AfricanKelli

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Finny,

First, may I just wish you a belated birthday? How was it? I hope your package of birthday goodies from Arizona have arrived and that you were spoiled rotten with gin + tonics, fancy yarn, new gardening tools, running gear,  time with your Bubba and time in nature.  Plus pie. Perhaps rhubarb.

I hope it was truly lovely. This time of year always makes me think of you — the years we worked together in college — and how the beginning of a new Fall semester meant a great birthday party for Finny.

It seems only right we honor you by sewing up the Not-Ugly-Trash-Bag for this double-month’s sew-along. I love this project. In fact, [SPOILER!] chances are if I typically sew you a Christmas present, this is exactly what you’ll be receiving. They are practical, keep things clean, are easy to sew and they have the Finny stamp of approval. Check, check, checkity check.

Never mind that I sewed the pocket inside out. I was going for that look. Um, really. Regardless, my car is already cleaner and more stylish because of this great project. Our winner is Sourkraut. Love the cupcake fabric! (Honorable mention and previous winner Sue deserves a high five for her awesome elephant too. SO cute. Those ears!)

Thank you for participating ladies.

So, Finny — what are our next sewing assignments from One Yard Wonders?

Keeping with our theme of a sewing project and a recipe, this month’s kitchen assignment is something I hope will bring in the new season. Cooler temperatures, fall leaves, sleeves, being able to spend time outside without the possibility of death…

Pumpkin Carrot Gingerbread

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 2 carrots, shredded (can use squash instead)
• 3 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease loaf pans. Combine sugar, oil and eggs; beat until smooth. Add water, pumpkin, carrots  and spices. In medium bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and blend just until all ingredients are mixed. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Can’t wait to hear what we are sewing up Finny!

Much love,

Kelli

A late birthday gift for my friend Jenny.

I picked up a new lens this weekend — a 50 mm 1.4 something or another. It is a fixed lens, meaning you can’t turn it to zoom in and out. I know so little about photography other than what I like. It’s the je ne sais quoi of art. I can’t explain why I like what I do, I just do. And so, forgive the blurry photos I’m certain to post in the months to come. They are my own odd form of art.

~K

I opened my mailbox Saturday to a giant box from Colleen. She saved the original cutout she created of the cover, signed and framed it with gorgeous fabric and sent it my way as a congratulatory gift.

There weren’t enough Kleenex in the house.

I thought about editing out the toaster, but this is life. My home isn’t a gallery, but the kitchen just got a lot more aesthetic thanks to Colleen’s incredible generosity.

In the artsy mood — I had a bit of time to sew this weekend for a birthday party later in the week. I love this pattern. I made a couple of these bags this time last year. It’s the mix of colors, the tapered design and the bamboo handle. Something about the handle brings it all together  and makes it look a little less homemade and a bit more handmade. (Semantics to some, style to others.)

In other crafty news, for those participating in this month’s One Yard Wonder sew-along and want some guidance on sewing the Elodie Elephant, Sue found a great set of tutorials on Youtube. Brava!

And on a final note, holy Mary Moses! On toast! How adorable are these baby dolls Shanna has created for the Brazilian Babies project?! I have such amazing artists in my life.

~K

I bought these place mats at the Crate and Barrel outlet in Texas when visiting my parents nearly two years ago. The hummingbird place mat in particular has been sitting on top of my sewing supply stash begging for a project. I knew I wanted to it be used just right and I am pleased as punch with how these turned out:

I needed a simple project that would make me feel like a success; something that didn’t require a pattern or too much thought. I wanted two gifts for a couple girlfriends and voila — without much toil, I was able to whip these up with supplies on hand. Plus, it makes my soul happy to reuse something — to take something destined for one use, marked down to pennies on the dollar and then with a bit of sass, turn it into something else entirely.

Not to get too loquacious about life, but our ability to take a situation and work through the potential “reworks” seems to either make or break us. I know so many who cannot apparently handle a speed bump on the way to work without lamenting about how annoying their days suddenly became. And then there are those who fight cancer quietly, with itchy wigs and bellies that are constantly nauseous, and do so with the best attitude they can muster — making the healthy shamed we haven’t been more grateful for the obvious.  I hope today, whatever life hands you, whether it is exactly what you visualized and planned or something wildly off course, that you’ll find the way to find joy in the rework.

-k

Finberg,

I may officially be the very worst sewing partner in the history of sew-alongs because this is what my May/June project looks like:

I’ve got a super cute fabric, plenty of bias tape and I’m ready to roll. I just haven’t gotten there quite yet. Thankfully, others did. You picked a great winner for this double month’s projects.

I think we shall pick two more to get us through the summer hump. How about:

The elephant! Come on. I’m African. If I had a pattern in this book, this would be it. And speaking of authors of published patterns…

It’s about time we made YOUR pattern for the Not Ugly Car Trash Bag. I might be a little proud. (Kinda like BP might be in a little trouble. Aretha may need to loose a little weight. Oprah may have a little money.) How cute is that Airedale in the photo?

Answer: not as cute as Miss Lola, who I doggy-sat this weekend.

I digress.

As the One Yard Wonder sew-along goes, Finny and I post a sewing project from the book, along with a great recipe to try. This month’s recipe is Fin’s fabulous summer strawberry salad.Yum. I love salad. I love fruit. I love them combined. Good work Fin! As a participant in the monthly challenge (bi-monthly in the lazy summer months), you pick a sewing project or two, and/or the recipe and share them on your blog and post photos to the photo pool. We randomly pick one rocking winner a month to reward to crafty goods.

Craft on, my friends. Craft on.

~K