time to put it in a box

I finished this dress yesterday.  It is just a simple A-line t-shirt dress.  I did use an embroidery stitch around all the hems which will allow for a bit more stretch.  I am going to mail it off to my best friend tomorrow.  In a box it goes.

I am making something similar for myself and will be working on those hems as well.  I put pockets in mine and I will have to see how well those work before I finish anything.  Maybe, I will also get some time just to sew.  That would be nice.

I liked how this picture turned out so I thought I would share it.  It is something that ended up on my Instagram account.  I needed to walk badly this morning but knew it would only happen if I got up early.  So I was out before the sun rose.  It made for a pretty picture.  I would say it was a quieter walk then usual but that is okay.  It made having to talk non-stop for three hours this morning much more bearable.

sour cream raisin pie

I got boxes out before Christmas.  The only two boxes that will go out but they are out.  Any other boxes will go out after the holidays.

Baking has been interesting this year.  I used flour that was milled within a week of baking and the moisture content has changed the amount of flour I have needed in a couple of recipes.  The boyos are not complaining about the rejects.  I am told that rejects need to happen more often.

I decided to test my sour cream raisin pie recipe with brown sugar.  I will be seeing my Dad next week for Christmas and am thinking that a pie will be his birthday/Christmas present.  Or maybe I will make him two.  But I wished to test it with brown sugar instead of white.  Going for more of the pecan pie feel then buttermilk pie feel.

It was rather an easy mix up.  And can I say that gluten free has changed a lot in the last ten years!  One of the boyos needs not to eat gluten.  Not celiac but something close.  I went to the store looking for all my normal bags of having to mix it myself.  But Bob's Red Mill had a Paleo bag mix that was very similar to something I would have mixed in the past.  I made my life easy.

So I made a gluten free crust.  Dusted the raisins with the same mix so they would not drop to the bottom of the pie so easily.  I baked it.  That is how easy it was to make this pie gluten free.   I am just a little worried because there has been so much wheat flour flying around my kitchen all week.  It is heritage and freshly milled but everybody has different tolerances.  I will keep my fingers crossed.

The boyos called it a success.  It is so old fashioned that I worry a bit that modern palates will not like it but so far it has been a success.  All the men I know seem to like it.  I will make one for my Dad when I get to his house next week.  Or, actually, the day after Christmas so I bake him another if he wishes.  

It will be interesting to be at my parents' with my siblings for a week.  This could get interesting!

and the last bit for baby nacho

I had enough fabric leftover to make a bag for Baby Nacho's present.  My Beloved uses this type of bag for when he and Small Mister are out gallivanting.  I figured Poppa Nacho would appreciate.  Maybe Momma Nacho too.

I have to admit that it makes really good "wrapping paper" as well!

Because I did so much stitching with this fabric, I have actually started Baby Nacho's quilt, even though I have not finished the two I am working on currently.  The neighbors across the street had twins and Miss A and Mister G are very cute.  I am almost half way done with the nine squares for those two.

for baby nacho - part 2

When I was going through my stash for Baby Nacho, I found a Mei Tai baby carrier that was all but finished.  One of the fabrids I know is a favorite for Baby Nacho's Momma and Poppa, but they have it with a black background and made into shirts.  I started this for Small Mister but the Tall Short Person and my Beloved really liked the slings I had made so I never finished it.  The Tall Short Person likes skulls and skeletons so that is why I picked these fabrics in the first place.

I found the directions on line and put it together.  Finished almost a year after Small Mister was born for another babe.  Is that not how stashes work?  Rose is modeling the pocket I put in the outside so Momma or Poppa Nacho can put a diaper or a blanket there for Bably Nacho.  Now, if Poppa Nacho wears is black background shirt, Baby Nacho will complement but not blend.

a belated birthday present

Russell said he would make me a sewing table for my birthday.

Almost a year ago, in October, I took an earth plastering class is Canelo, Arizona.  Russell brought his chain saw mill and milled desert walnut to bring home with us

Russell took apart a metro rack and just kept the bottom half.  He made me a work table top out of desert walnut.

 

Russell is still working on the top but it is almost done.  I will then make him the kilt he asked for.  I will need to find or build containers for the shelves.  Obviously, I am already using it.  I like it!  I want to be able to work on it.  I can also see it holding all the food for dinner parties...  More space on the table!