Violets in the Kitchen

We picked violets and brought them into the kitchen, instead of the vase. We have never put a chemical on our yard because we're not manicured-grass kind of people; the side benefit is organic edibles!

photo by Genevieve

dandelion, violet, and water "soup"

I pressed some violets into spicy sugar cookies, sprinkled them with coarse sugar, and baked them.  Pretty!  Next time I would cut the cookies even smaller or else use several violets per cookie.

Then I boiled up some water and let it cool down.  According to a tip on Pinterest, boiled water makes clear ice cubes.  I froze a tray of ice cubes with violets in them.  I don't have a plan in mind, but it will be nice to pull the pretty ice cubes out for a party or a simple glass of lemonade.

Sewing Flops with a Happy Ending

Exhibit A:  The Skirt with Backbone

My trusty yellow skirt is worn out, so I bought new yellow (unknown) fabric from the fabric outlet to replace it.  After much travail and repeated washings of the fabric in vinegar and salt, I realized I was trying to use canvas to make a skirt.  Canvas may soften over time, but what on earth do I do with a skirt that stands up by itself until then?  (Off to Goodwill - couldn't stand to look at it and I hope someone has a better idea for it).

Exhibit B:  Made-up Tea Cosies

I tried to sew a teapot cosy from my own design.  It was supposed to be a warm little bag with a drawstring top with places for the spout and handle to peep out.  The drawstring was too long and awkward and out of frustration and impatience, I sewed faster and consequently, the work is sloppy. (Stuffed these in my scrap boxes, where my daughter pounced on them and started using them as bags until I pointed out that things were falling out the holes.  She pinned the holes closed.  Hello, Grandma Weaver!)

Exhibit C:  Slippers

First I used this pattern and made a horrible, strange slipper with pretty fabric and a red leather bottom (no photo - couldn't bear to look at it).  Then I used this tutorial, scavenging the red leather soles from the first failure.  These slippers do not match and need some tweaks (thicker cushioning on the sole, 2 layers of fabric on the upper), but I see possibilities here.  Genevieve has claimed them for her own.  I offered to cut them down and remake them for her, but she insists on pinning them to her size with pink plastic clothespins.

In the meantime, I found a pair of Goody Bon Bon slippers on ebay that I love - so whimsical, cushy, and pretty. My husband was commenting on how I wear these slippers with irony and I had to ponder that (out loud, of course) for a while, until I understood that, yes, I am wearing them ironically.  I think they're fun, but they're definitely a joke for me, and I am definitely channeling an ageing Southern belle with a whispery sweet voice and a cool shadowy house with tall ferns at the shuttered windows.

In all of this, I kept asking myself why I was pursuing these projects instead of buying ready-made things. It's because I like solving the problem, figuring things out on my own, and experimenting.  Sewing is really a hobby for me.  There are times when I sew for thrifty reasons, but the thrift is largely a side benefit, and the real reason is my deep satisfaction and pleasure when I sew something just right.  Stay tuned for a happy lot of "just rights" coming up!

Mailboxes in the Garden

I found this idea on Pinterest:  keep small gardening tools and gloves in a mailbox next to your garden.  They're available and protected from the weather and bugs.

After a fruitless search for old mailboxes for sale, I emailed my church listserv to see if anyone could give some hints.  Instead, I got offers for 3 old mailboxes and a fourth offer to salvage a discarded one from roadside.  Wonderful!  I accepted 2 mailboxes.

The green one from Roger and Rosalyn, tucked in next to the raspberries and the overflow compost bin, holds my garden tools and gloves.

The adorable old house from Sheldon and Naomi keeps the miscellaneous bunny supplies together:  comb, clippers, leashes, and treats.

Our church listserv is an incredibly useful resource.  Offers, answers, questions, and events are posted frequently.  People find housing, vacations, tickets, and lost items, thanks to the listserv. Does someone need plants?  Just email the listserv - I'm dropping off hostas today to a church friend, with a promise for irises once they're done blooming.

Our neighbors' yard, with a carpet of violets and a blooming magnolia tree on the right. 

Just Some New Things

I have not meant to be so silent here on the blog!  I write posts in my head, but I run out of energy before I get to my computer.  

I've been sewing a fair amount recently, and here are the new things for sale.  The batch of clothespin bags is for the museum store.  On three of them, I did a lot of piecing.

I loved how the rick rack accented this vintage Laura Ashley fabric. A little graphic jab.

I put the monogram upside down so it would show up in the opening, but also because I thought it looked like a cool flower shape.  Now I'm not so sure.  I did mention my thinking on the hang tag, so hopefully the customers won't think I'm illiterate.

And these hotpads are in my etsy shop.  I really love looking at all these colors.  Might have to do some more patchwork with solids.  It's so classic and modern at the same time, undated the way printed fabric seems to be.

 I did most of the hand sewing on these on the bus ride for Ben's field trip.  How soothing to have a bit of handwork in a day of wildly excited kindergartners.

Genevieve's Easter Dress

I suddenly decided to make an Easter dress for my girl.  An "Easter dress" is not a requirement in my mind, although I often had new Easter dresses when I was a girl.

bubbles in the carrot from one of their Easter baskets - they got several baskets, none from us

But I had everything in my stash (hooray for a pantry-style stash!), and I picked an easy pattern, so I thought I could pull it off in one week.

The fabric is heavy cotton with a little bit of polyester in it from its scent during ironing - I bought the yardage from the creative reuse store at least 2 years ago, and Rebecca says it looks like 1970s.  The bodice is lined with pale pink cotton, a lovely way to encase the lace at the neck and sleeves (I suggested rick rack, Genevieve wanted lace).

I also finished the hem with hem lace for no other reason than that I have vintage notions and the desire to sit out in the spring sunshine next to the tulips and whipstitch the hem.

Her hair is tied back with the same pale pink satin ribbon that I used on the back ties. I think a ballerina bun would look great next time.

the ducklings in the farm kitchen

I'm hoping Genevieve can wear it several years due to its length and her propensity to grow up, not out, like a slender stalk.  She was very pleased with the dress, and Easter day itself was mild and sunny, a perfect day for a spring dress and white ballerina flats.

Easter on the Farm

We were invited to the farm for Easter.  What joy for the city mice to spend a sunny day playing in the country!

My uncle slips out to the sign in pre-dawn and puts up the Easter message.  The other side says "hay for sale."

My sis takes a turn at flying a kite (to heckling from the rest of us); the farmers discuss tractors.

 And a good picture of my honey and me - thanks, Mel!

My cousins had ducklings in the corner of the kitchen and now that they've named them, the ducklings won't grow up to be dinner, much to my uncle's helpless amusement.

The cousins are serious, sweet playmates at any picnic they are invited to.  I tried to join, but I was told to come to the next one.  The children had free access to the corncrib, and finally my uncle had to tell them to stop feeding the goats.

My aunt made a 4-layer cake for Easter and Ben's birthday.  See the masses of bluebells on the table?  We picked those at a sweet little spot in the woods, a little glade next to a stream where geese were nesting.

And each cake layer was a different color.  Fabulous!  And I'm not done talking about Easter yet. . . stay tuned.

Patching a Tee Shirt

Somehow, there was a snip in Genevieve's pink tee shirt.  I didn't even bother to ask why.  I cut three yellow hearts out of a scrap of yellow knit (used in this clothespin dress, also), and covered the hole in style.  I put a jersey needle in my sewing machine and used a zigzag to top stitch them down.  Easy.  Done. Cute!