birthday birdie sling

this one is going together much faster!

can I brag on my gussets? can I?

I swear I haven't sewn much. Mostly crafty things - a few tote bags. That's it.

interior double pocket

And the outside pleats. I'm beginning to get the hang of this!

All I have left is the handle. This one is for girl-child's 22 birthday.

Happy Birthday, Roo.

Indigo for a day

One of my daily stops on the web is That's My Answer . Today, I get to ask the questions rather than just answer them.

These were my queries:

• What is your most compulsive habit?
• If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be?
• Wild Bill had Scout’s Rest. Scarlett had her Tara. What name would your homestead bear?

Answer here or there but do play along, won't you?

freshcut laundry

Funny how the mundane suddenly becomes delicious when Heather Bailey's Freshcut fabrics are involved. Somehow, today, I don't mind my laundry so much. And I find ironing enjoyable, watching the fabric smooth out crisply in front of me, smelling fresh and clean. Add sleeves and suddenly it's a chore. Not so today. Today I'm actually looking forward to the ironing.

You know what's coming next!

TWD Summer Fruit Galette

I just finished this week's Tuesday's with Dorie. Mine was a peach galette.

Michelle from Michelle in Colorado Springs selected this summer treat. Surf on over to her blog for the recipe.

I blanched the peaches to easily remove the skins. First time blancher. It worked like a dream!

I halved and pitted the fruit then prepared the crust. I elected to use my no-fail crust recipe rather than Dorie's. I'm sure hers is good but I know mine well.

perfectly combined flour shortening and salt, ready for a few tablespoons of cold water. that's the secret to a good crust, you know? Everything cold, cold, cold. I've even started storing my shortening in the fridge.

Spread the preserves onto the rolled out crust. I elected not to use the graham cracker crumbs. I'm not sure of their purpose. It just seems strange to me. So on top of the preserves, I placed the peaches, cut side down and folded the edges over. Good thing this dessert is supposed to look rustic.

My favorite part was the custard. I could (and did) drink this stuff! After the galette has cooked enough to soften the fruit, you pour in a prepared custard (sugar, butter, egg and vanilla). I liked the custard so much I took the galette out, poured the rest of the custard on top and cooked it some more. De-lish!

final sling report

This is the Birdie Sling by Amy Butler. This bag is HUGE! Perfect for a diaper bag. A project bag or a weekender. It's that big.

Amy is an excellent pattern writer - her directions are clear and so easy to follow. It was like having Amy herself in my sewing room, walking me through each step. It was challenging (too strong a word, maybe) negotiating the pleats but once I got going, the hours flew and I was building a Birdie. So fun. Poor Ken thought he was going to starve to death as I kept on sewing right through the dinner hour.

I think the fabric is by Heather Bailey. The polka dot may be Amy's but the bold exterior print and the stripey interior is definitely Freshcut. I've already procured my next birdie sling fabrics in freshcut. Just you wait.

sling report

we have pleats!

and we have pockets!

and we have a headache. sewing machine keeps acting up. i think it's tired. me too.
more later. . .

Humpigs

This is a new feeder this year. The syrup solution I had was not new. I happily filled the new feeder with the old solution and waitied for the hummers to come. They'd come and sniff around but never eat. Seems these little birds are picky eaters. Or not. What they really seem to like is a simple syrup of sugar and water in a one to two ratio. Boil till the sugar dissolves and cool. Cami said I have to credit her with the recipe. Whatever. ;)

Today when I told her I now have three females constantly eating at my feeder since I changed from that icky red stuff to her recipe she simply said, "You're welcome." :)

Thanks Cami. I heart the humpigs.

sling report

The first stages of any project seems to be a rearranging of sorts. My neat folded piles from earlier have been rearranged into these new piles, all interfaced and waiting for my stitchery.

After a brief, albeit powerful nervous breakdown I came to the realization that interfacing is not of the devil and I -do- know how to sew. I did not require medication and progress ensued.

I tried calling Cami first but her phone was out of order. I told her when I reached her by cell that it was sort of like calling the suicide hot line and being asked to hold. I need help now, damnit! So I bit the bullet and called my mom's house. No big deal one might think. Well, my mother has been visiting in Washington State for the past almost two weeks. Her husband, left behind with only a little wiener-type dog for company kept me on the phone for THIRTY minutes. I had to call HIM to get my mom's cell number so I could ask her for help. She laughed rather maniacally when I told her the length of our conversation. She needs to go home. I think her man is getting a little lonely.

Turns out I just needed someone to listen as I talked my way through my first time with interfacing. That's all anyone really needs for their first time, a willing ear to listen to how horrible it was. Are we still talking interfacing? I digress. . .

I won't get any sewing done until maybe Sunday so all you crafty vixens will have to wait till next week for another sling report. Till then, carry on.

I'll be in the sewing room

trying to create a birdie sling with this:

wish me luck!

Tuesdays With Dorie

I love the idea of this group - a cook along. But so many of the recipes aren't practical for my family. I live with Mr. picky eater and son. I'm the only one who will eat any sort of fruit thing so all these wonderful cobblers, pies and such I didn't get to bake.

I'm thinking I need to combine this group with my weekly visits to Clementine's . Knitters get hungry. And they'll pretty much eat anything. :)

So I'll be catching up next week with the Summer Fruit Galette. Stay Tuned!