new baby things!!

I've felt very behind in making things for our little boy, but when I considered the pile of handmade coziness this morning I didn't feel so badly.

I have a weakness for these little side button cotton shirts - I think they are just the sweetest things, and I've embellished a few with felt shapes (and one with his initials). Of course I got the felt from Purl Patchwork (my favorite local fabric store).

And here is a photo of the hat and booties as promised. My first time following a pattern!!

Plus -- one more hat that I find to be hilarious -- what good are they if you can't dress them funny for a little while? :-)

I have a little pile of receiving blankets and a quilt to show you, PLUS -- I have to take photographs of the most precious quilt that I have ever seen -- my aunt and grandmother made it, and it has embroidered blocks that every member of my immediate family (on that side of the family) did -- it is the most precious. Definitely one of those things to treasure forever. I've never felt so loved. I will try to get it posted soon.

I've never felt anything so miraculous as him moving inside me. Now if I could just get my lower back to snap back to where it's supposed to go... every time I stand up I hear the theme to Sanford & Son in my head...

baby blanket

I finished this little afghan for my little bundle last week and I just love it. It's so soft and cozy. I made it out of Lion Brand Organic Cotton - the pistachio green with cream edges. I started it before I knew I was having a boy, which is why I decided on the green, but it's so pretty I'm very happy I went with that color. And I have to say, after putting together his bassinet today, the blanket was a breeze...

I also just completed my first hat and booties which I'll photograph and post this week. My first time following a pattern -- yay!!!

I hope you guys don't mind if I take a little baby detour for a while -- can't help it -- there are things to be made. Meanwhile, I have now finished 6 of the 16 panels for the Alabama Chanin dress I started a year and a half ago. Goal: wear it in the summer. We'll see...

new fabrics for spring!!

Erica Tanov, which is one of my favorite shops in the city, is selling some of their fabrics on their site.

I received an order today, and I am so excited to sew these into something!! I love the contrast of the print and the stripe -- I think they did something with these two together for spring 2009. But now I can make my own creation - yay!!

I also ordered 4 yards of this navy blue/white embroidered anchor yardage. I'm thinking a dress for me and something tiny for the arrival I am expecting in March. Yes, you read that correctly. ;-)

new pillow in the shop

I did this pillow over last couple of nights, and I just love it. It's a hungarian quilt square pattern, on organic cotton twill with a zippered bottom. It is now in the shop!

I hope everyone had the happiest of holidays!!

purl patchwork calendar

Purl has made a calendar for 2010. I picked up two today, one for myself and one for a friend for a happy holiday gift.

Each page has a project on the back, for a full year's worth of precious things to make. You should order one today!!

cross-stitched pin cushions

I always try to come up with sweet little handmade gifts for my friends and relatives -- and here is what I've done this year. A little monogrammed heart-shaped pin cushion. If any of my recipients are reading this blog then I'm sorry to spoil the surprise, but they turned out so cute I wanted to offer them in the shop.

They are organic cotton/hemp, and are cross-stitched in red.

2 cowls ready to ship

I have one black cowl and one raspberry cowl in the shop and ready to ship if anyone is interested. And I'm offering 15% off of these two -- just enter the coupon code COWL when you check out.

The raspberry is a really pretty medium pink, and the black is, well, black!!

macaroni and cheese recipe

My sister and I have decided to make recipe books for each other as Christmas gifts this year. I've been working on hers, and came across my favorite macaroni & cheese recipe and thought I would pass it along. It is SO good, and was a favorite of my late father-in-law. It's gooey and delicious -- just as it should be!!

MACARONI AND CHEESE

serves 8

1 pound penne

4 c. milk

4 TBLSP (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

6 TBLSP unbleached all purpose flour

1 tsp. paprika

salt and pepper to taste

12 oz. gruyere, grated (4 c)

1. Cook penne, set aside

2. preheat oven to 350

3. bring milk JUST to a boil in saucepan and set aside

4. melt butter in another saucepan. add flour, whisk over low heat for 5 minutes. do not brown. remove from heat

5. add hot milk to flour mixture, whisk well. add 1/2 tsp. of paprika, season with salt and pepper, return pan to heat. cook over medium heat, whisking, until the mixture thickens, for 5 minutes. Add to penne and toss well.

6. butter a 13x9x2 inch baking dish and fill it evenly with penne and sauce

7. distribute grated cheese evenly and sprinkle with black pepper and additional papikra

8. place dish on baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes

9. place dish under broiler 4 inches from heat until top is bubbly.

holiday birds

I love a mixture of handmade and fancy schmancy ornaments on my tree -- which I just put up tonight, by the way -- I'm so looking forward to all of it this year.

I just put these up in the shop. I made quite a few of them so I can ship some right away, but when those are gone the turnaround will be longer, of course.

They are made from vintage fabric from my stash, and the hook hangers are beaded -- every one is a little bit different. You can get red or green, or both!!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I made sure to count my blessings, and it took a while.

One of the blessings in life -- pecan pie

CLASSIC PECAN PIE

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 c. KARO light or dark corn syrup

1 c. sugar

2 tablespoons butter (melted)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. pecan halves

1 unbaked pie crust (nanny says get pillsbury)

In large bowl stir eggs, corn syrup, sugar, margarine, and vanilla until well blended. stir in pecans. pour into pastry shell. bake in 350 degree oven 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. cool on wire rack.

Yum Yum. I'll work on that corn syrup substitute for next year.