Homemade Brown Sugar/Stevia Blend
1 cup sugar
1 cup stevia
4 teaspoons molasses to start, you can add more if you'd like darker brown sugar
Put sugar in bowl, whisk in molasses. It will clump. Keep whisking. That shit will still be clumpy. Keep at it. That's why I use my Kitchen-Aid, my arthritis would make me wuss out. Ok, you should start seeing some some separation. Now start whisking in in the Stevia. You can't do it in the beginning because the texture is too light and it stays clumpy. Let sugar take care of the hard work first.
Behind on Me Made May posts
I’ve been participating for most of the days but am behind on my posting. All my outfits are Instagrammed, Tweeted, or on Flickr. I just haven’t written anything up. As usual, real life got in the way. Last Friday, I ended up in the ER getting a CT scan to make sure I wasn’t having kidney failure or an appendix attack. Nope, instead my body decided to either pass a kidney stone or have a virus which attacked my lymph nodes and mimicked an attack of appendicitis. The dr. said with my autoimmune conditions it could be wither one. I was one my butt for 4 days. Feeling pretty good now though. It’s crazy how I swing from awful to great in the blink of an eye.
I also spent time at the hospital this week with my grandma who was getting her leg amputated due to diabetes. I have mixed feeling about that. She is 85 and refuses to take care of herself. Her diabetes and her leg got this bad because she refused to exercise at all, to move at all and to watch her diet at all. It’s frustrating that 15-20 years ago she could have made a few minor changes and had less pain and a better outcome for her health. She is the reason I am vigilant about my health. I have seen what could happen to me and I refuse to head down that path. I can’t control everything, but I do the best with what I can.
I hope tomorrow I can get back on track with MMM.
First week of Me Made May ’13
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- Maxi dress
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- Peplum blouse
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- Gertie bow tie
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- Thrifted fabric tee and vintage scarf
I enjoyed the first week of Me Made May. It made me whip out my machine and stitch some more this weekend. I worked on a toile for a sheath, made a gardening Sorbetto from old pillowcases, and made a gold lame tee from leftover fabric from my daughter’s leggings. Since the weather is so screwy, I might be wearing me made sweaters and sundresses all in the same week this week.
Colette Taffy
I wish I had enough trim to finish out the arms but instead I just zigzagged the edges. I had to add extra pleats in at the top as the the neckline is much too wide, I should have cut a 10 neckline and shoulder and done an FBA. I'm chicken because I haven't tried one yet but it's time to bite the bullet and do it for the sake of fit. Otherwise I really like this top but can't imagine needing many of this style.
Me Made May 2013
I’ve decided to participate in MMMay13. I’ve been sewing for a little over a year. I’m improving slowly but surely, even though I always forget to post finished projects on here. Me Made May will at least be a visual record of what I’ve made and help me figure out my wardrobe gaps. I’m excited and nervous. I think the main thing I need to remember is that this is about me. I sew for me and what it brings to my life. I can’t turn it into a thing where I feel bad about myself because my skills aren’t like so and so’s. That isn’t the point. I am trying to better myself and enjoy and past time and share the fruits of my labor….and learn from my mistakes.
So, here is my official pledge on Zo’s blog:
‘I, Tracy of Midwestern Small Town Girl, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’13. I endeavour to wear one handmade or refashioned garment each day for the duration of May 2013.’
On a totally unrelated note, I’m feeling heartbroken for Boston and all the people who help with races. Two years ago I did a half marathon that saved my life. Really. I am working a 5k this weekend with an organization that works to teach young girls that their value isn’t in their looks but in their hearts and in their strength. Picking such a positive event for such destruction is beyond me. It really is.
New glasses
Garden apron
My friend, Tomato, aka Jen turned 23 last week. She is starting her first garden. As one who carries produce in my tee or skirt I can tell you that I wanted to make her a garden apron.
Check up on New Year’s Resolutions
I,Tracy, am taking the #seamlesspledge until Dec
. 31, 3013.
That was my second resolution. So far, so good. I bought one red sweater, a bra and shoes. Good shoes. Because I have plantar fasciitis…it comes with my crap thyroid and other delights. So, good shoes are a must. I ask for them for my birthday. 
I don’t count bras and shoes, especially since I try not to buy too many. My shoes were Rieker’s-so cute and very comfy. Love them. New bras from Bare Necessities. I wear a 34E. Also important to have good foundations for the girls. I’m pretty sure it will take a while for me to figure out bras, although it is on my list of things to learn.
I’m working on my spring sewing now, just started switching out closets for transitional weather here. That means #11 on my list is also being done. Try to sew 15 minutes a day.
#1, 8 go together My eating has been better. I’ve gotten rid of excess sugar from my diet, no gluten, no lactose. It helps greatly with inflammation. Exercise also helps with my tightness and sleep. See, I’m learning.
#3 &4 Money- oh boy. This is a big goal for our family and we are working on baby steps right now.
All the others are simply being more mindful in my daily living and being more open to life. Sometimes chronic illness and pain lead to a series of no in life and closed offness. I am not that type of person and want to remain an open person. I also don’t want to be a disease focused person. Balance is key-and really hard sometimes.
I think I’m doing pretty well on my resolutions. I definitely want to produce more sewing. Mostly this month I’ve been doing alterations and mending. No sexy, blog worthy photos in that.
Closet cleaning addict
I love to clean out closets. I’ve just got done bringing out my spring things from the storage room and getting my heaviest winter sweaters ready for storage. This way I can evaluate what I need to sew for spring and summer, what I didn’t wear this winter as I start to pack up. I won’t completely switch out, this is limbo season in Illinois. Some days are 60, some days are 30. It’s all about the layers.
That is three closet organizing sessions ago.
I find it helpful to keep my closets and the rest of the house pretty well organized.I try. My husband is OCD so this effort makes him happy, even if no one keeps the kitchen organized to my standards. Seriously, we live in a house for 7 years and no one knows where a casserole dish goes? If I could, I would clean out closets for a living. Really. I don’t clean my kids’ rooms for many reasons but I would like to.
How great would that be? Helping out your friends and others?
McCall’s 6030
I made this for my stepdaughter for a formal dance at school. I made a muslin at first and still had to make a lot of adjustments. The bodice runs really big so I had to size it down quite down. The rest of it was really simple to put together though.
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