When I moved out of my parents’ house, my mother gave me a set of Pyrex nesting mixing bowls that she had, and that I used frequently for cooking. I love these bowls. They’re a hideous 1970s avocado green and they’re one of my favorite things ever.
Lately, I’ve had something of an obsession with hand sewing. After all of these years of sewing via machine, and then via serger, and overcast machine… I’ve gone back to basic hand stitches. Inspired by Bernadette Banner on YouTube, I’ve bought some fine linen fabric and some linen and silk threads, and I’ve been starting small: handkerchiefs.
My mitered corners need work, but I’m pleased with my progress thus far.
It’s the first weekend day in a few weeks that hasn’t been (as) beastly hot, so I’ve taken advantage of the milder weather to do some baking. Continue reading
One of my goals for 2019 has been to stop buying so many crafting supplies. Whether it be for knitting, sewing, or anything else, I’m swimming in supplies with precious little time to use them. Continue reading
I’ve been unemployed for about a month now, and have been keeping busy applying for jobs and all of that fun stuff, but I’ve also been trying to switch up our dinners as well. Yesterday, I made some meat and veg pasties (pronounced PAST-ees, not PASTE-ees) with stuff we had on hand, and realized quickly it would be a pretty customizable recipe. Writing it down here to save and share. Continue reading
Well, it wasn’t pretty, nor was it easy, but I persevered and managed to get the boys’ 2017 holiday pajamas done. The fabrics this year were from Joann Fabrics; the tops are hoodies made of a bright red fleece, and the bottoms are elastic-waist flannel pajama pants with a wintery penguin print. Photography is frustrating; the photograph makes the red look more vibrant than it really is, and makes the flannel print and the background look less vibrant than they really are. I promise that in person, it works. Continue reading
I’m always on the search for new baking techniques to master. One time it was madeleines, next it was macarons. I mastered Swiss buttercream after that. Now I’m on puff pastry, with the eventual goal of reliably and proficiently turning out homemade croissants.
I decided to ease myself into this, since while I was fairly sure I could manage it, pride goeth before a fall and the slow approach is usually the right one. The first step in this saga, then, was rough puff pastry. Specifically, sausage rolls.
Homemade sausage rolls
About two months ago, I signed up for my first mystery knit-a-long (MKAL): the Beyond the Wall MKAL (Ravelry link). I honestly didn’t know what I was getting into; I’m so used to being able to check my progress against provided photographs that I found that the hardest part of the whole thing. Continue reading
It’s been almost a year since I last posted.
It’s been almost a year since I last posted?!
It’s been a year of making: a year of baking, of cooking, of knitting, and even of some sewing. Halloween costumes were made. Holiday gifts were made. And some other stuff, too.
And now we’re back in summer. It’s hot out, but with the heat comes fresh fruit. And with fresh fruit comes… pie.
On this, the hottest weekend of the year, when it hit a heat index of 120 degrees just south in Dover, DE… Our central air broke. This wasn’t entirely unforeseen – it’s an old unit, definitely past the end of its expected lifespan – but that doesn’t make it any less beastly hot. So I did what anyone would do – made myself some hot-weather lounging clothes/pajamas. The tank top is a Stitch Upon a Time Versa-Cami – my recent favorite pattern for shelf bra camisoles. The shorts are Stitch Upon a Time Boxerwear for women – those will double as slip shorts underneath skirts and dresses for days I have to wear more than the bare minimum.
Ok, now I’m off to take a freezing cold shower and pray to the gods of central air.
Marie Makes Stuff 