Definition: a Grandma Weaver Project

Grandma Weaver: adj. 1. to make something quickly without stopping to measure much or plan too far ahead  2.  sloppy, with shortcuts (but done!)  3.  an item made with whatever is on hand, regardless of suitability

I used to make all Grandma Weaver sewing projects.  Unfortunately, they were mostly clothes and it showed.

I've learned to be more discriminating in my sewing approaches.  There is the Rebecca Way, where I use pins and an iron at every step, marking all pattern pieces before I start construction.  It produces fine, fine garments (for example).

Then there is the Grandma Weaver Way for things that don't show so much. . . little sewing projects for the kids that soon are forgotten or run to pieces in the back yard. . . diaper soakers. . .cloth bags for quilt storage. . . you get the picture.

Today's exhibit is a Grandma Weaver project.  I added a layer of not-quite-long-enough fabric to my ironing board cover.  I flopped the cover right on top of the fabric and cut around it (no tracing, oh no).   I pieced the fabric to make it long enough (the iced tea glasses go two different ways now) and added a strip of red picnic tablecloth for fun.  I pinned nothing - I pulled at it and eyeballed it instead and stitched it right on top.  Underneath, I jerked bunches of fabric tighter with those ironing board elastics.

I'm a little astonished at how respectable it looks. . . .and very pleased that I used fabric on hand (not too beloved! not light - must look good with turquoise walls) to gain some more time with an old ironing board cover that had a hole worn in it.

p.s.  And thanks to Sarah's post for the definition inspiration!

Peach Butter

A few last peaches from market, but they were an odd mushy texture.  And there 6 big ones.  Rebecca and I were talking about food, as usual, and she was recalling something on Smitten Kitchen.  Thus I found a peach butter recipe. 

I have grown up around apple butter, which I like but don't seek out.  We like this peach butter too.   So relieved the peaches are transformed, not just composted!

The silliness is from the camera, not the peach butter.  I promise.

End of Sunday Dinner, Saveur Style

One of my favorite food magazines is Saveur - they're like the National Geographic of food: real people in interesting places, photographed so engagingly.  I was an adult before I realized there were articles in National Geographic too, not just photos.

This photo, a September Sunday dinner, is in that style - unposed, compelling, telling a story.

And here is the pickle tray up close.  My husband pickled some beet stems with siriacha and spices.  The flavor was fantastic, they looked pretty in the jar, but the stems themselves were tough. 

I loved the pickling brine so much that I boiled beets and put them in it for round two.  Ben requested some of the pickle brine in his cup at supper last night and we laughed and said, sure.

A Nightdress Case

Does anybody really use dresser scarves anymore?  I remember my mother teaching me how to dust, and how annoyed I was that I had to take everything off that thing, take it outside and shake it, dust off all my little girl sundries, and set it all back up again.  I have dispensed with the dresser scarves in my home. . . .but!  they are so pretty!

I have made some into nightdress cases, a lovely idea I found in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  (I should start calling what I wear to bed "my nightdress" to add more elegance to my life).

The latest one is in the shop.

A Ruffled Blue Blouse for Genevieve

She needed one more short-sleeved shirt for school.  I had the requisite blue fabric from Kim's parents' moving clean out.  I got a $.99 pattern at JoAnn's - I wanted a simple blouse with several variations. 

Most of the modern girl patterns were for costumes, pajamas, and fancy dresses.  Very telling about what people are willing to sew for little girls!

And it turns out, I made a princess-seamed blouse with a ruffled placket, neckband and set-in sleeves. 

In my naivete, I thought I had a simple pattern!  I doggedly followed the directions and the tailoring came out just fine.

 I think I'll make her a long sleeved one while it's still fresh in my mind.

Genevieve's Favorite Breakfast

Raisin cinnamon scones and lemon curd.

I realized as I made them twice last week that scones are basically biscuits with extras.  Huh.  I've been making scones for several years without making that connection. 

Biscuits are the fastest quick bread I know.  I like to have a little race by turning on the oven first and seeing if I can get the biscuits ready to pop in before the oven reaches 425. 

But my point is that biscuits/scones are not out of reach for breakfast, if you're awake enough and the children aren't up yet.  How lovely to wake to baking breakfast wafting up the steps. . .

My neighbor Kim gave me a somewhat cheater version of lemon curd.  Classic lemon curd is just lemon, egg yolks, sugar, and butter.  This uses whole eggs and cornstarch, too - less fussy and maybe easier to make?  I don't know - we like it so much I never made the classic stuff.

Kim's Lemon Curd

Beat in a small heatproof bowl and set aside:

2 eggs

In a medium saucepan, combine:

1/8 tsp. salt

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp. cornstarch

2 tsp. fine lemon zest (from 1 large lemon)

1/4 c. lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)

Cut into chunks:

1/4 cup butter

Add the butter to the saucepan and stir over low heat until thickened and bubbly.

Stir some of the hot lemon mixture into the beat eggs, stirring the eggs continuously.  This tempers the eggs.  Now pour the egg/lemon mixture very slowly into the hot lemon stuff in the saucepan, stirring continuously.

Cook and stir for 2 minutes - no longer or the egg could curdle.

Pour into a glass bowl or jar and refrigerate for several hours before using.  It thickens as it cools.  Will keep for 2 weeks in the fridge if there are no double dippers adding germs to it!

Ben's Owls

I just thought the utilitarian denim knee patches needed a little whimsy, so I appliqued the flannel scraps of owls on top.  Ben says they're playing peek-a-boo.  I'm so glad I got a picture when he put his shoes on by himself, bless him.