Running With Rocket

Freezer Paper Stencils

2012-02-10T18:47:00.000-08:00

For the Fugli giveaway - go here. I think I am closing this Sunday because now that I know I am infested with Fugli's, I feel the need for them to ship out-of-state - even out-of-the-country sooner.

My little great-niece turns one tomorrow.
I have two of these great-nieces and I consider them my practice grandchildren. So much fun. However, these two little munchkins have 8 sets of G's and they live in a tiny house.
Hand-made gifts work really well here.
You might recall my sister and I outfitted the older niece with a fantastic doll bed for Christmas.

It seems like everybody in blog land has heard of freezer paper stencils. It's incredibly easy to do because for a onesie - you are looking at a 4" stencil at best. The hardest part is cutting out the stencil.

I printed the airplane onto the freezer paper. The frog was traced at the window.

My choices were an Airplane (from the airplane auntie), a dragonfly, and a froggie.
Hint: Pick images that are easy to cut out - i.e. line drawings.

After work today, I stopped off at Walmart to see what they had in solid color onesies. Almost everything for babies is short sleeve. Although we are heading for Spring, I really wanted something in the way of longer sleeves.

This is what I ended up with. The purple stripe, the pink small print, and one long-sleeved bodysuit. All from Faded Glory. These were $2.27 a piece, making this an affordable gift.

First, iron a piece of freezer paper inside the onesie. This will keep the paint from bleeding thru.
Second: Iron the stencil onto the front. The stripes were very nice to line up the airplane straight.

That's about when I discovered the box of craft paints no longer resides here (mumble, grumble, text).

Ironing the stencil on, generally, means the paint won't bleed under. Pretty cool, really.

I had a jar of Luminous paint in my favorite blue-green, a spring green craft paint, and dimensional paint in black and white.

No - I DID NOT cut out the dragonfly. I have a mylar stencil.

Using what I have on hand, at least the three onesies will be coordinated.

I used the dimensional paint to make froggie eyes.

Photo taken at night-time. It's still a green frog on a pink shirt but it's a varigated green - really froggie green.

I also tried my hand at shadowing the airplane with the black dimensional paint.This purple shirt probably needed a second coat - a little more difficult in getting an even coat. My shadowing isn't bad. Remember I told you the paints don't reside here anymore? Well - the brushes aren't here either. I had one brush that if I flattened it to a line against my finger, I could get an almost straight line. The prop lines were freehand.

And here's my fave - the dragonfly on white.

Fun project. I didn't post any links because there are about a thousand out there. YouTube videos as well.

The last thing I need to do is heat-set these. Generally, this involves your hot (dry) iron and a pressing cloth. Tomorrow (24 hours), I will cover the design with my pressing cloth and press for a few seconds. This should make the ink/paint permanent thru multiple washings.

Delusional Spring

2012-02-08T15:45:00.000-08:00

For my FUGLI Giveaway, go here.
I found out I was infested with Fugli's and I am not happy about it.

Other people who also suffer from Fugli's can go here to possibly eradicate Fugli populations.

All others stay here.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but these Spring flower photos are headed for Minnesota where the Minnesotans will not see Spring for 3 more months.
Here, in the Willamette Valley, we get this absolutely divine two weeks in February - every year!- where the sun shines, it's warm outside and we know Spring is here. We start planting our gardens, we put a few hardy annuals in the ground, we shed our winter gear (trade heavier raincoat for windbreaker) and basically grab Spring Fever by the horns.

We are completely delusional.

Yes, we are.

Thank God for the plant nurseries who, thankfully, forget to stock up on the hardy annuals in February.
I can't do anything about you casting seeds into the your garden pit, but I've been there.

Shhhh...the Slugs are still asleep.
How this primrose survived last years marauding slugs? IDK - one tough mama..

Sunny Anemone

Winter Heather. Can you see the buzzing bee?
If the bees think it Spring, then it follows that it is Spring.
This is side-ways blooming Heather, a very unique variety

Trying stupid stuff with the macro, this is the only one that made the cut.
But now it's raining (lightly in our Spring ~~deluge~~ delusion and I ~~can't~~ won't go out and take another.

I only take these to torture my sister in Minnesota

who gets homesick for the big Oregon Delusion.

I saw some tiny Snowdrops behind the Currant bush on Sunday. . .

Fugli Giveaway

2012-02-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

I was reading one of my favorite blogs (at the moment) when I came across Fugli's. I was rather alarmed that I might be harboring full-fledged fugli's in my own home but sure enough, there they were.
Charm About You is hosting a fugli swap party and I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder, but some of these fugli's are worth getting into your own stash.
No one sets out to own fuglis but there they are. And here they go. . .

Tie-dyed remnant 10"w x 70" long - cotton sheet.

1 yard cotton; 1 1/4" squares bright children's print

1 1/4 yd cott/poly - dusty pinky solid

2 1/2 yds Flower spray cotton flannel
- flower sprays are blue and pink about 2" diameter.

1 yd bright green fruity cotton fabric. Has texture - can't recall what's that called. .
.seersucker - thank you gwen!


Over 3 yds of polished cotton with cream background. Squiggly lines (think topographical lines) and sweet little pinky-coral roses. Roses are about 1 " diameter.

What alarms me is how easy it was to find these fugli's.
And if I look harder. . . eeuuhh.

Here's the RULES.

Leave a comment as to which FUGLI you just love with all your heart.
If you must have two, okay.
I'm doing this as a giveaway. HOWEVER, if you were to swap airplane fabric, I would not say no.
Giveaway is open until February 14th am, pst. I will contact winning entries shortly thereafter to get addresses.
Numero cinco; THANK YOU for taking these away from Canbyland.
Right - I have six fabrics, but I might arbitrarily send them out to four people. Maybe even three people - less shipping costs to me. Make your plea good.
Open to anyone who sews.

A Little House

2012-02-05T14:09:00.000-08:00

This little house took just a bit of time today to make. A Bit of This and A Bit Of That threw out a sewing challenge via SewMamaSew's facebook page.
The idea is to make a small gift and add a personal letter. These little houses are being gathered up and sent to a town in Japan to let the residents there who are still displaced from that huge quake last March know that we haven't forgotten them.

My friend in Japan sent this video about

Then and Now - Ishinomaki 11.11.11

Macaroons

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

My creative friend sent me a link to yet another extremely fun purse.
They are called Macaroons. They can get very very elaborate and the greatest thing is that no seam is longer than 5 inches! Alhough most of those 5 inch seams are done by hand.
I think I spent an hour putting my first one together.

They are tiny little ring presentation cookies. The base is from a 1 1/2" covered button so a half dollar will fit. There is some vertical room for tiny things like an engagement ring.

I had to go to Joann's Sunday. My list included:
1. double-fold bias tape (because I was 4" short on my work apron)
2. 1 1/2" covered buttons ( sure couldn't find any in my enormous stash - not a one)
3. 5" zipper (even though the macaroon tute gave a link on how to shorten metal zips, I was already going to Joann's).

Of course, when I finally got to the check-out with only one piece of fabric in addition to my list (good girl!), my wallet hadn't come with me. It was back on the kitchen island - 15 minutes away. And my $20 emergency gas money wasn't in my first-aid kit - maybe not since the kids first left home - must be because we all have cells now).


Idea from tutorial. The next one for me.

Joann's vaguely promised to hold my purchase and I drove all the way home - this time at the correct speed limit - and drove all the way back. Golly.

OINK!

They are cute.

The most difficult hand-stitching is slip-stitching the inner plate into the purse. Next time, I would just hot glue it. But if you need to stitch it, try using one of your curved needles. Tight-tight space.

There is a bit of machine-sewing with your zipper foot at the beginning. After that it is all handsewing.

I think I will throw this into the etsy shop. Any ideas about pricing?

Tea Cozy

2012-01-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

The only thing I sewed in January was a work apron?!?!

Rumblings of "How Pitiful!" came forth from the depths of my spleen yesterday.
I couldn't let that slide.

Rambling around on the internet came forth with this gem that I felt a need to make.
The tea cozy turned out wonderfully.
Very Kerry Berry provided a template for the tea cozy shape and I strip-sewed the teapot together and sewed it on as an applique.

I did make a promise to myself that I would sew more for myself this year instead of giving it all away. I tend to take care of others because it is easier. Yes, easier.

When is the last time you sewed something just for you?
I find it much easier to dive into a project if I have someone in mind. The fabrics in their colors tend to jump into my design basket so much easier. But if I were to sew something for myself?
Let's just say is it is difficult to take the time, to pick fabrics and notions with myself in mind, but more importantly, "Am I worthy of this selfish time spent on myself?"

In any case, I didn't sew this tea cozy for me. But I did figure out a process. The steps to make this little striped teapot, the process, that IS sewing time for me.

Even though I don't have much personal sewing around me, I really enjoy the process of figuring out how to get a finished product off my cutting table just by looking at a photo.

Complicated subject: My new years goal is to make those projects more for me. Go beyond the process and sew the item with ME in mind. My colors, my fabrics, something I can use.

And if that is a work apron, so be it.

.

*** And I did sew this with someone in mind. But now I am trapped in my new rule of not giving it all away. Now what?

I found this amazing sight this morning as the dawn came forth with light:

Pencil Girl: This is my Underwater setting scene on my camera. I believe that's how I got the green lights on the Christmas Tree too.

Work Apron

2012-01-26T18:21:00.000-08:00

A new work apron is the only thing I have sewn this January.
Pitiful, but the sewing room is a disaster after the frenzy of holiday sewing and someone needs to go clean it up.
I always need a new apron for work. Up until now I was using a 'pattern' that had a single strap around the neck. By the time I put my three pens in the pocket as well as my work gloves, the weight starts dragging on my neck.
I decided a few months ago that I would create a new pattern - a smock apron. The weight would rest on my set of shoulders rather than my single neck.
More even distribution, if you will.

I used my swedish tracing paper to create a paper pattern. I measured the hip width of my original apron and tapered it up to my shoulder width. I pinned it to my shoulders several times until I thought it was the right width, right coverage and correct length.
Then I folded my paper in half length-wise to make sure both sides were the same. This is where I cut out the neck hole. I basically cut out a 'U' neckline and cut a bit more until I was satisfied.

I pinned it to my double-layered fabric and cut it out. I used a thrifted denim fabric.

For the bottom pocket, I cut another piece of fabric - pocket length and matched my rounded corners at the bottom. I then serged the edges together.
I hemmed the top of the pocket length AFTER I serged the edges necessitating me ripping a few stitches out to get it hemmed. After hemming the top edge of the pocket, I used my coverstitch machine (twin rows of stitching) to create the pocket divider in the middle.

I had about a package and a half of black double-fold bias tape which could be enough(?). The only navy blue I had was a narrow double-fold bias tape and I wanted the 1/2" look on the edge.
I started sewing down the bias tape on the raw edges which was very easy as I was sandwiching just a single layer between the bias tape and it didn't shift at all.
As it was, I was 4" short. A trip to Joann's is in my future this weekend.

I did use the narrow navy blue bias tape for the ties. I sewed the fold shut and then attached them at my waist spot on each side of the front & back of the apron.

However when I got to work, placed my three pens and gloves in the pockets and put my ID badge and name tag on -- the weight in those pockets caused the back to creep up - making the front start dragging. Not good!
When I cut out the neck hole, I made the front and back the same. Next time, I will bring the back up to the neckline so it won't creep.

I thought about it for a few days and I think I have a solution (it's been a week already!). I am going to add a strap across the back just under my neckline which will act as a stop when it rides up against my polo collar.
Right now, I untie one side and just lift it off and up over my head. I think I will make the strap with a snap just in case my head ~~gets~~ is too big to lift the apron up and off of my big head of hair.

When it rides at my shoulders, it is very comfortable to wear.

I have noticed that the denim is already wearing at the waist so I still have to add a wearable piece of art at the middle. I will zigzag stitch it on and when it starts looking sad I can easily slide my seam ripper down through the zigzag stitches and sew on another pretty add-on piece. This little add-on takes the brunt of my work and I won't have to sew an entire apron next time.

I have had the most delightful day with my mom and her kindle, the sun has been shining, and I cleaned the house thoroughly and then the light went, which leaves you with photos taken with a flash and other bad photography problems but hey - it's a work apron.

This new smock-type apron took about two hours to sew and three months of pattern gestation in my head.
And only after I was forced to admit my previous apron looked sad, very sad.

Oh - the upper pocket is for my IPOD ~~so I don't have to listen to anyone who is mean & cranky.~~

GIVEAWAY & Random Thoughts Said Out Loud Stay in People's Heads

2012-01-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2012, Giveaway is Now CLOSED.
Thank you to everyone who commented and I am sending your chocolates straight away.

Back before Christmas, quite a few customers were shipping nuts to their friends & relatives. Oregon is blessed with abundant Walnut and Filbert (Hazelnut) Trees. We kinda take our nuts for granted.

Other parts of the country have to make do with nuts that have been stored - a long time. We have access to fresh nuts.
And fresh nuts, once they are dried taste way better than a nut that has been in cold storage for three years.

In any case, I told my dream to a couple of my customers; that I have always dreamed of connecting with someone with a Pecan tree and we could exchange nuts.
Pecans don't grow in Oregon and we have to make do with three year old cold-storage pecans. Pecans happen to be my favorite baking nut.

Today, one of my, beyond lovely, customers came in to drop off a bag of Pecans - FOR ME!!!

Out of the blue, she was invited on a train trip with an 82-year-old friend who needed a companion to go down to the southern states. Along the way, they stopped in Louisiana and she remembered my dream.

What an awesome gift.

I am exchanging with her a bag of hazelnuts and walnuts.

How often does someone remember what you say?
What makes them remember you?
This is the best gift I have gotten this year.

I know just what I am going to do with some of these pecans. I am dipping them in dark chocolate for a sweet gift to me AND for you.

GIVEAWAY: Just because I was taught to share -- I am giving away a small packet of these dark chocolate covered pecans and walnuts.

If you want to be considered, please leave a comment below maybe telling me one nice thing that has happened this week to you.

I will mail the chocolate covered nuts anywhere in the world.
I'll close the comments in few days.

****Tuesday -January 24th, 2012.
Heads up: I got called into work for a few days - I will close the giveaway tomorrow and hopefully mail out Thursday. Thank you all for the lovely comments.

Allergy Pride

2012-01-21T12:41:00.000-08:00

Spot on for Portland allergy sufferers. Note the milk truck - one of the first floats - advertising Fifty Licks Ice cream - the best ever! Lemon Sorbet - Yeah!!!

Season 2, episode 2 of Portlandia.

By the way - still addicted to Grimm - on Hulu tv

I am doing a GIVEAWAY in tomorrow's post. Stay tuned.

Kindles & 78 Year Olds

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

I've been taking my mom to E-reader class at my public library in Canbyland.
I have a friend who adores her Kindle because it is slim, fits into her purse and she can take it on multiple road trips north and ALWAYS have access to a book.
My mom & dad recently traveled east to visit my sis in Minnesota. I know they packed four books each AND read what was available in Minnesota as well.

Now - I don't want a Kindle - at all (although I am saving up for a smart phone and a IPAD).
I live in Clackamas county and have free access to all nine libraries in the county system. I go onto the computer (internet) and look for books and place them on hold. When they come into Canby, I go pick them up.
So easy to do.
I thought my mom would enjoy the Kindle because of the ability to increase the font size. Surprisingly for her - this is not an issue with her (yet). She's a little computer challenged and she has not yet learned how to locate books online through her Washington County library system.
My library started offering e-reader classes back in November. I invited my mom to the class and she indicated an interest in the Kindle. But it has been a tough road to learn. From the foreign computer lingo to library talk, from amazon stuff to Libraries2Go, etc. We are working on it one step at a time.

For me - this works with my schedule. The upside is I get to spend time with my mom (alone), take her to lunch and get her out of her comfort zone.
Today's lesson was where to plug the cord into the Kindle (cactus up) and plug the plug into a wall socket so it can recharge.
Last week's lesson: How to turn it completely OFF. If you slide the off button once - it puts the device to Sleep. If you hold the on/off slider for about 10 seconds - it will completely power off - saving battery power.
It's slow, but Mom is coming along. Libraries2Go no longer intimidates her. She accepts that she will get to Amazon.com eventually. And she has deleted an expired library book from her Amazon "Manage Your Kindle" page. Woohoo!

We keep repeating.

When I was thinking about this post, I was trying to formulate words to express why a 78 year old would even want a kindle. Well- I see my mom & dad shutting down in their retirement. Mom goes to her same groups/clubs. A world of if this is Tuesday, then this happens. Predictable. The same, mind-numbing daily stuff. Getting my mom to pop a few neurons learning new things is a goal for all of us to emulate. Is that why I like blogging? Learning new HTML code? Learning how to replace a background that has gone blank? How to highlight hyperlinks?

Just this morning I ~~wasted~~ spent an inordinate amount of time putting together a music playlist because I saw one on a blog I had just read. In the process ~~(#@!$%##!!!),~~ ~~I learned a few new swearwords~~ I learned some new skills. Now I have an incomplete music playlist to show for it on the blog, but hey, one thing at a time. lol

My mom has never been on the techno forefront but if she is interested, she can learn. We've been spending time together since before Christmas on this project and I anticipate spending 6 months getting her comfortable in placing books on hold via her library website and opening them up in her Kindle. She is really coming along on the new language skills.

She is the designated chauffeur when my dad needs to go to doctor visits and since my dad can talk anyone's ear off (~~who me?~~), my mom is sitting in the waiting room for lengthy amounts of times. The kindle can store a thousand books, and doctors places generally have wifi and she can download with her kindle anytime she is near a wifi place.

It's not only the font size which makes reading books easier, it's the size of the device. Plus the little booklight which comes with the case! I confess to falling in love with the case.

I have discovered several things by taking these classes with mom:
1. My mom is currently using my library code number to access Clackamas county libraries. She is having a little problem with getting her Washington Co. library card number to work. This means if she has my daughter's card number (FOR MULTNOMAH COUNTY!! the ultimate library system) she can access kindle books from any library she has the card info. for.
2. The kindle lending library is going to teach you how to put books on hold. All the latest books are on hold for someone else. There is a limited amount of available e-books. However, if you have access to other people's library cards - you could use those to see if you can find a better hold number. My mom wants to borrow "The Help". We are currently # 601 out of 771 in the queue. Maybe we can cut the time shorter by putting it on hold in Washington county as well.
3.There are no fines for e-reader books. Once they get to your kindle - you have a certain amount of days to read the book - before it goes back. You can't renew. (You have to re-start the hold to get the book again. And your Kindle will remember what page you left off on!)

Keep your brain on notice. Learn new things. Do your Sudoku, Ken-Ken, cross-words, etc. Leave room to figure out new skills. Stop saying no.

Felting the Easy Way

2012-01-18T15:40:00.000-08:00

I found this lovely coral sweater at a garage sale Friday. He wanted $2 but I talked him down to a buck. I just knew that all that cable goodness was going to felt into an interesting texture.

You can find a lot of books about felting. You can spend a bit of money to get way too involved or you can felt the easy way. I bet you know how to do it already!

First off, find a sweater that is marked 100% wool.

Alternately, LOOK for Dry Clean Only.

Next, you are going to throw this into your washing machine. Who hasn't mistakenly done this to a beloved sweater only to find it child-size later?
You also want to throw in an old towel to help agitate the fibers. Tennis shoes that need cleaning are perfect for agitating wool. You also want to add some detergent, or a drop or two of hand-washing soap like Dove, or forget - like I did.

Remember to use old towels, because the by-product of felting is lint

- that gets on everything.

This is after one cycle through the washing machine. The back has shrunk but the front and the sleeves are still not quite felted enough. Conjecture and all that. You may have to throw it through a second cycle. Don't fret.

I also threw this through the dryer for more shrinkage power. Be sure to check your lint trap if you do this step.

This Shetland wool ended up with a lot of fuzzies. Go outside and shake thoroughly.
~~Before you track it down the hall to go find the camera.~~

This is from the doll bedding my sis and I made our great-niece for her doll. This striped sweater was 100% Lambswool and felted without hardly any lint. Very smooth texture.

Excuse the colors. It still is the same lovely coral color but it is raining cats and dogs (no snow, grumble, grumble). Photo was taken inside with the yellow tone lighting in the kitchen.

You are aiming for a thicker version of the sweater and much smaller. Adult Large down to child's large. You should be able to cut anywhere without it unraveling. You can store it easily by cutting it apart at the seams. I tend to leave it as is until the perfect project comes along. I can see making this into part of a purse and utilizing the buttonhole band for a pocket closure. So, I don't want to cut off the buttons just yet.
You may want to use the sleeve wrist banding or even the neck banding The cables are still discernible.
.
I still need to de-fuzz the rest of the lint balls sticking up. I've already shaken this outside. I usually wait until my project is cut out and pick off the pills as needed for the piece I have cut out. I think I actually have a battery operated sweater de-fuzzer thingy - somewhere.

That's it. No special equipment. Better yet, no books to weed through. No experts steering you in the 'right' direction. Felting the easy way.

You can find 100% wool sweaters at almost any garage sale or thrift store.
Give it a try.

Catch-up Photos

2012-01-15T12:33:00.000-08:00

Clearing out my temporary photo file --- wanted to share:

Miss Ella - behaving herself at an Ikea shopping trip

Missy Sophea - my great-niece. One of her grandma's made this darling knitted jumper dress. The armholes and neckline have a knitted embellishment.

My fabulous Amaryllis.
Sent up one stalk which was four (4!) trumpets. The second stalk also had four trumpets.
It started blooming New Year's Day and is still going strong.

Playing around with my camera settings - post Christmas.
I'd taken all the ornaments off and sorted them into boxes for my kids and wrapped the rest away - down to the lights when I took this breather.

And finally, this cute little doll-sized trunk. It looks like a simple wood box you can buy at Micahel's and then add 'leather' embellishments. It's on my inspiration board- which if I could manage one more web platform - would be Pinterest. Pretend Pinterest.

I think this closes out 2011.

Temari Balls

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

After all the gift goodness on the previous post, I thought this would be the best way to say Thank You to a dear friend!

Temari Balls can be addictive. I have made a few now and there are so many designs to choose from.
My creative friend gave me a book on Temari Balls at Christmas that has some good designs in it.

I also own this one too. This pattern is called Striped Obi.

Temari are very tactile. There is slight give to the surface and the threads lined up entice you. And if you are really thinking, you'll add a little rattle inside to make your insides sing.

All it takes to start is a bunch of thread. Lol.

These area great way to use up nearly used up spools of thread - serger cones, specifically. I look for these at garage sales.
The thread above is a pearl cotton which is thicker for the designs placed on top of the base thread wrap.

Lovely Surprise Gift

2012-01-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

Right before Christmas - Friday and Saturday (Christmas Eve) to be exact, I received two small parcels from my friend in Japan. We discovered each other last Spring in the SewMamaSew Giveaways. It turns out she grew up right behind Canbyland, where I live.
She writes a sewing blog that occasionally delves into Japanese culture in Awagi. She has a traveling sewing machine repairman AND a traveling fabric salesman. I am very jealous of her good fortune.

All of the goodies laid out.

Hello Kitty from Awagi cloth.
Can one take it out of it's cellophane and use it? Is it destined to be a souvenir?
The green packet caught my son's eye.
Thankfully, she worte in english that is was a bath bomb and not candy.

This darling little cosmetic-size bag with it's lacy zipper and key fob.

Reverse side of the crane bag.

It's sitting on another Tight-n-Tidy bag in a soft blue.

She sent along a Star Kit containing pre-cut strips of Japanese papers and Japanese instructions on how to make Magic Stars.

Magic stars only take a few minutes to make and you can easily fill up a containter full for luck? Similar to a 1000 cranes?

This is the Tight-n-Tidy Tote I ordered from her shop.

She blogged about this fabric and I couldn't get it out of my head. I am using it to carry my laptop to the library for my mom's e-reader class.

I love these cherry blossoms on the purplish-grey background.

Look who remembered about my airplane fetish.

Thank you, dear friend.

Cream of Roasted Cauliflower Soup - non dairy, wheat, soy

2012-01-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

I've taken photos of my cream of broccoli soup and it looks green. Suffice it to say, cream of cauliflower looks --well --it's not photogenic. Really.

If you have been dreaming of Cream of Cauliflower soup, here's a version I did on instinct.

CREAM of ROASTED CAULIFLOWER SOUP

1 head CAULIFLOWER
1 quart Stock - I used homemade beef stock
THYME - 1 tsp.+
TURMERIC - 1/4 tsp
SALT
OIL - I used Hazelnut Oil
ARTICHOKE HEARTs in water. I used western family - 1/2 can ~7 oz.
Can of COCONUT MILK - I used Thai Kitchen 13.66oz

Cut your Cauliflower into chunks and place on baking sheet. Drizzle a bit of oil over Cauliflower. Place under broiler ~ rack at about 5" down. Broil/roast for about 10 minutes(?), turning a couple of times. Goal is to get some flavor into the cauliflower - not to make blackened cauli soup.

Meanwhile, heat stock in 3qt saucepan, add teaspoon+ of Thyme and 1/4 tsp of turmeric. Maybe some salt. As soon as cauliflower is roasted enough, add to pot and place lid on to steam cauliflower until tad past tender. -- 20 minutes? During the last five minutes or where cauliflower is about to go tender, add the artichoke hearts. We want them to go past tender too.

Turn off heat and mush with your blender stick and blend. If you need to throw it into a blender - go for it. I am loving my blender stick for these kind of soups.

At this point, you can add any kind of milk you can tolerate. Dairy and Soy are my nemesis's. Coconut milk is tolerable. Blend more until it is as thick & creamy as you desire.

Garnish with a bit of Romano cheese grated on top.

No idea why adding the artichoke hearts popped into my head -I guess I was thinking they would neutralize the strong cauli taste but I worried they would leave long stringy things. Steaming them until past tender took care of that worry. By the time you add the milk, it all works together.

RE: Oil. Use any oil that you have. Olive oil would work here as well as Walnut oil. Grapeseed Oil too. This is what I had open.

Re: Milk. The 'fresh' coconut milk in the fridge had gone bad - they sell it in such big containers. I actually like the cans better - about two cups. I think if I made this again, I might use just a cup and see how it tastes.

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I've got lots to say in the blog but all my thoughts are really random, seldom finished. They are in progress.

The following could have gone into another post, but there are no photos, it's really random, needs to be written down to get it out of my head.

I have a serious addiction to Grimm going on. Thank God for Hulu TV. The little tv I do watch tends towards BBC productions and locally made shows. Movies put me to sleep which I reserve for those days when I am not feeling functional.

I am on Episode 5. During the first episode, I was thinking it was a little crazy scary in a Steven King way but I distracted myself by looking for Portland landmarks. However, when the mail carrier showed up - I got hooked. This fifth episode had great shots of the St. John's Bridge - which my grandfather helped build. Grandpa was a steel worker.

I will probably have to watch this series again as it was filmed here in Portland and it's full of trivial pursuit-type film locations.

I had the last couple of Mondays off for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. I had time to relax and I prepped for it by checking out a few books from the library. Now it seems that I need someone to come tell me to move my butt as I am having a great time reading and watching shows on the internet. It appears I am doing nothing at all.

On New Year's day, I watched all four of the Downton Abbey episodes. The first three were on PBS.org and the fourth was on real TV - as in - I stayed up to watch the fourth episode at 9pm.

I have made one item since New Years as a thank you to someone who sent me fun presents from Japan. She is a new friend for me and lives on Awagi Island. Waiting to post on that one.

I know I have been busy but it has been at a slower pace. I managed to take down the Christmas ornaments and sort through to make a box each for my daughter and son. I plan on mailing it to them when they turn 30. Hopefully they will be situated by then and get all teary-eyed at unwrapping christmas ornaments they made in second grade (macaroni pasta christmas tree anyone?).

I hope anyone who reads this had a chance to slow down too. It feels good once in a while.

Cool Coffee Table

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

My son had a vision. A creative vision. He wanted to get a glass top for this coffee table and place beer caps underneath. He found the table for two bucks and set about collecting beer caps. This took a few weeks (college student).

I came up with the nine-patch design and he also wanted to incorporate his snowboarding sticker collection. The glass top idea was ditched and another design was hatched.

My son asked if I had some webbing/netting to place under the table to hold remotes. Nevermind that I was knee-deep in Christmas preparations, sewing gifts that needed to be done, and a crazy work schedule - not to mention the baking. I jumped to attention and sewed some double-fold bias tape around the edges, and placed grommets at the corners.
Well - actually - I was about the change the serger thread and it still had black thread cones on - so I quickly zipped this out. I think this originally came from a trampoline? but I found the material at a garage sale.

The tedius job of drilling holes for the beer caps was started.
Then straightening the caps a bit so they would drop down into the holes.

Figuring out patterns.

First coat of varnish.

Each sticker had to be carefully set-in before the beer caps were dropped into the hole.

Tape around the edges to keep varnish from dripping. Clean edge. This table rocks.

I want one. I may have to buy it off him.

This is like the ultimate I Spy coffee table.

Kitty Nightie

2011-12-31T15:10:00.000-08:00

The nightie arrived in a package from Minnesota today.

I am this close to becoming one of those grandma's who have life-size dolls at their houses.

Fortunately I still have this big teddy bear floating around one of the bedrooms so I have a model. It's not like Rusty would ever wear this and not try to rip it to shreds at the same time. There are moments when I really miss my other dog, Rocket. He lived to dress-up.

The nightie is for the three-year-old great-niece, Sophea. My sister found the fabric and a pattern and sewed this really cute nightie to go with the doll bed.

at least we can drink the beer now that it is no longer needed as a model.

The Phea bear modeling in the hangar as it is chilly outside (freezing fog this morning).
I don't know how she climbed up into the airplane.

A friendlier perch on the tail.

Rusty is not ripping this outfit to shreds although a thin trail of lab slime might have attached itself to the hem. This is the fifth photo as Rusty cannot hold still.

Close-up of the front details.
Pretty ribbon and flowers.

Notice the perfect kitty button closure and the pink-heart stitching around the neckline.
Purr-fect placement of the button, sis.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I did an informal survey at work Friday. Until 3:48pm, I had a 100% response for Not staying awake until midnight (hubbardites are SLUGS), then all of a sudden, I had four in a row say THEY WERE STAYING UP to see the new year in.
I went from being very impressed at having a 100% survey response to understanding the night owls hadn’t come in yet to my retail business.

PIllowcases & Snap Purses

2011-12-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite purses to make right now - the Snap Bag

Sized to hold two bundles.
Pillowcases rolled up.

My sewing machine did not like sewing lace and rickrack over the seam line on the first pillowcase.
In fact, I had to use my seam ripper too many times on this project. I also had a rickrack disaster. The original rickrack was wider but when I started picking stitches --it dissolved into pieces. The rickrack fabric rotted!
I know the rickrack was old but I have never had that happen. It was sealed in it's original cellophane wrapping.
Smaller rickrack was substituted and actually sewed better- or I learned from my mistakes.

Oops, one of the gold coins hidden in the case fell out.

Deciding to gift the niece with this box was one of my better decisions this season.
Filled with paper scrunchies, this stuff is replicating - like Tribbles. This box came our way via a delivered gift and there are paper scrunchies everywhere underfoot. Yet, the box always seems to have more.
I placed the snap purse/pillowcases underneath so she would have to dig for her gift.

Won't she be surprised!

Pillowcase Instructions.

Last year, Pencil Girl and I made pillowcases to donate at SewExpo for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. We'll be doing that again this year.

The Doll Bed

2011-12-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

This was a fun project for my sister and I to work together on. I found the doll bed at a rummage sale this summer.
The plan morphed from sewing some bedding to sewing matching nightgowns for little Miss Sophea and her dolly plus the bedding.

I started off making a mattress pad. Then I grabbed a piece of muslin to make a sheet and did some embroidery -- mostly daisy chain stitch.

I drew a chalk line and envisioned a green stem with pink and red flowers twining across the sheet and I am really pleased with how it turned out. No pattern - just free-hand stitching.
After I finished embroidering - I used a hoop - I cut it to a sheet size and utilized a double fold narrow hem on three sides and the fourth is folded over all of the embroidery stitches - keeping the loose threads safe.

I was also working on this blanket at the same time - binding it with a blanket stitch.

This blanket started out as a wool (lambswool) sweater that I picked up at a garage sale. Even though it was seriously pilled, the gal wanted $3.00 for it just because of it's label (Gap?). I talked her down to a buck because no one was ever gonna wear it again with all the pillballs. I felted it the easy way by throwing it in the washing machine with an old towel. Then I threw it in the dryer. I picked the sweater after skyping with my sister who was in charge of buying the flannel for the nightgowns. Our color palette started off in red because of the doll bed. The computer screen clearly showed a PINK fabric which this blankie matches quite well.

Next up are two pillows because one is never enough. I had some old sheeting in my stash and cut two 4" x 6" pieces of loft batting and one 3" x 5" piece which I sandwiched between the two larger layers, creating a rather inviting pillow. I serged two sides of the folded fabric, turned it right-sides-out, inserted my batting package and then pushed it out of the seam area while I serged the fourth side closed. A little finger push was all it took to move the batting back to flat.
The pillow cases were made similarly but before I sewed the two sides together I sewed a pink running stitch along the seam where I doubled the fabric (as in a real pillowcase). All rough measured with fabric on hand. The only thing I measured was how wide the doll bed is. I took some fabric, folded it over the batting - is there enough for a seam? and sewed.

Lastly (haha), I cobbled together a Waldorf nightie for the doll. I looked around the web but I did not want to purchase a pattern as I don't have the doll here. Not sure if there is enough room at the shoulders for the arms, but everything is elastic. I might still do some more trim work here (or not)-- If it works, great. I don't exactly have dolls laying around anymore. My kids are more into bottles.

My niece's kids have four sets of grandparents so they are quite busy during the holidays. I won't see them for another week - which gives me time to work on a little doll quilt, and maybe a fitted sheet for the mattress. I would think putting a fitted sheet around a mattress would be a huge dexterity skill for a 3-yr-old.

My sister is still sewing Phea's nightie and will send it as soon as she finishes. She actually bought a pattern which we can use again.

Bottled presents at our house.
About the size of Phea's doll.

I was thinking of a simple patchwork quilt with lace trim around the edges. I will utilize some of the nightie fabric and some other fabrics that go with this rosy pink color theme. Then again, I may come to my senses and realize I am done with this project and it is time to move on to the next -LOL.

Coconut Macaroons

2011-12-26T14:23:00.000-08:00

Fudge on top - Macaroons - Ginger Snaps.

My daughter made Coconut Macaroons for me a year ago and I can have them in moderation (as in all things) with little or no reaction.
It was easy to substitute gluten-free flour for the flour with just a tad longer baking time.

Here's the recipe:

COCONUT MACAROONS

4 EGG WHITES
1 Cup SUGAR
1/4 tsp SALT
1 tsp VANILLA
1/2 Cup CAKE FLOUR (or gluten-free)
3 Cups sweetened SHREDDED COCONUT (14 oz bag is perfect)

1st note: The 14oz bag of coconut is perfect. Ignore the "Contains 5 1/3 Cups." Even the bag recipe calls for the entire bag for 4 egg whites.
2nd note: I used gluten-free flour and increased it to 3/4 - 1 cup. This keeps macaroons from sticking and if you are a college student and do not have parchment paper - then this is a plus.
3rd note: ours were not browning this time at 325'. Try temporarily turning on the broiler to help get those tops browned.

In a stainless steel bowl set above a saucepan of simmering water (double boiler), mix EGG Whites, SUGAR, & SALT until mix is warm to the touch and nice & creamy.
Remove bowl from heat and stir in VANILLA, FLOUR & COCONUT. Refridgerate two hours or until firm.
Drop onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake at 325' for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown on top. When bottoms are lightly browned, they are done.

We are off to our family Christmas get-together this afternoon. We are in charge of desserts.
This three-tiered Desert Rose dessert thingy, two pumpkin pies and the Christmas hearts below.
There is a pear torte as well but it was still in the oven when I ventured out into the cold patio to take photos.

These Hearts were made with popsicle sticks, melted chocolate and crushed peppermints.
Candycane Hearts Recipe is here.

No snow here. I almost cracked my hummingbird feeder this morning. I thought the weather people were predicting Oregon would finally get warmer than freezing (last five weeks!) and it would rain. Still freezing this morning. . . .and no snow (or rain).

The Ultimate Christmas Yard Decoration

2011-12-20T19:36:00.000-08:00

{Images proudly stolen from somewhere.}

Cheese Balls

2011-12-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

I have had this recipe for a long time now - it's easy to make and can comfortably feed the neighbors with a Merry Christmas treat.
My co-worker, Micahle, many moons ago, gave me this recipe.

Micahle's CHEESE BALL

Recipe is for one big cheese ball but I usually use four bricks of cream cheese because it can be doubled and quadrupled easily. Substitutions and additions also can be accommodated.

8 oz brick CREAM CHEESE, softened
4 tsp. dried minced ONION
1/4 Cup MAYONNAISE
1/4 tsp SALT ( optional)
pinch PEPPER
1/4 tsp LEMON JUICE (or more to taste)
2 slices crisp BACON, crumbled
Optional: Hot Pepper Sauce ( I add this - couple of drops)

Mix Onion thru Bacon together. Stir into Cream Cheese.
Chill for a while.

Chop Pecans/Walnuts with dried Parsley.
I put this mixture onto a piece of wax paper, spread out.
Scoop out a ball out with a large spoon and roll in the chopped nuts/parsley.
You can also use a piece of saran wrap over your hand to scoop out a ball.

At this point, I place balls on a 'sheet' of saran wrap and wrap and twist off at top.
If you can still get the colored saran wrap - this is a good use for holiday red or green.

Then I gift it with a box of THIN TRISCUITS or similar small cracker. If I am serving, I put my cheese ball on a pretty plate with crackers arranged artistically around the ball with a small butter knife to spread.

I made a 4-brick bowl of this last Sunday because we took two large cheese balls to the two holiday parties this weekend. I will make a fresh 5-brick version to create 8 - 10 Holiday Cheese Balls for my neighbors to give out Saturday, Christmas Eve.

Everyone needs a quick gift to whip out and everyone seems to enjoy this.
It is not gluten-free, soy-free, or in any way, allergy-free, so I don't partake myself.

I typically use pecans or walnuts to roll the balls in, but I have used roasted hazelnuts because that is what I had. The walnuts and pecans tend to become softer around the cheese ball faster than some of the harder nuts.