“Feet, why do I need them, if I have wings to fly?
– Frida Kahlo

My new travel bag, made with some CAOK-gifted fabric featuring my favorite artist, from Viv of Maine. Amy Butler birdie sling, canvas interior and handle. Red polka dot pocket for luck inside. Will hold: stack of books, journal, camera, Nalgene, snacks, knitting project, gum, lip gloss and my passport. Something about traveling with a bit of Frida makes this all that much more exciting!

~K

My creative cooking side is pretty hit or miss, but I searched around to create a few dishes for weekend festivities without having to go to the grocery.

First up — pineapple upside down cakes for Alma’s early birthday celebration. I took a yellow cake mix, some applesauce, a lemon, a can of pineapple rings and some crumb mix I had leftover from a muffin recipe and threw them together. I used the applesauce to make the recipe lower in fat. Alma is dropping weight like it is her job and I knew she wouldn’t bother enjoying her birthday cake if she knew she’d have to run it off later.

Mike and Sam were in town and having a pool party. Mike called and asked if I could bring a “Kelli creation” to the party. I had about two hours to prep and no motivation to go to the grocery. The result was two-fold:

I took a package of taco seasoning, a can of black beans, a can of garbanzo beans and some pickled jalapeños (including the juice) and threw them into the blender with some lemon juice.

This dip I loved. It could be great warm with cheese on top, or cold with pita. It was just spicy enough and I liked the added white beans.

I also made some green tea sugar cookies. Morag (my old roomie) left behind some packages of Chinese green tea powder. I found them in the pantry and threw them in with my standard sugar cookie recipe, although I also added applesauce to these to make them more cake-like. The flavor was a muted sweet sesame. I really liked them, although I think I should have baked them for 5 more minutes.

I’m taking a baggie of food with me to travel — some to share and some to avoid eating mystery meat in a fit of hunger. Protein bars, instant oatmeal, Crystal light are all in there. I’m trying to convince myself I won’t end up drinking cold Coke in the bottle. Pretty sure Nirvana is inside a cold bottle of Coke on a hot, humid day.

~K

Amy Butler birdie sling #2, in home decor weight fabrics and canvas.
Pattern modifications: I did not use interfacing, but instead opted for canvas for the top panels and handle. I did not use the interior pocket pieces, but instead created a smaller, divided version. I still haven’t mastered the gusset technique, but for a great example of someone who has, check out this beauty.

Birdie bag #2 is off as a gift to a coworker. I’m making myself one of these, along with that skirt, this week sometime to jazz up my otherwise drab travel fashion.

~K

Yesterday we celebrated Mini’s 30th with an afternoon party at Rebecca and Matt’s house. The food was entirely appetizers — a collection of Mini’s favorites, including bean dip, pesto, sushi, hummus, cake, cupcakes, bean dip and did I mention the bean dip? There was also a margarita machine and about 10,000 types of wine. It was a fun, gluttonous afternoon but the hands down favorite of the buffet table were the red velvet cupcakes from Sugar Blossom. Have you had one of Melati’s creations yet? If not, splurge. You won’t regret it. Everyone raved how good they were and I had to answer roughly 500 times that no, in fact I did not bake them. I bought them. See how smart I am!

The party also provided the perfect opportunity for a new pattern review. Amy Butler’s birdie sling is cut and dry. The directions are clear and I like the construction, especially the handle.

However, the next time I make this I will forgo the double-sided pockets and the interfacing. I get better results with canvas. I’ll also do one less pleat on either side. I would like the opening to be a bit wider. I plan on sewing two more of these this week, including a fun summer bag for moi — to hold my cupcakes, of course.
Happy Monday Peeps,
K

The apron business is going well. I know that if I had gobs more time to make a dozen of these to distribute to my favorite coffee haunts, I’d sell them like hot cakes. Thankfully, my friend’s orders are keeping me hopping for the time being. One of the bagel boys recently ordered two aprons for Mother’s Day — one for his Norweigan mama.

I hit the fabric store yesterday for some new supplies. While I’m making a tidy $50 per apron, I spent $65 on new fabric without batting an eyelash, using two coupons. Needless to say, it is a good thing I’m not in charge of the finances at work, or we’d really be a nonprofit. That said, you can’t put a price on finding a bolt of fabric that immediately inspires. I’m going to be sewinging up a storm for the next few weeks before I leave for the great summer of travel. Totes, book covers, travel supplies…

A business woman I’m not,
K

Today was much sweeter. I woke up after a good 11 hours of sound, deep sleep feeling headache-free. Granted, my heart still aches, but that will take more than a night of rest to change. Baking could help.

Tomorrow we are having a potluck at work and I’d signed up for dessert. I definitely got carried away, but the relief I find in cooking is parallel only to running and I just didn’t have the stamina for a long run tonight. Tomorrow’s menu includes Sweet Sedona bundt cake, lemon coconut cookies and Mexican cinnamon brownies — all in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

Maddy and I had a great time. She is a doll and such a great reminder of the joy of life. I watched her today with her girlfriends and family; I want to be more like her — she’s carefree, confident, strong and sweet to a fault.

Thank you for your kind words about yesterday’s post. My apologies to the Monday dieters cruising through the blog.
~K

Tiffany and I went to grad school together; she is one of those girlfriends who I can go months without connecting with and yet pick right back up where we left off. She is the proud mother of a precious nearly-two year old girl who I just love. Rory is a sweet little thing and it breaks my heart I don’t get to see them more often — they now live in Michigan.

Anyway, Tiffany thinks my sewing abilities are up there with Martha’s and will occasionally send me patterns and suggestions. (Ha! I’m about as close to Martha’s sewing as I am Julia’s cooking, but the thought is kind.) Wouldn’t this shift be cute in plaid? Wouldn’t this skirt be nice in a summer cotton? Did I mention I have a cute little daughter who is perfectly sized for a game of dress up?

Okay, she doesn’t really say that kind of stuff, but it is a conversation we occasionally have in my head. I’ve been wanting to make them matching skirts for months and finally got around to it a couple weeks ago. Rory also received one of those pillowcase dresses.
I used this wrap skirt tutorial and sent along several long pieces of ribbon with the skirt too. I didn’t care for the thickness of the tie I originally created, but it was out of the same fabric as Rory’s sweet little elastic skirt, so it needed to stay. The package arrived and the girls love their new wardrobe. This was simple enough I really should make them another set. Perhaps in plaid.

~K

Querida Finny,
I just love your birdie apron. I wish I had bought five yards of that fabric and could at least toy with the idea of sewing the beautiful dress we saw in the window of Josephine’s. Oh, my love of expensive fabric knows no bounds.

Good thing I’ve got a couple side jobs. Remember that customized apron idea I had for Mother’s Day? Well, I’ve completed two orders. The first was for Jessica and it turns out she is really pleased with the results. Woo hoo! The second I just completed last night, so fingers crossed it also gets a good review. A friend of a friend emailed me to see if I could make her mom and apron and include her nickname (Meesh) and tacos. Come to find out, Meesh is a taco-making machine. I think I captured the espiritu with this April apron project.

So, who is our grand prize winner for April? Your chance to pick. I’m thinking up a fun project for May-June. Do you mind if we double up? I won’t be around a sewing machine (or electricity, really) for most of the later.

~Donk

Black bean hummus + cut veggies: I swapped garbanzos in this recipe for black beans, added a dash of flax to thicken this a bit more and a lot of cayenne. Now that I’ve got the hang of making my own hummus, no more store bought nonsense. This takes all of 10 minutes to throw together at 1/4 of the price.

~K

No Knead 2.0, honey whole wheat.

A loaf for a dinner party last night, and a loaf today for a luncheon at work. I tripled the recipe (and quadrupled the yeast) to get bigger loaves than normal. It worked!

I think a sign of a great week to come is a slice of warm, homemade bread to start off your Monday. Don’t you? Giddyup and pass the butter.

~K