Create 365 - Project Development

Hiya, friends!  I hope you're enjoying the Create 365 project as much as I am so far..I have a lot more planned.

What I would like to do today is put this question to you..what would YOU like to see?  Is there something special you'd like to purchase from the shop, or that you would perhaps enjoy a tutorial on?  I'm happy to add it to my planning..(I do, after all, have 362 more projects to complete ;)

Add your ideas and suggestions in the comments below.  I look forward to reading them!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

The Creative Process

Happy New Year to you, friends!  Wishing you lots of good things in 2013 :)

Have you made resolutions?  I generally don't.  The thing is, January 1 is not only the start of a new year, it's my birthday, which means another whole year of my life has passed.  It seems like it should be marked by something momentous.  Like I should plan something big for the next year of my life..which has always felt bit grand and overwhelming, so I've previously chosen to avoid it..

However, I've decided to take a different approach this year.  Just one resolution (I prefer to think of it as a "goal"), so it's easy to keep.  I've decided this year, I will create something every day.

The creative process, for me, always seems to become more robust when I focus on it consistently.  I go through phases where I have so many ideas I fill notebooks full of them.  I sew, knit, write, draw and craft myself into a state of pure bliss.  Then something interrupts (let's call it "life" ;) and I end up stagnating for a while, unable to gain back my momentum.

My hope for this goal is that consistently creating on a daily basis will allow my ideas to flourish.  New products for the shop, an environment that is more consistent with my visions, and fresh new style ideas.

I plan to document the process here, to keep me honest, and since I'm beginning on the 3rd, I have a little catching up to do!  I already have a project in mind for today and I can't wait to get started.

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Crafting for the Holidays

If you love making gifts for the holidays, as I do, you know that it's never too soon to begin planning your holiday giving list.  (In theory..I do have a tendency towards procrastination and have found myself in previous years pulling all nighters with a pot of coffee and several skeins of yarn ;-)

I have vowed, however, that I will be organized this year!!  In this spirit, I have started sorting through some of my pins on Pinterest to identify what I would like to try my hand at, and who the gifts would be suited for..because, truthfully, I do sometimes find something I reallllyyy want to make that would only be suited as a gift for me :-)

Here are a few things I'm thinking about so far:

For her

Link

 These gorgeous origami fabric butterflies would be perfect for hair accessories, brooches or as an accent on a necklace.

credit

Hand scrub, great in a gift bag with a nail file and some pretty nail polish!

credit

Embellished cardigans..soooo easy.  (Incidentally, this is also an adorable blog with several other fantastic ideas!)

credit

Cozy sewn felt slippers (also a great idea for kiddos!)

For Him

credit

My husband LOVES these.  They're pretty easy to make..I may enlist the children to create a few for their Dad and uncles ;-)

credit

Despite his protests about the "Fudge Handles" he acquires every holiday season, The Man loveeesss some homemade fudge.

credit

Create a playlist, could be songs for your sweetheart, running songs, songs to brighten your day, type the list out on fun paper and attach to an itunes gift card..it's like a mixed tape for the 21st century ;-)

For the Kids

credit

Create a bunch of these.  Use to embellish overalls, sweaters, hats, mittens or stitch them all together to make a scarf.

credit

Rice filled heating pads to snuggle up to on a cold night!

credit

I'm a sucker for a cute hat, and this one's about as cute as they come..

credit

This link is for 25 Christmas Books and crafts to go with them, but you could do this with any book for any age!  My oldest daughter loves the Hunger Games, and I thought a neat combo would be the Hunger Games books and a craft project to make arrow hair sticks out of chopsticks and feathers or felt feathers.  My youngest loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid, so to go along with that, a craft for making your own diary. 

So that's my (preliminary) list!  What are your ideas for the holidays?  Do you make gifts as well?  What sort of items are on your crafting list?  Feel free to share here or over on facebook!

The ConstantlyAlice Manifesto

"Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"
- Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

This is one of my all time favorite quotes and I think of it every time I'm looking at a brand new year stretching out in front of me.  Isn't it wonderful to think that we have a whole new year to expand our knowledge, push our boundaries and live to our fullest potential?  (Or, you know, even just another year we get to snuggle in on the couch with a good book and a cup of Chocolate Dream tea??)

I think it tends to have even more significance for me because I'm a January 1 baby.  That means when y'all are celebrating a new year, I get to celebrate another year of my life ;)  Pretty heady stuff, right?

With that in mind, I'd like to share with you some of the things I've been cooking up for the coming year!

1.  Who doesn't love a make over?  Or a whole LOT of make overs!  I'm planning for a 30 day challenge this year for both hair and make up.  I will test out a new hair style or make up look each day for a month and share the photos with you all as a part of my Signature Style Challenge (more on this to follow). {Picture Source}

2.  I will incorporate more vision boards and pinterest posts in an attempt to determine what styles I gravitate towards the most.  Some will be all about a specific decade, some will feature a particular shop or website, but hopefully all will help me to nail down the details that will help me to build my Signature Style. {Picture Source}

3.  The Home Ec posts will continue!  Some topics for this year;  Hat making, Repurposing worn or poorly constructed items to create new looks, Style on a budget (This will involve putting together an entire outfit at a local thrift store for $15 or under), Sew and Knit Alongs, Etiquette, Planning a Party and a few more I have to iron out the details on! {Picture by Gil Elvgren}

4.  *Gulp* Modelling.  That's right, I said it.  I am working on adding some more exercise to my routine so I can tone up a bit and maybe work up the gumption to model for the shop and for the "Style It" posts here on the site.  I'd like to have the shop pictures reminiscent of the pin up gals of the 40's.  I'll be sure to keep you in on the adventure as I dive into posing, photography and styling! {Picture by Vaughan Bass}

5.  My folks gifted us with a trip to Disney for Christmas this year (Thanks Mum and Dad!)  We're heading down for April vacation and I have plans to pick out several vintage dress/play suit and maybe even a bathing suit pattern to sew up and take along with me.  I will share the patterns with you, the progress and the end results.  (And of course, the pictures of Disney!)

6.  I also plan to add a "Go Ask Alice" feature.  This will be to cover any questions you all may have for me regarding vintage (how to date vintage items, what basics are needed for a wardrobe from each decade, etc.)  Feel free to start emailing me your ideas now! {Picture Source}

I can't wait to dive in and get started on these projects!  I'm so looking forward to a wonderfully productive 2012 :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Home Ec - Mackinac Island Fudge

It's here!  The second in the home ec post installment!

A little while ago, I reviewed "A Very Vintage Christmas" and promised you all a post on some of the yummy candy recipes included in the book.  Sadly, I neglected to remember the corn syrup for the caramels so we're just going to make fudge today (but I'll include the recipe for caramels at the end!)

Ingredients

First thing to do is gather all your igredients together.  Fudge making is a finicky business (though, fortunately, this recipe is old enough to not require a candy thermometer!) and you'll want to have everything handy.  Here's the list:

I would also add, a medium to large sized pot, a measuring cup and measuring spoons, a spoon for stirring, and a large rectangular pan.  You can also double the recipe, which is what I did, if you want to give some as gifts.

First you are going to combine the milk (I used cream because I prefer the texture, but you can stick with the recipe if you're more comfortable!) brown sugar, white sugar, butter and salt in your pot  and begin heating it on medium.

I would suggest a slightly larger pot than this one..I underestimated and made a (yummy!) mess

Mmmmmm...butter and cream...

You're going to need to stir frequently during this process.  Once the mixture comes to a boil, set your timer for 6 minutes and keep on stirring.  (It helps if you have an obliging elf handy to help with this part..)

My oldest daughter Shann the Ham ;)

Once your six minutes are up, remove the pot from the burner and add in your vanilla, cocoa powder and powdered sugar.  Keep on stirring and blend, blend, blend!  You want a nice smooth consistency.

After it's all blended, pour it out into your pan to cool.  It should look like this:

Put it in the refridgerator to chill for 20 min.  Then you can take it out and cut it into bricks to wrap in wax paper and put in pretty boxes for gifts!

..or you can cut it into cubes for a snack ;)

That's all there is to it!

Annnnnnd... as promised, here is the caramel recipe, in case you're feeling ambitious ;)

Ingredients:

• Line a 9x9 inch pan with parchment paper.  Allow some of the paper to hang over the sides.
• In a heavy sauce pan, combine all ingredients except for the vanilla.
• Gradually bring to a boil, starting on low heat, then medium, then med. high as the ingredients come together.
• Stir continually, remembering to scrape the sides and the bottom.  Using a candy thermometer, monitor the temperature.
• When the mixture reaches 250 degrees F, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour into the pan and let cool completely until set.
• Lift the caramels out of the pan using the parchment paper, cut into cubes and wrap in waxed paper or cellophane to give as gifts.

Happy snacking!

Hugs and Smooches,
D