Just a quick update - I'm plowing ahead with my Tweets Challenge entry - finally decided what to do with the corner that had me stumped. There is an outside chance it can be completed tomorrow - Saturday is more realistic.
Check out these blogs - I have found a great deal of inspiration from them:
Geninne's Art Blog
Lisa Congdon's blog
Renee Harris' website
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Busy, Busy, Busy
I am BUSY as all get out today working on my challenge entry for the Layers' Tweets Challenge. I am just about finished but I'm now at a complete standstill, I'm stymied, it's like I ran head on into a stop sign. 
My fellow Layers' members tell of the tale of the curse of the challenge host - I have it! I am 75% completed with my challenge piece - I have one corner of my entry to design / finish - and I just cannot decide what to put in that space - - - I reached the dreaded Fork in the Road!
I love this picture, and I promise you will see it more than once at this web site. About the Fork in my road - - - I have a look that I am going for with this piece, but I also have an easy button option - they are not one in the same. I would love for any and all suggestions - I could babble on about the current state of the piece and you could give me suggestions - - but then I would take the surprise away from my fellow lurking Layerettes - can't do it. The reveal is Monday - the pressure is on - I work best under pressure. I'll come up with something and by next week you too will get to see the piece.
Here are 2 travel posters I wanted to share with you - I just love them. The one on the left is so fun - women shopping perhaps for clothing - I'd like to think it is fabric.
This TWA poster for NYC is amazing - it screams "quilt me"
Check this out - Interesting Philly Artist - - - Take a look at Mark Khaisman's web site - he's an artist that uses tape as his "paint". His work is so intriguing!
My fellow Layers' members tell of the tale of the curse of the challenge host - I have it! I am 75% completed with my challenge piece - I have one corner of my entry to design / finish - and I just cannot decide what to put in that space - - - I reached the dreaded Fork in the Road!
I love this picture, and I promise you will see it more than once at this web site. About the Fork in my road - - - I have a look that I am going for with this piece, but I also have an easy button option - they are not one in the same. I would love for any and all suggestions - I could babble on about the current state of the piece and you could give me suggestions - - but then I would take the surprise away from my fellow lurking Layerettes - can't do it. The reveal is Monday - the pressure is on - I work best under pressure. I'll come up with something and by next week you too will get to see the piece.
Here are 2 travel posters I wanted to share with you - I just love them. The one on the left is so fun - women shopping perhaps for clothing - I'd like to think it is fabric.
This TWA poster for NYC is amazing - it screams "quilt me"
Check this out - Interesting Philly Artist - - - Take a look at Mark Khaisman's web site - he's an artist that uses tape as his "paint". His work is so intriguing!
Monday, April 26, 2010
You're Gonna Need One of These - Promise!
I'm doing some hand sewing for my Layers' challenge - yes, hand sewing - I must be crazy. Every time I sit down to do any hand sewing I am always thankful for my needle threader from Clover. I use a #10 needle for most of my hand sewing - these little buggers can be a bear to thread.
With this fun little gadget you simply put the needle in the hole and lay the thread into the thread slot. Then presto - push the little lever down and magically - - -
the needle is threaded with a little loop that you simply pull through and knot. I love this thing - don't know what I ever did without it!
Delicious dinner tonight - Chicken and Dandelion Gratin - I love the bitterness of dandelion greens. This dish was so simple - I made a few changes to lighten it up:
1. omitted the cream and substituted a low fat milk
2. used boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of the breasts
3. reduced the butter by half
4. omitted the eggs - not sure why you would want them
I served the gratin with thee beautiful steamed carrots - purple carrots! They were fresh from the farm - sweet as candy.
With this fun little gadget you simply put the needle in the hole and lay the thread into the thread slot. Then presto - push the little lever down and magically - - -
the needle is threaded with a little loop that you simply pull through and knot. I love this thing - don't know what I ever did without it!
Delicious dinner tonight - Chicken and Dandelion Gratin - I love the bitterness of dandelion greens. This dish was so simple - I made a few changes to lighten it up:
1. omitted the cream and substituted a low fat milk
2. used boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of the breasts
3. reduced the butter by half
4. omitted the eggs - not sure why you would want them
I served the gratin with thee beautiful steamed carrots - purple carrots! They were fresh from the farm - sweet as candy.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
What's for Dinner
Tonight's menu features a "what's on hand dinner" - my favorite kind of dinner - no recipe - work with what I've got on hand - a beautiful pasta, mustard greens, lemons, smoked salmon and a divine fresh tomato from a Lancaster county hothouse. That tomato was so flavorful I had a flash back / forward to a 90 degree August day - amazing!
If you've never tried mustard greens now is the time to give them a try. Spring mustard greens are mellow compared to the bitterness they develop over the hot summer months. They are so simple to prepare - all they need is a wilting in a hot pan.
My dinner tonight features this gorgeous pasta from Severino - it looks like thin strands of lasagna noodles.
Mmmmm! Here - have a bite! Yummy!
Dessert - stewed rhubarb and vanilla ice cream - hello spring!
My husband were driving around Lancaster county today and stopped by Zook's in Intercourse - love their pricing system - masking tape. This is a shop which had gas lights illuminating the shop until just a few years ago - gas lights and fabric - what could possibly go wrong??? I picked up the fabric for my entry in my guild's baby quilt challenge - the two prints are from Andover fabric, the solids are Kauffman. I've got an idea and can't wait to finish the bird quilt challenge to start on the baby quilt.
If you've never tried mustard greens now is the time to give them a try. Spring mustard greens are mellow compared to the bitterness they develop over the hot summer months. They are so simple to prepare - all they need is a wilting in a hot pan.
My dinner tonight features this gorgeous pasta from Severino - it looks like thin strands of lasagna noodles.
Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Mustard Greens in a Lemon Cream Sauce
3/4 pound pasta
1/2 to 3/4 cup cream
zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 bunch mustard greens
4 ounces smoked salmon, flaked
1 tomato, cubed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 pound pasta
1/2 to 3/4 cup cream
zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 bunch mustard greens
4 ounces smoked salmon, flaked
1 tomato, cubed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Cook pasta as directed - reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Place cream, lemon zest and garlic in a small sauce pan - heat to simmer and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and strain. In a large skillet heat olive oil, add the mustard greens and turn constantly with tongs until wilted, add the salmon, tomato, cream and Parmesan cheese - toss to coat. Add the pasta - toss again to thoroughly combine, add the reserved pasta water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Done!
Mmmmm! Here - have a bite! Yummy!
Dessert - stewed rhubarb and vanilla ice cream - hello spring!
My husband were driving around Lancaster county today and stopped by Zook's in Intercourse - love their pricing system - masking tape. This is a shop which had gas lights illuminating the shop until just a few years ago - gas lights and fabric - what could possibly go wrong??? I picked up the fabric for my entry in my guild's baby quilt challenge - the two prints are from Andover fabric, the solids are Kauffman. I've got an idea and can't wait to finish the bird quilt challenge to start on the baby quilt.
Friday, April 23, 2010
I Broke My Foot Today
What a day I've had, and PAINFUL!!! I don't even know what I did - but somehow it just broke - a complete and compound fracture - osteoporosis??? I just can't believe I broke my foot - my favorite foot - the foot I use more than any other foot in my foot collection.
Did you think I meant right or left??? Break one of those appendages and you get a pair of crutches - not perfect, but you can muddle through your day with them. I'm talking about #34 - I broke my #34 - and I have no idea what precipitated this horrible event - overuse??? There is no true replacement for #34 - no crutches to get you through your sewing without #34. This is no laughing matter!
Its a clean break alright - no screws are going to hold this in place. I love this foot - I can see exactly where my needle is going. I use it for all piecing, machine applique, some quilting and any regular sewing I do. I assume it just wore out! Off to Hinkletown - I need to replace this foot immediately! I've got a drawer full of other feet but none are as anatomically correct as #34.
I'm working on my bird quilt for my Layers challenge and I simply cannot share my progress with you - there are Layers spies lurking everywhere. I have been painting some background fabric - here is a piece I painted which will not work for the challenge, but it is way cool.
I used Seta paints for the background and then highlighted it with a light glazing of these fantastic metallic paints from Stewart Gill - I don't really like metallics, but this stuff is very subtle - I picked it up in Houston 2 years ago - not sure where you can purchase it.
Did you think I meant right or left??? Break one of those appendages and you get a pair of crutches - not perfect, but you can muddle through your day with them. I'm talking about #34 - I broke my #34 - and I have no idea what precipitated this horrible event - overuse??? There is no true replacement for #34 - no crutches to get you through your sewing without #34. This is no laughing matter!
Its a clean break alright - no screws are going to hold this in place. I love this foot - I can see exactly where my needle is going. I use it for all piecing, machine applique, some quilting and any regular sewing I do. I assume it just wore out! Off to Hinkletown - I need to replace this foot immediately! I've got a drawer full of other feet but none are as anatomically correct as #34.
I'm working on my bird quilt for my Layers challenge and I simply cannot share my progress with you - there are Layers spies lurking everywhere. I have been painting some background fabric - here is a piece I painted which will not work for the challenge, but it is way cool.
I used Seta paints for the background and then highlighted it with a light glazing of these fantastic metallic paints from Stewart Gill - I don't really like metallics, but this stuff is very subtle - I picked it up in Houston 2 years ago - not sure where you can purchase it.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Cooking Class with Me!
Disclaimer - this is not a self-portrait - it is a quilt I made a few years back for I a cookbook I was putting together for my guild. Saucy gets a lot of attention!Yesterday I hosted a cooking class at my home - I donated it as an auction item for my guild's annual auction - I had a total of 8 participants - what fun! Of course I was so busy teaching and preparing that I had no time to snap photographs - drat!
I love to teach cooking classes - I love talking food, sharing my two cents on nutrition (I'm a dietitian) and providing instruction on food science and food preparation techniques. I am seriously considering starting up a cottage industry teaching cooking classes out of my house - I have the prefect kitchen for it - all interested parties feel free to contact me.
Here's the menu from yesterday's class with links to the recipe - wish you could have been here!
Rustic Rosemary Tart on Puff Pastry
Roasted Asparagus with Pancetta Vinaigrette
Shrimp with Shallot / Tarragon Sauce on Wilted Spinach
Velvety Puree of Celeriac and Golden Potatoes
Grapefruit and Campari Granita
Lemon Thyme Shortbread Cookies
Roasted Asparagus with Pancetta Vinaigrette
Shrimp with Shallot / Tarragon Sauce on Wilted Spinach
Velvety Puree of Celeriac and Golden Potatoes
Grapefruit and Campari Granita
Lemon Thyme Shortbread Cookies
I love to cook and I love to quilt - thank heavens I don't have to pick favorites - there's room in my life for me to do it all - and more!
Addendum - many thanks to Joanne for the very fun gift - I love my apron and all of the comments from the class participants!
Addendum - many thanks to Joanne for the very fun gift - I love my apron and all of the comments from the class participants!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
I Want One!
How cool is this machine!!!
It's from Yanko Design and it was designed by Monika Jakubek and Anna Müller. But it's way more than just a cool looking contemporary sewing machine.
Those are ink cartridges - they color match your thread and literally print your thread to the correct color to match your fabric! What??? - Shut Up!!!!
One little pet peeve that matters big time - what is it with that bobbin - all I really want in the next version of a sewing machine is a BIG BOBBIN.
It even has an uber cool table! Fix the bobbin issue and I'm in.
It's from Yanko Design and it was designed by Monika Jakubek and Anna Müller. But it's way more than just a cool looking contemporary sewing machine.
Those are ink cartridges - they color match your thread and literally print your thread to the correct color to match your fabric! What??? - Shut Up!!!!
One little pet peeve that matters big time - what is it with that bobbin - all I really want in the next version of a sewing machine is a BIG BOBBIN.
It even has an uber cool table! Fix the bobbin issue and I'm in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
![](http://<a href="http://creatingthehive.com?referring_user=athreadfromtheedge" title="TheHIVE - Arts and Crafts"><img src="http://creatingthehive.com/images/hive80x80.png" alt="Proud member of TheHIVE" border="0"/></a>)
