Getting my Valentine's butt in gear!

I am not known for decorating my house on holidays except for the big two....Halloween and Christmas.  So, a few days ago I was talking to the lovely Danni from Silo Hill Farm and she told me to get my ever loving tuckus in gear and make something using datgum red, white and pink...it sort of sounded like that...at least it did in my mind.  See, here's the thing, I made a reference to Coal Miner's Daughter in this post and Danni is the only one who caught it...or at least made comment on it.  So, she then recommended me to read a book called...

...I just realized you can hardly read the title on the book up there.  It's called Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas and it's about a woman who has lived in the high mountains of Colorado in a mining community for her entire adult life.  It's early 1900's now and she's an old woman and her daughter wants her to leave her home in the mountains and move in with her. So, she's tidying up her affairs and helping a young wife who has just moved there with her husband, acclimate to mountain life.  It's all about quilting and women passing on wisdom...and so far I am loving it.  Last night The Mister asked me what I was reading and I told him it was about quilting and mining and....he said... No, no...it's too late to talk about quilting and mining.

You see, he used a technique of my own when he wants to talk math and science.  I have a rule that I can only discuss such matters after 8 am and prior to 9 pm.  Apparently he has the same threshold for quilting/mining talk that I do about math/science talk.

Alright, back to matters at hand.  Because of Danni...and all that up there, I have started making a Valentine's wall-hanging.  Now, if you want to see some seriously cute Valentine's decorations, check out her blog that I linked to above.  She's got some talent!!!

I am using a strip technique where you map out your pattern and then sew in downward strips and then sew all the strips together.  Hopefully...when all is said and done, this will be a heart.

The three strips on the right have been sewing together.  I just match up seams and sew.  The two on the left are waiting to be stitched.  It's a bit of an experiment so I'll just see how it turns out.  I am using all half square triangles to fill in the middle bit and I am pointing all the triangles along the outer edge the same directions with a dark color.  Hopefully this ends up looking liking a heart and not something freakish.  We'll see, won't we.

My homemade pattern.  See, anybody can design a quilt.  This particular type of quilt is nothing new.  Just google "heart quilt" and you'll see a dozen similar quilts.  The strip method I am using makes what looks like a daunting task, much simpler.  As I complete a strip, I just draw a line through it and move on to the next.  I count how many white squares on top and bottom I need and how many half square triangles I need in the middle and sew them together in.

Once I had my pattern figured out, I grabbed a pile of red and pink fabric and then set about cutting them into squares.

Of course there's a bit of trial and error when it comes to getting things just right.  See, if you want a square that's 2.25" X 2.25" but you want to make it with a half square triangle...there's a bit of geometry involved and tragically I was a failure at geometry.  So, I had to re-cut all my squares to get everything just right.

One of my favorite things about this quilt is...I'm using old sheets to make up the bulk of it.  The fabric above was an old sheet and I am using it in all my half square triangles.  One half of the square is this and the other half is pink or red.  It is so soft and pretty.

The white fabric on the outside of the heart is also an old sheet.  The Mister thinks I'm a bit of a hoarder because I keep old sheets to use later...but see, I'm not a hoarder because I am actually using them.  Hurray for not being a hoarder!

Well, I'll keep you updated on the progress.

Thanks for reading!

Heather

Most Beloved Picture Books

We are a reading house here at the Beating Hearth.  Both my children love to read.  Most nights they get a story read to them, a song sung and a big old snuggle before they go to sleep.  Trust me, when I say the harshest way to punish My Youngest is to tell her she doesn't get her bedtime story or song because she was naughty.  I think it's her favorite part of the day.

The Mister is an avid reader...usually nerd stuff like String Theory or Stephen Hawking or WWII books or the Golden Ratio.  Imagine the nerdy dudes from Big Bang Theory...that's basically who I am married to.

I LOOOOOOVVVE to read as well.  I don't know how I managed before the kindle...oh wait, yes I do...I bought a heck of a lot of books.  I have an entire closet filled with shelves...filled with books.  So today I am talking about my favorite children's books.  Let's get going.  If you click on the book itself, it'll take you to the link on Amazon.

I am starting with my favorite picture book. King Bidgood's in the Bathtub is fun and exquisitely illustrated. I have never loved looking at a book quite so much as this one. The King doesn't want to get out of his bathtub and so the members of his court try to devise ways to get him out. They all think they know the king best, but...well, they end up in the tub with him with hilarious results. I especially love watching the dripping wet people take the walk of shame in their period clothes....Classic.  You will be amazed at the gorgeous colors and the details put into each illustration. Fun for kids and adults!  It's also a Caldecott Honor Book.

Cinder Edna is a fun remake of Cinderella.  It's about a girl who is in Cinderella's same situation, evil step family...has to clean for them etc etc etc, but instead of relying on a Fairy Godmother to get her to the ball, she figures things out for herself like...what's the last pick up time at the bus stop.  She doesn't just give up her dreams to marry some guy, she makes sure she actually likes him.  Which, as a mother of daughters, I really appreciate.  I can't tell you how many times I tell the girls that thinking your husband is handsome is important, but even more important is that you actually like him...a lot!  She isn't the fairest of the land, but she still gets a pretty cool guy...Prince Charming's nerdy younger brother who has a sweet red Pompadour.

This book is interesting for kids and the grown-ups reading it.  It teaches about the interesting body parts that different animals have and why they have them.  For example, it explains how the horned lizard can actually leak blood from it's eyes!!!  Or that the archer fish shoots insects out of the air with a jet of water.  Love a fun and educational book!!

This is another visually stunning book...the illustrator uses a technique where they use a  die cut and cut out a shape. On the first page the cut out looks like one thing and then when you turn it over it looks like something else.  So clever.  So creative.  A great book for the younger set...I still like it and have been reading it to My Youngest...for a good 3 1/2 years.  She really likes chickens, so this is the perfect book for her.   It's also a Caldecott Honor book and a Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book.

So, if you have a child who is in need of some good books, please consider one of these, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Thanks for reading!

Heather

For Pleat's Sake...a tutorial

Does the need to pleat eat away at your heart?  Do you just gotta pleat or die?  Well...my need to pleat may not be this dramatic...but dramatic enough.  But here's the trick...and there is a trick to it.  In my head I'm thinking...okay...there's a part you have to pinch and press.  And there's the point where you put the pinched and pressed bit.  I knew there had to be a method to the madness.  Let me also say there's a reason nobody does tutorials on pleats.  They're hard to explain!!!  I'll give it my best shot.

This is what I made...a cute little pleated pillow cover with flower embellishment.  Yay!

 I used this book...(which by the way is pretty terrific if you are into manipulating fabric.  It really gives you the technical details that you need.  Plus it's got some pretty gosh darn gorgeous stuff in it.  It's not so much whole projects as it's techniques you can learn and then take them and do whatever you want to.  Highly recommended book!)

Now on to learning all there is to know about pleating.  Do you wanna know how many pages are devoted to just pleating?  LOTS!  Just trust me.  An entire chapter and I think there's 43 pages in the pleat chapter alone!!!  There is more to pleating than you might ever have known.  I'm just gonna put it out there that this is some heavy stuff.  Get ready for your mind to be blown...in a making pleats sort of way.

Okay, so at any rate, I wanted to pleat but I didn't want to devote too much time or fabric to the project since I'm a novice.  A pillow cover is the perfect size project then.  A 14 x 14 inch pillow cover to be exact.  Neat and small and perfect for whatever...aka...the perfect size for my children to play Veterinarian and lay their sick beasts to sleep upon it.

I am going to make this a 2 part post.  The first part is going to explain the ins and outs of pleats and some technical terms.  YAY learning!  The 2nd part will go into how to make the pillow cover.

Here's what you gotta know about pleats...

Crisco???? And Swoon!!!

Have you read The Help?


It is my favorite book of the year!  The movie, is good, if you read the book.  If you haven't read it, please do so.  But, here is a line about Crisco from The Help that I think is classic.  Take it away Minnie...

“Ain’t just for frying. You ever get a sticky something stuck in your hair, like gum? That’s right, Crisco. Spread this on a baby’s bottom, you won’t even know what diaper rash is. Shoot, I seen ladies rub it under they eyes and on they husband’s scaly feet. And after all that it will still fry your chicken.”)

Plus Crisco now comes in these convenient 1 c. sticks.  It's so easy to use!!!  No longer do you have to dig through the giant tub...I also have the giant tub, but these sticks are great!!

So, the question of the day is...do you use Crisco? It's not what the cool kids do, that's for sure. Butter is definitely the cool option.  But guess what, sometimes good old Crisco is just the ticket.  I use it...for about 3 things.  And for these 3 things, I like to keep Crisco on hand. 

1-  For my favorite chocolate chip cookies. Yum...by the way I'm going to include the recipe here in a minute.
2-  For my favorite No Chill Most Delicioius Sugar Cookies.  Yum.   Check out the link if you need the perfect sugar cookie recipe that is easy and delicious every time.
3-  When I need to grease a pan for a cake or bread or anything.

So, here's the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe straight from...yup...the Crisco recipe book...adapted by...me and my mom.  I think in her attempt to make these cookies healthier...remember this is the late 80's and 90's we're talking about, she wanted to cut the fat.  Luckily she was ahead of the times and wanted to cut the sugar too!  So that's where the adaptions to this recipe come.  This will make a denser, loftier cookie, it won't spread out as much.  It'll keep a little bit of poof to it.

My sister in law swears by these cookies.  In fact, these turned her into a Crisco devotee...for this one recipe at any rate.  She never had Crisco in her house until the momentous day when these came into her life. So there you have it.  These cookies are life changing.  She does use the original recipe, not the "healthier" version my Mom and I use, but that's just fine.

Ultimate Chocolate chip Cookie
1 C. Butter Crisco
2 C. packed brown sugar
4 Tbl. Milk
2 Tbl. Vanilla (I will tell you the truth that I am a little perplexed by the large amount of vanilla called for...but I just go for it.  If it ain't broke...you know...)
2 eggs
3 1/2 C. Flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 package chocolate chips ( I use Guitard milk chocolate myself)
2 C. Walnuts (optional, but necessary if you ask me)

Heat oven to 375
Combine Crisco, sugar, milk and vanilla in stand mixer, using paddle attachment.  Beat until creamy.
Add eggs to creamed mixture.  Mix until combined.
In another bowl, combine flour, salt and soda.  Stir until combined.
Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and beat until just blended.
Add chips and nuts and mix until combined.
Drop by large spoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet (I use a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet)
Bake for 8-10 minutes (I usually have to go 10 because I like my cookies more done maybe).  Cookies will appear moist. 
Cool and then devour with glass of milk.

Now for my latest Swoon block by Camille Roskelley

I think this is my favorite on so far. Something about the black and the kaleidoscope affect the pattern on the fabric already has...Love!!

Heather...Crisco devotee herself!!

Just call her stump

See what happens when you get a fire lit under you, miracles can happen.  My daughter's ami, that has been in the works for...a very long time is getting closer and closer to being done.  It doesn't hurt that my oldest has been haranguing me day and night to finish it.  "is it done yet?"  "mom, are you working on my rabbit?"  "mom, I can see that you are making dinner, cleaning the house and working on world peace...but are you done with my rabbit yet?"

I told her it'd be done by Saturday.  I think it's doable.  Cross fingers.

I decided to give this rabbit a twist by giving her some cute little knee socks.  I think it's going to be adorable.

I wanted to give you a working shot of what it means to work on a fairly involved crochet project like this...it means keeping track of multiple spots, and keeping them separated from each other.  To do this, I like these little crochet clips.  As you can see I am employing 3 at one time.  This is about the max that I use at any given time.  But as I am splitting the torso into two legs, I need to know my boundaries...otherwise you get one leg that's 1" round and another that 2" around vs two that are 1.5" round.  See, nobody wants one fat leg.

Here's another shot of the madness.  So two are keeping track of the leg I am not working on and the 3rd is keeping count of the rounds on the leg I am working on. 

When I am actively crocheting, I am doing it with the ami upside down.  Sometimes this is obnoxious because it feels like it gets in the way, but I guess if I tried to sew it rightside up, it would get quite heavy and flop over any way.   Oh yeah, and I am watching Dancing with the Stars in the background.  Go Maks and Hope!

I decided to give the rabbit rainbow panties...I think they're cute but they have wound up blending in with the flesh. So I am going to have to sew ruffles on or something to give it a little emphasis. I probably should have sewn a row of slip stitches, but as I am making this up partially on my own, I didn't think about it until I had sewn most of a leg...oh well.  I'll figure something out.

 Another Amigurumi book review:

Amigurumi World Seriously Cute Crochet by Ana Paula Rimoli

Okay, this book has many cute things in it, but they are in no way as detailed as "Amigurumi Super Happy Crochet Cute".  This book focuses on tiny critters that can be completed in a few hours.  So, a really good book if you want to bust out some cuties in not too much time.   And there are some seriously cute things in here.

This book was an awesome purchase for me....for this very reason.  She gives instructions on making cute little eggs.  My youngest loves "h-eggs".  I think she was at particularly influential times in her life her first and second  Easters.  She would walk around carrying plastic eggs wherever she went and loved looking at the eggs in the carton and wanted to (and still does) help crack the eggs.  So I was able to make these for her birthday and I cannot tell you how often I have seen her wandering around carrying an egg.  There was a time when she almost wouldn't put them down and wanted to sleep with them.  Due to eggs getting lost in the covers and her waking up distressed in the middle of the night that she couldn't find her h-egg and Mommy having to come in, tear the covers apart to find the eggs to restore calmness, we decided to banish eggs as lovies in bed.  But they are great toys.

Gotta love the chicks too!

Get crocheting friends, it's a great hobby.