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Last week I went to visit Miss Ess in the land of crows.

It was very mellow.  I went to a children’s poetry reading where I learned about dog fudge and that Saturday arrives in a cardboard box, Miss Ess’ youngest read a poem he wrote for his brother.  I went to a Jr High Strings concert where her eldest played his cello.  Mostly, I slept and went fabric shopping; I came home with a suitcase full of yardage.

Saturday TxK and her youngest picked me up at the airport.  The airport is near IKEA so we stopped there for lunch and to see if we could find any goodies.

I found a few new plants and some meatballs.  In the As-Is section I found a metal locker, that I thought would work well on my deck for things like my Dremel, Hilti and small pile of sanders.

When I got home I decided to see if I could use it to make more room in my craft area.

I put it in my room and moved all of my DVDs out of one of the cabinets in my craft area and then removed the doors from the cabinets storing the DVDs and moved the ever growing pile of fabric from on top of the shelves and loaded it and my newly acquired suitcase of yardage into my newly cleared shelves.

It has made a huge difference.

Granted I should vacuum, but either way the space is inspiring to me.

After I was finished with that, I started cutting and sewing a red and white quilt (inspired by a Denyse Schmidt quilt).

… and I wonder why I am so tired.

The weekend was really fun, driving around places we had never been before.  J9 is a perfect roadtrip buddy because she likes to stop all over the place and find new adventures off the beaten path.

Washington has all kinds of things to see if you just let yourself wander around and not stick to a schedule. 

We found fisheries and stopped in.  At only one of the six that we stopped at did we see anyone around (it was also the only one that we arrived at and it was not pouring rain).  The guy was really nice and gave us a tour and told us all about how things work at the fisheries.  He showed us the eggs and the itty-bitty baby salmon and trout. 

When we arrived in Aberdeen, it was still early so we decided to go to Ocean Shores on the West Coast of Washington.  Upon arrival we learned that there was an EMT Convention in town and so most of the hotels were booked to capacity.  At one hotel there was a Corvette Convention; I have never seen so many Corvette’s in one location ever.  The hotels that still had rooms with 2 beds wanted $200 for the night.  The weather was crappy and so an ocean view really was not worth the money.

In the end: we hit about six fisheries.  We saw snow.  We got drenched in the rain.  We drove on the beach.  We drank at a local dive bar.  We took a ferry.  We ate fired food.  We stayed in a funky hotel.

I have known Beverly since college; she was my roommate second semester freshman year.  I have known Colette’s husband Eduardo almost as long. 

 

Eduardo and Colette moved to town and then E was off to work on a fishing boat in Alaska for a few months.  He asked me if I would hang out with Colette while he was gone because she did not really know other folks than the people she worked with.  I said sure.  She has, years later, turned out to be one of my really good friends.  For the last few years we have gotten together regularly (sometimes more regularly than others) to catch up, eat dinner and get crafty.  Ok so for a long time though we called it craft night, it was order pizza and watch TV night, but mostly we have been crafty.

Recently our hang outs have been less frequent.  Last time I saw them they were admiring the sock monkeys so we decided to have a sock monkey craft night. 

Today was such that occasion.  Beverly and I took the ferry over to Colette’s; it was quite nice to see everyone again.

 

more from quornflour

If you are on the freeway in the left "PASSING" lane and you feel the need to go barely the speed limit and someone comes up behind you GET OVER to the right "TRAVEL" lane, because the person behind you wants to use the left "PASSING" lane for PASSING.

If you live in an area with tunnels and bridges on the freeway, note that they are usually built for traveling at the speed limits set by the state.  So go the speed limit.  Do NOT break and slow down to a crawl upon the tunnel approach, there are no boogie men in there; if there were I think going faster would be better.  If you are cresting a hill, the same thing applies.

Put your damn cell phone away.  If you want to tell me that you have a “hands free” – sorry folks but that does not count.  When you are driving, DRIVE.  Trust me it will make a far better experience for everyone.

If you are in a car with someone else, chatting away about your life on your cell phone is RUDE.

Also, if you are one of those assholes who likes to jump in right behind the ambulance to cut up in front of all the people who pulled over for it, then I have two words: FUCK YOU.

more from quornflour

I added some stuff to my shop: Squirrels in the Attic.  I need to get cracking and get some stuff made, but the sun is out and I feel like I have not left my apartment in days, so crafting will have to wait.

Check out the goods and let me know what you think and if you like what you see, buy it…

Here is a sampling of what you will find:

Country or city this bag is perfect for on the go.  It features an exterior pocket a long strap and bucket like design.  Its light colored farm inspired cotton interior makes it easy to find your keys buried deep at the bottom.

This bag has one exterior pocket and an overall enclosure that is both secure and easy to open.  It is a great size for a purse or a knitter of socks. There are no holes in this bucket!

At about 14” tall knitters on the go will love this bag: its deep design hold the long knitting needles without sticking out, it is even big enough to carry your yarn and patterns.  It features an exterior pocket perfect for a cell phone or MP3 player and a cotton lining.

At about 14" tall knitters on the go will love this bag: its deep design hold the long knitting needles without sticking out, it is even big enough to carry your yarn and patterns.  It features an interior pocket perfect for a cell phone or MP3 player and a cotton lining. 

Hot out of the oven these potholders are a delight to any kitchen.  They feature a double batting interior so you can hang on to those hot treats as long as necessary.  Their double sided skull and roses pattern are perfect for the punk rock domestic in your life.  If you can’t take the heat – go to a show.

Yesterday I had an absolutely lovely Christmas.  I went up to P&J’s house Christmas Eve and helped get the Santa goods read. 

Alex slept in until almost 9 which is pretty incredible given she is four.  When I got up I made monkey bread, which I was shocked to learn no one at the house had ever had.  Annette asked that I get her the recipe.  If you are reading this scratching your head this is how you make Monkey Bread:

Monkey Bread

3 packages refrigerator biscuits

1 c brown sugar

1/2 c sugar

1 stick margarine (melted)

1 tsp cinnamon

Cut biscuits (dough) into quarters.  Mix sugars and cinnamon together.  Roll quarters in sugar and cinnamon mix.  Throw into greased (or nonstick) round bunt cake pan. Sprinkle half of the remaining sugar mixture over top.  Mix melted butter with other half and pour over top.  Bake at 350° for 20-40 minutes.  Turn monkey bread onto oven proof plate or round pizza pan and bake another 5-10 minutes.

There are a lot of recipes out there, but this is the one I like the best because it is the simplest.

When I got home I talked to my sister and open the stuff she sent me and then the gifts from my mother.  Then I moved on to my gifts from Miss. Ess who send me this super cool pedestal dish, a pin with a part of a map of Ohio on it, lace crocheting pattern and supplies, a scrabble book that I did not already have and a bunch of other fabulous goodies. 

Kelli came over for dinner and gift exchanging.   I made a delicious dinner inspired by shepherds and macaroni and cheese. 

Saturday I made a big pot of homemade beef chili (I do not actually measure anything when I cook chili so measurements may not be exact):

2 Habanera Chili

2 ½ lbs leanest ground beef

1 small onion - chopped

1 large (whole) shallot – chopped

1 table spoon grape seed oil (or other cooking oil)

2 habanera – chopped

1 green bell pepper - chopped

2 cans of black beans - drained

1 can red kidney beans - drained

3 cans stewed tomatoes

1 small can tomato paste

¼ cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons cumin

2 tablespoons lowery’s

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 cup filtered water

Chop and prepare onions and peppers.  In a large pot over medium heat oil and add onions and one habanera cook until the onions are translucent.  Add beef salt and other spices.  When beef starts to brown add water and cover to allow spices to infuse the meat.  Stir regularly to keep from burning.  When beef is cooked through add all other ingredients and let simmer.  Serve hot.

I prefer to let chili sit a day before serving, but this is not necessary.

When I got home yesterday I opened Christmas gift and then I got cracking and cooked up some macaroni and cheese.  I used a pretty basic macaroni and cheese recipe with a little twist here and there.

Spicy Macaroni and Cheese

16 oz grated jalapeño jack cheese

16 oz grated cheddar

8 oz crumbled feta cheese

4 oz cream cheese

2 ½ cups milk

1 stick butter

1 shallot - chopped

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons Lowery’s seasoning salt

2 small bags of macaroni

1 tablespoon flour

Cook macaroni according to package directions and set aside in a baking pan.  In a large pot melt butter over medium heat.  Add chopped shallot cook until translucent.  Add flour and cream cheese and mix until cream cheese is soft.  Add milk and mix until thickened.  Add salt and cayenne pepper.  Add cheese and melt into sauce.  Pour over macaroni and mix. 

(Optional: sprinkle with seasoned breadcrumbs and bake)

Bake at 350° until the top is brown and the cheese is bubbling.

I took about half of the macaroni and cheese and put it in a deep roasting pan and spread it over the bottom of the pan.  I then added a quart of chili over the top and spread it out.  Then I mixed up two boxes of Jiff Cornbread mix and poured this over the top.  Bake this in a 350° until top is golden brown.  Serve warm.

After I cooked all of that up my friend Kelli came over and we had a gift exchange, she brought me a huge sewing basket filled with all sorts of goodies.

Overall I had a quite lovely Christmas possibly the best yet.

After the post office I headed over to Glazer’s to pick up a flash, spare battery, tripod and head, lens filters, cap keepers, remote and had in the back of my head a consideration for another lens.

I have now officially spent all of my Christmas money that was slated for me…

 

LOST is a student project. The aim of LOST is to show how 7 million people connect to one another, and break the record for the game with the most players ever!

LOST enables you to interact with people across the world, and see how you are linked to them.

  Joining the game

To play LOST you have to find an invitation. An invitation is an internet address that looks like this: http://www.lost.eu/108f5.  There are invitations on the internet, and in the real world. They could be anywhere - on web pages, inside book covers, written in chalk on a pavement or across a beach in the sand.

My purchasing experience:

Salesman: That is an SLR

Me: Yes I know

Have you ever used an SLR?

Yes

You know that you cannot just point and shoot pictures?

Yep aware of that thanks

Ok, I just wanted to make sure; some people bring it back because the auto focus is broken

 

I want to spend the rest of my Christmas money on a vacation so that I can put it to some real use, in the meantime I think I may go rediscover the city, or head out to find something interesting to shoot.

The other “smaller” Christmas present that I got myself was an HP C5180 printer with a built-in scanner.  I actually already had both, but the printer on this is better; I think the scanner might be but not much.  I am going to give the printer to a friend of mine and I figure I can sell the scanner on eBay or such.

Since I had already planned to get a camera I wanted something that could print photos nicely.  I am please with the images I have printed so far. 

There are a few things that bug me about this printer though.  The feed is a little wonky and very picky sometimes it works on the first try but mostly it takes a few tries.  This seems to only be the case when the paper is thicker or when I have already printed on one side (such as my Christmas cards).

 

I think after the holidays I might take up some paper crafts… but not scrapbooking.

I love Christmas.

 This morning I was up at 4:45A because I did not pack my stuff for work up before I went to bed.  Off to work at 5:20A, first stop the gym, I am trying to get there a few days a week; then work which was super busy. 

After work I got home and chilled, I talked to my sister on the phone.  She got my Christmas box today; I included this crazy little tree that I got at Target last week.

Last year my friend Sarah sent me these three pink Christmas ornaments, a purse, a hat and a shoe…  I did not have a Christmas tree so she suggested that I go and get one.  Being such a good friend she knew all about my affinity for pink and located a pink tree on the Urban Outfitters website.  Lucky for me we have not only one but at least two Urban Outfitters in the area so I went shopping.  While there I discovered darling pink LED lights and purchased them as well. 

At JoAnn’s I found pink bell trim which made the perfect garland.  At Target I found plastic pink ornaments and the ridiculously large star which I deemed perfect for the tree.  After Christmas I was matched up with a craft swap partner who sent me these pink pom-poms and a string, so I strung them up and put them with my Christmas stuff for this year, pink snowballs!  I think they do a nice job sort of filling out the little tinsel tree too. 

I need to figure out where to hang my stocking, I could take down the painting behind the table which is where I hung it last year, it just seems so empty to do that… I will look this week for a picture frame.

Now that the tree is up I think I need to start wrapping the gifts that I have done and making a list of what I need to finish for whom. 

I am not sure what it is about this year, but I am super excited for Christmas, I even found myself obnoxiously lip synching to Blue, Blue Christmas at the grocery store the other day… in a very grandiose way, had I been with friends, I suspect they would have been embarrassed.

This week we get the week off from work, so yesterday Kelli and I decided that we would have a craft day.

I started my day getting horribly lost in an attempt to have coffee with a different friend and then headed over to Kelli’s house. 
I got her set up with a vox account and then we headed out the door to do some craft shopping and get lunch. 
I picked up some more fabric and some goodies that will be part of Christmas folks for people.
Then back at Kelli’s house we let sewing commence.  Kelli finished up a quilt she was making for a friend for Christmas.

I put the binding on the quilt I made for Stacey’s new baby.  I found some cotton on the remnant bin that ended up being perfect. It is a light tan brown with squiggles that works well with the super bright back and the calming front.

My friend Jennifer has a good sense of style and fashion while maintaining a delightful sense of humor.  At her house everything always seems put together, but comfortable there is always a bit of a joke thrown in somewhere (such as 5’x4’ Seahawks helmet on the wall by the stairs).  Not to say that I am a fashion guru by any stretch of imagination, but there is only one thing at her house that make me cringe.  Like many folks she has an artificial tree, which is fine.  I mean heck I have a bright pink artificial tree.  The problem with her tree is while the ornaments are a nice combination of childhood ornaments and ones she purchased to fill out the tree.  The thing that makes me crazy?  She has no tree skirt! 

So yesterday I went about making her one.  The pattern was super simple.  I used batting from other projects and two pieces (a yard and a half each) of fabric for the front and back, with about a half of a yard of fabric cut in strips for the binding.

All of this, I think Kelli’s younger boy Barrett (6) would have to say that the best thing I made all day was the hat.  I had scraps of fabric left from cutting the corners off of the tree skirt to give it a less square shape.  I sewed them together to make a cone and put it on his head.  He told me it was too small and so I made some adjustments and he happily played into the evening with the cone shaped elf hat on his head, he even declared that he wanted to take it to show and tell.

I would have to say it was a very successful day.

It is not my birthday too, however yesterday was my sisters birthday and so after a week of waiting (I sent it to her boss) she was finally able to open her birthday present.  She called me to let me know she was opening it.  5:20A my time.  Her boss snapped a few pictures for me.  She says she loves it.

Two of the pictures I took before I sent it off, the other is it layed out on the floor at my sisters office.

This weekend I made some cranberry sauce, in an attempt to try my hand at canning.

It is super easy to make.

I used 3 12oz bags of cranberries, a 1lb box of sugar, a green apple, a small lemon and a small orange (all with peal on) and some water (or orange juice).
 
01cranberryFirst add the cranberries to a pot, then the chopped apple, orange and lemon.  Pour box of sugar over all then add water until cranberries float.  Heats on high until water boils, then turn to medium and cook until all of the cranberries pop.  If they are still bitter add a little more sugar to taste. Serve hot or cold. 

This is also a great recipe for sweetening cranberries for cakes or muffins.  If you prefer jellied sauce add this to a blender when finished cooking.

Makes 6 -12oz jars.

The quilt I have been working on with the spare parts from my sister’s quilt was about 90”x108” which makes it a little too short, it was short in length rather than width.  I did not want to just add pieces to the top and bottom because it would feel out of place and look sort of funky.  So I cut the quilt into three parts and added some strips to the middle instead.  I think it adds a nice effect.

It was back to work day today so not much time for crafting; especially since even though I got home and took a nap. 

As much as I liked having the time off and all of the revocery napping and crafting, it was actually nice to be back and see everyone. 
I did however work a little on piecing the quilt I am making since I cut a ton of extra pieces from my sisters quilt.  Not quite sure what I am going to do with this one when I am finished with it.  Perhaps add it to the collection and send it to her for her birthday next year.  Hah, riight.
I am pretty much finished with it, but it is only about 90” wide and I would like it to be a little wider so I might do some fancy cutting and re configuring and piece adding and see how that goes.

Current size: 108”x90”

My sister asked me to make her a quilt for her birthday, so I started it a LONG time back. 

The colors she asked for are Caribbean themed.  These are not really colors that I normally use so it was a good excuse to go shopping for my stash.

For the backing I usually use white or off white muslin but because the colors are so saturated I decided I should die the muslin backing; a while back J9 and I died backing fabric a lovely shade of blue.

It did not take me very long to piece, so then I put it aside because her birthday was so far out… but now it is like 2 weeks away, so I figured I had probably get to work on finishing it.

Yesterday I worked on sandwiching it, rather than machine quilt lines like I normally do I tied it together (I need to get my main machine cleaned, my back up has a shorter arm).  The thread I had on hand to do the tying was left over from my first quilt and by luck happens to almost exactly match the died blue fabric.

Today I did the much dreaded binding, I used a pink that I used to make some of the squares with, I wanted something that would blend nicely with the different shade of blue that is on the back verses the front.

I really like the way everything turned out and came together.

She had better like it!  (I will post more pictures after she gets it).