Funky & Delightful

New Kitchen

2011-08-24T10:57:00.003-04:00

The girls are 18 months old now and are very much into turning the knobs on the stove, peering into the oven and "helping" me cook. It was time for a play kitchen.
We have a tiny space at the end of our counter and I wanted one that would fit and still be fun. I also wanted wood and for it to have a realistic, contemporary feel. After a long night of scouring the web, I landed upon this very helpful review from the folks at ohdeedoh.
The Educo Gourmet Kitchen fit all my requirements and was within my budget - score! A few clicks later and it was on its way. Assembly was a breeze and it seems very sturdy and well made, I am hopeful that it will survive triplets.
When the girls got up this morning, they saw it from down the hall and made a bee-line for it. I had this dish set that we received as a gift and also bought them this coordinating cookware set. I wanted to go with metal or wood, but let's face it, plastic hurts a lot less when it hits you in the head or lands on your toe. Green Toys products are made from recycled plastic and are cute and durable; I'd recommend them.
Internets, this is why I had children.

{from my kitchen} goat cheese ice cream with roasted red cherries

2011-07-20T04:54:00.004-04:00

It is no secret that I love ice cream. As soon as I saw the recipe for goat cheese ice cream with roasted red cherries in my epicurious e-newsletter I knew what I would be doing over the weekend. The recipe comes from Jeni Britton Bauer from the much loved Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream in Ohio. Splendid doesn’t even really begin to describe how awesome this ice cream is though. I can see why she has such a following. Even without the use of a traditional custard base the ice cream was really creamy and the goat cheese lent a bit of tang which was the perfect counterpoint to the sweet, roasted cherries. It’s an unusual but magnificent combination. I’m going to have to click on over to Amazon to get my hands on her new book to see what other cool combinations Jeni has up her sleeve. My summer must be filled with more ice cream!

Meet Sophia

2011-07-18T05:51:00.003-04:00

Sophia has been a long time coming. If memory serves me correctly she was first cut out at the same time as the weekender bag. That must be at least three years ago now, but it could be more. Sophia was my filler project. It was what I worked on when I couldn’t figure out what I really wanted my next project to be. I would iron on interfacing or sew a seam or two and then move on to my next big project.

I finally ran out of seams to sew and my filler project is now complete. Meet Sophia. She will be a great companion to my weekender bag.

Frequenting the farmers' market

2011-07-15T05:34:00.002-04:00

My trips so far to the farmers’ market this year have been highly successful. I’ve left with farm fresh eggs, kale, sugar snap peas, cabbage, cherries, beets, and summer squash. But, there is one product I am obsessed with: arugula. This is without a doubt the best arugula I’ve ever had. The peppery bite is fantastic and the taste is so very fresh. The most I’ve done to it is squeeze a bit of lemon juice and a drip or two of olive oil over it and that’s when I’m not stuffing whole leaves into my mouth as I prepare the rest of the meal. I’ve worked to ration it out so that I can have at a tiny pile each day before my next trip. It doesn’t work. Within a day or two it is gone and I’m hoping Wednesday arrives quickly so I can get my next fix.

Let's talk meat

2011-07-13T05:23:00.007-04:00

Behind the Meat Counter is a course at the Culinary Institute of America that I had been eyeing for a year or two. Each time I was about to register I would talk myself out of it: too expensive, too far away, not the right time. Blah, blah, blah. I’ve decided that this is the year I stop thinking and re-thinking all the big things I want to see and do and just DO THEM.

So it was that on a hot June Saturday morning I found myself on the campus of the CIA. The CIA is in a breathtaking location. These are some lucky students who get to look down on the Hudson River and its surrounding lush valley every day. I, however, spent most of the day in the basement in a chilled classroom and it was awesome!

Chef Schneller was a fantastic teacher. Humorous and helpful he made butchering large primal cuts look like a piece of cake. (Which I guess it would be if you had grown up at the side of your butcher father and continued in the profession yourself.) For demonstration he would break down large cuts of beef, talking us through the steps, and describing each of the smaller cuts as he went. Then we got to work with our own set of knives.

First up was learning to French a rack of lamb. With just a few simple cuts and a piece of butcher’s twine we had neatly cleaned our racks. Then the big butchering happened. We each broke down our own primal pork loin; they weighed in at over 40 pounds each. From that huge cut we learned how to remove the ribs, the tenderloin, the shoulder steaks, and the loin. By the time I finished mine I had amassed 4 steaks, a rack of ribs, a tenderloin, two pork roasts, 9 thick center cut shops, and scrap for grinding. And we weren’t done yet. The final butchering was breaking down a chicken. I learned the easy way to take out the backbone and how to leave a piece of the wing attached to the breast for a “fancy" presentation. Phew!

And all that meat came home with me! Samples of the beef Chef Schneller broke down, our lamb, our pork, and our chicken along with ground beef, pork, and lamb they made from our scraps found their way into my cooler. It was a very heavy cooler and my freezer is packed with more meat than I typically buy in six months. I’ve been having a bit here and there and it is crazy how proud I am to be eating meat that I butchered up myself. Very proud indeed.

Triple Threat Margaritas

2011-07-10T19:52:00.003-04:00

Because weekends with 17 month-old triplets require fortification. I used this recipe for homemade sweet & sour mix but modified the actual margarita recipe to make it a little less sweet and a little stronger.

Triple Threat Margaritas
3 cups sweet & sour mix
1 cup tequila
1/2 cup triple sec
juice of 3 limes

Add ingredients to a medium sized picture and fill with ice. Stir and serve in salt rimmed glasses with a slice of lime, preferably within sight but out of splashing distance of the water table. Invite friends and repeat.

Summer!

2011-06-22T05:43:00.001-04:00

Oh, summer, how I want to gobble you up this year! Let’s make plans.

**long evening strolls**random stops for ice cream **frequent stops at farmer’s markets**al fresco dining**lounging in the shade**iced coffee and Arnold Palmers**summer cocktails**new skirts**new sandals**playing croquet**ponytails**cooling off with popsicles** berries warm from the sun**homemade bread and butter pickles**learning to grill**colorful toes**running through a sprinkler** outdoor concerts and plays**

Putting the "Play" in Play Suit

2011-06-21T06:04:00.006-04:00

Summer has officially arrived here in the North East and we've had a string of lovely weekend days, perfect for herding three little girls out of doors. We recently met up with Aunt Tory for a picnic and the girls wore their Oliver & S play suits that she made them for their birthday. These little ladies have a lot of clothes (thanks, Grandma) but based on Sunday's field test, the play suits may just become their summer uniform. Take a look:

Contemplating the dizzying heights from the top of an old stump.

"It doesn't look that far down, I think I can make it."

Built for stretching and bending.

"Don't put the stick in my mouth? I don't know what you're talking about, I'm just holding this stick."

And, the activity of choice, illicit stair climbing onto the bandstand. Not pictured, running around said band stand (Mommy was too busy preventing stage diving to take a photo.)

Thank you, Aunt Tory, we all love the play suits!

Dressed for Summer

2011-06-17T05:00:00.001-04:00

Oh, to be the little girl who gets to hop, skip, jump, run, somersault, swing, slide, tricycle-ride, and eat frozen treats in these outfits all summer long! Sigh.

You can't win them all

2011-06-15T05:06:00.004-04:00

Little Miss Bee is the best mama to her baby dolls. Each and every night they get a bottle before being tucked into bed. They then get a bed time story “read” to them. Before Bee heads off to bed herself, she pats them on the back and tells them good night. Super sweet, right?

When I saw the pattern for the doll carrier in the Oliver + S book I thought it would be perfect for the little mama. I phoned my sister and started describing it to her. I was barely two sentences in when she yelled out, “You HAVE to make that for Bee. She is driving me crazy with the one we’ve tried to fashion. It doesn’t work.” Auntie to the rescue!

Well, it turns out that Miss Bee wasn’t as sure about the doll carrier as her mommy and I had been. Upon seeing her most beloved baby doll strapped in she kept proclaiming, “Oh, no baby! Oh, no!” And then she refused to try it on. Harumph. But, I have high hopes that one day, when it is her own idea as they must be when you are two, she’ll be wearing it everywhere with baby safely strapped in.

Hello, baby

2011-06-13T05:00:00.001-04:00

When a bouncing baby girl enters the world just ahead of the summer season there is only one possible baby gift, a dress with bloomers. Wait a minute, it’s really the bloomers I find most necessary. How cute is a poofy, diapered bottom covered with a ruffly legged pair of bloomers? Cute, I say, very, very cute.

Repurposed

2011-06-10T05:11:00.003-04:00

What was once a letterpress tray has now become my jewelry storage tray. When I found it at Brimfield last fall it was covered in layer upon layer of dirt, dust, and decaying paper. After quite some time with a rag I ended up a beautiful little piece and black fingertips. It was totally worth the $20 investment and an hour of time.

With all these compartments in varying sizes and shapes it is the perfect corral for my collections of earrings, pins, bracelets, and necklaces. In fact, there are so many little compartments that I just may need to do some more thrifting to make sure they are properly filled.

{eating out} coppa enoteca, boston

2011-06-08T05:21:00.009-04:00

Last summer was the first time I gave Coppa Enoteca a try. It was average, neither wowing me or offending my taste buds. At the time I didn’t know if I would go back. But I decided it deserved another try. I’m glad I did.

Everything I ordered was fantastic. With aperol spritzer in hand, it all started with the bread and its little bowl of olive oil for dipping. It may seem strange to fall in love with olive oil but I did. It was grassy with a bit of spice and I happily took more bread when they offered. There was no way I wanted to a leave a bit of that oil behind.

As a sort of appetizer I chose one of their specials, seared scallops atop a bean ragout. I had to work really hard at not inhaling the entire dish. So, yes, it was very, very good.

For a main course I chose the house made orecchiette with lamb, favas, mint, and pecorino. Again, I needed to prove I was something of a lady and not slurp down the entire bowl. I wish I had had the foresight to order the full size and take some home. But either way I have a feeling there wouldn’t have been any to take home with me.

I had intended to skip dessert. I was full of bread, olive oil, scallops, and fresh pasta. But then the server said house made pistachio gelato and I was a goner. Some pistachio gelatos barely taste of pistachios but this one was a winner. I would have happily taken home a pint, er, gallon.

The moral of this little food story? Give the average places a second try. They might just become your “neighborhood” joint as I hope Coppa will become mine.

A delightful night's sleep

2011-06-06T05:16:00.010-04:00

Little Miss Lou thought I was visitng over the long holiday weekend to celebrate her birthday. And she was right, but it also provided the perfect opportunity to give her a suprise bed makeover.

When she went back to school on Tuesday I went into action stripping away the old bedding. In its place went a new bed skirt, white jersey sheets, and the half square triangle quilt.

I anxiously waited the bus drop-off and tried to casually suggest she change out of her school clothes into some play clothes for an afternoon outside. We all followed her upstairs to her bedroom. As she went into her room she exclaimed, "What in the world?!?!? These are my favorite colors." Awesome!

When I talked with her the next day I asked how she had slept in her brand new bed. With a big smile on her face she explained, "It was delightful." My sister further elaborated that as soon as she got up that morning Little Miss Lou was found carefully making her bed, smoothing out all the creases, and proclaiming that her little sister Little Miss Bee was not to touch it.

Yeah, I think she likes it!

The quilt is done!

2011-05-27T05:25:00.008-04:00

The quilting is completed and the binding attached. I handstitched 26 feet of binding in 7 short hours. That might not seem an impressive speed but I’m blown away. I had set aside time over the course of three weeks to finish the binding by hand. And you know what? I only needed 20 or 30 minutes here and there over the course of 10 days to get it all done. I’ve clearly gotten better at this hand stitching business. In fact, I really enjoyed it. I was a little sad to see it come to an end.

The next time you see this quilt it will be donning Little Miss Lou’s bed and I can’t wait to see her reaction. I hope she loves it half as much as I do. Stay tuned.

{from my kitchen} baked french toast with orange and vanilla

2011-05-25T05:14:00.003-04:00

There are dishes I make that I enjoy while they last. Then there are dishes I make and I obsessively think about long after they are gone. This baked French toast scented with orange and vanilla falls into the latter category. It was all perfection, rich and custardy with just a touch of sweetness. The orange and vanilla subtly conspired to remind me of a creamsicle, one of my favorite summertime treats from childhood. Dusted with some confectioner’s sugar and served with a side of maple-sage sausage it was a lovely Sunday brunch.

Must Have Shoes

2011-05-23T06:00:00.010-04:00

According to Nina Garcia there are five must have shoes styles every woman should own. One of those is a pair of Converse sneakers. I wonder if she had green in mind like I do?

(Image from Zappos)

My little garden

2011-05-20T05:25:00.005-04:00

Last year I was super inspired by Victoria’s awesome herb garden. I planted one of my own and corralled it in an old wooden tray on my kitchen table. I never got around to taking a picture of it though. With more than two minutes of sunshine each day it was time to plant my little garden again. This time I got a shot!

My garden grows basil, rosemary, mint, tarragon, thyme, and chives. Though it requires zero effort to keep them going I get an immense amount of satisfaction watching my garden grow. Not to mention how fantastic it is to cook with MY herbs.

{from my kitchen} lemon panna cotta with lemon marmalade

2011-05-18T05:12:00.005-04:00

I rarely meet a dessert I don't like and this one is no exception. Despite being full of whole milk and heavy cream it manages to be light and reminiscent of summer, just the type of dessert I’m craving more and more as the weather improves. The lemon marmalade was good but far too bitter against the delicate panna cotta. I can, however, imagine smearing it on a scone along with some gently whipped cream. What this lemon panna cotta really wanted to be partnered with was fresh raspberries. With berry season looming I’m going to have to give that combination a try. You know, for research purposes.

Flea Market Survival

2011-05-16T16:49:00.007-04:00

I’m sad to report that Brimfield was a bust. Early in my adventure I found one decent pair of chairs. In the right place with the right paint and fabric they would have been awesome. But they were a little too feminine for what I have in mind for my space. Fast forward 3.5 hours and I found a pair of old, perfectly worn leather club chairs. I sat in them. I admired them from afar. I sat in them again. Then I asked the price and choked. $5000 for the pair! Not exactly what I’d been budgeting for chairs. Alas, the hunt continues.

Since I have nothing to show for my hours of wandering I thought I’d share my flea market survival kit instead.
(1) Cash, because it is king. For cases of emergency spending there is a check and a credit card but you’ll get the best deal with cash.
(2) A notebook and pen. When I leave home this book is filled with measurements for spaces I’m looking to fill, door jamb widths, stairway heights, and the space in the back of the car. A treasure isn’t a treasure if you can’t get it into your house.
(3) Measuring tape. See number 2.
(4) Camera. Sometimes it helps to snap a picture of something you like but aren’t too sure about yet. Also, write down the booth information in that handy notebook you brought so you know where to return to when you realize you can’t live without said item.
(5) Sunblock and sunglasses. I’m pale, really pale. The only way to survive is with sunblock and sunglasses. If it hadn’t been overcast with threats of rain you would also see my brimmed straw hat up there.
(6) Water. You can’t be dropping two dollars here and there every time you’re thirsty so I always carry water and refill at fountains as necessary. I’m stingy with the cash since that is what will make my deals even better.
(7) A big canvas tote to store everything you see up there. It’s also really convenient for those tiny treasures you find along the way.

So Many Options

2011-05-13T16:12:00.004-04:00

Have you been noticing all the great new fabrics recently? I have and it’s got me thinking about how I can justify buying up a bunch of them. My answer: that stack of napkins on my handmade list. The way I see it, with just half a yard of fabric I can make two napkins. That means for a week's worth of napkins I’ll need 7 half yard cuts. I should allow for some realistic delays in laundry though. Perhpas I'll need 8-9 half yard cuts to be safe, right? The hard part could be narrowing it down!

{from my kitchen} baguette with anchovy butter and radishes

2011-05-11T05:16:00.007-04:00

There is something to be said for keeping it simple and this little nibble illustrates why I should keep it simple more often. Slices of French bread slathered with a flavorful anchovy butter and topped with crispy radishes and a sprinkle of sea salt were awesome and paired perfectly with our negronis. Add in several hours of watching the Kentucky Derby coverage and it was a rather nice way to spend an on again/off again stormy Saturday afternoon. Our picks to win the race came up short, but oh well. We had delicious food and drink to ease the pain.

Weekender

2011-05-09T05:10:00.004-04:00

So, so long ago I alluded to the fact that I had made a weekender bag. And then I never told you about it. It may have been because I needed space and time and healing after that project. It was a doozy to put together. There was laughing, crying, swearing, and a little bloodshed. At the end of it, though, I had a gorgeous weekender bag ready for trips here, there, and everywhere.

Though truth be told I’m too afraid to take it on an airplane. It could get filthy in the overhead or under the seat in front of me! After all the work I can’t bear the thought of my masterpiece ending up covered in grease or grime or spilled beverages. This bag is now the official bag of road trips. I’m wondering where she’d like to go this summer?

A Contender

2011-05-06T05:43:00.002-04:00

Hunting for the perfect chairs is hard, very hard. I’ve been to thrift stores, consignment shops, and flea markets. You might find one great chair but what I really want is a pair. Which leads me to think I might need to go retail. The above example is right up my alley. It is classic with a bit of flair. Just like me.

But I'm not willing to throw in the towel just yet. Brimfield is next week!

(Image from Ballard Designs)

Progress Report

2011-05-04T05:15:00.000-04:00

I have a finished quilt top and I love it! It looks just like the picture I had created in my mind. It is huge though. Little Miss Lou could crawl underneath it and not be seen for days. It measures 72” wide x 84” long which is an appropriate size for a twin sized quilt according to the internet.

I’d been a little stumped about what to do for the backing so the quilt top has spent the last few weeks folded neatly on the back of my sewing chair. I was leaning towards something quiet and calm since there is a lot of color and pattern on the quilt top. I finally decided I'd do a band of patchwork with the leftover bits from the quilt top with a wide swath of white above and below. However, as I put together that wide strip of patchwork it all went wrong. Somewhere amdist all my piecing something became horribly stretched and no matter what I did my patchwork strip would not lay straight. It was shaped more like a patchwork rainbow with a huge bump in the center. I could not continue with that! Instead the backing became the very simplest it could be: all white.

But all is not lost. I think the plain white backing will work better with my original plan to quilt it on the diagonal along the prints. If the patchwork strip had worked out I think I would have wanted plain vertical quilting and that just seems a little boring next to all those great half square triangles!

The quilt is now sandwiched, pinned, and the quilting begun. I hope to get the quilting completed by the weekend and then I can sit back and stitch the binding while Netflix keeps me company.

{from my kitchen} homemade pasta

2011-05-02T19:47:00.004-04:00

Can there be anything wrong with homemade pasta? I didn’t think so and my latest kitchen experiment, thankfully, proves I’m right. What started out as a few eggs, some flour, salt, and a bit of water turned into the silkiest, most delicious pasta I’ve had in a long time. Maybe ever.

I tossed all that glorious pasta in a simple sauce of prosciutto, orange, and cream and found myself near heaven. As I melted into my first bite I couldn’t help but think of it as the ultra-sophisticated cousin of an alfredo, but even that sells it a bit short. I have to admit I am feeling pretty smug about the perfection of this meal.

Go, Granny, Go

2011-04-29T05:46:00.004-04:00

Remember waaaay back when I fell in love with a granny square afghan? I attempted to find some decent, I mean dead simple, instructions on the internet. And they had to be dead simple since I was, and still am, a complete crochet novice. Luckily, Posie came to my rescue and wrote a simple pattern for me. Except it wasn’t quite easy enough for someone who had never read a crochet pattern before. I’d only made it up as I went along before.

That’s what yarn shops are for though. They happily take a rather small bit of money and help you through your pattern reading troubles. After my first “class” with a group of terribly fun, and funny, ladies I was well on my way to creating my very own granny square afghan. (It also greatly helped when the instructor pointed out my crochet hook was crap and with the simple spending of $4 I was crocheting like I knew what I was doing.)

Posie’s pattern is baby sized so I’m upsizing it for an adult, something I can hide underneath while sprawled out on the couch for some movie watching. When I did some math to figure out how many squares that would be I started hyperventilating. It’s somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 – 200 squares. With one here and one there though I already find myself with 96 centers done. I’m saving up all the gray borders for when I need a project while travelling. Taking one ball of yarn is so much easier than 9 balls!

Best of Charleston

2011-04-27T05:33:00.002-04:00

My mom and I met up for a girls’ weekend in Charleston recently. I highly recommend you plan a trip to Charleston as well. The city, which is surrounded by water, is pedestrian friendly and very European in feeling. The spring weather is phenomenal, the locals friendly, and the food amazing. As to what to do, Charleston is filled with historical sites, old plantations and homes, and tours galore. We spent five days but could have easily spent five weeks.

As we sat at the airport waiting for our respective flights home we played a little game of “Name Your Favorite”. But we quickly had to sub-categorize and re-categorize in order to give due recognition to all the things we loved in Charleston. Without further ado, our best of Charleston list.

Best Hotel: Fulton Lane Inn
True, we only stayed at one inn during our stay, but this was top notch without costing top dollar. Continental breakfast is delivered to your door, the rooms are clean, and staff is wonderful.

Best Breakfast: Toast! Of Charleston
Go for the Eggs Meeting Street which is a fried green tomato topped with a crab cake topped with a poached egg. Served on the side were the obligatory grits and biscuit.

Best Lunch: Hominy Grill
A very popular restaurant but turnover is quick and service is great. Be sure to check the specials board which is where we found our soft shell crab po’boys. You must save room for the coconut cake.

Best Dinner Overall: Cru Cafe
Don’t judge the exterior of this restaurant or you will miss a real gem. Each and every course was spot on.

Best Standout Main Course: 39 rue de Jean’s lamb shank
This is course that my mom dreams of and will be talking about for years to come.

Best Restaurant Vibe: Husk
Each and every ingredient right down to the salt and olive oil is sourced in the south. The menu varies each day depending on what is available. They have also turned the old kitchen building into a fantastic bar. We suggest you start your evening there.

Best Historic House: The Nathaniel Russell House
You will not believe the amount of detail put into this house when it was built. The whole house is wonderful but the staircase and music room are amazing. The story of the man who built this house is also pretty great too and is fantastically told by the knowledgeable tour guides.

Best Tour: Ghosts and Graveyards
A rich and colorful storyteller guides you through graveyards at night. It will send shivers up and down your spine. By the end of the night you will believe in ghosts.

Best “Get your Bearings” Tour: Charleston Strolls
Start your trip with this tour. It is the perfect way to see the city on foot and figure out where everything is.

Best Gardens: Magnolia Plantation
Located 10 miles outside of Charleston this former rice plantation is rightly known for their gardens. Azaleas were plentiful and in full bloom. Also plentiful was wildlife including alligators, snakes and birds.

Best Way to See the Water: Sailing on Schooner Pride
If forced to pick only one highlight from Charleston it would be our 2 hour sail. Beginning on the Cooper River you head to wherever the winds take you. We ended up on the Atlantic before returning to dock. Sun, wind, and water, it was a perfect combination.

More Pictures of Charleston: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5

We all scream for ice cream

2011-04-25T06:11:00.001-04:00

When I first bought the ice cream dress pattern I was really only interested in making the blouse. (I have to admit I thought the dress with the pockets and contrasting yoke and hem band looked a little like an old lady’s housecoat.) But as I finished my first blouse I kept thinking how cute the dress, as view B, would be done in bands of solid.

As I bounced my idea off my favorite partner in sewing crime, we veered off in the direction of using what is already in the fabric stash. I already had white and pink solids. Being an excellent enabler she pointed out that all I would have to do is buy a bit of brown and I could make a Neapolitan dress. Get it? An ice cream dress done as Neapolitan! I loved it!

So I made two. One for Little Miss Lou and one for her partner in crime, Little Miss Bee. I cannot wait to get my hands on some pictures of these girls side-by-side in their ice cream dresses. And in that picture I think they should be eating ice cream cones. Neapolitan, of course.

A Birthday Recap

2011-04-22T05:43:00.007-04:00

Birthdays are the best. It’s the one day of the year that belongs completely to you. You get to spend it however you want. And that’s what I did on my recent birthday, exactly what I wanted.

It started with a laid back morning on the couch with a stack of interior design books and a breakfast of bagels, cream cheese, and smoked salmon. Oh, and a mimosa, an absolute must on any birthday.

From there it was a Mediterranean inspired salad with roasted shrimp, peppers, cucumbers, olives and feta before I headed out for a massage and facial.

A quick stop at home after the spa gave just enough time to change into my party clothes for a night on the town. We started the evening with some browsing time at the ICA, the first time either of us had visited that museum. I’m not sure it was really my kind of art but I’m glad we gave it a try.

As if the day couldn’t get any better we walked the few short blocks to Drink, my favorite cocktail bar, for a pre-dinner libation. And dinner, holy cow, was at Menton. We dined from the 4 course menu but with all the wonderful offerings they seamlessly deliver to your table between courses it was more like 8 or 9 courses. After 3 hours of fine dining we were stuffed and completely satisfied. I fell asleep on the ride back home and by the time we got there it was no longer my birthday, which is exactly when you should get home from a birthday celebration.

It was the best birthday yet.

A Contender

2011-04-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

One of the items on the nest list is finding a super cool new (or not so new) china cabinet/pantry for my kitchen. The one above fits all my criteria: closed on the bottom, glass on the top, lots of adjustable wood shelves, and the doors slide to open. Best of all it would fill the intended space perfectly. Now if only it were 20% off, no sales tax, and free delivery.

(image from Crate & Barrel)

Rainbow Bright

2011-04-18T18:16:00.009-04:00

Rainbow colored pencils all lined up in a row makes me happy.

A finished pencil roll makes me very happy.

It's the middle bits of this story where the sad part lies. It was being stooped over my kitchen table for what felt like hours and hours cutting 60 – 1.5” wide strips after ironing 20 bits of carefully chosen fabric that had me feeling sad. Then on top of that there were the pockets, the pocket linings, the exteriors, and the flannel linings. So perhaps it was my insane decision to make three pencil rolls at once that contributed to my unhappiness. My reasoning was that if I was going to suffer through all that cutting I might as well have three items to show for it.

I know I can’t be the only sewer out there who suffers from this logic, right?

Hello? Spring?

2011-03-29T07:11:00.003-04:00

Around here spring seems to be having an identity crisis. It’s barely made it above 40F for more than a week and it's snowed…twice. This is not the spring I was hoping for. While mother nature makes up her mind, I’m beckoning her with a bit of spring and summer sewing.

First up, a set of playsuits for Little Miss Bee. Being fresh off a set of six playsuits these came together in no time at all.

And second, an ice cream blouse for Little Miss Lou. It was my first time with this relatively new Oliver + S pattern and I’m now smitten. In fact, it resulted in the first addition to the handmade list since I first rolled it out. Make an ice cream dress with solids for Little Miss Lou.

Now, how about some warmer weather?

Project Report

2011-03-25T19:01:00.005-04:00

Huge, huge progress has been made on the half square triangle quilt. When last I left you I was hoping to get all the squares cut apart and ironed by the weekend so I could start the (re)assembly of the quilt top. Not only did I do it, I got two of the blocks put together. Since then I have completed two more.

This weekend brings the completion of the final two blocks. And if I’m really ambition I might even sew those six blocks into a completed quilt top. But that’s something like 120 feet worth of seams to iron so that may be more than I’m up for. Perhaps daydreaming about what the back will look like is more my speed.

What’s on tap for your weekends?

Headlines

2011-03-21T19:45:00.003-04:00

Magazine covers make all kinds of impossible claims. Walk off 20 pounds by tomorrow! Look ten years younger with one simple trick! Best brownie ever!

It seems they may have gotten that last one right. Bon Appetit proudly proclaimed they had the best brownie recipe ever inside its February issue. I like to judge these things for myself so I made a batch. They were right.

My Shame

2011-03-17T19:14:00.006-04:00

If any of you were big fans of the show Friends you’ll understand this analogy. My fabric scrap basic is like Monica’s secret locked closet of junk. You see, Monica and I are very tidy people but we have a little secret we hide behind a door. Her secret involved the inability to get rid of anything but mine just involves the inability to get rid of any little scrap of pretty fabric. Until it got completely out of control, that is.

See that photo up there? It doesn’t look so bad. What I’m not showing you, though, are all the piles that had found their way to the bottom of the closet floor. As a tidy person with a tiny house, it was driving me crazy!

I had to be ruthless. I pulled every scrap bit out of the closet and onto the floor and set myself in the middle of it. (It was a totally rockin’ Saturday night.) If I didn’t absolutely love it, it went into the garbage bag. What I ended up with was a totally manageable basket and nothing on the floor. The sweet success of a bit of organizing!

Now to find projects that use up my best scrap pieces. I’ve been thinking about making some doll quilts and maybe tackling some paper pieced hexagons. How do you use the bits you can’t bear to toss?

Number 8 on The Nest List

Mary Poppins

2011-03-14T20:59:00.004-04:00

At the end of last year my mom surprised my grandma, sister, and oldest niece with an afternoon at the theatre to see Mary Poppins. Each enthusiastic review, from the youngest to the oldest, ended with you MUST go see it. It immediately became an item on the list of experiences.

But before I get into that, let’s start with how our evening started, dinner. We went to my favorite French bistro style restaurant, Gaslight, for their restaurant week menu. Overall, the meal was a solid B, a bit below previous experiences. The appetizers and French bread were great. My main was a bit of a misstep with the unfortunate appearance of some canned artichokes atop my perfectly cooked cod. The dudely’s main course, however, was phenomenal, out of this world. I had a hard time keeping my fork on my own side of the table. It was being magnetically drawn into his braised beef cheeks. But, oh, how sad was dessert? Sad! How can a French bistro make crepes that taste like rubber? Oh, Gaslight, thank goodness for your appetizers and beef cheeks. You saved yourself from a flunking grade because I hate losing favorite restaurants.

Onto the main feature: Mary Poppins. I cannot say enough good things about this show. From the acting to the music to the costumes to the sets, everything was amazing. I found myself leaning forward out of my seat, singing along with the music throughout the entire production. I guess that could have been annoying to my neighbors but everyone was doing the same thing! Mary Poppins is such a classic movie and the stage version managed to honor that while adding different bits to the story.

As Mary Poppins would have said, “Practically perfect in every way.” But Mary must have been modest. It was absolutely perfect in every way.

Number 8 on The Experiences List

Birthday Suits

2011-03-10T06:33:00.002-05:00

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since the Bean, the Bear, and the Bandit were welcomed into this world. Wow! One minute those teeny, tiny babies are being wrapped like burritos and in the next minute they are standing all by themselves. Again, wow!

I tossed a few different ideas around in my head as to what I should make to mark such a significant milestone. The only idea that kept coming back over and over again were the Oliver + S playsuits. I kept picturing three little girls toddling around the backyard this summer sporting coordinating playsuits. And that mind’s eye picture was all I needed to convince myself that not only was it the right present, it was the perfect present.

The girls may have been more interested in the ric rac and fluttery pennant I made for the front of the gift than they were in the playsuits inside. I think it is safe to say, though, that their mommy and daddy were more than a little smitten.

Happy Birthday, sweet girls. I wish you hours of blissful play.

I Heart Coconut

2011-03-08T19:03:00.011-05:00

Exhibit A: Triple Coconut Pie

It wasn’t until my sister pointed it out to me that I realized just how much I love coconut. We were talking about some baking I had done recently and two out of the three things I mentioned prominently featured coconut. Hmm, I guess she’s right. Any recipe with coconut piques my interest.

Exhibit B: Classic Coconut Cake

So it didn't take long after I saw the Classic Coconut Cake recipe in this month’s Bon Appetit before it was sitting in my pretty cake stand. I’ve been slowly working my way through this awesome cake. However, if the dudely has anything to do with it the cake will be gone by tonight. If the slice of cake doesn’t serve at least three people it just isn’t big enough for him. I guess my love for coconut is more like infatuation while his is a true love.

The Half Square Triangle Quilt

2011-03-02T17:04:00.006-05:00

My obsession with half square triangle quilts started after the doll quilt. I adored the crisp white with the pops of colors and the precise geometric arrangement. I had to make a human sized one.

It just so happens that my need to make intersects with Little Miss Lou’s need for an Auntie made quilt for her newly decorated big girl room. Of course, that big girl room prominently features her favorite color orange along with doses of white and turquoise. Sounds like the perfect quilt combination!

I had a few oranges and turquoises already in my stash and the rest came as a result of a 40% off sale at Joann’s. Then came the backbreaking part: cutting out 378 squares, each measuring 4 and 7/8 inches with the goal being a finished block size of 4 inches.

I am now deep into the block assembly process. All the squares have been stitched together and I am spending evenings at the ironing board. I alternately snip them apart into their half square triangles and then iron all those seams. (Oh, how I wish I could hire out the seam ironing!) The plan is to get all this done before the weekend so I can start on the fun part, the layout and quilt top construction!

Wish me luck.

No. 4 on the Handmade List

Olivia + Arthur

2011-02-28T18:39:00.008-05:00

Let me introduce you to Olivia and Arthur, better known as Olive and Archie. They’ve undergone a name change as a way to distinguish big sister’s dolls from little sister’s dolls.

Olivia and Arthur were part of Little Miss Bee’s Christmas present. I couldn’t just stop at a set of dolls though. You see, I love gifts that are part of a larger theme. So along with Olivia and Arthur came a doll bed, mattress, pillow, and quilt.

The whole gift was a fabulous success. And how do I know, you ask? Upon opening it the little miss grabbed the neck of one doll, picked up the quilt, and desperately tried to fit herself into the bed. It was a sight that had us laughing all Christmas morning.

Sold!

2011-02-23T19:27:00.004-05:00

Towards the end of last year one of my co-workers came to me and said she wanted to hire my skills, specifically my quilting skills. I laughed and blushed and said, “Oh, shucks.” But she was dead serious. She was ready to talk fabrics and design. I was hooked.

And that is how this baby quilt was born. It’s my Path to Pop Garden quilt scaled down to baby size, each final square measuring 7 inches. I worked in a color palette of greens and blue, the only real requirement of my “client”. The fabrics are from Nicey Jane, a line of fabrics I had somehow managed to resist buying up until that point, with a print from Bijoux thrown into the mix; a sunny stripe from Urban Chiks backs it all.

Winter has been cruel to New Englanders so I especially love how in the midst of all that swirling snow I was able to create this bit of spring. Can’t you just imagine taking baby outside on that first really warm spring day for some playtime on her quilt? I can. And it warms me through and through.

The Tooth Fairy

2011-02-21T19:55:00.004-05:00

First Little Miss Lou had the audacity to turn five. Then she insisted on starting kindergarten. As if that wasn’t enough growing up, she’s started losing her teeth!

The idea of loose teeth completely freaks me out so I had to focus my energy on something more worthwhile, a tooth fairy pillow. After a bit of trolling around the web I came across a cute little tooth cutout from Martha. Thank goodness for free templates! The rest of the pillow was a cinch because, of course, it had to feature her favorite color, orange. I just happened to have the perfect orange and white polka dot in my stash. Then to take to it the next level, I added some classic white piping.

Into the Valentine’s Day package went this little extra treat for Miss Lou. It just missed the loss of her first tooth but was at the ready for the loss of her second. The generosity of the tooth fairy, or perhaps the value of teeth, has greatly increased since the days of my baby teeth. The lucky Little Miss has scored $2 each! She offered this simple explanation as to why mine were worth so little when I was a kid:

“Well, Auntie, you only get $2 if you pull them out yourself. If your Mommy does it for you you’ll only get a quarter.”

Well, indeed.

For my Valentines

2011-02-17T17:30:00.010-05:00

Simple stitched cards made from scraps too lovely to throw away

An Oliver + S jumprope dress in gray fine wale corduroy with calico accents

A tiny baker's apron with ruffled detail

Makin' Whoopie

2011-02-14T17:50:00.006-05:00

No, not that kind! The pie kind. Think coffee laced chocolate cookie cakes spread with buttercream and we’ll be thinking the same thing. Of course, they could accurately be described as sugar, some more sugar, fat, and more fat, but that just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

In this cute little four bite size I made them in for the masses you can ignore the fact that they are sugar and fat bound together with chocolate and flour. And because it’s Valentine’s Day I think ignorance is bliss, enjoyed with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Recipe from Baked Explorations, a must have for all you bakers out there.

The Vanity

2011-02-10T17:21:00.006-05:00

1. Have a facial (done!)
2. Get a manicure (done!)
3. Get many pedicures (two so far!)
4. Work with a trainer
5. Buy a fabulous handbag
6. Figure out how to rock a belt
7. Find the perfect boots
8. Get awesome new shades
9. Decide my next hairstyle (done, I think!)
10. Wear make-up (on several occasions!)

Part of the 2011 in Lists Project

The Experiences

2011-02-08T12:00:00.013-05:00

1. Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
2. Attend a Seane Corn workshop (done!)
3. Take the Ben + Jerry's tour
4. Visit the ICA (done!)
5. Take a European vacation
6. Play putt-putt
7. Visit a new (to me) U.S. city (done!)
8. See Mary Poppins (done!)
9. Go to an outdoor concert
10. Head to the beach

Part of the 2011 in Lists Project

The Nest

2011-02-07T21:15:00.012-05:00

1. Fill up my lovely address file
2. Refinish the coffee table
3. Find the perfect old or new china cabinet/pantry for the kitchen (looking..)
4. Find the perfect old or new chairs for the living room
5. Find the perfect old or new side table for the living room
6. Get floor lamps for the living room (got one!)
7. Fill the couch with awesome pillows (made two!)
8. Tame the fabric scrap basket (done!)
9. Plant a succulent
10. Update the bathroom accessories (in progress!)

Part of the 2011 in Lists Project

The Food

2011-02-04T07:00:00.009-05:00

1. Eat a dozen oysters with a glass of champagne
2. Start a Sunday Supper Club
3. Take a cooking class (done!)
4. Have dinner at Menton (done!)
5. Pick raspberries or blueberries or both
6. Eat at The Butcher Shop
7. Check out Flour
8. Assemble the liquors for the perfect classic cocktail bar
9. Give Coppa Enoteca another try (done!)
10. Make ricotta
11. Make mozzarella
12. Make cassoulet
13. Make mayonnaise
14. Make bagels
15. Make chocolate babka from The Craft of Baking
16. Make crepes
17. Make croissants
18. Make Chocolate Coffee Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache from Baked Explorations
19. Make doughnuts
20. Make whoopie pies (done!)

Part of the 2011 in Lists Project

The Handmade

2011-02-03T06:54:00.011-05:00

1. Make a stack of fabric napkins (fabric options scoped!)
2. Make an apron....for myself!
3. Finish the Sophia bag (done!)
4. Make a half square triangle quilt for Little Miss Lou (done!)
5. Make a pinwheel quilt for Little Miss Bee (in progress!)
6 . Crochet enough sunshine squares for an adult sized afghan (96 + counting!)
7. Embroider a wall hanging
8. Make one or two playsuits for Little Miss Bee (done!)
9. Make a birthday party dress for Little Miss Bee
10. Make lazy days skirts for Little Miss Bee (done!)
11. Make an apron for Little Miss Bee (done!)
12. Make a super-cape for Little Miss Bee (done!)
13. Make a long-sleeve jumprope dress for Little Miss Lou (done!)
14. Make a tooth fairy pillow for Little Miss Lou (done!)
15. Make lazy days skirts for Little Miss Lou (done!)
16. Make a school photo dress for Little Miss Lou
17. Make an ice cream blouse for Little Miss Lou (done!)
18. Make flannel pjs for both Little Misses
19. Make a fabric pennant garland (made a mini!)
20. Make fabric cards
21. Make an ice cream dress with solids for Little Misses Lou and Bee (done!)
22. Make the doll carrier from Little Things to Sew for Little Miss Bee (done!)

Part of the 2011 in Lists Projects

2011 in Lists

2011-02-02T09:33:00.005-05:00

For a few months I've had ideas tumbling around in my head about what I wanted to accomplish in 2011. I've done a list before but it didn't really capture all the ideas or options that appear throughout the year. And although I was the author of the list I never felt like I could change it once I put it out there. In the end it felt a bit like a to-do list and I lost some steam along the way.

For 2011 I've developed a different plan for my lists making. The lists will be divided into categories: The Handmade, The Food, The Nest, The Experiences, and The Vanity. They will be living lists and things may be get the axe and other things may be added as new opportunities or interests appear. It's my way of keeping track of all the ideas that float through my head and a way to make sure I'm tackling the ones that end up most important to me.

Each day over the next week I'll post the list for each of my categories. I'll also be adding a sidebar category with links to all the lists so you can find them easily. My hope is to keep each list updated regularly with status or links to pictures or full blog posts so you can see how I'm doing.

Triplet Supply List, the essentials

2011-01-05T06:35:00.005-05:00

As I have been packing away the baby stuff to make room for three mobile little girls, I have been reflecting on how we managed to minimize the amount of "gear" we needed. There are almost no items that weren't used, and used a lot. It's quite amazing how little babies really need in the first few months, even when you have three of them.

For what it's worth, my list of essential items for triplets:

A local support group. Seriously, even if you are not the support group type, the advice and understanding (not to mention the used clothes and baby items) that you will get from veteran parents of multiples is invaluable. There are also lots of triplet blogs with different approaches and experiences.

Help. My mother-in-law lived with us for the first six months. Having her here allowed us to be the parents we wanted to be: every baby got held for every feeding and rarely did anyone have to cry while waiting for a sister to be fed/changed/bathed/soothed. Believe me, there was still plenty of crying, but everyone's needs got met in a gentle and loving way.

Diapers, wipes, some kind of diaper cream. I couldn't talk my husband into using cloth diapers but know other triplet families who did.

A dozen big flannel or muslin receiving blankets for swaddling. Our girls loved being swaddled until they could actually bust out and get their arms free at about 6 months.

A fuzzy blanket each for wrapping the baby in to take places and throwing over the car seat.

Sleepers and the little diaper shirts (we didn't use onsies because they just got dirty and were a pain to get on/off when the girls were small. If you do laundry every 2-3 days, you can easily manage with a dozen of each. My girls didn't wear "real clothes" for weeks.

Triplet moms to be: don't let anyone talk you out of nursing/pumping! I nursed two babies for six months and pumped for all three until they were ten months. I had a great milk supply (~75% of what they needed) and found it very manageable. That said, I don't know any triplet mom who was able to exclusively nurse all three from day one. You may be able to get there eventually (I wasn't), but you will likely work towards it over the the period of weeks or even months. Rent a hospital grade pump, it makes a huge difference.

A few different types of bottles and nipples to see what the babies like. I thought I would use glass bottles but didn't like them at all and am so happy I bought three and not three dozen.

Co-sleeper for having the babies sleep in your room. We got one that converts to a pack and play. Our girls didn't sleep in a crib until they were ~3 months old and that was only because they grew out of the co-sleeper. The girls didn't move into separate cribs (in the same room) until they were moving around and disturbing each other, around 4 months or so.

Stroller that the infant car seats can snap into. We bought a used Triple Decker and a single and double Snap and Go and used all three for different situations. When we moved up to a stroller that the babies actually sits in I tried out a bunch to find what I liked (and bought used). By that time you know other people with babies the same age and can benefit from their product testing before you spend your own money :)

For winter babies, the Bundle Me zipped covers or something similar for the infant car seats would have been awesome. By the time I realized how helpful they would have been it was nearly spring, so I didn't buy any.

I bought two slings, a Moby wrap and a Maya wrap and someone gave us a Baby Bjorn. The Moby was easier for me to carry two babies in but it was always a little awkward. I had visions of wearing one or two babies while wrangling the third but it didn't really work for me. I found that it wasn't possible for me to bend and lift a baby while making sure the other two remained correctly positioned in the sling (i.e. necks in neutral position and able to breathe). I did use the Baby Bjorn a lot as I walked our refluxy baby for hours (and weeks) around the neighborhood in the evenings.

Boppy pillows. Love the Boppy; great for nursing, bottle feeding two babies (one on either side of you) while nursing the third. They definitely helped me keep all three babies close during feeding times and when I didn't have a free hand.

Bouncy seats - the papasan style ones are great for newborns and up and our girls lived in these for months. So, so helpful for keeping one or two babies nearby and happy while feeding the third, or safely immobilized while giving one a bath or changing a diaper. We were given some like these from another triplet family.

Cradle swing - we had one baby who had reflux and wore ours out. It was this one and I bought it used from a nearby triplet family one desperate afternoon.

A doorway jumper. We have two that we put in doorways that are at right angles to each other and use them every day. They love to jump and laugh at each other and even the non-jumping baby gets in on the fun by crawling around the feet of the two jumpers.

I didn't buy high chairs until we were ready to start solid food at 6 months and then found ones that stack so we could fit them in our tiny kitchen.

Once the girls became more aware of their surroundings we started adding books, rattles, soft toys and two play mats/gyms but even the mats have been packed away (not the books and toys, of course).

Really, that's all we "needed" for the newborn/infant months. They really did go by in a flash. Who are these little people living in my house and where did my babies go?

Perfect Thrifting Karma

2010-12-20T15:21:00.002-05:00

I found this awesome needlework the other day. I had a Chai in one hand and 9 minutes left on the meter but decided to pop into a thrift store I hadn't noticed before next to the post office. It's everything I like about Christmas decor, I love it so. According to the tag, this beauty had been there since 2007 and had been marked down to 75 cents. A dollar bought it along with half a roll of red and white striped wrapping paper. Score!

Christmas Elves

2010-12-10T22:18:00.002-05:00

Christmas crafting is in full swing around these here parts, though I'm having to seriously revise my list of critical, must-be-done-in time projects. I did manage to carve out some time to make three little elf dolls as a thank-you gift for another triplet family that has passed on a ton of clothes and other items from their girls who are almost exactly one year older than mine. Let me tell you, triplet moms are awesome. They've all been there, they know what you need and they tell you you're going to be just fine. None of that "OMG, I don't know how you do it" or "I could never manage" nonsense that you hear from every stranger that comes within 50 feet of the triple stroller.

I used the free pattern that Hilary so generously posted a couple of years ago and stitched them up on muslin. For the back I used some retro fabric that I have been hoarding, thinking I would back a quilt with it. They have been tucked into a box and are on their way to three little girls who I hope will love them to pieces.

Grasmere Apple Cake

2010-11-15T21:51:00.006-05:00

When Grandma was visiting a few weeks ago, she reminded me about her favorite cake recipe. She's been making it as long as I've been around. It originally was published in our home town newsletter and then reprinted as my contribution to Mrs. Ferraro's third grade class' Mother's Day cookbook circa 1979. Oh, the things I have to look forward to when the girls are in school, like receiving my own recipes in a kid-decorated leaflet as a gift.

We had just gone apple picking and had 25-ish pounds of fresh McIntosh, Cortlands, Empires, Galas and Honeycrisps sitting on the kitchen counter. Mom got right to work cutting the apples and removing the cores in preparation for grating them into the cake. We used Empires, McIntosh and Cortland but you can use your favorites. When I made the cake again a few weeks ago, I was lazy and didn't cut and core the apples first. It was actually easier to hang onto them when they are whole and you end up with a tidy little core at the end. Sorry about that, Mom!

I gathered the rest of the ingredients and started putting the dough together. As always, I used the recipe as written but substituted my favorite gluten-free flour.

It is delicious when still warm, and (according to my husband) even better when chilled. I left off the glaze because I didn't have any lemons and didn't miss it, though it is apparently my mother's favorite part. It's a crumb cake and the gluten-free version is excellent even after several days in the refrigerator.

Grasmere Apple Cake

4 c. flour (I substituted the Gluten-Free Pantry All Purpose Flour)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. sugar

3/4 lb. butter

2 eggs, beaten

6-9 apples, washed

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cardamom

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients and cut in butter until mealy texture achieved. Add beaten eggs and blend with your fingertips. Divide dough in half, pat into bottom of a 9x13 inch pan (I lined mine with parchment paper). Grate apples over bottom layer. Spring with the sugar and spice mixture and pat remaining dough on top. Bake 325 degrees Farenheit for ~55 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cool, then glaze if desired with the following:

1 c. icing sugar

juice of 1/2 lemon

Baby Burritos

2010-10-19T22:43:00.000-04:00

The week before the girls were born I waddled into my sewing nook and made a dozen large colorful swaddling blankets from Anna Maria's Folksy Flannel. I purchased a yard of each and squared them up with my rotary cutter and finished them with a rolled hem using my trusty serger. The remnants were also hemmed and added to my basket of wash cloths and burp rags so I literally used every square inch of fabric for this project. They were by far the easiest and most useful items I made for the babies. The Folksy Flannel is a wonderful weight for this sort of application and the colors are simply gorgeous; I can't tell you how many compliments I received.

The only thing I would do differently next time is to make them bigger. We swaddled our girls for a long time and once they got to be about 13 pounds they started to bust out of them. I made a few more from 1 1/4 yard pieces and they worked until we stopped needing them at about 6 months old. They are still in great shape (even after many washings) and I'm sure I will be able to re-purpose them at some point in the future. For now I'm keeping them in the bin with the teeny-tiny premie clothes that I can't bear to part with.

Let the Mommy blogging begin

2010-10-18T22:00:00.006-04:00

The Bean, the Bear and the Bandit*

So, that pregnancy thing I was working on? It turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself. It also turned out that having three newborn babies living in your house is a lot of work. Now that we are eight months out and the babies go to bed at 7:30 pm and I am back at my job where I get an actual lunch break, I have time to make stuff again. And, possibly, hopefully, blog about it.

*Not their real names, obviously, but how they will be know here in Blogland. Bean because she was such a teeny tiny bean when she was born, Bear because she's such a squishy sweet Gummy Bear of a baby and Bandit because she had colic and ruled the house for months.

Plus One

2010-10-04T17:14:00.004-04:00

Take one adorable couple then add one gorgeous baby boy and what do you get? The plus one baby boy quilt, of course!

I knew I wanted to make Mr. E a baby quilt to welcome him into the world but I struggled with what it would look like. I wanted it to have meaning and not just be useful. Luckily, the internet is jammed packed with inspiration and I found mine at Film in the Fridge.

For me all those plus signs speak not only to the addition of a family member but also the addition of immense amounts of love to your life. It is the addition of a connection between mom, dad, and baby E. It is the addition of the best kind of chaos. The addition of rough and tumble play and scraped knees. It is the addition of memories just waiting to be made.

A new baby is so much more than the seemingly simple addition of one.

Kindergarten!

2010-09-16T16:40:00.008-04:00

For more than a year now Little Miss Lou has been talking about when she was little. Because you know that at 4 going on 5 you are all grown up and ready to take on the world. Or really just take on kindergarten. And that’s just what she started doing last week.

As a complete, rambling aside….How did this happen? It was but yesterday that I met her for the first time. She was tiny little thing, only slightly bigger than a five pound bag of flour. Her car seat seemed to consume her and her beautiful, pink baby flesh. And poof, overnight, she’s five and getting ready for her first day of school. I certainly don’t feel five years older but one look at her and I realize time has been marching along. And in that gap of time a beautiful kid emerged, full of energy, imagination, politeness, and the occasional bad joke.

So, what was I to do but make her a kindergarten wardrobe? I may not be able to stop those hands of time but I can certainly turn out a handmade wardrobe special enough to mark this amazing milestone.

Of course, the patterns are from Oliver + S. They are simple, classic silhouettes and they’ve never let me down. I picked the jump rope dress (because I not so secretly wish they had an adult size), the Sunday brunch jacket and skirt, and the 2 + 2 blouse and skirt. For fabrics I wanted a palette of red, orange, turquoise, and blue. That led me to prints from Joel Dewberry, Heather Bailey, Cosmo Cricket, and Anna Griffin. And because not everything can be a print I chose some red broadcloth and red fine wale corduroy that feels as soft as velvet.

I couldn’t be more proud of the wardrobe I came up with. It’s perfect for a girl her age and will take her from late summer through fall and early winter. Imagine the dress on chilly days with tights and a cardigan. Or those blouses with a cute pair of cords and a long sleeve T underneath. And then there is the brunch jacket with a dark pair of jeans, some wild socks, and a pair of brown mary janes.

But all that pales in comparison to how proud I am of Little Miss Lou. Though she was a bit nervous she handled herself with such confidence that first day. Congratulations, my sweet Lou! I hope you enjoy every day of this new adventure.

A Year in Sewing

2010-01-05T19:48:00.002-05:00

See that? Up there? That's just a portion of all the sewing I did in 2009. Would you care to hear the full list of my comleted sewing projects? Yes? I thought so.

5 charming handbags, 12 coffee cozies, 3 clutches, 2 patchwork table runners, a swing swing smock, a chef's hat, a sleep mask, 4 Oliver + S playsuits, 2 comfy jumper dresses with bloomers, a flower girl dress, a smocked sundress, 8 yoga mat totes, a birdie sling, 2 patchwork belts, a set of embroidered dolls, 2 mousepads, 2 lazy days skirts with matching embroidered Ts, 8 half aprons, 2 full aprons, an oven mitt, a patchwork scarf, a ruffled spring blouse, a baby quilt, 3 zippered wristlets, a fabric flower pin, a weekender bag, and a stuffed elephant

It's a pretty impressive list, if I do say so myself. For a few of those projects I plan to share more details soon. For instance, the elephant I wanted to keep for myself but didn't and the bag that nearly killed me.

Coconut Cupcakes

2009-12-06T16:03:00.006-05:00

Yeah, so I actually made this cupcakes back in July. But it snowed last night and when we woke up to a world covered in lovely fluffy white stuff, I remembered that I had promised to send the recipe to a friend many months ago (sorry, Kelly).

I started from this recipe, but made a few modifications that I think are essential to giving these just the right density. I made them gluten-free and they stayed moist and crumble-free for several days.

Cupcakes:

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs + 1 egg white

3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract

1-1/2 cups gf flour*

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons buttermilk powder

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a standard-size muffin pan with paper liners.

Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand-held mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running on low, add the eggs and egg white, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add the extracts and mix well.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the gf flour, buttermilk powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until just incorporated. Stir in the apple sauce.

Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full with the batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Transfer the muffins to a baking rack and cool completely.

*I used the Gluten-Free Pantry French Bread & Pizza Mix, but you could substitute any all-purpose GF flour mix you have on hand, although I would recommend staying away from one based on garbanzo beans as these cupcakes have a rather delicate flavor that would likely get lost. I'm sure you could use regular wheat flour as well if you didn't need them to be gluten-free.

The original frosting recipe called for cream cheese, but my husband considers the addition of cream cheese to any dessert an "abomination" so I decided to try my hand at seven minute frosting instead. It was a snap to make and held up extremely well to the July heat and humidity. I will warn those of you unfamiliar with this stuff that it is very, very sweet (and delicious) but sweet. Ok, enough said.

I covered each cooled cupcake with approximately 2 tablespoons of the frosting which was plenty. The recipe made enough for at least two batches of cupcakes.

I then dipped the frosted cupcake into a bowl of shredded unsweetened coconut and, voila, a pretty and delicious cupcake emerged.

Semi-home made, crafting edition

2009-11-22T18:00:00.002-05:00

I love giving hand crafted gifts, but there are many occasions when I can't find the time or summon the energy to pull together a Made by Elise original. Lately I've been whipping up last minute gift bags for purchased outfits, books and the like. They're quick to make and are a lovely way to individualize a present. And, quite honestly, the bag is likely to still be in use long after the contents have been outgrown.

This little bag was made for my niece's third birthday. I used some re-purposed linen from a dress I bought at the thrift store for $2 and appliqued on a Wee Wonderfuls Tulip Fairy Stitchette that I stitched up on linen a while ago and had hanging around. I even managed to use the hem of the dress for the top so the bag literally came together with three seams, four button holes and a yard of purple cording I found in my box of random sewing stuff (everyone has one of those, right?). Inside the bag was a little outfit I put together (but didn't manage to photograph) comprised of a Lazy Days Skirt in a printed corduroy and a T-shirt and tights from Target.

For a birthday gift for a certain one year-old, I made this simple tote from a fairy tale print purchased long ago from Superbuzzy. The handles are 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbon that I stitched on by hand, adding four buttons for detail. Inside was another Target outfit and a little board book that I thought would delight his hip Vancouver parents as much as the sushi-loving birthday boy himself (I was correct).

Next up, a new baby/new mom gift that I'm heading straight to the sewing room to finish.

I'm back!

2009-11-22T13:23:00.004-05:00

Why, hello there. Remember me? I can't believe it's been five months since I posted but thankfully Tory has been doing an awesome job keeping the blog going in my absence. And the reason for my absence, you ask?

Yes, I am pregnant, and with triplets no less. Things were, shall we say, rough for many, many weeks and in addition to having no desire to craft or pick up my camera, I just couldn't defile this happy space with detailed descriptions of just how sick I was feeling. Things are much improved at this juncture and I am in full-on sewing, knitting and nursery planning mode. I need to take some photos of my recent projects and then I'll be back to share.

Let There Be Ruffles

2009-10-19T17:34:00.004-04:00

Being a bit of a planner and organizer I like to get my Christmas shopping and making done early. However, my colleague put me to shame in this regard when, in May, she requested that I make some aprons for her to give as Christmas gifts. That’s right…more than seven months in advance.

A week later I showed her piles of beautiful fabrics. She chose some of my favorites from Heather Bailey and Amy Butler, prints she thought would perfectly suit her mom and sisters. The style she requested was a half apron with a ruffley hem, cute pocket, and ties long enough to come around to the front. No problem!

I suffered with a mental sewing block before finally getting around to putting these together though. I think I feared the ruffley hem. But then I found my sewing mojo and the gathering foot I bought more than a year ago. Yep, I’d completely forgotten about it. I wish I hadn’t.

What you can do with that foot is amazing. You start with two perfectly flat, boring fabrics and in a minute or two you are left with one gathered piece of fabric attached to a flat piece of fabric. From now on everything shall be ruffled!

Recipe of the Week

2009-10-13T17:00:00.005-04:00

Recipe: Apple Cider Doughnuts
Source: Food Network Magazine

Ingredients: *****
The stars of this recipe were our freshly picked apples and the locally pressed apple cider. With such fresh, delicious ingredients it’s really hard to go wrong…even with a doughnut.

Preparation: ***
Doughnut making is not for the weak of heart. It requires time to make the applesauce that goes into the dough. Then there is the chilling time, rolling, and cutting. All that is doable. What comes next though can be a little scary: the deep-frying. I went with a relatively narrow saucepan, about 7”-8” across, with tall sides to keep everything well contained. You also need a good thermometer and patience to get the oil heated to the proper temperature. Don’t try to speed this up. My final word of advice in prepping these: don’t crowd the pan. Two to three at a time worked perfectly with my pan size and meant the temperature stayed pretty steady.

Taste: *****
These doughnuts were delicious. They were everything I’d dreamed about and I’d dreamed quite a bit in the week since we went apple picking. Usually I just go for instant gratification and get half a dozen doughnuts at the orchard. However, the orchard we went to this year did not have a single doughnut. Shocking, right? I’m glad they didn’t though. It gave me just the push I needed to try these. And in the end they were better than anything I could have purchased. They were just the right combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and apple. The best part may be what they didn’t have - that heavy in your stomach feeling. So go ahead and sit down with two doughnuts next to your steaming mug of cider. You’ll be happy you did.

Shop SoWa & Brunch at Gaslight

2009-10-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

Many, many Sundays ago I found myself as a lonely only. The dudely was away and friends were vacationing or otherwise engaged. I was bored and in need of some entertainment.

I found lots to entertain me at SoWa, Boston’s handmade, antique, and farmer’s markets held outdoors every Sunday spring through fall. The handmade market was fun, especially in the creative way all those talented folks displayed their goodies.

The antiques market was a really nice surprise. Whenever I see the word antiques I start thinking pricey collectibles. What I found, though, was more like a great flea market. My favorite was the tables of vintage jewelry to sort through. I ended up bringing home a fantastic red bead necklace. The woman even gave me an unsolicited $1 off the marked price. Nice, huh?

And isn’t it convenient that just next door is Gaslight? Well, I had to have brunch. I ordered what has become my go-to dish, moules frites. I cannot get enough of this dish. I did shake it up a little though and ordered myself a cocktail to accompany it, the matin martini. It was a delicious end to a morning of shopping.

Pick Your Own

2009-10-06T13:45:00.001-04:00

It was what can only be described as a quintessential fall day in New England. There was apple picking in the bright fall sunshine with dew still on the grass. The trees were overflowing with large, beautiful apples, Mother Nature's gift to us for bearing a cold, rainy summer. Then there was the impulsive U-turn on the way back home to make a stop at the vegetable farm that bragged of its pick your own flowers. Of course, the only proper way to end that perfect fall day was with one perfect apple pie sliding into the oven and filling the house with scents of sugary-cinnamony goodness.

Recipe of the Week

2009-10-05T18:21:00.000-04:00

Recipe: Pork Chops with Bacon and Cabbage
Source: Everyday Food

Ingredients: *****
Just seven simple ingredients make up this one pot dish. Importantly one of those ingredients is pork chops, something I've been accused of not serving enough of around here.

Preparation: ****
The reason I love one pot dishes is the little bit of hands-on time early in the recipe followed by the walking away time as the dish finishes up. This isn't that kind of one pot dish. Basically you're doing something every few minutes over an hour which means you can't wander far...or get anything else done.

Taste: ****
The dudely is arguing that I should be giving this recipe 5 stars but I just don't buy it. It certainly tasted good but I'm not imagining the next time I can make it, the sure sign of a 5 star recipe. That didn't stop him from shoveling down two big platefuls with hardly a peep. Perhaps I need a his and her ratings scale.

Recipe of the Week

2009-09-29T19:45:00.005-04:00

Recipe: Cannellini and Kale Ragout
Source: Bon Appetit

Ingredients: *****
Kale is abundant this time of year so I’m looking for new ways to prepare it. This recipe fit the bill and includes other favorites like cannellini beans and red pepper flakes. I skipped the Italian bread and used my homemade whole wheat bread. With a recipe as healthy as this it seemed crazy to eat white bread with it!

Preparation: *****
After a long Monday this recipe was just my speed. The hardest thing I did was wash and chop a mountain of kale and mince some garlic. The rest involved a can opener. It really doesn’t get any easier. The only thing I changed about the prep was cutting down on the amount of olive oil used.

Taste: *****
I loved this recipe. There seemed to be just the right amount of everything. From the initial bite right through the little bit of heat as you swallowed it was perfection. Going with whole wheat bread was also a great choice. The tiny bit of sweetness from the molasses in the recipe was a good foil for the heat of the pepper flakes. Add in a little glass of red wine and it made Monday night feel a little more special than most.

Recipe of the Week

2009-09-21T17:17:00.010-04:00

Recipe: Chicken al Mattone
Source: Bon Appetit

Ingredients: *****
Simple ingredients make up this recipe. Even better, most of those simple ingredients can usually be found in my fridge, freezer, or pantry. That makes it easy to whip up a roast chicken. I find that very appealing as the fall weather makes its presence known in New England.

Preparation: ****
I’ve never cut the backbone out of a chicken before and it made me a bit nervous. With knife and scissors in hand I soon found out it’s really no big deal. From there you smear on a marinade and let it sit overnight. The cooking is equally hands-off: some browning on the stovetop and slide it in the oven with a brick, or, as in my case, a cast iron skillet on top.

Taste: ***
I had really high hopes for this dish and it let me down. The chicken was good but I was really hoping for great. Despite marinating the chicken overnight it didn’t take on any of the flavors of lemon, garlic, and rosemary. If I were to make this again I think I’d rub the marinade under the skin rather than on top as the recipe suggests. But would I make it again? Maybe. The crispy, beautifully browned skin just might make it worth a repeat.

BONUS RECIPE! Now if you're looking for something that will really knock your socks off I suggest trying the corn bread salad I served alongside the chicken. Amazing. I'm still looking for my socks. If you hurry you just might be able to squeeze this in before all the fresh tomatoes are gone for another year.

Have Dinner at No. 9 Park

2009-09-16T16:50:00.006-04:00

One day last month the dudely picked me up from work for a date night. Our destination? No. 9 Park! No. 9 Park has been on my must dine list since I moved to the Boston area nine years ago. This was the year I was determined to make that a reality and with the help of Restaurant Week’s great 3 course dinner bargains we did just that.

With time to spare before our 7:30 reservation we found ourselves at the much recommended Silvertone Bar + Grill for a cocktail….or two. My friend Val promised they made the best classic cocktails and she was right. Our dirty gin martinis were cold and crisp with giant olives floating around. It was the perfect way to start our night on the town. Truth be told, they were followed by equally good gin & tonics.

From there it was a short stroll on a gorgeous summer night to No. 9 Park. We were seated promptly and it was then I realized how small the place really is. We were so lucky to have been able to secure Restaurant Week reservations. I just finished expressing that when over popped the bubbliest waiter I’ve ever encountered in Boston. But enough about that; let’s get to the food.

For the first course the dudely and I both chose the smoked bluefish pate with potato salad and pickled wax beans. AMAZING. If it hadn’t been such a swanky place I may have swiped my fingers repeatedly across the plate to get every last bit. But it was kind of swanky so I got myself firmly under control and behaved like I belonged. (That also explains the lack of pictures of the food. Nobody else was whipping out their digital camera so I wasn’t either.)

For the main course I chose the roasted striped bass with mussels and saffron while the dudely went with the glazed pork belly with corn pudding and tomato jam. They were both done to perfection and I really loved my fish. But, when I tasted the dudely’s pork belly I was instantly filled with jealousy. That pork was like butter. I’ve never tasted pork that was so tender, so rich, so delicious. I’m still salivating.

For dessert we again went our own ways with the dudely choosing the yogurt panna cotta with berries and me choosing the coffee caramel parfait. They were very good but a little underwhelming. That review only comes after how fantastic the first and second courses were. Don’t get me wrong. I still recommend ordering dessert just don’t expect more fireworks.

Definitely make this a stop if you’re in Boston. If you happen to be here during the next Restaurant Week then that is even better. You’ll save half-off the regular menu prices but get all that fantastic food at full flavor. That makes it possible to enjoy all those cocktails before hand. Ahem.

Little Boy Blue

2009-09-15T16:45:00.007-04:00

Not long ago I was lamenting my overflowing scrap basket. You know what I’m talking about. It’s that giant container of fabric scraps too good to throw out but not big enough to become projects on their own.

I’ve been playing in that pile of scraps, pulling together various bits to see what they might become. That first pile of scraps I pulled together has become a baby quilt, one I’m calling Little Boy Blue.

It contains fabric bits from Denyse Schmidt, Joel Dewberry, American Jane, and Tanya Whelan all in shades of blue, green, and brown. The design is simple and so is the quilting. It’s finished size measures just 36” x 36”, perfect for a handsome little fellow to play on and someday drag everywhere he goes. At least that’s how I imagine it being loved.

What I Did on Summer Vacation

2009-09-14T17:19:00.012-04:00

-tried a new to us restaurant
-grilled some great food
-read five magazines, cover to cover
-built some great (well-contained) camp fires
-ate a lot of s’mores
-hiked
-beat the dudely in 9 out of 12 Yahtzee games
-read two and a half novels
-started a crochet project
-finished a quilting project
-listened to seven episodes of This American Life
-spent a rainy afternoon with hot chocolate and a movie

And now it's Monday and it all seems so long ago already.

Recipe of the Week

2009-08-31T19:11:00.007-04:00

Recipe: Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Source: Gourmet

Ingredients: *****
How can you possibly argue with a recipe that is chock full of toasted pecans? You can’t. You simply can’t. Having them mixed with lots of creamy milk and eggs doesn’t hurt either. I did make a few minor swaps though. I used 2% milk instead of whole milk because that’s what was in the fridge. I also only had dark brown sugar in my cabinet so I used 1 cup of dark brown sugar with ½ cup of granulated sugar.

Preparation: *****
Custard making is not for the impatient. I reminded myself of this over and over again as I stirred my milk mixture over gentle heat and every so slowly added it to my beaten eggs and sugar. Praying you don’t end up with scrambled eggs also helps. However, if the powers that be fail you, straining through a fine mesh sieve is a lifesaver. The only thing I would have done differently in the whole process is to let the custard chill overnight. It really does save the ice cream maker a lot of work.

Taste: *****
I’m in love! Everything about this ice cream is right. It’s rich, creamy, and packed with buttery, salty pecans. I have no idea how I, a butter pecan lover, have made it this far into my adult life without making my own butter pecan ice cream. Now, if you’ll excuse I have to get back to the freezer. All this talk has reminded my I haven’t had ANY today. I would say I’d share if you were here, but I just know that isn’t true. You’re better off making your own.

Florist-in-Training

2009-08-26T17:04:00.007-04:00

I love super market bouquets. They are unassuming, budget friendly, and, best of all, they last. Care to take a look at my latest example?

This bouquet started out as four individual bunches of flowers: alstroemeria, billy buttons, daisies, and sedum. With half an hour of playing and cutting I coaxed them into a little bit of loveliness. Not bad for $11.98, right?

80

2009-08-25T16:45:00.009-04:00

Today this very spunky lady, my Grandma, turns 80.

The only way we could possibly celebrate this milestone was with a surprise party. Boy, did we ever surprise her! The little BBQ she had expected to have with my Mom last Sunday turned out to be filled with her family and friends from far and wide, some not seen for years. She was filled with tears and momentarily speechless as she took it all in.

She had a lot to take in, too. First, there were the decorations. My mom, sister, and I had decorated each of the tables with flowers and an old photo of Grandma. Hanging above the tables were tissue paper pom-poms, a birthday banner, and some balloons. Then there was the lunch buffet that consisted of pulled pork, corn bread, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, corn on the cob, sweet & sour cucumbers, and watermelon.

Of course, there was birthday cake but we couldn’t just stop there. We added to that cheesecake tartlets, blueberry crumb bars, and turtle brownies.

I can’t begin to adequately express how much this woman means to me, to our entire family. I hope our surprise party said everything we wanted it to. She’s been so much to us. She’s our strength, the one to dish out love, the one to put you right back in your place when you need it. She encompasses everything that I’ve come to associate with one simple word: Grandma.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Conversation with a Four Year Old

2009-08-24T18:55:00.002-04:00

Me: Should I bring you a present the next time I visit?

Little Miss Lou (not missing a beat): Yes, I’d like one of those bowls you keep fish in.

Me (stammering): Um, I think that’s too big to fit in my suitcase. They probably won’t let me bring that on the airplane.

Little Miss Lou (not missing another beat): OK, I’ll take a box of toys.

Me (stammering yet again): I thought you might like me to MAKE you something. Do you remember that flower pin I had on my sweater the last time I visited?

Little Miss Lou (so sweetly now): Oh, I do, Auntie J. It was so pretty on your sweater. Can you make me one of those?

Me (having regained my composure): Of course, I’ll make you one!

Little Miss Lou (twinkle in her eye): You know I love orange!

Made by Me/Made by Rae

2009-08-13T20:12:00.000-04:00

When it comes to sewing there are only a few things that I hate. One of those things I hate is clothing construction for moi. I know zip about fit and pattern alteration, and these seem to be important parts of clothing construction. So far this summer I’ve failed miserably at a dress (shapeless shift!) and turning said shapeless shift into a skirt. I hold out hope I can rescue the skirt but for now we need a little time apart.

But if at first, and second, you don’t succeed try, try again. And try again I did with this fabulous spring ruffle top from Made by Rae. The beauty of this pattern is that there are no pattern pieces. You measure where you need to measure and construct your own perfectly fitted pattern piece. Genius! And the construction was so easy, so straight-forward, that I completed it in an afternoon.

It’s not my typical blouse. I tend to shy away from really loose, flowing tops, always afraid someone might mistake me for a pregnant woman. But, I have successfully worn this out in public on several occasions and not once was I asked my due date or berated for drinking a beer in my condition. And, it’s a good thing, too. I probably would have popped them in the nose. Hoping, of course, not to get any blood on my beautiful summer top.

Go on a Picnic

2009-08-10T20:53:00.009-04:00

About three weeks ago summer finally arrived in Boston. Before it got the idea that it should move right along to fall I needed to attend to no. 11 on my list of 32 Things: Go on a picnic.

To go on a picnic you need food, good food, lots of good food! And of course, you need some fabulous company. Our fabulous company came in the form of our friends Val & Jim and a sea of strangers who had also staked out a little piece of Boston Common to watch Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors.

Val and I split up the food making with me taking sandwiches and dessert while she took sides and a beverage. I couldn’t decide on just one sandwich recipe so I made two: prosciutto and brie sandwiches with rosemary fig confit and roast beef sandwiches with lemon-basil mayonnaise and roasted red onions. They went perfectly with Val’s tomato-cantaloupe salad and red potato-two bean salad topped with herbs fresh from her garden. To wash it all down, Val brought a sparkling lemonade that may have gotten its sparkle from champagne. After all that yumminess, we had just enough room left in our bellies to fit in my dessert, blueberry crumb bars.

It was a perfect summer night. The air was the perfect temperature, the play was fantastically done, the company great, and the food was out of this world. It was with a happy sigh that I crossed the picnic off my list.

Many Recipes of the Week

2009-07-13T19:02:00.003-04:00

Wow. I’m way behind on telling you about the recipes I’ve been trying lately. How about a quick little recap as a way to catch up?

Sweet Potato and Poblano Salad with Honey and Rosemary
This should become your go-to potato salad this grilling season. I was sad when it was gone. In fact, there was a little fight over the remaining serving. To save from any fights breaking out perhaps you should make double.

Vanilla Ice Cream
I’d never made a custard base for ice cream before thinking it was too much effort. How much difference could it make? Well, I’m here to tell you it makes all the difference in the world. This was amazing. It was rich, creamy, silky, deliciousness on a spoon. Or I should say on the beater. I could be found licking the ice cream machine beater over the sink making completely inappropriate noises.

Hot Fudge Sauce
You knew this was coming, right? How can you top out of this world ice cream with store-bought hot fudge? This recipe requires caution. It is bittersweet, fudgy, and rich. If you’re firmly in the milk chocolate camp then you probably won’t love this. The next time I make this I will probably increase the sugar a bit and/or use semi-sweet chocolate to appeal to the milk chocolate and dark chocolate crowds.

Meze Platter with Hummus, Shrimp Salad, and Cucumber Salad
This recipe is actually three in one. It is also a major crowd pleaser. Four of us sat around grazing, I mean eating, from the tray and there was barely a bite of anything remaining. I did serve it with a selection of cheeses, salami, olives, and marinated eggplant and there was barely a bite of those left either. (Did I just make us sound like gluttonous pigs?) It really made a perfect tapas-like evening, complete with Spanish wine. If you’re planning to host a little get together I think you need look no further than this menu.

The Standbys

2009-07-08T16:09:00.002-04:00

It’s all well and good to try a new recipe every week but that leaves a lot of eating to be done the rest of the week. Enter my list of never fail standbys that are in regular rotation in our house.

Tex-Mex Lasagna
Coconut Curried Shrimp
Broccoli Tofu Stir-fry
Grilled Steak Salad
Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp
Ratatouille Pizza
Jamaican Jerk Turkey Burgers
Veggie Burgers
Chicken and Brie Sandwiches
Mexican Ham and Bean Soup
Butternut and Spinach Lasagna
Spinach Quiche

Shop Brimfield

2009-07-07T17:36:00.000-04:00

Elise and I first shopped Brimfield together five years ago. It was a Saturday in May. It was hot, with temperatures well over 90. And it was packed both with people and things.

Our experience this past May could not have been more different. The temperature was more in line with what you’d expect for May. So where were the people and where were the things? Once we got past the vendors lined up directly along the road we found that field after field was empty, of both shoppers and vendors. It was kind of sad to see it so sparse.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t manage to find a few small treasures. Check out my cool vintage tin! The bottom is stamped with Made in Holland. Its previous owner was using it to store hummingbird food, or so said the piece of paper taped to the outside. It will now either find work in my kitchen or den making boring storage more interesting.

My other little treasure is a sterling silver serving piece. In my book it’s a pie server but I don’t if that is technically correct. When I first found this beauty it was tarnished and sad, sitting in a wooden drawer of other neglected things. It cleaned up beautifully and is now ready for a summer of fruit pies.

What did I pay for these finds, you’re asking? A grand total of $7. They were originally marked at a total of $9, but I drove a hard bargain.

A weekend at the beach in Maine

2009-07-06T17:46:00.007-04:00

This is what a long weekend at the beach in Maine looks like. What the camera doesn't capture is how time seemed to slow. It didn't rush by unrembered like so many minutes of the work week. There was space in those minutes to sit and just be. Maine and its beaches are truly magical. Get there if you can because their motto really does sum it up: The Way Life Should Be.

[Not this] weekend sewing

2009-06-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Another not-quite-as-easy-as-I-expected project from Weekend Sewing that I actually finished and photographed a few weeks ago. Thinking that one can't have too many bags, I decided to try the Everything Tote using some home dec weight Amy Butler fabric and a fun print from Heather's Mendocino collection for the lining. I had heard that there was an error with the pattern and checked the errata page before I got started so I knew how how much fabric I was really going to need, which was a good start.

I had a minor OCD moment when I realized that neither the pattern or the errata mention that if you are using a directional print (like the orange I used for the lining) that following the pattern as written will result in the print being upside down on one side of the bag. This is because the bottom of the bag is placed on the fabric fold. I fixed this by cutting two pieces for the lining instead of cutting it on the fold so the octopi ended up all swimming in the same direction and all was right with my world. One other thing to note about the materials: you need about 1/2 yard extra for the lining fabric in order to be able to cut out the handle and binding pieces. Also, to give the bag some stability, I lined the binding and handles with a layer of flannel a la Bend the Rules.

Unfortunately, the pattern is just not quite right, although it's pretty easy to figure out what you need to do to make it work. For example, to create the gathering between the handles, the pattern says to gather the material until the two markings (where the handles join) are 12" apart. Well, they start out 12" apart, so you need to gather the material until it looks right to you. Because of this adjustment, the binding pieces end up being a couple of inches too long and you have to trim them flush with the raw edges before you add the handles. Also, the instructions for applying the binding and handles make no sense whatsoever. Fortunately, you can easily find better instructions for making a bag with bias tape binding and handles, there are a lot out there.

All that said, I quite like the way this bag turned out and would probably make another.

Baby's First Summer

2009-06-23T14:25:00.008-04:00

I hope you didn’t think that in all the sewing for Little Miss Lou I forgot about Baby B. No, siree! I couldn’t possibly forget about sewing something special for that sweet, smily baby’s first summer. In fact, I started making her outfits way back in March during our last snowstorm of the winter season.

The must-have summer outfit for kids of all ages is the Oliver + S playsuit. It’s such a must-have that not one, but two, were needed. I know I’ve said how much I love it before but every time I make another I feel the love all over again.

The next outfit I made for her was the comfy jumper dress with matching gingham bloomers. I hadn’t actually intended on making her a dress this summer. Then I posted my first comfy jumper dress and the e-mail arrived. My sister was in love and couldn’t say enough kind words about it. Uh-oh. I couldn’t resist that. There is no possible way I could deny my sister or baby niece an extra bit of handmade lovely. And the fact that she looked adorable in it with her baby blues shining was just icing on the (ice cream) cake.

Strawberry Fields

2009-06-18T18:12:00.001-04:00

Saturday was the most perfect of late spring mornings. After a week of gray, dreary days we awoke to bright sun, blue skies, and warm temperatures. It was the perfect day for picking strawberries! It took some prodding to get the dudely to agree that strawberry picking so early in the morning (before 9am, gasp!) was a good idea, but he eventually agreed.

We ended up at Tougas Family Farm where we were greeted with the nicest staff of people. It was so well organized. We ended up with our own row to pick from, a bucket for rotten berries, our picking tray, and a flag to indicate where we’d stopped.

The picking was easy! After so much rain the berries were begging to be picked. We only went about 6 feet in our row and ended up with 17 pounds of berries in a mere 30minutes. I’d gone with the hope of gathering 10 pounds of berries and was shocked when we arrived at the scale with nearly double that amount.

What to do with all those berries? Freezer jam. It was the sole driver in my wanting to go strawberry picking. I remember my mom making it years ago when we were kids and I loved it. I had to try my hand at it. It was so easy; I just followed the directions inside the box of Sure-Jell. I ended up with 8 – 16 ounce jars of jam. It’s about all the space I could afford to give up in my little freezer. But believe me I could have kept going because there were many, many strawberries left.

They didn’t last long though. We munched through about 2 pounds of fresh berries, froze a bunch of whole berries for later, made a fresh strawberry pie, imbibed in fresh strawberry daiquiris, and made strawberry cheesecake ice cream. And now they are gone and I’m wondering if it would be gluttony to go back and pick more.

Lazy Days & Appliques

2009-06-17T19:35:00.000-04:00

Now how about some happy sewing news?

I’ve had the lazy days skirt from Oliver + S bookmarked since it was first posted. I honestly don’t know why I waited so long. What a breeze to put together. And so satisfying! Within an hour I’d turned my first half-yard of fabric into the cutest, little skirt I’d ever seen. Why stop there? Aren’t two skirts better than one?

I honestly could have sewn Little Miss Lou a skirt for each day of summer. Before I got too out of control sewing up skirts I realized I’d probably better do something about the top half. Enter the appliquéd T-shirt. One T got a simple flower, power applique; I love how it feels like the 1970’s made modern. The other T got a simple 4-square applique; this one feels like July 4th on the beach to me. Ahhh, summer.

Now I can’t help but wonder…can a 32 year old adult woman get away with a lazy days skirt and applique T? Wait. Don’t answer that. I might not be able to bear all that honesty. Perhaps I should just leave it to little, blonde 4 year olds.

Weekend Sewing, my first experience

2009-06-16T19:51:00.001-04:00

I was totally enamored with this book the first time I flipped through it at Borders. It is filled with lovely styling and photography; it does its job of selling the simple summer weekend. There are flowing, easy to wear dresses, picnics, running though a field of flowers, and paddling around a lake. I bought it: hook, line, and sinker.

Then I tried my first pattern, the flower girl dress, and realized that beauty really is only skin deep. Now settle in with a cup of something soothing because this is a long one.

I encountered my first mistake in the introduction. It claims to fit little girls between the ages of 4 and 8. Little Miss Lou is your average sized 4 year old and even the largest size was too small for her by one inch. OK, not a big deal. I just enlarged the pattern on a copier so that it was half her chest measurement plus additional for the seam allowances called for in the pattern. Heather acknowledges this error on her web page and suggests adding additional width to the largest pattern size, but not additional height. This doesn’t seem quite right to me. If you need addition width, don’t you also need additional height to maintain the same proportion?

Moving on to the fabric requirements and cutting diagram. Like Elise, I found these to be a bit off. The pattern doesn’t indicate the width of fabric required just a length of one yard. If you’re using a typical 44/45” wide quilting weight cotton there is no way to place the pattern pieces on a yard of fabric so that the lengthwise grain runs the length of the garment. And that was using the largest pattern pieces provided in the book, not my enlarged pieces. So I channeled Tim Gunn and made it work by cutting a contrasting band of white to add to the bottom of the dress skirt. If you cut these bands at double the length you need you can iron them in half, attach to the skirt bottom and avoid needing to hem the garment.

Now let’s talk about those step-by-step instructions. I’ve made a lot of garments for kids that have a bodice and never have I seen such strange instructions for putting together a bodice. I read through it a few times, trying to make sense of what she was talking about in the words and diagrams. In the end I gave up and did it my way. Well, it wasn’t really my way but Amy Butler and Leisl Gibson’s way. I suggest you go that route as well because it’s easy, peasy. All you need to do is attach the front/back of the bodice lining at the sides seams. Repeat for the bodice exterior. Now pin your lining and exterior pieces right sides together along the top edge of the bodice.

Where to put the straps you ask? Good question. It’s not marked on the pattern so I made a guess. I sandwiched one end of each strap between the exterior and lining piece on one side of the bodice. I then stitched a seam around the top of the bodice. I clipped into the seams around the curved bits and turned the bodice right side out.

At this point I was pretty annoyed with the instructions so I didn’t even bother trying to follow the rest of the pattern as written. Instead I just went with what I knew from Amy and Leisl. I attached the contrasting bands to the bottom of my skirt panels and then attached the front and back panels, finishing the seams. (I used the serger-like stitch that is on my Bernina though a zig-zag will also work.) At this point I marked the centers of my bodice and centers of my skirt (again no marking provided on the pattern). At the top of the skirt I sewed in two rows of basting stitches less than ½ inch from the top. Then I gathered the skirt until it was the same width as the bodice. With right sides together, I matched up the markings on the bodice and skirt and attached with a ½ inch seam. I finished the edges like above.

At this point I needed to fit the dress on the girl to figure out how long those straps really needed to be and where to place a buttonhole. (One of the errata indicates that it’s impossible to get the dress on and off without either snaps or buttons.) You can use whatever method is your favorite for making buttonholes and sewing on buttons. I chose to hide mine. The straps button on the inside of the back bodice.

Are you still reading? I hope so. I wanted to give as much detail as I could on how I made sense of the construction of this dress. Because this is such a lovely book to pick up and look through I’m sure it’s drawing in lots of people who are new to sewing. Without any previous sewing experience though I worry that poorly written instructions and diagrams will turn off those new sewers forever. And I just can’t let that happen. Sewing is just too rewarding an experience. I’m hoping that the editors of this book are taking the reviews to heart and are busily working on the second edition. I understand that mistakes happen but I cannot imagine how so many errors made it through the entire book process. It’s sad and disappointing.

Recipe of the (Last) Week

2009-06-15T21:55:00.011-04:00

Recipe: Spicy Chicken Peperonata with Lime and Mint Dressing
Source: Bon Appetit

Ingredients: ****
Very basic ingredients but ingredients I love and sometimes those make the best dishes. I did leave out the mint. I may have spoken of my weird feelings about mint in the past.

Preparation: *****
There was really very little work involved in making this dish. All that had to be done was sauteing the chicken, sauteing the veggies, and mixing together the dressing. It all took less than thirty minutes, start to finish. That time even included making the polenta I served it over. (Leave it creamy, rather than allowing it to set-up.)

Taste: ***
Spicy? I don't think so. Maybe it was my poblano, but this dish completely lacked heat. What could have been a delish dish ending up tasting like fajitas served over polenta. Not exactly what I'd hoped for. My go-to polenta recipe came through though. In the end, the polenta was the only thing I had a second helping of. Doesn't that just sum it up?

Not the skirt I planned to make

2009-06-14T19:28:00.005-04:00

I had planned to make a yard-sale wrap skirt from Weekend Sewing. It looked like a simple project, so even if the notoriously bad directions led me astray I figured I had a good chance of making it work. The pattern call for 2.5 yards of 45" fabric and I had 3 of this summery Midwest Modern print on hand. Perfect, or so I thought. After I traced the pattern I noticed that there was no diagram for how to lay out the pattern pieces on 45" fabric. Strange, but I could deal with that. Until I realized that, in fact, it is impossible to cut out enough panels for the larger sized skirt from 2.5 yards of fabric. Or 3 yards. I estimated that I would need 8-9 yards of 45" fabric to cut out 9 panels; more if the print was directional (like those made by the author herself). No wonder there was no diagram for cutting out panels from 45" fabric; it can't be done.

Surely this error was due to some mishap as the book passed from author to editor to pattern testers and it would be fully explained on the errata page. Alas, no such clarification was forthcoming. Strangely, upon googling peer reviews of this book, I found only glowing praises, many citing the "excellent and clear directions". In my opinion, I don't think anyone test-sewed the yard-sale skirt pattern before the book went to press. I understand that mistakes happen, but please correct them, acknowledge their extent, explain what happened. Can you tell I'm a little disappointed?

Enough about the lemons, let's move on to lemonade. Or, in this case, a Barcelona skirt. I love this pattern, it having been a staple of my summer wardrobe last year. Since I used a lighter cotton than for the previous two, I lined this one with a lovely pima cotton that I found at my local fabric store. I was pleasantly surprised that lining it only added about half an hour on to the construction time. Fortunately the rain let up yesterday and I was able to get outside to take some photos. And experiment with my remote control and tripod. I even attempted some action shots: I love bloggers who are able to convey movement in their photos.

Yes, we're pretty happy to see the sun around these here parts.

Wishing

2009-06-12T07:15:00.005-04:00

Because I'd be starting my summer vacation. Days on end of nothing to do but everything to do. Of course, this six year old self would be able to drive and have a huge allowance because my summer wish list is a long one. What's on your summer wish list?

Fab Freebie Downloads

2009-06-08T11:58:00.000-04:00

The internet/blog world is such a lovely little place to be. Check out the fabulous free cards that the wildly talented bloggers of the world are making available...for free!

Cards designed by Creature Comforts (snail) and mmmcrafts (owls & apple)

Cards designed by Creature Comforts (flower) and Little Brown Pen/Creature Comforts (Procrastinate Now)

There is no way my geriatric printer, that barely prints in black ink, could do these great designs justice. Instead I loaded them on a memory stick and stopped by the local Staples to let the professionals handle it. I chose white 110lb cardstock for the printing and it cost just $1.09 per sheet! Some of the cards are two per sheet meaning they cost less than 55 cents each. What a bargain.

Looking at the great pdf freebies on the web has inspired me to create my own. Remember last summer when I took the computer design course? Well, I think it's time to brush the dust off those skills and see what I can create. So I'm saying it publicly, you can expect a free card download from Funky & Delightful in the future.

Oops, I did it again!

2009-06-07T16:07:00.004-04:00

I don't know how this happens. It all begins so innocently. I need one fabric to finish off a project. Then I start rationalizing. Well, I'm already paying for shipping so I might as well pick up a few pieces I've had my eyes on. That makes sense, right? I'm saving on future shipping charges by buying more now. Is this an economist's dream or nightmare? Please, tell me I'm not alone.

Recipe of the Week

2009-06-01T20:35:00.001-04:00

Recipe: Nectarine-Blackberry Crisp
Source: Bon Appetit

Ingredients: ***
I’m being a little harsh on the ingredient list on this recipe. It’s pushing it a bit to find good ripe nectarines and blackberries at the end of May in my neck of the woods. But Bon Appetit lured me in with this recipe from their June issue and I had to make it! Now! I’m not one for patience. However, if the growing season and the release of this recipe were better timed (or I had more patience to wait) I’d have to rate the ingredient list at five stars. It is lots of fruit turned into my favorite course, dessert! Now, that’s what I call health conscious.

Preparation: *****
Measure, mix, chop, dump, pour and crumble. Easy peasy! I did make a few small changes. I peeled my nectarines. I think this is a personal choice. You’d be fine either way. I also doubled the amount of sugar in the fruit since the nectarines needed a bit of help.

Taste: ***(**)
This tasting result comes from a much larger sample size than most weeks: me and the dudely, my mom, my sister, and Little Miss Lou. The topping was really well received by the entire group earning it 5 stars. In fact there were hands found picking at the crumb topping long after their bowl of dessert was finished. That’s very poor dessert etiquette; I really should try to control myself. I think the secret to this topping’s success lies in the lemon zest. It’s a lovely addition I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.

Now to the fruit filling and its three stars. I think it mostly comes down to the lack of really good fruit. On top of that the custard was just there, suspended on top of the layer of fruit. Perhaps if the fruit had released more juice the custard would have been creamier. So really the three star rating may be a bit unfair at this point. I think I’ll have to revisit this recipe later this summer when really good peaches or nectarines find their way to me. As my sister pointed out this dessert has real potential. It is sweet but not too sweet and that crumb topping deserves to be paired with perfect fruit. It sounds like an experiment I’m willing to take on. I wonder if I can get them to fly to me for the next tasting?

Racing stripes

2009-05-24T23:06:00.003-04:00

Another baby boy gift, this one for a sweet new cousin in Sarajevo. I was thrilled to be able to make another Oliver & S playsuit using some lovely light weight cotton, I can't remember where I found it. I am pleased to report that I think I have finally mastered the snap tape situation: it's a tricky maneuver on these tiny 0-3 month outfits, I have to say. Since he's a summer baby, I made two lightweight blankets using two of the Heather Ross Kokka prints and super soft flannel. They are each about a yard square which I think is a very useful size. Finally, I wrapped it all up in a big draw-string bag (another Heather Ross print) and put it in the mail yesterday. Hopefully they will arrive by the time we see the little guy in person in a few weeks.

It was a bit of a relief to finally cut into the fabric that I bought about this time last year, intending to a make a quilt for an entirely different baby. Oops.

M is for Margaret, and for mine

2009-05-21T21:09:00.005-04:00

I've been in a bit of a sewing slump lately. Not to say I haven't been sewing, it's just been less inspired and more utilitarian than usual. There has been some disappointment with one recently published sewing book with incredibly poorly written directions that is receiving rave reviews around the craft blog circuit (more on that later) but mostly it's been a feeling of "meh, seen/made that before, why bother" when I think of starting a new project. I suppose I've been looking for that project that would reset my crafting mojo, if you will.

Internets, I introduce you to my new muse, the Margaret Sling Bag. The pattern is available as a free download from the very talented and generous Elizabeth of Oh, Fransson! And Internets, if ever there was a cure for the crummy craft book blues, it is an Oh, Fransson! tutorial. Perfectly written instructions that were intuitive and easy to follow, correct measurements for fabric and materials, it was a joy to cut out and sew. Fabrics are one of my favorite Good Folks prints and a gingham linen that I bought before A Little Goodness closed it's doors (anyone know where to go for interesting linen these days?) The vintage button is one that I've been hanging on to for a while, I'm so glad I was able to use it here. It must have been a bridle decoration judging from the bits of dried out leather I scraped from the back of it, but it cleaned up nicely.

I made the cross-body version because I want a hands-free summer bag for biking and yard sale season, but the pattern also gives instructions for making a shoulder bag. The strap fit my rather long torso perfectly; the bag sits right on my hip and is very comfortable. It's the perfect size for my purposes, I can fit my wallet, camera, note book, water bottle and a snack with plenty of room left to stash treasures found along the way. One little thing I might do differently next time is to make the internal pockets a little deaper and also to set them a little lower, but it's a minor issue. In fact, I'm already pulling fabrics for the next one.

Happy Birthday to Lou!

2009-05-20T06:45:00.004-04:00

I cannot believe you are 4 today.
It seems like you arrived just yesterday.
Yet it's like you've always been a part of our family.
I want to stop time and keep you here, now, forever.
But, I can't wait to see who you become in these years ahead.
You are a thousand joys.
I love you bigger than the whole world.

Happy Birthday, my sweet niece!

Swoon!

2009-05-19T06:50:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I was introduced to Sandra Juto’s amazing crochet work by sfgirlbybay. The moment I saw this afghan my heart swelled and I knew I was in love. I keep staring at it, studying it, and coveting it. I have to make one.

I’ve been harboring the desire to pick up crochet seriously for some time now, even putting it on my list of things to accomplish this year. At first I thought this was way out of my league but as I’ve studied Sandra’s blog and flickr stream I’ve realized it’s made out of granny squares. Each granny square is a fun little project of its own, making the whole afghan doable for a complete novice like myself.

Sandra’s afghan uses a pattern she created herself. After a few googling sessions though I believe it’s based on a sunburst granny square. Lots of tutorials exist online so I hope I can figure it out. Now I need yarn and lots of it. Typically granny squares use up all your scraps of yarn from other projects but I’m starting with nothing. No yarn and no yarn buying experience. What I do have though is a gift certificate to a yarn shop the dudely gave me a Christmas or two or three ago.

Before I dive right in, any crocheters out there? What advice can you share with me? I need every piece you can throw my way!

Photos by Sandra Juto, smosch.com

Recipe of the Week

2009-05-18T20:45:00.001-04:00

Recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala
Source: All Recipes

Ingredients: ***
Beware the amount of salt listed in this ingredients! I doubled this recipe and still only used 1 teaspoon of salt in the marinade and only added salt to taste after the chicken and sauce were simmered together at the end. For the entire recipe I may have used 1.5 teaspoons of salt.

Preparation: ****
It’s all really very easy: measuring, mixing, chopping, waiting, “grilling”, and simmering. Living in a condo I have a cute little plug-in grill that dreams of someday being a big stainless steel grill, but until then I improvise. Seeing as I had 6 chopped chicken breasts marinating I decided to avoid all the batches of “grilling” I’d have to do on my baby grill. Instead I broiled all the chicken at once on a big sheet pan. It worked very nicely.

Taste: *****
So delicious! I knew today was going to be a really long day so I made this yesterday afternoon and stored it in a big Pyrex baking dish. All the dudely had to do was slide it in the oven and make some rice for himself and couscous for me. It made for a very elegant end to a long, long day. All that wonderful spice even perked me up enough to walk the very short distance to my sewing machine. That’s got to say something when a delicious dinner energizes you instead of sacks you out on the couch for the rest of the night, right?

Second Time Around

2009-05-12T20:40:00.002-04:00

I had very mixed feelings after the first time I made a birdie sling. There were aspects of the construction that bothered me but I ended up loving the resulting bag. Well, love conquers all and I made another.

As luck would have it I learned something from my previous experience and this bag went together much more smoothly. First off, when my local Joann store was out of Pellon SF-101 fusible interfacing before my idea of a suitable replacement was way off base. This time around they had plenty in stock and using SF-101 made a huge difference in the feel of the final bag. Now I know Craft-fuse is bad, SF-101 is good.

Secondly, in my copy of the pattern the illustration showing the attachment of the bands to the panels is incorrect. The band is actually shown upside-down which is why on my original bag I spent a lot of time ripping the bands apart. Luckily, I had found the errata on the web before I started this bag. I also pinned like crazy to make sure the band and panel fit well before sewing. And somehow over the last 10 months I managed to improve my skills at attaching three points with a curved line and ended up with 4 gussets that were nearly identical. Pretty impressive!

I don’t know how much time I spent on the bag in total but I know it was less than before. It was mostly little bits here and there over the course of a week or so. I do know I didn't want to throw the entire project out the window like last summer. I think that may be the most impressive part.