Summer Sewing: Sewing Journal

I never would have thought about creating a sewing journal had it not been for my Foods class in college that required me to make a lab notebook in addition to my homeschooled background of nature notebooks. Late last year I decided to chronicle my sewing adventures (though few and far between) in a way that met with my particular tastes. I took a less-than-a- dollar composition notebook from Walmart and covered it with fabric. I determined that if I wanted to get more use out if my journal in the long run I should keep is somewhat organized… thus I put in a table of contents. I then decided that my Sewing Journal (more like a sewing Lab notebook!) would have two parts: one for tips, tricks and techniques and a second part for specific sewing projects. So far I have chronicled the making of my Easter dress as well as my most recent experiment of pattern reproduction (more posts to come on that!).

I also have a quite a few hand outs and pamphlets (the latter of which I have had to make little pockets for!) which I included so I could go back to them later.

I would encourage those of you who have certain project (whether it be sewing, cooking, gardening, or card-making etc) that you keep some sort of record of your work and journey. Not only is it a fantastic way to remember what method you used ( so you don’t have to spent 15 minutes wondering now did I cut the Steam N Seam ¼ or ½ inch?), but is will be fun to look back on in time to come.

Make this sort of book your own and no one else’s. Make it as sloppy or as orderly as you would like. I would suggest that you make it an absolute potluck of your ideas rather than a perfectly planned 10 course meal. Often the process of making things perfect distracts us from the real process of discovering. If it is perfect it means you weren’t creating. Such things should never be perfect.) Just give it enough order so that you can find what you want later.

Above all, learn and have fun. I sure have.

I appologize for the wonky picture. For some reason I cannot get it to load the right way up.  Oh well, just tweek your head to one side and you will get an idea of my notebook style.  :)

52 Living: Mom's Bible

For years I have awakened to find my Mother's head bent over her Bible, illuminated by the soft glow of the solitary lamp on the livingroom drum table.  As you can see, the wear of the years show on these crinkled and frayed egdges.  Nurmerous markinings fleck across the pages notating where God's Spirit of convition or comfort met with her.  It is just one tesimony of a diligent and faithful walk with the LORD. It is truly a testimony of God's work of grace in her life.

What a blessed young woman I am to have such a mother!

52 Living: Reading

Wednesday Writing Bits

The following is a writing exercise from chapter one of Gail Carson Levine’s book, Writing Magic. The following is a taste of the raw writing I scrawled June '09.  The bold green is the initial prompt and the plain green is my work. 


The first time I saw Stephen. He painted a hex sign on my right arm and I couldn’t move my fingers for 3 hours…
I had never seen Stephen face-to face until that moment when he grabbed my arm, almost spilling my entire lunch tray filled with greasy pizza, a carton of milk and a chocolate chip cookie. My mind snapped from the usual lunch time contemplations of a 5th grader with the sudden and unexpected touch on Stephan’s papery, dry hand. I think that is what shocked me the most, more than the feeling of my right arm being snatched away from my own use, more than seeing the strange new kid standing in front of me. There was no feeling, no life in the fingers that pressed into my hand. The sticky sweat of a nervous kid, the grease from the pizza, the cool moisture left over from the milk carton were nowhere to be found in Stephen’s grasp. It was as flakey and translucent as the crumpled tissue wrapper that my chocolate chip cookie rested on. I almost couldn’t believe it was a human I was in contact with yet his movements were anything but lifeless. They made a continuous motion, moving in circles, weaving a pattern on my hand—a hex.

And that hex is what froze up my arm.

Copyright of Cathryn 2009

Redeeming the scraps...and time!

You have seen them before. Those little ity bitsy of scraps of paper...or ribbon...or twine that pepper your table (or floor).  They are the unavoidable residue after your grand project of scrap-booking, envelope-making, or gift-wrapping.

You sigh.

You brush them into a pile with the side of your hand, your fingers curling towards the doomed scraps. One final push and they flutter into the trash bin.

Before you do that again...WAIT!

Just recently I started re-using all of those ity-bity scraps of paper that I so often threw away after making pretty envelopes. Now I use save them for decorating cards.

After making a new friend (who happens to have rather creative mind) I got to rethinking the opportunities that these scraps and bits of extras left over from my bigger projects provided. Take a look at some of the cards I made with those extras...

Isn't it sweet how this little red piece comes out of the pocket?  I thought so!

These little bits remind me of those spare moments scattered throughout my day. How often I "throw away" that time considering them as "too small to be used." How wrong I am! The Lord desires that I use every itsy bit of my life and not just the big chunks for His kingdom purposes.

Snack Bars: Granola and Branola

Below is a recipe I found ( after blog hopping a bit) from the Blog $50 a week.  It is simple, very easy, and offers room for variation. Personally, It think I would add a pinch of cinnamon and even nuts ( although this granola bar is a great option for those allergic to nuts since the original recipe is nut free). I was personally inspired thinking that a similar tasty affect could be achieved quite easily with other grains and dried fruit. So whilst my first batch of "following the recipe" bars baked I set to work mixing up my own variation . Instead of oatmeal I used a one to one ratio of brain buds and Wheaties, hence the name "Branola Bars." I am a "full bran" sort of babe, meaning me, myself and my taste buds can handle the taste and texture of bran. Those of you who are "bran sensitive" might want to approach this recipe with caution (just thought I would mention it!).



I baked these bars little longer than the 20 minutes suggested in the original recipe which proved to "crunchify" them a bit (almost too much). I think they would be perfect with a slightly stiffened, not too gooey peanut butter topping to add some protein and salt. I haven't come up with the perfectly textured peanut butter spread, but when I do I will post it. Until then you could always follow my example and simply slather on some peanut butter straight from the jar onto your bit of Branola. Accompanied by a glass of milk, this makes a yummy, well- balanced breakfast.


* Please note that while I have posted the Branola recipe here, it is still needs to be tweaked a little bit. So please refrain from making untoothsome comments on my blog if you make it and dislike it... I have given you full warning!

Granola Bars

makes 24 squares


4 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup flaxseed meal
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup honey
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp (and a bit more, because who doesn’t love vanilla?) vanilla extract
1 cup raisins

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add in the honey, oil, and vanilla and stir until well-mixed. Stir in the raisins. Spoon it into a lightly oiled 9″ x 13″ baking pan. Even the mixture out, and press down firmly. (I covered it with a sheet of wax paper and rolled a glass jar over it to get it nicely packed in there.) Bake at 325 F for 20 minutes. Slice as desired, then let cool completely before removing from the pan, as they firm up a bit as they cool.


Cathryn's "Branola" Bars

1 C Bran Buds
1C Wheaties
3/4 C Whole Wheat Flour
1/3 C Flaxseed Meal
1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
1/3 oil (I mixed Canola and Olive so I got both "good" fats. Hey, I am a nutrition major!)
1/3 Honey
Splash of Vanilla
1/2 to 1 C Dried fruit. Any assortment you like will work. Dried cranberries work quite well when mixed with raisins. It kept if from tasting to... dark. Dates, blueberries and currents... all of those would work.
Cinnamon is a definite option here (although I haven’t tried it yet and thus have no measurement to give you.)
Other additions... I also added some slivered almonds and unsweetened coconut.  Let that imagination run wild!



Procedure

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add in the honey, oil, and vanilla and stir until well-mixed. Stir in the raisins/dried fruit. Spread mixture into a sprayed, 8x8 inch baking pan. Even the mixture out, and press down firmly (the bottom of a measuring cup works well).


Bake at 325 F for 20 minutes (If you want it really crunchy, turn the oven off and leave the Branola in the oven for 3 more minutes .)


Slice as desired, then let cool completely before removing from the pan, as they firm up a bit as they cool.



Branola Bars Copyright of Cathryn

Happy 4th of July!

God Bless America!

Photo Taken by The Beauty of the Lord

Home from Vacation

Well, my family is back from a lovely little vacation we spent visiting my Country Sis and her husband. It was delightful. Everyone told us that we had brought the good with us for apparently it the sun and her warm rays had scarcely seen consistently for months. We were glad to help and tried to assure the Sun that it indeed was summer and that everyone wanted to see her shining face. I think she listened.

The pictures are evidence of the lovely weather. These pix were taken when Callie (the dog) and I were walking through the forest and the newly cut hay field.
Deeee- light-ful!!