S is for seamstress.

“I base my fashion taste on what doesn’t itch.” – Gilda Radner

Last July, I learned the basics of knitting socks. Long story short, I went from knitting scarves to knitting socks. And I’m talking about knitting scarves, just plain-ole knitting. No fancy patterns, no fancy stitches. Not even purl stitches! And I’m hooked. I can’t stop knitting socks. 

And here is my latest pair: knee socks to wear with my hiking boots. I’m using the toe-up two-at-a-time technique on all my socks, which is great because it avoids the “sock syndrome” of getting one done and the other one getting forgotten about. (The bits of yarn on the left side of the photo is all that is left over!)

So, sewing has taken a back seat. But, I’ve lost a lot of weight because of carcinoid tumors, which I wrote about in my joy and unconventional posts. My clothes don’t fit. So what to do, what to do? Dig into my overflowing (oops!) stash of patterns and fabric and make some stuff!

Never one to work a single project at a time, here’s what is “up my sleeve” for a spring sewing frenzy.

The blouse will be color-blocked from leftover pieces of multicolored fabric leftovers from another outfit. The leggings will be the solid fabric. Both are cut out and ready to sew, but they are gonna be a “bugger” as three of the fabrics are lightweight and very slippery and the solid is crinkled. Yikes!

The pattern front says "the 3-hour tunic." Ha! It took me about that time to choose the fabrics!

Can I call batiks “chintzy”? Well, these are! I think they came from the dollar table at Cloth World about a hundred and ten years ago. They are finally making their way into this African-inspired outfit. Again, this blouse and pants are cut out and ready to sew.

This Marcy Tilton design is a fun blouse that I’ve made a couple of times before. Marcy is a fabulous think-outside-the-box designer who does workshops around the country with another FTOTB designer Diane Ericson. The pants will be the mottled batik and the top, the multicolored batik.

These three pinks will become this shirt and reversible pants. Another great design from Diane Ericson and her mom, Lois. Lois died in January 2012, and Threads magazine wrote a nice tribute about her. Reading the tribute, I was especially touched by this:

Marcy Tilton tells us:

If you want to honor Lois, follow her lead.

Go into your studio and create.

Make. Invent. Teach.

Make. Invent. Teach. I say hallelujah to that, sister!

Early on, my mom taught me to make things (I inherited her 1958 Singer 401A sewing machine, and I use it all the time), and junior and senior high home ec classes helped my budding skills. Now, Threads and Belle Armoire magazines are my go-to sources for discovery and inspiration.

Being (a skinny) seamstress is awesome!

Talking about wearables…I just have to throw this one in: Did you know that only 2% of the clothes sold in the U.S. are made here?

Having time to sew means taking shortcuts elsewhere. Here’s one of many “dump dishes” I’ve concocted so I don’t have to feel so guilty when I sequester myself in the studio. Just dump a bunch of stuff in the crock pot and let ‘em simmer!

Chicken and cheap vino

chicken parts, skinned

small red potatoes, left whole and with skins intact

dried tarragon (start with a small amount—it’s pungent!)

small, cheap bottle of sweet, fruity wine

1 large can of cling peaches (packed in water)

In a crock pot, place chicken in the bottom, spuds on top, sprinkle in some tarragon, and cover with the wine. Set the crock pot on low or medium heat, and let mixture cook all day. A half hour or so before serving, drain the peaches and add them to the crock pot.

Serve with one of those prepackaged salads and a good loaf of deli bread, and you’ll be back to sewing (or knitting, gardening, scrap-booking, whatever your passion—you fill in the blank) pronto!

Long post. Sorry. I try to keep them under 500 words, but this one has 680.

R is for rock hound.

”Diamonds are a girls best friend.” – Marilyn Monroe

Most folks collect trinkets on their travels. I collect rocks. Haven’t found any diamonds yet. 

What I have found are heart-shaped rocks. When you seriously gaze at the ground, you’d be amazed at how many there are!

The largest ones are about 6 inches square, and the smallest one is about 1½ inches square.

Now, here’s a recipe

   that 

       rocks

          for 

             celebrating

                New 

                   Year’s

                       Eve!

Bubbly on the rocks

fresh fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple

ginger ale or champagne

Place a slice of fruit in each cup of an ice cube tray. Fill with water and freeze. Fill flute glasses with the ale or champagne, and pop a fruited cube or two into each glass.

And, a variation that masks the nasty taste of cheap red wine: Instead of water, freeze the fruit in lime or lemonade.

Collecting rocks is awesome. Putting them in a drink? Zany!

Q is for quilter.

“To quilt is human. To finish, divine.” – unknown

Well, it’s the end of the year—holiday time—and here’s what’s hangin’ quilt-wise in my house.

The center of each star is made from four identical triangles cut from one fabric—“stack-n-whacked” Bethany Reynolds’ style. I knew about her method for some time but didn’t stack-n-whack anything until I edited one of Bethany’s books. Now I’m hooked on S-n-W. Or possessed. Not sure which. Perhaps both?

The cutie little reindeers are miniature quilts that I pieced, quilted, and then embellished with pompoms, bells, beads, and a wreath.

Sometimes my quilting spills over to other stuff I make, like this envelope that held a 50^th birthday card. It’s my version of Zentangle. My colorful version. No black and white for me!

A yummy and gooey treat this time of year is my mom’s fudge. A couple of years ago I heard on Food TV that the recipe was originally from Eleanor Roosevelt. I dunno, and I’m too lazy to research it. I just rather make a bunch and eat it!

Million dollar fudge

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 tbsp butter

1 can evaporated milk

~ ~ ~

1 pint marshmallow cream

2 small packages of chocolate chips

2 large Hershey bars, broken into pieces

~ ~ ~

chopped nuts (optional)

Bring the first 3 ingredients to a hard boil for 6 minutes. Pour this mixture over the last 3 ingredients.

Mix together thoroughly and add nuts as desired. Pour into a buttered square or rectangle pan.

Make 5 pounds of fudge. Bet you can’t eat it all in one sitting! I know 'cause I’ve tried.

 

And here's Santa sleeping with his pups after he has tended to his reindeer and ate the little bit of fudge that was left over after I chowed down.

Holidays are zany!