The quilt is done!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!