I have decided to a new direction for this blog. I will (attempt) to record my sewing and knitting adventures. Let see how well I do.

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I was really limited in time this month due to the short month and my time has been eaten up sewing silk robes for a client, so this got pushed down the list of things I need to do. So with limited time it had to be small and I recently chopped off all the bleached/dyed hair so my hair is really short, I decided a hair scarf would be perfect also good for summer since my wool hat would be unbearable and suit my wardrobe no matter what time period I decide to dress in. I did finish this before March 1st…I just hadn’t gotten around to posting about it (also haven’t learned to create a recognizable period headscarf style)

The Challenge: Blue

Fabric: 100% Silk

Pattern: No pattern, just ripped a square.

Year:  1920’s on

Notions: thread

How historically accurate is it? Scarves have been used to create headpieces and to accent outfit for a long time, really gaining prominence in the 20’s creating turban styles as well as covering curlers and pin curls when you sleep. I think the print is fairly too modern but my selection was really limited in silk prints and even more so in prints with blue.

Hours to complete: folding and mitering the corners took the most time so about 1-2 hours total.

First worn: haven’t, trying to find tutorials on how to create period accurate

Total cost: Fabric was $10.82 (got ~30″)

Tags: 2015, blue, HSF, HSM, scarf
Filed under: Clothing, Costuming

The Challenge: Foundations

Fabric: Silk/cotton blend (50/50)

Pattern:  Folkwear #219: Intimacies

Year:  1920’s/1930’s (according to pattern description

Notions: Thread, snaps

How historically accurate is it? Somewhat, I think it’s closer to 30’s/40’s rather than the ’20’s. The fabric is not accurate. It’s theoretically possible for them to have made this (especially since it the silk is the warm and the cotton is the weft, instead of a blended spun yarn) but unlikely since I can’t find information about it online and don’t have any good history of textiles on hand (will be looking one up)

Hours to complete: I hand sewed most of it, so it took a long time compared to if I’d done it by machine. Probably 20 hours minimum. I also have plans of embroidering it too but since I have some sewing jobs coming in wanted to get this to the “finished” pile.

First worn: haven’t as yet, except for fittings….

Total cost: Fabric was $17.99 (for 1.5 yards of 60″ wide fabric). I did purchase some silk embroidery floss for the embroidery which was 4.95. Thread and snaps I had on hand from previous projects so negligible. So total cost expended was  $22.95.  If I am able to get the embroidery done before the end of the month I will update this entry with new pictures.

Folkwear 219 Intamacies; Teddy

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So I’ve decided this year to start blogging as well as attempt to kick my sewing up a notch. Mainly by participating in the History Sew Fortnightly Monthly 2015. The January Challenge is Foundations. A corset (or two) is on my to do this year but current lack of funds (and one fashion corset that needs to be finish before I go try another..trying to not have too many unfinished projects). Trying to decide whether to do either 1920’s underthings or 1930’s as they would get the most wear in my wardrobe probably.

My office Part I

Messy Office Part II

But first my office is in a rather shameful state of disarray. So before I can dive into any serious sewing (or writing really) I must clean and organize my space. These two quick shots are of office after a quick clean up of some of the worst offending spaces (namy my grey cutting table and the small wooden table you can’t really see). So this week hopefully I will start to clean and organize my space so it is actually functional. Wish me luck and the ability to stay focused and on task, particularly once I get into the drawers and boxes (yikes!!!!)

Also this will give me something to do while I wait to get my books I ordered from Barnes and Noble (saved 15% using a coupon code found online and free 3-day shipping with a free 2-month trial B&N membership thingy *happy dance*). I decided on these two based on the excellent advice of Jennifer Rosbrugh. She has a lovely historical sewing blog which I love to read and search through for inspiration and hints.  The two books are Couture Sewing Techniques and  Authentic Victorian Dressmaking Techniques Really hoping they will give me the tricks and hints and confidence to bring my sewing to the next level.

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So rich and decadent with a perfect balance of sweet, bitter and sour tang for interest. The cake is Shirley Temple Chocolate Cake (source Fanny Farmer Baking Book) which a rich dense chocolate cake, so named because it was supposedly the favorite of the child actress.
The whipped ganache made with bittersweet chocolate adds a lovely chocolate bitterness while its light and fluffy texture adds complexity; and then finishing with an oddly light-heavy frosting of whipped cream cream cheese frosting (sourced from JoyofBaking.com) adding a lovely tang and cutting through the rich chocolate adding balance to the flavor.

Shirley Temple Chocolate Cake

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1/3 cup boiling water
8 tbsp. butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. Break the chocolate into bits and place them in a small cup or bowl. Pour the boiling water over and stir for a moment, then set aside to finish melting.

Cream the butter, then slowly add the sugar, beating until thoroughly blended. Add the vanilla, then the eggs, and beat well. Add the melted chocolate and blend thoroughly. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt, and add them to the first mixture along with the milk. Beat until the batter is well blended and perfectly smooth.

Pour into the prepared pans and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let the layers cool in the pans for about 5 minutes, then turn out onto racks to finish cooling completely. Once cool flatten the cake you will use as the bottom layer

Whipped Ganache Filling

8 oz Bittersweet chocolate (about 70% cacao) (I used 5 oz Baker’s Semisweet Chocolate and 3 oz Baker’s Unsweetened Chocolate)
1 C Heavy whipping cream

You will probably want to use either your stand mixer or a hand beater for this
Chop the chocolate into small pieces and put into a heat safe bowl (preferably your mixing bowl for your mixer). Then heat the cream to just about boiling; then pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir until it’s all melted and smooth. Allow to cool on your counter until room temp (it’ll look like and be about the consistancy of pudding) then whip it until it’s about the color of a light milk chocolate and looks almost like mousse. Spread it over one of the cakes in an even layer and place the other cake on top.

Whipped Cream Cream Cheese Frosting

16 oz cream cheese
1 C confectioner sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (use the real stuff)
1 1/2 c whipping cream

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners sugar and beat until smooth. Using the whisk attachment, gradually add the heavy cream, whipping until the proper consistency. Frost the cake, this will make plenty with a little left over (which is perfect for a fruit dip or just eating with a spoon)

Tags: chocolate cake, cream cheese frosting, ganache, recipe, shirley temple, whipped cream
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Now I’ve blogged about croissants before, here but this recipe is sooo much better, lighter fluffier (butter melts out of it less and is soaked up by the layers better), still labor intensive (about 6 hours from start to finish) but entirely worth it. These will come out like Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (you know light and flaky and buttery) but with out all the ingredients you can’t pronounce (and no trans-fat)

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
1/4 cup flour

Smoosh butter and flour together and form into a 4 x 6 inch square; it’s easier if you cream the butter in a bowl with the flour then shape between two pieces of waxed paper and chill in fridge while you make dough

Dough:
1/3 cup warm water
2 packets (or 2 Tbl) yeast
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup cold milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups flour (I used King Arthur bread flour)

Extras:
Bittersweet chocolate (~1/2 oz per pain au chocolat)
Egg wash

Dissolve yeast into the water, then add sugar, milk, egg and salt mixing until blended then add 2 cups of flour and blend until smooth. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, dough will be very sticky. Turn out dough onto well floured surface and knead (adding flour as needed) until smooth, still slightly sticky but elastic.

Take out chilled butter (it should be malleable but firm) and roll out into 6 by 12 rectangle and then roll dough out to a 14 inch square, place butter on half of dough leaving a 1″ border around it and then fold the dough over, pinching the edges.

Roll out to a 9 x 29 inch rectangle, then fold ends to center then fold that in half, wrap in plastic and place in fridge and let chill for about 45 minutes. You will do this 3 more times (rolling out, folding into fourths then chilling). After the fourth time you’ve folded the dough, let chill for at least 1.5 hours (but no longer than over night). Then roll out to 12 x 32 (at least). cut into the size & shaped pieces you want

I wanted mostly Pain au Chocolat so I cut into 4 x 6″ rectangles and placed 1/4 oz of chopped chocolate at the 2″ mark fold over the chocolate and then put another 1/4 oz of chocolate at that seam and folded over the other end and placed them on parchment paper to rise until big and fluffy (about 2x as big)

After you let them rise, brush with an egg wash (this will make them bake up extra golden) bake in oven at 400F for about 10-15 minutes.

If you leave them plain they make excellent dinner rolls with stew

Tags: buttery, croissants, dinner roll, pain au chocolat, pastry, puff, recipe
Filed under: Baking

We will be on vacation starting July 27, 2012 through August 16, 2012. Orders can still be place but will not be shipped until August 17 or, 18th or 20th (depending on how many orders are received.)

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Just finished my satin stitch, filled Green Man. I’m exceedingly happy with the way this piece turned out, along with the framing job. I didn’t actually time myself but it was at least 30 hours of stitching. It is done on white cotton muslin with double stranded cotton floss in various shades of green brown and gold. The eyes are single stranded floss.

The frame is a simple embroidery hoop that I painted black and the back has a fabric covered board to keep it nice and neat.
I used mostly a satin stitch but also backstitch, split stitch and Chinese knot. You can find it for sale here

I am going to be making more, but custom orders are always welcome if you would like something different. This design is from Urban Threads (they have a ton of pagan, earthy, punky, alternative designs)

Tags: embroidery, green man, hand embroidered, handmade, home decor, Pagan, wall hanging
Filed under: Embroidery, Housewares

This is an awesome cake, easy and quick to mix and good for people with egg or dairy allergies since there is no butter, milk or egg in it.
You can mix this in the pan you plan on baking it in but you get a better mix in a bowl with a whisk. You will probably want to double the below recipe if you want it to last more than one night

Recipe:
Preheat oven to 350F and get out and prep 8×8″ pan
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
sift and mix the dry ingredients together

1 tbl vinegar (white or cider doesn’t matter)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
add liquid ingredients and mix quickly and thoroughly. Pour into pan if you mixed it in a separate bowl and I highly suggest sprinkling chocolate chips or nuts if you like on top. Bake for about 30 minutes or until done.
You can serve it out of the pan or you can unmold it…but really, not worth unmolding…it’ll will be gone soon enough.

Tags: allergy-friendly, cake, chocolate, quick, recipe
Filed under: Baking

Easy and so tasty, really nice if you have some already cooked chicken and brocoli tossed with it:

1/2 – 1lb of pasta
1/2 medium onion
5 cloves of Garlic
couple tbl of oil
1 stick of butter
dash of salt

prepare pasta according to instructions

While pasta is cooking, mince the onion and garlic. Heat up olive oil in the pan and once hot sauté minced onion and garlic until fragrant and onions are caramelizing. Put stick of butter in hot pan and melt and cook until slightly browned. Salt to taste
Toss over cooked and strained pasta. Delicious side to any meal.

Tags: butter, garlic, pasta, recipe
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This is a wonderful, sweet muffin recipe…the batter is actually a great generic muffin recipe for surprise muffins or anything like that.
This is from one of my mom’s cookbooks (cannot remember which one):

Preheat oven to 375F and prep 2 12-cup muffin tins

1/2 C (1 stick) butter, softened
1 C Sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp Baking Powder
2 cups flour
1 cup Milk or Orange juice (orange juice gives it a nice light citrus flavor but makes for a more crumbly muffin)
1 tsp Vanilla Extract (or lemon, it goes very nicely with the Blueberry version)
1-2 cups of Blueberries

Cream butter and sugar until nice and light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the baking powder and then alternate the flour and liquid (starting and ending with flour) until it’s a thick batter. Fold in extract and blueberries and then spoon into tins and bake for about 25-30 minutes.

Tags: baking, blueberry, cooking, generic, home made, muffin, recipe
Filed under: Baking