The many sides of Talia

These mosaics are so much fun to make! Loving my new camera-- I *do* plan on reading the book and actually learning how to use it soon. My favorite feature seems to be that it takes decent pictures when the flash is turned off. Something about aperture and shutter speed. Talia is a good model when she wants to be. Other times, well, let's just say she can be unwilling!

Sick again

Poor thing. In addition to falling and splitting his lip on Friday (no pictures of that!), now he's sick- fever, general unhappiness, puking, diarrhea, etc. And getting two new teeth (for a total of 8 so far! at 9 months!) on top of it all.

Trip to NJ

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Four Seasons Quilt Swap: Sent

This is the quilt I made for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap. It was based on a design I saw at the Madison Quilt Expo so I located the designer through an internet search (scary, isn't it?!) and we emailed back and forth a little about the design and he gave me permission to use it in my quilt. I wanted the quilt to look like gifts wrapped with ribbon. The back was made during a fun freeform afternoon using leftover scraps and a little of my stash thrown in. It was really fun to make a quilt for a stranger and the whole "secret Santa" aspect of it was intriguing!

I thought I would have time to work on it-- I forgot I had holiday crafting to complete, a vacation to Mexico, Talia's school break, sicknesses, etc. The only thing I wanted to do with it was turn the blocks on point, like the original work. I have never done a quilt on point and this was going to be a new skill for me. In the end, I just didn't have enough time so I skipped it but added a pieced back which not stress inducing-- it was actually kind of relaxing!

After a whirlwind of projects, both sewing and otherwise, I haven't really been in my craft room that much in the past two or three weeks. Instead I've been spending my "spare" time (about 10 minutes per day) reading my garden books and getting excited for that new challenge.

Dreaming of Spring II: Growing Sprouts

Since I can't start a garden at this time of year... We're growing sprouts. So easy and satifying. They take about 5 days from seed to harvest. Today they get set in a sunny window so they can turn green. Tomorrow I eat them! A favorite sandwich of mine: Yummy bread slathered with mayo and piled high (3-4 inches) with sprouts. I could eat sprout sandwiches all day long!

Much Snow

Dreaming of Spring I: Painted Flowerpots

Note: This paint does not wash out of hair. Thanks for the project idea!

Best Valentines Ever! Melted Heart Crayons

1. Soak the crayons in water for about 30 minutes. The papers should come right off.
2. Break or cut the crayons into at least 4 pieces each.
3. Fill a silicone heart pan (each heart should be filled to the top) with the crayons.
4. Bake on a cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 250 degrees. Keep a close eye on them. You want the crayons to be completely melted but if you leave them for too long the colors will mix to brown. I think it took less than 10 minutes for each batch. Be careful not to jostle them around when you take them out of the oven, so they don't mix.
5. Let cool on a rack. I put them in the freezer after a few minutes of cooling on the rack-- that way I could take them out sooner (after about 20 minutes) and put in another batch.

I used about 150 crayons (all our old crayons and a new box of 96) for 48 hearts.

Admittedly, Talia only helped with filling the heart pan up and watching them in the oven. She broke a few too said it hurt her hand. I, however, had a lot of fun. They are quite satisfying to make!

Pulls to a stand!

Finally bought this kid a hat. I mean, it snows every day and school was closed last week because it was -35 degrees with the windchill or something. I stupidly took my kid to school only to discover an empty parking lot. Why on earth would I think that school might be cancelled? We live in Wisconsin! It gets cold here! Anyway, Alex now pulls to a stand by himself. My big boy!

Birthday Box

Marley's 1st Birthday gift. I used images from a vintage Golden Book and decoupaged them on. It was time consuming and messy (I didn't have a paintbrush or sponge brush so I mostly used my hands). I love it and hope to make some more...!

Scarf

This is the scarf I made. My model was slightly uncooperative. This is the first thing I ever made with a foundation piece. I almost didn't do it that way but now I definitely see the advantages.

Cute

He's cute even when he's sick!

Sneak Peek

Here's a little look at what I made my niece for her first birthday. More pictures to come after we celebrate this weekend!

tooth fairy pillow

If everyone in your house is sick but you and you don't LEAVE the house for five days, you MIGHT be able to get some crafting done. I set up a little bed in the basement for T and she just watched movies in her lethargic state while I sewed as much as I could. I am almost finished with the quilt for the four seasons quilt swap (just have to turn the binding, stitch it down and add a label) but more about that in a later post. I made a tooth fairy pillow for a friend. That was fun to make. I really like making things without patterns. I also sewed a scarf from a Denise Schmidt pattern. It was intended as a gift but I think I need to keep it. (Sorry, Mom!) I'll post pix later. I have been waiting a long time to make it. It didn't take me soooooooooooo long and I have enough fabric for another so my mom might just get one. I also might be able to wear it for a few days and then give it up. Maybe.

House of Puke and Poo

Don't ask.

New Camera

Finally bought a digital SLR. I've only wanted one for a *few* years! My last SLR was a film camera (Nikon D40)and it was stolen in Argentina in 12/99. I LOVED that camera. Hopefully I'll get around to reading my new SLR manual soon so I can actually utilize some of the functions.

Tuscan Salad and Greek Lentil Soup

Yummy salad tonight. It's Giada's Tuscan Salad. Also, Greek Lentil Soup from Cooking Light 1/08. It had parsnips, potatoes, carrots, shallots and sherry vinegar. The feta was my own personal touch. Talia actually stood by me for about 45 minutes helping with tasks such as putting the cut green beans into a bowl and weeding out the "yucky ones," using the salad spinner, measuring out the lentils and wearing an apron. I'm becoming more efficient in my kitchen (we've lived here 6 months already so it's about time) and I was able to clean the prep dishes more or less before we sat down to eat (by which I mean, of course, took turns to either eat or entertain Alex) so the goodness to dish ratio seemed high (which is good). I had to blanch the green beans though and that's a pot, a bowl of ice water and a colander to clean for the salad. Plus the lemon juicer (my favorite tool EVER), the whole salad spinner thing (thought I was being good by buying actual lettuce NOT from a bag), the peeler for the parmesan, a jar for the dressing and cleaning out the can of white beans to recycle. So actually, there was a lot of cleaning if not a lot of WORK for the salad. Then again, it was delicious. The soup, which turned out to be more like a stew (I kind of forgot to turn it down to simmer so it boiled hard for about 40 minutes uncovered), was ok. It tastes pretty good and has a nice zesty sherry vinegar zing but is also kind of boring as a meal. Whatever. That was dinner tonight. Talia had her usual beans and noodles. She ate a whole can of white beans. Alex ate noodles, cheerios and about three bites of some nasty babyfood before he put his hand in the jar and tipped it all over his high chair. I *may* have been paying more attention to the Hancocks of Paducah catalog than to him at the time...

Pink Party

We had a big playdate on Saturday with friends Isabella, Olivia, Gabi and Addie. The kids played beautifully together-- no fights! We had pink pancakes, pink cupcakes and pink milk. The kids colored placemats and made crowns. Ron had to work so we thought, why not a party? It really turned a snowy Saturday into a fun time. Alex seemed to enjoy all of the attention he received from the girls as well. Let's do it again soon!

Butternut Squash and Gnocchi

This was pretty yum from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Suppers. I'm getting hungry just looking at it. I'll try to post the recipe when I get a chance. It's basically store-bought gnocchi with steamed butternut squash which was then tossed in the saute pan with garlic, spinach, salt, pepper, nutmeg and olive oil. Shaved Parmesan on top.

Currents

On My Bedside Table:
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Olive Trees and Honey: A Treasury of Jewish Vegetarian Recipes from Around the World: Soups, Salads, Side Dishes, and Main Courses for Holidays and Every Day by Gil Marks

Latest Interests:
Nothing new-- sewing, reading, cooking.

On My Mind:
My grandmother, who recently passed away and my mother, who is taking it day by day.
My friend Katie who lost her grandfather.
My niece who is almost one year old!

Learning:
How to use a serger
How to start a garden

Making:
A winter quilt for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap.

Looking Forward To:
Spring, of course.
A trip to NJ for my parents' 40th wedding anniversary
A trip to Holland in April

Enjoying:
The kids, but Alex in particular is at a fantastic age. He has so many new tricks.

Amused By:
Talia's antics. She's always trying to get her brother to laugh.

My To-Do List:
Register to vote in Wisconsin
Finish the winter quilt
Switch my nursing license to Wisconsin
Get Alex a passport
Buy furniture for/ decorate the house
Babyproof babyproof babyproof