Denim picnic blanket quilt

{making}

 

Denim picnic blanket/quilt

    Today's project actually started late last summer as I was cleaning out my dressing room (yes I use a whole extra bedroom in our house as a closet - don't judge - lol). Actually I should probably back the story up a bit further than that, because really the original inspiration probably goes back to March of last year.  My husband and I went to the Blossom Kite Festival (part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC) and while we were sitting on the grass watching some of the demonstrations and competitions a family came and sat near us and the mother pulled out a picnic quilt that was made from both fabric and denim squares and I remember thinking, that would be great in all denim because it would really protect from damp and dirt.  Now fast forward to me cleaning out the dressing room and ending up with a huge pile of jeans that were no longer wearable for one reason or another...... I think you can see where this is going.......

Now, probably most people do not have this many old pairs of jeans laying around to work with, but you could always either add some fabric squares like the original quilt I saw had, or go to a Goodwill outlet store or some other thrift shop that sells clothes by the pound or bag and stock up. Also, if you want to do bigger squares like I did you'll want to get bigger size jeans (like mine were) if possible so that you can get more squares out of each pair.  Alternately you could always do more smaller squares or have some squares that are pieced together out of smaller pieces (just make sure they end up being square).

{1}So..... to start with figure out what size you want the squares to be and add in seam allowances (being denim and not wanting to waste anymore material then was necessary I went with a 1/4" seam allowance.... if you're using a less sturdy material or aren't comfortable with that small a seam allowance you could of course make it larger).  So, if you want the finished squares to be 3" you'll need to cut them out 3.5"x3.5" to allow for the 1/4" all the way around. Also figure out how large you want your finished quilt to be so that you know how many squares to cut out. (mine is 7 rows of 7 squares each square 8"). Cut out enough squares to make both a front and a back for your quilt.

{2}Next, you'll sew the squares together. First you want to sew them into your rows by sewing each block end to end, then once to have all your rows you'll want to sew them together.  Pin and sew along the long side of your row and make sure that all the seams match up (at least as well as possible, since some of the jeans I used were stretch and some weren't they didn't all sew exactly even) Since the denim is thick when you get to a seam you may have to help pull it through your machine. {unfortunately I forgot to get pictures of the process of actually sewing it together, but it really is very simple}. Make sure you end up with a front and a back piece that are the same size. (when I was doing mine I only sewed 7 rows then sewed them together to make the front, then went back and sewed 7 more rows and sewed them together to make the back, because I was sure that otherwise I was going to lose count and end up with a front with 8 rows and a back with 6......).  I also divided my squares by color (light, medium, and dark) and alternated them as I was making the rows so that they would be evenly distributed on the finished piece, and I put all the pieces with pockets on the front side..... you'll want to figure stuff like that out before you start sewing, a little planning makes the process go much easier.

{3}Once you have your front and your back made it's time to put them together.  Lay your back down face down and lay your front on top of it face up, lining up all the edges. Then start pinning blanket binding around the edges. (mine took 6 yards of store bought blanket binding - it came 3yrds. to a package - make sure you measure yours though so that you have enough). I used a cotton binding rather than the satiny type but you can use whatever you like.  Make sure you have the edges of both the front and the back of your blanket/quilt in the binding and pin it relatively close together. Miter the corners as shown in the picture below and if you end on piece of binding and start another make sure you fold the raw edges under.

  

 {4}Sew the binding onto the blanket. Be very careful as you do this that you pay attention to how it's feeding through your machine.  Even if you pinned pretty close together the edges still have a tendency to want to slip out of the binding if you're not careful so make sure you are checking that as you guide it.  Also, again you may have to help pull it through where you come upon a seam.  When you get to a corner make sure your needle is in the down position (through the material), then lift the presser foot and turn the blanket,  lower the presser foot again and continue sewing (on my machine it always stops with the needle in the up position, which is great most of the time, but I do have to manually lower it into the fabric to turn a corner, so if yours does this too keep in mind that you'll want to stop the machine a stitch before you want to turn to allow for the extra stitch when you manually lower the needle)

{5} and Voila! your blanket is done.  Now at this point it is not truly a quilt because you have not done any quilting on it (sewing through both layer together to hold them in place) and if it seems that they are sliding around on each other too much or you just want the look of some quilting you can certainly go ahead and do that.  Or you can also just tack it in a few places to hold it still...... Mine hasn't given me issues with moving around and I don't feel like trying to sew through those thick layers so I left mine as is. 

Although....

I am thinking about writing the date and event on it each time we use it and embroidering over them.... but I haven't decided yet if I want to do that or not. 

You could also use a flannel back vinyl table cloth for the backing instead the second layer of denim for the backing if you wanted to make it really moisture proof, but for mine I wanted it to still be comfortable to be used as an actual blanket if need be at any time and I think the two layers of denim should protect from all but the wettest grounds.

{6}The most important step of all...............Enjoy using your new picnic blanket!

Summer Reading

{Living}

Summer Bucket List: Reading

I love to read.  I love books. Year round I am almost constantly reading, But there is something particularly about summer that makes me want to spend even more time than usual lost in the pages of a book.  I remember as a child how much I loved going to the library in the summer because it would be so, so hot outside and then as soon as you stepped through the doors it was so nice and cool.... between the coolness and the books I was in heaven.

 I like to always have a new book to read, this summer however I really want to re-read a lot of books that I've read in the past.  I'm finding myself especially drawn to ones that are considered children's literature.  Some that I read years ago, some that I've read multiple times, and a few that I've not read before (or at least not read all of). A good number of these books are fantasy books, and although I love fantasy stories at any time, for me, summer seems an especially perfect time for Fairies, Unicorns, Princesses, Knights , and Magic.

A good number of the books on this list fall under the category of "movies you may not have known were books" - or at least that I didn't until a while (some of them years) after I'd seen the films.  And of course probably the majority of the rest of them have also been made into movies as well (it's just that we all know they were books first haha).

So here's my list of summer reading.  These books are enjoyable for children, or adults, or for families to read together.  While you may not intend to spend quite as much time reading this summer as I am, pick a book or two (or more) from this list and revisit a childhood favorite, or introduce it to your own children, or perhaps discover a new favorite, or pick your own favorite books from childhood and soak up some sun, or relax in the cool house, and get lost in the book. :)

So here's my list................

{movies that you may not have known were books first}
{The Never Ending Story}by Michael Ende - I loved the movie the Never Ending Story when I was young, it used to come on TV all the time and I would have to watch it every time.  After many years of loving the first movie I found out that there was a second movie and had to watch it as well (there's also a Never Ending Story 3, but it's not quite in the same category as the original two, at least in my opinion, although I do have a copy of it on tape - yep tape, $.69 at Goodwill haha).  It wasn't until sometime well into my teens that I found out that it was actually a book.  Now I have to admit that I did get the book and start reading it and got a little more then halfway through and for some reason stopped and I'm just now getting back to it (I know bad me), but I can tell you that the first movie is based on about the first half of the book and the second half seemed to be the second movie (at least as far as I got), so if you liked the movies definitely read the book!
{The Princess and The Goblin}by George MacDonald -  George MacDonald was actually a Minister and wrote many books besides this one and it's companions (there's a sequel called The Princess and Curdie - which I am literally having sent to my kindle app on my phone as I type this), and this is one of those cases that I absolutely love the book sooooo much more then the movie.  I enjoyed the movie (does anyone even remember the movie, actually, on this one? It was an animated film that came out sometime in the 90's I think, I don't remember when exactly), but the book itself  is so much better - especially from an adult point of view.  I also went for years after seeing the movie before I stumbled upon the fact that this was a book long before a movie. (I found a copy of it in a used bookstore).  Along with being an exciting story, it is also filled with some really beautiful allegories and metaphors about our relationships as humans with God.
{The Last Unicorn}by Peter S. Beagle - I can't really tell you much about this book because this is one of the books on my list that I've not read before.  My sister and I watched this movie so many times as kids that our tape wore out. I actually just found out a couple weeks ago that it was a book and am currently waiting for the copy I ordered off of Amazon.com to get here :)
{The Black Cauldron}by Lloyd Alexander - One of Disney's lesser known movies, although I've been seeing references to it a little more lately.  The book is actually I believe part of a series, but I haven't gotten into reading the others yet, but love this one.
{The Once and Future King}by T.H. White - Another Disney animated film is based on the first section of this book about King Arthur (it is divided into 4 sections). The Sword In The Stone (the movie is also one of my favorites) I read this book as summer reading for my 10th Grade English Honors class the summer between freshman and sophomore years and had no idea before then that the movie was based on any piece of literature. ( I will say though that I don't remember the other sections of the book terribly well, and haven't re-read it yet this summer so if you are looking for books for your kids you may want to read it first just to be on the safe side to make sure there's nothing inappropriate for younger children.... I don't remember anything, but I was also 15 at the time I read it so I don't know that I was really thinking about that sort of thing at the time)
{The Tale of Despereaux)by Kate DiCamillo - now this one you might have known was a book first (even though I didn't...). The Book is a Newbery Honor Book. I loved both the movie and the book (and I first read it as an adult). (and if you read it with your children it is not only a great story, but a great jumping off point for discussions of human behavior and motivations)

{other books on my list this summer - many of which are also movies}
{The Farthest Away Mountain}by Lynne Reid Banks - One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE books.  I was in Elementary school the first time I read it and have read it many, many times since (it's a quick read for an adult).  It is about a girl who hears the mountain call her (I've never quite decided whether part of the reason I love this book so much is that I love the mountains so much or if part of the reason I love the mountains so much is this book............).  She sneaks away from home to follow the mountain's call and has an adventure filled with magic, and danger, and witches, and gargoyles, and all sorts of wonders which leads to a surprise twist at the end. Love it.
{Tuck Everlasting}by Natalie Babbitt - We read this in school (as I think many people did) in elementary school, and I simply fell in love with it.  Even those who didn't read it in school are probably familiar with it now since it was made into a movie a few years back.  To me it is a perfect summer read, something about the romance of the whole story (about a sheltered little girl and a family with a big secret), just grabs you and won't let go.
{The Wind in The Willows}by Kenneth Grahame - Who doesn't love stories about animals who act like people? And who could resist Mr. Toad's antics?
{The Redwall Series}by Brian Jacques - Speaking of animals who act like people, if you have never read any of the Redwall books, then you are seriously missing out.  The series is about the life and adventures of the animals who live in Redwall Abbey and the other creatures they meet along the way.  Think medieval adventures where all the Characters are animals.  (and the way he writes the dialogue with each type of creature having their own accents and dialects - fabulous!)
{The Hobbit}by J.R.R. Tolkien - Of course, the classic prequel to the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
{Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass}by Lewis Carroll -   Both classics, although the second installment of Alice's Adventures - Through The Looking Glass is probably a little less known, and less often read (and probably the installment I will re-read this summer)

I will also be re-reading (or have re-read) some adult books this summer.  I just finished re-reading Holy Fools by Joanne Harris yesterday. I highly recommend it.  It lost absolutely none of it's excitement even reading it a second time.  I must have some Shakespeare in my summer as well (I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Shakespeare - although mostly love - but I'd best not get started on that or this post will never end).  I saw an outdoor 17th/18th century style performance of Henry IV part I this past weekend, which was quite well done (and one of the plays that I don't think I've ever  seen or read before).  I do prefer Shakespeare acted out as the Bard himself intended them to be, but I do plan on re-reading my two favorites this summer - A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth"The Scottish Play" ;).  I also think I might re-read I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith if I have the time. It is a coming of age story set in mid-century (20th C.) England and I thoroughly enjoyed it the first time I read it and it also is a perfect book for summer.

Enjoy your summer reading, whatever it may be that you choose to read!

{oh and P.S. the making if the denim quilt picnic blanket that is in the pictures for this post will be my next post - hopefully tomorrow}

Hello Summer, Welcome!

{living}

Friday was the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and officially the first day of summer, and we celebrated with a little get together with a few friends.......

An Al Fresco Dinner on the Porch and Lawn Games Evening:

    Actually when we had originally set the date for this get together back near the beginning of June we didn't intentionally pick the summer solstice as the date, it just happened to be a day that seemed like it was going to work out for all of us.  It wasn't until a week (or maybe even more) later that it dawned on me what the date was, and I thought to myself, How perfect is that? I had found and fallen in love with the plates at Target, and we needed new outdoor plates anyway so.............. (check out the whole collection, it is fabulous, I would have loved to have gotten more than just the dinner plates, but that wasn't quite in the budget - yet anyway hehe).  I've also been really into the coral/peachy with gray as a color combination lately, and had just a few months ago gotten 2 small urns that were a slate looking color, so it's easy to see how the decorations developed from there. 

Over the table decorations {paper star and lanterns along with globe string lights}

The table almost completely set {P.S. the table cloth is actually a twin size flat bed sheet from Walmart - they're around $5 and come in lots of colors and the twin size is just about right for most tables I've put them on}

   

All set with napkins and homemade bug spray {mosquitoes eat me alive in the summer, but I don't like to constantly be spraying myself with all sorts of chemicals, so I found instructions to make your own all natural spray.... it seemed to work well too}

The Bug Spray is made with Witch Hazel, and essential oils {I used citronella, lemongrass, and rosemary} I made a little spray bottle for everyone so they also served as a kind of favor

{Menu}: Peach glazed Chicken Sliders; Fajita seasoned skewers {chicken ones and beef ones}, potato salad, pasta salad, deviled eggs, and corn on the cob.

Croquet Cupcakes {White chocolate melted and piped into shape then cooled and put in place for the wickets, different size pretzel sticks for the mallet and stakes, and a gum ball croquet ball}

No beverage is more perfect for a summer evening dinner than Sangria. :)

But we did also serve sodas and water of course.

The porch after dark

I loved how the lighting arrangement turned out with the lights on

And of course the glow of the candlelight was so pretty after dark

 

 

 

 

The last picture I took after everyone had left and my husband and I were still sitting outside enjoying the evening (or, I guess, night by this point), before I headed in for the night. {I was sitting in a chair leaning back and looking up at the ceiling in case the angle seems strange..... it was.....}

It was a lovely evening as well as the perfect temperature, not too hot not too chilly but with a nice breeze. We had croquet set up in the front yard and our mini mini-golf course in the backyard, and our side-yard is perfect for bocce ball. We also made a mid-evening trip to Carls here in Fredericksburg and one of our friends who came treated us all to some ice cream. (Thanks again guys!) Oh yes and set off a few fireworks in the street (all legal I made my husband call the police to check and make sure last year for the Fourth of July)  All in all a great way to welcome in summer, and to start the weekend :)

To Market, To Market........

{living}&{cooking}

    Yesterday My friend Shanna and I made a trip to Miller Farms Market, in Locust Grove, Virginia (about 25-30 minutes west of Fredericksburg, where I live). It was the first trip there for both of us (although I realized after getting directions that I have passed it dozens of times on my way to Orange, VA).  They of course carry farm fresh produce, and all sorts of goodies to eat (can you say local honey?), they also have a lovely selection of gift items for sale.  The store is very cute.

 

    They also have pick-your-own berries, which we didn't do because it was too hot for us and muddy.  Unfortunately the strawberry season for our area is just about over, so they are closing the strawberry patch at the end of this week, but I'm adding going back to pick blackberries to my "summer bucket list".  I didn't end up buying a whole lot this trip, just some tomatoes, and peach butter, and milk (in a glass jar..... I don't really even like milk, I had mainly gotten it for my husband - who is a chef (and loves milk)- because I knew that he would appreciate it, but I tried some of it when I got home and oh my goodness it was the best milk I've ever had!), and some delicious peanut butter cookies which barely made it home and only lasted for about another 10 minutes once they did (I won't be telling my husband about those since I "accidentally" didn't save him any). 

  I'm definitely hoping to make another trip out there before long, perhaps this time with the Hubster and my mom in tow, but in the meantime I thought I would share what I'm making for dinner tonight with some of the tomatoes I bought.....

 Campanelle Pasta with homemade Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

Tomatoes

Olive oil

Fresh Garlic

Onion (optional sometimes I use it sometimes I don't)

Salt and Pepper

Italian herbs seasoning

Campanelle Pasta

Grated Parmesan Cheese

~I usually only make just about enough for the two of us so adjust accordingly for the number of servings needed. (Although I will say that my husband eats a lot sometimes - okay so do I- so what serves the two of us may serve more for other families - especially if you serve a side with it)  It's very simple to make and to customize, and is delightful for summer because it makes a nice light sauce. (I'm not always a huge fan of heavy tomato sauces - especially in summer)~   

{1} put a pot of salted water on to boil

{2}cut your tomatoes (I usually use about 5 for us) into relatively small pieces (discarding the seeds... no one wants seeds in this dish) and mash/crush (I usually just use my hands but you could use a fork or spoon or even a potato masher if you prefer) into the bottom of a wok style frying pan (if you don't have one just use whatever is the deepest sided frying pan you have.... and seriously consider getting one.... It is one of my favorite pans to work with for all sorts of dishes).  with a liberal drizzle of olive oil and some salt and pepper.

{3} cook the tomatoes over medium to medium-high heat (simmering) until they have broken down into a sauce like consistency (usually about 15-20 minutes or so) stirring periodically and crushing any large pieces remaining to reach your desired level of "chunkiness" (if you want to add onions - or really any other veggi- you can add them at any point during this step depending on how well cooked or crisp you would like them to be)

{4} while cooking the tomatoes down cook your pasta according to package directions and drain.

{5} when tomatoes are almost done (probably about 10-15 minutes into the cooking time) grate (yes I said grate - with a micro plane) a clove or two of garlic (or more if you really like garlic) over the tomatoes and mix in well. Also add Italian herbs to taste and more salt and/or pepper if necessary, and continue to cook until the tomatoes are done and the flavors have all melded (smell it - you'll know... the tomatoes will have lost their raw smell and the seasonings all blend with each other... A trick I have learned/developed is to breathe in through your mouth over the dish.... it sounds weird, and probably looks weirder still, but it really will give you a pretty good idea of what it tastes like.... or just taste it...). Depending on the tomatoes you may also need to add a pinch of sugar.... I usually don't with this dish but these tomatoes were still to acidic tasting after cooking down so I did add a tiny bit of sugar tonight. (again use your own judgement to your own tastes)

{6} once you are happy with your sauce (and really for this particular "recipe" it's really all about how long you want to cook it and how much of each flavor you want to add - there's no "right" amounts) turn your heat to low (or "warm" as my stove says) and add your pasta to the pan and toss until well coated with sauce. 

{7} mix in some Parmesan cheese and heat for a few minutes longer (until the Parmesan is well melted into the sauce). Serve topped with just a bit more if desired.

This dish pairs really nicely with a simple salad or some crusty bread with either a bit of butter or dipping oil, or some garlic bread fresh from the oven/broiler (or salad and bread.... why not.....) and of course don't forget a glass of wine ;)

Well Hello There.....

{living}

I am super excited about making plans lately.  There are so many things right now that I want to do, or cook, or make; things I want to find to start (or continue) collections. And I really do have LOTS of plans brewing. Not many of them would be considered "big" plans in and of themselves, but then again I don't think things have to be big and complicated to be meaningful or memorable. I prefer to live perhaps a little way off the beaten path, in a little (figurative) cottage along side the "road less travelled" so to speak.  Now don't get me wrong I don't want to be so dedicated to the "different" or "unique" that I (or my family) miss out on anything just because it's what everyone else is doing, (there's often a reason everyone is doing it) but I also want to make sure that our experiences are not limited checking off certain boxes, but are well rounded and fun.  (Also I'm not a fan of huge crowds of people so I'd just as well go places/do things that are less likely to be mobbed.. haha ).  Now I must admit that while I'd like to portray myself as a free spirit, open to new experiences, I also crave routine and at least a certain amount of planning.  I like to know what's going to happen (a result perhaps of there being very little planning or organizing of activities when I was growing up), but I have learned that the best things in life often come unexpectedly, and that we just have to relax and go with the flow sometimes to really enjoy them.  I always temper my need to plan with an openness to spontaneity.  Sometimes it's better to just drive the backroads and see where they take you (knowledge that may come in handy later).

So..........

Summer and I have always had a love/hate relationship.  The hate part because I do not like heat and humidity. It makes me miserable, drains my energy.  Especially as a kid I dreaded the summer heat. (although as an adult I'm finding that I seem to tolerate it perhaps a little better - either that or I'm just more stubborn now and don't want to let it stop me from doing what I want to do.....).  On the flip side of that, I LOVE swimming and being in water.  I love the sun (at least until I started to feel like I'm frying and my pale skin starts to burn).  I love the beach.  I love the long evenings that melt slowly into night.  I love wildflowers blooming on the side of the road.  I love the more relaxed slower pace of everything.  You get the idea...... (OH! one more thing to add to the "hate" side of summer... mosquitoes.... apparently I'm quite tasty because I get eaten alive every summer).  Unfortunately I love being outside and a lot of really great summer activities involve the outdoors, so often I just have to deal with the heat and bugs. Oh and another thing to add to that "love" list too..... summer reading.  As a kid there was nothing better on a hot summer day then going into the blissfully cool library to pick out a book or two.  To me library just says summer. Soo.... all of that said, here is a sneak peak of some of the plans that I have brewing for this summer (and perhaps beyond)....

[My Summer Bucket List]
{1}The plans that I'm probably the most excited about this summer are the plans I'm making for a bunch of day trips/road trips for us to take. One of our traditions is going to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park which is only 1.5-2 hours from our house.  Last year we found out (seemingly much by fate, the way it happened) that for $30 you can get an annual pass to the park (seriously the best $30 we've ever spent since it's a place we love to go).  The regular admission (which is good for 7 days) is $15 so basically you're paying to go twice but get to go as many times as you want for an entire year! Since getting the pass we've definitely made more forays into the mountains (I love the mountains), and I've been trying to plan hikes and excursions in the park and along the drive to help us experience/explore new parts of the park that we never have before, or learn more about the fascinating history and biology of the park and mountains.  Another set of road/day trips I'm really excited about that I'm working on planning I've dubbed "around the world in...... Virginia". I have discovered that Virginia has many cities/towns/areas that are named after cities/countries from around the world (of course a lot of places from the British Isles, but other places too.... Paris, Amsterdam, Troy, Vienna, Syria, Jamaica, Warsaw, Berlin, just to name some of the ones I can think of off the top of my head) so I bought a good old fashioned map of Virginia and am planning out trips to explore these (sometimes off the beaten path) parts of Virginia, as well as stopping at some other historic sites or tourist attractions in the process. (Foamhenge is pretty near the top of the list of those attractions - so cool!)

{2} Summer entertaining. I love parties. I really really love planning parties and get togethers and of course hanging out with our friends (we've got such a great group of them).  Currently got several parties/get-togethers in the works 9which is awesome this year because normally summer is kinda the party dry spell for us, mostly just casual spur of the moment type "socials")

{3} Re-reading some of my favorite books (a lot of them Children's books hehe).  I started by re-reading The Princess and The Goblins, next up is Tuck Everlasting, I'm sure The Farthest Away Mountain (one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE books), and The Wind in The Willows will also make it onto the list, along with Nancy Drew books and A Mid-Summer Night's Dream, and many other book old and new (suggestions?)

{4}Eating and cooking with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables (another thing I love about summer).  And hopefully buying at least some of those fresh fruits and vegetable from local farmers (in fact I'm supposed to be making a trip to an area farm today with one of my friends - Miller Farms Market, and there is a farmers market just block from my house in downtown Fredericksburg, VA).

{5}getting my scrapbook caught up

{6}I've gotten really into micro-mini dollhouses lately and I'm hoping to do some cool stuff in that area this summer. and of course lots of other craft and sewing ideas to get done.

{7}I want to go innertubing (is that a word? maybe it's called rafting.....) down the river.  Fredericksburg is built on the fall line of the Rappahannock River and we've been meaning to do this for a couple years now and haven't actually done it yet... hopefully this will be the year!

{8} And of course most importantly just plain enjoy the "lazy" days of summer.....

I'll keep you posted.......