The 10 year project

Recently there was an exhibition of antique quilts at the Milwaukee Art Museum that I attended with a friend.  One of the quilts on display was a full size English Paper Pieced Hexagon quilt.  I'm pretty sure I said something like "I'll never make a quilt like that!".

 

Well, I changed my mind.  I was first inspired by a post from Artsy Crafty Babe.  So I followed her links to some great, simple instructions on English Paper Piecing here.  You can also get a graphing site here to print out hexagons in any size you want.

So I am taking my scraps and turning them into hexagons.  This is my hand sewing project when I'm waiting for children at ballet and violin, or feel like watching a movie.

I figure I need about 2500 for the queen sized quilt planned in my head.  At 20 hexes per week, that's 2.5 yrs.  Then putting it all together....maybe 10 years total!  Who knows, maybe I'll even learn to hand quilt by then!

I am participating in Boost Your Blog Friday!

School Pictures

 It's school picture time again.  My kiddos did OK.  The best thing now, is that we get two proofs to pick from.  So the question is: Left or Right?

Keep in mind that these are grainy proofs printed out that I took a picture of with my camera!

Nutcrackers

I put this guy together recently.  I am thinking all things 'Nutcracker' lately.  I am chair of my church's Cup of Christmas Tea and this year's theme is "The Nutcracker".

 The pattern is from 'Patchabilities'.  Check out the face.  The eyes, nose and mustache are buttons!

I used gold glitter fabric paint on his crown and accessories to sparkle him up a bit.  Lesson learned (I learn something on everything I make): When using white for applique, line it first, so you don't get see through!

Bear with me

I am figuring out more things on my blog, so please bear with my changes over the next couple of days.

I Heart Ruffles

A couple of completed projects to show you.  I got the yellow idea from Dana at Made.  I was trying to sew with Meg for Kids Clothes Week Challenge.  Due to camera issues, I didn't post at either, but I am showing you now.

It all started with the skirt.  I wanted to make it for Ellie's Birthday Party.  I started 2 nights before.  I wish that I would have these ideas sooner!  I started with a bedsheet. (unlike some who go thrifting for sheets, I go to the closet - my in-laws are savers) and a general idea of how to make a ruffle skirt.  Lots of gathers!  I used a super soft (and thin and cheap) yellow knit for the ruffles.  This way I didn't have to hem the ruffles.  So, lots of strips of fabric and lots of gathers later, this is what Ellie woke up to on her birthday.

She loved it. I had to do some finishing the next night on the seams, but it was done for the party.  I didn't have time to do a top, so I did the matching headband instead.  Inspired by 12 Crafts to Christmas. 

Next was to make a matching top.  I took a nightgown pattern with a cross over top, added some ruffles and lined it (the sheet was pretty sheer), and didn't do the sleeves.   After Ellie put on the top, we realized it needed a modesty panel, so that was added in a couple days later.

 At this point I was getting very tired of ruffles and gathering, but I got an idea in my head for another matching shirt.

 So a little more gathering for sleeve and heart ruffles and a little freezer paper stenciling - and another matching shirt.

The ensemble.

The twirl.

The leftover.

I may have enough fabric left for a matching dolly outfit.  We will see.....



Check out Today's Creative Blog for other people's projects.

Fall

It is officially fall here in the upper mid-west.

This is definitely my favorite season of the year.  

Jack in the pulpit berries

Is it too early for flannel sheets?

What's your favorite season?

Willem is FIVE

Willem turns Five today.  I call this selection of pictures, "The Many Faces of Will"

Loves his Frozen Custard!

Karate Kid

Insert genuine laughter here

Check out that chin!

The 'Sweet boy" look

Not so sweet boy.

Definite Dopey look, here.

I can hear the giggle in his voice.


 He is my crazy boy.  He drives me up a wall sometimes, but is also my most sweetest, loving child.  He is caring and funny.  Sometimes I don't even think he knows how very funny he is!

"Do skunks have tongues?"

Looney Tunes

We recently got the entire collection of Looney Tunes and have started watching them with the kids. They are so funny! I remember them all, and I still laugh at every one! 

Wascally Wabbit!

The Rabbit of Seville 

Slippers

I finished these a couple of weeks ago for Ellie.  

It's not quite slipper weather, but she was asking me to make something for her.  I thought these would be quick and easy.  Not so much.  I took the pattern from Sewing with Bits and Pieces by Sandi Henderson.  Ellie's feet were bigger than the biggest pattern size, so I had to draw my own pattern.  Then it was a lot more messing around then I expected.  In the book she does suggest hand stitching because of the small size of the slippers.  I found I could do everything on the machine, except the assembly of the lining to the outside.  Just couldn't manipulate it under the machine. 

After Ellie tried them on, I had to tack the lining along the seams, otherwise it bunched up.  Not my favorite project.  I even doubt Ellie will wear them much.  Not that I blame her, they kind of give her flipper feet.  Hah!

My Awesome Aunt

My Aunt was in town a week, or so, ago and left us with some amazing gifts.  She is a knitter of extraordinary talent!

I took Silas out for a photo shoot to show some of her handiwork off.  He wasn't thrilled when we started, but was laughing by the end.

This one was actually made for Wes, and is a bit small for Silas now.

This last one is the most amazing.  I have to brag a bit.  It won Three! awards at the Iowa state fair.  (Let's see if I remember right)  Best Baby Sweater,  Best Kid's Sweater overall, and Best of Show. (I'll edit and fix if that's wrong).

Check out this amazing work closer.

More work from her in a later post.

Kids Week Sewing Challenge

Meg, over at Elsie Marley is having a week long challenge to sew (at least) 1 hour a day for kids.
So what I have planned this week: Finish a skirt for Ellie.  Put together a top for her that is already cut out.  Then start Halloween Costumes.  I have the fabric and a plan.....


Unfortunately, I may not be able to show you anything.  The camera is done for.  I will have to look for our other cheap-o for pics, and then they may not be that great.  Fortunately I have some other pictures on the computer to put together some posts for the week.

Growing and Cooking Tomatoes

I grew these:

Chopped them, and threw them in a pot.

And had homemade sauce for dinner!

I think the thing with growing tomatoes (this was my first year), is you either need A LOT of plants to make it worthwhile to process and can them.  Or you just need a couple of plants to occasionally enjoy a ripe tomato.

 

SEVEN!

Eleanor turned seven this past Saturday.  So this post is dedicated to her.

Birthday Girl

My little Ballerina

Animal Lover

Outdoors Girl

Princess

Larger than Life

Who cracks me up with her writings

 

And gives me warm fuzzies from others.

 

She sees beauty in whatever she finds.

Saw dust, thorn-apples, old fake daffodil

She's my sweetie pie, Peanut Girl and I love the stage she's in, somewhere between child, girl and small glimpses of teen years and beyond.  She keeps me entertained and is just fun to hang out with.  They say that the kids grow fast, but you don't believe it until one day they're seven and you look back and can't believe they were ever as small as their baby brother!

Recipe Day - Handmade Gnocci

Gnocci is one of our favorite family meals.  Do not be intimidated, it is easy to make.  Like most things, it just takes some time.

Gnocci ingredients: Potatoes (about 1 per person), salt, egg(s), flour.

You can either start with raw potatoes, or if you have enough left-over mashed potatoes, start with those.

If you have potatoes, peel, slice and cook in salted water until done.  I use a potato ricer to get the potatoes nice and smooth - no lumps, but this isn't necessary.  If you don't have one, just whip or thoroughly mash your potatoes.

If you have a potato ricer, this is what they will look like.

At this point you take your freshly mashed/riced potatoes, or your left-over mashed potatoes and mix one or two eggs in with them.  How many eggs will depend on how much potato mash you have.  For 6 potatoes I used one egg.

After the egg is mixed in you will add some salt (just to taste, you've already cooked your potatoes with salt and you will cook the gnocci in salted water).  Then start to add in your flour.  Your goal is to make a dough that is no longer sticky, but still malleable.   Think something similar to play-dough.  (for my 6 potatoes, I added about 3 cups flour)  It will probably take more flour if you started with left-over mashed potatoes, they have more moisture in them.  I usually start mixing with a spoon, and then use my hands.

Once your dough is workable, you will start rolling out ropes.  About 1/2 inch diameter.

Then cut your ropes in to small pieces.  Approximately 1/2 inch.

At this point I sprinkle lots of flour on my counter for the gnocci to sit in/on so they don't stick to each other.  

If you have a gnocci board, you can roll the pieces across it for the lines.  This is what the board looks like.

If you don't have one, no big deal.  I didn't have one for years.  My husband happened to run across this at a local Italian Deli last year.  So if you don't have one, just separate your cut pieces into the flour pile.  Some people roll their pieces on the back of a fork.  You can try that, too.

After a while you will have a whole bunch of gnocci and a lot of flour sitting out on your counter.

They can actually sit out for a couple of hours.  I tried leaving them out overnight once, they were greenish-brown in the morning because of the potato starch.  Not so appetizing.

So when you're ready to eat, just drop them in some salted, boiling water and cook them until they float.  

You kind of do it in batches.  Drop in, cook, scoop and drop in more.  When you scoop them out, put them in a bowl and put butter in with them.  It will help stop them from sticking to each other.

Serve your gnocci with your favorite spaghetti sauce or garlic butter. (I didn't get a picture of this, they were eaten too quickly)  If you need a recipe for spaghetti sauce - check out mine from last week here.