How to make dinner

Ahhh, Autumn Dinners. Nothing compares to the yummy foods of this time of year- Roasts, Stews, Soups, Baking, Gravy (Gravy!), Braises…you name it, Fall is the time for it. I’ve recently begun using Pinterest to help me plan my meals- what’s better than a list? A visual list!

This week I tried a few new recipes that came out quite good, as well as let myself relax about time spent in the kitchen, and all-in-all it’s worked out for a happier, healthier Autumn so far! Here’s what I did to change it up:

Salad- I love salad, but I don’t love making it anymore. I want LOTS of choices, which translates to LOTS of prepwork, which I just don’t have time for anymore. So we’ve found a few places that do amazing salads, and go there for date-night a couple of times a month. (one of them is our favorite pizza joint, which makes it a win-win for Mr. Awesome. And yes, I just gave my hubby a bloggy nickname. We’ll have to see if it sticks, shall we?)

Man food- It’s been all-chicken-all-the-time around here this summer, so I wanted to make sure I plan in some Man Food nights to the ol’ dinner rotation. Steak and Bleu Cheese is a huge favorite, I just make sure I get small, organically raised (which, due to the cost, helps keep the portions small) steaks with minimal marbling. Sausage is an old favorite which got left by the roadside years ago, but now that I’ve discovered chicken sausage, is back on the table (you put enough red pepper in those bad boys, he’ll eat them all day long-even if it is chicken!) Pizza is a by-product of Salad Night (yes!), and ooey-gooey desserts happen at the other salad place (oddly enough, I don’t have as huge of a sweet tooth anymore, so I grab a small cookie, sit back and watch the carnage).

Pinterest boards for menu planning- this is an interesting recent development. I do tend to have a love/hate experience with social media, but Pinterest has more or less been a random bingey kind of thing for me. Until I came across people using theirs as file storage. Now, instead of just mindlessly clicking everything that looks good, I throw images into two categories: Dinner; or Baking Board. Then, every Thursday I look through those files and research what I’ve pulled for the week, clicking over to the source site for the recipe, tweaking what I have to change for our diet, and drawing up my shopping lists. I also delete any ideas that didn’t work, or make the cut from last week, which helps thin the board down to a manageable size. (I hate ginormous Pinterest Boards, that I have to scroll through for hours just to get to the end if it. I have more important things to waste my time on!)

So far, I’ve tried 3 new recipes (Sausage, Kale and Potato Soup; Sausage, Zucchini, Squash and Onion Foil Packets; and Zucchini and Mushrooms Sauté), cooked dinner 4 times since Saturday, and cut down on the amount of wasted food for the last month (you know when you have a fabulous idea for a series of meals, but they are all untried and untested, and no one wants to eat the strange new food- including the chef? lol, yeah, that happens too often lately. Back to the basics! Now if only I could convince the Faeries to take up teacup piglet farming…)

A weekend of Fiber Fun

This past weekend was a complete win! We had soo much fun going to Craft Shows, making two library visits, doing some cooking, some crocheting, and lots of kitty sittin’. Here’s the lowdown:

Funky little pictures from my cell phone- ahh, it’s a new millenia at last! Talk about cliché- please excuse the poor picture quality on these next few shots. This is the Weaving Barn out at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, up in Vista California. It’s full of weaving looms of all sorts and sizes! We went to the Vista Fiber Arts Fiesta Saturday afternoon, and it was a bit like finding a whole herd of my people, all just hanging out doing our thing! Sheer Bliss. I discovered a new fascination, too:

I wish I had gotten some better pics, but didn’t ‘cause I was too busy wandering around with my mouth hanging open, drooling over all the yarn, wool, knitting needles, yarn bowls, patterns, drop spindles, Spinning Wheels, and Looms…

(Santa has a bit of a quandary this year- our place is a bit too wee for a full-size spinning wheel, much less a yarn swift, winder, drum carder, loom or space to store a sheep's worth of wool, ahem…)

It’s not just all fun and games around here, though- I did get some work done on the Camp Shirt:

That is the Shoulder Seams put in, Collar attached (twice- the first go was a bit too wonky, even for a first draft. And no, I didn’t re-do it, I just trimmed it down and sewed it again.) Oh, and the Pocket is on. I did line that, but I’m still not happy with the way it looks. Next up is attaching the Front Facings. It’s going really well, now that I go slow and don’t try to knock these projects out all in one day it’s a lot more fun to sew again!

Now if I can just convince those Faeries they are tailors, maybe I could get them to finish it for me…

A deep breath…

It’s such a nice time of year, isn’t it? Cool, crisp mornings that are perfect for a leisurely neighborhood walk to view the turning leaves, breathlessly hot afternoons that turn back to cool dark-early evenings- just in time for a nice evening chat outside in the garden. Lovely!

My morning walk takes me past this lovely view as many mornings as I can get out there. Sometimes it’s in the early evenings, but mostly I like to walk first thing in the morning- it’s a great start to the day in any season, but especially now. All the birds and lizards out for their breakfast, spider webs sparkling with morning dew…it’s quite magical.

Some new ideas I’m working on this week:

My first Men’s Shirt- trying a “toile” in basic brown to start, I’m excited about getting into that…

Another bag- basic white or black, cross-body, two or three pockets, for traveling/walking/sightseeing…

More Linen skirts are lined up for this month- bought the fabric this weekend, lovely “Potting Soil” brown and a mustard yellow called “Honey”…

A year-long knitting project that is nearing the end has slowly turned from a bag, to a hat, and back to a bag- purse! I’ll be lining it and adding a handle for a scrumptious-yummy knit purse…

And finally, a small re-do of the garden- cleaning up, clearing out, repotting and attempt at cool weather planting…

So…lots to do this week! Hopefully those Faeries will do more than just dump pots of dirt all over the balcony this time…no, it’s not fertilizing the cement you guys!

Fall works in progress…

I made a lot of things last month, partly to keep busy, but mostly to challenge myself and see what I can really do when I set my mind to it- kind of a dry run for a work week. It was fun, very satisfying, but really hard, too, and just like when I used to have a job outside my home, I got sick. Sigh- some things never change, do they? While I spend this week taking it easy (ha! there’s still a house to run- the dinner doesn’t make itself people! Hmm…wonder what those Faeries are up to…) here’s a peek at what I’ve been up to:

This photo actually shows three current projects, with another three symbolized, if not actually shown. I made that white skirt up from some lovely medium-weight linen I had gotten for a bag idea, but I like it as a skirt better. So much so that I’m making another two in the other pieces of linen I got for two other bag ideas I had…hmm, I sense a trend in this train of thought…

The quilt block is my new Alchemy project which I started in May. I got sidetracked this summer, so it’s sat patiently in the project shelf, inspiring me every time I look at it. My first Log Cabin, it’s all Pinks, Browns, Lavenders and Greens. Very yummy. Still some math to do before I decide how to “set” it, but the blocks themselves are coming along nicely. It was meant to be a Fall quilt so I’ve got my fingers crossed it’ll get finished in time for the really cold weather that is surely still to come…sometime.

There is a new “hipster” bag in the works up there in the photo also, a new “Minnie-the-Mouse” style for our newly annual trip to Disneyland next month. The first one went together in record time, but the second draft stalled out when I got to the flap stage, so it’s on the drafting table again for a pattern redo.

That huge basket of yarn is getting sorted regularly as I try to find the courage to start my first “real” knitting project. We’ll have to see how that goes, I keep finding other things to knit first before I start. ahem.

And interestingly enough, I am starting to begin poking at the Pixie Workshop- some ideas are sprouting already, which is just as well as I think I’m going to have to ship some things to far-away this time around. There’s an image I want to mess around with for holiday cards, too, so we’ll see how that goes as well… Unless those Faeries use up all my drawing paper making paper airplanes!!! Get outta that drawer you guys!

Tasha’s Adventures in sewing…

September was an exciting month, wasn’t it? Full of back-to-school, Hobbit Day, the Autumnal Equinox, Mabon Feasts, the yearly Fall closet cleaning (ahem), and oh! so much more! But the most interesting thing that happened was all the sewing Tasha got done:

These new grocery bags are the perfect size for me momma!

 

I want one of these pretty skirts for me, momma…

I’m going back to work with daddy- he needs my help there, too!

It was a busy month indeed- and October is looking to be just as busy as well! Back soon with and update on all that has found it’s way across my sewing table- hey, you Faeries get outta that scissors drawer!

A rainy Fall morning…

From a high of 90* to cold,wet, rainy mornings- all in the space of a week, this Fall is behaving strangely, indeed! So glad I washed the floors while it was hot and dry a few days ago. Now it’s on to prepping dinner for the weekend (a Pot Roast, Indian Tacos, Lemon Chicken and lots of Mashed Potatoes! Oh, and a trial run of a new Stuffing recipe. Only it’s not going into a bird, so maybe it’s a Dressing recipe? Hmm…), making a Quilt Sandwich (it’s about time, I know), and lots of tinkering in the Christmas Workshop. I love this time of year, lots of new ideas flying around (some even landing on paper), tables strewn with half-finished  projects, slivers of paper, hanks of yarn, swatches of fabric and bottles of paint. Bliss!

It’s hard to believe it was so hot last weekend, sitting here today with the rain coming down right outside my window, the chilly air making the house cold and brisk. That sweet face up above greeted us to Julian last Saturday, just as he has a few times this year- very quiet and curious, such a pretty boy! The trees are turning from green to brilliant reds, oranges and yellows up in the mountains this month- so refreshing! And exhilarating really. Our house in the city is on a bit of a ridge, so no trees around us here, just windswept streets with the occasional bush. There’s no shelter from the heat, sun or rain here- very different from our last house, come to think of it. That was more of  Hobbity-hole, all surrounded by trees, huddled under the stairs on the first floor. This place feels more of an Aerie- a windswept nest of Eagle people perched high atop a vast mountain…hmmm, she’s quite poetic today, isn’t she?

So- cooking, baking, cleaning, crafting, sewing and maybe even some Gaming to do today. Busy, busy, busy. Where are my Faeries? No time for dawdling today boys, there’s work to do!

Coffee Break…

Sounds good right about now, doesn’t it? A little break in the action, time to rest and just breathe for a while, no distractions, no deadlines, no demands…

This was on the way up to Julian the other day:

Ahhh…

I’ll be back next week. Until then- Happy Weekending everyone!

Slowing Down…

Whew! What a weekend- a few Drives into the countryside, Crafts Fairs, Tea Shop foraging, Fall Leaf Peeping, Financial Meetings and File Organizing, lots of knitting, a little quilting and one late night surprise dinner later, I’m exhausted! So the kitters and I are taking it easy this week, especially now that the break in the weather is over and the heat has come back. Here’s a taste of what we found this weekend:

How about a little recipe for this week?

Take one part thrift, one part tea shop jelly, one part Christmas whimsy, and swirl in one part brand new china. Pack CAREFULLY and steal away home for a wonderful taste of fall fun! I’ll be back later on this week with a peek at the work that’s been done on the Watercolour Quilt. For now- I think I need a nap…

Friday recap

Finally! The first storm of the season- clouds filled the sky as far as the eye could see:

Lovely aren’t they?

I love a good rainstorm to ring in the new Fall season, don’t you?

Today is filled with all kinds of cold weather projects:

Work on the Watercolours Quilt has begun again- adding borders to fill it out a bit…

The weekly food prep is underway in the kitchen- Roasted Butternut Squash is featured again this week. So yummy…

On the baking front- Blueberry Muffins, Buttermilk Biscuits and maybe a chocolate chip cookie or two…

The knitting needles are out in full force- a new Pixie Pouch, a hat, and maybe some socks finally…

All that, plus Christmas Crafting Lists, Thanksgiving Meal Planning, and even a Winter Solstice idea or two are in the works. Oh my, I do love cold weather!

Happy Weekending everyone!

A Self-Guided Tour of the Wild, Wild West…

The location for the quilt show we went to this past Saturday, Old Town Temecula, is such a fun area to visit! Full of old western buildings, lots of brickwork, and the trees! I miss trees…

It was nice to get out of our hometown for a day and just revel in another city for a change, and lucky you I took my camera and captured scenes like these:

All the quilts layered over the railings and under the eaves of the buildings really made it feel like a neighborhood walk. And all those yummy plants everywhere! Not just trees, but lots of herbs and flowers everywhere, too.  You can learn a lot about a place by the amount of plants they have in their public spaces…

I love looking at the architecture of the buildings around me wherever I go- it’s so nice to be reminded that there are more than just square boxes to live in. Modern buildings today are generally geometrical shapes covered in stucco, so it’s nice when I find evidence of a skilled architect in the landscape around me:

There are just a few buildings taller than two stories in the downtown area, making it easy to enjoy the mountains surrounding the area.

 

 

 

  This is a close-up sample of some of the brickwork we found- gorgeous isn’t it? They even broke up the dense feel of brick by throwing in a pattern over the step area!

 

The really funny part was this whole are was only about four blocks long! We were really starting to feel like we were in a old western town that collided with a modern city for a few minutes, until we came to the Starbuck’s at the end of the block…

Iced coffee anyone? Hmm, that reminds me of a recipe I wanted to try…

Wash Day at the Quilt Show…

The quilt show was so much fun this year! It’s always nice when you get to share your interest with likeminded people, isn’t it? And for one whole day, Temecula turns its Main Street into a quilty goodness Festival, chock full of people who just love quilts! It’s over, sadly- but through the wonders of time travel and photography, I can take you there with me! Want to go? C’mon, the portal is just over this way:

As we turn into the parking lot at the end of Main Street, I can already sense the excitement in the air! This is a beautiful part of the city, with all its wood and brick buildings evoking the Wild, Wild West. Then we turn that first corner and see all the people! And all the quilts! They really are hung everywhere, all around outside on every building:

That’s “The Coop”, a really nice quilt store that is full of wonderful fabrics, quilt samples, patterns and books. I just love how the entire building is swathed in quilts- on the outside and on the inside! An interesting thing about this quilt show is that it lasts for only one day- that way the quilts don’t sit outside in the wet, nor do they get damp from the morning dew. But it’s fun to imagine it’s wash-day in the early 1800’s, and the whole town has hung their quilts out to dry in the early October morning sun. Okay, okay, yes- I’m in the middle of rereading the “Little House” series- how did you know?

One thing I didn’t know about before this year was that they also have a great Farmers Market every Saturday full of good things to eat, crafts and jewelry stalls, organic foods and even a few garden plants for sale. Oh! I am wishing I had gotten some of the small lavender plants that were out- they were so yummy looking! My hummingbirds could use a few more of those now that winter is on the way.

Hmm…all those quilts up there are giving me some ideas. Where’s that rotary cutter gotten to …

October Red

This is outside my window this week:

Such a red, red rose! Happy Weekending everyone.

That bright, golden October light…

Lovely October- the gold, brassy light, streaming into the house, blinding me with its’ brightness, turning the computer screen and TV into nicely reflective mirrors…drat. Time for new curtains!

So- first I measure the windows- or rather, in this case, the glass doors. 8 feet exactly. Okay, I want them long enough to brush elegantly against the floor, 2 inches for that. and, I don’t like sewing drapes, I generally just fold over an allowance at the top to slide the curtain rod through and call it done, so 4 inches for that. 96 inches plus 2 plus four= hmm…lets just make it 3 yards, that’ll be plenty. Now I just need to dig something suitable out of the stash. In the meantime…

I have a little black Pixie Pouch almost done, and plans for a white one to go on the needles before the day is done…

The shower curtain is working out great- until I realized that I never finished off the seams! Drat. Guess I’ll take that down today and do some work on that this week…

It’s time to drag out the Cricket and cut some new Fall shapes again! Bats and pumpkins, leaves and foxes this year…

Playing around with a new Purse idea- it’s involving lots of brown velvet, ribbons, leaves and Fall colours!

And finally, still messing about with doll patterns, ideas, sketches and plans. I really do like the early stages of a new idea, but sometimes the logistics just get in the way!

Pinning for cooler weather- can’t even look at the oven its so hot nowadays!

October!

Gosh I love this time of year!The pumpkin patches are finally up, Pumpkins and squash are heaped in piles in the market, the leaves are spinning down, the earth goes to bed earlier, and everyone longs for a weekend in the mountains…
No baking yet this week- it’s been too hot to turn the oven on! Lots of crafting though:

Finished Tasha’s new Morris Pillow this morning- it’s made from the leftovers of the Shower Curtain I made a few weeks back. After piecing together strips and blocks I put some iron-on interfacing to the back, both to plump it up and also to enhance it’s quilty-ness. Then I put a regular old bed pillow in and sewed it up. Perfect! It goes quite nicely with the new Fall themed dishes I picked up early last month, too…
I also finally- finally!- perfected my new Pixie Pouches pattern! I’ll have pictures to post of that later this week, but basically it’s my knitted bag recipe. I started the process last Fall, believe it or not…
The only other thing I have going at the moment is a pretty major Job Search- time to get these oars back into the water and find some regular work! And no, I’m not giving up on The Dream- it’s just time to realize certain paths didn’t pan out, and time to get back on the Road…

On frustrations, and new ideas…

Oh, I’m being brutal with Pandora today folks! Even if it’s just the first two bars, if I don’t groove- off with it’s head! I need some new music this Fall…

So, I’m in the Workshop this week, trying out brand new ideas, different techniques, and a few new materials. Ugh. New is hard. My head knows what it wants to see, can see, is seeing, in that busy space, but my fingers don’t know how to get there! They’ve never been down that route, and the instructions are kinda vague, you know?

Lots of new around here this year. It’s good for the soul, and good for the artist, but it’s hard on the girl, who likes things a certain way…

Don’t feel too sorry for me yet, though- it’s Fall! And you know what that means:

Cool, crisp mornings, which is wonderful whilst watering and puttering in the garden! It’s time to begin weeding out the poor dearly departed, and almost time to get out some graph paper and plan out a new spring flower garden…

Time to dig out all the yummy fall/winter-time pillows/throws/scarves/hats/ tablecloths and dishes from their summer hiding places, and time to polish up the silver and glass ware in preparation for Fall entertaining…

Kitty sitting & Knitting time has rolled around again! Oh, how we’ve both missed this quiet time in the late evenings, where it’s just me, her, and a nice ball of yarn…

So! Lots of new things around here this week- new crafting ideas (some that just aren’t working…sometimes the best thing is just to let ‘em go…), new knitting projects (loving these little pixie bags!), new table scarves and napkins, and one of my absolute favs, new cleaning potions (Tea Tree this time around, for the smell, and its antiseptic properties. Yummy!)  It’s a wonderful start to our new year!

What’s new around you?

A Second Breakfast Celebration

Happy Second Breakfast! It was a wild party- all the Dwarves showed up, shedding their scarves and hats hither and yon. Even Gandalf dropped by- he left his bag by the bookcase! I hope he remembers to come by and pick it up before the movie premiers- he might need it for his opening scene…

While they were planning their route to take on the Dragon Smaug, I noticed somebody eavesdropping by the door…

Do you see him? Bilbo is such a little fellow, he fits in with the Hallway décor!

 

 

 

Thorin insisted on writing up an Itinerary for the festivities, which Bilbo updated with a few necessary items, namely the Washing Up, which any good Hobbit can tell you is Very Important for any impending adventure preparations!

I suppose you’re interested in learning what they ate whilst planning their epic journey, eh? Well, there were a few things laid out…

Bunting makes a good, cheerful atmosphere for any planning party…

 

 

 

There were Sausages, nicely plump and browned in apple cider…

There was a good dish of gruel (requested by Bombur as an appetizer), and a plate of Cheese and Pickles…

A proper pot of Tea with a plate of Scones for Gandalf- notice that rather ostentatious saque by the bookcase…

A few boiled eggs for the youngsters Fili and Kili, along with a few choice jams, jellies, and mustard …

and lastly a beautiful crusty Beer Bread set out with a full crock of butter was set out for Thorin’s enjoyment.

  Gandalfs traveling bag caused quite a stir-  everyone had to go get his to show of their skills!

 

 

 

A bit of bunting was strung up to give a bit of cheer to the grim proceedings, and Gandalf threw a bunch of maps and travelogues on top of the bookcase when he sat down..

For some reason Bilbo has a model of the tavern The Foot and Fang on his bookshelf…

 

 

 

A few hours later they all took their leave after many “thanks’”  “lovely party’s” and several suspicious lumps in their sacks. Upon closing the door I discovered every last crumb had been swept up and even the heel from the loaf had been taken. Hrrumph! I don’t know whether to be glad- no leftovers to pack away- or despondent- no leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Oh well, at least now I know to make a bit more for next year’s party.

Thank you for stopping by our little Second Breakfast celebration- have a Great Weekend everyone!

Autumn’s Herald

Would you believe I have no pictures of my knitting? None? I’ll have to give you a picture of a kitty to look at while we chat:

 

 

She is getting ready to play hostess for tomorrows Second Breakfast party…

 

 

It is officially knitting weather around these parts- at least in the early morning, when it’s nice and cool. There is a Pixie Pouch that’s been on the needles all summer that I’m finally finishing up, and a new one in black that’s going lickety-split fast since last night. Funny how that works- try a new pattern for the first time and it takes for ever to get done, but do one in straight stitch and it goes together almost faster than I can see!

I made my first table runner yesterday, the easy way- split a length in two and seamed it together to make a really long piece, then just hemmed the edges. This fabric already has a cute little fringe edge along the selvedge, so I just left that to make a ready-made fringe! And the best thing is it’s the perfect width for a little Fall shawl, too!

And lastly- this year has been a hectic one, mostly due to my inability to listen to my own heart. Forcing myself to slow down and get back to my basics has been really hard to implement, but I’m glad I did- this Fall has been a lot more comfortable once I slowed my pace down a bit. Some things I had wanted to do this year just aren’t going to happen- no matter how much I want them to, or how much effort I put into it. Working myself into the ground, and becoming a grumbly bear to my loved ones, isn’t worth it in the end. I’m very grateful for what I have in this life, and I’m a lucky girl for having them. Sometimes its better to say Thank You, and leave the rest to find it’s own way to your door.

A Hobbit’s Tea

Did you know that it’s Hobbit Week ? And that this Friday is Hobbit Day? I know! I’ve been reading The Hobbit this month, and just discovered this awesomeness myself. So I immediately had to plan a Hobbit Day Party, with all the trimmings. Here’s what we have so far:

We will be participating in Second Breakfast, which is this Friday. Interesting, because it is also Mabon, and there is also a birthday in the family! So much to do, so little time…

A new table runner has been made, inspired by this little scene I cooked up whilst doing a dry run for Second Breakfast:

See all the props back there? I had a few of those beanpot jug-teapotty things already, and knew they’d be just perfect for this, so I went down to the thrift store to find more, and well, just look!

I am just totally in love with these little dishes- and that glass jug! That is sending me over the moon. So I’ve had to sew up some new things to go along with the new colourway.

Now, on to the menu…

Sausages! Hobbits are forever eating sausages in the movies, and the book, so I made up a batch of Turkey Apple-Sage-Allspice Sausage Patties.

Bread. As you can see in the photo above, a nice plump, golden brown loaf was baked this week, just for the occasion. Ahem. And promptly eaten! We may have to bake another, the day of, just to make it last long enough to actually be eaten at the party!

Scones might be nice, so I whipped up a batch of Maple & Brown Sugar Scones. Yummy!

Mushrooms, of course, since everyone knows Hobbits love Mushrooms. Stuffed or Stewed, I’m not sure which yet. Hmm, maybe both?

Tea, of course- we love tea, I actually prefer it over coffee. Which is featured in the book prominently, so perhaps I ought to include that as well?

Ale. Since the weather has started it’s turn to cooler nights and mornings, I’ve been fancying a bit of crusty, yeasty Beer Bread, so I might just bake up a loaf of that as well…

And that’s as far as I’ve gotten in the food department. Quite nice I think. The Faeries are just over the moon with excitement- they think I’m celebrating their birthdays, since they love all the brown and greens in the house this Fall! Silly Faeries, haven’t they ever heard of a Hobbit before?

So I’m off to see what else I can whip up for the party! This is such fun already- don’t you just love the planning part the best? Ta!

The Weekend Review

I should have written this yesterday, but got sidetracked with all the yummyness that is my Fall crafting projects. We had a really good weekend, and I want to start reviewing what we do that is fun, works great, or just generally made the weekend a happy time for us. Here goes:

Gaming with good friends- we had a fun time Saturday, too bad I got sick and had to cut the day short.

Lunch at our favorite Mexican place, with a side of library time (I had no idea they had such good movies! Got the whole run of Harry Potter- it’s marathon time!)

An early-morning swim- we used to do this all the time, glad this little peaceful ritual is back, need that.

Sunday shopping in town- more of a browsing exercise with a delightful twist. Still need new Fall shoes, but found some great new pants!

And a good library run- always good to stock up on new ideas for browsing through during the coming week.

And last, but not least- some light housekeeping/ cooking a simple dinner/ sitting on the balcony in the cool evening air. Soo glad that Autumn is almost here- it’s been so darn hot this summer!

I made this!

I should make this a regular series- things I made this week! It seems this was a very productive week. Getting the shopping done on Thursdays has been working out great- there’s food in the house for the weekend, I can get all my food prep done on Friday (and not waste the weekend with kitchen chores!) and I have lots of yummy things to eat for lunch all week long (so I have more time to sew, since it’s all made and ready to heat up!)

So, things I made this week- first up is a new Fall shower curtain!

It’s made up of a few different Morris inspired fabrics (love them! See the blue border? It’s my favorite), a little leftover green linen (that has been finding its way into everything lately! I keep thinking it’s the end of the piece, only to find still more in my scrap basket!) and a lovely green print I’ve had for a while. Great big 10'” squares pieced together, no backing- lots of ironing and hemming tho. And just a nice straightforward turned cuff hem at the top with the curtain rod threaded through. It’s shorter than I had planned because of that, but it works fine  so I am happy with it.  I am turning the scraps into a new fall pillow/blanky/bed for Tasha, because she asked for one:

Please mama, can I have this?

 

 

 

 

So of course, I had to whip something up for her that very instant! It’s done and just waiting for a pillow insert. I am very pleased with how it came out, too. I pieced the scraps together and put some fusible interfacing on them to make them even more poofy (technical term there, poofy) them sewed them up into a pillow case form. Insert pillow, finish the seam and voila! Instant kitty bed! Or couch pillow, which is what it will turn into when she gets bored of it in three weeks, which is the usual around here. But hey- I made two things this week! Yaay me!

Now if I can just find a pillow form to fit this…