snow on winter trees

A quick little weekend trip up to Lukas's uncle and aunt's house prompted a little holiday sewing. One week out I said, "I'd like to make them something." But inspiration, as it usually does, didn't hit till just a few days before we headed up there. My inspiration came directly from this free pattern offered by Pink Chalk Fabrics. Except, I didn't remember to print off the pattern.

So, looking at the pattern online as my guide I drew up a couple paper piecing patterns. A magazine from the recycling bin was quite helpful. That night I pulled fabric scraps from my stash. I had greens for the choosing, but completely lacked any red scraps. Or any red yardage too! Fortunately, just a couple weeks earlier I had won this give away. Sure that fabric was sitting in the "can't touch this till I complete all my other projects" pile, but I neeeeeeeeeeded some red to make these pot holders. And that fat quarter pack that I won just happened to have the perfect one.

This was one of those projects where at the beginning I was a bit uncertain of the fabric choices but as I sewed, that uncertainty went away. With each piece pieced, I was loving these more and more. I especially liked the way the white polka dots on the black background were reminiscent of snow.

I had fun with the quilting - stitch in the ditch around the tree and wavy lines across. I outlined the tree because I knew the quilting would show on the backside. Speaking of the backside, how adorably cute are these little winter penguins?

Danger Zone

Some how it's been almost a month and I haven't posted about our Thanksgiving. Maybe I was just being lazy, but I'll pretend it was because I was working hard this entire time on the movie you'll see below.

Both my dad and brother got their pilots' license several years ago. I'd been up in the little airplane with my dad before, but their licenses lapsed when they hadn't been flying for some time. My dad, though, got himself a couple lessons before we all headed up there for Tday. So he was ready to take us flying.

I thought the flight would be a perfect time to work on my new movie making hobby. And really... when shooting a movie about airplanes and flying there's really only one way to take it...

Right into the danger zone!

weekending

Winter weekends are quickly filled. And this one I filled with pie baking and bagel making. Using this recipe I started the bagels Saturday morning. Bread flour, yeast, and some water left to turn into a bubbly sponge. But, two hours {the suggested time} and two pie crusts later there wasn't much bubbling or raising action going on.

Instead, we snuck out of the house for a little holiday lights photography {photo from earlier in the week}. The sky was hazy, the streets crowded {think 100s of drunk santa clauses}, and the outing pretty much a bust. But, by the time we got home the bagel sponge was big and bubbly - just the way it was supposed to be.

So I knocked it down, dumped in more flour, yeast and salt and began to kneed. On the cleaned counter I pushed and pummeled the lump of dough. Working it till it was smooth and satiny. At ten minutes I checked but not good enough. At fifteen I checked again but it still tore as I stretched it to window pane. Some time later {I stopped looking at the clock} it was ready.

Pinched off rolls, rest, shaped into bagels, rest and into the fridge to wait for tomorrow. The next day we had friends over for a bagel party. {Maybe I shouldn't invite people over when I'm making something new for the first time?!} The bagels were boiled, topped and baked. They looked like bagels and surprise surprise they even tasted like bagels!

I made sesame, herb parmesan, and salt bagels {the salt were way too salty!}. And after toasting them up we topped them with our favorite stuffed mushroom filling, and smoked salmon.

Other weekend activities:

• baking pumpkin pie with maple whipped cream
• a little sewing
• creating a troll hunter costume for this little monster

Happy Monday...