Apron Strings

A quick shot of a quick, little apron I made for my daughter.

Just in time for the big meal! 

-Elizabeth

It’s been a long time!

Wow!  Where does the time go?  It has been a longer “break” than I anticipated when I posted about our impending move.  Well, we are indeed all moved in, but still have those lingering, last boxes hiding in odd corners and closets!  You know, the ones that sometimes never get unpacked, and you “discover” them two or three years later – or the next time you move! 

For the most part, my sewing and crafting stuff is unpacked.  I now have a small corner of a three-season porch to use as my sewing room, and I am super excited.  Even though I still set my machine up at the dining room table, I have a little more room to store things, and I don’t have to go digging to get at what I need.  It is truly nice to have a little space of one’s own! 

On the sewing front, I was able to finish this quilt, and decided to give it to my niece for her first birthday.

(The purple floral is from a vintage smock-type apron.)

I machine quilted it with horizontal, straight line quilting.  It’s difficult to see in the photo, but I added hand appliqued scraps of the purple floral fabric randomly around the binding.  I didn’t have enough to piece it into the binding, but I wanted a little something extra so I tried this.  I really liked how it looked.  I hope it “wears”  well as I imagine (hope!) it will get dragged around and “loved.”

I also worked on adapting a vintage bib pattern.  I love the soft curves around the edges.  I hope to have a few of these in my etsy shop in the next few days.

 

Thanksgiving is coming, and I am so excited! Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.  I am hosting dinner this year, and the eldest Morning Glory daughter plays in the football band at her high school’s game that morning.  Turkey, and football, and family…I can’t wait!  I’m almost done with my menu.  We don’t vary too much from year to year.   We have all the usual suspects:  sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, blueberry salad, cranberry salad, homemade rolls, layered lettuce salad, party-potato casserole (kind of like twice baked potatoes without the shells!), deviled eggs, pumpkin pie, coffee, iced tea,  spinach pasta bake, chocolate cake, and, of course, turkey!   There will be eleven of us:  my mother-in-law,  my sister-in-law and her family, her husband’s mother, and then the six of us.  The countdown is on!

I will leave you with my method for brewing iced tea now that the days are shorter, and the sunshine is limited!

Brewed Iced Tea – makes one gallon

4 to 5 cups cold water

1 1/2 cups sugar

6 tea bags

In medium saucepan, bring water and sugar to a rapid boil.  Turn off heat and add tea bags.  Let steep for 15 minutes.  Remove tea bags and let tea come to room temperature.  Once cool, pour into gallon-sized pitcher and add enough cold water to equal one gallon.  Chill.  Enjoy!

10 days until Thanksgiving!

-Elizabeth

A move on the horizon

This past month has brought a lot of packing tape, boxes, and some topsy-turviness to the Morning Glory household as we prepare to move house.  As we muddle through these next few weeks before we get nestled into our new abode, it will likely be quiet on the blog front.   My sewing machines and fabric are being prepared and packed for the move, and I imagine I will be lurking around blog-land when I have a chance, counting down the days until we are once again settled.  This will be a good move for us – more space and more yard – always a very good thing with kids.   But, for now, it’s back to work – packing and taping, packing and taping, packing and taping…

-Elizabeth

And the heat goes on

and on and on and on!  To keep cool we have been doing a lot of this…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And on the sidelines, I have found a bit of time to start this…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a crocheted, granny-square bonnet.  I thought it would be a cute addition to my niece’s wardrobe for the chilly fall days (although, at the moment,  those fall temps seem soooo far off!).   I am adapting it from a vintage granny-square book I have had for a while.   I’ve got the bonnet part figured out and almost done, but I want to change the ties to something  more modern - and I’m a little “stuck” on that part!  It is a common style I have seen over the years using four separate granny squares and sewing them together to form the bonnet portion. For mine, I have added a few rows of single crochet around the outer edge.   I am contemplating a strap that would fit beneath the chin and button on the other side.  Judging from the weather forecast, it looks like I will have plenty of sticky, hot days (and nights) ahead to figure it all out! 

-Elizabeth

Fabulous Friday Finds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand total:  $11.63

Happy Friday!

-Elizabeth

Another Baby Top

I’ve been working with some more of my vintage fabric lately, turning these…

 

 

 

 

 

 

into this….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The red gingham border is not vintage.  The blue and red floral was a pillowcase I found at the thrift store, and the yellow was some older yardage.   The top measures out at 42x51, so it’s definitely a baby/toddler size.  I have this blue and white floral (see below) in my stash that I am thinking of using for the backing, but I’m not sold on it yet – it doesn’t seem “strong” enough to me.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, the heat has found us!  Our temps have been soaring since the weekend, and without a/c, we have to be pretty creative to keep cool.  As an alternative to ice cream, I freeze pudding in small plastic cups, so they can easily be grabbed as a snack.  Because they freeze solid, it takes a bit longer for the kids to devour them – they have to scrape at the pudding with a spoon!   We vary the flavor and have added chocolate chips, bananas, and blueberries, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

-Elizabeth

Happy Fourth of July!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With thanksgiving and celebration from my home to yours,

-Elizabeth

 

Image courtesy of http://hubpages.com/hub/patriotic-american-flags-clip-art

Fabulous Thrifting Find and I am…

 

 

…so happy to give her a new home.

 

 

Happy Friday!

-Elizabeth

A few projects

This afternoon I found some time to start quilting this smaller quilt that I showed you earlier this month.  I’m just stitching horizontal lines across the width of the quilt without marking it, using my foot and my eyes as my guides.   (I have seen this referred to on several blogs as “organic” quilting.)  I am using a light pink thread for both the bobbin and the upper thread, and although I feel this top says “Easter” to me, I think I will like it when it is finished.  I’ve been auditioning several fabrics for the binding, and I haven’t found anything I like as much as a pure white. 

I also finished up a quick child-sized quilt from some vintage sheet squares.  I have admired these all over blog land, and this is the second one I have made.  The first is a little bigger – more of a lap-sized – but both are tied and self-bound.  They are so soft and cool to sleep with in these hot summer months!

I’ve also been working with my green stash…

The green floral in the middle is from a vintage piece of yardage I found at the thrift last winter.  I love digging through the linen bin and coming up with some great stuff!   I always try to look towards the bottom first, as that seems to be where all the vintage stuff migrates.  I don’t know if it’s because no one around here seems to want it, so it just sinks to the bottom, or if it’s because they are usually smaller pieces and get easily covered up by the huge comforters and such.  I haven’t figured it out,  but nonetheless, I’m happy it’s there for me to find! 

 

I think I will use these as part of a pieced backing.  They are sort of a “free-form” log cabin type block.

 

 

We’ve been enjoying some beautiful weather here today.  It has been very soothing to sit at the machine with the windows open and a light summer breeze blowing through.  I know much of the United States has had its’ fill of incredible heat recently, and I hope  that for those of you dealing with the high temps, relief will come soon.

Happy summer and happy sewing,

-Elizabeth

Custard Pie anyone?

Is anyone in the mood for some pie?  We definitely have been in the mood for something sweet and creamy, so a custard pie it is!   With its’ simple ingredients that are usually in my pantry, and no crust to make, it whips up very, very quickly.  You probably should just go ahead and make one, or maybe two…or even three!  :)

Creamy Custard Pie

4 eggs, slightly beaten

2 1/2 Tablespoons flour

2 cups milk (I like to use undiluted evaporated milk, but you can use whatever you have/like)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

salt

nutmeg (mix in about 1/2 a teaspoon, and sprinkle another 1/4 tsp on top before baking)

Mix all ingredients,  pour into a greased pie pan, and sprinkle with the 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.  Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 45 minutes or until pie is set in the middle.   A sharp knife inserted in the center should come out clean.  The pie will likely be “puffed up”, but settle as it cools. 

 

A glass of sweet tea, a piece of pie, and a summer evening on the porch – happy times indeed.

-Elizabeth

Weekend Planning

I have yet to replace my pansies as our temps have been mild enough to keep them happy.   I usually fill in my pots and window boxes with some geraniums by the first of June as pansies don’t like the heat.  I just can’t bring myself to pull them out when they are so happy! 

We have two more weeks of school, and the kids are more than ready to be done.  I think Mom and Dad are feeling the same, too!  Lots and lots of activities and open houses and bake sales and field trips and performances and more!  All of which are very good things, but we are all beginning to feel a wee bit stretched.  

I am trying to go into this weekend a little more organized in the meal department so I am gathering the ingredients for a few classic refrigerator salads.  With some chicken breasts on Saturday and a pork roast on Sunday - both done in the crock pot, of course! - I should be set for some easy meals. 

Confetti Carrot Salad

1 lb. carrots, grated

1 (8 1/2 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained

1/2 cup raisins

1 Tablespoon honey

2 Tablespoons mayonnaise

1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

2 Tablespoons sour cream

Mix together carrots, pineapple, and raisins in bowl.  Add honey, mayo, and sour cream.  Stir in nuts.  Refrigerate.

Four Bean Salad

1 (14 oz.) green beans, drained

1 (14 oz.) yellow wax beans, drained

1 (14 oz.) dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 (14 oz.) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup oil

2/3 cup vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 medium red onion, sliced in rings

half a green pepper, chopped (optional)

half a cucumber, chopped (opt.)

In large bowl, combine all the beans and onions (plus optional ingredients).  Mix dressing in separate bowl, and then pour over bean mixture.  Using large spoon, mix to coat.  Chill.

Enjoy!

-Elizabeth

Sight-seeing in the city

Sometimes it’s fun to explore your own back-yard.  While technically the Adams National Historical Park is not in Boston, it is located only a short distance away, in the town of Quincy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Elizabeth

Everything’s coming up roses

I wanted to share with you a few photos of my roses.  They are in full bloom right now, and their scent is wonderful.  I love roses!

 

 

We have lived here for three years, and in that time, this bush has nearly doubled in size.  Each year the blooms are more and more prolific.  A few times each growing season, I bury some banana peelings around its’ roots – an old wive’s tale I heard about many years ago.   At any rate, they seem to like it!

 

Remember the oliver + s dress I was making for my niece?  I finished it, and now I need to send it off in the mail.

I am mostly pleased with it.  Although, I will make some changes the next time around.  I used the 18-24 month size which was the smallest size in the package.  The sizing looks to be good, and I like that the loose fit is such that it will be able to be worn with leggings or pants as it gets to be too short for a dress.  I didn’t add the pockets, but for an older child/size, I probably would.  Next time I will not make the  notched “v” neckline quite as deep.  I had difficulty manipulating the fabric around the “v” when attaching the yoke to the dress.  This might not be an issue, however, when using a larger size.  The only exposed seams in this dress are the side seams of the dress.  The pattern suggested using french seams – which I did – and this makes the inside of the dress nicely finished.  All in all, I do like this pattern and will be making it again.  However, the real review will come from my sister-in-law after it gets worn and washed a few times!

I also finished another baby quilt top.  The colors turned out to be somewhat Easter-ish, but I think it will make a sweet baby girl’s quilt.   The lavender and green floral fabric is from a vintage, smock-style apron I found at the thrift store awhile back.  I was able to get twelve six-inch squares out of the back and upper front.  The lower front was not in usable condition, but I do have a little left over for some smaller piecing.  I have another apron, same style, in a different color-way, purchased at the same time, and I believe probably made by the same person. 

Here is a full shot of the quilt top, but the colors are not right.  I had trouble getting good lighting.   The photo above is a much more true representation.   As you can see below, Mrs. Whiskers feels the need to be in the middle of things!

Now I need to pick a backing!  And get some more batting – I’m all out.  Oh darn, looks like I’ll need to go to the fabric store again!   Well, maybe for the sake of peace and harmony in the Morning Glory Lane household, I better check my stash one last time!  ;)

-Elizabeth

Fun Fleamarket Finds

A few weeks ago, I was excited to be able to attend the  famous Brimfield Antique Show.  The vastness of this show/fleamarket is unbelievable.  These are a few of my purchases…

 

Some sewing and needlework books…

 

 

 

Some kitchen wisdom…

And an old sugar bag!  I am going to try and frame this for my kitchen.  It has a few stains, but I like it anyway.

Nothing big, nothing fancy, but a wonderful day all the same.

-Elizabeth

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