Processing

I felt a little out of sorts last week following the Memorial Day holiday. I think it was in part due to work picking up, which I am not complaining about. After all, it's what pays the bills and subsidizes my sewing. But I wasn't spending much time in my sewing room, and you know what they say about all work and no play. It makes P. crabby.

Something to that effect, anyway.


I was, however, mulling over a new quilt I wanted to start. Before I get into that, let me just say that I am going to talk about my process a bit. Although I have not taken the Process Pledge (yet), I fully support the underlying idea. I guess I'm just not ready to pledge because I can pretty much guarantee that I will have days when I just want to post some pictures and might not feel like elaborating on my process, or, quite possibly, the lack thereof. For those of you who have no such commitment issues, rock on! I really am fascinated by the process discussion. I just know I have a lazy streak and I already feel guilty enough about that.

Gee, I didn't overthink that at all, did I? Well, if I do get over myself on this issue, you will see a Process Pledge badge over there on the right. Maybe overthinking is just part of my process.

Anyway, this was my process regarding the quilt project, most of which took place in my head (surprise!) and on my ironing board as I auditioned fabric side by side:

• I would like to make this New Wave quilt.
• I love the modern design of it.
• But I don't have a lot of modern fabric in my stash.
• And I would like to use solely stash.
• I do have a few vintage fabrics I'd like to use.
• What if I incorporate both vintage and contemporary fabric in this quilt?
• I'd be aiming for sort of a Vintage Contemporary (I may have just made that term up) or Retro Mod vibe.
• My vintage fabrics are very disparate, though.
• This could be a problem (or challenge, to put a more positive spin on it).
• Perhaps the contemporary fabric could tie it all together somehow?
• For example, by pulling from the colors in the vintage fabrics.
• And since the pattern in one group of contemporary fabrics is the same, and I have that one in a variety of colors, the repetition of pattern might further unify the quilt.
• This may work...
• ...or it may flop.
• I need a second opinion (thanks, Desert Quilter, for your encouragement).
• Okay, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Even if what is gained is a better idea of what doesn't work.

I went ahead and cut out the quilt yesterday and have started sewing it, and, wow, the time spent in the sewing room has been wonderful therapy. Between that and an impromptu jaunt to a flea market this morning, my world seems to have been put right again. Balance restored.

So we'll see how this quilt comes together. Whether it works out or not, I am enjoying the process.

Family Fun & Games

We had a great time celebrating Dad's 78th birthday yesterday.

Here is our grillmeister, my brother Darrell. Nice shirt.

The bratwurst and beer were in good supply, as were the Packer flags. This is Wisconsin, after all, and we have a reputation to uphold.

What reputation that is, exactly, is questionable.

Around here, gesturing with plastic forks is completely acceptable.

As is making goofy faces.



Height is irrelevant. Love is what really matters.

And a sense of humor.

We played games, including lawn darts, which have been banned in the U.S.

Just call us outlaws. We're okay with that.

No peony bushes were injured.

Darrell pitched a few balls to the youngsters. First base was the edge of the garden, second the rock by the stump, etc.

We also played a new game, my personal favorite, called Pass the Cute Baby.

Requirements: Chandler.





We don't play Who Has the Best Hair, but there is an unofficial family champ. Hint: It's not Joy, Darrell's friend.

Definitely not my other brother Russ, who is so over his hair. Not me either.

It's not Terry, Nita, or Dad.

Although her locks are quite lovely, it's not my daughter.

No, the one who got the long, thick, wavy hair in the family is none other than our grillmeister himself.

There really is no competition.

Hey, no one ever said life was fair. But funny is good enough for me.

Chocolate Pudding, The Way I Eat It

Hope you are all having a great Memorial Day weekend. Around here, that means a family get-together on the 31st, which is also my Dad's birthday. There will be lots of food, some of which I (and my daughter) will be able to eat, and some not. That's how it goes when you have food intolerances.

Having to eat both gluten-free and dairy-free is challenging, but once I got past the initial learning curve (and grief process) about no longer being able to eat things like wheat, rye, barley, milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, I soon realized that there is still a whole big world of food out there. Thank goodness, because I like to eat, and I like to eat things that taste great.

Both the incidence and awareness of food intolerances seems to be on the rise. Maybe you know someone who has a food sensitivity, celiac disease, or maybe autism spectrum disorder, all of which can mean a significant modification in diet.

So I wanted to tell you about a dairy-free chocolate pudding recipe I stumbled upon recently that sounded so bizarre I just had to try it. It turned out to be so good, I had to share!

I followed the recipe posted by Erin at M.A.G., which she had modified from the original at Rice of Life. I adjusted it so that it made four servings instead of six, since it's just the hubs and me at home.

Check out the ingredients:


I know, right? Avocados and prunes? Trust me, it really works!

First, soften about 1/3 cup of pitted prunes in some hot water for 10 minutes. That's about 8 or 9 prunes if you'd rather count than measure.

Scoop two ripe avocados into the bowl of your food processor.



Drain and add the softened prunes, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/3 cup of agave syrup.

Whirl that all together until smooth, about a minute, stopping to scrape down the sides, if necessary.

It will look like pureed Shrek. Do not be afraid! Chocolate is going to fix everything!



Add 1/3 cup cocoa powder and process until combined. While the food processor is still running, add 1/3 to 1/2 cup water and continue processing until pudding is an airy consistency. Taste, and if it needs a little more sweetness, add a drizzle or so more of agave (1-2 T.) and process until combined.

Spoon into serving dishes, chill, serve, and enjoy!

A First, and a Finished Table Runner

This is the first free-motion quilted project I have done, and boy, what an experience! It's done, though, and hopefully it'll only get better from here.

I'll spare you the pointing out of many flaws, as you will be able to see them for yourself in these pictures.


You can read my random thoughts during the first part of this project HERE. Please do, in order to get the full picture, especially if you need a laugh today!

To continue the theme, I give you...

Random thoughts as I finished stippling this table runner:

• Are we there yet?
• I haven't felt this klutzy since 7th grade gym class.
• ...or this morning when I couldn't open the Frangelico bottle.
• Hey, my machine is singing in the same key as the guy on this song...except I'm a little pitchy.
• Okay, REALLY pitchy.
• I just got booted off Sewing Idol.
• Going with the flow...not knowing where the flow is going...
• Are we THERE yet?
• This feels like learning to drive, minus the parent with the imaginary brake in the passenger seat.
• And the point is to NOT drive in a straight line.
• In fact, it's kind of like driving as if you were under the influence.
• Which I kind of wish I were right now.
• Can it be? The end is near!
• It's been real, and it's been fun, but it hasn't been...
• (checking the back) WHAT THE ----?
• Where is that ding-dang seam ripper!
• (fixing mistake) This ought to do it.
• Aaaaand the bobbin runs out.
• Close enough for rock and roll!
• B-Double E-Double R-U-N...BEER RUN!
  
  

Thanks for visiting today, and be sure to check out all the other fun and talented people on Sew & Tell Friday at amylouwho!

Antique Wooden Dough Bowl

Know what this is? Oh, I guess I just told you in the title!

This dough bowl has been passed down through the generations on my mother's side of the family, and now I am its caretaker.

This thing is old, old, old. It was already an antique when Mom got it back in the '60s. I remember she kept it tucked away on the top shelf of her sewing room closet amidst her fabric stash. It was out of the reach of we curious children there, where it wouldn't get further damaged or broken.

It's had that split in it as long as I can remember, and there are some other discolorations and wear. It shows a lot of character, I think. This bowl was obviously well used and loved. It's quite large, measuring 23 x 14 inches.

So what in the world is a dough bowl? Well, generally, it was used to knead and raise bread and other dough. My Southern great-grandmother would have made a lot of biscuits in this bowl, I imagine.

Although I don't know whose bowl it originally was. If Mom did tell me way back when, it didn't stick in my mind. I was a kid and those things, unfortunately, tended to go in one ear and out the other. Now she's gone, and Dad doesn't remember either.

At any rate, it's hand carved. I wonder by whom? That rough patch on the underside of the bowl seems to be a naturally-occurring part of the wood it was carved from.

I found some fascinating information about the history of dough bowls, sometimes called trenchers, at BetterBaking.com, in an article about dough bowl carver Leon Neal of North Carolina, who said:

In my grandmother's time...the family dough bowl was a critical part of the family food preparation, highly used and highly treasured by the best cooks. It was not uncommon for a future husband to carve a wooden dough bowl for his bride as a wedding present. It was also common for a young female to desire a carved wooden dough bowl for her "hope chest" so that when she married, she would have a very desirable kitchen tool (other "hope chest" items were things like handmade quilts and other family heirlooms). A mother's dough bowl was usually one of the items in an estate that was most sought after--typically left to the oldest daughter--and there have been more than a few siblings who have stopped talking because of a mutual desire for the same dough bowl.

Interesting, huh? Fortunately, I don't think there was any family friction over this dough bowl. That kind of thing I think I would have remembered!

Finally, Dolly the mannequin was tired of hanging out in the basement on such a nice sunny day and wanted to model the vintage crocheted apron I found at the thrift store recently. How could I resist?



Thanks for visiting, and happy Vintage Thingie Thursday, friends! Be sure to make the rounds to all the VTT participants and Suzanne at Colorado Lady!