Memorial Day 2010

With peace to you and yours,

-Elizabeth

Another baby shower!

It seems that babies come in groups!  We have another baby shower coming up.  The parents-to-be are friends of ours and live in the midwest, so while we won’t be able to attend, our gift will arrive by mail.  I made up another set of burp cloths, washies, a bib, and "the bunny" from Wee Wonderfuls.  We are also including a cd of The Johnny Cash Children’s Album, as they are Johnny Cash fans. 

This time I made the burp cloths out of two layers of stretch terry with two layers of cotton flannel sandwiched inside.  The bib is from the same stretch terry, a layer of cotton flannel, and then backed with waffle weave.  The bib pattern is one I made up when my youngest was a baby, and I still turn to it most often.  I always preferred the absorbency of fabric versus the vinyl bibs, even when they were on to solid food.

I’ve been sewing for my niece, too.  I just purchased this Oliver + S dress pattern, and have been making up the 18-24 month size.  This is the first time I have used their patterns, and I am excited to see how it turns out.  I will keep you posted!

The “Intro to Sew” sewing class that I have been teaching has been wonderful!  I love being able to share with others the joy of creating with fabric.  It is amazing how sewing with a group of people can be so inspiring for everyone.  After helping the students with their individual projects, I come home excited and re-energized to work on my own!

Happy Friday!

-Elizabeth

Sweet Morning Treat

My baking has slowed down with the busyness of the spring, and when I started to hear grumbling from the hubby and kids, I knew I needed to  squeeze in some kitchen time somehow. Buttermilk doughnuts to the rescue!  The dough needs to chill, so I mixed them up the night before, and cut them out the next day.  If you haven’t ever made your own doughnuts before, give it a try – there’s nothing like ‘em!

Buttermilk Doughnuts

3 1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 eggs, beaten

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk

1/4 cup melted butter

oil for frying (I use canola)

Cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, or plain sugar for rolling warm doughnuts in

In mixing bowl, stir together 2 1/4 cup flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.  In large mixing bowl, combine egg, sugar, and vanilla; using mixer, beat until thick.  Combine milk, and melted butter.  Add flour mixture and milk mixture alternately to egg mixture.  Stir in remaining flour.  Cover dough and chill for at least 2 hours.

On lightly floured surface, toll dough to 1/2 inch thickness.  Cut with doughnut cutter.  Fry two or three doughnuts at a time in hot oil (375 degrees) about 1 minute per side or until golden.  Drain on paper towels.  Once cooled, roll in desired sugar.  Enjoy!

*recipe from Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book

-Elizabeth

Vintage summer reading

I thought I would share a few titles from my collection of vintage,young adult books.  Some of these are very well-worn.  I hope that means they were well-read and treasured.

There were many summers I spent with my nose in either a Trixie Belden or Nancy Drew mystery.

Summer reading…summer memories…sweet indeed.

_Elizabeth

Buttons!

My grandmother recently gave me a large tin full of vintage buttons and other notions she had gotten from my great-aunt.  I have had a lot of fun sorting and sifting through everything.   I need to find a good project to use some of them in – any suggestions?

Happy May Day!

-Elizabeth