Friday, May 30, 2008

Well, I finally have my apartment back. Not that I'm complaining, but running a production out of your home it no small feat. Plus, we had a house guest for a week. That's kind of tough when you live in one big room.

Oh, but it was so much fun! And everyone was super professional and considerate and brilliant! I think we're going to see great things from these folks. Mark my words!

Monk was totally unfazed by any of the commotion. He just thought everyone was there to see him or something. He might have been a star, but he couldn't be bothered.

Jon & Monk

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Because, apparently, I just can't get enough of sewing. I bought these shirts to make this project.

thrifted shirts

It won't get done this weekend, though. The Works is being turned into a movie studio. Master P and his cronies are taking over for the long weekend and making a short film that he wrote. Cool, huh?

equipment

Happy Memorial Day!!!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Ah, yes. OK. The sewing. It began back around April 14th with the fabrication of aproximately 40+ pillows. It ended last weekend with a two day marathon of slip covers.

No matter how often I agree to knit or sew something for someone else, I still get that little, metaphorical dragging-of-the-heels that comes with a deadline or a project I "have" to do. There are my own projects that are languishing while I slave away on a tank top or a pillow cover that I won't even get to keep! In the end, I am proud of what I produced and I usually have learned something new or honed a skill, but it's still not mine.

And we come to the root of my crafting personality, again. I'm not a Process Person. I am a Results Person. I make, not for the sake of making, but for what I will get out of it in the end. Herein lies the struggle. But I do it anyway. I pimp myself out in exchange for free yarn or a weekend at the beach. I guess it's really not so bad.

And as I said, "In the end, I am proud of what I produced."

cottage


kitchen

****Go here to see my prize student. I cut the fabric and pressed the seems, but he sewed, what may very well be, the Most Perfect Pillowcase Ever all by himself.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

So there's not much knitting or crafting content here lately, because I'm working on a knitting project for The Point to be revealed in June and a sewing project that I have to get permission to share with you. Meanwhile, I've been doing a lot of cooking.

green garlic

On Tuesdays, at lunchtime, I've been trying to go to the Green Market near work to plan my meals for the week. The market is a little small, so there isn't always a bounty to choose from. Last Tuesday, I was confronted with a sea of green. Green spinach, green garlic, arugula. I had the idea to make a pesto from the arugula.

parmesan

I used a basic recipe: 2 big ol' cups of arugula, 1/2 cup of pine nuts, 1/2 cup of Parmesan, and 2 stalks of green garlic.

the cuisinart

We've been eating the pesto, little by little over the week. We ate it with grilled lamb chops and sweet potatoes last Thursday and yesterday I made a pasta salad with whole wheat orzo, edamame and feta cheese.

I still have a bunch left over. Any ideas?

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Happy Mother's Day!

mother mosaic

I know, I know. This is late. Like, two days late. But I wanted to say a little something to the mothers in my life.

Clockwise, from top left, we have my mom, my Babi, my Memom and my godmother. I'm very blessed to still have all of these women still in my life. The women in my family are pretty tough, most of them outlasting the men by many years. But they're tough in other ways, too. Smart and funny and spirited.

I love you all!!!!!!

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Cute side street

I just got back from 4 days in Charleston, SC!!

OK, when I say "just got back" I mean "got back Monday night". It was my first foray into The South. I've driven through all those states on the way to Florida. I've even stopped at South of the Border, but I've never spent any real time there.

I did eat crawfish and grits and pulled pork and drank more Bud Light than a girl should in 4 days, though I don't have any pictures of any of that. I took a carriage ride and got a nasty sunburn. Overall, it was a raging success!


Graduation Day

And, oh yes, the reason I went? My cousin, Justin, graduated from The Citadel. He's a cancer survivor at age 21, so we were all very emotional and, needless to say, extremely proud.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Thursday: Pink and Purple

Lilac season at the Chelsea flower market
Lilacs have arrived at the flower market.

pins & ribbon
What happens when I'm bored at work.

radishes
An old image of some lovely radishes.

monk 2
Another ridiculous picture of Monk. What a showoff!