Everyone can be a great hostess

Information on making Stitch ‘n Rip jackets, ways to improve sleep and making snack cakes will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. and on Thursday at noon. (All times are Mountain.)

Barbara Crawford will demonstrate how to make innovative Stitch ‘n Rip jackets. She’ll go over free motion sewing, adding batiks, putting on collars, and share some new themes that incorporate hand and machine embroidery. Crawford lives in Katy, Texas.

James Fallon is going to explain how to improve sleep. He’ll discuss pillows, humidifiers and a white noise machine which can be especially helpful for insomniacs. He’ll also show photos of rooms that help with better sleep vs. ones that overstimulate. Fallon is from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Nancy Siler of Woodridge, Illinois, is going to show how to make snack cakes, which can be decorated for any occasion and are good for kids’ or adult parties. Just use your imagination.

Information on making canvas-covered journals, cooking turkey and being a great hostess will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” on Tuesday at noon and on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Lauren Ferguson will show how to make a canvas covered journal to keep in your pocket or purse for handy access to jot down phone numbers, names and other information. Ferguson is a mixed media artist from Dacula, Georgia.

Marty Van Ness is a spokesperson and home economist. She’s going to talk about “go to” recipes for family celebrations, including snack ideas for kids, healthy lunch ideas, and ideas for using leftover turkey. She also has innovative turkey recipes for dinnertime. She’s from Naperville, Illinois.

Chef and cooking school owner John Vollertsen (known as Chef Johnny Vee) will explain how everyone can be the best hostess. He’ll share some great party planning tips to take the stress and worry out of party giving, along with demonstrating a few recipes at the same time. He’s from Santa Fe.

Orange, fennel cured olives

• 1 cup brine-cured olives (such as Kalamata and/or green olives)

• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 Tbsp. very thin matchstick-size strips orange peel

• 2 teaspoons toasted fennel seeds

• 2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced

• 1/2 teaspoon (or more) dried crushed red pepper

Mix first 6 ingredients in small bowl. Season to taste with red pepper and salt. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Can be prepared 4 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.) Makes 1 cup.

“Creative Living” is produced and hosted by Sheryl Borden. The show is carried by more than 118 PBS stations in the United States, Canada, Guam and Puerto Rico and is distributed by Westlink, Albuquerque.