Quick sewing

Late this afternoon, I decided to sew up this nightgown, KS 2387 that I mentioned a few posts ago. It almost looks like a summer dress but the sizing runs HUGE! I made the XS and still had to take it in another 5/8ths on the side seams. The gathering kind of makes it look like a maternity style. Despite this, I am pretty happy with it. After all, it is just for sleeping. It was a quick sew and that is always a great thing!
Off to tennis!!!

Strawberry vinegar

I made this strawberry vinegar a few years ago and it was fabulous! I am making it now--it is a process but not hard.

The recipe is from the www.calstrawberry.com website.
Beth Gee's Strawberry Vinegar
Fill a jar nearly full of rinsed, whole strawberries--do not hull (I used quart canning jars). Cover with white vinegar and seal. Let stand for 10 days; strain; add to liquid (on day 10) 1.5 cups of sugar per pint. Boil gently a few minutes. Cool and bottle for use.

When I last made this, I used it on salads with a bit of olive oil to taste.

This evening, I picked what was left of the cherries on one of our three cherry trees. The birds make a quick feast of them. I think this year we have more than last year and they are getting full--giving me a chance to pick some for us! I was able to pick about one half plastic grocery sack.

Garden and other farm things...

Yesterday, DH and I went strawberry picking at a local farm. He had never done this; I had gone many times in the past with DS. We had a fun time and came home with two big flats of beautiful strawberries. However, you need to do something with them and fast as they really don't keep. I'm not sure how the store bought strawberries look so nice in the store for so long--not natural. So, I did four things with them. #1 Strawberry pie (almost gone now), #2 making 4 quarts of strawberry vinegar, #3 made 7 half pints of strawberry rhurbarb jam (in photo above) and #4, sliced and sugared the rest and froze in freezer bags.

Here are some dusky photos of some of the garden. The cabbage is getting huge and the cilantro seems to grow 5 inches a day it seems! The tomatoes are going crazy. At the right are sunflowers, all re-seeded from last year's flowers.

On the sewing front, I've been doing more machine embroidery for various gifts this week.

I did get my first fabric order online in a LONG time from Gorgeous Fabrics. I'll post those goodies next time.

A little sewing....

I had to run some errands and found myself at JoAnn's to buy some Insul-bright batting for new potholders (see below).While at JoAnn's, I admit that I purchased 3 more patterns. Simplicity patterns were on sale for $1.99 so I got the new wide pant pattern #2562, a Project Runway vest # 2633 with zipper tape trim (JoAnn's did not have that trim), and a Project Runway knit dress #2883. I remember Christian (I think?) a couple years ago making a denim dress or something with zipper piping or something like that on PR. I think it is a cool look. The brown vest on the left has the zipper trim on the flounce collar and pocket flaps.

My potholders were really getting yucky. I don't know why I didn't throw them out months ago. So, today I made new ones. I had this pretty sunflower print in my stash. This is the closest I have been to quilting in many years. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out. I love sunflowers and this may inspire me to make some more things with this fabric; I have a yard of it and of the trim fabric.

I need to post progress of the garden soon but today it is raining. Everything is growing really, really well. Raised beds are certainly the way to go.

Where does the time go?

Well, here I am again, posting photos out of order. I guess if I blogged more often, I'd remember. I tried to post these all at the same time, but it seemed to freeze up blogger so I had to do each one at a time.

I stamp cards and have a large supply of paper and stamps. I used to do more of it and lately have been returning to it--cost saving and nicer that what you can buy for $3.99+. I am also amazed on how "crude" cards have become. I guess there is a time and place for a crude card, but there seems to be more and more of them in the store selections.
I decided that I "needed" a scoring/cutting board. I already have the old fashioned papercutting board, the kind that you see at school, but it's not able to score. This green one I got at JoAnn works great!
I also love to drink tea and these are three kinds I have not tried yet. As I type, I am drinking the Plantation Mint. It is yummy. I recommended it.


Yesterday, I ventured out to Ben Franklin, a store that has a little bit of everything, including fabric. Most of it is quilting but there is a little apparel fabric and fleece and home dec. You never know what you will find. Like a fun treasure hunt. It is about a 30 minute drive out of town so I go there about 1-2 times a year. I came home with the elastic; ecru lace (top of photo) that is not elastic (I didn't realize this until later), tan wraparound elastic for tops, black lace/elastic and white lace/elastic. These all came in pre-packaged baggies for like 90 cents apiece. Could not pass them up!

I also saw this heart/camo knit and thought it would make a cute nightgown for this summer. I will make it out of an OOP Kwik Sew, #2387.

The wool below I was very happy to find. It is a teal/brown herringbone that will make a nice jacket for the Fall/Winter.

The buttons caught my eye too. The ones on the left are made out of some kind of wood spiraled around the center.

Two and a half days left of school/work and then a break! I already have quite a list of things to do in addition to the garden, animals and shuttling DS to 3 camps!

Tagging on....

I forgot to add the rules of the award. Here they are:
The rules, as follows, are to pass it on to bloggers new to your list.
Rules: 1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.2) Pass the award on to 5 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I need to get busy and pass this on!

My first award, wow!

This blog award came from Gwen sews at http://allmyseams.blogspot.com/

Thank you!!! I really appreciate this.

Two new dresses!

Here I am wearing the Loes Hinse princess tank dress that I spoke about on the last post. It is very comfortable and nice to wear.











This red dress is a Project Runway Simplicity #2885. I had this red embroidered linen in the stash for at least 3 years; maybe more. I wore this today to work. Perfect for 85 degrees! My DS is getting a bit better with the photos but I need more close up shots for the detail. This dress was pretty easy to do but I had to take it in on the sides about an inch, especially in the waist as it was minimally shaped there. It is a slight A-line, which is nice. I am going to try to sew more dresses this summer.

Thank you Gwen for the blogger award. I will try to go and get it on my blog. I am still learning how to post things the best way--big learning curve ;)

Eight more very busy work days to go--then 10 weeks off. This school year just flew by. Long days here and there but coming home and sewing a bit sure helps the stress go away.

The garden is really going gangbusters. Those raised beds really help things grow fast!! I will post photos soon of the progress.