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

Trying Harder

Boy, I sure don’t know where the time goes.  This spring is flying by, and it has really taken a toll on my blog.  My postings have been few and far between.   I will try harder to get back here with more frequency, I promise!  

I have had two baby gifts in the recent weeks that I put together.  I have another coming up at the beginning of May where I think I will do more of the same.  I’ve been trying to use only from stash, yet make them coordinated, and so far, so good.

For this set, I made a flannel receiving blanket, three burp pads, a knit washcloth, the bunny from Wee Wonderfuls, and then added a purchased crib sheet, and board book.  I didn’t take a picture of the second gift, but it was similar with a blanket, bunny, burp pads, a bib, and a photo book for mom.  I love making baby gifts…they are so sweet.

We also took a trip back to IL to see family during April vacation.  On our way back, we stopped off at Saratoga Historical National Park in Stillwater, NY.  Hubby is a big history buff, and even though the kids groan and moan about stopping to see “another one of dad’s history places,”  they always enjoy it.  It was a beautiful park, and a beautiful day, I wish we had had more time to spend there.

Well, I think spring has fully and finally arrived.  The lilacs are just beginning to bloom here, and we are supposed to have gorgeous weather for the upcoming weekend.  I hope wherever you are, the sun is shining and flowers are blooming!  Happy Spring!

-Elizabeth

Will it ever stop raining?!!!?

I have never seen so much rain!  We are well over 7 inches, and another 1 or 2 still expected.  Time to stay inside and sew, I say!  However, whether it rains or not, life still must move forward – work, school, groceries, post office, kids’ activities…sigh.  Tonight, then, we will all be tucked up warm, cozy, and DRY!   Maybe I will find time to whip up a comforting, sweet treat like this from one of my favorite Gooseberry Patch cookbooks…

Cinnamon Cake

1 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons butter

1 cup milk

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients and pour into greased 13 x 9 inch pan.  Add topping (below).

Topping

2 cups brown sugar

2 Tablespoons butter

1 1/4 cup water

Combine ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil.  Pour mixture over cake and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Serve this warm, with or without whipped cream or some vanilla ice cream, but most importantly, accompanied by a steaming mug of coffee.

Hoping that in your corner of the world,  your evening is warm, cozy, and dry.

-Elizabeth