More Hydrangeas, White and Pink

Evening Graze

Daisy's looking after two new goats now. She still has Luscious Kandy, but Sinnamon has gone home and in her place we have Summer Diamond and Cocoa. Phylllis is using Daisy to civilize the babies. They come here rather wild, not used to being handled, and hating the leash.

After a week in Daisy's custody they accept kisses on the nose, allow belly-scratching, and are comfortable enough with the leash that she can take all three out at once by herself.


She likes company, though, so she can talk about how cute and sweet the goats are. And so that we can cut the armfuls of brush and branches that must be thrown in the pen daily for the goats to eat when they aren't out grazing.

So the evening graze is sometimes a family affair, with Fitzwilliam keeping an eye on things from the corner.

Cake Lady: Italian Cream Cake

I made it forty-two year without ever baking an Italian cream cake, though I have eaten many a slice of Carol's. Wow, it's a good cake!

I did the layers, Bella did the frosting. This one's time-consuming, but a keeper.

Layers of Floor Paint

My bedroom floor, stripped of its pale green paint, showing the old layers of teal and chocolate brown. Soon to come: sanding, and a fresh new coat of dark cream.

A Green, Green Log Cabin Quilt

If I called this one "Time to Mow," you'd get it, right? It's about the patch of Queen Anne's lace in the middle of that expanse of green . . . .


My scrap boxes have been inspiring me with a capital I these days! I can safely say that the box of green is emptier since I started this project.

Rooster Pillow, Finished

I finished this rooster guy and then appliqued him to a larger square of natural-colored jersey.


I had a scrap of stencilled yellow to applique on the back side for a little interest there.


And then I sent him down to live at Phyllis' house, in gratitude for the many dozens of eggs she's provided to me.

Such a Month for Hydrangeas

Sourdough in a Summer Kitchen

I was afraid I'd have to give up my sourdough for the summer, but I've found a schedule that works beautifully.

At breakfast time I mix up my leaven (a tablespoon of starter with 150 grams each of flour and water). I let it rise until about 3:00 in the afternoon. It's flexible, I can leave it for hours later; I just need to work with it so that there are still three or four hours before bedtime.

At 3:00 I mix up my dough for the bulk rise. I'm usually home during the hot part of the afternoon anyway, because in the summer I like to get errands done early while it's still cooler. So in the later part of the afternoon I make sure to turn my dough every half hour or so, until it's had a three-hour rise.

Right after dinner I shape it, set it into my Pyrex bowls, and leave it in the refrigerator overnight for its bench rise.

First thing in the morning, while I make my tea, I heat the oven to bake, and within an hour the loaves are out on the counter smelling delicious.

What's so great about this schedule?

1. The hot oven baking is done first thing in the morning, not during dinner prep.
2. Fresh bread is ready to share during the day if you want to give a loaf away. I never found that convenient when my loaves were finishing at 6 p.m.
3. The second rise is much more controlled, and the finished dough comes out of the towels much better.
4. A warm summer kitchen doesn't compromise the quality of the bread.

Iris Garden Log Cabin Quilt, Finished

I am in love with the saturated purples of this quilt, but. I don't need it! I decided to let the market decide, and I've put it in my etsy shop for the next week or so.

I do love this palette. That's why I kept making the top bigger and bigger (it's not a baby quilt, it's plenty big to cover the foot of the bed, and helpful in an adult napping situation).

My mother hand-quilted it in running embroidery stitches, our new favorite way of working with pieced quilt tops.


It's available for the next week only, then. If it's meant to be yours, I'll happily sell it to you. If not, I'll make room on my bed!

Alabama Studio Sewing + Design: A Flaming Dress for Bella

Bella's sporting her new fitted jersey dress from Alabama Studio Sewing +
Design. I made the sleeveless, knee-length version, and then used circle-spiral appliques to embellish the hem. The circle spiral is a great entry point for the new embellisher--no paint or stencils are necessary, just the ability to cut out a sort-of circle. And sewing them on a garment is great fun.


The dress is topped with a cap-sleeved bolero from the same book. Such an easy pattern, and it takes just a dab of fabric. Also I've found that it fits both my differently-shaped girls like a glove. It's such a lovely design.

A Big Happy Graduation Lunch

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to surprise Clara-she thought it was a Mother's Day celebration. In fact, it was her own graduation party she helped prepare for!

Sixteen people eating, right after church. And the meal had to be gluten-free, and we had some other odd dietary things going on.


A giant fruit salad was a good starting place. A canteloupe, a honeydew melon, two boxes of strawberries, two of raspberries, one of blueberries, a quart of dewberries. A lime juice and honey dressing.


Mexican is good for gluten-free. We faked it with a giant platter of rice topped with black beans and then cilantro. A platter of flank steak broiled, sliced thin, and drizzled with chimichurri sauce. Another of chicken breasts, the same. Tortillas, guacamole, chips. All done the day before.


Flowers from the garden. Flan and fallen chocolate souffle to follow.


And grandparents everywhere! My stepfather Dan and my father beside Clara. Sweet for her, sweet for us.

A Floral Dress for Clara: Advance 6118

We call this the Kitchen Curtain Dress because originally the fabric was intended for (wait for it) kitchen curtains. Changed my mind though and made it up into a dress for Clara.


Which has come in handy this spring. Sometimes she wears it with cowboy boots. But only when she wants to be adorable.


It sure came in handy for her Surprise Graduation Party this weekend! More on that to come.

Bella with the Dewberries

Bella's got half the evening's take of dewberries. It was a good night--no wasp stings, or snakes, just one humble stray dog. By the way, Bella doesn't like to smile for the camera. She really does like picking berries.


And eating cobbler.

Your Guide to Natalie Chanin's Books

Rather than answering individual inquiries, let me help all of you with questions about which Alabama Chanin book to buy.



Alabama Stitch Book
• Contains all the basic sewing and applique information.
• Major garment patterns: Corset (sleeveless top). Quite beautiful, extremely fitted, very low neckline (fixable). Swing skirt. A-line skirt made from four gores.
• Smaller projects: bandanna, shawl, boa, flowers, pincushion, stuffed bunny.



Alabama Studio Style
• Contains all the basic sewing and applique information.
• Major garment patterns: Tank dress. Six gore dress with curved seams, low-cut neck (fixable), sleeveless. Can be cut at waist to make tunic, shirt, and skirt.
• Smaller projects: placemats and napkins, shopping bags, throw pillows, doily, apron.
• New techniques: circle spiral applique, eyelet embroidery, stringing.



Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
• Contains all the basic sewing and applique information.
• Vastly expands the vocabulary of embellishment with stripes, ruffles, variations on inking and beading.
• Major garment patterns: Fitted dress. Four gores, sleeve variations from sleeveless to cap to short to flared long. Bolero. Fitted tee shirt. All lengths of skirt from the dress pattern. Hat. Poncho and tied wrap.
• Detailed "fabric maps" and embellishment samples.


Most of the Alabama Chanin stencil patterns are available as downloads at Alabama Chanin, so they are available no matter which book you choose.

Ooh, have fun!

Cake Lady: Poppy Seed Cake with Almond Buttercream Icing

Mild and moist. We took this one to church potluck, hence the glamorous sunrise photo. Not that we leave for church at sunrise. But the cake was ready to go.

Lots of Baby Cloths

Ten new sets of nursery cloths in my etsy shop, all in cheery bright colors and suitable for boys or girls! Shipping is discounted for multiple selections, and Canadian orders are welcome!

Dewberry Spritzer

Every night after dinner the girls and I have gone out to the dewberry patch. It's a five-minute drive and the berry vines go on and on and on. Though we park in plain view of the road, no one ever seems to realize that there are millions of dewberries for the picking, and it seems that we are the only ones taking advantage of the over-abundance.

We have gallons in the freezer, jars of jam setting on the counter, and cold berries in the fridge. And we're drinking:

Dewberry Spritzer

In a medium saucepan combine 4 c. vinegar (cider or wine), a cup of sugar, and 2 c. blackberries, dewberries, or raspberries.

Simmer gently for five minutes, then pour through a strainer, putting the vinegar back into the bottles, or into a clean Mason jar. Discard the solids.

To make a spritzer, put a couple of tablespoons of the vinegar in the glass, add a spoon or two of sugar if you want (I don't), fill with ice, and top with seltzer or even plain water. A mint garnish is nice, and so is a straw.

Southern people traditionally drink vinegar and fruit tonics in the spring and early summer. They taste best then!

Rooster in Yellow Jersey

From Alabama Stitch Book, this rooster stencil done in reverse applique using two t-shirts. Reverse applique is fairly quick, and so fun to cut open.


This square will most likely turn into a pillow front.

A Tabby Log Cabin Quilt for Giles

I made a medium-size log cabin quilt for Giles out of linen and cotton from the scrap bins.


And wool--that dark center square is wool suiting.


It's backed with a neutral silk that came from my upholsterer friend. I never thought I'd find a use for it. You never know!


And I never realized that I had worked out a tabby-colored scheme. But Fitzwilliam knew.

She Winds Yarn

An easy finals week for Clara means starting a new lace knitting project. A shawl out of this beautiful blue merino. A mile of it in a a hand-sized ball.


Dress is the long version from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, with cap sleeves added.

Retro Print Utility Cloths

Someone passed along lots of cute retro nursery yardage recently, and I've got the girly colorways sewn up into utility cloths in my etsy shop.

Take a look if you're in need of a shower gift. . . all the proceeds from these items go straight towards orphan care in Africa!

{edited to add} Thank you for buying these! I love the process of taking scrap fabric and turning it into things which you loyal readers then turn into cash, and that cash ($50 a month) turns into life and opportunity for two young boys in a far country!

Cake Lady: Carrot Cake

A particularly nice carrot cake recipe, with a little whole wheat flour in the batter and some lemon zest to brighten things up.

Alabama Studio Sewing + Design: Sunset Spiral Applique

Trying out the basic dress pattern in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design for Bella, in a below-the-knee version (it's offered in so many lengths, including luscious floor-length with a four-inch train!).

I'm using the only cotton jersey I managed to find in New York--this russet.


I visited the thrift store for t-shirts in toning oranges. I love that used cotton tees are an affordable sewing ingredient universally available--even to us small town girls. Mango, tomato, and pumpkin are definitely happening here in the form of spiral appliques.

She'll glow.

Lovely Bathroom Sink

Lovely to look at, and it's certainly lovely to be able to brush my teeth in my own bathroom again. Next, a towel rod!

On Using Up the Good Things in Your Stash

"One of the few things I know . . . is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time . . . The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now."

--Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

A Quiet Writing Table

For a while I have been wanting a dedicated little surface to use for letter-writing and the typewriter. A safe place for pretty stamps, and two good pens in a cup.

When Henry moved to my mother's at Easter (no birds in Felix's dorm), his living room table opened up, and it's just right.

Hush, I'm corresponding!

Cake Lady: Pineapple Upside Down Cake

In a skillet. So satisfying.

Nine cakes down, twelve to go. Clara wants me to pick up the pace so she can taste them all before she leaves for college.

A Corsage from Daisy

Daisy is so good at gifts. Her birthday and Christmas presents are prepared weeks in advance, wrapped beautifully, and stowed under her bed, where we are never allowed to look, ever.

She made me this corsage for my birthday. She took a vintage brooch, then pressed mint leaves until they were dry and quite crispy, and put it all together somehow.

I wore it all day on my birthday, up to visit Felix, out for Thai food, and through the evening. Yes, pieces of dried mint kept finding their way down my shirt. But oh, the Daisy love.

Curly Locks

Bella's been curling her dreadlocks. A spritz of water the night before to dampen them, then they're twisted up in three or four buns and tied in a scarf. In the morning, she lets them down, and: glamour.

Iris Garden Log Cabin Quilt

A log cabin quilt top in gorgeous violets and purples. I was very dubious about my squares when they were partly put together; but I relearned the lesson that with scrap quilting, if you will keep on going, everything will turn out beautiful.

And that moment when the pile of scraps, and then the pile of squares, stitched together, suddenly hangs like fabric? Always a yes.