turkey feathers

Someone's In The Kitchen

This time of year, the harvest season comes at us hard and fast and even though I don't (yet) have an over burgeoning vegetable garden, our friends and neighbors have been keeping us very busy with theirs.   I'm not complaining, on the contrary I love it, welcome it...beg for it even, and am so happy when they share the bounty.  Very happy, believe me!  It's just that, when you're not expecting it, it can leave you stopped dead in your tracks because you have to move fast.  Everything I've been sewing and gluing and painting has gone into a temporary holding pattern while I tend to all living things with a short shelf life.  Like the wonderful basil.  I spent all day yesterday making my little pesto packets.  But first there was a quick trip back to the market for fresh pignoli (pine nuts) and grated Parmesan cheese.  And instead of peeling and chopping lots of tiny garlic cloves, I bought elephant garlic instead, which is huge.  It's milder too, and that's nice since this goes in, and is eaten, mostly uncooked.  Just setting everything up and doing the prep work took half the morning, but the trusty food processor made the rest go fast.  And the time I'm saving in the long run, really makes up for a few hours of work.  I ended up making about half-a-dozen batches.  Which worked out to 24 packets, each with (more or less) 3 heaping tablespoonfuls in each snack bag.  Enough to last through the winter and beyond.  Pesto freezes well and it's really simple to use this way.  Just grab a packet and peel back the plastic while it's still frozen.  Nothing sticks so nothing is wasted.  Sometimes I just need a small amount to mix with goat cheese or butter to spread on bread, so I  just break off a little piece and toss the rest back in the freezer.   Super easy when I want to make a quick pasta dish too. 

And...look who's back.  He showed up late yesterday afternoon out of the blue.  Naturally we all have mixed emotions about this little fellow.  Ginger ran outside and threw her arms around him.  I noticed that he seemed quite chatty. Read: "please feed me".  I figured he'd trot on home after we went inside for the night, but there he was sitting at the back door this morning hungrier than ever, looking pitiful and thin.  So.  I fed him.  And you know what that means.  It means he's NEVER leaving!  But I can't think about that right now.  And all the implications.  Must move on to the apples that are waiting.  Making applesauce today.  With children helpers.  Enough said.

Mailbox Friendship

My mailbox has been brimming with the sweetest treasures from afar.  This package arrived all the way from the UK.  A wonderful surprise from Simmy who's blog, Echos of a Dream I've come to know and love.  She's been experimenting with natural dyes and wool recently with pretty good success; the results of which (along with some tutorial) you can read about here.  The colors that she's been able to achieve from things like dahlias, carrot tops, logwood and comfrey just to name a few, are really wonderful.  Soft, natural, muted colors that are so pleasing to the eye.  I was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of some of the spoils and can't wait to work with these.  Right now I'm still just staring at them in awe and feeling so happy, not to mention getting ideas about my own wool blanket project again.  Plus there was other fun stuff too that had the girls jumping for joy, like the sweet vintage book, pretty origami papers, foreign postage stamps, craft scrap, and even feathers from her Golden Laced Wyandotte hens, that I'm sure will inspire lots of crafting around here.  Grace and Simmy's daughter are about the same age and have been sending hand-written letters back and forth, kind of a casual cultural exchange of ideas and friendship across the pond.   The impact of which cannot be discounted.  After forty+ years I still correspond with my 4th grade penpal who lives in Canada.  She's my longest enduring friend even though we've only actually met in person twice.    I have a feeling that many of the bloggers I've "met" during this past year are going to become similar long-distance friends too.  Can't even begin to tell you how nice it is to read all the comments from those who keep popping in here.  I wish I could respond to each one, but time is pretty short these days and I'm often running to keep up.  Like um, now.  But before I bounce outta my chair, I have to show a couple more lovely things that arrived recently. This wonderful package was from Lauren, who makes the most incredible collage pieces. We did a swap for this garden apron.  She also included some fun candy, paper and stickers for the girls. They still can't believe that people they don't even know would send them such cool stuff.   And would you look at this collage. How sweet is that?  The colors are perfect too.  She also included a huge box of sewing things from an estate sale that I'm still going through.  So much neat stuff I can't tell you.  Look at that teensy embroidery hoop!  This was great because I haven't been out thrifting in ages.  Not much around here sometimes, but mainly I haven't had any time for it, so this was especially fun.  Thanks again everyone!

3 Easy Pieces

Honestly, I don't think there's anything I enjoy more than making little girl's dresses.  This little ensemble was finished just in time for my granddaughter's second birthday.  We spent the day in Portland yesterday, and it was great seeing friends and faces we haven't seen in a while.  Our little birthday girl got so much loot in the form of toys (and I just knew she would) so I made her this jumper dress and bag instead.  And of coarse, a Stitchette, from one of Hillary's cute patterns, to go along with it.  Which turned out SO cute and it even looks like her!  I like how she fits perfectly in the pocket and the bag.  The  bag idea probably came from this Japanese craft book (page 44) although I didn't exactly follow any directions.  I just realized that it was similar after I made it and started flipping through it again.  Anyway, it's a fun chunky little bag that's easy for a small person to get things in and out of without too much fiddling and frustration.  The jumper pattern I've had for a long time though, and it's one I've sewn many times over the years.  It's one of my favorites because "it's SO EASY" just like the pattern envelope says.  And you know, that's just NOT always the case with patterns that make those claims, but this one really lives up to that and it's simple enough so you can embellish anyway you want, or use just about any kind of fabric.  I'd forgotten that I had this yummy pink and red candy stripe cotton and when I came across it again, I knew this was perfect for what I had in mind.  A little white rick-rack adds a fresh note and a vintage look at the same time, but I left this on the plain side with just a simple "applique" for fun.  I really like deep hems too, they make most things hang nicer and you can let them out later to add length after a growth spurt.  The other fabric is Flea Market Fancy (Denyse Schmidt).   This jumper is only three pieces to pin and cut out, with a bodice that doubles as the facing, so all raw edges are nicely tucked away.  In a most *tidy* fashion.  Gotta love that.

Blackberry Ramble

When it's hot like it has been, you can smell the blackberries from the kitchen door.      

Anyone will tell you that blackberries are the scourge of the northwest...except when it's berry picking time.  Then we all sing a different tune. There's a little corner behind our house that is taken over by bramble that offers up the most choice berries every summer.  It can be tricky getting in there to pick them.  Even dangerous.  There's always that persistent poison oak entwined amongst the thorny vines to be wary of.  But still we forge on until we are scratched bloody and stained with juice, triumphant with our bounty as we return to the house with baskets brimming.    At that point, it always feels like we've just won a battle.  I guess in a way we have.  Survived one anyway.   We try not to eat all the spoils but it's so hard.  I insist on a triple rinse, and it's a bit of a production that takes time.  While the girls do that,  I get the pie crusts ready.  We ended up with two pies; one for dessert and one for the freezer, for later.  Much later.  Like when we've been chased back inside by the cold and want to taste summer again.  Or have company over for an old fashioned Sunday supper and want to spoil them with something special.  Pies are such homey little things.  Especially one wearing a fancy lattice crust hat.  My little pastry wheel makes these lovely pinked edges without much effort.  Some strips were a bit thin as I was running short on pie dough.  But in the end, it didn't really matter one bit.  No one even noticed or cared when it finally came out of the oven and the aroma hit them.   

Keep On Truckin'

I forgot to show this bag I made last week for a little birthday guy who turned 5 years old Sunday.  It was really fun making something for a boy this time. 

I took my cues from the toy shop trucks and a puzzle and designed a little carry-all using the same primary colors. 

And who knew you could have this much fun with freezer paper?  I've used it for years for applique, but this was the first time using it to make a stencil.  It worked great!

The ruler twill tape added a handy feature, because you never know when you might need to measure something, right?  The little tab on the side says, travel.  That just seemed fitting somehow.  I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out and he liked it too.  Started filling it up with all his new toys right away. 

Sunshine & Shadow

It's a little cloudy and cooler today.  Nice for a morning stroll and a little meandering around the backyard.  The wind whipped through here last night, the evidence of which I found brought down the badminton net, one wasp trap, and the yard waste can, partially dumping all the tree branches we trimmed over the weekend.    No real harm done though.  Checking in here on the enchanted garden, everything looks fine.  The pincushion flowers and the clematis have recovered after a deer intruded and nipped all their heads off.   Including some of the roses.  How it managed to get in here is beyond me.  What I thought was safe temporary fencing, turned out not to be so deer-proof after all.  Quelle supris!  Considering my options again before another raid.    The Corsican mint has filled in it's little square plot nicely.  I like to run my hand over it to release the strong scent which is like no other.   It not only looks and smells wonderful but it also keeps the clematis roots damp and cool.  And of coarse, makes a wonderful carpet for frolicking fairies.

The blue spirea is sending out lovely long spires that harmonize well with the pink roses which really don't get enough sun in this corner, so whatever bloom they manage to produce makes me happy.  And at least one of us is happy.

Oh dear.

Just look at this sad face.  This rag-tag fellow has been visiting for a couple of weeks now, with little encouragement from us, other than a friendly pat and a kind word, but still I think he's decided to stay.  He's taken to sleeping on the porch now.  I'm not sure where he belongs, if his family is on vacation or if he was just dropped off in the middle of the night, but he doesn't appear to be hungry or suffering although his eyes look a little runny which has me concerned.  No collar, no tags.  We've walked up and down the street inquiring on his behalf without any luck. 

He's a mellow fellow, quite gentle and good mannered.  Seems well taken care of.   

But Miss Lily is NOT happy about this at all.  She's been in a huff ever since he showed up.   

He wants to come in, and sit on laps.  She wants to come out, and box his ears. 

Lily's strictly an indoor cat so I'm not sure how this situation is going to play out but in the meantime, she's keeping a close eye on him.   

A very close eye.

Crumbs. . .

I'm sort of a prisoner in my own house today.  Which actually is just fine because there is so much I need to get done.  Or at least, started.  My neighborhood road is closed due to repairs and maintenance, so there's no coming and going while the work crew is on the job.   Not sure how my mail will be delivered, or if it even will be.  But no worries.  The only downside is that the Mister won't be here for lunch.  I think it's the first time in...what (?) years that he hasn't come home for lunch.  I love that he pops in mid-day.  We usually make him something special, even if it is only warmed up left-overs.  Years ago, he had a long freeway commute that left him exhausted and stressed, so living within a few miles of the job has been fantastic and wonderful for all of us.  It's nice too, that the girls get to see more of their dad and not just at the end of the day when we're all tired.   Sometimes he invites friends from work to join us.  That's always fun.  We really need to do that again soon when we aren't so busy.  There's always some baking and cooking going on around here though.  This quiche was delish with the addition of fresh basil from a friend's garden.   I love that little heart shape on the handle of my nutmeg grinder.  And Grace is not only a whiz in the dollhouse kitchen (with her mini cupcakes and petite sweets and what-not) but also when it comes to making real food.  Like that blueberry muffin up there.  We use the exact same recipe (a favorite from the Tasha Tudor Cookbook) but,  hers always taste better than mine.  She thinks I'm just doing the *mom thing* when I tell her that, but it's true.   When she was little, I used to ask her what she did to make her cookies taste so good, and she'd say in all seriousness, "I put love in it".   We'd laugh but it does seem to make a difference.  I'm happy that our kids know their way around the kitchen.  As soon as they could hold a spoon and stir they were given opportunities to take part.   It's always been a family affair.  The point is not so much about the end product, (which does improve over time with experience) but the joy that comes from the process and the pride in one's contribution.  Of coarse, it is important to point out here, that cooking can be filled will hazards (not just spills) so a little supervision is always wise.  I always started with simple tasks and added more as they showed ability.  There are always small steps that can be performed such as chopping nuts,  sifting flour, greasing pans.  In the beginning I chose basic standbys like pretzels or oatmeal cookies.  And all the old wisdom my mother passed down to me, I now pass down to them.  Things like, a tablespoon of sour cream will improve just about anything.  Crack eggs in a bowl before adding them to the batter.  Don't overbeat.  That sort of thing.   I do realize that there are easier ways of getting a meal on the table than asking your children to help but I've also found it's a nice way to spend time with them.   Despite the mess.  Which can be considerable.  Although, usually my doing as I drop and spill with the best of them.  This much is true. 

Framed

Update on this WIP... which is now a completed FWYH project that actually came together rather nicely much to my surprise.  Because, you know, how often does that happen?  I was a little nervous at the start with having to plunge this into a tepid water bath,  hoping beyond hope that all the wool was colorfast and didn't bleed all over the  place.  I've had this happen recently with an old red & white Irish Chain quilt top I had plans of restoring.  Oh the anguish!  Still not sure what I'm going to do about it either.  Luckily the yarns didn't run here though and it came out refreshed and ready for blocking.  I used ordinary push-pins and ceiling board that I had on hand, the back of which is porous, but I think you could probably use any kind of flat sturdy board that pins can be poked into. 

With most needlework pieces, there is a certain amount of distortion due to the tension of yarns pulling in different directions, so the goal of blocking is to bring it back into square and to remove the puckering.  So starting in the center of each edge, I placed the pins and worked out, tugging and pulling gently as I went along, until everything was where it should be.  Then I let it dry a few days before removing it from the board.  The final measurements came to 10.5" x 14" not exactly a standard frame size, so the past week was spent mulling over custom frame choices and mat colors, but I still couldn't make a decision.  Nothing seemed quite right.  For some reason, I started rummaging around in a box of old frames I've collected over the years, mostly odd sizes that didn't work for anything else, and not really expecting to find anything in particular but hoping for some kind of direction to go instead.  And would you believe I actually found a frame?  A lovely old frame with the exact dimensions?  What are the odds?

 

I still can't believe it.  But there it was.  A little scratched and a little beat up, but nothing a little Minwax didn't fix.  A perfect fit. I'm just so tickled!     

 

Stitchette In Progress

We joined friends yesterday for an informal picnic at the park and spent the entire day lolling under the shade of the tall trees while the kids romped around in their little groups.  These idle breaks in the middle of the week are so refreshing even though it sometimes means facing a growing mountain of work the next day, like um, now.  What I'm really hoping to find time for is a little craft sewing though.  It's a big birthday month around here and I'm going to run out of time shortly if I don't make a move soon.   Fortunately, I was lucky enough to get one of these adorable embroidery patterns from Hillary and have already gotten a good start on it.  I was so smitten with these wonderful wee dolls she made that I wanted to make one for a very special little grand-daughter who is turning two in a couple of weeks.  Her mama brought her down from Portland last week for a visit and we were just marveling (the way all moms do) about how fast our kidlets grow up.  Seems like only yesterday we were throwing the baby shower.  I plan to also make a fall jumper with a pocket of some sort for the embroidered doll to ride around in... so, guess I'd better get cracking. 

Old Things

An interesting thing happens when you place ordinary stuff under glass.  Or in this case, Plexiglas.  It becomes art. 

Well sort of.  You may develop more appreciation for it anyway.  For instance, none of these old kitchen tools that I'd gathered over the years from thrift shops were given a second glance in the basket they were thrown in, but now everyone is stepping closer and marveling over them.  My youngest daughter suddenly had questions about the "olden days" and a discussion followed.   I had to laugh though.  Why do all children think their parents rode in on a covered wagon?  It sometimes seems inconceivable to them that times could be so different than they are today.  How lucky we are to have so many modern conveniences that make our lives easier and free up our time for things like making "kitchen art". 

I seriously doubt my great-grandmother would view these objects in the same way though, because to her they probably represented hard work and endless chores. 

But from a relatively modern perspective I imagine simpler times, with images of porch swings and homemade goodness on the table.  A bit idealistic I know, but true in a lot of ways and that's what comes to mind when I see these old kitchen tools.   For a time, I was actually using some of them but discovered the paint was chipping and the wood was cracking from tossing them in the dishwasher.  I'm guessing some are close to sixty years old and were not exactly designed for such harsh procedures no matter how well crafted they were.   And they obviously were, to have survived all these years.   So few things are truly well-crafted anymore.  The shadow boxes I used are a case-in-point.  Out-sourced and poorly made they gave me absolute fits of frustration because none were the same dimensions.  Not one piece of glass I had cut for them fit, which is why the Mister had to come to my rescue and fitted them with Plexiglas instead. 

My well-appointed modern kitchen is decidedly old-fashioned though.  A farmhouse style with sunny walls, cabbage roses and red & white gingham.   Comfortable, practical and unpretentious.   It's a welcome place where we still gather for daily meals around an old country French pine table that's well over a hundred years old.  And yes, it looks it.  The top definitely could use another sanding and polishing.   But it's quite sturdy and has character after all.   (That's what you say about old charming things that are starting to fall apart anyway!)   

Material Girl

I'm not sure putting a coat of chocolate brown paint on the front door would be considered a creative endeavor, but it's one of the things I've been doing anyway.  And there was good mail.  Lots of lovely mail that kept trickling in throughout the week, that made me giddy when I finally had a chance to sit down and go through it all.  My kitty craft order was everything I hoped for.  Patchwork World (in Tricolor: red, white & blue) turned out to be fantastic.  Every page is a feast for the eyes and makes me drool with delight every time I flip through it. 

I finally got some of those darling Korean fabrics and that woven numbers twill tape.  The other tape has ladybugs on it. The site is down temporarily because Amy Lee is moving to the UK,  good news for crafters there.  But you can still check out some fun things on the site like her pattern room with two pages of very cool things to see and make.   

Then there was my order from Cia's Palette.  More wonderful tiny prints, always so beautifully packaged.  I can't decide which one I like best because they're all so sweet.  The red mushrooms are high on the list though.  I already used the floral print to back one of three shadow boxes I put together for the kitchen.  (More about that later in the week after I get everything hung.)    I also have in mind to make a new quilt after I finish up some old projects, and most of these fabrics will be incorporated in it somehow.  With all I have on the table (literally!) not sure when I will actually begin this, but I'll have everything I need to get that started when the moment is right.  Probably sometime in the fall when it's cooler and leaving the iron on won't be a problem.   If you're looking for old roses, romantic vintage-style florals, check out Jennifer's website Shabby Fabrics.  She carries an amazing collection, and everything I've purchased so far has been top-notch, plus she ships fast. 

Something Old, Something New

Moving right along, I've decided that for my next finish what you have project, I'm going to do something with this crewel piece I did way back when.  This was done from a kit called Country Life, an Erica Wilson design from the 1980's.  I finished every bit of the needlework at the time, but never had it blocked and framed properly.  Which is such a shame really because I've always loved this and have no excuse for leaving it in a plastic bag all these years.  None whatsoever.  So often I'd take it out, admire all the work, then put it away.  I think it's high time I get on it before moths find a hole in the bag.  Now, I'm all for originality but you can learn so much by doing kits.  This piece alone has about 40 different stitch designs.  Things like the fishbone stitch, turkey work, vandyke, couching, spider's web, cretan, and wonderful little bullion stitches.   I finally mastered the French Knot on that rabbit.  There's so much texture to this piece due to all the different stitches, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning new techniques as I went along.   I'm thinking of framing this in a shadow box instead of with the glass right on top which would flatten it.  I really have no experience with this sort of thing, but want it enclosed somehow.  So that's the direction I'm headed with this one....

...and then there's this brand new something, just starting to take shape.   This should be interesting to say the least.  It's been a while since I tackled anything like this.  Stay tuned for project updates.  One of the nice things about keeping a craft blog is, now I've committed myself to finishing something.