About Clare Rowley
I have always been passionate about all aspects of art since early childhood and I attribute the artistic process for making it possible for me to invent the Creative Feet sewing machine feet, free-motion Octi-Hoops Embroidery and Quilting Frames, the Thread Dispenser and my instructional DVD and Workbook.
This need to create is non-stop and I love to share my knowledge with those hungry to learn.
I was just reminded about the fact that my eye lashes were all but gone, I thought it was due to using water-proof mascara (I don’t anymore) and stopped as a result. I have been enjoying not having to try to fill in the gaps between them but had forgotten how few remained before I stopped eating foods that I was allergic to.
If you’re losing yours, if your eyelash area itches, it may be something you’re eating…..
Leave a comment | tags: allergic to garlic, allergies, allergy induced asthma, almonds, cabbage, carrots, egg free, eye lashes falling out, food, gluten free, itchy eyelids, lemons, losing eye lashes, nut free, peanuts, strawberries, tomatoes, wheat, wheat free | posted in Food
For the last 20 or so years, I’ve had acrylic covering my nail beds. You may think it was for glamour sake, however it was more than that.
Because my business keeps my hands under the camera’s eye and the eyes of thousands, I did want my nails to look nice – mostly because bad looking nails is a distraction for the viewer. However the real reason I began applying it over my nails were because my nails:
- Were thin. (thinner than anyone in my family)
- Bent backward if I pushed against things.
- Nail beds were shaped so that the nails went up at the ends instead of downward. (the only one in my family with nail beds that shape)
- Nail beds were tender to the touch. (slightest tap would cause severe pain)
- Nails split in layers. (peeled like there were layers on top of each other instead of one solid nail)
- Nails tore. (so easily that I couldn’t even scratch myself without them bending back and tearing)
Now, after several months of not eating any of my food allergies, my nails are strong, they are healing from years of applying acrylic and even the area that has been filed down is stronger than my original nails were. I can tap the top of the thin areas and there is no pain!
I have been using a glue on nail (not sanding nail bed) to cover the ugly nails that remain, but the new growth is young strong looking nails!
This is very exciting, I’ve never wanted to wear them and am finally free of the process. I knew each time I breathed in the smell, I was hurting my lungs and am so grateful to finally not have to inhale it.
Interesting to find such odd symptoms going away revealing themselves to me after 48 years of eating foods that I was allergic to….. so wonderful and so shocking.
Leave a comment | tags: allergic to garlic, allergies, allergy induced asthma, carrots, egg free, eggs, gluten free, nails peeling, nails split, nut free, peanuts, sensitive nails, tender nail beds, tomatoes, wheat, wheat free | posted in Food
Leave a comment | tags: baby, barbie, barbie doll, blanket, brat dolls, craft, crafting, crafts, creative, decorating, doll, doll clothes, dyi, fabric, feet, home dec, howto, quilt, quilting, sew, sewing, sewing foot | posted in Creative Feet, Octi-Hoops
Visit this facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001066604087 and you’ll be happy you did…
I began using their pans 5 months ago and cannot recommend them enough! Mich Elle, will teach you how to make better food choices and educate you on why the pans make you healthier and the clean up is So EASY!
I couldn’t believe, this past Thanksgiving, how much faster everything cooked! Turkey took 2 hours less and was juicy and tender and the amount of broth left over is astounding! I also was astonished with the mashed potatoes…….. you slice them up – rinse them off and then….. DO NOT ADD WATER! Yep, no water added and they cooked to perfection~
Why is the NO WATER added so wonderful…? Because, water takes out nutrients and then you pour it down the drain! Not with these pans…..
If that isn’t enough, cooking food above 200 degrees kills good bacteria and strips food of its vital nutrients, cooking with these, allows you to cook at lower temps – and that also saves you on energy bills….
Clearly a win-win for me, I hope you enjoy learning from Mich Elle, she’s amazing and my niece
Leave a comment | tags: allergic to garlic, allergy induced asthma, almonds, cabbage, carrots, cook, cooking, egg free, eggs, food, gluten free, health, healthy, nutrition, strawberries, tomatoes, wheat, wheat free | posted in Food, Recipes - for those with allergies
I hope you enjoy this song, that helps to build up your spirit – no matter what you’re going through……
http://youtu.be/TdN5GyTl8K0
2 comments | posted in Food
I’m aware of the importance to eat your vitamins, I’ve been taking them most of my life. One thing I’ve noticed is that some vitamins make me fall asleep – my body temperature drops and I have trouble breathing. I am allergic to many foods and found the culprit Magnesium Stearate! It should be clearer what is used to produce it and those ingredients should also be on the bottle. Become informed about Magnesium Stearate – http://www.livestrong.com/article/37138-side-effects-magnesium-stearate-/
Having food allergies is complicated to say the least!
Leave a comment | tags: allergic to garlic, allergies, allergy induced asthma, almonds, cabbage, carrots, egg free, eggs, food, gluten free, peanuts, wheat | posted in Food
SALE ENDS SUNDAY 01/08/2012 @ 12am
15% OFF using coupon cf1015
www.creativefeet.com

Leave a comment | tags: baby, barbie, barbie doll, blanket, brat dolls, craft, crafting, crafts, creative, decorating, doll, doll clothes, dyi, embroider, embroidery, fabric, home dec, how to, howto, quilt, quilting, quilts, sew, sewing, sewing foot | posted in Creative Feet, Octi-Hoops
First you need bread…..
My food allergies prevent me from using the following ingredients:
- NO Wheat Flour (Gluten = a long string protein)
- NO Eggs (entire egg)
This first loaf I baked with my newly acquired Breadman Bread Machine was interesting at-best. My bread was extremely dense and felt like it weighed 5 pounds! It was amazingly tasty though but by the looks alone, would never sell in a grocery store bread isle. I didn’t finish eating that rubbery loaf, before trying my hand at another and my first attempt at a box brand.
It doesn’t end up looking like the picture on the box if you have to eliminate eggs however, it’s pretty good compared to my attempts at baking my own recipe.

I eliminated eggs by adding 2 Tbsp corn starch and 4 tbsp warm water and I opted to add milk in-place of water in attempts to add food content to the bread. Next loaf I’ll make with water to see if the bread itself becomes lighter. I also added a tbsp of onion powder to add a rich flavor without overpowering the taste of the bread.
Next….. JAM
When I was in Elementary school, we were treated to a field trip to Knott’s Berry Farm. This was long before it became the amusement park attraction it is today. Nonetheless, I was affected by this trip in a lifelong life-altering way. I remember learning about their new and exciting accomplishment, the “Boysenberry” . You may believe that there are boysenberries littering the hillsides of some coastal cities ripening as you read this, but that berry never existed before Knott’s Berry Farm created it.
They took 2 plants, 1-Rasberry & 1-Black Berry and spliced the two plants together creating this milder, sweeter berry. The tartness you taste when biting into the rasberry is notable and the blackeberry in it’s mild nature combined create a full-bodied smoother tasting berry. Unfortunately, we cannot run to the store and pick up a box of Boysenberries, so I am attempting to create that taste in my own jam. I would love to buy Knott’s Berry Farms Boysenberry jam, however they use LEMON JUICE and that is one of my allergies.
Toast and Jam wasn’t something I ate much, it was a painful meal for me my entire lifetime. I could feel the gluten cutting through my esophagus and the lemon juice – heart burn that followed reminded me throughout the day that “Toast and Jam” = “pop a heartburn pill” or suffer.
I was pleased to see how simple it was to make Jam, it’s basically only Fruit + Sugar… unless you want to “cut the sweetness” with lemon or add citrus to preserve the fruit. I opted to not add a citrus to this jar. However I canned the remaining jam with a bit of lime juice to preserve the jam once opened.

I added some Xanthum gum to add thickness to the jam, you can also add corn starch combined with water, during the heating process.

This morning, my first toast with jam in over 5 months and I have:
- No esophageal pain
- No heartburn
I’m thinking about having a second piece ♥
2 comments | tags: allergic to garlic, allergies, allergy induced asthma, almonds, cabbage, carrots, egg free, eggs, gluten free, wheat, wheat free | posted in Food, Recipes - for those with allergies
The following link is a report covering studies from the US alone and I believe, after my experience, that many more people suffer with food allergies without their knowledge. http://www.foodallergy.org/files/FoodAllergyFactsandStatistics.pdf
Movies frequently depict a person suffering an Anaphylaxic episode with outward signs including exaggerated swelling on the face and neck. It is unrealistic as depicted in this photo of movie star and comedian Martin Short, in the movie “Pure Luck” with co-star Danny Glover.

Or Will Smith in the movie “Hitch” as shown here:

I’m not saying some people don’t experience this extreme swelling from eating foods they’re allergic to. In-fact, my tongue was swollen so often that I got braces to increase the space in my lower jaw to allow more room for it, I had a bee sting on my pinky-finger that proceeded to cause my entire arm and neck to swell. What I’m saying is that it doesn’t always happen, sometimes you simply have what appears to be an asthma attack and you can show no outward signs of Anaphylaxis but in-fact be experiencing it and putting your life at risk.
I hope this helps you see why I went most of my life suffering food allergies without knowing and save you from thinking that you or someone you love simply has Asthma.
3 comments | tags: allergic to garlic, allergies, allergy induced asthma, almonds, cabbage, carrots, food, gluten free, nut free, peanuts, strawberries, tomatoes, wheat, wheat free | posted in Food

Creative Feet wishes you a Happy New year with special savings
Click on the following link to review my latest newsletter and to view show dates and locations:
http://tinyurl.com/7fhzy7n

Finish the edge of any fabric with your current sewing machine
Leave a comment | tags: barbie, barbie doll, blanket, brat dolls, craft, crafting, creative, decorating, doll clothes, dyi, embroider, embroidery, fabric, feet, home dec, how to, quilting, quilts, sew, sewing, sewing foot | posted in Creative Feet, Octi-Hoops