New Sewing Project

Next up, after I finish my jacket and my suit (which still isn't cut out), I want to find fabric to make this dress, since none are available for sale, not to mention that I don't have an extra $650 to spend on a dress:

I'm going to use this McCalls M5974, and maybe do something different about the sash so that it looks more like Kate's dress:

The blue color will look better on me anyway!



New Recipes!

Now that my Christmas decorations are up, I can move on to more important things, like baking!

This week on my day off, I had my first attempt at baking pumpkin pie. So I decided to try from scratch. I actually used a butternut squash pie recipe from Good Housekeeping, and it was easy to make, and also tasty. The recipe says to mash the squash and mix everything together, but I just added all of the ingredients to my blender and gave them a good spin before putting the filling into the pie shells. I also had to bake longer than the recipe called for, but they turned out well. Here's proof:

Next up will be a cranberry meringue recipe from Martha herself!

Blue Jacket Project - In Progress

I started the blue jacket right after I finished the black dress. It's coming together quite easily, but now that I am at the part where I have to connect the inside, the outside, and the collar, I've lost all interest! I think that the sleeves are too puffy, and can't decide if I should take them in on the top seam or the bottom seam, or both. So it hangs, one piece on my sewing chair and one on my mannequin. I'll feel motivated soon, I'm sure.

Jacket front and sleeve connected:

Back lining pleated and staystiched:

Hopefully I can post another update soon, maybe even a finished product!

Black Dress Project - Finished!

I started a black dress awhile back, right after I discovered SR Harris. It's finished, and I've even worn it to work! This is the dress that Andy thought looked Amish until I put the zipper in and it actually fit. Vintage Simplicity #5197:

And the finished product (I'll have to get a better picture!):

2 Years Married!

Since we were both just back from traveling, we didn't do much to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Andy, however, redeemed himself by bringing home the most beautiful roses that I've ever received:



Must Own

New Season: CHRISTMAS!

I am a firm believer that anytime after Halloween is fair game for Christmas decorating. Since I spent last Sunday night hearing about how scary my cob-webbed house was from trick-or-treaters, I'm pretty sure the Christmas trees are getting themselves ready for their yearly display.

Next week I'll put them both up, the matchy one in the living room, and the colorful one in the basement. I have to find a new place to hang the mistletoe, I want pine garland on the mantle, and I have to hang the stockings.

Outside, I want to put net lights over our shrubs in front (although we have to figure out how to plug them in...) and I have a wreath that I might put up, and also some pine garland that will go unlit around the front door.

I should also whip up a new tree skirt for the basement, since the only one I have will go on the upstairs tree. I'm thinking some felt is in order, and I can applique felt designs on it, and add some sequins and beads? I might be crazy!

Here is my inspiration:

A menagerie of Christmas fun!

Snowflakes!

Notice the squirrels? Cute!

Jelly Shots!

A friend recently made me aware of the awesome Jelly Shot Test Kitchen blog, and I've been wanting to try their "Rainbow Cherry Jigglers". I recieved all of the cherry flavors as a housewarming gift (from someone who probably wants to try these shots too!), and this weekend is the perfect opportunity for some Jello shooting.

Ingredients
2 boxes Knox gelatin
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups vodka (or rum, or whatever you want)
2 cups 7 Up
Vegetable oil
Maraschino cherries
Candy sprinkles

Tools
Silicon ice cube trays
Cookie sheet
Cutting board
Knife
Pan for boiling
Turkey baster

Step 1. Arrange ice cube trays on the cookie sheet so they're level. Lightly grease each cup with vegetable oil, to allow the shots to release more easily later.

Step 2. Add 2 cups pineapple juice to a pan and sprinkle in 2.5 envelopes of Knox gelatin. Stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved, about 5 minutes.

Step 3. Use the turkey baster to fill each cup 1/3 full with the juice/gelatin mixture. Place cookie sheet in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Step 4. Trim the bottom off of each cherry so that it will stand up. Once the first layer of gelatin has set, add a cherry to each cup.

Step 5. Heat 2 cups of 7 Up (about 1 can), with 5.5 packets of Knox gelatin over low heat. Stir for about 5 minutes, until gelatin has dissolved. Remove from heat, add 2 cups vodka, and cool for 15 minutes.

Step 6. After the gelatin is cool enough not to melt the pineapple layer, use a turkey baster to fill each cup to the top, covering as much of the cherry as possible. Move cookie sheet back to the refrigerator to cool for several hours, preferrably overnight.

Step 7. Carefully peel shots from their silicon molds, arrange on a plate, and dust with candy sprinkles!

October Baking Club

Together with some cousins, I've decided to have a baking club at least once a month. We did our first one last Saturday. We baked for 6 hours! We made:

* Brownie Bites

* Chocolate Scary (cherry) Cupcakes

* Pumpkin Creme Brulee

* German Chocolate Cookies
* Apple Cranberry Tart

* Cut Out Cookies

* Spritz

* Witch's Fingers

Here are the goods:

Sewing Projects!

Two weeks ago, I personally experienced a place that I'd only heard rumors about. It's true, SR Harris Fabric Outlet in Brooklyn Park is as good as they say it is.

I found my first trip there a little overwhelming. It took me about an hour to figure out where everything is, and then another two hours to find exactly what I was looking for. I think that this place would be a great store to shop with a friend, or to come with one project in mind. I was alone, and had a few different ideas swimming in my head.

After a few hours of digging through fabric bolts, I had found everything that I needed. I ended up with some black doubleknit for a 50's dress pattern that I've been wanting to make. Since the fabric is black, I didn't take a picture of it.

Next, I found an upholstery remnant to make myself a reusable grocery shopping bag. The red quilter's cotton was already in my stash at home.

After that I was on to a jacket that I'd wanted to make for awhile, but never found quite the right fabric for. I found the blue outer fabric, then I found the striped Nanette Lepore fabric for the lining. I was satisfied, until I came across the floral cotton that was just so pretty! I decided to line the sleeves with stripes and the body with floral. This way I can have both!

Last was a Vogue suit pattern that I'd been afraid of for about 5 years. I've had the pattern as long as I've known my husband, but never had the guts to cut into some beautiful fabric and chance messing up what will surely be a challenging pattern. I found some great Tahari wool/cashmere to make the jacket only, and decided to use purple knit for the sleeve lining. The next day I decided that it was silly to not have gotten the skirt fabric too. I sent my husband (who works down the street) along with turn by turn directions through the maze of a store, to get another yard and a half. Somehow, amongst 5000 bolts of fabric, he found exactly the right one! Yay!

That day I also got a few other fabrics that I just liked, but not for anything specific. I have a few apron things that I'd like to finish (Probably for gifts since I have about 15 aprons in my kitchen already!), more grocery bags, and a few other creative things!

Hello Blog World!

Since this fabulous blog is new, I should probably begin by introducing myself.

I live in the Midwest with my husband. We don't have any kids yet (although that future milestone is sure to bring on whole new levels of Martha-ness). We bought our first home about 6 months ago, and the bigger space and my natural nesting instincts have increased my crafting, sewing, cooking, decorating, and general domesticity tenfold. I think that there are so many fun things going on at my place that I need somewhere to share them with the world.

Also, I am becoming my mother.