Friday, January 25, 2013

Whats happening?

Our first weeks has been an interesting one. I am trying to build and audience and customers to really get this buisness off and running. For the last few years I have done things mainly by word of mouth. That is fine and wonderful but I want to expand.
I have had a few custom orders for a valentines outfit from some local friends and even sold a pattern. Not to bad for the first week. Poor Lily is upset that my valentines outfit is selling and her dress has not sold yet. Poor girl really wants to have enough money to buy herself another american girl doll.

Thats all for now, just short and sweet. I have to finish up a few last things to deliver a few orders tonight.
If you havent seen it yet please check out my etsy
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kristenkreates

thanks
Kristen

Monday, January 21, 2013

More meal planning and a big Announcement!

I will get the food out of the way for us then onto the big announcement.

1/13: family get together
1/14: bbq pork and fries
1/15: chicken parm
1/16: beef enchiladas
1/17: corn chowder and salad
1/18: burgers and chicken
1/19: beef stir fry
1/20: roasted chicken and sweet potatos
1/21: taco soup
1/22: tilapia and fried rice
1/23: chicken Kiev, scallop potatos
1/24: american chop suey
1/25: pork loin and mac and cheese


And the Big News!!

My ETSY is open, it has patterns and finished clothing! Check me out and please feel free to order something. I take custom orders too



http://www.etsy.com/shop/kristenkreates?ref=search_shop_redirect

thanks for reading and have a great day
Kristen

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Bake stuffed tilapia

My husband absolutely adores my stuffing for muchrooom, shrimp and fish. Last night when making dinner I took some pictures along the way and figured I would share with you!


Ingredients:
minced garlic
small amount of fresh vegetables
olive oil
1 stick of butter
1 sleeve of ritz
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
fish (I used tilapia) 3 - 4 filets


1: Place about 2 tbs of olive oil with 1 tbs of minced garlic in a sautee pan
 
 
2: chop up some fresh vegetables, today all I had was cabbage, carrots and onion. You want these small, I used a chopper.

3: Add the fresh chopped veggies into the garlic and oil.



4: while those are cooking, open and empty the contents of the ritz into a freezer zip lock back.

5: Using a rolling pin, crush the crackers. BE SURE YOU SEALED THE BAG FIRST.

6: Our veggies should be soft now. Add 1 stick of butter to the pan and let it melt.

7: Allow butter to melt completely


8: add your crushed ritz.


9: Turn heat off. Mix the ritz with the melted butter until mixed completely


10: Mix your cheese in. I also added about a teaspoon of lemon juice for personal taste.


11: Lay your fish on a foil lined pan.

12: Divide your stuffing evenly between your pieces of fish.


13:Bake at 425 for approximately 20 minutes. Until fish is cooked.

We Enjoyed ours with steemed carrots and baked potatos.




I hope you enjoy your dinner as much as we did!
Thanks for reading and have a great day.

Kristen










 


Release Date coming up!!

Well Hello there!! Hope all has been well. I have been a busy little bee. Sewing what I can, when I can. When I am not sewing I have been working on drafting some patterns lately. The first is in testing and the second will go into testing today. Then its time to work up some more.
My oldest daughter has shown interest in getting another doll already, so I have decided to add her on as a designer. From her designs I will sew the items, then if they sell I will share any profit with her. She is beyond excited and we have finished our first item.



I think she did a beautiful job!

Hope you have a beautiful and amazing day.

Thanks for reading
Kristen

Friday, January 4, 2013

Menu planning

I have no real resolutions this year. My only real one would be to be a better wife and mother than I was last year.
I am however hoping to greatly decrease the amount we eat out/in. Usually it was once a week, sometimes more, but normally once a week. I am hoping to do it less so this year. I find it helps me to menu plan .


Here is last weeks
January 1: chicken Kiev and cauliflower with mash potato
January 2: Pork chops, egg noodles and brussel sprouts
January 3: Spaghetti and meat balls
January 4: chicken legs and salad

I plan to do my shopping tomorrow with the girls while my husband has his man time with our son.

January 5: tacos
January 6: meat loaf with mash potatos and a veggie
January 7: sausauge and peppers in the crock pot
January 8: Chicken picatta with angel hair
January 9: bake stuffed Tilapia, baked potato and carrots
January 10: Spaghetti/ravioli
January 11: Chicken Kiev, scallop potatos


Normally I do my shopping on friday or saturday so I will do another menu then. Normally I do a crock pot type meal on thursdays because Lily has gymnastics and its easier for me this way. I am not scheduled to work this week because I was accidently put on a day I am not available. But its still a busy week. Between dr appointments, work meetings, a family memeber having surgery, gymnastics out week is quite busy. I am still working on my grand reopening soon. Been sewing and working on custom orders I have already recieved.

Hope you have a great day
Kristen

Thursday, January 3, 2013

18" doll cabled sweater

I mentioned this sweater a few weeks ago and never got around to writting up the pattern. I have been very busy making Christmas gifts for teachers, and my family and I am happy to say that I am almost done, almost but not quite.
The sweater:

This sweater is worked top down in a raglan style. The sleeves are picked up and also worked in the round. The only sewing you will need to do is weaving in the ends and sewing velcro onto the back for a closure.
Materials:
Worsted Weight yarn *or yarn needed to obtain gauge
Size 7 circular needle 16" or longer
Size 7 DPN
4 stitch markers
Velcro
Darning needle for weaving in ends
sewing machine or method of attaching velcro for a back closure

Gauge:
4 st's and 5 rows per inch
* The first and last 5 stitches in each row are worked in garter by knitting them on every row.

Cable pattern: Please note that the cable patterns are worked every other knit row.
The front cable  is worked on row 5, 13, 21
The back cable is worked on row  9, 17
cable pattern is worked over the center front 6 stitches, this cable is separated by a purl one on either side of the cable.
Front cable: sl2 onto cable and place in front, k2, k2from cable needle, k2
Back cable: k2, sl2 cable needle in back, k2, k 2 from cable needle


Co 42
work 2x2 ribbing (knitting 2 stitches and purling 2 stitche for 3/4 inches.
We will not begin the raglan increases. This first row we will add markers to note where we will increase for shapping.
row 1: K11, pm, k4, pm, k2 pm, p1, k6, p1, pm, k2, pm, k4, pm, k11
*note: k2 pm, p1, k6, p1, pm, k2 are the cable stitches

row 2: k5, p6, slip marker and each marker as you come to them, p4, sm, p2, sm, k1, p6, k1, sm, p2, sm, p4, sm, p6, k6
row 3: k10, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 stitch before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to next marker, sm, p1, k to 1 st before marker, p1, sm, k to 1 at before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb k to end.
 row 4: k5, p to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, **contintue purling all stitches and slipping markers till the last 5 stitches, k last 5 stitches
row 5 :  k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to 1 st before maker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to marker, p1, work a front cable , p1, k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before marker * continue increasing before and after each maker by KFB, to the end.
row 6 : k5, p to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, **contintue purling all stitches and slipping markers till the last 5 stitches, k last 5 stitches
row 7: k to 1 st before maker, kfb, sm, kfb, ** continue increasing by kfb before and after each marker and knitting all stitches in between, be sure to purl the stitches on either side of the center front cable stitches
row 8: k5, p to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, **contintue purling all stitches and slipping markers till the last 5 stitches, k last 5 stitches
row 9:  k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to 1 st before maker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to marker, p1, work a back cable , p1, k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before marker * continue increasing before and after each maker by KFB, to the end
row 10: k5, p to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, **contintue purling all stitches and slipping markers till the last 5 stitches, k last 5 stitches
row 11: k to 1 st before maker, kfb, sm, kfb, ** continue increasing by kfb before and after each marker and knitting all stitches in between, be sure to purl the stitches on either side of the center front cable stitches
Row 12:  k5, p to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, **contintue purling all stitches and slipping markers till the last 5 stitches, k last 5 stitches
Row 13:  k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to 1 st before maker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to marker, p1, work a front cable , p1, k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, k to 1 st before marker * continue increasing before and after each maker by KFB, to the end.
Row 14:  k5, p to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, **contintue purling all stitches and slipping markers till the last 5 stitches, k last 5 stitches
Row 15: k to 1 st before maker, kfb, sm, kfb, ** continue increasing by kfb before and after each marker and knitting all stitches in between, be sure to purl the stitches on either side of the center front cable stitches
Row 16: K5, p to marker (13), remove marker, slip all stitches from here to the next marker on scrap yarn, these are your sleeve stitches (18), remove marker,  p to marker, k1, p6, k1, p to marker (30), remove marker, place these second set of sleeve stitches on a different piece of scrap yarn, remove marker, p 13, k5.
We have placed our sleeve stitches onto scrap yarn and removed all markers but those used in the cable section. We will no longer be increasing any stitches.
Row 17: K to marker, p1, work back cable, p1, k to end
Row 18: k5, p to marker, k1, p6, k1, p to last 5, k5
Row 19: k to marker, p1, k6, p1, k to end
Row 20:  k5, p to marker, k1, p6, k1, p to last 5, k5
Row 21: K to marker, p1, work front cable, p1, k to end
Row 22:  k5, p to marker, k1, p6, k1, p to last 5, k5
Row 23: K to maker, p1, k6, p1, k to end
Row 24: K 5, p  to marker, k1, p6, k1, p to last 5, k5
Continue row 17-24 until body, under arm measures 2.5 inches
Work 5 rows of 2x2 ribbing. BO body.

Sleeves: Pick up sleeve stitches and place on DPN evenly. Knit in the round until sleeve measures 2 inches. Evenly decrease 2 stitches. Work 5 rows of 2x2 ribbing. BO. Repeat for second sleeve. Sew the small holes under the arms, Weave your ends in. Attach your velcro the the center back. Try on your doll and you have made a cable sweater for your 18" doll.



Hope you enjoy. If you have any questions please let me know!

Kristen