Cucumber and Tomato Salad

I realized the other day it has been quite a while since I put a recipe up on here. With the kids this summer, I just have not really had the chance to bake anything great. However, my daughter is a great cook and has been making some great treats, but she always wants to take them over to her friends. And let me tell you they really want her to come and live with them!

I did make this good for you salad the other day. I really like cucumbers and so I loved this salad when I had it the first time. it is very refreshing and super easy to make!

 Tomato Cucumber Salad

4 ripe tomatoes

1 medium cucumber

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp sugar

2 tsp chopped fresh basil

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Slice tomatoes and cucumbers thinly and place in medium bowl. Combine vinegar, oil and sugar. Drizzle over sliced tomatoes and cucumber. Toss, then sprinkle with chopped basil. Refrigerate or serve at room temperature.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer, we have had some great afternoon rainshowers that I just love! 

We're on Facebook!

I have to admit something here, and don't judge me by it. I am so not technically savvy. I am slowly getting into it, but I emphasize 'slowly'! But I have taken the plunge and Iron Violet Designs is now on facebook! So head over there and 'like' me!

As soon as I figure out how to add a gadget on the side bar for you to do it here, I will let you know! (And make it easier for you to 'like' me!

House Placemats - Fabric Review

 Okay, I really could not think of what to call these, until I was taking pictures of them and one of my kids said 'cool house placemats mom.' And I thought  'duh, house place mats!' I know it is super creative, but sometimes I am like that.

Kim from Poppy Seed Fabrics sent me this fabric to review, and I loved it, but I did not know what to make with it. This fabric is called Little Folks Berry cotton laminate. You can get it here. I have never worked with laminate, but I had been doing some reading on it and wanted to try it, so I was excited when she sent me this.

It is super easy to work with, and I had no troubles. I would say it sews like regular fabric - yet you can wipe is clean easier! ;)

 Conan gave me the idea for these place mats and I think it is great. I cut the different shapes of houses that were on the fabric and then used binding in the coordinating color. I am really not that great at binding sharp corners, so don't look too close! ;)

 Aren't they fun?! My daughter has already asked if she can use them for a little party. And the great part, you can machine wash them (cold water), or just wipe them clean. I have not tried drying them yet, so I am not sure what the fabric will do.

After I had these all done, I showed them to my friend and she said that she would have re-covered an outdoor seating with this fabric! Another great idea for laminate fabric. Of course a bag is always an option as well!

You can find this fabric here, and Kim has lots of great other fabrics in her shop. Go and check it out! I love this Christmas is July bundle she has - perfect for a quilt!

Fantastic Friday #26

It is Friday!! We have had a super busy week here, with the festivities of the 4th and then just out and about doing stuff. It has been great. And we have actually got a little bit a cooler weather this week! It has been nice, even though I got caught in a storm during my run yesterday.

Last week's party was a little bit small, but I think it was because of the holiday weekend. There was a lot of great stuff shared though. I loved looking at the creativity that is out there.

I chose to feature this IPad pouch tutorial, but the Suburbs Mama. I love that she knew what she wanted and then she made it herself! Way to go!

Grab a button and lets get onto the party! I decided to try something new this week. I have seen those 'like' things on other linky parties, and thought I would give it a try. I will feature the one that was 'liked' the most and the one I choose next week!

<center><a href="http://ironvioletdesigns.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Iron Violet Designs" src="http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m599/IronVioletDesigns/featured.png"/></a></center>

Rules:
*become a follower of Iron Violet Designs, I like followers - it makes me feel good. But I won't delete your link if you don't.
*link up anything that you have made - sewn, cooked, crafted, etc. family friendly of course.
*must link to a blog post, not your home page, another linky party, etsy shop or giveaway.
*link back to this post so that others can join in on the fun. Grab a button or do a text link either one is fine with me.
*visit a few of the links and leave comments! Everyone needs a little comment love!

<center><a href="http://ironvioletdesigns.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Iron Violet Designs" src="http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m599/IronVioletDesigns/FantasticFriday.png"/></a></center>

Let's get started:

Fun Flip Flops

The other day while I was scanning blogs - you know my favorite pastime - I found these awesome flip flops. I just loved them, and quickly bookmarked them for later. I should have pinned them, but my computer is taking forever to pin things! I hope I am not the only one!

It just so happens that I needed this great idea sooner rather than later. Last week I needed a last minute activity for the youth of my church - just the girls. Our previous plan fell through at the last minute and we needed something now!

Thankfully my brain jumps around a lot, because I remembered these and headed to JoAnn's to get the supplies. It was easy enough - flip flops and fabric. And it was all on sale! These are what I came home with:

There was also some blue and some white flip flops, but I forgot my camera that night because I was in such a hurry, so you get a picture of what was left. ;) sorry! But green is really my favorite!

The Mother Huddle really gives a great tutorial, so I am not going to try to put one together for you - just go check her out, you will not be sorry.

You just get to see awesome pictures of my feet - which are in need of a pedicure.

And here they are in all their glory. the girls loved these, and I loved that they only cost about $3 a pair - excellent for the budget! They really loved the bright colors, and a lot of them said that they too have trouble finding flip flops because of wide feet, as did The Mother huddle.

Now I am thinking how cute would it be to make a pair of these to match a skirt? I know that my girl would go crazy for them! 

Elephant Bag- Fabric Review

Kim over at Poppy Seed Fabrics sent me this great elephant fabric to review. I just loved it. I knew that a bag would be perfect for it.

The fabric is nylon, not something I regularly work with, but it sewed up so easily. It was very easy to work with, and I love the lightness, yet durability it gives this bag.

I just wanted to make a simple bag - somewhat the size of those re-usable grocery ones. I just took some measurements off one of my larger one and I got started. It went together very fast. The nylon does not hold it's shape which is good for this bag because I did not want to look like I was carrying on of those re-usable grocery bags around. But it is very durable and can hold weight.

Once I had the main part of the bag done it really just needed something extra. I asked Conan and he told me to put a elephant one the front of it. I had a little bit of lining fabric left - a simple white cotton - and free handed an elephant.

That was a huge step for me, I've said it before I am not the artist in the family.

I am working on another bag - it is not going well - and it has fabric handles, so for this I wanted to steer clear of the fabric handles.

I saw some rope ones on a different bag and thought they would be perfect to make for this bag! I added those to the bag and now I don't just love it - I really L.O.V.E. it! I used two different sizes of rope. for the wrap around the bottom, I actually unwound the smaller size and them just used fabric glue to get it to stay where I wanted.

 I used large curtain grommets as well for the rope handles. I think they really look great!

This bag is roomy enough for everything, yet super cute and fun. I used it the other day when we had an event to go to, and I was able to put all of the crap that my kids got in it, as well as the other stuff I already had in it. Now that is the perfect bag.

And on the plus side, after a full day of walking around with it, I can either wipe it clean or throw it in the washer to get any stains off of it. This is a great fabric and was a lot of fun to work with.

If you want to get some of this fabric, go here. Poppy Seed Fabrics has lot of different colors, and even some in cotton! Perfect for making everything! Here is just a sample of some of the colors that she has:

Stay tuned for later this week when I have another fabric that Poppy Seed Fabrics sent me to review!

*all of these opinions are completely mine.

Fantastic Friday #25

Okay, I do not know about all of you, but I cannot believe that it is July!! Where is my summer going! I am sure that you all have been crazy busy with everything summer, just like we are here, but thank you so much for linking up each week! I cannot tell you how much I enjoy seeing all of your creativity.

Last week there was so much goodness found on here! If you did not get a chance to look through the links, you really should. I could feature each and everyone! I could not even narrow it down to one, so today you get two!

First up I have this fabulous Drape Front Cardigan from grey luster girl. Seriously, is not this perfect for dressing up your summer t-shirt attire. (Well that is what I wear everyday of the summer). I need to make one of these.

Next we have an awesome family sign, by Pink Ink Doodle. I love how the picture frames and letters are all a little different. I think that this would also look great with a last name!

Grab a button and lets get onto the party!

<center><a href="http://ironvioletdesigns.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Iron Violet Designs" src="http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m599/IronVioletDesigns/featured.png"/></a></center>

Rules:
*become a follower of Iron Violet Designs, I like followers - it makes me feel good. But I won't delete your link if you don't.
*link up anything that you have made - sewn, cooked, crafted, etc. family friendly of course.
*must link to a blog post, not your home page, another linky party, etsy shop or giveaway.
*link back to this post so that others can join in on the fun. Grab a button or do a text link either one is fine with me.
*visit a few of the links and leave comments! Everyone needs a little comment love!

<center><a href="http://ironvioletdesigns.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Iron Violet Designs" src="http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m599/IronVioletDesigns/FantasticFriday.png"/></a></center>

Let's get started: