrange the empty sweet potato shells on the baking sheet.

Mash the sweet potatoes in the bowl with the coconut milk until smooth.

Stir in the spinach mixture and cilantro.

Adjust the seasonings, addingsalt to taste.Mound the sweet potato filling into each shell.

Bake until the top of thefilling is firm and slightly crisp, about 15 minutes.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and cool the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Serve. (Straight from the oven, the potatoes are unbearably hot to eat.)

My review: I purchased this cookbook over a year ago after reading excellent recipe reviews on a long (and very much still alive thread) on the Cooking Light Bulletin Board. After purchasing the book, I had my eye on this recipe. I kept wanting to make it, yet I never seemed to have all the ingredients at home at once, or I could never find the time to pay attention to the details (this recipe is not complicated in any way, it just has several steps and a long cooking time). Finally, spurred on by a huge bag of fresh baby spinach sitting in the fridge, I wrote down the ingredients I didn't have, and made a stop at the store on the way home. I halved the recipe, since I only needed to feed myself, and I wasn't quite sure how the leftovers were hold up, or if I would even want to eat the leftovers. The final product was warm, Thai spicy, filling, and all- around yummy. I loved the little crunch the skins had from oiling them before baking (something that usually only happens to white baking potatoes). I may have added a little too much coconut milk, since I was eyeballing half of the 1/3 cup called for in the full recipe, making the filling a little mushier than I would have liked. I can't wait to have Thai night and feature these for others to enjoy as well. A nice change from the standard stir-fry or baked sweet potato with butter (and for some [not me], cinnamon and sugar).

Gothic Revival

2005-12-19T17:25:00.000-06:00

I decdied to make the Bundt Coffee Cake from the Dec. 2005 issue of Cooking Light. I made it, froze it, and will take it with us on our Christmas trip to VA. From start to finish, it was lovely. The pale yellow of the batter (left) promised the cake would be delicious.
I used the Gothic Cathedral (or some such name) bundt pan we received as a wedding gift from our then-neighbors across the street.

The secret (shh!) to this cake is the hidden layer of cinnamon, butter, brown sugar, and pecans. I cannot wait to cut into this and nibble on it with a hot cup of coffee! (You can see a dark ring around the middle -- that's the secret filling!)

Here is the recipe:

Bundt Coffee Cake

Cooking spray
1 tablespoon dry breadcrumbs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 large egg white
1 1/4 cups fat-free sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups cake flour (about 10 ounces)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (about 1 ounce)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°.
Coat a 12-cup bundt pan with cooking spray; dust with breadcrumbs.
Place granulated sugar and 1/4 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended.
Add eggs and egg white, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
Beat in sour cream and vanilla.
Lightly spoon cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.
Combine cake flour and next 3 ingredients (through 1/2 teaspoon salt), stirring with a whisk. Add cake flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
Lightly spoon all-purpose flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife.
Combine all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cut in 1 tablespoon butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
Stir in pecans.
Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with pecan mixture.
Pour remaining half of batter over pecan mixture.
Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool completely on a wire rack. (I let mine cool and it wouldn't come out, so I reheated it for 7 mins., and it popped right out.)
Invert onto a platter.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar. (or before doing this, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and/or wax paper, then in aluminum foil or a freezer bag and freeze for up to one month.)

Yield: 14 servings (serving size: 1 slice)

CALORIES 316(19% from fat); FAT 6.6g (sat 2.4g,mono 2.8g,poly 0.8g); PROTEIN 5.1g; CHOLESTEROL 45mg; CALCIUM 91mg; SODIUM 309mg; FIBER 0.8g; IRON 2.4mg; CARBOHYDRATE 59.2g

Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2005

Banana Bread -- an old friend

2005-12-15T10:28:00.000-06:00

I have been wanting to have something coffee-cakey with my coffee in the morning. I eat lots of high-fiber cereal, and sometimes just need a break. I also had to very black bananas sitting on my counter that needed to be repurposed. Thus, I dug out my banana bread stand-by recipe.
Instead of baking it in a loaf pan, I used my new Emile Henry heart-shaped baking dish. It is truly a lovely cake in this pan.

'Tis the season for cookies, dog cookies!

2005-12-15T10:15:00.000-06:00

I made Pooches' Peanut Butter Cookies on Tuesday (12/13) night. I like this recipe because it is simple, all natural, and pretty healthy for the dogs. My husband and I only buy all-natural dog biscuits for our doggies, but this time of the year, I make them for our dogs and to give to doggie friends. They have received the Discriminating Canine's Four Paws of Approval.

Here is the recipe:

Pooches’ Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup peanut butter (I used all-natural so I had to add a bit more oil and another ¼ cup water)
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine flour, wheat germ and salt in large bowl.
Mix in peanut butter, egg oil and water.
Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface till about 1/2 inch thick
Cut out the cookies using a cookie cutter (I use a dog bone shaped cutter given to me by my MIL. It is rather large, so this year I added a small gingerbread person, star, and Christmas tree for those being given to dogs smaller than ours.)
Put the cookies onto an ungreased baking sheet (I used my Silpat – works fine as always). Bake 15 mins for the smaller sized cookies and up to 35 mins. for larger shaped ones. Store in the fridge as they have no preservatives ...if they last that long!!!!!!!!!

Here are two of the lucky recipients of this year's PB Cookies -- our dogs, of course!

Sprite is on the left.
Rosco is on the right.

2005-11-22T07:40:00.000-06:00

This is a baby quilt I made for my college roomie's son, Ben. I call it Ben's Bug Blankie. Both of Ben's parents are biologists, and his daddy specializes in ants (Ben's mommy correct me if I am wrong!). So, the motivation here was LOTS of color and LOTS of bugs. I hope big Ben hasn't grown too big for his blankie yet! He just turned 2, and I finished this shortly after he was born (finished date -- Sept/Oct 2003).

Toast Jenga anyone?

2005-11-20T07:43:00.000-06:00

You know Thanksgiving is just around the corner when "Toast Jenga" begins appearing on kitchen counters across the country.

Mmm...real italian pizza by the seaside

2005-11-18T07:58:00.000-06:00

My husband and I ate at this great pizza joint, Francesco's, in Flagler Beach, Florida this past weekend. We had the eggplant pizza. It was like eggplant parmesan on a crust.

This restaurant is very interesting in that it is in two-parts: the larger dining room/kitchen features up-scale Italian cuisine, while the small pizza joint is just that, small and a joint (however, I LOVED IT!).

The joint is a quaint storefront that consists of a small counter with two barstools, behind which the pizza Don throws and handles the dough before topping it and sliding it into a very hot oven. Also inside is a cooler with beer and sodas and three booths. On the "porch" in front of the store are two more "open-air" booths, which is where we elected to sit. The place is so small, if you need to use a restroom, you must go to the "fancy" part of Francesco's next-door.

Again, the pizza was awesome, as can be seen here -- I was well into my second piece before I could stop to take a picture. If you ever make it to the East Coast of Florida, check this place out!

Ciao!

A few of my favorite sites...

2005-11-17T14:55:00.000-06:00

I wanted to add a few of my favorite sites that I visit often.

Baby Clothes Swap
A great place to buy gently used children's and maternity clothing at very reasonable prices. You can also send in your used kid's clothes for cash.

Wee Wonderfuls
Hilary Lang makes the most amazing softies. Take a look at her gallery of toys and dolls, and fall in love....

Lick the Spoon
Chandra blogs about her adventures in the kitchen, and has some of the best food photography out there. It will make you want to run home and whip up some decadent dessert in your kitchen, just so you can lick the spoon!

Knitty
This is a cool site devoted to all things knitting. Need I say more?

Cooking Light
My favorite food magazine. I tend to make numerous recipes from this magazine, and from the associated bulletin board. CL Rocks!

2005-11-17T12:20:00.000-06:00

This is a felted bag that I knitted for my friend Kristin (she loves pink!) for her birthday in 2004. The inside is lined with a pink cotton. The handles are purchased bamboo rings.

I had no pattern for this bag, just an idea in my head. I think it measures about 10-12 inches long (finished), and 5-8 inches in height (finihsed). I know Kristin gets a lot of compliments on it, as she puts it to good use!

Welcome....

2005-11-17T11:51:00.000-06:00

This is my initial post to my new blog...Florida Girl Creations...

I hope to make this an on-line showcase/creative outlet where I can share my creations (both edible and non-edible) with the tremendous crafty community that exists out there!

A little about me...I call my blog Florida Girl Creations because I am a native Floridian (born and raised). I learned to sew from my maternal grandparents...they owned a canvas awning shop in Daytona Beach, and I would go there after school and watch them sew huge boat tops, awnings, they even repaired a circus tent once!

When I was about 6 or 7, I received a doll house as a gift for Christmas/Birthday. It wasn't a frilly doll house, and I felt the need to accessorize it. I remember taking scraps of canvas and making bedspreads, curtains, money, and of course, awnings, for my dollhouse. My Papa helped me with the sewing machine. Since I was small, and the machine powerful, I was not allowed to use the electric pedal, rather I hand cranked the needle through the fabric. These are my first memories of sewing....

Growing up in a single-family home, my siblings and I often stayed with our grandmother (our mom's mom) after school. Grandma taught me (and my brother) how to quilt pillowtops. She also tried to teach me how to crochet, but I wasn't coordinated enough for it (however, I am now a fledgling knitter -- my Grandma told me she could never get the hang of knitting). I also made doll clothes for my (and my sister's) Cabbage Patch dolls using a pattern book my Grandma had and fabric scraps she kept in a drawer in her craft room. I was pretty good at making clothes for small softies, but I have never gotten past anything more complicated than a no-sleeve shirt for big girls!

I attemtped every once in a while to sew while in college, but never really got that into it. Maybe because it wasn't as cool as partying, or maybe because I couldn't devote the time needed to such crafty endeavors. Add that to moving to a new residence every year, and not wanting to cart around a bunch of craft supplies, and I put it down until after I graduated from graduate school (with the exception of the few odd curtains I made here and there)!

That brings me to...I moved out of the state a few years back to pursue my career in academia. My now-husband and I became engaged, and I wanted to make something for each of my bridesmaids. I ended up making personalized tote bags for each of them. A friend of mine loved them so much, she asked me to make some for her bridesmaids. Next thing I knew, I was making personalized bags for friends for gifts to wives, friends, cousins, sisters...and Florida Girl Creations was born. I have only sold my bags at one craft fair, but I hope to try it again in the near future.

In addition to tote/market bags, I knit scarves (and one felted purse!), quilt baby quilts, and whatever else suits my fancy. I am starting this blog as a place where I can showcase my creations, feel proud of my accomplishments, and share with the larger crafty community!

Thanks for reading and I would love feedback!

Tanya