Done, well almost

Our bathroom is functional and beautiful. We still have a few minor details, but for the most part it is DONE! I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

The bathroom remodel continued

Well, we are almost finished with it. However, I found some more before and during pictures I thought I would post. Really, folks I am just trying to build suspense for the big reveal! :)





Look at all that oh so lovely carpet, wallpaper, and general 8Os decor!



Notice the tool belt ready for action!

How we spent our summer vacation....

Well, to be more accurate, we are still spending it! We are renovating our guest bathroom, demo work started on Memorial Day, things really heated up over July 4th weekend, and are still rolling, although a bit slower. We are doing all the work ourselves (which is just our style!), and have hit a few minor snags. I hope to post on the progress over several days.

Here are a few before pictures. The catalysts for the renovate:

1. wall-to-wall carpeting (can you say "YUCK!"?)
2. 1980s flowery country-style wallpaper and awful border
3. vanity and sink that were so low, they hit me mid-thigh and I am 5'4"
4. toilet so low that you felt like you were falling when you went to sit down

Here is a picture from when I saw the house for the first time before we bought it. Decorations are not ours!























Here is a closeup of the wallpaper, and then the layer of paper underneath that I found during stripping.

"C" is for Caden.....

My first entry for "Finish-what-you-have" month (yes, I know that was for June, sue me!). Actually, as an aside, the rest of my summer will revolve around a "finish-what-you-have" theme (including publications, research, reading, books on tape, cherries, painting, and cleaning the car).

Back to your regularly scheduled post....I made this very fun, albeit smaller than I wanted, quilt for our new nephew, Caden. Of course I had the idea of using his first initial in the quilt pattern somehow (so his older brother could not one day try to take it for himself...he has his own -- sans initial), but I had to wait for the official name before I could complete the task. I am happy to report that the only "new" thing purchased specifically for this quilt was the batting. All fabrics are either vintage, leftover from other projects, or recycled clothes and linens (madras plaid shorts, a stripey pillowcase). The madras plaid shorts really inspried the colors for this quilt. I like strong primary colors for late summer -- blue, red, yellow, and of course white (which goes with just about everything). I used a simple block pattern, and used solid red blocks for the "C."
The back is a soft flannel plaid in light red, blue, yellow on a white background.

I hope Caden likes it!

Market bags are in season...

I have several market/tote bags ready to go. I am offering these up for sale so I can make room for more fabric, and well, stuff! Each is one-of-a-kind, with reinforced stitching. I have hauled lots of books in mine, and have no problems with the handles or the bottoms. I purposely make them strong to hold lots of stuff, 'cause I am always dragging around a lot of stuff!

Each bag is $25 which includes shipping (inside the continental US only). If you are interested, please send me an email for payment options. Thanks for looking!

First up: Pink Balloon Day Dreams






















Next: Sunny Days

Spring Cleaning--Crafter-Style!

Over at turkey feathers, there is quite a buzz about "Finish What You Have" Month. I am in for this. I have so many projects that have been cut out (like 20+ tote bags! eek!), a quilt that is half started, throw pillows, and of course lovely Pointy Kitty to name just a few....so I am gonig to concentrate my craft time this month to finishing stuff up (w/ the exception of a new table runner for K), so I can clean out some space. I have already resigned myself in the last year or more to not buying any new fabric (or yarn) until I use what I have. Of course, I don't hold myself accountable for any fabric/yarn/textiles to be recycled that might be found at a yard sale or thrift store. So, hopefully in a few days I will have some progress to report on!

If you are interested in "Finish What You Have" Month, jump on over to turkey feathers and give your "virtual" nod. Good luck!

Out of hibernation

Finally! I found a few moments this weekend to whip up these very pretty throw pillows for the couch. All of the fabric is 100% thrifted and repurposed. I forgot to take "before" pictures of the garments, but they were originally an assortment of shirts, a dress, and a vest from a linen "suit." I have plans to make more (5 more to be exact), but not sure when that will happen. I am also proud to say that all of the pillow forms have been recycled from the existing pillows on the couch. Now if I could just find the time and energy to recover the couch....

Guest Crafter of the Month

I'm not sure if any other blogger out in the blogosphere does a guest crafter of the month series, but I thought I might start my own for now. I was inspired to do this because my mother-in-law, Gerry, (whom I love dearly) sent me a picture of a baby blanket she had knitted for her soon-to-be second grandson. I felt that it needed to be shared because it such a nice piece created with so much love.

Over Thanksgiving my in-laws came to visit, and on their last night at our house, I decided to do some knitting on a scarf (?) while we watched TV. My MIL sat next to me, watching, and remarked that her mother had taught her how to knit many moons ago, but she didn't know how to start because her mom had always done that for her. So, I got a spare set of needles and some "learning yarn" and taught her how to cast-on. Within mere minutes she had begun knitting in a number of different stitches, many I had never even attempted myself (Disclaimer time: I have been knitting since December 2004, and I pretty much use the "knit" stitch exclusively.)!

Well, she was hooked (gosh, no pun intended!), and for her Christmast stocking I hooked her up with a sweet pair of wooden kneedles from my LYS. She has been an avid knitter ever since, calling me once in a while to ask about an abbreviation in some pattern or another. I know how she feels when she said that knitting helps her feel close to her mom, who is no longer with us. When ever I am crafting I feel the invisible, ephemeral, yet strong bond that links me to my female ancestors that did the same stitches (either knitting or sewing) in their lifetimes. I think that is why I love making things so much...it helps to bond me to women that I have never met, yet know are such a part of who I am.

That sure is one lucky grandbaby!

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If you are interested in being a guest crafter of the month, please leave a message in the comments section.

Not my craftiness displayed here, but one of my students. I just wanted to give a shout out to Tiffany, owner/artist-in-residence of Colorful Creations, because she is awesome at making tye-dye (and sewing as well!). Tiffany came to campus, sponsored by the Anthropology Society, to sell her tye-dye apparel, and give the society a cut of the profits. It was a win-win situation for everyone, and I think it worked out really well. It sure was a beautiful day for it!

As one of the anthropology students said..."This sure isn't doing anything to dispel the anthropologists-as-hippies stereotype!"

(Tiffany is to the left, her face hidden by the hanging tank top!)

Pointy Kitty in Progress...

I am working on this sweet little "Pointy Kitty" from wee wonderfuls.
She is very sweet yet ready to pounce on your feet!
This is my first attempt at making a softie. It wasn't nearly as hard as I had
anticipated. I am looking forward to making more of these sweeties!
I will be adding her to the Pointy Kitty Gallery when completed!

Buttons and patches
and the cold wind blowing
the days pass quickly
when I am sewing.

FOUND!

I found my camera in a place that I must have thought "hmm...this will be a safe place will no one will look." Yep, so safe, even I couldn't find it (at least not for a week!)

Here are the flowers my sweetie sent me for my birthday!

Lost....

I haven't been blogging lately because all of my recent pictures are still on my camera. "Why don't you download them?" you might ask. Sigh...because I cannot seem to find my camera. The last time I used it was January 28th. I saw it the week after that, but didn't have time to upload pictures. Now I cannot find it anywhere (home, office, lab, cars). What is a blogging girl to do??????
The more I think about, the more upset I become. Not good, not good at all!

This weekend I am going to find time to mend some clothes and either make a purse for me! or this sweet little Pointy Kitty from wee wonderfuls. Keep your fingers crossed that I find the time, and my camera!

woman with veil

Florida Girl

I was going through some pictures on my computer this afternoon, and came across this one.
I had forgotten that I made a veil for my good friend LaLiz's wedding in May 2005. Since we were living in different states at the time, I made the veil, John took pictures, and then I emailed her the pictures to make sure she really liked it!

LaLiz is the one that named this picture "woman with veil next to barn" (or something like that!).

woman with veil  

No peeking Kristin! (but if you do, I hope you like what you see!)

A bag for Kristin's birthday (which was in November!) is the topic of today's blog...

I asked K what type of bag she wanted, as I felt the need to outdo the bag I made for her last year (see this post). After a number of email "conversations" about the type of bag she might like (hey, I don't want to labor over something for someone and then have them not like/use it!), I compiled this list of traits: "pink and black would be perfect and my first choice, but I'm looking for something that's cute and professional at the same time. . .1) it be big enough to fit all my crap (you know I carry around too much), 2) that it be cute (okay, so that's #1), and 3) that it's wide enough to stand up when you set it down." So that was my mandate -- cute and professional, big enough for a bunch of girl stuff, and stand alone. No sweat!

She sent a link to a purse that she liked so I had some idea of what she was looking for, so I could have a visual. I went to the local fabric store and bought several patterns (luckily they were on sale!), so I could decide which bag I really liked when I got home (of course my standard pattern is still packed up in a mismarked box somewhere!). I also went to several thrift stores in Nashville with some friends, looking for the perfect outer material. I found this very 1980's woman's double-breasted suit jacket that I thought would be fantastic. I also picked up some new pink fabric, velvet ribbon, a rhinestone pin (the vintage pearl ear clip in the picture below is one that I already had and was going to try to incorporate, but in the end it didn't make the final cut).

Here are some of the materials I used for Kristin's birthday bag. Obviously this is a before shot!
"http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5073/1880/1600/IMG_2226.jpg"

Here I tried to catch the creative process in action!

I used a partial pattern for the bag's body, then added my own handles (the pattern called for purchased handles), and my own home-made flowers! These of course are detachable, as is the rhinestone pin, which is independent of the flowers, and all can be removed or used if Kristin so desires.

So, are you ready for the finished product?????

Drum roll, please............................................

Here is a stand-along shot of the "front."

Here is a shot of the "back." Note that I used one of the jacket's own exterior pockets to make a pocket for Kristin to put her keys or cell phone.

Here is an interior view:

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Milk and Spinach

from A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen

by Jack Bishop

Ingredients

4 sweet potatoes (10-11 ounces each),scrubbed

2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for rubbing on the potatoes

2 tablespoons minced gingerroot

2 teaspoons Thai red curry paste

1 1/4 pounds flat-leaf spinach, stems removed unlessvery thin, leaves washed, shaken dry to remove excess water, and chopped (about 8cups)

salt (I used Atlantic sea salt)

1/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Move an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly rub each potato with a little oil.

Place potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake until the skin is crisp and a skewer slides easily through the flesh, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and set the sweet potatoes aside on a rack tocool for 10 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees.

While the potatoes are cooling, heat the 2 tablespoons oil in a largesaucepan over medium heat until shimmering.

Add the ginger and curry paste and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the damp spinach, cover, and cook, stirring once or twice, until completely wilted, about 5 minutes.

Add salt and set spinach mixture aside.

Using a folded kitchen towel to hold the hot potatoes, cut each on in halflengthwise. (If possible, cut so that the flat sides of the sweetpotatoes will rest on the baking sheet.)

With a spoon, scoop the fleshfrom each half into a medium bowl, leaving 1/4 inch of flesh and skin ineach shell.

Arrange the empty sweet potato shells on the baking sheet.

Mash the sweet potatoes in the bowl with the coconut milk until smooth.

Stir in the spinach mixture and cilantro.

Adjust the seasonings, addingsalt to taste.Mound the sweet potato filling into each shell.

Bake until the top of thefilling is firm and slightly crisp, about 15 minutes.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and cool the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Serve. (Straight from the oven, the potatoes are unbearably hot to eat.)

My review: I purchased this cookbook over a year ago after reading excellent recipe reviews on a long (and very much still alive thread) on the Cooking Light Bulletin Board. After purchasing the book, I had my eye on this recipe. I kept wanting to make it, yet I never seemed to have all the ingredients at home at once, or I could never find the time to pay attention to the details (this recipe is not complicated in any way, it just has several steps and a long cooking time). Finally, spurred on by a huge bag of fresh baby spinach sitting in the fridge, I wrote down the ingredients I didn't have, and made a stop at the store on the way home. I halved the recipe, since I only needed to feed myself, and I wasn't quite sure how the leftovers were hold up, or if I would even want to eat the leftovers. The final product was warm, Thai spicy, filling, and all- around yummy. I loved the little crunch the skins had from oiling them before baking (something that usually only happens to white baking potatoes). I may have added a little too much coconut milk, since I was eyeballing half of the 1/3 cup called for in the full recipe, making the filling a little mushier than I would have liked. I can't wait to have Thai night and feature these for others to enjoy as well. A nice change from the standard stir-fry or baked sweet potato with butter (and for some [not me], cinnamon and sugar).