a needed repair

I received Koda Bear's soft friend Spikey in the mail.  He had been bitten by a dog.  Doctor Grandma t othe rescue!  

Now, I just need to figure out how to do the fixing.  But Spikey asked for a red quilt of his own.  Those fabrics are going to be that.

I am exhausted today.  I had another post planned but I just was not up to writing down the recipe.  It is a long one but an old one.  I had to figure it out for myself from two different sources.  I just made clarification happen with no changes.  But I do not have the energy to write about that tonight.  The pain is better but I have worn myself out dealing with it.  I did walk but now it is time for tea and sleep.

And figuring out how to repair Spikey.

pain, pain, go away. come again another day.

The bones in my hips have been grinding together for the last couple days.  The pain is better today then it was yesterday but it is still draining.  The humidity has gotten very high very quickly which is what I think is causing it.  I find the little bit I can sit at my sewing machine helps me take the mind off the pain.  Therefore, I make a lot of nine squares.  

Before the pain hit so badly, just at its normal level, I laid out this quilt.  Yes, I am moving faster.  There may be a Maker's Market that I am invited to and I would like to try to sell some of my quilts.  It is both exciting and scary.  If I get even a little bit of stock, I was going to put a tab here with items for sale and start an etsy store.  Small steps I have wanted to take for sometime.

I also very much enjoyed making my Christmas tree quilt.  During my very slow walk yesterday, I thought about printing this picture or similar pictures on fabric and making them into quilts.  I know my parents and Koda Bear might really like one. 

Yes, I really am walking still.  I try to keep moving because it means in the long run the pain will be less.  Maybe not today or tomorrow but soon.  I am just moving very slowly.  My walk took longer today then normal but it happened.  Last night I fell asleep before I could write between the pain, the day, and the walk.  But that is life with pain.  Sometimes sleep wins.

being frustrated and frugal

For the longest time, I have been trying to make slips that I like.  But I have not been very successful.  Usually they are too full or not low enough or not short enough or not long enough.  Lots of design problems. 

I think I may have figured it out.  But I will never post a picture of them.  Simple sheath shifts with just enough of an a-line shape to not trip me.  I am one of those who feels that if you cannot do it in a dress, it is not the dresses problem but your mind set.  The only things that I have not done in a dress are surf and snowboard.  It definitely has something to do with being wet and cold!

The frugal part is that I am using an old silk Rennaissance dress I made.  I rarely go to the fairs anymore so there is no need for six dresses in my closet.  (We used to go a lot)  A good use of fabric.  And frugal really works right now.  I am going down to four days a week at work.  It has a lot to do with the price of oil a barrel hovering close to $30.  I am excited about it because maybe I will get some of the work for me done that I wish and maybe a business started.

One step at a time.  Right now, maybe a slip pattern that really works!

enjoying my Christmas present to myself

I bought myself a cookbook about bread baking at Christmas for myself.  I think I did pretty well because in total I think I went to four different bookstores at Christmas.  I went shopping by myself.  I went shopping with my Mom.  Everyone gets books in their stockings in our family.  And I was tempted by the Bien Cuit baking book by Zachary Golper.  

I have had so much fun using his techniques and my bread is getting lighter.  Even though I am not using any active dry yeast at all.  The techniques definitely help but I am find that the baking by weight gives me a starter that I like the consistency of better.  Also, I have been being heritage flour that has been shipped to me so that the weight measure is much more accurate due to how packed down the flour is when it arrives.

The technique lets me actually have a dough to work with compared to the no-knead recipes or even the Tartine recipe that many people swear by.  I do bake the bread so that the crust is not hard and crispy.  That is something that I get asked repeatedly not to do.  My whole family, no matter age or generation, hate eating bread that has the possibility to cut their mouths.  I can live with that if I can bake bread.  And with the recipes creating a dough, my hands are in dough much longer.

Simple things, better bread.

More toast.

More joy!

I am going to start tweaking a few of the recipes to add more flavors.  I am thinking cardamom or cinnamon rolls from the pane dolce and if I can figure out croissants . . .  

More bread!

so tired

All the quilting is done for this quilt.  Just binding.  I have to admit that I am just trying to get through this week at work.  I hit a wall this afternoon and the tireds hit.  I am hoping it is just the front that is coming through.  I took a walk after work and the wind tried to blow me away.  Actually, that was a bit of fun!

Starting next week, due to the price of oil a barrel, I will be only working four days a week.  I am hoping it will allow me to recharge.  And do a bit more quilting.  There is a Maker's Market that I might try to sell a few things at.  We will see.