Create

09/24/2012

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"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children.

The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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New Purses Listed

09/22/2012

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Three Potato Sack Purses: Hanging Out Together
I have been receiving quite a few emails of people wanting to get their Christmas shopping done early, so I am posting some of the purses I have available today: ready to ship.

Please follow this link, and browse away!




Happy Shopping!
Crystelle
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Collection of Handmade Upcycled Purses: Flour Sack and Potato Sack
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September!  Back to BOOKS  {Free Printable}

09/19/2012

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September - Back to work, back to school, back to BOOKS
September is quite an adjustment for me and most other moms around the globe as we have to get use to the kids being gone all day, only to arrive home tired accompanied by piles of homework and other activities... Phew.....

Gone are the lazy days of summer....
September is quite a shock to the system!

But the weather is quite lovely I must say!
Mild...
Sunny...
Not too hot...

At least, that's how it is here where we live...


:-)
I love it...

Might be my favorite month.... {weather-wise anyway...}


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making my own little 8x8 September collage
To celebrate September and the back to school craze, I printed of a Library of Congress poster dating back to the 1940-50's.
 I just LOVE vintage posters and ads....
This Particular one reads something like this at the bottom:
Made by Illinois WBA{?} Art Project Chicago
{I am not sure what that middle word it...  Perhaps one of you bloggy readers can read it better than I can....???}


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September - Back to School Mixed Media Art
I printed my poster kind of smallish size, so I could make my own little mixed media 'art,'using the poster, a vintage flashcard, paint, vintage stamps, and lots of Mod Podge.
I love Mod Podge...... 

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I had a lot of fun coming up with some extra details
Of course, you could save yourself a LOT of time if you just printed it off, and then popped it into a frame....
Imagine that...!  Instant decor.....



Your printable version of this vintage September poster is a free download at the bottom of this post.



How are you adjusting to September?

xox
Crystelle

Other Free Printables:

Vintage September Poster
Vintage October Poster
Vintage November Poster
Vintage December Poster

Link one is a photograph of the poster
Link two is a cropped version of that photograph {this is the one I used}
september-back-to-books.jpg
File Size: 31 kb
File Type: jpg
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september-back-to-books-cro.jpg
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File
Linking up to these party friends
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Fun Burlap Window Coverings {Potato Sack Style}

09/18/2012

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For not your average every day window covering in our 
laundry-slash-mud-room-slash-entry I wanted to make something Idaho-style.  So I used two large Idaho potato sacks and draped them over an old weathered rake.   Tied them up with some twine-ish jute rope.  
I did this a while ago, and I still like it today....!


Ta-da.....!
So quick, so easy.....  so fun........

I get lots of complements from people stopping by, because (as I mentioned before}  this room also functions as the entry into our home.  We have a front door and lovely entry, but, for some reason here in the South-East Idaho country, everyone just enters at the back door.  And I kinda like it that way....!!  It's friendly.....

Which door do your friends and neighbors use to enter your home?


Linking up to Funky Junk for her Unique Window Treatment Party
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Recipe Lasagna - Yummy, yummy!

09/11/2012

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Sometimes the household cook goes under-appreciated, but at our house, when I make my lasagna I get showered with praise!  It's nice!
And tasty too!

I don't make lasagna very often, because, even with a somewhat simple recipe, it still takes a good chunk out of my day.  But last week we had a birthday to celebrate, and this was the requested meal...
So I made it..  And it was very yummy...  And they all told me..  I had forgotten how much the hubby and kids liked it...!! 
:-)  A pleasant surprise, I must say...
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Lasagna Recipe à la Crystelle Boutique
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Layering Tips for Lasagna
So I thought I would share my recipe with you.  You may make your lasagna completely different, and it may even be better, but this is how I make it.  And it's pretty good...!

Over the years I have taken portions of varied recipes that I liked, tweaked them a bit, and come up with this my very own fabrication.
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How to Layer Your Lasagna
I always got super confused about how to do the different layers, so I made myself a little cheat-sheet on the back of the recipe card a few years ago.  It has been super helpful...

* You may totally layer your lasagna differently than I do, but this system seems to work out great around here *
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Fresh Spinach Layer in the Lasagna
In our family we really like spinach, so I add one layer in the lasagna. 
  • I use either fresh spinach {half a bunch: washed, drained, chopped}
  • Or one package of frozen spinach {somewhat defrosted, drained, chopped}
Yummy! 
* Now, if you or your family doesn't like spinach you can totally omit this layer, of course...  :-) *


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How to Make a Noodles Layer in the Lasagne
In a 9x13 inch pan, I use four noodles for each pasta layer.  I cut one of the noodles in half lengthwise to make it fit the pan {as shown}

* I don't know if this is protocol or not, but it seems to make sense to me...*
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Layers of Lasagna, before the pan heads into the oven
The recipe is a PDF download at the bottom of this post









I hope my tips are helpful  If you have any other lasagna tips, please let me know....!
recipe_lasagna.pdf
File Size: 272 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
My linking party friends are right here...
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What Does Your Purse Say About You?

09/06/2012

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Since I like to sew handbags, and a lot of you do too, I thought I'd post this little video I found on Mormon Messages....  It's a cute story with a cute message...

Enjoy!
Crystelle
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Free Purse Sewing Pattern - Download - Rachel Handbag

09/05/2012

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PictureRachel Handbag - Free purse sewing pattern - Crystelle Boutique
Time to make another sewing pattern available to all of you sewing seamstresses out there.
September is a great month to pull out that sewing machine and get to creating....

The Rachel Handbag is super cute and convenient too...!
It was my best-selling pattern when I still had my Etsy shop... {in my former life... lol!}
I love the pockets on the front to keep my life somewhat more organized... 
Knotted handle attached to rings for fun.

PictureFree purse sewing pattern from Crystelle Boutique
The Rachel Handbag was featured in Haute Handbags Magazine, Fall 2009

At that time sewing with burlap was a 'new' concept and the article kept my email inbox jam-packed full...!!!  It was a pleasant surprise...  :-)
Since then everyone and their dog has started using burlap, but I must say it is STILL fun and cute and all that good stuff!

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Rachel Handbag - Free purse sewing pattern from Crystelle Boutique
Enclosed are some photo's for your enjoyment!
Happy sewing!
:-)
Crystelle


This Rachel Purse Sewing Pattern comes as a free PDF file at the bottom of this post.
Please let me know how YOUR Rachel Handbag has turned out!  I LOVE seeing your photo's ~  email them to me so they can be posted on the Show and Tell page.....    :-)

P.S.  The potato sack sewing tips are also included
as sewing with potato sacks is NOT created equal to sewing with other burlap...   :)
rachel_handbag_pattern-download_2009_crystelle_boutique.pdf
File Size: 4266 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
potato_sack_preparation_tricks____2009_crystelle_boutique.pdf
File Size: 566 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Linking up to my best bloggy buddies.....
If you are running out of time to get a handbag sewn up, we have some finished bags for sale.
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