angry chicken

matchy

 

I couldn't stop looking at the belt on this dress and had to copy it. I see these referred to as corset belts sometimes. I'd like to make another with smaller grommets, and more of them, so it really looks fairy tale/hobbity. It would be nice a little wider too, and laced up in back. Then I would need help getting dressed—which is always fun, however impractical. This wonderful print is vintage and hand silk-screened. I have been saving it for something special—like a belt, match handbag and

earrings. In a fit of insane matchiness, I also made earrings. I love matching accessories more than anything. Even though I don't normally wear them all at once, I like knowing I could.

The belt is 3 layers—the floral print, an interfacing in the middle (iron-on, I dislike the stuff, but this had to be stabilized) and then a light blue lining fabric on the back. I used a pre-made bias tape and sewed it on with the method shown in my "no swearing" video tutorial, and finished with the grommets which come with a little fastening tool, making them very easy to apply. (I get a huge thrill putting grommets in anything. Not sure why.) A little leather lace is threaded though the grommets to tie it up.

The handbag pattern I designed. I originally wanted to make an over-sized clutch, but I just couldn't get that 1980s, so the ladylike 1960s style won out. I used grommets and the leather tie on it as well, but these details are non-functional—the closure is actually a little magnetic thing-y on the inside. The white strap and the trim is the same bias tape I used on the belt.

The earrings are covered buttons with the shanks removed (easy to do with pliers) and glued to earring backs.

I feel more belts coming on. I have this notion of making a few lightweight linen dresses that are baggy and loose, (maybe they are nightgowns) and then I could just cinch them up with a belt like this, grab a matching handbag, and boom—dressed for the day! Okay, maybe I wouldn't really sleep in the dress, but I like the idea of a nightgown/dress fake-out with a belt/handbag as the secret transformer.

smallish pies

We got back from the coast last week and the re-entry was hard. A short week always feels long, you know? It was pretty nice weather considering it was the Oregon coast in March, but there were a few rainy episodes, so I found myself baking. These small apple pies were made with Sadie, whose New Year's resolution was to learn how to make pies. For real. So, we did. We used 3 apples and these sweet Pyrex bowls I found in the kitchen, which were so perfect I was tempted to take them home. Different than hand pies, but equally life altering.

We seem to have brought back a flu-barfing thing. I thought it was some funky clam chowder, and am still not convinced it wasn't, but now that 3 out of 5 of us have been ill in the last 4 days, I wonder if it was also a bug. Sorry to mention barf and pie in the same post.

Unrelated—I am sewing belts. More soon on this development, but I am very excited. I also just found this site, Goop, by Gwyneth Paltrow, which I can't stop reading. It's new to me (did everyone know this was out there?) and I especially am fascinated by this post about her clothes. Slightly unrelated but still about clothes—I really want these shorts. There's a sentence I really never thought I'd write—shorts?? But really, these are so vintage-y cute. I have already had trusted friends completely veto these, but they are so good in the 1940s/80s way.

easter bonnet

Easter is approaching and the girls' heads continue to grow, which is a good thing, I know. So, new Easter bonnets are in order. I am using my handy bonnet pattern (conveniently displayed above) which is also for sale. This pattern comes with 3 sizes—baby, child, and adult. Last year I also made a variation without the brim, as shown here, and was thrilled with the storybook cuteness of it. You can see more bonnets made up from this pattern in the flickr mailorder group.

I think for Easter this year a neutral linen would be lovely for the bonnets, with a sweet calico lining. Then we can wear them when we make our butter. Okay, really, no one in the house digs the butter making as much as I do, but they sure eat it up with no complaints. I think I need to try the jar method, so they can actually get into it more.

new (old) bag

me: okay, today we are going to take pictures of mama, 'cause getting out the tripod never works with the baby out and running around. so, who's first?
sadie: me!
delia: no me!
me: alright, delia look through this hole. hold this thing tight, it's very expensive. no, this hole. no the screen won't show you—look through the view finder. awesome. now press the button. open your eyes. now press that button. awesome! aim it at this red bag. see this? right here.
sadie: why are we taking photos of your new purse?
me: um, well, kind of the same reason I take photos of our breakfast. it's my new bag. it's preppy.
delia: what's preppy?
me: um—delia, put the baby down.
me: delia, put the baby down.
me: put the baby down.
sadie: mom, I can't see the photos on the screen. Is this good? I like your belt. where did you get your bag?
me: thank you. It's a Coach bag I found used online. I had to have it because it reminds me of being 16, when I got my first one, which I can't find right now. we need to go through boxes at Grammie's to see if she has it.
sadie: the bag matches your tights.
me: yes, I'm not sure if it's too much, but oh well.
sadie: like wearing too much pink at the same time.
me: exactly.
delia: can I take more? one of my sisters?
me: yes, but let's put the strap on first.

let it be noted that baby shattered the french press that she was playing with during this photo session. I was wondering why she was so quiet.

another papercut

This was cut for a birthday girl a bit back. She finally received it, so I feel safe showing it now. I'm pretty happy with it and thrilled with the frame, which is over the top, but in the best way.

The papercut was drawn by me, but is so derivative of papercuts in this amazing scherenschnitte book, I can hardly take credit for it. It was crazy fun to cut. There were some details that were just too small and got accidentally loped off, but oh well, not a leg or anything like that. This is a 8" x 10" frame, to give you a sense of scale.

I am planning to design another set of papercut patterns to cut (similar to mailorder #8) pretty soon. I'm thinking of 4-5 designs in the set, a few easy and a few sort of hard—because it's not fun unless there's a little blood, right?

random window (screen) shopping-

On the wanty list:

These are so awesome. I saw these in person in a different color at Footwise here in Portland. I don't know if they are getting the red pair or not. They are made by Indigo, who also makes Clarks, which I find very comfortable.

 
 Cute attack!

Oh this blouse. It's silk. I have seen it in person in Portland at Hot Box Betty and here it is at Nordstrom it's by Diane Von Furstenburg—it's got rope there on the collar. Real rope. Real cool, I say.

green

Why I didn't think to post these on the 17th, I have no idea. They would have been perfect St. Patty's Day fodder, so let's pretend I did. Happy St. Patty's Day!

These are made from an old t-shirt are are so comfy and soft they might just be my favorite pair yet. I can make 2 pairs from one t-shirt, so I am thinking of making another, or a matching not-very-functional bralette, can't decide. The pair I copied these from were a high waisted vintagey style. I really dig the Wonder Woman look. These would be stellar in a stretch silk. It's so nice to have a fuller cut. I get so sick of the lack of coverage with the sassy boy short cut, you know? Nothing like flashing friends and neighbors every time I bend over to pick up a kid.

So, this is just like the first pair I made. No serger needed, just a t-shirt, some stretch lace and a little extra cotton for the gusset.

button-y

Button It Up: 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects for Necklaces, Bracelets, Embellishments, Housewares & More, by Susan Beal is out and I am thrilled to have a project in this lovely book.

You all know Susan from Super Crafty and Bead Simple fame—she is a crafting star and a wonderful person as well. This  book is full of clever projects and ideas for how to use your button stash, making me want to collect even more. Come see Susan at one of her upcoming events, all of which are listed her on her cool button it up blog, along with PDF's, extra projects, and other fun stuff. She's going to have a button-y gathering this Friday, March 20th at 7:30 at Powell's. Congrats, Susan!

new art print for sale

I have a new print for sale. I drew this a bit back and am super excited to see it printed all fancy on this wonderful heavy watercolor stock I am using. It's almost like a board, it's so thick and the colors are rendered so nicely. I feel a comic coming on very strongly. This piece is called Nurture.

butter was made and eaten

Thanks so much for all of your tips about making butter! You all rock. So, I made this fabulous butter today and have since whipped about half of it with honey, which tastes amazing—especially when the butter is lightly salted. Here it is all made (I was a fancy-pants and gave it an extra whipping after washing it which is why it looks nice and fluffy) along with the buttermilk which I saved.

I went with the food processor method. I wanted to be all prairie-cool and do the mason jar thing, but was impatient and to be honest, wanted to try it first fast-style, just to see what it was all about and know when it was really done, etc. before I set the kids to shaking a jar—which I fully intend to do. For the cream, I used Strauss, one 16 oz jar, and left it on the counter to warm for about 2 hours before I started. It must have made a huge difference, because instead of 15-20 minutes, this butter was made in about 2 minutes, seriously. I am really glad I went with this method, because the kitchen-aid thing seems a bit messy, and this wasn't at all.

Here it is after washing. Okay, seriously yummy.

I need to research more about the buttermilk left over. Is this buttermilk, like the kind you buy? I am curious, because I have made my own buttermilk by adding buttermilk to scalded milk and letting it sit, but I have only done this using purchased cultured buttermilk, which I am assuming is different than what I have here left over from the butter making process. Clearly, I need a dairy making book or need to befriend a cow owner.

And the husband got the wrong size of weck jars, but they will be exchanged, and the butter willl be housed in the smaller size soon, don't you worry.

who has done this?

Terribly excited to make butter. I know you all have done this. Tips? It looks too good to be true. And I just got a tip that Weck jars are in Portland at Canoe! Oh, it's a good day, can't wait to put some homemade butter in a Weck jar!

occultus in a libri

Revisiting my old bookbinding interests, I have become preoccupied with making these hollowed-out books. After I made this one I did a quick search online and found that these are all over etsy. I especially like these French vintage ones made from childrens books here. Not quite a hollowed-out book, more like a book-box. Very cool, and the prices seem crazy low. (Um, okay, everything in this etsy shop, lilimandrill is pretty outstanding. Please take a moment to look at all her items. A hand-carved eraser of Amy Winehouse's, head? come on!)

I also found some handy how-tos for making hollowed-out books here and here. It would have been helpful to read before I started this one, but it was pretty easy nonetheless. 

So, that freaky baby in there is porcelain. Her name is Porcelie and she is very very important in the house. She has been repaired with glue 4 times now—the last being for a fatal head injury that has left her with a hole in the back of her crown. If its small, creepy, and old, you know my middle child will be obsessed with it, which is what has happened, even though it was the eldest who insisted on bringing her home with us months ago from the antique mall. Now she is tucked away in this book, on our bookshelf, probably to be forgotten about for a few weeks. Losing her and then finding her again is the most fun, right?

when you have these, why leave the house?

I made these macaroons last week with the girls. I had never made them before, or macaroons of any kind really. It's was the easiest recipe ever. A little coconut, sugar, egg whites and chocolate chips. They were really really good.

I would have never even thought to make these 2 years ago. I never liked coconut when I was little. I always thought it tasted like I was eating sun tan lotion. I loved the smell, but didn't identify it with food at all. And then after a few attempts at trying to eat almond joys from the bottom of my halloween bag (way too sweet) I was done. But a few years ago, I started to dabble in coconut. Just barely—mostly with the unsweetened flaked variety. And coconut milk, for curries. It's been a slow attraction, but it has grown steadily.

As it turns out, the girls won't eat these, so it was just Pete the baby and I eating these all week, which was sort of crazy, but yummy anyway. I saw this Martha recipe today which I might have to try, they almost look too good. Almond orange and coconut, is that too good? I must test and find out.

Grammie, I found out, loves coconut. I never knew that. Isnt that weird? When you find out a type of food your parents love, but you had no clue about it? We never had coconut anything in the house. I also just found out she always hated fig newtons, which we always had in the house. Hmmm. I know what kind of cake she is getting this year for her birthday. (And it's not fig newton.)

a bit more sassy-

Still sewing underwear. Here's a little set I made about 2 weeks ago. It's dark brown stretch lace (sounds scary but it's actually very soft) with some super cool light blue stretch lace trim. I found both of these items here locally at Mill Ends. They actually have quite a bit of this type of stuff, and I have learned the hard way that you really need to feel and stretch potential fabrics before buying. It's just too risky taking a chance of what you will wear on your bum. The stretch lace trim I have great success with buying online, but not the stretch lace fabric.

This was copied from a DKNY set I had bought years ago and loved. It was dumb expensive when I bought it and once again, I am in shock at what is charged for these types of items. There is a cotton gusset sewn in the knickers in dark brown. I have a few dark t-shirts I use for the cotton lining gusset material. 

I did make it to Molly's book-signing and it was so wonderful to hear and see her in person. Then I found myself chatting later with people and talking about making underwear. So, it was a good evening.

Thanks for the spoon print love. The week was made even worse by the disappearance of our beloved 12-year old orange cat, Lionel. He has been gone 6 days now and I fear the worst. You all know how pet loss is and how it makes you cry in public and all that, so add the death of Gramps in there, and I am a soup of emotional craziness. But, we are moving forward and I am trying to stay positive while knowing that he is probably really gone. The girls are all ready for kittens or possibly a tree frog, they say. I am trying to borrow their enthusiasm and their kid-way they deal with stuff.

One more thing, I'm trying to write down more rhymes, you never know when you will need to bust out some rap (um, I don't think the kids say rap anymore, huh?) and Pete just rhymed frittata with gymkata.

spoons for sale (well, drawings of spoons.)

 

 

I'm having a pretty hard week, so I thought I put up something nice to look at— to make myself feel better. You know, just something nice and uncomplicated and non-emotional. That's the ticket.

I have some new art prints for sale. I've been drawing a lot of items lately. Items of the mundane kind. Like spoons. Who knew there was a special spoon for bone marrow? Or absinthe? The things you learn.

They are available here and they are printed on super fancy-pants thick watercolor paper with the best archival pigment inks around. When you hold one of these prints in your hands, you won't be disappointed. They feel good and look pretty. Can I say that about my own work? Well, I just did.

Okay, I do feel better now.

a big thank you and a few items-

I am moving slow this week. We are all so tired—but it's that tired that makes it hard to actually sleep, you know? It's like I am too tired to rest. Hopefully I can soon.

I am really stunned and deeply touched by the comments about Gramps passing away. Condolences are hard to express—as is writing about a family member leaving this world. Thank you all so much for your heart-felt sympathies and your warmth. It means the world to me and to my family. BIG hugs. Seriously, big. Thank you.

A few items I want to mention:

This book, A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table, by Molly Wizenburg is out and is not in my hands yet—but will be soon, hopefully to give to Miss Orangette herself, to sign. She will be at Powell's this Friday, March 6th at 7:30 and I can't wait to stalk her. Hopefully I get some rest because I'd be really bummed to miss seeing her in person.

I am interviewed by Jean Van't Hul in the newest issue of Mothering Magazine and was so happy to be included with the fine company of the mothers she talked to. It's a great piece— thanks, Jean. And yes, the shirt I am wearing in one of the photos of the magazine was recently made into underwear. I never thought I'd type that sentence.

Gramps.

My grandpa passed away last night. He was at home, which was so special for him, I know. My mom (who I always call grammie, just to confuse everyone) was there and she was amazing. He'd been ill on and off for about 6 months and she was patient, resourceful, diligent and loving the whole time—it truly was incredible to see her in action. She made the decision to have hospice care at home, and she was to be the primary provider. He was moved home yesterday, settled in, and passed away—I think because he could finally relax to be honest. My brother and I were there all evening and I feel honored to have been there so close to him in his final stages.

Grandpa at the hospital with his twin boys (my uncles).

Grandpa was a real character, many many things can be said about him. He was an avid cook, made movies, was an accomplished photographer, painted, loved different cultures, adored music, and just cherished life in general. He loved learning and never ceased to have a new passion. I will miss him— but I am happy he's with Grandma now.

shortbread love

Chocolate hazelnut shortbread was made for a friend and shipped out—it keeps really well so it's one of my favorite cookies to mail. The recipe is here on my cheat sheet. I used the shortbread recipe and then sprinkled about 1/4 cup chocolate chips on the top while it was still warm. After about 5 minutes I spread the chocolate in a thin layer (it melts beautifully) and then I topped it off with chopped toasted hazelnuts and a little fancy salt.

The new apron theme is up over on Tie One On, and I spruced it up over there too—with a new banner, links, and books.