Portfolio de Couturier: Olivia-Kate

This edition of Portfolio de Couturier is a little different than the previous ones. We're not going to show you any old fashions or a biography on a very important lady from history. Instead we're going to being interviewing Mrs. Spade, a 21st century seamstress, who owns and runs OliviaKate clothing. OliviaKate is a Mother-Daughter business Mrs. Spade and her daughter, Olivia Kate, team up to bring elaborate and colourful clothing for little girls. I hope this interview will give you a a behind the scene look at her as a seamstress and designer.

GGM: Is knowing how to make your own clothes something in your heritage? Did your grandmother, aunts or mother know how to sew?

Mrs. Spade: Both grandmothers and my mom enjoyed sewing, crochet, knit and hand embroidery. They loved making gifts for their children and grandchildren. I have fond memories of my mom sewing play dresses for me when I was little. I still have a beautiful applique quilt from my grandmother on Olivia's crib. Growing up around home projects made it easy for me to start creating after my own daughter was born.

GGM: When did you learn how to sew and what was your first project?

Mrs. Spade:I learned to sew at around 14 years old (if I remember correctly) with my mom who taught me the basics. My first project was a simple dress. I'm pretty sure mom did most of the sewing for that, lol...

GGM: Why was sewing something that interested you enough to learn to do it well?

Mrs. Spade: My interest in sewing came after my daughter was born. I wanted to make some clothes for Olivia and started learning new techniques which eventually developed into a small home business. Sewing is valuable in so many other ways as well; I can make my own dress skirts, make play dresses and church dresses for Olivia, take in my husbands clothing or make gifts for loved ones. I recently machine embroidered hats with the words "Jesus Saves" on the front for my family. These are my husband's favorite.

GGM: Why do you think it's important to know how to sew?

Mrs. Spade: Sewing is how I get rid of stress. It also allows me to make things at a very low cost which is beneficial when something needs repaired. I recently took in all of Edward's dress pants (my husband). This would have been expensive if we went to a seamstress for alterations. It's also something I look forward to teaching Olivia.

GGM: What ways can knowing how to sewing better one's life-style and home?

Mrs. Spade: If you know how to sew, old things can become new with little effort. Whether you're making something pretty to wear or sprucing up the pillows in your living room with new fabric, there are endless possibilities without spending a fortune at a retail store. I love to search local thrift stores for vintage fabrics and notions. I find items (many are brand new) for pennies that can be worked into my sewing.

GGM: Your little girl's clothing is cute. Where did you come up with the styles and what gives you inspiration for sewing projects?

Mrs. Spade: My greatest inspiration is my daughter Olivia. Right now I love bold, bright colors and using entire lines of fabric in one set. I also enjoy mixing vintage and new clothing patterns to come up with a set that's completely unique.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to speak with you and your readers. I have to thank the Lord Jesus for all the many blessings in my life. Also I have to thank my husband Eddie for being so supportive and all of my family and friends that have encouraged me along the way.

Thanks for taking the time to join me, Mrs. Spade. Many blessings to you in your business! You can visit Mrs. Spade and little Miss Olivia by going to OliviaKate.com. I hope you as a young lady or even a mother will be inspired by this article to start learning how to sew yourself. It's a wonderful homemaking skill and life-essential.

Scramblers

My mom told me that her first cooking project was when she was nine years old. Her mom taught her how to cook. That is my grandma Marsha. Grandma helped my mom cook a big dinner for my grandparents anniversary. That was a long time ago, when my mom was little.

She taught my mom how to make scrambled eggs too. I saw a picture of my mom cooking scrambled eggs by grandma's stove. Grandpa has that picture at his house though. My mom taught me how to cook scrambled eggs too. I have some pictures to share.

Using a mixing bowl, crack open the eggs and put the raw eggs in the bowl. Mix them up with a whisk until they are mixed in very well.

With your mom's help, heat up a pan on the stove. If your pan isn't a non stick pan you will want to spray cooking spray in the pan or use margarine.

When the pan is hot, by using a medium heat, pour the egg mixture in. Scrape the sides and bottom of the pan while cooking. When the eggs are slightly moist, but mostly dry, then pour them onto a plate.

Tips:
-You want to use margarine because butter can burn too easily.
-Wear an apron to protect your clothes and a bonnet or chef's hat to keep your hair out of the food.
-After you pour out the cooked eggs, soak your pan in cold water. Hot water will only cook the eggs onto the pan more, making it hard to clean off.
-Spray your spoon or spatula with cooking spray so the eggs come off easier when you wash it.
-Keep the pan's handle turned in, away from the walk way. This is so someone doesn't knock the pan off the stove and make owies.
-Never cook with a stove without the right supervision.

Thank you Mom, A Poem by Miss Kaitlyn

Thank-you, Mom,

For endless days

You’ve cared for me,

In endless ways

Thanks for working

Every hour,

To protect me from

Evil’s power.

The days, they seem,

To slip away

And sometimes our friendship

Begins to fray.

I just want

You to know,

Thanks for caring more,

For how I grow.

Most of all

I want to thank you for

Guiding me upward,

More and more.

For teaching me the way,

That I should go,

Even when

It hurts you so.

Please forgive

My reckless days

And everytime

It did replay.

Thanks for the lessons

You’ve taught to me,

Like saving myself

For the man to be.

Thanks for guiding me

All the way

Everytime

I start to stray.

Thank-You for not

Giving up on me.

When I was surly,

You prayed for me.

Artwork and poem by: Miss Kaitlyn

~Spiritual Mother’s Day Present~

On a Wednesday night church service, after the message, the Pastor asked if anyone hadn’t trusted Christ as their Savior. I was thinking if I had or not, and I didn’t know! That next morning, I told my mom, with tears in my eyes, that I just didn’t know where I would go. She said, “Well that would be a good thing to know wouldn’t it?” So she told the plan of Salvation to me and I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior! After the prayer my mom said to me, “You know what, I got saved on this same day 10 years ago!” I was so excited that we could share that day as our “Spiritual Birthday!”

Healthy Steps

My mother and I have decided to eat healthier and it has helped us to keep each other accountable. We both eat 100% whole wheat grains, Fat free milk, Splenda in her coffee, honey instead of sugar in our cereal, and sugar free candy when we have a craving. We also try to cook as much as possible instead of going out to dinner at a restaurant or fast food place. Help your mother with meal planning so as not to take up to much time deciding on what to make. Also, try preparing the meal ahead of time and freezing it so that all you would have to do is defrost and heat up. That is a great idea if you know that you will be extra busy that week and you will not have time to prepare an entire meal.

After dinner sometimes, we try to go out for a walk together. You can help your mom get the dishes done so that you can go out on a walk. Sometimes after we are finished with our school work, we will go to the park and walk around a bit. Working along with mom in healthy living helps bring more to your relationship. Have fun making healthy steps, one day at a time.

In Good Faith and Scripture Share

Each week we'll have In Good Faith Day where you can look over these 10 items and prayerfully consider if you have pleased the Lord to the best of your ability during the previous week and we pray it will also help encourage you for the upcoming weeks ahead. If you would like to share how the Lord used you this week to be a blessing to others we sure would love to hear about it!

1. I had personal devotions this week: 3 days 5 days 7 days other

2. I memorized a God's word this week: 2 verses 4 verses 6 verses other

3. I helped mom or dad this week in an area that wasn't already a previous responsibility.

4. I attended our spiritual service this week:

5. I shared my faith with someone this week by speaking of our Lord with someone new.

6. I am avoiding bitterness in my heart towards someone right now. True or false

7. I am avoiding wrong influences such as ungodly T.V, music, or friends, etc.

8. In a clear conscience I know my heart is right with my parents.

9. I showed an act of kindness/service to my siblings this week.

10. I offered help to the needy this week. Ex: an elderly person, a sick person, the homeless, etc.

Memory Verses to Consider:

Psalm 1:1, " Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."

Psalm 8:9, "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"

Psalm 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

Psaml 139:14, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

A Life of Faith

My favorite book series is the A Life of Faith series. It is published by Mission City Press who updated the original books that were written by Martha Finley in the 1800's. They also have a website, www.alof.com .

There are eight books for each of the three characters. The characters are Elsie Dinsmore, Millie Keith, and Violet Travilla. Elsie is Millie’s cousin and Violet’s mom. The books start with them as children and then they grow through the books until they are in their 20's. Each individual series (Elsie, Millie, or Violet) can be read separately from another series.



They have recently introduced two new series. The Laylie Colbert and Kathleen McKenzie series. These are not written by Martha Finley but they are still very good!

The Life of Faith books are uplifting, clean, and funny. I could go on...and on...about the books because I like them so much. However, I think I should share with you a pretend letter I wrote to Martha Finley (who has now gone on to be with the Lord), because it shows what I like about the Millie Keith series.

Here is the letter (I wrote it about a year ago):

Dear Mrs. Martha Finley,

I have read all of the Millie Keith books in the "A Life of Faith" series. Reading your books made me desire to grow closer to God. It made reading the Bible seem an exciting and rewarding thing to do, instead of something that I have to do. It also made me want to be more loving and kind towards my brothers, and respectful and obedient to my parents.

I think it is really neat that you start each chapter with a Bible verse that is relevant to the chapter. I have shared these books with my friends and they love them, too. I really like the fact that Millie asked God to keep her heart for her and to only give it to the right man when/if the time came. She did not kiss or do anything else that was not appropriate, but stayed pure and waited for the time when she would get married if that was God’s will for her.

Millie was the oldest child and sometimes she was frustrated or upset with her younger siblings but she prayed to God to help her become more patient. I am also the oldest child in my family and I want to be more patient with my younger brothers as well. I want to be gentle and kind and yet be bold and strong in my faith, just like Millie.

Your books show that a strong faith in God and good moral character are much more important than money or things. I completely agree with that! I think it is great that Millie’s Bible was her most prized possession. It is so wonderful to read books that value and promote purity and godliness in young women. Thank you so much for writing books that encourage people to live for God!

I Scream!

I scream. You scream. We all scream for Ice cream. Wouldn’t you agree? Everyone loves ice cream don’t they? Well I do for sure! Ice cream is my favorite treat to eat especially in the summer. When I eat it, it feels like I am eating a sugary cloud of goodness.

So why am I going on about ice cream? On May 29, 1948, the first ice cream freezer was patented. I sure am glad about that, but you don’t have to have a big machine to make ice cream. Here is an easy way of making it in just five minutes…
What you will need:

* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1/2 cup milk or half & half
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
* 6 tablespoons rock salt
* 1 pint-size Ziploc plastic bag
* 1 gallon-size Ziploc plastic bag
* Ice cubes

How to make it:

1. Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
2. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
3. Place the small bag inside the large one and seal again carefully.
4. Shake until mixture is ice cream, about 5 minutes.
5. Wipe off top of small bag, then open carefully and enjoy!



Did you know?

One of the major ingredients in ice cream is air. Without it, the stuff would be as hard as a rock.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the biggest ice cream sundae in the world was made in Alberta, Canada, in 1988. It weighed nearly 55,000 pounds!

Some of the strangest flavors of ice cream ever manufactured are avocado, garlic, bean, jalapeño, and pumpkin. There was even a dill pickle ice cream!


Ice cold

Creamy

Eat it fresh!



Cool on your tongue

Rocky Road

Extraordinary

A very delicious treat

Minty

***Don't forget that many Baskin Robbins (also known as 31 Flavors) has One Dollar Scoop Night on Tuesdays all year long! You can also sign up for their birthday club and you'll get a free coupon for ice cream when your birthday comes.

FREEDOM FLYER

When I was a young girl, I had the best bike ever. It was purchased in 1976 when our country celebrated sesquicentennial—200 years of freedom. My bike was red, white, and blue with a long banana style seat decorated with stars and stripes. Metallic streamers embellished the handlebars and there were unsightly training wheels on the back which caused me to wobble as I road along the asphalt roads of my suburban neighborhood.

I remember when my daddy took off those training wheels. He pushed me up a hill. “Pedal, Angie, Pedal!” I looked back and there he was at the bottom of the slope. My hair and streamers were surely blowing in the breeze. I was doing it! What a sense of freedom and exhilaration!

Today, I still have a bike. My husband just aired the tires for me so I can enjoy riding on these beautiful spring days. It is just as exhilarating now as it was when I was a child. I still feel a sense of freedom even though my bike is no longer red, white, and blue. Olivia likes to ride side by side with me and hold hands. My son rides ahead and tries to impress us with his speed.

Who created this marvel of machines that we all enjoy so much? Germany's Baron Karl von Drais invented the Draisienne in 1818. It was made of wood and had no pedals. It was propelled by the rider pushing his or her feet against the ground. It was kind of like a scooter on which you sit!

As you can see, the bicycle has come a long way since 1818. We celebrate this wonderful invention in May for it is National Bike Month. I suppose that with soaring gas prices, this invention could be put to good use running to the store or work while at the same time providing benefits of exercise and good health.

Do you experience a sense of freedom when you ride your bike? Remember, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor 3:17 KJV)!

Physical Fitness for the Homekeeper in You

Even though some of us may not be outside in the sun this summer, everyone wants a well built body. To do so, you do not have to conform to the methods of this world, you only need to keep a healthy diet and exercise. Exercise does not have to consist of going to a gym every day and lifting weights. You can get the same amount of exercise right at home. For example:

Yard work- You will build the muscles in your legs, arms, chest, stomach, back, neck, and your seat.
Sweeping/mopping- Arms, and chest.
Scrubbing baseboards- Arms, chest and legs.
Dishes-Arms, chest and stomach(minor).
Dusting-Arms, and chest.
Laundry-Arms, chest, neck, and stomach(minor).
Cooking-Arms, and chest. Mixing batter will build your arm muscles, as will kneading bread.

Also, a few ways to get the most out of your home workout are to:

Every time you are bending over or on your knees, squat instead to emphasize stress on your legs.
Every time you lift something, tighten your entire upper body. This will help build your upper body muscles.
If you are playing a board game, watching television, or reading, you can lift a soup can with your arm to build your arm muscles.
Also, when you are doing those things, you can periodically lift your legs off of the ground using your stomach muscles.
No matter what you do, tighten your muscles to get the most out of whatever you are doing.

You can also take the time to do sit-ups, push-ups, and the like to get extra exercise at your house.

You can read about healthy diet tips in my 'Healthy Steps' articles.

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Attn: Mothers and Daughters! REMINDER

**More Prizes Added**

We have updated our Mother Daughter giveaway and added some prizes for the winner. Please be sure to contact us with your entry by this coming Saturday, April 26th!

ggmphotosubmissions@gmail.com

Growing in Grace Magazine wants to honor Christian mothers and daughters in May for Mother's Day! We'll be planning a special article just for this occasion and here's what we would like to do:

-Send us your best photo of mother with daughter(s).

-Girls: Tell us what makes YOUR mom so special.

-Photos may be of you doing something together, participating in a favorite hobby, or just a still pose. Your choice.

We'll choose one winning article to be featured in May's issue, but all participants photos will be featured in honor of your moms.

Please contact us and we'll send you a permission form to complete for using your photo.

All mothers with daughters 18 or younger may apply. Three/four generation photos are also accepted.

Edited to add: Deadline for submissions is April 26th!!!!

Some prizes are coming in and here is a sneek peek at what
C.S. Flowers is offering the winner! (U.S. Resident only)




Also we have an e-Book on menu planning that was donated by Graham Family Ministries.

We also have a lovely little goody basket full of stationary (note pad, scrapbooking stickers, shopping list pad, pink note cards, Mary Engelbreit Journal, and garden note cards), a $5 Starbuck's gift card, a Semi-Precious Stone heart charm necklace with additional charms, AND that's not all!

You'll also get a KJV New Testament pocket Bible, and a fun book for mom, 'Death of a Six Foot Teddy Bear'. A fun little book on Girlfriends 'Moments of connection'

A Season's Best Recipe cookbook from Pampered Chef.

Also you'll get a Strawberry and a Cherry Lip Balm from Burt Bee's, as well as their Mini Lotion kit.

Prize Package valued at approx. $100

**If you are a vendor and would like to donate prize(s) for our winner, please contact us.

Contest for US mainland residents only

This is a wonderful way to show your mom and the whole world how much your mother means to you. Please pass this news onto your friends and invite others to join us. Here are two graphics you may use:

BUT WAIT! There's more! If you blog about this on your sites and send us the link to your entries, we'll enter your name FOR EACH BLOG you post this on, into the drawing. So help spread the word for a greater chance to win!

<br /><center><a href="http://www.growingingraceonline.com/2008/03/attn-mothers-and-daughters.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e93/designergs/growingingrace/promotions/Hmomtag.png" border="0" alt="GGM" /></a><br /></center>

<br /><center><a href="http://www.growingingraceonline.com/2008/03/attn-mothers-and-daughters.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e93/designergs/growingingrace/promotions/hmtag.png" width="150" border="0" alt="GGM" /></a><br /></center>

M&M Pancakes

This last summer my grandparents came to visit us in their motor home. Each of the children get to have a night with them in their motor home. when it got to my turn, I asked if we could make "Chocolate Chip Pancakes." They said they did not have chocolate chips, but they did say they had M&M's.


So that night we were watching a movie and I realized that to make the M&M pancakes I needed to crush them. So I got them out of the bag and set them in a bowl in the freezer over night, then we went back to the movie. After the movie they went to bed and I was laying on their fold-out couch, and I could not wait until' morning for the pancakes. So I went to sleep right away so the night would get over with and so we could make pancakes!
That morning, we took out the frozen M&M's and chopped them up.

1 cup of all purpose flour

1 Tbsp. of sugar

2 tsp. of baking powder

1/4 tsp. of salt

1 beaten egg

1 cup of milk

2 Tbsp. of cooking oil

In a medium size bowl stir together sugar, flour, salt and baking powder. In a small mixing bowl combine egg, milk and cooking oil. Add that to the flour mixture and stir together or blend until slightly lumpy.

Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto a hot, lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet for each standard- size pancake or about 1 Tbsp. batter for each dollar-size pancake.

Cook till pancakes are golden brown, turning to cook second sides when pancakes have bubbly surfaces and slightly dry edges.

Makes about 8 to 10 standard size or 36 dollar-size pancakes.


I hope you like them I do!!!

Happy Birthday Sisterlisa!

Today we are celebrating Sisterlisa's birthday! We know that your favorite color is pink so in honor of that we are bringing you a yummy treat from PinkCakeBox, a pink fondant cake!

I know that if you could pick a cake, you'd pick this one. A yummy raspberry and chocolate delicacy!

In addition to this we're decorating with pink balloons and we brought gifts wrapped in pink paper to match your cake!

We also know how much you love photographing flowers so we're bringing you a field of pink tulips! We know you'll have lots of fun strolling among the flowers and enjoying the warm gentle breeze.

We all wish you the happiest birthday ever!

Photo Winner!

We had a panel of four judges who are all avid photographers study each of the shots and our first place winner is Mariah!! We have your contact info so we will be in tough to connect you with BetterPhoto.com to get your site set up! Congratulations!

A special thanks to all those who submitted their photos to our photo contest! We encourage you to explore your interest in photography and continue with your interest in this fascinating form of art! You can learn more at BetterPhoto.com as well as at the HSBA each Friday as they present to you their Foto Fridays.