red friday and quilts and to dos

:: Another red photo this week, not my fave from the red roll but I like the shadows
:: Currently discussing a co-op photo challenge w/ M, we’re picking themes right now
:: ooo just thought of another idea for our photo challenge…a double exposure challenge.  Mom’s told me about these challenges where one person shoots a roll in the holga then goes in a dark room and rerolls up the film gives it to another person and then they reshoot the film.  That way each pic is a double exposure one taken by each person.  I know you’ll read this M…thoughts?
:: I have the weekend to myself this weekend and I’m overwhelmed by the possibilities of things to do
:: I want to start painting the master bedroom, I bought the paint and began taping
:: I’ve started stripping the paint off a cedar chest that used to be my great grandmas
:: I’d like to go do some shopping…wine shopping, clothes shopping, fabric shopping, lil boy shopping

:: Here’s what our quilt looks like with all our blocks put together, I think it’ll look awesome
:: I’d like to read out on the deck
:: the house needs cleaning
:: this post is turning into a to do list!! 
:: mostly I’d like to get some crafty time in.  Make a couple more squares and work on my afghan while watching some girly movies.
:: wish me luck in relaxing and getting things done!

quilting collaboration

Two weeks ago when I went home for the fiber festival Mom threw an idea by me.  Since we’d both been talking about quilts lately and we inspire each other, we even feed each others obsessions and creativity when we really get going…she suggested we make a quilt together.  I was intrigued.  It would force me to learn and do learn by doing instead of just pretending to read about it (i tend to just look at the pretty pictures). 

We decided we needed some rules for our quilt.  First we decide to choose a pallet of fabric and stick to it.  It didn’t take long to decide to use batiks since we both love them and the colors are endless and not inhibiting.  I had happened to bring some batiks home with me to brain storm a project for them.  I dug them out and she was inspired by them as I was.  They consisted of some greens, pinks, and winey purples.  We headed out and bought a couple more fabrics that complimented the pallet we had going.  The main colors are pictured above.  Our second rule was we wanted to make 8inch blocks.  We can do any pattern or funky scrapy block we want.  We just have to use those batiks and make it 8inches square.
We have very different styles, she follows patterns, knows a lot of the rules and some of the tricks to quilting.  She uses a sewing machine.  She likes her triangle tips to line up and her angles to be near perfect.  I am the opposite of all these things.  In fact here are 3 very good reasons why I’m not a quilter, I don’t measure, I hand sew b/c I like to, I hate the math involved it sucks the fun out.  They are the same reasons why I wouldn’t make a very good carpenter!  I have a vague idea in my head and I attempt to create it.  Making these blocks and following some of the basic patterns is helping me to think like a quilter.  I’m coming up with easier ways to do what I originally wanted to do.

I actually almost have three blocks completed.  I only took a picture of my first block though.  It’s a very basic quilting pattern called the log cabin.  It was good to start with, it taught me to begin thinking in squares, which is proving to be hard for my nonsquare brain. I’m planning more wonky blocks soon but back to the now.

Here are Mom’s two completed blocks

and

I’m not sure what the star is called but the other block is called the basket weave.  I’m anxious to see our blocks together and see if our combined styles will mesh and make for a cohesive quilt.  Doesn’t really matter if they don’t.  We’re both having fun making them in the process and really you can’t beat that.

toy cam thrus: a sky w/out blue

= the sky through the eyes of tinted red film apparently is green
= i like this b/c you can actually see the sun’s rays
= long holiday weekend equals fun and one burnt out kid
= we all played in the pool
= M also posted a red tinted photo on her blog this week
= I almost have 3 blocks quilted and only photos of one
= I started to make a pie yesterday, its on my list and I decided to just give it a go
= I’m going w/ the classic recipe of crisco, flour, and a lil bit of water, I mixed (w/ a pastry knife) it up and divided it in half and stuck it in the fridge
= I’ll roll it out Friday
= I’m not sure it’ll go well, it’s still pretty crumbly dough
= and I’m really not good at rolling out dough and then moving it
= it may turn into an apple mash of of dough and sugary apples…should still taste good though
= also starting to think about what jam to make next, i want something good but a little different
= also want to make another batch of the raspberry jalepeno
= braised a roast in a bottle of cab sav last night, it cut like butter it was so tender
= i have leftovers on top of a salad w/ lettuce from my garden
= tonights dinner will probably be frozen pizza =)

toy cam thurs: I see a red door and I want it painted black

{] I’m loving this photo, it almost seems like it should be on the cover of the film box for advertising the red tinted film
{] went to the fiber festival up by parents last weekend. 
{] R did excellent in the car rides but we’re glad to be home for a while
{] the festival was small, maybe even half the size of last years (according to mom)
{] there was lots of hand dyed beautiful yarn
{] most of it was sock weight yarn too, which I’m totally a sucker for hand dyed sock weight yarn
{] I was strong and didn’t buy any, mostly b/c I don’t have a project in mind that needed it.
{] and because I started a bunch of other projects over the weekend
{] Mom and I are starting a quilt project together using batik fabrics…I’m so excited for this and will post on it soon
{] Mom also fixed my error in my block I’ve been knitting so I hope to finish the block and start another soon
{] I have some scrap Noro yarn from my afghan that I’ve thought of an idea for.  I’ve been knitting some up to try and felt!
{] must never waste Noro yarn!
{] and I’m plugging away at my afghan, about half done with block number 5
{] I’ve also been working on my list of “to dos” before my birthday which is about a month away.  There’s 5 or 6 things left on this years list that at this point in time really probably won’t get finished. 
{] I’ve accepted it and some of them are making it onto next years list. 
{] holiday weekend plans include dinners and hanging out with friends and my bro and SIL
{] we bought R a kiddie pool and plan to spend the hot weekend around the pool with some fun drinks
{] I’m so very much looking forward to it!!!!

toy camera thursday-color me red

> I’m having a frustrating day
> cleaned sink at work and got bleach all over my clothes
> having sushi for dinner tonight with a large glass of wine
> very excited about that
> I finally got some pics developed, not my holga pics but from my blue slim
> two rolls were developed, one was from the red tinted film by lomography, the other was color film
> the color film didn’t turn out so great, most pics from the Toast of the Town from last weekend.  It was too dark inside and they were all underexposed.
> I’m very plesantly surprised by the red tinted film.  I’ll be posting a lot of red the next few weeks to show it off.  The shadows turned out really cool.
> This is a self portrait from a couple weeks ago.  Self portrait/up the nose shot =)
> I’m real excited to try other roll of red film.  Also thinking about putting some 35mm in my holga and seeing what happens
> M posted my obesessions on her blog this week, check her out
> heading to the Midwest Fiber Festival this weekend w/ R and Mom
> not really sure what I’m looking for but I’m excited to look at all the pretty yarn
> been shopping around for some fun kid fabric for some quilt ideas I have.
> I haven’t committed to one idea yet but loving a monkey themed quilt and a car themed quilt
> I’ve been steadily working on the fifth block to my afghan
> we had an amazing time in Chicago last week at Toast of the Town
> over 500 wines were available to try and I didn’t come close to getting them all
> I did find some that I will look for again in the future
> I enjoyed trying all the food from the 30 something local restaurants as much as I enjoyed trying the wine
> I was sooo full it was really fun

skipping holga again Thursday

:p I’m low on holgas to show but I have lots of b-day pics so those will have to do
:p haven’t mentioned it to M yet but when she’s in town next week we need to plan a holga snapping adventure
:p I haven’t mentioned it here yet but she’s coming in town to go w/ C, me, MW and K to Wine Enthusiats Toast of the Town
:p A wine tasting event at the Field Museum in Chicago
:p I discovered this two years ago and knew I had to go at least once (although if its cool they have on in San Fransisco so that may be an excuse to make M go again)
:p I have officially subbed out number 25 on my list Kayak Chicago with this event
:p C and I have been having little fashion shows for each other in our new clothes trying to pick out what we’ll wear to the event
:p We splurged and got VIP tickets, which means we get to go an hour early and get to taste the fancy reserve wines
:p Food will be catered by 35 local restaurants
:p I’m almost as excited for the food as I am for the wine

:p R’s party was a blast
:p It was hot but people did ok outside, we had about 40 people show up
:p R did really well, he was over tired but didn’t fuss
:p He only really cried while eating cake b/c 40 people in my kitchen/dining area is a lot and it was loud
:p He got over it and enjoyed the cake though
:p I think he enjoyed his popsicle later in the evening even more though
:p Thanks to everyone for showing, we had a fun time and R loved celebrating with everyone
:p This completes number 23 on my list…throw R a birthday party

:p Since the mad dash to finish the birthday banner and monsters I haven’t been sure what to do next
:p My brain keeps coming up with ideas for quilts
:p I literally have 4 quilt ideas doodled in my notepad
:p Not big quilts, baby sized or for playing on
:p He’s quite big now I wonder if I should rethink my sizing
:p I’m going to attempt to not start a new quilt until I’ve finished the border on two of my unbordered blocks to my afghan, and get another block completed
:p I half think this is possible since I don’t have all the equipment I need for any of the quilts I have doodled
:p but thats never stopped me before!

no holga loving this week

>> my lil bubba turns 1 on Saturday
>> no holga this week, but lots of pics of what I’ve been up to
>> I’m quickly running out of holga pics to share
>> I’m hoping to get inspired to take photographs soon
>> M is coming to town soon maybe we can do another photo hike
>> or we could take R up to Starved Rock for a day
>> last night I got my first harvest out of my garden this year…lettuce!  Completing number 7 of my 29 plus 1 list!!!
>> I also have tomato plants and tons zucchini, butternut squash, pumpkins and gourds planted in the garden
>> all the squash seeds have germinated this year and things look promising
>> had a nice holiday weekend with family in the Chicago area
>> some crazy storms and hot sun

>> everything else going on has been centered around planning and prepping for R’s birthday party (number 23 on my list)
>> its monster themed
>> I made some fun monsters out of felt for party decorations, they are now connected by a bright orange ribbon
>> I also finished the Happy Birthday banner

>> I love it!  it turned out so perfect and we’ll be able to use it every year
>> I finished them late last night so these are in progress pics
>> we’re expecting between 40 and 50 peeps for the party
>> lots of cooking, cleaning, and setting up needs to be done
>> weatherman is calling for hot and sunny near 95F on Saturday
>> I baked the monster cookies yesterday before the heat comes

>> it’s been quite the crazy year
>> I can say it’s gone by fast but there were many times that were slow as well
>> R’s not walking yet but he’s climbing stairs and pulling up to standing on everything
>> he’ll be a lil monkey all over everything soon

holga loving happy week

~ I’m running out of holgas for my weekly post
~ hoping to find time to take some at R’s party next weekend
~ maybe I’ll bring it up to Chicago this weekend just in case
~ I bought a 4lb box of strawberries yesterday and ate half of them
~ they were delish
~ had chicago friends visit this weekend it was loads of fun
~ also watched lots of harry potter reruns too
~ I’ve decided what quilt to make next
~ before I start need to finish my monster decorations for the party
~ I’m also making a happy birthday banner inspired by this for the party
~ then I want to complete another square on the afghan before I start something new
~ R now climbs stairs
~ he’s going through a stage where he’s frustrated he’s not quite a toddler and too independent to be a baby
~ I suppose this is one of the many phases he’ll enter
~ today he was copying C making booming noises it was quite entertaining
~ I’m wanting to make a fruit salad similar to this for the party as well
~ I’m totally loving the monster theme
~ off to go sew holiday weekend

holga loving zombie

z: had an annual conference at work today and I helped prepare food and snacks for attendees
z: it was a very long day of nonstop everything
z: it’s nice to do something different at work now and then though
z: R’s bday party plans are in full swing
z: not sure there will be enough time to get everything done
z: chicago friends are coming down for a visit this weekend, super excited
z: hoping for good weather
z: figured out the next quilt I want to make and I already have the fabric
z: before I work on that I want to make some banners for R’s party
z: LOVED the Good Wife season finale
z: been watching season 2 of Lost w/ C
z: I think he’s been enjoying it, at least we both hate Jack
z: my feet are aching, gonna go curl up on the couch and probably fall asleep

Jammin

When I think of this title it makes me think of Bob Marley then of course Jamaica.  And Jamaica makes me think of the cocktails we had on the beach, coconut blossoms, purple rain, and the dirty bananas….yum!  But I digress…

Number 8 on my list of 29 plus 1 is to learn to can.  I’d been thinking about canning for a while now and this I actually over whelmed myself with different recipes to try.  Finally in March and April I picked a raspberry jalapeno recipe and tried it out.  Making jam itself is super easy.  And I’m now officially addicted to raspberry jalapeno jam.  I’ve put it on sandwiches, I’ve mixed it with cream cheese and used it for a dip for crackers or pretzels.  I’ve put it on english muffins.  I want to use it as a glaze on a ham or maybe some pork chops, or chicken breasts.  I used one and a half jalapenos, which when I was making the jam seems very hot and spicy for my wussy taste.  But now that it’s sat and the pectin set its barely spicy at all.  In fact I’ll put in at least two peppers next time.  I actually fancied up the jars a bit and sent a couple to a few friends.
I used the hot water bath method to process the jars and seal them.  It took a while for me to realize what a rolling boil is, it takes forever to get to that stage.  But once I got the hang of that I was under control.  The jam should be good for at least a year.  But right now I shouldn’t have any issues with jam lasting a year.  C is even enjoying it.

The other jam I made was in April.  I had a couple weeks of rhubarb obsession and found this recipe for rhubarb jam.  It’s really more of a rhubarb sauce since you don’t add in any pectin to firm things up.  I love rhubarb but I actually not loving this jam.  The color of mine is more a mauve color since I didn’t have super red rhubarb, I had to use frozen.  But I think its the rosemary. I have a love hate relationship with rosemary, I really love it in some instances.  Like in bread or in spice mixes on chicken and pork.  I really liked the combination of rhubarb and vanilla.  So now I’m thinking I should try this sauce on ice cream, maybe the sweet with the savory rosemary flavor will lighten it up a bit.  Otherwise I need to make some strawberry rhubarb vanilla jam.  I also found a recipe for some cranberry blackberry pink grapefruit preserves that I think sounds intriguing.