Thrift Store Score!

A friend of my sister's (also my friend, but I know her through my sister) has an awesome ice cream maker. It doesn't need salt or electricity, you just need to freeze the inner chamber for at least seven hours before making said ice cream. After mixing the ingredients, about three turns of the handle every two to three minutes for about 20 minutes gives you a yummy soft serve, with some time in the freezer giving you a more typical hard-pack ice cream. After trying it out, my sister and I both agreed that we wanted, very badly, to own this ice cream maker.

While she was out at a thrift store, our friend spotted one of them for only six dollars. Six dollars! We were thrilled, and immediately said yes when she asked if she should pick it up for us. My sister has already tried making some mint chocolate chip frozen yogurt, and we are looking forward to many more delicious frozen treats to eat during this scorcher of a summer.

Summer Studio : : Two

So, this week's summer studio is a day late, but I've been crazy-busy getting ready to sing at a coffee house at my church and getting sick at the same time (not cool!). However, I did have some hardcore studio time on Thursday, and these are the results:



(Sorry for the lack of smile. It was late...)

I made a dress! The Mendocino Sundress, specifically. You can find the free download for the pattern here. I sent the pattern to FedEx-Kinkos to be printed, and they did a perfect job! The fabric is a linen-look cotton that was 60% off at JoAnn Fabrics. A free day and the music of "Glee" on my netbook kept me sewing for about five or six hours. I finished it just in time for dinner on the beach with my sister and some friends. The best part? It is super-comfortable! I could definitely see myself making another one of these. And did I mention, it has pockets?! I LOVE pockets on dresses - perfect for collecting shells while walking across the shoreline :).