Thoughts for Mother’s Day

May 13, 2012 in Mamaw, real life with 0 Comments

vintage mother and daughter
vintage mother and daughter

A lesson from my mom

Mom taught me that anything I ever wanted to learn could be found between the covers of a book, instilling in me a lifelong love of the library, words and language, and reading in general. In this internet age, she’s still right– even if I am prone to using an e-reader now.

One word to describe Mom

Enduring.

Best Mother’s Day memory

In 2006, I attended the wedding of a friend in California. The day after the ceremony was Mother’s Day and I spent it sightseeing with other friends in the Bay Area. I was able to call my mom with well wishes while riding in a convertible across the Golden Gate Bridge; it is a wonderfully happy memory for me, and my mom LOVED it. She still recalls “that time you called me from San Francisco”. Mom always wanted to travel, even hoping to be a flight attendant, but has seldom been able to get very far from home. I think some of her pleasure in that simple phone call was just that I included her in the happiness of my visit to a new and exciting place.

Something I love about my mom

There’s always gladness in her voice when I call, even if it’s just a regular old everyday phone call and not from a major American landmark. ;-)

A perfect Mother’s Day

This year, it would include the 350-miles-one-way trip to see my mom, and we’d probably go together to visit my Mamaw’s grave– Mom and I both miss her intensely. We’d talk a while, maybe cry a little, and then go home to do something fun, probably involving ice cream and a board game or old movie.

A Mother’s Day song

I can’t seem to get the video to embed through YouTube, so click on over to the Prairie Home Companion site to watch a sweet clip from this weekend’s show.

~~~~~

I love you, Mom. :-)

~~~~~

Readers, what are your thoughts about your mother today? Please share!

Fabric addicts, beware!

May 6, 2012 in fabric, quilting with 0 Comments

There’s a new place in Baton Rouge for fabric lovers and it’s completely delightful! Red Stick Quilt Shop opened today and I was so happy to pay owner Rachel Justus a visit as soon as the doors opened this morning. The shop is so nearby that I will have to exercise some self control to keep from making it my second residence (it’s less than a mile from home– literally two right turns and a left). First Joann opened up right across the freeway, and now this place that’s heaven for the serious fabric aficionado… I don’t quite know what to do with so much crafty goodness so nearby.

(Start an apron business, maybe? ;-) )

Dragonfly brights

Dragonfly brights

Today, aprons were set aside in favor of selecting quilt fabric. Now I can get started on two projects for a baby due late this month; the gender will be a surprise, but dragonflies were requested if it’s a girl, and frogs if a boy. I found the dragonfly print at Hancock a couple months ago and snatched it up because of the appealing colors and the marvelous hand (a novelty for Hancock, where the substrates often leave a lot to be desired). I matched it up today with some bright fat quarters and couldn’t be happier with the combinations. I am excited that it’s a bright, more primary palette than the cotton candy pastels that are common for baby quilts.

Meadow Friends

Meadow Friends by Deb Strain

When I started looking for frog prints a few months ago, I was discouraged at the very cartoonish designs I found, so it was wonderful to discover pretty much the entire Meadow Friends line at Red Stick today. The color combinations are really fun, too; I love the jazzy pops of orange. I haven’t started cutting yet, but I’m leaning toward one of these Oh, Fransson! patterns.

The inventory at Red Stick is fantastic and I think there’s something there for every taste in cotton. I was excited to even see a shelf of Birch organic fabrics! Customer service is top-notch, too; Rachel recognized me from Facebook and chatted with me and then later called me by name as I departed. That sort of personal relationship, along with the staff’s detailed knowledge of the craft, will really differentiate Red Stick from the big box stores.  Even the physical space is inviting; I had to smile when, as I browsed the stacks of fat quarters near the shop entrance, I noticed a lady come in the door, stop in her tracks and gasp, exclaiming to her companion, “Oh I want to live here!” When you get a reaction like that, you’ve done everything just right. Rachel’s opened a wonderland for the local sewing community and I hope her investment is is richly rewarded. I do know that customer #47 will surely be back again.

Now to get cracking on some baby quilts!

Have you paid Red Stick Quilt Shop a visit? What did you think? Share your favorite source (local or online) for quilt fabrics!

Change of address

May 6, 2012 in ever onward, news with 0 Comments

Miss Merryheart Designs has moved into a beautiful new neighborhood! I’m looking forward to seeing you around; stop by anytime for milk and cookies! Please settle in and make yourself at home. It’s been a while since I’ve posted much worthwhile online; I’ve been busy working very hard in the real world preparing for the upcoming Arts Market (I told Hubs today that maybe I could sleep after June 2nd!).

Pollyanna house

The welcome mat is out even though things might be a little topsy-turvy while I’m working on unpacking the virtual boxes and making sure everything makes it to just the right spot. The transition from Google-powered Blogspot to self-hosted WordPress is quite a step up for me; I’m a tad overwhelmed both by the fabulously robust features now available to me, as well as the complex options that leave me scratching my head. I’d appreciate your input if you find broken links or things that just don’t seem to work quite right and I’ll move it to the top of the WordPress Hacks to Learn list. ;-) In the meantime, let’s set about making this place feel cozy!

Post 21: Floral Fun!

March 4, 2012 in aprons with 0 Comments

Here’s my submission for the Tie One On Floral Fun apron challenge hosted at the ever-delightful Angry Chicken (one of my favorite craft blogs!).

For this challenge, I chose fabric from Joel Dewberry’s delicious Heirloom collection. The entire collection is so vibrant! I *loved* this particular pattern and fabric combination. I am rather smitten, to be honest.

The half-apron design is from a book called More Retro Aprons by Cindy Taylor Oates; I picked it up recently at Hobby Lobby. The pattern instructions are clear and uncomplicated, and I am sure that this is a design I will make over and over. 

Happily, the author allows sales of aprons made from her designs (thank you, Ms. Oates!), so this apron and others are available in my Etsy shop; I’d love for you to take a look. :-)

Now to get crackin’ on the next challenge: Spring Showers!

Post 20: (Almond) Milk and Cookies!

March 3, 2012 in gluten free, recipes with 0 Comments

this week I was excited to find these instructions on how to make almond milk at home; I tried it and the process was simple and the result was super-tasty.

But, there’s all this leftover almond pulp. What to do?

I googled a bit and decided to start with a recipe I found at Gluten-free Goddess. I made a bunch of tweaks so of course I ended up with something pretty different from the original: I omitted the pecans, subbed some ingredients (I was out of tapioca starch), and cut the xanthan gum by two-thirds.

I ended up with something a little more like soft, cakey, muffin tops– delightful!

Toni’s Almond “Cakies”

Mix together dry ingredients and set aside:

1 1/2 c almond meal
1 c sorghum flour
1/2 c corn starch (or tapioca flour)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum

Cream together:

1 stick butter, softened
1 brown sugar, packed

Add and mix until fluffy:

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Refrigerate dough for one hour. It will still be somewhat soft. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls on to prepared baking sheet; bake at 350f for about 15 minutes. Makes about 30.

~~~~~

This recipe is gluten-free and could easily be made vegan by switching the butter for coconut oil and the eggs for a replacement like this one from Ener-G.

The fresh almond meal resulting from the milk process is still a little damp, so if you are using bone-dry commercially-available meal, you may need to alter the recipe a bit to keep the dough from getting too dry. I think you could probably just cut down the almond meal by a quarter cup or so, or perhaps add a little of the fresh milk.

I think this would be great with the addition of some cinnamon or pie spice, or maybe some ginger for a little kick, but Hubs was aghast at that suggestion and told me these were perfectly yummy as-is. Okay then! (smile)

Have you ever made an alternative milk at home? I think I will try making brown rice milk sometime soon (it has the added advantage of being something I can source locally; our farmer’s market has a vendor who grows some really fantastic rice!).

Post 19: Laundering vintage barkcloth.

March 1, 2012 in fabric, vintage with 0 Comments

A little while back, I was the recipient of a paper grocery bag full of pieces of vintage barkcloth, gifted by the lovely and generous Kerry Beary.
Older fabrics can be fragile, so I machine-washed everything on a gentle setting using a small squirt of Dr. Bronnner’s unscented soap and some homemade oxygen cleanser (found on the very handy Simple Organic site). I let the washer fill and then stopped the cycle to allow the load to soak for several hours before completing the wash. I used the medium-heat setting on the dryer and then pulled the fabrics out as soon as they were dry; they required surprisingly little ironing before they were ready to use.
Two fabrics came through the washer and dryer extremely well, but another couple prints pretty much ripped apart with even a slight tug and had to be tossed. Thankfully the two that came out well were my favorites of the bunch! The print pictured above was fashioned into a cover for a composition notebook and the rest of the fabric is cut out and ready to make a few more– look for them for sale on Etsy soon! 
How do you care for and use vintage fabrics? Leave a comment to share what you’ve made!

Post 18: Feeling not quite up to your calling?

February 26, 2012 in business, real life with 0 Comments

This encouragement from the super-smart (and successful) Ira Glass of This American Life fame (more on TAL later!) hits me exactly where I am right now.

H/T to FIMBY for the video link. 

Reminds me of the main idea in Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers: ultra-successful people are the ones who push past the discouragement and simply do something over and over, thousands of times, until they get it right. Julia Child was probably not always a good cook, but she spent enough time in the kitchen that she became more than good at it: she became brilliant. (Not dismissing natural talent at all– even Tiger Woods had to start somewhere.)

I will get better at pattern design. I will get better at sewing. I will get better at running a business. as long as I keep moving through the slow times (and outright failures), it will happen.

If at first you don’t succeed… :-)

Post 17: Craft Heroes and Handbook.

February 25, 2012 in books, business with 1 Comment

Hubs and my mom, quite unbeknownst to each other, each gave me one part of the set of craft business guidebooks by Alison McNicol for Valentine’s Day. (cue delighted squealing) Hat tip to Kathy over at Behind the Curtain whose post a few weeks back originally brought the books to my attention, and who is featured as a crafty businessperson (I confess that her interview was the first I read, standing up near the window, squinting in the rainy light, because I was too excited when the book arrived to take the time to actually go sit down and turn on a lamp!). 

From Hubs: The Craft Business Handbook – The Essential Guide To Making Money from Your Crafts and Handmade Products, and from Mom: Craft Business Heroes – 30 Creative Entrepreneurs Share The Secrets Of Their Success. I’m about to embark on the craft-show circuit so I’m cramming in all the information I can find in an effort to be reasonably prepared for this new endeavor. Selling on Etsy‘s one thing, but face to face retail seems a little more intimidating to this newbie. 

If you’re interested in reading these books yourself, check out the giveaway running through the weekend over on Feeling Stitchy (a delightful and inspiring blog about all things embroidery). They’re sharing the electronic edition of The Craft Business Handbook with five lucky winners– so go enter to win!  
I’ve wiled away this quiet Saturday morning by lounging on the couch in my fleecy robe and catching up on my feed reader, then finishing a fun book (more on this next week!). Once Hubs was up, he started some laundry and I made pancakes with maple syrup and hashbrowns while we listened to The Genius of Ray Charles. Quite a mellow start to the day, and now it’s time to be productive and sit at the sewing machine for a while. :-)  
What’s your idea of a relaxing Saturday morning?

Post 16: How to be a morning person.

February 22, 2012 in real life with 0 Comments

I wrote this ages ago but need the reminders again, especially since one of my Lenten intentions this year is to get up on time every day, even on the weekends, no excuses. Here’s hoping it’s useful to you as well! 

This morning, Hubs said he felt as though he was stuck to the bed. I told him it’s common knowledge that gravity’s pull is strongest early in the day. ;-)

No, I don’t totally have a handle on the whole early-rising thing, but I’ve found a few ways to make it less dreaded for me. (And I will freely confess that I am a work in progress in this area; this post is more a collection of disciplines and reminders for myself than anything else.) For what it’s worth, I’ll note that I am unable to consume caffeine, so the lovely fully-leaded coffee that fuels so many mornings for others is off limits to me!

Realize that getting out of a warm comfy bed is awful whether you do it at six or noon. If you have to go through it no matter what, you might as well go through it early and reclaim your morning hours.

That said, getting up early starts the night before. Habitually go to bed at a reasonable hour so you don’t have to fight your body’s sleep debt just to get up in the morning.

This is the biggest thing for me: Keep a neat, simple bedroom. I have recently refused to allow messiness (including lots of decorations) to take over our bedroom. This makes it a much more calm, pleasant place to be in the evenings, and I’m greeted with a welcoming sense of order when I wake up.

Set your alarm for the time you actually want to get up. Don’t build in three snoozes, thereby training yourself to go back to dreamland.

Locate your alarm across the room so that you have to get out of bed to turn it off. I do this on certain days and WHOA it works.

Get up and go to the bathroom as soon as the alarm rings. Not only do you probably need to go anyway, the physical activity will start waking you up. If you’re a morning bather, get into the shower immediately.

Make your bed as soon as it’s empty. There’s nothing more tempting for me when I’m half-asleep than an unmade. still-warm bed, beckoning me to return to its cozy embrace. Shake out the covers, pull them up tight, and then WALK AWAY!

Open the blinds as soon as possible. Let the light stream in.

Get dressed- down to shoes- right away. It makes everything official, eliminates those awful moments when the maintenance guy catches you in your jammies, and it’s hard to sleep wearing shoes.

Move into the sunshine. I have so much more energy and motivation (and increased mental clarity, too) on days when I go for an early walk and/or run. Most of the time I have to make myself do it, but I’m always glad afterward. The sunshine and fresh air blare the message to my brain that it’s DAYTIME and complete my transition to a totally alert state. Besides, when do I ever follow through on “Nah, I’ll just have a run this evening”? (Practically never.)

What are your favorite tips for taking the sting out of waking up?

Post 15: Seven great Downton Abbey links.

February 19, 2012 in entertainment, link love with 2 Comments

PBS Masterpiece’s Downton Abbey. It seems that everyone’s on the bandwagon, including this writer. It’s one of the two shows for which I am willing to carve out time (the other being Mad Men… and I am behind at least four episodes there but haven’t missed a beat on Downton). In honor of the season 2 finale that airs on PBS tonight (squee!!!) I’ve collected a little list of goodies for other addicts aficionados– enjoy!

  • One of the centers of drama is the Mary/Matthew will they/won’t they situation… there are a lot of tributes on YouTube and I enjoyed this video montage immensely. For a brief while there was a *hilarious* video that interpreted the show for men (“three daughters: Hot [Mary], Way Hot [Sybil], and The Other One [Edith]“) but it’s disappeared due to copyright (arghh).
  • How about a very thorough rundown of the amazing hats? Here’s one of my favorites:I don’t know if that’s supposed to be grapes, or wisteria, or what, but I love it.
  • After you’re done drooling over the wardrobe, you can catch a glimpse of the actors out of costume. Some look completely different to me, especially Siobhan Finneran and Phyllis Logan– proof to me that these are some amazing actors playing their roles with complete dedication.
  • This makes me giddy: Downton Abbey paper dolls, complete with accessories like O’Brien’s “evil soap” and Thomas’s “evil flour”. 
  • For the casual American television audience, British productions may seem a bit complex, what with the myriad plot lines and the accents and all, so the Onion says Downton Abbey is heavy enough to count as reading a book! ;-)
  • A highlight of every episode is of course the inevitable pithy quote from the brilliant Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess. Here’s a compilation of some of the best videos of her zingers. (I think housekeeper Mrs. Hughes has some great lines too… her smack-down of Thomas [shudder] as “thinking himself as grand as Lady Mary, and that’s saying something!” cracks me up.)
  •  Best for last: here’s one of Maggie Smith’s best lines, captured in counted cross stitch! The craft community never ceases to astonish me.

Thanks to Abraham over at 22 Words for several of these links. What are your favorite Downton moments, characters, or plot lines? I’d love it if you’d comment and link up to your favorite Downton-centric spots on the web!

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