One more sewing project down

I refuse to pay $50 for a diaper bag. I don't care how insulated it is. I managed to get mine 2nd hand from gAndy when I just asked him where he got his bag from. Apparently, he took it as a sign that I needed his and he gladly handed it over to me.
It's a simple canvas bag with a shoulder strap and 2 handles. It's always been a nice murse and I wanted something that wouldn't embarrass the bear when he had to use it. The only problem is that it was so deep and there was only one pocket.

I ended up making an insert for it out of fabric that I've been saving for something special. I think this is special enough. It's basically a fabric box with 4 pockets on the side - nothing too elaborate, but simple enough to make it work. It's lined on the inside and I've added some loops so that it's easy to get in and out. Kind of like the ones they advertise on tv for 19.99.

Kinetic mobile

Kinetic mobile, a photo by bacaorr on Flickr.

Here's the mobile that I finished last weekend. It turned out really well and I'd really like to do more of these in the future.

Zoom zoom

I've been scavenging thrift stores and ebay for art work for Frank's room for what seems forever now. Since my style is eclectic, you'd think I'd be able to find something by now. I actually have found lots of items that I've liked, but most have been out of my price range. I did find some inspiration however while browsing prints on Etsy in N. Eve Dobson's store. She has some wonderful prints featuring cars, motorcycles, helicopters, and many in her transportation series. My favorite was the Chevy Camaro and so I went with a 70s muscle car theme. I chose a Camaro, Torino, Mustang Fastback and a Chevelle. I had originally thought to silk screen them, but since I wasn't going to make multiples, I decided just to cut them out of paper. I got the images online, tweaked them a bit in photoshop and then printed them out. I traced the outlines and major parts that I wanted to accentuate and then grabbed a brand new x-acto blade and cut the images out of fancy scrapbooking paper. I painted some 10 x 10 canvases with some primary colors, cut out some stars and then Modge Podged it all down. They're not as nice as Dobson's, but you get what you pay for.

Frank's first quilt

Woo hoo!  I was able to finish Frank's first quilt yesterday!  Now all I need to do is hang it up on the wall.  I used the pattern from Crazy Mom quilts post on Bee Square blog.  Her pattern eliminates triangle piecing, which allowed me to enjoy the process more instead of flipping out that my triangles weren't perfect.  It was fairly easy to do, even though it proved to be a challenge trying to piece it after my bed time.

He'll get a floor quilt soon enough.  I think.

Next on the agenda: a hat, some art work, and a mobile.

Salad days are here again

Last spring, I tried planting lettuce for the first time.  I immediately fell in love with the ability to walk outside and make myself a salad for lunch, which I did until the plants went to seed and the heat began to kill them off.  While I wanted to have more this year and sow it a regular intervals, time and other projects interfered with my plans.  I was able to plant seeds a few weeks ago (most likely after a nap and between sewing projects) and am now happy that my salad days are back again. I've got some Black Simpson, Romaine, Mesclun and a couple other varieties that I can't remember right now.  I also planted some spinach, kale, beets, and radishes which are not doing well at all.  I was a little late in planting them, so I hedged my bets.

I typically cut what I need from these young, loose leaf lettuces and even the ones that are supposed to be head lettuces.  They give off a wonderful peppery smell that I've never smelled from a store bought bag and the smell tends to make them into the best salads ever.  I like mine with feta (pasteurized of course), dried cranberries, pistachios, and diced gala apple. 

I'm sharing this year and hope that I'm able to give away enough to convert people to always plant these easy, peasy plants. 

Confit in a row

I've been searching for recipes to store away for directly after D-Day. This search isn't going too well considering the fact that it seems that only soups and casseroles fall under the freezable category and those choices don't sit too well for me since it will be the beginning summer.  My biggest plan so far is to cook a few whole chickens and shred them for enchiladas, burritos, and chicken salad.  I may make and shred a pork shoulder, just to spice it up a bit. Any ideas would be much appreciated.  I'm actually looking forward to turkey sandwiches again, so that may help ease the burden.  I did stumble across Prince William's groom's cake and recipe pictured here:

 

It looks like it's freezable.