Sunday, January 30, 2011

We're home! And still sick. I'm on the tail end of this thing, just in time to take care of my husband, who is starting to get the same bug. Not fun for travel, but we did enjoy seeing all that Central Vermont had to offer.

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Lodging at the Applebutter Inn near Woodstock was the highlight...and turned out to be one of our favorite B&B's we've ever stayed in. The hosts were so delightful and full of information about living in Vermont. Not to mention the fact that Barbara's breakfasts were outstanding. Oh, her baked goods. I'd drive to Vermont just for her lemon raspberry muffins and ginger scones. No matter where we call home in the future, I know we'll catch up with Barbara and Michael again.

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Our lives are interesting right now, to say the least. This past week has opened up a whole new set of possibilities for us that we would have never imagined. Isn't it something how you can be smack dab in the middle of trying to figure out your grocery list and your life when a phonecall comes and the next thing you know, you're traveling to Vermont. Go figure.

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But for now, we'll hold tight, trust timing, and nurse ourselves back to health.

You know the movie Julie and Julia? One of may favorites. I swear, I'm going to do like Julie did and make every recipe in the Pioneer Woman'sCookbook.

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I love this cookbook. Love it. Love it. Love it. The day we left for our trip, I finally perfected Ree's Buttermilk Biscuits, and they were heavenly. Turns out, we ended up at the last minute having to leave sooner for Vermont than what we expected so JR figured we'd just eat on the road.

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Ah, no way. I had spent the afternoon perfecting biscuits. We were eating those warm biscuits with chicken and gravy one way or another before we left! So, it was an early dinner just before starting out, and let me tell you, that meal was more satisfying than any Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger Meal would have been.

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One thing I did discover is this: to make perfect biscuits, you must have baking powder with an expiration date more current than 2005, which mine had. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that! So, after getting some brand new baking powder and sifting my dry ingredients four times over, andplacing the cut biscuit dough upside down on the baking sheet, I had success.

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Oh, good gracious...those were some yummy biscuits.

Sewing? Not anything this week, and tomorrow, we head to Syracuse for part two of our great life adventure. Hopefully, with all this travel knitting, I'll finish Lady Eleanor by the end of this trip!

Bless your week!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Sick, sick, sick. That's where I've been. Finishing up a bout of bronchitis just in time to make a road trip to Vermont, if my husband can stand 7 hours in the car with me coughing! So, yes, a little getaway to Vermont, where this morning, it was -20 degrees! Good gravy, that's cold!

If you've visited my blog in the past few days, you may have noticed some funky things going on in my sidebar, like...I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DO SOME OF THIS LINK STUFF!!!!! I've been trying to link to the pdf files of both scarf patterns and I'm just frustrated. Lisa! I need you! I'm such a techno-dolt. Anyway, I hope to get those links operable, since there's still good winter knitting left to do...especially if you live in New England!

And, I will add more free patterns over time...both knit and sewn.

Watch also for a link coming up soon to a new site where I'll be offering my designs:

Minnie and Amos with border

Think of everyday items made fun and fabulous. Stay tuned!

So last, I just have to show you the final Lucy costume:

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And, worn adorably by my friend Melissa, in full make-up:

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How fun is THAT!

Monday, January 17, 2011

January 12, 2011

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Okay. I saw this:

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So I made this:

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Then I saw this:

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and I made this:

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And here's what I'd like to do. I have written up the patterns for these two "FACIL" scarves ( we'll call them "FACIL" which means "easy", in Spanish, instead of FOSS*L).

But I have not shared my written patterns before. What I'd like to do is offer them to some test knitters just to see if you can follow my instructions...before I offer them as freebies on my site. If you are willing to test knit them, drop me a comment ( make sure your email is attached to your comment) and I'll send you the instructions for either one. It would sure help me out to have other sets of eyes and needles.

They are both quick projects, easy ( muy facil!) and you probably already have some yarn in your stash!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011


The jackets that I must have in my life are:

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A ponte knit or french terry blazer. These inspirations are from Ann Taylor Loft and ArynK for Piperlime. I really, really love the chain detail on the Aryn K jacket.

Mine will be made using McCall's 5935. Denver Fabrics has a nice selection of french terry.

Another fitted Chanel style jacket, with fringed edges, like this one fromCabi :

Stylegift

From my stash? A pink and black boucle will pair up nicely with Simplicity 2284.

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An everyday, fitted jacket made from medium weight stretch twill or brushed something.

19495423_020_b I love this Felix blazer fromAnthropologie. And what did I find in my stash? My version will be made from Simplicity 2446 using this blue brushed stretch something or other:

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I can substitute patch pockets and add the bottonholes on the lapel. Yes, I will do the buttonholes!

And for later in the year, a perfectly fitted wool blazer like this one:

J crew blazer

J Crew does it up right....for $995!!!! I have some beautiful Vera wool in raspberry and that should be more in line with my budget! I thought about it as a cape, but really, this would be luscious made with Claire Shaeffer's Custom Couture Vogue8333. How gorgeous!

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Jackets are a good thing. The older I get, the more I am realizing the importance of a simple, yet practical wardrobe that can be joushed up with an accessory, or a fun tweak in a detail. I heard Stacy and Clinton mention how easy it is to build a wardrobe.,, all you need to think of is a basic foundation ( pants, skirt) a layer ( blouse, top) and a finisher ( jacket cardigan). With those three pieces, you can create a wardrobe that is interchangeable and timeless. The trick is the perfect fit...which is why I am making my jackets instead of buying. So wish me luck in the fit department....

After browsing my closet, I realized, no kidding, I have six denim jackets, but no blazer type jackets other than my black suit!

So, the challenge is on. Lori is going to join me for a jacket sew-off....Will you?

Monday, January 3, 2011


The jackets that I must have in my life are:

251046_6515_gmd323x335 Pl828532-02vliv01

A ponte knit or french terry blazer. These inspirations are from Ann Taylor Loft and ArynK for Piperlime. I really, really love the chain detail on the Aryn K jacket.

Mine will be made using McCall's 5935. Denver Fabrics has a nice selection of french terry.

Another fitted Chanel style jacket, with fringed edges, like this one fromCabi :

Stylegift

From my stash? A pink and black boucle will pair up nicely with Simplicity 2284.

IMG_6733


An everyday, fitted jacket made from medium weight stretch twill or brushed something.

19495423_020_b I love this Felix blazer fromAnthropologie. And what did I find in my stash? My version will be made from Simplicity 2446 using this blue brushed stretch something or other:

IMG_6730
I can substitute patch pockets and add the bottonholes on the lapel. Yes, I will do the buttonholes!

And for later in the year, a perfectly fitted wool blazer like this one:

J crew blazer

J Crew does it up right....for $995!!!! I have some beautiful Vera wool in raspberry and that should be more in line with my budget! I thought about it as a cape, but really, this would be luscious made with Claire Shaeffer's Custom Couture Vogue8333. How gorgeous!

IMG_6731

Jackets are a good thing. The older I get, the more I am realizing the importance of a simple, yet practical wardrobe that can be joushed up with an accessory, or a fun tweak in a detail. I heard Stacy and Clinton mention how easy it is to build a wardrobe.,, all you need to think of is a basic foundation ( pants, skirt) a layer ( blouse, top) and a finisher ( jacket cardigan). With those three pieces, you can create a wardrobe that is interchangeable and timeless. The trick is the perfect fit...which is why I am making my jackets instead of buying. So wish me luck in the fit department....

After browsing my closet, I realized, no kidding, I have six denim jackets, but no blazer type jackets other than my black suit!

So, the challenge is on. Lori is going to join me for a jacket sew-off....Will you?