One Down

Yesterday I did the bind off for the back piece of my peacock blue & brown knit dress. Since I don’t have the room in my studio space to do all the pieces at once, I also blocked it. So far I’m pleased with the progress I’ve made. Of course, starting out and spending the first week of the holiday break with a sinus bug helped (though I hate being sick.) It made a convenient excuse for sitting around in my PJs all day while I knitted.

The Project Queen

Saucijzenbroodjes

(Saw-shashen-broodyes) Dutch for Pigs in a Blanket.

This is another recipe that comes from my mother-in-law. She received it from her husband’s sister. Like Poffertjes, Saucijzenbroodjes are often made by the churches of (Netherlands) Dutch communities in Iowa and Michigan. They are popular fundraisers when there are festivals, such as the Tulip festivals held in the spring.

My mother-in-law might make them at different times of the year, but I remember them being a big part of the winter holiday break, when most of my husband’s siblings and their families came to visit. Saucijzenbroodjes make a great accompaniment for soups, especially split pea or vegetable. They are also suitable for parties since they are a palm-size treat.

To get the full effect, I definitely recommend making the recipe the way it’s written, but if in a bit of a hurry, make the dough and use the “pig” of your choice. I have made cheater’s versions in the past with crescent rolls. Though they’re tasty, they aren’t the same. The batch pictured here has beef little smokies and shredded cheddar cheese inside the dough. I found myself making them Sunday night after 9 p.m. My husband was going duck hunting and needed a treat to share with his hunting buddy who was driving them 2 hrs. to their lease. I didn’t have time to work with the meat mixture.

Like anything you’re not familiar with, this is a recipe that takes some practice, especially getting the dough-to-meat ratio right so nothing is left over. I tend to eyeball my portions, but methods that leave nothing to chance are detailed below. The amount of meat and bread crumbs may need to be adjusted. My mother-in-law’s recipe doesn’t give amounts for the meat mixture, so I’m making an educated guess here. As for the dough, don’t panic the first time you make it. It has more of a pastry feel to it after it’s baked, but it won’t look like pie dough when raw. It’s more like very soft cookie dough. I found it easiest to scoop it onto my baking sheets then spread it out in a rectangle with my fingers before pushing the cheese and sausages down into it. The dough was then pulled over the top and ends of the filling, making sure all gaps were closed. It will seem like the dough is very sticky. However, the shortening actually prevents that, so don’t be afraid of getting your fingers in there.

A note on lining your baking sheets: A brown paper bag is recommended. It will absorb excess grease. I know large grocery bags have mostly gone the way of the dodo, but a few paper lunch bags cut open will do the trick. Parchment paper is OK, too. Stay away from wax paper and foil.

Dough (Blanket)

5 c. all-purpose flour

1 ¼ c. shortening

1 tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking powder

2 tbsp. sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ c. milk

Place first 5 ingredients in a food processor and pulse until mixture looks like crumbs. If the processor has a large enough bowl, add the eggs and milk. Run until blended. Otherwise, place the processed dry ingredients in a mixing bowl before adding the wet.

Pig

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. raw pork sausage (loose, not in casing)

1 c. white or panko bread crumbs (increase if to too greasy, or decrease if meat is too dry)

Gently mix the meat and crumbs. The goal is to make 24 “pigs”. To help make even portions, place the meat in a 9” x 13” pan. Spread it evenly, but don’t press it down with your fingers. In the lengthwise direction (13” side), cut across the pan in 3 ¼” sections (9” long cuts). There will be 4 sections. Widthwise (9” side) cut ¾” sections across pan for a total of 6 sections (13” long cuts). Fold each portion in half lengthwise and gently pat into a sausage shape. If you have a digital kitchen scale, place your empty mixing bowl on it and zero the scale. Place your “pig” ingredients in it and divide the weight by 24. You will then know how much each portion should weigh. A scale can also be used in the same manner to divide the dough into 24 pieces.

After the dough is wrapped around the meat on all sides, and placed on brown or parchment paper-lined baking sheets, beat an egg with a small amount of water. Use a pastry brush to coat the dough with the egg wash. Bake in a 350° oven for 40 min. or until brown.

 The Project Queen

Silent Night

Like many people “Silent Night” is my favorite Christmas Hymn. It’s a lullaby for the infant Jesus, and like many lullabies, it’s peaceful and soothing.

I actually have a special memory attached to this hymn. It involves a nativity my maternal grandparents put under their Christmas tree. Unlike many nativities this one wasn’t static. It was an electrical music box with a star that illuminated the manager and figures that rotated around the Holy Family. The shepherds were on one side and the wise men on the other. As the figures rotated, it played “Silent Night”. I loved to lie under the tree and watch it. In fact, it’s the one thing I really remember clearly about Christmas Eve dinner at their house (other than Grandma’s Waldorf Salad). Well, I do remember some of the gifts I received, but none of them hold a special place in my heart like that nativity did.

My grandparents moved out of that house when I was about 10 or 11. They decided it was time to downsize and relocate where someone else did all the maintenance. Grandma gave me a carved jewelry box because I liked to play with the jewelry she kept in it. I guess because it was spring or summer when they moved, I didn’t give the nativity a thought. But it didn’t go with them to their apartment. After they moved from the house, I never saw it again. Like most of us, it was probably a case of out-of-sight, out of mind. But a few years ago I started thinking about the nativity. My husband injured his back while on active duty with the military in 2006. To say we’ve been through a lot would be an understatement. When life gets difficult who among us wouldn’t want to go back in time and re-experience a special memory? Sadly, no one recalls what happened to the nativity, and I haven’t been able to find another like it. My father and my husband are both woodworkers. Perhaps they would like to help me make a replica. In the meantime, I still take a great deal of comfort from “Silent Night”.

The Project Queen

Single-Serve Microwave Popcorn

I don’t know why, but lately I’ve been experiencing a craving for popcorn. To satisfy it, I bought a box of single-serve microwave popcorn that I could snack on when the last 2 hours of work seemed to drag.

After that box was consumed, I planned to purchase another. Then I started to read the ingredients and nutrition labels. Suddenly, I didn’t want to eat pre-packaged microwave popcorn anymore. My favorite is Kettle Corn. The brands that carry it use sucralose as the sweetener. I don’t do fake sugar. Ditto for palm kernel oil. As I studied my options I kept coming back to the bagged popcorn. It’s certainly far more budget-friendly. And it contains a single ingredient – popcorn. The notion of making my own microwave popcorn started rolling around in my brain. I had heard or read somewhere that it’s possible to do the popping with a brown paper bag. Sure enough I did find recipes on the internet.

Turns out it really does work. My husband doesn’t eat a lot of popcorn, so heating a pot for 1 serving of stovetop popping isn’t practical. I’ve noticed that air poppers are making a comeback, but I really don’t need any more appliances in my kitchen. So the homemade single-serve microwave option is quite handy. I can also make it at school where the faculty lounges are equipped with microwaves, but no stove.

Popping my own popcorn at school gave me the idea to put together single-serve kits for all of my co-workers. Our district does a healthy eating challenge every year during the holidays. It involves getting weighed right after Thanksgiving and again after the new year. While it’s nice to have treats, those who are participating don’t want to be sabotaged with calorie bombs.

The recipe to make your own follows. You will notice in the photo that the popcorn is in a sandwich bag. To make it user-friendly for my colleagues I oiled the popcorn for them. I didn’t want the popcorn to make the bags greasy before people had the opportunity to enjoy their treat. When making for yourself, the plastic bag isn’t needed.

Single-Serve Microwave Popcorn

1/8 - 1/4 cup popcorn

1/4 tsp. canola oil (or 1 spritz of spray oil)

Leave popcorn in measuring cup and add oil to coat. Stir with a small utensil or toothpick to make sure all kernels are coated. Pour the popcorn into a paper lunch bag. Fold the top down and place in microwave. To make sure the popcorn is in a single layer, the bag can be placed on its side. Just make sure the fold is facing down. It's not necessary to use the popcorn  setting. Leave the microwave at full power and pop for 1 ½-2 minutes. Open the bag after all popping has stopped and add your favorite seasoning.

Some suggestions:

Italian: Parmesan-Romano Cheese, Italian Seasoning Herb Blend, Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper (The easiest way to make it is to add 2 tbsp. Italian Seasoning, 1 tbsp. Garlic Powder and ½ tbsp. Cayenne Pepper to an 8 oz. container of cheese. Besides putting it on popcorn, it’s also tasty on pasta)

Ranch: Your favorite dry ranch mix

Kettle Corn: Sugar and a small amount of salt.

To keep the calories low, your popcorn can be coated with some spray oil so your flavoring sticks to it.

The Project Queen

Peacock Blue

Some of my projects are things I’ve been itching to make for awhile, and there is nothing like a sale at one of my favorite yarn stores to turn a dream into reality.

I have a Bernat pattern book in my collection that contains cable and raglan knitting patterns. There isn’t a copyright date, but judging from the hairstyles of the models, I place it between the early to mid 1960s. All of the patterns are classic and very wearable now, and there are several I would like to make eventually. However, there is one in particular that I am in love with; a sweater dress with a cable collar and sleeves. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s pictured in one of my favorite colors – peacock blue.

I forget when I bought this book. I know I’ve had it a few years now. The purchase of a pair of boots I bought a couple of months ago prompted me to pull it off the shelf. Since the yarn called for in the dress pattern was discontinued years ago, I did some research for suitable substitutes. I found some nice possibilities online, but since a dress requires lots of yarn I decided it would need to wait a while longer.

Last Friday I needed to run an errand in Old Town Spring after I got off work. I told my husband I would take care of buying dog food from one of our favorite venders there, so it would be one less stop to make during the weekend. Very obligingly, he asked me if I needed any yarn, reminding me that the yarn store just west of Old Town Spring was having a gum ball sale. Since I would be driving by it on my way home, there was no reason I couldn’t stop. Of course, I left with the yarn needed for my dress. I chose a peacock blue just a little darker than the pattern photo. I also bought 3 skeins of brown yarn. The store was a bit short of the peacock blue in the yarn of my choice, but I had already been considering a color blocked design. The yarn I fell in love with is a wool and alpaca blend. Soft, cozy alpaca is one of my favorite fibers. Committing to a 2-color design didn’t require any convincing.

I did a gage swatch that evening and have been working on the back piece for the last week. I’ve completed about 12 inches so far. It would be grand if I finished the dress before this winter ended. Though I’ve been knitting more than 20 years now, I don’t think I’m that fast. Still, it is a worthy goal, so we’ll see what happens. Wish me luck.

The Project Queen

Chicken Cordon Bleu Deconstructed

I don’t know about other households, but the members of mine think we’re having something special when Chicken Cordon Bleu is served for dinner. Of course, the easiest way to make it is buying the ready-made stuff and tossing it in the oven. If you’re like me, however, and growing increasingly concerned with the long list of ingredients found in many processed foods, finding easy alternatives to favorite dishes starts becoming a priority.

This recipe came about when I needed to use up some diced ham. I will occasionally challenge myself with labor intensive recipes. This wasn’t one of those occasions. After inventorying the freezer and pantry, I realized I had the components to make Chicken Cordon Bleu, only there was no way I was spending an hour or more pounding, filling, and breading a few chicken breasts.

Speeding up the process and keeping the dishes to a minimum was the name of the game. It’s a great way to use up something leftover, such as a holiday ham. (Scalloped potatoes and ham sandwiches are great, but who couldn’t use another recipe in their arsenal?) It's an easy weeknight dinner, but could also be served to guests. Might I suggest serving this at your New Year’s Eve get-together? Using chicken breast tenderloins helps shorten cook time, and it’s easier to serve smaller portions. Do your prep in the baking dish; wash fewer dishes later.

3 tbsp. butter

1 clove garlic or 1 tsp. garlic powder

1 c. Panko bread crumbs

1 tbsp. parsley, dried (double for fresh)

2 lbs. chicken breast tenderloins, thawed

1-2 c. ham, diced

1 c. Swiss cheese, grated

Preheat the oven to 350°. Place a 9” x 13” baking dish on the largest burner of your cooktop. Melt butter in the dish as it’s warming up. If using fresh garlic, sauté in the butter until it’s soft. Mix in the bread crumbs and parsley. Set aside in a small mixing bowl.

Salt and pepper the chicken on both sides and brown the outside in the baking dish, but don’t cook all the way thru. Move the dish off the heat. Make sure the chicken is distributed evenly. Sprinkle ham and cheese over the chicken and cover with the bread crumbs. Cover with foil. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake 10 minutes more.

Note: To decide how much chicken to actually cook for the number of expected guests, plan on 2 pieces per person (unless someone is a really big eater.) The other ingredients can be adjusted accordingly. Deli sliced swiss cheese can also be used in place of shredded, 6-8 slices for a 9" x 13" pan.

The Project Queen

Don’t Lose Your Marbles

I have to confess when my older daughter told me about Pinterest more than a year ago, I stayed away from it. When it comes to collecting patterns, books and ideas I have more than enough stuff already. More than I can make in a lifetime. Besides, I’m just as likely to make something that’s been bumping around my noggin.

Then I started this blog. Some of my blog photos are now on a Pinterest board. While on the site I got curious. The container you see in the above photo is a result of that curiosity. Technically, I suppose it’s a candle holder. I bought it several years ago for my older daughter’s bedroom when it was decorated with a Chinese theme. We poured a few bags of red, decorator marbles in it and added some LED tea lights to it. She could have the ambience of candles, and I wouldn’t have to worry about the house burning down.

Last fall, she moved out. The container migrated downstairs and did some time with the Christmas decorations. Then it remained parked on a table whose sole purpose seemed to be the collection of clutter. At the beginning of Thanksgiving break I needed to clear that table so I could use it as a work surface for my Roman blind. After everything else was put away or added to the donation pile, I found myself staring at the candle holder/vase with its ruby red marbles. What to do with it? There was nothing wrong with it; no cracks or chips. It just didn’t seem very exciting anymore. Then I recalled projects I saw on Pinterest, projects involving glass decorator marbles affixed to other glass items. I studied the quantity of marbles in the container and concluded I had enough to cover the outside. Thanks to the presence of 2 fish tanks in my house I also had the appropriate adhesive.

This newly revised candle holder/vase was the project I worked on when I got tired of my Roman blind or didn’t feel like cooking. After I finished putting the marbles on the outside, I put a strand of LED lights in the container and filled it with the roses. Right now it’s sitting on my desk at work. I may eventually give it to someone but haven’t quite decided yet. I do know there are some other glass items in my house that will probably get the marble treatment.

The Project Queen

Roman Blind Holiday

I have a dog who takes her guardianship of our house very seriously. Her name is Alexa, and she was introduced in a post back in October.

Alexa’s self-imposed guard duties include watching the front yard from our living room window. Whenever neighbors or strangers walk by (even on the other side of the street), or roaming animals visit our front yard, she barks, then demonstrates her willingness to tear the interloper to pieces by shredding my curtains. Over time her abuse resulted in a bent curtain rod and hardware. Plaster came off the wall around the screws holding everything. Three weeks ago she ripped a panel off the rod while my husband and I were running errands.

My husband wanted to purchase new curtains, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Alexa destroyed them too. We needed something we could put out of her reach. I detest dust collecting mini-blinds (and they have no energy saving properties) so a fabric Roman blind was the solution. I just had one problem. The window measures 70” square. Finding a ready-made blind that size isn’t easy.  They’re also expensive.

Back to the stash again. As it turned out I had a floral fabric that actually coordinates with the paint in that room. And I had more than enough.  With a decision made the race was on to get the blind finished. Until my new covering was in the window, my husband had replaced the missing curtain with a brown panel I had for another window. The remaining, tattered panel was dark blue. We really didn’t want to receive a letter from the subdivision Gestapo informing us that we had inappropriate window coverings.

I had never made a Roman blind before and would have preferred not to start with such a large window. My mom had made some Roman blinds when I was in high school. I remembered a bit about their construction. I also have a book about making fabric blinds in my craft library. However, I didn’t find it as complete as I would have liked. I tried watching various how-to videos, but I have to confess they made me nutty. There didn’t seem to be one single set of instructions to reach the final product. In the end, I formulated a plan based on the mechanical supplies I was able to find in my local stores. Once I got started, the project took 5 days of my Thanksgiving break. Overall, I’m pleased with the way it turned out, and the mechanics work. I also like the way the fabric blind provides better insulation than the curtains did. Over the Christmas break I’ll probably make a matching blind for the dining room window which is 47”x70”. After that, who knows? I have 3 other 70” square windows. Not sure I’m that ambitious.

The Project Queen

Dressing Cornbread Muffins

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and dressing is one of my favorite dishes. But all the carbs that get served at the Thanksgiving table are beginning to concern me (and my waistline). Usually I make mashed potatoes, dressing and some kind of yeast roll. This year I gave my husband a choice of sides. He chose potatoes. I still wanted dressing, and it occurred to me, after making a batch of cornbread muffins with added sweet corn, that I could have my dinner bread and dressing in one nifty package.

Although there is some prep work involved, these muffins are less labor-intensive than dressing, and bake in 15 – 20 minutes. They’re a great time saver and also less expensive because they require fewer ingredients. Feel like dressing with your favorite weeknight meal? Now you can easily have it, without resorting to that stuff in the box.

For my batter I used a cornbread recipe from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, the breast cancer edition. I doubled the recipe. It made 12 large muffins, or it would make 24 regular muffins. Feel free to use your favorite recipe.

½ c. celery

½ c. onion

1 tsp. sage

1 tsp. tyme

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. pepper

½ c. bacon or sausage crumbles, optional

Dice the celery and onion into 1/4 inch pieces. If you have one, use a non-stick skillet with a little spray oil to sauté the vegetables until tender. Set aside and allow to cool.

Once your batter is made, stir in the above ingredients. Place the batter in the refrigerator overnight to allow the flavors to meld. I used an 8-cup batter bowl with lid to make my muffins. For baking, follow the instructions of your recipe.

Note: Keep the fat and oils of all add-ins minimal so the amount of fat in your cornbread recipe won’t need to be adjusted.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Project Queen

Poffertjes

(Puffer-ages) For those who aren’t familiar with Dutch cuisine (other than their possible influence on the creation of the doughnut), Poffertjes are small pancakes about the size of a $.50 piece. Like Aebleskivers these small cakes are made in a special pan, but the wells aren’t as deep and there are more of them in the pan. Unlike Aebleskivers, Poffertjes are not filled.

This particular recipe came from my mother-in-law and it has some significant differences from what is considered traditional. Many recipes I’ve found online have yeast and buckwheat flour. I’m not sure where my mother-in-law got her version, but I like it best. The butter gives a nice golden color and flavor to the cakes, while the beaten egg whites provide leavening making them light as air.

I made these Sunday morning in honor of setting the clock back. Usually, these are eaten with powdered sugar, but I decided to make a sauce with frozen blueberries. (Which I picked this last June. I’ve been hoarding them like a miser with gold.) If you want to eat Poffertjes with fruit you could probably add some finely grated lemon zest to the batter. Likewise, imitation rum or vanilla could be used for flavoring if you don’t want to use the real thing.

3 eggs, yolks and whites separated

½ c. (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 tsp. rum

1 ½ c. flour

¼ tsp. salt

¾ c. milk

¾ c. cold water

Place pan on stove and begin heating. Mix egg yolks, butter and rum until fluffy. Slowly add flour, salt and milk, then add water. In a separate bowl beat egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold into the batter, being careful not to over-mix and lose the air bubbles. Use a funnel to pour the batter into a condiment squeeze bottle. The bottle is the easiest and cleanest way to pour the batter into the pan.

If you can feel heat rising from the pan when you hold your hand a couple of inches above it, it’s hot enough. I fill the wells in the center and work my way out. Poffertjes usually cook through in a minute or two. Once they are a light golden brown use a bamboo skewer and fork to flip them over. Make sure you’re keeping a close eye on them. If the pan is too hot they can burn quickly. If you have a pair of good oven mitts, you can pick the pan up by its handles and flip the cakes onto a serving platter or plate.

Where do you find a Poffertjes pan? They are available on the internet. I got mine in Old Town Spring, TX at a shop called the Little Dutch Girl. You may find a non-stick version, but I highly recommend getting cast iron. Season it properly with shortening (don’t wash, just wipe off when cool) and it will last forever.

The Project Queen



The Queen of Orchids

I may need to find another support group, one for orchid addiction. A few weeks ago I had 6 orchids, and then I purchased 3 small orchids. Two days ago I succumbed to a regal Cymbidium orchid at the grocery store. Now there are 10 plants in my collection.

I’ve been longing for a Cymbidium for some time. The store had one about a month ago, which I sadly passed by because I was afraid it would be too expensive. This time there were 7 – 10 plants available. I just couldn’t walk away again. The first one to catch my eye was the one that came home with me. She had the largest flowers on two generous spikes. Best of all, she was only $20. It was a pleasant surprise when I checked the price at the register. There was a bar code label on the pot but no price. I’ve since wondered if I dreamed it, and now my store receipt is missing. No matter, she’s a lovely lady and it’s been a pleasure to have her sitting on my desk.

In the long run we will see if our relationship is destined to last. Cymbidiums like cooler night temperatures to encourage re-blooming. (50 -70 degrees). I am more of a hot house flower. The cold and I are not close friends.  My new prize can apparently spend time outside while blooming, & right now our temps are reasonable enough that she may relocate for awhile. During the summer, she will have to be inside since it’s too hot here. Queen Cymbidium is definitely a demanding monarch requiring more specialized care. I hope I have what it takes to be her lady in waiting. If this association works out I may be well on my way to becoming the “Crazy Orchid Lady.”

The Project Queen

She's a big girl, about 34" from the bottom of the pot to top of her tallest flower spike.



Orchids!

Pink Phalaenopsis currently blooming. I purchased it with one blooming stem.

This time it has 2 stems.

While I enjoy my African Violets and find Bromeliads interesting, Orchids are my true houseplant weakness. I currently have 9 orchids; 3 Cattleyas, 1 Dendrobium, 2 Vandas and 3 Phalaenopsis.

 I will occasionally buy plants in full bloom from a store, especially if they are priced under $15.00, though I would make an exception for something which doesn’t come along very often, such as a Cymbidium or Oncidium. My favorite way to purchase orchids is to find the juveniles that are packaged in mesh bags. My cattleyas, vandas and dendrobium were all bought that way. They may take a couple of years to bloom, but for someone who has a bit of patience it’s the most economical way to buy orchids. Plus, you can choose your own pots instead of being limited to what the growers select.

Here are a few tips if you decide to try orchid culture. General Care: Most orchids prefer bright, indirect light. Mine are positioned before an East-facing window. They shouldn’t stand in water. Usually water once a week is fine. However, it’s always a good idea to wiggle a finger into the pot. If the soil still feels damp, wait on the water and check again in a few days. Orchids usually appreciate a bit of humidity. There are different ways to provide it. My plants are in close proximity to each other on a table. The volume of moisture evaporating seems to keep them happy. These plants are likely to send roots out over the top of their pots. It’s natural so leave some out when repotting (For those who find the roots unsightly, there are perforated orchid pots available, but I prefer not to spend the extra money on them). Commercial soils often come with time release fertilizer. When the fertilizer is gone the plants could be repotted again. However, it’s more economical to add fertilizer a couple of times a month when watering. Most orchids are happy in their pots for 2-3 years. For commercially potted, blooming orchids: As soon as the flowers are spent, plan to re-pot the plant with fresh orchid soil mix. Sphagnum moss is often used for potted orchids, and it’s usually packed very tightly around the roots. Many orchids are Epiphytes, and are sometimes referred to as air plants. If a potting medium is too tight around the roots they will rot, and the plant will eventually die.

How often an orchid blooms depends on species. When healthy and happy many of them can bloom 1-3 times a year. It may not seem like very much. Just bear in mind that the flowers can last at least a couple of months. Some species, like Phalaenopsis or Cymbidium, have long, blooming stems covered with several flowers. Cattleyas might have 1 or more depending on plant size. All are worth the wait.

Before making an orchid purchase, it’s definitely a good idea to research their care so you don’t find yourself disappointed. Some species can require very specialized care and are best left to experts or very dedicated hobbyists. The plants most commonly found in stores are usually good entry level plants. Phalaenopsis in particular are very easy to find, which is why I prefer not to spend a lot of money on them.

Go, embark on an Orchid adventure. May your plants give you many years of pleasure.

The Project Queen



Déjà Vu All Over Again

The 1970s are not necessarily a decade I remember with a lot of nostalgia. I don’t recall being enamored of the fashions, décor or popular crafts of that decade. That might have something to do with my turning 12 in 1980. Kids under that age tend to have a rather narrow focus, and short attentions span. My one and only love was horses. If the activity didn’t involve horses I wasn’t interested.

From personal observation I wouldn’t be able to tell you what the hot crafts of the 70s were. There was a project person in our household; my dad. But his projects are largely mechanical. I don’t remember everything he made during the first decade of my life, but his hot-rod tractor (for tractor pulls) made an impression, probably because it was loud and spit flames out of the smoke stacks. My mom’s one project obsession was macramé. It seems like we had a lot of hanging plants. She did try teaching me on a couple of occasions. I just didn’t see the appeal of tying lots of knots.

Time does have a way of changing things. The book you see pictured with this post, copyright 1979, is a purchase I made this summer. It was partly due to belated regret and an ever-increasing interest in crafts that seem on the verge of becoming lost art. One of my grandmothers gave me a 1970s copy of R.D. Complete Guide to Needlework when I was in high school. During one of her many forays into second hand stores, she found it and thought I would enjoy it. I don’t think there was sufficient distance between me and the 70s to really appreciate the gift. It did stay on my bookshelves for several years, but I never really used it. It ended up in a donation box when my husband and I made a long distance move from Iowa to Texas.

Over the past decade I got a serious bug for vintage sewing and craft patterns, especially from the 1930s – early 60s. I started wishing I kept the needlework guide. It was actually a really good reference book even if most of the projects weren’t my cuppa tea. Having several different disciplines in one volume is rather handy. In the 70s versions, there are several types of embroidery, needlepoint, and lacework. The lacework section includes tatting and bobbin lace. And let’s not forget the macramé. My current copy contains a pattern for a window hanging that would be groovy in my kitchen.

The Project Queen



Beautiful Butterflies

It’s beginning to look like I’m obsessed with projects I can add lights to. I never pictured myself as a lighting designer, but I now have 2 battery operated light fixtures to my credit. Is it possible for such a thing to become an addiction?

This is another of those projects whose original concept began simply, if you call hand-painted, shrinky-dink butterflies simple. I had ink-jet friendly shrink film sitting on my shelf for a little over a year. About a month ago I decided to try making butterflies with it. The initial creatures turned out nicely, but needed a bit of pizzazz to enhance the realism. It’s for occasions such as this that I really appreciate well-stocked art supplies. Some metallic water color paints and tiny brushes from an art supply store were just what I needed. (Got the paints last year, too. I found them with rubber stamps and other paper crafting supplies.)

Once I had a few completed butterflies, figuring out what to do with them became a challenge. After shrinking they were translucent, so letting them lie around on flat surfaces wasn’t appealing. A mobile, perhaps? No, maybe not. Those require hanging, and I had decided the butterflies were going to be used for a gift. So making them easy to enjoy without extra work for the recipient was best. I wanted something with a sculptural quality that would enhance, not compete with the butterflies. I decided I needed some more acrylic flower sprays, like the ones I used on my gazebo chandelier. I knew where I would get those, along with a glass bottle to support everything.

How, you may ask, did lights enter the picture? I was wondering around a store again. I tell you, it’s amazing what can be done with LEDs these days. I found some small, submersible light strands made for flower arrangements. Suddenly, I just couldn’t picture my butterfly project without lights. Four sets went into the cart. Oops! Where did those come from?

After the butterflies were given bodies, it didn’t take too long to assemble the project. (I don’t know what to call it – Nightlight? Lamp? Candelabra? Wait, no candles…) I gave it to a friend yesterday and am very pleased she likes it. Now, I think it might be nice to make one for myself, with lights of course. Are there support groups for this sort of thing?

The Project Queen

Misty of the Magic White Feet

Another view from my chair

Today’s featured adoptee is Misty. She will be 2 years old, probably in January.

We adopted her February 13, 2011. She was barely a handful and weighed just a little over 2 lbs. when we brought her home. She was also sick.

Though we happened to find her the same day she came to the shelter, I had some reservations about adopting her. Two months previously I had lost another adopted puppy, Tippi, within a week of bringing her home. Turned out she had distemper.

Before you go thinking that shelter was a terrible place, both Tippi and Misty were sick before they came there. They were each there a day or less before I found them. For Misty’s adoption, we were able to get an exam from the vet on duty that weekend. It appeared she had an upper respiratory infection. After a few days of meds, it seemed like she was going to make a nice, quick recovery, then she started relapsing. We had at least a 3 month fight on our hands, with several visits to the shelter veterinarian and a couple of visits to our family vet. That May she finally started getting better.

That August she traveled with my daughter and me, and was my companion for the solitary drive back. During that trip, she started coming into her own. Now she is our naughty dog, Miss Slick (or just Slicky), and Misty of the Magic White Feet. She acquired the last moniker because of her tendency to dig, and the lucky fact that dirt just doesn’t seem to stick to her. We knew one of the other dogs was digging, but didn’t realize Misty was participating until she was caught in the act.

Now, I know this seems like a cautionary tale, and it is. But don’t decide not to adopt an animal from a shelter because it might be sick. As a matter of fact, there is a very good possibility that shelters will have a lot of sick animals. Remember, they rarely get pampered, healthy pets from loving homes. It’s usually the exact opposite, and these facilities are doing the best they can with limited funds and lots of volunteers. There will be occasions when heartbreak can’t be avoided. And then there will that glorious moment when you realize you got the four-legged companion you needed. Despite the months of struggle to get Misty to the dog she is today, I wouldn’t trade them. I discovered depths of strength and perseverance I didn’t know I had.

The Project Queen



Silver Vase Bromeliad

My houseplant collection has been growing steadily for a few years now, and is in danger of outgrowing the tabletop in front of my dining room window.

The plant featured today is a Silver Vase Bromeliad. I actually didn’t know the variety name until I did some research for this blog. This plant was purchased in April, and I finally cut the flower off about a week ago. According to my research bromeliads only bloom once, so I will never see the mother plant bloom again. However, it’s been growing “pups” quite rapidly, so having another generation to bloom in the future shouldn’t be a problem. (I already have one in a pot of its own. It’s a gift for my sister-in-law.)

The research I did also gave me information on other plants I might want to add to my collection. Pineapples are part of the Bromeliad family, too. I do enjoy fresh pineapple. Looks like I’ll have to get the plant shelf I’ve been wanting so I can expand my plant collection.

The Project Queen

Bromeliad "pup" in a painted terracotta pot.

Want to know more about embelishing pots? See the "Haute Pot" post.



???!

Ok. I have a confession. I don’t have any cutesy names for this project. In case you’re wondering what it is, it’s a battery operated chandelier I made for my backyard gazebo.

I had looked at various non-electric light fixtures for my fairly new backyard hangout (found it on Craigslist a couple of years ago. It took more than a year before we got around to putting it up.) I found some nice chandeliers in home improvement stores and online, but I was picturing an opportunity for another project. It just required the right inspiration.

While roaming one of my favorite hobby and craft stores, I found some “branches” with LED lights covered by plastic flowers. Hanging upside down, they looked like a chandelier to me. I bought 2 sets.

At first, it was just going to be simple. A couple of LED branches and some left-over chain from the small chandelier that hangs over my studio desk. The plan was to secure the brown branches to the antique bronze chain with brown duct tape. Out of all the crazy colors they now make, brown doesn’t seem to be one of them. I couldn’t find any, so I bought good old silver tape. All of a sudden the plan started becoming more complicated. Concealing my “mechanics” became the mission.

An upside down vase seemed like a cool idea. I just didn’t relish the idea of trying to create an opening in the bottom of one. My morbid mind was picturing broken glass and bloody fingers. Another trip to a craft store yielded a cylinder candle hurricane and some plastic bead flower sprays (to fill out the branches); a clearance chandelier lamp shade was robbed of its wire frame; the stash was raided for a stained glass coloring book and Gallery Glass paint.

I bought the LED branches early this summer, and I finished this project last night. With a little tinkering here and some painting there, it took me a little over 4 months to complete my garden chandelier. Now that my desk is clear, I have no excuses for not getting out a sewing machine and finishing some pants I started last year.

The Project Queen



Peace Puppy

The view from my chair

For those who aren’t aware, October is not only Breast Cancer Awareness month, it’s also Adopt a Shelter Pet month.

Pet adoption is an issue very close to my heart. My husband and I currently have four dogs in our household. Three of them are adopted. Today, I’m introducing you to Alexa. She is now the oldest of our dogs at the age of 4 ½ years. It wasn’t so long ago that she was the puppy, keeping our 2 older dogs (both adopted) on their toes. Now that they are no longer with us, Alexa is Queen Bee.

I think one of my favorite things about adopting a dog is the surprises they give you throughout their lifetimes. When we brought Alexa home we were pretty certain the shelter was correct in identifying her as an Australian Cattle Dog. But as she grew it became clear there was something else mixed in. She has the full face mask of a tri-colored collie and is taller, with the deep chest of a dog bred to cover lots of ground. Whether the collie is flat or rough coat, we don’t know. She has the short, slick, spectacled coat of a cattle dog. Her appearance has earned the nickname Pretty Girl.

But Alexa is a lot more that just her appearance. She has one of the most unique personalities of any dog I’ve ever owned. (10 dogs passed though my life before she joined us.) I believe it’s her collie showing through, and anyone who has ever owned one has probably experienced some of these traits. Alexa has several nicknames – Peace Puppy, Nurse Flo (Florence Nightingale), Bossy Boots, Miss Barky Barkington. She doesn’t like raised voices and feels the need to calm upset family members. Not feeling well? She lies on the patient and administers magic dog saliva. She makes sure the other dogs are kept in their places, and she’s very protective of her home turf. Her upright ears guarantee she hears almost everything. She is usually the first one to bark. She’s a great walking companion, especially when it’s just the two of us. She prefers to stay close, and she comes very quickly when called.

I’m sure I will never be blessed with another dog like her. However, that’s true of every dog I’ve known, and will be true of the ones I know in the future. If you have never adopted or owned a pet, give it a try. They make our lives so much richer.

The Project Queen

Psyche

Despite what Greek Mythology says, it’s my belief that Aphrodite was jealous of Psyche’s wardrobe, not her beauty. I’m sure it’s obvious I’m probably not as young as the Psyche of legend. No matter. It’s my belief that every woman should have interesting, and killer, pieces in their wardrobe regardless of age.

You never know where inspiration for a project will come from. Crafty and artistic people learn early on to keep their eyes and imaginations open. You may be starting to notice a trend here, but the halter top I’m naming Psyche is a stash busting project. The main body of the project is knit in Artyarns Regal Silk. A few years ago I took myself to the LYS for a birthday outing (something I tend to do annually) and fell in love with the silk yarn. Since it was my birthday I had no problem treating myself to a few precious skeins, certain I would find the perfect project for it.

Early last summer, a nascent idea started forming after I had made a fabric purchase for some sewing projects. All of the fabrics I bought were for specific patterns, except one. I’m very attracted to rich, saturated colors so this one really caught my eye. It is a stunning ultramarine blue with multi-hue butterflies embroidered on it. The butterflies are embellished with sequins and small, iridescent beads. There were only a couple of yards left on the bolt, so of course I snatched it up. If I had passed on it, I probably never would have seen it again.

As pretty as it was, the embellished butterflies did present a bit of a problem in deciding what to make with the fabric. It would need a project of simple construction because it would have been criminal to hide the butterflies in ruffles or pleats. Plus, I didn’t have enough yardage. Cue the yarn stash. After repeatedly gazing at my amazing new find it occurred to me that the butterflies’ colors were almost an exact match to my silk yarn. Those colors were burned on my brain anyway. Every time I encountered that yarn in my stash I had to pick it up, stroke it and rub it on my cheek. (I stopped short of licking it.)

The butterflies on the fabric started the stirring of a design direction for the silk yarn. Of course, now that I’m thinking of it, the fabric would have made a darling sleeveless sheath and the yarn a dainty, lacy shawl or shrug. For some reason, though, the myth of Psyche and the butterfly that represents her was percolating in my mind. I figured I probably had enough of the yarn to make a halter top, and I’m still young enough to be bit daring. And since I was going to be daring anyway let’s just go ahead and make it a statement piece. Enter the addition of some crochet elements.

This is where my doily making past came into play. I looked through some of my vintage crochet booklets, but the butterflies I found in them weren’t quite what I wanted. The search went to the internet. I found the “Fancy Crochet Thread Butterfly” on Cheri’s Crochet site. If you’re interested in the pattern you will need to go to that site (https://sites.google.com/site/cheriscrochet/fancy-crocheted-thread-butterfly). It’s protected by copyright and can’t be posted elsewhere. I can tell you that I did my butterfly a little differently. I left off the antennas for an obvious reason. I thought they would be awkward considering the placement of the butterfly. Instead of crochet thread, I used Berroco Seduce in Aqua. I wanted yarn with a sheen to equal the silk and desired an end product that would be a bit larger. What would say statement piece better than a big butterfly on the neckline of a halter top?

The butterfly turned out just the way I hoped, and knitting the halter top helped me keep my sanity during the summer last year, while my husband underwent speech, physical and occupational therapy at the VA hospital. He was recovering from a stroke he had the previous April, and driving himself wasn’t an option. After you make a visit or two to the VA, you quickly learn to always have something to do. While I also enjoy reading, it just felt like I was making better use of my time by creating something. And not just “something”.  But a top that would be a pleasure to wear and guaranteed to make goddesses jealous.

The Project Queen

P.S.-In case you’re wondering where to find the halter pattern, it doesn’t exist yet (other than my notes for certain parts of it.) It was one of my seat-of-the pants projects. The finished product was a vision in my head that eventually became reality through experimentation and the occasional adjustment (rip it out, make fewer increases or decreases). I knew before I started that I wanted short-row shaping for the bust. No matter how blessed you are, shaped cups are far more flattering than flat triangles. It’s also a top down project, which I highly recommend for this style of garment. If anyone is interested in making Psyche, please don’t be bashful. Let me know, and I will put the pattern in writing.



Date Cake

I’m not really sure how old this recipe may be, but I do know it’s in a dessert cookbook given to my parents as a wedding gift in 1964. The book contains recipes that were submitted by home economics teachers. Who knows how many treasured recipe boxes it sat in before it found its way into print?

This is a cake my mom baked at least a few times a year as I was growing up. She liked it because you can make a few changes to the recipe and decrease the guilt factor. Since hitting middle age a few years ago, it’s become clear to me that my metabolism needs a lifestyle change. But I’m not quite ready to give up dessert, especially anything chocolate. Though I enjoy chocolate cake with butter cream frosting or a rich, fudgy brownie, this cake will satisfy my cravings just as easily.

My birthday was last weekend, and this is the cake I wanted to celebrate with. The way the recipe appears below is mostly the way it was originally written (except my mom substituted oil for shortning years ago). To make it a bit healthier I diced whole dates rather than using the sugar-coated, pre-diced dates in a box. Dates don’t need added sugar. Instead of white sugar I prefer to use natural cane sugar. Not all the nutrients are processed out of it, and it helps add a deeper caramel flavor to the cake. Half of the flour was whole wheat. For those trying to avoid gluten, brown rice, or other whole grain flours could probably replace the wheat flour. (If anyone tries it, let me know how the cake turns out.) This cake does have a topping and the ingredients are found in the directions. I used demerara sugar and my chocolate chips of choice are 60% cocoa. My mom isn’t a big chocolate lover, so she will occasionally use milk chocolate chips, but she’s just as likely to put carob on it instead.

If pressed to make a comparison I would say this cake tastes a lot like England’s sticky-toffee pudding, with chocolate instead of spices. It’s dense, moist and most definitely yummy. A small piece is satisfying and best of all, you don’t feel like you’re eating something (somewhat) healthy.

1 c. Dates

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 ½ c. Boiling Water

1 ¼ c. Sugar

½ c. Oil (Canola is fine)

2 Eggs

2 c. All-Purpose Flour

¾ tsp. Baking Soda

¾ tsp. Salt

Pour boiling water over soda and dates. Allow mixture to cool. Combine oil and sugar. Add the eggs and blend in cooled date mixture. Sift flour, soda and salt. Combine with liquid ingredients. Pour into a prepared 9” x 13” pan. Sprinkle cake batter with 1 c. chocolate chips, ½ c. brown sugar and ½ c. pecans. Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

For those into seasonal cooking you will probably notice whole dates are more readily available late summer and into fall. This is a cake I usually make in the fall and winter. This year my birthday fell on the first day of fall, so it felt right to make it part of two transitional occasions. But you have my permission to make it just because you want some cake.

The Project Queen

My mom was nice enough to scan and email me the book cover where this recipe came from.

Obviously, it's been well loved. I looked through it a lot as a kid.

What kid wouldn't appreciate a dessert cookbook?